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CNN Saturday Morning News
The New Iraq: Member of Iraq's Governing Council Shot
Aired September 20, 2003 - 09:00 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're also following that developing story this hour out of Iraq, where gunmen have critically wounded a member of the U.S.-backed governing council.
CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson in Baghdad now with the very latest. Hello to you, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi.
Well, Akila (ph) Hashimi, as far as we understand, is still in critical condition. That's the latest we've heard from coalition officials, who are hearing that, they say, from Iraqis.
What we know about the circumstances of the attack, she was leaving her house early this morning. Gunmen opened fire on the vehicle she was traveling in. She received bullet wounds to her abdomen, to her leg. We also understand that the driver received bullet wounds to his back. He's in critical condition. One of her bodyguards, indeed, her brother, was also shot. He is in stable condition. Another brother traveling in the vehicle lightly wounded when the vehicle crashed.
There's no indication at this time as to who perpetrated this crime. Certainly the coalition authority here calling this a "cowardly act." Eyewitnesses say as the gunmen sped away, they threw a grenade out of the vehicle so that nobody could chase them, Heidi.
COLLINS: Nic, I just wanted to ask you -- I realize that it is early. There is no idea about who may have been responsible for this at this point?
ROBERTSON: Well, there's no clear indication of who was responsible. There's certainly a number of theories being floated around here by Iraqis and analysts. The most popular theory that springs to mind for many people here is that this was member -- perpetrated by former members of Saddam Hussein's regime, Ba'athists who have publicly here said that they will attempt to kill anyone that collaborates with the coalition forces here.
Ms. Hashimi, very interesting, she is one of the only members on this new governing council who is not only a member of this governing council but was a member of Saddam Hussein's former regime. Many people reading this as an object lesson to other politicians and other people here in Iraq, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. CNN international correspondent Nic Robertson from Baghdad this morning. Thanks, Nic.
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 September 20, 2003 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: We're also following that developing story this hour out of Iraq, where gunmen have critically wounded a member of the U.S.-backed governing council.
CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson in Baghdad now with the very latest. Hello to you, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi.
Well, Akila (ph) Hashimi, as far as we understand, is still in critical condition. That's the latest we've heard from coalition officials, who are hearing that, they say, from Iraqis.
What we know about the circumstances of the attack, she was leaving her house early this morning. Gunmen opened fire on the vehicle she was traveling in. She received bullet wounds to her abdomen, to her leg. We also understand that the driver received bullet wounds to his back. He's in critical condition. One of her bodyguards, indeed, her brother, was also shot. He is in stable condition. Another brother traveling in the vehicle lightly wounded when the vehicle crashed.
There's no indication at this time as to who perpetrated this crime. Certainly the coalition authority here calling this a "cowardly act." Eyewitnesses say as the gunmen sped away, they threw a grenade out of the vehicle so that nobody could chase them, Heidi.
COLLINS: Nic, I just wanted to ask you -- I realize that it is early. There is no idea about who may have been responsible for this at this point?
ROBERTSON: Well, there's no clear indication of who was responsible. There's certainly a number of theories being floated around here by Iraqis and analysts. The most popular theory that springs to mind for many people here is that this was member -- perpetrated by former members of Saddam Hussein's regime, Ba'athists who have publicly here said that they will attempt to kill anyone that collaborates with the coalition forces here.
Ms. Hashimi, very interesting, she is one of the only members on this new governing council who is not only a member of this governing council but was a member of Saddam Hussein's former regime. Many people reading this as an object lesson to other politicians and other people here in Iraq, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. CNN international correspondent Nic Robertson from Baghdad this morning. Thanks, Nic.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
