October 21, 2001	Sunday	Shaba'an 3, 1422

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BAYDENGAGE (Afghanistan), Oct 20: The leader of the Northern Alliance, Burhanuddin Rabbani, said on Saturday he hoped that repeated requests for help to fight the Taliban would no longer be met by silence.

Rabbani, who was forced from power when the Taliban seized Kabul in 1996, made the appeal as his troops took up positions near the northeastern village of Baydengage.

“We have always requested help from the international community, but have as yet to receive any. We hope that this will take place soon,” said Rabbani, who is still recognized as Afghanistan’s president by the United Nations.

“In the south, about 100 US personnel were here from Pakistan, but they have already left,” he told reporters via a translator.

Rabbani, wearing sunglasses and speaking slowly, said the action against the Taliban was progressing well and gains were being made around Mazar-i-Sharif.

Northern Alliance fighters have been stalled for several days about six kilometres from the city near the border with Uzbekistan, which if taken, could open supply routes towards Kabul. The Taliban said on Saturday they had pushed the opposition fighters back a couple of kilometres.

“Our troops are fighting well in Mazar-i-Sharif and Samangan. Now our commanders need to prepare and decide whether to take action in Kabul,” he said.

“This is the seventh year we have been fighting against terrorism. After the events in New York and Washington, the Americans have started their action. We are continuing our own fight but now we are doing it with the whole world watching.”—Agencies