Taleban leader remains defiant
Taleban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar has rejected any cooperation with a future broad-based government for Afghanistan.
Speaking exclusively to the BBC's Pashtu-language service, he said the southern city of Kandahar remained in the hands of Taleban fighters.
He also spoke of a "big" plan to destroy the United States which could happen within a short period of time.
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[Note from PB.(all very much "imho") The most important point for both sides on the conflict is food and supplies, weapons and ammunition. Landing USA troops also means landing bases of supplies in size appropriate for normal western peoples diet. The more troops, the more supplies needed. These supplies would be a considerable catch for Taliban guerrillas, the larger the supply base, the larger the attraction. The region has potentially several hundred thousand tough and very hardly individuals who would now have a convenient reason to attack them...to remove "invading infidels" from Afghanistan. They would also be covertly supplied by those who would like to see the USA military machine receive a bloody nose. Kabul need UN troops in it. If it all goes to a handbasket in Kabul, the UN only has it's self to blame for dithering. This broadcast is simply (and well performed by Mullah Omar) a request for all American haters for help. Hope the BBC realizes this and has cleared it first through UK military/government ]
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His statement came as the UN Security Council unanimously endorsed a resolution sponsored by Britain and France, backing a plan for the country's political future drawn up by the senior UN envoy to Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi.
As the Northern Alliance continued to extend the area under their control, the United States said it had bombed a building being used by members of Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
An official said the building was destroyed and a number of people were killed.
Under the UN-endorsed plan, Mr Brahimi wants to convene a meeting of all Afghan factions within the next few days, and establish a multi-national security force.
The Northern Alliance has said it will not set up an interim government, but will simply run Kabul until talks can be held.
A high military council led by Defence Minister General Fahim Khan has assumed leadership in the capital.
"The council has invited and is ready to receive the delegates of the people who are either abroad or at home to come as soon as possible to Kabul for forming the government through whatever way they wish," said Alliance spokesman Mohammed Habeel.
But Mullah Omar told the BBC that the Taleban preferred death to participating in what he said would be an evil government.
He said: "We would prefer death to the government of fascists."
He also said a plan for the "destruction of America" was going ahead.
"The current situation in Afghanistan is related to a bigger cause - that is the destruction of America...
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