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CNN Live Today

Humanitarian Aid Reaches Umm Qasr; Iraqi Civilians Fired on By Fedayeen Saddam

Aired March 28, 2003 - 10:02   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.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Humanitarian aid is now flowing into Iraq. Within the last couple of hours, a British ship carrying 200 tons of relief supplies found safe harbor and a hearty welcome in southern Iraq. But after crossing the sea, it was the final leg of the journey that proved the most worrisome.

Our chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, is in Umm Qasr, where the shipment is now being off-loaded. She has all the latest details for us now.

Good morning, Christiane.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. And good evening from here in Umm Qasr in southern Iraq.

Really, the first supply ship to have docked at this important, in fact Iraq's only commercial port, showing not only that humanitarian aid is beginning, the pipeline may just be beginning, but also that the port is open for business. That's the message that the coalition, the U.S. and the British are trying to send, of course, a lot of humanitarian aid needed by the people in this region. There are only about 200 tons on board of food, water, blanket, various food staples, medical supplies, some of it a gift from the people of Kuwait, others from the British defense establishment, the Ministry of Defense there, army supplies.

But it's all about not only helping to feed and clothe and meet the needs of the Iraqi people, but, also, it's part of their two- pronged military battle, their strategy. One is, of course, the heavy metal fighting. And the other is the winning of the hearts and minds to get the civilian population on side and to win confidence and trust and to persuade the civilian population that they have come as benefactors, not just bombers.

And this is important in their strategy to try to separate the political leadership of Saddam Hussein, which still exists in some of these towns, from the civilian population. So, that is what the British are trying to do here.

To that end, they note they are trying to get stuff in Basra, which is a very, very important town, 1.5 million people, about, in there. And they really want to try and get that town and that city on-side. We've heard reports today from the British that about 2,000 people tried to come out of Basra and then they were fired upon by these irregular militias that we've been talking about.

At that point, the British fired on those militia, the British saying this indicates to them that the political control of Basra is still in the regime's hands and that the militias are not allowing people to leave the city. And when they do, it's pretty much at the barrel of the gun or on pain of death -- so this a very high-profile media opportunity, photo-op, if you like, for this ship arriving today. It's been much anticipated. We've heard a lot about it.

A lot of media were brought here to cover it. But it's designed to send a powerful psychological message and also as a political tool to try to win people over the -- back to you, Paula.

ZAHN: Thanks so much, Christiane Amanpour. We'll be getting back to you within the next several hours.

Now let's head back to Kuwait City, where Bill Hemmer is standing by. Good morning, Bill?

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, Paula.

We want to update right now on what we're observing in Nasiriyah. Earlier today, we were reporting these 12 U.S. Marines as missing. And it was said to be, if they did not turn up in the next 24 hours they would go to missing in action. Central Command has just sent out a notice down in Qatar. They're now saying four U.S. Marines, four are missing in Nasiriyah. Now, if this is four in addition to the 12, we don't know just yet, or if the 12 is now reduced to four, something we're waiting to clear up as well.

To our viewers, just bear with us. Give us just a bit of patient here and we'll try and get the latest to you.

In addition to that situation in Nasiriyah, Paula, we also understand, as a result of a firefight about 24 hours ago, 11 Marines turned up wounded as well. CNN's Art Harris is embedded with a portion of the Marines. He's in and around that town. And we do know that Marines have secured the northern Nasiriyah, as well as the southern part as well, and possibly, at this time, just going through certain locations in that town trying to root out any what they call irregulars or paramilitary members who still may be trying to find a way to hide out among the civilian population. So, again, we'll keep you posted on what we're getting in Nasiriyah.

Meanwhile, also, the situation in Basra, Paula, continues to be one of utmost concern. We've been talking about it earlier today, about possibly 1,000 or more civilians trying to get out of that town. And, apparently, the Iraqi soldiers or the Fedayeen or someone inside had opened up fire, shooting either at them or above them or around them, which made them quite scared and made them go back into town.

So, Paula, if there is an effort for these civilians to try and get out of Basra, it's quite possible the Iraqi military, or the paramilitary, the irregulars, however you want to term it, are trying to keep them contained and in that area. ZAHN: And, in fact, Bill, we're trying to get Diana Muriel, up, who is embedded with British troops there. And I think it was in her last report she pointed out this situation where some 1,000 women and children were trying to cross a bridge, one side controlled by the militia, the other side by British troops.

And as they headed over that bridge, they were fired at by mortars and by some kind of a weapon from a four-by-four that was driving onto the bridge. And so we're hoping to get to her to get the latest details on that.

Bill, I wanted to ask you a question about what you experienced. If folks were not with us in the last half-hour, they did not see your report on going to one of those Patriot missile sites. Tell us what you saw and what the Kuwaiti soldiers told you about what they think they will continue to be up against.

HEMMER: Yes, here's what they believe, Paula.

They believe these missile launchers in southeastern Iraq, around the area of Basra, is largely responsible for launching the Iraqi missiles into Kuwaiti airspace. They give us their assurances that they believe only the military locations have been targeted and not the civilian areas, like Kuwait City, as you see behind me here in this picture.

As a result of that, they sense that they have a much greater confidence right now in the Patriot missile batteries, because now, for the first time, Paula, as different from the first Persian Gulf War, not only do the U.S. have these missiles, but the Kuwaitis have them as well, giving them an added sense of pride and an added sense of confidence when it comes to protecting their own people and their own country.

You mentioned Diana Muriel. I believe we have that image right now by way of videophone. Diana is embedded with the British military on the outskirts of Basra.

And, again, her reporting from earlier today indicates what now, Diana, relative to civilians who tried to get out earlier today?

DIANA MURIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. There was an incident this morning on the main bridge from Basra, one of the main bridges leading from the south of the city, where the British are encamped, to the city where the Fedayeen, the local civilian militia are based.

There were about 1,000 people who tried to come across that bridge. They were fired on by a machine gun that was mounted on the back of a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Mortars also hit the bridges as the people were attempting to cross. And as British military vehicles came on to the bridge, a tank destroyed the four-by-four vehicle, killing three of the Fedayeen that were in it and on it. They were wearing (INAUDIBLE) and civilian clothes, according to British military forces.

About 200 or 300 of the people managed to get to the north side, from where they had come, and the rest managed to make it to safety to the British side on the south side of the river -- Bill.

HEMMER: Thank you. OK, Diana Muriel embedded with the British military there, trying to figure out exactly what's happening on the outskirts of Basra. Very difficult to get any independent information inside of that town, a very populated city, 1.4 million people, the second largest city in Iraq.

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on By Fedayeen Saddam>


Aired March 28, 2003 - 10:02   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Humanitarian aid is now flowing into Iraq. Within the last couple of hours, a British ship carrying 200 tons of relief supplies found safe harbor and a hearty welcome in southern Iraq. But after crossing the sea, it was the final leg of the journey that proved the most worrisome.

Our chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, is in Umm Qasr, where the shipment is now being off-loaded. She has all the latest details for us now.

Good morning, Christiane.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. And good evening from here in Umm Qasr in southern Iraq.

Really, the first supply ship to have docked at this important, in fact Iraq's only commercial port, showing not only that humanitarian aid is beginning, the pipeline may just be beginning, but also that the port is open for business. That's the message that the coalition, the U.S. and the British are trying to send, of course, a lot of humanitarian aid needed by the people in this region. There are only about 200 tons on board of food, water, blanket, various food staples, medical supplies, some of it a gift from the people of Kuwait, others from the British defense establishment, the Ministry of Defense there, army supplies.

But it's all about not only helping to feed and clothe and meet the needs of the Iraqi people, but, also, it's part of their two- pronged military battle, their strategy. One is, of course, the heavy metal fighting. And the other is the winning of the hearts and minds to get the civilian population on side and to win confidence and trust and to persuade the civilian population that they have come as benefactors, not just bombers.

And this is important in their strategy to try to separate the political leadership of Saddam Hussein, which still exists in some of these towns, from the civilian population. So, that is what the British are trying to do here.

To that end, they note they are trying to get stuff in Basra, which is a very, very important town, 1.5 million people, about, in there. And they really want to try and get that town and that city on-side. We've heard reports today from the British that about 2,000 people tried to come out of Basra and then they were fired upon by these irregular militias that we've been talking about.

At that point, the British fired on those militia, the British saying this indicates to them that the political control of Basra is still in the regime's hands and that the militias are not allowing people to leave the city. And when they do, it's pretty much at the barrel of the gun or on pain of death -- so this a very high-profile media opportunity, photo-op, if you like, for this ship arriving today. It's been much anticipated. We've heard a lot about it.

A lot of media were brought here to cover it. But it's designed to send a powerful psychological message and also as a political tool to try to win people over the -- back to you, Paula.

ZAHN: Thanks so much, Christiane Amanpour. We'll be getting back to you within the next several hours.

Now let's head back to Kuwait City, where Bill Hemmer is standing by. Good morning, Bill?

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, Paula.

We want to update right now on what we're observing in Nasiriyah. Earlier today, we were reporting these 12 U.S. Marines as missing. And it was said to be, if they did not turn up in the next 24 hours they would go to missing in action. Central Command has just sent out a notice down in Qatar. They're now saying four U.S. Marines, four are missing in Nasiriyah. Now, if this is four in addition to the 12, we don't know just yet, or if the 12 is now reduced to four, something we're waiting to clear up as well.

To our viewers, just bear with us. Give us just a bit of patient here and we'll try and get the latest to you.

In addition to that situation in Nasiriyah, Paula, we also understand, as a result of a firefight about 24 hours ago, 11 Marines turned up wounded as well. CNN's Art Harris is embedded with a portion of the Marines. He's in and around that town. And we do know that Marines have secured the northern Nasiriyah, as well as the southern part as well, and possibly, at this time, just going through certain locations in that town trying to root out any what they call irregulars or paramilitary members who still may be trying to find a way to hide out among the civilian population. So, again, we'll keep you posted on what we're getting in Nasiriyah.

Meanwhile, also, the situation in Basra, Paula, continues to be one of utmost concern. We've been talking about it earlier today, about possibly 1,000 or more civilians trying to get out of that town. And, apparently, the Iraqi soldiers or the Fedayeen or someone inside had opened up fire, shooting either at them or above them or around them, which made them quite scared and made them go back into town.

So, Paula, if there is an effort for these civilians to try and get out of Basra, it's quite possible the Iraqi military, or the paramilitary, the irregulars, however you want to term it, are trying to keep them contained and in that area. ZAHN: And, in fact, Bill, we're trying to get Diana Muriel, up, who is embedded with British troops there. And I think it was in her last report she pointed out this situation where some 1,000 women and children were trying to cross a bridge, one side controlled by the militia, the other side by British troops.

And as they headed over that bridge, they were fired at by mortars and by some kind of a weapon from a four-by-four that was driving onto the bridge. And so we're hoping to get to her to get the latest details on that.

Bill, I wanted to ask you a question about what you experienced. If folks were not with us in the last half-hour, they did not see your report on going to one of those Patriot missile sites. Tell us what you saw and what the Kuwaiti soldiers told you about what they think they will continue to be up against.

HEMMER: Yes, here's what they believe, Paula.

They believe these missile launchers in southeastern Iraq, around the area of Basra, is largely responsible for launching the Iraqi missiles into Kuwaiti airspace. They give us their assurances that they believe only the military locations have been targeted and not the civilian areas, like Kuwait City, as you see behind me here in this picture.

As a result of that, they sense that they have a much greater confidence right now in the Patriot missile batteries, because now, for the first time, Paula, as different from the first Persian Gulf War, not only do the U.S. have these missiles, but the Kuwaitis have them as well, giving them an added sense of pride and an added sense of confidence when it comes to protecting their own people and their own country.

You mentioned Diana Muriel. I believe we have that image right now by way of videophone. Diana is embedded with the British military on the outskirts of Basra.

And, again, her reporting from earlier today indicates what now, Diana, relative to civilians who tried to get out earlier today?

DIANA MURIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. There was an incident this morning on the main bridge from Basra, one of the main bridges leading from the south of the city, where the British are encamped, to the city where the Fedayeen, the local civilian militia are based.

There were about 1,000 people who tried to come across that bridge. They were fired on by a machine gun that was mounted on the back of a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Mortars also hit the bridges as the people were attempting to cross. And as British military vehicles came on to the bridge, a tank destroyed the four-by-four vehicle, killing three of the Fedayeen that were in it and on it. They were wearing (INAUDIBLE) and civilian clothes, according to British military forces.

About 200 or 300 of the people managed to get to the north side, from where they had come, and the rest managed to make it to safety to the British side on the south side of the river -- Bill.

HEMMER: Thank you. OK, Diana Muriel embedded with the British military there, trying to figure out exactly what's happening on the outskirts of Basra. Very difficult to get any independent information inside of that town, a very populated city, 1.4 million people, the second largest city in Iraq.

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




on By Fedayeen Saddam>