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Iraqi Parliament Vows Loyalty to Saddam Hussein

Aired March 19, 2003 - 15:11   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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: In Baghdad, Iraq's National Assembly met today and then the legislators sent Saddam Hussein a letter pledging their continued loyalty to him.
CNN's Nic Robertson is in the Iraqi capital.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iraq's information minister, Muhammed Sahaf, handing out advice. Advice, he said for U.S. troops and officers. He said they should open their eyes, that they are being deceived by their leadership. Their leadership, he said, is telling them an invasion of Iraq is going to be a picnic. He said any attack on Iraq is doomed to failure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MUHAMMED SAEED SAHAF, IRAQI INFORMATION MINISTER: They're receiving their soldiers and their officers that aggressing against Iraq and invading Iraq will be like a picnic. While this is a very stupid lie they are telling their soldiers. What they are facing is a definite death.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Information Minister Sahaf also saying that at this time a war or aggression against Iraq was a violation of international law and a violation of the U.N. charter.

Also we've heard from Iraq's National Assembly today, who met in session. We've often seen them meet in these sessions before. This is often a signal to the Iraqi people of support for President Saddam Hussein. This is what we heard from members of the National Assembly today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Everyone in Iraq is Saddam Hussein. Iraq is protected by its almighty and by its own army. We urge them not to continue with their foolish act. They will be resisted.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Indeed, after the meeting of the National Assembly, a letter was sent from the assembly to President Saddam Hussein saying that they support the president at this time. The message going out here to the Iraqi people, to the international community is that President Saddam Hussein has full support, and he is not about to leave the country at any time.

On the streets of Baghdad today, the city very much slowing down. Less traffic on the roads as we get later into the day. Also many of the shops, almost all of the shops here shuttered up, boarded up. Most people off the streets. The busy streets normally in the center of Baghdad, streets that it takes a long time to drive down because there's normally so much traffic, just very, very empty. You're able to drive down them very, very quickly today. Very few signs of life in the city. Many people, it appears, staying out of the city center, staying towards their home.

This is a city of 5 million people. Most of the people this city have been unable to leave the city. They do not have the money to try to get out of the country, to try to get to relatives perhaps in the countryside. Many of the 5 million people here expected to stay in Baghdad for what they expect to be a war anytime now.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.

(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 19, 2003 - 15:11   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: In Baghdad, Iraq's National Assembly met today and then the legislators sent Saddam Hussein a letter pledging their continued loyalty to him.
CNN's Nic Robertson is in the Iraqi capital.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iraq's information minister, Muhammed Sahaf, handing out advice. Advice, he said for U.S. troops and officers. He said they should open their eyes, that they are being deceived by their leadership. Their leadership, he said, is telling them an invasion of Iraq is going to be a picnic. He said any attack on Iraq is doomed to failure.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MUHAMMED SAEED SAHAF, IRAQI INFORMATION MINISTER: They're receiving their soldiers and their officers that aggressing against Iraq and invading Iraq will be like a picnic. While this is a very stupid lie they are telling their soldiers. What they are facing is a definite death.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Information Minister Sahaf also saying that at this time a war or aggression against Iraq was a violation of international law and a violation of the U.N. charter.

Also we've heard from Iraq's National Assembly today, who met in session. We've often seen them meet in these sessions before. This is often a signal to the Iraqi people of support for President Saddam Hussein. This is what we heard from members of the National Assembly today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Everyone in Iraq is Saddam Hussein. Iraq is protected by its almighty and by its own army. We urge them not to continue with their foolish act. They will be resisted.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Indeed, after the meeting of the National Assembly, a letter was sent from the assembly to President Saddam Hussein saying that they support the president at this time. The message going out here to the Iraqi people, to the international community is that President Saddam Hussein has full support, and he is not about to leave the country at any time.

On the streets of Baghdad today, the city very much slowing down. Less traffic on the roads as we get later into the day. Also many of the shops, almost all of the shops here shuttered up, boarded up. Most people off the streets. The busy streets normally in the center of Baghdad, streets that it takes a long time to drive down because there's normally so much traffic, just very, very empty. You're able to drive down them very, very quickly today. Very few signs of life in the city. Many people, it appears, staying out of the city center, staying towards their home.

This is a city of 5 million people. Most of the people this city have been unable to leave the city. They do not have the money to try to get out of the country, to try to get to relatives perhaps in the countryside. Many of the 5 million people here expected to stay in Baghdad for what they expect to be a war anytime now.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.

(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