Military

DATE= 5/1/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= AFGHAN/RUMSFELD (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-289319

BYLINE= ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE= PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The United States has been deploying more troops accompanied by attack helicopters in eastern Afghanistan to support operations against fugitive al-Qaida and Taleban fighters and their mountain hide-outs. More from V-O-A Pentagon Correspondent Alex Belida.

TEXT: Just back from a visit to Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is not talking about how many U-S troops are involved in the latest effort.

But Mr. Rumsfeld confirms to reporters at the Pentagon, operations are ongoing to prevent any possible al-Qaida or Taleban resurgence in the country.

///RUMSFELD ACTUALITY///

The situation in Afghanistan is far from over. It is a situation where we know there are al-Qaida and Taleban who in some instances have not left the country and in some instances if they have left the country, they haven't left very far.

///END ACTUALITY///

Mr. Rumsfeld says these fugitives still hope to destabilize Afghanistan and unseat the country's interim government. He says U-S, coalition and Afghan forces intend to prevent that.

///RUMSFELD ACTUALITY///

It's our task to see that that doesn't happen.

///END ACTUALITY///

Pentagon officials describe the latest U-S deployments as part of the ongoing "Operation Mountain Lion," a largely British-led mission in the Afghan mountains near the Pakistani border.

It is an area where al-Qaida and Taleban fighters have repeatedly regrouped, using cave hide-outs and hidden weapons caches.

So far there have been no reports by U-S officials of any direct clashes or any American or other coalition casualties.

Meanwhile, Pentagon sources say the United States is resuming flights of al-Qaida and Taleban detainees from Afghanistan to the U-S Navy base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Prisoner transfers were suspended pending completion of a new semi-permanent detention facility. The new facility has now opened and the 300 detainees already in Cuba have been moved there from their open-air cells. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/RH