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CNN Live At Daybreak
Terrorist Captured in Iraq
Aired April 16, 2003 - 06:45 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: One dividend from the war in Iraq has been to tie up an 18-year-old loose end, namely the 1985 Achille Lauro hijacking. For the past nine years, Abu Abbas, the mastermind behind the terror attack, has been living in Iraq. Well the war suddenly changed that.
CNN national security correspondent David Ensor brings us up to date.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): CNN was the first to report that Abu Abbas, a wanted terrorist since 1985, was captured by U.S. Special Forces Monday night in a compound on the southern outskirts of Baghdad acting on a tip from U.S. intelligence.
Abu Abbas, the known digere (ph) of Mohamed (ph) Abbas, was taken, along with several others, U.S. officials say, and documents and passports. The fact that Saddam Hussein's government gave him sanctuary was cited recently by President Bush as evidence of Baghdad's ties to terrorists.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Iraq has also provided safe haven to Abu Abbas who was responsible for seizing the Achille Lauro and killing an American passenger.
ENSOR: Leon Klinghoffer, seen here with his wife, was shot in full view of his wife and then his wheelchair pushed overboard off the deck of the Italian cruise ship the Achille Lauro, which the terrorists had just seized. Abbas was found guilty of murder by an Italian court. U.S. officials say there is no decision yet on his fate. Piracy and conspiracy charges in the U.S. have expired but could be re-filed officials say.
In the years since 1985, Abbas has lived at various times in Tunisia, Libya and the Gaza Strip before settling in Iraq. In a 1996 interview with CNN, he said they never intended to kill anybody.
ABU ABBAS (through translator): The media didn't tell the world that Abu Abbas saved the lives of 600 passengers, only that a disabled man was killed.
ENSOR (on camera): Abu Abbas was not a serious threat to the U.S. or others, but officials say his capture could send a message to terrorists around the world that no matter how long it takes, the U.S. will get them in the end. David Ensor, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And the fact that Abbas is now in U.S. custody is somewhat comforting to the Klinghoffer family. His daughters did pass along this statement.
It in part reads, "We are delighted that the murderous terrorist, Abu Abbas, is in U.S. custody. Bringing Abbas to justice will send a strong signal to terrorists anywhere in the world that there is no place to hide."
But there was a different reaction to the capture from Saeb Arakat. The Palestinian cabinet member says the U.S. violated the Oslo Peace Accord when it seized Abbas. That agreement specifies no member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization will be arrested for an action before September of 1993. Of course the Achille Lauro incident happened in 1985.
And another late breaking development to tell you about, Italy's Justice Minister says he will ask for the extradition of Abu Abbas. And arrest warrant had been issued for Abbas after he slipped out of Italy back in 1985.
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 16, 2003 - 06:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: One dividend from the war in Iraq has been to tie up an 18-year-old loose end, namely the 1985 Achille Lauro hijacking. For the past nine years, Abu Abbas, the mastermind behind the terror attack, has been living in Iraq. Well the war suddenly changed that.
CNN national security correspondent David Ensor brings us up to date.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): CNN was the first to report that Abu Abbas, a wanted terrorist since 1985, was captured by U.S. Special Forces Monday night in a compound on the southern outskirts of Baghdad acting on a tip from U.S. intelligence.
Abu Abbas, the known digere (ph) of Mohamed (ph) Abbas, was taken, along with several others, U.S. officials say, and documents and passports. The fact that Saddam Hussein's government gave him sanctuary was cited recently by President Bush as evidence of Baghdad's ties to terrorists.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Iraq has also provided safe haven to Abu Abbas who was responsible for seizing the Achille Lauro and killing an American passenger.
ENSOR: Leon Klinghoffer, seen here with his wife, was shot in full view of his wife and then his wheelchair pushed overboard off the deck of the Italian cruise ship the Achille Lauro, which the terrorists had just seized. Abbas was found guilty of murder by an Italian court. U.S. officials say there is no decision yet on his fate. Piracy and conspiracy charges in the U.S. have expired but could be re-filed officials say.
In the years since 1985, Abbas has lived at various times in Tunisia, Libya and the Gaza Strip before settling in Iraq. In a 1996 interview with CNN, he said they never intended to kill anybody.
ABU ABBAS (through translator): The media didn't tell the world that Abu Abbas saved the lives of 600 passengers, only that a disabled man was killed.
ENSOR (on camera): Abu Abbas was not a serious threat to the U.S. or others, but officials say his capture could send a message to terrorists around the world that no matter how long it takes, the U.S. will get them in the end. David Ensor, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And the fact that Abbas is now in U.S. custody is somewhat comforting to the Klinghoffer family. His daughters did pass along this statement.
It in part reads, "We are delighted that the murderous terrorist, Abu Abbas, is in U.S. custody. Bringing Abbas to justice will send a strong signal to terrorists anywhere in the world that there is no place to hide."
But there was a different reaction to the capture from Saeb Arakat. The Palestinian cabinet member says the U.S. violated the Oslo Peace Accord when it seized Abbas. That agreement specifies no member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization will be arrested for an action before September of 1993. Of course the Achille Lauro incident happened in 1985.
And another late breaking development to tell you about, Italy's Justice Minister says he will ask for the extradition of Abu Abbas. And arrest warrant had been issued for Abbas after he slipped out of Italy back in 1985.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
