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LIVE FROM THE HEADLINES

Saddam Supporters Emboldened by Tape

Aired July 8, 2003 - 19:29   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Several Americans were wounded in Iraq today. Senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is with us now.
Nic, it seems tapes from Saddam Hussein are popping up everywhere these days. What's particularly noteworthy about this latest one?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the message is the same as the last one. That is, for Iraqis to rise up and drive out the U.S. forces and the coalition forces here in Iraq.

But what's different is that the last tape talked about a jihad organization, almost making it sound as if it was an Islamist movement that might be at work.

This tape talks about Iraqis unifying. It says the Sunni Muslims, the Shiah Muslims, the Kurds in the north, the Turkamen in the north, the Christians, even, should all unite together.

And perhaps the other big difference here is that the tape that was released last week was played out to a Middle East broadcaster over a telephone line. This tape was left, the physical tape was left on the door step of another Middle East broadcaster here in Baghdad. So perhaps the people producing this term getting a little bolder as well -- Anderson.

COOPER: I'm assuming the tape has been heard throughout Baghdad, throughout Iraq, perhaps. How are people there responding?

ROBERTSON: Well, it certainly raises those fears in their minds that Saddam Hussein is still around. What really concerns people is not that he'll come back, but that it will embolden groups like the Fedayeen, like former Ba'ath Party members.

And what people are seeing on the streets is a resurgence of these groups on the streets, fighting back not only the U.S. troops but targeting anyone that the groups feel is collaborating with the coalition that's here in Iraq.

And people are fearful that within these attacks, that they, the innocent bystanders, are going to get caught up. They see and fear a resurgent conflict, based on the strengthening of these groups and fear that they're going to get caught up in some new wave of the war in Iraq.

COOPER: All right. Nic Robertson live from Baghdad, thanks very much for that report tonight, Nic. I should point out to our viewers, seven more U.S. Soldiers were injured today alone in Iraq.

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