U.S. seeks deal with Taliban over Bin Laden
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, November 6, 2000
WASHINGTON — Western diplomats said the United States has offered to try Bin Laden in
a third country if he is handed over by the Taliban, which has harbored him for
more than two years.
The proposal was submitted to the ruling Taliban faction in Afghanistan
during talks in Islamabad with U.S. diplomats. The talks were arranged by
Pakistan, an ally of the Taliban.
Taliban said it cannot extradite Bin Laden unless he is
assured what it termed Islamic justice. Bin Laden is accused of
masterminding the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies and is suspected of
sponsoring the Oct. 12 attack on the USS Cole in Aden.
In the latest talks, the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan William Milam met
Taliban ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Salim Zayif on Thursday. U.S. officials
said the request came from the Taliban movement.
The meeting came amid reports by Arab diplomatic sources that the United
States has moved forces in Afghanistan in search of Bin Laden. The sources
said U.S. reconnaissance planes also flew over suspected Bin Laden hideouts.
Officials said Milam denied Taliban charges that the United States was
planning an attack in Afghanistan. After the meeting, Taliban sources said
the likelihood of a U.S. attack on Bin Laden's hideout in Afghanistan
appears to have diminished in wake of the talks.
Monday, November 6, 2000
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