Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

As Many as Five Journalists Missing in Afghanistan

Aired November 19, 2001 - 09:05   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: Now a developing story from the war zone this morning. Up to five journalists are reported missing after they were apparently were confronted by gunmen on the road to Kabul from Jalalabad. This as a major battle continues for Konduz, and the U.S. intensified its search for Osama bin Laden. CNN's Christiane Amanpour reports from the capital. Christiane, I don't know where you want to start. You've got a lot of territory to cover here. Good morning, again.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Well, obviously for the journalististic community here, we've been desperately trying to get information, accurate information, on what may have happened to several of our colleagues who came from Jalalabad, or tried to come from Jalalabad earlier today. As you say, there are reports and rumors and speculation, not yet fully confirmed, that perhaps five western journalists may have been taken out of convoy heading here. And we don't know what has happened to them.

We just -- I just spoke to a Greek television journalist down stairs who told me that he set off about half an hour after this organized convoy had set off from Jalalabad. And when he reached a certain location, he was waved down, flagged down and there were some excitable people he said on the side of the road who had told him to turn back because they said, -- quote -- "Taliban are shooting a journalist." He can't know what to make of that, because he had felt that the Taliban were out of that area. And he thought that perhaps he should press on because wasn't sure what was going on. But apparently in Pashtun, the people on the side of the road had told driver that three journalists were dead.

In any event, he pressed on up to Kabul and he was stopped. And he and his colleagues had guns pointed at them. Eventually their local drivers had persuaded these gunmen to leave them go -- let them go, and let them come to Kabul. And they made it to Kabul safely just recently. Also several other journalists have made to Kabul from Jalalabad today. Not journalists who were in that organized convoy. In any event, obviously we're trying to nail down what happened.

The U.N. also been asked to look into what happened and try to do all they can to find out details and accurate information. And we've just a briefing with them and they don't know the full details. So this is still -- yet to be confirmed. But if it is confirmed, this would make another five after three journalists were killed in Northern Afghanistan, along with Northern Alliance troops as were riding on a armored personnel carrier last week. So, the situation exceptionally dangerous, security not at all secure in many parts of this country.

In the meantime, the military offensive press on. In Konduz in Northern Afghanistan, the Taliban's last stand, supported there by Chechen, Pakistani and other Arab mercenaries. There has been heavy U.S. bombardment on those positions earlier today.

The Northern Af -- the Northern Afghanistan Northern Alliance deputy foreign minister has tried to send in a delegation to Konduz to discuss the possible Taliban surrender there. As yet we don't know the result of that mission.

Here in Kabul, trying to get some kind of political solution in order to achieve real security in this country, the U.N. Representative here has been meeting with members of the Northern Alliance and all sorts of other faction leaders. Those who've been able to get here still no word on when or where a political meeting might take place, Paula.

ZAHN: And Christiane, any new information on Osama bin Laden's whereabouts? The British reports, of course, have suggested that they sort of know where he is within a 30-mile radius. Anybody new to add to that?

AMANPOUR: Well, I think they've put in a certain square -- square mile area of Southern Afghanistan. We don't have anything more to report on that or -- although officials say that obviously with the military momentum going the way it is, the amount of safe haven territory that he may have is shrinking by the day.

ZAHN: Christiane Amanpour, thanks so much. We will be coming back to you throughout the morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com