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CNN Live At Daybreak
President Bush Gives Ultimatum for Iraqi Leader to Leave
Aired March 18, 2003 - 06:32 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now we take you live to Iraq. Let's get the latest reaction now to President Bush's ultimatum issued last night.
Our Rym Brahimi is in Baghdad, where residents there are preparing for an attack that, Rym, I'm sure that they've been thinking has been coming for some time now.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Leon, a lot of people actually say that this time, unlike in 1991, they have been able to prepare to some extent, those of them who can afford it, of course.
But let me just take you to the latest developments here. There have been quite a few major events.
First of all, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry says it is expecting the visit this afternoon in Baghdad of the secretary general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa. Now, Amr Moussa was expected to arrive on Friday, initially, with a delegation comprising a few other Arab foreign ministers. That didn't happen. Now, the Foreign Ministry is saying they don't know what message he is carrying, but they are expecting him sometime today here in Baghdad.
Another major development, as you well know, Leon, the departure of the U.N. weapons inspectors from Baghdad, as well as the remaining essential personnel from the United Nations humanitarian office and other agencies from the United Nations. I understand a Boeing 727 took a group out earlier on this morning. That group has already arrived in Larnaca. Another group was expected to leave this afternoon.
Let's listen to Hiro Ueki, the spokesman of the U.N. weapons inspector, before he left.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HIRO UEKI, UNSCOM SPOKESMAN: It's unfortunate that we have to leave now. I think we have done our part. Our job is not finished, but I think all of the inspectors and the support staff have done our best.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRAHIMI: That departure is a sure sign for ordinary Iraqis, who have been down this road before, that war is looming -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right, thank you very much, Rym -- Rym Brahimi reporting to us live from Baghdad. All right, be careful, Rym.
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 18, 2003 - 06:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now we take you live to Iraq. Let's get the latest reaction now to President Bush's ultimatum issued last night.
Our Rym Brahimi is in Baghdad, where residents there are preparing for an attack that, Rym, I'm sure that they've been thinking has been coming for some time now.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Leon, a lot of people actually say that this time, unlike in 1991, they have been able to prepare to some extent, those of them who can afford it, of course.
But let me just take you to the latest developments here. There have been quite a few major events.
First of all, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry says it is expecting the visit this afternoon in Baghdad of the secretary general of the Arab League, Amr Moussa. Now, Amr Moussa was expected to arrive on Friday, initially, with a delegation comprising a few other Arab foreign ministers. That didn't happen. Now, the Foreign Ministry is saying they don't know what message he is carrying, but they are expecting him sometime today here in Baghdad.
Another major development, as you well know, Leon, the departure of the U.N. weapons inspectors from Baghdad, as well as the remaining essential personnel from the United Nations humanitarian office and other agencies from the United Nations. I understand a Boeing 727 took a group out earlier on this morning. That group has already arrived in Larnaca. Another group was expected to leave this afternoon.
Let's listen to Hiro Ueki, the spokesman of the U.N. weapons inspector, before he left.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HIRO UEKI, UNSCOM SPOKESMAN: It's unfortunate that we have to leave now. I think we have done our part. Our job is not finished, but I think all of the inspectors and the support staff have done our best.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRAHIMI: That departure is a sure sign for ordinary Iraqis, who have been down this road before, that war is looming -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right, thank you very much, Rym -- Rym Brahimi reporting to us live from Baghdad. All right, be careful, Rym.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
