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CNN Live Today
Thousands Demonstrate Against Coalition Forces in Iraq
Aired January 15, 2004 - 10:12 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: Now more on the mission in Iraq and yet another demonstration of Iraqi discontent. About 3,000 demonstrators marched through the southern town of Basra. It's a day that change is as close as most people's pockets. The money is changing over in Iraq.
And Karl Penhaul's in Baghdad with the latest all that. Good morning.
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Daryn. Yes, according to British military authorities in control of the port city of Basra, 3,000 demonstrators, according to organizers and witnesses, tens of thousands, if that figure is correct it would certainly make it one of the biggest demonstrations over the last few days.
Those out on the streets today were chanting anti-coalition, anti-occupation slogans. But they were also chanting in favor of the grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani. He's the spiritual leader of the Shi'a Muslim majority who make about 60 percent of the 25 million population here.
Over the last few days he's come out and condemned the way the coalition plans to hand over power, hand over sovereignty to transitional Iraqi government by mid year. The grand ayatollah says there should be general elections where all Iraqis have a chance for say.
But the coalition says no, there's not time for electoral registers or new electoral laws. And that the new leadership will be chosen or selected, rather, through a series of regional committees.
Now, in between all that is the Iraqi Governing Council, a group that was hand picked by the coalition itself. But today, the leader of the governing council, Adnan Pachachi was given a press conference, his final conference one before he jets off to New York. And there on January the 19th, he will be holding conversations with Kofi Annan and also members of the coalition to see if there is a role for the United Nations to help smooth the whole path to the transition of power.
KAGAN: And, Karl, let's go ahead and talk money a little bit about the new Iraqi dinar, what it looks like and what happens to the old stuff.
PENHAUL: Certainly a symbolic day in many respects. The old bank notes with Saddam Hussein's face on them now no longer legal tender. This fulfills a three-month process where it's now being replaced by new dinars. On the streets street traders call the new money the Bremer dinar in reference to the coalition administrator Paul Bremer. That's not to say his face is on the new bank note. Instead on the new bank note what we see are a series of archaeological scenes, some of Iraq's most beautiful natural sites and also some of the historical figures.
As far as what's happening to the old bank notes, today down in the central bank there was a kind of ceremony laid on for press where all the old bank notes were thrown on a fire, gasoline poured on the top, and a match put to the whole lot. About 10,000 tons of old bank notes being gathered up as far as we understand -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Karl Penhaul in Baghdad. Stuff a little bit of that in your pockets and bring it home. Thank you so 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 January 15, 2004 - 10:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now more on the mission in Iraq and yet another demonstration of Iraqi discontent. About 3,000 demonstrators marched through the southern town of Basra. It's a day that change is as close as most people's pockets. The money is changing over in Iraq.
And Karl Penhaul's in Baghdad with the latest all that. Good morning.
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Daryn. Yes, according to British military authorities in control of the port city of Basra, 3,000 demonstrators, according to organizers and witnesses, tens of thousands, if that figure is correct it would certainly make it one of the biggest demonstrations over the last few days.
Those out on the streets today were chanting anti-coalition, anti-occupation slogans. But they were also chanting in favor of the grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani. He's the spiritual leader of the Shi'a Muslim majority who make about 60 percent of the 25 million population here.
Over the last few days he's come out and condemned the way the coalition plans to hand over power, hand over sovereignty to transitional Iraqi government by mid year. The grand ayatollah says there should be general elections where all Iraqis have a chance for say.
But the coalition says no, there's not time for electoral registers or new electoral laws. And that the new leadership will be chosen or selected, rather, through a series of regional committees.
Now, in between all that is the Iraqi Governing Council, a group that was hand picked by the coalition itself. But today, the leader of the governing council, Adnan Pachachi was given a press conference, his final conference one before he jets off to New York. And there on January the 19th, he will be holding conversations with Kofi Annan and also members of the coalition to see if there is a role for the United Nations to help smooth the whole path to the transition of power.
KAGAN: And, Karl, let's go ahead and talk money a little bit about the new Iraqi dinar, what it looks like and what happens to the old stuff.
PENHAUL: Certainly a symbolic day in many respects. The old bank notes with Saddam Hussein's face on them now no longer legal tender. This fulfills a three-month process where it's now being replaced by new dinars. On the streets street traders call the new money the Bremer dinar in reference to the coalition administrator Paul Bremer. That's not to say his face is on the new bank note. Instead on the new bank note what we see are a series of archaeological scenes, some of Iraq's most beautiful natural sites and also some of the historical figures.
As far as what's happening to the old bank notes, today down in the central bank there was a kind of ceremony laid on for press where all the old bank notes were thrown on a fire, gasoline poured on the top, and a match put to the whole lot. About 10,000 tons of old bank notes being gathered up as far as we understand -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Karl Penhaul in Baghdad. Stuff a little bit of that in your pockets and bring it home. Thank you so 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
