The Taleban will never co-operate with the US-backed government in Afghanistan even if their leader is given the presidency, a man claiming to represent the hard-liners said on Wednesday.
The remarks followed overtures from the United States-led coalition which ousted the Taleban in late 2001, who are now engaged in guerrilla attacks against foreign forces and aid workers.
"The Taleban will never join the current government on any condition, even if we were given every government position," the man, who calls himself Mohammad Saiful Adel, said by telephone from south-eastern Afghanistan.
"We will not co-operate with the government as long as there is a single foreign soldier in Afghanistan. We want them gone.
"Even if Mullah Omar is given the presidency, we will never co-operate with the Jews and the Christians," he added.
Earlier Wednesday, US military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Hilferty said there were moderates among the Taleban with whom the US would be prepared to co-operate.