DATE=10/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240717
TITLE=AFGHAN BIN LADEN (L)
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE TALEBAN MOVEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN HAS EMPOWERED ITS
SUPREME COURT TO COLLECT AND RECORD EVIDENCE AGAINST SAUDI
MILITANT OSAMA BIN LADEN. MR. BIN LADEN -- LIVING IN AFGHANISTAN
-- IS ALLEGED TO BE ONE OF THE WORLD'S MAJOR SPONSORS OF
TERRORISM. AYAZ GUL REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD.
TEXT: A TALEBAN STATEMENT IS INVITING OUTSIDERS TO PRESENT
EVIDENCE TO THE TALEBAN'S SUPREME COURT THAT WOULD LINK OSAMA
BIN LADEN TO TERRORIST ACTIVITY.
THE STATEMENT SAYS SUCH EVIDENCE WOULD THEN BE USED BY THE
TALEBAN'S CHIEF JUSTICE -- MULLAH NOOR MOHAMMED SAQIB -- TO
PROCEED AGAINST MR. BIN LADEN, UNDER THE COUNTRY'S ISLAMIC LAWS.
MR. BIN LADEN HAS BEEN LIVING IN AFGHANISTAN UNDER THE PROTECTION
OF THE TALEBAN. HE HAS DECLARED A "HOLY WAR" AGAINST THE UNITED
STATES AND IS A KEY SUSPECT IN THE BOMBINGS IN AUGUST OF TWO
AMERICAN EMBASSIES IN EAST AFRICA
THE BOMBINGS PROMPTED THE UNITED STATES TO LAUNCH A MISSILE
ATTACK, TWO MONTHS AGO, ON SUSPECTED TERRORIST BASES IN
AFGHANISTAN. WASHINGTON SAYS THE TERRORIST BASES ARE LINKED TO
MR. BIN LADEN. AT LEAST 26 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE U-S ATTACK.
SPEAKING WITH A TALEBAN REPRESENTATIVE IN WASHINGTON LAST WEEK,
SENIOR U-S OFFICIALS REITERATED OSAMA BIN LADEN MUST BE BROUGHT
TO TRIAL. THE TALEBAN SAYS IT IS READY TO TRY MR. BIN LADEN, IF
SOLID EVIDENCE OF HIS RESPONSIBILITY IN TERRORIST ACTS IS
PROVIDED TO THEM. (SIGNED)
NEB / AG / CB / WD
26-Oct-98 6:45 AM EST (1145 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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