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American Morning

Afghan Detainees, Including Top Al Qaeda May Move This Week To Cuba

Aired January 09, 2002 - 09:08   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.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Turning once again to the war in Afghanistan now, U.S. forces have captured what they think are three high level al Qaeda leaders. Two on Monday, one just yesterday. The United States describing one of the men in custody as being -- quote -- "most cooperative" -- unquote.

They say they're hoping their continued interrogations will warm up what looks like the colder trail now leading to the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden.

CNN'S Bill Hemmer, on the ground, in Kandahar with the very latest. Bill?

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Jack. First on that story, you just talked about, his name Ibin al-Sheik al-Libi. He was taken yesterday from Kandahar. Right now, he's sitting on board the USS Bataan, floating in the Arabian Sea. And sources here indicate, he has been cooperative with sources, within the information department, investigative branch here, looking into the terrorism acts here in Afghanistan.

And if indeed investigators can nail down al-Libi on a number of items, it could be wealth of information, to be quite frank with you, Jack. You know, you're talking about a man knows everything about al Qaeda, not only here but quite possibly on al Qaeda around the world.

And as I mention that, Jack, want to talk now about the detainees and the shipment that we do expect, sometime to take place, in the coming hours, or coming days, going to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

There's a lot we don't know, Jack. But there is a lot we do know as well. We do know that all 300 will not be transferred at one time. We do know that groups of 15 to 20 will leave here from the air base in Kandahar. We also know they're going to have a stop along the way , but we do not know where. We can also tell you, plans, though, were in place on Monday night and Tuesday night of this week, but for whatever reason, Jack, it did not happen.

And again, we anticipate the strong possibility, it may come tonight, but once again we throw a bit of a caution on that, because it may not either.

Also one other thing, here. The detainees have been moved to a smaller, more controlled area of the detention facility. The larger area, the original area, right now is being cleaned up and cleared up. We could get more detainees. One person said it was likely, that more detainees may come in here tonight. Right now on deck, Jack, 306 the count as we have it here in Kandahar.

CAFFERTY: Bill, a quick question about these three al Qaeda leaders that have come into American custody in the last couple of days. What do we know about where they fit into the al Qaeda organization? What kind of responsibilities they had?

HEMMER: What we understand, Jack, is these guys were picked up in eastern Afghanistan, primarily. They transferred to Kandahar earlier this week. And right now it appears that they're senior enough to be taken in custody. That's what the Pentagon is saying anyway. But as to where they ultimately fit in, it has not been disclosed just yet. But, on -- on their person, as they were apprehended in eastern Afghanistan, they found some cell phones and some -- some computer disks, et cetera, and that is, basically, the information and intelligence network that a lot of officials tried to nail down in this country. And has led them, basically, to other al Qaeda fighters and other Taliban officials, not only here but certainly, around the world,

There's a case in Singapore this week, where 15 suspected al Qaeda members were picked up there. And if that's the case, Jack, there was success transferring from here in Afghanistan to other parts of the al Qaeda network around the world.

CAFFERTY: All right, appreciate it. Thanks, Bill. Bill Hemmer on the ground in Kandahar with the latest on the war in Afghanistan.

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