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CNN Live Today

U.S. Envoy to Speak With Palestinian Leader

Aired April 04, 2002 - 13:15   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: Anthony Zinni will head off to Ramallah. He will meet with Yasser Arafat at some point very soon, we are told. To Ramallah live right now, Michael Holmes is back with us reporting on that situation for the better part of the past week. Michael, hello and good evening once again to you.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill. Yes, thanks very much. Just a snippet of new information, too: Palestinian sources tell us that Yasser Arafat is expecting a telephone call from Colin Powell, the U.S. secretary of state, at any minute, is the quote I have in front of me. At any minute, he's expecting a call from Colin Powell.

As you indicated, the Israeli government now says that General Anthony Zinni, the U.S. envoy, will be allowed to go into the compound to speak with Chairman Arafat. We are told also that that is likely to take place, quote, "sooner rather than later." As you know, it's about 8:15 here in Ramallah, p.m. And what sooner rather than later means in reality, we're not sure. It could well mean this evening.

The Palestinian reaction, the initial reaction -- we're waiting for Yasser Arafat to make a statement. We're told that will be soon. Saeb Erakat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, put this way: "I hope George W. Bush realizes that occupation is the highest form of terror", and that Bush will work to win that occupation so Israel can live and let live.

He also went on to say, Bill, Bush says Sharon acting in self- defense. He is not fighting an infrastructure of terror at the moment. He is fighting the infrastructure of the Palestinian Authority and of the Palestinian people.

Now, Bill, just want to bring you up to date what's been happening here in Ramallah. We had to step away from the window here a short time ago, just a pretty steady outbreak of what we take to be sniper fire in the area. And that is something that's been going on all day. Amazingly, from what we've seen in recent days, very, very little tank and APC movement around this city, but an awful lot of sniper shots going off. You'll hear four shots go off, and then it will be quiet for 20 minutes, then another four, has been the order of the day.

In two neighborhoods here, about 1,000 Palestinian men rounded up for questioning. Half of those so far, we're told, have been released. Just very quickly, in Jenin, heavy fighting still going on. One Israeli soldier killed, we're told, three Palestinians killed. We're also told in Bethlehem, we just heard from Ben who knows better than me about that, that a 52-year-old bell ringer at the Church of the Nativity was shot according to Palestinian sources by a sniper in Nablus. There is shooting in the old city and three refugee camps. One Palestinian dead, an Israeli soldier dead in Hebron, Bill.

HEMMER: All right. Michael, thank you. Michael Holmes from Ramallah.

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