TALEBAN OFFER POPPY BAN FOR U.N. NOD

KABUL (Reuters) - The Taleban movement is offering to stop growing
poppies that make Afghanistan the world's second-biggest opium
producer, in exchange for recognition as the government of the country.

"If the Islamic Emirate (Taleban) is accorded recognition without
condition by the U.N., the Emirate will seriously ban unconditionally
cultivation of poppy throughout the country," Mullah Mohammad Omar,
supreme leader of the Islamic militia, said on Voice of Shariat radio
yesterday.

BORDER STANDOFF

Only Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates recognize the
Taleban as the government of Afghanistan.

The offer was made as a United Nations envoy was in Iran for talks on
easing a border standoff with the Taleban involving around 200,000
Iranian troops.

The Taleban, on a mission to create the world's purest Muslim state,
imposes the death penalty for drug use but turns a blind eye to its
export.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry