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American Morning

Repeated Rumors about Whether Bin Laden is Dead or Alive

Aired December 27, 2001 - 09:34   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: There have been repeated rumors about bin Laden, whether or not he is dead or alive at this time.

Wolf Blitzer now with a look at what those rumors may or may not mean.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAMID KARZAI, AFGHAN INTERIM GOVERNMENT: I don't know where he is. We received calls now and then that he may be here or there.

PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PRESIDENT, PAKISTAN: The bombardment of all is that have been conducted (ph), there is a great possibility he may have lost his life there. If we identify him, he will be (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

WOLF BLITZER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He is alive, he is dead, he is stuck in a cave. He got out by mule, by boat, by plane. He's in Afghanistan, or maybe Pakistan or Chechnya.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't know where he is. I haven't heard much from him recently, and -- which means could be in a cave that doesn't have an opening to it any more.

BLITZER: The truth is, the world's most wanted man seems to have vanished. That hasn't stopped speculation, especially in the Muslim world.

Some theories from the Pakistani press: The "Pakistan Observer" says bin Laden died of lung disease, and was buried in mid-December in Tora Bora. Other reports say he had his own men shoot him as U.S. forces closed in on the mountain stronghold. Here in the United States, "The Washington Times" suggest he got out through the Arabian Sea on one of Al Qaeda's merchant ships. Another report says he slipped into a sympathetic region of Pakistan long before bombs started falling on Tora Bora.

GEN. TOMMY FRANKS, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: If he is, in fact, in Pakistan, then it's only a matter of time until the Pakistanis will find him. That's my view. It may be here, and it may be somewhere else, but it's only a matter of time.

BLITZER: Wolf Blitzer, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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