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CNN Sunday Morning

Afghan Opposition Leaders United: Oust Taliban Government

Aired September 30, 2001 - 09:13   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: Back overseas now, several members of Congress in Rome, Italy today talking with the former King of Afghanistan about a possible post-Taliban government.

CNN's Jim Bittermann now by telephone in Rome with the latest from there. Jim, hello to you.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill. After nearly an hour of meetings at the exiled kings villa outside Rome, Afghan opposition leaders, including representatives of the Northern Alliance and military commanders, emerged to say that the opposition is united behind the same goal, to oust the extremist Taliban government and bring democracy to Afghanistan.

The face to face meeting between the former Monarch and the opposition took place as U.S. congressmen also came to visit his villa. The 11 member group, on a previously scheduled fact finding tour of Russia, Italy, and Turkey, came to express support for the former king's efforts to unite the opposition and came away impressed with the 86-year-old's determination to return his country to democratic rule.

King Muhammad Zahir was ousted in a coup in 1973 and has tried several times during Afghanistan's decades of civil strife to restore stability. And, Bill, it was a further sign of how well things are going here in these talks between the Afghan leaders, that they are all scheduled to sit down together for a dinner tonight, a dinner that will be hosted by the King. Bill?

HEMMER: Jim, how big was that congressional delegation?

BITTERMANN: It was an 11 member group that had come in here from Russia, from Moscow, and is headed out this afternoon to Turkey.

HEMMER: All right, Jim. Bittermann by telephone in Rome. Keep us posted there, Jim. Many thanks to you.

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