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CNN Sunday Morning

Traces of Nerve Gas Found on U.S. Base in Uzbekistan

Aired June 09, 2002 - 08:11   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, turning now to the war on terrorism and the unnerving discovery in Uzbekistan. U.S. military officials say coalition forces have been evacuated from the U.S. base after trace elements of nerve and blister agents were found. Our Jane Arraf has the latest now on the discovery from Kabul, Afghanistan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): U.S. troops have been evacuated from the site of the contamination, and officials are looking into which units might have been exposed by what appeared to be traces of nerve gas and a blister agent, possibly mustard gas, found at three sites at that base in Uzbekistan. And the sites include a bunker and a hangar, which was used as a military headquarters.

Officials here are saying that there is no one who has shown up with symptoms of sickness from possible exposure, and it's important to remember that these are traces, vapors which have come out of the ground.

Now, there were inspection teams there looking for exactly something like this in November at those bases. They came up with nothing. Military officials say that since the ground is now heating up, that may be why they are now getting readings of these vapors from what could be nerve gas and other gases that were spilled long ago in the Soviet era and soaked into the ground. Officials are taking no chances, though. They are also checking U.S. bases in Afghanistan for possible contaminants.

Jane Arraf, CNN, Kabul, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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