Bin Laden Link Seen in Pakistan Rocket Firings
Six rockets were launched in a coordinated attack on U.S. and United Nations offices here Friday, and hours later Pakistan’s military leader offered to mediate between the United States and Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers over suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden.
The rockets were fired from cars near the U.S. Embassy, the U.N. building, an American cultural center and downtown government buildings in Pakistan’s capital, injuring six people.
There was no immediate evidence that Bin Laden, who U.S. officials say masterminded the deadly bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa last year, was behind the attack.
But Pakistani Interior Ministry officials said suspicions focused on the Saudi dissident. The blasts occurred two days before a U.N. deadline for the Taliban to turn over Bin Laden for trial or face sanctions.
Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in Pakistan a month ago in a bloodless coup, said he wants to help fight terrorism and offered to mediate with the Taliban over Bin Laden, who has been in Afghanistan since 1996.
The Taliban’s supreme leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, condemned the attack.
In Washington, National Security Advisor Samuel R. “Sandy” Berger said the sanctions will go into effect Sunday as planned.
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