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CNN Live Today
Violence Flares Up Again in Fallujah
Aired May 01, 2003 - 10:04 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Violence once again flared up between U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians in the town of Fallujah.
Military sources are telling CNN that at least five American soldiers were killed when unidentified attackers lobbed two grenades into a military compound there. Now that's the third clash this week between American forces and the anti-U.S. protesters.
CNN's Karl Penhaul is still in Fallujah, west of Baghdad. Let's check in with him now and get the very latest.
Hello, Karl, bring us up to date.
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Leon.
No, killed, no. The injuries were light injuries. There were no deaths as a result of last night's grenade attack. U.S. military commanders at the compound behind me told me the military attacks occurred after dark last night. Two young men, possibly as young as 15 and 19, lobbed a couple of grenades into the compound. Those exploded, but fortunately, most of the soldiers were either inside the building itself or inside Bradley fighting vehicles, so mostly well protected.
Seven soldiers were medevaced out to a hospital, but they should be back at work by the end of the week, their injuries described as slight.
Now I want to take you out to the scene, just to my left. A short while ago, some of the soldiers did come out of the compound. Normal infantry soldiers and some of the members of the Army civil affairs team. They began engaging in conversation with some of the locals who had come into the adjoining compound, into this adjoining compound, which belongs to the mayor. The aim of that was to start diffusing some of the tension that has been going on in this town over the last few days.
As you know, there's been a series of demonstrations here. And in fact, we're told that 17 Iraqi civilians died, and more than 60 others wounded in two separate demonstrations. One on Monday night, one on Wednesday morning.
And then, obviously, last night's grenade attack was the latest in that kind of escalation of tension.
But soldiers, like I say, are now trying to bridge the gap now with the local populous, trying to talk to them, trying to find out the source of their worries. Army commanders have also held talks with the civil leaders today, principally with the mayor, to discuss ways of taking their relationship forward.
The local residents have been calling on the Army to withdraw totally from the town, but the army has made it clear that that won't be possible. They will still remain in town to provide security and protection. They still feel that some members of the old regime are trying to stir up trouble -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right, we'll keep an eye on that situation. We'll let you do that for us.
Karl Penhaul, reporting live for us from Fallujah.
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 May 1, 2003 - 10:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Violence once again flared up between U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians in the town of Fallujah.
Military sources are telling CNN that at least five American soldiers were killed when unidentified attackers lobbed two grenades into a military compound there. Now that's the third clash this week between American forces and the anti-U.S. protesters.
CNN's Karl Penhaul is still in Fallujah, west of Baghdad. Let's check in with him now and get the very latest.
Hello, Karl, bring us up to date.
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Leon.
No, killed, no. The injuries were light injuries. There were no deaths as a result of last night's grenade attack. U.S. military commanders at the compound behind me told me the military attacks occurred after dark last night. Two young men, possibly as young as 15 and 19, lobbed a couple of grenades into the compound. Those exploded, but fortunately, most of the soldiers were either inside the building itself or inside Bradley fighting vehicles, so mostly well protected.
Seven soldiers were medevaced out to a hospital, but they should be back at work by the end of the week, their injuries described as slight.
Now I want to take you out to the scene, just to my left. A short while ago, some of the soldiers did come out of the compound. Normal infantry soldiers and some of the members of the Army civil affairs team. They began engaging in conversation with some of the locals who had come into the adjoining compound, into this adjoining compound, which belongs to the mayor. The aim of that was to start diffusing some of the tension that has been going on in this town over the last few days.
As you know, there's been a series of demonstrations here. And in fact, we're told that 17 Iraqi civilians died, and more than 60 others wounded in two separate demonstrations. One on Monday night, one on Wednesday morning.
And then, obviously, last night's grenade attack was the latest in that kind of escalation of tension.
But soldiers, like I say, are now trying to bridge the gap now with the local populous, trying to talk to them, trying to find out the source of their worries. Army commanders have also held talks with the civil leaders today, principally with the mayor, to discuss ways of taking their relationship forward.
The local residents have been calling on the Army to withdraw totally from the town, but the army has made it clear that that won't be possible. They will still remain in town to provide security and protection. They still feel that some members of the old regime are trying to stir up trouble -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right, we'll keep an eye on that situation. We'll let you do that for us.
Karl Penhaul, reporting live for us from Fallujah.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
