21 January 2005	Friday	10 Zilhaj 1425

ISLAMABAD, Jan 20: Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar has rejected negotiations with US-led forces and the Afghan government and vowed to continue his "holy war", a statement purportedly from the radical cleric said on Thursday.

Mullah Omar, who has evaded a manhunt since his regime was ousted in late 2001 by US-led forces, was apparently referring to indications by President Hamid Karzai that Taliban footsoldiers could be offered an amnesty.

"It is astonishing that on the one hand aggressor armies have occupied our country and on the other they are talking about negotiations with Taliban," Omar said in a statement sent to the private Afghan Islamic Press.

"Taliban are not ready for any negotiations while there is even one aggressor soldier present in the sacred land of Afghanistan," Omar said in an unsigned, computer-composed fax in Pushto.

The statement came on the eve of the Muslim holy day of Eidul Azha. Statements said to be from Omar arrive at Pakistani media offices the day before most religious festivals.

Mullah Omar rejected the suggestions of talks with Taliban as "lies and baseless" and said the militia's members believe in "jihad", or holy war, as a way of life for Muslims.-AFP