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Breaking News

Taliban Supreme Leader Decides to Surrender Kandahar

Aired December 06, 2001 - 07:00   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: Let's get right to this breaking news story. In Afghanistan, the Taliban supreme leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, has decided to surrender Kandahar. Word of Omar's plans come from the Afghan Islamic Press. That news agency is reporting that the decision to surrender was made after Omar met with companions, religious scholars and tribal leaders. The news agency says the surrender will take place in a day or two. Omar and the Taliban have been holed up in Kandahar for more than two weeks, having surrendered much of the rest of Afghanistan. As you know, Kandahar is in the southern part of that country. A U.S. marine base has been established some 60 miles south of Kandahar.

Now, on what is known about the reports out of Kandahar, let's turn to Bob Franken, who is standing by at the Pentagon with the very latest -- good morning, Bob. What are they telling you there?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, in a word, what is known here, according to the Pentagon, in one word is nothing. The exact quote is, "We know nothing about that. It would be nice if it was true." That is the exact quote from a top defense official.

We should remember that the Afghan Islamic Press is regarded here as, how shall I say it, a semi-reliable source, if even that. It has oftentimes been considered a spokesperson for the Taliban and in the view of the Pentagon has oftentimes presented lies and distortions.

So they are looking at this with a very jaundiced eye. But, of course, there have also been times when it has, in fact, reflected the position of the Taliban.

Of course, Kandahar has been the target of an incredible siege. Yesterday, troops from the opposition forces accompanied by U.S. forces were hit by a bomb that was misplaced from a B-52. Three U.S. servicemen died. Another 19 or so were injured. Five Afghans also died and an undetermined number were also injured.

So this has been the point of some fierce fighting and of course it is the spiritual center of the Taliban. It has really become one of the last stands of the Taliban. Pentagon officials here say they don't even know that Omar is in Kandahar, but it is obviously something that interests them. It would be good news in the view of the United States, of course, if it was true that that last outpost had gone down. But at the moment they are not taking out the champagne -- Paula. ZAHN: Bob, you made it quite clear that the government doesn't view everything the Islamic Press says, take it for real. You said that at times they have found them semi-reliable. There is another report that's getting a lot of attention this morning and that is the man who will head the interim government of Afghanistan confirmed in "USA Today" that the same man we're talking about, Omar, has offered, or has asked for amnesty. Any confirmation of that?

FRANKEN: Well, no. But that has been a recurring report and it has been very, very sternly addressed here. A couple of days ago the defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, said he would "vigorously oppose" any efforts to provide any amnesty for Omar, for the other Taliban or al Qaeda leaders. This would run right in the face of the United States' intentions.

We already know that there's a bit of conflict with Northern Alliance leaders about the disposition of some of those leaders. The Northern Alliance leaders said a couple of days ago that it was not an automatic thing that these people would be turned over to the U.S. And Rumsfeld, at that same briefing, made it very clear that the United States wanted those people turned over to the United States for whatever tribunals or trials might follow.

I should point out, by the way, that Secretary Rumsfeld is having a briefing this morning, Paula, at 11:15 Eastern.

ZAHN: All right, we will be coming back to you live throughout the morning. I know as you work the phones and work your sources there, you will continue to get us more information. Thank you very much for that update.

Once again, Bob Franken confirming the government is only saying this morning that it hopes these reports coming out of the Islamic Press are true that Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar is ready to surrender the last major Taliban stronghold of Kandahar. We will bring new details to you as the information warrants.

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