2A - The blichigan Daily - Monday, November 5, 2001 NATION/WORLD Taliban fri ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - After four weeks of U.S. attacks, Afghanistan's ruling Taliban are no longer "functioning as a government," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said yester- day. But an opposition attack on a key northern city was reported faltering only hours after it was launched. That raised doubts whether the factious, poorly armed northern alliance opposition could exploit U.S. airstrikes and topple the Taliban without the assistance of American ground troops. Meanwhile, U.S. jets struck the front line about 30 miles north of Kabul, according to Atiqullah Baryalai, deputy defense minister of the northern alliance. In the Afghan capital itself, American bombs hit near the Intercontinental Hotel, set on a hill in the southwest part of the city. They also struck the northeast town of Taloqan, which the opposition lost to the Taliban last year. Rumsfeld, on a tour of front line states in the war against terrorism, sought to dispel fears that the air campaign, now in its fifth week, was failing to crack the Taliban's grip on Afghanistan. "The Taliban (are) not really functioning as a government," Rumsfeld declared after meeting Pak- istani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, a key Mus- lim ally in the anti-terrorism campaign. Rumsfeld, who later yesterday went on to India, said the Taliban were "using their power in enclaves ozen by U throughout the country" and were "not making major military moves." "They are pretty much in static positions," he said. Rumsfeld said the Islamic militia was using mosques as command centers and as ammunition storage sites to spare them from American attack and "actively lying about civilian casualties." Earlier yesterday, in Uzbekistan, Rumsfeld gave an assessment of the military campaign's success to date. "The effort to deal with the problem of terror- ist networks is proceeding," Rumsfeld said. "It is, we believe, proceeding at a pace that is showing measurable progress." A key element of the U.S. strategy has been to attack Taliban positions facing the northern alliance - especially on the front north of Kabul and on positions defending the Taliban-held city of Mazar- e-Sharif. Yesterday, opposition spokesman Nadeem Ashraf said alliance forces launched a three-pronged offen- sive south of Mazar-e-Sharif in strategic Kishanday district in Balkh province, which borders Uzbek- istan. The spokesman said the attack began after U.S. jets softened up Taliban positions by heavy bombing. Hours later, however, Ashraf said one of the three opposition columns, led by Uzbek warlord Rashid Dostum, was making no progress and the offensive was faltering. He said Dostum's forces numbered rS. attacks only about 700 to 1,000 fighters and had "no high morale." His assessment could not be independently con- firmed. However, it points to ethnic rivalries within the northern alliance that have long hampered the opposition's ability to mount an effective challenge to the Taliban. The other troops in the Mazar-e-Sharif front are commanded by a close ally of the northern alliance's titular leader, former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani, and by Shiite Muslim war- lord Mohammed Mohaqik. Opposition commanders around the other major front, north of Kabul, have said they are preparing for a major offensive toward the capital after days of heavy U.S. airstrikes. However, there have been few signs that a major push toward Kabul is in the offing. President Bush ordered the airstrikes Oct. 7 after the Taliban repeatedlyYefused to surrender Osama bin Laden, chief suspect in the September terrorist attacks that killed about 4,500 people in the United States. Over the past week, U.S. attacks have shifted from cities to Taliban positions facing the northern alliance. However, opposition forces are poorly armed and outgunned, and the approach of winter is making resupply of its front-line positions more difficult. NEWS IN BRIEF HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE WORLD ( x.t...,(.. - .l WASHINGTON RZ:Z:2- Anthrax found in Giuliani's office Traces of anthrax were reported yesterday on a package sent from NBC to the New York mayor's office and at a Veterans Affairs' hospital in Washington. Health investigators were stymied in efforts to find the source of anthrax that killed a New York woman, but experts said they were relieved that no new cases linked to her unique exposure have surfaced. On Capitol Hill, workers prepared to sterilize the anthrax-contaminated Hart Senate office building with chlorine dioxide gas, but the Longworth House office building was reopening this morning for the first time since Oct. 17. Capitol Police Lt. Dan Nichols said late Sunday all portions of the building will be open except for three sealed off rooms where anthrax has been found. Reopening of the Longworth leaves only the Haft building closed among major Capitol Hill facilities. A small building housing congressional support personnel also remains closed. Officials at the Mayo Clinic were to announce today a new DNA test that can give a quick answer about any possible anthrax sample. At the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 140 health care workers have been vaccinated against smallpox, a precaution that will protect medical workers who would be the first to respond to any outbreak of the highly contagious disease. TEL AVIV, Israel Palestinian militant kills two in shooting Israel began withdrawing from a West Bank town early today, despite a Pales- tinian attack hours earlier in Jerusalem that left two teen-agers dead - one a girl born in the United States. The Israeli pullout from Qalqilya was expected. Israel had sent forces into parts of six West Bank towns the day after Palestinian militants assassinated ultranationalist Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi on Oct. 17. They withdrew from Bethlehem and nearby Beit Jalla a week ago. The military said Israeli forces were withdrawing a few hundred yards to the edge of Palestinian-controlled territory and into Israel. Palestinian witnesses said six Israeli tanks pulled back from the northern and southern entrances to the town, and that tanks in other locations were preparing to leave. The U.S. government had demanded repeatedly that Israel pull its forces out of all six towns it took over after Zeevi was killed by the Popular Front for the Lib- eration of Palestine. The group said it was revenge for Israel's killing of PFLP leader Mustafa Zibri. 0 r 1 Don't Panicfl 5futhInko 're pregnant.. . C MSWe isten, we Care... PROBLEM PREGNANCY HELP 975-4357 Any Urtne, any day, 24 hiow's. ~Ffy confidewntIaL, Serving $tuduits Since '197*, SA look at the underside of U of M www.universitysecrets.com _______________________________________ - .---..-. a u During the Students observing Ramadan observance, Ramadan can sign up for an University Housing offers A D N alternative meal option at a alternative meal options Residence Hall Front Desk or to students who have the Housing Information Entree meal plans. Office by November 15, at 5pm. University Housing in cooperation with the Muslim Students Association I I-1 - American dies in Taliban custody QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) - A senior Taliban official said yesterday that an American was arrested two weeks ago in southern Afghanistan and later died in custody of natural causes. John Bolton oftalifornia entered Afghanistan as a relief worker and was arrested at Spinboldak near the border with Pakistan, Taliban official Amir Khan Muttaqi said by telephone from the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. He did not give his age or hometown. In Washington, State Department officials had no comment on the report. A spokeswoman said yesterday the department had never confirmed an American was in custody there. The Taliban claim they have arrested several Americans on spying charges since the U.S.-led strikes started Oct. 7. Muttaqi said Bolton died of natural causes in the hospital and that his body has been handed over to the Internation- al Committee of Red Cross. He did not say when he died. In Geneva, ICRC spokesman Vincent Lusser said the group's staff in Kanda- har had been informed by the Taliban that there was a body of an American. But he said they have yet to receive the body or confirm the person's identity or occupation. Lusser said the ICRC needed the approval of the U.S. Embassy in Pak- istan and Afghan officials to repatriate the body. "We're going to see tomorrow what the situatjon is, and if we have a request from both parties to repatriate the body we will of course do it." British suspect Real IR A in attack BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) - A car bomb explosion in the English city of Birmingham was probably the work of the outlawed anti-British group the Real IRA, police said yesterday. The device partially exploded in a busy area late Saturday but caused no serious injuries. No group has yet claimed responsi- bility for the explosion but police said it bore. the hallmarks of Real IRA, an Irish dissident group that has carried out sev- eral attacks in Britain. "This fits a pattern of events involv- ing Irish Republican dissident terrorist groups, probably the Real IRA," said Assistant Chief Constable of Birming- ham Police Chris Sims. Sims said the bomb was "a very sub- stantial device" similar in size to car bombs planted outside British Broad- casting Corp. studios and in Ealing, west London, earlier this year. The Eal- ing bomb contained nearly 90 pounds of explosives, police said at the time. Saturday's bombing came just hours after politicians in Northern Ireland found a way to rescue their power-shar- ing government. It was on the verge of collapsing after Protestant extremists defeated David Trimble's re-election as oovernment leader Friday.. KEY WEST,, Fla. Keys evacuated, Michelle hits Cuba The Florida Keys were ordered evacuated yesterday as meteorolo- gists warned that the chain of islands likely would be brushed by Hurricane Michelle. Rain spread into the state as the eye of the hur- ricane blasted down on the south coast of Cuba. Forecasters at the National Hurri- cane Center in Miami issued a hur- ricane warning for all of the Florida Keys, projecting that winds of 75 mph or more could reach the area yesterday and remain into this morning. Gusts - up to 52 mph in Sobrero Key - and heavy surf were already pounding the area's beaches. Bennie Sweeney, who owns a Key West T-shirt shop, opened his store but only to prepare for the storm. Sweeney said he was going to hang a picture of a. rabbi on the window. PHOENIX Enraged passenger causes bus crash A Greyhound bus that was traveling at 70 mph rolled over onto its side early yesterday as the driver struggled with a passenger who was angered when he was told he couldn't smoke. The wreck injured 33 people, one critically. No other vehicles were involved. Charles George of Phoenix, was taken into custody and charged with 37 counts of aggravated assault, said Steve Volden, spokesman for the Arizona Department of Public Safety. George, who is about 40 years old, was unarmed, Volden said. "We believe there was some mental instability we were dealing with," Volden said. "He didn't make any overt statements about wanting to hijack the bus or doing anything in the name of religion. It appears he was acting independently."' The bus was on a cross-country route from Los Angeles to Miami. NEW YORK CIA office destroyed in Sept 11 attacks A secret office operated by the CIA was destroyed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, seriously disrupting intelligence operations. The undercover station was in 7 World Trade Center, a smaller office tower that fell several hours after the collapse of the twin towers on Sept. 11, a U.S. government official said. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that immediately after the attack, a special CIA team scoured the rubble in search of secret documents and intelligence reports stored in the station, either on paper or in computers. It was not known whether the efforts were successful. A CIA spokesman declined to comment on the existence of the office, which was first reported in yesterday's editions of The New York Times. - Compiled from Daily wire reports. The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail are $105. Winter term (January through April) is $110, yearlong (September through April) is $190. University affiliates are subject to a reduced subscription rate. On-campus subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid. The Michigan Daily is a member of The Associated Press and The Associated Collegiate Press. ADDRESS: The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1327. PHONE NUMBERS (All area code 734): News 76-DAILY; Arts 763-0379; Sports 647-3336: Opinion 764-0552; Circulation 764-0558; Classified advertising 764-0557; Display advertising 764-0554; Billing.764-0550. E-mail letters to the editor to daily.letters@umich.edu. World Wide Web: www.michigandaily.com. 1 -e ib -. m 1 fl 1 1 1, 40 I . At the Alumni Association's brand-new Online Career Fair, you'll find cool job and internship opportunities in business, information science, engineering and information technology for alumni and students. It's just like a regular career fair, only online! You check out employer booths and apply for jobs. At the same time, recruiters will be searching the resume database looking for great people- like YOU! Register today! It's easy and it's FREE! November 5-19, 2001 24 hours/day CUI / VRIAL oINrr uWavi l [ Cy %maslwny GuNavN III vnw-i LE NEWS Nick Bunkley, Managing Editor EDITORS: David Enders, Lisa Koivu, Caitlin Nish, Jeremy W. Peters STAFF: Kristen Beaumont, Tyler Boersen, Ted Borden, Anna Clark, April Effort, Lizzie Ehrle, Margaret Engoren, Rachel Green, Lisa Hoffman, C. Price Jones, Elizabeth Kassab, Shabina S. Khatri, Kylene Kiang, Daniel Kim, Tomislav Ladika, Louie Meizlish, Jennifer Misthal, Jacquelyn Nixon, Shannon Pettypiece, Stephanie Schonholz, Karen Schwartz, Sarah Scott, Jordan Schrader, Maria Sprow, Kelly Trahan, Kara Wenzel CALENDAR: Usa Koivu EDITORIAL Michael Grass, Nicholas Woomer, Editors ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Johanna Hanink, Aubrey Henretty Manish Raiji, Josh Wickerham STAFF: Howard Chung, Kevin Clune, Sumon Dantiki, Rachel Fisher, Seth Fisher, Catherine Groat, David Livshiz, Garrett Lee, Paul Neuman, Neil Pais, Ari Paul, Zachary Peskowitz, Jess Piskor, Jim Secreto, Lauren Strayer CARTOONISTS: Sam Butler, Chip Cullen. Thomas Kulgurgis COLUMNISTS: Peter Cunniffe, David Horn, Rebecca Isenberg, Steve Kyritz, Dustin J. Seibert, Waj Syed. Amer G. Zahr SPORTS - Jon Schwartz, Managing Editor SENIOR EDITORS: Raphael Goodstein, Jeff Phillips, Benjamin Singer, Joe Smith NIGHT EDITORS: Arun Gopal, David Horn, Steve Jackson, Seth Klempner, J. Brady McCollough, Naweed Sikora STAFF: Rohit Shave, Dan Bremmer, Chris Burke, Eric Chan, Kareem Copeland, Bob Hunt, Melanie Kebler, Shawn Kemp, Matt Kramer, Courtney Lewis, Kyle O'Neill, Charles Paradis, Dan Rosen, Mike Rosen, David Roth. Brian Schick, Brian Steere, Allison Topp, Jim Weber ARTS Jennifer Fogel, Managing Editor EDITORS: Robyn Melamed, Lyle Henretty WEEKEND, ETC. EDITORS: Matt Grandstaff, Jane Krull SUB-EDITORS: Lisa Rajt (Books), Andy Taylor-Fabe (Film), Jim Schiff (Fine/Performing Arts), Luke Smith (Music), Jeff Dickerson {TV/New Media) STAFF: Charity Atchison, Marie Bernard, Ryan Slay, Rob Brode, Autumn Brown, Japiya Burns, Laura Deneau, Kiran Divvela, Tricia Donelan, Keith N. 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