June 5, 2002	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 23,1423

WASHINGTON, June 4: The US Central Intelligence Agency has created a new super secret paramilitary unit to target known terrorists and their leaders abroad, a US government official disclosed on Monday.

The CIA already has several paramilitary units trained for the conduct of covert operations, according to the official.

But the new hit team will operate directly under the command of the agency’s counter terrorism center, the brain trust of the US-led war on terror that seeks to eradicate terrorist cells around the world.

“It will really be a more counter terrorist paramilitary force that will focus on terrorists,” the official said.

The number of people in the team, its weaponry and the location of its home base remain highly classified.

The move comes as US and allied forces are stepping up operations along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan to hunt down remnants of the deposed Taliban regime and Al Qaeda network.

US President George W. Bush has repeatedly stated he wants Osama bin Laden “dead or alive.” But so far, he has eluded not only capture but even sightings.

“He is believed to be alive and hiding somewhere in the region along the Afghan-Pakistani border,” the official said.

But the official declined to comment on whether the new team of highly-trained and experienced CIA commandos was be to thrown into action, if US intelligence got “actionable” information about the whereabouts of Osama or his closest associates.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s list of most wanted men currently contains 22 names, including Osama and his presumed right-hand man and chief strategist, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, founder of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad.

Former Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar is also believed to be hiding somewhere in Afghanistan, according to US officials.

The CIA has legal authority to use deadly force against known terror suspects in order to prevent new strikes against US interests, according to legal experts.—AFP