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CNN Live At Daybreak
Iraq Working With U.N. to Destroy Missiles
Aired March 03, 2003 - 06:02 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: We want to take you now to Iraq to talk more about missile destruction. There is word more are or will soon be destroyed, but that could change.
Nic Robertson is live in Baghdad.
Good morning -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, Iraqi officials have just confirmed that between seven and nine of the Al Samoud 2 missiles will be destroyed today. The U.N. inspectors here say they are monitoring that today.
However, that progress seems to go against the trend with the Iraqi scientists. Nine Iraqi scientists have been requested for interview in the last three days by U.N. weapons inspectors; only three have been interviewed. One Iraqi engineer called for interview yesterday did not show up for that interview. So, the U.N. thought they'd had positive moves; that appears to be slowing down there.
Also, President Saddam Hussein appearing on Iraqi television, talking with top military commanders. The talk there about training for warfare in urban environment.
Also for the first time, the Iraqi leader responding to the United States dropping propaganda leaflets telling his troops not to fire at coalition aircraft.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SADDAM HUSSEIN, IRAQI PRESIDENT (through translator): Americans are intentionally dropping leaflets on our division to shake it. How dare they. Do they think they can shake the 11th Division with leaflets? Bombs couldn't shake this division before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Those military commanders, as well, saying that they now have a two months' supply of ammunition with their troops, Carol. That's the first indication again we've heard about Iraq's readiness for war there -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Nic, let's talk more about the destruction of those Al Samoud 2 missiles. Could the destruction of those missiles be stopped soon? ROBERTSON: Absolutely. President Saddam Hussein's top scientific advisor, General Amer al-Saadi, said that if the United States goes in an illegal way -- that means outside of U.N. Resolution 1441, moves towards a position of war -- he said if Iraq determines that in this coming month, then they will stop the destruction of these missiles. Now, he said that Iraq has perhaps 100 or so of the missiles, and the U.N. says they believe the destruction could take place -- could take place in the space of just two weeks -- Carol.
COSTELLO: We'll see. Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad 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.
Aired March 3, 2003 - 06:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We want to take you now to Iraq to talk more about missile destruction. There is word more are or will soon be destroyed, but that could change.
Nic Robertson is live in Baghdad.
Good morning -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, Iraqi officials have just confirmed that between seven and nine of the Al Samoud 2 missiles will be destroyed today. The U.N. inspectors here say they are monitoring that today.
However, that progress seems to go against the trend with the Iraqi scientists. Nine Iraqi scientists have been requested for interview in the last three days by U.N. weapons inspectors; only three have been interviewed. One Iraqi engineer called for interview yesterday did not show up for that interview. So, the U.N. thought they'd had positive moves; that appears to be slowing down there.
Also, President Saddam Hussein appearing on Iraqi television, talking with top military commanders. The talk there about training for warfare in urban environment.
Also for the first time, the Iraqi leader responding to the United States dropping propaganda leaflets telling his troops not to fire at coalition aircraft.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SADDAM HUSSEIN, IRAQI PRESIDENT (through translator): Americans are intentionally dropping leaflets on our division to shake it. How dare they. Do they think they can shake the 11th Division with leaflets? Bombs couldn't shake this division before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Those military commanders, as well, saying that they now have a two months' supply of ammunition with their troops, Carol. That's the first indication again we've heard about Iraq's readiness for war there -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Nic, let's talk more about the destruction of those Al Samoud 2 missiles. Could the destruction of those missiles be stopped soon? ROBERTSON: Absolutely. President Saddam Hussein's top scientific advisor, General Amer al-Saadi, said that if the United States goes in an illegal way -- that means outside of U.N. Resolution 1441, moves towards a position of war -- he said if Iraq determines that in this coming month, then they will stop the destruction of these missiles. Now, he said that Iraq has perhaps 100 or so of the missiles, and the U.N. says they believe the destruction could take place -- could take place in the space of just two weeks -- Carol.
COSTELLO: We'll see. Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad 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.
