DATE=2/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245658
TITLE=BIN LADEN / AFGHAN (S&L)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  AFGHANISTAN'S TALEBAN MILITIA SAYS TERROR SUSPECT OSAMA 
BIN LADEN IS NO LONGER IN TALEBAN-CONTROLLED TERRITORY.  FROM THE
STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS. 

TEXT:  TALEBAN REPRESENTATIVE ABDUL HAKEEM MUJAHID SAYS OSAMA BIN
LADEN DECIDED ON HIS OWN TO LEAVE TALEBAN-CONTROLLED TERRITORY 
LAST FRIDAY OR SATURDAY. 

THERE IS  NO  WORD ON WHERE HE MIGHT HAVE GONE, AND  NO  
INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION OF THE STATEMENT BY THE TALEBAN 
OFFICIAL, WHO REPRESENTS THE GROUP AT THE UNITED NATIONS.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT REQUESTED THE MEETING (WEDNESDAY) IN AN 
EFFORT TO CLEAR UP CONFLICTING REPORTS ABOUT THE WHEREABOUTS OF 
THE SAUDI-BORN MILLIONAIRE WHO HAD BEEN LIVING IN AFGHANISTAN. 

U-S OFFICIALS ACCUSE OSAMA BIN LADEN OF ORGANIZING LAST YEAR'S 
DEADLY BOMBINGS AT THE U-S EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND TANZANIA.   THE
UNITED STATES HAS OFFERED A FIVE-MILLION-DOLLAR REWARD FOR HIS 
CAPTURE, AND HAS BEEN SEEKING TALEBAN ASSISTANCE IN BRINGING HIM 
TO JUSTICE. 

                   /// REST OPT FOR LONG /// 

IN ADDITION TO DISCUSSING MR. BIN LADEN, U-S OFFICIALS ALSO 
ANNOUNCED THEY HAD DECLARED A DISASTER IN AFGHANISTAN FOLLOWING 
LAST WEEK'S EARTHQUAKE NEAR KABUL. 

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY SAYS THE UNITED STATES 
PLANS TO SEND AID TO THE REGION. 

                       /// FOLEY ACT /// 

         THE U-S AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WILL 
         COORDINATE U-S RELIEF EFFORTS WITH THE U-N AND OTHER 
         INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE 
         HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF THE EARTH 
         QUAKE. 

                        /// END ACT /// 

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY ALSO USED WEDNESDAY'S MEETING TO URGE THE 
TALEBAN TO COOPERATE WITH U-N EFFORTS TO REACH A POLITICAL 
SETTLEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN. 

THE UNITED STATES HAS REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THE TALEBAN AS THE 
LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT OF AFGHANISTAN, BUT HAS NOW MET TWICE WITH 
TALEBAN OFFICIALS IN THE PAST MONTH. 

THE TALEBAN MILITIA CONTROLS ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF AFGHANISTAN, 
FOLLOWING A SERIES OF SWEEPING VICTORIES OVER AN ALLIANCE OF 
OPPOSITION FORCES LAST YEAR.  ANTI-TALEBAN FORCES STILL HOLD A 
SMALL MOUNTAINOUS REGION IN THE NORTH OF THE COUNTRY.   (SIGNED) 

NEB/KBK/WDC/WTW

17-Feb-99 7:41 PM EST (0041 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.