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CNN Live At Daybreak

Israeli Tanks Enter Ramallah, Surround Arafat's Compound

Aired June 10, 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now for a live update on the latest Israeli incursion into Ramallah, we turn to CNN's Matthew Chance once again -- hello, Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you as well, Kyra. That's right. The tanks are still very much on the streets here in Ramallah, as the leaders of the U.S.A. and Israel prepare to get together to talk about peace in the Middle East in Washington.

Israel's latest military incursion here in Ramallah has seen as many as 100 tanks, APCs, helicopter gunships take up positions, the gunships above the town, but the rest taking up positions outside key buildings, key road junctions outside Yasser Arafat's fasid (ph) presidential compound.

There have been a number of tank shells fired at buildings just outside the compound, but the buildings in which Yasser Arafat is currently living have not been targeted in the latest incursions. Israel says this military operation is yet another attempt to, what it says, destroy a terrorist infrastructure in Ramallah. It says it is looking for bomb factories, for arms caches. It says it has arrested some 20 Palestinian they suspect of terrorism.

Now, that noise -- you may be able to hear it in the background, it is an extremely large tank which is just driving right past me, an indication of elevenous (ph) military action, which is still very much on the streets of Ramallah -- Kyra.

CHANCE: Matthew, even with all of this taking place there, yesterday Yasser Arafat announcing that he will be restructuring the Palestinian -- or his authority, the Palestinian Authority. What can you tell us about that at this point?

CHANCE: Well, that's right. Yasser Arafat announced quite dramatic measures yesterday. They are aimed at streamlining the Palestinian Authority and of making it more tangible. In fact, the first Palestinian Authority cabinet meeting, the new cabinet meeting, was scheduled for today, but Palestinian officials tell us that because of the curfew that's been imposed here in Ramallah, that has been placed on indefinite hold -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Matthew Chance, live from Ramallah -- thank you so much.

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