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CNN Live Saturday

Iraqi Media Portrays Blix's Report as Positive Development

Aired March 08, 2003 - 14:04   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: We continue our live coverage with a look inside Iraq now. CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson joins us now from Baghdad with the latest developments -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, well, Iraq's news agency says this evening that overnight last night, a civilian in service infrastructure in the west -- towards the west of Baghdad was struck by coalition aircraft. Now, Central Command does say that in that area over Friday night they did strike at a missile facility on the ground.

Now, Iraq's news agency went on in its report, however, to say that there had been some 225 armed violations of its airspace. These are the flights over northern and southern no-fly zones by coalition aircraft. But the number of sorties, 225, very high. A month or so ago, it might have been 100 sorties a day. Several months ago, it might have been between 20 to 70 sorties a day. So Iraq's news agency highlighting a very high number of what they call violations of their airspace by coalition aircraft in the northern and southern no-fly zones.

In Baghdad, however, both U.N. and Iraqi officials say six more Al Samoud 2 missiles have been destroyed. They say that that includes as well three warheads that go along with those missiles. That brings the total 40 of the Al Samoud 2 missiles destroyed, about one-third of Iraq's declared total arsenal of the Al Samoud 2 missiles.

Also, U.N. officials say that another Iraqi scientist has held a private interview with them. That brings the total now, 11 Iraqi scientists that have held private interviews with U.N. weapons inspectors. Those interviews held here in Baghdad. The U.N. has said it does plan to ask in the near future to hold those interviews outside the country.

A very positive image being portrayed here of Hans Blix, U.N. weapons chief, report to the U.N. Security Council. Iraqi television saying that it was positive, but President Saddam Hussein meeting with top ministers and politicians today. The news announcer reading over those pictures. The president says it's clear now that the world knows that the United States and Great Britain are trying to cover up what they say is Iraq's compliance with U.N. weapons inspectors. Iraqi leader saying it's time that the U.N. Security Council should call the United States and Great Britain liars, it's time that the embargo against Iraq should be lifted. It's time, they say, for paragraph 14 of U.N. Resolution 687 to be enforced. That's the resolution that calls for -- or the paragraph in the resolution that calls for all weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East to be eradicated.

And one last demand is that Israel should pull out of Palestinian areas -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Well, Nic, is there any kind of timeline as to when all of the at least 120 missiles, Al Samoud 2 missiles be destroyed? Because obviously it's not going to be able to make this March 17 deadline.

ROBERTSON: Well, they've been destroying missiles for one week now. A week ago, when that began, U.N. officials said they're not in control of the timeline, they're not setting a deadline. They said it's up to Iraqi authorities to do that. U.N. senior representative at that time said he thought that the process could happen in two weeks. So far it appears one week, one-third of the missiles. Maybe therefore, if they're going at the same rate, another two weeks for that to be completed.

There are, however, a number of warheads as well to be destroyed, other facilities associated with the missiles, and some 375 more missile engines belonging to those Al Samoud 2 missiles that Iraq imported into the country. Those also, we're told, do have to be destroyed. So Iraq looks, if it keeps up this pace, Fredricka, maybe another two weeks to destroy the missiles.

WHITFIELD: All right, Nic, thank you very much.

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




Development>


Aired March 8, 2003 - 14:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: We continue our live coverage with a look inside Iraq now. CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson joins us now from Baghdad with the latest developments -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, well, Iraq's news agency says this evening that overnight last night, a civilian in service infrastructure in the west -- towards the west of Baghdad was struck by coalition aircraft. Now, Central Command does say that in that area over Friday night they did strike at a missile facility on the ground.

Now, Iraq's news agency went on in its report, however, to say that there had been some 225 armed violations of its airspace. These are the flights over northern and southern no-fly zones by coalition aircraft. But the number of sorties, 225, very high. A month or so ago, it might have been 100 sorties a day. Several months ago, it might have been between 20 to 70 sorties a day. So Iraq's news agency highlighting a very high number of what they call violations of their airspace by coalition aircraft in the northern and southern no-fly zones.

In Baghdad, however, both U.N. and Iraqi officials say six more Al Samoud 2 missiles have been destroyed. They say that that includes as well three warheads that go along with those missiles. That brings the total 40 of the Al Samoud 2 missiles destroyed, about one-third of Iraq's declared total arsenal of the Al Samoud 2 missiles.

Also, U.N. officials say that another Iraqi scientist has held a private interview with them. That brings the total now, 11 Iraqi scientists that have held private interviews with U.N. weapons inspectors. Those interviews held here in Baghdad. The U.N. has said it does plan to ask in the near future to hold those interviews outside the country.

A very positive image being portrayed here of Hans Blix, U.N. weapons chief, report to the U.N. Security Council. Iraqi television saying that it was positive, but President Saddam Hussein meeting with top ministers and politicians today. The news announcer reading over those pictures. The president says it's clear now that the world knows that the United States and Great Britain are trying to cover up what they say is Iraq's compliance with U.N. weapons inspectors. Iraqi leader saying it's time that the U.N. Security Council should call the United States and Great Britain liars, it's time that the embargo against Iraq should be lifted. It's time, they say, for paragraph 14 of U.N. Resolution 687 to be enforced. That's the resolution that calls for -- or the paragraph in the resolution that calls for all weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East to be eradicated.

And one last demand is that Israel should pull out of Palestinian areas -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Well, Nic, is there any kind of timeline as to when all of the at least 120 missiles, Al Samoud 2 missiles be destroyed? Because obviously it's not going to be able to make this March 17 deadline.

ROBERTSON: Well, they've been destroying missiles for one week now. A week ago, when that began, U.N. officials said they're not in control of the timeline, they're not setting a deadline. They said it's up to Iraqi authorities to do that. U.N. senior representative at that time said he thought that the process could happen in two weeks. So far it appears one week, one-third of the missiles. Maybe therefore, if they're going at the same rate, another two weeks for that to be completed.

There are, however, a number of warheads as well to be destroyed, other facilities associated with the missiles, and some 375 more missile engines belonging to those Al Samoud 2 missiles that Iraq imported into the country. Those also, we're told, do have to be destroyed. So Iraq looks, if it keeps up this pace, Fredricka, maybe another two weeks to destroy the missiles.

WHITFIELD: All right, Nic, thank you very much.

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




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