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American Morning

Fighting Continues in Konduz

Aired November 23, 2001 - 07:03   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, in northern Afghanistan, the Taliban in Konduz will supposedly surrender in a few days. Yet, the continuing fighting and bombing there suggests that not everyone believes a surrender will actually happen.

Our Satinder Bindra has been monitoring the activity along the front line near Konduz and he joins us now live -- Satinder, hello.

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

Yes, everyone waiting still for the hard core Taliban fighters to surrender. But in the meantime here it's been a clear and very bright day. In short, conditions perfect for flying. And all day we've seen U.S. bombers hit front line Taliban positions. So far there's been no response from the Taliban side.

Now, I mentioned that the hard core Taliban are not surrendering, but just yesterday, Leon, some 300 local Taliban fighters did surrender just up on the road to my left -- back to you.

HARRIS: Well, Satinder, if a surrender is going to happen, has it been worked out exactly how that will happen and how it will unfold?

BINDRA: Well, one thing is clear, that the Northern Alliance forces will not extradite the hard core Taliban fighters, the fighters from Chechnya, the fighters from Pakistan and the al Qaeda fighters. They say they'll intern them in camps and then put them on trial as "war criminals." Now, in some sectors, there are also fears that if the Northern Alliance forces do get into Konduz, there could be a massacre. So the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international organizations are appealing to the Northern Alliance to respect the international law and to treat prisoners humanely -- Leon.

HARRIS: Satinder Bindra reporting live this morning from the front lines near Konduz, thank you very much.

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