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United States congressional delegation met in Rome with the exiled king of Afghanistan

Aired September 30, 2001 - 18:22   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: And as we mentioned at the top of the hour a U.S. congressional delegation met with Afghanistan's exiled king today. Jim Bittermann has a full report.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the green and gated villa of the exiled king of Afghanistan, a coalition of forces has grown to permanently topple the Taliban government in Kabul.

U.S. congressmen on a previously planned fact-finding visit stopped the see Mohammed Zahir Shah and express their support for his efforts to unify his countrymen. Then unexpectedly, representatives of Northern Alliance, which is fighting the Taliban for control of homeland, joined the meeting as well. Among those in the group was the brother of Ahmed Shama Soud (ph) , the leader of the opposition forces until he was assassinated earlier this month. After nearly an hour of meeting at which the king the congressman and the guerrilla fighters were seen huddling over maps, the group emerged to say that there was general agreement that all should work together.

We are now united to fight terrorism, the head of the Northern Alliance delegation said. And referring to the congressional delegation, he added, the U.S. is ready to help and cooperate.

And a militia commander with fighters in central Afghanistan echoed the sentiment adding that there now needs to be a national uprising against the Taliban. The U.S. congressman, although not in a position to make foreign policy, promised to take back what they heard to Washington. One who spent time in Afghanistan before being elected says the U.S. is obliged the help.

REP. DANA ROHRBACHER (R), CALIFORNIA: We thought just forcing the Russians out and supporting the Afghans in their fight against Soviet domination was the end of story. But it wasn't, obviously. We did not do, as far as I'm concerned, our responsibility to the Afghan people. We left them asleep in their own rubble and left them to suffer. And what emerged? The Taliban emerged. What emerged after that? Bin Laden.

BITTERMANN: As the various factions have met with representatives of former king, they have often started with a prayer to the Ahmed Massoud, the murdered opposition leader and one of the few people who was able to unite anti-Taliban forces. While many details remain to be worked out, there's new hope the aging former king can also play that role, especially with the promise of U.S. intervention.

(on camera): Several times before the former king from his exile here in Rome has tried but failed to bring together a united front to return democracy to his homeland. Now, though, with representatives of the major opponents to the Taliban gathered around the same map table, there is the clearest sign yet he may be close to succeeding.

Jim Bittermann, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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