DATE=1/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-224922
TITLE=AFGHAN MASSACRE (L)
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITION ALLIANCE ARE ACCUSING THE
TALEBAN OF MASSACRING AT LEAST 600 CIVILIANS IN AFGHANISTAN. AS
CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH BUEL REPORTS -- THE OPPOSITION SAYS
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE FLEEING THE AREA WHERE THE MASSACRES
ALLEGEDLY OCCURRED.
TEXT: IN A LETTER TO THE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL, THE OPPOSITION
ALLIANCE SAYS TALEBAN FIGHTERS MURDERED THE CIVILIANS THIS MONTH
IN NORTHWESTERN FARYAB PROVINCE. THE KILLINGS ALLEGEDLY OCCURRED
IN THE QAISER DISTRICT NEAR THE IRANIAN BORDER.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ALLIANCE CALLS THE ALLEGED MASSACRES -- A
BARBARIC ACT OF GENOCIDE. OPPOSITION ALLIANCE MEMBERS ACCUSE
TALEBAN FORCES OF -- DRAGGING PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES, LINING
THEM UP AND GUNNING THEM DOWN.
AN OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN SAYS ABOUT 20-THOUSAND CIVILIANS HAVE
FLED THE AREA IN BITTER COLD WEATHER. HE SAYS MANY ARE NOW IN
FARYAB'S PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF MAYMANA.
U-N OFFICIALS IN ISLAMABAD TELL V-O-A THEY HAVE RECEIVED REPORTS
OF MASS KILLINGS AND A MAJOR EXODUS OF CIVILIANS IN FARYAB. THE
ALLIANCE IS ASKING THE UNITED NATIONS TO SEND A TEAM TO
INVESTIGATE THE REPORTED MASSACRES.
THE TALEBAN'S AMBASSADOR TO PAKISTAN -- SHAHABUDDIN DILAWAR --
SAYS THE ALLEGATIONS ARE -- ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE. HE CONFIRMS THE
TALEBAN HAVE CAPTURED THE AREA, BUT SAYS NO CIVILIANS ARE BEING
KILLED.
THE AMBASSADOR ACCUSES THE OPPOSITION ALLIANCE OF MAKING THE
ACCUSATION TO COVER UP THE KILLINGS OF AT LEAST TWO-THOUSAND
TALEBAN PRISONERS OF WAR DURING FIGHTING LAST YEAR.
THE UNITED NATIONS IS INVESTIGATING THE DISCOVERY OF MASS GRAVES
IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN BELIEVED TO CONTAIN THE BODIES OF TALEBAN
FIGHTERS.
THE TALEBAN BLAME OPPOSITION GENERAL ABDUL MALIK FOR THE MURDERS.
GENERAL MALIK -- WHO FLED AFGHANISTAN FOR IRAN LAST YEAR -- HAS
DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS. THE TALEBAN ARE DEMANDING IRAN RETURN
GENERAL MALIK TO AFGHANISTAN.
THE TALEBAN CONTROL TWO-THIRDS OF THE COUNTRY AND ARE FIGHTING AN
ALLIANCE OF FACTIONS CONTROLLING MUCH OF THE NORTHERN PART OF
AFGHANISTAN. (SIGNED)
NEB/MB/RAE
07-Jan-98 8:37 AM EST (1337 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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