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Chances of Osama's extradition bleak

K J M Varma in Islamabad

Chances of extradition of Saudi fugitive Osama bin Laden from Afghanistan appeared bleak on Wednesday with a defiant Taleban spiritual leader Mullah Mohammad Omar virtually rejecting the American demand, and asked a gathering of country's religious scholars to give an edict in the event of a US attack.

The rejection came at an inconclusive meeting of the Shoora Council, consisting of about 1000 clerics, hours after the UN Security Council in New York asked the Taleban militia to 'immediately and unconditionally' surrender bin Laden, prime suspect in the September 11 terror attacks on the US.

The Council will meet again on Thursday, a Taleban minister said.

Maintaining that Laden was incapable of carrying out such strikes in the US, the supreme commander of Taleban said, "America considers him a suspect. Osama has denied his involvement. It is unfortunate that America doesn't listen to us and levels all sorts of charges and threatens military action."

"We have told America that if it has any evidence, it should give it to the Afghan Supreme Court or let the Islamic clerics decide his case. He could also be placed under the observation of the Organisation of Islamic Conference, but these offers have all been rejected," he said appealing to the US government to investigate and track down the real culprits, who may be in the US.

Simultaneously, Omar received full backing of the Pakistan's religious body, Ulema Council, which issued a Fatwa (edict) for a Jihad (holy war) against the US and its allies if they attack Afghanistan.

Late on Tuesday night, the US government talked tough and said, "The message to Afghanistan remains loud and it remains clear: Those nations that harbour terrorists will not be spared."

PTI

Full text of Mullah Mohammed Omar's address

The Attack on America: The Complete Coverage

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