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CNN Live Today

Jordanian Embassy Attack in Iraq

Aired August 07, 2003 - 10:31   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: At least 10 are dead after a car exploded -- a car bomb rather, exploded outside the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad today. Dozens more were wounded.
Correspondent Harris Whitbeck is on the scene and joins us live by videophone.

Good to see you.

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

The U.S. military investigators, experts and forensics are at the scene of the bombing, which occurred this morning in Baghdad. They're looking for evidence that might help lead them to who was behind it.

The explosion was -- happened at a very busy hour, mid-morning. A car bomb went off outside the Jordanian embassy. The explosion was so strong that it caused a collapse of the embassy's outer wall, the building's outer wall. There were several cars that were completely destroyed. One of them actually landed on the roof of the diplomatic compound.

Some Iraqi policemen who were guarding the embassy were killed. There were also numerous injuries to pedestrians, given that there were many people walking along the street at the time when the explosion occurred.

General Ricardo Sanchez, who commands the U.S. forces in Iraq, called the attack a terrorist bombing. He said this is the first time that a -- quote -- "soft target" has been hit since the American-led coalition invaded Iraq several weeks ago.

Meanwhile, U.S. soldiers in Iraq came under fire again today, breaking a four-day lull in attacks on U.S. forces. One soldier was wounded, and an unknown number of Iraqis were also wounded when an improvised explosive device went off and a firefight ensued as their Humvee military vehicle was traveling through the neighborhood of Karbala in Baghdad.

According to eyewitnesses, an RPG, a rocket-propelled grenade, was launched from a building at one of the Humvees. And at that time, the soldiers responded with small arms fire. The battle lasted several minutes, and, again, there was one U.S. soldier and an unknown number of Iraqis who were wounded during the attack -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Harris Whitbeck in Baghdad, thanks very much.

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 August 7, 2003 - 10:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: At least 10 are dead after a car exploded -- a car bomb rather, exploded outside the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad today. Dozens more were wounded.
Correspondent Harris Whitbeck is on the scene and joins us live by videophone.

Good to see you.

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

The U.S. military investigators, experts and forensics are at the scene of the bombing, which occurred this morning in Baghdad. They're looking for evidence that might help lead them to who was behind it.

The explosion was -- happened at a very busy hour, mid-morning. A car bomb went off outside the Jordanian embassy. The explosion was so strong that it caused a collapse of the embassy's outer wall, the building's outer wall. There were several cars that were completely destroyed. One of them actually landed on the roof of the diplomatic compound.

Some Iraqi policemen who were guarding the embassy were killed. There were also numerous injuries to pedestrians, given that there were many people walking along the street at the time when the explosion occurred.

General Ricardo Sanchez, who commands the U.S. forces in Iraq, called the attack a terrorist bombing. He said this is the first time that a -- quote -- "soft target" has been hit since the American-led coalition invaded Iraq several weeks ago.

Meanwhile, U.S. soldiers in Iraq came under fire again today, breaking a four-day lull in attacks on U.S. forces. One soldier was wounded, and an unknown number of Iraqis were also wounded when an improvised explosive device went off and a firefight ensued as their Humvee military vehicle was traveling through the neighborhood of Karbala in Baghdad.

According to eyewitnesses, an RPG, a rocket-propelled grenade, was launched from a building at one of the Humvees. And at that time, the soldiers responded with small arms fire. The battle lasted several minutes, and, again, there was one U.S. soldier and an unknown number of Iraqis who were wounded during the attack -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Harris Whitbeck in Baghdad, thanks very much.

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