Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Inspectors Back at Work Today in Iraq

Aired February 19, 2003 - 08:35   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.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Many U.N. members are calling for more U.N. weapons inspections rather than taking military action against Iraq. Inspectors back at work today in Iraq, where Nic Robertson is standing by.
He has the very latest for us this morning. Good morning, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

The team of U.N. inspectors gone east of Baghdad, about 30 miles, to the Al Nirwah (ph) site. Also, by far away the most busy of the U.N. experts today, it seems to be the missile inspectors. They've gone to four different sites today.

Over the last few days, they've been taking the Al-Samoud II missile, the newly prescribed prohibited Iraq missile system. They've been looking for engine parts and newly imported engines over the last few days.

Hans Blix, the U.N. weapons chief, hasn't yet said what will happen to the Al Samoud II, but in the past, prescribed missiles like this have been destroyed. Iraqi officials appear a little bit reluctant to give a yes to the possibility of that going ahead, but one of the U.N.'s bigger problems here at this time, it is not able, the chemical, biological and missile experts still not able to get private interviews with Iraqi scientists. The problem appears to be most of the time, most of the Iraqi scientists want to use audiotape recorders. The U.N. officials say that doesn't allow for credibility of the interviews -- Paula.

ZAHN: We're going to have to leave it there. Nic Robertson, thanks for the update from Baghdad this morning.

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 19, 2003 - 08:35   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Many U.N. members are calling for more U.N. weapons inspections rather than taking military action against Iraq. Inspectors back at work today in Iraq, where Nic Robertson is standing by.
He has the very latest for us this morning. Good morning, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

The team of U.N. inspectors gone east of Baghdad, about 30 miles, to the Al Nirwah (ph) site. Also, by far away the most busy of the U.N. experts today, it seems to be the missile inspectors. They've gone to four different sites today.

Over the last few days, they've been taking the Al-Samoud II missile, the newly prescribed prohibited Iraq missile system. They've been looking for engine parts and newly imported engines over the last few days.

Hans Blix, the U.N. weapons chief, hasn't yet said what will happen to the Al Samoud II, but in the past, prescribed missiles like this have been destroyed. Iraqi officials appear a little bit reluctant to give a yes to the possibility of that going ahead, but one of the U.N.'s bigger problems here at this time, it is not able, the chemical, biological and missile experts still not able to get private interviews with Iraqi scientists. The problem appears to be most of the time, most of the Iraqi scientists want to use audiotape recorders. The U.N. officials say that doesn't allow for credibility of the interviews -- Paula.

ZAHN: We're going to have to leave it there. Nic Robertson, thanks for the update from Baghdad this morning.

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