The World - News from May 30, 1989

The Afghan government reported a new offensive around the beleaguered eastern city of Jalalabad, which Muslim guerrillas have had under siege since early March, but said its soldiers repulsed the insurgents with artillery fire. A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said at least 139 guerrillas have been killed and 70 wounded since the attack began Sunday. He did not give government casualties. But guerrillas based in neighboring Pakistan, who said the new assault began Saturday, claimed to have killed or wounded 70 government troops. Jalalabad was the first major guerrilla target after Soviet military forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan on Feb. 15.