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Most Iraqis Believe Photos of Uday, Qusay Authentic

Aired July 24, 2003 - 11:32   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Our Nic Robertson is in Baghdad. Nic has been standing by, watching these photos as they've been released on a variety of news networks around the world. And from your perspective there in Baghdad, Nic, what can you tell us?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well certainly high interest, Leon. The lobby in the hotel where we work was crowded with people trying to watch the television there. The pictures had been released on Iraqi television. And what people were saying to us who watched them here where we've been able to talk to people here at least, the general consensus is that they do believe that these pictures are Uday and Qusay.

So certainly from the coalition's point of view of wanting to get their message out, of wanting to show their full hand to disclose everything about Uday and Qusay, not to touch up the bodies, certainly it does appear to be carrying the people that we've talked to, the majority of people we talked to so far.

However, people have expressed concern that the pictures are dark, that it does make identification for them difficult. And I think as Barbara has told us, Barbara Starr at the Pentagon has told us that the people at the Pentagon know that there will be an element to the Iraqi population who will choose not to believe whatever the coalition tells them. And perhaps that's an element in the community whose opinions are not going to be changed here come what may.

But it does appear in the initial stages, at least, as if the majority of the people looking at the pictures while having a difficult time to identify them because the pictures are dark being swayed by the fact that they do believe this is Uday and Qusay -- Leon.

HARRIS: Thank you very much, Nic. You stand by there

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 July 24, 2003 - 11:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Our Nic Robertson is in Baghdad. Nic has been standing by, watching these photos as they've been released on a variety of news networks around the world. And from your perspective there in Baghdad, Nic, what can you tell us?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well certainly high interest, Leon. The lobby in the hotel where we work was crowded with people trying to watch the television there. The pictures had been released on Iraqi television. And what people were saying to us who watched them here where we've been able to talk to people here at least, the general consensus is that they do believe that these pictures are Uday and Qusay.

So certainly from the coalition's point of view of wanting to get their message out, of wanting to show their full hand to disclose everything about Uday and Qusay, not to touch up the bodies, certainly it does appear to be carrying the people that we've talked to, the majority of people we talked to so far.

However, people have expressed concern that the pictures are dark, that it does make identification for them difficult. And I think as Barbara has told us, Barbara Starr at the Pentagon has told us that the people at the Pentagon know that there will be an element to the Iraqi population who will choose not to believe whatever the coalition tells them. And perhaps that's an element in the community whose opinions are not going to be changed here come what may.

But it does appear in the initial stages, at least, as if the majority of the people looking at the pictures while having a difficult time to identify them because the pictures are dark being swayed by the fact that they do believe this is Uday and Qusay -- Leon.

HARRIS: Thank you very much, Nic. You stand by there

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