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CNN Saturday Morning News
About 30 Coalition Casualties Reported in Iraq
Aired December 27, 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.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to Iraq, we are learning more about the series of attacks in Karbala today. About 30 coalition casualties were reported. Four of them are said to be fatal.
CNN's Satinder Bindra now joins us live from Baghdad with the very latest information. Good day to you there, Satinder. Can you bring us up to date on what we know at this point, and what we expect to hear once this news conference does begin in Baghdad?
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Sean. We are expecting this news conference to begin very shortly, but we are getting preliminary reports from the city of Karbala.
We understand these attacks were launched about four hours ago by insurgents, and they used a variety of means. They used suicide bombers. They used rocket-propelled grenades. And they also used heavy machine-gun fire.
Now, according to the Polish military, which controls that area, four coalition troops have been killed, another 25 have been injured. Now, the Polish authorities are not identifying the nationality of those who have been killed, but Bulgarian TV is reporting that those who are dead are their nationals.
Now, we understand there were attacks on the governor's office. There were also attacks at Karbala University. When the attacks against the governor's office were launched, there were several people there, there was a melee of people there. And we're already hearing that another Iraqi has been killed. This Iraqi is being identified as a senior Iraqi police official.
Now, this is all that we have for the moment. I must stress, though, the religious significance of Karbala for Shi'ite Muslims across the world. Back to you now.
CALLEBS: Satinder, what can you tell us? So many attacks have really been focused in the northern part of the country, really in the Sunni triangle area. There really haven't been that many violent attacks in this region up to date.
BINDRA: That's right. The attacks have been centered in the north. And until about a week ago, they were directed mainly at Iraqis, mainly at Iraqi police officials. But now we've seen over the past week that the attacks have spread. Coalition troops are being attacked. Just in the past 36 hours, five U.S. soldiers have been killed. And today we've noticed another development, that these attacks are spreading to the south, particularly to the region south of Baghdad. Back to you now.
CALLEBS: OK, Satinder. We'll ask you to stand by, and we'll continue to check in throughout the day as information is warranted. And again, we are waiting for that news conference to begin in Baghdad. Satinder Bindra, thanks 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 December 27, 2003 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to Iraq, we are learning more about the series of attacks in Karbala today. About 30 coalition casualties were reported. Four of them are said to be fatal.
CNN's Satinder Bindra now joins us live from Baghdad with the very latest information. Good day to you there, Satinder. Can you bring us up to date on what we know at this point, and what we expect to hear once this news conference does begin in Baghdad?
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Sean. We are expecting this news conference to begin very shortly, but we are getting preliminary reports from the city of Karbala.
We understand these attacks were launched about four hours ago by insurgents, and they used a variety of means. They used suicide bombers. They used rocket-propelled grenades. And they also used heavy machine-gun fire.
Now, according to the Polish military, which controls that area, four coalition troops have been killed, another 25 have been injured. Now, the Polish authorities are not identifying the nationality of those who have been killed, but Bulgarian TV is reporting that those who are dead are their nationals.
Now, we understand there were attacks on the governor's office. There were also attacks at Karbala University. When the attacks against the governor's office were launched, there were several people there, there was a melee of people there. And we're already hearing that another Iraqi has been killed. This Iraqi is being identified as a senior Iraqi police official.
Now, this is all that we have for the moment. I must stress, though, the religious significance of Karbala for Shi'ite Muslims across the world. Back to you now.
CALLEBS: Satinder, what can you tell us? So many attacks have really been focused in the northern part of the country, really in the Sunni triangle area. There really haven't been that many violent attacks in this region up to date.
BINDRA: That's right. The attacks have been centered in the north. And until about a week ago, they were directed mainly at Iraqis, mainly at Iraqi police officials. But now we've seen over the past week that the attacks have spread. Coalition troops are being attacked. Just in the past 36 hours, five U.S. soldiers have been killed. And today we've noticed another development, that these attacks are spreading to the south, particularly to the region south of Baghdad. Back to you now.
CALLEBS: OK, Satinder. We'll ask you to stand by, and we'll continue to check in throughout the day as information is warranted. And again, we are waiting for that news conference to begin in Baghdad. Satinder Bindra, thanks 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
