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CNN Sunday Morning

Demonstrations in Pakistan Leave at Least one Dead

Aired October 14, 2001 - 07:34   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: As we've been telling you, the demonstrations going on in Jacobabad in Pakistan, at least on person killed.

Our senior international correspondent Christiane Amanpour is in Pakistan in Islamabad and has the latest for us -- Christiane.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Donna, this was a demonstration planned by some of the hard-line Islamic leaders who actually it's one of their strong holds in the city of Jacobabad. And so far what we're told by police is that the demonstrators have not actually entered the heart of the city nor are they around the air base but there is and there has been pitched battles between the Pakistani police forces and those demonstrators. We're told about three and a half thousand protesters are out on the street. According to medical and official police sources in Jacobabad they confirm one person dead and several injuries.

The Islamic party, JUI, who has one of it's strongholds down there says that there may be more dead -- perhaps about six including a police official -- but we do not have that otherwise confirmed from police sources.

Now witnesses and people in the military have told CNN that U.S. troops and also helicopters have arrived in our -- at the Jacobabad air base. The government officials here won't confirm that although they do say that it is not unlikely that that is the case. They pointed out that they have promised air bases to the United States. But they insist that there has not been any combat attacks launched by U.S. forces from Pakistani soil into Afghanistan -- Donna.

KELLEY: Christiane, are you able to get information about whether or not it's under control, whether or not they've dispersed or if the numbers are growing in the demonstration?

AMANPOUR: Well, we don't think the numbers are growing according to our sources but it is still underway and demonstrators obviously are keeping on trying to get into the center of town and closer to the air base but so far they are not managing to do that. It is being held at one of the markets, which is on the outskirts of the town there.

KELLEY: All right, our senior international correspondent Christiane Amanpour from Islamabad, Pakistan, thanks. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com