February 21, 2000

Taliban Chief Accuses Annan of Bias
By AMIR SHAH .c The Associated Press.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - The Taliban's reclusive leader criticized U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Monday, accusing him in a letter of being biased against the militia that rules most of Afghanistan.

Afghans await asylum decisions - BBC
Jack Straw will decide the fate of the asylum seekers
Some of the 79 Afghan asylum seekers from the Stansted airport hijack could learn on Monday whether they can stay in the UK.

Tripartite commission to discuss Afghan Refugees repatriation
ISLAMABAD (NNI): A meeting of the Tripartite Commission for repatriation of the Afghan refugees from Pakistan meets in Kabul on February 23 (Wednesday) to discuss ways for return of Afghan refugees, officials said Sunday

U.S. probe said to tie bomb plot to Bin Laden
WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - U.S. officials have sensitive intelligence information that connects a bomb plot foiled just before New Year's Day to Saudi exile Osama bin Laden, a published report said on Monday.

Mauritania frees suspected bin Laden ally
NOUAKCHOTT, Feb 20 (Reuters) - A man freed by Mauritanian police after being questioned for almost a month about alleged links with Saudi dissident and suspected guerrilla leader Osama bin Laden said on Sunday the accusation was

Tehran blow for hardliners
President Khatami and supporters were delighted by early results
Iranian reformers look set for a convincing victory in the race for parliamentary seats in the capital, Tehran.
Pro-reform candidates are leading in the battle for 28 of the capital's 30 seats.

Don't Trust Pakistan
Monday, February 22, 2000; Page A26
The Washington Post
It is disingenuous to say that Pakistan and its military-intelligence complex lack the leverage to exert pressure on Afghanistan's ruling Taliban government [news story, Feb. 15].