Bin laden, Mulla Omar alive and in good health: Media reports

NEW DELHI, June 16 (UNI) Terrorist mastermind and Al Qaida chiefOsama bin Laden and Taliban leader Mulla Mohammad Omar, on the runfrom the US forces for more than three years, are alive and ingood health, a senior Taliban "commander" has said.

"Bin laden is absolutely fine, praise be to Allah...

There is no problem, but I will not say where he is," Mulla Akhtar Usmani was quoted as saying in the leading Pakistani English daily 'The News'.

Mulla Omar still remains in command of the Taliban, added Usmani, reportedly Mulla Omar's former deputy and now the head of Taliban operations.

Whether Bin Laden was hiding in parts of Afghanistan still under Taliban control, Usmani refused to specify where the terrorist mastermind was and insisted that he was fine.

Referring to Mulla Omar by his self-proclaimed title "Ameerul Momineen", Usmani said,"he is alive, healthy and there is no trouble.

He is alright." "Ameerul Momineen' is our chief and leader.

No one is against him.

There is no problem.

He is my commander.

He gives me instructions," Usmani added.

The newspaper quoting Taliban spokesman Abdul Latif Hakimi confirmed that Usmani, a former aviation minister and corps commander in southern Kandahar province, was close to the Taliban supremo.

"We confirm and support the details of what Usmani has said," The News quoting Hakimi said.

Usmani said he was in constant contact with the military and political leadership of the Taliban, adding that they hold regular meetings.

"There are regular meetings but Mulla Omar does not attend.

For decisions, contact is made with him," Usmani said.

"Our discipline is strong.

We have regular meetings.

We make programmes," he said.

The Taliban had lost around 400 to 500 men since their toppling in the late 2001, Usmani said.

"But the movement is still active in all parts of Afghanistan, particularly in eastern, southern and southwestern provinces...

80 per cent of the Afghan people are with us.

They were not with us earlier, but having seen the atrocities by the US they have come to know that America is our enemy," he added