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American Morning

Several Dead Following Firefight Involving U.S. Special Forces

Aired August 07, 2002 - 09:04   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A developing story this morning from Afghanistan, where several people are dead following a firefight involving U.S. special forces.

Our Matthew Chance has the latest now from Kabul.

Matthew, hello.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Daryn. A number of incidents we want to report to you. We'll start off with the clash between U.S. special forces and Afghan gunmen in the eastern province of Kunar, straddling the boarder where the U.S. special forces have been conducting their operations in search of Taliban and Al Qaeda remnants. There, we're told by U.S. military spokesmen, there was a clash yesterday involving U.S. special forces on a reconnaissance mission. They say they were accosted, approached by a group of Afghan gunmen. One of the gunmen raised his gun, his weapon and pointed it towards the U.S. special forces, pulled the trigger. We're told, though, by U.S. military spokesman the gun malfunctioned in some way, did not go off.

Nevertheless we're also told that the U.S. Special forces opened fire on that group of Afghan gunmen, killing at least four of them, injuring a fifth. We're still seeking exact clarification. We are receiving word from Afghan officials that those people who were killed are said to be close relatives of the central government's military commander in the region, and I'm still seeking clarification on that matter, though, From the U.S. Authorities.

In an entirely separate incident, just a short distance from here in Kabul, it has been another confrontation. This time, though, between gunman and members of the Afghan security forces. In that incident, just outside Kabul, at least 15 people now known to have been killed when a police patrol, a security forces patrol of the Afghan administration was attacked with machine guns by these apparent guerrillas. It's not quite known yet exactly who they are. One Afghan officials saying he believes them to be remnants of Al Qaeda units operating in the area. But we are having conflicting reports on that.

Some Afghan officials saying they were just bandits trying to take some worthwhile property from the region.

So a lot of activity here on the ground -- Daryn. KAGAN: Matthew Chance, from Kabul, Afghanistan. Thank you.

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