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CNN Live At Daybreak

Russians Demand Answers in Tragic Siege Aftermath

Aired November 29, 2002 - 06:34   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: We want to head to Moscow, where there is a growing demand for answers. Russians want to know what chemical agent the government used on a theater full of hostages, and why they used it. The mysterious gas killed 115 of the 800 hostages.
Matthew Chance is outside the hospital, where hundreds of former hostages are still being treated.

Good morning -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol. We are here in the south of the Russian capital at that hospital, where, as you mentioned, there still are many people inside being treated for the effects of inhaling that mystery gas that was pumped into the theater auditorium by Russian Special Forces to bring to an end that dramatic hostage crisis over the weekend.

Now, U.S. embassy officials here in Moscow say they've made some progress in trying to identify the nature of the chemical agent that was used by Russian Special Forces. They say it seems to be some kind of opiate, similar perhaps to the drug morphine, or something like that.

The Russian authorities, though, for their part, they've been very tight-lipped, not saying exactly what the agent was. They say this was a military operation, and therefore, it's subject to military-style secrecy; that, of course, despite a growing concern amongst the citizens of Russia, but also outside, about what kind of chemical agent it was.

As I said, there are lots of people inside the hospital still being treated, but some have been coming out, people who were able to leave their beds going back to their homes finally.

Earlier, I spoke to one of them, Raisa Lebedev, who was in that hostage crisis, and I asked her that despite the heavy loss of life, did she still think that Russian forces did the right thing going in?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAISA LEBEDEV, FORMER HOSTAGE: When the gas appeared in the hall (ph), you couldn't understand what happened. And that's why when I appeared in the hospital, I can't understand what's happened with me, because about 10 hours, I wasn't in the (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP) CHANCE: Well, that seems to be the opinion of all of the hostages we have spoken to here, very concerned about and upset about the number of dead, but saying they believe Russia had no option at that time -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Frightening stuff. Matthew Chance, thank you.

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






Aired November 29, 2002 - 06:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We want to head to Moscow, where there is a growing demand for answers. Russians want to know what chemical agent the government used on a theater full of hostages, and why they used it. The mysterious gas killed 115 of the 800 hostages.
Matthew Chance is outside the hospital, where hundreds of former hostages are still being treated.

Good morning -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol. We are here in the south of the Russian capital at that hospital, where, as you mentioned, there still are many people inside being treated for the effects of inhaling that mystery gas that was pumped into the theater auditorium by Russian Special Forces to bring to an end that dramatic hostage crisis over the weekend.

Now, U.S. embassy officials here in Moscow say they've made some progress in trying to identify the nature of the chemical agent that was used by Russian Special Forces. They say it seems to be some kind of opiate, similar perhaps to the drug morphine, or something like that.

The Russian authorities, though, for their part, they've been very tight-lipped, not saying exactly what the agent was. They say this was a military operation, and therefore, it's subject to military-style secrecy; that, of course, despite a growing concern amongst the citizens of Russia, but also outside, about what kind of chemical agent it was.

As I said, there are lots of people inside the hospital still being treated, but some have been coming out, people who were able to leave their beds going back to their homes finally.

Earlier, I spoke to one of them, Raisa Lebedev, who was in that hostage crisis, and I asked her that despite the heavy loss of life, did she still think that Russian forces did the right thing going in?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAISA LEBEDEV, FORMER HOSTAGE: When the gas appeared in the hall (ph), you couldn't understand what happened. And that's why when I appeared in the hospital, I can't understand what's happened with me, because about 10 hours, I wasn't in the (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP) CHANCE: Well, that seems to be the opinion of all of the hostages we have spoken to here, very concerned about and upset about the number of dead, but saying they believe Russia had no option at that time -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Frightening stuff. Matthew Chance, thank you.

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