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Interview With Firas Ayyash
Aired July 24, 2003 - 13:56 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, as you know, the U.S.-led administration in Iraq released photographs of the blood-spattered bodies of Uday and Qusay Hussein today, hoping to convince skeptical Iraqis that the men were killed in a raid by U.S. troops.
For reaction now, from Baghdad, joining us live, Firas Ayyash He's the editor of "Al-Sa'a." It's the Iraqi newspaper there in Baghdad.
Sir, we appreciate your time. I'm curious. Are you going to put these pictures in your newspaper?
FIRAS AYYASH, EDITOR, "AL-SA'A WEEKLY" OK. We'll take pictures of Uday Saddam Hussein or Qusay Saddam Hussein death on our Saturday edition, and we'll publish a detailed report on Mosul operation led by coalition forces.
PHILLIPS: Mr. Ayyash, do you believe that these pictures are real?
AYYASH: I think the pictures are not real. They are fabricated and planned by the CIA and the U.S. Defense Department.
PHILLIPS: What leads you to believe that they are not real?
AYYASH: You know, that our newspaper made a poll this morning and 80 percent of the people of Iraq said that the pictures released by the CPA here and the airport, are fabricated and groundless.
PHILLIPS: Why do you feel that the pictures would be fabricated?
AYYASH: You know that only DNA for Uday Saddam Hussein and any person here in the world could outline the figure of Uday Saddam Hussein and Qusay Saddam Hussein. So it is fabricated.
PHILLIPS: So is that what you need, to prove to you, that these pictures...
AYYASH: Yes.
PHILLIPS: ...are real? Do you want DNA proof, not just pictures?
AYYASH: You know, that the coalition forces in the airport prevented us from taking pictures? Only the Iraqi media network has let in the airport. So the pictures -- all the world watched, are not good, and fabricated. The bodies are burned. So I think they are fabricated.
PHILLIPS: So you would like to see DNA proof?
AYYASH: I think the DNA test will take long time to outline the figure of Uday Saddam, Hussein and Qusay. So it is a measure planned measure by the CPA here in Baghdad. And I think that Ambassador Bremer, when he return to Baghdad, will make this.
PHILLIPS: Mr. Ayyash, I just want to ask you, before we let you go, if you think Iraq is headed in the right direction, since the fall of Saddam Hussein and his regime?
AYYASH: I think the people of Iraq has only wish that the CPA could capture Saddam Hussein and present Saddam Hussein for the trial. And there is no way for Uday Saddam Hussein and Qusay Saddam Hussein here in Iraq, because the people want Uday and Qusay to be alive and present to the trial, so their crimes and many barbarian acts could be disclosed to the people.
PHILLIPS: Firas Ayyash, editor of "Al-Sa'a," the Iraqi newspaper, live from Baghdad. Sir, we appreciate your reaction today. Thank you.
AYYASH: Thank you. Thank you again.
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 July 24, 2003 - 13:56 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, as you know, the U.S.-led administration in Iraq released photographs of the blood-spattered bodies of Uday and Qusay Hussein today, hoping to convince skeptical Iraqis that the men were killed in a raid by U.S. troops.
For reaction now, from Baghdad, joining us live, Firas Ayyash He's the editor of "Al-Sa'a." It's the Iraqi newspaper there in Baghdad.
Sir, we appreciate your time. I'm curious. Are you going to put these pictures in your newspaper?
FIRAS AYYASH, EDITOR, "AL-SA'A WEEKLY" OK. We'll take pictures of Uday Saddam Hussein or Qusay Saddam Hussein death on our Saturday edition, and we'll publish a detailed report on Mosul operation led by coalition forces.
PHILLIPS: Mr. Ayyash, do you believe that these pictures are real?
AYYASH: I think the pictures are not real. They are fabricated and planned by the CIA and the U.S. Defense Department.
PHILLIPS: What leads you to believe that they are not real?
AYYASH: You know, that our newspaper made a poll this morning and 80 percent of the people of Iraq said that the pictures released by the CPA here and the airport, are fabricated and groundless.
PHILLIPS: Why do you feel that the pictures would be fabricated?
AYYASH: You know that only DNA for Uday Saddam Hussein and any person here in the world could outline the figure of Uday Saddam Hussein and Qusay Saddam Hussein. So it is fabricated.
PHILLIPS: So is that what you need, to prove to you, that these pictures...
AYYASH: Yes.
PHILLIPS: ...are real? Do you want DNA proof, not just pictures?
AYYASH: You know, that the coalition forces in the airport prevented us from taking pictures? Only the Iraqi media network has let in the airport. So the pictures -- all the world watched, are not good, and fabricated. The bodies are burned. So I think they are fabricated.
PHILLIPS: So you would like to see DNA proof?
AYYASH: I think the DNA test will take long time to outline the figure of Uday Saddam, Hussein and Qusay. So it is a measure planned measure by the CPA here in Baghdad. And I think that Ambassador Bremer, when he return to Baghdad, will make this.
PHILLIPS: Mr. Ayyash, I just want to ask you, before we let you go, if you think Iraq is headed in the right direction, since the fall of Saddam Hussein and his regime?
AYYASH: I think the people of Iraq has only wish that the CPA could capture Saddam Hussein and present Saddam Hussein for the trial. And there is no way for Uday Saddam Hussein and Qusay Saddam Hussein here in Iraq, because the people want Uday and Qusay to be alive and present to the trial, so their crimes and many barbarian acts could be disclosed to the people.
PHILLIPS: Firas Ayyash, editor of "Al-Sa'a," the Iraqi newspaper, live from Baghdad. Sir, we appreciate your reaction today. Thank you.
AYYASH: Thank you. Thank you again.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
