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American Morning

Daniel Pearl's Kidnappers Have Been Silent for Days

Aired February 04, 2002 - 11:02   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: Up first on CNN, the urgent mission to locate and rescue Daniel Pearl. His kidnappers have been silent for days, which is creating new anxiety about Pearl's safety.

CNN's Ben Wedeman is in Karachi tracking developments for us.

Here's Ben and a story he filed just a few moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Pakistani police have expanded their search for kidnapped "Wall Street Journal" reporter Daniel Pearl. While hardline Islamic groups are still the main suspects in the kidnapping, the police are now looking into the possibility of involvement by Karachi's extensive criminal underworld.

While Pakistan believes that Mr. Pearl is probably in or around the Karachi area, they are looking into the possibility that he might be in an adjacent provinces.

Now, no verifiable message has been received from Pearl's kidnappers since last Wednesday. That was the last time any Pakistani or international news organization received an e-mail with Pearl's photographs.

At this point, the Pakistani police say that any e-mail without Mr. Pearl's photograph will be considered bogus.

Now early Monday morning, there were reports that a body was found by the side of the road of a road in Karachi. Now it was initially believed that could be Pearl's body.

However, a "Wall Street Journal" spokesman said that it was not Pearl's body. They say they believe that Pearl, in fact, is still alive, and they're appealing to the kidnappers to resume communications and provide the newspaper with a photograph, a recent photograph, of Mr. Pearl.

I'm Ben Wedeman, CNN, reporting from Karachi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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