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British Soldiers Killed, Wounded When Convoy Came Under Fire Iraq
Aired August 28, 2003 - 05:02 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: For the first time, the U.S. is publicly considering some type of a power sharing arrangement in Iraq. A top State Department official says the United States is looking into a multinational force in Iraq. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage says the force would be under U.N. leadership, but an American would be the U.N. commander. Armitage says there are other options to get more nations involved in Iraq. And the need for increased security in Iraq is highlighted by daily acts of violence.
For the latest on that, we take you live to Baghdad and Rym Brahimi -- hello, Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.
Indeed, the latest act of violence that we've heard about came from Basra in the south. One British soldier was killed, another one was wounded when their convoy was, fell under fire. Basically what happened was they were returning in their convoy from an arrest operation to their base in Amada (ph).
Now, apparently their convoy met a roadblock and then was diverted to a small village, where gradually the convoy literally became sandwiched in between two mobs. In order to get out of the situation, the British soldiers fired two warning shots and then they were fired upon by small arms fire, but also by rocket propelled grenades.
Now, one soldier died in that, as I mentioned, a British soldier, and another one is seriously wounded, but in stable condition. The convoy then made its way back to its base with helicopter cover.
Now, that's just one of the examples of the acts of violence that U.S. and British soldiers have been facing on an almost daily basis here. And one of the methods that the U.S. administration is weighing to try and deal with that violence is bringing in more troops.
The U.S., however, doesn't want to bring in more U.S. soldiers. They would like more international troops, though, in Iraq, but under U.S. command. Now, one of these ideas was put forward, as you mentioned, by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, saying that they would accept a multinational force under U.N. sponsorship, but with American command.
Other countries, though, want more power sharing among the troops if they're going to send some of their men into Iraq -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Rym Brahimi 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
Fire Iraq>
Aired August 28, 2003 - 05:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: For the first time, the U.S. is publicly considering some type of a power sharing arrangement in Iraq. A top State Department official says the United States is looking into a multinational force in Iraq. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage says the force would be under U.N. leadership, but an American would be the U.N. commander. Armitage says there are other options to get more nations involved in Iraq. And the need for increased security in Iraq is highlighted by daily acts of violence.
For the latest on that, we take you live to Baghdad and Rym Brahimi -- hello, Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.
Indeed, the latest act of violence that we've heard about came from Basra in the south. One British soldier was killed, another one was wounded when their convoy was, fell under fire. Basically what happened was they were returning in their convoy from an arrest operation to their base in Amada (ph).
Now, apparently their convoy met a roadblock and then was diverted to a small village, where gradually the convoy literally became sandwiched in between two mobs. In order to get out of the situation, the British soldiers fired two warning shots and then they were fired upon by small arms fire, but also by rocket propelled grenades.
Now, one soldier died in that, as I mentioned, a British soldier, and another one is seriously wounded, but in stable condition. The convoy then made its way back to its base with helicopter cover.
Now, that's just one of the examples of the acts of violence that U.S. and British soldiers have been facing on an almost daily basis here. And one of the methods that the U.S. administration is weighing to try and deal with that violence is bringing in more troops.
The U.S., however, doesn't want to bring in more U.S. soldiers. They would like more international troops, though, in Iraq, but under U.S. command. Now, one of these ideas was put forward, as you mentioned, by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, saying that they would accept a multinational force under U.N. sponsorship, but with American command.
Other countries, though, want more power sharing among the troops if they're going to send some of their men into Iraq -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Rym Brahimi 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
Fire Iraq>
