DATE=8/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237369
TITLE=AFGHAN BIN LADEN (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  AFGHANISTAN'S TALEBAN FACTION SAYS IT COULD BE OPEN TO 
NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT SAUDI MILITANT OSAMA BIN LADEN WHO IS 
SUSPECTED IN THE BOMBINGS OF U-S EMBASSIES IN AFRICA.  
CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN HAS THE STORY FROM ISLAMABAD.

TEXT:  SENIOR TALEBAN OFFICIAL WAKHEEL AHMED TOLD THE AFGHAN 
ISLAMIC PRESS, THERE ARE GOOD COURTS IN AFGHANISTAN TO PROSECUTE 
PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMITTED WRONGFUL ACTS.

HE SAYS IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS PROVEN GUILTY THE TALEBAN WILL SIT 
DOWN AND NEGOTIATE WITH ANY COUNTRY SEEKING HIS EXTRADITION -- 
INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES.  MR. AHMED SAYS AFGHANISTAN HAS NO 
AGREEMENT WITH ANY COUNTRY TO EXTRADITE CRIMINALS. 

BUT THE HEAD OF THE TALEBAN MOVEMENT, MULLAH MOHAMMAD OMAR HAS 
RULED OUT HANDING OVER SAUDI MILITANT OSAMA BIN LADEN TO THE U-S 
GOVERNMENT, EVEN IN RETURN FOR POSSIBLE RECOGNITION.  HE TOLD THE
PAKISTANI NEWSPAPER, "THE NEWS", THAT  NO AMOUNT OF TEMPTATION OR
COERCION COULD FORCE THE TALEBAN TO HAND OVER MR. BIN LADEN TO 
THE UNITED STATES OR PAKISTANI GOVERNMENTS. 

MULLAH OMAR ALSO SAYS THE SAUDI  MILITANT WAS  NOT  INVOLVED IN 
THE BOMBINGS OF U-S EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND TANZANIA. 

MR. BIN LADEN HAS BEEN LIVING IN AFGHANISTAN WITH THE SUPPORT OF 
THE TALEBAN. HE HAS DECLARED A HOLY WAR ON THE UNITED STATES AND 
IS A KEY SUSPECT IN THE BOMBINGS.

SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS SAID IF THE TALEBAN 
WANTS TO BE RECOGNIZED IT SHOULD  NOT  SHELTER KNOWN OR SUSPECTED
TERRORISTS. 

IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, THE URDU LANGUAGE PAKISTAN NEWSPAPER, 
"THE JANG", SAYS PAKISTAN HAS TURNED DOWN A U-S REQUEST TO 
COOPERATE IN ARRESTING MR. BIN LADEN.  A PAKISTANI FOREIGN 
MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS HE IS  NOT  AWARE OF SUCH A REQUEST.  A 
U-S EMBASSY SPOKESMAN SAYS HE HAS NOTHING ON THE STORY.   
(SIGNED) 

NEB/RAE

20-Aug-98 10:17 AM EDT (1417 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.