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Taleban leader Omar denies talks | Taleban leader Omar denies talks |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Taleban leader Mullah Omar has denied there are any talks under way to end the insurgency in Afghanistan, a statement from the organisation says. | Taleban leader Mullah Omar has denied there are any talks under way to end the insurgency in Afghanistan, a statement from the organisation says. |
He rejected reports he had written to the king of Saudi Arabia or the Afghan government about ending the conflict, the statement in his name said. | He rejected reports he had written to the king of Saudi Arabia or the Afghan government about ending the conflict, the statement in his name said. |
He said reports that Taleban and Afghan officials had met were part of a propaganda campaign. | He said reports that Taleban and Afghan officials had met were part of a propaganda campaign. |
In an earlier statement Mullah Omar again warned foreign forces to leave. | In an earlier statement Mullah Omar again warned foreign forces to leave. |
'Baseless' | 'Baseless' |
The latest statement is Mullah Omar's first public comment on the issue of negotiations. | The latest statement is Mullah Omar's first public comment on the issue of negotiations. |
Recent reports from Iran and the Middle East had said Mullah Omar wrote to the Saudi king suggesting ways of ending the fighting. | Recent reports from Iran and the Middle East had said Mullah Omar wrote to the Saudi king suggesting ways of ending the fighting. |
In September, former members of the Taleban and Afghan officials were reported to have met at a dinner in Saudi Arabia. | In September, former members of the Taleban and Afghan officials were reported to have met at a dinner in Saudi Arabia. |
The statement, received by the AFP news agency, read: "The truth is that the Afghanistan Islamic Emirate [Taleban] has had no negotiations in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates or anywhere else. | The statement, received by the AFP news agency, read: "The truth is that the Afghanistan Islamic Emirate [Taleban] has had no negotiations in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates or anywhere else. |
"All of these reports are baseless and nothing but planned propaganda by certain circles." | "All of these reports are baseless and nothing but planned propaganda by certain circles." |
Mullah Omar had "not received any letter" from Afghan President Hamid Karzai or the Saudi administration on the issue. | Mullah Omar had "not received any letter" from Afghan President Hamid Karzai or the Saudi administration on the issue. |
The whereabouts of Mullah Omar are unknown. | The whereabouts of Mullah Omar are unknown. |
Last month Mr Karzai called on his US and Nato allies to set a timeline for an end to the conflict. | Last month Mr Karzai called on his US and Nato allies to set a timeline for an end to the conflict. |
He said if Afghans had "no light at the end of the tunnel" they had the right to pursue other options, such as peace negotiations with the Taleban. | He said if Afghans had "no light at the end of the tunnel" they had the right to pursue other options, such as peace negotiations with the Taleban. |
Mr Karzai has regularly pushed for negotiations with Taleban members not linked to al-Qaeda who agree to lay down their arms. | Mr Karzai has regularly pushed for negotiations with Taleban members not linked to al-Qaeda who agree to lay down their arms. |
The Taleban has also regularly rejected calls for talks, saying the 70,000 foreign troops must leave. | The Taleban has also regularly rejected calls for talks, saying the 70,000 foreign troops must leave. |
Earlier this month, Mullah Omar warned the "current armed clashes which now number into tens, will spiral up to hundreds". | Earlier this month, Mullah Omar warned the "current armed clashes which now number into tens, will spiral up to hundreds". |
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