Iraqi Regime May Blow Up Bridges Around Baghdad
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: We have some reports today, very alarming reports that the Iraqi regime is prepared to blow up all the bridges around Baghdad as coalition forces get closer. It was our own CNN's Tom Mintier who brought us that information from Central Command, and let's get a check in with him right now for more on that -- Tom.</s>TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, military sources here at Central Command tell CNN that they have intelligence information that the bridges leading into Baghdad have been rigged with explosives prepared for destruction. Now whether they are destroyed or not is up to the Iraqis. Whether it happens or not, we'll have to wait and see. But the intelligence information indicates clearly that there are explosives rigged to the bridges leading up into Baghdad. We do have some animation of what these areas look like. And strategically they could be extremely important, because as military forces move into Baghdad, if these bridges are indeed in place, it would allow them to make the river crossings in a way that would be a lot easier and take a lot less time. But if the bridges are down, then the strategy again has to change. But again, indications are that the bridges in Baghdad have been rigged with explosives. Now south of there where Walt Rodgers crossed the Euphrates last night, he said that the bridge that they crossed on was indeed rigged with explosives. But those who might have detonated them were taken out by units on both sides of the bridge as the 7th Cavalry prepared to cross. Now a bit of housekeeping, it may be for our viewers that they were planning in about 45 minutes to see the briefing here from Central Command. That has been delayed now for one additional hour. So in about an hour and 45 minutes the briefing believed to be today by General Tommy Franks will take place here. Now this delay may be due to the situation in Basra where we are now getting reports from the British embedded reporters that troops are surrendering in Basra and the situation is fluid and changing. So that may or may not be the reason that this briefing is delayed, but it has been delayed and pushed back by one hour -- Anderson.</s>COOPER: Tom Mintier live from Doha, Qatar. Thanks very much, Tom. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com