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CNN Live At Daybreak
Explosion in Baghdad at U.N.
Aired September 22, 2003 - 05:31 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we did have breaking news overnight. There has been an explosion in Baghdad. Once again, the target is the United Nations.
Walter Rodgers live in Baghdad with all of the details -- Walter, tell us about it.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
The explosion was thunderous. It rocked the entire city of Baghdad shortly after eight of course this morning. The casualties are two killed this time and 16 to 18 wounded. That's a much lower fatality rate and casualty rate than when the United Nations, the same building, was struck on August 19. Then, 23 people were killed and close to 100 were injured.
The difference this time, if you look over my shoulder, the three behind me, the United Nations has pushed its security perimeter out 250 to 300 yards from the building itself. So this time the suicide bomber tried to get close, couldn't get close, realized if he was going to accomplish his deed he had to detonate the explosives in his car much further back.
Unfortunately, it was in an area where some civilian workers and other people associated with the United Nations gather for work in the morning. Still, many, many fewer workers on the compound this time. Many U.N. workers are out on holiday and, again, it was a close shave, two dead, 16 to 18 injured, but nothing like what happened in August -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Walter, President Bush is to speak before the United Nations tomorrow. Is there anything to the timing of this attack?
RODGERS: Well, I think we can only surmise that. Let me tell you that the United States Army spokeswoman who was here a short while ago ascribed responsibility to Baathist loyalists, people loyal to Saddam Hussein here, the insurgents who have been warring against the American forces. But that claim was made as the investigation has barely begun. That's a -- they're a convenient target, but I think it's way too early to ascribe responsibility or determine if, indeed, there was a coincidence between the target here in Baghdad and the president's speech tomorrow -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Walter Rodgers 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
Aired September 22, 2003 - 05:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we did have breaking news overnight. There has been an explosion in Baghdad. Once again, the target is the United Nations.
Walter Rodgers live in Baghdad with all of the details -- Walter, tell us about it.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
The explosion was thunderous. It rocked the entire city of Baghdad shortly after eight of course this morning. The casualties are two killed this time and 16 to 18 wounded. That's a much lower fatality rate and casualty rate than when the United Nations, the same building, was struck on August 19. Then, 23 people were killed and close to 100 were injured.
The difference this time, if you look over my shoulder, the three behind me, the United Nations has pushed its security perimeter out 250 to 300 yards from the building itself. So this time the suicide bomber tried to get close, couldn't get close, realized if he was going to accomplish his deed he had to detonate the explosives in his car much further back.
Unfortunately, it was in an area where some civilian workers and other people associated with the United Nations gather for work in the morning. Still, many, many fewer workers on the compound this time. Many U.N. workers are out on holiday and, again, it was a close shave, two dead, 16 to 18 injured, but nothing like what happened in August -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Walter, President Bush is to speak before the United Nations tomorrow. Is there anything to the timing of this attack?
RODGERS: Well, I think we can only surmise that. Let me tell you that the United States Army spokeswoman who was here a short while ago ascribed responsibility to Baathist loyalists, people loyal to Saddam Hussein here, the insurgents who have been warring against the American forces. But that claim was made as the investigation has barely begun. That's a -- they're a convenient target, but I think it's way too early to ascribe responsibility or determine if, indeed, there was a coincidence between the target here in Baghdad and the president's speech tomorrow -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Walter Rodgers 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
