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Breaking News

Iraq Claims 23 Killed in Allied Airstrikes

Aired June 20, 2001 - 09:51   ET

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

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're also following another top story today, claims by Iraq that 23 people were killed in airstrikes in the town of Mosul.

For the latest on that, let's go to the White House and our Kelly Wallace -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, quite simply, U.S. officials say those Iraqi claims are "incorrect," a U.S. official telling that, while U.S. planes have been patrolling the no-fly zone over Iraq and taken some anti-aircraft fire, they have not responded. Also, a spokesman for the U.S.-European command is saying that while flights were flown over the northern no-fly zone, which includes Mosul, no ordinance was dropped and "no targets were engaged further," a spokesman saying "the Iraqi allegations are completely false."

That's the message from the White House, that what the Iraqis are claiming -- that U.S.-British airstrikes could have killed 23 some soccer players -- is absolutely not the case -- Daryn.

Kelly Wallace, at the White House, thank you.

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