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CNN Live At Daybreak

Northern Alliance Takes Kabul, Afghanistan

Aired November 13, 2001 - 06:23   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Back now to the war in Afghanistan. We've seen quite a few developments -- significant developments in cities that have changed hands over the last couple of days. The latest one to do so is in Kabul, and our Matthew Chance has this report now on the changes of the mood of the people there after the Taliban forces withdrew.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The joy to me in this position, overlooking the Afghan capital, Kabul. Until just a few hours ago, really, this city was firmly in the hands of the Taliban. Now those forces have abandoned their positions here and the forces of the opposition Northern Alliance are gradually taking over.

Throughout the course of today, we've been watching truck loads of Northern Alliance fighters move through the streets of central Kabul, victorious, again of course, after those dramatic gains in the north and in the west of Afghanistan. We've also seen the hundreds of people come out onto the streets, cheering those troops as they move past, chanting anti-Taliban slogans, anti-Pakistan slogans as well.

The mood here at times appeared to be one of relief. We've spoken to several people who have been to a barber shop, for instance, had their beards shaved off. Of course under the Taliban regime they were forced to grow their beards long. So there is a mood of relief here despite the fact that of course the Northern Alliance forces broke, essentially, a commitment they've been making for several weeks now to their political leadership to stop at the gates of Kabul, not let their forces enter the city until some kind of ethnically broad- based political agreement had been forged to bring all together the diverse ethnic groups of Afghanistan in some kind of peaceful power sharing government.

The United States administration has expressed its concern about Northern Alliance forces entering the city. Clearly, though, these forces simply could not resist the temptation of moving to take their ultimate military prize.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, that was our Matthew Chance.

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