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| Afghanistan |
| Talibs invite Binny to leave |
| 2001-09-20 |
With their nation facing a possible military strike by the United States, Afghanistan's senior Islamic clerics urged terrorist suspect Osama bin Laden on Thursday to leave Afghanistan voluntarily, the Taliban news agency said. U.S. officials believe bin Laden was behind last week's attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center, and the United States has threatened military action against Afghanistan if the Taliban — the nation's militant Islamic leadership — refuses to extradite the Saudi exile. THE CLERICS ALSO urged Muslims worldwide to declare a jihad, or holy war, against the United States if its forces attack Afghanistan, the news agency said. "If a powerful country attacks a weak country, it is a jihad for all Muslims. When a non-Muslim country attacks a Muslim country, it also is a jihad," the clerics said in a statement at the close of the meeting in the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, according to Bakhtar. However, the clerics also urged the United States, "Please don't attack and use patience." |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |