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CNN Saturday Morning News
Pope John Paul II Urges Leaders To Avoid War With Iraq
Aired February 15, 2003 - 07:09 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.
HIEDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Pope John Paul II is urging leaders worldwide to do all they can to avoid war with Iraq. His call for peace follows a meeting yesterday with Iraq's deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz.
CNN's Rome bureau chief, Alessio Vinci, joins us now live from the heart of one of the largest rallies expected today. Hi, Alessio.
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Heidi, from Rome. There are a lot of people here in this city demonstrating for peace. Organizers say as many as one million people arrived here. Authorities are so far withholding the official number. But I can tell you that I've been standing here for the last two hours, and it does look like a constant flow of people.
Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of people walking by us. All of them in a very good mood, despite the fact that they're protesting against something as serious as war. As you can probably hear, they're playing loud music. We have seen a lot of people dancing; a lot of people kissing each other, jumping around. Really not be proud, despite the fact that all of the people here of course are united by the same (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that they are protesting against, war.
Organizers say as many as 5,000 buses and more than 30 trains have arrived here in Rome to carry all of these people. It is a demonstration organized by so many different groups and organizations. But the reasons behind the protest, besides war of course, are also very various.
Of course the majority of them are against war. But we have also seen some signs for the U.N. against war, indicating perhaps that some people would agree that a war is necessary should the United Nations Security Council accept to authorize the use of force.
We have talked to many people here. Most of them, I must tell you, have told me that this is not a demonstration against the United States. They are saying, particularly, perhaps it is more something against the administration of George W. Bush. But they're not saying -- none of the people here are anti-American.
Of course, with this many people in the streets, security is extremely tight. There are as many as 2,500 police officers in the street. Very discreet, I must tell you. We also understand from the authorities that security has been reinforced near the U.S. embassy and near the seat of the U.S. government.
As you may know, the Italian government has been a staunch ally and staunch supporter of the U.S. administration for a possible war against Iraq. Although the government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said that he will do all he can to avoid war. Back to you, Heid.
COLLINS: All right. Alessio Vinci joining us from Rome today, thank 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 February 15, 2003 - 07:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HIEDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Pope John Paul II is urging leaders worldwide to do all they can to avoid war with Iraq. His call for peace follows a meeting yesterday with Iraq's deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz.
CNN's Rome bureau chief, Alessio Vinci, joins us now live from the heart of one of the largest rallies expected today. Hi, Alessio.
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Heidi, from Rome. There are a lot of people here in this city demonstrating for peace. Organizers say as many as one million people arrived here. Authorities are so far withholding the official number. But I can tell you that I've been standing here for the last two hours, and it does look like a constant flow of people.
Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of people walking by us. All of them in a very good mood, despite the fact that they're protesting against something as serious as war. As you can probably hear, they're playing loud music. We have seen a lot of people dancing; a lot of people kissing each other, jumping around. Really not be proud, despite the fact that all of the people here of course are united by the same (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that they are protesting against, war.
Organizers say as many as 5,000 buses and more than 30 trains have arrived here in Rome to carry all of these people. It is a demonstration organized by so many different groups and organizations. But the reasons behind the protest, besides war of course, are also very various.
Of course the majority of them are against war. But we have also seen some signs for the U.N. against war, indicating perhaps that some people would agree that a war is necessary should the United Nations Security Council accept to authorize the use of force.
We have talked to many people here. Most of them, I must tell you, have told me that this is not a demonstration against the United States. They are saying, particularly, perhaps it is more something against the administration of George W. Bush. But they're not saying -- none of the people here are anti-American.
Of course, with this many people in the streets, security is extremely tight. There are as many as 2,500 police officers in the street. Very discreet, I must tell you. We also understand from the authorities that security has been reinforced near the U.S. embassy and near the seat of the U.S. government.
As you may know, the Italian government has been a staunch ally and staunch supporter of the U.S. administration for a possible war against Iraq. Although the government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said that he will do all he can to avoid war. Back to you, Heid.
COLLINS: All right. Alessio Vinci joining us from Rome today, thank 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
