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American Morning

Authorities Say Islamic Extremist Confessed to Why He Shot Aid Workers

Aired December 31, 2002 - 08:09   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Yemen. Authorities say an Islamic extremist has confessed as to why he shot the aid workers yesterday.
Our Rula Amin joins us now live by video phone. She is in Sana'a, that nation's capital, with the very latest -- hello, Rula.

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon.

Good morning.

U.S. -- sorry, the Yemeni foreign minister told us that the attackers, whom the Yemeni authorities here describe as Islamic militants, has told these investigators that he did this because he believed that American missionaries were Christians trying to convert Muslims and that he wanted -- he did this because he wanted to be closer to god.

However, this is not enough of an answer neither to the Yemeni authorities, neither -- and to the U.S. officials. They are trying to determine was this an isolated incident or was this part of a larger scheme?

So far, there is no link established to al Qaeda, but of course they suspect this may be a group who's targeting foreigners, Americans and local secular opposition leaders. One of them was targeted, assassinated on Saturday. U.S. investigators were down in Jedlah (ph), where the hospital, where the murders took place this morning. They evacuated most of the American missionaries who work in the Baptist hospital. Also the injured pharmacist from yesterday was evacuated from that hospital to the capital.

One of the bodies of the victims, Martha Myers, 57 years old, was also brought on the way, the body on the way to the United States, not yet. The families are expected also to arrive here.

But two of the victims will be buried in Jedlah. This is according to their will, we are told -- Leon.

HARRIS: Thank you, Rula.

Rula Amin reporting live for us from Sana'a in Yemen.

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




Aid Workers>


Aired December 31, 2002 - 08:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Yemen. Authorities say an Islamic extremist has confessed as to why he shot the aid workers yesterday.
Our Rula Amin joins us now live by video phone. She is in Sana'a, that nation's capital, with the very latest -- hello, Rula.

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon.

Good morning.

U.S. -- sorry, the Yemeni foreign minister told us that the attackers, whom the Yemeni authorities here describe as Islamic militants, has told these investigators that he did this because he believed that American missionaries were Christians trying to convert Muslims and that he wanted -- he did this because he wanted to be closer to god.

However, this is not enough of an answer neither to the Yemeni authorities, neither -- and to the U.S. officials. They are trying to determine was this an isolated incident or was this part of a larger scheme?

So far, there is no link established to al Qaeda, but of course they suspect this may be a group who's targeting foreigners, Americans and local secular opposition leaders. One of them was targeted, assassinated on Saturday. U.S. investigators were down in Jedlah (ph), where the hospital, where the murders took place this morning. They evacuated most of the American missionaries who work in the Baptist hospital. Also the injured pharmacist from yesterday was evacuated from that hospital to the capital.

One of the bodies of the victims, Martha Myers, 57 years old, was also brought on the way, the body on the way to the United States, not yet. The families are expected also to arrive here.

But two of the victims will be buried in Jedlah. This is according to their will, we are told -- Leon.

HARRIS: Thank you, Rula.

Rula Amin reporting live for us from Sana'a in Yemen.

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




Aid Workers>