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CNN Live At Daybreak

Iraqi Opposition Groups Hold Post-War Planning Sessions

Aired February 27, 2003 - 06:36   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: Opposition groups are holding post- war planning sessions, and they're doing it inside Iraq.
We take you to the center of the action now, the northern town of Erbil. Our Brent Sadler is there and joins us live by phone.

What's going on there?

BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, good morning.

First of all, I'm reporting from the part of Iraq that is not, of course, under the control of President Saddam Hussein.

And what we're seeing here today and yesterday is a gathering of the largely dysfunctional over the past many months opposition group meeting here, along with U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, and, I might add, a three-star U.S. general taking part in this gathering of opposition groups really looking at what will happen after Saddam Hussein goes away, to quote President George Bush, "if there is war."

Now, they weren't here particularly about issues such as what role Turkish troops might play in any coalition. They're concerned, particularly the Kurds, that their hard-won economy over the last 12 years, since the last Gulf War, might be swept away, and that Iraq could be -- the northern part could come under domination by Turkey, by Ankara. A lot of concern about that.

Also a lot of concern being expressed here among the main Shiite opposition group, the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, as well as Sunnites, that this discussion, this plan for a U.S. transitional-led government administration is not going down at all well here.

The opposition very concerned that they might be bypassed under current U.S. plans -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Brent Sadler reporting live out of northern Iraq, which is just 280 miles from Baghdad. But northern Iraq is not under Saddam Hussein's control.

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 27, 2003 - 06:36   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Opposition groups are holding post- war planning sessions, and they're doing it inside Iraq.
We take you to the center of the action now, the northern town of Erbil. Our Brent Sadler is there and joins us live by phone.

What's going on there?

BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, good morning.

First of all, I'm reporting from the part of Iraq that is not, of course, under the control of President Saddam Hussein.

And what we're seeing here today and yesterday is a gathering of the largely dysfunctional over the past many months opposition group meeting here, along with U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, and, I might add, a three-star U.S. general taking part in this gathering of opposition groups really looking at what will happen after Saddam Hussein goes away, to quote President George Bush, "if there is war."

Now, they weren't here particularly about issues such as what role Turkish troops might play in any coalition. They're concerned, particularly the Kurds, that their hard-won economy over the last 12 years, since the last Gulf War, might be swept away, and that Iraq could be -- the northern part could come under domination by Turkey, by Ankara. A lot of concern about that.

Also a lot of concern being expressed here among the main Shiite opposition group, the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, as well as Sunnites, that this discussion, this plan for a U.S. transitional-led government administration is not going down at all well here.

The opposition very concerned that they might be bypassed under current U.S. plans -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Brent Sadler reporting live out of northern Iraq, which is just 280 miles from Baghdad. But northern Iraq is not under Saddam Hussein's control.

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