DUSHANBE, Nov 27, 2001 (Itar-Tass via COMTEX) -- About 200 Taliban militants and foreign mercenaries are still blocked in the Kalaye-Djangi fortress near Mazar-i-Sharif, Shamsulhak Oriefar, secretary of the Afghan embassy in Dushanbe, said Tuesday. The men organized a revolt several days ago. Oriefar said forces of the United Anti-Taliban Front had blocked all approaches to the fortress. They did not take any actions to prevent more bloodshed and the unnecessary victims. The Talibs and the mercenaries have been offered to surrender, but they prefer committing suicides rather than becoming prisoners of war. In a comment on the mass media reports that 300 people were killed in the fortress prison during the revolt, Oriefar said: "The Red Cross workers obviously included in that number the militants whom the government forces killed during a mop-up operation near Mazar-i-Sharif". He cautioned against excessive enthusiasm about the prospects of the conference on Afghanistan that opened in Bonn Tuesday. "It's good that the Afghans have managed to get together and peacefully discuss their country's future," Oriefar said. He believes that the next inter-Afghan conference should be convened in Afghanistan. Its participants will be able to discuss specific issues pertaining to the institution of new agencies of power. By Galina Gridneva, Valery Zhukov (c) 1996-2001 ITAR-TASS. All rights reserved. |