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CNN Live At Daybreak

War in Iraq: Central Command Update

Aired April 10, 2003 - 06:41   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now want to go ahead and check in with Tom Mintier. He is in Doha, Qatar, Central Command. That news briefing is supposed to be, again, in about 20 -- 15, 20 minutes.
Tom, what can you tell us in anticipation of that briefing?

TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is correct, Daryn.

As a caution just yesterday, Daryn, there is concern that people are looking at the pictures of the celebration in one area of Baghdad, not realizing that there is fighting going on. Yesterday, as the statue was being toppled, the Marines were engaging in a fierce firefight at Baghdad University. Then this morning in north central Baghdad, in an area around the Emon (ph) Palace, supposedly a firefight again once involving the Marines. And a U.S. spokesman here says there were U.S. casualties, but no word on how serious they were.

But they had indications that a leadership group of the regime was going to be meeting at a location. So they moved against that location and received heavy fire when they went into the area. The situation now is calm. The firefight if over, but again, it is representative of what the military says is still going on in Iraq. While there are areas where people are celebrating and rejoicing, there are still areas that are extremely dangerous and firefights are involved and military combat is still taking place on the battlefield -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Tom Mintier in Doha, Qatar. Tom, thank you.

As you mentioned, that briefing about 15, 20 minutes away. We'll be back to you and to Doha when that briefing begins. You'll see it live right here on CNN.

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 April 10, 2003 - 06:41   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now want to go ahead and check in with Tom Mintier. He is in Doha, Qatar, Central Command. That news briefing is supposed to be, again, in about 20 -- 15, 20 minutes.
Tom, what can you tell us in anticipation of that briefing?

TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is correct, Daryn.

As a caution just yesterday, Daryn, there is concern that people are looking at the pictures of the celebration in one area of Baghdad, not realizing that there is fighting going on. Yesterday, as the statue was being toppled, the Marines were engaging in a fierce firefight at Baghdad University. Then this morning in north central Baghdad, in an area around the Emon (ph) Palace, supposedly a firefight again once involving the Marines. And a U.S. spokesman here says there were U.S. casualties, but no word on how serious they were.

But they had indications that a leadership group of the regime was going to be meeting at a location. So they moved against that location and received heavy fire when they went into the area. The situation now is calm. The firefight if over, but again, it is representative of what the military says is still going on in Iraq. While there are areas where people are celebrating and rejoicing, there are still areas that are extremely dangerous and firefights are involved and military combat is still taking place on the battlefield -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Tom Mintier in Doha, Qatar. Tom, thank you.

As you mentioned, that briefing about 15, 20 minutes away. We'll be back to you and to Doha when that briefing begins. You'll see it live right here on CNN.

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