Taliban Willing to Detain Osama

XINHUA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
October 7, 2001, Sunday 11:44 AM Eastern Time
SECTION: WORLD NEWS; POLITICAL
HEADLINE: Taliban to Detain Osama if Requested by US: Zaeef
DATELINE: ISLAMABAD, October 7

The Taliban regime is willing to detain the suspected terrorist leader, Osama bin Laden and try him under Islamic law if requested formally by the United States, Taliban chief representative in Islamabad Abdul Salam Zaeef told the media Sunday.

"Islamic laws have been implemented in Afghanistan and it is the appropriate place for Osama to be put on trial," Zaeef said. He said that if the United States provides the allegation against bin Laden, "detention is not a problem."

The Taliban supreme leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, last month made a similar call to the United States in an apparent fear of possible military strikes.

"Under Islamic law, we can put him on trial according to allegations raised against him and then the evidence would be provided to the court," Zaeef said, adding that "it is up to them to come to us. It is their problem."


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