Military

DATE=11/25/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=RABBANI (L)

NUMBER=2-283511

BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE

DATELINE=KABUL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Ousted Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani says the Taleban could be represented this week in Germany at talks on the creation of an interim government for Afghanistan. V-O-A's Jim Teeple reports from Kabul, President Rabbani also says the Northern Alliance will eventually hand over power to a broad-based government in Afghanistan.

TEXT: He says individual former members of the Taleban could even join a future government in Afghanistan. Speaking at a news conference Sunday, in Kabul, Mr. Rabbani says while he welcomes individual Taleban leaders joining the conference, the Taleban itself will not be invited.

Northern alliance officials confirm Sunday that their delegation to the Bonn talks will be headed by interior minister Yunus Quanuni, and not by Mr. Rababni.

His comments came less than 24 hours after former Taleban deputy interior minister Mullah Khaksar announced he was throwing his support to the northern alliance.

Mr. Rabbani also says foreign allies of the Taleban will not be killed by the northern alliance. He says foreigners who lay down their weapons should not fear severe retribution, saying they could be turned over to U-N authorities.

Addressing the issue of whether the northern alliance would eventually step aside and except a broad-based government in Afghanistan, Mr. Rabbani pledged that it would.

///RABBANI ACT///

Mr. Rabbani says the meetings in Bonn should result in the convening of an emergency 15-seat council. The council he says will have the ability of organizing a loya jirga or grand council of Afghan leaders who will in turn be responsible for creating a provisional administration to govern Afghanistan.

Mr. Rabbani's government was ousted from power after the Taleban seized most of Afghanistan 5-years ago. The northern alliance will be sending the largest Afghan delegation the Bonn talks.

Also, at the talks will be representatives of exiled king Zahir Shah and other prominent Afghan exiles.

NEB/JT/LTD-T/RH