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U.S. Confirms Attack on Convoy Linked to Deposed Iraqi Regime

Aired June 23, 2003 - 06:03   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: Target Saddam, a special-ops attack on a convoy near the Syrian border. Were Saddam and his sons inside? "The Washington Post," "The New York Times" and a British newspaper all reporting this morning DNA tests are under way.
Live to Baghdad now and Jane Arraf.

Jane -- what can you tell us about this convoy?

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Carol, Pentagon officials are confirming that there was a convoy, that they were believed to have contained people close to Saddam, or at least part of the regime, and that it was hit by U.S. strikes last week, last Wednesday in fact.

Now, we have not confirmed that indeed there is evidence or even the thought of evidence that it is Saddam Hussein. That, of course, remains the big mystery. But clearly, the U.S. is trying everything it can, following up every lead it can, particularly with the capture of Saddam's right-hand man last week.

So, we'll just have to wait and see whether that, in fact, does prove to be anything as interesting as these newspapers are reporting it might be.

Now, the raids continue in Baghdad. Those raids are on homes and people believed to be connected with Saddam and senior Baath Party officials. They went back last night, elements of the 1st Armored Division, to check a home they had already been to where they had found nuclear documents. Now, clearly, they are trying to zero in on these top officials, top scientists, and put together those missing pieces, not just of where Saddam was, but of whether the weapons of mass destruction might be if they're out there.

But we do have to mention another development today. In a move to ease the tension with former army officers, coalition authorities have announced that they will pay these officers.

Now, one coalition official, Walter Skokeman (ph), also told reporters that they will go ahead with creating a new army.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will train units to be called the New Iraqi Army as the first step in creating a new national military for a new Iraq, a force that will be professional, non-political, representative of the country and militarily effective. Its mission will be defense of the country, not suppression of internal dissent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARRAF: And one of the most important elements of that announcement is they will be paying officers. Now, officers are not eligible to be in the new army unless they have special exemptions, but they have been a major problem. They've held several demonstrations, including one last week that resulted in two Iraqis being killed when U.S. soldiers opened fire on them. This should at least ease some of that tension -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Jane Arraf live from Baghdad this morning.

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




Regime>


Aired June 23, 2003 - 06:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Target Saddam, a special-ops attack on a convoy near the Syrian border. Were Saddam and his sons inside? "The Washington Post," "The New York Times" and a British newspaper all reporting this morning DNA tests are under way.
Live to Baghdad now and Jane Arraf.

Jane -- what can you tell us about this convoy?

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Carol, Pentagon officials are confirming that there was a convoy, that they were believed to have contained people close to Saddam, or at least part of the regime, and that it was hit by U.S. strikes last week, last Wednesday in fact.

Now, we have not confirmed that indeed there is evidence or even the thought of evidence that it is Saddam Hussein. That, of course, remains the big mystery. But clearly, the U.S. is trying everything it can, following up every lead it can, particularly with the capture of Saddam's right-hand man last week.

So, we'll just have to wait and see whether that, in fact, does prove to be anything as interesting as these newspapers are reporting it might be.

Now, the raids continue in Baghdad. Those raids are on homes and people believed to be connected with Saddam and senior Baath Party officials. They went back last night, elements of the 1st Armored Division, to check a home they had already been to where they had found nuclear documents. Now, clearly, they are trying to zero in on these top officials, top scientists, and put together those missing pieces, not just of where Saddam was, but of whether the weapons of mass destruction might be if they're out there.

But we do have to mention another development today. In a move to ease the tension with former army officers, coalition authorities have announced that they will pay these officers.

Now, one coalition official, Walter Skokeman (ph), also told reporters that they will go ahead with creating a new army.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will train units to be called the New Iraqi Army as the first step in creating a new national military for a new Iraq, a force that will be professional, non-political, representative of the country and militarily effective. Its mission will be defense of the country, not suppression of internal dissent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARRAF: And one of the most important elements of that announcement is they will be paying officers. Now, officers are not eligible to be in the new army unless they have special exemptions, but they have been a major problem. They've held several demonstrations, including one last week that resulted in two Iraqis being killed when U.S. soldiers opened fire on them. This should at least ease some of that tension -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Jane Arraf live from Baghdad this morning.

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




Regime>