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DATE=2/17/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-245658 TITLE=BIN LADEN / AFGHAN (S&L) BYLINE=KYLE KING DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AFGHANISTAN'S TALEBAN MILITIA SAYS TERROR SUSPECT OSAMA BIN LADEN IS NO LONGER IN TALEBAN-CONTROLLED TERRITORY. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: TALEBAN REPRESENTATIVE ABDUL HAKEEM MUJAHID SAYS OSAMA BIN LADEN DECIDED ON HIS OWN TO LEAVE TALEBAN-CONTROLLED TERRITORY LAST FRIDAY OR SATURDAY. THERE IS NO WORD ON WHERE HE MIGHT HAVE GONE, AND NO INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION OF THE STATEMENT BY THE TALEBAN OFFICIAL, WHO REPRESENTS THE GROUP AT THE UNITED NATIONS. THE STATE DEPARTMENT REQUESTED THE MEETING (WEDNESDAY) IN AN EFFORT TO CLEAR UP CONFLICTING REPORTS ABOUT THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE SAUDI-BORN MILLIONAIRE WHO HAD BEEN LIVING IN AFGHANISTAN. U-S OFFICIALS ACCUSE OSAMA BIN LADEN OF ORGANIZING LAST YEAR'S DEADLY BOMBINGS AT THE U-S EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND TANZANIA. THE UNITED STATES HAS OFFERED A FIVE-MILLION-DOLLAR REWARD FOR HIS CAPTURE, AND HAS BEEN SEEKING TALEBAN ASSISTANCE IN BRINGING HIM TO JUSTICE. /// REST OPT FOR LONG /// IN ADDITION TO DISCUSSING MR. BIN LADEN, U-S OFFICIALS ALSO ANNOUNCED THEY HAD DECLARED A DISASTER IN AFGHANISTAN FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S EARTHQUAKE NEAR KABUL. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES FOLEY SAYS THE UNITED STATES PLANS TO SEND AID TO THE REGION. /// FOLEY ACT /// THE U-S AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WILL COORDINATE U-S RELIEF EFFORTS WITH THE U-N AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF THE EARTH QUAKE. /// END ACT /// U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY ALSO USED WEDNESDAY'S MEETING TO URGE THE TALEBAN TO COOPERATE WITH U-N EFFORTS TO REACH A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN. THE UNITED STATES HAS REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THE TALEBAN AS THE LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT OF AFGHANISTAN, BUT HAS NOW MET TWICE WITH TALEBAN OFFICIALS IN THE PAST MONTH. THE TALEBAN MILITIA CONTROLS ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF AFGHANISTAN, FOLLOWING A SERIES OF SWEEPING VICTORIES OVER AN ALLIANCE OF OPPOSITION FORCES LAST YEAR. ANTI-TALEBAN FORCES STILL HOLD A SMALL MOUNTAINOUS REGION IN THE NORTH OF THE COUNTRY. (SIGNED) NEB/KBK/WDC/WTW 17-Feb-99 7:41 PM EST (0041 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .