March 14, 1999

FOCUS-Afghan foes agree to share power
09:38 a.m. Mar 14, 1999 Eastern
By Mike Collett-White
ASHGABAT, March 14 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's warring factions agreed on Sunday after three days of U.N.-mediated talks to share power and work to hammer out a permanent ceasefire.

Taliban, opposition strike power-sharing deal Sun 14 Mar 99 - 11:32 GMT
ASHGABAD, March 14 (AFP) - Afghanistan's Taliban and opposition forces announced a landmark deal at peace talks Sunday, agreeing to share power in a coalition government and to seek a definitive truce to end two decades of civil war.

FOCUS-U.N. official in Afghanistan ahead of staff
11:57 a.m. Mar 14, 1999 Eastern
KABUL, March 14 (Reuters) - A senior United Nations official arrived in the Afghan capital on Sunday and discussed security arrangements for the return of international staff to the war-torn nation.

Voice of America
INTRO:  THE WARRING SIDES IN AFGHANISTAN'S BLOODY CIVIL WAR HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT TO FORM A COALITION GOVERNMENT AND MOVE TOWARD PEACE.  AS CORRESPONDENT SCOTT

Chronology of War in Afghanistan
By The Associated Press
Sunday, March 14, 1999; 5:27 p.m. EST
Some key dates in Afghanistan's civil war:
December 1979 -- Soviet-backed coup ousts leftist Afghan government and puts pro-Moscow regime in power. Late in the month, Soviet troops invade to bolster Babrak Karmal's rule against Muslim resistance.

Afghan rivals reach landmark deal to end years of hostilities
BBC
The ruling Taleban movement in Afghanistan and the main opposition alliance have agreed to share government between them.

FOCUS-U.N. official in Afghanistan ahead of staff
11:57 a.m. Mar 14, 1999 Eastern
KABUL, March 14 (Reuters) - A senior United Nations official arrived in the Afghan capital on Sunday and discussed security arrangements for the return of international staff to the war-torn nation.

Analysis: Can the deal bring peace? Countless deals and alliances have failed before
BBC
By Alastair Lawson
The agreement between the two warring sides in Afghanistan to form a shared government has been hailed by the United Nations as a watershed after 20 years of conflict.

Pakistan hails Afghan power-sharing agreement
04:14 a.m. Mar 14, 1999 Eastern
ISLAMABAD, March 14 (Reuters) - Pakistan on Sunday hailed an agreement between neighbouring Afghanistan's warring parties to form a shared government, calling it a step toward lasting peace.

Iran welcomes Afghan power-sharing accord
12:12 p.m. Mar 14, 1999 Eastern
TEHRAN, March 14 (Reuters) - Iran said it hoped a power-sharing agreement reached between Afghanistan's warring factions on Sunday would pave the way for a ceasefire and end bloodshed in the battered country.

Rival Afghan sides share bus ride, strolls in park
10:02 a.m. Mar 14, 1999 Eastern
By Mike Collett-White
ASHGABAT, March 14 (Reuters) - A bus ride together, relaxed strolls in the park, a guided tour of a mosque and a joint news briefing.

Iran says Afghan peace depends on broad-based government
TEHRAN (NNI): Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs Mohsen Aminzadeh has said the success of the Afghan peace talk depends on an agreement of Afghan groups on establishment of a broad-based government.

u.n. presence in afghanistan better than absence, brahimi
tehran, march 14, irna
the u.n. secretary general's special envoy for afghan affairs, lakhdar brahimi, described the afghan issue as a very complicated problem which could not be settled easily by one or two visits. he made the remark in an interview with

US & Russia press Taliban to expel Osama
Dawn
WASHINGTON, March 13: Russia joined the US on Friday to jointly pressurise Taliban, and their Pakistani supporters, to force Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden from his Afghan hideout to bring him to justice in the US
<>

$ 21 million for the de-mining of AfghanistanMarch 13 (PPI):
<>The United States has provided more than 21 million dollars since 1993 for assistance to Afghanistan, and in this fiscal year will provide 2 million dollars in humanitarian de-mining assistance.