Taliban say scores killed in air attacks

Afghan Taliban Ambassador in Islamabad, Mulla Abdul Salam Zaeef claimed yesterday that only civilians were killed in two days of attacks by U.S. and British warplanes and missiles on the cities of Kabul, Kandahar, Jalalabad, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif on Sunday and Monday.

The envoy said that tens of civilians had been killed in overnight U.S. air strikes and condemned the attacks as acts of "open terrorism."

"Tens of civilians have been killed in attacks on Afghan cities. This is open terrorism, this is not prosecuting so-called terrorists," Zaeef told a press conference.

"We are determined to offer two million martyrs in the name of Islam if need be," he added.

He made clear however that Taliban troops suffered no casualties and the raids failed to weaken the fighting capabilities of the Islamic militia.

Zaeef said Osama bin Laden – the Saudi dissident blamed for the September 11 terrorist attacks in the Unied States – and Taliban supreme leader Mulla Mohammad Omar were safe.

"Osama bin Laden is still inside Afghanistan," he said, condemning the aerial attacks, " I just spoke to him.

The envoy said America wanted to destroy the Islamic system established by the Taliban in accordance with the Sharia law ordained for Muslims fourteen centuries ago.

Ridiculing claims of defections from Taliban ranks, Zaeef said such reports were nothing but "concocted, funny stories."