DATE=8/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237325
TITLE=AFGHAN BIN LADEN (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: AFGHANISTAN'S TALEBAN MOVEMENT HAS VOWED IT WILL  NOT   
TURN OVER A SAUDI MILITANT SUSPECTED IN THE BOMBINGS OF THE U-S 
EMBASSIES IN EAST AFRICA.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN 
HAS MORE FROM OUR ISLAMABAD BUREAU. 

TEXT: TALEBAN LEADER, MULLAH MOHAMMAD OMAR, TOLD THE AFGHAN 
ISLAMIC PRESS THAT SAUDI MILITANT OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS  NOT 
INVOLVED IN THE U-S EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN KENYA AND TANZANIA.

MULLAH OMAR SAYS U-S INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES FIND IT CONVENIENT TO
BLAME MR. BIN LADEN TO COVER UP THEIR OWN FAILURES.  HE SAYS THE 
TALEBAN, IN HIS WORDS, WILL PROTECT MR. BIN LADEN WITH ALL OF ITS
BLOOD AND AT ALL COST.

MR. BIN LADEN IS LIVING IN AFGHANISTAN WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE 
TALEBAN.  MULLAH OMAR SAYS HE IS UNDER CONSTANT WATCH AND HAS 
STRICT ORDERS  NOT  TO INDULGE IN ANY SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITY.  
MULLAH OMAR SAYS THAT UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES HE CAN ASSURE THE 
WORLD THAT MR. BIN LADEN HAS  NOT  BEEN INVOLVED IN WRONGFUL 
ACTIONS.

MR. BIN LADEN HAS DECLARED A HOLY WAR ON THE UNITED STATES AND IS
CONSIDERED BY WESTERN EXPERTS TO BE ONE OF THE WORLD'S MAJOR 
SPONSORS OF TERRORISM. NEWS REPORTS SAY HE IS A PRIME SUSPECT IN 
THE EMBASSY BOMBINGS.

MEANWHILE, SENIOR TALEBAN SPOKESMAN WAKEEL AHMED SAYS AFGHANISTAN
HAS  NO  AGREEMENT WITH ANY COUNTRY TO EXTRADITE CRIMINALS.  HE 
TOLD THE AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS THAT IF IT IS PROVED THAT SOMEONE 
HAS ENGAGED IN WRONGFUL ACTS, THERE ARE GOOD COURTS IN 
AFGHANISTAN TO PROSECUTE THAT PERSON.  BUT, MR. AHMED SAYS, MR. 
BIN LADEN IS  NOT  INVOLVED IN ANY KIND OF TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. 

IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, PAKISTANI AUTHORITIES ARE REPORTED TO BE 
INVESTIGATING TWO BOMBING SUSPECTS WHO WERE ARRESTED LAST WEEK.  
PAKISTANI NEWSPAPERS SAYS ABDULLAH [EDS: ONE NAME GIVEN], A SAUDI
NATIONAL, AND ABU JAFER, A SUDANESE, WERE DETAINED SATURDAY AT 
TORKHAM ON THE PAKISTAN-AFGHAN BORDER.  NO OFFICIAL WORD ON THE 
SUSPECTS IS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE. (SIGNED)

NEB/DB/TMD/JO



19-Aug-98 11:23 AM EDT (1523 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.