Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Hussein Speaks on Anniversary of Gulf War

Aired January 17, 2003 - 13:06   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: No backing down in Baghdad. Today, words of defiance apparently aimed at Washington from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
CNN's Nic Robertson is in the Iraqi capital with the latest on the showdown -- Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, President Saddam Hussein, in his annual address to the Iraqi people, a speech of some 37 minutes commemorating the beginning of the Gulf War, as Iraq calls it here, the mother of all battles.

In fact, he started off his address today by telling the Iraqi people that they won that war. He said that they defeated the evil troops from 30 different states. Now, he went on to try and rally support from the people at this time calling them to raise their swords and raise their rifles. He reminded the Iraqi people of a 13th century defeat of Baghdad where Baghdad was left in ruins. He said that wouldn't happen this time, that the government had plans, that it was prepared to defend Baghdad.

He called upon people to join the government in that defense, and he said that any attack on Baghdad would be met by a great deal of resistance, that on the walls of Baghdad, those invaders would essentially be committing suicide.

Now, in commemoration of the anniversary of the beginning of the Gulf War, of the mother of all battles, as it's known here, the government organized a rally in Baghdad in scenes very reminiscent, Kyra, of what we saw in the lead up to the last Gulf War.

That was an effigy of this President Bush being hung in the crowd, chants of support for President Saddam Hussein. They set fire to this effigy, somebody stabbing it, and what appeared to be cutting off its head with a large knife. These are demonstrations organized by the government. Perhaps about 2,000 people in attendance -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Nic Robertson, live from Baghdad, thank you.

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 January 17, 2003 - 13:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: No backing down in Baghdad. Today, words of defiance apparently aimed at Washington from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
CNN's Nic Robertson is in the Iraqi capital with the latest on the showdown -- Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, President Saddam Hussein, in his annual address to the Iraqi people, a speech of some 37 minutes commemorating the beginning of the Gulf War, as Iraq calls it here, the mother of all battles.

In fact, he started off his address today by telling the Iraqi people that they won that war. He said that they defeated the evil troops from 30 different states. Now, he went on to try and rally support from the people at this time calling them to raise their swords and raise their rifles. He reminded the Iraqi people of a 13th century defeat of Baghdad where Baghdad was left in ruins. He said that wouldn't happen this time, that the government had plans, that it was prepared to defend Baghdad.

He called upon people to join the government in that defense, and he said that any attack on Baghdad would be met by a great deal of resistance, that on the walls of Baghdad, those invaders would essentially be committing suicide.

Now, in commemoration of the anniversary of the beginning of the Gulf War, of the mother of all battles, as it's known here, the government organized a rally in Baghdad in scenes very reminiscent, Kyra, of what we saw in the lead up to the last Gulf War.

That was an effigy of this President Bush being hung in the crowd, chants of support for President Saddam Hussein. They set fire to this effigy, somebody stabbing it, and what appeared to be cutting off its head with a large knife. These are demonstrations organized by the government. Perhaps about 2,000 people in attendance -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Nic Robertson, live from Baghdad, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com