Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Two-Day Arab Conference Meets in Baghdad

Aired September 03, 2002 - 06:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We want to check on the mood in Iraq, and for that, we turn to our James Martone in Baghdad.
James -- I guess Kofi Annan's comments are playing to the crowd in Iraq, at least the crowd in political power there.

JAMES MARTONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, exactly.

It's here in Iraq that newspapers continue to say what Iraq has been saying, that these U.S. threats on the country are not only threats against Iraq, not only threats against the Arab world, but against the entire world is what, indeed, the president of the country himself has said.

The newspaper, "Al-Zawra," which is state-controlled here, also saying that other countries should take those U.S. threats as a warning that they could eventually -- U.S. threats could be made against those countries.

Now, interesting, opening up here today, a conference of Arab parliamentarians, sent from 17 different countries. They are here in Iraq, they say, to protest -- in part, to protest U.S. threats on Iraq. It's the first time that Arab parliamentarians have met in this country since the Gulf War in 1991.

On the agenda, the U.S. threats, as well as the issue of Palestine, which Iraq has successfully linked to its own problems. It's regarded Iraq by many Arabs as a sole supporter of Palestine.

Now, interesting also, a senior parliamentarian tells us that there will be two messages at the end of this two-day meeting -- one to the U.S. Congress, one to European Parliament -- saying that Arab masses reject, as the parliamentarian says, any U.S. threats to change governments by force -- Carol.

COSTELLO: So Saddam Hussein seems to be working really hard on his public relations campaign, and it seems to be working -- James.

MARTONE: Many seem to think so. I mean, indeed, you have these 17 Arab countries who have sent their members of National Assembly, you have European countries who have condemned or rejected these U.S. threats on Iraq. Even one-time foes of Iraq, such as Syria and Iran, have also said they would be opposed to any strikes -- U.S. strikes on Iraq.

So, yes, in many ways, this campaign, this diplomatic offensive, if you will, is being looked upon by many as successful -- Carol. COSTELLO: All right, James Martone reporting live from Baghdad for us this morning.

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