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CNN Live Sunday

Coalition Forces Find Cache of Weapons in Afghanistan

Aired June 23, 2002 - 17:08   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: Right now, U.S. forces in Afghanistan are trying to figure out if a huge cache of weapons they found last night belongs to al Qaeda. CNN's Nic Robertson has those details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rockets, mortars and other missiles pile high in a remote eastern Afghan compound. The munitions, all confiscated during a raid Saturday by British Royal Marine Commandos and U.S. Special Forces while hunting al Qaeda and Taliban fighters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, on entering the compound, we came across a large amount of weapons. A lot of the weapons large caliber weapons, supporting arms, along with the 120 millimeter mortar (UNINTELLIGIBLE) type machine guns used in anti-aircraft (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and a large quantity of ammunition, which is probably the largest that's been found out in one place.

ROBERTSON: British troops say their attention was drawn to this compound by a large antenna on the roof and were forced to break down the wall to get in, after the door was slammed in their face. At least eight men captured during the raid are now being questioned. Although it is not clear yet if they belong to al Qaeda, coalition officials say there were too many weapons to be used by the villagers alone.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ammunition, many thousands of rounds, we found for each different weapon system down to the small arms, which are over 50,000 small arms' rounds, hundreds of rockets and large caliber bombs were found. Also, detonators and stuff for making improvised explosives and making booby traps.

ROBERTSON: In an indication coalition forces are less than welcome in this part of Afghanistan, an AC-130 gunship was called in overnight, when hostile villages crowded outside the compound.

(on camera): While the this haul of many (ph) munitions is being held as significant by coalition forces, all involved in the hunt for Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda forces here say they are prepared for operations to continue for some time to come.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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