The Taliban regime said Sunday it was watching the activities of Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden and that he would not be allowed to launch attacks on foreign targets from Afghanistan, said reports.
"All of Osama’s activities are under control. He has no facilities to use Afghan territory against any country," foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Usman Sheryar said, quoted by AFP.
The United States issued a warning Saturday to its citizens and put its naval fleet on alert following threats of attacks against US interests by forces linked to Bin Laden.
It followed reports from the Middle East that fighters of the Saudi-born dissident, who lives in Afghanistan, were preparing to strike US and Israeli interests around the world.
Dubai's satellite television station on Saturday reported that Bin Laden's fighters were "on a state of alert."
"I met with Bin Laden near Kandahar (Afghanistan) over the last few days, and his main supporters said in front of him that there will be a big surprise over the next two weeks," a correspondent for the Arab television station said.
"It will be a hard hit against US and Israeli targets across the world."
On Saturday, a Marine Corps exercise was canceled in Jordan, after Army General Tommy Franks placed US forces in the region on the highest anti-terrorist alert, Threatcon Delta.
In addition, the US State Department said it was cautioning US citizens abroad of an "increased risk."
The alert is in response to a "nonspecific but credible threat" from Bin Laden's group.
Bin Laden has been indicted by the United States for allegedly masterminding the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam that together killed 224 people.
US authorities also suspect Bin Ladan was behind a suicide bombing of the Navy destroyer USS Cole that killed 17 US servicemen and women and injured 39 in the attack on October 12, 2000.
The exiled Saudi millionaire is believed to be taking refuge in Afghanistan, where the ruling Taliban movement has refused to turn him over to Western powers.
A videotape that surfaced on Thursday showed Bin Laden delivering a message to his supporters.
"To all the Mujahedeen, your brothers in Palestine are waiting for you, it's time to penetrate America and Israel and hit them where it hurts most."
Officials said US intelligence had indications from two separate sources that an attack was planned, and had monitored the movement of known Bin Laden operatives – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
