Washington - An official from Afghanistan's Taliban said here yesterday that the accused Saudi terrorist, Mr Osama bin Laden, is no longer in territory controlled by it.
"He is not in the area in control of the Taliban," Mr Abdul Hakkim Mujahid, the Taliban's New York-based representative told reporters at the State Department after meeting the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Mr Karl Inderfurth.
"He decided himself to leave, we do not know where he is," Mr Mujahid said, adding that bin Laden had left Taliban control on Friday or Saturday.
Mr Inderfurth was "seeking further information on the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden" and was to "reiterate the strong message that. . . bin Laden must be brought to justice for his crimes," the State Department spokesman, Mr James Foley, said.
