News conference by alleged militant with US bounty on his head

(4 Apr 2012) 1. Mid of Jamaat-ud-Dawwa chief Hafiz Saeed walking on stage with other religious leaders for news conference
2. Wide of people at news conference
3. Wide of news conference
4. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, Head of Jamaat-ud-Dawwa and founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba:
"To be honest, I am surprised that America doesn't know where I am. These threats, putting money on my head to help my arrest, are for people hiding in mountains and caves, and no one knows about them. But, with the grace of God, I am here in front of you people and today I met the leadership of the Difa-e-Pakistan (Defence of Pakistan) Council here in Rawalpindi, and tomorrow I will be in Lahore and will release a schedule for the day after tomorrow, so America can contact me whenever it wants to."
5. Cutaway of cameras
6. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, Head of Jamaat-ud-Dawwa and founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba:
"I'd like to ask the US State Department why they offer this bounty to other people? Why don't they give it to me? I can tell them my whereabouts on a daily basis and (be) available on my phone and addressing large public rallies daily."
7. Wide of news conference
8. Mid of reporters
9. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, Head of Jamaat-ud-Dawwa and founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba:
"Previously, America has made policies under the influence of Israel and made the Arabs and Muslims unhappy, and now it is doing the same under pressure from India. By taking such decision to please India, America is only aggravating hatred against itself. This is a ridiculous announcement and this is a fact that's all I can say."
10. Cutaway of news conference
11. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, Head of Jamaat-ud-Dawwa and founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba:
"God help us, life and death is in the hands of God and my life is in the hands of God, not the Americans."
12. Mid of Saeed leaving news conference
13. Wide of Saeed surrounded by supporters and photographers.
STORYLINE:
A Pakistani militant accused of directing deadly attacks in neighbouring India mocked the United States during a defiant media conference near the country's military headquarters on Wednesday - a day after the US slapped a 10 (m) million dollar bounty on him.
"I'd like to ask the US State Department why they offer this bounty to other people? Why don't they give it to me? I can tell them my whereabouts on a daily basis and (be) available on my phone and addressing large public rallies daily," said Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, referring to the fact that the bounty was offered on a man whose whereabouts are not a mystery.
Analysts have said that Pakistan is unlikely to arrest Saeed, founder of the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, because of his alleged links with the country's intelligence agency and the political danger of doing Washington's bidding in a country where anti-American sentiment is rampant.
The 61-year-old Saeed has been accused of orchestrating the 2008 attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai that killed 166 people, including six American citizens. But he operates openly in Pakistan, giving public speeches and appearing on TV talk shows.
He has used his high-profile status in recent months to lead a protest movement against US drone strikes and the resumption of NATO supplies for troops in Afghanistan sent through Pakistan. The supplies were suspended in November in retaliation for American airstrikes that accidentally killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
The bounty offers could complicate US efforts to get the supply line reopened.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...