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CNN Live Today
Iraq Blasts British Report as 'Baseless'
Aired September 24, 2002 - 13:04 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Iraq says the allegations laid out by Prime Minister Blair are not true. A little more than an hour ago, an adviser to Saddam Hussein denied claims that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.
For the latest from there, we turn to CNN's Rula Amin. She is in Baghdad -- Rula.
RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, Iraq says all of these allegations are "baseless," "a hodgepodge of half-truths." These are the words that Iraq is using to describe the charges in the dossier.
They say that it is simply not true, and that Iraq can verify all of its claims that it doesn't have weapons of mass destruction. They say all of these charges are simply propaganda for public consumption and won't stand when independent professional experts will try to verify it.
This is what Amir Sadi, who is the presidential adviser, had to say about all of those charges.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. GEN. AMIR HAMUD SADI, IRAQI PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: His conclusions that Iraq is engaged in the production of weapons of mass destruction are simply not true. His allegations are long; his evidence is short.
His evidence is a hodgepodge of half-truths, lies, shortsighted and naive allegations which will not -- which will not hold after a brief investigation by competent and independent experts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AMIN: Now, Amir Sadi tried to refute each point in that dossier, but probably the most important thing that he said was that Iraq is willing to give the inspectors -- the weapons inspectors when they come to Baghdad "unfettered access."
This is the first time we hear an Iraqi official mention these words, "unfettered access."
He was asked, "Does that include anywhere they want to go?" He said, "Yes." However, he did say that Iraq is not willing to deal with a new Security Council resolution that would put new guidelines on how the inspectors would do their job here -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Rula Amin in Baghdad, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired September 24, 2002 - 13:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Iraq says the allegations laid out by Prime Minister Blair are not true. A little more than an hour ago, an adviser to Saddam Hussein denied claims that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.
For the latest from there, we turn to CNN's Rula Amin. She is in Baghdad -- Rula.
RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, Iraq says all of these allegations are "baseless," "a hodgepodge of half-truths." These are the words that Iraq is using to describe the charges in the dossier.
They say that it is simply not true, and that Iraq can verify all of its claims that it doesn't have weapons of mass destruction. They say all of these charges are simply propaganda for public consumption and won't stand when independent professional experts will try to verify it.
This is what Amir Sadi, who is the presidential adviser, had to say about all of those charges.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. GEN. AMIR HAMUD SADI, IRAQI PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: His conclusions that Iraq is engaged in the production of weapons of mass destruction are simply not true. His allegations are long; his evidence is short.
His evidence is a hodgepodge of half-truths, lies, shortsighted and naive allegations which will not -- which will not hold after a brief investigation by competent and independent experts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AMIN: Now, Amir Sadi tried to refute each point in that dossier, but probably the most important thing that he said was that Iraq is willing to give the inspectors -- the weapons inspectors when they come to Baghdad "unfettered access."
This is the first time we hear an Iraqi official mention these words, "unfettered access."
He was asked, "Does that include anywhere they want to go?" He said, "Yes." However, he did say that Iraq is not willing to deal with a new Security Council resolution that would put new guidelines on how the inspectors would do their job here -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Rula Amin in Baghdad, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
