Kabul, 24 November 1997 (RFE/RL) - Northern Afghan warlord Abdul Rashid Dostam called on Iran today to extradite rival general Abdul Malik, who is reportedly in the Iranian city of Mashhad following his flight from Afghanistan.
Dostam said Malik should be handed over to the people of Afghanistan to face trial for the alleged summary execution of 5,000 people in four months. Malik, an ethnic Uzbek general, fled after Dostam's troops seized his stronghold of Maimana in northern Faryab province yesterday. Initial reports said he flew in a helicopter to neighboring Turkmenistan. Dostam said today that he has reports that Malik is now in Iran.
Meanwhile, the UN says the Taliban is willing to lift its food blockade of a province in central Afghanistan held by the opposition. The UN said the Taliban would lift the blockade as long as supplies do not reach military groups. The food situation in central Bamiyan province has deteriorated since the Taliban closed a main supply route from the south.
Dostam said Malik should be handed over to the people of Afghanistan to face trial for the alleged summary execution of 5,000 people in four months. Malik, an ethnic Uzbek general, fled after Dostam's troops seized his stronghold of Maimana in northern Faryab province yesterday. Initial reports said he flew in a helicopter to neighboring Turkmenistan. Dostam said today that he has reports that Malik is now in Iran.
Meanwhile, the UN says the Taliban is willing to lift its food blockade of a province in central Afghanistan held by the opposition. The UN said the Taliban would lift the blockade as long as supplies do not reach military groups. The food situation in central Bamiyan province has deteriorated since the Taliban closed a main supply route from the south.