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CNN Sunday Morning

U.S. Hunts For Terrorists After Audiotape Threat

Aired June 23, 2002 - 11:01   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: Now, for an in-depth look at our top story. That report that Osama bin Laden and most his al Qaeda leaders have survived the war on terrorism. Remarks by Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, seen here with bin Laden last October, were on an audiotape that was aired on the Arabic Al Jazeera TV network.

Abu Ghaith says, quoting here: "I really want to assure the Muslims that Sheikh Osama bin Laden is in good health. The American operation was not able to destroy the organization. The system is still there. Al Qaeda is not a fragile organization." He goes on to say, "Our martyrs are ready for operations against American and Jewish targets inside and outside. America should be prepared. It should be ready. We are coming to them where they never expected."

So where does the U.S. stand in the search for bin Laden and the war against terrorism? For that now we turn to CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson, he joins us live from Bagram, Afghanistan --Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, one of the interesting things about that al Qaeda statement, no mention of Mohammad Atef he was believed by coalition forces to be Osama bin Laden's military chief. Now, he was believed to have been killed in coalition bombing on the 16th of November last year, just before coalition forces and Northern Alliance forces here took control of Kabul.

There was a report in that statement that Ayman al-Zawahiri was, in fact, alive and well. It was thought, perhaps, that he had been injured at Tora Bora. So, perhaps, clear from this statement now that the al Qaeda's military chief is, in fact, dead.

Certainly no claim that he is still around. They say 98 percent of the leadership alive and well. Perhaps he is that 2 percent that isn't.

But here in Afghanistan, the hunt is still going on for al Qaeda elements, Taliban elements. In eastern Afghanistan this weekend, British Royal Marine commandos, assisted by U.S. Special Forces, found what they described as a significant haul of weapons.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. BUCK RYAN, BRITISH ROYAL MARINES: Yes, on entering the compound, we came across a large amount of weapons. Lots of the weapons are large caliber weapons, supporting arms, a lot of 120 millimeter mortar (UNINTELLIGIBLE) machine guns, using anti-aircraft (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and a large quantity of ammunition which is probably the largest that we found out here in one place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Well, they say the reason they were attracted to this compound in the village, not far from the border with Pakistan, was the fact there was a large antenna on the roof of that building. When they went towards the building, somebody slammed the door shut. They had to break down the wall to get in. They say they believe that cache of weapons is perhaps too significant, too large to be used just by the villagers.

They've taken at 10 people. At least 10 Afghans in for questioning. Not clear, at this time, if they are al Qaeda or Taliban or just regular Afghan forces -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Nic Robertson, live from Bagram, thank you so much.

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