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Taliban defies Bush, refuses to turn over bin Laden


By Amir Zia / Associated Press

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   ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Afghanistan's Taliban rulers today again refused to hand over reputed terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden without proof and warned that U.S. attempts to apprehend him by force could plunge the region into crisis.
   The refusal by the hard-line Afghan leadership, which has sheltered bin Laden for the last five years, was announced by the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, Abdul Salam Zaeef. He spoke after President Bush warned Afghanistan that it must hand over bin Laden and his lieutenants "or they will share their fate."
   However, there was no sign that Bush's warning was enough to convince Afghanistan's rulers to move against bin Laden.
   "If America has proof, we are ready for the trial of Osama bin Laden in light of the evidence," Zaeef said. Asked if the Taliban were ready to hand bin Laden over, he snapped "No" but his translator said, "No, not without evidence."
   Zaeef called for an investigation into the attacks by the United Nations.
   The envoy also said he had no information on bin Laden's current whereabouts.
   However, the Taliban leadership has said they are able to convey information to bin Laden through radio communication with Taliban security personnel who travel with him.