U.S. rejection of clerics' edict upsets Afghans

U.S. rejection of clerics' edict upsets Afghans

KABUL (Agencies): Afghans reacted angrily on Friday to the
U.S. dismissal of moves to force Osama bin Laden out of
Afghanistan, saying the U.S. decision was uniting people behind
the hardline Taliban regime.

The United States rejected an edict of Afghan clerics
recommending the Saudi-born militant -- chief suspect in the
Sept. 11 attacks on the United States -- leave Afghanistan.

U.S. officials said their demands went far beyond one man
leaving Afghanistan.

President George W. Bush said on Thursday he wanted the
Taliban to hand over both bin Laden and senior members of his Al
Qaeda organization, close their training camps and release all
foreigners held by the Taliban -- apparently a reference to eight
aid workers on trial for allegedly promoting Christianity.

"These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion. The
Taliban must act and act immediately. They will hand over the
terrorists, or they will share in their fate," Bush said.

But ordinary Afghans said the rejection of the clerics' edict
indicated the United States wanted to fight Islam.

"We don't like or support the Taliban or Osama, but American's
policy after the ulemas' (clerics') decision is clearly an
indication that this sole world superpower wants to fight against
Islam as the Taliban claimed," said a grocer.

"The U.S. should revise its stubborn decision and no more
bring about a situation whereby youngsters like me join the
Taliban against the devil America," he said.

A council of clerics convened by Taliban ruler Mullah Mohammad
Omar ruled on Thursday that bin Laden should be asked to leave
Afghanistan "whenever possible", apparently leaving the timing up
to the Saudi-born multimillionaire.

"The U.S. has decided to attack Afghanistan and will not
accept whatever flexibility the Taliban show. We are sad about
the U.S. line and really condemn it," said an Afghan university
student.

He called for Washington to see if bin Laden actually does
leave the country, saying that if the Taliban were not serious,
Afghans would back the U.S. position.

"But without any discussions, rejecting it means imposing its
stupid policy on us. Without any deliberation about the issue and
then attacking will rally support behind the Taliban and with
this the U.S. is laying an axe to its own leg," the student said.

But even Pakistan, previously a Taliban ally, seemed to back
the U.S. position. Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said the Afghan
clerics' recommendation that bin Laden leave was "significant but
not a giant step".

The quick U.S. rejection of the hesitant step toward meeting
long-standing international demands to hand over bin Laden dashed
hope among Afghans that a face-saving process was underway to
avoid war.

"People are fleeing because of the U.S. attack and when the
Taliban somehow want to provide a type of opportunity to avoid
it, America turns it down. I condemn it," said a pharmacist.

"The decision of the ulema can be tested first and if not
implemented, then you decide about the next move. The U.S. is
itself a terrorist and despotic government," he said.

In a speech to a joint session of Congress on Thursday, Bush
said the evidence the United States had gathered all pointed to
bin Laden's organization as responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks
and that by "aiding and abetting murder, the Taliban regime is
committing murder".

Elsewhere, opposition forces in Afghanistan on Friday claimed
major territorial gains in two northern provinces, inflicting
heavy losses on the Taliban militia.

Opposition spokesman Mohammad Ashraf Nadeem said "huge
attacks" were launched Thursday afternoon in Hazrat Sultan
district just north of Aibak, the provincial capital of Samangan,
and in the neighboring province of Balkh.

The offensive "liberated large areas" under Taliban control,
Ashraf said, adding fighting was continuing in the south and east
of Balkh.

He put the number of Taliban dead at 180, with 80 more
captured by the opposition forces who suffered only minor
casualties.

According to Nadeem, Taliban forces backed by air strikes
launched counter attacks on Friday morning.

"But they have not been able to advance so far" Nadeem said.

The Afghan Islamic Press quoted another opposition spokesman,
Mohammad Habeel as saying at least 15 Taliban positions had been
seized in the fighting, including the strategic junction of Safed
Kotal.

The opposition assault came just days after the Taliban
launched their heaviest offensive for months in northern
Afghanistan, seeking to exploit the death of strongman Ahmad Shah
Masood.