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CNN Saturday Morning News

Attack in Baghdad kills One U.S. Soldier

Aired October 04, 2003 - 07:02   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.


KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Well, in Baghdad, an attack kills one U.S. soldier and wounds another. And elsewhere, a violent demonstration erupts.
For all the latest, we go to CNN's Harris Whitbeck in the Iraqi capital. Harris, what's the latest?

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kelli.

As you say, it was a violent morning here in Baghdad. Several thousand Iraqi -- former Iraqi soldiers showed up at a former military airport thinking they were going to get a one-time payment of the equivalent of about $40 U.S. Those several thousand Iraqi soldiers turned violent. The crowds got out of control. They started throwing stones, chanting anti-American slogans.

And they got so out of control that Iraqi policemen had -- brandished their weapons, trying to control the crowds. And U.S. soldiers standing atop tanks also pointed their weapons at the crowds.

During the incident, two soldiers were wounded, and a CNN news- gathering team that was covering that demonstration was also attacked. Three of the crew members received minor injuries, including our local driver, who was hit by a rock in the head.

Now, as you said, last night there was another fatality here. One U.S. soldier was killed when the patrol that he was on in southwestern Baghdad was attacked by people wielding rocket-propelled grenade launchers, Kelli.

ARENA: Harris, is the incident you described isolated, or are we seeing some more widespread violence?

WHITBECK: Well, this is the second incident similar to this one in less than four days. Earlier this week there was another incident involving former Iraqi soldiers. They had shown up at a police station thinking that they were going to get jobs. When they were told that there were no jobs to be had, and they claim that they were actually asked for bribes, they also turned violent, they also threw stones at that police station.

And in that particular incident, there were shots fired, and there were reports of some minor injuries.

So there certainly does seem to be an increase in this type incident. Many people here say that it is basically an expression of deep frustration with the fact that many of these people have been out of work since last March. And they don't seem to be getting any clear direction as to what their futures might entail.

ARENA: All right, thanks for the report. Harris Whitbeck in Baghdad.

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Aired October 4, 2003 - 07:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: Well, in Baghdad, an attack kills one U.S. soldier and wounds another. And elsewhere, a violent demonstration erupts.
For all the latest, we go to CNN's Harris Whitbeck in the Iraqi capital. Harris, what's the latest?

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kelli.

As you say, it was a violent morning here in Baghdad. Several thousand Iraqi -- former Iraqi soldiers showed up at a former military airport thinking they were going to get a one-time payment of the equivalent of about $40 U.S. Those several thousand Iraqi soldiers turned violent. The crowds got out of control. They started throwing stones, chanting anti-American slogans.

And they got so out of control that Iraqi policemen had -- brandished their weapons, trying to control the crowds. And U.S. soldiers standing atop tanks also pointed their weapons at the crowds.

During the incident, two soldiers were wounded, and a CNN news- gathering team that was covering that demonstration was also attacked. Three of the crew members received minor injuries, including our local driver, who was hit by a rock in the head.

Now, as you said, last night there was another fatality here. One U.S. soldier was killed when the patrol that he was on in southwestern Baghdad was attacked by people wielding rocket-propelled grenade launchers, Kelli.

ARENA: Harris, is the incident you described isolated, or are we seeing some more widespread violence?

WHITBECK: Well, this is the second incident similar to this one in less than four days. Earlier this week there was another incident involving former Iraqi soldiers. They had shown up at a police station thinking that they were going to get jobs. When they were told that there were no jobs to be had, and they claim that they were actually asked for bribes, they also turned violent, they also threw stones at that police station.

And in that particular incident, there were shots fired, and there were reports of some minor injuries.

So there certainly does seem to be an increase in this type incident. Many people here say that it is basically an expression of deep frustration with the fact that many of these people have been out of work since last March. And they don't seem to be getting any clear direction as to what their futures might entail.

ARENA: All right, thanks for the report. Harris Whitbeck in Baghdad.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com