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CNN Live At Daybreak

U.S. Continues Heavy Air Strikes Over Kabul, Afghanistan

Aired October 11, 2001 - 09:11   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: One of the heaviest nights of U.S.-led air strikes in Afghanistan being followed now by more daytime bombing raids over the capital city of Kabul. Our sources tell us U.S. jets have struck an airport in the daylight raid, and plumes of smoke can be seen in the area. Bombing runs over the Afghan capital city have become constant.

And Kandahar, hundreds of people evacuating that city, up to 1,000, they say. A CNN source says many are leaving without food or shelter or even water supplies there.

Next door to Afghanistan: Pakistan providing what's being called logistical support in the air campaign underway.

For more there, CNN's Tom Mintier by telephone now in Islamabad, the capital city -- Tom.

TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, it has gone from day to night to day to night yet once again. And the campaign continues over the skies in Afghanistan.

We did see a very chilling picture today of downtown Kandahar. It came to us by videophone, but very, very obvious what is going on in the pictures, even though you can't hear it.

There is fear in the streets of Kandahar, as people are finding their way out of their homes, onto the streets, and out of town as quickly as possible after a sustained bombing campaign.

You know, tens of bombs hit Kandahar, and supposedly an ammunition dump caused a secondary explosion, sending rounds into the city itself after it was hit, just outside the city at an ammunition dump.

So the airport, a target, and other locations around the city in a very sustained, heavy day of attacks there.

So, people on the move. And as you said earlier, probably without any food or anything besides the clothing on their back, trying to find a way to safety. And that safety right now seems to only be outside of the major cities.

HEMMER: Tom, we know the British prime minister Tony Blair is in Egypt today. Have we heard anything recently from the Pakistani president?

MINTIER: We have not. He was in meetings today, based on internal security, domestic security. As you well know, tomorrow is Friday and the traditional day of prayer here, which is usually followed by an afternoon of protest.

Now, there was growing concern about these protests. They did go to the leadership of these organizations that have been demonstrating the protests over the last month, and basically put three of them under house arrest, thinking that might stop the demonstrations from going and spreading out of hand.

Those people remain under house arrest. And the word has gone out yesterday to the provincial governors that this situation will not get out of hand. If necessary, the army will come in and maintain order, and the destruction of property will not be allowed.

So the word is out. There were meetings on security all day that the president was involved in. It is a concern or they wouldn't be having those meetings.

So, trying to keep the situation very stable here. Basically sending the word out that anyone who takes part in these demonstrations, if indeed they are part of the refugee situation here -- there are 2 million Afghans living in refugee camps, even more that have gone into the society here in Pakistan -- anyone found to be involved that doesn't have the proper papers for being where they are could even be deported, taken up to the border by bus, as one official told me, and sent back into Afghanistan from relative safety in Pakistan.

HEMMER: All right, Tom. Tom Mintier by telephone in Islamabad. Tom, thanks to you.

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