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CNN Live Saturday

Pentagon Says No Evidence bin Laden Fled Afghanistan

Aired November 17, 2001 - 18:02   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Responding to speculation Osama bin Laden may have slipped across an Afghan border, the Pentagon says that there's no evidence that's the case, but in one spokesman's word -- quote -- "the search continues."

Let's go right to CNN's Jeff Levine who's joining is now from the Pentagon with the very latest on that -- Jeff.

JEFF LEVINE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Catherine, the rumors about Osama bin Laden's leaving Afghanistan are being discounted here at the Pentagon and elsewhere. Now the Taliban's ambassador to Pakistan is saying that bin Laden has left the country. However, only later, when contacted by CNN, did that envoy, Abdul Salam Zaeef, denied the claim.

He would only say that he didn't exactly know where bin Laden was. So if bin Laden actually fled Afghanistan, where would he, his four wives and retinue of some 20 people actually go.

Let's look at a map of the region to suggest some possibilities. The most likely would be south to Pakistan. The border is easy to cross, and bin Laden has considerable political support among his fellow Taliban there.

On the east there is Iran, but that regime has already condemned bin Laden. They view him as a troublemaker, so he would not be welcome. If bin Laden were to head north to Uzbekistan or Tajikistan, he'd be running into opposition forces, not to mention U.S. troops. That avenue of escape seems unlikely. To his enemies, this all has a familiar ring.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH, NORTHERN ALLIANCE FOREIGN MINISTER: In the past few years and several locations, Taliban has fed these types of rumors, which have never been the truth, and I have no reason to believe it today. Today, I believe that he's still in southern Afghanistan, in the mountains.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVINE: Now, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld suggests that it's possible bin Laden may have fled to Cuba or to North Korea -- those being terrorist regimes. However, he says, that it's too early to assume that "the rabbit may have fled" -- those being his words.

Another Pentagon spokesman is saying the search for bin Laden continues. It's simply not possible to conclude based on the sources of the rumor that bin Laden has left Afghanistan -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: All right, CNN's Jeff Levine at the Pentagon. Thanks, Jeff.

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