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CNN Saturday Morning News

U.S. Takes Custody of High-Ranking al Qaeda Leader

Aired January 05, 2002 - 07:05   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, the whereabouts of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar remains a mystery, but the U.S. is taking custody of a high-ranking al Qaeda leader.

CNN's Bill Hemmer is on the ground in Kandahar. He joins us with the latest.

Hi to you, Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra, good evening here from Kandahar.

The name Ibn Al-Shaykh al-Libi on the White House list of the top 12 -- top 12 wanted members of the al Qaeda terrorist network, right now being detained here in Kandahar. He ran the terrorist training camps throughout Afghanistan and really considered a key source of information, not only regarding al Qaeda leadership in Afghanistan but, frankly, the al Qaeda network, the terror network that runs the globe here.

Also, he's said to be from Libya. His assets were frozen by the White House shortly after the events of 9/11 back in the U.S. And he's now being held here with 274 others. Twenty-five more came in last night, the total now 275. But we're also told through investigators that this man is being held separately from the others. They say they don't want to have him to have any contact with the other detainees, the other prisoners here in Kandahar. He may be moved out of here soon. Again, that's a bit uncertain right now.

We're told all 275, though, for the most part, eventually will make their way to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. We're also told one of the highest-ranking members nabbed to date, and as one high-ranking military official here in Kandahar says, "We're going to get more, too, and you can quote me on that."

In addition, 34-year-old Abdul Salam Zaeef, you might remember him, he's the former Taliban ambassador to Pakistan. He was essentially the voice and the face of the Taliban in the early days of the war campaign over Afghanistan. Reports now say he is back here on Afghan soil, imported from Pakistan overnight last night, possibly detained at the Bagram air base north of Kabul. He's wanted again for a whole lot of information regarding the Taliban and certainly information about Mullah Mohammed Omar. And on that topic, reports again today, I want to caution you we've heard various ones now about the Taliban founder, but right now, this is what we understand about the whereabouts of Omar. There are indications that Mullah Mohammed Omar may indeed have slipped the net in northern Helmand Province, something a lot of special forces teams on the ground in Kandahar had feared the most, that he would slip that net. Again, nothing confirmed on the ground, just the indications we're getting out of Helmand.

And as I say that, again, there has been a lot of rumors throughout the week, he's here, he's there, he's in, he's out. Right now, the only thing we can say for sure is that the U.S. military does not have him in custody yet -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Our Bill Hemmer in Kandahar, thank you so much.

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