Afghan Taliban offer all-out backing to Chechnya

KABUL, Jan 21 (AFP) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia Friday offered all-out support for Chechnya and said a Chechen embassy would open in Kabul within days.

Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmad Mutawakel said the militia will back the Chechens in their war against the Russians, which he described as a Jehad, or Holy War.

He told a joint press conference here with a visiting Chechen rebel official Zelimkhan Yanderbiev that the Chechens already had ample supplies of arms and ammunition.

But the Taliban would consider providing aid.

"After their embassy starts working and if their government demands we will of course consider it," Mutawakel said.

"We will put at their disposal what we have through legitimate negotiations. The Chechen embassy will open in a couple of days," he said.

Taliban Supreme Leader Mulla Mohammad Omar on Sunday officially opened diplomatic ties with the rebel Chechen government and gave permission for a political mission in the Afghan capital.

"Now there is fighting in another Muslim home, it is the religious obligation of all Muslims to rush to the help of their brothers," he said.

"Here it is hard for us in Afghanistan to help because of the ongoing fighting with the opposition," he said.

Since seizing Kabul in 1996 the Taliban have been battling opposition forces who hold a slice of northeastern Afghanistan.

Yanderbiyev thanked the Taliban for their recognition and said it had boosted the morale of the Chechen fighters.

"Muslims are not afraid of others. It gives them more power to fight against the Russians. It shows they can help each other," said the Chechen official, who wore an untrimmed beard and a fur hat.

"They helped us in hard times. We want our freedom from the Russians and nothing more," the Chechen leader said.

"The Russians are pursuing their failed policy in Chechnya. There is a human tragedy going on there. The Russians are trying to annihilate people," he said.

Yanderbiyev criticised the international community for not doing more to protect the Chechens.

"The UN and others are quiet. They are not saying anything. The West was talking of international law before, but they are quiet now," he said.

The Chechens will open an embassy in Kabul but the rebel officials would likely work from a consulate in Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan, which is the headquarters of the Taliban, he said.

Mutawakel said the Taliban would open a mission in Grozny at a suitable time.