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American Morning

Suspects in Karbala Blast Arrested

Aired December 29, 2003 - 08:22   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, ANCHOR: Word today that Saddam Hussein may be revealing some important information to interrogators in Baghdad.
A London based Arab newspaper quotes a member of the Iraqi Governing Council as saying that Saddam has given up information about hidden weapons and billions of dollars he may have seized while in power.

Meanwhile, more insurgents arrested over the weekend. For the latest in Baghdad, Karl Penhaul is standing by live with the latest there.

And good afternoon, Karl.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill. Good morning to you.

Yes, we've been talking to Polish commanders this morning. Those are the commanders in charge of the multinational force in and around Karbala, the scene of some deadly suicide car bomber attacks on Saturday.

They tell us that overnight they picked up five suspected insurgents in connection with those blasts. They haven't told us though, Bill, what nationalities these people may be.

I say that because earlier on Sunday when we were down in Karbala, the Polish general there said that he suspected the hand of foreign fighters in this type of attack. That said, though, typically so far very few foreign fighters have, in fact, been picked up.

Now, on a separate subject in the city of Mosul, again overnight in northern Iraq, there was a firefight there between U.S. troops and suspected members of Ansar al Islam. That's the group that Washington accuses of links with al Qaeda.

In that firefight three suspected members of Ansar al Islam were killed. Two U.S. soldiers were wounded. But we understand they are now in stable condition -- Bill.

HEMMER: Karl Penhaul from Baghdad. Thanks for the update there.

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Aired December 29, 2003 - 08:22   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, ANCHOR: Word today that Saddam Hussein may be revealing some important information to interrogators in Baghdad.
A London based Arab newspaper quotes a member of the Iraqi Governing Council as saying that Saddam has given up information about hidden weapons and billions of dollars he may have seized while in power.

Meanwhile, more insurgents arrested over the weekend. For the latest in Baghdad, Karl Penhaul is standing by live with the latest there.

And good afternoon, Karl.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill. Good morning to you.

Yes, we've been talking to Polish commanders this morning. Those are the commanders in charge of the multinational force in and around Karbala, the scene of some deadly suicide car bomber attacks on Saturday.

They tell us that overnight they picked up five suspected insurgents in connection with those blasts. They haven't told us though, Bill, what nationalities these people may be.

I say that because earlier on Sunday when we were down in Karbala, the Polish general there said that he suspected the hand of foreign fighters in this type of attack. That said, though, typically so far very few foreign fighters have, in fact, been picked up.

Now, on a separate subject in the city of Mosul, again overnight in northern Iraq, there was a firefight there between U.S. troops and suspected members of Ansar al Islam. That's the group that Washington accuses of links with al Qaeda.

In that firefight three suspected members of Ansar al Islam were killed. Two U.S. soldiers were wounded. But we understand they are now in stable condition -- Bill.

HEMMER: Karl Penhaul from Baghdad. Thanks for the update 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