DATE=10/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240717
TITLE=AFGHAN BIN LADEN (L)
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE TALEBAN MOVEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN HAS EMPOWERED ITS 
SUPREME COURT TO COLLECT AND RECORD EVIDENCE AGAINST SAUDI 
MILITANT OSAMA BIN LADEN.  MR. BIN LADEN -- LIVING IN AFGHANISTAN
-- IS ALLEGED TO BE ONE OF THE WORLD'S MAJOR SPONSORS OF 
TERRORISM.  AYAZ GUL REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD. 

TEXT:   A TALEBAN STATEMENT IS INVITING OUTSIDERS TO PRESENT  
EVIDENCE TO THE TALEBAN'S SUPREME COURT THAT WOULD LINK  OSAMA 
BIN LADEN TO TERRORIST ACTIVITY.

THE STATEMENT SAYS SUCH EVIDENCE WOULD THEN BE USED BY THE 
TALEBAN'S CHIEF JUSTICE -- MULLAH NOOR MOHAMMED SAQIB -- TO 
PROCEED AGAINST MR. BIN LADEN, UNDER THE COUNTRY'S ISLAMIC LAWS.

MR. BIN LADEN HAS BEEN LIVING IN AFGHANISTAN UNDER THE PROTECTION
OF THE TALEBAN.  HE HAS DECLARED A "HOLY WAR" AGAINST THE UNITED 
STATES AND IS A KEY SUSPECT IN THE BOMBINGS IN AUGUST OF TWO 
AMERICAN EMBASSIES IN EAST AFRICA

THE BOMBINGS PROMPTED THE UNITED STATES TO LAUNCH A MISSILE 
ATTACK, TWO MONTHS AGO, ON  SUSPECTED TERRORIST BASES  IN 
AFGHANISTAN.   WASHINGTON SAYS THE TERRORIST BASES ARE LINKED TO 
MR. BIN LADEN. AT LEAST 26 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN THE U-S ATTACK.

SPEAKING WITH A TALEBAN REPRESENTATIVE IN WASHINGTON LAST WEEK, 
SENIOR U-S OFFICIALS REITERATED OSAMA BIN LADEN MUST BE BROUGHT 
TO TRIAL.  THE TALEBAN SAYS IT IS READY TO TRY MR. BIN LADEN, IF 
SOLID EVIDENCE OF HIS RESPONSIBILITY IN TERRORIST ACTS IS 
PROVIDED TO THEM. (SIGNED)

 

NEB / AG / CB / WD

 

26-Oct-98 6:45 AM EST (1145 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.