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CNN Live At Daybreak

Two More Deadly Attacks on U.S. Soldiers in Baghdad

Aired July 07, 2003 - 05:09   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.


KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Turning now to Iraq, there have been two more deadly attacks on U.S. soldiers in Baghdad and there are some concerns the attackers are moving beyond coalition troops and targeting unarmed civilians.
For the latest on this volatile situation, let's go now live to Baghdad and talk to CNN's Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf.

More bad news for coalition forces -- hello, Jane.

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kris.

There isn't a whole lot of good news these days, except for in a couple of hours, according to coalition officials, they will officially open the first meeting of the Baghdad City Council, what they call a first step on this long road to democracy.

That news, of course, though, overshadowed by the deaths of U.S. soldiers and continuing attacks. In fact, three U.S. soldiers have died in the last 24 hours.

The latest, one in Baghdad who came under fire as he was pursuing ambushers, people who were trying to ambush one of the military patrols late last night in a major Sunni neighborhood in Baghdad. He was killed. One Iraqi was also killed, one of the gunmen also killed as he was pursued just a few hours later in an adjoining neighborhood.

An explosive device was thrown at another U.S. patrol and another U.S. soldier, also from the 1st Infantry Division, was killed in that attack, as well.

These attacks just keep continuing and not just on coalition forces, but on Iraqis who are seen to collaborate with the coalition forces. For instance, the attack on the weekend, the bomb attack on Iraqi police. Now, the chief U.S. adviser to the police department, Bernard Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner, has announced that they will offer a $2,500 minimum reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone plotting attacks on the Iraqi police. Those attacks clearly an attempt to intimidate people from joining up with that police force and restore stability to this country -- Kris.

OSBORN: Well, Jane, over the weekend, General Myers talked about a triangle of lawlessness and said a lot of these attacks appear to be regionally coordinated, meaning they're coming from a certain area, a Sunni area that he described between Baghdad, Tikrit and Ramadi. Is that what you're hearing, as well? ARRAF: Kris, I've got to say, most people here believe that's overly simplistic. And, in fact, he also seemed to have indicated that Baghdad was a majority Sunni Muslim city, which it's not. It is a majority Shia city. The reality is much more complicated. It's not just Sunnis, not just Baathists, not just Saddam loyalists. It's a wide range of people and it's even more troubling -- Kris.

OSBORN: Yes, thank you very much.

CNN's Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf.

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 July 7, 2003 - 05:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Turning now to Iraq, there have been two more deadly attacks on U.S. soldiers in Baghdad and there are some concerns the attackers are moving beyond coalition troops and targeting unarmed civilians.
For the latest on this volatile situation, let's go now live to Baghdad and talk to CNN's Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf.

More bad news for coalition forces -- hello, Jane.

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kris.

There isn't a whole lot of good news these days, except for in a couple of hours, according to coalition officials, they will officially open the first meeting of the Baghdad City Council, what they call a first step on this long road to democracy.

That news, of course, though, overshadowed by the deaths of U.S. soldiers and continuing attacks. In fact, three U.S. soldiers have died in the last 24 hours.

The latest, one in Baghdad who came under fire as he was pursuing ambushers, people who were trying to ambush one of the military patrols late last night in a major Sunni neighborhood in Baghdad. He was killed. One Iraqi was also killed, one of the gunmen also killed as he was pursued just a few hours later in an adjoining neighborhood.

An explosive device was thrown at another U.S. patrol and another U.S. soldier, also from the 1st Infantry Division, was killed in that attack, as well.

These attacks just keep continuing and not just on coalition forces, but on Iraqis who are seen to collaborate with the coalition forces. For instance, the attack on the weekend, the bomb attack on Iraqi police. Now, the chief U.S. adviser to the police department, Bernard Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner, has announced that they will offer a $2,500 minimum reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone plotting attacks on the Iraqi police. Those attacks clearly an attempt to intimidate people from joining up with that police force and restore stability to this country -- Kris.

OSBORN: Well, Jane, over the weekend, General Myers talked about a triangle of lawlessness and said a lot of these attacks appear to be regionally coordinated, meaning they're coming from a certain area, a Sunni area that he described between Baghdad, Tikrit and Ramadi. Is that what you're hearing, as well? ARRAF: Kris, I've got to say, most people here believe that's overly simplistic. And, in fact, he also seemed to have indicated that Baghdad was a majority Sunni Muslim city, which it's not. It is a majority Shia city. The reality is much more complicated. It's not just Sunnis, not just Baathists, not just Saddam loyalists. It's a wide range of people and it's even more troubling -- Kris.

OSBORN: Yes, thank you very much.

CNN's Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf.

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