September 23, 1998

Taleban Consolidate Grip On Central Afghanistan
08:53 a.m. Sep 23, 1998 Eastern
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Afghanistan's Taleban Islamic movement said Wednesday it had seized control of a key road between Kabul and Bamiyan town in central Afghanistan after routing opposition Hezb-i-Wahdat forces.

Taleban regret expulsion of diplomat in Saudi
08:23 a.m. Sep 23, 1998 Eastern

KABUL, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's Taleban movement on Wednesday expressed deep regret that key ally Saudi Arabia ordered the Taleban charge d'affaires to leave.

Afghan envoy links Saudi move to Bin Laden
08:05 a.m. Sep 23, 1998 Eastern

DUBAI, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The Afghan charge d'affaires in Riyadh said he believed Saudi Arabia had asked him to leave the kingdom because Afghanistan was sheltering Saudi exile Osama Bin Laden, a Saudi-owned newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Voice of America

INTRO: HUNDREDS OF RELGIOUS CLERICS FROM ACROSS AFGHANISTAN ARE MEETING TO DISCUSS THE COUNTRY'S PROBLEMS. SARAH HORNER REPORTS THE SCHOLARS ARE
Iran adopts unprecedented military posture on Afghan border
Wed 23 Sep 98 - 14:06 GMT

TEHRAN, Sept 23 (AFP) - Iran's armed forces have completed an unprecedented buildup along the border with Afghanistan to counter any potential threat from the Taliban Islamic militia, officials said Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia pressures Taliban for extradition of bombing suspects
Wed 23 Sep 98 - 12:48 GMT

RIYADH, Sept 23 (AFP) - Saudi Arabia has frozen its relations with the Taliban to push for the extradition of suspects in a 1996 anti-US bombing who are hiding in Afghanistan, a Riyadh-based diplomat said Wednesday.
Taliban chief vows to oppose outside pressure
Wed 23 Sep 98 - 12:22 GMT

ISLAMABAD, Sept 23 (AFP) - Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar said Wednesday the Afghan militia would not be swayed by outside pressure after Saudi Arabia withdrew its envoy from Kabul.
Taliban publicly execute two murderers in western Afghanistan
Wed 23 Sep 98 - 11:09 GMT

KABUL, Sep 23 (AFP) - Two men accused of murder were publicly executed at a packed sports stadium in the western Afghan province of Herat, official sources reported Wednesday.
Islamic scholars' meeting in Kabul condemns Iran
Wed 23 Sep 98 - 09:06 GMT

KABUL, Sept 23 (AFP) - A conference of Islamic scholars called at Taliban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar's initiative has attacked Iran for threatening Afghanistan by massing thousands of troops on the border, official reports said Wednesday.
Taliban sound warning to UN on Iran attack fears
Wed 23 Sep 98 - 08:16 GMT

KABUL, Sept 23 (AFP) - Afghanistan's Taliban authorities have sounded alarms at the United Nations against a possible Iranian invasion amid heightened tensions between the Moslem neighbours, official sources said Wednesday.