US says Taliban may poison humanitarian supplies

The Pentagon says the Taliban may poison humanitarian food supplies and blame the US.

It says it has obtained information the Taliban intends to take that course of action.

Rear Admiral John Stufflebeem says reports the US would do that are categorically false.

The deputy director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff adds: "It's beyond our comprehension that we would poison a food source.

"But we have obtained information the Taliban might poison food and try to blame the US."

He says the Taliban are proving to be tough warriors.

"We are in an environment they are obviously experts in and is extremely harsh," he says.

"I'm a bit surprised at how doggedly they are hanging on to power.

"For Mullah Omar to not see the inevitability of what will happen surprises me.

"But we are prepared to take as long as necessary to bring the Taliban down."