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American Morning

Chief U.N. Weapons Inspectors Head to Baghdad

Aired February 07, 2003 - 07:08   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get right now to the showdown with Iraq, the very latest as of today. U.N. weapons inspection chief Hans Blix back to Baghdad now this weekend. His mission, possibly to give Iraqi President Saddam Hussein one last chance to disarm, but certainly time appears to be running out, especially from the U.S. corner.
A week from today, Blix and the head of the atomic watchdog agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, report back to New York, back to the U.N. Security Council.

Richard Roth yet again today traveling overseas with Blix. He talked to us earlier today in Vienna, Austria.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: President Bush has told the Iraqi government the game is over, but one of the major players still isn't ready to give up. Hans Blix arriving here in Vienna aware that Iraq has allowed one of its scientists to be interviewed for the first time in private.

HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Well, I think I'd like to get down to Baghdad and hear the results of that. I think it seems as if they are making an effort.

ROTH: Do you want to see more this weekend?

BLIX: We want to see a lot more this weekend.

ROTH: President Bush says the "game is over." Is it over for you and your inspections, though?

BLIX: No, I'm just going to give the last words to the latest training course.

ROTH: Is that the last, do you think?

BLIX: Well, I hope not.

ROTH: Blix said he hopes wisdom will prevail.

He then addressed 59 inspectors from 22 countries. They've just completed their basic training. Whether they will have extensive field use in Baghdad remains open.

Blix told them the purpose of inspections. BLIX: We want to see disarmament of Iraq through the inspection -- through the inspection avenue. That is the alternative to the avenue of armed action.

ROTH: Blix says he believes Arab and European countries would like this to happen, and even President Bush and Tony Blair, anything to avert war. Blix reminded the new inspectors they are not in Iraq to humiliate the Iraqi government or people. He now heads to Baghdad, along with Mohamed ElBaradei of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Good answers from Iraq will lead to a more favorable report when the lead inspectors brief the Security Council February 14.

Richard Roth, CNN, Vienna.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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 7, 2003 - 07:08   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get right now to the showdown with Iraq, the very latest as of today. U.N. weapons inspection chief Hans Blix back to Baghdad now this weekend. His mission, possibly to give Iraqi President Saddam Hussein one last chance to disarm, but certainly time appears to be running out, especially from the U.S. corner.
A week from today, Blix and the head of the atomic watchdog agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, report back to New York, back to the U.N. Security Council.

Richard Roth yet again today traveling overseas with Blix. He talked to us earlier today in Vienna, Austria.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: President Bush has told the Iraqi government the game is over, but one of the major players still isn't ready to give up. Hans Blix arriving here in Vienna aware that Iraq has allowed one of its scientists to be interviewed for the first time in private.

HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Well, I think I'd like to get down to Baghdad and hear the results of that. I think it seems as if they are making an effort.

ROTH: Do you want to see more this weekend?

BLIX: We want to see a lot more this weekend.

ROTH: President Bush says the "game is over." Is it over for you and your inspections, though?

BLIX: No, I'm just going to give the last words to the latest training course.

ROTH: Is that the last, do you think?

BLIX: Well, I hope not.

ROTH: Blix said he hopes wisdom will prevail.

He then addressed 59 inspectors from 22 countries. They've just completed their basic training. Whether they will have extensive field use in Baghdad remains open.

Blix told them the purpose of inspections. BLIX: We want to see disarmament of Iraq through the inspection -- through the inspection avenue. That is the alternative to the avenue of armed action.

ROTH: Blix says he believes Arab and European countries would like this to happen, and even President Bush and Tony Blair, anything to avert war. Blix reminded the new inspectors they are not in Iraq to humiliate the Iraqi government or people. He now heads to Baghdad, along with Mohamed ElBaradei of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Good answers from Iraq will lead to a more favorable report when the lead inspectors brief the Security Council February 14.

Richard Roth, CNN, Vienna.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com