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More al Qaeda Messages Coming Out

Aired September 12, 2002 - 14:41   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Sporadic, unpredictable and possibly well-timed messages from al Qaeda have been reaching the West now. Is the group blamed for the September 11 attacks hinting of another shoe to drop?
Our Justice correspondent Kelli Arena following what has all the makings of an eerie public relations campaign -- Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, intelligence analysts are keeping a close eye on a variety of public communications released this week through channels that are regularly used by the al Qaeda terrorist network.

Some government officials are, as you say, calling it a sort of public relations campaign and suggest that al Qaeda is trying to send a signal that it is alive and well and ready to strike again.

An al Qaeda-affiliated Arabic language magazine called "Al Ansar" (ph) put out a 64 page book discussing the planning for the 9/11 attack. Another incident, a Web site used by al Qaeda resurfaced this week with an account containing new first-hand information about Osama bin Laden and how he survived the U.S. siege on Tora Bora in December of last year. And the Arabic network Al-Jazeera is expected to release today interviews conducted in the summer with individuals that it identifies key al Qaeda operatives who U.S. officials say played a direct role in the September 11 attacks.

That follows the release of a videotape that channel aired in which Osama bin Laden's voice is allegedly heard praising the hijackers. Terrorism experts say that the timing of Al-Jazeera release along with the other publications is curious. They are analyzing the information to see if it provides any hint about future action. Government analysts disagree, though, over whether al Qaeda could be using the communications to send signals to members. But they all say that the campaign is out of character for the al Qaeda organization.

Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: Kelli Arena, thank you.

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