DATE=2/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245393
TITLE=AFGHAN BIN LADEN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AFGHANISTAN'S TALEBAN MOVEMENT HAS REPORTEDLY WARNED THE
U-S GOVERNMENT AGAINST FURTHER MISSILE STRIKES ON AFGHANISTAN.
LAST AUGUST THE U-S STRUCK ALLEGED TERRORIST CAMPS RUN IN
AFGHANISTAN BY SAUDI MILITANT OSAMA BIN LADEN. SARAH HORNER HAS
THE DETAILS.
TEXT: REUTERS NEWS AGENCY QUOTES THE TALEBAN AS SAYING ANY FRESH
U-S STRIKES AGAINST OSAMA BIN LADEN WOULD DEMONSTRATE AMERICAN
DICTATORSHIP AND WOULD BE AN UNFORGETTABLE MISTAKE.
IN AN INTERVIEW WITH REUTERS, TALEBAN CHIEF SPOKESMAN WAKIL AHMAD
DISMISSED REPORTS THAT MR BIN LADEN IS PLANNING ATTACKS ON
WESTERN TARGETS. MR AHMAD SAYS THESE HOLLOW RUMOURS ARE JUST TO
PROVIDE WASHINGTON WITH AN EXCUSE TO LAUNCH ANOTHER ASSAULT ON
AFGHANISTAN.
THE U-S AND THE TALEBAN HAVE BEEN HAVING A WAR OF WORDS ABOUT
OSAMA BIN LADEN FOR MANY MONTHS AND THE EXCHANGES HAVE RECENTLY
BECOME MORE FREQUENT.
LAST WEEK, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, KARL INDERFURTH, GAVE A
LETTER TO THE TALEBAN REITERATING WASHINGTON'S DEMAND THAT MR
BIN LADEN BE EXTRADITED FROM AFGHANISTAN.
ON WEDNESDAY TALEBAN OFFICIALS RULED OUT EXTRADITING MR BIN
LADEN, SAYING THE MOVEMENT NEEDS PROOF MR BIN LADEN IS GUILTY OF
TERRORISM. THEY SAID IF EVIDENCE IS OFFERED THEN HE WILL BE TRIED
IN A TALEBAN ISLAMIC COURT.
TALEBAN OFFICIALS DID ANNOUNCE, HOWEVER, THAT THEY WERE PLACING
FRESH RESTRICTIONS ON MR BIN LADEN'S ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING TAKING
AWAY HIS COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT. BUT, WASHINGTON HAS REJECTED
THE NEW CURBS SAYING THEY FALL FAR SHORT OF AMERICAN DEMANDS.
THE U-S HAS INDICTED MR BIN LADEN FOR MASTERMINDING THE BOMBINGS
OF U-S EMBASSIES IN AFRICA LAST AUGUST -- WHICH KILLED MORE THAN
260-PEOPLE. WASHINGTON HAS ALSO OFFERED A FIVE-MILLION-DOLLAR
REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF MR
BIN LADEN.
TWO WEEKS, AFTER THE AFRICA BOMBINGS THE U-S CARRIED OUT A
MISSILE STRIKE ON ALLEGED TERRORIST CAMPS RUN BY MR BIN LADEN IN
AFGHANISTAN.
NEWS AGENCIES IN WASHINGTON REPORTED WEDNESDAY THE U-S REMAINS
READY TO TAKE MILITARY ACTION AGAIN IF NECESSARY AGAINST
SUSPECTED BIN LADEN BASES IN AFGHANISTAN.
THE TALEBAN, WHICH CONTROLS MOST OF AFGHANISTAN, HAS OFTEN SAID
IT WOULD NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO CONDUCT TERRORIST ACTIVITIES FROM
ITS TERRITORY.
IN DECEMBER, OSAMA BIN LADEN DENIED INVOLVEMENT IN THE AFRICAN
BOMBINGS, BUT RENEWED HIS CALL FOR ATTACKS ON ISRAELI AND
AMERICAN TARGETS. (SIGNED)
NEB/SH/PLM
11-Feb-99 7:27 AM EST (1227 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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