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CNN Saturday Morning News

Christian Aid Workers on Trial in Afghanistan Might be Released

Aired October 06, 2001 - 07:42   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The word we had just a few hours ago, those eight Western aid workers on trial for preaching Christianity in Kabul, there is a possibility, and we stress that, the possibility that a release could be imminent.

To Tom Mintier, back in Islamabad, who's been tracking this now for the better part of three weeks. Tom, hello again to you.

MINTIER: Hello, Bill. There is a development today. The foreign ministry of the Taliban in Kandahar released a statement to CNN this morning that indeed, the eight international aid workers, which include four Germans, two Australians and two Americans might be released, repeat might be released, if the United States backs off what it called war propaganda against Afghanistan.

Now this came out just a while ago, but we found the American ambassador at the foreign office today, basically at the foreign ministry for a meeting that we were told by the foreign ministry was a regularly scheduled meeting. But it's interesting that on a Saturday afternoon, the American ambassador made her way over to the Foreign Ministry office just about an hour before a scheduled briefing. She would not comment on the case or the possibility that these eight detainees may be released.

Now in Kabul, they are being held, as they have been, since the first week in August. Now they did come to court this past week. Their Pakistani attorney representing them, was given 3 to 15 days to prepare their case. And also, the opportunity for him to look at the evidence.

But he was back inside Pakistan when this announcement was made this morning, as was the parents of Heather Mercer. John Mercer said that it's good news to him, because they used the word "release."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN MERCER: Anytime I hear the words "release" and "detainees" in the same sentence, I become encouraged. And these recent words out of Kandahar, I'm encouraged by them. And I just hope that our government will also be encouraged, and try to work a favorable solution for all sides in this matter.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MINTIER: What that favorable solution is, right now the ball is apparently in the court of the United States. The Taliban has made their offer to release the eight detainees. What the response is from the White House and Washington still remains to be seen.

They have been very, very quiet about this issue. And the visits to the foreign office by the American ambassador may be an indication, although they do say this was a regularly scheduled meeting before the Taliban announcement. We'll just have to wait and see if there's any movement on this, Bill.

HEMMER: And Tom, just to pick up on this, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the U.S. President George Bush have repeatedly said that this particular activity that may be taken in Afghanistan is not directed in any way at the Afghan people, which kind of goes right along the same line that the Taliban's message was today.

Is that an indication that the words that have been coming from the two top leaders have not been enough just yet? Or do we know?

MINTIER: We really don't know. And the words that we've been hearing from George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair, while they get a fill on them, not everyone in Afghanistan can hear them. You know, there is a prohibition against watching television there. So the words get really filtered in, not as quickly as the rest of the world hears them.

But there has been a change in the tone by the embassy here in Pakistan. The ambassador talking about and using the word "negotiations" about Osama bin Laden, and wanting to see the proof against him.

The proof has been provided to Pakistan for quite some time now. And Mr. Blair in his meeting with Pakistani president may have offered even more proof. So we're waiting to see what the reaction is.

So far, the United States has said that Osama bin Laden is not negotiable, that the time for talking is over. But what the situation is involving these eight Western aid workers, who have been detained since -- for two months now, actually. They have been detained preparing for trial.

This may be a totally different matter. It seems that by coming forward, that the Taliban are interested in resolving this. And at the same time, they're talking about, you know, asking the United States to reduce the rhetoric. They are saying if the United States is going to take military action against us, that's fine. But against the Afghan people, we ask that they not do that.

So we'll wait and see what happens with these eight detainees. Their case is now in limbo, as the lawyer who was preparing the case for up to 15 days. So it's still a week and a half away from it going back.

And the chief justice, it should be pointed out, made a statement in court the other day that these two cases are not linked, that there is no relation between what happened in the United States on the 11th of September and the case of these eight international charity workers, that have been detained for far longer than that.

HEMMER: An interesting twist. We'll see how far it goes throughout the day. Tom, thanks again.

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