- Title: IRAQ: THREE UNITED STATES MARINES KILLED ONE DAY AFTER TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY
- Date: 2nd July 2004
- Summary: (W3) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JUNE 29, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. GV SUN RISE OVER BAGHDAD CITY SKYLINE 0.10 2. SLV IRAQI POLICEMEN IN STREET; PISTOL AT HAND OF IRAQ'S SECURITY FORCE MEMBER; SLV POLICEMEN ON STREET 0.25 3. SLV MAN BUYING NEWSPAPER FROM STREET STALL; SCU NEWSPAPER DISPLAYED ON STREET; CLOSE-UP OF "Al-ZAMAN" NEWSPAPER WITH THE HEADLINES READING "INTERNATIONAL WELCOME AND IRAQI OPTIMISM ABOUT HANDOVER OF POWER; CLOSE-UP OF FRONT PAGE OF NEWSPAPER 0.37 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FADHIL SACHIN, A BAGHDAD RESIDENT, SAYING "We want from the new Iraqi government to provide security, electricity, water and other services." 0.47 5. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HAMID ABID, SAYING: "We are optimistic and we hope that security and stability prevail in the country." 0.55 6. CLOSE-UP OF NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGE; MV MAN READING NEWSPAPER 1.10 (W2) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JUNE 29, 2004) (REUTERS) 7. MV IRAQI SOLDIERS RAISING IRAQI FLAG; IRAQI FLAG FLUTTERING BESIDES FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES AT HALF-MAST AND FLAG OF U.S. BATTALION; U.S. SOLDIERS CLAPPING (6 SHOTS) 2.00 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIEUTENANT CARTER SAYING: "We recognise the sovereign nation of Iraq by having a flag-raising ceremony. We presented the flag, the colours of the United States of America and raised the flag of the sovereign nation of Iraq and we raised our division flag and our battalion again in tribute to the sovereign nation of Iraq." 2.22 9. SLV U.S. SOLDIERS LEAVING 2.25 10. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CAPTAIN HAIDER HATIM FROM IRAQ'S NATIONAL GUARD, SAYING: "We warn every people who might think to undermine Iraq's security and sovereignty that we will confront him." 2.40 11. SLV IRAQI SOLDIERS IN TRUCK AND PICK-UP TRUCK TO CONDUCT PATROL 2.53 (W3) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JUNE 29, 2004) (REUTERS) 12. WIDE VIEW OF DESTROYED HUMVEE; SCU INTERIOR OF HUMVEE / BLOODSTAINED INTERIOR (8 SHOTS) 3.51 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) A U.S. MARINE AT SITE, SAYING: "I don't know how many died here. It killed some marines here. We are just blocking it off so no one gets in here." 3.59 14. SLV MORE OF DESTROYED HUMVEE AND SURROUNDING AREA; WIDE OF AREA AND U.S. FORCES (4 SHOTS) 4.21 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 17th July 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVA5XDHSH7OUO7FYSW3JPCD8J4YZ
- Story Text: Three U.S. Marines are killed in Iraq one day after
the transfer of sovereignty.
Iraqi people on Tuesday (June 29) expressed optimism
that the new Iraqi government would achieve their key
demand for security and restore the country's
infrastructure.
Front pages of Iraqi newspapers carried pictures of a
handover ceremony that took place two days ahead of
schedule on Monday (June 28) with headlines reading "end of
occupation and return of sovereignty to Iraqis.
People in the streets said they are optimistic about
the future and said that they hoped the transition of power to an
Iraqi new government would bring back the sense of
security.
"We are optimistic and we hope that security and
stability prevail in the country," said one Baghdad
resident, Hamid Abid.
"We want from the new Iraqi government to provide
security, electricity, water and other services," said
Fadhil Sachin, another Baghdad resident as he was reading
Baghdad newspaper of the Iraqi National Accord, Iraq's
Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's party.
Despite the presence of Iraq's security and police
force in Baghdad's street, Baghdad residents still feel
unsafe with the rampant increase in the suicidal and car
bomb attacks.
Meanwhile in the Baghdad suburb of Rustumiya, U.S.
forces transferred authority of a military base to Iraqis,
raising the Iraqi flag over the base.
Saddam Hussein's green, red, white and black banner -
with the words "God is great," added by Saddam in the 1990s
- fluttered over the base as Iraq's national anthem was
playing. The Colours of the United States of America and
the flag of the U.S. battalion, which was at the military
base were also raised during the ceremony. .
"We recognise the sovereign nation of Iraq by having a
flag-raising ceremony. We presented the flag, the colours
of the United States of America and raised the flag of the
sovereign nation of Iraq and we raised our division flag
and our battalion again in tribute to the sovereign nation
of Iraq," said U.S. Lieutenant Carter.
Iraq's security forces said they are ready and will
resolve to foil any attempt to undermine Iraq's security.
"We warn every people who might think to undermine
Iraq's security and sovereignty that we will confront him,"
said captain Haider Hatim.
Although the number of Iraqi force members remains high
- about 215,000 as of May - the bulk are lightly trained
soldiers and policemen.
He said that Iraq's Ministry of Defence has equipped
the force with modern weapons and cars to enhance their
performance.
The U.S. forces have handed over a number of military
bases to Iraqis in Baghdad and a number of provinces.
Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, speaking at the
formal swearing-in of his government, urged Iraqis to unite
against foreign Islamic militants.
Although Allawi's government will have full
sovereignty, according to a U.N. Security Council
resolution earlier this month, there are important
constraints on its powers.
It is barred from making long-term policy decisions and
will not have control over more than 160,000 U.S.-led
foreign troops who will stay in Iraq. The government has
the right to ask them to leave, but has made clear it has
no intention of doing so.
Allawi said he was committed to elections in January.
But as the political consequences of the handover are
addressed, violence on the ground continued on Tuesday.
A roadside bomb blast killed three U.S. marines in
Baghdad in the first reported fatal attack on U.S. forces
in Iraq since the formal handover of sovereignty to an
interim government.
A U.S. military spokesman said two marines were also
wounded in the explosion that wrecked a Humvee vehicle
escorting a convoy carrying engineering equipment.
Since the start of the war last year at least 633 U.S.
soldiers have been killed in action in Iraq and at least
two have been captured by guerrillas.
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