News

DATE=7/11/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-251630 TITLE=AFGHAN BIN LADEN (L-ONLY)CQ BYLINE=SARAH HORNER DATELINE=ISLAMABAD CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AFGHANISTAN'S TALEBAN MOVEMENT HAS SAID IT WILL NOT EXTRADITE SAUDI DISSIDENT AND ALLEGED TERRORIST OSAMA BIN LADEN. AS SARAH HORNER REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD, IT IS THE FIRST ADMISSION BY THE TALEBAN THAT MR BIN LADEN IS STILL IN AFGHANISTAN AFTER HIS REPORTED DISAPPEARANCE FIVE MONTHS AGO. TEXT: THE TALEBAN'S CHIEF SPOKESMAN AHMAD MUTTAWAKIL TOLD REPORTERS IN KABUL (SATURDAY) THAT THE TALEBAN HAS NO EXTRADITION AGREEMENTS WITH ANY COUNTRY. IN ADDITION, MR MUTTAWAKIL SAID THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED NO PROOF THAT OSAMA BIN LADEN IS INVOLVED IN TERRORISM. THE STATEMENT COMES SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE U-S IMPOSED FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL SANCTIONS AGAINST THE TALEBAN IN RETALIATION FOR ITS ALLEGED SUPPORT OF THE SAUDI DISSIDENT. PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID MR BIN LADEN AND HIS NETWORK ARE CONTINUING TO PLAN ATTACKS AGAINST AMERICANS. THE U-S GOVERNMENT ACCUSES HIM OF ORDERING THE BOMBINGS THAT KILLED MORE THAN 250-PEOPLE LAST AUGUST AT AMERICAN EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND TANZANIA. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE BOMBINGS, THE UNITED STATES CARRIED OUT MISSILE STRIKES ON SUSPECTED TERRORIST TRAINING CAMPS RUN BY MR BIN LADEN IN AFGHANISTAN. THE UNITED STATES HAS ALSO PUT OSAMA BIN LADEN ON A TOP 10 MOST WANTED LIST AND OFFERED A FIVE-MILLION-DOLLAR REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO HIS ARREST AND CONVICTION. MR BIN LADEN HAS DENIED INVOLVEMENT IN THE AFRICAN BOMBINGS, BUT HAS CALLED FOR ATTACKS ON WESTERN TARGETS. THE TALEBAN'S CHIEF SPOKESMAN HAS ALSO CONFIRMED THAT MR BIN LADEN IS STILL LIVING IN AFGHANISTAN. LAST FEBRUARY THE TALEBAN ANNOUNCED HE HAD DISAPPEARED. THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME SHORTLY AFTER PRESSURE WAS PUT ON THE TALEBAN BY BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES TO EXTRADITE HIM. MR MUTTAWAKIL SAYS MR BIN LADEN IS IN AFGHANISTAN WITH A SPECIAL GUARD BUT THE TALEBAN DOES NOT KNOW HIS PRECISE LOCATION. (SIGNED) NEB/SLH/PLM 11-Jul-99 6:26 AM EDT (1026 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .