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CNN Live Today
Explosion Rocks Nasiriyah
Aired November 12, 2003 - 10:00 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're going to begin this hour, though, in Iraq. That is where a vehicle loaded with explosives has ripped into the headquarters of Italy's military police. At least 14 Italians and eight Iraqis were killed in this latest attack, which comes just hours after we learn of a bleak CIA warning that the insurgency in Iraq is growing. We'll begin our coverage in the Iraqi capital with our Ben Wedeman.
Ben, hello?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, hello, Daryn.
Well, it may have been in fact, two car bombs, in fact, a truck and a car bomb that caused this massive explosion. The death toll at this point looks to be around 22, but we heard just a little while ago from the Italian defense minister, saying that it may in fact increase, because one of the buildings that was hit, severely damaged by these massive blasts or blast had 60 people inside of it, and they are still combing through the ruins of that building to find if there are any survivors or more bodies, in fact.
But at this point the death toll is 14 Italian soldiers and policemen killed, and as many as eight Iraqis wounded in the explosion. Now, this has been described by Italian officials as a terrorist act. This is in fact the first Italian combat fatalities among the 2,700 men they deployed to Iraq following the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, and it is the deadliest attack on a non-U.S. coalition member as well.
Now in addition to the bombing in Basra, we have two more casualties among the Americans. One soldier was killed late Tuesday night by a roadside bomb to the north of Baghdad and another died from wounds that he sustained on Tuesday. Now this brings to more than 50 the number of coalition fatalities in Iraq within the first 12 days of this month alone -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Ben, let's talk a little bit about what happened here with the Italian soldiers and police. This area this took place. This has been, at least compared to Baghdad and that northern area, much more quiet.
WEDEMAN: Yes, it's in the southern part of the country, of largely Shiite. Some Shiites are not happy with the U.S. presence, with the coalition presence, but by and large, it has been quiet. It's worth noting that during the war, however, that is where coalition forces, the U.S. troops, ran into some of their stiffest resistance, and interestingly enough, Italian officials are saying they believe that Fedayeen Saddam may have been behind this attack. We haven't heard anything so specific out of the coalition when they comment on previous attacks.
Now the Fedayeen Saddam were a paramilitary organization formed in the early 1990s. They were overseen -- their leader, so to speak, was Uday Saddam Hussein, the son of the Iraqi president, and it was a group known for its brutality, notorious even in Iraq for its brutality. And so it's interesting that they're being so specific in terms of mentioning who could be behind this attack, but as I said, by and large, Nasiriyah has been quiet since the end of the war. That may explain why their security measures may not have been as tight as we see in Baghdad, for instance, where there are multiple measures taken to try to prevent similar attacks here -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Ben Wedeman in Baghdad. Thank you for that.
We want to go to Italy now, where the president has vowed that his nation's war on terror will not be deterred by what he is calling a terrorist act.
Our Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci join us with more reaction on this story.
Alessio, hello.
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Daryn.
Daryn, here Italians are beginning to grasp the fact that they, too, are now paying a price, a heavy price, for peace in Iraq. But the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, addressing parliament just a few moments ago, vowed that Italy will stay the course. He said addressing the parliamentarians, that the determination of the Italians are the same, as all those soldiers who are serving Italy right now in Iraq, and no intimidation must move us. The Italians have said a way from the willingness to help achieve peace and stability in Iraq. Also addressing the parliament earlier today. The Italian defense minister, Antonio Martinez, suggesting that behind this attack were a group of loyalists close to Saddam Hussein, known as Saddam's Fedayeen, help with some extremists from the region in the Middle East.
Antonio Martino (ph), the defense minister, also suggesting an investigation was still ongoing trying to figure out exactly what has happened. Another point to make here is that while the death toll is already very high. The Italian officials are telling us the number could rise further, because they believe that some people may still be trapped inside the building that collapsed as a result of the explosion.
Back to you, Daryn.
KAGAN: All right, Alessio Vinci in Rome, 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 November 12, 2003 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to begin this hour, though, in Iraq. That is where a vehicle loaded with explosives has ripped into the headquarters of Italy's military police. At least 14 Italians and eight Iraqis were killed in this latest attack, which comes just hours after we learn of a bleak CIA warning that the insurgency in Iraq is growing. We'll begin our coverage in the Iraqi capital with our Ben Wedeman.
Ben, hello?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, hello, Daryn.
Well, it may have been in fact, two car bombs, in fact, a truck and a car bomb that caused this massive explosion. The death toll at this point looks to be around 22, but we heard just a little while ago from the Italian defense minister, saying that it may in fact increase, because one of the buildings that was hit, severely damaged by these massive blasts or blast had 60 people inside of it, and they are still combing through the ruins of that building to find if there are any survivors or more bodies, in fact.
But at this point the death toll is 14 Italian soldiers and policemen killed, and as many as eight Iraqis wounded in the explosion. Now, this has been described by Italian officials as a terrorist act. This is in fact the first Italian combat fatalities among the 2,700 men they deployed to Iraq following the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, and it is the deadliest attack on a non-U.S. coalition member as well.
Now in addition to the bombing in Basra, we have two more casualties among the Americans. One soldier was killed late Tuesday night by a roadside bomb to the north of Baghdad and another died from wounds that he sustained on Tuesday. Now this brings to more than 50 the number of coalition fatalities in Iraq within the first 12 days of this month alone -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Ben, let's talk a little bit about what happened here with the Italian soldiers and police. This area this took place. This has been, at least compared to Baghdad and that northern area, much more quiet.
WEDEMAN: Yes, it's in the southern part of the country, of largely Shiite. Some Shiites are not happy with the U.S. presence, with the coalition presence, but by and large, it has been quiet. It's worth noting that during the war, however, that is where coalition forces, the U.S. troops, ran into some of their stiffest resistance, and interestingly enough, Italian officials are saying they believe that Fedayeen Saddam may have been behind this attack. We haven't heard anything so specific out of the coalition when they comment on previous attacks.
Now the Fedayeen Saddam were a paramilitary organization formed in the early 1990s. They were overseen -- their leader, so to speak, was Uday Saddam Hussein, the son of the Iraqi president, and it was a group known for its brutality, notorious even in Iraq for its brutality. And so it's interesting that they're being so specific in terms of mentioning who could be behind this attack, but as I said, by and large, Nasiriyah has been quiet since the end of the war. That may explain why their security measures may not have been as tight as we see in Baghdad, for instance, where there are multiple measures taken to try to prevent similar attacks here -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Ben Wedeman in Baghdad. Thank you for that.
We want to go to Italy now, where the president has vowed that his nation's war on terror will not be deterred by what he is calling a terrorist act.
Our Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci join us with more reaction on this story.
Alessio, hello.
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Daryn.
Daryn, here Italians are beginning to grasp the fact that they, too, are now paying a price, a heavy price, for peace in Iraq. But the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, addressing parliament just a few moments ago, vowed that Italy will stay the course. He said addressing the parliamentarians, that the determination of the Italians are the same, as all those soldiers who are serving Italy right now in Iraq, and no intimidation must move us. The Italians have said a way from the willingness to help achieve peace and stability in Iraq. Also addressing the parliament earlier today. The Italian defense minister, Antonio Martinez, suggesting that behind this attack were a group of loyalists close to Saddam Hussein, known as Saddam's Fedayeen, help with some extremists from the region in the Middle East.
Antonio Martino (ph), the defense minister, also suggesting an investigation was still ongoing trying to figure out exactly what has happened. Another point to make here is that while the death toll is already very high. The Italian officials are telling us the number could rise further, because they believe that some people may still be trapped inside the building that collapsed as a result of the explosion.
Back to you, Daryn.
KAGAN: All right, Alessio Vinci in Rome, 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
