7th day of strikes in Kabul destroys homes near airport, residents say

10/13/2001

Associated Press

KABUL, Afghanistan – Warplanes took to the skies early today after a daylong lull, pounding the area around Kabul's airport in a seventh straight day of airstrikes. Residents living nearby said at least one civilian was killed.

The pre-dawn attacks followed a hiatus in the U.S.-led campaign against the ruling Taliban militia for Friday, the Muslim holy day. The air assault was launched Sunday after weeks of fruitless efforts by the United States to get the Taliban to hand over Osama bin Laden, chief suspect in the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States.

In a neighborhood by Kabul's airport, one person was killed and four wounded, according to people living there. Four destroyed houses could be seen.

"We have no way to rebuild our homes," said Mohammed Shoaib, whose house was one of those wrecked. "What will we do?"

In neighboring Pakistan, a new confrontation was simmering between the government and anti-U.S., pro-Taliban demonstrators.

A radical Islamic leader, Abdullah Shah Mazar, was detained Saturday by authorities in the port city of Karachi, and hundreds of his followers staged a sit-down strike in protest.

On Friday, thousands of demonstrators clashed with police in Karachi, hurling stones and setting a fast-food restaurant ablaze. Police fired tear gas in response.

Meanwhile, the Taliban report that 200 villagers were killed in a missile strike this week was challenged by U.S. allies. British officials dismissed Taliban claims of mass civilian deaths as propaganda.

Independent verification of reports from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is almost impossible. Foreign journalists are barred and Afghan journalists are not allowed to move about and report freely.

Reports of civilian deaths caused unease for Pakistan, already facing an angry backlash from militant Islamic groups over its support for the United States against bin Laden and the Taliban.

"We have been assured again and again that only terrorists and those who provide protection to terrorists will be targeted," Foreign Ministry spokesman Riaz Mohammed Khan told journalists on Friday.

The British undersecretary of defense, Lewis Moonie, suggested Friday there could be a slowdown in bombing for the next several days because of the Muslim festival commemorating the mystical journey of the Prophet Mohammad to heaven.

"I would not be surprised if activity was much less over this weekend," he said in London Friday.

Commemorations vary among Muslim countries, with some celebrating the holiday Friday or Saturday and others not until Monday. It is observed Monday in Pakistan and Afghanistan.