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CNN Live At Daybreak
U.S. Backs Off on Call for Resolution Vote
Aired March 11, 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Let's quickly get an early briefing on the showdown with Iraq. The U.N. vote on a resolution authorizing war with Iraq is on hold, at least until later in the week. Washington had planned to call a vote for today, but couldn't get enough Security Council support. France and Russia say they're prepared to veto a new Security Council resolution on Iraq sought by the U.S. and Britain.
And chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix is downplaying the recent discovery of an Iraqi drone during inspections. He says the unmanned aircraft does not constitute a "smoking gun."
Let's see how all of this is playing out in Iraq. We take you live to Baghdad with Rym Brahimi -- Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, Iraqi officials here are saying that the fact that U.S. and Britain want to push for a resolution despite strong opposition by a lot of other member countries shows that their goal is not disarmament but they're intent on pursuing a war no matter what. And so, Iraqi officials here are preparing for a war, which many say privately they believe is inevitable, while at the same time trying to avert it.
In terms of efforts to prepare for a war, a lot of things have been going on here, Fredricka. The UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has been working with the Iraqi government to help malnourished children have a better chance of surviving a war. They've been distributing therapeutic meals. They've also been distributing high-protein biscuits at child community care centers in order to make sure that those that are more vulnerable, those children, and among them the malnourished -- the UNICEF here says 85 percent of Iraqi children are malnourished -- well, to make sure they have a better chance.
Now, at the same time, the building that I'm on, Fredricka, the Ministry of Information, well, that building has been fortified. They've also been placing sand bags at every corner of this building. This building, as you know, hosts hundreds of local and international journalists.
And, of course, diplomatic efforts may be on the way. Iraq is trying to avert a war. The destruction of the Al Samoud 2 missile continues as requested by U.N. weapons experts, we hear from U.N. officials here. But diplomatic efforts may be under way. An Arab League delegation is expected in Baghdad, and it could be expected any time between this afternoon and Thursday -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Rym. And so far, they're about at the halfway point on the destruction of those Al Samoud 2 missiles?
BRAHIMI: Well, Fredricka, until yesterday, they were at 52 Al Samoud 2 missiles destroyed. That's a little less than half of what's believed to be the total number of Al Samoud 2 missiles Iraq has. Today, we don't know for sure how many Al Samouds will have been destroyed by the end of the day. We're going to hear more details on what's happening with the inspection process with the destruction in a few hours when we hear from the spokesman of the U.N. weapons inspectors here.
What we do know, though, is that this rotation of inspectors does continue. There were inspectors that left this morning, but others have also arrived. They number roughly about 70 for now -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Rym, 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.
Aired March 11, 2003 - 06:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Let's quickly get an early briefing on the showdown with Iraq. The U.N. vote on a resolution authorizing war with Iraq is on hold, at least until later in the week. Washington had planned to call a vote for today, but couldn't get enough Security Council support. France and Russia say they're prepared to veto a new Security Council resolution on Iraq sought by the U.S. and Britain.
And chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix is downplaying the recent discovery of an Iraqi drone during inspections. He says the unmanned aircraft does not constitute a "smoking gun."
Let's see how all of this is playing out in Iraq. We take you live to Baghdad with Rym Brahimi -- Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, Iraqi officials here are saying that the fact that U.S. and Britain want to push for a resolution despite strong opposition by a lot of other member countries shows that their goal is not disarmament but they're intent on pursuing a war no matter what. And so, Iraqi officials here are preparing for a war, which many say privately they believe is inevitable, while at the same time trying to avert it.
In terms of efforts to prepare for a war, a lot of things have been going on here, Fredricka. The UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has been working with the Iraqi government to help malnourished children have a better chance of surviving a war. They've been distributing therapeutic meals. They've also been distributing high-protein biscuits at child community care centers in order to make sure that those that are more vulnerable, those children, and among them the malnourished -- the UNICEF here says 85 percent of Iraqi children are malnourished -- well, to make sure they have a better chance.
Now, at the same time, the building that I'm on, Fredricka, the Ministry of Information, well, that building has been fortified. They've also been placing sand bags at every corner of this building. This building, as you know, hosts hundreds of local and international journalists.
And, of course, diplomatic efforts may be on the way. Iraq is trying to avert a war. The destruction of the Al Samoud 2 missile continues as requested by U.N. weapons experts, we hear from U.N. officials here. But diplomatic efforts may be under way. An Arab League delegation is expected in Baghdad, and it could be expected any time between this afternoon and Thursday -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Rym. And so far, they're about at the halfway point on the destruction of those Al Samoud 2 missiles?
BRAHIMI: Well, Fredricka, until yesterday, they were at 52 Al Samoud 2 missiles destroyed. That's a little less than half of what's believed to be the total number of Al Samoud 2 missiles Iraq has. Today, we don't know for sure how many Al Samouds will have been destroyed by the end of the day. We're going to hear more details on what's happening with the inspection process with the destruction in a few hours when we hear from the spokesman of the U.N. weapons inspectors here.
What we do know, though, is that this rotation of inspectors does continue. There were inspectors that left this morning, but others have also arrived. They number roughly about 70 for now -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Rym, 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.
