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Kidnappers Threaten to Execute Daniel Pearl in 24 Hours

Aired January 30, 2002 - 14:51   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A disturbing development this afternoon in the kidnapping of "Wall Street Journal" reporter Daniel Pearl. CNN has obtained new e-mail and new pictures of the captive journalist. He was taken a week ago while on assignment in Karachi for "The Wall Street Journal." These are the new pictures that we've obtained.

Also, let's show you a little bit of the new e-mail, very disturbing in terms of the potential state of Daniel Pearl. This is from his kidnappers. It reads in part: "We have interrogated Mr. D. Pearl" -- by the way, this e-mail is exactly as it was received, so the spelling you see is as the kidnappers wrote it -- "We have interrogated Mr. D. Pearl, and we have come to the conclusion that, contrary to what we thought earlier, he is not working for the CIA. In fact, he is working for Mossad. Therefore, we will execute him within 24, unless amreeka (sic)" -- and that's their spelling -- "fills our demands.

We warn all amreekan (sic) journalists working in Pakistan that there are many in their ranks spying on Pakistan under the journalist cover, and therefore we give all amreekan (sic) journalists three days to get out of Pakistan. Anyone remaining after that will be targeted."

Once again, Daniel Pearl working for the "Wall Street Journal" in Karachi on assignment looking into an Islamic fundamentalist group was taken captive about a week ago. His kidnapers have sent in two different groups of e-mail.

Also, the Pakistan government has gone ahead and arrested the head of the fundamentalist group it is believed that Daniel Pearl was trying to interview. Still, no sign of the exact whereabouts of Daniel Pearl. This latest development is very disturbing, considering the reporter's fate.

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