US Senator Joe Biden visits Kabul

(11 Jan 2002)

1. Official getting out of car of US Senator Joseph Biden
2. Biden at former embassy compound of the Soviet Union, now occupied by Afghan refugees, mostly from the Shomali Plain
3. Biden touring former Soviet embassy
4. Biden walking past destroyed building
5. Afghan boys watching
6. Biden talking to young Afghan boy
7. Young girl watching from balcony, turns and runs away
8. Biden touring with entourage
9. Man smiling at camera
10. Disused car on its side in front of building
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Biden, US Senator
"It seems to me the government cannot be in enough control yet, they're exceeding expectations, I mean it's not realistic. The 22nd is the next drop dead point here - no pun intendend - and then we're going to talk in about two years of an interim government before an elected government. And in that time, it seems to me, that we have to bring some stability here by a multinational force that allows the government to be in in a position to be able to exercise some authority. But this is pretty early in the process, and so I think you're going to see some glitches in between here and there."
12. Cutaway of Afghan men
13. Biden gets into car
14. Afghan men walking away

STORYLINE:

US Senator Joseph Biden raised concerns on Friday over security in Afghanistan following the release of seven Taliban leaders who surrendered earlier this week.

His comments came as Biden -- who is a Democrat and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee -- was touring the old Soviet embassy compound in devastated western Kabul.

Here 15,000 refugees, most from the Shomali plain and driven out by fighting between the Taliban and the northern alliance, are living in squalor.

Biden said the issue could reflect concerns that the international community will not stay long enough to restore full security to a country where some al-Qaida and Taliban fighters are still at large.

Afghanistan on Friday confirmed an amnesty for Afghans and religious leaders who cooperated with the Taliban government, except those who were accused of murder or treason.

Biden said he hoped the new Afghan leadership had faith in the West's commitment to restoring stability in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's interim government was appointed on December 22nd, as part of a two-year transition to democracy.

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