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CNN Live At Daybreak

Saddam Hussein Marks Islamic New Year

Aired March 04, 2003 - 06:03   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 find out more now about that message President Saddam Hussein sent out to his people. We take you live to Baghdad and Nic Robertson.
What did he say -- Nic?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, this was a message, an annual message, but it had a different tone this year; the message coming out on the Islam's New Year. President Saddam Hussein telling the Iraqi people that if they were armed with their faith, then they would defeat the despots who would gain nothing by their aggression and their arrogance at this time.

This whole message lasted about 12 minutes, many references about the hint towards the history of Islam, but the message for the Iraqi people there that they will not be defeated if there is a possible war.

Now, also, Iraqi officials saying perhaps the rate of the destruction of the Al Samoud 2 missiles is slowing down, because this is a public holiday here. They said between two to three of the missiles will be destroyed today.

They also say that a missile launcher or parts of it will be destroyed today, and a casting chamber, something else the U.N. had told the Iraqi officials to destroy, that also is being destroyed -- Carol.

COSTELLO: 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 4, 2003 - 06:03   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 find out more now about that message President Saddam Hussein sent out to his people. We take you live to Baghdad and Nic Robertson.
What did he say -- Nic?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, this was a message, an annual message, but it had a different tone this year; the message coming out on the Islam's New Year. President Saddam Hussein telling the Iraqi people that if they were armed with their faith, then they would defeat the despots who would gain nothing by their aggression and their arrogance at this time.

This whole message lasted about 12 minutes, many references about the hint towards the history of Islam, but the message for the Iraqi people there that they will not be defeated if there is a possible war.

Now, also, Iraqi officials saying perhaps the rate of the destruction of the Al Samoud 2 missiles is slowing down, because this is a public holiday here. They said between two to three of the missiles will be destroyed today.

They also say that a missile launcher or parts of it will be destroyed today, and a casting chamber, something else the U.N. had told the Iraqi officials to destroy, that also is being destroyed -- Carol.

COSTELLO: 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.