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CNN Sunday Morning

Look at Central Square in Middle of Ramallah

Aired April 21, 2002 - 07:37   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.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Unlocking the door to his clothing store, Bareev becomes one of the first Ramallah residents to take advantage of the Israeli troop withdrawal.

BAREEV, RAMALLAH SHOPKEEPER: Before I came to my shop here, I look around about the city. There's no soldiers.

ROBERTSON: In the early morning misty gloom, Palestinian youth celebrate. Their walk down this street, foolhardy at best, just a few hours before. At the money changers, no time wasted in cleaning up. According to Ryan, the owner, his business was on the front line.

As word spread it was safe to come out, the streets quickly filled. For some, their first impressions of what they saw shocking.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where can we get the money to fix all these things? (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

ROBERTSON (on camera): Until a few hours ago, there was an Israeli military checkpoint here. Now all that remains is the barbed wire and some destruction littering the ground. This is the central square in the middle of Ramallah. And it just down this road here, perhaps about a mile away, that is the compound of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. And it is there that the main Israeli military presence still exists.

(voice-over): Barricades block the road, but once navigated, there appears little military presence. However, residents this close to the compound report being told to remain indoors.

Behind the partially demolished compound walls, tanks guard the entrances to the building that contains not only the Palestinian leader, but then the Israeli government says it wants to try in connection with the murder of an Israeli minister last year.

The Israeli government says until Yasser Arafat hands the men over, their blockade on his compound will continue. Back downtown, no shortage of enthusiasm for the clean-up. However, even when a level of normality returns inside the town, restrictions imposed by the Israeli government to protect Israeli citizens from suicide bombers will prevent most from leaving.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Ramallah.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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