Osama bin Laden ,Handover discussions postponed
The Taliban has said that it had not ruled out the possibility that Osama bin Laden masterminded the terrorist attacks in the United States last week. However, it said that it needed proof before Mr bin Laden could be handed over.
Meanwhile, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is to address the nation tomorrow amid mounting concern in Islamabad at the prospect of attacks by the United States in Afghanistan.
A senior Pakistani delegation returned from Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, today without securing an undertaking that Mr bin Laden would be handed over. However, with some signs of wavering, a meeting of senior Afghan clerics was postponed until tomorrow.
The Pakistanis have been trying to persuade the Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement to hand over Mr bin Laden or face a possible US military strike. There have been reports that members of the Taliban may consider allowing Mr bin Laden to be tried in a neutral Muslim state.
The Taliban has vigorously denied reports that it had declared jihad, or holy war, against the United States, although it reiterated it would do so automatically if Washington attacked.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the Taliban has set conditions for the possible handover of Mr bin Laden. According to reports, the Taliban demanded that he should be allowed to go to a neutral Islamic country to face trial.
As Washington considers a military response to the attacks, it has advised US citizens to stay away from Afghanistan's neighbour, Pakistan. It has also authorised non-essential employees at US diplomatic missions in Pakistan to leave.
