The leader of the ruling Taleban movement in Afghanistan, Mullah Mohammed Omar, has called on Afghans to cease their demonstrations against the United Nations and United States.

There have been violent protests in the last few days in many Afghan cities against UN sanctions.

They were imposed on Sunday because of the Taleban's refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden who's been indicted on terrorist charges in America.

Sanctions were imposed over the refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden

The United Nations has yet to calculate exactly how much damage has been caused to its offices in the recent demonstrations.

But several were stormed and one was torched.

The UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Afghanistan, Eric de Mull, is in Kabul to discuss the situation with the Taleban.

He said they had apologised for the damage and promised to pay compensation.

Mr De Mull said that such violence had been common during the pre-Taleban period and although there had been serious looting when Taleban forces took control of the towns of Bamiyan and Mazaar-e-Sharif, that had been in the midst of fighting.

He said this was the first time they had experienced violence under full Taleban control and during peace time.

US conspiracy

The leader of the Taleban, Mullah Mohammed Omar, made no direct mention the violence in his statement to the Afghan people.

He said the country was the victim of American-inspired sanctions and Washington had provoked the feelings of the entire Muslim world.

But he said God had promised to feed mankind and there was nothing Bill Clinton could do to prevent it.

Mullah Omar said President Clinton hadn't the compassion to appreciate the Afghan demonstrations and protesters should stop their actions.