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CNN Live At Daybreak

In Tora Bora Area of Afghanistan, Eastern Alliance Commanders Have Issued New Offer to Al Qaeda

Aired December 12, 2001 - 07:00   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: A major new development from the war front. Just minutes ago, it is coming in from the Tora Bora area of Afghanistan where Eastern Alliance commanders have issued a new offer to al Qaeda, even as their forces are renewing their assault against the last major al Qaeda holdouts.

Let's get the very latest from our own Brent Sadler near the action -- good morning, Brent. What is the latest?

BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Well, about eight hours ago there was a surrender deadline that passed with no result. But a short time ago one of the Eastern Alliance commanders came out after many hours of top level meetings between the leadership here and said that they were putting a new deal on the table. There wasn't much time left for al Qaeda to accept it, but they were going ahead with the offer anyway.

And they're saying that if, if Osama bin Laden himself gives himself up along with around 20 of his top lieutenants, his hardcore activists in his al Qaeda network, then all the other al Qaeda or Taliban fighters in those mountains behind me here in eastern Afghanistan could go free.

There were no details about the mechanism of how those fighters could go free. All he said the main issue for them was getting Osama bin Laden to give himself up and to surrender so that there can be a peaceful end to this siege of Tora Bora.

Now, that report was coming out from Hazarat Ali, the Eastern Alliance command chief, as we were getting information, some eyewitness information that a significant number of special forces have now been deployed in a forward area pretty close to the al Qaeda positions, the last remnants of the fighting force which is still entrenched, still armed and still firing back in the mountains behind me.

Now, it's not clear what the mission of those special forces are going to be, but certainly their deployment is going in tandem with this very amazing offer that's come out of the Eastern Alliance for bin Laden to give himself up.

Now, the significant question to ask there, of course, is does the Eastern Alliance think that Osama bin Laden is here? Otherwise why make that offer? When I asked that question, the commander simply said we have no further information on that.

Asked what special forces were doing, he shrugged his shoulders and said that is a dangerous question to ask.

Now, if there is no surrender in any shape or form, the Eastern Alliance says it will resume attacks. Its ground forces will be ordered again into action.

What we've also seen today is the resumption of U.S. air strikes against positions in the mountains behind me, many, many bombing runs today. I wouldn't say it was very heavy bombing, but it was sustained bombing in areas that we've seen being hit over the past two weeks or so.

And if you remember, Paula, just 24 hours ago when I was reporting about getting access to those caves and tunnel complexes at that advanced position the Eastern Alliance had forged through to, well, nowhere near that today. The media has been kept well away from that area and things at the moment as far as the battle is concerned are silent. These guns are silent. But pretty soon they'll be ordered into action, say Eastern Alliance commanders, if there's no surrender -- Paula.

ZAHN: So, Brent, the question is if the Taliban and the al Qaeda leaders take this deal, what are the concerns of the Eastern Alliance if these other Taliban fighters go free? What is their ability to rearm themselves?

SADLER: Well, no answers to those very important and fundamental questions, Paula. I mean when you look at it at face value, it's a pretty wide offer and there's no mechanism for what should happen to them. When specifically asked how they would be released, there was simply no answer. But we do know, I think, from what we have heard that bin Laden is the focus of attention here, both for the Eastern Alliance and quite clearly, I think, from what we're hearing, from the deployment of special forces, key members of special forces, dozens, we're told, in a very interesting position.

Now, that might mean they're on the scent of Osama bin Laden. It's been rumored, as you know, for a couple of weeks that he might have been directing his troops here. No firm fixes on that. But certainly an interesting development giving some room, perhaps, to create splits, divisions within the al Qaeda or Taliban forces still holding out here and still giving some time, not much, they say, to try and bring a peaceful end to this siege. But they're not giving it much time, threatening to resume the assault within hours if there's no response on the positive side -- Paula.

ZAHN: Thanks so much, Brent.

Brent Sadler, of course, bringing us up to date on this latest offer from the Eastern Alliance. Look forward to seeing you a little bit later on this morning.

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