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CNN Live At Daybreak
Three Turkish Hostages Freed; Bomb Hits Marine Convoy in Iraq; Chirac Chides Bush Over Turkey
Aired June 29, 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.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: A day after sovereignty for Iraq, a roadside bomb kills U.S. Marines in Baghdad.
It is Tuesday, June 29, and this is DAYBREAK.
Well, good morning. From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen in for Carol Costello.
Here's a look at headlines at this hour.
A U.S. Marine convoy is hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Want to give you some live pictures just in a few minutes ago from the scene of the blast. A witness there says some Marines were killed, but we have not gotten military confirmation.
The NATO summit wraps up today in Turkey. President Bush will deliver a speech to world leaders there about two hours from now, and CNN will bring that to you live when it happens.
When Secretary of State Colin Powell leaves the NATO summit, he will head north to the African nation of Sudan. His goal will be to pressure the government to stop Arab militias from raging war and genocide against black Africans.
And in money, another setback for United Airlines. A federal panel has denied the company's third and final request for a billion- dollar federal loan guarantee. United will now have to try to get financing on its own to get out of bankruptcy.
In culture, Hungarian scientists say cell phones can cut a man's sperm count by up to 30 percent. The study deals with phones carried in pockets or on belt holsters. But fertility experts say the results of the study are inconclusive.
In sports, David Bell of the Philadelphia Phillies hit for the cycle in a game against the Expos. Now that means he hit a single, double, triple and a home run. Bell's grandfather, Gus Bell, also hit for the cycle back in 1951.
Well, this morning we want to talk about weather. And with that, following this baseball, let me through you an analogy: let's toss it over to you, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Betty. How are you this morning?
NGUYEN: I'm doing great, thanks.
MYERS: All right. Looking good.
Actually, this isn't looking so good. From our affiliate WFAA there in Texas - actually from Lancaster and also from Fort Worth, Texas, a lot of rain came down yesterday. And that rain was piling up and running off. And we are going to see more rain today along the Red River. Much of that, again, could run off. A lot of saturated ground out there in parts of Texas.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Well, there is progress at the NATO summit in Turkey. An agreement has been reached on an increased mission in Afghanistan. But tensions may be rising between President Bush and French President Jacques Chirac over issues concerning the host country.
Senior White House correspondent, John King, and joins us now with the latest.
Hi, John.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Betty. Good afternoon from Istanbul. Good morning back in the states.
As the NATO leaders gathered here today, clear evidence of how there are differences between President Bush and many of his colleagues in the NATO alliance when you look at the global war on terrorism. President Bush often speaks of Afghanistan and Iraq in the same breath, linking them both to what he calls "the necessary global war against terrorism." More evidence, though, here this morning of how most of the other leaders gathered here for NATO summit view Afghanistan and Iraq as two very different and distinct issues.
The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, among the guests invited to the summit here today. NATO has promised to increase its mission in Afghanistan, about 6,500 NATO troops there now. NATO is promising to increase that to closer to 10,000 in the weeks leading up to the September elections in Afghanistan. President Karzai appealing to the NATO allies today to hurry up that deployment. He says more security is needed in his country to guarantee to the safety of those elections.
So NATO on the one hand saying, yes, it will send more troops into Afghanistan. But President Bush yesterday could not get such a commitment for post-war Iraq. The NATO allies had promised to help him train the new Iraqi security forces. But no major NATO troop commitments at all, a clear distinction the leaders put looking at Afghanistan and the post-war effort in Iraq. Still quite controversial.
And you messaged - you mentioned the continuing disagreements with the French president, Jacques Chirac. Mr. Chirac, of course, a fierce critic of President Bush when it comes to the war in Iraq. And he also publicly criticized Mr. Bush yesterday for being so aggressive and so public in his support of Turkey, which is trying to win admission into the European Union. The French president essentially telling the United States president, Mind your own business. You don't get a vote in the European Union. Butt out of our affairs - Betty.
NGUYEN: Very interesting there.
Yesterday, John, you mentioned that, yes, they agreed - NATO that is - agreed to training troops in Iraq. But it didn't say exactly where, if it'll be inside Iraq or outside of Iraq.
Are we any closer to finding out?
KING: Some of it will be inside Iraq, the White House says, although the modalities have not been worked out. Much of it, though, could take place outside of Iraq. Germany, for example, has said it would never send its troops into Iraq, but it is willing to help to train new Iraqi security forces. That could happen in Germany or it could happen in Jordan.
Already some training of Iraqi security forces going on next door from Iraq, in Jordan. That is one location to watch in the weeks and months ahead. And the NATO allies say they will help with training. But again, the French president, Jacques Chirac, essentially making a distinction with Mr. Bush, saying he thinks some individual NATO countries will step up their efforts to help the Iraqis with training. Mr. Chirac saying he does not see any widespread urgency for NATO as a group to act to help with the effort - Betty.
NGUYEN: Senior White House correspondent, John King, in Istanbul, thank you.
President Bush is scheduled to speak this morning at the NATO summit, and CNN will provide live coverage of the address on "AMERICAN MORNING." That begins at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Insurgents are already on attack on this the first full day of sovereignty in Iraq. A roadside has hit a Marine convoy in Baghdad. One Marine at the scene says some Marines were killed. But CNN has not gotten official confirmation of that.
You're looking at pictures just in this morning from the scene of that attack. We'll have a live report from Baghdad at the bottom of the hour.
The top U.S. diplomat in Iraq has gotten a first-hand look at this new digs. Ambassador John Negroponte will be headquartered at the new U.S. embassy in Baghdad. Now, he took a tour of the building earlier today.
He's seen his workplace, and the question now remains: just exactly what will his job duties be? Well, CNN's David Ensor has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With Paul Bremer's departure, Prime Minister Iyad al Allawi became the most powerful man in Iraq. The new top American, Ambassador John Negroponte, may be a power behind the scenes, though he is playing down his role.
JOHN NEGROPONTE, AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: To offer support and assistance to the Iraqi people and government as Iraq reasserts its full sovereignty.
FRANK RICCIARDONE, U.S.-IRAQ TRANSITION: No U.S. ambassador goes out expecting to run a foreign country, nor -- even if that were in his mind, the Iraqis wouldn't let him.
ENSOR: Workers have been rushing to transform one of Saddam's former palaces into the new U.S. embassy headquarters. From this building, Negroponte will lead the largest embassy in the world, about 1,000 Americans and 700 Iraqis. His deputy says security will be a constant concern.
JAMES JEFFREY, U.S. DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION: We receive incoming rocket and mortar fire in this vicinity quite often. But our goal is to ensure that we are not overrun, that we do not get significant hostile fire. And so far, we've been lucky.
ENSOR: In a powerful symbol of sovereignty, Iraq's new government will soon take over legal custody of Saddam Hussein. But American officials say they will still keep their hands on him.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I would expect that legal custody would be handed over shortly, but physical custody would remain in our hands for the foreseeable future.
ENSOR: American troops will still take orders from American commanders. But a major question is: what happens with the next Fallujah, the next major military challenge? It is not clear.
REUEL MARC GERECHT, MIDDLE EAST EXPERT: If you have people attacking the Americans, the Americans may want to respond with a good deal of force. There may be individuals in the government who don't want them to.
ENSOR (on camera): In theory, American commanders can do what they want. But if Prime Minister Allawi or his government object, that could cause commanders to think twice about taking on a fight. Finding the right balance between security and sovereignty for Iraqis may not be easy.
David Ensor, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Despite the return of Iraqi sovereignty, more U.S. troops will be heading over there. The Army is planning an involuntary call-up of about 5,600 reserve soldiers from the seldom- used Individual Ready Reserve. Now, some of the soldiers could be deployed within a month, and an Army official says the mobilization will last through the rest of the year. The Army is expected to formally announce that plan tomorrow. About 138,00 U.S. troops currently serve in Iraq.
The U.S. military is analyzing a videotape said to show the execution of Matt Maupin, an American soldier who had been held hostage in Iraq for more than two months. Maupin was captured in April during an ambush on a convoy west of Baghdad. Al-Jazeera television says it received a statement and videotape from a group of militants who claim they shot and killed Maupin. A military spokesman says due to the poor quality of that tape, they cannot confirm Maupin has been killed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. WILLIE HARRIS, U.S. ARMY SPOKESMAN: The Department of Defense is currently, at this time, looking at the videotape, trying to examine it. There's no indication thus far that that tape contains footage of Matt Maupin or any other Army soldier.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Meanwhile, in Maupin's hometown of Batavia, Ohio, family, friends and well-wishers displayed yellow ribbons and lit candles.
The Utah family of a U.S. Marine reportedly held hostage in Iraq is pleading for their son's safe return. A man identified as Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun appeared as a hostage in a videotape aired on al- Jazeera on Sunday. The man's captors threatened to behead him unless the coalition releases all Iraqi prisoners.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the name of Allah, the merciful, the compassionate, we accept destiny with its good and its bad. We pray and we plead for his safe release, and we ask all people of the world to joins us in our prayers. May God bless us all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: The military says Hassoun, who is of Lebanese decent, had been missing since June 19. But they stopped short of saying that he is a hostage.
Well, a bunch of never-heard-of-before groups are taking responsibility for the recent spate of kidnappings in Iraq.
CNN's Kathleen Koch reports that because the groups are so shadowy, it makes them harder to track and harder to target.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The kidnappers of a young man in Marine fatigues whose family identifies him as Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun call themselves the Islamic Response. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the first time that I've heard of this group. And I think that this is a pattern that we're seeing in Iraq. There are any number of tiny little groups of people who are coming together for particular operations. The only thing that they seem to common is that they hate Americans and they have a desire to harm as many as they possibly can.
KOCH: It's not clear whether or not the group is linked to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. American Nicholas Berg and South Korean Kim Sun-il were beheaded in killings blamed on a group led by the Islamic militant leader. Zarqawi's group is not apparently holding three Turks, promising to behead them unless Turkish companies leave Iraq.
Since April, more than 40 people have been abducted in Iraq by insurgents. U.S. officials believe they represent different groups with varying ideologies, some foreign fighters but not all.
The question now: will the turn over of power impact their activities?
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: How it's going to affect the counter-insurgency - that is to say, the efforts to stop the terrorists from conducting the killing and beheadings and activity they're engaged in.
I personally don't - can't say they I can answer the question with certainty.
KOCH (on camera): But for the immediate future, the expectation is more kidnappings from more shadowy groups, all bent on destabilizing the new government and driving foreigners from Iraq.
Kathleen Koch, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Here's some breaking news to tell you about. Insurgents in Iraq have released three Turkish hostages. Kidnappers had vowed to behead those hostages, but a group led by suspected al Qaeda operative Abu Musab al-Zarqawi says they freed hostages for the sake of Muslims in Turkey and their demonstrations against President Bush.
As you recall, these hostages were taken over the weekend and they were given 72 hours for Turkey to pull out or these hostages would be beheaded. But again, breaking news, these hostages have been released.
We'll have much more on this later, so stay tuned right here on CNN.
Well, we're just getting started hereon DAYBREAK. Ahead this hour, while decades-long civil war appears close to an end in Sudan, a desperate humanitarian crisis is still playing out. Two top diplomats head to Iraq's largest country. We'll have a live report.
Israeli helicopters strike hard in Gaza. We'll have a live report on that as well.
And, on a little lighter note: it may sound like a punchline, but for one man, hiccuping every four seconds was no laughing matter. We'll tell you about his cure.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: We've got your news, money, weather and sports. Right now, the time is 5:15 Eastern and here's what's all new this morning.
Three more rockets were fired into Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip. Those attacks came after the Israeli military hit a Palestinian broadcast station and began moving troops into Northern Gaza. Several rockets were also fired into Israeli areas yesterday.
The U.S. has opened a formal diplomatic office in Libya for the first time in almost a quarter century. It's the next step in the normalization of relations with Libya, Moammar Gadhafi.
In money, gas prices have hit their lowest point in the last two months. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $1.92. But that is still 40 cents more than what it cost last year.
In culture, singer Gloria Estefan announced that her upcoming tour will be her last. But Estefan isn't totally retiring. She'll begin work on a book, a movie and she will still write and record new music.
In sports, American Andy Roddick has reached his second straight Wimbledon semi-final. Roddick advanced with an impressive straight- set victory over Germany's Alexander Popp. Now, last year Roddick lost in the semis to eventual champion Roger Federer.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: We want to go back to our breaking news. Three Turkish hostages have been released this morning.
We want to go to CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh, who is on the phone in Turkey with the latest.
Hi, Alphonso.
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty.
That's right. We've gotten word from the Turkish Foreign Ministry that those three Turkish nationals that you mentioned that were seen on Al-Jazeera television (UNINTELLIGIBLE) militants linked to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi have been freed. That's according to Foreign Ministry officials here.
Some of our viewers might remember that these - that these three Turkish nationals were shown earlier this week, just days before the NATO summit, reportedly kidnapped earlier on in this month. And the militants here said that they would behead these three Turkish nationals. This kidnapping and this news timed just for the NATO summit, if Turkish companies would not leave to Iraq.
Now it's important remember that there are plenty of Turkish companies working with U.S. forces, working with the U.S. to help rebuild by that country. And these are militants who are seeing the idea of kidnapping these Turks as a way of putting pressure to have more instability in the country. But it seems that through some sort of set (ph) in the negotiations, the U.S. president, George Bush, promised that the U.S. would help the negotiations. The Turks said that they would do their best (UNINTELLIGIBLE) their Foreign Ministry to help secure the release of these Turks.
This morning here, the Turkish Foreign Ministry saying that these three Turkish nationals are on their way home.
NGUYEN: Alphonso, does this have anything to do with the fact that these hostages were Muslim?
VAN MARSH: Well, it's not (UNINTELLIGIBLE) quite clear (INTELLIGIBLE) play a role. Perhaps it was more noteworthy that the Foreign Ministry confirms that there are at least 10 Turkish nationals since May that have been kidnapped in Iraq. And in all of these cases, the Turks have been released. And in some of the cases, the companies that the Turks were working for had agreed - had said that they would agree to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) business.
The interesting thing about Turkey (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Of course, they share (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Business leaders here note that there's over a billion dollars worth of business between the two countries. A lot of the products that the U.S. military uses, a lot of the products that Iraqis use are actually made and transported from Turkey into Iraq. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) relationship is something that's very, very important, and Turkey is keen to be sure that Turkish companies, Turkish truckers, contractors, businessmen, continue working in Iraq.
NGUYEN: That's CNN Alphonso Van Marsh, live for us on the phone. We apologize for the difficult audio.
But we do want to report that according to wire reports, a videotape which was given to Al Jazeera about these hostages being released. One of the hostage-takers on that video says - quote - "For the sake of you, our brothers and Muslims of the people of Turkey, we will release these hostages and send them safely home." So perhaps their religion did have something to do with that release.
Of course, we will continue to follow this story all morning long.
In other news, Secretary of State Colin Powell is expected to arrive in Sudan today. Powell will meet with Sudanese leaders to discuss the country's civil war and the growing humanitarian crisis. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan is also scheduled to arrive in Africa's largest nation to sound the call for peace.
CNN's Jeff Koinange joins us by phone from Nairobi with more on this.
Good morning.
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty.
And it seems like a two-pronged approach just to show the significance of the situation, the humanitarian disaster that's looming in Africa's largest state.
Now, Colin Powell expected to arrive later Tuesday, and immediately Wednesday morning begin talks with officials, exerting pressure on what experts here are calling "to call off the dogs," referring to militias that the government is reportedly sending into an area known as Darfur, the size of France, where over a million people have been displaced. Over 30,000 killed in the latest clashes.
They're calling this a genocide on the ground, but the U.S. State Department is - has not mentioned - what they - experts here are calling the "g" word. As you well know, Betty, that if they were to declare this a genocide, that would mean that the U.S. government would have to intervene in the area. But Colin Powell, speaking to journalists, did say that he hoped that the Sudanese government would provide the support and the help that the humanitarian workers need.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POWELL: We need to get help to these people now, and I hope that the leaders in Sudan will also give a message of cooperation to Kofi Annan and to other foreign officials that are traveling in the region and from other countries who have an interest in this well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOINANGE: And Betty, Kofi Annan arrived early Wednesday morning. He will visit the actual area where over a million people have been displaced, in the Darfur area. He will also go into neighboring Chad, where hundreds of thousands of other refugees have escaped into the region. He will try to convince the governments there, number one to provide safety for the displaced Sudanese, and hopefully at some point they'll be able to return back to their land.
But the most significance thing just to show presence. This two- pronged approach will definitely put Sudan back on the front burner, Betty.
NGUYEN: It's a desperate situation there. CNN's Jeff Koinange, we appreciate that insight. Thank you.
Do stay with CNN. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: It's time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Opener."
The state of Virginia is hoping to discourage men from having sex with underage girls. Their message, seen here on a billboard, is also being plastered on posters and bar napkins. The campaign is tested in bigger cities and tourist areas. This snake that you're about to see - there he is - is looking for a good home. His last home was a rental car in Madison, Wisconsin. And, of course, that came as a big surprise to the guy who rented the guard. The two-and-a-half-foot python slithered out from under the driver's seat. Yowzer! But luckily, there was no accident. The snake had been living in the rental car for about a week, so it says.
Well, in Iowa the Suskowski (ph) family was wondering who was stealing the yellow ribbons off the trees in their yard. The ribbons were for their son, who was stationed in Iraq. So they set up a video camera, and here you can see the ribbon rip-off in progress. But police probably won't arrest the ribbon-stealing squirrel since they don't make handcuffs that small.
And here's what's all new in the next half hour:
Legal rights and the war on terror: should detainees at Gitmo have the right to go to court? A surprise ruling ahead.
Well, with the handover complete, the onslaught of violence continues. We will go live to Baghdad for the latest.
Israeli helicopter gunships fire on targets in Gaza. We'll go live to Jerusalem for the latest there in a live report.
This is DAYBREAK for Tuesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, good morning to you and welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK. From CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen in for Carol Costello.
Here's a look at the headlines at this hour:
There is late word this morning that a roadside bomb blast has killed an unknown number of U.S. Marines in Baghdad. However, there's no immediate word from the military on that explosion. It is the first report of a fatal attack on U.S. forces since the transfer of power to the Iraqis yesterday.
Insurgents in Iraq have released three Turkish hostages. Kidnappers had vowed to behead those hostages, but a group led by suspected al-Qaeda operative Abu Musab al-Zarqawi says they freed the hostages for the sake of Muslims in Turkey and their demonstrations against President Bush.
The Liberal Party easily won the largest share of votes in Canada's national election. But the party lost outright control of Parliament. Prime Minister Paul Martin will head the country's first minority government in 25 years.
In money, it's sue and countersue in the e-tail business. Amazon.com has asked a court to dissolve its partner
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Aired June 29, 2004 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: A day after sovereignty for Iraq, a roadside bomb kills U.S. Marines in Baghdad.
It is Tuesday, June 29, and this is DAYBREAK.
Well, good morning. From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen in for Carol Costello.
Here's a look at headlines at this hour.
A U.S. Marine convoy is hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Want to give you some live pictures just in a few minutes ago from the scene of the blast. A witness there says some Marines were killed, but we have not gotten military confirmation.
The NATO summit wraps up today in Turkey. President Bush will deliver a speech to world leaders there about two hours from now, and CNN will bring that to you live when it happens.
When Secretary of State Colin Powell leaves the NATO summit, he will head north to the African nation of Sudan. His goal will be to pressure the government to stop Arab militias from raging war and genocide against black Africans.
And in money, another setback for United Airlines. A federal panel has denied the company's third and final request for a billion- dollar federal loan guarantee. United will now have to try to get financing on its own to get out of bankruptcy.
In culture, Hungarian scientists say cell phones can cut a man's sperm count by up to 30 percent. The study deals with phones carried in pockets or on belt holsters. But fertility experts say the results of the study are inconclusive.
In sports, David Bell of the Philadelphia Phillies hit for the cycle in a game against the Expos. Now that means he hit a single, double, triple and a home run. Bell's grandfather, Gus Bell, also hit for the cycle back in 1951.
Well, this morning we want to talk about weather. And with that, following this baseball, let me through you an analogy: let's toss it over to you, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Betty. How are you this morning?
NGUYEN: I'm doing great, thanks.
MYERS: All right. Looking good.
Actually, this isn't looking so good. From our affiliate WFAA there in Texas - actually from Lancaster and also from Fort Worth, Texas, a lot of rain came down yesterday. And that rain was piling up and running off. And we are going to see more rain today along the Red River. Much of that, again, could run off. A lot of saturated ground out there in parts of Texas.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Well, there is progress at the NATO summit in Turkey. An agreement has been reached on an increased mission in Afghanistan. But tensions may be rising between President Bush and French President Jacques Chirac over issues concerning the host country.
Senior White House correspondent, John King, and joins us now with the latest.
Hi, John.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Betty. Good afternoon from Istanbul. Good morning back in the states.
As the NATO leaders gathered here today, clear evidence of how there are differences between President Bush and many of his colleagues in the NATO alliance when you look at the global war on terrorism. President Bush often speaks of Afghanistan and Iraq in the same breath, linking them both to what he calls "the necessary global war against terrorism." More evidence, though, here this morning of how most of the other leaders gathered here for NATO summit view Afghanistan and Iraq as two very different and distinct issues.
The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, among the guests invited to the summit here today. NATO has promised to increase its mission in Afghanistan, about 6,500 NATO troops there now. NATO is promising to increase that to closer to 10,000 in the weeks leading up to the September elections in Afghanistan. President Karzai appealing to the NATO allies today to hurry up that deployment. He says more security is needed in his country to guarantee to the safety of those elections.
So NATO on the one hand saying, yes, it will send more troops into Afghanistan. But President Bush yesterday could not get such a commitment for post-war Iraq. The NATO allies had promised to help him train the new Iraqi security forces. But no major NATO troop commitments at all, a clear distinction the leaders put looking at Afghanistan and the post-war effort in Iraq. Still quite controversial.
And you messaged - you mentioned the continuing disagreements with the French president, Jacques Chirac. Mr. Chirac, of course, a fierce critic of President Bush when it comes to the war in Iraq. And he also publicly criticized Mr. Bush yesterday for being so aggressive and so public in his support of Turkey, which is trying to win admission into the European Union. The French president essentially telling the United States president, Mind your own business. You don't get a vote in the European Union. Butt out of our affairs - Betty.
NGUYEN: Very interesting there.
Yesterday, John, you mentioned that, yes, they agreed - NATO that is - agreed to training troops in Iraq. But it didn't say exactly where, if it'll be inside Iraq or outside of Iraq.
Are we any closer to finding out?
KING: Some of it will be inside Iraq, the White House says, although the modalities have not been worked out. Much of it, though, could take place outside of Iraq. Germany, for example, has said it would never send its troops into Iraq, but it is willing to help to train new Iraqi security forces. That could happen in Germany or it could happen in Jordan.
Already some training of Iraqi security forces going on next door from Iraq, in Jordan. That is one location to watch in the weeks and months ahead. And the NATO allies say they will help with training. But again, the French president, Jacques Chirac, essentially making a distinction with Mr. Bush, saying he thinks some individual NATO countries will step up their efforts to help the Iraqis with training. Mr. Chirac saying he does not see any widespread urgency for NATO as a group to act to help with the effort - Betty.
NGUYEN: Senior White House correspondent, John King, in Istanbul, thank you.
President Bush is scheduled to speak this morning at the NATO summit, and CNN will provide live coverage of the address on "AMERICAN MORNING." That begins at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Insurgents are already on attack on this the first full day of sovereignty in Iraq. A roadside has hit a Marine convoy in Baghdad. One Marine at the scene says some Marines were killed. But CNN has not gotten official confirmation of that.
You're looking at pictures just in this morning from the scene of that attack. We'll have a live report from Baghdad at the bottom of the hour.
The top U.S. diplomat in Iraq has gotten a first-hand look at this new digs. Ambassador John Negroponte will be headquartered at the new U.S. embassy in Baghdad. Now, he took a tour of the building earlier today.
He's seen his workplace, and the question now remains: just exactly what will his job duties be? Well, CNN's David Ensor has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With Paul Bremer's departure, Prime Minister Iyad al Allawi became the most powerful man in Iraq. The new top American, Ambassador John Negroponte, may be a power behind the scenes, though he is playing down his role.
JOHN NEGROPONTE, AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: To offer support and assistance to the Iraqi people and government as Iraq reasserts its full sovereignty.
FRANK RICCIARDONE, U.S.-IRAQ TRANSITION: No U.S. ambassador goes out expecting to run a foreign country, nor -- even if that were in his mind, the Iraqis wouldn't let him.
ENSOR: Workers have been rushing to transform one of Saddam's former palaces into the new U.S. embassy headquarters. From this building, Negroponte will lead the largest embassy in the world, about 1,000 Americans and 700 Iraqis. His deputy says security will be a constant concern.
JAMES JEFFREY, U.S. DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION: We receive incoming rocket and mortar fire in this vicinity quite often. But our goal is to ensure that we are not overrun, that we do not get significant hostile fire. And so far, we've been lucky.
ENSOR: In a powerful symbol of sovereignty, Iraq's new government will soon take over legal custody of Saddam Hussein. But American officials say they will still keep their hands on him.
COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: I would expect that legal custody would be handed over shortly, but physical custody would remain in our hands for the foreseeable future.
ENSOR: American troops will still take orders from American commanders. But a major question is: what happens with the next Fallujah, the next major military challenge? It is not clear.
REUEL MARC GERECHT, MIDDLE EAST EXPERT: If you have people attacking the Americans, the Americans may want to respond with a good deal of force. There may be individuals in the government who don't want them to.
ENSOR (on camera): In theory, American commanders can do what they want. But if Prime Minister Allawi or his government object, that could cause commanders to think twice about taking on a fight. Finding the right balance between security and sovereignty for Iraqis may not be easy.
David Ensor, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Despite the return of Iraqi sovereignty, more U.S. troops will be heading over there. The Army is planning an involuntary call-up of about 5,600 reserve soldiers from the seldom- used Individual Ready Reserve. Now, some of the soldiers could be deployed within a month, and an Army official says the mobilization will last through the rest of the year. The Army is expected to formally announce that plan tomorrow. About 138,00 U.S. troops currently serve in Iraq.
The U.S. military is analyzing a videotape said to show the execution of Matt Maupin, an American soldier who had been held hostage in Iraq for more than two months. Maupin was captured in April during an ambush on a convoy west of Baghdad. Al-Jazeera television says it received a statement and videotape from a group of militants who claim they shot and killed Maupin. A military spokesman says due to the poor quality of that tape, they cannot confirm Maupin has been killed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. WILLIE HARRIS, U.S. ARMY SPOKESMAN: The Department of Defense is currently, at this time, looking at the videotape, trying to examine it. There's no indication thus far that that tape contains footage of Matt Maupin or any other Army soldier.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Meanwhile, in Maupin's hometown of Batavia, Ohio, family, friends and well-wishers displayed yellow ribbons and lit candles.
The Utah family of a U.S. Marine reportedly held hostage in Iraq is pleading for their son's safe return. A man identified as Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun appeared as a hostage in a videotape aired on al- Jazeera on Sunday. The man's captors threatened to behead him unless the coalition releases all Iraqi prisoners.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the name of Allah, the merciful, the compassionate, we accept destiny with its good and its bad. We pray and we plead for his safe release, and we ask all people of the world to joins us in our prayers. May God bless us all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: The military says Hassoun, who is of Lebanese decent, had been missing since June 19. But they stopped short of saying that he is a hostage.
Well, a bunch of never-heard-of-before groups are taking responsibility for the recent spate of kidnappings in Iraq.
CNN's Kathleen Koch reports that because the groups are so shadowy, it makes them harder to track and harder to target.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The kidnappers of a young man in Marine fatigues whose family identifies him as Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun call themselves the Islamic Response. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the first time that I've heard of this group. And I think that this is a pattern that we're seeing in Iraq. There are any number of tiny little groups of people who are coming together for particular operations. The only thing that they seem to common is that they hate Americans and they have a desire to harm as many as they possibly can.
KOCH: It's not clear whether or not the group is linked to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. American Nicholas Berg and South Korean Kim Sun-il were beheaded in killings blamed on a group led by the Islamic militant leader. Zarqawi's group is not apparently holding three Turks, promising to behead them unless Turkish companies leave Iraq.
Since April, more than 40 people have been abducted in Iraq by insurgents. U.S. officials believe they represent different groups with varying ideologies, some foreign fighters but not all.
The question now: will the turn over of power impact their activities?
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: How it's going to affect the counter-insurgency - that is to say, the efforts to stop the terrorists from conducting the killing and beheadings and activity they're engaged in.
I personally don't - can't say they I can answer the question with certainty.
KOCH (on camera): But for the immediate future, the expectation is more kidnappings from more shadowy groups, all bent on destabilizing the new government and driving foreigners from Iraq.
Kathleen Koch, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Here's some breaking news to tell you about. Insurgents in Iraq have released three Turkish hostages. Kidnappers had vowed to behead those hostages, but a group led by suspected al Qaeda operative Abu Musab al-Zarqawi says they freed hostages for the sake of Muslims in Turkey and their demonstrations against President Bush.
As you recall, these hostages were taken over the weekend and they were given 72 hours for Turkey to pull out or these hostages would be beheaded. But again, breaking news, these hostages have been released.
We'll have much more on this later, so stay tuned right here on CNN.
Well, we're just getting started hereon DAYBREAK. Ahead this hour, while decades-long civil war appears close to an end in Sudan, a desperate humanitarian crisis is still playing out. Two top diplomats head to Iraq's largest country. We'll have a live report.
Israeli helicopters strike hard in Gaza. We'll have a live report on that as well.
And, on a little lighter note: it may sound like a punchline, but for one man, hiccuping every four seconds was no laughing matter. We'll tell you about his cure.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: We've got your news, money, weather and sports. Right now, the time is 5:15 Eastern and here's what's all new this morning.
Three more rockets were fired into Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip. Those attacks came after the Israeli military hit a Palestinian broadcast station and began moving troops into Northern Gaza. Several rockets were also fired into Israeli areas yesterday.
The U.S. has opened a formal diplomatic office in Libya for the first time in almost a quarter century. It's the next step in the normalization of relations with Libya, Moammar Gadhafi.
In money, gas prices have hit their lowest point in the last two months. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $1.92. But that is still 40 cents more than what it cost last year.
In culture, singer Gloria Estefan announced that her upcoming tour will be her last. But Estefan isn't totally retiring. She'll begin work on a book, a movie and she will still write and record new music.
In sports, American Andy Roddick has reached his second straight Wimbledon semi-final. Roddick advanced with an impressive straight- set victory over Germany's Alexander Popp. Now, last year Roddick lost in the semis to eventual champion Roger Federer.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: We want to go back to our breaking news. Three Turkish hostages have been released this morning.
We want to go to CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh, who is on the phone in Turkey with the latest.
Hi, Alphonso.
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty.
That's right. We've gotten word from the Turkish Foreign Ministry that those three Turkish nationals that you mentioned that were seen on Al-Jazeera television (UNINTELLIGIBLE) militants linked to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi have been freed. That's according to Foreign Ministry officials here.
Some of our viewers might remember that these - that these three Turkish nationals were shown earlier this week, just days before the NATO summit, reportedly kidnapped earlier on in this month. And the militants here said that they would behead these three Turkish nationals. This kidnapping and this news timed just for the NATO summit, if Turkish companies would not leave to Iraq.
Now it's important remember that there are plenty of Turkish companies working with U.S. forces, working with the U.S. to help rebuild by that country. And these are militants who are seeing the idea of kidnapping these Turks as a way of putting pressure to have more instability in the country. But it seems that through some sort of set (ph) in the negotiations, the U.S. president, George Bush, promised that the U.S. would help the negotiations. The Turks said that they would do their best (UNINTELLIGIBLE) their Foreign Ministry to help secure the release of these Turks.
This morning here, the Turkish Foreign Ministry saying that these three Turkish nationals are on their way home.
NGUYEN: Alphonso, does this have anything to do with the fact that these hostages were Muslim?
VAN MARSH: Well, it's not (UNINTELLIGIBLE) quite clear (INTELLIGIBLE) play a role. Perhaps it was more noteworthy that the Foreign Ministry confirms that there are at least 10 Turkish nationals since May that have been kidnapped in Iraq. And in all of these cases, the Turks have been released. And in some of the cases, the companies that the Turks were working for had agreed - had said that they would agree to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) business.
The interesting thing about Turkey (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Of course, they share (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Business leaders here note that there's over a billion dollars worth of business between the two countries. A lot of the products that the U.S. military uses, a lot of the products that Iraqis use are actually made and transported from Turkey into Iraq. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) relationship is something that's very, very important, and Turkey is keen to be sure that Turkish companies, Turkish truckers, contractors, businessmen, continue working in Iraq.
NGUYEN: That's CNN Alphonso Van Marsh, live for us on the phone. We apologize for the difficult audio.
But we do want to report that according to wire reports, a videotape which was given to Al Jazeera about these hostages being released. One of the hostage-takers on that video says - quote - "For the sake of you, our brothers and Muslims of the people of Turkey, we will release these hostages and send them safely home." So perhaps their religion did have something to do with that release.
Of course, we will continue to follow this story all morning long.
In other news, Secretary of State Colin Powell is expected to arrive in Sudan today. Powell will meet with Sudanese leaders to discuss the country's civil war and the growing humanitarian crisis. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan is also scheduled to arrive in Africa's largest nation to sound the call for peace.
CNN's Jeff Koinange joins us by phone from Nairobi with more on this.
Good morning.
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty.
And it seems like a two-pronged approach just to show the significance of the situation, the humanitarian disaster that's looming in Africa's largest state.
Now, Colin Powell expected to arrive later Tuesday, and immediately Wednesday morning begin talks with officials, exerting pressure on what experts here are calling "to call off the dogs," referring to militias that the government is reportedly sending into an area known as Darfur, the size of France, where over a million people have been displaced. Over 30,000 killed in the latest clashes.
They're calling this a genocide on the ground, but the U.S. State Department is - has not mentioned - what they - experts here are calling the "g" word. As you well know, Betty, that if they were to declare this a genocide, that would mean that the U.S. government would have to intervene in the area. But Colin Powell, speaking to journalists, did say that he hoped that the Sudanese government would provide the support and the help that the humanitarian workers need.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POWELL: We need to get help to these people now, and I hope that the leaders in Sudan will also give a message of cooperation to Kofi Annan and to other foreign officials that are traveling in the region and from other countries who have an interest in this well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOINANGE: And Betty, Kofi Annan arrived early Wednesday morning. He will visit the actual area where over a million people have been displaced, in the Darfur area. He will also go into neighboring Chad, where hundreds of thousands of other refugees have escaped into the region. He will try to convince the governments there, number one to provide safety for the displaced Sudanese, and hopefully at some point they'll be able to return back to their land.
But the most significance thing just to show presence. This two- pronged approach will definitely put Sudan back on the front burner, Betty.
NGUYEN: It's a desperate situation there. CNN's Jeff Koinange, we appreciate that insight. Thank you.
Do stay with CNN. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: It's time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Opener."
The state of Virginia is hoping to discourage men from having sex with underage girls. Their message, seen here on a billboard, is also being plastered on posters and bar napkins. The campaign is tested in bigger cities and tourist areas. This snake that you're about to see - there he is - is looking for a good home. His last home was a rental car in Madison, Wisconsin. And, of course, that came as a big surprise to the guy who rented the guard. The two-and-a-half-foot python slithered out from under the driver's seat. Yowzer! But luckily, there was no accident. The snake had been living in the rental car for about a week, so it says.
Well, in Iowa the Suskowski (ph) family was wondering who was stealing the yellow ribbons off the trees in their yard. The ribbons were for their son, who was stationed in Iraq. So they set up a video camera, and here you can see the ribbon rip-off in progress. But police probably won't arrest the ribbon-stealing squirrel since they don't make handcuffs that small.
And here's what's all new in the next half hour:
Legal rights and the war on terror: should detainees at Gitmo have the right to go to court? A surprise ruling ahead.
Well, with the handover complete, the onslaught of violence continues. We will go live to Baghdad for the latest.
Israeli helicopter gunships fire on targets in Gaza. We'll go live to Jerusalem for the latest there in a live report.
This is DAYBREAK for Tuesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, good morning to you and welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK. From CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen in for Carol Costello.
Here's a look at the headlines at this hour:
There is late word this morning that a roadside bomb blast has killed an unknown number of U.S. Marines in Baghdad. However, there's no immediate word from the military on that explosion. It is the first report of a fatal attack on U.S. forces since the transfer of power to the Iraqis yesterday.
Insurgents in Iraq have released three Turkish hostages. Kidnappers had vowed to behead those hostages, but a group led by suspected al-Qaeda operative Abu Musab al-Zarqawi says they freed the hostages for the sake of Muslims in Turkey and their demonstrations against President Bush.
The Liberal Party easily won the largest share of votes in Canada's national election. But the party lost outright control of Parliament. Prime Minister Paul Martin will head the country's first minority government in 25 years.
In money, it's sue and countersue in the e-tail business. Amazon.com has asked a court to dissolve its partner
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