Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Allegations Osama Bin Laden Injured and Escaped During Battle at Tora Bora

Aired April 18, 2002 - 06:01   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Newly released tapes and interviews with prisoners at Guantanamo Bay are providing bits and pieces of information, including allegations he was injured and escaped during a battle at Tora Bora.

Our national correspondent Mike Boettcher has details on that for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In this newest bin Laden, the al Qaeda leader boasts about the economic impact of the September 11 attacks.

OSAMA BIN LADEN (through translator): According to their statements, the loss rate in Wall Street markets reached 16 percent, and they said that this number is a record low, never has happened before since the inception of the markets in 230 years.

BOETTCHER: The bin Laden statement, broadcast by Middle East Broadcasting Corporation, appears to be part of a documentary called "The Wills of the New York and Washington Battle Martyrs," reportedly put together by a pro-al Qaeda production company. The Arabic language Al Jazeera network broadcast other portions of the documentary on Monday, including what the network said was the videotaped last will and testament of Ahmed Ibrahim Al Haznawi, one of the 19 September 11 hijackers.

AHMED IBRAHIM AL HAZNAWI, SEPTEMBER 11 HIJACKER (through translator): We left our people to deliver a message that is written in blood, so it can reach the entire world.

BOETTCHER: Middle East Broadcasting reports its sources indicate the bin Laden statement was recorded in the first half of December. However, in his statement, bin Laden refers to -- quote -- "only two days ago, when U.S. Airlines announced big layoffs." Those layoffs were announced in late September and October.

That timeframe is more likely for the taping of this newly- released bin Laden video. In mid-December, when Middle East Broadcasting reports the tape was made, a fierce battle was being waged between al Qaeda fighters and Afghan troops, who had joined the U.S.-led antiterror coalition. They were supported by U.S. fighters and bombers. CNN's Ben Wedeman talked to al Qaeda fighters on a two- way radio during the battle.

CNN has learned from high-level antiterror coalition intelligence sources that captured al Qaeda fighters, under interrogation, said that bin Laden was in Tora Bora during the battle, that he ordered al Qaeda leaders to disperse to separate locations while there, and according to prisoner statements, bin Laden's left hand was injured in the fighting.

A bin Laden videotaped statement released in late December, after the Tora Bora battle, shows the al Qaeda leader moving his right hand. His left arm never moves and the left hand is never seen in the video.

(on camera): However, other than the statements from the al Qaeda prisoners, some of whom contradict one another, there is no other evidence that we know of that points to exactly where bin Laden was, or is, or if he was indeed hurt.

Mike Boettcher, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.