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CNN Saturday Morning News

Coalition Government Takes Power in Afghanistan

Aired December 22, 2001 - 09:03   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to begin this hour in Afghanistan, where a new government is taken power and a war-ravaged nation now begins a new era. Earlier this morning, a diverse coalition of leaders was sworn in and asked to shepherd Afghanistan through its first peaceful transfer of power in decades.

Our John Vause joins us now live with the very latest from Kabul -- John.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good evening from Kabul, Leon.

Well, we were out on the streets a few hours ago trying to gauge public opinion to this new interim administration, which was sworn in today. The people are very happy, they're very optimistic for the future. We must say, though, there were no wild celebrations, no dancing in the streets, if you like, possibly because it's winter here, it gets dark very quickly, and most Afghans go home.

But that said, most Afghans are very happy, very optimistic that this interim administration can bring some kind of peace and stability to Afghanistan.

Now, earlier, at that ceremony at the interior ministry, there were some very symbolic moments, especially when the new interim leader, Hamid Karzai, walked over and he embraced the outgoing President Rabbani, the President Rabbani, of course, was ousted by the Taliban when they came into power five years ago. He was still the recognized head of state of Afghanistan, and therefore he was the man to hand power over to the new interim leader.

Also at that ceremony, Hamid Karzai swore in 29 ministers, notably two of them women, very symbolic for Afghan women, who've been brutally repressed by the Taliban for the past five years.

There were some very emotional moments during that ceremony, when they played the national anthem, some men wept in the crowd. Also, when they paid tribute to General Massoud, this -- the Northern Alliance general who was assassinated just two days before September 11. The hardened Afghan warriors were crying in the audience, their tears rolling down their face, emotional moments there as well.

And now as we said, this was the first peaceful transfer of power in decades, and the U.N. special envoy to Afghanistan, Makhi Barimi (ph), he spoke about why this ceremony was so special.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After years of bitter war and conflict, power is being transferred from one administration to another not under the fire of guns but peacefully and pursuant to a political agreement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Now, of course, the jubilation and the celebrations and the party itself won't last long. This country has a very long, hard road ahead, estimates of $9 billion simply to rebuild the shattered infrastructure here. They need $600 million over the next two years simply to provide education, to give seed to farmers so that they can plant crops, and to try and improve the water supply.

And on top of that, this new interim administration needs $20 million simply to pay wages, which haven't been paid for the last five months, and to go out and buy office supplies, everything from paper clips to pencils to desks and chairs and computers.

Now, the interim administration will be in power for the next six months. It will then hand over to a provisional government, and the hope is that Afghanistan will have elections sometime within the next two years -- Leon.

HARRIS: John Vause reporting for us late in the evening there in Afghanistan and from Kabul. Thank you very much.

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