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Taliban: "We're preparing for attack"
Associated Press
9/29/01
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Taliban officials held meetings in several areas around Afghanistan on Saturday to prepare the public to defend the country in case of a U.S. attack, Kabul Radio reported.
In a broadcast monitored here, the Taliban-run station said the meetings were held in at least eight provinces.
"Participants expressed their readiness to defend Afghanistan,'' the radio said. "They also expressed their readiness for jihad (holy war) against America.''
Fears of a possible attack have mounted since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon. About 6,000 people are feared to have died in the worst terrorist attacks in American history.
The United States blames the attacks on Saudi exile Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida terrorist network, which is based in Afghanistan. The ruling Taliban have refused to hand him over but have urged him to leave the country voluntarily.
It appeared the meetings were aimed at rallying public support and morale in areas of the country considered likely targets of an American attack. The broadcast gave no further details of the discussions.