ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Afghanistan's northern-based opposition struck its second blow in the past week against the ruling Taliban militia, capturing a key district in central Ghor province, an opposition spokesman said Tuesday.

Afghan opposition claims gains in Bamiyan fighting
KABUL, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Fighting raged on Sunday in the central Afghan province of Bamiyan where opposition groups said they had gained more ground against the ruling Taleban movement.

Taliban confirm fall of Yakolang to opposition
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Afghanistan's Taliban have confirmed fall of strategic Yakolang district in the central Afghan province of Bamyan to opposition forces.

30 Taliban arrested in Bamyan
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Afghan opposition Northern Alliance has claimed to have arrested thirty Taliban during capture of strategic Yakolang district in central Afghan province of Bamyan.

Afghans face further isolation as Taliban hikes postal charges
KABUL, Jan 2 (AFP) - Afghanistan's Taliban authorities have raised the postal service charges beyond affordable levels for the majority of ordinary citizens, residents and officials said Tuesday.

Afghan opposition sends envoy to US - Frontier Post 01/02
KABUL (APP) - A special envoy from Afghanistanís armed opposition isheading to the United States Monday to make contact with the incoming Republican administration.

Opposition commander defects to Taliban in Jauzjan
ISLAMABAD (NNI): A commander of the Afghan opposition Northern Alliance along with his sixty men has defected to the Taliban in Jauzjan province.

Taliban urge Annan not to let big powers use UN as a tool
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Taliban have urged the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan not to let big powers use the world body for imposing their will on weaken countries like Afghanistan.

Taliban praise Turkmenistan for releasing Afghan prisoners
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Taliban have welcomed the release of 57 Afghan prisoners by Turkmenistan.
The Taliban Foreign Minister, Maulvi Wakil Ahmed Mutawakil told the BBC that Turkmen authorities on the charges of drug trafficking had arrested these Afghans. He said that Taliban delegation during its recent

Taliban to tighten security
ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: The Taliban have ordered agencies to tighten security measures across the country in the wake of return of more UN foreign workers to Afghanistan.

ANALYSIS-Links with Iran part of Moscow's diplomatic plan
By Ron Popeski
MOSCOW, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Expanded military links with Iran, announced during a visit to Tehran by Russia's defence minister, fit nicely into Moscow's diplomatic offensive to pursue its own interests and reap tidy profits into the bargain.

US Gov't To Put Terrorism on Trial
By LARRY NEUMEISTER
NEW YORK (AP) - Using the law as a scalpel, federal prosecutors hope to turn the trial of four men accused in the deadly bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa into an autopsy of a group blamed for plotting to kill Americans worldwide.

Pak regime unwilling to rein in jehadis
Mubashir Zaidi (Islamabad, January 1) Hindustan Times
THE JEHADI militant outfits in Pakistan are the most aggressive amongst activists and organisations replacing or challenging the crumbling state institutions, Los Angeles Times said in a special report titled Chilly goals of Islamís new warriors.

Halting illegal immigrants begins with the source
Sydney Morning Herald 1/1/01
The flow of asylum seekers from countries such as Afghanistan is typical of a problem driven by desperation, not ambition, writes Amin Saikal.

45 People Still Missing in Sea Accident off Turkey
ANKARA (Jan. 2) XINHUA - The search for the 45 people still missing from the sinking of the Georgian-flagged cargo ship off Turkey's southern coast till Monday night before rescue operations were called off due to bad weather.

CLINTON SUPPORT FOR WAR CRIMES COURT SPARKS BARRAGE OF CRITICISM
Washington, Jan 01, 2001 (EFE via COMTEX) -- President Bill Clinton's decision to sign a treaty creating the first International Criminal Court prompted applause from human rights advocates and sparked the ire of Republicans and a number of former high-ranking U.S. officials.

Senior Afghan Taleban commander cheers frontline troops (from non-official source)
KABUL, Afghanistan, 12/28/2000 (Shari''at Radio) :: A well-known commander of the Islamic Emirate Afghanistan army, esteemed Mola Dadollah Akhond possibly the commander of the central army corps, listed as Mola Dadolla Khadem

The year 2000 in Central Asia ­ III
By Ahmed Rashid - The Nation 01/02/01
LAHORE­President Niyazov, or 'Turkmenbashi' ­ the Chief of the Turkmens ­ as he is called has taken his personality cult to even more extreme limits as he further isolates the country and its people