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CNN Saturday Morning News
Thousands Gather to Mourn Najaf Bombing Victims
Aired August 30, 2003 - 09:02 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.
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: First up this hour for you, developments in the investigation of that deadly bombing in the Iraqi city of Najaf. CNN's Ben Wedeman is tracking the story, joins us now live with the very latest. Ben?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Thomas, as I speak, thousands of people have gathered outside the Imam Ali Mosque. That was the scene of yesterday's massive bombing, in which apparently it's either one or two car bombs went off, killing at least 120 people.
As I said, thousands of people there. They streamed into the city throughout the night. There, we're hearing a lot of anger being directed at the United States for not succeeding in creating a secure and stable atmosphere, anger at journalists, who they think of as representatives of the Western powers.
Already funerals have begun for the people killed in that bombing. We are expecting a massive funeral to take place here later, or rather early next week, when there it will be the funeral of Ayatollah Mohammed Bakir al-Hakim, that senior Shi'ite clerical and political leader who was killed in that attack.
Now, throughout the night and well into the day, there have been attempts to clear away the rubble. They were -- during the night, they were still finding bodies in the rubble. It was really such a massive bomb that apparently there are still body parts being found in the vicinity of that bombing.
Meanwhile, the police here are continuing their investigation, continuing to round up what they believe could be potential suspects in this bombing. We were on hand as one police patrol car came across and chased a fairly wild chase, a vehicle which they finally caught, and at gunpoint, they made the driver, passenger get out.
Many people in the crowd are saying that these people who were in the car were not from Najaf. They suspected they were from the Arab Sunni town of Ramadi (ph). And obviously, the police keeping a very close eye on the situation.
Meanwhile, we've seen an increased presence of American troops in the city. They've been setting up checkpoints on the main roads, just trying to keep control of a situation that is, Thomas, increasing looking -- increasingly looking somewhat out of control. Back to you.
ROBERTS: As we're seeing. Ben Wedeman in Najaf. Ben, thank you very 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
Aired August 30, 2003 - 09:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: First up this hour for you, developments in the investigation of that deadly bombing in the Iraqi city of Najaf. CNN's Ben Wedeman is tracking the story, joins us now live with the very latest. Ben?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Thomas, as I speak, thousands of people have gathered outside the Imam Ali Mosque. That was the scene of yesterday's massive bombing, in which apparently it's either one or two car bombs went off, killing at least 120 people.
As I said, thousands of people there. They streamed into the city throughout the night. There, we're hearing a lot of anger being directed at the United States for not succeeding in creating a secure and stable atmosphere, anger at journalists, who they think of as representatives of the Western powers.
Already funerals have begun for the people killed in that bombing. We are expecting a massive funeral to take place here later, or rather early next week, when there it will be the funeral of Ayatollah Mohammed Bakir al-Hakim, that senior Shi'ite clerical and political leader who was killed in that attack.
Now, throughout the night and well into the day, there have been attempts to clear away the rubble. They were -- during the night, they were still finding bodies in the rubble. It was really such a massive bomb that apparently there are still body parts being found in the vicinity of that bombing.
Meanwhile, the police here are continuing their investigation, continuing to round up what they believe could be potential suspects in this bombing. We were on hand as one police patrol car came across and chased a fairly wild chase, a vehicle which they finally caught, and at gunpoint, they made the driver, passenger get out.
Many people in the crowd are saying that these people who were in the car were not from Najaf. They suspected they were from the Arab Sunni town of Ramadi (ph). And obviously, the police keeping a very close eye on the situation.
Meanwhile, we've seen an increased presence of American troops in the city. They've been setting up checkpoints on the main roads, just trying to keep control of a situation that is, Thomas, increasing looking -- increasingly looking somewhat out of control. Back to you.
ROBERTS: As we're seeing. Ben Wedeman in Najaf. Ben, thank you very 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
