[R-G] Taleban chief taunts foreign foes

[Anthony Fenton]

Taleban chief taunts foreign foes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7150294.stm

Taleban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar has issued a statement taunting  
foreign forces over their capture of a strategic town in southern  
Afghanistan.

The fugitive leader said celebrating such a "minor victory" was "the  
biggest proof of their weakness".

He said his men would "not allow rest for invading forces" during the  
winter.

Last week UK, US and Afghan forces took the town of Musa Qala in  
Helmand province, which was the only major Afghan centre in Taleban  
hands.

Mullah Omar, who has been in hiding since the fall of the Taleban  
regime in 2001, is one of the most-wanted fugitives being hunted by  
US-led forces in Afghanistan.

'Aggressors suffering'

The statement, attributed to the Taleban leader and marking the  
Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, was released to news agencies by the  
Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press.

It said the foreign forces were "celebrating a partial occupation of  
the small district the way they did six years ago over occupation of  
Afghanistan".

He said that only the district headquarters and a few shops were  
occupied.

Mullah Omar said no foreign power had ever conquered Afghanistan,  
adding that the Taleban was getting stronger each day.

The Taleban will continue to fight throughout the harsh Afghan  
winter, said Mullah Omar, refuting reports of any rift in his  
organisation.

"The aggression by the Americans and their allies against Afghanistan  
and Iraq brought with it economic and financial losses that affected  
not just occupied states - the aggressors are also suffering," Mr  
Omar said.

"International institutions and all countries, especially Muslim  
states, should find ways for the evacuation of aggressor forces,  
and... help form a permanent and independent government," the  
statement said.