Taliban to Islamic conference: U.S.-led strikes 'a violation against

Taliban to Islamic conference: U.S.-led strikes 'a violation against all Muslims'

Associated Press, Kabul

Afghanistan's Taliban rulers appealed to fellow Islamic nations Wednesday to help stop United States-led strikes, calling the American military actions terrorism and a "a violation against all Muslims."

The letter by Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil was sent Wednesday to an emergency session of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Qatar.

"Stop this tragic attack by America," the letter to the 52- nation conference implored. "This attack is a warning to all Muslim nations and to the region."

Two Qatari diplomats involved in the conference, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press in Qatar on Wednesday that letter had not been received.

The letter condemned the attacks on Afghanistan launched Sunday by the U.S.-led coalition and said U.S. President George W. Bush's use of the word "crusade" last month showed the United States was targeting Islam, not terrorism.

"It is our idea that the attacks on Afghanistan is state- sponsored terrorism the same as they committed against Iraq and the Palestinians in an attempt to wipe out Islam," the letter said.

It mentioned Taliban offers to negotiate, which Bush rejected. He warned before the strikes that the Taliban would face consequences if they didn't hand over Saudi exile Osama bin Laden, top suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon.

Muttawakil's letter said a military operation "against an Islamic sovereign nation like Afghanistan ... is against the humanitarian laws of the world."

At the meeting in Doha, Qatar, Muslim leaders questioned Wednesday whether the evidence supports the strikes on Afghanistan or if "innocent civilians" are suffering in the war on terrorism.

Qatar's Emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, presiding over the conference, condemned the Sept. 11 attacks but said retaliation "should not extend to any but those who carried out those attacks."

Islamic nations are also wary of suggestions by the United States that it could broaden its military action to other countries.

Only one country in the world, Pakistan, recognizes the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.