IRAQ: IRAQI FAMILES TRY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM AERIAL BOMBARDMENT OF BAGHDAD/ IRAQI OFFICALS SAY MORE THAN 200 INJURED IN US AIR RAIDS
Record ID:
645873
IRAQ: IRAQI FAMILES TRY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM AERIAL BOMBARDMENT OF BAGHDAD/ IRAQI OFFICALS SAY MORE THAN 200 INJURED IN US AIR RAIDS
- Title: IRAQ: IRAQI FAMILES TRY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM AERIAL BOMBARDMENT OF BAGHDAD/ IRAQI OFFICALS SAY MORE THAN 200 INJURED IN US AIR RAIDS
- Date: 21st March 2003
- Summary: (W4) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MARCH 22, 2003) (REUTERS) SLV ADULT USHERING CHILDREN INTO SHELTER SLV , INTERIOR OF SHELTER/ MAN SEATED WITH CHILDREN PAN OF CHILDREN IN SHELTER SLV LITTLE CHILD WALKING ACROSS TO SIT ON FATHER'S LAP PAN FROM SANDBAGS OF SHELTER TO CHILDREN CLOSE UP BOY'S FACE WIDE OF CHILDREN TALKING ANIMATEDLY ABOUT THE BOMBING SMV (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED YOUNG BOY, SAYING: "We are afraid, and my brothers are also afraid." SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RA'AD HASHIM KHALIF, CHILDREN'S FATHER, SAYING: "I made this shelter to protect us, so whenever we heard a siren, we got into this shelter and when the air raid ends we get out." SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED YOUNG BOY, SAYING: "When we hear a shelling we enter into the shelter to protect ourselves from bombardment." SLV CHILDREN MOVING TO LEAVE THE SHELTER (W4) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MARCH 22, 2003) (REUTERS) WIDE OF EXTERIOR OF AL-YARMOUK HOSPITAL VARIOUS OF INJURED PEOPLE INSIDE HOSPITAL (4 SHOTS) VARIOUS, YOUNG BOY WITH BANDAGED HEAD SURROUNDED BY MEDIA (2 SHOTS) SCU MAN WITH BURNS ON HIS FACE SCU YOUNG BOY CRYING/ FATHER WIPING CHILD'S EYES WIDE VIEW PRESS CONFERENCE SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEALTH MINISTER UMEID MADHIT MUBARAK, SAYING: "We were prepared for this aggression, because we are well acquainted to what those people have in their minds regarding humanitarian situation and targeting the human beings in Iraq." (W4) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MARCH 22, 2003) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RUBBLE AND DAMAGED WEDDING VENUE (2 SHOTS) VARIOUS, MEN SORTING THROUGH FURNITURE AND RUBBLE (2 SHOTS) VARIOUS, OF MEN CARRYING POSTERS OF IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN AND CHANTING (2 SHOTS)
- Embargoed: 5th April 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflict,General,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA1ZSMH5VSPILKEB90A4NGYAAZK
- Story Text: An overnight bombardment by U.S. planes triggered giant fireballs, deafening explosions and mushroom clouds, reddening the night sky over Baghdad, in a major intensification of the war.
Iraqi families rushed into makeshift shelters within their own homes to protect themselves from the raids which Iraqi officials say have wounded more than 200 civilians.
U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the Friday night (March 21) assault on Baghdad aimed to convince Iraqis that President Saddam Hussein was "history". He said the Iraqi leadership was losing its grip.
In a defiant response, Iraq's information minister said the raids were the work of an "international gang of criminal bastards" and had wounded more than 200 civilians in Baghdad.
The minister, Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, denied that U.S.
and British forces had made any gains in their land invasion.
Health Minister Umeed Midhat Mubarak said later that at least three people had been "martyred" in the raids on Baghdad.
After pounding Baghdad with a fearsome night blitz, U.S.
and British forces made their first day-time air strikes on Saturday (March 22).
The renewed raids on Baghdad meant daylight brought no respite to frightened residents.
Iraqi father Ra'ad Hashim Khalif rushed his children into a shelter in their home as the sirens sounded.
"I made this shelter to protect us, so whenever we heard a siren, we got into this shelter and when the air raidwe get out," he said.
One of the boys expressed the fear the group felt. "We are afraid, and my brothers are also afraid," he said.
From inside the shelter the children spoke animatedly amongst themselves about the bombardment.
The Iraqi Information Ministry on Saturday organised a tour of Iraqi hospitals to visit patients they say have been wounded in the raids over Baghdad.
During a press conference after the tour Health Minister Umeed Midhat Mubarak said, "We were prepared for this aggression, because we are well acquainted to what those people have in their minds regarding humanitarian situation and targeting the human beings in Iraq."
An Iraqi government official said U.S. warplane and cruise missile attacks on Baghdad on Thursday (March 20) hit some non-military targets, injuring a number of civilians.
U.S. President George W. Bush said American and British forces had struck "selected targets of military importance".
Iraq said Saddam had survived the air strikes on Thursday that aimed to kill him, but U.S. and British officials said they did not know if the Iraqi leader was dead or alive. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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