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Strategies & Market Trends : MARKET INDEX TECHNICAL ANALYSIS - MITA -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: J.T. who wrote (8584)	9/21/2001 12:48:21 PM
From: J.T.	Respond to of 19219

Taliban Rejects Bush Ultimatum for Bin Laden By Amir Zia Associated Press Writer Friday, September 21, 2001; 5:47 AM ISLAMABAD, Pakistan –– Afghanistan's Taliban rulers refused Friday to hand over alleged terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden and warned that U.S. attempts to apprehend him by force could plunge the whole region into crisis. The refusal by the hard-line Afghan leadership, which has sheltered bin Laden for the last five years, was announced by the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, Abdul Salam Zaeef. He spoke after President Bush warned Afghanistan must hand over bin Laden and his lieutenants "or they will share their fate." Bush told U.S. military forces to "be ready" for war: "The hour is coming when America will act and you will make us proud." However, there was no sign that Bush's warning was enough to convince Afghanistan's rulers to move against bin Laden, the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. "Our position on this is that if America has proof, we are ready for the trial of Osama bin Laden in light of the evidence," Zaeef said. Asked if the Taliban were ready to hand bin Laden over, he snapped "No" but his translator said, "No, not without evidence." The envoy also said he had no information on bin Laden's current whereabouts. Zaeef said he was sorry people died in the suicide jet attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon last week, but appealed to the United States not to endanger innocent people in a military retaliation. Zaeef also called for an investigation into the attacks by the United Nations, telling reporters President Bush's ultimatum poses great danger for Muslims. "It has angered Muslims of the world and can plunge the whole region into a crisis," Zaeef said. "We are ready to cooperate if we are shown evidence. If American agencies are bent on putting the blame on bin Laden, then they won't be able to catch the real culprits." The Taliban envoy added that his government was ready if necessary to defend the country against American attack. "If they want to show their might, we are ready and we will never surrender before might and force," he said. "According to Islam, the blood of anyone who spies for the enemy or sympathizes with it in time of war must be shed." The Taliban, a devoutly Muslim religious militia that controls about 95 percent of the country, have allowed bin Laden to live in Afghanistan ever since the government of Sudan pressured him to leave. The Taliban leadership say they are able to convey information to bin Laden through radio communication with Taliban security personnel who travel with him. © 2001 The Associated Press ********************************* Taliban have sealed their own fate. Best Regards, J.T.