AFGHAN DOCTOR ADMINISTERS POLIO VACCINE IN KABUL, 2001-11-06 (photo)

An Afghan docter (R) drops a trickle of polio vaccine into the mouth of a child in the capital Kabul November 6, 2001. Trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy, Afghanistan's ruling Taliban said on Monday it would go ahead with plans to innoculate 5.7 million children against polio even though Washington has ignored appeals to halt air strikes. "Through WHO and UNICEF offices in Pakistan two weeks ago, we had informed New York about the appeal for the pause of the American attacks, but we got no reply back," Public Health Minister Abas Akhund said on Monday. "They (WHO and UNICEF) definitely have spoken to New York about it," he said. But he said the programme would go ahead despite the air raids, although the fighting might force them to halt innoculations in some areas. Polio is endemic in Afghanistan, but immunisation days have reached large proportions of the population under five, the United Nations has said. REUTERS/ Sayed Salahuddin KM