Taliban Says Thousands Will Replace Al-Zarqawi
June 09, 2006
Taliban fighters captured in Afghanistan in 2002 (Bymedia.net)
The statement said Omar and "all Muslims of Afghanistan's resistance" were saddened by the loss of al-Zarqawi, who was killed in a U.S. air strike on June 7.
But it said al-Zarqawi -- the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq -- had achieved his "will and goals" and that there were thousands ready to take his place.
Al-Qaeda has long been an ally of the Taliban, which ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until its ouster by a U.S.-led coalition in late 2001.
Omar has been in hiding ever since.
(compiled from agency reports)