The US Secretary of State would not rule out eventual talks with Afghanistan's Taliban if Osama bin Laden is expelled and action is taken against other alleged terrorists in the country.
"We don't see a basis to initiate a conversation but that may well be a possibility if they are prepared to do what is required," said Colin Powell.
This appears to be a slight softening of the United States' position. A White House had earlier said that today's recommendation by Afghanistan's clerics that Osama bin Laden should be asked to leave the country does not meet their requirements.
Ari Fleischer said this was more than allowing one man to exchange one safe harbour for another. He repeated that the United States wanted action, and not words.
Afghanistan's ruling Taliban had indicated that it would accept the clerics' recommendation, but that it needed time. The millionaire Islamic extremist has been staying as a guest of the country since being ejected from Sudan and his native country Saudi Arabia.
Over 1,000 Islamic clerics were meeting in Kabul over the last two days to discuss US and UN demands to hand over bin Laden. "To avoid the current tumult and also future similar suspicions, the high council of the honorable ulema (clerics) recommends to the Islamic Emirate (of Afghanistan) to persuade Osama bin Laden to leave Afghanistan whenever possible," said the edict issued after the two-day meeting of clerics. Bin Laden should find another place to live, the verdict said.
Thousands of people in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania were killed on 11 September, when four planes were hijacked. Two were ploughed into New York's World Trade Centre, one crashed into the Pentagon and one crashed near Pittsburgh.
