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STRATFOR.com
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THE INTERNET SOURCE FOR GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE
If it’s in the news, it’s too late...
Situation Reports
October 18, 2001
Tahirul Qadri, who heads the Pakistani Awami Tehrik Party, has denounced Osama bin Laden and pleaded with the Taliban not to risk thousands of lives to protect him. Qadri also urged Muslims around the world see the difference between jihad and acts of terrorism, and said he held the Taliban responsible for the deaths of any Afghans in the U.S. led bombing campaign.
2126 GMT, 011018
U.S. and British embassies in Bosnia have closed, in addition to the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, U.S. government offices in the smaller cities of Banja Luka and Mostar and the Bosnian offices of the U.S. Agency for International Development. A British Embassy official said, "The threats appear to be connected with the current military operation in Afghanistan," The Los Angeles Times reported.
2034 GMT, 011018
French special forces may take part in ground operations with the United States in Afghanistan. French Defense Minster Alain Richard said his country was in the "planning phase" with the U.S. military, and said there was n limit to what role France could play, the AP reported.
2025 GMT, 011018
The Taliban has reportedly launched a major counteroffensive near Mazar-i-Sharif, bringing tanks and artillery to fight the lightly-armed opposition fighters. The fighting has been fierce and the Northern Alliance has reportedly lost ground to the larger and better-equipped Taliban force. The Washington Post also reported that the Northern Alliance has asked the United States to renew the bombing of Taliban positions around the city in an attempt to regain lost ground.
1948 GMT, 011018
The head of Palestinian group Tanzim's military wing, Atef Abayat, was reportedly killed today when his car exploded. Abayat was wanted by Israel for his participation in an assassination that took place last month. Although it has not been confirmed, an Israeli helicopter was reportedly in the area when the explosion occurred, leading to speculation the attack was in retaliation for the killing of Israel's tourism minister yesterday.
1931 GMT, 011018
Four followers of Osama bin Laden were sentenced to life without parole Oct. 18 for their roles in the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa, Reuters reported. Security was tightened around the New York courthouse, just blocks from the site of the World Trade Center attack.
1900 GMT, 011018
The Islamic Observation Center in London has reported that one of Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants has been killed during the U.S. bombing campaign in Afghanistan. The center reported that Abu Baseer al-Masr, an Egyptian national, was killed by a bomb near Jalalabad last weekend.
1800 GMT, 011018
Another 700 Taliban fighters have reportedly surrendered themselves to the Northern Alliance near Mazar-i-Sharif. The mass surrender or defection took place on Oct. 16, where opposition forces are within two kilometers of Mazar Sharif.
1830 GMT, 011018
U.S. Special Forces have been placed aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in anticipation of a possible ground attack against al Qaeda and Taliban positions, Reuters reported. A senior Pentagon official was quoted as saying that helicopters and U.S. troops trained to fight in harsh conditions were aboard the carrier in the Indian Ocean.
1856 GMT, 011018
(The Rest of the Story)
(c) 2001 Stratfor, Inc.
Dan
Stratfor’s Sit-Reps . . .