Rumsfeld says Omar unlikely to surrender

Washington - Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar is unlikely to surrender despite being squeezed into an ever-smaller area of…

Washington - Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar is unlikely to surrender despite being squeezed into an ever-smaller area of Afghanistan, the US Defence Secretary, Mr Donald Rumsfeld, said yesterday.

"I can't imagine he will be captured," Mr Rumsfeld said.

Mullah Omar and Osama bin Laden are "contained" around Kandahar, the Northern Alliance said yesterday.

"We think they'll dig in and fight and perhaps fight to the end," US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Richard Myers, said.

Mullah Omar seemed to be coordinating the fight against the US-backed opposition forces but Bin Laden seemed to be concentrating on hiding, Gen Myers said.

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter