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CNN Live At Daybreak

Coalition to Release 500 Iraqi Prisoners

Aired January 08, 2004 - 06:30   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: A fierce mortar attack in the triangle. One American soldier has now died; 34 others, members of a maintenance battalion, are wounded. This comes a day before dozens of Iraqi prisoners are released.
So, let's head live to Baghdad and Satinder Bindra, who is standing outside of the prison, where those prisoners are being released, right?

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, that was the expectation. So, this morning, hundreds of family members gathered here just outside Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison. They're still waiting for the release of their family members.

If you'll recall, just yesterday the U.S. administrator here, Mr. Paul Bremer, said perhaps 500 detainees could be released. He also suggested that the release could happen perhaps as early as today.

Now, the United States is describing those who are to be released as low-level contacts of insurgents. Right here at the moment, many family members are getting frustrated and angry. Some have left. The others who remain are crying out. They're saying that the detentions in the first place were -- quote -- "unjust." They're saying many of their family members were found with weapons, and they claim that is the custom here in Iraq.

Carol -- back to you.

COSTELLO: Satinder Bindra reporting live from west of Baghdad.

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 - 06:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A fierce mortar attack in the triangle. One American soldier has now died; 34 others, members of a maintenance battalion, are wounded. This comes a day before dozens of Iraqi prisoners are released.
So, let's head live to Baghdad and Satinder Bindra, who is standing outside of the prison, where those prisoners are being released, right?

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, that was the expectation. So, this morning, hundreds of family members gathered here just outside Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison. They're still waiting for the release of their family members.

If you'll recall, just yesterday the U.S. administrator here, Mr. Paul Bremer, said perhaps 500 detainees could be released. He also suggested that the release could happen perhaps as early as today.

Now, the United States is describing those who are to be released as low-level contacts of insurgents. Right here at the moment, many family members are getting frustrated and angry. Some have left. The others who remain are crying out. They're saying that the detentions in the first place were -- quote -- "unjust." They're saying many of their family members were found with weapons, and they claim that is the custom here in Iraq.

Carol -- back to you.

COSTELLO: Satinder Bindra reporting live from west of Baghdad.

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