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CNN Live Sunday

U.S. Central Command Recovers Forensic Evidence in Afghanistan

Aired February 10, 2002 - 17:01   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: For days now, it's been the subject of intense speculation: Who was among those killed in a missile attack by an unmanned CIA drone? The U.S. Central Command says it has recovered forensic evidence from the impact site and is studying it. CNN's Bob Constantini joins us now live from the Pentagon. Hi there, Bob.

BOB CONSTANTINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka.

Forensic evidence implies that what has been found are human remains that could possibly be used to positively identify someone who was killed in that attack.

Now, almost a week ago, an unmanned U.S reconnaissance plane controlled by the CIA fired two missiles in a crowd of men near a truck in the town of Zawar Kili. Several of the men were wearing white robes, the type of Arab clothing associated with the top leaders of al Qaeda, and one of the men was described as unusually tall, which has led to speculation the six-foot-four Osama bin Laden was part of the group. Fifty or so U.S. soldiers, including forensics experts, could only get to the scene on Friday because of heavy snow, and have collected what officials are describing, as we say, forensic evidence.

While it could be many days before any actual positive identification could be made with this evidence, if ever at all, the situation has launched a new round of comments about how critical punishments of bin Laden is to the perception of the U.S. mission's success.

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SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D), FLORIDA: There is nothing as symbolic about the war in Afghanistan than Osama bin Laden. His final disposition will be a key to reaching the last paragraph in that chapter of our book on anti-terrorism.

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CONSTANTINI: For the record, Pentagon officials have tried to downplay the notion that Osama bin Laden may have been among those killed, but the speculation actually began during the week, when CIA Director George Tenet testified before Congress, and that led to the disclosure that this attack actually occurred last Monday -- Fredricka. WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot, Bob, from the Pentagon.

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