ISLAMABAD. Apr 3: Afghanistan's Taliban religious army celebrated the third anniversary of the day their reclusive leader. Mullah Mohamed Omar, declared himself the leader of the Muslim faithful worldwide, a private news agency reported Saturday, reports AP.

The celebration held Friday in the Taliban headquarters in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar included 1.000 religious clerics, all of whom pledged their loyalty to Omar as Amir-ul-Momineen or leader of the Islamic faithful.

The title of Amir-ul-Momi-neen declares Omar leader not only of Muslims in Afghanistan, but of Muslims worldwide, although few outside of Omar’s homeland accept him as their leader.

In a message to mark the anniversary. Omar vowed to wage a "decisive struggle... against the enemies of the Islamic system in the country," the private News Network International reported in neighbouring Pakistan.

Omar’s Taliban soldiers have imposed a harsh brand of Islamic law in the 90 per cent of Afghanistan they control.

Their version of Islam has banned women from working, girls from going to school, forces men to wear beards, a head covering and pray in the mosque. It also forces women to wear the all-enveloping burqa that clothes them from head to foot.

Music is banned in Taliban territory as are movies and television.

According to the Taliban's radio Shariat broadcast Saturday the ruling Taliban council showered Omar with praise for his military achievements.

The Taliban threw out the

government of Burhanuddn Rabbani from Kabul in September 1996. Since then the Taliban have consolidated their control over most of the country and brought an end to the relentless rocketing that devastated Kabul during Rabbani's rule.

Rabbani and his ousted military chief Ahmed Shah Masood head a northern-based alliance that controls about 10 per cent of Afghanistan. This alliance is battling the Taliban on several fronts.

The opposition alliance also has said that it will not accept Omar as the leader of any future government in Afghanistan^