Satellites tracking Bin Laden, now hiding in Kandahar
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Sunday, September 16, 2001
WASHINGTON Ñ Saudi millionaire fugitive Osama Bin Laden has moved amid U.S. plans to retaliate for the suicide attacks in New York and Washington.
Bin Laden is hiding in the Kandahar area of Afghanistan, diplomatic
sources said. They said the Saudi national left for his new location
immediately after the suicide attacks on Sept. 11, Middle East Newsline reported.
The sources said Bin Laden's movements have been tracked by satellite as
well as by agents within Afghanistan. They said Bin Laden continues to enjoy
the protection of the ruling Taleban movement.
Russia is cooperating with the U.S.
investigation and its Foreign Intelligence Service reportedly
provided inormation on Islamic groups that worked for Bin Laden.
The Moscow-based Izvestiya daily said this included Jamiyat Al Islamiya,
with links to both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The Russian intelligence
agency said the group is preparing new attacks on U.S. installations with the help
of a pool of 400 suicide bombers.
On Saturday, Iran closed its border with Afghanistan. Officials in
Teheran said the move came amid the assessment that the United States would
soon attack Afghanistan and that thousands of Afghans would seek to enter
Iran.
The United States is organizing a military force to respond to last
week's attacks. Over the weekend, President George Bush authorized a
mobilization of 50,000 reserves, including logistics troops, emergency
medical personnel and air support personnel.
Washington is focusing on winning diplomatic, intelligence and even
military support from its allies in Europe and the Middle East. Officials
said virtually every national leader who has dealt with the United States is
being contacted.
"We are asking all the nations to join together to use political action,
diplomatic action, economic action, legal action, law enforcement action,"
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said, "and if necessary, join with us
as appropriate and if necessary in military action when we have identified
the perpetrators and decided what military action might be appropriate. And
so there is a lot that we can do."
Arab diplomats said many Arab League members are willing to help the
United States. But they said this would not include participation in any
military action.
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