Taliban: We will never hand over bin Laden

A Taliban official is reported to have said his government will never hand over Osama bin Laden and will fight America if necessary for 100 years.

Abdul Salam Zaeef, Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, made the comments during a dinner at his residence here.

He also stated the Taliban will not stop Pakistanis or other Muslims from going to Afghanistan to join in the war against the U.S.-led coalition.

"We will never hand over Osama to America," Zaeef said. He also denied allegations bin Laden's al-Qaida network maintain terrorist camps in Pakistan.

"Arabs live in Afghanistan, but they have no such camps which can be used against any other country," Zaeef said. "If necessary, Afghans will fight for 100 years, but they won't abandon Islam. Jihad is now mandatory."

Pakistan has repeatedly asked the Taliban not to recruit Pakistanis in their ranks.