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CNN Live At Daybreak
One Woman Killed, Eight People Hurt in Baghdad Blast
Aired December 19, 2003 - 06:07 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.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's get more on today's big explosion, targeting Iraq's major Shiite political party.
Live now for details from our Satinder Bindra in Baghdad -- Satinder.
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Carol.
Another typical start to the day here. And at about 5:00, an explosion rocked this city. We understand the explosion occurred at about 5:00. One woman was killed instantly, eight people injured.
I should also add, the current head of Iraq's U.S. appointed Governing Council, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, belongs to the same Shiite party.
And just two days ago, Carol, another prominent Shiite leader, Mohammed al-Hakim (ph), was assassinated. He was assassinated just outside his home, and his supporters telling the media that just days before his assassination he had been threatened by pro-Saddam forces.
What this violence underscores is there's an increase in attacks against civilians here. There have been several attacks, some 21 attacks, in the past seven days against civilians. And a large portion of these attacks have been concentrated against Iraqi police officers. In the past five days, 25 Iraqi police officers have been killed.
Also today, Carol, the U.S. ambassador here, Paul Bremer, confirming to reporters that his convoy came under attack on December the 6th. He described it as an assassination attempt.
Back to you now.
LIN: Any more on that, Satinder, of who might be the primary suspects? Where the attack might have taken place?
BINDRA: We have very few details, Carol, at the moment. What I can confirm for you is on that same day, on December 6, the U.S. defense secretary, Mr. Donald Rumsfeld, was in town. His convoy was traveling. He was very close to Baghdad. His convoy came under small-arms fire, but Mr. Bremer and all of those with him escaped.
LIN: All right, Satinder, just very quickly here, the increase in attacks against Iraqi civilians, is the U.S. coalition hopeful that the result of these attacks may be that more people might come forward with information, intelligence, to help the coalition track down the attackers?
BINDRA: Well, intelligence is what they need. And what has also helped is the capture of Saddam Hussein just six days ago. U.S. officials and coalition authorities here are confirming that more Iraqis are coming forward to work in the Civil Defense Forces.
And what's very, very noticeable, they said, is they noticed this spike in recruitment efforts in the town of Tikrit. That's where Saddam Hussein comes from. So, they say this is quite a significant move. And all of this has happened after Saddam Hussein's capture.
So, certainly that is a major boost for coalition forces here -- Carol.
LIN: All right, thank you very much, Satinder Bindra, reporting live in Baghdad this morning.
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 19, 2003 - 06:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's get more on today's big explosion, targeting Iraq's major Shiite political party.
Live now for details from our Satinder Bindra in Baghdad -- Satinder.
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Carol.
Another typical start to the day here. And at about 5:00, an explosion rocked this city. We understand the explosion occurred at about 5:00. One woman was killed instantly, eight people injured.
I should also add, the current head of Iraq's U.S. appointed Governing Council, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, belongs to the same Shiite party.
And just two days ago, Carol, another prominent Shiite leader, Mohammed al-Hakim (ph), was assassinated. He was assassinated just outside his home, and his supporters telling the media that just days before his assassination he had been threatened by pro-Saddam forces.
What this violence underscores is there's an increase in attacks against civilians here. There have been several attacks, some 21 attacks, in the past seven days against civilians. And a large portion of these attacks have been concentrated against Iraqi police officers. In the past five days, 25 Iraqi police officers have been killed.
Also today, Carol, the U.S. ambassador here, Paul Bremer, confirming to reporters that his convoy came under attack on December the 6th. He described it as an assassination attempt.
Back to you now.
LIN: Any more on that, Satinder, of who might be the primary suspects? Where the attack might have taken place?
BINDRA: We have very few details, Carol, at the moment. What I can confirm for you is on that same day, on December 6, the U.S. defense secretary, Mr. Donald Rumsfeld, was in town. His convoy was traveling. He was very close to Baghdad. His convoy came under small-arms fire, but Mr. Bremer and all of those with him escaped.
LIN: All right, Satinder, just very quickly here, the increase in attacks against Iraqi civilians, is the U.S. coalition hopeful that the result of these attacks may be that more people might come forward with information, intelligence, to help the coalition track down the attackers?
BINDRA: Well, intelligence is what they need. And what has also helped is the capture of Saddam Hussein just six days ago. U.S. officials and coalition authorities here are confirming that more Iraqis are coming forward to work in the Civil Defense Forces.
And what's very, very noticeable, they said, is they noticed this spike in recruitment efforts in the town of Tikrit. That's where Saddam Hussein comes from. So, they say this is quite a significant move. And all of this has happened after Saddam Hussein's capture.
So, certainly that is a major boost for coalition forces here -- Carol.
LIN: All right, thank you very much, Satinder Bindra, reporting live in Baghdad this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
