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CNN Live At Daybreak

Eye on the World; Afghanistan Reaction; Border Battles; Hamill Homecoming; Rumsfeld in the Hot Seat; Stay-At-Home Moms

Aired May 07, 2004 - 05:30   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: Want to talk more about what's happening in Pakistan right now. As I told you a little earlier, we just got in pictures from Karachi after a huge bomb exploded near a mosque and a religious school there.
Eli Flournoy has been out in the newsroom gathering the pictures. Tell us what you found out.

ELI FLOURNOY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes, we just got new pictures in of this mosque explosion in Karachi, southern port city, Karachi in Pakistan. We got now five confirmed dead and dozens are injured. You can see these new pictures here inside the mosque during Friday prayers. Many people would have been in this room. You can see utter devastation in this room and blood spattered walls. It's just a horrific scene.

COSTELLO: There's been a long history of secular violence in Karachi. Could it be linked to something else as well, though?

FLOURNOY: Well we're looking at a lot of different options and talking to police about what they think this situation may have been. A couple of months ago, gunmen went into a Shiite mosque in Karachi, opened fire, killed many people there. Police said it was Sunni Shi'a inter (ph) Muslim violence. Looking at a lot of different possibilities, but as you can see here, the scene is just horrific.

COSTELLO: And you'll show us more later.

Eli Flournoy, many thanks to you.

Secretary of defense under fire and on the defense this morning, Donald Rumsfeld is set to begin testifying this morning before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Some members of Congress want his resignation over the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal. President Bush says he is standing behind Rumsfeld.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, though, is among those calling for Rumsfeld's head.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: Rumsfeld has been engaged in a cover up from the start on this issue and continues to be so. I think that Mr. Rumsfeld should resign.

(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: Pelosi added that the Pentagon Rumsfeld oversees has become -- in her words -- "an island of unaccountability, ignoring the Geneva Conventions, our allies and common sense."

Several Republicans gathered outside the Capitol on Thursday to defend Donald Rumsfeld. They say Democrats are using the scandal to score political points. The Senate Majority Leader adds the Rumsfeld bashing sends a bad message to U.S. troops.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TOM DELAY (R-TX), MAJORITY LEADER: Calling for Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation is as bad as saying the win -- the war is unwinnable. Because what you are saying in sending the message you're sending to the officers and the troops on the ground is that you no longer have confidence in their leadership.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: We want you to weigh in on this controversy. Should Donald Rumsfeld resign or not? E-mail us at DAYBREAK@CNN.com -- DAYBREAK@CNN.com. We will read some of your e-mails in the minutes to come on DAYBREAK.

American troops and civilians in Afghanistan are reacting to the allegations of prisoner abuse in Iraq.

Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is embedded with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary unit. He joins us live from south central Afghanistan.

Good morning -- Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Well the Marines have one of the toughest areas to operate in here in Afghanistan. This particular province of Orasgom (ph), where they have just set up this base, has very strong historical ties with the Taliban. But what I found here talking with -- talking with Marines here is that they feel that obviously the abuse is completely beyond what should be happening. They feel, really, there's a sense that younger soldiers and more inexperienced soldiers should really understand the bigger pictures, because, potentially, if they don't understand the bigger picture, that can undermine the global efforts of what U.S. troops, servicemen all over the world are doing.

But having said that, talking to some of the Afghan -- young Afghan men outside this base this morning, they told me that they hadn't heard or seen about these pictures. This is a very, very remote part of Afghanistan. The boys I talked to said that they -- the furthest they have been from this town was one hour's walk away.

But in other areas of Afghanistan, people I have talked to there, I talked to a crowd of angry people earlier this week, they said we know what U.S. troops do to the -- do to their prisoners. So it does potentially create issues for troops working here, for Marines here, for others. But in the very remote regions like this, word really about these pictures of abuse haven't filtered through yet -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Have there been allegations of abuse in prisons in Afghanistan?

ROBERTSON: There are two investigations of deaths of people in U.S. custody currently under military investigation. One of those dates back to 2002, the other dates back to late last year. These took place with detainees in coalition custody, Bagram Airbase outside of Kabul. Those deaths are still under military investigation -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And tell us about the relationship between Afghan and the U.S. soldiers, the U.S. Marines. As far as I know, it's been pretty good, hasn't it?

ROBERTSON: You know the Taliban inside Afghanistan have vowed to undermine the elections here in this country and the U.S. coalition mission here is to support those elections.

Having said that, for the most part, most people you talk to here really support and welcome all the international presence here, all the U.S. troops. Why, because they have had -- they say they have had so many years of war, over two decades of war, they want peace and stability in their country. They see the intervention of international forces here as providing that stability, a chance to rebuild their lives.

There are, however, those Taliban and other anti-coalition elements in the country that even in their small numbers are still able to strike and attack. But what they do, Carol, is tend to attack soft targets, not the better protected, better armed, better equipped U.S. targets in this country, they attack Afghan policeman, Afghan soldiers, perhaps aid workers as well have been recent targets -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Nic Robertson live from Afghanistan this morning.

The promise of martyrdom and a golden future, that's the word in a just released audio tape that supposedly has the voice of Osama bin Laden on it. And for the first time, he offers a material prize to anyone who kills certain U.S. and U.N. officials, including the U.S. administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OSAMA BIN LADEN, AL QAEDA LEADER (through translator): You know that America promised big rewards for those who killed Mujahideen. We in al Qaeda will guarantee, God willing, 10,000 grams of gold to whoever kills the occupier Bremer or the American chief military commander or his deputy in Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Think that's about 150,000 U.S. dollars. Also mentioned specifically in the bounty offer, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his special envoy in Iraq Lakhdar Brahimi.

Checking our 'Global Minute' this Friday morning. Vladimir Putin is being sworn in for a second four-year term as president of Russia. These pictures just in to CNN. Seventeen hundred guests are at the Kremlin for the inauguration this morning, highlighted by a 30-gun salute over the Moscow River.

Also new this morning, thousands of Vietnamese are gathering at Dien Bien Phu to mark the 50th anniversary of a fateful battle there. The victory of the Vietnamese over the French inspired anti-colonial uprisings in many other countries.

And the U.N. Security Council will meet today to consider ethnic cleansing in Sudan. Human rights groups say armed Arab militia are forcing black Africans off their land, creating thousands of refugees.

And there is new fighting erupting at the border of Israel and Lebanon this morning. The clashes are intensifying in an already heated relationship.

Let's head live to Jerusalem now and John Vause.

Hello, John, tell us about it.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.

Well the worst of the fighting lasted about two hours. But according to the Israeli army, it is now quiet on the northern border between Israel and Lebanon, has been for the last few hours. But Israel claims that Hezbollah militants began the fighting by firing Israeli positions, shelling it with Katyusha rockets and anti-tank missiles. And some reports suggest as many as 50 mortar rounds were fired at the Israelis.

Hezbollah claims to have killed a number of Israeli soldiers, but there is no confirmation on that from Israel. IDF troops, though, returned fire with artillery and mortar shells, as well as calling in airstrikes. Israeli fighter jets fired as many as six missiles on Hezbollah positions.

Now according to a Hezbollah statement issued from Beirut, the fighting was in fact caused, they say, by Israeli troops movements in the area. There has been increased tension on the Israeli-Lebanese border in recent days. Israel says its troops fired on a group of militants yesterday. They say that those militants were trying to cross from Lebanon into Israel. They never made that crossing. There was also an Israeli airstrike yesterday on what Israel says was a Hezbollah target.

And just yesterday, Lebanon complained to the U.N. about Israel continually violating its airspace, a complaint which Lebanon has made time and time again.

Now the area where this is happening is a little bit complicated, but it's in the Shebaa Farms area. That's a disputed area. Now that was land which Israel claimed back in the Six-Day War in 1967. It was Syrian territory back then, but now Lebanon, with Syrian backing, says that it is in fact its territory.

Now the U.N. backs Israel, saying that Israel made a full and complete withdrawal from Lebanon in September 2000. And they say that this is just merely a trigger for Hezbollah to launch these kinds of attacks on Israeli -- on Israeli positions, on Israeli soldiers. And according to the U.N., they say this is Israeli occupied Syrian territory and it is a dispute between Israel and Syria, one which should be dealt with between those two countries -- Carol.

COSTELLO: John Vause reporting live from Jerusalem this morning.

Later in the next hour of DAYBREAK, allegations intensify over prisoner abuse at the hands of British soldiers. We'll bring you a live report from London.

And next, former hostage Thomas Hamill and his wife prepare to leave Germany for the United States but without the publicity and the hype. Why he wants to go quietly.

This is DAYBREAK, Friday, May 7.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Everybody loves a parade, except, of course, for Thomas Hamill. He was a hostage in Iraq for three weeks. And he says he wants no parade or big celebration when he returns to Macon, Mississippi. Hamill and his wife are expected to fly home soon from Germany where he has been hospitalized for treatment of a gunshot wound.

Chris Burns live on the phone from Landstuhl, Germany.

Chris, we thought that Thomas Hamill would fly home on Friday, but what's up this morning?

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, it really doesn't have anything to do with his medical condition, because he is not expected to undergo any surgery until he gets back to the States.

But what we are told is he is here for more debriefs and more chem war debrief is the main thing that we are told, and that could be one of two things. One is psychological counseling after his three- week ordeal after his fuel convoy was ambushed back on April 9 and he freed himself just last Sunday. That could be that.

It could also be debriefing with intelligence experts who are trying to figure out, perhaps try to find where his two co-workers went missing after that ambush. Also, there is an American soldier who is a hostage who is being held by the attackers. So maybe they are trying to get a little bit closer to these -- to these men, if they can, and in so doing, try to get some information from Hamill. So that's what it looks like right now.

But he is keeping his junks (ph) regarding his privacy. He is not talking to the press. He is not stepping outside. He is staying in a residence. He is not in a regular hospital room. He is in a residence, more like an apartment right now, just spending time with his wife, watching TV and making meals.

COSTELLO: Chris Burns live on the phone from Landstuhl, Germany this morning. Of course we'll keep you posted as to when Thomas Hamill finally does return home.

Now some more news for you, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will face tough questions about his handling of the Iraqi prison abuse scandal today. Rumsfeld has separate appearances before the House and Senate Armed Services Committee.

In money news this morning, looking to finance or refinance a home, this may not be the time. Rates on 30-year mortgages have risen for the seventh straight week.

And in sports, it's called the smart shoe. The new Adidas running shoe has a computer chip that adjusts to the runner's size and stride and adapts to road conditions. The shoe goes on sale in December. It sounds very neat, doesn't it, but it will cost you big, $250.

MYERS: Yes, I'll get right on that, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

Those are the latest headlines for you.

There was no question that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will take a tough grilling from lawmakers today. The question is will the prisoner abuse scandal cost him his job?

Our Jeanne Meserve looks at the debate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Demands that heads should roll for the alleged abuses at Abu Ghraib prison from some publications, pundits and Democratic politicians.

SEN. TOM HARKIN (D), IOWA, For our country, I believe Mr. Rumsfeld has to resign.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), CALIFORNIA: I am calling for Mr. Rumsfeld's resignation.

DONALD RUMSFELD, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Ladies and gentlemen, the commander-in-chief.

MESERVE: President Bush says Rumsfeld will stay. That is consistent with his reputation for loyalty and his history.

THOMAS MANN, SENIOR FELLOW, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: If you look at the major traumatic events during his presidency. The 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington, and the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, there was no acknowledgment of responsibility and certainly no one in his administration was asked to pay a price.

MESERVE: But a new Gallup poll shows public approval of the president's handling of Iraq tumbling in the last two weeks. And the numbers may not yet reflect the full impact of the prison abuse story. Tossing Rumsfeld or some other top official might stop the slide, or it could give the president's political opponents new ammunition to say his policies have failed.

ALLAR LICHTMAN, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: If he fires someone now, it's going to look like he did so under pressure from the press, and under pressure from the Democrats. If he was going to fire anyone he should have done it yesterday before the cascade of pressure began.

MESERVE: Ultimately, whether higher-ups stay or go may not depend on political calculations or rhetoric, but on the facts, of who knew and condoned what happened at Abu Ghraib. Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And of course we are posing this question to you this morning, should Donald Rumsfeld resign? You've been e-mailing us. We have gotten more than -- I can't believe so many people are up with their computers on.

MYERS: I know.

COSTELLO: But we appreciate that, believe me.

MYERS: Yes, exactly, good morning.

COSTELLO: Let me read this one from Robert from Santa Barbara. He says as you look at what has transpired in the last 18 months, at what point do you have to come to before the term totally incompetent is unmistakably appropriate?

MYERS: From Mitch (ph). He is saying that surely no one expects Donald Rumsfeld to know exactly what every MP is doing at all times. Calling for him to resign at this time is under these circumstances convinces me that Kerry and Pelosi and the Democratic leadership are more interested in power than the well being of our troops.

COSTELLO: This one from Bruce out of Hendersonville, North Carolina. He says Donald Rumsfeld definitely should resign. He is totally responsible for the debacle in Iraq. It was his stupid idea to invade that country with a force one-third the size of what some general said was necessary.

MYERS: I don't think so says Mr. K. How can you blame him? These idiots -- there are idiots everywhere in this life, how can you blame a man for the actions of a few?

COSTELLO: OK, one more, this from Steve from Prattville, Alabama. Steve says, no, Rumsfeld should not resign. The general in charge at the time, Karpinski, should resign and the rest should be punished. Keep those e-mails coming, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

MYERS: Please. Yes.

COSTELLO: Over-the-counter sales of the morning after pill, why the FDA is saying no.

Plus, why more and more moms are saying goodbye to the corporate world and hello to the home.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Sorry. 'Health Headlines' for you this morning.

The FDA rejects over-the-counter sales of the morning after birth control pills, at least for now. The FDA says it is not convinced teenagers younger than 16 could use the pills appropriately without a doctor's supervision.

If you are at high risk for having a stroke, surgery might be your best bet. Researchers in London say surgery to widen the artery that carries blood to the brain can cut the risk of a stroke in half. Stroke is the second leading cause of death behind heart disease.

Folic Acid may be behind a drop in two types of birth defects. Federal health officials say there has been a 26 percent drop in severe brain and spinal birth defect since the U.S. started adding Folic Acid to some foods such as cereal and pasta. That happened six years ago.

For more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site. The address CNN.com/Health.

As you know, Mother's Day is this weekend, and it turns out more and more mothers are giving up jobs outside the home in order to be home for their children.

Our Louise Schiavone has more on this growing trend.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MEAGHAN BRUNE, STAY-AT-HOME MOM: Look, this is a beautiful green lollipop that mommy has.

LOUISE SCHIAVONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Meaghan Brune used to direct housing and residential services at Catholic University in Washington. Her skills now are trained on her 3-year-old daughter.

BRUNE: And you have to be real quiet, like you are in church, OK.

SCHIAVONE: Brune is part of a growing trend of accomplished women leaving the workplace all together to make sure they see their youngsters grow up. Statistics show that last year roughly 57 percent of married mothers with children under age 3 worked, down 4 percent from 61 percent in 1997. Surveys are finding that many of these professional women want to mother and work as long as they can work fewer hours, but their demanding job requirements are an obstacle.

PAMELA STONE, SOCIOLOGIST, HUNTER COLLEGE: What I found was that women were not making choices that reflected their preferences. They were making choices that reflected the constraints, the all or nothing nature of the jobs that they were in.

BRUNE: That's the dilemma that I found myself in. I was the director of a program and you really couldn't have someone there part time because they wouldn't know everything that was going on and then there would be some confusion about OK who is in charge.

SCHIAVONE: The women's movement swung open career doors, but this economist and mother of five says a brain drain among working women presents a new issue.

SYLVIA ANN HEWLETT, ECONOMIST & AUTHOR: The second generation of challenge is how to utilize the women well over the life span and not allow them to somehow be sidetracked or shunted off into, you know, some cul-de-sac in their 30s and not be able to come back in and in their maturity and contribute what they want to contribute to our economy.

SCHIAVONE: The goal is balance for parents who are prepared to take some cuts and still be able to work for both pay and love.

BRUNE: Mommy loves you, doesn't she?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can't find me.

BRUNE: I can't find you.

SCHIAVONE: Louise Schiavone for CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Are carbs really all that bad? In the next hour of DAYBREAK, how the right combination of carbs and exercise could produce the results you are looking for.

Also live from Washington with more on Donald Rumsfeld much anticipated testimony on the prison abuse scandal.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired May 7, 2004 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Want to talk more about what's happening in Pakistan right now. As I told you a little earlier, we just got in pictures from Karachi after a huge bomb exploded near a mosque and a religious school there.
Eli Flournoy has been out in the newsroom gathering the pictures. Tell us what you found out.

ELI FLOURNOY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes, we just got new pictures in of this mosque explosion in Karachi, southern port city, Karachi in Pakistan. We got now five confirmed dead and dozens are injured. You can see these new pictures here inside the mosque during Friday prayers. Many people would have been in this room. You can see utter devastation in this room and blood spattered walls. It's just a horrific scene.

COSTELLO: There's been a long history of secular violence in Karachi. Could it be linked to something else as well, though?

FLOURNOY: Well we're looking at a lot of different options and talking to police about what they think this situation may have been. A couple of months ago, gunmen went into a Shiite mosque in Karachi, opened fire, killed many people there. Police said it was Sunni Shi'a inter (ph) Muslim violence. Looking at a lot of different possibilities, but as you can see here, the scene is just horrific.

COSTELLO: And you'll show us more later.

Eli Flournoy, many thanks to you.

Secretary of defense under fire and on the defense this morning, Donald Rumsfeld is set to begin testifying this morning before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Some members of Congress want his resignation over the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal. President Bush says he is standing behind Rumsfeld.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, though, is among those calling for Rumsfeld's head.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: Rumsfeld has been engaged in a cover up from the start on this issue and continues to be so. I think that Mr. Rumsfeld should resign.

(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: Pelosi added that the Pentagon Rumsfeld oversees has become -- in her words -- "an island of unaccountability, ignoring the Geneva Conventions, our allies and common sense."

Several Republicans gathered outside the Capitol on Thursday to defend Donald Rumsfeld. They say Democrats are using the scandal to score political points. The Senate Majority Leader adds the Rumsfeld bashing sends a bad message to U.S. troops.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TOM DELAY (R-TX), MAJORITY LEADER: Calling for Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation is as bad as saying the win -- the war is unwinnable. Because what you are saying in sending the message you're sending to the officers and the troops on the ground is that you no longer have confidence in their leadership.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: We want you to weigh in on this controversy. Should Donald Rumsfeld resign or not? E-mail us at DAYBREAK@CNN.com -- DAYBREAK@CNN.com. We will read some of your e-mails in the minutes to come on DAYBREAK.

American troops and civilians in Afghanistan are reacting to the allegations of prisoner abuse in Iraq.

Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is embedded with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary unit. He joins us live from south central Afghanistan.

Good morning -- Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Well the Marines have one of the toughest areas to operate in here in Afghanistan. This particular province of Orasgom (ph), where they have just set up this base, has very strong historical ties with the Taliban. But what I found here talking with -- talking with Marines here is that they feel that obviously the abuse is completely beyond what should be happening. They feel, really, there's a sense that younger soldiers and more inexperienced soldiers should really understand the bigger pictures, because, potentially, if they don't understand the bigger picture, that can undermine the global efforts of what U.S. troops, servicemen all over the world are doing.

But having said that, talking to some of the Afghan -- young Afghan men outside this base this morning, they told me that they hadn't heard or seen about these pictures. This is a very, very remote part of Afghanistan. The boys I talked to said that they -- the furthest they have been from this town was one hour's walk away.

But in other areas of Afghanistan, people I have talked to there, I talked to a crowd of angry people earlier this week, they said we know what U.S. troops do to the -- do to their prisoners. So it does potentially create issues for troops working here, for Marines here, for others. But in the very remote regions like this, word really about these pictures of abuse haven't filtered through yet -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Have there been allegations of abuse in prisons in Afghanistan?

ROBERTSON: There are two investigations of deaths of people in U.S. custody currently under military investigation. One of those dates back to 2002, the other dates back to late last year. These took place with detainees in coalition custody, Bagram Airbase outside of Kabul. Those deaths are still under military investigation -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And tell us about the relationship between Afghan and the U.S. soldiers, the U.S. Marines. As far as I know, it's been pretty good, hasn't it?

ROBERTSON: You know the Taliban inside Afghanistan have vowed to undermine the elections here in this country and the U.S. coalition mission here is to support those elections.

Having said that, for the most part, most people you talk to here really support and welcome all the international presence here, all the U.S. troops. Why, because they have had -- they say they have had so many years of war, over two decades of war, they want peace and stability in their country. They see the intervention of international forces here as providing that stability, a chance to rebuild their lives.

There are, however, those Taliban and other anti-coalition elements in the country that even in their small numbers are still able to strike and attack. But what they do, Carol, is tend to attack soft targets, not the better protected, better armed, better equipped U.S. targets in this country, they attack Afghan policeman, Afghan soldiers, perhaps aid workers as well have been recent targets -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Nic Robertson live from Afghanistan this morning.

The promise of martyrdom and a golden future, that's the word in a just released audio tape that supposedly has the voice of Osama bin Laden on it. And for the first time, he offers a material prize to anyone who kills certain U.S. and U.N. officials, including the U.S. administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OSAMA BIN LADEN, AL QAEDA LEADER (through translator): You know that America promised big rewards for those who killed Mujahideen. We in al Qaeda will guarantee, God willing, 10,000 grams of gold to whoever kills the occupier Bremer or the American chief military commander or his deputy in Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Think that's about 150,000 U.S. dollars. Also mentioned specifically in the bounty offer, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his special envoy in Iraq Lakhdar Brahimi.

Checking our 'Global Minute' this Friday morning. Vladimir Putin is being sworn in for a second four-year term as president of Russia. These pictures just in to CNN. Seventeen hundred guests are at the Kremlin for the inauguration this morning, highlighted by a 30-gun salute over the Moscow River.

Also new this morning, thousands of Vietnamese are gathering at Dien Bien Phu to mark the 50th anniversary of a fateful battle there. The victory of the Vietnamese over the French inspired anti-colonial uprisings in many other countries.

And the U.N. Security Council will meet today to consider ethnic cleansing in Sudan. Human rights groups say armed Arab militia are forcing black Africans off their land, creating thousands of refugees.

And there is new fighting erupting at the border of Israel and Lebanon this morning. The clashes are intensifying in an already heated relationship.

Let's head live to Jerusalem now and John Vause.

Hello, John, tell us about it.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.

Well the worst of the fighting lasted about two hours. But according to the Israeli army, it is now quiet on the northern border between Israel and Lebanon, has been for the last few hours. But Israel claims that Hezbollah militants began the fighting by firing Israeli positions, shelling it with Katyusha rockets and anti-tank missiles. And some reports suggest as many as 50 mortar rounds were fired at the Israelis.

Hezbollah claims to have killed a number of Israeli soldiers, but there is no confirmation on that from Israel. IDF troops, though, returned fire with artillery and mortar shells, as well as calling in airstrikes. Israeli fighter jets fired as many as six missiles on Hezbollah positions.

Now according to a Hezbollah statement issued from Beirut, the fighting was in fact caused, they say, by Israeli troops movements in the area. There has been increased tension on the Israeli-Lebanese border in recent days. Israel says its troops fired on a group of militants yesterday. They say that those militants were trying to cross from Lebanon into Israel. They never made that crossing. There was also an Israeli airstrike yesterday on what Israel says was a Hezbollah target.

And just yesterday, Lebanon complained to the U.N. about Israel continually violating its airspace, a complaint which Lebanon has made time and time again.

Now the area where this is happening is a little bit complicated, but it's in the Shebaa Farms area. That's a disputed area. Now that was land which Israel claimed back in the Six-Day War in 1967. It was Syrian territory back then, but now Lebanon, with Syrian backing, says that it is in fact its territory.

Now the U.N. backs Israel, saying that Israel made a full and complete withdrawal from Lebanon in September 2000. And they say that this is just merely a trigger for Hezbollah to launch these kinds of attacks on Israeli -- on Israeli positions, on Israeli soldiers. And according to the U.N., they say this is Israeli occupied Syrian territory and it is a dispute between Israel and Syria, one which should be dealt with between those two countries -- Carol.

COSTELLO: John Vause reporting live from Jerusalem this morning.

Later in the next hour of DAYBREAK, allegations intensify over prisoner abuse at the hands of British soldiers. We'll bring you a live report from London.

And next, former hostage Thomas Hamill and his wife prepare to leave Germany for the United States but without the publicity and the hype. Why he wants to go quietly.

This is DAYBREAK, Friday, May 7.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Everybody loves a parade, except, of course, for Thomas Hamill. He was a hostage in Iraq for three weeks. And he says he wants no parade or big celebration when he returns to Macon, Mississippi. Hamill and his wife are expected to fly home soon from Germany where he has been hospitalized for treatment of a gunshot wound.

Chris Burns live on the phone from Landstuhl, Germany.

Chris, we thought that Thomas Hamill would fly home on Friday, but what's up this morning?

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, it really doesn't have anything to do with his medical condition, because he is not expected to undergo any surgery until he gets back to the States.

But what we are told is he is here for more debriefs and more chem war debrief is the main thing that we are told, and that could be one of two things. One is psychological counseling after his three- week ordeal after his fuel convoy was ambushed back on April 9 and he freed himself just last Sunday. That could be that.

It could also be debriefing with intelligence experts who are trying to figure out, perhaps try to find where his two co-workers went missing after that ambush. Also, there is an American soldier who is a hostage who is being held by the attackers. So maybe they are trying to get a little bit closer to these -- to these men, if they can, and in so doing, try to get some information from Hamill. So that's what it looks like right now.

But he is keeping his junks (ph) regarding his privacy. He is not talking to the press. He is not stepping outside. He is staying in a residence. He is not in a regular hospital room. He is in a residence, more like an apartment right now, just spending time with his wife, watching TV and making meals.

COSTELLO: Chris Burns live on the phone from Landstuhl, Germany this morning. Of course we'll keep you posted as to when Thomas Hamill finally does return home.

Now some more news for you, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will face tough questions about his handling of the Iraqi prison abuse scandal today. Rumsfeld has separate appearances before the House and Senate Armed Services Committee.

In money news this morning, looking to finance or refinance a home, this may not be the time. Rates on 30-year mortgages have risen for the seventh straight week.

And in sports, it's called the smart shoe. The new Adidas running shoe has a computer chip that adjusts to the runner's size and stride and adapts to road conditions. The shoe goes on sale in December. It sounds very neat, doesn't it, but it will cost you big, $250.

MYERS: Yes, I'll get right on that, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

Those are the latest headlines for you.

There was no question that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will take a tough grilling from lawmakers today. The question is will the prisoner abuse scandal cost him his job?

Our Jeanne Meserve looks at the debate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Demands that heads should roll for the alleged abuses at Abu Ghraib prison from some publications, pundits and Democratic politicians.

SEN. TOM HARKIN (D), IOWA, For our country, I believe Mr. Rumsfeld has to resign.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), CALIFORNIA: I am calling for Mr. Rumsfeld's resignation.

DONALD RUMSFELD, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Ladies and gentlemen, the commander-in-chief.

MESERVE: President Bush says Rumsfeld will stay. That is consistent with his reputation for loyalty and his history.

THOMAS MANN, SENIOR FELLOW, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: If you look at the major traumatic events during his presidency. The 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington, and the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, there was no acknowledgment of responsibility and certainly no one in his administration was asked to pay a price.

MESERVE: But a new Gallup poll shows public approval of the president's handling of Iraq tumbling in the last two weeks. And the numbers may not yet reflect the full impact of the prison abuse story. Tossing Rumsfeld or some other top official might stop the slide, or it could give the president's political opponents new ammunition to say his policies have failed.

ALLAR LICHTMAN, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: If he fires someone now, it's going to look like he did so under pressure from the press, and under pressure from the Democrats. If he was going to fire anyone he should have done it yesterday before the cascade of pressure began.

MESERVE: Ultimately, whether higher-ups stay or go may not depend on political calculations or rhetoric, but on the facts, of who knew and condoned what happened at Abu Ghraib. Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And of course we are posing this question to you this morning, should Donald Rumsfeld resign? You've been e-mailing us. We have gotten more than -- I can't believe so many people are up with their computers on.

MYERS: I know.

COSTELLO: But we appreciate that, believe me.

MYERS: Yes, exactly, good morning.

COSTELLO: Let me read this one from Robert from Santa Barbara. He says as you look at what has transpired in the last 18 months, at what point do you have to come to before the term totally incompetent is unmistakably appropriate?

MYERS: From Mitch (ph). He is saying that surely no one expects Donald Rumsfeld to know exactly what every MP is doing at all times. Calling for him to resign at this time is under these circumstances convinces me that Kerry and Pelosi and the Democratic leadership are more interested in power than the well being of our troops.

COSTELLO: This one from Bruce out of Hendersonville, North Carolina. He says Donald Rumsfeld definitely should resign. He is totally responsible for the debacle in Iraq. It was his stupid idea to invade that country with a force one-third the size of what some general said was necessary.

MYERS: I don't think so says Mr. K. How can you blame him? These idiots -- there are idiots everywhere in this life, how can you blame a man for the actions of a few?

COSTELLO: OK, one more, this from Steve from Prattville, Alabama. Steve says, no, Rumsfeld should not resign. The general in charge at the time, Karpinski, should resign and the rest should be punished. Keep those e-mails coming, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

MYERS: Please. Yes.

COSTELLO: Over-the-counter sales of the morning after pill, why the FDA is saying no.

Plus, why more and more moms are saying goodbye to the corporate world and hello to the home.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Sorry. 'Health Headlines' for you this morning.

The FDA rejects over-the-counter sales of the morning after birth control pills, at least for now. The FDA says it is not convinced teenagers younger than 16 could use the pills appropriately without a doctor's supervision.

If you are at high risk for having a stroke, surgery might be your best bet. Researchers in London say surgery to widen the artery that carries blood to the brain can cut the risk of a stroke in half. Stroke is the second leading cause of death behind heart disease.

Folic Acid may be behind a drop in two types of birth defects. Federal health officials say there has been a 26 percent drop in severe brain and spinal birth defect since the U.S. started adding Folic Acid to some foods such as cereal and pasta. That happened six years ago.

For more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site. The address CNN.com/Health.

As you know, Mother's Day is this weekend, and it turns out more and more mothers are giving up jobs outside the home in order to be home for their children.

Our Louise Schiavone has more on this growing trend.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MEAGHAN BRUNE, STAY-AT-HOME MOM: Look, this is a beautiful green lollipop that mommy has.

LOUISE SCHIAVONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Meaghan Brune used to direct housing and residential services at Catholic University in Washington. Her skills now are trained on her 3-year-old daughter.

BRUNE: And you have to be real quiet, like you are in church, OK.

SCHIAVONE: Brune is part of a growing trend of accomplished women leaving the workplace all together to make sure they see their youngsters grow up. Statistics show that last year roughly 57 percent of married mothers with children under age 3 worked, down 4 percent from 61 percent in 1997. Surveys are finding that many of these professional women want to mother and work as long as they can work fewer hours, but their demanding job requirements are an obstacle.

PAMELA STONE, SOCIOLOGIST, HUNTER COLLEGE: What I found was that women were not making choices that reflected their preferences. They were making choices that reflected the constraints, the all or nothing nature of the jobs that they were in.

BRUNE: That's the dilemma that I found myself in. I was the director of a program and you really couldn't have someone there part time because they wouldn't know everything that was going on and then there would be some confusion about OK who is in charge.

SCHIAVONE: The women's movement swung open career doors, but this economist and mother of five says a brain drain among working women presents a new issue.

SYLVIA ANN HEWLETT, ECONOMIST & AUTHOR: The second generation of challenge is how to utilize the women well over the life span and not allow them to somehow be sidetracked or shunted off into, you know, some cul-de-sac in their 30s and not be able to come back in and in their maturity and contribute what they want to contribute to our economy.

SCHIAVONE: The goal is balance for parents who are prepared to take some cuts and still be able to work for both pay and love.

BRUNE: Mommy loves you, doesn't she?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can't find me.

BRUNE: I can't find you.

SCHIAVONE: Louise Schiavone for CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Are carbs really all that bad? In the next hour of DAYBREAK, how the right combination of carbs and exercise could produce the results you are looking for.

Also live from Washington with more on Donald Rumsfeld much anticipated testimony on the prison abuse scandal.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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