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Fighting in Iraq Continues
Aired May 29, 2003 - 15:01 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 the combat phase of the war in Iraq is over, but the fighting continues with deadly consequences. Another American soldier was killed today during an attack on a U.S. supply convoy. At least five U.S. service members have been killed just this week. One U.S. commander says the wave of recent attacks appears to be organized by groups loyal to Saddam Hussein.
CNN's Matthew Chance is in Baghdad with more on the dangers facing U.S. troops.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Day and night, U.S. patrols are on the streets. Throughout Baghdad and other places the search for weapons and followers of Saddam is nonstop. The latest deadly attacks on units like this underscore how dangerous Iraq remains to these troops.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go out, America. Go out, America. Go out.
CHANCE: The area of Ramadi (ph), to the west of Baghdad, is a hostile place for U.S. forces. At the town of Hit (ph), the local police station still smolders after rioters, angered by what they say were intrusive weapons searches, burnt it down. Iraqi police and U.S. troops have now left. U.S. military officials say armed opposition in this majority Sunni Muslim area appears organized and coordinated.
GEN. DAVID MCKIERNAN, COALITION COMMANDER: That was an area that we know that some of the regime leadership tried to make their way out of Baghdad through. We know that there was a Special Forces brigade that was in that area as we fought the decisive combat operations. And what I can tell you is that we will apply all the necessary combat power to make sure that that opposition is removed.
CHANCE: Back in Baghdad, where there has also been deadly opposition, people and cars are searched on the street. Next week, a weapons amnesty goes into force, imposing security as a new urgency. Without it, victory is incomplete.
(on camera): In flash points outside the capital, U.S. commanders say they may send additional forces to crush the opposition. On the streets of Baghdad, searches and security patrols have been stepped up. And while major combat operations here have long come to an end, U.S. Army commanders acknowledge their war is far from won. Matthew Chance, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: Meantime, the leader of the Iraqi National Congress, Ahmed Chalabi, today blamed Ba'ath Party loyalists for the recent attacks on U.S. forces. He also said the attacks are being orchestrated by Saddam Hussein.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AHMED CHALABI, IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS: Saddam is still alive and he's still in Iraq. And he's renewing his activity, his support, his network.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WOODRUFF: Chalabi made his comments by satellite to reporters attending the CNN World Report Conference in Atlanta.
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 May 29, 2003 - 15:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Well the combat phase of the war in Iraq is over, but the fighting continues with deadly consequences. Another American soldier was killed today during an attack on a U.S. supply convoy. At least five U.S. service members have been killed just this week. One U.S. commander says the wave of recent attacks appears to be organized by groups loyal to Saddam Hussein.
CNN's Matthew Chance is in Baghdad with more on the dangers facing U.S. troops.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Day and night, U.S. patrols are on the streets. Throughout Baghdad and other places the search for weapons and followers of Saddam is nonstop. The latest deadly attacks on units like this underscore how dangerous Iraq remains to these troops.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go out, America. Go out, America. Go out.
CHANCE: The area of Ramadi (ph), to the west of Baghdad, is a hostile place for U.S. forces. At the town of Hit (ph), the local police station still smolders after rioters, angered by what they say were intrusive weapons searches, burnt it down. Iraqi police and U.S. troops have now left. U.S. military officials say armed opposition in this majority Sunni Muslim area appears organized and coordinated.
GEN. DAVID MCKIERNAN, COALITION COMMANDER: That was an area that we know that some of the regime leadership tried to make their way out of Baghdad through. We know that there was a Special Forces brigade that was in that area as we fought the decisive combat operations. And what I can tell you is that we will apply all the necessary combat power to make sure that that opposition is removed.
CHANCE: Back in Baghdad, where there has also been deadly opposition, people and cars are searched on the street. Next week, a weapons amnesty goes into force, imposing security as a new urgency. Without it, victory is incomplete.
(on camera): In flash points outside the capital, U.S. commanders say they may send additional forces to crush the opposition. On the streets of Baghdad, searches and security patrols have been stepped up. And while major combat operations here have long come to an end, U.S. Army commanders acknowledge their war is far from won. Matthew Chance, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOODRUFF: Meantime, the leader of the Iraqi National Congress, Ahmed Chalabi, today blamed Ba'ath Party loyalists for the recent attacks on U.S. forces. He also said the attacks are being orchestrated by Saddam Hussein.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AHMED CHALABI, IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS: Saddam is still alive and he's still in Iraq. And he's renewing his activity, his support, his network.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WOODRUFF: Chalabi made his comments by satellite to reporters attending the CNN World Report Conference in Atlanta.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
