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CNN Live At Daybreak

Eastern Alliance Tells al Qaeda: Surrender or Die

Aired December 11, 2001 - 06:19   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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: We have been reporting all morning about major gains in the eastern Afghanistan mountains against al Qaeda fighters, and maybe even Osama bin Laden, if he is, in fact, hiding in those White Mountains near Tora Bora.

CNN's Ben Wedeman is on the front lines there with the latest on this battle -- Ben.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol, very dramatic developments here. It appears that the Eastern Alliance tribal fighters have managed to push way into the mountains behind me. This follows about a day-and-a-half of intense air and ground bombardment from the air by U.S. B-52s, in come cases, using what are called daisy cutters -- that's 15,000 pound bombs. And from the ground from the Eastern Alliance firing their old antiquated T-55 Soviet tanks, and from our reports we are hearing from the front line, it appears that the al Qaeda forces have fallen way back.

They haven't given up, though. Just a little while ago, we listened in with our colleagues in the Jazeera Arabic news network. They were trying to communicate via Eastern Alliance military radios with al Qaeda. Those al Qaeda troops were claiming that they were clearing bodies out of the passageways of their tunnels and caves -- bodies of Eastern Alliance troops. However, this cannot be verified.

But to get the latest from the front line, we're going to go now to Brent Sadler -- Brent, can you hear us? Brent, it sounds like you have had an incredible day -- tell us about it.

BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, indeed, Ben. At the end of this day, I am watching anti-Taliban Eastern Alliance Afghan warriors walking down the mountain after what has been a successful day, as far as their operation against al Qaeda is concerned. Al Qaeda, the defense of the Tora Bora area in the White Mountains is crumbling. We have seen the anti-Taliban forces sweeping through positions have just left within the past hour a main al Qaeda complex.

And we saw, for the first time -- close up for the first time, the effect that these nearly two weeks of U.S. airstrikes have been having on al Qaeda, and it is devastating indeed. This large complex surrounded by tunnels, caves and trenches, an al Qaeda base was hit repeatedly by huge bombs, huge like -- almost like walking across the moon in terms of craters all over the place. A T-55 tank, smashed communications, dragged down weapons, textbooks, manuals, scattered all over the hillside.

Now, that was -- preceding that move against that base, we saw anti-Taliban forces in very close-quarter combat against al Qaeda, machine gunfire, against both sides was within a few hundred yards, I know, because we were pinned down by it as well for a time, but really was some of the toughest fighting we've seen on the ground here, backed up by those antiquated T-55 tanks. But it was sufficient enough to make a dramatic change round in events on the ground here.

Now, I've just been with the two main commanders, who launched what effectively was a successful two-pronged attack against al Qaeda. And they are saying that they have had face-to-face talks this day with commanders of al Qaeda themselves, and it has been agreed that there will be a truce, a cease-fire -- no firings for approximately 16-17 more hours a.k.m. local time here in the White Mountains tomorrow to give al Qaeda time to lay down its arms and organize a formal surrender.

Now, given that al Qaeda is scattered over a large area of difficult, hostile terrain, that's a pretty tall order to complete in such a short space of time. But that is on the table at the moment. Surrender or die is what the Eastern Alliance is saying. They have the firepower. They have the aerial backup with the U.S. It's proved devastating. It's proved successful, and they're going to follow through with that.

I've seen for the first time also, within the past few hours, we've seen bodies of al Qaeda fighters freshly killed in action within the past few hours gunned down in close-quarter combat, and for the first time seeing an al Qaeda base smashed, obliterated by this aerial and ground assault.

So at the end of this day, a very dramatic conclusion -- a successful conclusion, and I can tell you that the anti-Taliban Afghan fighters are going down this mountain in a euphoric mood. But al Qaeda is still up there, and this is not a final victory. It may be the beginning, but they're not there yet -- back to you, Ben Wedeman.

WEDEMAN: Brent, one quick question: You and I have heard many rumors and much speculation about the possible presence of Osama bin Laden in the hills with -- the hills behind me. Any indication from what you've seen today where he might be?

SADLER: No, but it's a good question, Ben, because I asked that same one to the commanders here just a short time ago. And they say they still believe it's possible bin Laden is up there with those cornered fighters, who are being offered the chance to surrender.

Now, if bin Laden is there, the commanders told me they would accept his surrender. If he has been killed in the recent bombing and fire fight, they will take care of -- take charge of his body. They're not ruling out that he could still be up here with those diehard fighters and still possibly working out a plan to hold out, because they've got 17 hours to regroup, reorganize or to hand down their weapons, or again tomorrow, we see a continuation of battles -- Ben Wedeman. WEDEMAN: OK, thank you. That was Brent Sadler coming back from obviously a very active day on the front line.

Now, Carol, as Brent indicated, the question is: Where is bin Laden? And nobody knows the answer, but obviously when -- this campaign will continue until that question is answered -- Carol.

LIN: And we may know soon, given how hot it's been getting in that battle -- thank you very much. Ben Wedeman reporting from the front lines, as well as Brent Sadler -- our thanks to both of you.

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