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American Morning

U.S. Marines Securing Embassy Grounds for Inspection Team

Aired December 10, 2001 - 09:03   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Back to the of Afghan capital of Kabul. Word that the long abandoned U.S. Embassy complex is, once again, in U.S. hands. Our Jim Clancy has late word on that, and the search for Osama bin Laden. Jim? What's the very latest? Good morning.

JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think we should probably start there in Eastern Afghanistan in the Tora Bora area of the White Mountains. That is where Afghan fighters have really made some advances this day, bringing up tanks, closer -- moving, actually, the front lines closer to Osama bin Laden's stronghold there. It is not known if Osama bin Laden is actually with the fighters, but it is known they are putting up fierce resistance. Those Afghan fighters riding on tanks, firing their shells into the forests and mountains high above, trying to flush out the 1,000 or so al Qaeda fighters that are suspected of being there.

They're getting assistance from U.S. airstrikes, but it's a mixed bag. If you talk to some of the Afghan commanders, they say that those airstrikes have killed some of their fighters, and the fighters themselves complain they are not accurately hitting the al Qaeda targets, but both sides trying to bring more coordination into their military advance on that network of caves that has long been a target.

Now, meantime, here in Kabul the U.S. forces made a surprise appearance in the heart of the capital. U.S. Marines securing the grounds of the former U.S. Embassy here. Those grounds abandoned, the embassy itself largely destroyed, but the U.S. Marines were there putting up sandbags, bringing in weaponry, taking up what are termed "defensive positions". We got more on their mission from U.S. Army Major Victor Harris.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. VICTOR HARRIS, U.S. ARMY: The Marines are here to provide security for a State Department assessment team. The assessment team is here to determine the viability of this facility for the future U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CLANCY: Well, just about two days ago, an ordnance team was in there looking for any unexploded weapons. They found none. Paula, don't look for that embassy to reopen anytime soon. We are told that what they are really doing is surveying the situation there, and contemplating the fact they may have to make a move to open a U.S. Embassy here in Kabul sooner. Paula.

ZAHN: Jim, I know you've had the opportunity to spend some time with some of the Northern Alliance troops who are now in control of Kabul. What are they telling you about the reports that suggest Osama bin Laden is cornered? Do they believe it?

CLANCY: Well, the fact of the matter is that no one has actually seen Osama bin Laden. This hasn't been confirmed. Local commanders in the area say, yes, we're 100 percent sure we've seen him leading his troops, but nobody else has seen that. So, people think that it is a likely possibility that he could be -- be there, but still others are saying it's more likely that he, perhaps, has already fled the region. If he has stayed there, there's a consensus of opinion he may be trapped, boxed in now by the U.S. air campaign and Afghan fighting right on the ground -- Paula.

ZAHN: All right, Jim Clancy. Thanks so much for that report.

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