The leader of the Taliban, Mullah Mohammad Omar, was quoted as calling for a holy struggle against what he called a Western crusade against Afghanistan, and urging rich Muslims to fund the defence of his country. Qatar-based al-Jazeera television quoted Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar as saying "mere suspicion" against Osama bin Laden, named by Washington as the prime suspect in the September 11 attacks, was no justification for attacking either bin Laden or an entire country.

"Merchants and owners of capital, your prime duty is to spend in the way of God," Omar was quoted as saying in a statement broadcast by al-Jazeera.
"In a situation like the one we are in today jihad (holy struggle) becomes a duty for all Muslims against those invaders."
There was no independent confirmation of the authenticity of the statement. Bureau Report