UN threatens to cut support to Afghan gov't
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See the article in its original context from April 1995.
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"He should know that he does not just have to have relations with his neighbors, he has to have relations with the whole world," Mestiri added. This is the toughest talk yet from the United Nations, which has grown frustrated after struggling for months to broker an agreement among Afghanistan's warring Islamic factions.
Rabbani's term expired in December and he ignored U.N. deadlines to transfer power in both February and March, finding fault with the plan that called for a multiparty governing council open to all 10 of the feuding factions.
Rabbani is trying to convince many countries, particularly Western nations, to reopen their embassies in Kabul. If the United Nations were to withdraw its recognition of his government it would leave him extremely isolated.
Suleiman Shah, a spokesman for Rabbani's government in neighbouring Pakistan, said Tuesday that the president was ready to step down, but "we want a practical, workable mechanism." Rabbani has demanded the participation of Afghanistan's newest fighting force, the Taliban militia. The Taliban has refused, accusing the leaders of more established factions of destroying the capital and killing at least 20,000 people in a ruthless bid for power.
However, the Taliban fighters in March fired hundreds of rockets at the capital in an attempt to dislodge Rabbani's army.
Hundreds of people were wounded or killed before Rabbani's troops drove the Taliban out of their strongholds south of the city.
As a result Rabbani now controls the entire city, which has brought calm to Kabul, though it hasn't ended the war.
Now Mestiri has a new peace plan, but it too seems fraught with trouble. This time the proposed multiparty council would be made up of about 80 members: two representatives of each of the 30 provinces and about 20 socalled independent personalities to be named by the United Nations.
"We want this council in place as soon as possible, by mid-April," Mestiri said. town of 50,000 people, about 480 miles south of Manila, he added.
Radio reports said that in late afternoon, thick smoke from burning buildings was blanketing the town.
Among those killed were the town police chief, the commander of the 10th Infantry Battalion stationed in Ipil and a local bank manager, Covarubias said.
He said the gunmen belonged to a breakaway Muslim rebel faction that has turned to banditry.
Some already were in position when the signal was given for them to raid the banks simultaneously at around 12:45 pm, the spokesman said.
Col. Roberto Santiago, commander of the army's 102nd Brigade, stationed in Ipil, said he immediately sent armoured personnel carriers after the bandits, who had holed up inside the compound of the public works office.
After about a 30-minute heavy exchange of gunfire, the bandits fled toward a nearby forest, he said.
Covarrubias said some of the bank money was recovered after the gunfight.
