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CNN Live At Daybreak

Decisive Day in Najaf?; Governor's Scandal

Aired August 18, 2004 - 06:32   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: New clashes this morning in Najaf signal an end to peace negotiations.
It is Wednesday, August 18. This is DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Costello.

Now in the news, court hearings are set to start any time now for eight terror suspects in Great Britain. Two of them allegedly conducted surveillance of the Prudential Building in New Jersey. And it was the cause of that recent heightened terror alert. Another allegedly had a how-to book for bomb-making.

In Washington, the House Select Intelligence Committee meets two and a half hours from now. Set to appear is the co-chair of the 9/11 Commission. The former heads of the CIA and the FBI also will testify.

Heavy fighting in the Iraqi city of Najaf this morning and it could get worse. Iraq's defense minister is giving Shiite militiamen just a few hours to give up. He says if they don't, Iraqi troops will storm the mosque where they are holed up now.

And back home, firefighters are using helicopters to battle a Northern California wildfire. The blaze has grown to 10,000 acres. It burned more than 20 homes in the historic gold-mining town of French Gulch.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Today could be a decisive day for the battle in Najaf. There were tough words from the Iraqi defense minister. To quote him: "The time for negotiations are over."

Let's go live to our John Vause in Baghdad.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This latest attempt at peace in Najaf appears to have gone the same way as all before it: nowhere. It's a lesson of sorts for the Iraqis who are now calling the shots -- criticizing the U.S. is easy; dealing with people like Muqtada al-Sadr is hard.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE (voice over): The delegates arrived in a city under siege, smoke rising from buildings around the sacred Imam Ali Mosque, the sound of gunfire and explosions echoing through Najaf, as heavy fighting continued for most of the day, especially around this sprawling cemetery.

This was a last attempt to end the standoff through negotiation. But the man at the center of the uprising, Shiite cleric Muqtada al- Sadr, refused to meet with the group of eight religious and political leaders from Baghdad. Al-Sadr's aides blamed the U.S. for the fighting, and said it just wasn't safe for a face-to-face meeting.

So there they were: Muqtada al-Sadr in one part of the huge golden-domed mosque, the peace delegates in another. For three hours that's as close as they got.

The delegation was sent from the Iraqi National Conference, a gathering of more than 1,000 people in Baghdad. For three days, they have debated little else apart from the standoff in Najaf. It has overshadowed the election of an interim council, a parliament of sorts, meant to advise the Iraqi government.

But now these delegates may have just learned what the U.S. has known for more than a year: Dealing with Muqtada al-Sadr and trying to bring democracy to Iraq is more than just complicated and difficult; at times it can seem impossible.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

We've just heard from the Iraqi interim defense minister, saying that preparations to liberate the mosque are now complete, that the time for negotiations is now over, and that the mercenaries will be taught a lesson, the gangs of Fallujah, Mosul and Basra, as well as in Samarra.

So it's looking as if there could be some kind of assault, some kind of all-out offensive in Najaf anytime soon.

COSTELLO: Thank you, John.

And just to expound on that, we do have new pictures in to CNN of the fighting in Najaf that's been going on all morning. Not exactly sure exactly where this is -- we're not exactly sure where this is in the city of Najaf, but we know it is in Najaf.

And to expound on what the Iraqi defense minister said, he said the Shiite Muslim militiamen fighting here in Najaf must surrender within hours. And he has given the all-clear for Iraqi troops to go into that mosque to root out the fighters if they do not lay down their arms.

We expect more fierce fighting in Najaf throughout the morning and throughout the day. Of course, we'll keep you updated right here on CNN.

About two months to go before the November elections, and the candidates are stepping it up. President Bush was in West Virginia Tuesday. Today, he's in Chippewa Falls and St. Croix, Wisconsin. Later, he heads to St. Paul, Minnesota,

Like West Virginia, Wisconsin and Minnesota are among the so- called battleground states.

John Kerry said good-bye to the people who came out to watch him leave Idaho. Kerry addresses the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Cincinnati this morning. He then heads to Boston, where he has no scheduled events. "CNN LIVE TODAY" will bring you Kerry's remarks this morning to the VFW. That starts at 10:30 a.m. Eastern.

Some of country music's big stars are kicking off their own get- out-the-vote campaign. They're calling it Your Country, Your Vote, and it's said to be nonpartisan. Performers like Ricky Skaggs, Randy Travis, Billy Dean and Martin Raybon are leading the effort. They say they're not going to let Hollywood choose who they'll vote for.

Our Paula Zahn will be talking to some undecided voters in the battleground state of Ohio. Do not miss her town hall meeting in my hometown, Canton, Ohio. That's at 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific time. And if you've got a question for the Bush or Kerry camps, but can't get to your -- but cannot get to Ohio, e-mail your questions for tonight's show to CNN.com/Paula.

The man at the center of a stunning accusation surrounding New Jersey's governor is now trying to get out of the spotlight. But as CNN's Deborah Feyerick explains, even overseas it's not easy to disappear from a sex scandal.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBORAH FEYERICK>>, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If Golan Cipel thought he could slip away from New Jersey and the scandal enveloping the governor there, he was wrong. The Israeli-born former aide to James McGreevey going home to a suburb outside Tel Aviv, to his parents, and to a mob of waiting cameras, making his first televised statement.

GOLAN CIPEL, FORMER MCGREEVEY AIDE (through translator): I have had a very difficult time. I have come to Israel to be with my family at this time. I cannot expand on anything for legal reasons.

FEYERICK: One former colleague tells CNN Cipel has been distraught since it came out he planned to file a sexual harassment suit against the governor. Cipel, through his lawyer, says he is straight and was subjected to repeated advances by McGreevey.

Settlement talks between the two sides broke down Thursday, just hours before the governor announced he was gay and had had a consensual affair.

GOV. JAMES MCGREEVEY (D), NEW JERSEY: I have decided the right course of action is to resign.

FEYERICK: The sexual harassment suit appears to be on hold.

ALLEN LOWY, ATTORNEY FOR GOLAN CIPEL: When the governor resigned, I think my client in some way felt vindicated that the governor did own up to what he had done.

FEYERICK: On Tuesday, McGreevey was back running the state, first holding terrorism drills with the federal officials, then meeting with the man who will replace him if he stays until November.

New Jersey Republicans and now Democrats are trying to force McGreevey out by September so that special elections can be held to choose who will govern next.

Those close to McGreevey vow he will not go without a fight.

MICAH RASMUSSEN, MCGREEVEY SPOKESPERSON: To be quite blunt about it, if the last fight that he has is with the party bosses, that's a fight that we're willing to have.

FEYERICK (on camera): Political fund-raisers predicted that things would get worse for Governor McGreevey before getting better. CNN confirms that one of the government's top fund-raisers will plead guilty Wednesday. The fund-raiser, under investigation for, among other things, violating campaign contribution laws.

Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Coming up next on DAYBREAK, the U.S. is racking up some gold at the Olympics. Details on one historic win live from Greece next.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: An American athlete gets a historic win in fencing at the Olympic Games. And the U.S. men's basketball team continues to under-whelm. But they're looking good in the pool.

CNN's Larry Smith is in Athens with the latest.

Not the basketball team, but the American swimmers are looking good in the pool.

LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they are, absolutely. The big story, however, this afternoon is -- we are now in day five of competition, Carol -- is about those Greek sprinters that we've been talking about now since last Thursday night when they missed that drug test.

But now, finally, we can maybe focus on the competition as those sprinters, Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou, officially and completely are out of the Games after they withdrew from competition late this morning after a meeting with IOC officials.

Now, their hearing was about that missed mandatory test last Thursday night. The two medalists after that -- the two medalists from the Sydney games were then involved in a mysterious motorcycle accident hours later, landing in hospital with minor injuries, and staying there until yesterday.

Now, the Greek Olympic Committee on Saturday withdrew the pair from the Games, but the IOC had the final say. The two could still face a suspension from competition. They have skipped two tests in the past six weeks.

Still more on that, but none more for this.

Let's get now to the better news, huh? Michael Phelps back in the pool after getting to bed about 2:00 this morning Athens time. The second-fastest time this morning in qualifying for tomorrow night's -- make that qualifying for tonight's 200-meter individual medley semifinals.

Phelps won gold in the 20-meter butterfly and 800-meter freestyle relay Tuesday night. He now has five medals, trying to become the first swimmer ever to win eight medals in a single Olympic Games.

USA men's basketball, well, it wasn't quite the nightmare that it was on Sunday, that 19-point drubbing to Puerto Rico. But it was good enough. A 77-71 win over host Greece for the American men's basketball team last night.

Allen Iverson with 17 points despite playing with what has to be a painful fractured right thumb. The U.S. is now 1-1 in competition, still a long way from a gold medal. They will take on Australia tomorrow afternoon as play for them continues in the preliminary round.

And in fencing, a milestone for the United States, their first gold medal in a decade. 1904 was the last time that one was won. Mariel Zagunis getting it done last night, the female fencer getting the gold medal.

And, again, a milestone for the Americans who, by the way, now lead the total medal table. They have 19 gold -- 19 total medals that is, six of them gold. However, China has 10 gold. They are second in the total medal table.

Carol -- let's go back to you.

COSTELLO: Larry Smith live from Athens this morning, thank you.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:46 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Israel is again targeting Palestinian militants. Palestinian sources say the Israeli military attacked a Gaza City house owned by a top Hamas member this morning. He's said to be hurt. Five other people were killed.

Back home, it's been four days since a 7-year-old Arkansas girl has been seen. Police have charged a family friend with kidnapping Patricia Miles (ph), but the woman who used to baby-sit the girl won't talk.

In money news, oil is back at record highs. The price per barrel for delivery in September: $46.76. Ouch!

In culture, Uncle Walter, you know, former CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite, says he's just too busy now. The 87-year-old journalist is giving up a weekly newspaper column to concentrate on documentaries and lectures.

In the world of sports, possible problems for the University of Southern California's top-ranked football team. The L.A. police say at least one member of the team is being investigated for sexual assault.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Salmon, catfish and trout are all tasty seafood dishes, but the benefits may even be better than the taste. We'll explain how fish oil can protect you from several ailments. That's coming up next on DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: They're hot they're healthy, and, yes, they're fat.

Joining us now with details is registered dietitian Lisa Drayer.

How does that describe that fish oils are good for you?

LISA DRAYER, REGISTERED DIETITIAN: Well, they're fat, Carol. Get it?

COSTELLO: Oh, I get it now.

DRAYER: They're fashionable fats. But, you know, we've heard about how fish oils can help protect our hearts, but the latest finding reveals that fatty fish may actually help to lower a man's risk of prostrate cancer.

Researchers from Harvard, Carol, followed over 48,000 men for 14 years, and they found that those men who ate just three servings of fatty fish per week had a 47 percent decreased risk of advanced prostrate cancer as compared to men who didn't eat any fish at all.

Now, according to Dr. Edward Giovinicci (ph), he's the Harvard author on this study, he says that fish oils like EPA and DHA, also Vitamin D present in fish, may actually help to inhibit the growth of cancer tumor cells.

But, you know, aside from prostrate cancer protection, there is a role for fish oils in mood disorders, too, like depression and post- partum depression. Lots of interesting research here, Carol.

One study found that among the Finland population, those who did not frequently eat fish had a 31 percent higher risk of depression. Also there is a role here in post-partum depression. In fact, one study looked at fish oils in the blood. And it found that a 1- percent increase in blood DHA -- this is one of those Omega 3 fats in fish -- a 1-percent increase in blood levels of this fish oil was associated with a 59-percent reduction in depressive symptoms among women with post-partum depression.

So, interesting stuff. We do need to see a lot more research before we can make definite conclusions. But in the meantime, it looks like there may be some more good reasons to continue eating fatty fish.

COSTELLO: Well, Lisa, let's talk about the effects on post- partum depression, because I thought that -- of course, post-partum is after you're pregnant. But I thought during your pregnancy you weren't supposed to eat certain fish.

DRAYER: You know, that's an excellent point, Carol, and an important one, because pregnant women do need to avoid certain types of fish because of their high mercury content that can be toxic to a growing fetus at very high levels. And those fish include shark, sword fish, king mackerel, tile (ph) fish, and the latest recommendation from the FDA, no more than six ounces of albacore tuna per week. Again, these are due to their high mercury content.

But aside from avoiding these fish, it's really important that pregnant women consume fatty fish or fish oils during pregnancy. The reason, in addition to maintaining a healthy brain for the mother, these fish oils also play a role in the brain development of a growing fetus. And if the mother is not getting enough, her stores will be depleted as they will go to her baby.

So, it's really important to consume fish. Just avoid those ones that are high in mercury.

COSTELLO: Fascinating information this morning. Lisa Drayer, thank you very much.

DRAYER: Thanks.

COSTELLO: It is time to check out CNN.com. We're always interested in what you're clicking on to.

And the No. 1 story that you're clicking on to this morning, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Silly string. I see where your mind is this morning. L.A. is about to ban silly string. It's a big thing out there on Halloween for everybody to go out there and buy silly string and spray it on each other. Obviously they don't like it anymore.

COSTELLO: Well, it's bad for the environment.

MYERS: It is.

COSTELLO: It's not biodegradable.

MYERS: It is not, and it makes nasty stains on the sidewalks. They don't want those stains on those Stars Hall of Fame things going on there.

COSTELLO: And the fines are pretty steep if you use those.

MYERS: It could be $1,000!

COSTELLO: Oh, my gosh!

The second most clicked-on story is the judge in the Michael Jackson case fines one of Jackson's attorney 1,000 bucks after he did not listen to the judge. The judge told him, quit asking that line of questioning. The lawyer said, I'm going to keep on asking. And the judge said, no. So $1,000 fine on the attorney.

And finally, the third most clicked-on story, demographers say world population is expected to increase by 50 percent by the year 2050.

MYERS: But industrialized worlds, the headline there, the population is actually going to decline by 2050. People are kind of waiting longer to get married, waiting longer to have kids and having fewer kids.

COSTELLO: True.

MYERS: So we'll see.

COSTELLO: And countries like Japan and Germany and France. But in the United States it's expected to rise because of immigration.

MYERS: Correct.

COSTELLO: So there you go.

Today's mug winner announced in two minutes, but first this is DAYBREAK for a Wednesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: We've been having a lot of fun this morning, haven't we?

MYERS: Yes, some (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is going on here, too, about that taser incident. A lot of folks think that the policeman was out of line. Other people think that, hey, you know what? You just can't go in there until it's a safe place.

COSTELLO: Exactly.

MYERS: I think that argument goes on and on and on. And there may not be a winner on that one.

It's time to reveal the DAYBREAK question of the day. Here's what we asked you yesterday.

If you are asked to evacuate during a storm, what is one important item you should take with you? Medicine would be one. Identification would be another, of course.

And then name one of the top 10 party schools. And Florida State was one, obviously Ohio, the University at Albany (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Albany.

Here is the winner, Sandra King, Port Huron, Michigan. Port Huron, Michigan. Congratulations, Sandra King on up there almost towards Saruway (ph) in Ontario.

We haven't had a Canadian winner in a long time. So, hey, Canadians, listen up. Here's your chance to win one today -- Americans, too, of course.

Name one of the best sources of fish oils. We just asked you that question.

And what's the expected price range of a share of Google today? They lowered it from what they expected yesterday.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MYERS: What is now the expected price of Google?

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Carol Costello along with Chad Myers. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

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 August 18, 2004 - 06:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: New clashes this morning in Najaf signal an end to peace negotiations.
It is Wednesday, August 18. This is DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Costello.

Now in the news, court hearings are set to start any time now for eight terror suspects in Great Britain. Two of them allegedly conducted surveillance of the Prudential Building in New Jersey. And it was the cause of that recent heightened terror alert. Another allegedly had a how-to book for bomb-making.

In Washington, the House Select Intelligence Committee meets two and a half hours from now. Set to appear is the co-chair of the 9/11 Commission. The former heads of the CIA and the FBI also will testify.

Heavy fighting in the Iraqi city of Najaf this morning and it could get worse. Iraq's defense minister is giving Shiite militiamen just a few hours to give up. He says if they don't, Iraqi troops will storm the mosque where they are holed up now.

And back home, firefighters are using helicopters to battle a Northern California wildfire. The blaze has grown to 10,000 acres. It burned more than 20 homes in the historic gold-mining town of French Gulch.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Today could be a decisive day for the battle in Najaf. There were tough words from the Iraqi defense minister. To quote him: "The time for negotiations are over."

Let's go live to our John Vause in Baghdad.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This latest attempt at peace in Najaf appears to have gone the same way as all before it: nowhere. It's a lesson of sorts for the Iraqis who are now calling the shots -- criticizing the U.S. is easy; dealing with people like Muqtada al-Sadr is hard.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE (voice over): The delegates arrived in a city under siege, smoke rising from buildings around the sacred Imam Ali Mosque, the sound of gunfire and explosions echoing through Najaf, as heavy fighting continued for most of the day, especially around this sprawling cemetery.

This was a last attempt to end the standoff through negotiation. But the man at the center of the uprising, Shiite cleric Muqtada al- Sadr, refused to meet with the group of eight religious and political leaders from Baghdad. Al-Sadr's aides blamed the U.S. for the fighting, and said it just wasn't safe for a face-to-face meeting.

So there they were: Muqtada al-Sadr in one part of the huge golden-domed mosque, the peace delegates in another. For three hours that's as close as they got.

The delegation was sent from the Iraqi National Conference, a gathering of more than 1,000 people in Baghdad. For three days, they have debated little else apart from the standoff in Najaf. It has overshadowed the election of an interim council, a parliament of sorts, meant to advise the Iraqi government.

But now these delegates may have just learned what the U.S. has known for more than a year: Dealing with Muqtada al-Sadr and trying to bring democracy to Iraq is more than just complicated and difficult; at times it can seem impossible.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

We've just heard from the Iraqi interim defense minister, saying that preparations to liberate the mosque are now complete, that the time for negotiations is now over, and that the mercenaries will be taught a lesson, the gangs of Fallujah, Mosul and Basra, as well as in Samarra.

So it's looking as if there could be some kind of assault, some kind of all-out offensive in Najaf anytime soon.

COSTELLO: Thank you, John.

And just to expound on that, we do have new pictures in to CNN of the fighting in Najaf that's been going on all morning. Not exactly sure exactly where this is -- we're not exactly sure where this is in the city of Najaf, but we know it is in Najaf.

And to expound on what the Iraqi defense minister said, he said the Shiite Muslim militiamen fighting here in Najaf must surrender within hours. And he has given the all-clear for Iraqi troops to go into that mosque to root out the fighters if they do not lay down their arms.

We expect more fierce fighting in Najaf throughout the morning and throughout the day. Of course, we'll keep you updated right here on CNN.

About two months to go before the November elections, and the candidates are stepping it up. President Bush was in West Virginia Tuesday. Today, he's in Chippewa Falls and St. Croix, Wisconsin. Later, he heads to St. Paul, Minnesota,

Like West Virginia, Wisconsin and Minnesota are among the so- called battleground states.

John Kerry said good-bye to the people who came out to watch him leave Idaho. Kerry addresses the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Cincinnati this morning. He then heads to Boston, where he has no scheduled events. "CNN LIVE TODAY" will bring you Kerry's remarks this morning to the VFW. That starts at 10:30 a.m. Eastern.

Some of country music's big stars are kicking off their own get- out-the-vote campaign. They're calling it Your Country, Your Vote, and it's said to be nonpartisan. Performers like Ricky Skaggs, Randy Travis, Billy Dean and Martin Raybon are leading the effort. They say they're not going to let Hollywood choose who they'll vote for.

Our Paula Zahn will be talking to some undecided voters in the battleground state of Ohio. Do not miss her town hall meeting in my hometown, Canton, Ohio. That's at 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific time. And if you've got a question for the Bush or Kerry camps, but can't get to your -- but cannot get to Ohio, e-mail your questions for tonight's show to CNN.com/Paula.

The man at the center of a stunning accusation surrounding New Jersey's governor is now trying to get out of the spotlight. But as CNN's Deborah Feyerick explains, even overseas it's not easy to disappear from a sex scandal.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBORAH FEYERICK>>, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If Golan Cipel thought he could slip away from New Jersey and the scandal enveloping the governor there, he was wrong. The Israeli-born former aide to James McGreevey going home to a suburb outside Tel Aviv, to his parents, and to a mob of waiting cameras, making his first televised statement.

GOLAN CIPEL, FORMER MCGREEVEY AIDE (through translator): I have had a very difficult time. I have come to Israel to be with my family at this time. I cannot expand on anything for legal reasons.

FEYERICK: One former colleague tells CNN Cipel has been distraught since it came out he planned to file a sexual harassment suit against the governor. Cipel, through his lawyer, says he is straight and was subjected to repeated advances by McGreevey.

Settlement talks between the two sides broke down Thursday, just hours before the governor announced he was gay and had had a consensual affair.

GOV. JAMES MCGREEVEY (D), NEW JERSEY: I have decided the right course of action is to resign.

FEYERICK: The sexual harassment suit appears to be on hold.

ALLEN LOWY, ATTORNEY FOR GOLAN CIPEL: When the governor resigned, I think my client in some way felt vindicated that the governor did own up to what he had done.

FEYERICK: On Tuesday, McGreevey was back running the state, first holding terrorism drills with the federal officials, then meeting with the man who will replace him if he stays until November.

New Jersey Republicans and now Democrats are trying to force McGreevey out by September so that special elections can be held to choose who will govern next.

Those close to McGreevey vow he will not go without a fight.

MICAH RASMUSSEN, MCGREEVEY SPOKESPERSON: To be quite blunt about it, if the last fight that he has is with the party bosses, that's a fight that we're willing to have.

FEYERICK (on camera): Political fund-raisers predicted that things would get worse for Governor McGreevey before getting better. CNN confirms that one of the government's top fund-raisers will plead guilty Wednesday. The fund-raiser, under investigation for, among other things, violating campaign contribution laws.

Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Coming up next on DAYBREAK, the U.S. is racking up some gold at the Olympics. Details on one historic win live from Greece next.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: An American athlete gets a historic win in fencing at the Olympic Games. And the U.S. men's basketball team continues to under-whelm. But they're looking good in the pool.

CNN's Larry Smith is in Athens with the latest.

Not the basketball team, but the American swimmers are looking good in the pool.

LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they are, absolutely. The big story, however, this afternoon is -- we are now in day five of competition, Carol -- is about those Greek sprinters that we've been talking about now since last Thursday night when they missed that drug test.

But now, finally, we can maybe focus on the competition as those sprinters, Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou, officially and completely are out of the Games after they withdrew from competition late this morning after a meeting with IOC officials.

Now, their hearing was about that missed mandatory test last Thursday night. The two medalists after that -- the two medalists from the Sydney games were then involved in a mysterious motorcycle accident hours later, landing in hospital with minor injuries, and staying there until yesterday.

Now, the Greek Olympic Committee on Saturday withdrew the pair from the Games, but the IOC had the final say. The two could still face a suspension from competition. They have skipped two tests in the past six weeks.

Still more on that, but none more for this.

Let's get now to the better news, huh? Michael Phelps back in the pool after getting to bed about 2:00 this morning Athens time. The second-fastest time this morning in qualifying for tomorrow night's -- make that qualifying for tonight's 200-meter individual medley semifinals.

Phelps won gold in the 20-meter butterfly and 800-meter freestyle relay Tuesday night. He now has five medals, trying to become the first swimmer ever to win eight medals in a single Olympic Games.

USA men's basketball, well, it wasn't quite the nightmare that it was on Sunday, that 19-point drubbing to Puerto Rico. But it was good enough. A 77-71 win over host Greece for the American men's basketball team last night.

Allen Iverson with 17 points despite playing with what has to be a painful fractured right thumb. The U.S. is now 1-1 in competition, still a long way from a gold medal. They will take on Australia tomorrow afternoon as play for them continues in the preliminary round.

And in fencing, a milestone for the United States, their first gold medal in a decade. 1904 was the last time that one was won. Mariel Zagunis getting it done last night, the female fencer getting the gold medal.

And, again, a milestone for the Americans who, by the way, now lead the total medal table. They have 19 gold -- 19 total medals that is, six of them gold. However, China has 10 gold. They are second in the total medal table.

Carol -- let's go back to you.

COSTELLO: Larry Smith live from Athens this morning, thank you.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:46 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Israel is again targeting Palestinian militants. Palestinian sources say the Israeli military attacked a Gaza City house owned by a top Hamas member this morning. He's said to be hurt. Five other people were killed.

Back home, it's been four days since a 7-year-old Arkansas girl has been seen. Police have charged a family friend with kidnapping Patricia Miles (ph), but the woman who used to baby-sit the girl won't talk.

In money news, oil is back at record highs. The price per barrel for delivery in September: $46.76. Ouch!

In culture, Uncle Walter, you know, former CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite, says he's just too busy now. The 87-year-old journalist is giving up a weekly newspaper column to concentrate on documentaries and lectures.

In the world of sports, possible problems for the University of Southern California's top-ranked football team. The L.A. police say at least one member of the team is being investigated for sexual assault.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Salmon, catfish and trout are all tasty seafood dishes, but the benefits may even be better than the taste. We'll explain how fish oil can protect you from several ailments. That's coming up next on DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: They're hot they're healthy, and, yes, they're fat.

Joining us now with details is registered dietitian Lisa Drayer.

How does that describe that fish oils are good for you?

LISA DRAYER, REGISTERED DIETITIAN: Well, they're fat, Carol. Get it?

COSTELLO: Oh, I get it now.

DRAYER: They're fashionable fats. But, you know, we've heard about how fish oils can help protect our hearts, but the latest finding reveals that fatty fish may actually help to lower a man's risk of prostrate cancer.

Researchers from Harvard, Carol, followed over 48,000 men for 14 years, and they found that those men who ate just three servings of fatty fish per week had a 47 percent decreased risk of advanced prostrate cancer as compared to men who didn't eat any fish at all.

Now, according to Dr. Edward Giovinicci (ph), he's the Harvard author on this study, he says that fish oils like EPA and DHA, also Vitamin D present in fish, may actually help to inhibit the growth of cancer tumor cells.

But, you know, aside from prostrate cancer protection, there is a role for fish oils in mood disorders, too, like depression and post- partum depression. Lots of interesting research here, Carol.

One study found that among the Finland population, those who did not frequently eat fish had a 31 percent higher risk of depression. Also there is a role here in post-partum depression. In fact, one study looked at fish oils in the blood. And it found that a 1- percent increase in blood DHA -- this is one of those Omega 3 fats in fish -- a 1-percent increase in blood levels of this fish oil was associated with a 59-percent reduction in depressive symptoms among women with post-partum depression.

So, interesting stuff. We do need to see a lot more research before we can make definite conclusions. But in the meantime, it looks like there may be some more good reasons to continue eating fatty fish.

COSTELLO: Well, Lisa, let's talk about the effects on post- partum depression, because I thought that -- of course, post-partum is after you're pregnant. But I thought during your pregnancy you weren't supposed to eat certain fish.

DRAYER: You know, that's an excellent point, Carol, and an important one, because pregnant women do need to avoid certain types of fish because of their high mercury content that can be toxic to a growing fetus at very high levels. And those fish include shark, sword fish, king mackerel, tile (ph) fish, and the latest recommendation from the FDA, no more than six ounces of albacore tuna per week. Again, these are due to their high mercury content.

But aside from avoiding these fish, it's really important that pregnant women consume fatty fish or fish oils during pregnancy. The reason, in addition to maintaining a healthy brain for the mother, these fish oils also play a role in the brain development of a growing fetus. And if the mother is not getting enough, her stores will be depleted as they will go to her baby.

So, it's really important to consume fish. Just avoid those ones that are high in mercury.

COSTELLO: Fascinating information this morning. Lisa Drayer, thank you very much.

DRAYER: Thanks.

COSTELLO: It is time to check out CNN.com. We're always interested in what you're clicking on to.

And the No. 1 story that you're clicking on to this morning, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Silly string. I see where your mind is this morning. L.A. is about to ban silly string. It's a big thing out there on Halloween for everybody to go out there and buy silly string and spray it on each other. Obviously they don't like it anymore.

COSTELLO: Well, it's bad for the environment.

MYERS: It is.

COSTELLO: It's not biodegradable.

MYERS: It is not, and it makes nasty stains on the sidewalks. They don't want those stains on those Stars Hall of Fame things going on there.

COSTELLO: And the fines are pretty steep if you use those.

MYERS: It could be $1,000!

COSTELLO: Oh, my gosh!

The second most clicked-on story is the judge in the Michael Jackson case fines one of Jackson's attorney 1,000 bucks after he did not listen to the judge. The judge told him, quit asking that line of questioning. The lawyer said, I'm going to keep on asking. And the judge said, no. So $1,000 fine on the attorney.

And finally, the third most clicked-on story, demographers say world population is expected to increase by 50 percent by the year 2050.

MYERS: But industrialized worlds, the headline there, the population is actually going to decline by 2050. People are kind of waiting longer to get married, waiting longer to have kids and having fewer kids.

COSTELLO: True.

MYERS: So we'll see.

COSTELLO: And countries like Japan and Germany and France. But in the United States it's expected to rise because of immigration.

MYERS: Correct.

COSTELLO: So there you go.

Today's mug winner announced in two minutes, but first this is DAYBREAK for a Wednesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: We've been having a lot of fun this morning, haven't we?

MYERS: Yes, some (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is going on here, too, about that taser incident. A lot of folks think that the policeman was out of line. Other people think that, hey, you know what? You just can't go in there until it's a safe place.

COSTELLO: Exactly.

MYERS: I think that argument goes on and on and on. And there may not be a winner on that one.

It's time to reveal the DAYBREAK question of the day. Here's what we asked you yesterday.

If you are asked to evacuate during a storm, what is one important item you should take with you? Medicine would be one. Identification would be another, of course.

And then name one of the top 10 party schools. And Florida State was one, obviously Ohio, the University at Albany (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Albany.

Here is the winner, Sandra King, Port Huron, Michigan. Port Huron, Michigan. Congratulations, Sandra King on up there almost towards Saruway (ph) in Ontario.

We haven't had a Canadian winner in a long time. So, hey, Canadians, listen up. Here's your chance to win one today -- Americans, too, of course.

Name one of the best sources of fish oils. We just asked you that question.

And what's the expected price range of a share of Google today? They lowered it from what they expected yesterday.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MYERS: What is now the expected price of Google?

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Carol Costello along with Chad Myers. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

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