Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Saturday Morning News

U.S. Air Strikes Target Airport Near Kandahar

Aired October 13, 2001 - 10:00   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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Let's begin this hour with the military campaign, which soon will be a full week old. CNN's John Vause is keeping watch from Islamabad, the Pakistani capital -- John.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good day, Marty. Hello again from Islamabad.

Well, after a brief let up last night, we know that the air strikes did resume again. They took off around 4:00 a.m. local time. It was a predawn raid.

Now let's take a look at some pictures from the Al Jazeera network. This is -- we understand these are -- this is video of the strike on the capital, Kabul. As I said, it was a predawn raid. Witnesses say the main target appeared to be the airport. We understand that the airport is some distance outside of the city. However, there are unconfirmed reports that one person may have been killed and that another four people may have been wounded.

The aftermath of that air strike really rubble upon rubble. It's very difficult to work out what's been hit and what was that way before the air strikes. Now, as I said, there are reports of people being wounded, but it's very difficult to get confirm reports because the Taliban will not let journalists into Afghanistan to try and independently verify their claims of 300 plus civilians killed since the air strikes began.

We also are being told that the residents of Kabul, those who have left, are also now trying to flee to the safety, come to the border here in Pakistan to try and escape those air strikes.

Now, to the south of Kandahar. Kandahar was also hit, but compared to recent days, certainly not as intense. We're also told there that the main target was the airport some 30 kilometers outside of the city.

Now, despite the seven days, seven straight days of air strikes, we're told that the Taliban remains defiant. Their second chance offer from U.S. President George W. Bush to cough him up, him, of course, being Osama Bin Laden, was rejected today. They said, quote, "We will not hand him over to America without getting credible evidence about his involvement in terrorism. Our policy is still the same." Their policy is that an offer, which they made earlier on to have Osama Bin Laden tried either in Afghanistan or in a third country, a non-Western country was the stipulation there. The White House, of course, refusing to negotiate on this issue, saying, "Hand him over or there's no deal." They're not going to negotiate.

It's interesting to say that their policy is still the same and it certainly appears that the policy of the United States is still the same. Those air strikes continuing. Obviously, still hunting for Osama Bin Laden.

Now, the situation here in Pakistan, pretty much all quiet today. But we are expecting some kind of rally tomorrow. The religious leaders have called for a more anti-U.S. protest. Yesterday, we saw those protests on the streets mainly in the big port city of Karachi. Karachi is the biggest city here in Pakistan, about 12 million people. A few thousand people in separate demonstrations clashed with police. They threw rocks. Police responded with tear gas. We understand that there was one casualty, a policeman who was shot. We do not know who he was shot by, whether it was another police officer by mistake or by a demonstrator. We also know that there were a number of people who were injured.

Now, the Islamic clerics here have also called for a national day of strikes on Monday. Now, that will coincide with the visit by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: CNN's John Vause in Islamabad, thanks very much.

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