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Iraqi Civilians Looting Abandoned Iraqi Positions

Aired April 03, 2003 - 15:44   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: In northern Iraq, the commander of the Kurdish forces says Iraqi troops have now pulled back beyond the Kasar (ph) River. U.S. air strikes routed them from positions in the village of Kazar (ph). CNN's Ben Wedeman reports civilians are looting abandoned Iraqi positions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Bombs crash near the Iraqi-controlled town of Kasar (ph) on the road to Mosul. Scene of a battle for a bridge still held by Iraqi troops. Kurdish fighters and a handful of American soldiers watch from a protected position.

The Iraqis define their relentless bombardment and maintain their grip on the bridge and respond by lobbing mortar rounds at the Kurds. Just a few hours before this exchange, hundreds of Kurdish troops had walked confidently through territory that had been under Iraqi control for 12 years. They lack heavy weaponry, but American troops, increasingly visible in the north, are calling in punishing air strikes that almost even the odds. And as the Kurds moved ahead, behind them came villagers eager to loot.

Scavenging through Iraqi positions, they take away whatever they can carry and then some. Kurdish soldiers order this man to unload his motorcycle. In the end, they relented. Their desire to impose order overcome by his determination to drive away with the (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

Latecomers went away with the leftovers. Not glamorous, but useful, nonetheless. Late afternoon and smoke rises from an incoming Iraqi mortar round.

(on camera): The Kurdish advance is not as inexorable is it sometimes seems. Despite a day of coalition bombing, we're now hearing the Iraqis may be about to counter attack. Clearly, this front can move in both directions. Ben Wedeman, CNN, Nazimiya, northern Iraq.

(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 April 3, 2003 - 15:44   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: In northern Iraq, the commander of the Kurdish forces says Iraqi troops have now pulled back beyond the Kasar (ph) River. U.S. air strikes routed them from positions in the village of Kazar (ph). CNN's Ben Wedeman reports civilians are looting abandoned Iraqi positions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Bombs crash near the Iraqi-controlled town of Kasar (ph) on the road to Mosul. Scene of a battle for a bridge still held by Iraqi troops. Kurdish fighters and a handful of American soldiers watch from a protected position.

The Iraqis define their relentless bombardment and maintain their grip on the bridge and respond by lobbing mortar rounds at the Kurds. Just a few hours before this exchange, hundreds of Kurdish troops had walked confidently through territory that had been under Iraqi control for 12 years. They lack heavy weaponry, but American troops, increasingly visible in the north, are calling in punishing air strikes that almost even the odds. And as the Kurds moved ahead, behind them came villagers eager to loot.

Scavenging through Iraqi positions, they take away whatever they can carry and then some. Kurdish soldiers order this man to unload his motorcycle. In the end, they relented. Their desire to impose order overcome by his determination to drive away with the (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

Latecomers went away with the leftovers. Not glamorous, but useful, nonetheless. Late afternoon and smoke rises from an incoming Iraqi mortar round.

(on camera): The Kurdish advance is not as inexorable is it sometimes seems. Despite a day of coalition bombing, we're now hearing the Iraqis may be about to counter attack. Clearly, this front can move in both directions. Ben Wedeman, CNN, Nazimiya, northern Iraq.

(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