U.S. carrier Kitty Hawk leaves Japanese port

verfasst von Sascha, 01.10.2001, 17:49

<font size=5>U.S. carrier Kitty Hawk leaves Japanese port</font>

October 1, 2001 Posted: 4:19 AM EDT (0819 GMT)

TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- The United States added more firepower Monday to its war against terrorism with the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk as a part of"Operation Enduring Freedom."

A spokesman for the U.S. Naval Forces in Japan told CNN that the carrier, which holds about 70 aircraft, <font color="#FF0000">left the Yokosuka Naval Base on Japan's east coast at 1000 Monday (2100 EDT Sunday)</font>.

In response to questions about the ship's mission, he read the following statement:

<font color="#FF0000">"The USS Kitty Hawk departed on Monday to support tasking as assigned by the National Command Authority in response to 'Operation Enduring Freedom.' </font>

"As the Department of Defense has acknowledged over the past few days, the United States is repositioning some of its military forces per required to prepare for and support the President's campaign against terrorism, and to support efforts to identify, locate and hold accountable terrorists and those who support and harbor them."

The Kitty Hawk is part of the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet and is the only American aircraft carrier to be based in the Western Pacific.

Prime suspect

Since the September 11 attacks, the United States has been deploying forces to the region surrounding Afghanistan, including the Middle East and the Persian Gulf.

<font color="#FF0000">British forces are also known to be in the Gulf and could be made available for any military action</font>.

Islamic militant Osama bin Laden has been named by the Bush administration as the prime suspect in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

He has been living in Afghanistan as a"guest" of the ruling Taliban.

The Taliban's ambassador to Pakistan said Sunday that the militant leader was under the control of the Taliban and cannot more around freely.

However he added he that bin Laden will not be turned over to the United States unconditionally as American officials have demanded.

President Bush has demanded that the Taliban turn over all terrorists in their land, close all terrorist training camps and release all international citizens jailed unjustly or face the possibility of military attacks.

Quelle: http://cnn.com[/b]

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