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CNN Sunday Morning

Franks: Baath Party Dissolved

Aired May 11, 2003 - 08:34   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.


ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: We have some developing news coming now out of Iraq. Apparently reports are saying that Saddam Hussein's Baath Party has dissolved. We're going to go now to Baghdad where CNN's John Vause is standing by with details -- John.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Arthel. Well, that announcement actually coming from General Tommy Franks. An announced reading of the statement on behalf of the general and coalition radio announcing that the Baath Party was in fact dissolved. That statement went on to read to encourage all Iraqis to collect all documentation and any materials relating to the Baath Party and hand them in to the coalition authority here.

And in fact, what we have noticed over the last few days, that the Health Ministry, for example, any Iraqis who are lining up to get their $20 which is basically their bridging money, part of their pay, they'll be made to sign these forms, an agreement to disavow the party. "I, blank, hereby disavow and renounce my membership in the Baath Party and understand the Baath Party is dis-established and abolished. I expressly reject and denounce the Baath Party," and so forth and so on. It's also written in Arabic so that the locals can understand it.

This is in fact, quite a turnaround when you think it was about two months ago to get a good job or most of the jobs in fact, average Iraqis had to join the Baath Party. So certainly times are a changing here in Iraq -- Arthel.

NEVILLE: Indeed they are. John Vause, I'd love to talk to you about it but we are short on time this morning. Thank you very much for that developing story.

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 May 11, 2003 - 08:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: We have some developing news coming now out of Iraq. Apparently reports are saying that Saddam Hussein's Baath Party has dissolved. We're going to go now to Baghdad where CNN's John Vause is standing by with details -- John.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Arthel. Well, that announcement actually coming from General Tommy Franks. An announced reading of the statement on behalf of the general and coalition radio announcing that the Baath Party was in fact dissolved. That statement went on to read to encourage all Iraqis to collect all documentation and any materials relating to the Baath Party and hand them in to the coalition authority here.

And in fact, what we have noticed over the last few days, that the Health Ministry, for example, any Iraqis who are lining up to get their $20 which is basically their bridging money, part of their pay, they'll be made to sign these forms, an agreement to disavow the party. "I, blank, hereby disavow and renounce my membership in the Baath Party and understand the Baath Party is dis-established and abolished. I expressly reject and denounce the Baath Party," and so forth and so on. It's also written in Arabic so that the locals can understand it.

This is in fact, quite a turnaround when you think it was about two months ago to get a good job or most of the jobs in fact, average Iraqis had to join the Baath Party. So certainly times are a changing here in Iraq -- Arthel.

NEVILLE: Indeed they are. John Vause, I'd love to talk to you about it but we are short on time this morning. Thank you very much for that developing story.

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