Bush Swiftly Rejects Taliban Offer as Targets in Four Cities Are Hit

The third most powerful figure in the Taliban, Deputy Prime Minister Haji Abdul Kabir, said Sunday that the militia was willing to hand bin Laden over to a third nation if the United States offers evidence against him and halts the bombing. President Bush quickly rejected the offer.

"There is nothing to negotiate about. They are harboring a terrorist,'' Bush told reporters.

The Bush administration has repeatedly refused any conditions on its demands that the Taliban surrender bin Laden and his al-Qaida terror movement -- suspected in the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States. The United States launched the bombardment of Afghanistan on Oct. 7 after the Taliban refused for weeks to comply.

Al-Qaida has released three videotaped statements since the start of the air campaign, the latest on Saturday, warning of new terror attacks against the United States.

"There's no need to discuss innocence or guilt,'' Bush added. "We know he's guilty.''