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CNN Live At Daybreak

Alternatives for Handover Being Floated in Baghdad

Aired February 13, 2004 - 06:02   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.


CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in Baghdad could scrap the American formula for picking a new Iraqi government, and another American soldier has been killed in Iraq.
For the latest developments now, let’s turn to our Baghdad bureau chief, Jane Arraf, who is joining us live.

Hello -- Jane. What's the latest from there?

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Hi, Catherine.

Well, the U.N. spokesman says there appears to be a consensus that elections are highly unlikely before June 30. June 30 was that target date for the U.S. to hand power back to the Iraqis.

Now, they had originally wanted a caucus-style series of indirect elections. Thousands of people -- tens of thousands of people, in fact -- Shias, have taken to the streets to demand direct elections.

And in the middle is the U.N. A high-level envoy, a high-level mission here, headed by Lakhdar Brahimi, has arrived and is winding up their visit after speaking to hundreds of Iraqis. Brahimi tells diplomatically that he's been trying to get the message across that that could be too soon to hold elections.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAKHDAR BRAHIMI, U.N. ENVOY: I think we are pointing out to them that perhaps the evaluation of the time that is needed and the conditions that need to be fulfilled are not accurate, and they are listening to us. I think they want support from the United Nations. They think that the United Nations has a role to play in helping them understand, you know, this problem, and also in working out compromises and consensus among themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARRAF: Now, part of the reason, of course, that it would be problematic, to say the least, to hold elections is the security situation. Just last night, another U.S. soldier, a military policeman, died, and two more were wounded when their patrol hit a roadside bomb in Baghdad.

That follows a dramatic attack on the head of the U.S. forces in the Middle East, General John Abizaid, who was in Fallujah, west of Baghdad, when his convoy came under attack by rocket-propelled grenades. All in all, not an ideal sort of security situation to be trying to hold elections, it seems -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: Yes, not safe at all. OK, Jane, thank you very much. Jane Arraf in 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 February 13, 2004 - 06:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in Baghdad could scrap the American formula for picking a new Iraqi government, and another American soldier has been killed in Iraq.
For the latest developments now, let’s turn to our Baghdad bureau chief, Jane Arraf, who is joining us live.

Hello -- Jane. What's the latest from there?

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Hi, Catherine.

Well, the U.N. spokesman says there appears to be a consensus that elections are highly unlikely before June 30. June 30 was that target date for the U.S. to hand power back to the Iraqis.

Now, they had originally wanted a caucus-style series of indirect elections. Thousands of people -- tens of thousands of people, in fact -- Shias, have taken to the streets to demand direct elections.

And in the middle is the U.N. A high-level envoy, a high-level mission here, headed by Lakhdar Brahimi, has arrived and is winding up their visit after speaking to hundreds of Iraqis. Brahimi tells diplomatically that he's been trying to get the message across that that could be too soon to hold elections.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAKHDAR BRAHIMI, U.N. ENVOY: I think we are pointing out to them that perhaps the evaluation of the time that is needed and the conditions that need to be fulfilled are not accurate, and they are listening to us. I think they want support from the United Nations. They think that the United Nations has a role to play in helping them understand, you know, this problem, and also in working out compromises and consensus among themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARRAF: Now, part of the reason, of course, that it would be problematic, to say the least, to hold elections is the security situation. Just last night, another U.S. soldier, a military policeman, died, and two more were wounded when their patrol hit a roadside bomb in Baghdad.

That follows a dramatic attack on the head of the U.S. forces in the Middle East, General John Abizaid, who was in Fallujah, west of Baghdad, when his convoy came under attack by rocket-propelled grenades. All in all, not an ideal sort of security situation to be trying to hold elections, it seems -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: Yes, not safe at all. OK, Jane, thank you very much. Jane Arraf in 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.