All Over the Globe

Taliban rounding up thousands of refugees: independent sources

KABUL, Aug 16 (AFP)

Afghanistan�s Taliban have arrested thousands of refugees who fled here after recent fighting, independent sources said Monday, but the hardline militia insisted they were only weeding out a handful of criminals.

The sources said the Taliban began a security crackdown on Sunday morning with the arrests of 2,000 people at Khair Khana on the northern outskirts of Kabul, where the United Nations says more than 10,000 refugees had entered the city in just two days.

Several sources said the arrests had forced people into hiding amid fears they would be denounced as anti-Islamic and jailed.

�It�s a mess. Foreign groups can�t carry out their work if people are too scared to queue up for bread or food because they might be thrown in jail,� one western source told AFP.

But Kabul police chief Mulla Abdurrazaq said the capital was quiet and calm, saying only around 60 people had been arrested around Khair Khana for thieving along with others he described as �anti-Taliban elements�.

�We arrested thieves, opposition supporters and those who have disguised themselves as Taliban soldiers and were trying to create instability inside the city,� he told AFP.

Abdurrazaq said those who had a case to answer would be brought before a Taliban court and tried under Sharia Islamic law.

National Bank reduces rate of refinancing

Erkanat ABENI

Almaty, Aug16

(THE GLOBE)

From August 16 the National Bank of Kazakhstan reduces rate of refinancing to 20% of annual, the chairman of NB announced on August 16 in Almaty.

According to Kadyrzhan Damitov, rates in the money market are reduced taking into consideration the condition of the financial market.

�The inflation is decreasing, hence we considered it possible to reduce the rate of refinancing,� he said.

Mr. Damitov remarked that the last reduction of the rate on July 19 from 25% to 22% and the stabilisation of tenge�s rate had promoted the reduction of the total profitability level and the growth of the demand for securities.

�The inflation in July was more than 4 times slower than in June. In August the deflation in the amount of 0.2% is being observed,� the chairman of the principal bank of the country stated.

Mr. Damitov emphasised that at present time, the stable excess of offer over the demand was obvious in the internal market. This is connected with the fact that prices of oil (one of the main export products of Kazakhstan) are increasing in the world�s market.

Replying the questions, Kadyrzhan Damitov refuted the rumours that World Bank had rejected to allot a loan to Kazakhstan. The NB chairman said that by the end of August they were expecting the arrival of the commission of the World Bank. This commission will consider possibilities to credit our republic.