DATE=1/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244161
TITLE=U-S / BIN LADEN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY CAME CLOSE TO KILLING THE MAN THEY
BLAME FOR BOMBING TWO U-S EMBASSIES IN AFRICA LAST AUGUST. THE
U-S RETALIATED A SHORTTIME AFTER THE ATTACKS WITH A FLURRY OF
CRUISE MISSILES. NEWLY REVEALED SATELLITE PHOTOS SHOW SOME OF
THE WEAPONS NARROWLY MISSED THEIR TARGETS,INCLUDING ALLGED
TERRORIST LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS.
TEXT: THE SATELLITE PICTURES WERE SHOWN ON U-S TELEVISION
NETWORKS (ABC AND CBS) AND U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY SHOW THE IMPACT
OF THE ATTACK ON FIVE VILLAS WHERE OSAMA BIN LADEN AND HIS TOP
AIDES WERE STAYING. TWO OF THE BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED, SOME
OTHERS WERE DAMAGED BY NEARBY EXPLOSIONS.
NEWS ACCOUNTS SAY A TOP BIN LADEN AID DIED IN THE ATTACK, ALONG
WITH 33 OTHER PEOPLE. BUT BIN LADEN SURVIVED AND MAY HAVE LEFT
THE CAMP A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE STRIKE. HE RECENTLY RENEWED HIS
CALL FOR MUSLIMS TO ATTACK AMERICANS.
OSAMA BIN LADEN IS FROM A WEALTHY SAUDI FAMILY AND IS SAID TO
HAVE A FORTUNE MEASURED IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
HE FOUGHT WITH THE ANTI-SOVIET FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN IN THE
1980'S, BUT IS NOW MAKING WAR AGAINST AMERICANS.
U-S OFFICIALS SAY HE SPONSORED A NUMBER OF TERRORIST ATTACKS ON
U-S TARGETS BEFORE THE EMBASSY BOMBINGS. U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY
HAVE LAUNCHED AN UNPRECEDENTED GLOBAL EFFORT TO TRACKDOWN BIN
LADEN, HIS FORTUNE AND HIS OPERATIVES.
ONE NEWS REPORT SAYS THEY ARE ALSO DRAWING UP PLANS FOR NEW
ATTACKS ON CAMPS AND OTHER FACILITIES IN AFGHANISTAN, SHOULD U-S
INTERESTS BE HIT AGAIN BY BIN LADEN-SPONSORED TERRORISTS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/PT
13-Jan-99 9:00 PM EST (0200 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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