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CNN Live Today
Saddam Hussein's Defense Minister Surrenders
Aired September 19, 2003 - 10:30 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Just hours after a deadly ambush killed three U.S. soldiers and ignited an intense overnight firefight, the coalition is claiming a victory. Saddam's Hussein's last defense minister has surrendered to a U.S. commander.
Our senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers is in Baghdad, and he has the latest on that.
Walter, hello.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.
This was a pretty big catch for the United States and the coalition forces. Iraq's former defense minister, Sultan Hashim Ahmad (ph), has been negotiating secretly over the past week or so, trying to negotiate terms by which he could give himself up to the Americans. He was on the run. He was number 27 on the U.S. wanted list of most Iraqis, and that being the case, negotiations and an Iraqi mediator from an Iraqi human rights organization has been working with the United States. Apparently got an agreement that the U.S. military would treat General Ahmad with the most -- utmost respect, and that being the case, the general finally just agreed to turn himself in this morning after a tearful farewell breakfast with his family. He is now in U.S. custody, the 101st Airborne. He will be, of course, be questioned.
What is U.S. is looking for from him of course, is where is Saddam Hussein if, indeed he knows that. Where are the weapons of mass destruction, if, indeed, they exist. More than a few intelligence questions the U.S. would like to have answered. Most important in this, of course, the United States is hoping by nabbing the former defense minister, perhaps some other Iraqi insurgence members of the old Baathist regime will not fight so hard now.
KAGAN: Walter Rodgers in Baghdad. Thank you for that.
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 19, 2003 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Just hours after a deadly ambush killed three U.S. soldiers and ignited an intense overnight firefight, the coalition is claiming a victory. Saddam's Hussein's last defense minister has surrendered to a U.S. commander.
Our senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers is in Baghdad, and he has the latest on that.
Walter, hello.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.
This was a pretty big catch for the United States and the coalition forces. Iraq's former defense minister, Sultan Hashim Ahmad (ph), has been negotiating secretly over the past week or so, trying to negotiate terms by which he could give himself up to the Americans. He was on the run. He was number 27 on the U.S. wanted list of most Iraqis, and that being the case, negotiations and an Iraqi mediator from an Iraqi human rights organization has been working with the United States. Apparently got an agreement that the U.S. military would treat General Ahmad with the most -- utmost respect, and that being the case, the general finally just agreed to turn himself in this morning after a tearful farewell breakfast with his family. He is now in U.S. custody, the 101st Airborne. He will be, of course, be questioned.
What is U.S. is looking for from him of course, is where is Saddam Hussein if, indeed he knows that. Where are the weapons of mass destruction, if, indeed, they exist. More than a few intelligence questions the U.S. would like to have answered. Most important in this, of course, the United States is hoping by nabbing the former defense minister, perhaps some other Iraqi insurgence members of the old Baathist regime will not fight so hard now.
KAGAN: Walter Rodgers in Baghdad. Thank you for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
