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Heavy Detonations Heard in Iraq

Aired March 20, 2003 - 13:20   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.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to go back to Nic. Nic, your still with us. I wanted you to review the three distinct locations you think have been stuck in the center of Baghdad. Can you hear me?
NIC ROBERTSON, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Paula, I can hear you. Paula, I'm advised now not to report specific locations. So I will report to you generally what I can see here. And I've been advised by Iraqi officials. We are witnessing just in the last few minutes a couple of more explosions in the city. I'm seeing anti- aircraft rounds going up in the city. This attack still seems to be underway at this stage. Perhaps not so active in the center of the city. But, however, I do need to stay away from reporting precise locations and particular buildings. But anti-aircraft gunfire lighting up the skies. I'm hearing heavy detonations in the distance at this time. This battle still seems to be very much underway at this time, Paula. Sounding very loud at this stag here.

ZAHN: Let's come back to your description of the detonation, which is very interesting, from the base of the building. We just talked to General Grange who said it is difficult to tell what is being used. It very much could be a combination of cruise missiles, he said, and JDAM, in an integrated strike. Describe to us, again, what you're actually seeing at the detonation site.

ROBERTSON: That particular -- and I think, again, the advice I have to operate under here now, is that I should stay away from specifics. But it did seem to be as I've indicated before, that the explosion appeared to be at the base of the building. Difficult to say categorically, not being that close, but from what I could see, from where I was standing, at the base of the building. But I think the reporting guidelines for us here, at this time now, are to stay away from specifics at this time --Paula.

ZAHN: Well understood. Are you able to tell us if you continue to see the anti-aircraft fire coming in a number of different directions?

ROBERTSON: At this moment, I'm seeing anti-aircraft gunfire in the distance. It's not as intense as it was a little earlier. It's -- it is -- there is still some anti-aircraft tracer in the air, perhaps from a couple locations, but not as intense as it was a little while ago. But it is sporadic now. There will be a couple of bursts and the detonations will become heavier again as another couple of locations closer to where I am begin firing. But -- right at this very moment, it appears to be that we're in a lull. I think, from what we saw here before there were several detonations quite close to us. We've been able to hear since then several detonations further away from us in the city. And right now, we appeared to be in a little bit of a lull and I think that say relative term at this moment -- Paula.

ZAHN: It must bring you a small amount of relief there. While you are not able to tell us or not supposed to tell us specific location here. Are you comfortable tell us whether it is your understanding whether any of these detonations have hit in near residential areas?

ROBERTSON: From what I've seen that doesn't appear to be the case. But of course without getting closer it would be difficult to make an accurate assessment. The residential areas are all throughout this city. And are much closer to many key facilities in this city. So, without being much closer to the impact it would be difficult to say if residential areas were impacted. My initial assessment, from the first few detonation, they would not appear to be in residential areas.

ZAHN: We'll let you catch your breath once again.

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 20, 2003 - 13:20   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to go back to Nic. Nic, your still with us. I wanted you to review the three distinct locations you think have been stuck in the center of Baghdad. Can you hear me?
NIC ROBERTSON, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Paula, I can hear you. Paula, I'm advised now not to report specific locations. So I will report to you generally what I can see here. And I've been advised by Iraqi officials. We are witnessing just in the last few minutes a couple of more explosions in the city. I'm seeing anti- aircraft rounds going up in the city. This attack still seems to be underway at this stage. Perhaps not so active in the center of the city. But, however, I do need to stay away from reporting precise locations and particular buildings. But anti-aircraft gunfire lighting up the skies. I'm hearing heavy detonations in the distance at this time. This battle still seems to be very much underway at this time, Paula. Sounding very loud at this stag here.

ZAHN: Let's come back to your description of the detonation, which is very interesting, from the base of the building. We just talked to General Grange who said it is difficult to tell what is being used. It very much could be a combination of cruise missiles, he said, and JDAM, in an integrated strike. Describe to us, again, what you're actually seeing at the detonation site.

ROBERTSON: That particular -- and I think, again, the advice I have to operate under here now, is that I should stay away from specifics. But it did seem to be as I've indicated before, that the explosion appeared to be at the base of the building. Difficult to say categorically, not being that close, but from what I could see, from where I was standing, at the base of the building. But I think the reporting guidelines for us here, at this time now, are to stay away from specifics at this time --Paula.

ZAHN: Well understood. Are you able to tell us if you continue to see the anti-aircraft fire coming in a number of different directions?

ROBERTSON: At this moment, I'm seeing anti-aircraft gunfire in the distance. It's not as intense as it was a little earlier. It's -- it is -- there is still some anti-aircraft tracer in the air, perhaps from a couple locations, but not as intense as it was a little while ago. But it is sporadic now. There will be a couple of bursts and the detonations will become heavier again as another couple of locations closer to where I am begin firing. But -- right at this very moment, it appears to be that we're in a lull. I think, from what we saw here before there were several detonations quite close to us. We've been able to hear since then several detonations further away from us in the city. And right now, we appeared to be in a little bit of a lull and I think that say relative term at this moment -- Paula.

ZAHN: It must bring you a small amount of relief there. While you are not able to tell us or not supposed to tell us specific location here. Are you comfortable tell us whether it is your understanding whether any of these detonations have hit in near residential areas?

ROBERTSON: From what I've seen that doesn't appear to be the case. But of course without getting closer it would be difficult to make an accurate assessment. The residential areas are all throughout this city. And are much closer to many key facilities in this city. So, without being much closer to the impact it would be difficult to say if residential areas were impacted. My initial assessment, from the first few detonation, they would not appear to be in residential areas.

ZAHN: We'll let you catch your breath once again.

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