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CNN Live At Daybreak
Big Explosion Targeting Iraq's Major Shiite Political Party
Aired December 19, 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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's get more on today's big explosion targeting Iraq's major Shiite political party. Let's get details from our Satinder Bindra, who is in Baghdad right now -- Satinder, what happened this morning?
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I guess you could say it was a typical morning here in Baghdad and this time a bomb was placed outside one of the offices of Iraq's main Shiite parties. We understand from eyewitnesses this bomb went off at about 5:00 a.m. One woman was killed, eight other Iraqis injured.
Now, what's significant is the current head of Iraq's U.S. appointed Governing Council belongs to this main Shiite party, as well. And just two days ago, another prominent Shiite leader, Muhannad al-Hakim, was assassinated. He was also assassinated just outside his home and his supporters telling journalists that days before his assassination, he had been threatened by pro-Saddam forces.
This violence underscores an important point, that attacks against Iraqis here are on the rise. This week alone, there have been 21 attacks against Iraqis and the brunt of these attacks have been borne by Iraqi policemen. Their stations, their police stations have been bombed frequently and since Sunday, Carol, some 25 Iraqi policemen have been killed -- back to you.
LIN: Satinder, what do you make of this pattern? What is the symbolism? Why this particular targeting now rather than focusing on coalition forces?
BINDRA: Well, there is a definite game plan here because by attacking Iraqi policemen there appears to be an effort to undermine their morale. Iraqi policemen are seen as "collaborators," people who are working with coalition authorities to try and restore some semblance of order here, which obviously insurgents who are fighting coalition forces do not want -- Carol.
LIN: All right, thank you very much.
Satinder Bindra reporting live this morning from Baghdad.
We have a special report on Saddam and Iraq. It just a click away on our Web site. Cnn.com is the address, and AOL is the keyword -- actually, CNN is the keyword, AOL keyword.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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Aired December 19, 2003 - 05:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's get more on today's big explosion targeting Iraq's major Shiite political party. Let's get details from our Satinder Bindra, who is in Baghdad right now -- Satinder, what happened this morning?
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I guess you could say it was a typical morning here in Baghdad and this time a bomb was placed outside one of the offices of Iraq's main Shiite parties. We understand from eyewitnesses this bomb went off at about 5:00 a.m. One woman was killed, eight other Iraqis injured.
Now, what's significant is the current head of Iraq's U.S. appointed Governing Council belongs to this main Shiite party, as well. And just two days ago, another prominent Shiite leader, Muhannad al-Hakim, was assassinated. He was also assassinated just outside his home and his supporters telling journalists that days before his assassination, he had been threatened by pro-Saddam forces.
This violence underscores an important point, that attacks against Iraqis here are on the rise. This week alone, there have been 21 attacks against Iraqis and the brunt of these attacks have been borne by Iraqi policemen. Their stations, their police stations have been bombed frequently and since Sunday, Carol, some 25 Iraqi policemen have been killed -- back to you.
LIN: Satinder, what do you make of this pattern? What is the symbolism? Why this particular targeting now rather than focusing on coalition forces?
BINDRA: Well, there is a definite game plan here because by attacking Iraqi policemen there appears to be an effort to undermine their morale. Iraqi policemen are seen as "collaborators," people who are working with coalition authorities to try and restore some semblance of order here, which obviously insurgents who are fighting coalition forces do not want -- Carol.
LIN: All right, thank you very much.
Satinder Bindra reporting live this morning from Baghdad.
We have a special report on Saddam and Iraq. It just a click away on our Web site. Cnn.com is the address, and AOL is the keyword -- actually, CNN is the keyword, AOL keyword.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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