Taliban capture opposition figure Abdul Haq - AIP
 
ISLAMABAD, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban have captured former mujahideen commander Abdul Haq despite a U.S. attempt to protect him, the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press reported on Friday.

Haq, a leading mujahideen commander in the 1980s war against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, recently returned from abroad to join talks about a post-Taliban government.

AIP said, quoting a Taliban spokesman from the eastern city of Jalalabad, said U.S. helicopters bombed Taliban forces to prevent Haq's capture at Azra in eastern Logar province, where he was visiting supporters,

"We had secretly surrounded the place for two days where Haq was hiding with his supporters," the spokesman said.

"U.S. helicopters bombed the Taliban to enable Haq to escape but we were able to capture him when he tried to (leave) at 2.30 this morning," the spokesman added.