DATE=11/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241204
TITLE=BIN LADEN INDICTED (S & L)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-S AUTHORITIES IN NEW YORK TODAY (WEDNESDAY) CHARGED 
SAUDI MILLIONAIRE OSAMA BIN LADEN -- AND HIS TOP AIDE -- WITH 224
COUNTS OF MURDER IN THE AUGUST BOMBINGS OF THE U-S EMBASSIES IN 
KENYA AND TANZANIA, AND OFFERED A HUGE REWARD FOR THEIR CAPTURE. 
V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:   

TEXT: THREE SUSPECTS HAD ALREADY BEEN CHARGED IN THE EMBASSY 
BOMBINGS.  THIS LATEST INDICTMENT IS CONSIDERED THE BIG ONE.  
OSAMA BIN LADEN IS THE ALLEGED MASTERMIND AND FINANCIER OF THE 
ATTACKS IN AFRICA.

HE IS ALSO CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO MURDER AMERICANS -- A 
REFERENCE TO HIS ALLEGED LEADERSHIP OF THE TERRORIST GROUP 
"AL-QAEDA."  U-S AUTHORITIES HAVE LINKED MR. BIN LADEN TO 
TERRORIST ACTIVITIES OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, INCLUDING 
TARGETING AMERICAN SOLDIERS SERVING WITH A U-N OPERATION IN 
SOMALIA. 

THESE NEW CHARGES LINK MR. BIN LADEN DIRECTLY TO THE AUGUST 
EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN AFRICA.   

//BEGIN OPT// U-S ATTORNEY MARY JO WHITE ANNOUNCED THE CHARGES:

                          //WHITE ACT//

         THE INDICTMENT CHARGES OSAMA BIN LADEN, THE ALLEGED EMIR
         OR LEADER OF THE INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION 
         AL-QAEDA, AND MOHAMED ATEF -- THE ALLEGED MILITARY 
         COMMANDER OF AL-QAEDA -- WITH MURDERING AT LEAST 224 
         CIVILIANS IN THE BOMBINGS OF THE U-S EMBASSIES ON AUGUST
         7, 1998 IN NAIROBI, KENYA AND DAR ES-SALAAM, TANZANIA.

                         //END OPT ACT//

OSAMA BIN LADEN REMAINS A FUGITIVE.  SOME BELIEVE HE MAY BE IN 
AFGHANISTAN. THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT HAS OFFERED A FIVE MILLION 
DOLLAR REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO HIS ARREST.

                          //REST OPT//

U-S ATTORNEY MARY JO WHITE CALLS THE AUGUST ATTACKS THE MOST 
HEINOUS ACTS OF VIOLENCE EVER COMMITTED AGAINST U-S DIPLOMATIC 
POSTS.  SHE SIGNALED THERE MAY BE MORE SUSPECTS IN THE TERROR 
NETWORK AND MORE INDICTMENTS TO COME:

                          //WHITE ACT//

         THIS INVESTIGATION IS NOT ONLY ONE THAT IS CONTINUING 
         AND WORLD-WIDE, BUT ONE THAT WE EXPECT TO CONTINUE FOR 
         QUITE SOME TIME UNTIL ALL OTHERS ARE CHARGED.

                           //END ACT//

OSAMA BIN LADEN AND HIS MILITARY COMMANDER FACE LIFE IN PRISON IF
CONVICTED, OR POSSIBLY A DEATH SENTENCE. (SIGNED)

NEB/NY/EJ/LSF/JO



04-Nov-98 4:51 PM EST (2151 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.