Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Sunday Morning

Two U.S. Special Forces Soldiers Injured in Training Accident

Aired March 31, 2002 - 10:40   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We do, in fact, have the Pentagon ready.

I'm going to ask you to stand by. We're going to turn it over now to Mr. Costantini, who is manning the Pentagon post today, and has word of an injury involving some special forces soldiers in Afghanistan.

What is the latest?

BOB COSTANTINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT, THE PENTAGON: Well, Miles, a spokesman for the U.S. Central Command is telling CNN, and confirming reports to CNN, that two special operations forces soldiers were injured in a training exercise in eastern Afghanistan.

The apparent location is Paktia province.

Now, the spokesman is trying to get more information than he's telling us.

But the Afghan Islamic press is saying that this incident -- and it's a Pakistan-based news agency -- is saying that this incident involved a grenade training exercise.

And we are told by the spokesman that the injuries are non-life- threatening, and that the two U.S. special operations forces were flow out of the area to Bagram Air Base and have been treated and already, we understand, are expected to be back on duty.

This incident occurred on Sunday. It is overnight there at this point, pretty much.

And that these two soldiers will be back on duty supposedly tomorrow.

You may recall it was on Thursday that a U.S. Navy Seal was killed in a landmine removal accident in Afghanistan, as well.

But again, this incident apparently involves non-life-threatening injuries -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: All right. We can all be glad for that.

Bob Costantini at the Pentagon. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com