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US: Hunt still on for bin Laden
06/09/2006 23:23 - (SA)
Washington - The White House said on Wednesday it had confidence Pakistan would continue its hunt for Osama bin Laden, responding to a report that raised questions about Islamabad's efforts to capture the al-Qaeda leader.
An earlier ABC News report cited Pakistan's top army spokesperson, General Shaukat Sultan, as saying bin Laden would not be taken into custody if he agreed to live peacefully in Pakistan.
White House press secretary Tony Snow said it was "simply not true" that "somehow bin Laden or members of al-Qaeda would get a free pass if they kept their noses clean".
Pakistan said on Wednesday it would capture Osama bin Laden if he was found in the country, despite the government's recent peace deal with Islamic militants in a remote, violence-battered region on the Afghan border.
Some observers worry that the pact could provide a haven for militant leaders like bin Laden.
Snow said Pakistan had clarified that "the cease-fire is, in fact, not going to diminish efforts to apprehend Osama bin Laden or bring him to justice".
The ABC report, in which Sultan was questioned about both bin Laden and the peace deal, included a voice recording of Sultan saying that "as long as one is staying like a peaceful citizen, one would not be taken into custody".
A statement from Pakistan's ministry of foreign affairs said Sultan was not referring to bin Laden.
- AP
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