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Search For Answers in Yemen
Aired December 31, 2002 - 13:18 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: There's been a search for answers in the deadly shooting spree in Yemen that left three American hospital workers dead. Investigators want to know if the gunman acted alone, or as part of a larger plot.
CNN's Rula Amin is covering the story for us now in Jibla. She joins us now by videophone for the latest in the investigation -- Rula.
RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, Yemeni officials tell us that the assailant told the investigators he carried out of the attack, because he wanted to get closer to God. He says the American missionaries whom he killed were trying to spread Christianity among Muslims.
But for the investigators, this was not enough of an answer. There are concerns this may be part of a larger plot. They want to make sure that Al Qaeda has nothing to do with this, that this attack is not part of a new group that is targeting foreigners, as well as secular Yemeni figures there. There is such a concern, because on Saturday a socialist, leftist political leader was assassinated, as he was addressing a local rally.
A U.S. ambassador whom we spoke to this morning also had such a concern, and he said this would be a common concern, both for the Yemenis and Americans, and he had this to say about the Yemeni cooperation with U.S. officials.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think by all standards, it is important what happened (ph) in Jibla, because there is no logical reason for it, and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) unacceptable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yesterday the government laid out in the people's assembly, a very, very strong case against terrorism and the harm that terrorism is doing to Yemeni interests and calling upon all political parties and political forces in Yemen to make common cause with the government to counter and eliminate this terrorism.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AMIN: The governments here said it's doing its best. It's trying hard to crack down on Islamic militants, that it's putting all efforts and that it will meet some kind of cooperation from the U.S. and different countries, because Yemen is a country with limited resources. And in order to combat terrorism, it's not just the security measures, it's also money that has to be spent on education, on trying to change the environment where this kind of fanaticism is breeding.
On another aspect, two of the victims, two of the American victims, were laid to rest today in Jibla, where they have been working for years in the hospital, in the Baptist hospital there. The third victim will be flown to the United States.
O'BRIEN: The families of some of the victims have already arrived in the capitol, but U.S. officials at the embassy are keeping very tight-lipped here. They're trying to keep away from leaking any details for security reasons.
However, they are urging most Americans, and all Americans who are living in Yemen to take extra measures, to be very cautious, and to keep a low profiles -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Via videophone, live from Yemen, Rula Amin, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 31, 2002 - 13:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: There's been a search for answers in the deadly shooting spree in Yemen that left three American hospital workers dead. Investigators want to know if the gunman acted alone, or as part of a larger plot.
CNN's Rula Amin is covering the story for us now in Jibla. She joins us now by videophone for the latest in the investigation -- Rula.
RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, Yemeni officials tell us that the assailant told the investigators he carried out of the attack, because he wanted to get closer to God. He says the American missionaries whom he killed were trying to spread Christianity among Muslims.
But for the investigators, this was not enough of an answer. There are concerns this may be part of a larger plot. They want to make sure that Al Qaeda has nothing to do with this, that this attack is not part of a new group that is targeting foreigners, as well as secular Yemeni figures there. There is such a concern, because on Saturday a socialist, leftist political leader was assassinated, as he was addressing a local rally.
A U.S. ambassador whom we spoke to this morning also had such a concern, and he said this would be a common concern, both for the Yemenis and Americans, and he had this to say about the Yemeni cooperation with U.S. officials.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think by all standards, it is important what happened (ph) in Jibla, because there is no logical reason for it, and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) unacceptable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yesterday the government laid out in the people's assembly, a very, very strong case against terrorism and the harm that terrorism is doing to Yemeni interests and calling upon all political parties and political forces in Yemen to make common cause with the government to counter and eliminate this terrorism.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AMIN: The governments here said it's doing its best. It's trying hard to crack down on Islamic militants, that it's putting all efforts and that it will meet some kind of cooperation from the U.S. and different countries, because Yemen is a country with limited resources. And in order to combat terrorism, it's not just the security measures, it's also money that has to be spent on education, on trying to change the environment where this kind of fanaticism is breeding.
On another aspect, two of the victims, two of the American victims, were laid to rest today in Jibla, where they have been working for years in the hospital, in the Baptist hospital there. The third victim will be flown to the United States.
O'BRIEN: The families of some of the victims have already arrived in the capitol, but U.S. officials at the embassy are keeping very tight-lipped here. They're trying to keep away from leaking any details for security reasons.
However, they are urging most Americans, and all Americans who are living in Yemen to take extra measures, to be very cautious, and to keep a low profiles -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Via videophone, live from Yemen, Rula Amin, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
