DATE=8/24/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=AFGHAN EXPLOSION (L)
NUMBER=2-253088
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A powerful explosion has shaken the southern
Afghan city of Kandahar. As V-O-A's Scott Anger
reports, the cause of the explosion is not yet known.
TEXT: The Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press says
the explosion has caused a number of casualties but no
details are available. The news agency quotes
witnesses as saying the powerful blast blew out
windows in a wide area of the city. Electricity is
reportedly out and communication to the area has
become difficult.
Kandahar is the administrative headquarters of the
politically dominant Taleban Islamic movement in
Afghanistan. A-I-P says the explosion damaged the
house of Taleban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar, who was
reportedly not at home at the time of the blast.
Residents say they feared the explosion might have
been another attack by the United States against
alleged terrorist Osama bin Laden, who is living under
the protection of the Taleban somewhere in
Afghanistan.
The United States says it had nothing to do with
Tuesday's explosion.
Last August, the United States launched a cruise
missile attack against suspected terrorist training
camps run by Mr. bin Laden in Afghanistan. The Saudi
dissident is wanted by the United States. Washington
has accused him of masterminding the bombings of the
U-S embassies in Kenya and Tanzania a year ago, which
killed more than 200 people. The U-S is offering 5-
million dollars for information leading to Mr. bin
Laden's arrest and conviction.
Washington has been pressuring the Taleban to
extradite Mr. bin Laden and has imposed economic
sanctions against the hard-line Islamic movement,
which controls most of Afghanistan. (Signed)
NEB/SA/TVM/JO
24-Aug-1999 16:54 PM EDT (24-Aug-1999 2054 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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