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Large Explosions in Central Baghdad
Aired November 04, 2003 - 13:00 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: Same time, basically same place, approximately same attackers presumably. Once again, the night air in Baghdad shattered by mortar fire, targeting the Coalition Provisional Authority.
Jane Arraf is on the phone.
Jane, what can you tell us?
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, those explosions absolutely rocked the center of the city. According to witnesses, it was four explosions, which security experts say were probably two rockets fired. And the coalition says that three explosions hit within the green zone. Now the green zone is the protected area, presumably secure, which includes the palace is coalition headquarters, as well as the main coalition hotel, a convention center, the governing council building, and a variety of other places. A spokesman for the coalition says the explosions did not hit within the palace itself, but witnesses saw smoke rising from near that compound, and there are several other areas it could have hit.
Now four people have been wounded and three sent to hospitals. A remaining person is apparently being treated at the scene. But again, this appear to be rockets fired within the so-called secure green zone of the coalition authority -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jane, meanwhile, second day that this has happened. Any leads to who's behind these attacks?
ARRAF: The problem is, Kyra, it could be almost anyone. This is a country full of weapons, and it's not so hard to get rockets, or rocket-propelled grenades or missile launchers. And we've seen all of those things used in the past couple of weeks. There are a lot of places people can hide. This is a huge city, and there's quite a lot of resentment against U.S. forces. Now they're trying to get Iraqi police involved to do more intelligence work, to try to find people, crack down on these cells, but it is a very slow process. And in the meantime, we have seen an increase in the intensity and scope of the attacks -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jane Arraf, live from Baghdad. We'll continue to check in. Thank you.
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 November 4, 2003 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Same time, basically same place, approximately same attackers presumably. Once again, the night air in Baghdad shattered by mortar fire, targeting the Coalition Provisional Authority.
Jane Arraf is on the phone.
Jane, what can you tell us?
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, those explosions absolutely rocked the center of the city. According to witnesses, it was four explosions, which security experts say were probably two rockets fired. And the coalition says that three explosions hit within the green zone. Now the green zone is the protected area, presumably secure, which includes the palace is coalition headquarters, as well as the main coalition hotel, a convention center, the governing council building, and a variety of other places. A spokesman for the coalition says the explosions did not hit within the palace itself, but witnesses saw smoke rising from near that compound, and there are several other areas it could have hit.
Now four people have been wounded and three sent to hospitals. A remaining person is apparently being treated at the scene. But again, this appear to be rockets fired within the so-called secure green zone of the coalition authority -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jane, meanwhile, second day that this has happened. Any leads to who's behind these attacks?
ARRAF: The problem is, Kyra, it could be almost anyone. This is a country full of weapons, and it's not so hard to get rockets, or rocket-propelled grenades or missile launchers. And we've seen all of those things used in the past couple of weeks. There are a lot of places people can hide. This is a huge city, and there's quite a lot of resentment against U.S. forces. Now they're trying to get Iraqi police involved to do more intelligence work, to try to find people, crack down on these cells, but it is a very slow process. And in the meantime, we have seen an increase in the intensity and scope of the attacks -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jane Arraf, live from Baghdad. We'll continue to check in. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
