Geraldo Rivera ducks to avoid sniper shots while taping war report in Afghanistan

Thursday, December 6, 2001

(12-06) 11:29 PST NEW YORK (AP) --

Fox News Channel correspondent Geraldo Rivera had a close call in Afghanistan on Thursday, ducking to avoid sniper fire that came so close the sound of the bullets was picked up by his crew's microphones, a spokesman said.

"Geraldo said it was close to parting his hair," Fox News Channel spokesman Robert Zimmerman said.

Nobody was hurt in the incident, which took place when Rivera was taping a report on a ridge near Kandahar where American soldiers were killed in a friendly fire incident, Zimmerman said. Rivera believed al-Qaida fighters nearby were in retreat, but someone obviously was close enough to fire a few shots, the spokesman said.

Rivera, who quit his CNBC talk show last month to report on the war for Fox, revealed last week that he was carrying his own gun for protection in Afghanistan, but he didn't return fire.

The network showed tape of the incident Thursday.

Rivera has suggested he would try to kill al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden if they ever met face to face.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2001