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CNN Live At Daybreak

Fighting Continues Near Konduz Despite Surrender Agreement

Aired November 23, 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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Despite the Northern Alliance claim that Taliban troops will surrender in Konduz on Sunday, U.S. warplanes and alliance ground forces are still pounding Taliban positions around the northern city.

CNN's Satinder Bindra is near Konduz with the latest on the fighting.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Within hours of an agreement by the Taliban and the Northern Alliance to stop fighting, this is what happens on the front line. Wave upon wave of rocket and artillery attacks. The fire, say Northern Alliance commanders, is directed at a Taliban military base in Choga near Konduz.

(on camera): Over a half-hour time period, I counted Northern Alliance troops firing 10 kadusha (ph) rockets. These 122-millimeter artillery guns you see over my shoulder fired at least 10 rounds over the same period.

(voice-over): Tanks too joined in the assault, I counted at least a dozen, racing up to the front at break neck speed, literally barreling any other traffic out of the way. Then they too opened up on the Taliban.

Not to be outdone, hundreds of infantrymen engaged the Taliban in a long gun battle. When the Taliban fired back, this Northern Alliance soldier was clearly contemptuous.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): If they start shooting, they raise dust and then the American planes can see them and bomb them.

BINDRA: Bombing the Taliban once again were U.S. B-52 bombers. They fly high in the sky, but their shape is unmistakable and their accuracy now a matter of great concern for the Taliban.

Since 30,000 Northern Alliance troops first surrounded Konduz more than a week ago, this has been the busiest day of the front. It's about to get even busier.

Refugees leaving Konduz realize they walked into a major gun battle. Just as concerned mounts for the safety of these children, everyone's attention is diverted by movement from the Taliban side. A convoy of cars races into the Northern Alliance front lines. No one fires a shot. Three hundred local Taliban fighters have just defected to the Northern Alliance.

Sworn enemies until just a few hours ago, these fighters received a hero's welcome. I mark it down as one of the bitter ironies of this war. Many here believe the presence of these local Taliban fighters will further weaken the remaining hard core Taliban fighters, the Chechens, Arabs and Pakistanis, who are trying to defend Konduz.

Despite all the recent talk of a surrender, few Northern Alliance fighters believe they'll lay down their arms.

Here a demonstration of the hatred Northern Alliance troops feel for the hard core Taliban fighters. This man who walks across the front line from the Taliban side is believed to be a hard core Taliban spy. He's beaten black and blue. Then their anger vented, these Northern Alliance fighters let him go. Letting the hard core Taliban go will be tougher.

Many Northern Alliance commanders say they must be tried as -- quote -- "war criminals".

As dusk falls the front suddenly turns silent. Konduz is still with the Taliban, but many here say the Taliban fighters have been sent a message -- either you surrender or be prepared for more such attacks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(on camera): Now Donna, in last night's offensive, the Northern Alliance captured a small village six kilometers from here called Salka (ph). But then the Taliban launched a counter offensive and recaptured that village. It shows they still have a lot of fight still left in them. Donna.

KELLEY: Satinder, why the different treatment that they're talking about for the local Afghan fighters as opposed to the foreign fighters who have come in?

BINDRA: Well the Northern Alliance claims the foreign fighters are -- quote -- "terrorists". They entered their country to destabilize it. They've committed what they call acts of terrorism. They blame, in particular, the Arab fighters for killing their leader, Commander Massoud. He was assassinated recently by two Arabs, say Northern Alliance fighters, posing as journalists.

Now the local fighters, they say, are part of this country. They have to live with them, so they want to be more lenient to them. Now Northern Alliance commanders are saying if the hard core Taliban do surrender, they will not be extradited to a third country. They'll be put into special camps and then they will be tried as -- quote -- "war criminals". Donna.

KELLEY: Near Konduz, our Satinder Bindra. Thanks very much. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com