Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

America Strikes Back: Military Strikes Prompt Demonstrations

Aired October 08, 2001 - 07:00   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: Good morning, everyone. Thanks so much for joining us this morning. It is Monday, October 8. From New York, I'm Paula Zahn. Joining me this morning from CNN Center in Atlanta, my colleagues, Bill Hemmer and Miles O'Brien. They will join us in just a moment.

First, though, a breakdown what we have for you this morning. We will show you exactly what happened in the U.S. military strikes on Afghanistan. And CNN has the first exclusive pictures from the strike zones in Afghanistan. Now, we're going to talk about safety in the U.S., what you need to know about your security. And finally, who is the U.S. fighting? We're going to take a look at the enemy, Osama bin Laden, and his key associates.

We begin this morning with the latest developments as America strikes back. It was night when the strikes began with the launching of cruise missiles by U.S. and British war ships. This is our night scope video looking south from a Northern Alliance position toward Kabul.

The attacks triggered anti-American protests across the border in several Pakistani cities. And in a news conference just a couple of hours ago, a Taliban diplomat said in Pakistan that suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden has survived this initial attack. And finally, just moments ago, the British defense secretary said that the U.S. and British hit 30 targets in Afghanistan ranging from military installations to terrorist training camps.

Coming up a little bit later on this morning, Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense.

Across the border in Pakistan, the head of a political party allied with the Taliban has put under house arrest after the strikes began. But there are protests against the U.S. and its allies.

Our Tom Mintier is in Islamabad with more on that -- good morning, Tom.

TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

After the initial strikes by the United States led coalition, there was response in the political circles and in the public arena, as well. Those responses from the public arena are still going on at this hour. There have been several demonstrations in the major cities of Pashawar, Quetta and here in Islamabad.

Here in Islamabad, heading for the American center, which is the U.S. information office in downtown Islamabad, and not the U.S. Embassy, and a large crowd started to gather in that direction early this morning as dawn broke here in Islamabad. First it was 200 to 400, then 600, then 800, then 2,000. and they were met when they arrived at the U.S. information center by the police who were standing by. They had a water cannon on standby, but didn't use it. The police armed with sticks, but so were the demonstrators.

Now this demonstration basically came to a standstill after an hour or so, people stopping in the middle of the street and simply blocking traffic.

We're also getting reports in about the demonstrations in Kandahar, far more violent. According to UNICEF, their office was taken over and then set on fire. Also, a UNHCR office in Quetta was also hit, but we don't know the extent of the damage there. As I was saying, a UNICEF office in Quetta has been burned, set alight. So the demonstrations, indeed, in Quetta more violent than the ones here Islamabad.

Also in the last couple of hours, the only voice to come out of Afghanistan is the Taliban embassy here in Islamabad, Pakistan, the last remaining place where the Taliban has relations with another government, an outlet that Pakistan has decided to keep open. The ambassador talking about the United States. In the last few weeks embassies in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been closed, the Taliban delegates told to go back home.

But this remains the only place open. And today we heard from the Taliban's ambassador to Pakistan, accusing the United States of its own act of terrorism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABDUL SALAM ZAEEF, TALIBAN AMBASSADOR TO PAKISTAN: Last night's attack on the sacred soil of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan by the United States and by the British forces was a direct violation and a terrorist action done by the tyrant United States of America. The United States of America keeping this pride for itself is making oppression on the oppressed and poor people of the world in Afghanistan. The United States of America is seeking its interests and the bloodshed and shedding the blood of the poor people of Afghanistan. This is a meaningless action -- an illegal and unprincipled action.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MINTIER: During that press conference, the Taliban ambassador said that the Taliban gunners had shot down four aircraft, something that has not been confirmed. And after the press conference, the Taliban ambassador told CNN that one helicopter was down inside Afghanistan with 14 people on board, again, something not confirmed yet from the Pentagon -- Paula, back to you.

ZAHN: Tom Mintier.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will be joining us in just about 10 minutes. We'll ask him all about that.

Tom, thanks so much for that report.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com