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 Iran supports anti-terrorist campaign but not US control
Iran is ready to take part in a United Nations-sponsored anti-terrorist campaign but will not assist the United States in any reprisal strikes.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mukhsin Aminzod, announced the decision after a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov.
"We will not help the United States with a [military] operation but if there is a UN program against terrorism, we are ready to take part in it," he said.
| MULTIMEDIA |
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Eight detained foreign aid workers will be back in court tomorrow in Kabul.Tom O'Byrne reports.
The taliban, which said days ago it had no idea where Osama bin Laden was, now claims to have delivered him a message.Tom O'Byrne reports. |
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"If this [UN] operation is to be carried out under US command, we will not take part in it."
Mr Aminzod says he does not think an "offensive on Afghanistan alone can end terrorism".
Washington has been considering strikes against Afghanistan, a country mostly controlled by the Islamist Taliban regime, which it accuses of giving shelter to terror suspect Osama bin Laden.
On Wednesday, White House officials said Washington remained open to exploring anti-terrorism cooperation with Iran.
However, they warned the Islamic republic to choose sides in the coming war on global terrorism soon.
Taliban
The Taliban Government in Afghanistan says it has located Saudi-born extremist Osama bin Laden and given him a message asking him to leave the country.
Sky News is reporting that the Taliban have confirmed it has located bin Laden, after saying earlier this week they were not aware of his location.
A meeting of Afghanistan's top Islamic clerics on September 20 ruled that bin Laden be asked to leave the country voluntarily.
That message has now been delivered to the man the United States considers to be the number one suspect in the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on September 11.
The decision of the clerics to ask bin Laden to leave Afghanistan came in response to a demand by US President George W Bush for the Taliban to hand bin Laden over.
Pakistani delegation
Meanwhile, a delegation of Pakistan's top religious leaders have arrived in Afghanistan in a bid to convince the Taliban leadership to hand over Osama bin Laden, or risk a war with the United States.
The last ditch effort coincides with a similar move being considered by the American human rights cleric, Jesse Jackson.
The Pakistan team comprises the heads of the country's five biggest Islamic political parties.
Until now, they have held rallies across the country warning of a jihad, or holy war, against anyone who attacks their Muslim neighbour.
 This peace mission represents a major shift in policy with foreign office spokesman, Riaz Mohammed Khan saying the Government is encouraged by the development.
"If any prominent personalities or anybody who wishes to play a role to sensitise further the Taliban Government to what the international community's expecting from them, that would be a welcome role from our point of view, that would be a positive role from our point of view," he said.
Meanwhile, the American religious figure, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, is still mulling over his invitation apparently from the Taliban embassy in Pakistan to go to Afghanistan in a bid to negotiate a resolution to the stand-off.
Indonesia
In other news, protesters in Indonesia have burned US flags and an effigy of President George W Bush outside the American embassy in Jakarta.
| MULTIMEDIA |
| One of Indonesia's largest Muslim groups has admitted receiving funds from Osama bin Laden's terrorist organisation. Mark Bowling reports.
Thousands of Muslims have massed in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, and are planning to march on the US embassy there. Ginny Stein reports. |
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Anti-American calls are growing louder and outside the US embassy in Jakarta protesters vented their anger and called for a jihad, or holy war.
Hundreds of young Indonesians have signed up as volunteers to go to Afghanistan to fight with the Taliban.
Despite efforts by Indonesian police to increase security for the American community, some US diplomats are preparing to leave Indonesia.
The US Government has authorised some staff and all diplomatic family members to leave after threats by radical Islamic groups to round up and attack Americans.
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