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CNN Saturday Morning News

Detained al Qaeda Fighters Willing to Cooperate With Investigators

Aired December 29, 2001 - 10:01   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: In Afghanistan, military sources say some detainees are willing to talk to investigators about al Qaeda and the location of Osama bin Laden. The detainees, described as al Qaeda fighters, are said to be -- quote -- "scared to death." More on the developing situation in Afghanistan now from CNN's Bill Hemmer. He is live in Kandahar.

Hi, Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra. Hello again, about 7:30 in the evening here in Kandahar. We are well into the evening hours here and you mentioned the detainees. There are about a dozen FBI investigators on the ground here in Kandahar and they've been working over these detainees for quite some time now and late last night, in fact in the early morning hours of Saturday morning, about several different aircraft landed, bringing the largest single load of detainees here. Sixty-three came overnight last night, bringing total now to 125. And as we well know, investigators here want find out what their connection is to al Qaeda and of course, the Taliban and different cells and different aspects around the world.

But as to whether or not they're making good, substantial progress is still a little difficult to ascertain. The investigators here are very tight lipped. Again, security is a major concern, as one can imagine right now as they go through and shuffle through these detainees, trying to get some information.

Of those 63 brought in, Kyra, 29 are said to have suffered combat wounds, things like broken bones and probably, presumably, according to the reports we're getting here that the latest round of detainees came from the Tora Bora region, where several nights this past week, we did get about 25 and 20 in two different loads here of detainees that all came along that Afghan-Pakistan border, possibly trying to flee for safety and refuge in nearby Pakistan. In total though, here in Afghanistan, we're told as many as 3,000 detainees may still be being held at this time in 30 different centers throughout the country.

Quickly, Kyra, two other items to pass along to you. We're getting word now that in mid-January, when the Army takes this particular airport away from the U.S. Marines, we're told that the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army will be the ones who are called on to do this. Again, nothing permanent just yet, nothing confirmed. That wouldn't happen until the deployment order is signed in Washington. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will have his hands on that matter.

And one more item here, you mentioned Tora Bora a short time ago, at the end of this week, our crews on the ground there had noticed Special Forces actually packing up and pulling out of there. But apparently, according to Walter Rogers in the area, that's not the case today. They still see many working in the area, throughout that area of Tora Bora. Again, that effort continues. The operation continues there in part paralleling with Afghan troops working the area as well, Kyra.

So, that's latest here from Kandahar. Back to you in Atlanta, as we get ready for the President's radio address, again in Crawford, Texas today, on this weekend morning. Kyra, back to you. We'll talk to you again shortly.

PHILLIPS: You got it. All right, Bill, thanks so much.

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