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CNN Saturday Morning News
Four Al Samoud II Missiles Planned for Destruction Today
Aired March 01, 2003 - 09:01 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: Well, the destruction of some Al Samoud II missiles is under way in Iraq at this hour, as we have been saying. Four missiles are being destroyed today, with more missile parts to be demolished on Sunday.
With the very latest now, we go to Rym Brahimi, who joins us live from Baghdad. Hi, Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Heidi. Well, indeed, the destruction of the Al Samoud II missiles well under way here in Iraq at a site north of the Iraqi capital. Now, the U.N. weapons experts are there also to verify that destruction process of at least four Al Samoud missiles that are supposed to be destroyed today and maybe some other components.
Now, there seems to have been a lot of activity around that site. It's a site known as Al Taji (ph), previously known as Al Taji rocket and missile component factory. A lot of activity including trucks moving around. Some of them seems to be carrying what looks like missile launchers. There are also a group of soldiers moving out of that site. They seem to be new recruits.
Now, of course, that destruction took place after technical talks were held in the morning between U.N. and Iraqi officials to discuss how exactly they would go about the destruction. One of the ways discussed was the crushing of those missiles. Other ways also being discussed for the rest of the components, the engines, and also the software that Hans Blix, the chief U.N. weapons inspector, has said has to be destroyed.
We also understand that tomorrow the casting chambers, at least some of the casting chambers, of those missiles are to be destroyed.
Other developments regarding the inspection process, Heidi, well, we are also expecting technical talks to take place tomorrow, those to discuss the verification by the U.N. experts of Iraq's claims that it did destroy anthrax and VX years ago at a location.
And in another development, we heard from a U.N. spokesman saying that yesterday two private interviews with scientists took place, two private interviews, that is, without even tape recorders, Heidi.
COLLINS: Rym, you know, the United Nations, as we have been saying all morning, has been estimating that Iraq has between 100 and 120 of these missiles. Four are being destroyed this morning. Are you hearing anything at all about a plan to destroy the rest of these missiles?
BRAHIMI: Well, what we know is, it's -- probably is a process that will take some time. Today, as we mentioned, about four of them are being destroyed, tomorrow the casting chambers. But that's supposed to be an ongoing process.
And, of course, all these missiles are not just at one location where they're being stored. Some of them, Heidi, have been actually deployed in certain areas. Now, most of them have also been tagged and accounted for by the weapons experts in the past few days and weeks.
So they probably know where most of them are. Some of them were still being produced until the middle of the week, at least, but it will take some time to at least get them to a place, a site, where they can be destroyed. And that, of course, we're talking about the 100, 120 of them. That's going to take some time, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Rym Brahimi, thank you so much, from Baghdad 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 - 09:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the destruction of some Al Samoud II missiles is under way in Iraq at this hour, as we have been saying. Four missiles are being destroyed today, with more missile parts to be demolished on Sunday.
With the very latest now, we go to Rym Brahimi, who joins us live from Baghdad. Hi, Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Heidi. Well, indeed, the destruction of the Al Samoud II missiles well under way here in Iraq at a site north of the Iraqi capital. Now, the U.N. weapons experts are there also to verify that destruction process of at least four Al Samoud missiles that are supposed to be destroyed today and maybe some other components.
Now, there seems to have been a lot of activity around that site. It's a site known as Al Taji (ph), previously known as Al Taji rocket and missile component factory. A lot of activity including trucks moving around. Some of them seems to be carrying what looks like missile launchers. There are also a group of soldiers moving out of that site. They seem to be new recruits.
Now, of course, that destruction took place after technical talks were held in the morning between U.N. and Iraqi officials to discuss how exactly they would go about the destruction. One of the ways discussed was the crushing of those missiles. Other ways also being discussed for the rest of the components, the engines, and also the software that Hans Blix, the chief U.N. weapons inspector, has said has to be destroyed.
We also understand that tomorrow the casting chambers, at least some of the casting chambers, of those missiles are to be destroyed.
Other developments regarding the inspection process, Heidi, well, we are also expecting technical talks to take place tomorrow, those to discuss the verification by the U.N. experts of Iraq's claims that it did destroy anthrax and VX years ago at a location.
And in another development, we heard from a U.N. spokesman saying that yesterday two private interviews with scientists took place, two private interviews, that is, without even tape recorders, Heidi.
COLLINS: Rym, you know, the United Nations, as we have been saying all morning, has been estimating that Iraq has between 100 and 120 of these missiles. Four are being destroyed this morning. Are you hearing anything at all about a plan to destroy the rest of these missiles?
BRAHIMI: Well, what we know is, it's -- probably is a process that will take some time. Today, as we mentioned, about four of them are being destroyed, tomorrow the casting chambers. But that's supposed to be an ongoing process.
And, of course, all these missiles are not just at one location where they're being stored. Some of them, Heidi, have been actually deployed in certain areas. Now, most of them have also been tagged and accounted for by the weapons experts in the past few days and weeks.
So they probably know where most of them are. Some of them were still being produced until the middle of the week, at least, but it will take some time to at least get them to a place, a site, where they can be destroyed. And that, of course, we're talking about the 100, 120 of them. That's going to take some time, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, Rym Brahimi, thank you so much, from Baghdad 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
