Bin Laden assigns Khattab from Chechnya to KunduzLONDON, Nov 23, 2001 (Itar-Tass via COMTEX) -- Osama bin Laden has
assigned Khattab from Chechnya to defend Kunduz, the last strong of
the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The Arab mercenary, who had publicly cut throats of Russian POW in
Chechnya, headed the Taliban defense in Kunduz and said that he would
keep on fighting till the end, a correspondent of the Independent
newspaper reports from Afghanistan.
The newspaper refers to Russian secret services in saying that
relations between bin Laden and Khattab have been known since the
1980s. A large group of Chechen rebels has moved to Kunduz together
with Khattab, the newspaper says.
Correspondents of other Western newspapers confirm the report. For
instance, Daily Telegraph says that thousands of mercenaries, among
them Chechens, Pakistanis and Arabs, have amassed in Kunduz. Most of
the mercenaries bear the relation of bin Laden's Al Qaeda.
By Igor Borisenko
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