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CNN Live Sunday
Aristide Resigns, Flees Haiti; Coast Guard Conducts Rescue Efforts After Explosion Aboard Tanker
Aired February 29, 2004 - 11:00 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. I'm Heidi Collins at CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta. Welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY.
Ahead, Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigns and flees Haiti. A new man is now in charge. We'll have a live report from Port-au-Prince and Washington on this fast moving story.
Also, Coast Guard rescue efforts after an explosion aboard a tanker carrying millions of gallons of ethanol in the Atlantic.
And later, a preview to the campaign rush for Tuesday's super showdown.
Looking for a new Iraq. The nation's governing council is putting the finishing touches on an interim constitution now. The council missed a Saturday deadline to complete the work. Disagreements on religious and minority issues held up the draft. But officials say the document could be signed by midweek.
Here in the U.S., Harvard University will reportedly launch a stem cell research center. The "Boston Sunday Globe" reports the center will grow and study human embryonic stem cells. The center could be the largest privately funded U.S. stem cell project to date. It will be connected to Harvard medical school in Boston.
In that missing Mississippi family case, suspicion falls on a relative. Authorities expect to file charges today against Ernest Lee Hargon, a cousin of the missing husband. Meanwhile, the search for answers continues. We'll bring you a live report on the case coming up a little bit later.
The fall from power in Haiti. Jean-Bertrand Aristide has left his country and resigned amid a revolt. Already the nation has a new interim leader. CNN's Lucia Newman is in the capital, Port-au-Prince, now, with the very latest. Lucia.
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi. That new interim leader is Boniface Alexandre, the president of Haiti's Supreme Court, a man with a reputation for honesty. There are celebrations in Cape Haitian, the rebel-held capital of the north. It was taken just last week, one week ago, accelerating the situation we see now. The prime minister of Haiti, Yvon Neptune, announced just a few hours ago that the president had in a letter said he was leaving the country, stepping down in order to avoid bloodshed and to respect the constitution, he said.
Now, there are celebrations but there is also a lot of gunfire and security out on the streets, confrontations between the police and Aristide supporters as well as roadblocks. We have seen fires, black smoke billowing in several parts of the capital at this hour, Heidi.
Now, we do not know where Jean-Bertrand Aristide has gone. Initially it was believed he had gone to the neighboring Dominican Republic. But Santo Domingo is now saying he did not go there but to another Caribbean capital and from there, according to Santo Domingo, to an African country. It is believed he could be going to South Africa. But his exact whereabouts or destination are not confirmed at this stage, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, I imagine it will take some time to learn where he is, of course, for safety reasons. Thanks so much, Lucia Newman, live from Haiti today.
The United States may become involved militarily in Haiti, and that could happen as early as today. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is at the White House for the latest than this. Suzanne, hello.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. We're getting new details about how this whole arrangement unfolded. Last night, overnight, Secretary Powell, along with his counterparts from Canada, France, and several Caribbean nations, essentially talking, trying to broker this deal with Aristide.
We're told, as well, that Aristide said that he wanted a safe passage out of his country, that he asked the United States for assistance. We know that the Bush administration facilitated that in some way.
But as you mentioned, of course, there is still the concern about the situation on the ground. That is why officials are telling us that there are discussions that are taking place today involving the Pentagon, the White House, and the State Department as to whether or not to send military force stabilization force. We're told it could consist of several hundred Marines. It would be a force that would have to be invited by the Haitian government. It is not considered an invasion force. And essentially would have two tasks. Repatriation of Haitians, as well as possibly securing, providing support for an international peacekeeping force. It is a decision that has not yet been determined, but if it is made, that force could be sent as early as later today. Heidi?
COLLINS: Of course, the question would be how long will it take and what will it take to make that decision. But in the meantime, we had learned of a couple of different contingency plans that the U.S. military already seemed to have been at least discussing. Where are we at with that now, in particular those three ships we have been talking about in the 2200 Marines that they had spoken about being on them?
MALVEAUX: That contingency plan really was set up for the worst- case scenario. So it's unclear whether or not that's even necessary at this time. What really is on the table is whether or not they're going send this kind of rapid response team later on today.
We also expect, however, the next couple of days that you will see this formation of an international peacekeeping force that will come together. We expect that the United Nations is going to be looking into that in the next couple of days.
Should also let you know as well of course, the international community, we're told, are looking at the political side of this. And that is really a power sharing government. This is something that they have to establish, they have to see just what is Haiti going to do to move forward politically. They believe that one possible plan that could work is a power sharing deal with the prime minister would really run the day to day affairs of the government and the president would really take a back seat, more of a symbolic position, and at the same time the government would be open up to some of those opposition groups so that this type of thing wouldn't happen again.
COLLINS: All right, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux coming to us from the White House today. Suzanne, thanks so much.
Aristide's rise and fall has been well documented. CNN's John Zarrella reviews for us now the tumultuous power struggle.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As Jean-Bertrand Aristide dropped his ballot into the box there was, for the people of Haiti, a sense of hope and promise. It was December of 1990, the former Roman Catholic priest, whose power base resided in the squalor of the urban slums of Port-au-Prince, was making history. Two months later in February of 1991, Aristide was sworn in as Haiti's first democratically elected president.
JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE, FORMER PRESIDENT OF HAITI: I am just here to try to love. And if it is necessary to give my life, no problem for that.
ZARRELLA: He didn't lose his life, but less than a year later Aristide lost his job and his country. Haiti's military, led by General Raoul Cedras staged what was the 32nd coup in Haiti's history. Aristide went into exile in the United States. And his countrymen began building boats to get to the United States. And by the time Bill Clinton took office in January 1993, 40,000 Haitians had taken to the sea since the fall of their first democracy.
In the summer of '93, the United Nations worked a deal between Aristide and Cedras. The deposed president would return. The coup leader would resign. But Cedras never left, and the boat people kept leaving. A year later, 20,000 U.S. troops took back the country for Aristide, who returned to finish out his term.
ARISTIDE: We have this, this for the people. We can improve this, this democracy.
ZARRELLA: Term limits prevented Aristide from immediately running again. Renee Preval kept the seat warm until Aristide's return in 2000, an election marred by irregularities and a 10 percent voter turnout. Internal grumblings grew, his support outside his Port-au-Prince stronghold began to erode. Violence spread. Those who once stood by his side were, near the end, opposing him.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN (through translator): Aristide promised us justice, transparency, and participation. He gave us violence, corruption and lies.
ZARRELLA: And in the end, Jean-Bertrand Aristide could not keep his vow to remain in office until his term expired.
John Zarrella, CNN, Miami.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: And quickly, we want to take a look now at this live picture coming in. We have been monitoring this all day, and of course, we'll continue to do so for you. But you see the black smoke rising there, very near the presidential palace in Port-au-Prince. As I said, we'll keep our eye on this for you, as you imagine, the situation there very fluid. The headline, though, Jean-Bertrand Aristide no longer in power. The Supreme Court Chief Justice is running the country at this point, and that is according to the constitution in that country.
Again, the latest news from Haiti, only a mouse click away, you can log on to CNN.com for up to the minute details on Aristide's departure and related stories. CNN.com.
The four remaining democratic hopefuls are together this hour in New York City for their 17th debate. But the focus is on John Edwards and John Kerry. Edwards' campaigned in Georgia hoping for his second victory. Kerry is planning to crush Edwards' chances, though, and virtually sew up the nomination this week. There are ten states in the Super Tuesday contest, including the most populous in the nation, and that would be California.
And come Super Tuesday, CNN will be live from coast to coast starting at 5:00 a.m. Eastern on "CNN DAYBREAK". Results begin to roll in much later at 7:00 p.m. Eastern standard time.
And later today, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards will be a guest on "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER." That comes your way at noon eastern.
A powerful explosion at sea. A tanker goes down. A live report on the rescue effort off the Virginia coast coming up.
Also, police are close to solving the mystery surrounding a missing family.
You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: The U.S. Coast Guard is searching the waters off Virginia for survivors of a tanker explosion last night. The 500-foot vessel was carrying 3 million gallons of industrial ethanol. CNN's Elaine Quijano is in Portsmouth, Virginia, where the rescue is being coordinated.
And Elaine, just wanted to make sure they are still calling this a rescue effort, yes?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They still are, Heidi; that is correct. In fact, 16 hours after the Coast Guard began this search and rescue mission, it is ongoing at this hour, we understand. But still 18 crewmembers are unaccounted for at this time.
Now, they were on board that tanker that you mentioned that was carrying 3 million gallons of ethanol, highly combustible material. That exploded last night 55 miles east of Chincoteague, Virginia. Now, three crew members were killed, six others survived. They were taken to a Norfolk, Virginia hospital and they were suffering from exposure and petroleum contamination, we're told. They were actually plucked from a life raft that was found in the waters there near Chincoteague, about 55 miles east of Chincoteague. Now three of those survivors were released. One is in serious condition. Two are in fair condition.
The Coast Guard earlier today released some infrared video images of what the area looked like last night at they were conducting that search. The tanker, as I said, was carrying more than 3 million gallons of ethanol, but in addition, it was also carrying some 250,000 gallons of fuel oil.
Now this is a ship that was bearing the Singapore flag, it was en route from New York City to Houston. We understand at this time the investigation is now being conducted by the U.S. The Singapore government, after consulting with the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, went ahead and authorized the U.S. to be the lead investigating state. Right now, Heidi that search and rescue mission is continuing. We could hear something more, though, at 1:00. We are expecting a news conference here at the Coast Guard command center. Heidi?
COLLINS: Of course, we'll be waiting to hear more from that. But Elaine, in the meantime, wanted to ask you, any idea at this point if this is the typical way to ship such a large amount of ethanol? Is this the way it is always done?
QUIJANO: Yes, there hasn't been any real comment about anything unusual. Coast Guard officials say really there is nothing out of the ordinary about this particular ship, about the route. They are simply looking at this as an accident. All signs, all indications and they do say that the information they have is a little bit sketchy. They have only talked to those six survivors, all of whom were Filipino and there were some language barriers. But what they were able to piece together and have pieced together so far is apparently at the time of the explosion some crewmembers were actually sleeping. Other crewmembers were on deck, working. But beyond that they don't have a lot of details. They're obviously going to try and conduct a thorough investigation to try and determine what happened. But at this point, they don't see anything unusual about the route, about the tanker itself, that would lead them to believe this was anything more than an accident. Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Elaine Quijano coming to us from Portsmouth, Virginia. We'll check in with you after that news conference at 1:00. Thanks so much.
Now to the mystery in Mississippi. Authorities are resuming their search for a family missing since Valentine's Day. They also plan to file charges now against a relative in connection with the disappearance. CNN's Mike Brooks is in Taylorsville, Mississippi with the latest from there. Good morning to you once again, Mike.
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again, Heidi. Charges will be filed against Ernest Lee Hargon sometime today or early tomorrow. They say there will be multiple felony charges.
Now, investigators were back on the scene here in Taylorsville, searching for clues in the missing of the three people that had been missing since February 14th. They say they are making great progress in the case. We spoke a little while ago with Warren -- the spokesperson for the Mississippi State Police. He said that -- we talked to see if what a possible motive. There is a dispute between Ernest Lee Hargon and Michael Hargon, the father of the missing family. A land dispute; we asked him if that could be a possible motive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WARREN STRAIN, SPOKESMAN, MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY: Clearly that goes to motive. And that clearly is a consideration in this particular investigation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROOKS: Now, they're searching 160 acres here to take up a large amount of space that's owned by his wife Lisa. Her family also lives on the property; it's bordered by a river. They brought in a boat a short time ago and they've also brought in cadaver dogs. The family of three is still missing. Heidi?
COLLINS: Mike, quick couple of questions for you. Is this -- is this possibly about what Warren Strain was talking about there, possibly about inheritance?
BROOKS: It could be. Apparently an uncle died a short time ago. He left land to Michael Hargon, and there was no land at all left to Ernest Lee. That is a possible motive. They won't talk about anything else besides that. They're not talking about any other motives. So it looks like that could be the motive. We still do not know right now. They're still looking at a lot of other things. They have taken a look at evidence they gathered last night. They're attempting to gather more evidence today. But they still do not know the whereabouts of the family.
COLLINS: Quickly, the area that they're searching, large area, tumultuous. What's is the terrain like?
BROOKS: Very, very thick wooded area, 160 acres. On this property there are also five different structures. It is actually a veterinary clinic that is the business for Ernest Lee Hargon's wife, Lisa. She has her veterinary clinic here. Her family also lives on the property. Again, it's 160 acres, a lot of land to search. We saw heavy equipment being brought in. It looks like they'll do some more digging. The spokesman said they were doing some digging yesterday. They intend to do more today. And they intend to cover this 160 acres with a fine-toothed comb. Heidi?
COLLINS: I'm sure they will. Mike Brooks live from Taylorsville, Mississippi, this morning. Going to say afternoon, but it's still morning. Thank you very much, Mike.
The international flavor this year at Hollywood's gold rush coming up. Why this year has so many stars from overseas trying to win Hollywood's highest honor.
Also, a milestone for a man who helped millions of children read while entertaining their parents as well.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Hollywood is holding its breath as the Oscar nominees are whittled down to a winner's list at tonight's ceremony. CNN's Jodi Ross reports the Academy took a global approach in choosing this year's nominees.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JODI ROSS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ken Watanabe in "The Last Samurai," Shohreh Aghdashloo for "House of Sand and Fog," and Fernando Meirelles up for best director. To some, this year's list of Oscar nominees sounds pretty, well, foreign.
ROSS (on camera): The U.N. might be the best place to hold the Academy Awards. After all, almost half of the nominees in the big five categories are not American born.
JILL BERNSTEIN, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: There are more people this year represented from different countries than I think we have seen in a very long time. West Africa, South Africa, Japan, New Zealand, it is really all over the globe.
ROSS (voice-over): Nobody knows that better than Djimon Hounsou. Nominated for best supporting actor in "In America," he came out of West Africa to find fame in Hollywood.
DJIMON HOUNSOU, NOMINEE FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Coming to this country for in pursuit of -- I guess it is the perfect American dream.
ROSS: Some non-American names are well known. New Zealander Peter Jackson and Brits Samantha Morton and Ben Kingsley have all been down Oscar's path before. But the thrill remains. BEN KINGSLEY, NOMINEE FOR BEST ACTOR: My fourth nomination. And it's totally new.
ROSS: Win or lose, these new names are happy to be not so new anymore.
Jodi Ross, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: In honor of the Oscars, join us tonight for our special presentation, "Hollywood Gold Rush." That's at 7:00 eastern, 4:00 pacific.
An ode to a writer of riddles and rhyme, he worked with words from silly to sublime. Seuss was his name, kids' books were his game. You remember one of the greats of his fame.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: There is much more ahead at the bottom of the hour on "RELIABLE SOURCES." Here's Howard Kurtz with a preview.
HOWARD KURTZ, HOST, "RELIABLE SOURCES": Thanks, Heidi. Coming up, covering the culture wars. Is the press taking sides on gay marriage? And "The Passion of the Christ." Plus, a famous shock jock, first name Howard, gets caught in a media crackdown. And, will Super Tuesday take the air out of primary campaign coverage. It's all next on "RELIABLE SOURCES."
COLLINS: All right, Howie, we'll be watching. Thanks so much.
Coming up next, your way, a riddle, a major milestone, some rhymes for the times. An author well known, here is Aaron Brown.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AARON BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Know who was born a century ago come Tuesday next, sunshine or no? The second of March, 1904, in Springfield, Mass; here's his front door. He was Theodor Geisel at that time, before picking up pen and setting to rhyme.
Horton, the Grinch, "The Cat in the Hat," "Yertle the Turtle," books just like that. "Green Eggs and Ham" and four dozen more full of foxes, and sneetches, and creatures galore. Thing One, Thing Two, Gertrude McFuzz. Most were as odd as odd ever was.
His inventions wore feathers, had trunks and had tails; and sometimes they had fins and sometimes had scales. They hopped and they ran and they swam and they mooed. They went about barefoot, or were festively shoed. But they all gave delight and taught kids to read, by making them laugh and by filling their need for rhymes that were bouncy and silly and fun, and had a punch line per page, or more than just one.
The past had Hans Christian and the brothers Grim. Pity the past, though, because we had him. And no other writer ever let loose a world like the world of our friend Dr. Seuss. He'd be 100 now if he were alive; as for his books, they will always survive.
Aaron Brown, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: There's much more ahead on this Sunday. "RELIABLE SOURCES" is next, looking at the national divide over same sex marriage. Then "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER." Among his guests, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards.
"PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" airs at 2:00 eastern. Today, profiling Mel Gibson.
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Efforts After Explosion Aboard Tanker>
Aired February 29, 2004 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. I'm Heidi Collins at CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta. Welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY.
Ahead, Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigns and flees Haiti. A new man is now in charge. We'll have a live report from Port-au-Prince and Washington on this fast moving story.
Also, Coast Guard rescue efforts after an explosion aboard a tanker carrying millions of gallons of ethanol in the Atlantic.
And later, a preview to the campaign rush for Tuesday's super showdown.
Looking for a new Iraq. The nation's governing council is putting the finishing touches on an interim constitution now. The council missed a Saturday deadline to complete the work. Disagreements on religious and minority issues held up the draft. But officials say the document could be signed by midweek.
Here in the U.S., Harvard University will reportedly launch a stem cell research center. The "Boston Sunday Globe" reports the center will grow and study human embryonic stem cells. The center could be the largest privately funded U.S. stem cell project to date. It will be connected to Harvard medical school in Boston.
In that missing Mississippi family case, suspicion falls on a relative. Authorities expect to file charges today against Ernest Lee Hargon, a cousin of the missing husband. Meanwhile, the search for answers continues. We'll bring you a live report on the case coming up a little bit later.
The fall from power in Haiti. Jean-Bertrand Aristide has left his country and resigned amid a revolt. Already the nation has a new interim leader. CNN's Lucia Newman is in the capital, Port-au-Prince, now, with the very latest. Lucia.
LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi. That new interim leader is Boniface Alexandre, the president of Haiti's Supreme Court, a man with a reputation for honesty. There are celebrations in Cape Haitian, the rebel-held capital of the north. It was taken just last week, one week ago, accelerating the situation we see now. The prime minister of Haiti, Yvon Neptune, announced just a few hours ago that the president had in a letter said he was leaving the country, stepping down in order to avoid bloodshed and to respect the constitution, he said.
Now, there are celebrations but there is also a lot of gunfire and security out on the streets, confrontations between the police and Aristide supporters as well as roadblocks. We have seen fires, black smoke billowing in several parts of the capital at this hour, Heidi.
Now, we do not know where Jean-Bertrand Aristide has gone. Initially it was believed he had gone to the neighboring Dominican Republic. But Santo Domingo is now saying he did not go there but to another Caribbean capital and from there, according to Santo Domingo, to an African country. It is believed he could be going to South Africa. But his exact whereabouts or destination are not confirmed at this stage, Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, I imagine it will take some time to learn where he is, of course, for safety reasons. Thanks so much, Lucia Newman, live from Haiti today.
The United States may become involved militarily in Haiti, and that could happen as early as today. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is at the White House for the latest than this. Suzanne, hello.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. We're getting new details about how this whole arrangement unfolded. Last night, overnight, Secretary Powell, along with his counterparts from Canada, France, and several Caribbean nations, essentially talking, trying to broker this deal with Aristide.
We're told, as well, that Aristide said that he wanted a safe passage out of his country, that he asked the United States for assistance. We know that the Bush administration facilitated that in some way.
But as you mentioned, of course, there is still the concern about the situation on the ground. That is why officials are telling us that there are discussions that are taking place today involving the Pentagon, the White House, and the State Department as to whether or not to send military force stabilization force. We're told it could consist of several hundred Marines. It would be a force that would have to be invited by the Haitian government. It is not considered an invasion force. And essentially would have two tasks. Repatriation of Haitians, as well as possibly securing, providing support for an international peacekeeping force. It is a decision that has not yet been determined, but if it is made, that force could be sent as early as later today. Heidi?
COLLINS: Of course, the question would be how long will it take and what will it take to make that decision. But in the meantime, we had learned of a couple of different contingency plans that the U.S. military already seemed to have been at least discussing. Where are we at with that now, in particular those three ships we have been talking about in the 2200 Marines that they had spoken about being on them?
MALVEAUX: That contingency plan really was set up for the worst- case scenario. So it's unclear whether or not that's even necessary at this time. What really is on the table is whether or not they're going send this kind of rapid response team later on today.
We also expect, however, the next couple of days that you will see this formation of an international peacekeeping force that will come together. We expect that the United Nations is going to be looking into that in the next couple of days.
Should also let you know as well of course, the international community, we're told, are looking at the political side of this. And that is really a power sharing government. This is something that they have to establish, they have to see just what is Haiti going to do to move forward politically. They believe that one possible plan that could work is a power sharing deal with the prime minister would really run the day to day affairs of the government and the president would really take a back seat, more of a symbolic position, and at the same time the government would be open up to some of those opposition groups so that this type of thing wouldn't happen again.
COLLINS: All right, CNN's Suzanne Malveaux coming to us from the White House today. Suzanne, thanks so much.
Aristide's rise and fall has been well documented. CNN's John Zarrella reviews for us now the tumultuous power struggle.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As Jean-Bertrand Aristide dropped his ballot into the box there was, for the people of Haiti, a sense of hope and promise. It was December of 1990, the former Roman Catholic priest, whose power base resided in the squalor of the urban slums of Port-au-Prince, was making history. Two months later in February of 1991, Aristide was sworn in as Haiti's first democratically elected president.
JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE, FORMER PRESIDENT OF HAITI: I am just here to try to love. And if it is necessary to give my life, no problem for that.
ZARRELLA: He didn't lose his life, but less than a year later Aristide lost his job and his country. Haiti's military, led by General Raoul Cedras staged what was the 32nd coup in Haiti's history. Aristide went into exile in the United States. And his countrymen began building boats to get to the United States. And by the time Bill Clinton took office in January 1993, 40,000 Haitians had taken to the sea since the fall of their first democracy.
In the summer of '93, the United Nations worked a deal between Aristide and Cedras. The deposed president would return. The coup leader would resign. But Cedras never left, and the boat people kept leaving. A year later, 20,000 U.S. troops took back the country for Aristide, who returned to finish out his term.
ARISTIDE: We have this, this for the people. We can improve this, this democracy.
ZARRELLA: Term limits prevented Aristide from immediately running again. Renee Preval kept the seat warm until Aristide's return in 2000, an election marred by irregularities and a 10 percent voter turnout. Internal grumblings grew, his support outside his Port-au-Prince stronghold began to erode. Violence spread. Those who once stood by his side were, near the end, opposing him.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN (through translator): Aristide promised us justice, transparency, and participation. He gave us violence, corruption and lies.
ZARRELLA: And in the end, Jean-Bertrand Aristide could not keep his vow to remain in office until his term expired.
John Zarrella, CNN, Miami.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: And quickly, we want to take a look now at this live picture coming in. We have been monitoring this all day, and of course, we'll continue to do so for you. But you see the black smoke rising there, very near the presidential palace in Port-au-Prince. As I said, we'll keep our eye on this for you, as you imagine, the situation there very fluid. The headline, though, Jean-Bertrand Aristide no longer in power. The Supreme Court Chief Justice is running the country at this point, and that is according to the constitution in that country.
Again, the latest news from Haiti, only a mouse click away, you can log on to CNN.com for up to the minute details on Aristide's departure and related stories. CNN.com.
The four remaining democratic hopefuls are together this hour in New York City for their 17th debate. But the focus is on John Edwards and John Kerry. Edwards' campaigned in Georgia hoping for his second victory. Kerry is planning to crush Edwards' chances, though, and virtually sew up the nomination this week. There are ten states in the Super Tuesday contest, including the most populous in the nation, and that would be California.
And come Super Tuesday, CNN will be live from coast to coast starting at 5:00 a.m. Eastern on "CNN DAYBREAK". Results begin to roll in much later at 7:00 p.m. Eastern standard time.
And later today, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards will be a guest on "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER." That comes your way at noon eastern.
A powerful explosion at sea. A tanker goes down. A live report on the rescue effort off the Virginia coast coming up.
Also, police are close to solving the mystery surrounding a missing family.
You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: The U.S. Coast Guard is searching the waters off Virginia for survivors of a tanker explosion last night. The 500-foot vessel was carrying 3 million gallons of industrial ethanol. CNN's Elaine Quijano is in Portsmouth, Virginia, where the rescue is being coordinated.
And Elaine, just wanted to make sure they are still calling this a rescue effort, yes?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They still are, Heidi; that is correct. In fact, 16 hours after the Coast Guard began this search and rescue mission, it is ongoing at this hour, we understand. But still 18 crewmembers are unaccounted for at this time.
Now, they were on board that tanker that you mentioned that was carrying 3 million gallons of ethanol, highly combustible material. That exploded last night 55 miles east of Chincoteague, Virginia. Now, three crew members were killed, six others survived. They were taken to a Norfolk, Virginia hospital and they were suffering from exposure and petroleum contamination, we're told. They were actually plucked from a life raft that was found in the waters there near Chincoteague, about 55 miles east of Chincoteague. Now three of those survivors were released. One is in serious condition. Two are in fair condition.
The Coast Guard earlier today released some infrared video images of what the area looked like last night at they were conducting that search. The tanker, as I said, was carrying more than 3 million gallons of ethanol, but in addition, it was also carrying some 250,000 gallons of fuel oil.
Now this is a ship that was bearing the Singapore flag, it was en route from New York City to Houston. We understand at this time the investigation is now being conducted by the U.S. The Singapore government, after consulting with the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, went ahead and authorized the U.S. to be the lead investigating state. Right now, Heidi that search and rescue mission is continuing. We could hear something more, though, at 1:00. We are expecting a news conference here at the Coast Guard command center. Heidi?
COLLINS: Of course, we'll be waiting to hear more from that. But Elaine, in the meantime, wanted to ask you, any idea at this point if this is the typical way to ship such a large amount of ethanol? Is this the way it is always done?
QUIJANO: Yes, there hasn't been any real comment about anything unusual. Coast Guard officials say really there is nothing out of the ordinary about this particular ship, about the route. They are simply looking at this as an accident. All signs, all indications and they do say that the information they have is a little bit sketchy. They have only talked to those six survivors, all of whom were Filipino and there were some language barriers. But what they were able to piece together and have pieced together so far is apparently at the time of the explosion some crewmembers were actually sleeping. Other crewmembers were on deck, working. But beyond that they don't have a lot of details. They're obviously going to try and conduct a thorough investigation to try and determine what happened. But at this point, they don't see anything unusual about the route, about the tanker itself, that would lead them to believe this was anything more than an accident. Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Elaine Quijano coming to us from Portsmouth, Virginia. We'll check in with you after that news conference at 1:00. Thanks so much.
Now to the mystery in Mississippi. Authorities are resuming their search for a family missing since Valentine's Day. They also plan to file charges now against a relative in connection with the disappearance. CNN's Mike Brooks is in Taylorsville, Mississippi with the latest from there. Good morning to you once again, Mike.
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again, Heidi. Charges will be filed against Ernest Lee Hargon sometime today or early tomorrow. They say there will be multiple felony charges.
Now, investigators were back on the scene here in Taylorsville, searching for clues in the missing of the three people that had been missing since February 14th. They say they are making great progress in the case. We spoke a little while ago with Warren -- the spokesperson for the Mississippi State Police. He said that -- we talked to see if what a possible motive. There is a dispute between Ernest Lee Hargon and Michael Hargon, the father of the missing family. A land dispute; we asked him if that could be a possible motive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WARREN STRAIN, SPOKESMAN, MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY: Clearly that goes to motive. And that clearly is a consideration in this particular investigation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROOKS: Now, they're searching 160 acres here to take up a large amount of space that's owned by his wife Lisa. Her family also lives on the property; it's bordered by a river. They brought in a boat a short time ago and they've also brought in cadaver dogs. The family of three is still missing. Heidi?
COLLINS: Mike, quick couple of questions for you. Is this -- is this possibly about what Warren Strain was talking about there, possibly about inheritance?
BROOKS: It could be. Apparently an uncle died a short time ago. He left land to Michael Hargon, and there was no land at all left to Ernest Lee. That is a possible motive. They won't talk about anything else besides that. They're not talking about any other motives. So it looks like that could be the motive. We still do not know right now. They're still looking at a lot of other things. They have taken a look at evidence they gathered last night. They're attempting to gather more evidence today. But they still do not know the whereabouts of the family.
COLLINS: Quickly, the area that they're searching, large area, tumultuous. What's is the terrain like?
BROOKS: Very, very thick wooded area, 160 acres. On this property there are also five different structures. It is actually a veterinary clinic that is the business for Ernest Lee Hargon's wife, Lisa. She has her veterinary clinic here. Her family also lives on the property. Again, it's 160 acres, a lot of land to search. We saw heavy equipment being brought in. It looks like they'll do some more digging. The spokesman said they were doing some digging yesterday. They intend to do more today. And they intend to cover this 160 acres with a fine-toothed comb. Heidi?
COLLINS: I'm sure they will. Mike Brooks live from Taylorsville, Mississippi, this morning. Going to say afternoon, but it's still morning. Thank you very much, Mike.
The international flavor this year at Hollywood's gold rush coming up. Why this year has so many stars from overseas trying to win Hollywood's highest honor.
Also, a milestone for a man who helped millions of children read while entertaining their parents as well.
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COLLINS: Hollywood is holding its breath as the Oscar nominees are whittled down to a winner's list at tonight's ceremony. CNN's Jodi Ross reports the Academy took a global approach in choosing this year's nominees.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JODI ROSS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ken Watanabe in "The Last Samurai," Shohreh Aghdashloo for "House of Sand and Fog," and Fernando Meirelles up for best director. To some, this year's list of Oscar nominees sounds pretty, well, foreign.
ROSS (on camera): The U.N. might be the best place to hold the Academy Awards. After all, almost half of the nominees in the big five categories are not American born.
JILL BERNSTEIN, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: There are more people this year represented from different countries than I think we have seen in a very long time. West Africa, South Africa, Japan, New Zealand, it is really all over the globe.
ROSS (voice-over): Nobody knows that better than Djimon Hounsou. Nominated for best supporting actor in "In America," he came out of West Africa to find fame in Hollywood.
DJIMON HOUNSOU, NOMINEE FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Coming to this country for in pursuit of -- I guess it is the perfect American dream.
ROSS: Some non-American names are well known. New Zealander Peter Jackson and Brits Samantha Morton and Ben Kingsley have all been down Oscar's path before. But the thrill remains. BEN KINGSLEY, NOMINEE FOR BEST ACTOR: My fourth nomination. And it's totally new.
ROSS: Win or lose, these new names are happy to be not so new anymore.
Jodi Ross, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: In honor of the Oscars, join us tonight for our special presentation, "Hollywood Gold Rush." That's at 7:00 eastern, 4:00 pacific.
An ode to a writer of riddles and rhyme, he worked with words from silly to sublime. Seuss was his name, kids' books were his game. You remember one of the greats of his fame.
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COLLINS: There is much more ahead at the bottom of the hour on "RELIABLE SOURCES." Here's Howard Kurtz with a preview.
HOWARD KURTZ, HOST, "RELIABLE SOURCES": Thanks, Heidi. Coming up, covering the culture wars. Is the press taking sides on gay marriage? And "The Passion of the Christ." Plus, a famous shock jock, first name Howard, gets caught in a media crackdown. And, will Super Tuesday take the air out of primary campaign coverage. It's all next on "RELIABLE SOURCES."
COLLINS: All right, Howie, we'll be watching. Thanks so much.
Coming up next, your way, a riddle, a major milestone, some rhymes for the times. An author well known, here is Aaron Brown.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AARON BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Know who was born a century ago come Tuesday next, sunshine or no? The second of March, 1904, in Springfield, Mass; here's his front door. He was Theodor Geisel at that time, before picking up pen and setting to rhyme.
Horton, the Grinch, "The Cat in the Hat," "Yertle the Turtle," books just like that. "Green Eggs and Ham" and four dozen more full of foxes, and sneetches, and creatures galore. Thing One, Thing Two, Gertrude McFuzz. Most were as odd as odd ever was.
His inventions wore feathers, had trunks and had tails; and sometimes they had fins and sometimes had scales. They hopped and they ran and they swam and they mooed. They went about barefoot, or were festively shoed. But they all gave delight and taught kids to read, by making them laugh and by filling their need for rhymes that were bouncy and silly and fun, and had a punch line per page, or more than just one.
The past had Hans Christian and the brothers Grim. Pity the past, though, because we had him. And no other writer ever let loose a world like the world of our friend Dr. Seuss. He'd be 100 now if he were alive; as for his books, they will always survive.
Aaron Brown, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: There's much more ahead on this Sunday. "RELIABLE SOURCES" is next, looking at the national divide over same sex marriage. Then "LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER." Among his guests, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards.
"PEOPLE IN THE NEWS" airs at 2:00 eastern. Today, profiling Mel Gibson.
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Efforts After Explosion Aboard Tanker>
