NATO peacekeepers find huge Afghan weapons cache

[Tab]

KABUL (Reuters) - NATO peacekeepers in Afghanistan have found the biggest weapons cache in recent years including 80 tonnes of TNT and 25,000 landmines, a NATO force spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

The cache was handed over to authorities in Sheberghan, in the Afghan north, under a drive to disarm illegal armed groups, said a spokeswoman for the NATO-led peacekeeping force, Commander Sue Eagles.

The weapons were stored underground in old Soviet bunkers.

An initial survey indicated one was full of detonators, two contained 80 tonnes of Russian TNT, while another held 15,000 anti-personnel mines and 10,000 anti-tank mines. A fifth bunker was still being explored.

Eagles said it was not clear who the weapons had belonged to and an assessment of the haul was still being done. Various factional forces have controlled Sheberghan over years of conflict.

"The important thing is that they will now be destroyed and not get into the wrong hands," she said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060314/ts_nm/afghan_weapons_dc

[maxsolomon]

1. are you sure we shouldn't just leave them out & unguarded

when the iraqi insurgents can get to them?

[Earth_First]

2. ...and if you look reaaal closely you can decipher...

[mom cat]

4. Good one!

[lakeguy]

3. oops, time to invade russia...

they are supporting the afghan terrorists with weapons!