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American Morning

What are the Implications of Najaf Bombing?

Aired September 01, 2003 - 08:03   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, now let's go to Iraq. A new audiotape said to be from Saddam Hussein is on the airwaves there. The speaker on this tape denies involvement in the bombing on Friday at that mosque in Najaf. Portions of this tape aired by Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile the FBI is joining the investigation of the car bombing. And at least 83 people died in that blast, including a Shi'ite leader. And there are plenty of implications in that.

CNN's Rym Brahimi is now live with us from Baghdad. She has the very latest.

Hello, Rym.

RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon. Indeed, another tape by Saddam Hussein or purportedly the voice of Saddam Hussein, because we don't really have the means of verifying this independently. But the speaker does talk about this incident in Najaf, about the bomb that killed so many people, basically saying that the occupying forces have accused Saddam loyalists with no evidence at all. He also says that there should be an investigation, an honest investigation, he says, once the occupying forces are expelled, and there is a proper leadership in the country which he says will come soon.

The former Iraqi president, if indeed it is him, also goes on to say that the -- Saddam Hussein is not the leader of only a minority of people, but he is the leader of all Iraqis, Kurds, Shi'as, Sunnis, Muslims, non-Muslims, he says, basically clearly rather trying to capitalize on the fear of sectarian violence that this bomb has triggered, capitalizing on the confusion that seems to be reigning around the investigation to portray himself as the unifier of Iraqis.

Now in Najaf, meanwhile, or rather in the southern city of Kesbalah (ph), this is the second stop, mourners on their second day of mourning for the death of the late Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir Hakeem, who died in that bomb blast, along with 85 other people. People are marching to the holy city of Karbala today. And they're going to be marching to Najaf tomorrow -- Leon.

HARRIS: Thanks, Rym. Rym Brahimi live with us from Baghdad.

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 September 1, 2003 - 08:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, now let's go to Iraq. A new audiotape said to be from Saddam Hussein is on the airwaves there. The speaker on this tape denies involvement in the bombing on Friday at that mosque in Najaf. Portions of this tape aired by Al Jazeera.
Meanwhile the FBI is joining the investigation of the car bombing. And at least 83 people died in that blast, including a Shi'ite leader. And there are plenty of implications in that.

CNN's Rym Brahimi is now live with us from Baghdad. She has the very latest.

Hello, Rym.

RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon. Indeed, another tape by Saddam Hussein or purportedly the voice of Saddam Hussein, because we don't really have the means of verifying this independently. But the speaker does talk about this incident in Najaf, about the bomb that killed so many people, basically saying that the occupying forces have accused Saddam loyalists with no evidence at all. He also says that there should be an investigation, an honest investigation, he says, once the occupying forces are expelled, and there is a proper leadership in the country which he says will come soon.

The former Iraqi president, if indeed it is him, also goes on to say that the -- Saddam Hussein is not the leader of only a minority of people, but he is the leader of all Iraqis, Kurds, Shi'as, Sunnis, Muslims, non-Muslims, he says, basically clearly rather trying to capitalize on the fear of sectarian violence that this bomb has triggered, capitalizing on the confusion that seems to be reigning around the investigation to portray himself as the unifier of Iraqis.

Now in Najaf, meanwhile, or rather in the southern city of Kesbalah (ph), this is the second stop, mourners on their second day of mourning for the death of the late Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir Hakeem, who died in that bomb blast, along with 85 other people. People are marching to the holy city of Karbala today. And they're going to be marching to Najaf tomorrow -- Leon.

HARRIS: Thanks, Rym. Rym Brahimi live with us from Baghdad.

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