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CNN Live Today
New Attacks in Iraq Targeting Coalition Forces
Aired June 24, 2003 - 11:05 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now CNN has learned that there are plans to perform DNA testing on the victims of last week's attack on a convoy in Iraq to determine whether Saddam Hussein was among the dead. There have been speculations that the former Iraqi leader or his sons may have been in the convoy near the border town of Qiam.
That idea is now being down played by the Pentagon. The convoy was on its way to Syria when it was attacked by a U.S. Air Force Predator drone and an AC-130 gun ship.
Elsewhere in Iraq there have been new attacks targeting coalition forces. Joining us from Baghdad with the very latest on that is CNN's Jason Bellini -- Jason.
JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka the coalition is reporting now a slew of incidents involving the British and the U.S. soldiers, injuries to both of them and also Iraqis that have been killed.
I'm just going to go through them, there are a number of them to report that have happened in that last 24 hours. One was in Basra, where a British patrol came under attack. Six British soldiers were injured in that incident, it's not clear at this time whether anyone was killed.
And in Ramadi, the checkpoint that's west of Baghdad, one U.S. soldier was wounded, three Iraqis killed after they attacked, according to the coalition, after they attacked the soldiers at this checkpoint with small arms.
Another one in al-Dora where someone threw a grenade at a military vehicle. That grenade bounced off the vehicle, rolled under a civilian vehicle injuring three people in that vehicle. They were treated by coalition forces.
Tell you about one other. This was at the Fallujah power plant last night. There soldiers who were protecting that power plant came under attack by Rocket Propelled Grenade. They were not injured, they returned fire. And witnesses there say that one bystander was killed in that attack. Most of that information on that attack coming from eyewitnesses there.
Now also at this power plant, we can tell you there's great concern from the coalition about protecting these places. First, there have been complaints all around town because of the power problems, which they say they are still addressing. But in this week there are supposed to be some announcements on what exactly is happening on improving the situation with the power here.
Over the last few days there have been a number of attacks on oil facilities, oil pipelines and such facilities. Actually, we don't know exactly whether they were attacks or just whether it was just the disrepair of these that caused large explosions. But again, of great concern. And the coalition says that they are doing what they can to improve security at those areas -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Jason Bellini, 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 June 24, 2003 - 11:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now CNN has learned that there are plans to perform DNA testing on the victims of last week's attack on a convoy in Iraq to determine whether Saddam Hussein was among the dead. There have been speculations that the former Iraqi leader or his sons may have been in the convoy near the border town of Qiam.
That idea is now being down played by the Pentagon. The convoy was on its way to Syria when it was attacked by a U.S. Air Force Predator drone and an AC-130 gun ship.
Elsewhere in Iraq there have been new attacks targeting coalition forces. Joining us from Baghdad with the very latest on that is CNN's Jason Bellini -- Jason.
JASON BELLINI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka the coalition is reporting now a slew of incidents involving the British and the U.S. soldiers, injuries to both of them and also Iraqis that have been killed.
I'm just going to go through them, there are a number of them to report that have happened in that last 24 hours. One was in Basra, where a British patrol came under attack. Six British soldiers were injured in that incident, it's not clear at this time whether anyone was killed.
And in Ramadi, the checkpoint that's west of Baghdad, one U.S. soldier was wounded, three Iraqis killed after they attacked, according to the coalition, after they attacked the soldiers at this checkpoint with small arms.
Another one in al-Dora where someone threw a grenade at a military vehicle. That grenade bounced off the vehicle, rolled under a civilian vehicle injuring three people in that vehicle. They were treated by coalition forces.
Tell you about one other. This was at the Fallujah power plant last night. There soldiers who were protecting that power plant came under attack by Rocket Propelled Grenade. They were not injured, they returned fire. And witnesses there say that one bystander was killed in that attack. Most of that information on that attack coming from eyewitnesses there.
Now also at this power plant, we can tell you there's great concern from the coalition about protecting these places. First, there have been complaints all around town because of the power problems, which they say they are still addressing. But in this week there are supposed to be some announcements on what exactly is happening on improving the situation with the power here.
Over the last few days there have been a number of attacks on oil facilities, oil pipelines and such facilities. Actually, we don't know exactly whether they were attacks or just whether it was just the disrepair of these that caused large explosions. But again, of great concern. And the coalition says that they are doing what they can to improve security at those areas -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Jason Bellini, 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
