DATE=6/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=AFGHANISTAN/U-N (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263348
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Afghanistan's dominant Taleban faction is
urging other members of the United Nations Security
Council not to join the United States or Russia in
trying to impose further sanctions on the war-torn
country. From Islamabad, Ayaz Gul reports.
TEXT: The statement by the Taleban's foreign ministry
follows reports from Washington, which suggest the
United States is trying to persuade other U-N Security
Council members, Russia in particular, to impose
tougher sanctions on the hard-line Islamic group.
The Taleban, which controls about 90 percent of the
country, came under U-N economic and aviation
sanctions last November for refusing to hand over
suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden. The Saudi-born
Islamic militant, who lives in Afghanistan under the
protection of the Taleban, is wanted by Washington for
his suspected role in the 1998 bombings of two U-S
embassies in Africa.
The Taleban statement says Afghanistan needs more
international assistance -- and not economic sanctions
-- at a time when the country is facing the worst
drought in three decades. It says if the existing
sanctions are not lifted, the world will witness "a
great humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan."
The United Nations says Afghanistan is facing its
worst drought in three decades, a drought that could
affect more than half of the country's 20-million
people.
Meanwhile, in another statement, the Taleban has urged
U-N Security Council to stop Russia from what it says
is "interference" in Afghanistan.
The statement is the latest in a war of words between
the Taleban and Russia, which accuses the Islamic
faction of training fighters to assist rebels in
Chechnya. Moscow has warned of possible pre-emptive
air strikes against what it says are terrorist bases
in Afghanistan. The Taleban denies the charges and
says it only provides moral support to Chechen
fighters. (SIGNED)
NEB/AG/JP
10-Jun-2000 10:05 AM EDT (10-Jun-2000 1405 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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