DATE=8/3/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN - BIN LADEN (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-252448
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United States has lodged a protest
(Tuesday) in Pakistan with an Islamic leader who
threatened to declare war on American nationals in the
event of another U-S attack on hideouts of alleged
terrorist Osama bin Laden. Ayaz Gul reports from
Islamabad.
TEXT: A senior U-S diplomat in Islamabad made the
protest in a 90-minute meeting with Maullana Fazlur
Rehman, leader of Pakistan's second largest Islamic
party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam.
Mr. Rehman's party has recently held a series of anti-
U-S rallies against what it says are plans by
Washington to launch an attack on neighboring
Afghanistan to destroy hideouts of alleged terrorist
Osama bin Laden.
During a rally in the Pakistani capital last Friday,
Mr. Rehman threatened to go to war against American
nationals if Mr. bin Laden is attacked. This has led
to tightening of security of the U-S interests in
Pakistan.
A U-S embassy spokesman, Lee James Irven, says the
meeting with Mr. Rehman took place at the request of
U-S officials.
/// IRVEN ACT ///
The purpose was to express U-S concern over
statements made by Maullana Fazlur Rehman and
members of his party which threatened the safety
of U-S citizens and as you know we take all such
threats seriously.
/// END ACT ///
But Mr. Rehman, whose followers strongly support Osama
bin Laden and the Taleban Islamic movement in
neighboring Afghanistan, says his edict will be valid
as long as the threat of an American attack on bin
Laden remains. Mr. Rehman says an attack on
Afghanistan will be considered an act of aggression
against Pakistan.
/// REHMAN IN URDU, FADE UNDER ///
The Islamic leader says he told American officials (in
the meeting) that if he does not feel safe in his land
because of the United States, then how could Americans
in the region feel safe?
Washington has been seeking the extradition of Osama
bin Laden from Afghanistan, where he is under the
protection the Taleban Islamic movement. The U-S
government accuses bin Laden of masterminding last
year's bombings of two U-S embassies in Africa, in
which more than 200 people died. Shortly after the
bombings, the United States launched cruise-missile
attacks on Afghanistan to destroy Mr. bin Laden's
terrorist training camps, but failed to root out the
Saudi militant. (signed)
NEB/AG/gm
03-Aug-1999 14:34 PM EDT (03-Aug-1999 1834 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
