<

Bin Laden Not in Pakistan, Musharraf Says
Monday, July 1, 2002
(11:58 AM ET)
Reuters

Evidence the Saudi-born militant was alive came in the form of a letter he wrote to his operations chief, Abu Zubaydah, which was found among the papers that Zubaydah was carrying when he was arrested in Pakistan in March, Time reported.

ISLAMABAD -- Reuters
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said on Monday he thought al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was probably not alive, but if he was he could not be in Pakistan.

"If he was alive, he obviously would be moving with a large entourage of local people and therefore they would like to have a safe haven, a large area for themselves," Musharraf told a news conference.

"He cannot be hiding in one small corner of Pakistan in the border areas, and his remaining there without being found is also impossible."

"Therefore I think Osama bin Laden cannot possibly be in Pakistan if he is alive," he said. "I still doubt if he is alive, but if he is alive he cannot be in Pakistan."

There has been speculation bin Laden could have fled from Afghanistan to neighboring Pakistan and taken shelter either in the country's lawless tribal areas or even its vast cities.
(More: iWon.com News Source)
2002 © Reuters, Ltd.

Dan