Millions of dollars stolen from main money market

KABUL, NOV. 13. Millions of dollars were stolen from Afghanistan's main money market as the Taliban militia pulled out of Kabul and the Opposition moved in, money changers said today.

``This was all our capital. Even the computers, carpets and tea pots have gone. This is a crime against Afghanistan, the Afghans and against Islam,'' said Haji Amin jan Khosti, chief of the Shara-E-Shazada money exchange. He said unknown thieves looted 80 shops in the market, leaving none untouched and driving away with trucks full of the local Afghani currency.

A massive fortune, at least in Afghan terms, of around $1.5 million and 100 million Pakistani rupees ($1.6 million), plus unknown amounts of various other currencies had been disappeared. ``In every shop at least five to 10 million Pakistan rupees has been taken,'' said Haji Khosti. ``They haven't left anything. It is a terrorist act and whoever did it deserves the damnation of God almighty.''

Another money changer, Mr. Najimuddin, said a lot of ordinary people in this desperately poor city had lost their life savings. ``This market was a kind of unofficial bank. People did not trust the government banks because they are not safe. So if people had capital they brought it to us,'' he said. ``I can't tell you how much I lost because it is too painful to talk about.''

In another development, the sprawling detention centre where eight foreign aid workers were being held was abandoned on Tuesday. A guard said the eight foreigners, accused of preaching Christianity, had been whisked away by the departing Taliban.

``With my own eyes, I saw them leave,'' guard Ajmal Mir said. Mr. Mir told The Associated Press that the Taliban loaded the four Germans, two Americans and two Australians into a black four- wheel drive vehicle at midnight and drove off. ``They said they were going to Kandahar,'' Mr. Mir said. Kandahar is the headquarters of the Taliban, 400 km south of the Afghan capital.

Just two weeks ago, American Dayna Curry celebrated her 30th birthday in jail in Kabul. She was arrested along with the other American, Ms. Heather Mercer, 24, on August 3. The others were arrested two days later. They and 16 Afghan staffers were all charged with preaching Christianity in this strict Muslim country.

``This is a real mess,'' said Mr. John Mercer, Ms. Heather's father reached by telephone in neighbouring Pakistan. He was at the Taliban Embassy in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad trying to find a Taliban official to speak to.The workers were in good condition when they left, he said. He was uncertain which Taliban took the aid workers, whether they were from a government ministry or whether they were acting on their own.

- AFP, AP

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