Afghan Chief Appeals to U.N.; Rebels Report Heavy Fighting

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Afghanistan’s President Najibullah issued a new appeal to the United Nations to help bring peace to his country as rebel sources reported heavy fighting on Sunday near the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad.

Najibullah’s message to U.N. Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar again accused Pakistan of sending commandos and military helicopters to aid the moujahedeen rebels. Pakistan has denied the charges.

In Kabul, an Afghan government spokesman said two Americans fighting alongside Afghan rebels as advisers were among those killed in the battle. A Pentagon spokeswoman in Washington said she could not confirm the report.

Meanwhile, the Soviet Union began airlifting flour into Kabul on Sunday for the first time since Soviet troops left a month ago. A spokesman in the capital denied that the food situation was serious.

Two Antonov transports arrived from the Soviet city of Tashkent, each carrying 10 tons of flour, and the spokesman said 20 similar loads will arrive soon.

Some Soviet supplies have moved into Afghanistan via the 300-mile Salang Highway. An Afghan official said last week about 560 trucks have been robbed by moujahedeen rebels along the highway in the last three months.