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Taliban Again Deny Capture of U.S. Troops
Tuesday, October 02, 2001
(6:46 PM CT)
Afghan News Network

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan
Afghanistan's ruling Taliban have again denied that any US special forces are operating in areas under their control - or that any American soldiers have been taken captive.

Qatar's Al-Jazeera television reported that Afghan security forces had arrested three American soldiers and two Afghan guides in western Afghanistan, near the border with Iran.

"We are fully alert and are in full control of all borders," Mulla Abdul Salam Zaeef said on Monday.

The US has declined to confirm or deny the report. A Pentagon spokesman said: "We've seen the stories and we are not going to get into the habit of commenting on every story that comes out of the region."

Al-Jazeera's correspondent says he was contacted by a source from Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda organisation who said the Taleban had detained the team of five, who were on a reconnaissance mission.
(More: Afghan News Network News Source)
Afghan News Network - © 2001

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