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Is Saddam Hussein Alive?

Aired April 08, 2003 - 14:44   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.


JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Well, despite the bombing on the first night of this war and yesterday's direct hit on a residential area of Baghdad, at a place where Saddam Hussein was believed by intelligence sources to be, Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations says that he believes Saddam Hussein is alive and in Baghdad.
Mohammed Aldouri talked with CNN's senior United Nations correspondent in New York City today.

Richard joins me now live from the U.N.

Richard, what is the ambassador saying, and what does he base it on?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Well, Judy it is the question of the hour, maybe for the week, is Saddam Hussein dead or alive? And whether he's just putting up a brave face for now. Yes, he indicates, the Iraqi ambassador does, that President Saddam Hussein may indeed by alive. I discussed the president's status with the ambassador on a cold New York street outside his residence that day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROTH: What about the fate of your president after the attack last night?

MOHAMMED ALDOURI, IRAQI AMB. TO U.N.: Well, I think the president is in Baghdad and the whole people are there, they are fighting, and that's OK.

ROTH: Do you have any information from Baghdad? Do you have any communication, though, to confirm about his whereabouts?

ALDOURI: No, no, I have no. There is no communication.

ROTH: Do you think he's alive?

ALDOURI: Well, I think yes.

ROTH: What about the idea that the U.S. targeted him this way?

ALDOURI: Well, the U.S. targeted him as usual, yes. They tried to get him, but I think he knows very well that he is targeted by Americans. Of course.

ROTH: Who is in charge... ALDOURI: This is a war. What's the meaning of war? A war of aggression. The American are there aggress our people and our country, so we will see the result. Not yet.

ROTH: Who is in charge, do you think, right now in Baghdad?

ALDOURI: The government of Iraq is there.

ROTH: Do you agree with the information minister who said that the American troops were not really in Baghdad at all and you've seen the pictures?

ALDOURI: Well, no, they are in Baghdad. Yes, of course, they are in Baghdad. I saw in the pictures and the minister of information said that, but we will see what is later, what is the result.

ROTH: What is the role for you now, do you think, in New York?

ALDOURI: My role is still as usual. I am the permanent representative of Iraqi.

ROTH: Thank you.

ALDOURI: If you want me, I am here. Why did you come here?

ROTH: It was because of the nature of the story.

ALDOURI: But I was in the United Nations with you.

ROTH: I understand. Sorry.

ALDOURI: For other people, they are not there.

ROTH: Are you getting much information from Iraq? The lines were down for many days.

ALDOURI: Everything is OK.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROTH: The ambassador also said to me that war will still exist in Iraq, because the people of Iraq will never accept -- quote -- "foreigners" for one minute, and he foresees his country as being under colonial rule under British and U.S. governments -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: Richard, what is he basing his confidence that Saddam Hussein is still alive on? Do we have any idea?

ROTH: No, I can't say that we have a better idea, but I think that the ambassador is also concerned about the fate of the Iraqi people. We went to the United Nations together, and that was more of his thought line, looking forward.

WOODRUFF: I guess -- I suppose that's what he has to do. All right, Richard Roth, who did stand on a cold, snowy street in New York to talk to Iraq's U.N. ambassador. Thanks, Richard. 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 8, 2003 - 14:44   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Well, despite the bombing on the first night of this war and yesterday's direct hit on a residential area of Baghdad, at a place where Saddam Hussein was believed by intelligence sources to be, Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations says that he believes Saddam Hussein is alive and in Baghdad.
Mohammed Aldouri talked with CNN's senior United Nations correspondent in New York City today.

Richard joins me now live from the U.N.

Richard, what is the ambassador saying, and what does he base it on?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Well, Judy it is the question of the hour, maybe for the week, is Saddam Hussein dead or alive? And whether he's just putting up a brave face for now. Yes, he indicates, the Iraqi ambassador does, that President Saddam Hussein may indeed by alive. I discussed the president's status with the ambassador on a cold New York street outside his residence that day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROTH: What about the fate of your president after the attack last night?

MOHAMMED ALDOURI, IRAQI AMB. TO U.N.: Well, I think the president is in Baghdad and the whole people are there, they are fighting, and that's OK.

ROTH: Do you have any information from Baghdad? Do you have any communication, though, to confirm about his whereabouts?

ALDOURI: No, no, I have no. There is no communication.

ROTH: Do you think he's alive?

ALDOURI: Well, I think yes.

ROTH: What about the idea that the U.S. targeted him this way?

ALDOURI: Well, the U.S. targeted him as usual, yes. They tried to get him, but I think he knows very well that he is targeted by Americans. Of course.

ROTH: Who is in charge... ALDOURI: This is a war. What's the meaning of war? A war of aggression. The American are there aggress our people and our country, so we will see the result. Not yet.

ROTH: Who is in charge, do you think, right now in Baghdad?

ALDOURI: The government of Iraq is there.

ROTH: Do you agree with the information minister who said that the American troops were not really in Baghdad at all and you've seen the pictures?

ALDOURI: Well, no, they are in Baghdad. Yes, of course, they are in Baghdad. I saw in the pictures and the minister of information said that, but we will see what is later, what is the result.

ROTH: What is the role for you now, do you think, in New York?

ALDOURI: My role is still as usual. I am the permanent representative of Iraqi.

ROTH: Thank you.

ALDOURI: If you want me, I am here. Why did you come here?

ROTH: It was because of the nature of the story.

ALDOURI: But I was in the United Nations with you.

ROTH: I understand. Sorry.

ALDOURI: For other people, they are not there.

ROTH: Are you getting much information from Iraq? The lines were down for many days.

ALDOURI: Everything is OK.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROTH: The ambassador also said to me that war will still exist in Iraq, because the people of Iraq will never accept -- quote -- "foreigners" for one minute, and he foresees his country as being under colonial rule under British and U.S. governments -- Judy.

WOODRUFF: Richard, what is he basing his confidence that Saddam Hussein is still alive on? Do we have any idea?

ROTH: No, I can't say that we have a better idea, but I think that the ambassador is also concerned about the fate of the Iraqi people. We went to the United Nations together, and that was more of his thought line, looking forward.

WOODRUFF: I guess -- I suppose that's what he has to do. All right, Richard Roth, who did stand on a cold, snowy street in New York to talk to Iraq's U.N. ambassador. Thanks, Richard. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com