December 11, 2001	Tuesday	Ramazan 25, 1422

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KABUL, Dec 10: The newly-restored governor of Kandahar province has called a meeting of tribal elders to decide whether Mullah Mohammad Omar and Osama bin Laden should be tried by a tribal court or handed over to the United States.

Gul Lali, an aide to governor Gul Agha, said on Monday Agha planned to hold a meeting as soon as possible of tribal elders and commanders to discuss how to bring Omar and Osama bin Laden to justice.

Omar, who was based in Kandahar throughout his time as supreme leader, has left the province, according to a Taliban official. But the US said over the weekend it is sure Omar and Osama were still in Afghanistan.

Osama is thought to be hiding in mountains in the east of the country. “Now he (Agha) has complete control of Kandahar he will call a meeting of tribal and religious leaders,” Lali said.

“In the meeting, we will decide what is the decision of the Afghan people for Mullah Omar and Osama. They will be tried in a tribal court or they will be tried as the Americans say.

“They are terrorists and must be treated like terrorists.”

Omar, who was based in Kandahar throughout his time as supreme leader, has left the province, according to a Taliban official. But the US said over the weekend it is sure Omar and Osama were still in Afghanistan.

Osama is thought to be hiding in mountains in the east of the country. Agha began work in the governor’s residence in Kandahar amid unconfirmed reports that a US military convoy was heading towards the city.

He assumed power on Sunday after talks between Afghanistan’s leader-in-waiting Hamid Karzai and Mullah Naqibullah, the man who was handed control of the province after the surrender of the Taliban last week.—AFP