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CNN Live Today

Car Bomb in Peru Still Unclaimed

Aired March 22, 2002 - 13:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is on a four-day Latin American tour, stopping today in Mexico. Mr. Bush told world leaders at a UN poverty summit that the United States would help the world's poorest people because he said, "hope is an answer to terror." He said developed nations must share their wealth with the disadvantaged part of the world.

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GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ...the lesson of our time the clear. When nations close their markets and opportunity is hoarded by a privileged few, no amount, no amount of development aid is ever enough.

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HEMMER: Mr. Bush outlined a new foreign-aid doctrine that rewards poor nations if they eliminate corruption, commit to open markets, and adopt political reform. Next stop: Lima, Peru. Certainly, security is going to be tight there tomorrow as the president arrives in Peru. His visit comes just days after a car bomb went off near the U.S. embassy in killing nine people. Peru's interior minister believes the bomb is tied to the president's visit and the events of 9/11. Gary Tuchman now, by telephone, in Lima, with more from there -- Gary.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, it's an unusual scene here across the street from the U.S. embassy in Lima. Many of the businesses heavily damaged by the car bomb that killed nine are re- opened, despite having no window or doors. A bank jam-packed, despite the fact that, in essence, it's an outdoor bank.

Nobody has publicly claimed responsibility for the 110-pound car bomb. But it was apparently placed under taxicab. According to the Peruvian newspaper, "La Republica," a taxi driver was car-jacked and then incapacitated by an injection of poison to his neck. The driver was later found and is in the hospital. But his vehicle was used for the car bomb.

The car exploded at least twice. The first time, it set fire to the car. And two Lima police officers providing security to embassy and a private security guard ran over to extinguish the fire. Then it exploded again. One of those police officers was skilled and so was the security guard. A teenager also died, as were six other people. Many guests in a Best Western hotel were wounded. Actually staring at the hotel right now, there are about 60 windows on one side of building. Every one of the windows is blown out.

But the heavily fortified concrete U.S. embassy was not damaged in any way. Most people, officials in Peru and the United States, feel this is probably the work of Peru's Shining Path guerrillas. Greatly incapacitated since the capture of their leader, Abimael Guzman, in 1992, the organization has been regrouping lately and is alleged to have planned attack at attack on the U.S. embassy last November. The president of the United States will arrive here in Lima tomorrow afternoon. He'll leave Sunday morning, so it's less than a 24-hour visit. But it's the first time a sitting U.S. president has ever come to this nation. And the security is very tight -- Bill.

HEMMER: Gary, you mentioned it last hour; I mentioned it leading into your report there, the interior minister believes this is tied to President Bush's visit there. Any evidence offering as to why he thinks that?

TUCHMAN: We should note that that statement doesn't mean he's excluding it being the Shining Path. The Shining Path may have done it for that reason. But he has cited no evidence for making that statement. I think a lot of people are assuming that's the reason. But no factual evidence has came out as to why he saying it is related to the president of the United States and September 11.

HEMMER: All Right, Gary, quickly. History, recent history of bombings there in Lima, much to speak of?

TUCHMAN: Well, since the late '70s, Bill, 30,000 Peruvians have died. There's been immense damage to this country because of the Shining Path guerrilla, also the Tupac Amaru guerrillas, two rebel groups who want a revolutionary government running Peru. But after the capture of Abimael Guzman 10 years ago, they almost died out, but they did not die completely. It's believed there are up to 2,000 guerrillas who are still in the countryside, who are still plotting events like the one that happened here Wednesday night.

HEMMER: All right, Gary, thanks. Gary Tuchman, by telephone, there again in Lima, Peru. The president will be there tomorrow on Saturday.

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