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CNN Live Saturday
U.N. Weapons Inspectors Accelerate Hunt for WMDs in Iraq
Aired December 14, 2002 - 17:07 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: U.N. weapons inspectors in Iraq are accelerating their hunt for any weapons of mass destruction the country may be hiding. CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is in Baghdad with a wrap-up of today's activities there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): One of the busiest days for weapons inspectors here so far, 98 in country, 20 more expected tomorrow. They visited about a dozen sites today. One of those sites south of Baghdad, a heavy industrial complex several square kilometers employing some 3,000 people. The inspectors there spending almost a whole day visiting that facility. Journalists allowed in just after dark.
Now, the U.N. says that it has now agreed contracts to acquire the rest of its fleet of helicopters. It does expect those helicopters to begin arriving here soon. It will eventually have eight helicopters, enabling inspectors to travel more speedily and further afield in Iraq.
Now, also today, Hans Blix's letter to Iraqi officials, in Iraqi officials' hands; this letter requests of the Iraqi government that they submit to the U.N. inspection teams a list of Iraqi scientists, that is all their scientists. This could be many thousands of scientists as well. The scientists that have been involved in chemical, biological, missile and nuclear fields; not only now but those who have been involved in the past, and not only in the production, but also in the research and development.
So this could be a very lengthy list. The Iraqi officials have indicated that they will respond positively to this and provide a list in the near future. The U.N. expecting a list by the end of this month, December.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 December 14, 2002 - 17:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: U.N. weapons inspectors in Iraq are accelerating their hunt for any weapons of mass destruction the country may be hiding. CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is in Baghdad with a wrap-up of today's activities there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): One of the busiest days for weapons inspectors here so far, 98 in country, 20 more expected tomorrow. They visited about a dozen sites today. One of those sites south of Baghdad, a heavy industrial complex several square kilometers employing some 3,000 people. The inspectors there spending almost a whole day visiting that facility. Journalists allowed in just after dark.
Now, the U.N. says that it has now agreed contracts to acquire the rest of its fleet of helicopters. It does expect those helicopters to begin arriving here soon. It will eventually have eight helicopters, enabling inspectors to travel more speedily and further afield in Iraq.
Now, also today, Hans Blix's letter to Iraqi officials, in Iraqi officials' hands; this letter requests of the Iraqi government that they submit to the U.N. inspection teams a list of Iraqi scientists, that is all their scientists. This could be many thousands of scientists as well. The scientists that have been involved in chemical, biological, missile and nuclear fields; not only now but those who have been involved in the past, and not only in the production, but also in the research and development.
So this could be a very lengthy list. The Iraqi officials have indicated that they will respond positively to this and provide a list in the near future. The U.N. expecting a list by the end of this month, December.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
