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CNN Live At Daybreak

War in Iraq: MIA Gravesite?

Aired April 14, 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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. military is trying to solve a mystery surrounding a gravesite in Iraq. The locals say an American soldier was buried there until someone dug him up.
CNN's Mike Boettcher has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. Special Forces, accompanied by members of an Iraqi opposition army called the Free Iraqi Force, or FIF, were led to the empty gravesite near the town of Al Saffrah (ph) in south central Iraq by a doctor who said he buried the body of what he was told was a dead American soldier.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was a wound here, just a wound here. There is some blood, dried blood.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dried blood on his mouth.

BOETTCHER: The shallow grave was located on the edge of the trash dump in Al Saffrah. The doctor claimed the remains were dug up one week ago by Americans who were searching for the gravesite, but U.S. Special Forces at the scene had no information of such an operation.

The U.S. Green Berets and the anti-Saddam Hussein FIF were led to the gravesite after they raided a house in Al Saffrah. Special Forces believed it was used as a temporary prison for four American soldiers captured in the early days of the war. The raiding party took away a roll of photographic negatives found in the house. They also discovered a handkerchief that had been twisted and formed into a makeshift handcuff. Four suspected pro-Saddam Hussein paramilitaries discovered hiding in the house next door were taken away for questioning. One was caught trying to bury a hand grenade and assault rifle.

Still, the question remains who was buried in the shallow grave and who dug up the body?

Mike Boettcher, CNN, with U.S. Special Operations Forces in Al Saffrah, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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 14, 2003 - 06:41   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. military is trying to solve a mystery surrounding a gravesite in Iraq. The locals say an American soldier was buried there until someone dug him up.
CNN's Mike Boettcher has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. Special Forces, accompanied by members of an Iraqi opposition army called the Free Iraqi Force, or FIF, were led to the empty gravesite near the town of Al Saffrah (ph) in south central Iraq by a doctor who said he buried the body of what he was told was a dead American soldier.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was a wound here, just a wound here. There is some blood, dried blood.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dried blood on his mouth.

BOETTCHER: The shallow grave was located on the edge of the trash dump in Al Saffrah. The doctor claimed the remains were dug up one week ago by Americans who were searching for the gravesite, but U.S. Special Forces at the scene had no information of such an operation.

The U.S. Green Berets and the anti-Saddam Hussein FIF were led to the gravesite after they raided a house in Al Saffrah. Special Forces believed it was used as a temporary prison for four American soldiers captured in the early days of the war. The raiding party took away a roll of photographic negatives found in the house. They also discovered a handkerchief that had been twisted and formed into a makeshift handcuff. Four suspected pro-Saddam Hussein paramilitaries discovered hiding in the house next door were taken away for questioning. One was caught trying to bury a hand grenade and assault rifle.

Still, the question remains who was buried in the shallow grave and who dug up the body?

Mike Boettcher, CNN, with U.S. Special Operations Forces in Al Saffrah, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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