Bio-weapons suspected in Afghanistan

TAMPA, Fla. -- The United States has identified more than 40 sites in Afghanistan where loyalists to Osama bin Laden may have been conducting research on chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, the U.S. war commander said Tuesday. \nArmy Gen. Tommy Franks said at a news conference that these sites are now under control of anti-Taliban forces and are being checked by U.S. authorities for evidence of weapons of mass destruction. \nHe said some of the facilities are laboratories where "paraphernalia, a variety of chemical compositions and these sorts of things" were discovered. He said that it was possible the items were for legitimate research and that it would take at least a couple of days to get the first sample test results. \n"We'll perform the tests that need to be performed at every possible facility," Franks said. He gave no indication that any of the samples appear to be linked to chemical, biological or nuclear weapons research. \nIf any materials are found that could be used to make weapons of mass destruction, they will not be left behind, he said. \n"We'll provide no option on that," he said. "That is nonnegotiable. We will not leave weapons of mass destruction in that country"