DATE=4/30/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-248807
TITLE=GLOBAL TERRORISM
BYLINE=CANDACE WILLIAMS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE NUMBER OF TERRORIST
ATTACKS WORLDWIDE HAS FALLEN TO THE LOWEST LEVEL IN NEARLY 30
YEARS. BUT A NEW TERRORISM REPORT (RELEASED FRIDAY) SAYS THESE
INCIDENTS CAUSED A RECORD-HIGH CASUALTY TOLL AROUND THE WORLD IN
1998. V-O-A'S CANDACE WILLIAMS EXPLAINS.
TEXT: THE REPORT, "PATTERNS OF GLOBAL TERRORISM," SAYS THE
BOMBINGS OF TWO U-S EMBASSIES IN AFRICA LAST AUGUST MADE 1998 THE
DEADLIEST YEAR EVER FOR TERRORISM. THE ATTACK ON THE DIPLOMATIC
POST IN NAIROBI (KENYA) KILLED 291 PEOPLE AND WOUNDED AN
ESTIMATED FIVE-THOUSAND OTHERS. THE BLAST IN DAR ES SALAAM
(TANZANIA) LEFT 10 DEAD AND 77 OTHERS WOUNDED.
// OPT // AN INVESTIGATION OF THE BOMBING IMPLICATED SAUDI
DISSIDENT OSAMA BIN LADEN, A LONGTIME SPONSOR AND FINANCIER OF
SUNNI ISLAMIC EXTREMIST CAUSES. LAST NOVEMBER, U-S AUTHORITIES
(IN NEW YORK) FILED CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST MR. BIN LADEN -- WHO
IS SAID TO BE LIVING IN AFGHANISTAN -- AND SEVERAL ASSOCIATES.
// END OPT //
SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS
DETERMINED TO DO ALL IT CAN TO DETER TERRORISTS. SHE SAYS A
COMBINATION OF DIPLOMACY AND TOUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT HELPED THE
UNITED STATES APPREHEND A NUMBER OF SUSPECTS IN CONNECTION WITH
THE ATTACKS IN KENYA AND TANZANIA.
ALTHOUGH THE AFRICA BOMBINGS CAUSED MOST CASUALTIES FROM
TERRORISM LAST YEAR, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE NUMBER OF
INCIDENTS ACTUALLY DROPPED. THE ANNUAL REPORT CITES 273
INTERNATIONAL ATTACKS, A DECLINE FROM (304) THE PREVIOUS YEAR;
THERE WERE NO ACTS OF TERRORISM ON U-S TERRITORY.
BUT THE LIST OF STATES CONSIDERED TO BE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM IS
THE SAME (AS IN 1997). THE STATE DEPARTMENT LISTS CUBA, IRAN,
IRAQ, LIBYA, NORTH KOREA, SUDAN AND SYRIA IN THIS CATEGORY.
CUBA REMAINS ON THE LIST, EVEN THOUGH THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS
THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO NO LONGER ACTIVELY
SUPPORTS ARMED STRUGGLE IN LATIN AMERICA OR ELSEWHERE.
HOWEVER, OFFICIALS SAY HAVANA CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN CLOSE TIES TO
OTHER STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM AND TO LEFTIST INSURGENCY
GROUPS IN LATIN AMERICA -- INCLUDING IN COLOMBIA.
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT SAYS GOVERNMENTS ON THE LIST OF
STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISM KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO. SHE SAYS
THEY MUST STOP PLANNING, FINANCING AND SUPPORTING SUCH ACTS. MS.
ALBRIGHT ALSO SAYS THEY MUST STOP SHELTERING TERRORISTS, OR
INTERFERING WITH THE APPREHENSION AND PROSECUTION OF THOSE WHO
COMMIT THESE CRIMES. (SIGNED)
NEB/CAW/WTW
30-Apr-99 5:25 PM EDT (2125 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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