BBC News Online: World: South Asia

Key anti-Taleban leader calls for help

The US has supplied Hamid Karzai with ammunition

He said he had entered southern Afghanistan several weeks ago, and was safe and well in the southern part of central Uruzgan province after walking for three days to evade capture by Taleban forces.

The influential Pashtun leader he said he could defeat the Taleban without outside help, but needed assistance to help the country "regain independence" from Arabs and other foreigners.

"I want these foreign terrorist elements out of my country, I want it to belong to Afghans," he said.

He also called for an end to US bombing, and asked for the kind of help provided by foreign governments during the war against the Soviet Union in the 1980s.

A member of the same clan as the king, Mr Karzai is now seen as the best hope for building an alternative ethnic Pashtun power base to the Taleban.

Another similar mission, led by former mujahedin leader Abdul Haq, ended in disaster.

Haq and several companions were captured and executed after their hideout south of the capital Kabul was surrounded by Taleban forces and a US rescue attempt by helicopter failed.

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Tuesday that the Pashtun leader had been "extracted" and was holding consultations in Pakistan.

But Mr Karzai denied this.

Giving his own version of events last week, Mr Karzai said local people had warned him of an attack by "mostly Arab forces" and he had time to prepare.

"Now I'm stabilised and better and doing absolutely good," he said.

"I'm determined to stay on. I trust in God, I'm sure God is going to help the Afghan people regain their country."