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Rumsfeld Had Message for Troops, Iraqi People Before Leaving Baghdad

Aired May 01, 2003 - 05:37   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.


ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had a message for U.S. troops and for the Iraqi people before leaving Baghdad today.
CNN's Rym Brahimi is in the Iraqi capital and has more on the conclusion of Rumsfeld's visit -- Rym.

RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Arthel, Donald Rumsfeld was here for less than 24 hours. Now, he stopped in Basra first, then came to Baghdad. He visited a power station -- as you know, one of the main problems here in Baghdad is the lack of electricity -- to watch over what progress was being made there. He also met with Jay Garner, the former U.S. general who, the retired U.S. general who's now in charge of administering Iraq for a temp -- on the temporary basis.

But interestingly enough, he didn't seem to have spoken to many Iraqis other than the ones that would have been at the power station. But he did have a message for Iraqis which he taped and was due to be broadcast on Iraqi TV and radio. Questions, of course, over how many people would have actually been able to listen to that message in a town without electricity, but he did call on the Iraqis to help the U.S. and help the coalition forces work together to rebuild Iraq, but also to find those members of the leadership of the former ruling Baath Party and bring them to justice.

He also praised American forces for a job that he said was very well done and interestingly enough, we're also understanding that -- we also understand that on his way back to Baghdad International Airport, his, one of the cars in the convoy of Donald Rumsfeld was shot at. At least three shots were heard in that direction. That's what U.S. officials are telling us about that. Not clear at all the circumstances, but you have to remember that this is a city that's still very unstable. There's still a lot of sporadic gunfire that you hear during the day here and there.

Now, in another development at the town of Fallujah, as you may have heard, Arthel, seven U.S. soldiers were wounded when a grenade was thrown at a base where they were staying in the western town of Falluja. Falluja, as you know, the place where a lot of, there's been a lot of tension and a lot of clashes between Iraqis and U.S. soldiers.

We had some reaction from U.S., a U.S. officer, General Daniel Hahn, the chief of staff of the vehicle.

This is what he had to say. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIG. GEN. DANIEL HAHN, U.S. ARMY: The incidents in Fallujah, while unfortunate, show a distinct pattern and appear orchestrated. We have information that former Baath Party members remain in Fallujah and are organizing small groups to demonstrate against coalition forces. These outside agitators then use the demonstrating crowds as cover, as they fire on coalition forces.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEVILLE: Definitely still a lot to do there. There's still a lot of tension in that town over the clashes that left 15 dead on Monday, another two dead yesterday, and several people wounded -- Arthel.

BRAHIMI: Rym Brahimi, thank you very much for that report. And, of course, you can read Donald Rumsfeld's address to the Iraqis and follow the latest developments in the new Iraq on our Web site. Just go to cnn.com, AOL keyword: 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




Leaving Baghdad>


Aired May 1, 2003 - 05:37   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had a message for U.S. troops and for the Iraqi people before leaving Baghdad today.
CNN's Rym Brahimi is in the Iraqi capital and has more on the conclusion of Rumsfeld's visit -- Rym.

RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Arthel, Donald Rumsfeld was here for less than 24 hours. Now, he stopped in Basra first, then came to Baghdad. He visited a power station -- as you know, one of the main problems here in Baghdad is the lack of electricity -- to watch over what progress was being made there. He also met with Jay Garner, the former U.S. general who, the retired U.S. general who's now in charge of administering Iraq for a temp -- on the temporary basis.

But interestingly enough, he didn't seem to have spoken to many Iraqis other than the ones that would have been at the power station. But he did have a message for Iraqis which he taped and was due to be broadcast on Iraqi TV and radio. Questions, of course, over how many people would have actually been able to listen to that message in a town without electricity, but he did call on the Iraqis to help the U.S. and help the coalition forces work together to rebuild Iraq, but also to find those members of the leadership of the former ruling Baath Party and bring them to justice.

He also praised American forces for a job that he said was very well done and interestingly enough, we're also understanding that -- we also understand that on his way back to Baghdad International Airport, his, one of the cars in the convoy of Donald Rumsfeld was shot at. At least three shots were heard in that direction. That's what U.S. officials are telling us about that. Not clear at all the circumstances, but you have to remember that this is a city that's still very unstable. There's still a lot of sporadic gunfire that you hear during the day here and there.

Now, in another development at the town of Fallujah, as you may have heard, Arthel, seven U.S. soldiers were wounded when a grenade was thrown at a base where they were staying in the western town of Falluja. Falluja, as you know, the place where a lot of, there's been a lot of tension and a lot of clashes between Iraqis and U.S. soldiers.

We had some reaction from U.S., a U.S. officer, General Daniel Hahn, the chief of staff of the vehicle.

This is what he had to say. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIG. GEN. DANIEL HAHN, U.S. ARMY: The incidents in Fallujah, while unfortunate, show a distinct pattern and appear orchestrated. We have information that former Baath Party members remain in Fallujah and are organizing small groups to demonstrate against coalition forces. These outside agitators then use the demonstrating crowds as cover, as they fire on coalition forces.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEVILLE: Definitely still a lot to do there. There's still a lot of tension in that town over the clashes that left 15 dead on Monday, another two dead yesterday, and several people wounded -- Arthel.

BRAHIMI: Rym Brahimi, thank you very much for that report. And, of course, you can read Donald Rumsfeld's address to the Iraqis and follow the latest developments in the new Iraq on our Web site. Just go to cnn.com, AOL keyword: 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




Leaving Baghdad>