DATE=8/3/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN - BIN LADEN (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-252448
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO: The United States has lodged a protest 
(Tuesday) in Pakistan with an Islamic leader who 
threatened to declare war on American nationals in the 
event of another U-S attack on hideouts of alleged 
terrorist Osama bin Laden. Ayaz Gul reports from 
Islamabad.

TEXT: A senior U-S diplomat in Islamabad made the 
protest in a 90-minute meeting with Maullana Fazlur 
Rehman, leader of Pakistan's second largest Islamic 
party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam.

Mr. Rehman's party has recently held a series of anti-
U-S rallies against what it says are plans by 
Washington to launch an attack on neighboring 
Afghanistan to destroy hideouts of alleged terrorist 
Osama bin Laden.

During a rally in the Pakistani capital last Friday, 
Mr. Rehman threatened to go to war against American 
nationals if Mr. bin Laden is attacked. This has led 
to tightening of security of the U-S interests in 
Pakistan.

A U-S embassy spokesman, Lee James Irven, says the 
meeting with Mr. Rehman took place at the request of 
U-S officials.

            /// IRVEN ACT ///

      The purpose was to express U-S concern over 
      statements made by Maullana Fazlur Rehman and 
      members of his party which threatened the safety 
      of U-S citizens and as you know we take all such 
      threats seriously.

            /// END ACT ///

But Mr. Rehman, whose followers strongly support Osama 
bin Laden and the Taleban Islamic movement in 
neighboring Afghanistan, says his edict will be valid 
as long as the threat of an American attack on bin 
Laden remains. Mr. Rehman says an attack on 
Afghanistan will be considered an act of aggression 
against Pakistan.

            /// REHMAN IN URDU, FADE UNDER ///

The Islamic leader says he told American officials (in 
the meeting) that if he does not feel safe in his land 
because of the United States, then how could Americans 
in the region feel safe?

Washington has been seeking the extradition of Osama 
bin Laden from Afghanistan, where he is under the 
protection the Taleban Islamic movement. The U-S 
government accuses bin Laden of masterminding last 
year's bombings of two U-S embassies in Africa, in 
which more than 200 people died. Shortly after the 
bombings, the United States launched cruise-missile 
attacks on Afghanistan to destroy Mr. bin Laden's 
terrorist training camps, but failed to root out the 
Saudi militant. (signed)

NEB/AG/gm  



03-Aug-1999 14:34 PM EDT (03-Aug-1999 1834 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.