March 17, 2000

Iran relents on Afghan refugees
BBC
Several hundred Afghans have been sent home
By regional analyst Pam O'Toole
Officials from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees say Iran has pledged to end the recent wave of forcible deportations of Afghans.

Osama's kidneys failing: report
Dawn
HONG KONG, March 16: Osama bin Laden is dying of kidney failure, but is still leading a band of followers somewhere in Afghanistan, a magazine said on Thursday.

Afghan Leaders' Holiday Messages Reflect Differrent Perspectives
Taliban Accused of Pursuing Military Option Despite Talk of Peace
By Omar Samad
WASHINGTON, March 16, 2000, (AAR) - The arrival of two major holidays for Afghans, one religious and the other traditional, only a few days apart from each other, has unleashed a flurry of greeting messages by Afghan leaders -- past and