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Roadside Bomb Kills American Soldier, at least Three Iraqi Civilians
Aired December 05, 2003 - 11:16 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 go to Iraq now, where a roadside bomb killed an American soldier and at least three Iraqi civilians today. Let's bring in our senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers who is on duty in Baghdad. Walter, hello.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. This was a particularly savaged attack in Baghdad. This is of course the Muslim sabbath. The streets were crowded.
The target of course was an American military convoy, three Humvees moving through southeast Baghdad. Unfortunately, at the very same time, the blast was detonated, an Iraqi bus with 21 civilians on board was just passing by the path, the blast path of the roadside bomb. And what happened of course was you had one American soldier killed. He was the driver of the Humvee and the intended target.
But then additionally, there were three Iraqis killed from aboard the bus including the driver. And the flying shattering glass from the roadside bomb cut and slashed savagely the other 20 passengers or 21 passengers inside that bus. It was a very horrendous scene of carnage, and bloodshed.
Now, having said that, the guerrillas become increasingly in discriminate in these attacks, the Iraq guerrillas, while targeting the Americans show -- seem to give no favor at all to Iraqi civilians who get in the way.
Still, a leading American general here, Mark Kimmitt, said just a short while ago, that the United States coalition here has been able to bring down the attacks on the coalition forces to only 19 a day now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTH.: We certainly hope that the offense of operations that are being conducted against Baghdad have sent a clear message to the terrorists that we will come after you, we will kill you, or we will capture you. We're here to provide a safe and secure environment in Baghdad, for not only the coalition forces but for the people of Baghdad as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RODGERS: The reduction of course in attacks on coalition forces may only be temporary because the chief U.S. administrator here, Ambassador Paul Bremer, also said today that he actually expects an increase of attacks here in Iraq, if not on the Americans, than on the Iraqi government officials as the United States tries to transition from U.S. control here to an Iraqi provisional government sometime next year -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Walter Rodgers in Baghdad. Walter, thank you.
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Civilians>
Aired December 5, 2003 - 11:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We go to Iraq now, where a roadside bomb killed an American soldier and at least three Iraqi civilians today. Let's bring in our senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers who is on duty in Baghdad. Walter, hello.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. This was a particularly savaged attack in Baghdad. This is of course the Muslim sabbath. The streets were crowded.
The target of course was an American military convoy, three Humvees moving through southeast Baghdad. Unfortunately, at the very same time, the blast was detonated, an Iraqi bus with 21 civilians on board was just passing by the path, the blast path of the roadside bomb. And what happened of course was you had one American soldier killed. He was the driver of the Humvee and the intended target.
But then additionally, there were three Iraqis killed from aboard the bus including the driver. And the flying shattering glass from the roadside bomb cut and slashed savagely the other 20 passengers or 21 passengers inside that bus. It was a very horrendous scene of carnage, and bloodshed.
Now, having said that, the guerrillas become increasingly in discriminate in these attacks, the Iraq guerrillas, while targeting the Americans show -- seem to give no favor at all to Iraqi civilians who get in the way.
Still, a leading American general here, Mark Kimmitt, said just a short while ago, that the United States coalition here has been able to bring down the attacks on the coalition forces to only 19 a day now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTH.: We certainly hope that the offense of operations that are being conducted against Baghdad have sent a clear message to the terrorists that we will come after you, we will kill you, or we will capture you. We're here to provide a safe and secure environment in Baghdad, for not only the coalition forces but for the people of Baghdad as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RODGERS: The reduction of course in attacks on coalition forces may only be temporary because the chief U.S. administrator here, Ambassador Paul Bremer, also said today that he actually expects an increase of attacks here in Iraq, if not on the Americans, than on the Iraqi government officials as the United States tries to transition from U.S. control here to an Iraqi provisional government sometime next year -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Walter Rodgers in Baghdad. Walter, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Civilians>
