DATE=7/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251526
TITLE=AFGHAN / U-S (L-ONLY) (CQ)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE LEADER OF AFGHANISTAN'S TALEBAN MOVEMENT SAYS HE IS
NOT WORRIED ABOUT U-S SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON THE TALEBAN. AS SARAH
HORNER REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD, THE U-S GOVERNMENT SAYS THE
SANCTIONS ARE IN RETALIATION FOR THE TALEBAN'S ALLEGED SUPPORT
FOR SAUDI MILITANT AND TERRORIST OSAMA BIN LADEN, WHO THE UNITED
STATES BELIEVES LIVES IN AFGHANISTAN.
TEXT: THE PAKISTAN-BASED "AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS" (A-I-P) QUOTES
THE TALEBAN LEADER AS SAYING HE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE U-S
SANCTIONS. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE NEWS AGENCY, MULLAH MOHAMMED
OMAR SAYS HE IS NOT SURE WHETHER OSAMA BIN LADEN IS THE REAL
CAUSE OF THE PENALTIES.
MULLAH OMAR SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS CERTAIN DESIGNS ON
AFGHANISTAN WHICH HAS CAUSED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AMERICA AND THE
TALEBAN. HE SAYS AS A RESULT SANCTIONS HAVE BEEN IMPOSED ON THE
TALEBAN.
A-I-P QUOTES THE TALEBAN LEADER AS SAYING HE DOES NOT KNOW THE
WHEREABOUTS OF MR BIN LADEN. MULLAH OMAR SAYS HE HAS BEEN
NEITHER ASKED TO LEAVE NOR REMAIN IN AFGHANISTAN.
PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCED TUESDAY FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL
SANCTIONS AGAINST THE TALEBAN. HE SAID THE MOVE WOULD DEEPEN THE
TALEBAN'S ISOLATION, LIMIT ITS ABILITY TO SUPPORT TERRORIST
NETWORKS, AND DEMONSTRATE THE NEED TO CONFORM TO ACCEPTED NORMS
OF BEHAVIOR.
PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID MR. BIN LADEN AND HIS NETWORK ARE
CONTINUING TO PLAN ATTACKS AGAINST AMERICANS.
THE U-S GOVERNMENT ACCUSES MR. BIN LADEN OF ORDERING THE BOMBINGS
THAT KILLED MORE THAN 250-PEOPLE LAST AUGUST AT AMERICAN
EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND TANZANIA. TWO-WEEKS AFTER THE BOMBINGS,
THE UNITED STATES CARRIED OUT MISSILE STRIKES ON SUSPECTED
TERRORIST TRAINING CAMPS RUN BY MR. BIN LADEN IN AFGHANISTAN.
THE UNITED STATES HAS ALSO PUT OSAMA BIN LADEN ON A "TOP 10 MOST
WANTED" LIST AND 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.
THREE-YEARS AGO MR. BIN LADEN WAS STRIPPED OF HIS SAUDI
NATIONALITY. THE SAME YEAR HE MOVED TO AFGHANISTAN, A COUNTRY
WITH WHICH HE HAS A LONG ASSOCIATION.
LAST FEBRUARY THE TALEBAN REPORTED MR. BIN LADEN WAS "MISSING".
THE REPORT CAME SHORTLY AFTER TALEBAN OFFICIALS WERE PUT UNDER
PRESSURE DURING HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS WITH BRITISH AND AMERICAN
DELEGATIONS TO EXTRADITE MR. BIN LADEN. (SIGNED)
NEB/SLH/RAE/KL
07-Jul-99 9:27 AM EDT (1327 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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