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CNN Live Today
In Northern Iraq, U.S. Marines Drawn into Firefight
Aired April 16, 2003 - 12:11 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In northern Iraq today, U.S. Marines were drawn into a firefight that began with an anti-American demonstration.
CNN's Ben Wedeman tells us about that from the Iraqi city of Irbil.
Hi, Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kyra.
The situation, the atmosphere in western Mosul is very tense indeed. That is the predominantly Arab sector of the city. Now, we were driving around there today and were surprised to find that all the Kurdish checkpoints, all the Kurdish troops who basically been controlling the Arab part of the city had disappeared. The only ones left are garrison of about 200 Americans holed up in the governor's office there. No patrols by the Americans whatsoever. And it seems that they are not venturing out of their area, because yesterday, there was a fire fight in front of the government's office following the a protest by local people against the American presence.
Seven people killed in that incident, according to both Kurdish sources as well as the U.S. marines, who are also here now. Today another incident of violence, leaving three people dead. Emotions very much on edge in that city. Now, basically in the western part is the predominantly Arab part of the city. That's two-thirds of the population. The other third is the eastern part, which is the Kurdish area. That's by and large a friendly zone. But in the Arab area, these are Arab Sunnis, who traditionally have been loyal to president Saddam Hussein during the 1991, the uprising that followed the Gulf War. They did not revolt against the Iraqi leadership.
So this area very much a hardcore pro-Saddam area, very much hard for the United States to control.
Now, we were watching this morning as U.S. helicopters were flying over the city very low. An obvious show of force, to tell the population in that part of the city that the United States is the force in control.
But the problem is, they control the skies and they do not control the streets in central Mosul.
Back to you.
PHILLIPS: Ben Wedeman, thank you. 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 - 12:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In northern Iraq today, U.S. Marines were drawn into a firefight that began with an anti-American demonstration.
CNN's Ben Wedeman tells us about that from the Iraqi city of Irbil.
Hi, Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kyra.
The situation, the atmosphere in western Mosul is very tense indeed. That is the predominantly Arab sector of the city. Now, we were driving around there today and were surprised to find that all the Kurdish checkpoints, all the Kurdish troops who basically been controlling the Arab part of the city had disappeared. The only ones left are garrison of about 200 Americans holed up in the governor's office there. No patrols by the Americans whatsoever. And it seems that they are not venturing out of their area, because yesterday, there was a fire fight in front of the government's office following the a protest by local people against the American presence.
Seven people killed in that incident, according to both Kurdish sources as well as the U.S. marines, who are also here now. Today another incident of violence, leaving three people dead. Emotions very much on edge in that city. Now, basically in the western part is the predominantly Arab part of the city. That's two-thirds of the population. The other third is the eastern part, which is the Kurdish area. That's by and large a friendly zone. But in the Arab area, these are Arab Sunnis, who traditionally have been loyal to president Saddam Hussein during the 1991, the uprising that followed the Gulf War. They did not revolt against the Iraqi leadership.
So this area very much a hardcore pro-Saddam area, very much hard for the United States to control.
Now, we were watching this morning as U.S. helicopters were flying over the city very low. An obvious show of force, to tell the population in that part of the city that the United States is the force in control.
But the problem is, they control the skies and they do not control the streets in central Mosul.
Back to you.
PHILLIPS: Ben Wedeman, thank you. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
