AFGHANISTAN - Taliban leader Mullah Omar warned of a "big" plan to destroy the United States which could happen within a short time, and refused to cooperate in the formation of a new government for Afghanistan.

In the interview, conducted in Pushto for BBC World Service radio, he said the Taliban "prefer death than to be part of an evil government".

He also insisted that the Taliban were still holding "four or five" provinces in Afghanistan, despite sweeping opposition gains. "The plan is going ahead and God willing it is being implemented, but it is a huge task beyond the will and comprehension of human beings. "If God's help is with us this will happen within a short period of time." "Keep in mind this prediction."

Interviews by the Taliban leader are rare. The BBC said it posed its questions via a satellite telephone to a Taliban intermediary, who passed them on to Omar through a hand-held radio.

The intermediary then attached the telephone receiver to the radio for the BBC to pick up his answers.

Omar insisted that "we are all moderates, taking the middle path", but when asked if the Taliban would cooperate with the formation of a new, broad-based government, he said no.

He added: "The struggle for a broad-based government has been going on for the last 20 years, but nothing came of it "We will not accept a government of wrong-doers. We prefer death than to be part of an evil government."

Asked about sweeping gains by Alliance forces, he said the Taliban still held Kandahar.

He also said it was unimportant how many provinces fell, as territory lost could be regained.

EXCERPTS: Following are verbatim extracts of the interview:

Q: What do you think of the current situation in Afghanistan?

A: You (the BBC) and American puppet radios have created concern. But the current situation in Afghanistan is related to a bigger cause - that is the destruction of America ...

Q: What do you mean by the destruction of America? Do you have a concrete plan to implement this?

A: The plan is going ahead and, God willing, it is being implemented. But it is a huge task, which is beyond the will and comprehension of human beings. If God's help is with us, this will happen within a short period of time. Keep in mind this prediction.

Q: Osama bin Laden has reportedly threatened that he would use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against America. Is your threat related to his?

A: This is not a matter of weapons. We are hopeful for God's help. The real matter is the extinction of America. And, God willing, it (America) will fall to the ground.

Q: During the past few days, you have lost control of several provinces. Are you hopeful to regain the lost territory?

A: We are hopeful that you will see the same kind of change that you saw (losing and regaining territory).

Q: What was the reason for the fast retreat? Why have your troops fled the cities? Is it because you suffered heavily from the US bombings or have your soldiers betrayed you?

A: I told you that it is related to the larger task ...

Q: Can you tell us which provinces are under your control at the moment?

A: We have four-five provinces. But it is not important how many provinces we have under our control. Once we did not have a single province, and then the time came when we had all the provinces, which we have lost in a week. So the numbers of the provinces are not important.

- AFP