Extracts. Military Strike Should Avoid Hurting Innocent: FM Spokesman. China opposes terrorism of any form, hoping that relevant military strikes on terrorism should be targeted at specific objectives, so as to avoid hurting innocent civilians. A Foreign Ministry spokesman made the remarks when asked to comment on the U.S. military strike on targets in Afghanistan. The spokesman said that the Chinese government opposes terrorism of any form, supports relevant resolutions passed by the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, and encourages to combat terrorism. However, the spokesman noted that relevant military strikes on terrorism should be targeted at specific objectives, so as to avoid hurting innocent civilians. China hopes that peace be resumed as soon as possible, the spokesman added. US President George W. Bush Sunday announced that the US had started military strikes on Taliban targets and Al-Qaeda organization led by Osama bin Laden, who has been accused by Washington of masterminding the September 11 attacks. **** US-British Strikes Rock Three Cities in Afghanistan. Tomahawk cruise missiles and warplanes rocked at least three cities in Afghanistan in a US- British strike Sunday in retaliation against terrorist attacks on New York and Washington last month. The strike started after nightfall Sunday in Kabul with five blasts followed by sounds of anti-aircraft fire. Electricity was shut off throughout the city for more than two hours afterward. Three big flashes lit up the night sky over the front line between the Taliban and anti-Taliban Afghan forces some 40 kilometers north of the capital city of Kabul. The attack also targeted the heart of the Taliban movement, hitting the military headquarters and home of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar in the southern city of Kandahar. Sources said the first wave struck the Kandahar airport, destroying radar facilities and the control tower. The second wave struck the Taliban national headquarters in downtown Kandahar. The eastern Afghan city of Jabalabad was also under attack on Sunday, and the target appeared to be the airport near the city. The CNN quoted Defense Minister Abdullah Abdullah of the anti- Taliban Northern Alliance as saying that at least three training camps near Jalalabad may have been hit. The attack on Jalalabad came around 15 minutes after the capital city of Kabul and the Southern city of Kandahar were also hit by air raids. In Pakistan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/pakistan.html> , Taliban ambassador Abdul Salam Zaeef said that bin Laden, accused by the United States of having masterminded the September 11 attacks, and Mullah Omar survived. "By the grace of God, Mullah Omar and bin Laden are alive," Zaeef said. In Washington, Pentagon officials said the United States and Britain launched 50 cruise missiles against targets inside Afghanistan in an attack that also involved the most sophisticated U.S. warplanes. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Sunday that the U.S.-British joint strike on the Taliban was designed to neutralize the regime's air defense ability to pave the way for future military and humanitarian relief operations. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers said 15 bombers and 25 strike aircraft, both sea and land-based, launched the missiles at 12:30 p.m. EDT, or 9 p.m. Kabul time. The attacks included B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers as well as ships and submarines. U.S. President Bush gave a live televised address after the air raids began, saying they were carefully targeted at military installations to disrupt "the use of Afghanistan as a terrorist base of operation and to attack the military capability of the Taliban regime." He called on Americans and their allies to be patient, saying this war would not be over quickly. "Today we focus on Afghanistan, but the battle is broader," he said. In the city of Kabul, electricity was restored after initial U. S. air strikes, but later went out again. However, the city was quiet, with no sign of panic, according to reports from Afghanistan. Kabul's one million people are inured to war after more than two decades of relentless fighting that has destroyed most of the city. In their first official reaction, the Taliban called the assault on Afghanistan as a terrorist attack and vowed that America "will never achieve its goal." The statement was issued by the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, Abdul Salam Zaeef. "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has always chosen the path of talks and reason to solve problems," Zaeef said. "But America has always chosen a military approach. However, such a brutal attitude by America will unify the whole Afghan nation against aggression. The Afghan nation will rise against this new colonialism." In Karachi, Pakistan, the Taliban's consul-general said the Islamic militia is ready for holy war. "We welcome this attack, and we are ready for jihad," said Rehmatullah Kakazada, the consul- general. Earlier Sunday, the Taliban had made an 11th-hour appeal to prevent U.S. attacks by offering to detain bin Laden, accused by the U.S. of responsible for the terrorist attacks on September 11, and try him under Islamic law if the U.S. made a formal request. The Bush administration quickly rejected the Taliban proposal, with White House spokesman Scott McCllan saying Bush's demands " are clear and non-negotiable." Washington also rejected Afghanistan's attempt to use eight jailed foreign aid workers as bargaining chips to pressure the Unite States to halt its planned anti-terrorist offensive. The eight aid workers in Kabul, four Germans, two Americans and two Australia <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/australia.html> ns, were arrested in August on charges of trying to convert Muslims to Christianity. On Sunday, British Prime Minister Blair said British missile firing submarines were in action against Afghanistan. European governments gave swift backing to the U.S.-British attacks on bin Laden and his backers, with French President Jacques Chirac saying Sunday evening that French forces will participate in the military action against the Taliban. Romano Prodi, president of the 15-nation European Commission, said "all Europe stands steadfast with the United States and its coalition allies to pursue the fight against terrorism." Small anti-war demonstrations were held in some European cities, and some governments expressed regret that military action could not be avoided. Iran <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/iran.html> and Iraq <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/iraq.html> protested the action in Afghanistan. Iran said on Sunday that the U.S. strikes on neighboring Afghanistan were " unacceptable" and that any response should be led by the United Nations, not Washington. Baghdad called the joint military strike "treacherous aggression." Strikes on Taliban Targets First Stage, Says U.S. Official U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Richard Myers said Sunday that the U.S.-led strikes on Taliban facilities in major Afghan cities were the first stage in what likely to be a long and sustained series of strikes on terrorism. U.S-led forces have launched their assault on terrorist targets in Afghanistan with some 50 Tomahawk missiles before sending bombers, Myers told a Pentagon news briefing. The Tomahawk missiles were launched from four U.S. ships and from one U.S. and one British submarine operating in the region's seas. "About 15 land-based bombers, some 25 flight aircraft from carriers and British submarines, launching some 50 Tomahawk missiles, have struck terrorist targets in Afghanistan," said Myers. **** Iranian TV Dubs US Strike in Afghanistan "Blind Attacks". The Iranian state-run Shabakeye Khabar television news channel dubbed on-going US military strike "blind attack." The television responded in its Sunday evening special coverage just minutes after Washington launched air and missile attacks against Afghanistan. Shabakeye Khabar television news channel interrupted its routine coverage of daily events which usually takes place with news bulletins every 30 minutes to provide updates on the attacks every few minutes. Meanwhile, the Afghan opposition ambassador to Iran hailed the U.S. operation on the Taliban "a great help" in destroying the terrorist center in Kabul. **** Attacks Must be Short and Targeted: Musharraf Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf asked the United States and British governments to reinforce "short and targeted" attacks against Afghanistan 's Taliban regime, with an immediate and "balanced political dispensation and rehabilitation effort". During his live televised speech to the press, President Musharraf reiterated that his government had tried every means to ask the Taliban to hand over Bin Laden, the prime suspect of the September 11 terror attacks against Washington and New York, and release jailed international staff to avoid military attacks, but failed. He expressed support the western community to take "short and targeted" actions to those terrorists, not to the country of Afghanistan and its people. Musharraf said the attacks should be "against terrorists, terrorism, their sanctuaries and their supporters.'' He also warned the Afghan opposition coalition not to take advantage of the attacks. Musharraf further called on the international community to help mass afghan refugees to rehabilitate and get political dispensed on their land after the attack. Once the military campaign is over, efforts must be undertaken to ensure "the unity, the stability of Afghanistan and bring peace into Afghanistan," Musharraf said. "An ideal operational scenario is a short, sharp targeted action followed as fast as possible by a very balanced political dispensation and rehabilitation effort," the president said. **** Afghanistan, War-plagued Country. Afghanistan, a war-torn nation, is facing a devastating US military strike which began hours ago. Afghanistan, a land-locked, mountainous country, has an area of 652,300 square kilometers and a population of 19 million, with Kabul as its capital. It neighbors Turkmenistan and Tajikistan in the north, Iran in the west, China in the northeast and Pakistan in the east and south. Its main nationalities are Pushtu, Tajik, Hazara and Uzbek. Most of Afghans are Muslims of the Sunni sect. Of the many languages spoken in Afghanistan, the official languages are Pashto and Dari, a dialect of Farsi. Afghanistan, which became a unified country in 1747, sustained three British aggressions during 1838-1919. The Afghan people gained independence after defeating the British aggressors in 1919. Afghanistan was declared a republic in July 1973 when the 1964 Constitution was abolished and Mohammad Zahir Shah, the last king, ended his 40-year rule. The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) came to power after overthrowing Mohammad Daoud's government through a military coup in April 1978, and Afghanistan was renamed the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. The democratic republic was invaded twice by the former Soviet Union in December 1979 and in December 1987 respectively before it changed its name to the Republic of Afghanistan. After the complete withdrawal of Soviet troops in February 1989, Afghan Muslim guerrillas overthrew the Soviet-backed PDPA regime and the country was renamed the Islamic State of Afghanistan in April 1992. On September 27, 1996, the Afghan Taliban militia captured Kabul and Taliban supreme leader Mulla Mohammed Omar appointed a six-member council to serve as the interim government in Kabul. Afghanistan was renamed the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan by the Taliban on October 27, 1997. Only three countries in the world-- Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arab have recognized the Taliban administration. Afghanistan, a poor agricultural country, was listed as one of the least developed countries by the United Nations in 1971. The protracted war has wrecked havoc on the country's economy and forced more than 5 million people to flee as refugees. **** CPC Central Committee Issues Plenum Decision on Improving Party Style. The full text of a document which was passed at the Sixth Plenum of the 15th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on September 26, was made public here Sunday, spelling out the principles and tasks of the Party in terms of improving Party style. The document, the "Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Strengthening and Improving the Building of the Party Style," consists of 11 parts and contains about 14,000 Chinese characters. It pointed out that now and in the future, efforts must be centered on the Party's way of thinking, studying, and working and on its leadership and on the lifestyle of cadres. The main tasks will be: -- to adhere to the principle of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, so as to prevent old ways of doing things and refrain from being contented with things as they are; -- to uphold the principle of combining theory with practice, and fight against bookishness; -- to keep in touch with the people, and fight against formalism and bureaucracy; -- to maintain democratic centralism, and refrain from acting arbitrarily or despotically and prevent laziness; -- to keep to the Party's disciplinary rules, so as to prevent liberalism; -- to promote justice and honesty, and to fight against the abuse of power for personal gain; -- to work hard, and fight against hedonism; and -- to promote officials according to their ability and merits, so as to prevent unfair and corrupt appointment of officials. The decision called on Party members to work at implementing the above-mentioned "eight do's and eight don'ts" so that the Party can make definite progress, and the ties between the Party and the people and between the cadres and the people will noticeably improve, creating more public confidence in the Party. **** CPC Delegation Leaves for Laos Visit. A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) led by Dai Bingguo, member of the CPC Central Committee and head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, left for the Laos Sunday on a working visit. The CPC delegation was invited by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. **** Chinese Renowned Chemist Wins Highest Chemistry Prize. Chinese chemist Bai Chunli has won the highest prize given by the International Chemistry Society. This is the first time the honor has been awarded to a Chinese scientist. A Chinese pioneer in the field of scanning tunneling microscopy, chemist Bai Chunli is active in world forums. He has been an important player in international chemical engineering cooperation. Professor Bai has also led innovative research in the field of nano science and techology. He is an academic leader and the vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Science. The International Chemistry Society has more than 70 members, featuring research in areas such as chemistry, energy, the environment and pharmacology. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
