CFC-AFGHANISTAN RELEASE

Central Command ^

[Clive]

January 29, 2005

Release Number: 05-01-113

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CFC-AFGHANISTAN RELEASE

Press Conference Opening Statement

U.S. Army Maj. Mark McCann, Coalition Spokesman

Coalition forces continue to be active in rounding up and eliminating weapons caches -- 13 caches in all discovered since Monday. These caches were discovered throughout the country to include five in Hilmand Province, four in Kandahar Province, two in Nangarhar Province, and one each in Herat and Kabul Provinces.

Two noteworthy caches were discovered in Hilmand Province. One of the caches contained 10,000 mortar rounds, 500 122 millimeter artillery rounds, rockets and fuses. The other cache contained 85 mortar rounds, 240 Hind helicopter rockets, 285 recoilless rifle rounds, 320 rocket propelled grenade rounds, and six mines.

The trend in Afghan citizens and security forces assisting coalition forces by turning in weapons caches has continued to increase over the past two years. In 2003, for example, only 10 percent of all weapons caches were turned in by local Afghan citizens (not including Afghan security forces). In 2004, that number increased to 31 percent.

Since October 2004, for example, 236 weapons caches have been discovered throughout Afghanistan. Of these 236 caches, 99 were turned in to coalition forces by local Afghan citizens, local Afghan government officials, or Afghan security forces.

This trend is important for many reasons -- to create a secure environment, to ensure stability and to improve the quality of life for all Afghans. But, it is also important because of an incident on Tuesday.

A local citizen turned in two rocket propelled grenade rounds to Afghan soldiers working with coalition forces. When the Afghan soldiers went to investigate where the rounds came from, they discovered children playing with an even larger cache of RPG rounds. These unattended caches present an even greater danger to innocent people who may come upon them, and it is important that everyone work together to eliminate this hazard.

If any citizen has any knowledge of arms, munitions or other dangerous materials, it is important that they contact the nearest coalition or Afghan forces to ensure proper disposal.

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[Clive]

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[KMC1]

file for later reading...

[Calpernia]

Coalition forces continue to be active in rounding up and eliminating weapons caches -- 13 caches in all discovered since Monday. These caches were discovered throughout the country to include five in Hilmand Province, four in Kandahar Province, two in Nangarhar Province, and one each in Herat and Kabul Provinces.

[blackie]

Coalition forces continue to be active in rounding up and eliminating weapons caches ~ Bump!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[windchime]

Bump!