M A I N   N E W S

UN instrument of crimes: Bin Laden

Doha, November 3
Suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden said the UN is “an instrument of crimes” against Muslims and that leaders of Arab UN members are “infidels,” in a videotape broadcast today by Qatar’s Al-Jazeera television.

The Afghan-based militant also said the USA had “no proof” to justify its strikes on Afghanistan, which began nearly four weeks ago after the ruling Taliban militia refused to hand him over to Washington.

“We have suffered and continue to suffer because of the UN, and no Muslim should turn (to the UN) because it is an instrument of crimes,” he said in the recorded address.

There was no indication when the videotape was recorded, but this was Bin Laden’s second appearance on Al-Jazeera since the US-led bombing campaign began.

The first was shortly after the strikes were launched on October 7. “Those who want to solve our problems at the UN are hypocrites; our suffering is caused by the UN,” Bin Laden said. “Those who claim to be Arab leaders and whose countries are UN members are infidels who have renounced the Koran and the Prophet’s (Mohammad’s) sayings,” he added. AFP

20 killed in bus mishap
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 3
At least 20 bus passengers were killed and 45 injured when the bus in which they were travelling fell into a 400-ft deep gorge near Bandipore, about 45 km north of here, this afternoon. The accident occurred at the banks of the famous Wular Lake in Kashmir.

The police here said 18 passengers died on the spot. Two died while being taken to hospital. The fate of the driver and conductor was not known. Fifteen seriously injured passengers have been admitted to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, (SIKMS), Soura. The bus (5258 JKC) was on its way from Salapore to Bandipore on the Srinagar-Bandipore road in Baramullah district. Slippery road conditions is stated to be the cause of the accident.