AHMAD SHAH MAS'OOD ESCAPED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT 

URGENT

PARIS 9 Sept. (IPS)    Afghan veteran commander Ahmad Shah Mas'ood escaped an assassination attempt with slight injuries, according to well informed Afghan sources in Paris.

"The suicide operation took place before noon today, by Arab terrorists linked to Ossama Bin Laden, in co-operation with Pakistan SIS secret services", Mr. Latif Pedram, a leading Afghan intellectual told Iran Press Service.

He said one of Mr. Mas'ood's body guard and the suicide bomber were killed and Mas'ood's representative in New Delhi,, Mas'ood Khalili was also wounded.,

According to the Paris-based Latif, the terrorists, some of them known to Mr. Mas'ood office as mediators, had come from London with visas issued by the Pakistan Embassy there.

He said the terrorists had used powerful explosive hide inside photo cameras. "It was a very sophisticated work, made by Pakistani secret services", Mr. Pedram added.

The assassination attempt took place as fierce fighting are reported taking place from midnight around the Bagram airport, fifty kilometres north of Kabol.

Sources from the Northern Alliance led by Commander Mas'ood said they had the situation under control and have pushed back the attackers. ENDS MAS'OOD ASSASSINATION 9901