Return to Transcripts main page

Breaking News

Reuters: Afghan Defense Minister Says Bin Laden Hiding in Pakistan

Aired December 27, 2001 - 09:49   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: This just in to CNN, a report from Reuters, dateline is Kabul, Afghanistan, quoting a spokesperson from the Afghan defense ministry who indicates Osama bin Laden is in fact hiding under the protection of a radical Islamic leader in Pakistan. That Islamic leader by name is Malana Fazalar Raman (ph). Raman Is under house arrest in Afghanistan, but reportedly, according to the defense ministers in Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden is being protected by supporters of this Islamic leader in Pakistan. The defense ministry spokesman goes on to say that bin Laden's support in Afghanistan has completely and utterly collapsed, and resistance by Al Qaeda within Afghanistan is over.

Nevertheless, the indication from Reuters, quoting the defense ministry spokesman in Afghanistan, that Osama bin Laden is actually in hiding, in Pakistan, under the protection of this radical Islamic leader Malana Fazalar Raman, and specifically, his people loyal to him.

We will be working on that and trying to nail that down ourselves. We will keep you posted on that.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com