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CNN Saturday Morning News

Fighting Resumes Near Gardez

Aired March 09, 2002 - 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: U.S.-led forces in eastern Afghanistan are pushing ahead through driving winds and snow today. The weather has forced al Qaeda and Taliban fighters into caves and slowed fighting. But this morning, the storm broke.

With more on Operation Anaconda, we're joined by CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson in Gardez -- Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the weather here has been mixed today. The day did start off earlier quite sunny and clear skies. We could see some fighter aircraft flying overhead. But later in the day, again, the weather has deteriorated here. There's been snow falling, and higher on the peaks, the clouds have closed in.

We have heard a lot of loud detonations coming from the mountains today. It sounds as if the bombing sorties are still ongoing, some of those detonations reverberating here in the town of Gardez about 20 miles from the front lines.

Also in the town of Gardez today, reinforcements, Afghan reinforcements arriving here. Some 600 to 1,000 fighters, we are told, arriving here.

Now, security officials here in this town say that there is a negotiation -- set of negotiations under way with the Taliban and al Qaeda supporters south of here to try and get them to lay down their weapons. These security officials say they have, the Taliban and al Qaeda have two days to lay down their weapons. If they don't, then these reinforcements, along with their heavy weapons, tanks, multibarreled rocket launchers, artillery pieces, will then join in Operation Anaconda and press forward on the offensive in those mountains -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, our Nic Robertson, thank you so much.

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