TALIBAN LEADERSHIP REAFFIRMS NONINTERFERENCE POLICY TOWARD CENTRAL ASIA.

The Taliban leadership today accused Moscow of raising the specter of a "Taliban threat" in order to "tell the Central Asian countries to turn to Moscow for help and agree to a Russian military presence on their territories." Information Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi stated that Taliban leaders are committed to a policy of noninterference in Central Asia and are prepared to renew assurances to that effect to the Central Asian governments. (Itar-Tass, February 28. See Perspective item below)

Chechen President Decrees Death Sentence for Kidnapping.