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CNN Saturday Morning News
Iraq is Starting Process of Destroying Banned Missiles
Aired March 01, 2003 - 07:03 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: We begin, though, with Iraq's missile destruction deadline. Baghdad is complying and has started the process.
Let's spin the globe and go live to Baghdad. That's where our Rym Brahimi has the very latest. Good morning, Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Heidi.
That's right, the destruction process has begun. It's taking place at a site north of Baghdad, about 15 kilometers north of the Iraqi capital. Now, they're supposed to destroy, from what we understand, some four Al Samoud missiles today and maybe some other components.
The pictures you're seeing are those of the activity outside the Al Kaji (ph) military barracks. That's the site that the destruction is supposed to take place at. You can see all the activity there, a few trucks moving around carrying what looks like some launchers. And also you can even see a few soldiers. They appear to be some new recruits.
Now, that's a site that was previously known as the Al Kaji, the rocket and missile factory, and it's also believed to be a storage place for the Al Samoud missile, as well as an industrial manufacturing plant for those missiles.
Now, all his activity, Heidi, follows talks that took place early on this morning in Baghdad between Iraqi officials and United Nations officials. The destruction is mainly focused on how to proceed, and what were the ways they were going to use to destroy those missiles. It seems one of the ways they were discussing was crushing the missiles, and of course there are other techniques, melting is one of them.
We're hoping to hear more on that a little later. Lot of other activities around the inspection process as well, Heidi. One of them, we heard yesterday, that's two private interviews with Iraqi scientists took place, and tomorrow there'll be some -- more destruction of casting chambers, we understand, at another site, as well as more technical talks between the U.N. and Iraqi officials to discuss the verification of Iraqi claims that it destroyed some VX and anthrax years ago, Heidi.
COLLINS: Certainly an awful lot going on, Rym, including the wind. Thanks so very much, we appreciate your update this morning. 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 March 1, 2003 - 07:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin, though, with Iraq's missile destruction deadline. Baghdad is complying and has started the process.
Let's spin the globe and go live to Baghdad. That's where our Rym Brahimi has the very latest. Good morning, Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Heidi.
That's right, the destruction process has begun. It's taking place at a site north of Baghdad, about 15 kilometers north of the Iraqi capital. Now, they're supposed to destroy, from what we understand, some four Al Samoud missiles today and maybe some other components.
The pictures you're seeing are those of the activity outside the Al Kaji (ph) military barracks. That's the site that the destruction is supposed to take place at. You can see all the activity there, a few trucks moving around carrying what looks like some launchers. And also you can even see a few soldiers. They appear to be some new recruits.
Now, that's a site that was previously known as the Al Kaji, the rocket and missile factory, and it's also believed to be a storage place for the Al Samoud missile, as well as an industrial manufacturing plant for those missiles.
Now, all his activity, Heidi, follows talks that took place early on this morning in Baghdad between Iraqi officials and United Nations officials. The destruction is mainly focused on how to proceed, and what were the ways they were going to use to destroy those missiles. It seems one of the ways they were discussing was crushing the missiles, and of course there are other techniques, melting is one of them.
We're hoping to hear more on that a little later. Lot of other activities around the inspection process as well, Heidi. One of them, we heard yesterday, that's two private interviews with Iraqi scientists took place, and tomorrow there'll be some -- more destruction of casting chambers, we understand, at another site, as well as more technical talks between the U.N. and Iraqi officials to discuss the verification of Iraqi claims that it destroyed some VX and anthrax years ago, Heidi.
COLLINS: Certainly an awful lot going on, Rym, including the wind. Thanks so very much, we appreciate your update this morning. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
