DATE=2/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245527
TITLE=AFGHAN BIN LADEN (L) UPDATE
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THERE ARE CONFLICTING REPORTS AS TO THE WHEREABOUTS OF
SAUDI MILITANT OSAMA BIN LADEN. SARAH HORNER REPORTS FROM
ISLAMABAD THE SUSPECTED TERRORIST WAS REPORTED MISSING SATURDAY
FROM HIS HIDEOUT IN AFGHANISTAN, WHERE HE HAS LIVED FOR NEARLY
THREE-YEARS.
TEXT: THE ISLAMIC TALEBAN MOVEMENT THAT CONTROLS MOST OF
AFGHANISTAN FIRST BROKE THE NEWS THEIR GUEST, OSAMA BIN LADEN,
HAD DISAPPEARED -- SOON AFTER THEY PLACED FRESH RESTRICTIONS ON
HIS ACTIVITIES.
TALEBAN LEADERS SAY THEY HAVE NOT ORDERED THE EXILED SAUDI
MILITANT TO LEAVE AFGHANISTAN.
THE PAKISTAN BASED AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS (A-I-P) SAYS MR BIN LADEN
HAS LEFT THE TALEBAN'S HEADQUARTERS IN THE SOUTHERN AFGHAN CITY,
KANDAHAR, AFTER DEVELOPING DIFFERENCES WITH TALEBAN LEADERS
FOLLOWING THEIR RECENT TALKS WITH AMERICAN AND BRITISH OFFICIALS.
THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CALLING FOR THE EXTRADITION OF
MR. BIN LADEN FROM AFGHANISTAN. THE TALEBAN HAVE REPEATEDLY
REFUSED TO HAND HIM OVER, SAYING HE IS THEIR GUEST AND IS NOT
INVOLVED IN TERRORISM.
HIGH LEVEL U-S AND BRITISH DELEGATIONS HAVE HELD SPERATE TALKS
WITH TALEBAN OFFICIALS IN PAKISTAN DURING THE PAST TWO-WEEKS AND
THE TALEBAN HAVE BEEN PUT UNDER PRESSURE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
MR. BIN LADEN.
IT HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED MR. BIN LADEN HAS GONE TO IRAN, BUT
IRANIAN OFFICIALS DENY THE CLAIM. A STATEMENT (SUNDAY) FROM THE
IRANIAN EMBASSY IN THE PAKISTANI CAPITAL, ISLAMABAD, HAS
CATEGORICALLY DENIED MR BIN LADEN IS IN IRAN. THE EMBASSY SAYS
SUCH REPORTS ARE IRRESPONSIBLE AND DESIGNED TO MISLEAD PUBLIC
OPINION.
A LEADING ISLAMIC CLERIC IN PAKISTAN, WHO HAS BEEN CLOSE TO THE
TALEBAN, SAYS (SUNDAY) HE BELIEVES MR. BIN LADEN IS STILL IN
AFGHANISTAN. SAMIUL HAQ SAYS AFGHANISTAN IS A SAFE HAVEN FOR MR.
BIN LADEN WHO MAY HAVE GONE -- UNDERGROUND -- (INTO HIDING)
THERE.
THE U-S GOVERNMENT ACCUSES MR. BIN LADEN OF ORDERING THE BOMBINGS
OF AMERICAN EMBASSIES LAST AUGUST IN AFRICA, WHICH KILLED MORE
THAN 250 PEOPLE. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE BOMBINGS, THE UNITED STATES
LAUNCHED MISSILE STRIKES ON SUSPECTED BIN LADEN TERRORIST CAMPS
IN AFGHANISTAN. THE UNITED STATES HAS OFFERED A
FIVE-MILLION-DOLLAR REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO HIS ARREST
AND CONVICTION.
LAST DECEMBER MR. BIN LADEN DENIED INVOLVEMENT IN THE AFRICAN
BOMBINGS, BUT RENEWED HIS CALLS FOR ATTACKS ON WESTERN TARGETS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SLH/RAE
14-Feb-99 7:59 PM EST (0059 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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