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U.N. Mourns, Mulls Future Role in Iraq

Aired August 21, 2003 - 15:38   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: The death toll rose to 23 from the bombings of the United Nations Baghdad headquarters on Tuesday. Late in the day, search teams had to use explosives to collapse part of a roof that appeared to be in danger of falling. The U.N. now says 86 staffers were wounded in Tuesday's blast, and 100 support workers are being flown out.
CNN's Michael Okwu standing by at U.N. headquarters in New York, where it was a very emotional day.

Hello, Michael.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles. A very emotional day indeed.

The secretary general, Kofi Annan, met with the U.S. secretary of state, Colin Powell, this morning. This at the behest of the secretary of state. He wanted to show solidarity between the United States and the United Nations, but also on the table, a -- the possibility of a resolution that would send a multinational force of police as well as security. According to a U.S. official, the secretary-general asked the secretary of state to make sure that this is a resolution sponsored by all five permanent members of the Security Council. Now, in the past, countries like France, Russia and Germany have been very reluctant to send in multinational troops without a greater U.N. mandate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We're looking forward to language that might call on member states to do more. The president has always felt that the U.N. has a vital role to play, and he has said that repeatedly. It is playing a vital role. That's what Sergio and his colleagues were doing. And so we are now just exploring language with our Security Council colleagues.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: If there is one way to honor the memory of the colleagues murdered in the line of duty, it is to carry on with our work, determined and undaunted. The United Nations will not be reckless, nor, however, will it be intimidated.

The service of the U.N. is not simply a job. It is a calling, and those who have attacked us will not deflect us from it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OKWU: And in making it very clear that the United Nations will not be reckless, but at the same time they will not be intimidated, and they will continue their work.

At this hour, the Security Council diplomats are meeting behind closed doors to start talking about the language in this possible resolution. In the meantime, some fireworks earlier here today. The U.S. -- the Israeli ambassador, Dan Gillerman, accusing the Syrians of supplying the truck that was actually used in this attack. When asked about it, the Syrian ambassador laughed it off, simply saying it's ironic, the Israelis can't even take care of their own security -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Michael Okwu at the United Nations,thank you very much.

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 August 21, 2003 - 15:38   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The death toll rose to 23 from the bombings of the United Nations Baghdad headquarters on Tuesday. Late in the day, search teams had to use explosives to collapse part of a roof that appeared to be in danger of falling. The U.N. now says 86 staffers were wounded in Tuesday's blast, and 100 support workers are being flown out.
CNN's Michael Okwu standing by at U.N. headquarters in New York, where it was a very emotional day.

Hello, Michael.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles. A very emotional day indeed.

The secretary general, Kofi Annan, met with the U.S. secretary of state, Colin Powell, this morning. This at the behest of the secretary of state. He wanted to show solidarity between the United States and the United Nations, but also on the table, a -- the possibility of a resolution that would send a multinational force of police as well as security. According to a U.S. official, the secretary-general asked the secretary of state to make sure that this is a resolution sponsored by all five permanent members of the Security Council. Now, in the past, countries like France, Russia and Germany have been very reluctant to send in multinational troops without a greater U.N. mandate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We're looking forward to language that might call on member states to do more. The president has always felt that the U.N. has a vital role to play, and he has said that repeatedly. It is playing a vital role. That's what Sergio and his colleagues were doing. And so we are now just exploring language with our Security Council colleagues.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: If there is one way to honor the memory of the colleagues murdered in the line of duty, it is to carry on with our work, determined and undaunted. The United Nations will not be reckless, nor, however, will it be intimidated.

The service of the U.N. is not simply a job. It is a calling, and those who have attacked us will not deflect us from it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OKWU: And in making it very clear that the United Nations will not be reckless, but at the same time they will not be intimidated, and they will continue their work.

At this hour, the Security Council diplomats are meeting behind closed doors to start talking about the language in this possible resolution. In the meantime, some fireworks earlier here today. The U.S. -- the Israeli ambassador, Dan Gillerman, accusing the Syrians of supplying the truck that was actually used in this attack. When asked about it, the Syrian ambassador laughed it off, simply saying it's ironic, the Israelis can't even take care of their own security -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Michael Okwu at the United Nations,thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com