``Omar Extremely Shuns Public Exposure, Internally Wants Bin Laden Gone``

Osama Bin Laden who is reported to be residing in Afghanistan and the head of the Taliban government and top religious leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar.

These two figures whose whereabouts are unclear even as US intelligence pursues them are known to be on very close terms. However, Pakistani social commentator Rahi Mulah Yusufjai who has met both figures said, ``Their relationship does not appear to be as special as people think.``

In an article in the British daily, `The Guardian` he gave a detailed account of his encounter with the two figures. Yusufjai met Omar for the first time in March, 1995 and had numerous encounters with Bin Laden after May, 1998.

``Omar served Bin Laden as a guest according to the custom of hospitality but I got the impression that he wanted Bin Laden to leave on his own.`` Yusufjai received an invitation from Bin Laden in 1998, visited Afghanistan, and met him after waiting four days.

At the time, Bin Laden wanted to declare a `jihad` on America and Israel through Yusufjai. When Omar heard of this, however, he angrily said ``There is only one leader in Afghanistan.`` After apologizing to Omar for not requesting prior permission, Bin Laden finally publicly declared a holy war.

Bin Laden denied any involvement with terrorist attacks believed to be linked to him. He commented on the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, ``We did not do it but we are pleased.``

Bin Laden biographer and Pakistani social commentator Hammid Mir stated that Bin Laden was not involved in the attacks which are allegedly connected to him. The particular incident that Bin Laden did acknowledge was the murder of 18 American soldiers in Somalia.

Bin Laden is reported to have sent a short message stating ``We did not do it`` on the September 11 attack on America to Mir.

The reclusive Omar had his speech read by someone else on September 13 and 14 when he announced a nation-wide mobilization to prepare for US attacks through the official Taliban Sharia radio broadcast. Afghanistan sources report that Omar issues orders only through personal meetings and uses a satellite phone only when it is unavoidable in order to evade Western intelligence.

Hong Seong-Chul sungchul@donga.com