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American Morning

Iraq Today Destroying More Al-Samoud II Missiles

Aired March 04, 2003 - 09:33   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Iraq today destroying more Al-Samoud II missiles in compliance with U.N. rules. But in a message marking the start of the Islamic new year, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein struck a defiant tone.
Nic Robertson is there and will testimony us more about that.

Good morning, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Well, Iraqi officials saying two to three more of the Al-Samoud II missiles will be destroyed today. They also say the first of the missile launchers will be destroyed, or part of it at least, will be destroyed. That's the demand of the U.N. weapons chief Hans Blix. They also say a casting chamber used to make the propellant for another type of rocket, that also banned, that also, we're being told by Iraqi officials, being destroyed today.

The pace of work, they say, is a little slower, two to three missiles today, six yesterday. The reason for that, they say it is a holiday here, this is the Islamic new year, and President Saddam Hussein had a 12-minute speech read out for him by news reader on Iraqi Television. In that speech, he said the people of Iraq would be victorious if they were armed with their faith, that the despots would be defeated, and that their arrogance would not benefit them, an apparent reference there to the United States and the possibility of war -- Paula.

ZAHN: Nic Robertson, reporting from Baghdad, thank you.

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 March 4, 2003 - 09:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Iraq today destroying more Al-Samoud II missiles in compliance with U.N. rules. But in a message marking the start of the Islamic new year, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein struck a defiant tone.
Nic Robertson is there and will testimony us more about that.

Good morning, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Well, Iraqi officials saying two to three more of the Al-Samoud II missiles will be destroyed today. They also say the first of the missile launchers will be destroyed, or part of it at least, will be destroyed. That's the demand of the U.N. weapons chief Hans Blix. They also say a casting chamber used to make the propellant for another type of rocket, that also banned, that also, we're being told by Iraqi officials, being destroyed today.

The pace of work, they say, is a little slower, two to three missiles today, six yesterday. The reason for that, they say it is a holiday here, this is the Islamic new year, and President Saddam Hussein had a 12-minute speech read out for him by news reader on Iraqi Television. In that speech, he said the people of Iraq would be victorious if they were armed with their faith, that the despots would be defeated, and that their arrogance would not benefit them, an apparent reference there to the United States and the possibility of war -- Paula.

ZAHN: Nic Robertson, reporting from Baghdad, thank you.

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