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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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