DATE=5/31/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=AFGHAN / AIR VIOLATION (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263006
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A report from Afghanistan says planes from
neighboring Uzbekistan have violated its air space
during the past two-days. As Correspondent Scott
Anger reports, the development follows Russian threats
to carry out air strikes against suspected terrorist
training camps inside Afghanistan, where Moscow says
fighters are being trained to assist rebels in
Chechnya.
TEXT: Afghan Islamic Press says Uzbek planes have
violated Afghan air space on three separate occasions
near the northern border town of Haratan - about 60-
kilometers north of Mazar-e-Sharif. The report says
one of the planes flew as much as one-kilometer inside
Afghanistan. No other details are available.
The reports follow Russia's warnings, to Afghanistan's
dominant Taleban movement, it might carry out air
strikes against suspected training camps for Chechen
rebels in Afghanistan.
The Taleban have denied such camps exist. It has
called the Russian allegations baseless and further
rejects claims it is providing weapons or fighters to
Chechnya's guerilla movement.
The Taleban movement recognizes Chechnya's
independence from Russia.
In a recent statement, Taleban leader Mullah Mohammed
Omar warned of serious consequences for Russian
military action against the territory the hard-line
Islamic movement controls. Mr. Omar says any
responsibility for a Russian attack will be entirely
on neighboring Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, because such
an attack would have to be launched from bases inside
these former Soviet republics.
As a response to the air-space violations, the Taleban
has reportedly moved fighters to Afghanistan's border
with Uzbekistan. So far, the Uzbek government has not
commented on the developments.
About 90-percent of Afghanistan is under Taleban
control. Pockets of territory in the north and
northeastern parts of the country are under the
control of the opposition alliance. The Taleban
accuses the opposition of getting military help from
Iran, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/RAE
31-May-2000 11:21 AM EDT (31-May-2000 1521 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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