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American Morning

200 Students, Staffers Evacuated From War-Torn Ivory Coast

Aired September 26, 2002 - 08:35   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.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Two hundred students and staffers are now finally out of harm's way after being evacuated from the war-torn Ivory Coast. The group, made up mostly of Americans, was flown out of the country within the past hour.
And Jeff Koinange is live in the country's capital. He joins us from there, live by videophone.

Good morning, Jeff.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula, and I will say that, yes, part of those children, part of the convoy did go, and they were given a choice to stay behind. Some of them have actually stayed behind either for me re-evaluation, or just they don't want to go just yet. But a couple dozen did get on that C-130 you saw earlier, escorted under heavy military guard by U.S. special forces.

I want to let you know that French special forces are holding the airport right here where we are right now. U.S. forces are the ones who escorted the kids onto the plane, and then they went to Ghana, in the neighboring country of Ghana.

We will say that the other kids were overnight here in the nation's capital. They will probably be leaving in the next 24 hours or so, but they are all glad to be out of that situation they were in for the last five, six days. It was a harrowing situation. It was hair raising at times. I know there were a lot of concerned parents out there where the kids come from, but all of them are definitely in good health, even as the two towns continue to be under rebel hands, even though we're hearing a couple of stories there may be a cease fire that may be called in effect, but nothing confirmed, nothing on the ground. The situation is still very tense on the ground.

We were driving on the way here from Bijan (ph). It took us about three hours to get here. It was a very lonely drive, Paula. Nobody wants to be seen on the road, in the streets. It's very lonely. It's very tense. And I think the situation is still unfolding. And nobody really knows what's happening. Radio communications have been cut off, television has been cut off. Nobody can talk to anyone in these little towns. So everyone is literally sitting on the edge of their seat -- Paula.

ZAHN: But American officials are saying there is no further threat to Americans there. How are they dealing with this ongoing war?

KOINANGE: I beg your pardon? I didn't hear that clearly. What was that again?

ZAHN: Just the idea Secretary Rumsfeld says he doesn't believe there is a further threat to Americans who remain there. Nevertheless, people were very shaken by what they've been through over the last week.

KOINANGE: Absolutely, people are very shaken. And there are about 300 Americans, who are working in around the Bwake (ph) area, not to mention Bijan (ph) and Yamosukuru (ph). The situation is still very tense.

On the ground, just this morning when we were driving here, we were stopped by a convoy of government troops. We didn't stop in time and they fired in the air, and that was pretty scary for a couple of minutes.

So, no, it's still very, very tense. And again, getting the word to the people on the ground, that is the most important part. It hasn't filtered down yet. They're not out of danger yesterday. The government is still advancing on these two towns. So we'll just have to see what happens in the next couple of days -- Paula.

ZAHN: Jeff Koinange, thank you very much, from the Ivory Coast.

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




Coast>


Aired September 26, 2002 - 08:35   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Two hundred students and staffers are now finally out of harm's way after being evacuated from the war-torn Ivory Coast. The group, made up mostly of Americans, was flown out of the country within the past hour.
And Jeff Koinange is live in the country's capital. He joins us from there, live by videophone.

Good morning, Jeff.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula, and I will say that, yes, part of those children, part of the convoy did go, and they were given a choice to stay behind. Some of them have actually stayed behind either for me re-evaluation, or just they don't want to go just yet. But a couple dozen did get on that C-130 you saw earlier, escorted under heavy military guard by U.S. special forces.

I want to let you know that French special forces are holding the airport right here where we are right now. U.S. forces are the ones who escorted the kids onto the plane, and then they went to Ghana, in the neighboring country of Ghana.

We will say that the other kids were overnight here in the nation's capital. They will probably be leaving in the next 24 hours or so, but they are all glad to be out of that situation they were in for the last five, six days. It was a harrowing situation. It was hair raising at times. I know there were a lot of concerned parents out there where the kids come from, but all of them are definitely in good health, even as the two towns continue to be under rebel hands, even though we're hearing a couple of stories there may be a cease fire that may be called in effect, but nothing confirmed, nothing on the ground. The situation is still very tense on the ground.

We were driving on the way here from Bijan (ph). It took us about three hours to get here. It was a very lonely drive, Paula. Nobody wants to be seen on the road, in the streets. It's very lonely. It's very tense. And I think the situation is still unfolding. And nobody really knows what's happening. Radio communications have been cut off, television has been cut off. Nobody can talk to anyone in these little towns. So everyone is literally sitting on the edge of their seat -- Paula.

ZAHN: But American officials are saying there is no further threat to Americans there. How are they dealing with this ongoing war?

KOINANGE: I beg your pardon? I didn't hear that clearly. What was that again?

ZAHN: Just the idea Secretary Rumsfeld says he doesn't believe there is a further threat to Americans who remain there. Nevertheless, people were very shaken by what they've been through over the last week.

KOINANGE: Absolutely, people are very shaken. And there are about 300 Americans, who are working in around the Bwake (ph) area, not to mention Bijan (ph) and Yamosukuru (ph). The situation is still very tense.

On the ground, just this morning when we were driving here, we were stopped by a convoy of government troops. We didn't stop in time and they fired in the air, and that was pretty scary for a couple of minutes.

So, no, it's still very, very tense. And again, getting the word to the people on the ground, that is the most important part. It hasn't filtered down yet. They're not out of danger yesterday. The government is still advancing on these two towns. So we'll just have to see what happens in the next couple of days -- Paula.

ZAHN: Jeff Koinange, thank you very much, from the Ivory Coast.

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




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