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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK

The New Iraq: Holding School

Aired May 16, 2003 - 05:47   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In one Baghdad neighborhood the return to normalcy is being blocked by Army tanks.
CNN's Karl Penhaul explains the riddle when holding school means no classes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. armored vehicles roll into an Iraqi schoolyard. American soldiers occupied the classrooms to use as barracks when the war ended. Four hundred and fifty gifted high school students now study a block away at a poorly equipped primary school.

FIASSIM SAMUEL, AL ZAHAF AL-KABEER SCHOOL: It's a miserable thing, they -- all the parents want to come and to bring their children, you know, to study their teaching, to study our teachings; but we can't because as I told you about the troops. If they don't leave, we can't do anything.

PENHAUL: A father tries to take his children into the school to rest. They were never students here, they're just looking for a place out of the noon sun.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, don't step over this thing right here. I can see that you're hurt (ph), but, man, you don't step over this. You hear me? No. OK, now what, you speak English?

PENHAUL (on camera): There's a real tension here as the U.S. military tries to establish security while complying with all the international rules of law. Article 50 of the Geneva Convention says -- quote -- "the occupying power must facilitate the proper working of all institutions devoted to the care and education of children" -- close quote.

(voice-over): But officers of this infantry unit say they need the building as a secure base. They say they may leave soon but gave no firm date.

LT. SEAN CROWLEY, U.S. ARMY: The sector that we're in, this is the only place that accommodate our -- a force our size. And we have a wall so that provides us cover and yet we still have the Bradleys and the tanks that can still see over the wall.

PENHAUL: Saddam Hussein's army often used schools as weapon stores during the war, but most have been cleared and returned to normal earlier this month. The primary school kids seem happy to see a U.S. Bradley fighting vehicle rumble down their street. As their classes end, the second shift of older students enters.

Ali Wissam dreams of becoming a doctor one day. He and his classmates say they love learning and are angry their pre-war schedule has been cut in half due to the U.S. Army occupation of their school.

ALI WISSAM, STUDENT: We feel so bad because American troops has taken our school and we want to go back to our school and study and finish this year.

PENHAUL: But until the U.S. Army pulls out, they can only sit at these cramped desks and learn the lessons of occupation.

Karl Penhaul, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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