Omar rejects reports of peace formula

The Taliban's supreme leader yesterday rejected reports he had sent a letter to the Saudi king involving a formula for ending the war in Afghanistan and conditions for talks with the Afghan government.

Mullah Mohammad Omar, who carries a bounty of $10 million by the US for his capture, also denied reports saying members of the Taliban's resurgent movement had held talks with pro-Afghan government officials on ending the conflict.

"The fact is that the Islamic Emirates has neither held any negotiations in Saudi Arabia or in the United Arab Emirates and neither anywhere else," the Taliban's website quoted Omar as saying in a statement.