US denies Afghanistan asked it to end bombing raids

The United States has received no request from Afghanistan's interim government to stop bombing the country, a spokesman for …

The United States has received no request from Afghanistan's interim government to stop bombing the country, a spokesman for the US diplomatic mission in Kabul said today.

Asked if any request had been made of the diplomatic mission, he replied: "No".

Earlier it was reported that Afghanistan was demanding the US halt its bombing, possibly within days, since almost all remaining border hideouts of the Taliban and Osama bin Laden have been destroyed.

Their remaining forces are few in number and may be annihilated in a maximum of three days and once this is done there is no need for the continuation of the bombing, spokesman Mr Mohammad Habeel told reporters.

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"We demand America stop its bombing of Afghanistan after this goal is achieved", he said.

"Without the approval of local commanders and the Defence Ministry, America cannot bomb Afghanistan at will", he said.

His remarks come a day after a tribal elder said interim leader, Mr Hamid Karzai, would ask the United States to halt aerial attacks on an eastern province where a convoy was bombed with heavy losses.

The convoy - apparently double-crossed - came under attack in eastern Paktia province last Thursday as it was apparently en route to the inauguration of Mr Karzai's government at the weekend, leaving about 65 people dead.