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United States President George W Bush has rejected an appeal from humanitarian organisations to suspend the relentless bombardment of Afghanistan to allow them to deliver food supplies to the population that is caught in the conflict between the US and the Taleban.
Blaming the Taleban for disrupting the delivery of food, Bush said the American forces would continue their military operations in such a way that they would not disrupt humanitarian aid.
Bush, who made a joint appearance with South Korea's President Kim Dae-Jung on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum in Shanghai on Friday, said, "The primary reason why food is not making it to starving people is the Taleban."
Bush accused the Taleban of seizing the food sent in as aid and refusing to allow its efficient distribution.
He said the US Air Force would continue to make its own food drops on Afghanistan. The USAF's food aid has been criticised by aid agencies as a mere drop in the pond.
On Wednesday, six international aid agencies had called for a halt to the US attacks to allow food supplies cut off by the military campaign to be delivered before Afghanistan's severe winter sets in.
US bombs have already hit warehouses of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Food Programme.
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