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CNN Live At Daybreak

Saddam's Bodyguard, Two Close Associates Captured

Aired July 29, 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: Closing in. U.S. troops say they missed Saddam Hussein by hours, but they did score one of Saddam's top bodyguards and two close associates in custody this morning. We have pictures of the latest raid.
Let's go live to our Harris Whitbeck in Tikrit to explain the pictures to us.

Good morning.

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

That raid took place very early this morning. Troops from the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division, there were about 100 infantrymen, who went into this house in downtown Tikrit. They were supported by Bradley Fighting Vehicles, by Apache attack helicopters.

They were looking for one of Saddam Hussein's very high-ranking bodyguards, and they found him. They also found two more individuals -- a former brigadier general believed to be one of the leaders of Saddam's Fedayeen, the paramilitary group believed to be behind many of the attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, and also the security manager for Saddam Hussein's palaces in the Tikrit area.

The bodyguard offered a bit of resistance, and he received a blow to the head. The other two individuals were taken into custody with no major problems.

U.S. officers on the ground say they believe that these people might be able to give them good information, as they try to piece together a puzzle that they hope will lead to the eventual detention of Saddam Hussein.

Again, this raid did not take very long, it was only a couple of hours, but it did net these very important people -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Harris Whitbeck reporting live from Tikrit 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.




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Aired July 29, 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: Closing in. U.S. troops say they missed Saddam Hussein by hours, but they did score one of Saddam's top bodyguards and two close associates in custody this morning. We have pictures of the latest raid.
Let's go live to our Harris Whitbeck in Tikrit to explain the pictures to us.

Good morning.

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

That raid took place very early this morning. Troops from the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division, there were about 100 infantrymen, who went into this house in downtown Tikrit. They were supported by Bradley Fighting Vehicles, by Apache attack helicopters.

They were looking for one of Saddam Hussein's very high-ranking bodyguards, and they found him. They also found two more individuals -- a former brigadier general believed to be one of the leaders of Saddam's Fedayeen, the paramilitary group believed to be behind many of the attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, and also the security manager for Saddam Hussein's palaces in the Tikrit area.

The bodyguard offered a bit of resistance, and he received a blow to the head. The other two individuals were taken into custody with no major problems.

U.S. officers on the ground say they believe that these people might be able to give them good information, as they try to piece together a puzzle that they hope will lead to the eventual detention of Saddam Hussein.

Again, this raid did not take very long, it was only a couple of hours, but it did net these very important people -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Harris Whitbeck reporting live from Tikrit 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.




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