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CNN Live At Daybreak

Taliban Moves Out of Downtown Kandahar

Aired November 05, 2001 - 06:01   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I want to go in depth on a number of those stories we just mentioned including increased airstrikes around Kandahar. That's where we find CNN's Kamal Hyder joining us now by phone. Kamal, hello.

KAMAL HYDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, early Monday morning allied aircraft struck Kandahar striking targets to the west of the city, also to the northeast where the military containment area and to the southeast, which is the airport.

This afternoon, again, Monday afternoon, a lone aircraft flying high above Kandahar, flying from south to north, passed over the compound. It seemed like a large aircraft, possibly a B-52 or an electronic Boeing aircraft.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Even with this increased bombing, the Taliban stronghold is still there, still intact?

HYDER: Well, the Taliban have moved out of Kandahar city and they have now moved basically to the rural districts of Kandahar and those districts now apparently are also being bombed. We are told that the attacks on Panzwai (ph) and Maiwan (ph) have been particularly strong this morning. So obviously the allied bomber is now targeting the Taliban outside the Kandahar City area.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Why would they move - why would the Taliban move outside of the city area? As I understand it they were trying to stay near civilians and near things like Mosques and hospitals so that was more difficult for the U.S. to target places to bomb.

HYDER: Well, Daryn, if you remember a couple of days ago there was a problem and a house was hit within the city. Apparently the allied had their own intelligence that it may have been used for something and that attack basically trying to send a message that if the Taliban are staying in civilian areas, then obviously they run the risk of civilian casualties.

So, more and more Taliban indications here, and the authorities say, do not feel secure in the city areas anymore and are trying to take advantage of using the terrain and the rural areas of Kandahar. Daryn.

KAGAN: Any word Kamal on what's being done to hit Taliban places where they have their supply stockpile that would really hurt them especially as the winter sets in.

HYDER: The stockpiles basically had already been dispersed. Some of the stockpiles indeed were struck in the Kitchlajideed (ph) area, which would be southeast of here, and the Kitchlajideed (ph) area basically had an ammunition dump and the secondary explosions from that ammunition dump basically caused significant loss of life in the Loyawalla (ph) area and forced the refugees living in shantytowns to move out. So, yes, they have been targeting ammunition dumps where possible.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Kamal Hyder joining us from Kandahar. Kamal, thank you. Appreciate the phone call and the picture there. Good to hear from you.

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