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CNN Live Today
Little Iraqi Reaction to Blix Report
Aired January 28, 2003 - 10:07 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now, the latest from Iraq and a critical weapons report that could raise the likelihood of war. As the U.S. lobbies for support of military action at the U.N., weapons inspectors remain on the job, under the microscope.
Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson is in the Iraqi capital, and brings us the latest from Baghdad -- Nic, hello.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well, that microscope here focused very much on Karl -- on Hans Blix's report to the U.N. Security Council yesterday. The earliest reaction came on Iraqi television, a station run by President Saddam Hussein's son, a commentator asked an analyst what he thought. He said that Blix had been not only unprofessional, he had been unfair, and had been biased. There's been no direct comment in the newspapers here about the report, but one editorial saying that Washington is losing its justification for war.
Another newspaper in an editorial saying that Tony Blair, the ally of Washington, is gambling on lies and more lies. But despite this rhetoric, also heard from the deputy prime minister here. He says that Iraq could give more cooperation to the inspectors.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TARIQ AZIZ, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: They're asking Iraq to provide more cooperation. OK, let them say that, you see. We are doing that. As I said, what were the items of difference between Iraq on the one side and the two gentlemen on the the other side, who represent the United Nations, Blix and ElBaradei? Two issues: the interviewing of the scientists and the use of the U-2. Nothing else. All other aspects of cooperation have been met, and we promise to be more forthcoming in the future. .
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now the other thing running on Iraqi television last night, a one hour, 20 minute broadcast about President Saddam Hussein. He was seen receiving lots of applause from his top military commanders. He was briefing them, giving them a morale-boosting speech, and also asking the commanders about their preparedness and readiness for war, reminding them not to be afraid, he said, of the U.S. forces building up in Kuwait -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Nic, one of the complaints -- one of the complaints about Hans -- from Hans Blix, saying -- pointing out this attempt to interview Iraqi scientists, and saying while some have been interviewed, none have been interviewed without a government official present. Is that likely to change at all?
ROBERTSON: Well, you know, the very latest on that that we heard from Iraq's foreign ministry last night, was from efforts to interview a scientist yesterday by the U.N. inspectors. Now, the scientist said, OK, I'll go to the interview. But he said, I want to bring friends with me. Not Iraqi officials, he said, but friends. Of course, the U.N. team have turned that down. They want just private interviews. No movement, despite the fact Iraqi government saying, giving full encouragement for scientists -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Nic Robertson in Baghdad, thank you for the latest from there.
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 January 28, 2003 - 10:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now, the latest from Iraq and a critical weapons report that could raise the likelihood of war. As the U.S. lobbies for support of military action at the U.N., weapons inspectors remain on the job, under the microscope.
Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson is in the Iraqi capital, and brings us the latest from Baghdad -- Nic, hello.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well, that microscope here focused very much on Karl -- on Hans Blix's report to the U.N. Security Council yesterday. The earliest reaction came on Iraqi television, a station run by President Saddam Hussein's son, a commentator asked an analyst what he thought. He said that Blix had been not only unprofessional, he had been unfair, and had been biased. There's been no direct comment in the newspapers here about the report, but one editorial saying that Washington is losing its justification for war.
Another newspaper in an editorial saying that Tony Blair, the ally of Washington, is gambling on lies and more lies. But despite this rhetoric, also heard from the deputy prime minister here. He says that Iraq could give more cooperation to the inspectors.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TARIQ AZIZ, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: They're asking Iraq to provide more cooperation. OK, let them say that, you see. We are doing that. As I said, what were the items of difference between Iraq on the one side and the two gentlemen on the the other side, who represent the United Nations, Blix and ElBaradei? Two issues: the interviewing of the scientists and the use of the U-2. Nothing else. All other aspects of cooperation have been met, and we promise to be more forthcoming in the future. .
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Now the other thing running on Iraqi television last night, a one hour, 20 minute broadcast about President Saddam Hussein. He was seen receiving lots of applause from his top military commanders. He was briefing them, giving them a morale-boosting speech, and also asking the commanders about their preparedness and readiness for war, reminding them not to be afraid, he said, of the U.S. forces building up in Kuwait -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Nic, one of the complaints -- one of the complaints about Hans -- from Hans Blix, saying -- pointing out this attempt to interview Iraqi scientists, and saying while some have been interviewed, none have been interviewed without a government official present. Is that likely to change at all?
ROBERTSON: Well, you know, the very latest on that that we heard from Iraq's foreign ministry last night, was from efforts to interview a scientist yesterday by the U.N. inspectors. Now, the scientist said, OK, I'll go to the interview. But he said, I want to bring friends with me. Not Iraqi officials, he said, but friends. Of course, the U.N. team have turned that down. They want just private interviews. No movement, despite the fact Iraqi government saying, giving full encouragement for scientists -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Nic Robertson in Baghdad, thank you for the latest from there.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
