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CNN Live Saturday
Prominent Shi'ite Leader Returns to Iraq
Aired May 10, 2003 - 14:07 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: New forces for change are at work in Iraq. A prominent religious and political leader has returned after more than two decades in exile. CNN's Jane Arraf is in the Iraqi capital to tell us all about the shape of things to come -- Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, that definitely is the big news. The Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim returning after more than 20 years of exile in Iran. Now, he has returned to a joyous reception from Shia Muslims in the south. In Basra, people threw themselves at his car, threw flowers at him and rejoiced. They have not seen this man for 20 years. He has not set foot on Iraqi soil.
Now, he returned calling for Iraq to become what he says would be a modern Islamic state. What that would be exactly remains to be seen. But this is a major development. He does not command the support of the entire Shia community, which is quite diverse, but he does command a significant amount of support, and he will be making his way to the holy city of Najaf within the next two days
On another front, near the Iranian border, the Iranian opposition that has also been in place in Iraq for more than a decade has agreed to surrender to U.S. forces. Now, this has been a standoff with the United States and the Mujahideen Al-Khalq, the People's Opposition. This is -- these are fighters who have vowed to topple the Iranian regime, and they have been supported by President Saddam Hussein, the ex-president. They have set up armed camps. They have been in this standoff, in which the U.S. has told them they either have to disarm, or be destroyed.
Now, we spoke to General David McKiernan, the commanding general here, earlier today, and he said that no matter what happens, this group must disappear from Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. GEN. DAVID MCKIERNAN, COMMANDER OF OPERATIONS: I envision and expect, and we have an operation ongoing that will disarm the MEK, and will bring them under the coalition control, will separate them from all their weapons, and we'll have our U.S. forces that will have them under control.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARRAF: And here in Baghdad, retired General Jay Garner has set a June 15 deadline. Now, this just a bit over a month away to get that reconstruction process going again. Now, things have been lagging behind, according to most Iraqis. And there's some doubt as to whether that can be achieved -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Jane Arraf, thank you very much, from 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 May 10, 2003 - 14:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: New forces for change are at work in Iraq. A prominent religious and political leader has returned after more than two decades in exile. CNN's Jane Arraf is in the Iraqi capital to tell us all about the shape of things to come -- Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, that definitely is the big news. The Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim returning after more than 20 years of exile in Iran. Now, he has returned to a joyous reception from Shia Muslims in the south. In Basra, people threw themselves at his car, threw flowers at him and rejoiced. They have not seen this man for 20 years. He has not set foot on Iraqi soil.
Now, he returned calling for Iraq to become what he says would be a modern Islamic state. What that would be exactly remains to be seen. But this is a major development. He does not command the support of the entire Shia community, which is quite diverse, but he does command a significant amount of support, and he will be making his way to the holy city of Najaf within the next two days
On another front, near the Iranian border, the Iranian opposition that has also been in place in Iraq for more than a decade has agreed to surrender to U.S. forces. Now, this has been a standoff with the United States and the Mujahideen Al-Khalq, the People's Opposition. This is -- these are fighters who have vowed to topple the Iranian regime, and they have been supported by President Saddam Hussein, the ex-president. They have set up armed camps. They have been in this standoff, in which the U.S. has told them they either have to disarm, or be destroyed.
Now, we spoke to General David McKiernan, the commanding general here, earlier today, and he said that no matter what happens, this group must disappear from Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. GEN. DAVID MCKIERNAN, COMMANDER OF OPERATIONS: I envision and expect, and we have an operation ongoing that will disarm the MEK, and will bring them under the coalition control, will separate them from all their weapons, and we'll have our U.S. forces that will have them under control.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARRAF: And here in Baghdad, retired General Jay Garner has set a June 15 deadline. Now, this just a bit over a month away to get that reconstruction process going again. Now, things have been lagging behind, according to most Iraqis. And there's some doubt as to whether that can be achieved -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Jane Arraf, thank you very much, from 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
