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.