October 30, 2001	Tuesday	Shaba'an 12, 1422

KABUL, Oct 29: The Taliban accused the United States on Monday of using chemical weapons and invited foreign observers to check the claim.

But one deputy minister acknowledged that the country did not have the facilities to test for chemical use.

“We have some patients with superficial injuries with symptoms of chemical weapons,” doctor Wazir of Kabul’s Wazir Akbar Khan hospital, said at a news conference.

Public Health Minister Mullah Abbas also said the Taliban had proof that chemical weapons were being used.

“Our findings prove that this is true. These bombardments have radioactive rays and chemical materials that also cause cancer,” he said at the press conference.

Both men cited cases of chemical poisoning.—AFP