Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Believed Stepson of Saddam Hussein in U.S. Custody

Aired July 04, 2002 - 12:08   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: As we celebrate this Independence Day, the believed stepson of one of America's arch enemies is in federal custody. His name is Mohammed Nour al-Din Saffi, and he's believed to be the stepson of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Last night, Saffi was arrested in Miami, where he was planning to attend flight training school. CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti joins us from Miami with the details on that. Hi there, Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon. One of Mr. Saffi's associates says as far as he knows, Mohammed Saffi was here in the United States for legitimate reasons. He reportedly works for Air New Zealand as a flight engineer. However, an investigative source tells me that in this post-September 11 climate: "If we find that someone is related to Saddam Hussein and is coming here to attend a flight school, we are going to want to talk to him."

And in this case, as it turns out, according to authorities, Mohammed Saffi did not have the required student visa that is necessary for him to attend a flight school here in the United States. An FBI spokesman says the school that he was trying to attend is one of the same ones linked to one of the September 11th hijackers Ziad Jarrah.

Authorities say that Mohammed Saffi flew into Los Angeles on Monday. The FBI got wind of it, questioned him, and then tipped off U.S. immigration by the time he had arrived in Miami and the INS then interviewed him and arrested him here in Miami.

Now to give you an idea of the relationship between this man and Saddam Hussein, we are told that his mother is married to an Iraqi airline executive, and some years ago, the mother had an affair with Saddam Hussein. Saddam Hussein, in turn, asked her husband to divorce the woman so that he could marry her and that's the family tree. Now this man who was there when Mohammed Saffi was arrested yesterday here in Miami, says all of this has taken him by surprise.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALLY, ASSOCIATE OF SAFFI: He is a New Zealand citizen. He is using a New Zealand passport. This is a copy of his passport, the New Zealand passport. That's what the INS Service has a copy of it. On the Aero Service is a requirement after September 11 to sign a release letter or a security form, allow anybody who is not a U.S. citizen to conduct any aircraft training or simulated air training within the United States.

Two days later, I've been called or I had a call from the Aero Service. They said OK, you got the green light for Mr. Saffi to come over to do the simulated training.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now this school, Aero Service says, that it is cooperating with the FBI and with the INS and told authorities that it checked a Justice Department Web site before it agreed to accept this man as a student. Back to you, Kyra.

WHITFIELD: All right, it's Fredricka. Thanks a lot Susan, I appreciate it.

CANDIOTTI: Sorry, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: No, that's OK. Thanks, from Miami.

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