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CNN Live Today
Coalition Forces Ratcheting Up Hunt for Saddam Hussein
Aired August 04, 2003 - 10:07 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's move on to Iraq, where coalition forces are ratcheting up their hunt for Saddam Hussein. They have carried out more than two dozen raids in the last 24 hours, grabbing more suspected Hussein loyalists.
Our Rym Brahimi is live in Baghdad with the latest on the raids.
Rym, good morning.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.
Let me just begin by letting you know there's been another attack, at least one that we've heard of, on U.S. soldiers. These were from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and it took place near Fallujah, which is, as you know, in the west of the country, and one of the areas where they've been the most attacks at one point against U.S. troops. No casualties there this time. No deaths.
But basically we were just told that the group of soldiers,a unit that was be traveling on the road was changing a tire. They were shot at from a building. The military police went in and searched the building, didn't find anyone.
And so but that's just one of the dozens of attacks that takes place everyday against U.S. soldiers. They don't all end up in casualties.
Now as you were saying, the U.S. troops also continue their daily raids in their search for Saddam Hussein or Saddam Hussein loyalists, if you will. Since Saturday, more than two dozen raids, and in the past 24 hours, about 17 raids, more than 1,000 patrols. The intensity of the raids continues. They've arrested a certain number of people, basically trying to close in again not only on Saddam Hussein, but also on his associates, and trying to make sure that basically the former Iraqi president is constantly on the run, trying to deny him access to safehouses and money and weapons.
Of course, the next question then, Daryn, is if they do capture Saddam Hussein alive, well, what happens then? And many people in the U.S. coalition authorities say they're looking at trying to see if they can organize trial that would be held by Iraqis to try Saddam Hussein if they capture him alive -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And how exactly would that trial work, and who would run it, Rym?
BRAHIMI: Well, apparently, Daryn, it seems that they're still looking into the details, trying to define the process is how they put it, but it seems that a lot of different ideas have popped up. For instance, one of these ideas is to have a joint international and Iraqi tribunal. Another idea would be to have it held both by Iraqis and other Arabs if the Iraqis would be prepared to include Arabs from neighboring countries. It really -- they really haven't sort of pinned down one specific method, and a lot will depend apparently also on the new governing council and what ideas it would have for such a process. I think there are thoughts right now it is important that Iraqis have a say in that because as you know, a lot of people were upset when Uday and Qusay were killed, the two sons of Saddam Hussein. Many people said we would rather have had them tried than see them killed.
HARRIS: Rym Brahimi. Rym, thank you for that report.
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 4, 2003 - 10:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's move on to Iraq, where coalition forces are ratcheting up their hunt for Saddam Hussein. They have carried out more than two dozen raids in the last 24 hours, grabbing more suspected Hussein loyalists.
Our Rym Brahimi is live in Baghdad with the latest on the raids.
Rym, good morning.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.
Let me just begin by letting you know there's been another attack, at least one that we've heard of, on U.S. soldiers. These were from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, and it took place near Fallujah, which is, as you know, in the west of the country, and one of the areas where they've been the most attacks at one point against U.S. troops. No casualties there this time. No deaths.
But basically we were just told that the group of soldiers,a unit that was be traveling on the road was changing a tire. They were shot at from a building. The military police went in and searched the building, didn't find anyone.
And so but that's just one of the dozens of attacks that takes place everyday against U.S. soldiers. They don't all end up in casualties.
Now as you were saying, the U.S. troops also continue their daily raids in their search for Saddam Hussein or Saddam Hussein loyalists, if you will. Since Saturday, more than two dozen raids, and in the past 24 hours, about 17 raids, more than 1,000 patrols. The intensity of the raids continues. They've arrested a certain number of people, basically trying to close in again not only on Saddam Hussein, but also on his associates, and trying to make sure that basically the former Iraqi president is constantly on the run, trying to deny him access to safehouses and money and weapons.
Of course, the next question then, Daryn, is if they do capture Saddam Hussein alive, well, what happens then? And many people in the U.S. coalition authorities say they're looking at trying to see if they can organize trial that would be held by Iraqis to try Saddam Hussein if they capture him alive -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And how exactly would that trial work, and who would run it, Rym?
BRAHIMI: Well, apparently, Daryn, it seems that they're still looking into the details, trying to define the process is how they put it, but it seems that a lot of different ideas have popped up. For instance, one of these ideas is to have a joint international and Iraqi tribunal. Another idea would be to have it held both by Iraqis and other Arabs if the Iraqis would be prepared to include Arabs from neighboring countries. It really -- they really haven't sort of pinned down one specific method, and a lot will depend apparently also on the new governing council and what ideas it would have for such a process. I think there are thoughts right now it is important that Iraqis have a say in that because as you know, a lot of people were upset when Uday and Qusay were killed, the two sons of Saddam Hussein. Many people said we would rather have had them tried than see them killed.
HARRIS: Rym Brahimi. Rym, thank you for that report.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
