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CNN Live Saturday

Japanese, Italians March Against Possible U.S. War in Iraq

Aired November 09, 2002 - 18:04   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.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: People are speaking out against the possibility of fighting in Iraq. Japanese students gathered at the U.S. embassy in Tokyo. They oppose a war, they say, with Iraq. And they oppose any Japanese involvement. And as CNN's Chris Burns reports, on the other side of the world, another protest, another large crowd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A peace dance to chase away the clouds of war, part of a massive outpouring of all ages, across the leftist side of the political spectrum. Marching against the U.S. threatened war against Iraq.

As thousands of police, with helicopters overhead, discreetly keep watch, far left groups accuse Washington of imperialism -- or worse. World War II's axis of evil is updated with President Bush and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Others beat the drums of war in ridicule.

BURNS (on camera): More than 400 groups, from over 100 countries have come to the Social Forum (ph). They may not agree on everything, but they have united behind one issue here. The question is will the collective voice make a difference.

BURNS (voice over): Some aren't very optimistic.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm 50 percent hopeful that it will change in the long run.

BURNS: Engineer Leonardo says, he expects a war, but holds out hope, too.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that it is important to stay here, to scream our no.

BURNS: The protest was generally festive, after all, it was about preaching peace.

But some officials fear the worst for a city filled with Renaissance treasures. The march was steered around Florence's Centro Cortical, or historic center. Fears of violence scared away many tourists and prompted many merchants to shutter their businesses. Replacing some of the tourists are activists.

BURNS (on camera): But how to disarm Saddam Hussein? How do you disarm him?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How do we disarm Tony Blair and George Bush? Huh? That also is the question.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's up to Iraq to disarm. The people of Iraq should disarm, Saddam Hussein, the people of Iraq.

BURNS: But what if they can't because he's a dictator?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of the people. The people of Iraq, they have to find the solution to Saddam Hussein.

BURNS (voice over): No easy answers, but hope against hope that peace could somehow be made.

Chris Burns, CNN, Florence, Italy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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




Iraq>


Aired November 9, 2002 - 18:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: People are speaking out against the possibility of fighting in Iraq. Japanese students gathered at the U.S. embassy in Tokyo. They oppose a war, they say, with Iraq. And they oppose any Japanese involvement. And as CNN's Chris Burns reports, on the other side of the world, another protest, another large crowd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A peace dance to chase away the clouds of war, part of a massive outpouring of all ages, across the leftist side of the political spectrum. Marching against the U.S. threatened war against Iraq.

As thousands of police, with helicopters overhead, discreetly keep watch, far left groups accuse Washington of imperialism -- or worse. World War II's axis of evil is updated with President Bush and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Others beat the drums of war in ridicule.

BURNS (on camera): More than 400 groups, from over 100 countries have come to the Social Forum (ph). They may not agree on everything, but they have united behind one issue here. The question is will the collective voice make a difference.

BURNS (voice over): Some aren't very optimistic.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm 50 percent hopeful that it will change in the long run.

BURNS: Engineer Leonardo says, he expects a war, but holds out hope, too.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that it is important to stay here, to scream our no.

BURNS: The protest was generally festive, after all, it was about preaching peace.

But some officials fear the worst for a city filled with Renaissance treasures. The march was steered around Florence's Centro Cortical, or historic center. Fears of violence scared away many tourists and prompted many merchants to shutter their businesses. Replacing some of the tourists are activists.

BURNS (on camera): But how to disarm Saddam Hussein? How do you disarm him?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How do we disarm Tony Blair and George Bush? Huh? That also is the question.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's up to Iraq to disarm. The people of Iraq should disarm, Saddam Hussein, the people of Iraq.

BURNS: But what if they can't because he's a dictator?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of the people. The people of Iraq, they have to find the solution to Saddam Hussein.

BURNS (voice over): No easy answers, but hope against hope that peace could somehow be made.

Chris Burns, CNN, Florence, Italy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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




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