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Monday, January 10, 2005

Afghan militant group appoints new leader
Source: Reuters

SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan - An Afghan militant group that kidnapped three UN workers last year has appointed a new leader after its old chief was arrested by Pakistani security forces, its new head said on Monday.

The Jaish-e Muslimeen, a small Taleban splinter faction, abducted UN workers Annetta Flanigan from Northern Ireland, Kosovan Shqipe Hebibi and Filipino diplomat Angelito Nayan in Kabul on Oct. 28. The three were freed unharmed on Nov. 23.

After reports that a ransom was paid and of a possible dispute among the kidnappers over sharing it out, Pakistan said it had arrested the group’s chief, Syed Akbar Agha, in December.

“I have been made leader of Jaish-e Muslimeen,” Ishaq Manzoor told Reuters by satellite telephone. “The decision was taken by our Shura (council) and military commanders ... following the arrest of Syed Akbar.”

The 35-year-old from southern Kandahar province vowed to press on resisting US and international forces in Afghanistan.

“We will carry out big attacks,” he said.

Manzoor was chief of police in Badghis province in northwest Afghanistan under the Taleban, who were overthrown by US-led forces in late 2001 for harbouring Al Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

The Jaish-e Muslimeen has attacked trucks and set off bombs, mainly in southern Afghanistan.

The fledgling Afghan National Army, backed by some 18,000 US-led troops, is hunting remnants of the Taleban, mainly in the south and east along the border with Pakistan.

Pakistani security forces are deployed on their side of the rugged border to catch those who try to escape and have arrested a number of Taleban and Al Qaeda suspects who had taken refuge in Pakistani cities.

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