Taliban envoy says Kabul holding Americans

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The Taliban ambassador to Pakistan said on Thursday that Afghanistan's ruling militia had detained several U.S. citizens but he gave no details.

"We have a few American citizens with us. They have been arrested," Ambassador Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef told a news conference.

"Their identities are not known so far. The investigation is going on."

The ambassador said he had no information of how or when the U.S. citizens were detained.

The United States has been bombing Afghanistan since October 7 in retaliation for attacks on New York and Washington blamed on Saudi-born Osama bin Laden, who is believed to be sheltering in the Muslim fundamentalist-ruled country.

Some media reported that Americans had been captured when Afghan opposition commander Abdul Haq, who crossed secretly into Afghanistan to raise rebellion, was seized by Taliban forces and summarily executed last week.

There was no independent confirmation of those reports.

Asked to comment on Turkey's decision to join the U.S.-led coalition fighting Afghanistan, the ambassador said any soldiers joining U.S. forces would be an enemy.

Turkey, NATO's only Muslim member state, said it would contribute 90 special forces soldiers to the coalition.

"Any soldiers from any Muslim countries, or from non-Mulsim countries, if they are joining with American soldiers they are our enemy," Mullah Zaeef said. "If they attack Afghanistan we should defend ourselves."