(1 Oct 2004) Please Note: This story is on Beta SP tape EF04/0971
Samarra
1. Road sign showing way to Samarra
2. Tracking shot of smoke in distance
3. Various of smoke, pan to smaller plumes of smoke
4. Helicopter flying overhead
5. Various of smoke
6. Street scene
7. Various of gun smoke near river UPSOUND: repeated gunfire and explosions
8. Tank crossing bridge
9. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Eyewitness:
"People were crossing here and they were gunned down. About twenty got killed. They were killed because there were orders not to cross here. They (the US and Iraqi forces) entered Samarra harassing people and arresting civilians, women and children and demolishing buildings."
10. People walking up from river
11. Helicopters flying overhead
Baghdad
9. Minister of State for National Security, Qasim Dowoud, walking into press conference
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Qasim Dowoud, Minister of State for National Security:
"Most of them show their concern about the security in the city, the torture and the intimidation that they are suffering from these terrorists. They mention it and they say it frankly. So our answer came as here we are, we are coming to support you and to clear your city from these terrorists."
11. Audience
12. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic with English translation over) Qasim Dowoud, Minister of State for National Security:
"We have captured 57 and have killed more than a hundred people. And we have liberated one of the Turkish hostages. The operations are continuing to clean the city and we hope that the operation will be completed soon. Our casualties are two soldiers wounded and one solider killed from the multinational forces."
13. Dowoud walking out of room
STORYLINE:
US and Iraqi forces launched a major assault on Friday to regain control of the militia stronghold of Samarra.
Coalition forces traded gunfire with rebel fighters as they pushed toward the city centre.
More than 100 rebels were killed and 37 captured, Iraqi Minister of State for National Security, Qasim Dowoud said at a press conference in Baghdad on Friday.
He also said members of Saddam Hussein's regime had been captured, but no foreign Arab fighters.
An estimated 3,000 coalition troops moved in after midnight (2000gmt Thursday) to secure government and police buildings in the city 60 miles (100 kilometres) north of Baghdad.
As they advanced, militia attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms, the military said.
Dowoud said operations were continuing but that the city was virtually in government hands.
He said the main mosque, one of Iraq's holiest, had been seized along with the city hall, a pharmaceutical factory and other installations.
Earlier the Iraqi Interior Ministry had announced that more than 80 percent of the city had been seized by mid-afternoon Friday.
Dr. Khalid Ahmed said at least 80 bodies and more than 100 wounded were brought to Samarra General Hospital, but it was not immediately clear how many were rebels.
The U.S. military said one American soldier was killed and four were wounded, while an AH-64 Cobra helicopter was hit by small arms fire.
It was able to land safely at a coalition base near Samarra.
Later on Friday, the situation in the city appeared calm except for American snipers on rooftops of high buildings firing at anybody appearing in the streets below.
Some residents of the city had fled before the attack, but in few numbers because few were expecting the assault amid news of intense negotiations to solve the crisis peacefully.
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