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American Morning
Meetings Beginning in Iraq, Despite Protests
Aired April 15, 2003 - 08:31 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: The town of Ur, ancient biblical site near Nasiriya. U.S. officials meeting there with hand-picked opposition leaders from the Shiite sect, from the Sunni, and from the Kurdish population as well. The future is clear -- what is the current future, the imminent future for Iraq?
Nearby in the town of Nasiriya, hundreds of Shiite Muslims are turning out today, too, but they are there to protest the meetings.
John Vause standing by live in southern Iraq for more on what's happening -- John, good morning.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good afternoon from Nasiriya, Bill. We can tell you that that meeting started about an hour ago, quite a few hours late than originally planned. But they do say that this is a very informal chat, a chance to sit down with these opposition groups and find out their views, to find out how they want the future Iraq to look. As you mentioned, a number of groups are representative here.
And also from the U.S., we're being told that they want to hear about the struggle, they want to hear from people who have struggled both inside Iraq as well as outside Iraq. That's a clear indication that they want to hear from Iraqi exiles.
Now the main leader of the Iraqi exile group, Ahmad Chalabi, is not here. He is sending a delegation instead. That is a sign of one of the deep divisions here. There is much debate over whether or not the exiles should take part in any future Iraqi government. Many people here in Nasiriya saying they do not want that. Now, Ahmad Chalabi is one of the men who could, in fact, be seen as a future leader of Iraq. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen.
But moving on to those deep divisions. We saw it on the streets of Nasiriya just a few hours ago, those Shiite Muslims waving banners, saying that their voices are not being heard. They're protesting that they're not getting their message out. They say we're 75 percent of the population, we deserve to have a majority role in this.
Now, what was interesting, though, about this protest -- true, they are not at this meeting, but what the United States is saying is that they were boycotting this meeting. Now, that word of that boycott not getting down to the people of the street. We asked these people, Why are you protesting today? How do you know the Shiites are not at this meeting? They say, Look, we're having a protest. That is why we're not there. Just an example of the logic in this part of the world. Also, a great deal of concern of how long American forces and British forces will remain in Iraq. Some people hoping that the coalition forces remain here while this country rebuilds and reconstructs at least for a few months to provide security.
We have seen a great deal of looting, thugs, and other gangs roaming the streets, homes being looted, so do businesses. Many saying, We need the coalition to be here. Others saying, Look, the Americans are here for the oil. Iraqis can manage their own affairs. Iraqis for Iraqis. They want the Americans out -- Bill.
HEMMER: Quickly, is there anyone there in Nasiriya talking about the possibility of keeping all sides happy?
VAUSE: Not yet. This is just the first of many meetings, Bill. They will hold these meetings around Iraq. The hope is then they'll have this big national meeting, and from that, they will form this Iraqi interim authority. The word, obviously, is very, very, very early days. Let's see what happens.
HEMMER: John, thanks. John Vause in southern Iraq. Be safe and be careful out there.
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 15, 2003 - 08:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The town of Ur, ancient biblical site near Nasiriya. U.S. officials meeting there with hand-picked opposition leaders from the Shiite sect, from the Sunni, and from the Kurdish population as well. The future is clear -- what is the current future, the imminent future for Iraq?
Nearby in the town of Nasiriya, hundreds of Shiite Muslims are turning out today, too, but they are there to protest the meetings.
John Vause standing by live in southern Iraq for more on what's happening -- John, good morning.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good afternoon from Nasiriya, Bill. We can tell you that that meeting started about an hour ago, quite a few hours late than originally planned. But they do say that this is a very informal chat, a chance to sit down with these opposition groups and find out their views, to find out how they want the future Iraq to look. As you mentioned, a number of groups are representative here.
And also from the U.S., we're being told that they want to hear about the struggle, they want to hear from people who have struggled both inside Iraq as well as outside Iraq. That's a clear indication that they want to hear from Iraqi exiles.
Now the main leader of the Iraqi exile group, Ahmad Chalabi, is not here. He is sending a delegation instead. That is a sign of one of the deep divisions here. There is much debate over whether or not the exiles should take part in any future Iraqi government. Many people here in Nasiriya saying they do not want that. Now, Ahmad Chalabi is one of the men who could, in fact, be seen as a future leader of Iraq. Whether or not that happens remains to be seen.
But moving on to those deep divisions. We saw it on the streets of Nasiriya just a few hours ago, those Shiite Muslims waving banners, saying that their voices are not being heard. They're protesting that they're not getting their message out. They say we're 75 percent of the population, we deserve to have a majority role in this.
Now, what was interesting, though, about this protest -- true, they are not at this meeting, but what the United States is saying is that they were boycotting this meeting. Now, that word of that boycott not getting down to the people of the street. We asked these people, Why are you protesting today? How do you know the Shiites are not at this meeting? They say, Look, we're having a protest. That is why we're not there. Just an example of the logic in this part of the world. Also, a great deal of concern of how long American forces and British forces will remain in Iraq. Some people hoping that the coalition forces remain here while this country rebuilds and reconstructs at least for a few months to provide security.
We have seen a great deal of looting, thugs, and other gangs roaming the streets, homes being looted, so do businesses. Many saying, We need the coalition to be here. Others saying, Look, the Americans are here for the oil. Iraqis can manage their own affairs. Iraqis for Iraqis. They want the Americans out -- Bill.
HEMMER: Quickly, is there anyone there in Nasiriya talking about the possibility of keeping all sides happy?
VAUSE: Not yet. This is just the first of many meetings, Bill. They will hold these meetings around Iraq. The hope is then they'll have this big national meeting, and from that, they will form this Iraqi interim authority. The word, obviously, is very, very, very early days. Let's see what happens.
HEMMER: John, thanks. John Vause in southern Iraq. Be safe and be careful out there.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
