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American Morning
U.N. Weapons Inspectors Put Pressure on Iraq to Destroy Missiles
Aired February 24, 2003 - 08:10 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 to Iraq now quickly now. As the U.S. considers the possible move at the U.N., along with the British, that may send a new resolution to the U.N., possibly today, maybe tomorrow, this as U.N. weapons inspectors put pressure on Iraq to destroy missiles with a range that exceeds U.N. rules. Baghdad now says it will make a decision soon on whether to follow that demand.
Let's get to Baghdad and Nic Robertson for more on the ground there -- Nic, hello.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, hello.
Well, the very latest from here, a South African team of weapons experts, these were the experts who in the 1990s in South Africa got rid of South Africa's weapons of mass destruction, they've arrived in Baghdad. They're holding talks with Iraqi officials here to show them how South Africa managed to give the world confidence that it was, indeed, getting rid of its weapons of mass destruction.
Those talks just getting under way today. But, of course, the lead topic for the U.N. weapons inspectors here and their Iraqi counterparts is will Iraq meet the U.N. demand to begin destroying those banned al-Samoud 2 missiles. And an official today indicating a decision may come soon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. AMER AL-SA'ADI, HUSSEIN SCIENTIFIC ADVISER: I said that this is being studied very carefully and the channels are still open between us and we will come up with a decision quite soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: And over the weekend, as well, a Russian envoy arriving here, former Prime Minister Yevgeni Primikov. Now, he came to Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War. He is a Middle East expert. He won President Saddam Hussein's confidence at that time by bringing a Russian peace mission. This time, according Russia's foreign ministry, he has been here to tell President Saddam Hussein Russia's position on the weapons inspections and to get from President Saddam Hussein a commitment that he will comply with Resolution 1441 and will not obstruct the work of the U.N. weapons inspectors here.
And according to Russia's foreign ministry, he has had such an agreement for President Saddam Hussein. President Saddam Hussein saying that he will not in any way obstruct the work of the weapons inspectors here -- Bill.
HEMMER: Nic, thank you.
Nic Robertson again on the ground in Baghdad.
The former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Bill Richardson, now governor of New Mexico, will join us in a few moments, his thoughts on whether or not war is inevitable.
Back in a moment with that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Missiles>
Aired February 24, 2003 - 08:10 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 to Iraq now quickly now. As the U.S. considers the possible move at the U.N., along with the British, that may send a new resolution to the U.N., possibly today, maybe tomorrow, this as U.N. weapons inspectors put pressure on Iraq to destroy missiles with a range that exceeds U.N. rules. Baghdad now says it will make a decision soon on whether to follow that demand.
Let's get to Baghdad and Nic Robertson for more on the ground there -- Nic, hello.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, hello.
Well, the very latest from here, a South African team of weapons experts, these were the experts who in the 1990s in South Africa got rid of South Africa's weapons of mass destruction, they've arrived in Baghdad. They're holding talks with Iraqi officials here to show them how South Africa managed to give the world confidence that it was, indeed, getting rid of its weapons of mass destruction.
Those talks just getting under way today. But, of course, the lead topic for the U.N. weapons inspectors here and their Iraqi counterparts is will Iraq meet the U.N. demand to begin destroying those banned al-Samoud 2 missiles. And an official today indicating a decision may come soon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. AMER AL-SA'ADI, HUSSEIN SCIENTIFIC ADVISER: I said that this is being studied very carefully and the channels are still open between us and we will come up with a decision quite soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: And over the weekend, as well, a Russian envoy arriving here, former Prime Minister Yevgeni Primikov. Now, he came to Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War. He is a Middle East expert. He won President Saddam Hussein's confidence at that time by bringing a Russian peace mission. This time, according Russia's foreign ministry, he has been here to tell President Saddam Hussein Russia's position on the weapons inspections and to get from President Saddam Hussein a commitment that he will comply with Resolution 1441 and will not obstruct the work of the U.N. weapons inspectors here.
And according to Russia's foreign ministry, he has had such an agreement for President Saddam Hussein. President Saddam Hussein saying that he will not in any way obstruct the work of the weapons inspectors here -- Bill.
HEMMER: Nic, thank you.
Nic Robertson again on the ground in Baghdad.
The former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Bill Richardson, now governor of New Mexico, will join us in a few moments, his thoughts on whether or not war is inevitable.
Back in a moment with that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Missiles>
