December 8, 2001

The Afghan interim government: who's who The Guardian (UK)

First draft of UN-sponsored Afghan agreement The Financial Times

Who's who of the Afghan power brokers.  Link to BBC News

Kabul's women list kidnap horrors By James Rupert

U.S. Hunts for Osama Bin Laden, U.N. Scouts Kabul
By Sayed Salahuddin and Peter Millership
Saturday December 8 9:20 PM ET
KABUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With the Taliban era over, U.S. forces hunted for Osama bin Laden and the Afghan Islamic movement's leader Mullah Mohammad Omar on Saturday

Bin Laden is here, says Afghan commander
Sunday December 9, 9:40 AM AFP
US and Afghan forces pummelled Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda disciples in the mountains of Tora Bora, while Afghan commanders brought in more fighters for an assault they believe will see the capture

British journalist beaten by refugees in Afghanistan: report
Sunday December 9, 4:56 AM AFP
A British journalist was attacked and viciously beaten by a mob of Afghan refugees in Pakistan before being saved by a Muslim religious leader, a news agency said.

Mystery over Omar's whereabouts
December 8, 2001 Posted: 3:11 PM EST (2011 GMT)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CNN) --Conflicting reports on the whereabouts of Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Mohammed Omar are circulating as opposition forces secure the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar.

An Afghan exile returns to stand up for women
By Lynda Gorov, Boston Globe Staff, 12/8/2001
KABUL, Afghanistan - Dr. Sima Samar enjoyed the story so much she told it again and again, laughing each time.

In 21st Century War, 2 Cavemen Stand Out
Strategy: From his underground center, Cheney directs cavern search for Bin Laden.
By WILLIAM M. ARKIN
Los Angeles Times (Dec 8, 2001)
WASHINGTON -- The hunt for Osama bin Laden has come down to this: two men in two caves half a world apart, conducting the first subterranean war of the 21st century.

European Cell of Al Qaeda Cited in Killing Of Massoud
By JOHN TAGLIABUE with SUSAN SACHS
The New York Times
PARIS, Dec. 7 — Investigators piecing together the suicide-bomb assassination of Ahmed Shah Massoud, the Afghan rebel leader, say they believe the plot was carried out by members

Unusual Conjunction in Afghan Prison
American in Taliban Queried by CIA Agent Before He Was Slain
By Walter Pincus
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, December 8, 2001; Page A19
CIA officer Johnny Micheal "Mike" Spann interrogated American Taliban fighter John Philip Walker in a fortress in northern Afghanistan less than three hours before Taliban and al Qaeda prisoners

Bin Laden deputy's family killed
Saturday, 8 December, 2001, 21:11 GMT BBC News
Supporters say Mr Zawahri is on the run in Afghanistan
By Heba Saleh in Cairo
Relatives of the Egyptian Islamic militant Ayman al-Zawahri have placed a death notice in the Cairo press announcing the killing of his wife and children.

Pak to reopen embassy in Kabul
Frontier Post 12/8/2001
ISLAMABAD (Online): Pakistani government will reopen its embassy in Kabul immediately after a new interim government is installed in Afghanistan on Dec 22, Foreign Ministry spokesman

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Afghan fighters close in on bin Laden, squabble over Kandahar
Saturday December 8, 5:53 PM AFP
Anti-Taliban fighters hunting Osama bin Laden clashed with his Arab loyalists in Afghanistan's eastern mountains as rival faction chiefs squabbled over control of the ousted militia's fallen capital.

Omar Vanishes as Victors Squabble Over Kandahar
By Sayed Salahuddin
Saturday December 8 7:31 AM ET
KABUL (Reuters) - With the Taliban finished in all but name, mystery surrounded the whereabouts Saturday of its spiritual leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, as Afghan warlords squabbled

Bush Readies First Shipment for Afghan Children
Saturday December 8 9:56 AM ET
NEW WINDSOR, Md. (Reuters) - President on Saturday inspected the first shipment of supplies and gifts for the children of Afghanistan that he said will help them through winter and brighten their lives.

Afghans Climb Foothills in Bin Laden Quest
By Sayed Salahuddin and Zeeshan Haider
Saturday December 8 8:23 AM ET
KABUL/CHAMAN, Pakistan (Reuters) - Anti-Taliban and overseas forces were climbing the foothills of eastern Afghan mountains in their search for Osama bin Laden Saturday and hunting

Afghan Kandahar Rivals Meet to Thrash Out Disputes
By Andy Soloman
Saturday December 8 4:51 AM ET
QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) - Leaders of Afghan Pashtun tribes, squabbling over control of the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, have formed a council to try to resolve their differences

Afghans urged to hunt down fugitives
Saturday, 8 December, 2001, 16:01 GMT BBC News
Kandahar is in chaos following the Taleban surrender
Afghan leader Hamid Karzai has called upon the people of Afghanistan to help hunt down the Saudi-born militant Osama Bin Laden and Taleban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar.

Uzbekistan Says to Open Key Afghan Aid Bridge
By Elaine Monaghan
Saturday December 8 5:50 AM ET
TASHKENT (Reuters) - Uzbekistan said on Saturday it would throw open a bridge seen as crucial for aid deliveries to Afghanistan and the United States invited Uzbek President Islam Karimov to Washington.

Powell twists Uzbek arms to open key bridge to Afghanistan
Saturday December 8, 8:09 PM AFP
US Secretary of State Colin Powell has flown out of Uzbekistan with a diplomatic triumph under his belt after persuading the reluctant authorities to open a key bridge linking the central Asian country to Afghanistan.

US bombers resume attack on al-Qaeda at Tora Bora
Saturday December 8, 6:05 PM
An American B-52 warplane resumed bombing of positions held by alleged terrorist Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda fighters around Melawa mountain in eastern Afghanistan, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

Taliban leader Omar has left Kandahar: official
Saturday December 8, 11:05 PM
Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar "definitely" left Kandahar following the militia's surrender of its former bastion, a Taliban official claimed, adding further to the mystery surrounding the whereabouts

Britain or Germany Could Lead Afghan Force - Powell
By Elaine Monaghan
Friday December 7 6:46 PM ET
TASHKENT (Reuters) - Britain and Germany have expressed interest in leading a multinational military force to help keep the peace after the war in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Saturday.

UN envoy Brahimi to see Afghan king in Rome, then go to Kabul
Saturday December 8, 5:46 AM AFP
The top UN official for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, will meet former king Zahir Shah in Rome this weekend before going on to Kabul early next week, the UN spokesman said.

Pakistan beefs up border security to block Osama's entry
Islamabad, Dec 8, IRNA - Pakistan has further beefed up security on the border with Afghanistan to prevent any possible entry of Osama bin Laden and its partners to Pakistan

Profile: Mullah Naqibullah
Friday, 7 December, 2001, 11:12 GMT BBC News
Mullah Naqibullah has a long association with the Taleban
By the BBC's Peter Greste in Kabul
The man the Taleban are handing their weapons to in Kandahar is Mullah Naqibullah, a former mujahideen commander and local tribal elder.

Senior Alliance Leader Visits India
Official in New Government Seeks Aid for Afghanistan And Cautions Pakistan
By Rama Lakshmi
Special to The Washington Post
Saturday, December 8, 2001; Page A18
NEW DELHI, Dec. 7 -- A high-ranking member of Afghanistan's interim government began a high-profile visit to India's capital today, where he thanked his hosts for their opposition to

Pakistanis to face trial on return from Afghanistan: Spokesman
Islamabad, Dec 8, IRNA -- Pakistan says its nationals who went to Afghanistan to fight along with Taliban against the American forces would be tried on their return to country.

Shoring Up the Afghan Coalition
Engagement by U.S., Others Seen as Necessary to Preserve Unity
By Steven Mufson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, December 8, 2001; Page A15
At 3 a.m. on Wednesday, just six hours before the scheduled photo opportunity to mark the unveiling of a new Afghan interim government, negotiations in Bonn were still in crisis.

Ill-Equipped Troops Struggle to Find Way Into Al Qaeda's Lair
By Susan B. Glasser
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, December 8, 2001; Page A01
MILAWA, Afghanistan, Dec. 7 -- Osama bin Laden's fighters were 300 yards away, over the stony ridge that divides the last remnants of his al Qaeda force from its Afghan attackers.

Uphill Battle to Take Caves and Maybe bin Laden, Too
By JOHN KIFNER
The New York Times
TORA BORA, Afghanistan, Dec. 7 — Anti-Taliban Afghan fighters appeared stalled today in their drive to capture a complex of mountain caves held by Osama bin Laden loyalists

Professional Women From Afghanistan Meet to Press for Full Rights in Their Country
By MARLISE SIMONS
The New York Times
BRUSSELS, Dec. 7 — Almost 40 prominent Afghan women, backed by American and European groups, gathered this week to stake their claim to a crucial role in rebuilding their country

Pakistan Ended Aid to Taliban Only Hesitantly
By DOUGLAS FRANTZ
The New York Times
Saturday December 08 09:05 AM EST
One month after Pakistan agreed to end its support of the Taliban, its intelligence agency was still providing them with safe passage and arms.

Streets of Kandahar Are Chaotic as Victorious Factions Clash
By DAVID ROHDE with NORIMITSU ONISHI
The New York Times
Saturday December 08 09:05 AM EST
Taliban forces on Friday abandoned their last stronghold in Kandahar, while U.S. officials admitted they did not know the exact whereabouts of the Taliban leader.

Tribal Groups Clash, Bicker Over Spoils of Kandahar
By Sayed Salahuddin and Zeeshan Haider
Saturday December 8, 2001 - 12:40 PM ET
KABUL/CHAMAN, Pakistan (Reuters) - U.S. Marines in Afghanistan focused on the hunt for U.S. public enemy number one Osama bin Laden on Saturday as tribal groups

Pakistani Gunships to Hunt Afghan Fugitives
By Raja Asghar
Saturday December 8, 2001 - 8:35 AM ET
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan said on Saturday it had moved helicopter gunships and troop reinforcements to its long border with Afghanistan to prevent fleeing Taliban or members