The World - News from May 24, 1989

The Afghan government, in an effort to split the guerrilla alliance, urged rebel commanders to join the peace process in Afghanistan. President Najibullah said rebel leaders have made a major mistake in rejecting his proposals. At a news conference, the government put on display four guerrilla commanders it said had opted to end the decade-long war. A government spokesman said the defense of the besieged eastern city of Jalalabad showed that government forces could successfully defend the nation, despite earlier predictions of collapse as soon as the Soviets withdrew their troops in February.