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CNN Live Saturday

Over 200 Afghan Detainees Arrive at Guantanamo

Aired February 09, 2002 - 22:04   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: Just hours ago, more than 200 Afghan war detainees arrived at Camp X-ray. That's the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

CNN national correspondent Bob Franken was on hand for the arrival of this latest group of detainees.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Thirty-four were in the latest batch of detainees. So now, there are 200 at Camp X-ray, which has 320 of the infamous outdoor cells.

This was the eighth delivery. What's new is the presidential order that among other things, requires different treatment for Taliban inmates and al Qaeda inmates. The response here on the ground, easier said than done.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep in mind that though the president has made that distinction, many of the detainees are not forthcoming. Many have been interviewed as many as four times, each providing -- each time, providing a different name and different information.

FRANKEN: The fact is the Taliban and al Qaeda will not be segregated at Camp X-ray, even if officials here become convinced they know who is which. This is a temporary facility. Construction of a penitentiary building is planned a few miles away at a site called radio range.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The facilities that are being built will allow a certain degree of segregation that is certainly not possible now. So in terms of whether or not we'll build separate camps, no, that's not my intention, but there probably will be some type of segregation in the radio range facility, just due to the fact that it is a more permanent, more mature type of facility.

FRANKEN: For now, the treatment of all the detainees will remain the same. Humane, they contend here. Controversial, nonetheless, in many parts of the world.

Bob Franken, CNN, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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