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American Morning
Fighting in Town of Fallujah
Aired April 29, 2003 - 08:03 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: I want to get back right now to that shooting near Baghdad, in the town of Fallujah, west of the capital city.
Karl Penhaul is there near the scene, and joins us again for an update by way of telephone.
Karl, we talked last hour.
What do we know now?
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we've been around to one of these city hospitals a general hospital in Fallujah. A duty doctor there said he counted six dead in his hospital last night, more than 20 wounded. He treated personally. Other wounded came through the hospital doors that he didn't have time to treat. We understand that more wounded, more dead were taken to another hospital across town. We're trying to give you some exact figures from there. Residents of this sector where the incident took place say in total, 12 civilians were killed. They say more than 50 were wounded.
The incident broke out when a group of demonstrators, about 200, marched towards the school where U.S. troops have been based for the last several days. Then, according to U.S. Army soldiers, they say the demonstrators opened fire first with AK-47s. The demonstrators say that didn't occur. Some of their number did start throwing stones, and that is what prompted the U.S. soldiers to open fire. The demonstrators, however, say that at that point all hell broke loose, and their number started to fall, dead and wounded -- Bill.
HEMMER: Karl, do we know about how significant the U.S. military presence is in the town of Fallujah?
PENHAUL: In this particular school, it was a company-sized unit. We're talking probably no more than 120, 120 men. The 82nd Airborne is here. More units that have been arriving today. So at least one full battalion is here, possibly more. But on the western edge of Baghdad, this is also a key component of providing security in and around the capital -- Bill.
HEMMER: And, Karl, quickly, can you tell us what did the U.S. military plan on doing with that school?
PENHAUL: From what we understand, the U.S. military has said it will withdraw from the school. That could be later in the day. It could be tomorrow. We also understand that they have been talking, saying they may send in a tank unit to try and keep some kind of order here. They may withdraw altogether from this sector -- Bill.
HEMMER: Karl Penhaul, by way of telephone, in Fallujah, west of Baghdad, a story that continues to develop. More when we get it here -- Daryn.
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 29, 2003 - 08:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: I want to get back right now to that shooting near Baghdad, in the town of Fallujah, west of the capital city.
Karl Penhaul is there near the scene, and joins us again for an update by way of telephone.
Karl, we talked last hour.
What do we know now?
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we've been around to one of these city hospitals a general hospital in Fallujah. A duty doctor there said he counted six dead in his hospital last night, more than 20 wounded. He treated personally. Other wounded came through the hospital doors that he didn't have time to treat. We understand that more wounded, more dead were taken to another hospital across town. We're trying to give you some exact figures from there. Residents of this sector where the incident took place say in total, 12 civilians were killed. They say more than 50 were wounded.
The incident broke out when a group of demonstrators, about 200, marched towards the school where U.S. troops have been based for the last several days. Then, according to U.S. Army soldiers, they say the demonstrators opened fire first with AK-47s. The demonstrators say that didn't occur. Some of their number did start throwing stones, and that is what prompted the U.S. soldiers to open fire. The demonstrators, however, say that at that point all hell broke loose, and their number started to fall, dead and wounded -- Bill.
HEMMER: Karl, do we know about how significant the U.S. military presence is in the town of Fallujah?
PENHAUL: In this particular school, it was a company-sized unit. We're talking probably no more than 120, 120 men. The 82nd Airborne is here. More units that have been arriving today. So at least one full battalion is here, possibly more. But on the western edge of Baghdad, this is also a key component of providing security in and around the capital -- Bill.
HEMMER: And, Karl, quickly, can you tell us what did the U.S. military plan on doing with that school?
PENHAUL: From what we understand, the U.S. military has said it will withdraw from the school. That could be later in the day. It could be tomorrow. We also understand that they have been talking, saying they may send in a tank unit to try and keep some kind of order here. They may withdraw altogether from this sector -- Bill.
HEMMER: Karl Penhaul, by way of telephone, in Fallujah, west of Baghdad, a story that continues to develop. More when we get it here -- Daryn.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
