Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Taliban threaten to attack Karzai inaugration

KABUL: The Taliban threatened on Monday to launch attacks during President Hamid Karzai’s swearing in ceremony. The inauguration will take place on Tuesday morning at Karzai’s presidential palace in Kabul. It will be witnessed by US Vice President Dick Cheney, the most senior US official to visit Afghanistan since US-led forces overthrew the Taliban in late 2001, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, as well as other foreign dignitaries. Senior Taliban military commander Mullah Dadullah warned people to stay away from government and military installations during the inauguration. He said that Taliban guerrillas had been given orders to disrupt the ceremony to remind foreigners that Islamist fighters opposed their occupation of the country. US military spokesman Major Mark McCann told a news briefing that quick reaction ground and air units from US-led forces and NATO-led peacekeepers were part of a comprehensive plan to counter potential militant action. reuters

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-12-2004_pg7_43