Osama Bin Laden Splits From Taliban, says Iranian Daily
November 19, 2001

TEHERAN, Nov 19: An Iranian daily reported today that Osama bin Laden has separated himself from Taliban but is still in Afghanistan.

The daily Entekhab quoted an unnamed Taliban official as saying that Osama bin Laden was in southwest Afghanistan trying to form new guerrilla groups to confront United States forces.

Taliban leader Mulla Mohammad Omar was also alive and in the Kandahar area, Taliban official said.

The Iranian television network IRIB had reported earlier that the U.S. was trying to push Osama bin Laden and Omar into a trap in the Filkuh Mountains in southwest Afghanistan.

Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban leader were apparently attempting to get into Pakistan and hide in areas dominated by Pashtun tribesmen. (Dawn Newspapers - Pakistan) (Posted @ 13:15 PST)