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CNN Sunday Morning

Kidnappers Offer only Silence

Aired February 03, 2002 - 11:06   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well now to Pakistan and the uncertain fate of a kidnapped journalist. Friends, family and colleagues of Daniel Pearl are demanding proof that he is still alive. Several conflicting e-mails have been sent out with no way to verify their authenticity. CNN's Ben Wedeman is following developments from Karachi.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Silence that's all that's come out of the kidnappers of "Wall Street Journal" reporter, Daniel Pearl since last Wednesday. That was the last time an e-mail was received from the kidnappers with a photograph of the American reporter.

Since then, a variety of e-mails have been received. All of them, according to Pakistani officials are bogus. Now they say, any e-mail without a photograph of the journalist will be considered fake

The search for Pearl is being described by one Pakistani law official as inching forward. Pakistan's Home Secretary tells CNN he believes that Pearl is somewhere in or around Karachi, a crowded city of more than 12 million people.

The same officials also say that their investigation has been seriously hampered by the disappearance of two key suspects. I'm Ben Wedeman, CNN, reporting from Karachi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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