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U.S. Soldier Killed, Six Others Wounded in Attack in Iraq

Aired July 14, 2003 - 06:32   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: One step forward, another step back. On a day the brand new Iraqi governing council names a leader, another rocket-propelled grenade is launched at American soldiers.
Live to Baghdad now and Harris Whitbeck.

Good morning -- Harris.

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning once again, Carol.

One soldier was killed and six were wounded on that attack this morning. It occurred in the Al Mansur district of western Baghdad. A U.S. Army convoy was moving through there when it was ambushed and hit by one of these rocket-propelled grenades. The wounded have been evacuated to a military combat hospital.

And this happens as the U.S. military authority in Iraq is on a state of heightened alert. Today is a former national holiday here. It's the anniversary of the 1958 toppling of the Iraqi monarchy, which led to Saddam Hussein's eventual rise to power. The U.S. military fears that Saddam loyalists might take this date, this anniversary, to launch further attacks on U.S. military personnel in the area, so a lot of concern on that front.

On the political side of this story, Carol, the governing council, which was announced yesterday, is meeting today to elect a leader, which will then help the council name interim ministers, who will turn to running the affairs of government here. They will also work on a budget for the year 2004 and start naming ambassadors and other diplomatic personnel for Iraq's diplomatic missions abroad.

So, all of this happens, however, while there are some expressions of discontent in the streets. There were minor protests in Baghdad today. Many people feel that the members of this governing council don't necessarily represent the interest of all Iraqi people. And they point to the fact that there are many members of the council who have been in exile for many, many years, and they feel that those former exiles aren't really in touch with the problems that many Iraqis faced during the Saddam Hussein years -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Harris Whitbeck reporting 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.






Aired July 14, 2003 - 06:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: One step forward, another step back. On a day the brand new Iraqi governing council names a leader, another rocket-propelled grenade is launched at American soldiers.
Live to Baghdad now and Harris Whitbeck.

Good morning -- Harris.

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning once again, Carol.

One soldier was killed and six were wounded on that attack this morning. It occurred in the Al Mansur district of western Baghdad. A U.S. Army convoy was moving through there when it was ambushed and hit by one of these rocket-propelled grenades. The wounded have been evacuated to a military combat hospital.

And this happens as the U.S. military authority in Iraq is on a state of heightened alert. Today is a former national holiday here. It's the anniversary of the 1958 toppling of the Iraqi monarchy, which led to Saddam Hussein's eventual rise to power. The U.S. military fears that Saddam loyalists might take this date, this anniversary, to launch further attacks on U.S. military personnel in the area, so a lot of concern on that front.

On the political side of this story, Carol, the governing council, which was announced yesterday, is meeting today to elect a leader, which will then help the council name interim ministers, who will turn to running the affairs of government here. They will also work on a budget for the year 2004 and start naming ambassadors and other diplomatic personnel for Iraq's diplomatic missions abroad.

So, all of this happens, however, while there are some expressions of discontent in the streets. There were minor protests in Baghdad today. Many people feel that the members of this governing council don't necessarily represent the interest of all Iraqi people. And they point to the fact that there are many members of the council who have been in exile for many, many years, and they feel that those former exiles aren't really in touch with the problems that many Iraqis faced during the Saddam Hussein years -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Harris Whitbeck reporting 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.