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CNN Live Saturday
Exhiled Dictator Idi Amin Buried In Saudi Arabia
Aired August 16, 2003 - 16:18 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.
CHRITI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: The body of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin now lies in the soil of Saudi Arabia, the country of his exile. CNN's Chris Wheelock looks at hte legacy of the man who was known as the "Butcher of Africa."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS WHEELOCK: Although barely able to read or write, Idi Amin rose from cook to commander in chief of Uganda's armed forces forces during his long career. That is also where the first reports of brutality and violence became associated with the towering man. He was later dubbed the "Butcher of Africa," blamed for the death or disappearance of between 200,000 and 400,000 Ugandans.
IDI AMIN, LATE DICTATOR OF UGANDA: And I will never give up. If I wanted to do something I would never change my mind.
WHEELOCK: It was a determined Amin, who led a military coup in 1971 to oust then president Milton Abote (ph), the very man who helped Amin rise through the ranks.
Amin is single-handedly credited over the next eight years with completely ruining Uganda. He pursued a policy of nationalism expelling Indian traders and workers and publicly executing those who challenged him. Amin, a Muslim, forged a relationship with Libya in 1972 after years of close ties with Israel.
Amin accepted money and military support in exchange for his pledge to make Uganda a Muslim nation. And he began supporting the anti-Israel movement. The Palestine Liberation Organization quickly developed a military presence in Uganda.
PLO terrorists hijacked an Air France jet in 1976, with more 250 people aboard, about 100 of whom were Israelis. The plane landed at Antevi (ph) airport but within a day an Israeli commando raid freed all but one hostage as they caught Ugandan troops by surprise.
Amin had a penchant for the unusual, swimming fully clothed before cameras at one point, even claiming to be a cannibal. Multiple wives over the years, bore him dozens of children.
In the end. Civilians and the military turned against Amin, forcing him into exile in 1979 to Libya and later, Saudi Arabia. Chris Wheelock, CNN.
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 August 16, 2003 - 16:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CHRITI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: The body of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin now lies in the soil of Saudi Arabia, the country of his exile. CNN's Chris Wheelock looks at hte legacy of the man who was known as the "Butcher of Africa."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS WHEELOCK: Although barely able to read or write, Idi Amin rose from cook to commander in chief of Uganda's armed forces forces during his long career. That is also where the first reports of brutality and violence became associated with the towering man. He was later dubbed the "Butcher of Africa," blamed for the death or disappearance of between 200,000 and 400,000 Ugandans.
IDI AMIN, LATE DICTATOR OF UGANDA: And I will never give up. If I wanted to do something I would never change my mind.
WHEELOCK: It was a determined Amin, who led a military coup in 1971 to oust then president Milton Abote (ph), the very man who helped Amin rise through the ranks.
Amin is single-handedly credited over the next eight years with completely ruining Uganda. He pursued a policy of nationalism expelling Indian traders and workers and publicly executing those who challenged him. Amin, a Muslim, forged a relationship with Libya in 1972 after years of close ties with Israel.
Amin accepted money and military support in exchange for his pledge to make Uganda a Muslim nation. And he began supporting the anti-Israel movement. The Palestine Liberation Organization quickly developed a military presence in Uganda.
PLO terrorists hijacked an Air France jet in 1976, with more 250 people aboard, about 100 of whom were Israelis. The plane landed at Antevi (ph) airport but within a day an Israeli commando raid freed all but one hostage as they caught Ugandan troops by surprise.
Amin had a penchant for the unusual, swimming fully clothed before cameras at one point, even claiming to be a cannibal. Multiple wives over the years, bore him dozens of children.
In the end. Civilians and the military turned against Amin, forcing him into exile in 1979 to Libya and later, Saudi Arabia. Chris Wheelock, CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
