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Breaking News

Man Throws Grenade at U.S. Embassy In Yemen

Aired March 15, 2002 - 12:43   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Reporting that story out of Yemen, San'a', the capital city of Yemen, where a 25-year-old man has been apprehended for throwing a grenade in the direction of the U.S. Embassy. Damage is slight, we are told, no injuries reported there, but in the same region traveling with the vice president, in the country of Oman, to the north and east there.

Our senior White House correspondent, John King, joins us by the way of videophone. It is nightfall there.

John, we say good evening.

JOHN KING, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Bill.

Vice President Cheney here in Oman, neighbor to Yemen. The vice president was in Yemen just yesterday, because of security concerns, his meetings with President Saleh conducted at the airport. Mr Cheney would not leave the airport because of security concerns.

Here in Oman tonight, we are told by administration officials that Mr. Cheney has been informed of the explosion near the embassy in Yemen, and we are told by a senior U.S. official that there were one or two, in the words of this official, minor explosions, no damage to the embassy at all, and no injuries at the embassy.

You said the arrest of a 25-year-old man, this senior official saying a 23-year-old man, but often in times like this, in a breaking news situation, the information isn't exact. That is relatively consistent information. No information yet from the U.S. side as to what exactly caused those explosions. Obviously, as you noted, Bill, reports from the region suggesting some sort of a grenade thrown towards the embassy.

Again, to recap, the vice president was informed of all this. He is in neighboring Oman. He was in Yemen just yesterday. And according to senior U.S. officials, their understanding is no injuries and no damage at all to the U.S. Embassy in Yemen, and they believe one person under arrest.

Obviously, more information being collected now, not only by the vice president's traveling team, but by the State Department back in Washington as well -- Bill. HEMMER: John, quickly, while we have you here, let's continue to update our viewers on the vice president's travels. As you know, Anthony Zinni at this hour, in fact, meeting with Yasser Arafat in Ramallah, and the vice president continues his tour of Arab countries at this point. What is the progress in terms of his discussions which he has had thus far in his trip?

KING: Well, he has heard a lost complaints from Arab leaders that the United States, especially the Bush administration, in recent months, in the view of the Arab leaders, has been lopsided in favor of Israel when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Mr. Cheney telling the leaders the United States is reasserting itself diplomatically, that Gen. Zinni hopes to negotiate a cease-fire. Mr. Cheney has been meeting with Arab leaders who tell him they view the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as much more of a security threat in this region than what Mr. Cheney wants to talk about, the possibility of a future showdown with Saddam Hussein and Iraq.

Mr. Cheney has several more stops here in the Arab world, the United Arab Emirates on tap tomorrow, as well as a key meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah. Mr. Cheney will make it to Israel early in the new week next week, Bill, and when he gets there, he will meet not only with Prime Minister Sharon, but sit down with Gen. Zinni as well, hoping to hear, by the time he gets there, that Gen. Zinni, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) special envoy, has managed to make at least a minor diplomatic breakthrough -- Bill.

HEMMER: John, thanks. John King, checking in there from Oman, the capital city there, Muscat, by way of videophone. John, thanks to you.

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