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Iraqi Shi'ite Cleric Survives Assassination Attempt
Aired February 05, 2004 - 13:41 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: We have some reports coming into CNN just in the past few moments that Iraq's most powerful Shi'ite cleric, the Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, was the target of an unsuccessful assassination attempt earlier today.
Joining us now live from Baghdad with more on all this is CNN's Brent Sadler. Brent, what do we know?
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, we're just getting information in that there was an attempt on the life of Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani earlier this day.
Reports we have from a source closely linked to Sistani, in Najaf which is about 100 miles, 160 kilometers south of Baghdad, is that four assassins opened fire on the Grand Ayatollah with an AK-47 assault rifles. We don't know how many rounds were fired or how close quarters this attempt was. But certainly, it was, it seems, a serious attempt on this religious leader's life.
Now, we also understand that a number -- again unspecified, Miles, here at this stage -- of his close bodyguards were injured. We don't have any precise details about the extent of their injuries. But Certainly,we are getting reports from a number of sources now that there was a very serious attempt on the life of the Grand Ayatollah.
We understand he has been taken to another location, not normally his office in Najaf for security reasons. And as far as we understand from the reports we're getting here in Baghdad and elsewhere in the region is that this leader is not hurt. He is safe and he is well.
But certainly, in terms of the complexities of Iraq today, an attempt on the life of this leader at this particular time is extremely sensitive because, of course, it is Sistani who leads attempts among the dominant 60 percent Shi'ite population of Iraq to try and convince the U.S. authorities that there should be direct elections for this transitional government, that's supposed to come into place here at the end of June.
So just a recap, an attempt on the life of Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, several hours ago in the city of Najaf, about 100 miles south of the Iraqi capital -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Brent Sadler in Baghdad. And we'll stay close in touch with him as details come in on all of this.
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 February 5, 2004 - 13:41 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We have some reports coming into CNN just in the past few moments that Iraq's most powerful Shi'ite cleric, the Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, was the target of an unsuccessful assassination attempt earlier today.
Joining us now live from Baghdad with more on all this is CNN's Brent Sadler. Brent, what do we know?
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, we're just getting information in that there was an attempt on the life of Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani earlier this day.
Reports we have from a source closely linked to Sistani, in Najaf which is about 100 miles, 160 kilometers south of Baghdad, is that four assassins opened fire on the Grand Ayatollah with an AK-47 assault rifles. We don't know how many rounds were fired or how close quarters this attempt was. But certainly, it was, it seems, a serious attempt on this religious leader's life.
Now, we also understand that a number -- again unspecified, Miles, here at this stage -- of his close bodyguards were injured. We don't have any precise details about the extent of their injuries. But Certainly,we are getting reports from a number of sources now that there was a very serious attempt on the life of the Grand Ayatollah.
We understand he has been taken to another location, not normally his office in Najaf for security reasons. And as far as we understand from the reports we're getting here in Baghdad and elsewhere in the region is that this leader is not hurt. He is safe and he is well.
But certainly, in terms of the complexities of Iraq today, an attempt on the life of this leader at this particular time is extremely sensitive because, of course, it is Sistani who leads attempts among the dominant 60 percent Shi'ite population of Iraq to try and convince the U.S. authorities that there should be direct elections for this transitional government, that's supposed to come into place here at the end of June.
So just a recap, an attempt on the life of Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, several hours ago in the city of Najaf, about 100 miles south of the Iraqi capital -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Brent Sadler in Baghdad. And we'll stay close in touch with him as details come in on all of this.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
