Fed: Aussie man had extensive training with bin Laden: Williams

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2001
Fed: Aussie man had extensive training with bin Laden: Williams

An Australian man has been captured in Afghanistan by Northern Alliance troops after
being trained by OSAMA BIN LADEN'S al Qaeda network.

Australia's Attorney-General DARYL WILLIAMS has told ABC radio the 26-year-old is believed
to have entered Afghanistan last year, and undertaken extensive training with the terrorist
network.

Mr WILLIAMS has refused to give any personal details of the man, saying his family
has to be protected.

He says the young Australian also fought in the former Yugoslavia with the Kosovo Liberation
Army before arriving in Afghanistan last year.

Mr WILLIAMS says he's understood to have travelled to Europe in mid-1999 to join the
Kosovo Liberation Army, and then to have travelled to Pakistan in November 1999 where
he undertook some training.

Mr WILLIAMS says the Australian man appears to have been more involved in the al Qaeda
network than American JOHN WALKER, who was captured fighting for the Taliban.

AAP RTV kmh/aa/rt

KEYWORD: TERROR AUST CAPTURE (CANBERRA)

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