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CNN Live Today
Protests in London
Aired November 20, 2003 - 11:38 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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: We'd like to go live to London, where protesters have been gathering in Trafalgar Square, who were protesting President Bush's policies in Iraq, a shaky picture there. But CNN's Christiane Amanpour standing strong and tall.
Christiane, my apologies earlier. I said they were going to burn him in effigy, when in fact they were just going to topple an effigy of President Bush, and they just had an embarrassing moment, I understand.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN SR. INTL. CORRESPONDENT: Well, they are going to topple it, and really even people here who support this demonstration, some people are saying that that perhaps goes beyond the realms of what this demonstration really should be about. They're concerned, those people who are against toppling of the effigy, that this turns into an anti-American demonstration, where they're very clear that what they're protesting is foreign policy, is this administration's foreign policy, and particularly, the war in Iraq.
And so far, there are speakers who've been talking about human rights, about human civil liberties, about opposing the war in Iraq. And in general, opposing President Bush's foreign policy. There has been no violence. So far, we've been told that there are perhaps tens of thousands, perhaps 30,000 people have been counted coming into this square.
And the trail still is coming from around the bridge up Whitehall and into Trafalgar Square. So they're an enormous amount of people, and we've been asking about what their views on the terrorist attack on British targets that took place in Istanbul earlier this morning. Some people saying that perhaps that might have an effect, an impact on the size of this demonstration. Others saying that in contrast, they felt that it would galvanize this demonstration, because many of the people hear say that it's President Bush and Prime Minister Blair's policies that is increasing the terrorist acts and the terrorism and increasing the radicalism of people around the world, and the pool, if you like, of foot soldiers who might be drawn to these kinds of militant terrorist groups.
Of course, taking on that challenge, Prime Minister Blair has said those people who suggest that it's the U.S./British alliance or the activities that are creating terrorism are wrong, that it is not that, it is rather terrorists themselves who simply want to defeat the forces of tolerance, freedom and democracy.
Back to you, Carol. LIN: All right, thank you very much, Christiane Amanpour, live in Trafalgar Square, where the demonstrators there will once again try to topple that effigy of President Bush. They tried during the break, failed, and we're waiting to see if they're going to try to realign the ropes to try once again. And when they do, we will take it live.
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 20, 2003 - 11:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: We'd like to go live to London, where protesters have been gathering in Trafalgar Square, who were protesting President Bush's policies in Iraq, a shaky picture there. But CNN's Christiane Amanpour standing strong and tall.
Christiane, my apologies earlier. I said they were going to burn him in effigy, when in fact they were just going to topple an effigy of President Bush, and they just had an embarrassing moment, I understand.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN SR. INTL. CORRESPONDENT: Well, they are going to topple it, and really even people here who support this demonstration, some people are saying that that perhaps goes beyond the realms of what this demonstration really should be about. They're concerned, those people who are against toppling of the effigy, that this turns into an anti-American demonstration, where they're very clear that what they're protesting is foreign policy, is this administration's foreign policy, and particularly, the war in Iraq.
And so far, there are speakers who've been talking about human rights, about human civil liberties, about opposing the war in Iraq. And in general, opposing President Bush's foreign policy. There has been no violence. So far, we've been told that there are perhaps tens of thousands, perhaps 30,000 people have been counted coming into this square.
And the trail still is coming from around the bridge up Whitehall and into Trafalgar Square. So they're an enormous amount of people, and we've been asking about what their views on the terrorist attack on British targets that took place in Istanbul earlier this morning. Some people saying that perhaps that might have an effect, an impact on the size of this demonstration. Others saying that in contrast, they felt that it would galvanize this demonstration, because many of the people hear say that it's President Bush and Prime Minister Blair's policies that is increasing the terrorist acts and the terrorism and increasing the radicalism of people around the world, and the pool, if you like, of foot soldiers who might be drawn to these kinds of militant terrorist groups.
Of course, taking on that challenge, Prime Minister Blair has said those people who suggest that it's the U.S./British alliance or the activities that are creating terrorism are wrong, that it is not that, it is rather terrorists themselves who simply want to defeat the forces of tolerance, freedom and democracy.
Back to you, Carol. LIN: All right, thank you very much, Christiane Amanpour, live in Trafalgar Square, where the demonstrators there will once again try to topple that effigy of President Bush. They tried during the break, failed, and we're waiting to see if they're going to try to realign the ropes to try once again. And when they do, we will take it live.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
