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Iraq Irritated by Release of Unedited Document

Aired December 10, 2002 - 11:06   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Weapons inspectors fanned out today across Iraq in four different directions. Now, that is the largest single day of inspections yet, and a routine that's likely to grow with the arrival today of a new batch of U.N. experts.
At the same time, Iraq had some tough words aimed at the Bush administration today. Let's get more on that now. Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is keeping watch for us now, live now from Baghdad -- Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Leon. The foreign ministry here saying the United States creating historic blackmail at the U.N. by acquiring the unedited version of Iraq's declaration, saying it violates the mandate and charter of the U.N., saying the reason the United States wanted to get this declaration, the unedited version, was so that it could manipulate it for acts of aggression against Iraq, but more weapons inspectors arriving here today to get on with their work.

We saw about two dozen land here just a few hours ago, teams fanning out across Iraq, one team driving five and half hours across the Western Iraqi desert to a site called Acashat (ph). Now, this site was a former uranium ore site right up on the border with Syria.

We understand the weapons inspectors there have finished their work today, but it's so far away they'll remain overnight, come back sometime tomorrow. That's a first. We haven't seen that before.

Another team going just south of Baghdad to a light industrial complex. Inspectors there interested in the precision engineering equipment there.

Also today, Leon, on Iraqi television, President Saddam Hussein appearing with his two sons, Uday Saddam Hussein and Qusay Saddam Hussein. Also with him on the television, the director, or chairman of Iraq's military industrial commission.

Now, this is the group that deals a lot with the U.N. inspectors. There are a lot of sites that they own, they run, U.N. inspectors want to see. He was saying today, the chairman of that commission, saying that they were -- his employees would be a thorn in the eye of the aggressors against Iraq.

President Saddam Hussein praising those military industrial commission employees, urging them on to work to thwart the efforts of Iraq's enemies -- Leon.

HARRIS: Nic Robertson reporting live this evening there in Baghdad. Thanks, Nic.

Well, the U.S. and other permanent U.N. Security Council members are now studying the Iraqi weapons dossier. Our Michael Okwu checks in now from the United Nations with more on that -- hello, Michael.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon. Yes, they're studying the dossier, and also, at least in the case of the United States, deflecting blows from Baghdad and from some nonpermanent members of the Security Council responding to Iraqi claims that the United States used unprecedented blackmail to obtain a copy, an unedited copy of this declaration. The deputy U.S. ambassador here, James Cunningham, said we have not blackmailed anybody. And less than 24 hours -- less than 48 hours after this declaration was delivered here at the United Nations, the Syrian ambassador is still not very happy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKHAIL WEHBE, SYRIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: It's unprecedented; it's unwise decision to be taken, because usually such decisions should be taken by consensus. Even if there is one state against this decision, they should not take the decision. Either by consensus or to put it on vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OKWU: The Syrian ambassador later saying we will see what we can do.

But in the meantime, reporters and other people here at the United Nations getting their hands on a document, a letter that has been circulating among some members of the Security Council, essentially a table of contents which breaks down by various disciplines what is included in this document.

Nuclear, chemical, biological, and ballistic missiles programs, and the table of contents also indicates that there could be several mentions of suppliers to Iraq, both countries and individuals. One section talking about foreign technical assistance relations with companies, representatives, and individuals.

And again, another specific reference to programs. This one about a possible look -- a possible look at some of the nerve agents and nerve gases that are used by the Iraqis. None of this is any news to the U.N. officials here who say that for years now, they have known about Iraq's programs. They've had to, in the past, make some 11 declarations since 1991.

In the meantime, the Security Council will be meeting at about 1:15 this afternoon, part of a regularly scheduled luncheon with the Secretary-General and with chief weapons inspector Hans Blix. At that meeting, we understand, some of the Security Council members will be very eager to find out from Blix where they stand on this, and also to get a sense how he's doing with the translation process -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right. Understood. Thanks, Michael. Michael Okwu reporting live for us from the U.N.

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 December 10, 2002 - 11:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Weapons inspectors fanned out today across Iraq in four different directions. Now, that is the largest single day of inspections yet, and a routine that's likely to grow with the arrival today of a new batch of U.N. experts.
At the same time, Iraq had some tough words aimed at the Bush administration today. Let's get more on that now. Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is keeping watch for us now, live now from Baghdad -- Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Leon. The foreign ministry here saying the United States creating historic blackmail at the U.N. by acquiring the unedited version of Iraq's declaration, saying it violates the mandate and charter of the U.N., saying the reason the United States wanted to get this declaration, the unedited version, was so that it could manipulate it for acts of aggression against Iraq, but more weapons inspectors arriving here today to get on with their work.

We saw about two dozen land here just a few hours ago, teams fanning out across Iraq, one team driving five and half hours across the Western Iraqi desert to a site called Acashat (ph). Now, this site was a former uranium ore site right up on the border with Syria.

We understand the weapons inspectors there have finished their work today, but it's so far away they'll remain overnight, come back sometime tomorrow. That's a first. We haven't seen that before.

Another team going just south of Baghdad to a light industrial complex. Inspectors there interested in the precision engineering equipment there.

Also today, Leon, on Iraqi television, President Saddam Hussein appearing with his two sons, Uday Saddam Hussein and Qusay Saddam Hussein. Also with him on the television, the director, or chairman of Iraq's military industrial commission.

Now, this is the group that deals a lot with the U.N. inspectors. There are a lot of sites that they own, they run, U.N. inspectors want to see. He was saying today, the chairman of that commission, saying that they were -- his employees would be a thorn in the eye of the aggressors against Iraq.

President Saddam Hussein praising those military industrial commission employees, urging them on to work to thwart the efforts of Iraq's enemies -- Leon.

HARRIS: Nic Robertson reporting live this evening there in Baghdad. Thanks, Nic.

Well, the U.S. and other permanent U.N. Security Council members are now studying the Iraqi weapons dossier. Our Michael Okwu checks in now from the United Nations with more on that -- hello, Michael.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon. Yes, they're studying the dossier, and also, at least in the case of the United States, deflecting blows from Baghdad and from some nonpermanent members of the Security Council responding to Iraqi claims that the United States used unprecedented blackmail to obtain a copy, an unedited copy of this declaration. The deputy U.S. ambassador here, James Cunningham, said we have not blackmailed anybody. And less than 24 hours -- less than 48 hours after this declaration was delivered here at the United Nations, the Syrian ambassador is still not very happy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKHAIL WEHBE, SYRIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: It's unprecedented; it's unwise decision to be taken, because usually such decisions should be taken by consensus. Even if there is one state against this decision, they should not take the decision. Either by consensus or to put it on vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OKWU: The Syrian ambassador later saying we will see what we can do.

But in the meantime, reporters and other people here at the United Nations getting their hands on a document, a letter that has been circulating among some members of the Security Council, essentially a table of contents which breaks down by various disciplines what is included in this document.

Nuclear, chemical, biological, and ballistic missiles programs, and the table of contents also indicates that there could be several mentions of suppliers to Iraq, both countries and individuals. One section talking about foreign technical assistance relations with companies, representatives, and individuals.

And again, another specific reference to programs. This one about a possible look -- a possible look at some of the nerve agents and nerve gases that are used by the Iraqis. None of this is any news to the U.N. officials here who say that for years now, they have known about Iraq's programs. They've had to, in the past, make some 11 declarations since 1991.

In the meantime, the Security Council will be meeting at about 1:15 this afternoon, part of a regularly scheduled luncheon with the Secretary-General and with chief weapons inspector Hans Blix. At that meeting, we understand, some of the Security Council members will be very eager to find out from Blix where they stand on this, and also to get a sense how he's doing with the translation process -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right. Understood. Thanks, Michael. Michael Okwu reporting live for us from the U.N.

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