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CNN Live At Daybreak

Top U.N. Inspectors Have Agreed to Return to Baghdad

Aired February 03, 2003 - 05:23   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: Turning our attention to Iraq now, the two top U.N. weapons inspectors have agreed to return to Baghdad on Saturday for another round of talks with Iraqi officials. That meeting will come less than a week before the inspectors have to report to the Security Council again.
CNN's Nic Robertson joins us with the latest from Baghdad.

And what do you expect the Iraqis to say to the inspectors this coming weekend?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the indications are perhaps positive in one sense. The two U.N. weapons chiefs have said that before they come to Baghdad, they expect Iraq to take some action on some key issues. Those issues, private interviews with Iraqi scientists, use of U2 surveillance aircraft and Iraq to pass laws outlawing weapons of mass destruction here.

Now, according to General Hossam Mohammed Amin, the main Iraqi official that deals with the U.N. inspectors here, he put it this way. He said rather than progress prior to their arrival, he said he expects to make progress when they're here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOSSAM MOHAMMED AMIN, IRAQ NATIONAL MONITORING DIRECTOR: We understood the letter of Mr. Hans Blix. We read it. And I think it is not conditions. But he hoped that some measures should be taken, should be finalized, should be reached upon during his visit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: So, perhaps the positions not too far apart. General Hossam Mohammed Amin saying there would be phone calls during the week on these issues -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Understood.

Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad this morning.

Our Web site has a complete update on the hunt for weapons in Iraq. The address, cnn.com, AOL keyword: CNN.

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 February 3, 2003 - 05:23   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Turning our attention to Iraq now, the two top U.N. weapons inspectors have agreed to return to Baghdad on Saturday for another round of talks with Iraqi officials. That meeting will come less than a week before the inspectors have to report to the Security Council again.
CNN's Nic Robertson joins us with the latest from Baghdad.

And what do you expect the Iraqis to say to the inspectors this coming weekend?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the indications are perhaps positive in one sense. The two U.N. weapons chiefs have said that before they come to Baghdad, they expect Iraq to take some action on some key issues. Those issues, private interviews with Iraqi scientists, use of U2 surveillance aircraft and Iraq to pass laws outlawing weapons of mass destruction here.

Now, according to General Hossam Mohammed Amin, the main Iraqi official that deals with the U.N. inspectors here, he put it this way. He said rather than progress prior to their arrival, he said he expects to make progress when they're here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOSSAM MOHAMMED AMIN, IRAQ NATIONAL MONITORING DIRECTOR: We understood the letter of Mr. Hans Blix. We read it. And I think it is not conditions. But he hoped that some measures should be taken, should be finalized, should be reached upon during his visit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: So, perhaps the positions not too far apart. General Hossam Mohammed Amin saying there would be phone calls during the week on these issues -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Understood.

Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad this morning.

Our Web site has a complete update on the hunt for weapons in Iraq. The address, cnn.com, AOL keyword: CNN.

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