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CNN Live Saturday
U.N. Asks Civilian Personnel to Leave Kuwait-Iraq Border
Aired March 08, 2003 - 17:00 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.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: United Nations military observers along Kuwait's border with Iraq have ordered most of their civilian, nonessential personnel to leave the area. CNN's Martin Savidge is in Kuwait City, and he has this late report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): U.N. sources here in Kuwait confirm to CNN that they have begun evacuating roughly the 230 nonessential or civilian personnel that have been living up in the DMZ, the Demilitarized Zone that marks the border between Kuwait and Iraq. U.N. officials say this is being done to look out for the safety of those civilians. They're being told to withdraw to Kuwait City.
Meanwhile, the U.N. observers and U.N. military forces that have been up there along the border for a number of years have now gone to red alert. That means that they are pretty much restricted to their bases, not going out on patrol. That in response to increased tensions along the border up there. The U.N. is also telling CNN that they have seen U.S. military personnel in the DMZ. CNN crews yesterday saw U.S. military vehicles in the DMZ.
Technically, that's a violation. U.S. military troops are not supposed to go up there. There are signs posted to say don't go up there. Why would they be there? Scouting. There are a lot of defensive positions the Kuwaitis put in place. Two earthen berms, one deep trench and an electric fence. There was activity around all of those, including reports of large gaps that have now been opened in the electric fence, apparently by Kuwaiti workers. And also that one smaller earthen berm in the southern most portion of the DMZ on the Kuwaiti side is being knocked down by U.S. military forces.
You have to keep in mind that they would have to clear those obstacles if British and U.S. forces wanted to push into Iraq. Does it mean that war is imminent? Not necessarily so, but these are key indicators to suggest the time is running out.
Martin Savidge, CNN, Kuwait.
(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 March 8, 2003 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: United Nations military observers along Kuwait's border with Iraq have ordered most of their civilian, nonessential personnel to leave the area. CNN's Martin Savidge is in Kuwait City, and he has this late report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): U.N. sources here in Kuwait confirm to CNN that they have begun evacuating roughly the 230 nonessential or civilian personnel that have been living up in the DMZ, the Demilitarized Zone that marks the border between Kuwait and Iraq. U.N. officials say this is being done to look out for the safety of those civilians. They're being told to withdraw to Kuwait City.
Meanwhile, the U.N. observers and U.N. military forces that have been up there along the border for a number of years have now gone to red alert. That means that they are pretty much restricted to their bases, not going out on patrol. That in response to increased tensions along the border up there. The U.N. is also telling CNN that they have seen U.S. military personnel in the DMZ. CNN crews yesterday saw U.S. military vehicles in the DMZ.
Technically, that's a violation. U.S. military troops are not supposed to go up there. There are signs posted to say don't go up there. Why would they be there? Scouting. There are a lot of defensive positions the Kuwaitis put in place. Two earthen berms, one deep trench and an electric fence. There was activity around all of those, including reports of large gaps that have now been opened in the electric fence, apparently by Kuwaiti workers. And also that one smaller earthen berm in the southern most portion of the DMZ on the Kuwaiti side is being knocked down by U.S. military forces.
You have to keep in mind that they would have to clear those obstacles if British and U.S. forces wanted to push into Iraq. Does it mean that war is imminent? Not necessarily so, but these are key indicators to suggest the time is running out.
Martin Savidge, CNN, Kuwait.
(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
