June 13, 2002	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 1, 1423

MOSCOW, June 12: Taliban leader Mullah Omar told a Russian weekly published on Wednesday that Osama bin Laden was still alive and vowed that the “fire” of war will burn down Washington.

“Osama was helping us during the war with the Russians, and he will not abandon us now,” Omar told Argumenty i Fakty in an interview which the weekly said was conducted by e-mail.

Omar gave no indication where Osama may be hiding and refused to accept his responsibility for the Sept 11 attacks.

“Until a person is tried, he is not guilty,” Omar said. “I will not take their (the US) word for it.”

He also warned that more attacks will come against US targets unless Washington abandons its military campaign in Afghanistan.—AFP