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American Morning
British Forces Move to Center of Basra
Aired April 06, 2003 - 11:31 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: There's a story developing in southeastern Iraq inside the city of Basra that we have noted several hours ago, about the British moving to the center of the city.
Mike Boettcher right now is live by telephone somewhere, I believe, maybe on the outskirts, not quite sure. Mike, what's happening this evening.
MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Bill. I'm just on the edge of the city and, yes, indeed, the British have made a move.
I was traveling in the area today in the south part, the suburbs and the southern edge of Basra, and it was obvious that the British were making a huge move. There were quite large convoys, plenty of men in reserve.
This time, the British say they are going in and they're going to stay. That is a dramatic change of strategy from the past few days and weeks, in which they have taken a very patient strategy, trying to work gradually into the city, holding off, trying to limit civilian casualties, but it appears they have decided to make a push into the city during the day.
There have been several loud explosions, but not very many, not a whole lot of artillery, not a whole lot of bombardment, which would indicate that the resistance has not been that strong.
We, of course, the day before yesterday were inside Basra and it was a difficult situation. We took a lot of mortar fire, and it was clear that on street corners around Basra, they have stashed ammunition to be used in case of coalition advance on the city. It's all pre-positioned, but if there are no fighters to use it, then it will be light resistance.
Now, as well, we are getting reports of looting inside the city, which would mean that there is a breakdown of authority there, which could mean that those who have been inside and fighting back against the coalition, the Fedayeen, perhaps aren't there, or have gone underground.
So this should develop through the night. The night is when we get most of the bombardments and when a lot of the movement occurs, and it appeared very clear from what I saw today that this should be a very interesting night in Basra.
HEMMER: Mike, I don't know what you can add on this, but there is a report several hours ago that indicated this air strike of two nights ago on this home that may have belonged to Chemical Ali. But apparently there is a report that said a number of Ba'ath Party officials have been wiped out as a result, which may account for why the vacuum right now has been presented in Basra.
Is there anything that you picked up on that may verify that?
BOETTCHER: They believe that they did, indeed, take -- kill a large number of Ba'ath Party officials. I don't know any number, but they thought they got significant figures.
But in terms of Chemical Ali, as he is called, no one is sure about that. It is kind of like Mullah Omar sightings. There are sightings of Chemical Ali all over this area. And they aren't sure if they did, indeed, get him, but they believe they did kill some important Ba'ath Party figures.
I did speak to a woman at a hospital on the southern edge of Basra today, who said that there were some civilians killed in the attack. Now, these could be Ba'ath Party officials, but she said there had been some civilians, one was a doctor and that's why she knew about it. She was a nurse.
And so, certainly, the bombardment has been occurring over the course of the last few days and weeks regularly, but today actually was relatively light. Although the bombs dropped today, I think, were pretty substantial weapons because these were louder than normal booms.
HEMMER: All right, Mike. Thanks. Mike Boettcher, be safe out there on the outskirts of Basra again. Mike's been embedded with the special forces on behalf of the U.S. side.
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 April 6, 2003 - 11:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: There's a story developing in southeastern Iraq inside the city of Basra that we have noted several hours ago, about the British moving to the center of the city.
Mike Boettcher right now is live by telephone somewhere, I believe, maybe on the outskirts, not quite sure. Mike, what's happening this evening.
MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Bill. I'm just on the edge of the city and, yes, indeed, the British have made a move.
I was traveling in the area today in the south part, the suburbs and the southern edge of Basra, and it was obvious that the British were making a huge move. There were quite large convoys, plenty of men in reserve.
This time, the British say they are going in and they're going to stay. That is a dramatic change of strategy from the past few days and weeks, in which they have taken a very patient strategy, trying to work gradually into the city, holding off, trying to limit civilian casualties, but it appears they have decided to make a push into the city during the day.
There have been several loud explosions, but not very many, not a whole lot of artillery, not a whole lot of bombardment, which would indicate that the resistance has not been that strong.
We, of course, the day before yesterday were inside Basra and it was a difficult situation. We took a lot of mortar fire, and it was clear that on street corners around Basra, they have stashed ammunition to be used in case of coalition advance on the city. It's all pre-positioned, but if there are no fighters to use it, then it will be light resistance.
Now, as well, we are getting reports of looting inside the city, which would mean that there is a breakdown of authority there, which could mean that those who have been inside and fighting back against the coalition, the Fedayeen, perhaps aren't there, or have gone underground.
So this should develop through the night. The night is when we get most of the bombardments and when a lot of the movement occurs, and it appeared very clear from what I saw today that this should be a very interesting night in Basra.
HEMMER: Mike, I don't know what you can add on this, but there is a report several hours ago that indicated this air strike of two nights ago on this home that may have belonged to Chemical Ali. But apparently there is a report that said a number of Ba'ath Party officials have been wiped out as a result, which may account for why the vacuum right now has been presented in Basra.
Is there anything that you picked up on that may verify that?
BOETTCHER: They believe that they did, indeed, take -- kill a large number of Ba'ath Party officials. I don't know any number, but they thought they got significant figures.
But in terms of Chemical Ali, as he is called, no one is sure about that. It is kind of like Mullah Omar sightings. There are sightings of Chemical Ali all over this area. And they aren't sure if they did, indeed, get him, but they believe they did kill some important Ba'ath Party figures.
I did speak to a woman at a hospital on the southern edge of Basra today, who said that there were some civilians killed in the attack. Now, these could be Ba'ath Party officials, but she said there had been some civilians, one was a doctor and that's why she knew about it. She was a nurse.
And so, certainly, the bombardment has been occurring over the course of the last few days and weeks regularly, but today actually was relatively light. Although the bombs dropped today, I think, were pretty substantial weapons because these were louder than normal booms.
HEMMER: All right, Mike. Thanks. Mike Boettcher, be safe out there on the outskirts of Basra again. Mike's been embedded with the special forces on behalf of the U.S. side.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
