Military

DATE=11/15/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=AFGHAN / PENTAGON / WEAPONS (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-283205

BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The Pentagon says U-S special forces inside Afghanistan are now searching suspected sites where al-Qaida terrorists may have been working on weapons of mass destruction. V-O-A Correspondent Alex Belida reports from the Pentagon.

TEXT: The commander of U-S forces in Afghanistan acknowledges defense officials have been collecting and examining intelligence data about al-Qaida's efforts to develop chemical, biological and nuclear weapons -- so-called weapons of mass destruction.

Army General Tommy Franks tells reporters at the Pentagon the review was aimed at pinpointing suspected locations of al-Qaida's weapons-related efforts.

/// FRANKS ACTUALITY ///

Now we are about the business of checking those sites out as they fall into -- as they fall under our control. How long will this take? Well, this will not be something that we'll be reporting every 24 hours, because the situation in Afghanistan is still very fluid. But we're about doing that business now.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

General Franks says there have been no substantial findings so far.

/// REST OPT ///

U-S Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says, meanwhile, that the Pentagon is aware of a British newspaper report detailing a variety of documents found in a house in Kabul that deal with weapons of mass destruction.

Mr. Rumsfeld says U-S forces are also checking out that report. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/JWH