DATE=8/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237760
TITLE=KENYA BOMBING EXTRADITION (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=CAROL PINEAU
DATELINE=NAIROBI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN KENYA, OFFICIALS SAY AT LEAST ONE AND POSSIBLY TWO
SUSPECTS IN THIS MONTH'S NAIROBI EMBASSY BOMBING HAVE BEEN SENT
TO THE UNITED STATES FROM KENYA. ONE OF THE SUSPECTS IS EXPECTED
TO ARRIVE IN NEW YORK ON THURSDAY. CAROL PINEAU REPORTS FROM
NAIROBI.
TEXT: THE SUSPECT, MOHAMMED KHALID SALIM, LEFT KENYA WEDNESDAY
NIGHT ACCOMPANIED BY AGENTS FROM THE U-S FEDERAL BUREAU OF
INVESTIGATION.
MR. SALIM IS SUSPECTED OF BEING IN THE TRUCK THAT CARRIED THE
BOMB AND OF THROWING A HAND GRENADE AT U-S EMBASSY GUARDS JUST
SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR BOMB EXPLODED. THE EMBASSY GUARDS HAD
REFUSED TO ALLOW THE TRUCK TO ENTER THE EMBASSY'S UNDERGROUND
PARKING LOT.
//OPT// THE BOMB -- WHICH LEFT 253 DEAD AND MORE THAN
FIVE-THOUSAND INJURED -- EXPLODED IN ANOTHER PARKING LOT NEXT TO
THE EMBASSY. EXPERTS SAY IF THE BOMB HAD EXPLODED IN THE
UNDERGROUND PARKING, THE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN FAR GREATER. //
END OPT //
THE LOCAL "EAST AFRICAN STANDARD" NEWSPAPER REPORTED MR. SALIM
CONFESSED TO TAKING AN ACTIVE PART IN THE BOMBING. MR. SALIM,
REPORTEDLY A YEMINI NATIONAL, WAS ARRESTED BY KENYAN POLICE SOON
AFTER THE AUGUST SEVENTH EXPLOSION, THOUGH HE WAS NOT CHARGED
WITH ANY CRIME.
KENYAN POLITICIANS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR SUSPECTS TO BE
EXTRADITED TO THE UNITED STATES FOR TRIAL, AS THEY FEAR A TRIAL
IN KENYA WOULD ENCOURAGE MORE TERRORIST ATTACKS. WHILE KENYA AND
THE UNITED STATES HAVE AN EXTRADITION TREATY, OFFICIALS SAY MR.
SALIM'S CASE IS NOT BEING CALLED AN EXTRADITION. THE TREATY ONLY
COMES INTO EFFECT IF ONE OF THE COUNTRIES ASKS FOR A SUSPECT WHO
HAS NOT BEEN OFFERED BY THE OTHER COUNTRY.
KENYAN POLICE SAY THE ARE HOLDING AN UNSPECIFIED NUMBER OF
SUSPECTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE BOMBING, BUT LOCAL MEDIA HAVE
REPORTED INVESTIGATORS ARE CONCENTRATING ON THREE PERSONS. THE
MEDIA SAY THE THREE SUSPECTS, INCLUDING MR. SALIM, USED A PHONY
FISH-MONGERING BUSINESS AS A COVER FOR THEIR ACTIVITIES WHILE
PREPARING FOR THE ATTACK.
MOHAMMED SADDIQ ODEH (PRON: 'HWAY-DEH) IS ANOTHER PRIME SUSPECT.
PAKISTANI AUTHORITIES ARRESTED HIM AT KARACHI AIRPORT AFTER HE
ARRIVED ON A FLIGHT FROM NAIROBI THE DAY OF THE BOMBING.
PAKISTANI AUTHORITIES SAY HE WAS TRAVELLING ON FALSE DOCUMENTS.
ON AUGUST 14TH, MR. ODEH WAS FLOWN PROM PAKISTAN TO KENYA. HE TOO
HAS NOT YET BEEN CHARGED BY KENYAN AUTHORITIES. KENYAN LAW
SPECIFIES SUSPECTS MAY ONLY BE DETAINED 14 DAYS WITHOUT FORMAL
CHARGES.
//REST OPT// KENYAN AND AMERICAN AUTHORITIES HAVE SO FAR DECLINED
TO COMMENT ON TRANSFER OF ANY SUSPECT TO THE UNITED STATES.
(SIGNED)
NEB/CP/PCF/KL
27-Aug-98 11:49 AM EDT (1549 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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