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CNN SHOWDOWN: IRAQ
Iraqi Information Minister Accuses United States, Britain of Deliberately Targeting Civilian Areas
Aired March 28, 2003 - 12:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: This was supposed to be the relatively easy part of the war, dealing with the Shia -- the largely Shia population in Basra and elsewhere in southern Iraq. Turning out to be a lot more difficult than many so-called experts thought would be the case.
Helping us keep track of all the latest developments right now this hour are several correspondents and analysts, including CNN's Rym Brahimi. She's joining us in Amman, Jordan. And a pair of expert analysts, retired Brigadier General David Grange in Atlanta, and former CIA analyst, Ken Pollack in Washington.
In the meantime, all eyes remain on Baghdad, where the smoke still rises from the latest coalition air strikes, along with oil fires apparently set by the Iraqis. Among the latest high-profile targets was Iraq's International Communications Center on the east bank of the Tigris.
Reports differ on what kind of bombs those were. The Central Command now is denying earlier talk that they were so-called bunker busters, perhaps weighing more than two tons. In any case, coalition troops on the ground, in the words of one top U.S. Marine, "are tightening the noose around Saddam."
Our Rym Brahimi checking in now from neighboring Jordan with the latest. Rym, what are they saying, what are they doing in Baghdad?
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, well it seems that the Iraqi officials, including the Iraq's defense minister have been saying to reporters, and quite publicly on Iraqi TV, that they expect the assault on Baghdad, if you will, to be given within the next three to five days. So that's something they've been preparing for; they fully expect that.
Earlier on today, as you know, Wolf, the minister of information also briefed reporters. He gave out a number of casualties all around Iraq, recent casualties numbered some 230 people dead -- hang on, let me look at this -- 230 people killed and 800 people injured. That's all around Iraq, recent figures. Just for Baghdad those figures were 92 people injured and seven people killed or "martyred," was the word that the minister used.
Now the minister also said that the United States and Britain were committing a war crime. He said that the Iraqi people would teach them a lesson. Let's listen to how he put it. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOHAMMED SAEED AL-SAHAF, IRAQI INFORMATION MINISTER (through translator): We will pursue them as war criminals. And we will pursue them in all ways we can. And we will pursue them everywhere. These war criminals, the Americans and the British, need to be taught a lesson, which is how humanity gets rid of the evil. The Iraqis will do that, god willing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRAHIMI: The minister, in particular, accused the United States and Britain of deliberately targeting civilian areas. And he pointed to that bombing of the International Communications building as an example. He said, "Just because they're government buildings, it doesn't mean that civilians don't go there to conduct their daily business every day."
Now of course this is something the atmosphere in Baghdad overnight has been one of intense bombing. And again this morning, a lot of bombing as well. Today is Friday, Wolf, as you now, the Muslim day of rest. And the mosques in Baghdad in particular were particularly attentive to what's going on, calling again on the people to rally, if you will, the official mosques.
So this goes back to even before the conflicts, Wolf. There was a fatwa issued in the southern city of Najaf, which is dominated by the Shiites. And they were calling on Shiite Muslims and Muslims in general not to support the United States, saying anyone who would support the U.S. would be committing a sin -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Rym Brahimi joining us from Jordan, monitoring the situation in neighboring Iraq. Rym, thanks very much.
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