Bin Laden reported under house arrest in Afghanistan

Bin Laden, at a training camp at a secret location, aims a weapon. This image is taken from a video made by his organisation

Reports are emerging of the arrest of the man suspected of orchestrating the kamikaze attacks on the US.

An Arabic online newspaper is claiming the Taliban have placed Mr Osama bin Laden under house arrest.

Quoting "fundamentalist Arab sources", Ilafsaid: "Taliban have arrested Osama bin Laden before placing him under surveillance with several of his assistants," including the head of the Egyptian branch of Al-Jihad, Mr Ayman Al-Zawahri and Mr bin Laden's military commander, Mr Muhammad Atef Al-Makni.

"A number of Afghan fighters are under house arrest along with bin Laden," said the report. However, a diplomat at the Taliban's embassy in Abu Dhabi has refused to confirm the report.

About his handover, we can talk about that in the second phase. Mr Abdul Salam Zaeef

"All we know is that he [bin Laden] is somewhere in Afghanistan, but we are not aware if he is under house arrest," the diplomat said.

Mr Bin Laden and Commander Atef have been indicted for the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Mr Bin Laden has emerged as the prime suspects in Tuesday's kamikaze hijacked passenger jet strikes on New York and Washington.

Earlier, the Taliban promised it would consider extraditing Mr bin Laden if provided with sufficient proof of the his involvement in the attacks.

"We can study the evidence and take action in light of that," the country’s ambassador to neighbouring Pakistan, Mr Abdul Salam Zaeef, told reporters when asked about bin Laden's possible extradition.

He said the first step would be to discuss whatever evidence, if any, may be provided to link bin Laden to the devastating terrorist attacks against landmarks in New York and Washington yesterday morning.

All activities of Osama are controlled by us. He cannot speak on the telephone, he has no Internet or satellite phone facilities to contact anyone. Mr Abdul Salam Zaeef

"About his handover, we can talk about that in the second phase," Mr Zaeef said.

But he stressed that so far the United States had not officially accused Mr bin Laden of yesterday’s attacks.

The ambassador also reiterated that bin Laden was incapable of carrying out such sophisticated operations from his base in Afghanistan, where he is protected as the Taliban's honoured "guest".

"All activities of Osama are controlled by us. He cannot speak on the telephone, he has no Internet or satellite phone facilities to contact anyone," Mr Zaeef said.

AFP &