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CNN Live Saturday

Prison Population at Kandahar Airport Grows to 125

Aired December 29, 2001 - 15:01   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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: A closer look now at the war on terrorism. The airport at Kandahar is quickly becoming the central base of operations for U.S. forces in the region. The prison population at the detention center there is growing, and the U.S. Army is preparing to take over. CNN's Bill Hemmer is also there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Early Saturday morning, another round of detainees were brought here to Kandahar Airport, and the latest round is also the largest single round, 63 in all brought in on several different aircraft, bringing the number now to 125 detainees. In the latest round, we're told that 29 of the 63 suffered from combat wounds, broken bones and other ailments, possibly suffered during the battle for Tora Bora in northeastern Afghanistan.

On another matter, we're also getting more indications about the eventuality for this base. We're told in mid-January sources indicate that the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army will soon take this base after U.S. Marines hand it back to them.

On one more matter here, U.S. military officials continue to be concerned about the ongoing matter between India and Pakistan. Over the past two days, military officials have been in Islamabad to talk about that situation. The concern is this: Pakistan has deployed military assets along the border with Afghanistan. If the Indian situation continues to develop, will Pakistan move those assets from the western part of the country guarding that border to the eastern edge for the matter with India?

Again, these matters cannot be resolved right now. But certainly it's something of concern and something that is being watched.

With the U.S. Marines in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Bill Hemmer, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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