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CNN Live Saturday

Explosion Rocks Cafe in Jerusalem

Aired March 09, 2002 - 17:01   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now, to the crisis in the Middle East. A bloody week in the region is coming to a close with even more violence. Not long ago, an explosion rocked a cafe in Jerusalem. CNN's Ben Wedeman is on the street there.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fredricka, I'm just about 20 meters from where the explosion took place. From where I'm standing, I can see a row of black body bags with bodies inside of them. The scene is one of mayhem. There is blood splattered all over the ground, rubber gloves used by the medical personnel here.

We were told by a police spokesman that about 10 people were killed. That includes, they say, the suicide bomber -- with more than 40 injured. This took place at the Moment Cafe (ph), a very popular cafe, very near to the residence of the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Although the police say they believe that the purpose of the bomb was simply to kill as many people as possible and that the prime minister was not the target of the attack.

Just a little while ago, we spoke with Ehud Olmert, who is the mayor of Jerusalem, who said that this was a war, an ongoing war. He blamed, as Israeli officials have blamed in the past, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who, he says, is continuing what he described as this brutal war with encouragement he received from certain leaders. He was referring there, it appears, to European leaders whose have stayed in close contact with the Palestinian leaders over the last several months, trying to work out some sort of cease-fire to bring the peace process back alive, essentially -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And, Ben, that taking place, at the Moment Cafe (ph), just about an hour after three suspected gunmen opened fire in a hotel or near a hotel just north of there, injuring 35 others. We are being told that at least two groups are claiming responsibility; Hamas, as well as another Al Aksa. What are you hearing there?

WEDEMAN: That is typical of the situation here. Oftentimes, very soon after these incidents, various groups do take responsibility, and it takes some time to work out who was actually behind it.

But I must tell you, as unfortunate as this incident is, it was not unexpected following the violence of yesterday, in which more than around 50 Palestinians were killed. The expectation here was that after that kind of bloodshed, some sort of Palestinian response, a terror response, would not be long in coming -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Thanks very much, Ben Wedeman, for joining us on the telephone there from Jerusalem. So far, at least 85 people injured and 11 killed in two separate incidents of violence there in Israel.

Let's turn now to CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace, with reaction from the White House there on this escalating violence in the Middle East. Good evening, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Fredricka.

Well, no immediate reaction to the violence of this day. U.S. officials say they're looking at the situation, trying to get the facts. And really repeating, Fredricka, what they have been saying day after day. In fact, yesterday at the State Department, Richard Boucher talking about what he called the really horrific violence over the past several days, saying it is a deep concern to the United States. Mr. Boucher saying that the president deciding to send retired Marine Corps General Anthony Zinni this week, quote, "it's an expression of our concern about the violence and of our commitment to try and do what we can to stop it."

As you know, Fredricka, a reversal, really, of U.S. policy. For weeks, the administration had said it would not send General Zinni back to the region unless the violence came down. But clearly, the urgency of the situation is making the administration reverse course and send General Zinni. We understand he will be in the region sometime this week.

At the same time, Fredricka, you have Vice President Dick Cheney leaving tomorrow morning for a 10-day, 12-nation tour, and the vice president talking to reporters yesterday, saying a big focus will be this Israeli/Palestinian conflict and a new effort by the United States, a new push, diplomatic push, to try and get the two sides to pull back from violence.

And we have Mr. Bush is here, President Bush is here at the White House, spending a rare weekend here, attending a dinner tonight. We certainly expect that he is getting briefed on the latest situation in the Middle East -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Kelly, you said the reaction there from the White House is limited, but is it a pretty good possibility that Anthony Zinni and Dick Cheney's plans to visit that region might be altered in some way given the fact that the violence seems to be escalating?

WALLACE: Well, you know, that's a tough question to answer. At this point in time, no indications that the plans are changing. Vice President Cheney leaving early tomorrow morning.

And again, General Zinni is expected to go. Part of the reason that General Zinni is going is to try and get the two sides to pull back from the violence. So clearly, the situation of greater concern for the administration. Also, very much wanting to explore that initiative pushed by the Saudis to try and get the two sides to think about some type of peace agreement. But again, obviously, the violence continuing. And right now, the indications are the trips will continue, and really the missions taking on a greater urgency as the violence continues -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Kelly Wallace, from the White House this evening.

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