Brussels, 28/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - The General Affairs Council has adopted the common position concerning the tightening of sanctions against the Taliban, in Afghanistan. The text extends the embargo on arms set out in the 1996 common position to all material and equipment except those intended for the protection of personnel. The new measures also include: the closure of all Taliban offices and of the airline company Ariana Afghan Airlines located on EU territory; - the freeze of all funds and other assets held by Oussama ben Laden and all persons and entities economically associated with the latter in application of a United Nations measure; - the ban on the sale, provision or transfer by Member State nationals or from EU territory of acetic anhydride (Ed.: a chemical precursor used in the manufacture of drugs) to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.