AFGHANISTAN: MAZAR E SHARIF: MILITARY DISPLAY

Natural Sound One of the Afghan factions battling with the Taliban religious army has put on a massive show of military force in its northern stronghold. In scenes eerily reminiscent of old Sovietstyle May Day parades although on a much smaller scale tanks, Scud missiles and welldrilled troops were paraded on Monday through MazareSharif, stronghold of northern warlord Rashid Dostum. The Taliban, who now control about twothirds of Afghanistan, are expected to launch a spring offensive so