-Caveat Lector- <http://www.dawn.com/2001/02/19/top5.htm> Monday, February 19, 2001 24 Ziqa'ad 1421 Kabul agrees to extradite Osama to Saudi Arabia By Rauf Klasra ISLAMABAD, Feb 18: Afghanistan has agreed to extradite Osama bin Laden to his home country Saudi Arabia for trial on charges of terrorism, Dawn learnt from authoritative sources here on Sunday. The offer to shift the Saudi dissident, who has been stripped of his citizenship, was made by Afghan supreme ruler Mulla Mohammad Omar to Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider during his recent visit to Afghanistan. Mr Haider had met the Afghan ruler in Kandahar to request the Taliban government to hand over those Pakistani nationals who had taken refuge in the war-torn country to escape justice. A high-level source said that the issue of Osama's extradition to a third country for trial was not raised by Pakistan. "We never raised the Osama issue; it was raised by no less a person than Mulla Omar during the talks," the source added. "Mulla Omar had proposed handing over of Osama to Saudi Arabia for trial." The source said Mulla Omar had told the Pakistan side that if Saudi Arabia was not willing to accept Osama, because of political repercussion in the country, Kabul was ready to shift the Saudi dissident to "another Muslim country". "The Amir-ul-Momineen ( Mulla Omar) did not disclose the name of the third country," the source added. Washington had earlier asked Pakistan to use its influence with the Taliban regime and convince them to extradite Osama either to the US or to another country where justice can be done. He is accused of masterminding twin US embassy bombing in Africa in 1998 and is among the 10 most wanted men in the US. Although Pakistan apparently refuses to mediate between the Taliban and the US, some concrete evidence suggests that Pakistan is actively involved in mediation to settle the Osama issue, which has brought a lot of miseries to both Afghanistan and Pakistan. The source said Mr Haider was surprised when Mulla Omar offered to extradite Osama to Saudi Arabia. The UN slapped sanctions last month to force the Taliban to hand over Osama. Diplomatic sources believe that the UN sanctions have started taking their toll and it was for this reason that Mulla Omar had offered to hand over Osama to Saudi Arabia for trial. A Muslim diplomat toldDawnthat the third Muslim country, referred to by Mulla Omar, could be the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He said that the unscheduled visit of UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan to Pakistan on Friday should be seen in the background of Mulla Omar's offer. UAE is the only third country after Islamabad and Riyadh, which recognises the Taliban regime. The diplomat said Pakistan, the UAE and Saudi Arabia were jointly discussing the pros and cons of trying Osama in Saudi Arabia or in a third Muslim country ( which could be the UAE)."They are likely to request Washington to accept the new offer made by Mulla Omar," the diplomat added. He , however, feared that Saudi Arabia or the UAE could ill-afford to hold Osama's trial as it could spark violence and destabilise monarchies in these countries. " There is a strong possibility that these countries would jointly approach the Taliban to hand over the 58-year-old Osama directly to some neutral western country like Switzerland to hold the trial of the Saudi dissident on the pattern of Lockerbie trial of two Libyans. The source termed Mulla Omar's offer a significant shift in the policy of Taliban, who had been refusing to extradite Osama, saying that there was no evidence available against him. The Afghan government had also announced that it would face the UN sanctions, saying that such curbs could not force it to change its policy. The Taliban claim that Osama is being closely watched and is not allowed to launch any operation from Afghanistan. The trial of four associates of Osama, who have pleaded not guilty, has already begun in a New York court. Of 18 others, who have been indicted, one has pleaded guilty. � The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2001 ================================================================= Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: *Michael Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends ================================================================= <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! 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