Military

DATE=12/06/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=AFGHAN/RUMSFELD (L)

NUMBER=2-283964

BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says Taleban leader Mullah Mohamed Omar must not be allowed to go free in return for a negotiated surrender of the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. More from Correspondent Alex Belida at the Pentagon.

TEXT: Mr. Rumsfeld says the United States has made its views clear to anti-Taleban forces - Mullah Omar does not deserve freedom.

Mr. Rumsfeld says he is not aware of any deal in the making that involves Kandahar that would be inconsistent with U-S desires. But he says American military and other cooperation with anti-Taleban groups would suffer if there was one.

/// RUMSFELD ACT ///

Our cooperation and assistance with those people would clearly take a turn for the south (deteriorate) if something were to be done in respect to the senior people in that situation that was inconsistent with what I have said.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Rumsfeld says the United States remains committed to bringing senior Taleban and al-Qaida terrorist leaders to justice.

But he declines to say explicitly that the Bush administration wants to take Mullah Omar into custody, possibly to stand trial before a U-S military tribunal. He suggests other options are possible.

/// RUMSFELD ACT ///

Obviously he (Omar) has been the principal person who has been harboring the al-Qaida network in that country. He does not deserve the medal of freedom.

/// END ACT ///

In the meantime, Mr. Rumsfeld says there has been no let-up in U-S air-strikes aimed at the remaining forces of the Taleban and al-Qaida.

Defense officials say anti-Taleban forces, backed by U-S air support, are closing in on suspected al-Qaida hide-outs in caves and tunnels in eastern Afghanistan. (SIGNED)

NEB/BEL/RAE