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CNN Live Today
Civilians Fired on By Iraqi Paramilitaries
Aired March 28, 2003 - 11:15 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: British forces report thousands of civilians trying to leave Basra being forced back into the city by militia forces backing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
This is what Diana Muriel found -- she is embedded with the U.K. military outside of Basra.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIANA MURIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: More than 1,000 women and children escorted by some men tried to make it to safety from the city of Basra across one of the main bridges to the southern side, where British forces are encamped.
At about 9:00 in the morning, as the main group tried to make it across, a four-by-four vehicle drove onto the bridge. Behind it was mounted a machine gun that opened fire at what appeared to be the civilians on the bridge and the British forces at the other end of the bridge. A British tank came onto the bridge and fired at that vehicle, destroying it and killing three of the Fedayeen, or local militiamen, who were on and driving that vehicle.
About 200 or 300 of the civilians fled back to the north side of the river. The others made it across to safety, although some casualties were taken. The British managed to recover one young woman who was injured in the crossfire and brought her to safety on the other side.
Over the past few days, refugees have been trying to leave the city. But Fedayeen, according to British military sources, are patrolling that bridge and trying to prevent people from making it across.
Diana Muriel, CNN, southern Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN: And one of the more extraordinary things that Diana witnessed was actually -- or actually told this -- that, in some cases, some of the very husbands who helped escort their wives and their children across the bridge then turned back and went back to militia-held territory.
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 28, 2003 - 11:15 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: British forces report thousands of civilians trying to leave Basra being forced back into the city by militia forces backing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
This is what Diana Muriel found -- she is embedded with the U.K. military outside of Basra.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIANA MURIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: More than 1,000 women and children escorted by some men tried to make it to safety from the city of Basra across one of the main bridges to the southern side, where British forces are encamped.
At about 9:00 in the morning, as the main group tried to make it across, a four-by-four vehicle drove onto the bridge. Behind it was mounted a machine gun that opened fire at what appeared to be the civilians on the bridge and the British forces at the other end of the bridge. A British tank came onto the bridge and fired at that vehicle, destroying it and killing three of the Fedayeen, or local militiamen, who were on and driving that vehicle.
About 200 or 300 of the civilians fled back to the north side of the river. The others made it across to safety, although some casualties were taken. The British managed to recover one young woman who was injured in the crossfire and brought her to safety on the other side.
Over the past few days, refugees have been trying to leave the city. But Fedayeen, according to British military sources, are patrolling that bridge and trying to prevent people from making it across.
Diana Muriel, CNN, southern Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZAHN: And one of the more extraordinary things that Diana witnessed was actually -- or actually told this -- that, in some cases, some of the very husbands who helped escort their wives and their children across the bridge then turned back and went back to militia-held territory.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
