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CNN Live At Daybreak

Mortar Attack Kills One U.S. Soldier

Aired January 08, 2004 - 05:01   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 COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, let's get more now on that mortar attack that killed one U.S. soldier and wounded 34 others. It happened in the so-called Sunni Triangle area, which is considered fiercely loyal to the former regime.
Live to Baghdad now and Karl Penhaul -- good morning, Karl.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

That attack took place last night about two hours after sundown. A barrage of six mortars slammed into this logistics base which is just west of Baghdad.

Now, according to military authorities, at least one of those mortars scored a direct hit on living quarters, where the soldiers were already starting to arrange their bedding for the night to go to sleep, although it was still relatively early. Now, this morning, military authorities have told us that one of those soldiers succumbed to his wounds and died overnight. Thirty-four soldiers were wounded.

Now some of those, we are told, have returned to active duty. So obviously the understanding there that their wounds were relatively light. Others, though, remain hospitalized and are still being treated.

Now, that unit was the 130 -- 541st, sorry -- Maintenance Battalion out of Fort Riley, Kansas, and this was a logistics base. Certainly a shock for them because in the last few days in that Sunni Triangle, things have been relatively calm -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And there is some movement on the prisoner release program.

Can you get into that for a second?

PENHAUL: That's correct. In fact, this attack did come a few hours after coalition administrator Paul Bremer announced that in a gesture of reconciliation, he would release 500 low level detainees. Now, one of the major prisons just outside Baghdad, Abu Ghraib Prison, that was due to be the site for the release of the first hundred prisoners. So far this morning, there's been no movement on that. Relatives have been gathering outside. But we understand at the moment those detainees still being processed and no sign that they're being released just yet -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Karl Penhaul live from Baghdad this morning.

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 January 8, 2004 - 05:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, let's get more now on that mortar attack that killed one U.S. soldier and wounded 34 others. It happened in the so-called Sunni Triangle area, which is considered fiercely loyal to the former regime.
Live to Baghdad now and Karl Penhaul -- good morning, Karl.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

That attack took place last night about two hours after sundown. A barrage of six mortars slammed into this logistics base which is just west of Baghdad.

Now, according to military authorities, at least one of those mortars scored a direct hit on living quarters, where the soldiers were already starting to arrange their bedding for the night to go to sleep, although it was still relatively early. Now, this morning, military authorities have told us that one of those soldiers succumbed to his wounds and died overnight. Thirty-four soldiers were wounded.

Now some of those, we are told, have returned to active duty. So obviously the understanding there that their wounds were relatively light. Others, though, remain hospitalized and are still being treated.

Now, that unit was the 130 -- 541st, sorry -- Maintenance Battalion out of Fort Riley, Kansas, and this was a logistics base. Certainly a shock for them because in the last few days in that Sunni Triangle, things have been relatively calm -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And there is some movement on the prisoner release program.

Can you get into that for a second?

PENHAUL: That's correct. In fact, this attack did come a few hours after coalition administrator Paul Bremer announced that in a gesture of reconciliation, he would release 500 low level detainees. Now, one of the major prisons just outside Baghdad, Abu Ghraib Prison, that was due to be the site for the release of the first hundred prisoners. So far this morning, there's been no movement on that. Relatives have been gathering outside. But we understand at the moment those detainees still being processed and no sign that they're being released just yet -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Karl Penhaul live from Baghdad this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com