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| The Alliance |
| Muslim support wavering... |
| 2001-09-23 |
There are growing signs that support in the Muslim world for the US-led war on terrorism is wavering in the absence of concrete proof of Osama bin Laden's complicity in the attacks on New York and Washington. Officials in Pakistan say the only information they have received from the United States on bin Laden's links to terrorism has been related to the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. To date, nothing solid has been communicated regarding evidence collected on the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. For their part, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, who have sheltered bin Laden since 1996, have said they would be willing to consider putting the Saudi-born dissident on trial if the United States can provide convincing evidence of his guilt. Washington has firmly rejected the Taliban's stance, insisting that they hand bin Laden over into US custody immediately or face the consequences. At the same time, the US authorities have fended off the requests for evidence, citing the importance of discretion in conducting the investigation into the September 11 terrorist atrocities. The initial outpouring of sympathy from the Muslim world for the victims of the attacks on the United States has in recent days been replaced by a concern bordering on hostility over the scope of the planned retaliation. Former Pakistan foreign minister Sartaj Aziz said Sunday the issue of evidence was crucial given US preparations for military action against Afghanistan and possible reprisals against targets in other Muslim countries. Given the religious sensitivities inherent in the current crisis, Aziz said the United States ought to present its findings to some international judicial body before unleashing its military machine. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |