Chechen Rebels Open Afghan Embassy

The Associated Press
Sunday, Jan. 23, 2000; 10:10 a.m. EST

KABUL, Afghanistan –– One week after the Taliban gave official recognition to an independent Chechnya, the breakaway Russian republic opened its embassy in Kabul, a radio station reported Sunday.

The Chechen ambassador to Afghanistan is likely to be Zelimkhan Banderayev, the man who headed the Chechen delegation seeking official recognition for the republic fighting the Russian military, Radio Shariat reported.

The Russian military has launched a fierce assault on the breakaway republic to crush the rebel insurgency.

The Taliban's supreme leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, has criticized other Muslim countries as well as the United Nations for failing to help Chechnya.

Russia accuses the Taliban, which rules 90 percent of Afghanistan, of sending manpower and military aid to the Chechen rebel resistance.

Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil has said that the Taliban have nothing to give because of the relentless civil war with their northern-based opposition.