Afghan official offers amnesty to rebels

KABUL, Afghanistan — The head of Afghanistan's peace and reconciliation commission offered an amnesty on Monday to all rebels fighting U.S. and government forces, and even extended the offer to two of the most wanted Afghan terrorism suspects: the Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar and the renegade warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

A U.S. military spokesman, however, seemed to suggest that the two suspects could not be included in the program.

The Afghan official, Sebaghatullah Mojadeddi, said that even though government policy had formerly excluded people like Omar and Hekmatyar, he had been granted complete independence to act as he saw fit on the matter.

"This peace that we want is for all; there is no exception," Mojadeddi said. "Those who are armed, they should lay down their weapons when they come, accept the constitution, and obey the government. We will accept them with an open heart."

Mojadeddi said that while he did not know how or where to contact Omar or Hekmatyar, the offer stood for them as well. "We are announcing it today; let us give them time to discuss and think about it, and let's see what is God's favor."

He said the program was also open for inmates of the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and for detainees at military bases at Bagram and Kandahar, and was with the agreement of American officials. "Those people who are in prison, all of them will be released, God willing," he said.

However, a U.S. military spokesman in Kabul, Col. James Yonts, seemed to cast doubt on Mojadeddi's offer to Omar and Hekmatyar, though he did not mention the two specifically. Yonts said that while the military supported the government's reconciliation program and would offer all assistance to the commission, all those guilty of terrorism or other serious crimes would not be allowed to join the program. All candidates will be screened by the National Security Council and intelligence officers before being allowed to join, he said.

The announcement came as the U.S. military reported more casualties in fighting with suspected Taliban members in eastern Afghanistan. Two American Marines were killed when they searched a cave where militants had taken refuge Sunday evening after a fierce battle. Other Marines called in air support, and the military said 23 insurgents were killed in the fighting.