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CNN Sunday Morning

Number of Prisoners at Kandahar Airport Goes Up; U.S. Helicopter Goes Down; International Peacekeeping Mission Goes Forward

Aired December 30, 2001 - 10:02   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, let's get right to Afghanistan. The number of war prisoners goes up, a U.S. helicopter goes down, and an international peacekeeping mission goes forward.

CNN's Bill Hemmer is at the Marine-held Kandahar Airport and joins us now with the details. Hi, Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra, good evening again from Kandahar. You know at nightfall here, we begin to see the number of cargo planes that land here, drop their supplies, oftentimes men and women coming in here as well from the U.S. military, taxing and leaving once again.

Last night, we saw 34 come and go. Tonight, already we have counted four. In the words of one Marine here, "the night is still very early." Also we're getting word again on a daily basis about the future for Afghanistan and how the interim government will help usher in more stability and security for the future of its people and its country.

A short time ago, an agreement apparently reached between the Afghan government and U.N. peacekeepers (AUDIO GAP) role here.

Up to Kabul now, my colleague, CNN's John Vause watching things from there with an update on what's happening.

John, good evening to you.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening, Bill. Well, just to cast your mind back to the Bonn agreement, a number of decisions were reached there and the details were left to be worked out later. Looks like we now have finalized one of the issues and that is the issue of the multinational force, which will come to Afghanistan to support the interim administration, as it tries to put Afghanistan back on its feet.

Today at a press conference, the foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah said in fact that they had reached agreement. It's very sketchy on the details. Not coming forward with very many whatsoever. He did, however, say that there was agreement. Now a number of the issues which had been fairly contentious or the number of troops in their responsibility. At that press conference, Abdullah Abdullah refused to give any of those details. Here's some of what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH, FOREIGN MINISTER: It will be disclosed, it will not be a secret, but I'm not in a position to talk about it now. And the numbers as well, I think this will not be a secret. The location, the number, the mission is of course obvious. It is international security assistance force.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Now the number which is being talked about on and off for quite some time now is around 3,000. They'll come from about 16 nations. The lead nation on this is, of course, the British. Now we saw a number of British Royal Marines arrive here before the December 22 swearing-in ceremony of the interim administration. They described their role here as low profile and they're actually paving the way. We saw them working out of Bagram air base, preparing the air field for greater forces to arrive.

Now also at that press conference today, Bill, Abdullah Abdullah made an off the cuff comment about the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden. He did in fact say that there was a possibility that bin Laden could, in fact, be still in Afghanistan. That's at odds with a statement from the Defense Ministry, Mohammed Abil (ph). He's the spokesman for the defense minister. He, in fact, said that bin Laden's in Pakistan.

Now on the issue of the U.S. bombing campaign, which is continuing, Abdullah said in fact that he stated the government's policy here, that it supports the U.S.-led bombing campaign until the job is done. Once again, that is at odds with a number of tribal leaders who traveled here over the last couple of days, to meet with several cabinet members of the interim administration, as well as Hamid Karzai himself, the chairman of the interim administration here.

Those tribal elders said they had an assurance from Karzai that he would push the U.S. to end that bombing campaign as soon as possible. But at his press conference, Abdullah Abdullah saying the interim authority here supports that bombing campaign until the job is done.

Back to you in Kandahar, Bill.

HEMMER: John, thanks. John Vause reporting live in Kabul.

Back here in Kandahar, now we do anticipate, according to sources on the ground, the number of detainees to increase possibly on a nightly basis. Sources indicate about 139 detainees right now are being processed in Pakistan. Suspected al Qaeda and Taliban members which is anticipated now. But these 139 eventually will make their way here to Kandahar.

Last night, more came in. About 14 came in here on board a flight, bringing the total here ironically to the same number being detained in Pakistan. 139 here in the Kandahar Airport. What is interesting that we're gathering from sources is that the translation process appears to be quite difficult and quite plodding at times. They say, depending on the language of the detainee, it can be quite difficult to get an interpreter in here. And certainly, they're not going to work 24 hours a day. So it's a question of manpower in many cases.

The languages, we're told, can vary from Arabic to Pashtun. And certainly, that is something they're working toward, but they have not worked toward the ultimate goal, and the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden.

Also with regard to these detainees, it's been told to us today that a medical center was set up just today inside that facility. Apparently a number of detainees are suffering from lifetime illnesses and lifetime diseases, in addition to things like broken bones and other combat injuries suffered possibly in the Tora Bora region, also the Mazar-e-Sharif region in Northern Afghanistan. The words of one Marine, some of these detainees have never seen a doctor in their lifetime.

On another front, getting word now of a rare mishap by the U.S. Marines. Apparently late on Saturday, a helicopter operating on a mission in southern Afghanistan somewhere in the region apparently had a hard landing. This is a CH-53 super stallion. It's been a work horse for the Marines here in southern Afghanistan. And apparently a hard landing yesterday.

Now the good news is this. The crew of four has been rescued and brought back here safely. We're told no casualties, no serious injuries. But as for the helicopter itself, some time possibly over night, even to Monday morning, that helicopter will be brought back here to the base once the Marines can secure that. But again, the good news is the crew is that crew is safe back here. No injuries to the crew on board. More from Kandahar later this morning. Now back to Kyra and Marty once again watching things in Atlanta with more news now.

Good morning again to you guys.

PHILLIPS: Thanks so much, Bill.

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