White House rules out Taliban negotiations

The White House chief of staff has rejected negotiations with the Taliban over Osama bin Laden.

Taliban leaders say they have bin Laden at a secret location and are willing to negotiate if the US provides evidence of his involvement.

White House chief of staff Andrew Card, however, says there will be no negotiations and the Taliban know what they have to do.

He said: "The president has said we're not negotiating. We've told the Taliban government what they should be doing.

"They've got to turn not only Osama bin Laden over but all of the operatives of the al-Qaida organisation. They've got to stop being a haven where terrorists can train."

Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, Abdul Salam Zaeef, has admitted that bin Laden is under the regime's control.

He said: "Osama bin Laden is in Afghanistan in an unknown place for his safety and security. He's under the control of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and only security people know where he is."

Mr Zaeef went on to criticise the US for demanding bin Laden but failing to provide evidence linking him to the September 11 attacks.