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CNN Live Today

Latest from Baghdad

Aired May 01, 2003 - 11:06   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.


Now in Baghdad today, Iraqis celebrated as power was restored in more areas. Things did take a dangerous turn as well.
Our Jim Clancy is tracking these developments in Iraq. Let's check in with him right now, live in the capital city -- Jim.

JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, it is called celebratory fire. Empty a magazine from your AK-47 up to into the sky. Everybody warns against it. Nobody listens. It happened today with disastrous resist results. Some of the bullets coming down hit a fuel tanker at a gas station, bringing in benzine (ph), and U.S. Marines happened on the scene. They tried to hold people back, while ambulances raced in, and the fire department trying to put out a fierce blaze that was caused when that petroleum was ignited. No word yet on deaths or injuries, but certainly it's possible a lot of people have been burned in that. A lot of the gas stations very crowded these days as people try to stock up on fuel.

In the meantime, in Fallujah, a bit more calm this day, but also words coming from one of the top U.S. military men in the area, the commander of the 5th Corps, Brigadier General Daniel Hawn (ph) says there is evidence that the violence that has occurred on two different occasions was being orchestrated by the Baath Party, or remnants of that party.

Now earlier, five U.S. soldiers were wounded when grenades were tossed over the back wall of their compound. All of this originated overnight on Monday, when Iraqis were demonstrating against U.S. forces occupying their school. That ended with 15 Iraqis killed, more than 50 wounded. The following night, a protest against that incident led to two more Iraqis being killed and 15 others injured. The U.S. says it was firing in response to gunmen in the crowd. The Iraqis say there were no guns in the crowds -- Leon.

HARRIS: Still waiting to sort that whole situation out. But the question remains, though Jim, as we watch that situation in Fallujah, I'm not sure how closely you've been following it there, is are we talking there about only a small number of the population that is actually there backing the Baath Party and demonstrating against the U.S. and actually providing cover to whoever may be shooting in those crowds? Do we know that?

CLANCY: Well, we don't know anything for sure. It's very difficult to tell. The Iraqi civilians, if this was being orchestrated, probably wouldn't be aware of it. What do know is that there are remnants of the Baath Party in Fallujah. This is an agricultural town. It's a Sunni Muslim town. It is a town that had strong support from President Saddam Hussein. If you'll remember, it came up many times during the first initial chemical weapons investigations by U.N. inspectors. So it is the focal point right now.

The U.S. says it's getting the intelligence that says someone is trying to provoke these confrontations. One thing is certain, Leon, and that is these kinds of confrontations poison the atmosphere between U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians, and in the words of one Iraqi today, my son is going to grow up like Bin Laden if this keeps up.

HARRIS: We'll have to watch and see how that all settles out. Thanks Jim, Jim Clancy, live for us in Baghdad.

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 - 11:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
Now in Baghdad today, Iraqis celebrated as power was restored in more areas. Things did take a dangerous turn as well.
Our Jim Clancy is tracking these developments in Iraq. Let's check in with him right now, live in the capital city -- Jim.

JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, it is called celebratory fire. Empty a magazine from your AK-47 up to into the sky. Everybody warns against it. Nobody listens. It happened today with disastrous resist results. Some of the bullets coming down hit a fuel tanker at a gas station, bringing in benzine (ph), and U.S. Marines happened on the scene. They tried to hold people back, while ambulances raced in, and the fire department trying to put out a fierce blaze that was caused when that petroleum was ignited. No word yet on deaths or injuries, but certainly it's possible a lot of people have been burned in that. A lot of the gas stations very crowded these days as people try to stock up on fuel.

In the meantime, in Fallujah, a bit more calm this day, but also words coming from one of the top U.S. military men in the area, the commander of the 5th Corps, Brigadier General Daniel Hawn (ph) says there is evidence that the violence that has occurred on two different occasions was being orchestrated by the Baath Party, or remnants of that party.

Now earlier, five U.S. soldiers were wounded when grenades were tossed over the back wall of their compound. All of this originated overnight on Monday, when Iraqis were demonstrating against U.S. forces occupying their school. That ended with 15 Iraqis killed, more than 50 wounded. The following night, a protest against that incident led to two more Iraqis being killed and 15 others injured. The U.S. says it was firing in response to gunmen in the crowd. The Iraqis say there were no guns in the crowds -- Leon.

HARRIS: Still waiting to sort that whole situation out. But the question remains, though Jim, as we watch that situation in Fallujah, I'm not sure how closely you've been following it there, is are we talking there about only a small number of the population that is actually there backing the Baath Party and demonstrating against the U.S. and actually providing cover to whoever may be shooting in those crowds? Do we know that?

CLANCY: Well, we don't know anything for sure. It's very difficult to tell. The Iraqi civilians, if this was being orchestrated, probably wouldn't be aware of it. What do know is that there are remnants of the Baath Party in Fallujah. This is an agricultural town. It's a Sunni Muslim town. It is a town that had strong support from President Saddam Hussein. If you'll remember, it came up many times during the first initial chemical weapons investigations by U.N. inspectors. So it is the focal point right now.

The U.S. says it's getting the intelligence that says someone is trying to provoke these confrontations. One thing is certain, Leon, and that is these kinds of confrontations poison the atmosphere between U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians, and in the words of one Iraqi today, my son is going to grow up like Bin Laden if this keeps up.

HARRIS: We'll have to watch and see how that all settles out. Thanks Jim, Jim Clancy, live for us in Baghdad.

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