The Taleban is reported to have said its leader Mullah Mohammed Omar and al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and are inside Afghanistan and in good health.
The claim, which could not be independently confirmed, was carried by Al-Jazeera television today (Wednesday), as well as by the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP).
The media provided no further details on the whereabouts of the two leaders, who continue to elude U-S special forces operating inside Afghanistan.
Earlier, U-S Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld conceded that the suspected terrorist mastermind of the September terrorist attacks in the United States had not yet been found. But Mr. Rumsfeld was cautiously optimistic Mr. bin Laden and Taleban Supreme Leader Mullah Omar would be captured eventually.
Mr. Rumsfeld also said that finding the two men is now the top U-S priority.