Taliban leader Omar says destruction of America is goal: BBC

0 Comments | Asian Political News, Nov 19, 2001

LONDON, Nov. 16 Kyodo

Taliban leader Mohammed Omar said plans for a large-scale terrorist attack against the United States are in the works during an interview with the BBC on Thursday.

''The current situation in Afghanistan is related to a bigger cause -- that is the destruction of America,'' he was quoted as saying in an interview on the BBC's Pashto service

Omar, who spoke with the BBC via a Taliban intermediary on a satellite phone, did not disclose his location.

''The plan is going ahead and, God willing, it is being implemented...If God's help is with us, this will happen within a short period of time,'' he added.

When pressed on the current situation in Afghanistan, such as the Northern Alliance's control over the capital of Kabul, the Taliban leader stressed, ''It is not important how many provinces we have under our control.''

When asked about possible nuclear, chemical or biological weapons reportedly possessed by Saudi exile and terrorist Osama bin Laden, Omar said, ''This is not a matter of weapons. We are hopeful for God's help. The real matter is the extinction of America.''

Omar also said the Taliban had no interest of participating in a new Afghan government, saying, ''We will not accept a government of wrongdoers. We prefer death than to be a part of an evil government.''