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U.K. Troops Have Not Yet Moved Into Basra

Aired April 01, 2003 - 12:58   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.


WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We have another of our embeds -- our embedded correspondents from the U.K. Pool reporter Clive Myrie is joining us from southern Iraq. Clive, I don't know where you are precisely, what you could tell us, but we'd love to hear the latest from your vantage point.
CLIVE MYRIE, CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, I'm in a town that is just south of Basra, not too many kilometers south of Basra called Abu al Kasid (ph). British forces, Royal Marines entered the city a couple days ago and they've been consolidating their hold on this town now for the last couple of days.

They made quite an important find this morning. A cache of weapons destined for Iraqi militia groups, we understand. Machine guns, heavy machine guns and rocket propelled grenades, which you've just been talking about, RPGs. Very, very important find for the Royal Navy Marines here because the RPGs have been used to some effect by Iraqi militia men to harass, harass British troops over the last few days since this war began.

So quite an important find for coalition forces here and an important development in this war.

BLITZER: Clive, we're getting conflicting reports on precisely what's happening in Basra. As far as you can tell, have British forces actually entered the city or are they simply in control of the outskirts of the city because it seems to be unclear whether the city is actually besieged or not yet?

MYRIE: Wolf, this is a very important point. British forces are not in Basra, they are not in Basra. They have not entered the city. This has to be made clear. It is an option, of course, to British forces, to coalition forces at some point in the future. When, we don't know. I'm not privy to any of the discussions that the commanders are having.

But at this moment in time, British forces are not in the city. They are on the outskirts, however. And I think that is quite important, because it could be the launch pad at some point in the future for them to go in. There is a school of thought that suggests, perhaps, they'll wait until Baghdad falls before going into Basra or maybe they'll attack Basra first.

We simply do not know, but it is important to make clear at this stage that British forces, coalition forces are not in the city. BLITZER: And before I let you go, Clive, the humanitarian situation inside Basra, this is a city, the second largest city of Iraq, a million, 200,000 people, maybe more, do they have food, water, supplies that they need to survive?

MYRIE: It's very difficult; the humanitarian situation is getting critical in the city. There are many people still trying to leave, fleeing south, and they're being helped by coalition forces along the way. There is a shortage of electricity. Power lines have been hit in bombing raids. There is a shortage of fresh water, and there is a shortage of food, and people are trying to get out. So this could be a reason, Wolf, for a coalition attack on the city, to try and ease the humanitarian situation within the city, Wolf. But as I say, the British aren't in there yet.

BLITZER: All right, our British pool correspondent, Clive Myrie, thanks very much. We'll try to get back in touch with you as well. Clearly covering a significant story, the situation surrounding Basra, a very important story.

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 April 1, 2003 - 12:58   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We have another of our embeds -- our embedded correspondents from the U.K. Pool reporter Clive Myrie is joining us from southern Iraq. Clive, I don't know where you are precisely, what you could tell us, but we'd love to hear the latest from your vantage point.
CLIVE MYRIE, CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, I'm in a town that is just south of Basra, not too many kilometers south of Basra called Abu al Kasid (ph). British forces, Royal Marines entered the city a couple days ago and they've been consolidating their hold on this town now for the last couple of days.

They made quite an important find this morning. A cache of weapons destined for Iraqi militia groups, we understand. Machine guns, heavy machine guns and rocket propelled grenades, which you've just been talking about, RPGs. Very, very important find for the Royal Navy Marines here because the RPGs have been used to some effect by Iraqi militia men to harass, harass British troops over the last few days since this war began.

So quite an important find for coalition forces here and an important development in this war.

BLITZER: Clive, we're getting conflicting reports on precisely what's happening in Basra. As far as you can tell, have British forces actually entered the city or are they simply in control of the outskirts of the city because it seems to be unclear whether the city is actually besieged or not yet?

MYRIE: Wolf, this is a very important point. British forces are not in Basra, they are not in Basra. They have not entered the city. This has to be made clear. It is an option, of course, to British forces, to coalition forces at some point in the future. When, we don't know. I'm not privy to any of the discussions that the commanders are having.

But at this moment in time, British forces are not in the city. They are on the outskirts, however. And I think that is quite important, because it could be the launch pad at some point in the future for them to go in. There is a school of thought that suggests, perhaps, they'll wait until Baghdad falls before going into Basra or maybe they'll attack Basra first.

We simply do not know, but it is important to make clear at this stage that British forces, coalition forces are not in the city. BLITZER: And before I let you go, Clive, the humanitarian situation inside Basra, this is a city, the second largest city of Iraq, a million, 200,000 people, maybe more, do they have food, water, supplies that they need to survive?

MYRIE: It's very difficult; the humanitarian situation is getting critical in the city. There are many people still trying to leave, fleeing south, and they're being helped by coalition forces along the way. There is a shortage of electricity. Power lines have been hit in bombing raids. There is a shortage of fresh water, and there is a shortage of food, and people are trying to get out. So this could be a reason, Wolf, for a coalition attack on the city, to try and ease the humanitarian situation within the city, Wolf. But as I say, the British aren't in there yet.

BLITZER: All right, our British pool correspondent, Clive Myrie, thanks very much. We'll try to get back in touch with you as well. Clearly covering a significant story, the situation surrounding Basra, a very important story.

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