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CNN Sunday Morning
Coalition Authorities Capture Another Most Wanted Iraqi
Aired February 15, 2004 - 09:33 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the mission in Iraq. Coalition authorities have captured another suspect on the most wanted list. CNN's Brent Sadler is in Baghdad now with details on that and other developments there today. Brent?
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Heidi. Yes, indeed, another Baath party official is now in coalition hands. He is number 41 of the list of most wanted of 55, the so-called deck of cards. His name, Muhammad Zimam Abd Al-Razzaq. He is the four of spades.
He was captured in the southern suburbs of Baghdad earlier this day. This was a special operation by the Iraqi police. They had been working, following him for the past ten days, it's understood according to the interior ministry here, and that they were working on a tip-off. And he was eventually picked up at his wife's house in one of the districts of southern Baghdad.
Now, this party official, number 41 out of 55, is not the top echelon of the former regime of Saddam Hussein, but he is, nevertheless, a very important still former Baath party regime leader. He was a chairman of the Baath party in the northern province of Nineveh and Tamim. So, indeed, very important that he was interrogated this day by the Iraqis before they handed over him to the coalition U.S. military forces here in Baghdad.
Now, in another development this day, Heidi, the U.S. military officials are still not throwing any more light on whether or not non- Iraqi fighters may have been involved in the most sophisticated attack we've seen so far on a police station about 30 miles west of Baghdad at a known hot zone trouble spot called Fallujah. This was a double- pronged attack. One group of attackers went for the police station to release scores, dozens, rather, of people who were captive in that police station. A second group of insurgents pinned down possible reinforcements also in Fallujah.
It was suggested by Iraqi security initially on the ground that foreign fighters might have been involved in this, suggesting the Lebanese or possibly Iranians might have been involved. But at this stage, Heidi, no confirmation from the U.S. military here in Baghdad that that is the case. They do say that investigations are ongoing. Heidi?
COLLINS: I'm sure they are. All right. Brent Sadler, live from Baghdad this morning. Brent, thanks so much.
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Aired February 15, 2004 - 09:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the mission in Iraq. Coalition authorities have captured another suspect on the most wanted list. CNN's Brent Sadler is in Baghdad now with details on that and other developments there today. Brent?
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Heidi. Yes, indeed, another Baath party official is now in coalition hands. He is number 41 of the list of most wanted of 55, the so-called deck of cards. His name, Muhammad Zimam Abd Al-Razzaq. He is the four of spades.
He was captured in the southern suburbs of Baghdad earlier this day. This was a special operation by the Iraqi police. They had been working, following him for the past ten days, it's understood according to the interior ministry here, and that they were working on a tip-off. And he was eventually picked up at his wife's house in one of the districts of southern Baghdad.
Now, this party official, number 41 out of 55, is not the top echelon of the former regime of Saddam Hussein, but he is, nevertheless, a very important still former Baath party regime leader. He was a chairman of the Baath party in the northern province of Nineveh and Tamim. So, indeed, very important that he was interrogated this day by the Iraqis before they handed over him to the coalition U.S. military forces here in Baghdad.
Now, in another development this day, Heidi, the U.S. military officials are still not throwing any more light on whether or not non- Iraqi fighters may have been involved in the most sophisticated attack we've seen so far on a police station about 30 miles west of Baghdad at a known hot zone trouble spot called Fallujah. This was a double- pronged attack. One group of attackers went for the police station to release scores, dozens, rather, of people who were captive in that police station. A second group of insurgents pinned down possible reinforcements also in Fallujah.
It was suggested by Iraqi security initially on the ground that foreign fighters might have been involved in this, suggesting the Lebanese or possibly Iranians might have been involved. But at this stage, Heidi, no confirmation from the U.S. military here in Baghdad that that is the case. They do say that investigations are ongoing. Heidi?
COLLINS: I'm sure they are. All right. Brent Sadler, live from Baghdad this morning. Brent, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
