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Aziz's Family Fears for Their Own Safety Following Arrest
Aired April 25, 2003 - 14:34 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: Couple of big gets in Iraq, along with former intelligence officer, another card folded into Centcom desk. Tariq Aziz, Saddam Hussein's deputy prime minister in custody. He is the eight of spades, No. 43 on the U.S. Most Wanted list. Aziz turned himself in despite saying before the war he'd rather die first. CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson talked with Aziz's family and friends in Baghdad after the surrender.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Tariq Aziz's son Ziad (ph) looks worried. He's willing to talk with us, but not be interviewed. As he explains how his father negotiated his surrender to U.S. forces, he plays with his son, Tariq Jr.
He says his father's night-time handover was dignified, that U.S. forces offered medical support for his father's heart condition that has caused two heart attacks recently. They don't know when to expect him back, and have been told he faces lots of questions.
Outside, U.S. troops provide occasional protection. Nearby, Siad (ph), a neighbor hopes all will be well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Americans should follow the rules. And I think that there's low protective (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
ROBERTSON: Salle (ph), also a neighbor comes to our car to give his opinion.
"He was a normal person," he says. "A good neighbor, but a bad politician."
At their nearby store, Talah (ph) and Yahi (ph) they prepare to open for their first day's of business since the war.
"Aziz was a politician," says Talah. "It's Saddam and the others Americans have problems with."
"Maybe he gives us information about the missing people," says Yahi. "And perhaps Saddam Hussein."
Further down the road, Yusef (ph) and Mufan (ph) wait for a ride. Neither have anything bad to say about Aziz. "We call him Mr. Aziz, and I'm proud of him," says Mufan, a former traffic cop. "He was cultured, and I wish someone like him rules us."
His friend Yusef adds, "If all the leaders stayed in Baghdad, then the Americans will catch them."
Across town in a less affluent neighborhood, reactions to Aziz's arrest are profoundly different.
"I didn't hear about it," explains Jasim (ph) the egg seller, "because we didn't have electricity."
When we explained the news to the crowd, Hesham (ph), a bystander, steps forward. "America is playing a trick on us," he says. "Where is our government and our security?"
At the pickle store, passions are inflamed by the lack of services. "Aziz is a war criminal," says Ahmed (ph). "He should get the death penalty, just like Saddam, 60 times over."
"We give Mr. Bush six months to get things right, " says Abass (ph), going on to explain, "If not, we will fight the Americans."
(on camera): The biggest problem Tariq Aziz's family says they now face is that now Aziz is now safely in U.S. custody, they don't know how safe they are out on Baghdad's streets.
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 April 25, 2003 - 14:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Couple of big gets in Iraq, along with former intelligence officer, another card folded into Centcom desk. Tariq Aziz, Saddam Hussein's deputy prime minister in custody. He is the eight of spades, No. 43 on the U.S. Most Wanted list. Aziz turned himself in despite saying before the war he'd rather die first. CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson talked with Aziz's family and friends in Baghdad after the surrender.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Tariq Aziz's son Ziad (ph) looks worried. He's willing to talk with us, but not be interviewed. As he explains how his father negotiated his surrender to U.S. forces, he plays with his son, Tariq Jr.
He says his father's night-time handover was dignified, that U.S. forces offered medical support for his father's heart condition that has caused two heart attacks recently. They don't know when to expect him back, and have been told he faces lots of questions.
Outside, U.S. troops provide occasional protection. Nearby, Siad (ph), a neighbor hopes all will be well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Americans should follow the rules. And I think that there's low protective (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
ROBERTSON: Salle (ph), also a neighbor comes to our car to give his opinion.
"He was a normal person," he says. "A good neighbor, but a bad politician."
At their nearby store, Talah (ph) and Yahi (ph) they prepare to open for their first day's of business since the war.
"Aziz was a politician," says Talah. "It's Saddam and the others Americans have problems with."
"Maybe he gives us information about the missing people," says Yahi. "And perhaps Saddam Hussein."
Further down the road, Yusef (ph) and Mufan (ph) wait for a ride. Neither have anything bad to say about Aziz. "We call him Mr. Aziz, and I'm proud of him," says Mufan, a former traffic cop. "He was cultured, and I wish someone like him rules us."
His friend Yusef adds, "If all the leaders stayed in Baghdad, then the Americans will catch them."
Across town in a less affluent neighborhood, reactions to Aziz's arrest are profoundly different.
"I didn't hear about it," explains Jasim (ph) the egg seller, "because we didn't have electricity."
When we explained the news to the crowd, Hesham (ph), a bystander, steps forward. "America is playing a trick on us," he says. "Where is our government and our security?"
At the pickle store, passions are inflamed by the lack of services. "Aziz is a war criminal," says Ahmed (ph). "He should get the death penalty, just like Saddam, 60 times over."
"We give Mr. Bush six months to get things right, " says Abass (ph), going on to explain, "If not, we will fight the Americans."
(on camera): The biggest problem Tariq Aziz's family says they now face is that now Aziz is now safely in U.S. custody, they don't know how safe they are out on Baghdad's streets.
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
