KABUL: The Afghan nation i fast moving towards freedom after a prolonged, bloody war against Moscow and its local surrogates the latest being Dr. Najibullah The guerillas have encircled Kabul. They have captured almost all possible exits of Dr. Najibullah who was planning to leave for Delhi where he sends members of his family in advance. But the triumphant, Islamic militants are determined to try and punish Dr. Najibullah for his war crimes against the innocents, women and children,

Meanwhile Afghanistan’s Acting resident said that his Government was ready to transfer power to the Mujahideen guerillas surrounding Kabul.

Acting President Abdul Rahim Hatif told a news conference that the only problem was that the Mujahideen must unite and forma government to which power could be transferred,

Our main objective is that a transfer of power should be peaceful,” he said.

Mr. Hatifs news conference was his first since he was appointed following the overthrow of President Najibullah last Thursday.

Asked about a threat by hardline Hekmatyar to attack Kabul,

Mr. Hatif said his Government did not intend to hand over power to a single group within the fragmented Mujahideen.

ANI adds; The UN special envoy in Afghanistan Benon Sevan is leaving Kabul to meet Ahmed Shah Masood, who holds de facto control of a major part of Afghanistan. It is Ahmed Shah Masood, who holds the day to peace in Kabul,

The UN special envoy issued an urgent plea to all warring factions and guerilla groups to stay why you are and give peace a chance. He told the Press Conference that the Afghanistan issue is close to a solution, “What we need is breathing space.” He appealed to all factions for cessation of hostties.

A powerful guerrilla alliance led by Ahmed Shah Masood, a Jamaat e lslami commander, wants to a name a Mujahedeen government to bridge the next six to twelve months until elections could be held, The authorities of Mr. Najibullah Watan Party have been holding out for an interim council of neutral officials,

 Hezb-c-Islami, led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, opposes Masoods participation and is demanding that strict Islamic Government be set up.

Many people fear the civil war will degenerate into fighting among the various factions and tum this city of 1.5 million people into a battle ground, An estimated two million Afghans already have died in the war and five million more have fled their homes,

Nervousness has steadily increased in Kabul as the guerrillas, known as Mujahideen or Islamic holy warriors have tightened their Roose around the Capital and seized several provincial towns in the four days since Najibullah ouster.

Mr, Sevan said he had never before called for a cease-fire because “I knew it wouldn’t work,   the said major hurdles had been overcome on the type of provisional government 10 be formed, although differences remained on its composition.”

All parties should stay where “All parties should stay where they are at this time Silence the guns,” he pleaded.

He also called for a general amnesty and an opening of roads so the UN could distribute 40,000 tons of wheat that has been donated to overcome food shortages.

Mr. Sevan and other officials partially lifted the secrecy about the whereabouts and condition of Mr. Najibullah. Diplomats confirmed that he was at the UN compound in Kabul and that Mr. Sevan had not been able to negolate his safe passage from Afghanistan,

Najibullah had secretly arrived at Kabul airport on Wednesday night for a flight aboard Mr. Sevan UN Aircraft to an unknown destination, But Government backed militiamen prevented him from leaving.

An ambassador, who said he had seen Mr, Najibullah several times since his ouster, described the former leader as well and active. The diplomat spoke on condition that he and his country not are identified,

Mr, Sevan hinted that other parties had reneged on an agreement to let Mr. Najibullah go.

There was a certain understanding and the fact that certain procedures were not followed on the part of others is not the mistake of the UN.” he said.

“He was reluctant to speak about Mr. Najibullah, saying he felt responsible for his safety. There are negotiations going on,” he said.

Islami Jihad Council   Ahmed Shah Masood has deployed his forces around Kabul to prevent an attack by the Hikmatyar-led Mujahideen even as a second round of talks between Islamabad and Afghan groups in Peshawar to set to a governing body failed in Peshawar.

Reporting this, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said the Hizb-e-Islami leader Hidmatyar had demanded larger representation for his faction in the 20member Mujahideen Council, which was intended to take over the administration in Kabul.

Tran has also opposed Mr. Hikamatyars dominant role in the future administrative set up at Kabul, BBC added.

BBC also reported that Mr. Hikmatyars guerrillas were bombing the posts occupied by Mr. Masoods forces around Kabul.

Various Mujahideen groups in Peshawar were claiming that their  guerillas had captured Aibak town in Samangam district, Maidan Shabr in Vardak and Sarobi between Jalalabad and Kabul, BBC said, adding that Jalalabad and Kabul, BBC said, had been surnded on three sides and negotiations were between the Government and Mujahideen commanders for a settlement on the lines of the Kandhar settlement. The Jalalabad head of administration Minkoi Mengathad been a close associate of President Najibullah and was insisting on a commitment about his safely before handing over power of the Majahideen, BBC said. In Kandhar, 4 21 member council called Shoora was set up after negotiations between the rebels and Government officials, Gen. Noorani, the administrator of Kandharanda Najibuliahaide was included in the Shoora, BBC added.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 1, 1992