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Karzai says Taliban leader alive, will be caught
( 2002-09-12 16:46 ) (7 )

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has blamed remnants of the Taliban for attempting to kill him last week and said he was convinced the group's leader, Mullah Omar, was still alive.

Speaking to CNN in an interview broadcast on Thursday, Karzai said he did not know whether Omar's al Qaeda ally, Osama bin Laden, was still alive, but he could not go on hiding forever if he was.

"We have to arrest them and put them through justice," Karzai said from New York, where he attended ceremonies on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

"I know Mullah Omar is alive; I don't know about Osama," Karzai said. "I don't know if he's alive or dead. If he's dead good for us, if he's alive we must go and get him."

The United States has accused bin Laden of masterminding the attacks on New York and Washington, but a 11-month campaign in Afghanistan involving US and allied forces has so far failed to track him down.

"They will not go on hiding forever," Karzai said. "One day they will be arrested. Several times we got very close to them + very close to them.

Karzai had no hesitation when asked who he thought was to blame for an attempt on his life in the southern city of Kandahar on September 5.

"The Taliban definitely...they will never stop trying + they are terrorists. Any opportunity they get they will try."

At the same time, Karzai said the Taliban, which ruled Afghanistan for more than five years until its overthrow late last year, was defeated as a movement.

"They are now defeated and just running away from law. They are not a political order any more."

Karzai said the battle against terror in Afghanistan needed to be waged in two ways.

"Way one is to continue with extreme intensity and dedication to fight them. The second thing that we should do is to begin an earnest and strong reconstruction of Afghan life."

Karzai has faced difficulties persuading international donors to hand over desperately needed funds they have pledged to assist reconstruction of Afghanistan after 23 years of war.

While donors pledged $4.5 billion earlier this year, only a fraction of that amount has been disbursed. Donors say they need to see improvements in security before committing funds.

Karzai insisted security was not a problem.

"It is very secure. The countryside is very secure," he said.

Asked about the attempt on his life, he replied: "That is not a question of security + that's an assassination attempt. Something like that can occur at any time, any place."