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| Afghanistan |
| Talibs request Binny to leave... |
| 2001-09-28 |
| This is London There are now signs that the concerted pressure on the Taliban may be having an impact. The movement's religious leaders say they have delivered an edict requesting chief terror suspect Osama bin Laden to leave Afghanistan promptly. It had to be delivered by hand to Bin Laden, and a Taliban spokesman last night said the messenger had some difficulty in finding the hideout of the Saudi guerrilla leader. "It's not like we can pick up the phone and talk to Osama, or fax a message to him. He has no such facilities," said the Taliban's information minister Qudrutullah Jamal. He said the message had now got through, but so far there was no reply. "I have no reason to believe Osama has left Afghanistan. He is still here," said Jamal. Bin Laden has tried to leave Afghanistan several times in recent months, according to refugees, but he found difficulty in finding a country to take him. He could try to get to Sudan or Somalia - both countries are high on America's list of sponsors who have provided bases for Bin Laden's Al Qaeda group. Last night there was doubt in official circles in London and Washington that the Taliban's move to expel him would be enough to save them from attack. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |