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CNN Saturday Morning News

Iraq Responds to U.N. Debate

Aired October 26, 2002 - 08:53   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: At the United Nations this weekend, Security Council members are studying three competing resolutions on Iraqi weapons inspection. Yesterday, the Bush administration formally presented its resolution to the Security Council and then France and Russia offered rival draft resolutions.
Unlike the U.S. proposal, Russia and France did not use tough language describing Iraqi non-compliance with inspections as a material breach requiring serious consequences.

Of course, this is the last weekend before Iraq kicks out many international journalists and imposes strict new rules on others.

Our Baghdad bureau chief, Jane Arraf, joins us live from Iraq for more on that story and you also have some reaction to this latest Security Council move -- Jane.

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, Iraq is reiterating that it can't accept any new resolution that contravenes accords it's already signed with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan over how to do the inspections, particularly the palaces. And it calls the new resolution a pretext for waging war.

Now, a group of Americans had the same message today outside U.N. headquarters. That also would be a headquarters for any weapons inspectors returning. They're called Voices In The Wilderness, an American peace group, and they're only six people compared to the thousands that are expected to gather in Washington to protest against any U.S. military action. But the small size an indication that it's not that easy to get in here or stay here.

Iraq, as you mentioned, is still sending reporters out of here, but they are denying today that they're expelling anyone. They say it's an administrative move so they can better manage things. But whatever you call it, CNN is being told that it still has to leave on Monday, at least temporarily -- Carol.

COSTELLO: So, Jane, how is that going to happen? Will they escort you out?

ARRAF: Nothing that dramatic. They will simply tell us that we have to leave and it wouldn't be a good thing to be in the country illegally. Part of this is because we do have a reporting presence, as some other people do, in northern Iraq. Now, the Iraqi government says that people who come to Kurdish controlled northern Iraq through anywhere but Baghdad are illegally in the country and it is demanding that anyone who reports from northern Iraq leave, that we can't have a bureau both in Baghdad and a presence in Kurdish controlled territories. So that is part of it.

Now, the mechanics of leaving, we can either get on a plane or get on the road. It's become easier to travel outside of Iraq in the last few years. But we probably won't be escorted out, just simply asked politely to leave -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, that's a relief. This has happened before, what, five times they expelled reporters from Baghdad/

ARRAF: They have. This, actually, though, is the first time since we've opened this current bureau here five years ago that this has happened. And it's really an indication of a few things. One is that they really are very upset at what they feel is a very American line taken by CNN. The other is that they simply weren't able to control the numbers of journalists here. They invited in 500 journalists, for Iraq an enormous number, to cover the referendum pledging support for President Saddam Hussein last week. They say they want those people to leave and other new ones to come in.

That doesn't explain why we're being asked to leave. That has been tied to other matters more concerned with our reporting of the situation these days -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And the control of information.

Jane Arraf, thank you, and a safe journey to you.

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 October 26, 2002 - 08:53   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: At the United Nations this weekend, Security Council members are studying three competing resolutions on Iraqi weapons inspection. Yesterday, the Bush administration formally presented its resolution to the Security Council and then France and Russia offered rival draft resolutions.
Unlike the U.S. proposal, Russia and France did not use tough language describing Iraqi non-compliance with inspections as a material breach requiring serious consequences.

Of course, this is the last weekend before Iraq kicks out many international journalists and imposes strict new rules on others.

Our Baghdad bureau chief, Jane Arraf, joins us live from Iraq for more on that story and you also have some reaction to this latest Security Council move -- Jane.

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, Iraq is reiterating that it can't accept any new resolution that contravenes accords it's already signed with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan over how to do the inspections, particularly the palaces. And it calls the new resolution a pretext for waging war.

Now, a group of Americans had the same message today outside U.N. headquarters. That also would be a headquarters for any weapons inspectors returning. They're called Voices In The Wilderness, an American peace group, and they're only six people compared to the thousands that are expected to gather in Washington to protest against any U.S. military action. But the small size an indication that it's not that easy to get in here or stay here.

Iraq, as you mentioned, is still sending reporters out of here, but they are denying today that they're expelling anyone. They say it's an administrative move so they can better manage things. But whatever you call it, CNN is being told that it still has to leave on Monday, at least temporarily -- Carol.

COSTELLO: So, Jane, how is that going to happen? Will they escort you out?

ARRAF: Nothing that dramatic. They will simply tell us that we have to leave and it wouldn't be a good thing to be in the country illegally. Part of this is because we do have a reporting presence, as some other people do, in northern Iraq. Now, the Iraqi government says that people who come to Kurdish controlled northern Iraq through anywhere but Baghdad are illegally in the country and it is demanding that anyone who reports from northern Iraq leave, that we can't have a bureau both in Baghdad and a presence in Kurdish controlled territories. So that is part of it.

Now, the mechanics of leaving, we can either get on a plane or get on the road. It's become easier to travel outside of Iraq in the last few years. But we probably won't be escorted out, just simply asked politely to leave -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, that's a relief. This has happened before, what, five times they expelled reporters from Baghdad/

ARRAF: They have. This, actually, though, is the first time since we've opened this current bureau here five years ago that this has happened. And it's really an indication of a few things. One is that they really are very upset at what they feel is a very American line taken by CNN. The other is that they simply weren't able to control the numbers of journalists here. They invited in 500 journalists, for Iraq an enormous number, to cover the referendum pledging support for President Saddam Hussein last week. They say they want those people to leave and other new ones to come in.

That doesn't explain why we're being asked to leave. That has been tied to other matters more concerned with our reporting of the situation these days -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And the control of information.

Jane Arraf, thank you, and a safe journey to you.

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