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CNN Live At Daybreak

International News Desk

Aired March 18, 2003 - 06:53   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: I'm over here at our international desk to check in with David Clinch once again, to talk about Tony Blair.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes. We're within 48 hours, 40 hours, now, of this deadline that President Bush has given. It's the calm before the storm in many ways. But for Prime Minister Blair, today, in many ways, will be the storm. He is going to face a day of debate in the House of Commons. He's already lost some ministers from his cabinet. He may lose more before the day is finished.

We will be bringing you live coverage from London. Now, he will probably, almost definitely not lose a vote, if there is a vote, in the House of Commons. But he may be suffering very much politically during the day today and as this military conflict takes place.

COSTELLO: Why is he bringing this to a vote anyway?

CLINCH: He committed to doing that, bringing this back to the parliament before he committed troops. He will do it. He's a man of his word and he knows he'll win. But, again, he's facing the consequences politically. And then we're also obviously keeping a very close eye on whether Saddam Hussein will, against all odds, go for this exile option. It's unlikely, but we're keeping a close eye...

COSTELLO: Because the Arab League official is going to Iraq.

CLINCH: Well, maybe. We have conflicting reports. A few hours ago, the Iraqis told us they were expecting Amr Moussa of the Arab League in Baghdad any moment. We then find out subsequently Amr Moussa's still in Cairo. We're keeping a close eye on it. There obviously are some options there, but, you know, not likely that he'll take that exile option. But we're keeping a very close eye on it.

COSTELLO: All right, David Clinch, many thanks to you.

CLINCH: OK.

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 - 06:53   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I'm over here at our international desk to check in with David Clinch once again, to talk about Tony Blair.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes. We're within 48 hours, 40 hours, now, of this deadline that President Bush has given. It's the calm before the storm in many ways. But for Prime Minister Blair, today, in many ways, will be the storm. He is going to face a day of debate in the House of Commons. He's already lost some ministers from his cabinet. He may lose more before the day is finished.

We will be bringing you live coverage from London. Now, he will probably, almost definitely not lose a vote, if there is a vote, in the House of Commons. But he may be suffering very much politically during the day today and as this military conflict takes place.

COSTELLO: Why is he bringing this to a vote anyway?

CLINCH: He committed to doing that, bringing this back to the parliament before he committed troops. He will do it. He's a man of his word and he knows he'll win. But, again, he's facing the consequences politically. And then we're also obviously keeping a very close eye on whether Saddam Hussein will, against all odds, go for this exile option. It's unlikely, but we're keeping a close eye...

COSTELLO: Because the Arab League official is going to Iraq.

CLINCH: Well, maybe. We have conflicting reports. A few hours ago, the Iraqis told us they were expecting Amr Moussa of the Arab League in Baghdad any moment. We then find out subsequently Amr Moussa's still in Cairo. We're keeping a close eye on it. There obviously are some options there, but, you know, not likely that he'll take that exile option. But we're keeping a very close eye on it.

COSTELLO: All right, David Clinch, many thanks to you.

CLINCH: OK.

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