ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: Coalition spokesman Kenton Keith on Friday welcomed the fall of Kandahar and refuted reports that interim prime minister Hamid Karzai had granted amnesty for Mulla Omar who, he said, should be brought to justice.

At his daily briefing, Mr Keith quoted Mr Karzai as saying that “we cannot help him; he must face trial.”

Mr Keith said the coalition believed that those who had sponsored and supported international terrorism must be brought to justice , and that applied to Mullah Omar also.

He termed the fall of Kandahar “ excellent news for the Afghan people.”

He said: “We must see how the handover proceeds but if it is done peacefully, bloodshed will be avoided and lives will be saved.” He maintained that there was now no reason for pockets of Taliban fighters elsewhere in Afghanistan to hold out, and added that they should lay down arms.

The coalition, Mr Keith said, would continue in its efforts to track down Osama bin Laden and destroy the Al Qaeda terrorist network, which was given shelter and support by the Taliban regime.

Asked about Mr Karzai’s statement that Mulla Omar would be granted amnesty if he renounced terrorism, Mr Keith said it would not be enough.

About the whereabouts of Mulla Omar, he said the coalition believed he was still in Kandahar.

On reports about Al Zawahri’s killing, he said they had heard that he had succumbed to his wounds, but added that the coalition could not confirm it.

He said it was a matter of concern that armed Taliban were now making desert their hideout.

About foreign fighters, Mr Keith said the coalition position was that those who were involved in international terrorism must brought to justice. “That position hasn’t changed and, by the way, I don’t think that is inconsistent with what Mr Karzai has said,” he added.