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Opposition launches assault north of war-ruined capital |
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August 26, 2000
KABUL (AP) - A blistering artillery duel raged north of the beleaguered capital Friday as opposition troops launched a two-pronged offensive against defending Taliban soldiers, opposition spokesmen said. The attack began shortly before dawn some 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Kabul, said Abdullah, an opposition spokesman who uses only one name. He said that troops loyal to the alliance led by ousted defense minister Ahmed Shah Massood launched an attack from the north and northeast of Kabul. There was no immediate comment from the Taliban, who rule roughly 90 percent of Afghanistan. The opposition, led by Masood and deposed president Burhanuddin Rabbani, rule the remaining 10 percent. In recent weeks the Taliban have scored several victories in northern Afghanistan, where the opposition is the strongest. The Taliban have cut several key supply routes that link the Central Asian state of Tajikistan to Takhar province and the Panjshir Valley, both opposition strongholds. The opposition appeared to be retaliating with the assaults on Friday north of Kabul around the former air force base at Baghram, some 60 kilometers (36 miles) north of the capital. Baghram is controlled by the opposition. The opposition, which is largely made up of the country's minority ethnic groups, is a collection of smaller Islamic parties, who fought each other until 1996 until the Taliban took control of Kabul. The Taliban and opposition soldiers are waging bitter and protracted battles on several fronts throughout the country. Attempts by the United Nations to bring the two sides to the negotiation table to hammer out an agreement has failed. |