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CNN Live At Daybreak

Weekend of Deadly Violence in Iraq Brings Vows of Revenge; French Police Conduct Raids in Two Paris Suburbs This Morning

Aired April 05, 2004 - 05:00   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A weekend of deadly violence in Iraq brings vows of revenge.
Good morning to you.

From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, this is DAYBREAK for Monday, April 5.

I'm Carol Costello.

Here's the latest for you.

Another U.S. soldier killed, one wounded, by a roadside bomb in Iraq. The attack happened in the northern city of Mosul. In the meantime, west of Baghdad, U.S. Marines close all roads into the volatile city of Fallujah and loud explosions were heard there overnight.

Secretary of State Colin Powell heads to Haiti today to meet with the country's new leaders. He'll urge them not to give government positions to rebel leaders who helped oust President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, is holding legislative elections today. The president's party is not expected to win the most seats.

And in Ohio, Charles McCoy, Jr., the man accused of the Ohio highway shootings, is due back in court today. He'll be charged with aggravated murder, which makes him eligible for the death penalty.

To the forecast center now and Chad -- good morning.

CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning.

How are you this morning?

I'm still putting on my jacket.

COSTELLO: Oh, well, you know, it was a slow moving morning for me, too.

MYERS: I'm still turning down my collar.

How are you doing?

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Flashpoint Fallujah -- Marines this morning have locked down that Iraqi city, ramping up to a U.S.-backed military operation dubbed Vigilant Resolve. This after eight U.S. soldiers were killed on Sunday fighting angry supporters of a Shiite Muslim cleric.

Let's head live to Baghdad now and CNN's Walter Rodgers.

What's happening there this morning -- Walter.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

A major U.S. Marine operation in Fallujah. The city is being sealed off -- no one goes in, no one goes out. The word lockdown is appropriate. The reason the city is being locked down is it's been one of the most troublesome cities in the so-called Sunni Triangle and it was the site where, on Wednesday of last week, there was a murderous ambush and four American civilian contractors were killed, then their bodies were mutilated.

The Marines are not saying how long they'll be in there on Operation Vigilant Resolve. Still, it is portentous, at least, for Iraq, because the operations around Fallujah have closed off a major east-west highway linking Iraq to neighboring Jordan.

Also, U.S. officials in Iraq are warning that over -- because of the violence over the weekend, because of the bloody Shiite Muslim revolt against American forces here in Iraq, more violence can be expected today.

It all began in al-Najaf, south of Baghdad. Yesterday, Sunday, there was a very large demonstration, a protest, a revolt in the streets because U.S. forces issued a warrant and actually arrested a top cleric's deputy. That cleric was wanted for murder, murdering another cleric, allegedly. And U.S. or coalition forces moved to arrest him. Crowds came out on the street in al-Najaf. Someone in the crowd, according to coalition forces, fired at the coalition forces, in this case, largely a Spanish unit. The Spanish fired back. More than 20 Iraqis were killed. Several coalition forces may also have died in that engagement. More than 130 Iraqis are also in hospital in al-Najaf.

Now, a U.S. official here in Baghdad warned the Iraqi Shiites against revolting, said the tolerance would -- or there would be no tolerance of violence of this nature. And so Muqtada Sadr, who keeps his own illegal, private militia, sent his own soldiers into the street in Baghdad, the Sadr City area.

There, the violence was even worse. U.S. tanks were called in. At least a dozen tanks were sent in to combat the revolting Shiite Muslims in Sadr City, in the Baghdad area.

Again, eight U.S. soldiers were killed there. A number of other U.S. soldiers were badly injured, according to what we're being told here. Also, 40 Iraqis were killed in that Sadr City fighting and perhaps several hundred in hospital -- Carol.

COSTELLO: So, Walter, we have Sadr City, we have Najaf, we have Baghdad. Let's talk about Fallujah for just a second, because the roads around there are closed. U.S. Marines are in there. Explosions were heard.

Where did those explosions come from, the Marines or people inside...

RODGERS: Almost certainly...

COSTELLO: Go ahead.

RODGERS: Almost certainly, yes, almost certainly the explosions came from the Marine helicopters overhead. Cobras were sent in, according to residents of Fallujah, about four o'clock in the morning. And they began targeting specific buildings in Fallujah.

It does not appear to be a go in with guns blazing. But apparently the Marines had fairly good intelligence about where the people are -- or were -- who perpetrated that violence on Wednesday, and they were looking for them -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And we don't know how long this operation is going on or if it will intensify.

RODGERS: We're told that it's due to last at least several days. Again, the American promise is that "Fallujah will be pacified" and there will be no more rebellions there. And the Americans say they're going to follow the same example they did in Tikrit and other cities. They want it locked down. They want it pacified -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, we'll be checking back with you throughout the morning.

Walter Rodgers live in Baghdad this morning.

Maintaining security in Iraq -- what's working and what's not? On AMERICAN MORNING, we'll talk to a member of the Iraqi Governing Council for some answers.

French police conduct raids in two Paris suburbs this morning. They're trying to capture suspected terrorists who may have been involved in last year's devastating bomb attacks in Casablanca.

Joining us on the phone with the latest is CNN's Jim Bittermann -- hello, Jim.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.

That's right. In fact, police have now detained 15 people, nine men and six women in those predawn raids in two Paris suburbs. These are suburbs which have large North African populations.

The 15 are reportedly linked to the GICM or Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group. This is a group that emerged in the late 1990s in Morocco and was labeled a terrorist group by the United States and its assets were frozen by the world community.

The French counter-espionage service made those raids this morning on the orders of the well known French anti-terrorist investigator Jean-Louis Bruguiere, who has been following the activities of this group for some time, in connection, as you mentioned, with the bombings in Casablanca 11 months ago, which killed 45 people, including 12 suicide bombers.

And while French investigators are only dealing with the Casablanca bombings, the Spanish interior ministry, as well as the security officials in Morocco, have been, over the last few days, been making connections between the Casablanca bombings and those in Madrid last month, which killed 191 people, saying that this same group, this GICM, was linked to both -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Jim Bittermann reporting live on the phone from Paris this morning.

This is the week we will hear from National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. The White House had been against putting her out there to testify publicly and under oath.

So, did a simple photograph make all the difference?

The story now from CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush is back from Camp David with a date set to privately go before the 9/11 Commission, along with Vice President Dick Cheney, in the next two weeks. But this week, all eyes are on his top adviser, Condoleezza Rice, who will testify publicly and under oath Thursday.

She'll make the case, aides say, that the administration did all it could to prevent the 9/11 attacks.

KAREN HUGHES, FORMER BUSH COUNSELOR: I don't think we could have envisioned it and done anything to have prevented it.

MALVEAUX: The White House resisted for weeks putting Rice in front of the Commission publicly, citing executive privilege. But the Commission was so determined to have her testify, last Monday its executive director, Republican Philip Zelikow, faxed White House counsel a 1945 "New York Times" photo and article showing presidential Chief of Staff Admiral William Leahy, back then Rice's equivalent, testifying before a congressional panel investigating Pearl Harbor. The Commission argued history showed the White House's argument didn't hold up, its spokesman said.

But the White House said it's wrong to suggest a photo resulted in the president's decision.

TIM ROEMER, 9/11 COMMISSION MEMBER: This may have been one of the straws on the camel's back, but the camel certainly had the big load of the 9/11 Commission, with bipartisan support insisting on Dr. Rice's public and sworn testimony.

MALVEAUX: One big question before Rice will be whether the Bush administration treated the threat of al Qaeda as an urgent matter prior to September 11. For those who used to sit in Rice's seat, the White House gets mixed reviews.

HENRY KISSINGER, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: When a new administration comes in, the files in the White House are empty. There are a lot of people who tell them that matters are very urgent.

SANDY BERGER, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: The difference between important and urgent is a question of priority.

GENERAL BRENT SCOWCROFT, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: It's fundamentally a matter of judgment. This administration came in with a certain mindset coming out of the campaign and so on, and, for example, ballistic missile defense was something they really wanted to get through.

MALVEAUX (on camera): Commission members say they'll release their final report to the public before the November elections, to make sure it doesn't become an issue in the heat of the debate.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Condoleezza Rice testifies before the 9/11 Commission Thursday morning publicly and under oath. That will happen at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific Time, and you can count on CNN to bring that to you live.

Are you thinking of flying this vacation season? When it comes to air travel, a new report says cheaper might also be better. Doesn't that sound nice?

Voters go to the polls today in Indonesia, where democracy is still largely an experiment.

And in our democracy, a new poll has encouraging numbers for John Kerry, while new jobs numbers are encourage for President Bush.

And on the streets of Seattle, the beat goes on and on and on.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.

It is 5:13 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning.

In Iraq, U.S. Marines have launched Operation Vigilant Resolve. It has begun. As part of this operation, the Marines have closed off all roads leading into Fallujah and have engaged in several firefights near their new checkpoints.

Security is tight throughout Indonesia this morning. Voters are heading to the polls for parliamentary elections. More than 250,000 police have been deployed and the military is on alert in potential hot spots.

In money news, a computer hardware problem is to blame for overcharges at Wal-Mart stores last week. Around 800,000 credit and debit card transactions were double or triple billed on March 31. Check your statement. We're told the mistake has been fixed, but again, check that statement.

In sports, Georgia Tech and the University of Connecticut tip it off tonight. It is the championship game of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. This is Georgia Tech's first trip to the finals.

In culture, John Wayne is making his second appearance as a stamp. Wayne is the tenth film star to be featured by the post office in their Legends of Hollywood collection.

To the forecast center and Chad.

MYERS: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: Chad, you're doing weather now, aren't you?

MYERS: I am doing weather. I don't have any help up here today, so I'm going to have to stay up here for a little bit. But I'll be down as soon as I get all my maps made.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Well, you get what you pay for. So if you want the right flight and you want to arrive on time with your luggage, fly the big guys, right? Wrong.

The annual survey on airline performance has some surprises this year, as CNN's Bob Franken reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The winner and new champion in the 14th Annual Airline Quality Ratings Survey is JetBlue. In fact, the top three best performers are JetBlue, Alaska Air and Southwest. Altogether, the study rated 14. Many of the big ones were somewhere at the bottom -- United, American, Delta among those in the lower tier. All of the information came from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

What about performance industry wide? This will surprise the weary traveler. It was up, although that weary traveler might not be surprised to find it was up only slightly and that because the number of official consumer complaints was way down.

Even so, on time arrivals were down, while passenger bumping was up. Lost luggage up. This is a joint project of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Wichita State University.

As for the performance of the low cost carriers, the analysts made it clear they believe it's not just those low fares, but higher customer service which has resulted in a big jump in their market share from just four percent when the studies began, to a full 25 percent now.

The old joke used to be flying is the best way to fly. The study might suggest that flying cheaply is the best way to fly.

Bob Franken, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: A rosy U.S. jobs report is helping stock markets here and in Asia. So let's see if that's spilling over into Europe.

For that, of course, we head to London and Todd Benjamin -- good morning, Todd.

TODD BENJAMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

If any of you are traveling to Europe today, the euro is at 121 against the greenback and sterling is just above 182 to the dollar. So that means for every pound you buy it will cost you at least $1.82, probably more if you go to an exchange booth.

In terms of the markets today, actually, they are flat, with the exception of Paris, which is up just over a half of one percent. The big gains came on Friday after that very impressive employment report out of the U.S., where the U.S. created 308,000 jobs in March, more than twice what analysts were expecting and more than five times the average over the last half of the year.

We'll see if that momentum can carry through to Wall Street today. But I've got to tell you, Carol -- I don't always like to bring you bad news, but right now the futures market is pointing to a slightly lower open. But if this makes you feel better, if this makes you feel better, let me tell you what the markets did for last week.

The S&P 500 gained three percent, and that ended a three week losing streak. The NASDAQ was up five percent and the Dow was up two and a half percent. So, hey, if you have a rough day tonight...

COSTELLO: Well, that does make us feel better. BENJAMIN: There you go.

COSTELLO: Well, just think to last week's numbers.

Thank you, Todd Benjamin. BENJAMIN: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: We appreciate it.

We're going to toss it to a break. We'll be back with much more and we'll have more information coming out of Iraq. You stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "HELLBOY")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, I'm on your side!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Oh, oh, ow! Don't you love to see that early in the morning? Say hello to "Hellboy." That is "Hellboy." The comic book hero debuted in the top spot at the box office this weekend, with just over $23 million.

Follow "Hellboy" is wrestler turned actor The Rock in the remake of the classic '70s film "Walking Tall." Last week's number one, "Scooby Doo 2," dropped to number three.

More troubles for the Osbournes. That tops our DAYBREAK Eye- Opener. Youngest drought Kelly Osbourne has checked into a drug treatment center. Her parents say she's addicted to painkillers. She was driven to the famous Promises Center by her brother Jack. As you probably remember, Jack completed his own drug rehab last year.

It makes you want to dance, even at this early hour, doesn't it? It's a new twist of an old and cheesy profession. Mike Silverman, known as that one guy, is the latest incarnation of the old one man band and he's taking his new age of vaudeville act on the road, with tour stops planned from Seattle all the way to Miami.

An unexpected delivery at the Danvers, Massachusetts State Police station. These troopers welcomed little Colby LaGrassa into the world. You see, Colby's parents weren't able to make it to the hospital on time. For the troopers, oh, it was a pleasant surprise.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TROOPER TONY SCHENA, MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE: It was probably the scariest thing I've done since I've been on this job, you know, but it was nice to be part of something good for a change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Mother and son finally got to the hospital, where both are doing fine this morning.

Here's all of what's new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.

John Kerry is back into the campaign trail and comes out spending, while President Bush proposes major changes on the job front. We'll have some inside politics a little later.

Plus...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This may have been one of the straws on the camel's back, but the camel certainly had the big load of the 9/11 Commission with bipartisan support insisting on Dr. Rice's public and sworn testimony.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Yes, and all eyes will be on Condoleezza Rice later this week. We'll tell you what new revelations may have forced the White House to change course.

And it was a decision that hushed a courtroom in Tyler, Texas. A Texas mother accused of killing her children sentenced, but not to life in prison.

This is DAYBREAK for a Monday morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the music industry, he's known as The Ear. Clive Davis, founder and CEO of J Records, is the driving force behind many successful artists, including Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana and Alicia Keyes.

CLIVE DAVIS, CHAIRMAN & CEO, J RECORDS: The key to this business is really success ratio. So you've got to be very careful before you sign an artist, before you take on that kind of responsibility. So often you find those throwing 10 up against the wall and bragging about the one that is successful.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Recently, the more than 36 year music veteran was named chairman and CEO of BMG North America, putting him back on top at Arista Records after being ousted four years ago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It has begun -- fallout in Fallujah overnight and this morning as U.S. troops take the Sunni Triangle by storm.

Good morning to you.

Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK.

It is Monday, April 5.

From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.

Let me bring you up to date now. Another soldier killed in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. In the meantime, Marines have put Fallujah under lockdown, closing all roads leading into the city. Several loud explosions were reported there overnight. We'll have an update for you shortly.

Police in France have launched a series of raids. They're aiming to weed out suspects linked to last year's terror attacks in Casablanca, Morocco.

Secretary of State Colin Powell is scheduled to make a brief stop in Haiti to meet with the country's new leaders. It's the first U.S. diplomatic visit since last month's coup.

The suspect in the Ohio highway shootings is due in court today. Charles McCoy, Jr. faces charges of aggravated murder, making him eligible for the death penalty.

To the forecast center and Chad now.

MYERS: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: It has begun. Operation Vigilant Resolve is under way. U.S. Marines have blocked off roads into and out of Fallujah. And we do have reports of explosions this morning.

Our senior international editor, David Clinch, joins us now to tell us more.

Let's start with Fallujah and what exactly is happening there.

DAVID CLINCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Right. Well, as you remember, last week we were here talking about those horrific events in Fallujah last week. Four, as we found out later -- of course when we were talking, we didn't even know who they were -- but four security workers killed and their bodies abused in the streets of Fallujah last week. The coalition made a pledge that they would not let those killings go unpunished. And we believe that that operation, which has been planned now for days, is beginning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired April 5, 2004 - 05:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A weekend of deadly violence in Iraq brings vows of revenge.
Good morning to you.

From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, this is DAYBREAK for Monday, April 5.

I'm Carol Costello.

Here's the latest for you.

Another U.S. soldier killed, one wounded, by a roadside bomb in Iraq. The attack happened in the northern city of Mosul. In the meantime, west of Baghdad, U.S. Marines close all roads into the volatile city of Fallujah and loud explosions were heard there overnight.

Secretary of State Colin Powell heads to Haiti today to meet with the country's new leaders. He'll urge them not to give government positions to rebel leaders who helped oust President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, is holding legislative elections today. The president's party is not expected to win the most seats.

And in Ohio, Charles McCoy, Jr., the man accused of the Ohio highway shootings, is due back in court today. He'll be charged with aggravated murder, which makes him eligible for the death penalty.

To the forecast center now and Chad -- good morning.

CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning.

How are you this morning?

I'm still putting on my jacket.

COSTELLO: Oh, well, you know, it was a slow moving morning for me, too.

MYERS: I'm still turning down my collar.

How are you doing?

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Flashpoint Fallujah -- Marines this morning have locked down that Iraqi city, ramping up to a U.S.-backed military operation dubbed Vigilant Resolve. This after eight U.S. soldiers were killed on Sunday fighting angry supporters of a Shiite Muslim cleric.

Let's head live to Baghdad now and CNN's Walter Rodgers.

What's happening there this morning -- Walter.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

A major U.S. Marine operation in Fallujah. The city is being sealed off -- no one goes in, no one goes out. The word lockdown is appropriate. The reason the city is being locked down is it's been one of the most troublesome cities in the so-called Sunni Triangle and it was the site where, on Wednesday of last week, there was a murderous ambush and four American civilian contractors were killed, then their bodies were mutilated.

The Marines are not saying how long they'll be in there on Operation Vigilant Resolve. Still, it is portentous, at least, for Iraq, because the operations around Fallujah have closed off a major east-west highway linking Iraq to neighboring Jordan.

Also, U.S. officials in Iraq are warning that over -- because of the violence over the weekend, because of the bloody Shiite Muslim revolt against American forces here in Iraq, more violence can be expected today.

It all began in al-Najaf, south of Baghdad. Yesterday, Sunday, there was a very large demonstration, a protest, a revolt in the streets because U.S. forces issued a warrant and actually arrested a top cleric's deputy. That cleric was wanted for murder, murdering another cleric, allegedly. And U.S. or coalition forces moved to arrest him. Crowds came out on the street in al-Najaf. Someone in the crowd, according to coalition forces, fired at the coalition forces, in this case, largely a Spanish unit. The Spanish fired back. More than 20 Iraqis were killed. Several coalition forces may also have died in that engagement. More than 130 Iraqis are also in hospital in al-Najaf.

Now, a U.S. official here in Baghdad warned the Iraqi Shiites against revolting, said the tolerance would -- or there would be no tolerance of violence of this nature. And so Muqtada Sadr, who keeps his own illegal, private militia, sent his own soldiers into the street in Baghdad, the Sadr City area.

There, the violence was even worse. U.S. tanks were called in. At least a dozen tanks were sent in to combat the revolting Shiite Muslims in Sadr City, in the Baghdad area.

Again, eight U.S. soldiers were killed there. A number of other U.S. soldiers were badly injured, according to what we're being told here. Also, 40 Iraqis were killed in that Sadr City fighting and perhaps several hundred in hospital -- Carol.

COSTELLO: So, Walter, we have Sadr City, we have Najaf, we have Baghdad. Let's talk about Fallujah for just a second, because the roads around there are closed. U.S. Marines are in there. Explosions were heard.

Where did those explosions come from, the Marines or people inside...

RODGERS: Almost certainly...

COSTELLO: Go ahead.

RODGERS: Almost certainly, yes, almost certainly the explosions came from the Marine helicopters overhead. Cobras were sent in, according to residents of Fallujah, about four o'clock in the morning. And they began targeting specific buildings in Fallujah.

It does not appear to be a go in with guns blazing. But apparently the Marines had fairly good intelligence about where the people are -- or were -- who perpetrated that violence on Wednesday, and they were looking for them -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And we don't know how long this operation is going on or if it will intensify.

RODGERS: We're told that it's due to last at least several days. Again, the American promise is that "Fallujah will be pacified" and there will be no more rebellions there. And the Americans say they're going to follow the same example they did in Tikrit and other cities. They want it locked down. They want it pacified -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, we'll be checking back with you throughout the morning.

Walter Rodgers live in Baghdad this morning.

Maintaining security in Iraq -- what's working and what's not? On AMERICAN MORNING, we'll talk to a member of the Iraqi Governing Council for some answers.

French police conduct raids in two Paris suburbs this morning. They're trying to capture suspected terrorists who may have been involved in last year's devastating bomb attacks in Casablanca.

Joining us on the phone with the latest is CNN's Jim Bittermann -- hello, Jim.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.

That's right. In fact, police have now detained 15 people, nine men and six women in those predawn raids in two Paris suburbs. These are suburbs which have large North African populations.

The 15 are reportedly linked to the GICM or Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group. This is a group that emerged in the late 1990s in Morocco and was labeled a terrorist group by the United States and its assets were frozen by the world community.

The French counter-espionage service made those raids this morning on the orders of the well known French anti-terrorist investigator Jean-Louis Bruguiere, who has been following the activities of this group for some time, in connection, as you mentioned, with the bombings in Casablanca 11 months ago, which killed 45 people, including 12 suicide bombers.

And while French investigators are only dealing with the Casablanca bombings, the Spanish interior ministry, as well as the security officials in Morocco, have been, over the last few days, been making connections between the Casablanca bombings and those in Madrid last month, which killed 191 people, saying that this same group, this GICM, was linked to both -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Jim Bittermann reporting live on the phone from Paris this morning.

This is the week we will hear from National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. The White House had been against putting her out there to testify publicly and under oath.

So, did a simple photograph make all the difference?

The story now from CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush is back from Camp David with a date set to privately go before the 9/11 Commission, along with Vice President Dick Cheney, in the next two weeks. But this week, all eyes are on his top adviser, Condoleezza Rice, who will testify publicly and under oath Thursday.

She'll make the case, aides say, that the administration did all it could to prevent the 9/11 attacks.

KAREN HUGHES, FORMER BUSH COUNSELOR: I don't think we could have envisioned it and done anything to have prevented it.

MALVEAUX: The White House resisted for weeks putting Rice in front of the Commission publicly, citing executive privilege. But the Commission was so determined to have her testify, last Monday its executive director, Republican Philip Zelikow, faxed White House counsel a 1945 "New York Times" photo and article showing presidential Chief of Staff Admiral William Leahy, back then Rice's equivalent, testifying before a congressional panel investigating Pearl Harbor. The Commission argued history showed the White House's argument didn't hold up, its spokesman said.

But the White House said it's wrong to suggest a photo resulted in the president's decision.

TIM ROEMER, 9/11 COMMISSION MEMBER: This may have been one of the straws on the camel's back, but the camel certainly had the big load of the 9/11 Commission, with bipartisan support insisting on Dr. Rice's public and sworn testimony.

MALVEAUX: One big question before Rice will be whether the Bush administration treated the threat of al Qaeda as an urgent matter prior to September 11. For those who used to sit in Rice's seat, the White House gets mixed reviews.

HENRY KISSINGER, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: When a new administration comes in, the files in the White House are empty. There are a lot of people who tell them that matters are very urgent.

SANDY BERGER, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: The difference between important and urgent is a question of priority.

GENERAL BRENT SCOWCROFT, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: It's fundamentally a matter of judgment. This administration came in with a certain mindset coming out of the campaign and so on, and, for example, ballistic missile defense was something they really wanted to get through.

MALVEAUX (on camera): Commission members say they'll release their final report to the public before the November elections, to make sure it doesn't become an issue in the heat of the debate.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Condoleezza Rice testifies before the 9/11 Commission Thursday morning publicly and under oath. That will happen at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific Time, and you can count on CNN to bring that to you live.

Are you thinking of flying this vacation season? When it comes to air travel, a new report says cheaper might also be better. Doesn't that sound nice?

Voters go to the polls today in Indonesia, where democracy is still largely an experiment.

And in our democracy, a new poll has encouraging numbers for John Kerry, while new jobs numbers are encourage for President Bush.

And on the streets of Seattle, the beat goes on and on and on.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.

It is 5:13 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning.

In Iraq, U.S. Marines have launched Operation Vigilant Resolve. It has begun. As part of this operation, the Marines have closed off all roads leading into Fallujah and have engaged in several firefights near their new checkpoints.

Security is tight throughout Indonesia this morning. Voters are heading to the polls for parliamentary elections. More than 250,000 police have been deployed and the military is on alert in potential hot spots.

In money news, a computer hardware problem is to blame for overcharges at Wal-Mart stores last week. Around 800,000 credit and debit card transactions were double or triple billed on March 31. Check your statement. We're told the mistake has been fixed, but again, check that statement.

In sports, Georgia Tech and the University of Connecticut tip it off tonight. It is the championship game of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. This is Georgia Tech's first trip to the finals.

In culture, John Wayne is making his second appearance as a stamp. Wayne is the tenth film star to be featured by the post office in their Legends of Hollywood collection.

To the forecast center and Chad.

MYERS: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: Chad, you're doing weather now, aren't you?

MYERS: I am doing weather. I don't have any help up here today, so I'm going to have to stay up here for a little bit. But I'll be down as soon as I get all my maps made.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Well, you get what you pay for. So if you want the right flight and you want to arrive on time with your luggage, fly the big guys, right? Wrong.

The annual survey on airline performance has some surprises this year, as CNN's Bob Franken reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The winner and new champion in the 14th Annual Airline Quality Ratings Survey is JetBlue. In fact, the top three best performers are JetBlue, Alaska Air and Southwest. Altogether, the study rated 14. Many of the big ones were somewhere at the bottom -- United, American, Delta among those in the lower tier. All of the information came from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

What about performance industry wide? This will surprise the weary traveler. It was up, although that weary traveler might not be surprised to find it was up only slightly and that because the number of official consumer complaints was way down.

Even so, on time arrivals were down, while passenger bumping was up. Lost luggage up. This is a joint project of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Wichita State University.

As for the performance of the low cost carriers, the analysts made it clear they believe it's not just those low fares, but higher customer service which has resulted in a big jump in their market share from just four percent when the studies began, to a full 25 percent now.

The old joke used to be flying is the best way to fly. The study might suggest that flying cheaply is the best way to fly.

Bob Franken, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: A rosy U.S. jobs report is helping stock markets here and in Asia. So let's see if that's spilling over into Europe.

For that, of course, we head to London and Todd Benjamin -- good morning, Todd.

TODD BENJAMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

If any of you are traveling to Europe today, the euro is at 121 against the greenback and sterling is just above 182 to the dollar. So that means for every pound you buy it will cost you at least $1.82, probably more if you go to an exchange booth.

In terms of the markets today, actually, they are flat, with the exception of Paris, which is up just over a half of one percent. The big gains came on Friday after that very impressive employment report out of the U.S., where the U.S. created 308,000 jobs in March, more than twice what analysts were expecting and more than five times the average over the last half of the year.

We'll see if that momentum can carry through to Wall Street today. But I've got to tell you, Carol -- I don't always like to bring you bad news, but right now the futures market is pointing to a slightly lower open. But if this makes you feel better, if this makes you feel better, let me tell you what the markets did for last week.

The S&P 500 gained three percent, and that ended a three week losing streak. The NASDAQ was up five percent and the Dow was up two and a half percent. So, hey, if you have a rough day tonight...

COSTELLO: Well, that does make us feel better. BENJAMIN: There you go.

COSTELLO: Well, just think to last week's numbers.

Thank you, Todd Benjamin. BENJAMIN: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: We appreciate it.

We're going to toss it to a break. We'll be back with much more and we'll have more information coming out of Iraq. You stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "HELLBOY")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, I'm on your side!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Oh, oh, ow! Don't you love to see that early in the morning? Say hello to "Hellboy." That is "Hellboy." The comic book hero debuted in the top spot at the box office this weekend, with just over $23 million.

Follow "Hellboy" is wrestler turned actor The Rock in the remake of the classic '70s film "Walking Tall." Last week's number one, "Scooby Doo 2," dropped to number three.

More troubles for the Osbournes. That tops our DAYBREAK Eye- Opener. Youngest drought Kelly Osbourne has checked into a drug treatment center. Her parents say she's addicted to painkillers. She was driven to the famous Promises Center by her brother Jack. As you probably remember, Jack completed his own drug rehab last year.

It makes you want to dance, even at this early hour, doesn't it? It's a new twist of an old and cheesy profession. Mike Silverman, known as that one guy, is the latest incarnation of the old one man band and he's taking his new age of vaudeville act on the road, with tour stops planned from Seattle all the way to Miami.

An unexpected delivery at the Danvers, Massachusetts State Police station. These troopers welcomed little Colby LaGrassa into the world. You see, Colby's parents weren't able to make it to the hospital on time. For the troopers, oh, it was a pleasant surprise.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TROOPER TONY SCHENA, MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE: It was probably the scariest thing I've done since I've been on this job, you know, but it was nice to be part of something good for a change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Mother and son finally got to the hospital, where both are doing fine this morning.

Here's all of what's new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.

John Kerry is back into the campaign trail and comes out spending, while President Bush proposes major changes on the job front. We'll have some inside politics a little later.

Plus...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This may have been one of the straws on the camel's back, but the camel certainly had the big load of the 9/11 Commission with bipartisan support insisting on Dr. Rice's public and sworn testimony.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Yes, and all eyes will be on Condoleezza Rice later this week. We'll tell you what new revelations may have forced the White House to change course.

And it was a decision that hushed a courtroom in Tyler, Texas. A Texas mother accused of killing her children sentenced, but not to life in prison.

This is DAYBREAK for a Monday morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the music industry, he's known as The Ear. Clive Davis, founder and CEO of J Records, is the driving force behind many successful artists, including Whitney Houston, Carlos Santana and Alicia Keyes.

CLIVE DAVIS, CHAIRMAN & CEO, J RECORDS: The key to this business is really success ratio. So you've got to be very careful before you sign an artist, before you take on that kind of responsibility. So often you find those throwing 10 up against the wall and bragging about the one that is successful.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Recently, the more than 36 year music veteran was named chairman and CEO of BMG North America, putting him back on top at Arista Records after being ousted four years ago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It has begun -- fallout in Fallujah overnight and this morning as U.S. troops take the Sunni Triangle by storm.

Good morning to you.

Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK.

It is Monday, April 5.

From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.

Let me bring you up to date now. Another soldier killed in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. In the meantime, Marines have put Fallujah under lockdown, closing all roads leading into the city. Several loud explosions were reported there overnight. We'll have an update for you shortly.

Police in France have launched a series of raids. They're aiming to weed out suspects linked to last year's terror attacks in Casablanca, Morocco.

Secretary of State Colin Powell is scheduled to make a brief stop in Haiti to meet with the country's new leaders. It's the first U.S. diplomatic visit since last month's coup.

The suspect in the Ohio highway shootings is due in court today. Charles McCoy, Jr. faces charges of aggravated murder, making him eligible for the death penalty.

To the forecast center and Chad now.

MYERS: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: It has begun. Operation Vigilant Resolve is under way. U.S. Marines have blocked off roads into and out of Fallujah. And we do have reports of explosions this morning.

Our senior international editor, David Clinch, joins us now to tell us more.

Let's start with Fallujah and what exactly is happening there.

DAVID CLINCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Right. Well, as you remember, last week we were here talking about those horrific events in Fallujah last week. Four, as we found out later -- of course when we were talking, we didn't even know who they were -- but four security workers killed and their bodies abused in the streets of Fallujah last week. The coalition made a pledge that they would not let those killings go unpunished. And we believe that that operation, which has been planned now for days, is beginning.

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