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CNN Saturday Morning News
Spain's Prim Minister Visits Iraq
Aired December 20, 2003 - 07:33 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.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, turning now to Iraq. The prime minister of Spain is on his way home after stopping in Iraq for a brief visit today. Jose Maria Aznar visited with 1,300 Spanish peacekeeping troops, his first time in Iraq since the war began.
For the latest on this very significant and also surprise visit, we go live to CNN's Satinder Bindra live in Baghdad.
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Sean.
You're absolutely right, the Spanish prime minister, Mr. Jose Maria Aznar, came to Iraq this morning. Of course, this was a surprise visit and the intention very clear, to boost the morale of his troops. As you mentioned, there are 1,300 Spanish troops here. They're based just south of Baghdad in a place called Diwaniya. So today the Spanish prime minister, accompanied by his defense minister, had lunch with his troops and then he was off and away.
Also today, we are getting reports from the Iraqi police based in a town of Kirkuk just north of here, they say Iraqi police officials there telling us that three Iraqi police officers have been killed. We're given to understand from the Iraqi police that these three officials were killed in a confrontation with U.S. troops. The Iraqi police telling us that U.S. troops mistook them to be bandits and shot at them. Two Iraqi police officials also wounded in this incident.
So far, Sean, we have no word from U.S. authorities on this -- back to you.
CALLEBS: Satinder, thanks very much.
Always disappointing news, it seems, coming out of that region.
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 December 20, 2003 - 07:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, turning now to Iraq. The prime minister of Spain is on his way home after stopping in Iraq for a brief visit today. Jose Maria Aznar visited with 1,300 Spanish peacekeeping troops, his first time in Iraq since the war began.
For the latest on this very significant and also surprise visit, we go live to CNN's Satinder Bindra live in Baghdad.
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Sean.
You're absolutely right, the Spanish prime minister, Mr. Jose Maria Aznar, came to Iraq this morning. Of course, this was a surprise visit and the intention very clear, to boost the morale of his troops. As you mentioned, there are 1,300 Spanish troops here. They're based just south of Baghdad in a place called Diwaniya. So today the Spanish prime minister, accompanied by his defense minister, had lunch with his troops and then he was off and away.
Also today, we are getting reports from the Iraqi police based in a town of Kirkuk just north of here, they say Iraqi police officials there telling us that three Iraqi police officers have been killed. We're given to understand from the Iraqi police that these three officials were killed in a confrontation with U.S. troops. The Iraqi police telling us that U.S. troops mistook them to be bandits and shot at them. Two Iraqi police officials also wounded in this incident.
So far, Sean, we have no word from U.S. authorities on this -- back to you.
CALLEBS: Satinder, thanks very much.
Always disappointing news, it seems, coming out of that region.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
