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CNN Live At Daybreak

Manhunt Going on in Kuwait

Aired January 21, 2003 - 05:02   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get right to that breaking news out of Kuwait now, the ambush death of one American civilian contractor and the wounding of another. Right now there is a manhunt going on.
Our Martin Savidge has been at the site of the attack and joins us live from Kuwait City.

In fact, you were the first to reach the scene -- what happened, Martin?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, at this point it is still being worked out. This attack happened about 9:20 in the morning. That is local time here in Kuwait. And, as you point out, that is north of Kuwait City, very near Camp Doha, which is a major U.S. military installation.

The two Americans -- one was killed, one was wounded -- were riding in an SUV. It appears from the way things looked at the scene that they were departing the area of Camp Doha, maybe heading out towards Kuwait City, when their vehicle came under attack. They were at a four way intersection where there is a traffic light. Authorities speculate they may have had a red light and came to a stop and that the attacker or attackers were laying in wait in a tree lined area directly to the side of the road and opened fire.

It is believed they were using automatic weapons. Police said they counted 24 bullet holes in the SUV. The other man who was wounded was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. The manhunt under way -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Martin, tell us again, these Americans were civilians, they were contractors. Tell us why they're in Kuwait City.

SAVIDGE: Well, that is what the government is saying right now, that these were not servicemen, but contractors that may have been working on a U.S. service base, in other words, at Camp Doha. You have a lot of technicians that come in, a lot of contractors that are working hand in glove with the U.S. military. That is commonly the case in any major deployment. That appears to have been the case this morning. That's why they were here -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And this isn't the first time Americans have been attacked in Kuwait.

SAVIDGE: No, it is not. There was, of course, the most famous attack, which took place in Failaka Island on the Marines -- that was late last year -- in which one Marine was killed and another was wounded. The two attackers were gunned down by the Marines. And there have been other incidents involving U.S. military forces in which they were threatened and returned fire as a precaution -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Martin Savidge reporting live from Kuwait City this morning.

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Aired January 21, 2003 - 05:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get right to that breaking news out of Kuwait now, the ambush death of one American civilian contractor and the wounding of another. Right now there is a manhunt going on.
Our Martin Savidge has been at the site of the attack and joins us live from Kuwait City.

In fact, you were the first to reach the scene -- what happened, Martin?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, at this point it is still being worked out. This attack happened about 9:20 in the morning. That is local time here in Kuwait. And, as you point out, that is north of Kuwait City, very near Camp Doha, which is a major U.S. military installation.

The two Americans -- one was killed, one was wounded -- were riding in an SUV. It appears from the way things looked at the scene that they were departing the area of Camp Doha, maybe heading out towards Kuwait City, when their vehicle came under attack. They were at a four way intersection where there is a traffic light. Authorities speculate they may have had a red light and came to a stop and that the attacker or attackers were laying in wait in a tree lined area directly to the side of the road and opened fire.

It is believed they were using automatic weapons. Police said they counted 24 bullet holes in the SUV. The other man who was wounded was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. The manhunt under way -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Martin, tell us again, these Americans were civilians, they were contractors. Tell us why they're in Kuwait City.

SAVIDGE: Well, that is what the government is saying right now, that these were not servicemen, but contractors that may have been working on a U.S. service base, in other words, at Camp Doha. You have a lot of technicians that come in, a lot of contractors that are working hand in glove with the U.S. military. That is commonly the case in any major deployment. That appears to have been the case this morning. That's why they were here -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And this isn't the first time Americans have been attacked in Kuwait.

SAVIDGE: No, it is not. There was, of course, the most famous attack, which took place in Failaka Island on the Marines -- that was late last year -- in which one Marine was killed and another was wounded. The two attackers were gunned down by the Marines. And there have been other incidents involving U.S. military forces in which they were threatened and returned fire as a precaution -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Martin Savidge reporting live from Kuwait City 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