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Taliban's Omar calls for jihad against U.S.+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)ISLAMABAD, Jan. 9_(Kyodo) _ Taliban Supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has renewed a call for jihad against the United States, saying it is the only way to safeguard the Islamic world, the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press reported Monday. In a message on the eve of the pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, read out over the telephone by Muhammad Hanif, claiming to be a spokesman of the Taliban, Omar asked Muslims worldwide to be prepared for the "sacrifice of jihad." "Muslims should be ready...jihad is the only way to protect the Islamic world," he was quoted as saying in his statement. Omar has been in hiding since the collapse of the Taliban rule in November 2001 and carries a $25 million reward on his head. "The United States has forcibly occupied the real and financial resources of the Muslim world so jihad has become obligatory for Muslims in light of the Holy Koran. If Muslims remain quiet at this juncture, it would only mean the success of the United States," he was quoted as saying. He was quoted as promising an intensification of attacks on U.S. targets in Afghanistan during the new calendar year and said the Taliban would soon force the Americans to leave Afghanistan. |