News

DATE=8/11/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-236895 TITLE=TANZANIA / ARRESTS (L) BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA DATELINE=DAR ES SALAAM CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TANZANIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE ARRESTED AND ARE QUESTIONING 14 FOREIGN NATIONALS IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEADLY BOMB ATTACK ON THE U-S EMBASSY IN DAR ES SALAAM. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM THE TANZANIAN CAPITAL. TEXT: THOSE NOW BEING HELD ARE SIX IRAQIS, SIX SUDANESE, ONE SOMALI AND ONE TURK. A TANZANIAN POLICE SPOKESMAN SAYS NONE OF THEM HAS BEEN FORMALLY CHARGED WITH ANY CRIMES. BUT HE SAYS SOME WERE SEIZED ON THE BASIS OF WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION THAT THEY MAY HAVE TAKEN PART IN THE BOMB ATTACK. THE SPOKESMAN, SENIOR ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE ADEN MWAMUNYANGE, SAYS THE DETENTIONS WERE MADE IN COOPERATION WITH THE U-S FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. /// MWAMUNYANGE ACTUALITY /// THE TANZANIAN POLICE FORCE IN COOPERATION WITH THE U-S FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, F-B-I, THROUGH JOINT EFFORT AND INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION, HAVE ARRESTED 14 FOREIGN NATIONALS IN CONNECTION WITH A BOMB BLAST WHICH TOOK PLACE AT THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN DAR ES SALAAM IN WHICH A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DIED AND MANY PROPERTIES WERE DAMAGED. /// END ACTUALITY /// THE SPOKESMAN DECLINES TO GIVE THE NAMES OF THOSE DETAINED AND WILL NOT OFFER ANY INTERIM REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF THEIR INTERROGATIONS, WHICH OTHER TANZANIAN OFFICIALS SAY ARE BEING CARRIED OUT JOINTLY WITH U-S INVESTIGATORS NOW IN DAR ES SALAAM. THE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE SUSPECTS WERE PICKED UP AT VARIOUS TIMES AND PLACES SINCE LAST FRIDAY'S DEADLY EXPLOSION. HE SAYS THEY ARE ALL NOW BEING HELD IN DAR ES SALAAM. AMONG THE FEW DETAILS HE GIVES IS THAT ONE OF THE SUDANESE CLAIMS TO WORK FOR THE SAUDI EMBASSY WHILE ANOTHER SUDANESE IS JUST 15 YEARS OLD. HE SAYS THE IRAQIS INCLUDE AN ENGINEER, A TEACHER, AND A TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNICIAN. THE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE SOLE SOMALI BEING HELD CLAIMS TO BE AN EMPLOYEE OF THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY. THE SPOKESMAN CALLS SOME OF THOSE BEING HELD IN CUSTODY "DUBIOUS CHARACTERS" WHILE OTHERS FAILED TO PRODUCE IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS SUCH AS PASSPORTS. U-S OFFICIALS IN DAR ES SALAAM HAVE HAD NO COMMENT SO FAR ON THE TANZANIAN ANNOUNCEMENT. (SIGNED) NEB/BEL/JWH 11-Aug-98 11:01 AM EDT (1501 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .