From: Ina Iankulova (iiankulova@sorosny.org)
Date: Wed Apr 16 2003 - 10:28:05 EDT
DOSTUM COMMANDER KILLED IN AMBUSH
Commander Shahi, a military commander loyal to Deputy Defense Minister Abdul Rashid Dostum, was killed in an ambush on 15 April in northern Afghanistan, Reuters reported. He was traveling to Mazar-e Sharif when his vehicle was ambushed in the Char Bolak area, about 29 kilometers west of the city, according to Dostum's deputy General Majid Roozi. Two bodyguards were also killed. While there was no immediate indication of who perpetrated the attack, it came on the heels of deadly fighting and a subsequent 11 April cease-fire between Dostum's Junbish-e Islami forces and the Jamiyat-e Islami forces loyal to General Ata Mohammad (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 10, 11, and 15 April 2003). Reuters reported that the cease-fire is officially recognized but tensions remain between the two factions, and there is a possibility of renewed clashes. KM
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