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CNN Live At Daybreak

America's New War: Taliban Rejects Bush's Demands

Aired September 21, 2001 - 07:10   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: As we mentioned at the top of the hour, the Taliban government of Afghanistan has rejected President Bush's demand that it hand over Osama bin Laden. That word this morning from Islamabad, Pakistan and the Taliban's ambassador.

CNN's Christiane Amanpour is in Islamabad this morning with the latest. Good morning.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

And, indeed, the Taliban ambassador held a rather shambolic press conference here a few hours ago in which essentially he read out the position that had come from Afghanistan yesterday; and again emphasized that even in the light of the new demands by President Bush to hand over members of the al Qaeda organization, that the Taliban would not be doing any such thing, and that furthermore, there were no more considerations or consultations or decision making to come out of Afghanistan. The word is that they will not be handing him over.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SOHAIL SHAHEEN, TALIBAN EMBASSY SPOKESMAN: Our position in this regard is that if America have evidence and proof, they should produce it and we are ready for the trial of Osama bin Laden in the light of evidence.

QUESTION: Please answer the question: Are you willing to hand Osama bin Laden to the United States or not?

SHAHEEN: Without evidence, no.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: U.S. officials, of course, have said that there is an abundance of evidence. They point to an indictment that already exists against Osama bin Laden and for previous attacks on the United States. And furthermore, U.S. officials tell us that they have in the past briefed Taliban officials on previous attacks committed by the suspected terrorist, Osama bin Laden.

We have a little bit of news coming out of Islamabad today. A senior Western diplomat tells us that in light of the sensitivities, the Pakistani government will get soon a detailed briefing on the status of the U.S. case against Osama bin Laden. Very soon, that is, we're told. And also the United States soon will make a decision on lifting sanctions that were imposed years and months ago on Pakistan.

Now, for Pakistan in terms of how their public opinion is swinging, today was a big test. There are demonstrations called for today and a few have already taken place. For the most part those demonstrations do attract fairly large numbers, but they are fairly contained, although people are chanting anti American slogans, pro Osama slogans.

Nonetheless, they are contained and there is no reports of violence as yet. Some 70 people, we understand, have been arrested at one of those demonstrations, Paula.

ZAHN: Certainly President Musharraf has to be concerned about the growing Islamic movement in his country. How much talk is there about his own political vulnerability?

AMANPOUR: Well, President Musharraf has, in the words of one Western diplomat, put his neck on the line to support the United States. Most people believe that the majority of Pakistanis right now support his decision. There is a vocal element that do not support that decision, but President Musharraf and those who are watching this situation believe that the majority support it, and that the minority do not -- and that the Pakistani government will do all measures that it feels necessary to contain that minority and have already, as I say, called in clerics, religious people, tribal leaders, all sorts of people, to explain the decision.

And one more thing. An analyst says the fact that the religious Taliban, religious scholars recommended that Osama bin Laden leave Afghanistan is being interpreted as giving some cover, some religious cover to the Pakistani government, being as that recommendation came from the religious segment of the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan, Paula.

ZAHN: Thanks so much, Christiane Amanpour. We'll be checking in with you throughout the morning.

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