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CNN Live At Daybreak

Car Bombing in Iraq Before Rumsfeld Visits

Aired February 23, 2004 - 05:04   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: Now for the latest on that deadly car bombing in Iraq. It happened less than five hours ago in the northern city of Kirkuk. U.S. officials say at least six are dead, 35 others wounded. The bomb went off at a police station in the Kurdish section of the city.
This attack comes as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld heads to Iraq. He arrived in Baghdad just a few hours ago for talks with U.S. military commanders and to visit with the troops. Rumsfeld warns that al Qaeda is active in Iraq. He discussed the problem during a stop in Kuwait.

Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is traveling with him.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived in Kuwait, beginning a one week's trip to visit troops and allies in the region. Speaking to reporters traveling with him, Rumsfeld says it's clear al Qaeda fighters are in Iraq.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: They're clearly involved.

STARR: And he says terrorist groups are trying to spark civil war.

RUMSFELD: We've seen information that indicates that terrorists are attempting to cause violence between various religious and ethnic groups in the country.

STARR: As violent attacks against U.S. and Iraqi forces continue, Secretary Rumsfeld is sounding less than definitive. As Iraqi opposition has mounted, now no new predictions on planned caucuses to elect a transitional government to be in place by June.

(on camera): What are your feelings now about what needs to be accomplished for a transition to an Iraqi government?

RUMSFELD: It is going along about as one ought to expect. You've got a country who has no experience with democracy, to speak of, for the adult lifetime of anyone there.

STARR (voice-over): And if attacks continue against Iraqi security forces, Rumsfeld says, U.S. military troops may increase their presence in selected hot spots around Iraq in order to deal with the insurgents. Barbara Starr, CNN, Kuwait.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And later this hour we'll take you live to Baghdad for a report from Brent Sadler.

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 23, 2004 - 05:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now for the latest on that deadly car bombing in Iraq. It happened less than five hours ago in the northern city of Kirkuk. U.S. officials say at least six are dead, 35 others wounded. The bomb went off at a police station in the Kurdish section of the city.
This attack comes as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld heads to Iraq. He arrived in Baghdad just a few hours ago for talks with U.S. military commanders and to visit with the troops. Rumsfeld warns that al Qaeda is active in Iraq. He discussed the problem during a stop in Kuwait.

Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is traveling with him.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived in Kuwait, beginning a one week's trip to visit troops and allies in the region. Speaking to reporters traveling with him, Rumsfeld says it's clear al Qaeda fighters are in Iraq.

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: They're clearly involved.

STARR: And he says terrorist groups are trying to spark civil war.

RUMSFELD: We've seen information that indicates that terrorists are attempting to cause violence between various religious and ethnic groups in the country.

STARR: As violent attacks against U.S. and Iraqi forces continue, Secretary Rumsfeld is sounding less than definitive. As Iraqi opposition has mounted, now no new predictions on planned caucuses to elect a transitional government to be in place by June.

(on camera): What are your feelings now about what needs to be accomplished for a transition to an Iraqi government?

RUMSFELD: It is going along about as one ought to expect. You've got a country who has no experience with democracy, to speak of, for the adult lifetime of anyone there.

STARR (voice-over): And if attacks continue against Iraqi security forces, Rumsfeld says, U.S. military troops may increase their presence in selected hot spots around Iraq in order to deal with the insurgents. Barbara Starr, CNN, Kuwait.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And later this hour we'll take you live to Baghdad for a report from Brent Sadler.

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