DATE=8/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236800
TITLE=TANZANIA/BOMBING (L ONITER)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=DAR ES SALAAM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FRIDAY'S EXPLOSION AT THE U-S EMBASSY IN DAR ES SALAAM,
TANZANIA LEFT FAR FEWER DEAD AND WOUNDED THAN THE NEARLY
SIMULTANEOUS BLAST THAT DEVASTATED THE AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC
MISSION IN NAIROBI, KENYA. BUT AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ALEX
BELIDA REPORTS, THE BOMBING WAS NO LESS OF A SHOCK TO THE
TANZANIAN PEOPLE.
TEXT: TANZANIAN PRESIDENT BENJAMIN MKAPA CALLS THE ATTACK ON THE
U-S EMBASSY AN EVIL, DESPICABLE ACT. AFTER A TOUR OF THE
BLAST-SHATTERED, DEBRIS-LITTERED BUILDING SITE ON SUNDAY, MR.
MKAPA IS APPEALING FOR A UNIFIED INTERNATIONAL WAR AGAINST
TERRORISM.
THIS IS THE FIRST TERRORIST INCIDENT IN TANZANIAN HISTORY, AND IT
HAS ROCKED THE COUNTRY TO ITS VERY SOUL. LOCAL COMMENTATORS SAY
FRIDAY'S EXPLOSION DEMONSTRATES TANZANIANS ARE NO LONGER SAFE
AND THAT THEIR CAPITAL CITY NO LONGER DESERVES TO BE KNOWN AS A
HAVEN OF PEACE.
AMERICANS WHO LIVE IN DAR ES SALAAM ARE ECHOING THAT SENTIMENT.
ONE WOMAN -- AN ENGLISH TEACHER MARRIED TO A MISSIONARY WHO HAS
LIVED HERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS -- TELLS REPORTERS THE BOMBING WAS A
TRAGEDY FOR A COUNTRY REGARDED UNTIL NOW AS A TRANQUIL ONE.
U-S INVESTIGATORS INCLUDING AGENTS OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF
INVESTIGATION, STATE DEPARTMENT COUNTER-TERRORISM EXPERTS AND
OTHER OFFICIALS HAVE NOW ARRIVED IN DAR ES SALAAM TO BEGIN THEIR
PROBE OF THE EXPLOSION. A U-S EMBASSY OFFICIAL, SPEAKING ON
CONDITION OF ANONYMITY, INDICATES THEIR TASK MAY BE EASED BY
VIDEO TAPES FROM THE EMBASSY'S SECURITY SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM.
ATTENTION IS ALREADY FOCUSED ON A WATER TANKER OWNED BY THE
EMBASSY, WHICH HAD DRIVEN UP TO THE BUILDING'S MAIN GATE WHEN THE
BLAST OCCURRED. IT MAY HAVE CARRIED THE EXPLOSIVE DEVICE THAT
TORE OPEN THE SIDE OF THE MISSION AND LEFT OFFICES THERE SO BADLY
DAMAGED THAT DIPLOMATS SAY IT MAY NEVER BE USED AGAIN.
THE DRIVER OF THE TANKER TRUCK AND HIS ASSISTANT AS WELL AS THE
TANZANIAN SECURITY GUARDS WHO WERE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE BEFORE
LETTING IT INSIDE THE EMBASSY COMPOUND WERE ALL KILLED. OTHER
CASUALTIES INCLUDED TANZANIAN CLEANING STAFF WORKING OUTDOORS AT
THE EMBASSY.
FRESHLY-ARRIVED U-S MARINE GUARDS HAVE NOW SEALED OFF ACCESS TO
THE AREA AROUND THE EMBASSY -- AN EMBASSY WHICH AMERICAN
DIPLOMATS SAY HAD, IRONICALLY, BEEN CRITICIZED RECENTLY IN THE
LOCAL NEWS MEDIA FOR EXCESSIVE SECURITY. THE MARINES HAVE SET UP
SANDBAGGED MACHINE GUN EMPLACEMENTS AND THROWN UP RAZOR WIRE
BARRIERS AT BOTH ENDS OF THE STREET RUNNING IN FRONT OF THE
BUILDING, LOCATED IN A SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL AREA.
THAT DISTANCE FROM THE BUSTLING AND CROWDED CENTER OF DAR ES
SALAAM IS BELIEVED TO HAVE RESULTED IN THE MUCH LOWER CASUALTY
TOLL THAN THE NEARLY-SIMULTANEOUS EXPLOSION AT THE U-S EMBASSY IN
NAIROBI, WHICH IS SITUATED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION IN THE HEART OF
THE KENYAN CITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/MMK
09-Aug-98 3:55 PM EDT (1955 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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