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American Morning

Building Rocked by Explosion in Afghanistan

Aired August 09, 2002 - 08:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Conflicting reports today on that explosion in the town of Jalalabad, eastern Afghanistan. According to the Afghan Islamic Press, the blast rocked an office building there. There are casualties, we are told.
Matthew Chance in Kabul tracking the very latest from Afghanistan -- Matthew, what more do you have?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill.

We're trying to make sense of the reports that are trickling down to us still from Jalalabad, a good six hour's drive from here, the Afghan capital. We're getting some conflicting reports, but it does appear that there has been a devastating explosion somewhere on the outskirts of the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad.

I'll give you the more moderate of the reports that we're hearing from our sources here in Kabul, the Afghan capital. United Nations security officials we've spoken to here are confirming to us that at least six people have been killed and 18 people have been injured as a result of this explosion, although the estimates, the reports trickling down from Jalalabad itself are much greater than that.

The earlier reports speaking of casualties as high as 50 dead. We certainly haven't managed to confirm that at this stage.

The Associated Press, though, is quoting a local military commander, saying that at least 12 people have been injured. Whatever the truth is, it is clearly a very devastating and deadly explosion -- Bill.

HEMMER: Matthew Chance, thanks.

The very latest in Kabul.

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