:
WARNING: Highly Addictive
Posted on 10/04/2001 1:42:42 AM PDT by kattracks
DUBAI, Oct 4 (Reuters) - An envoy of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban said in remarks published on Thursday the movement would not hand over Osama bin Laden even there was evidence to implicate him in last month's attacks on the United States.
Taliban's ambassador to Pakistan, Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, told the United Arab Emirates' Al-Khaleej newspaper the movement would "thoroughly check" U.S. documents linking bin Laden to the devastating attacks on New York and Washington before putting him on trial in an Islamic sharia court.
"We will not give Osama bin Laden to the United States even if we are presented with evidence implicating him in the September 11 attacks," Zaeef told the Arabic-language daily.
"And if we get from them (United States) such evidence, we will check it thoroughly and then we will conduct a trial in a sharia court. If this court convicts him, then we will see then what we will do," he added.
Zaeef's comments, which could not be immediately verified, were the first indication by Afghanistan's hardline Islamic rulers that they would not hand over bin Laden under any circumstances.
The movement admits to hosting bin Laden, Washington's prime suspect in masterminding the September 11 attacks, but has repeatedly said it would give him up if presented with convincing evidence.
The United States has massed military forces within striking distance of Afghanistan to root out bin Laden and U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has set off on a regional tour to win support for possible military action.
Zaeef told al-Khaleej that he still hoped for a "peaceful resolution" to the standoff between Washington and Kabul.
"Negotiations are the way to solve problems, war will only complicate things," he said.
The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia cut relations with Taliban shortly after the attacks, leaving Pakistan as the only country with ties to the Islamic puritanical movement.
Incoming.
This statement is false. There has been more than one article posted on this forum reporting that the Taliban would try bin Laden in an Islamic court only. They have always insisted on this from day one.
Time to consider tactical nukes.
There are rumors that Osama's organization is in possession of TACS, AND "gas" etc.
Wouldn't surprise me, at all, if they're not true.
If the rumors are true, any part of them, they WILL NOT HESITATE to use them against us or another country that they believe is WITH US.
What will the peaceniks do then? - Crawl under the covers? Say that we just don't understand the terrorists, and that we "just need to get along"?
They make me want to puke ('scuze the language).
Heard a funny line on Pittsburgh's WRRK radio, a day or two ago - Quinn said "the next time you see a peace demonstration, go up to one of them and give him the peace sign - when he returns it, sucker-punch him - after all, if he believes in peace he CAN'T hit you , and, if he gives you the peace sign again, sucker-punch him again."
The movement admits to hosting bin Laden, Washington's prime suspect in masterminding the September 11 attacks, but has repeatedly said it would give him up if presented with convincing evidence.
Let's Roll!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.