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CNN Live Today
Three U.S. Soldiers Killed Overnight
Aired October 07, 2003 - 10:14 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: We have more U.S. casualties to report in Iraq this morning.
For the latest in the capital, let's bring in Harris Whitbeck, joining us from Baghdad.
Harris, hello.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.
As you say, there were several incidents involving U.S. soldiers. One of them that we have video of involves three soldiers from the U.S. Army's 4th ID Division, which has been operating around the area of Tikrit, which is Saddam Hussein's hometown. Apparently they were involved in an IED, an improvised explosive device attack. The vehicle that they were traveling in apparently hit one of these devices, and three soldiers were slightly wounded.
Meanwhile, three U.S. soldiers were killed overnight in two separate incidents. One attack occurred in Al Haswa (ph), south of Baghdad. Two soldiers were killed and two were wounded when their vehicle was also hit by an improvised explosive device.
And another soldier was killed and another one was wounded just west of the Iraqi capital, again last night, and again, an improvised explosive device was involved.
Meanwhile, the building housing Iraqi's ministry of Foreign Affairs was hit by an attack this morning. Either a mortar or rocket- propelled grenade was launched against the building. That incident occurred around 11:00 this morning. After the explosion was heard, Iraqi police guarding that building apparently fired their gun into the air, but there were no injuries to report.
Now, the foreign ministry is just a few blocks from the Al Rashid Hotel, which houses top coalition officials who are currently in Iraq. That hotel was hit by a launched and airborne explosive device just last September 27th.
Now, here in Baghdad, the streets in some cases have been the scene of violent demonstrations. Once again, just a few minutes ago, about half an hour ago, U.S. soldiers fired into the air, in the area around a mosque that has been the scene of violent demonstrations over the last week. The demonstrations today was provoked by the detention last night of the mosque's Shiite cleric and his assistant. They were detained and are currently under arrest. The U.S. suspects them of possible murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and harboring terrorism. Coalition authorities say the men were also storing weapons at the mosque.
Now, the cleric's followers say that they saw after these gentlemen were arrested -- they saw U.S. soldiers enter his mosque to -- quote -- "plant bombs, grenades and pistols, which they say were later photographed. The U.S. is denying that. The U.S. says that its soldiers never entered that mosque -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Harris Whitbeck in Baghdad. Thank you for that.
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Aired October 7, 2003 - 10:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We have more U.S. casualties to report in Iraq this morning.
For the latest in the capital, let's bring in Harris Whitbeck, joining us from Baghdad.
Harris, hello.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.
As you say, there were several incidents involving U.S. soldiers. One of them that we have video of involves three soldiers from the U.S. Army's 4th ID Division, which has been operating around the area of Tikrit, which is Saddam Hussein's hometown. Apparently they were involved in an IED, an improvised explosive device attack. The vehicle that they were traveling in apparently hit one of these devices, and three soldiers were slightly wounded.
Meanwhile, three U.S. soldiers were killed overnight in two separate incidents. One attack occurred in Al Haswa (ph), south of Baghdad. Two soldiers were killed and two were wounded when their vehicle was also hit by an improvised explosive device.
And another soldier was killed and another one was wounded just west of the Iraqi capital, again last night, and again, an improvised explosive device was involved.
Meanwhile, the building housing Iraqi's ministry of Foreign Affairs was hit by an attack this morning. Either a mortar or rocket- propelled grenade was launched against the building. That incident occurred around 11:00 this morning. After the explosion was heard, Iraqi police guarding that building apparently fired their gun into the air, but there were no injuries to report.
Now, the foreign ministry is just a few blocks from the Al Rashid Hotel, which houses top coalition officials who are currently in Iraq. That hotel was hit by a launched and airborne explosive device just last September 27th.
Now, here in Baghdad, the streets in some cases have been the scene of violent demonstrations. Once again, just a few minutes ago, about half an hour ago, U.S. soldiers fired into the air, in the area around a mosque that has been the scene of violent demonstrations over the last week. The demonstrations today was provoked by the detention last night of the mosque's Shiite cleric and his assistant. They were detained and are currently under arrest. The U.S. suspects them of possible murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and harboring terrorism. Coalition authorities say the men were also storing weapons at the mosque.
Now, the cleric's followers say that they saw after these gentlemen were arrested -- they saw U.S. soldiers enter his mosque to -- quote -- "plant bombs, grenades and pistols, which they say were later photographed. The U.S. is denying that. The U.S. says that its soldiers never entered that mosque -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Harris Whitbeck 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
