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CNN Live At Daybreak

Three Americans Missing, Three Iraqis Dead Near Mosul

Aired January 26, 2004 - 06:34   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A chain of events near Mosul in northern Iraq leaves three Americans missing and three Iraqis dead. A capsized patrol boat and a helicopter crash were involved.
Michael Holmes is our correspondent live from Baghdad -- Michael.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Yes, three members of the 101st Airborne are missing. This appears to have been an accident -- in fact, two accidents.

What happened was, at Mosul, there was a river patrol, a joint patrol between Iraqis and U.S. forces. They were patrolling the river. And one U.S. boat capsized. Four U.S. soldiers went into the water. Only three were rescued. One is still missing.

Now, two helicopters were called in to search for that man, and one of those helicopters then crashed. The two pilots from that helicopter are also still missing.

So, it appears at this stage that these incidents are not the result of enemy action. A search is continuing with U.S. troops involved and Iraqi police and fire departments helping out. Certainly this comes after a bloody weekend around Iraq; also in Baghdad and nearby. A total of eight U.S. soldiers have been killed in various incidents involving bombs and RPGs.

The latest one was a U.S. soldier from the 4th Infantry Division, who was killed in a RPG attack. Now, that happened Saturday. He died on Sunday.

The other attacks ranged from Fallujah to Samaria and involved roadside explosions and, in one case, another helicopter crash, which killed two U.S. pilots -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Michael Holmes from Baghdad, thank you very much.

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 26, 2004 - 06:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A chain of events near Mosul in northern Iraq leaves three Americans missing and three Iraqis dead. A capsized patrol boat and a helicopter crash were involved.
Michael Holmes is our correspondent live from Baghdad -- Michael.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Yes, three members of the 101st Airborne are missing. This appears to have been an accident -- in fact, two accidents.

What happened was, at Mosul, there was a river patrol, a joint patrol between Iraqis and U.S. forces. They were patrolling the river. And one U.S. boat capsized. Four U.S. soldiers went into the water. Only three were rescued. One is still missing.

Now, two helicopters were called in to search for that man, and one of those helicopters then crashed. The two pilots from that helicopter are also still missing.

So, it appears at this stage that these incidents are not the result of enemy action. A search is continuing with U.S. troops involved and Iraqi police and fire departments helping out. Certainly this comes after a bloody weekend around Iraq; also in Baghdad and nearby. A total of eight U.S. soldiers have been killed in various incidents involving bombs and RPGs.

The latest one was a U.S. soldier from the 4th Infantry Division, who was killed in a RPG attack. Now, that happened Saturday. He died on Sunday.

The other attacks ranged from Fallujah to Samaria and involved roadside explosions and, in one case, another helicopter crash, which killed two U.S. pilots -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Michael Holmes from Baghdad, thank you very much.

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