Elusive Taliban leader Mullah Omar has issued a code of conduct to his militant colleagues asking them to avoid unnecessary suicide bombings and civilian casualties while waging war against the oppressors,which was described as sham and propaganda exercise by Nato. The 13-chapter guide,recovered by Nato forces in raids in Afghanistan,gives tips to militants on how to be a good holy warrior and asks to avoid civilian casualties,the Daily Telegraph reported. It discloses concern about how attacks are regarded by the civilian population,including minority groups,and its need to be seen as a disciplined force,motivated by Islamic principle rather than personal greed or malice. The booklet also asks Taliban fighters not to harm Afghans working for the government and to avoid civilian casualties,the newspaper reported. The Mujahideen have to behave well and show proper treatment to the nation,in order to bring the hearts of civilian Muslims closer to them, it said. Nato commanders denounced the code as a propaganda exercise aimed at persuading Afghan civilians that the Taliban was a disciplined force that followed the rules of war. It seems to be a form of propaganda to try to show there is a central control over the insurrection, said Brig Gen Eric Tremblay,a Nato spokesman. Tremblay said the code was a sham and that its rules had been exposed as false by the 90 suicide bombings that the Taliban had carried out this year. Forty per cent of the victims were civilians,said Gen Tremblay. A spokesman for Afghanistans Defence Ministry also denounced the codes warning against attacks on government employees and abuse of prisoners of war. He said the Taliban had seized and beheaded an Afghan soldier in Paktika province this week. According to the code,suicide attacks should only be used on high and important targets. A brave son of Islam should not be used for lower and useless targets. Governors,district chiefs and the commanders and every member of the mujahideen must do their best to avoid civilian deaths,civilian injuries and damage to civilian property. Great care must be taken, the guide says. Whenever any official,soldier contractor or worker of the slave government is captured,these prisoners cannot be attacked or harmed. If the prisoner is a director,commander or district chief or higher,the decision on whether to harm,kill,release or forgive them is only made by the imam, the guide says.
