DATE=7/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251526
TITLE=AFGHAN /  U-S (L-ONLY) (CQ)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE LEADER OF AFGHANISTAN'S TALEBAN MOVEMENT SAYS HE IS 
NOT WORRIED ABOUT U-S SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON THE TALEBAN.  AS SARAH
HORNER REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD, THE U-S GOVERNMENT SAYS THE 
SANCTIONS ARE IN RETALIATION FOR THE TALEBAN'S ALLEGED SUPPORT 
FOR SAUDI MILITANT AND TERRORIST OSAMA BIN LADEN, WHO THE UNITED 
STATES BELIEVES LIVES IN AFGHANISTAN.

TEXT:  THE PAKISTAN-BASED "AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS" (A-I-P) QUOTES 
THE TALEBAN LEADER AS SAYING HE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE U-S 
SANCTIONS.  IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE NEWS AGENCY, MULLAH MOHAMMED
OMAR SAYS HE IS NOT SURE WHETHER OSAMA BIN LADEN IS THE REAL 
CAUSE OF THE PENALTIES.

MULLAH OMAR SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS CERTAIN DESIGNS ON 
AFGHANISTAN WHICH HAS CAUSED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AMERICA AND THE 
TALEBAN.  HE SAYS AS A RESULT SANCTIONS HAVE BEEN IMPOSED ON THE 
TALEBAN.

A-I-P QUOTES THE TALEBAN LEADER AS SAYING HE DOES NOT KNOW THE 
WHEREABOUTS OF MR BIN LADEN.  MULLAH OMAR SAYS HE HAS BEEN 
NEITHER ASKED TO LEAVE NOR REMAIN IN AFGHANISTAN.

PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCED TUESDAY FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL 
SANCTIONS AGAINST THE TALEBAN.  HE SAID THE MOVE WOULD DEEPEN THE
TALEBAN'S ISOLATION, LIMIT ITS ABILITY TO SUPPORT TERRORIST 
NETWORKS, AND DEMONSTRATE THE NEED TO CONFORM TO ACCEPTED NORMS 
OF BEHAVIOR.

PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID MR. BIN LADEN AND HIS NETWORK ARE 
CONTINUING TO PLAN ATTACKS AGAINST AMERICANS.

THE U-S GOVERNMENT ACCUSES MR. BIN LADEN OF ORDERING THE BOMBINGS
THAT KILLED MORE THAN 250-PEOPLE LAST AUGUST AT AMERICAN 
EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND TANZANIA.  TWO-WEEKS AFTER THE BOMBINGS, 
THE UNITED STATES CARRIED OUT MISSILE STRIKES ON  SUSPECTED 
TERRORIST TRAINING CAMPS RUN BY MR. BIN LADEN IN AFGHANISTAN.

THE UNITED STATES HAS ALSO PUT OSAMA BIN LADEN ON A "TOP 10 MOST 
WANTED" LIST AND OFFERED A FIVE-MILLION-DOLLAR REWARD FOR 
INFORMATION LEADING TO HIS ARREST AND CONVICTION.

LAST DECEMBER, MR. BIN LADEN DENIED INVOLVEMENT IN THE AFRICAN 
BOMBINGS, BUT RENEWED HIS CALLS FOR ATTACKS ON WESTERN TARGETS.  
THREE-YEARS AGO MR. BIN LADEN WAS STRIPPED OF HIS SAUDI 
NATIONALITY.  THE SAME YEAR HE MOVED TO AFGHANISTAN, A COUNTRY 
WITH WHICH HE HAS A LONG ASSOCIATION.

LAST FEBRUARY THE TALEBAN REPORTED MR. BIN LADEN WAS "MISSING".  
THE REPORT CAME SHORTLY AFTER TALEBAN OFFICIALS WERE PUT UNDER 
PRESSURE DURING HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS WITH BRITISH AND AMERICAN 
DELEGATIONS TO EXTRADITE MR. BIN LADEN. (SIGNED)

NEB/SLH/RAE/KL

07-Jul-99 9:27 AM EDT (1327 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.