Bin Laden is still alive: Omar
[ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2002 2:19:27 PM ]

MOSCOW: Fugitive Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar told a Russian weekly published on Wednesday that al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was still alive and vowed that the "fire" of war will burn down Washington.

"Osama was helping us during the war with the Russians, and he will not abandon us now," Omar told Argumenty i Fakty in an interview which the weekly said was conducted by e-mail.

Omar gave no indication where bin Laden may be hiding and refused to accept his responsibility for the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States.

"Until a person is tried, he is not guilty," Omar said. "I will not take their (the US) word for it."

He also warned that more terrorist attacks will come against US targets unless Washington abandons its military campaign in Afghanistan.

"If America does not stop its unjust war against Islam, events similar to those of September 11 will definitely repeat themselves on its soil, and not once," Omar said.

He dismissed speculation that the Taliban's resistance in Afghanistan has been all but erased.

"We have suffered only minimal losses and are still ready to fight," he said. "A holy war i only beginning. The fire of this war will reach America and burn down its capital."