May 24, 2000

Afghanistan Warns Against Russian Threat, Agency Says
Moscow, May 24 (Bloomberg) -- Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement warned that it would hold Uzbekistan and Tajikistan responsible for any strikes against Afghanistan by Russia, Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported. Russian Foreign Minister

Russia threatens Afghan air strikes
Russia says the Taleban is backing Chechen rebels - BBC
Russia is prepared to launch air strikes against Afghanistan in certain circumstances, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has said.
Moscow has accused Afghanistan's ruling Taleban movement of training Islamic rebels in Chechnya and plotting to export its radical brand of Islam to

EX-Soviet republics debate new security concerns
By Larisa Sayenko
MINSK, May 24 (Reuters) - Leaders of six ex-Soviet republics debated on Wednesday how to adapt post-communist military cooperation to perceived new threats from terrorism, Islamic extremism and drug and arms smuggling.

Thousands of Chechens sheltered in Afghanistan
DUSHANBE, May 23 (Itar-Tass) - A whole settlement accommodating hundreds of Chechen families has recently appeared near the Afghan city of Mazari-Shariff controlled by the Taliban. The Chechen families have acquired household utensils,

Idea on strikes on Chechen bases in Afghanistan backed
MOSCOW, May 24 (Itar-Tass) - Leader of the People's Deputy group at the State Duma lower house Gennady Raikov backed possible preventive strikes on training bases of Chechen gunmen in Afghanistan.

Pakistan-Foreign Office
Any Russian Act Against Afghanistan May Add to Chaos: Pakistan Islamabad, May 23, IRNA -- Pakistan on Tuesday said any Russian action against Afghanistan can have a destabilizing effect and can add to the chaos.

Mercenaries being sent to Pakistan, Afghanistan from US: Itar Tass
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The Russian News Agency "Itar Tass" has quoted British reliable sources as saying that special camps in the United States are imparting military training to the mercenaries, reports Radio Moscow.

India and Iran seek closer ties
The situation in Afghanistan is a major concern - BBC
By South Asia analyst Chandrika Deshpande
India's External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh, is wrapping up a visit to Iran.
Over the past five days, India and Iran say they have developed a better understanding with each other.

OIC committee to discuss Afghan prisoners' exchange
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The committee, set up by the OIC Contact Group on Afghanistan at its meeting in Jeddah, is scheduled to meet in Islamabad on Wednesday (May 24) to try to remove bottlenecks for the exchange of prisoners between Afghan government

Osama prepares list of Arab martyrs of Afghan Jihad
By IMTIAZ HUSSAIN - Frontier Post
PESHAWAR - Over 2300 young men hailing form various Arab countries were martyred during Jihad in Afghanistan from 1985-92, sources told The Frontier Post on Tuesday.

Kabul zoo presents ghastly spectacle
KABUL May 23 (AFP) - Kabul zoo, once a frontline in Afghanistan's factional fighting, has become a virtual torture chamber for the animals which survived the strife.

Zahir Shah pleased with his team's visit to US
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The former Afghan monarch Zahir Shah has termed the visit of his delegation to the United States as successful.

Preparations on for CE trip to Afghanistan: FO
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Preparatory work is underway for the proposed visit of Chief Executive General Pervez to Afghanistan, Foreign Office spokesman Iftikhar Murshid Tuesday said.

Afghans-Return-Iran
1,353 Afghans Return Home from Kerman Province Kerman, May 24, IRNA -- Some 1,353 Afghan refugees have so far left this southeastern province for their homeland, it was reported here Wednesday.

GLAMOUR Magazine to Receive Amnesty International's Media Spotlight Award for Coverage Affecting Women's Issues
NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 24, 2000--GLAMOUR magazine will receive Amnesty International USA's Media Spotlight Award for Journalism/Magazine in recognition of the magazine's commitment to focusing on issues affecting women's human rights