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CNN Saturday Morning News

New Government Brings Hope to Afghanistan

Aired December 22, 2001 - 09:06   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: The optimism surrounding the swearing- in ceremony in Kabul that John Vause just reported on is slowly rippling out to the rest of the nation. But it is also being buffeted by some sharp realities.

CNN's Bill Hemmer has that perspective for us from Kandahar.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a day of hope and optimism for the future of Afghanistan today. People here in the city of Kandahar tell us they are happy and pleased that a new government is now taking shape and form in Kabul, the Afghan capital.

They emphasize the word "new" because they believe the new government will help forge a future that will help educate the people of Afghanistan as especially critical for the young people, people who have only known war throughout their lifetime, 23 years of war, in fact, here in Afghanistan.

But it should be pointed out that there are two very different climates between Kabul and here in Kandahar. Kabul is much more stable at this point. In fact, the first group of British peacekeepers already there on the ground. In Kandahar, a completely different picture. It will be weeks, possibly, before any peacekeepers take any form or any root here in the city of Kandahar. It is still being ruled by tribal leaders in many different areas.

The other factor to consider, we are told, locals say that it's an absolute fact that Taliban troops have now come back to Kandahar, dissolved back into the local society here, and in fact may be living in their old homes. But when asked whether or not these people will pose a threat, they say no, because the Taliban, they say, has no more power and no more control.

Bill Hemmer, CNN, Kandahar, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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