Taleban demand proof on Bin Laden

The Taleban call Bin Laden their guest

The leader of Afghanistan's Taleban regime has said Osama Bin Laden - the chief suspect in the attacks on New York and Washington last week - will not be extradited without evidence.

We assure the whole world that neither Osama nor anyone else can use Afghan territory against anyone

Mullah Mohammad Omar

Mullah Mohammad Omar told hundreds of the country's Islamic clerics that Bin Laden did not have the communications links or resources to organise the attacks - and the US should search for what he called the real culprits.

However, Mullah Omar also reportedly said he was ready to hold talks with the US on the issue.

This offer was bluntly dismissed by the Americans. "The president's message to the Taleban is very simple - it's time for action not negotiations," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.

Mullah Omar has accused Washington of using the allegations against Bin Laden as a pretext to attack the Taleban.

The Americans have threatened to attack if the Taleban allow him to remain in Afghanistan.

Decision delayed

Mullah Omar told the clerics, meeting in the capital, Kabul, to decide on Wednesday whether to hand Bin Laden over, according to the Taleban's official Bakhtar news agency.

However, after several hours of talks, the session ended without any firm decision. A Taleban minister said the meeting would resume on Thursday.

The Taleban leadership says it will abide by the clerics' decision.

However, observers say that religious leaders at such meetings usually fall in line with the Taleban's thinking, and so far there does not appear to be any radical shift in that.