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CNN Live At Daybreak

Iraq Explosions; 'War Room'; Serial Killer Suspect; Mideast Peace; Questionable Doctors

Aired February 28, 2005 - 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.


KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you, and welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Kelly Wallace, in today for Carol Costello.
"Now in the News."

The death toll is rising dramatically this morning after a suicide car bombing south of Baghdad. The attack in Hilla has left at least 100 people dead and more than 200 wounded. The bomber drove into a crowd of police recruits lined up for a physical.

We expect a Vatican briefing on the pope's health in the next hour of DAYBREAK. It will be the first update in three days and would follow the surprise appearance by the pontiff from his hospital window in Rome on Sunday.

Opening statements begin this morning in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial. CNN will bring you extensive live reports throughout this day and throughout the trial.

Taking the stand, former WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers plans to testify in his federal trial in New York today. He is accused of being behind the massive accounting fraud at WorldCom. Ebbers says he's done nothing wrong.

And people in Palm Bay, Florida are cleaning up from a tornado. Officials say the twister injured at least 5 people and destroyed at least 14 homes.

Time to get another check of the weather. Good morning again to you, Chad, good to be with you on this Monday.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Kelly.

That was one of the areas that was so hard hit with one of those hurricanes as they all kind of X across Florida over this summer and the fall month. Tell you what, it's been a very difficult couple of months down there for the folks in Florida.

(WEATHER REPORT)

I'll get back to you.

WALLACE: I like the moving around there. And Miami and its 82 degrees is the thing I'm focusing on, wondering when we're going to see that kind of weather here. MYERS: Guess we got the most important one. Yes.

WALLACE: All right, Chad, we'll talk to you in a few minutes.

MYERS: OK, thanks.

WALLACE: Turning again to Iraq. The death toll from an attack south of Baghdad climbing dramatically, more than 100 people have been killed and 200 more wounded.

For more on this, we take you live to CNN's Nic Robertson in Baghdad.

Good morning to you, Nic, what can you tell us from there?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kelly, this seems to be the deadliest blast in many, many months in Iraq. What we know from Iraqi police is that about 9:30 this morning people were lining up, young police recruits were lining up at a medical center in Hilla. It was part of their program to get drafted into the new Iraqi police. They were waiting for medical checks.

A car bomber, we are told, drove into the crowd. This medical center is at the center of the town of Hilla, about 60 miles, 10 kilometers south of Baghdad. At 9:30 a.m., he detonated his explosives. The area, we are told, is a market area. It would have been very, very busy at that time.

And the Iraqi Red Cross, the Iraqi equivalent of the -- the Iraqi Red Crescent, rather, which is the equivalent to the Red Cross in Iraq, has said so far over 100 people have been killed, more than 200 wounded in this particular blast. It is not clear how many of those were police recruits, how many of them were bystanders.

But what has apparently happened this morning is that insurgents, as they have done so many times in the recent past, have targeted would-be recruits for the Iraqi police. These particular recruits lining up to get medical checks before they could be drafted into the police -- Kelly.

WALLACE: And, Nic, what impact is this having on the ability of Iraqi forces to recruit and train more people to become part of the Iraqi security forces?

ROBERTSON: That's a very, very interesting question. I spoke with a senior adviser within the Interior Ministry about that very issue a few weeks ago because of the number of attacks on police. He told me recruitment is in fact up, that they're doing very well, that they're not having any problems.

He said that the elections had given people a boost. The elections marked several policemen as heroes, they died trying to stop suicide bombers getting to the polling stations. There was huge public support for those acts of bravery.

And what the two very senior U.S. generals said here over the weekend is that what they're witnessing with not only the Iraqi police but the Iraqi army as well is that recruitment is doing very, very well. So well, they say, that they don't even have enough trainers to train all the young would-be recruits that are stepping forward at this time.

So it doesn't seem, from what we are being told by both Iraqi and U.S. officials here, it doesn't appear to be having an impact. However, such a deadly blast as the one this morning will likely send shock waves through the community here. It really is the deadliest blast for many, many months -- Kelly.

WALLACE: All right, Nic, we'll be checking in with you throughout the morning.

Nic Robertson reporting from Baghdad.

To "The War Room" now for more on the deadly bombing in Iraq. CNN's senior international editor David Clinch joins us now live.

David, what do you make Nic reporting that the deadliest blast they've seen really in many months?

DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Right. By some accounts the deadliest blast since or the deadliest attack since the fall of Saddam Hussein. We're still getting the details and the effect of this will reverberate through the day in Iraq and of course back here in the United States as well.

Behind the deadliness of the attack and the human cost, of course the questions that we were already looking into at the start of the day today, the U.S. military has been launching massive counterattacks through -- offensive throughout Iraq, mostly in Al Anbar Province north of here, but even in this region itself to try and crack down on this insurgency. And working with the Iraqis to try and stop these kinds of attacks, and yet another example that that is just a very difficult thing to do.

But of course the other question behind that, where is this insurgency coming from? We've been covering the story for the last 24 hours of Saddam Hussein's half-brother. Apparently, according to some reports, handed over by Syria. And these details still emerging as well. According to Iraqi officials, handed over by Syria. A man thought to have been funding and controlling the insurgency from inside Syria.

So the question, still, who is behind these attacks, who is funding them? And Syria, in handing him over is of course a positive sign, but of course in some ways also acknowledging the fact that he has been there for many, many months and operating from within Syria all this time. Now they're handing him over, but he has of course been there for a long time. So the insurgency far from over.

WALLACE: And the question, David, then why, if the Syrians did in fact hand him over, why now? Is this a sign that Damascus could in fact be feeling some pressure from Washington? CLINCH: Well Syria is facing pressure from all directions at the moment, from Washington on the question of the insurgency, from Israel who is accusing militants based in Syria of the suicide attack in Tel Aviv the other day and the other story we're covering in Lebanon today where Syria all of a sudden facing massive global pressure to pull its troops out. So Syria right in the middle of the focus of that pressure from many directions today.

WALLACE: All right, David, a lot going on on this Monday morning. David Clinch our CNN's senior international editor.

Good to talk to you this morning -- David.

CLINCH: All right -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Thanks so much.

Back in this country, Wichita, Kansas is breathing a sigh of relief. Charges are to be lodged today or tomorrow against a man suspected of being the BTK serial killer. The Sunday paper in Wichita was more positive that police got their man, saying -- quote -- "BTK Is Arrested." The string of killings terrorized Wichita from 1974 to 1991, followed by taunting letters to police and the media.

CNN's Carol Lin recounts how the arrest came about.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAROL LIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The words a community had been waiting to hear for more than 30 years.

CHIEF NORMAN WILLIAMS, WICHITA POLICE: Bottom line, BTK is arrested.

(APPLAUSE)

LIN: Fifty-nine year old Dennis Rader arrested on Friday for first degree murder. Kansas officials plan to charge him this week on eight counts of first degree murder and two counts of homicide.

LT. KEN LANDWEHR, WICHITA POLICE: Joseph Otero, Julie Otero.

LIN: As the lead investigator read the victims' names out loud, a collective sigh of relief. The man authorities believed taunted and tortured the Wichita community for more than 30 years was finally behind bars.

While publicly proud of the arrest, police have been tight lipped about details of the case and what led them to Rader. The one thing police did say is that DNA played a factor in Rader's arrest. It was the DNA of Rader's own daughter that helped lead police and the FBI to her father. Sources tell the station that they don't believe, at this point, his daughter actually turned him in.

With police refusing to give more detail about Rader's background, reporting has come largely from the local Wichita media. KAKE reports that Rader was the president of his local Lutheran church. And according to the "Wichita Eagle" newspaper, he worked as a compliance supervisor, essentially enforcing city codes. He worked as a dogcatcher for Park City, a Wichita suburb where he lives. The people in that community now expressing shock that the man police believed terrorized the city for so long was living among them the whole time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: That report from CNN's Carol Lin.

Well the nation's chief diplomat, Condoleezza Rice, is off to London today. It is her third trip abroad in a month. This time, it is to boost the new Palestinian Authority's role in Mideast peace efforts. We will get a live report from Robin Oakley in just four minutes.

You are watching DAYBREAK for a Monday. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Condoleezza Rice is heading to London this morning for a conference on reforming the Palestinian Authority. British Prime Minister Tony Blair is under pressure to prove his alliance with President Bush brings dividends, especially on Middle East peace efforts.

Live now to CNN's European political editor Robin Oakley in London.

Good morning to you, Robin, and what is the main goal of this conference?

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN EUROPEAN POLITICAL EDITOR: Good morning, Kelly.

Well the main goal of this conference is practical reform for the Palestinian Authority, economic reform, security reform, issues like that. Officials in London recognize that this isn't a full-scale peace conference, but they do feel it will achieve practical steps in the peace process.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OAKLEY (voice-over): Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair has long yearned to play his part in bringing peace to Palestinians and Israelis.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I think you know the depth of my commitment to the Middle East peace process and share my frustration at the lack of progress.

OAKLEY: Come Tuesday, he gets his chance, sharing an international conference in London to build support for the new Palestinian leadership. BLAIR: The conference is going to be extremely important in setting out in a clear way that can then be agreed by the whole international community what we mean by an independent, viable Palestinian state in terms of its structures, what are the political, the economic, the security structures that are necessary.

OAKLEY: There is, say experts, some danger Mr. Blair may have been overtaken by events. Notably February's cease-fire agreement in Sharm el-Sheik between the Palestinian's new President Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

But he insisted to CNN that the conference isn't mere posturing.

BLAIR: I assure you, those people who have been intimately concerned with this peace process do not see this as a, you know, simply as sort of a piece of grandstanding or you know a photo opportunity, far from it.

OAKLEY: And experts say the Palestinians hope for a real boost from a meeting involving key international donors like the U.N. and the European Union.

ROSEMARY HOLLIS, ROYAL INSTITUTE OF INTL. AFFAIRS: Originally they thought this was yet another instance of them being put on the spot to prove how reformed they can be, how transparent they can be, how democratic they can be before they're even allowed to consider talking peace. As it is, they hope that it's going to be more about what the international community can do for them.

OAKLEY: The problem for the Palestinians, though, is that Israel won't be at the conference.

HOLLIS: There is much that they cannot do without the involvement of the Israelis. They cannot deliver on the security front without some help from the Israelis. And principally, some promise from the Israelis that a restarted process will get the Palestinians independent status.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OAKLEY: Mr. Blair insisted to CNN that it had never been intended the Israelis would be at the conference, but others have their doubts. And some diplomats say that without an Israeli presence, what can be achieved for the Palestinian Authority in terms of economic and institutional reform and better security will be strictly limited -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Robin, what are officials saying behind the scenes also about the violence we saw on Friday, the suicide bombing in Israel, the first since the truce between the Israelis and the Palestinians what impact this could have on the goals of this conference?

OAKLEY: It's given the conference a bit of a jolt. They're not happy, of course, that such a thing has happened. But with the finger being pointed firmly at Syria by the Israelis on this, there is perhaps less damage to relations with the Palestinian Authority than might have been expected.

And officials are hoping that they can keep the conference focused on the practicalities and perhaps get some good promises from various donors, like the European Union, of real practical help for the Palestinian Authority, particularly on the security front -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Robin, thanks so much for being with us. CNN's European political editor Robin Oakley reporting from London.

Well your news, money, weather and sports. It's about 48 minutes after the hour, and here is what is all new this morning.

Wichita, Kansas police believe they got their man behind bars. A suspect in the BTK killings faces at least 10 counts of murder and homicide. Police expect to file charges against Dennis Rader today or tomorrow.

In Florida now, this could be the last day in the official search for Jessica Lunsford. The 9-year-old has been missing from her bedroom since Wednesday night. Four days of searching have turned up no clues.

In money, millions of American buffalo are headed to cash registers. The bison replaces the image of Thomas Jefferson's home Monticello on the new nickel.

In culture, Jamie Foxx surprised nearly no one by winning the Oscar for best actor in last night's Academy Awards ceremony. Other winners included Clint Eastwood for best director and Eastwood's "Million-Dollar Baby" for best film.

In sports, the University of Kansas won the battle of the top 10 teams against Oklahoma State. The last minute 81 to 79 win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Jayhawks.

Time for another check of the weather, Chad Myers in Atlanta.

Good morning -- Chad.

MYERS: Good morning, Kelly.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WALLACE: All right, Chad, we'll talk to you then.

Well before you even think about going under the knife, think and think again, then double check your doctor's qualifications. We will tell you the reasons why you need to check so carefully straight ahead on DAYBREAK. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: And welcome back.

"Health Headlines" for you this morning. Bird Flu claims its 47th Asian victim. He is a 69-year-old Vietnamese man. Experts fear the virus could unleash a global influenza pandemic capable of killing millions of people.

A worldwide anti-smoking treaty went into effect Sunday. The treaty is designed to turn children against smoking and help adults kick the habit through strong warnings and bans on advertising. More than 50 countries have ratified the pact with the World Health Organization.

Disturbing news about seniors and their medications, more than 30 percent of people over the age of 65 in managed care plans are prescribed medication potentially deemed inappropriate for older people. That's according to new research published in the "Journal of American Geriatrics Society."

So how concerned are you about the qualifications of your surgeon? This next report from CNN's Lisa Sylvester may make you think about that if you ever have to go under the knife.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John Nesteruk will feel a sharp pain in his left shoulder for the rest of his life. His spinal accessory nerve was mistakenly severed during surgery to remove a cyst on his neck. He successfully sued the Florida doctor, Jose Nabut.

JOHN NESTERUK, SUED DOCTOR: It was and continues to be a never- ending nightmare. Rarely a day goes by that I don't think about Dr. Nabut and what he's put me through.

SYLVESTER: Dr. Nabut also accidentally stapled Glenn O'Loughlin's bile duct.

GLENN O'LOUGHLIN, HAD BILE DUCT STAPLED: I take approximately 840 pills a month because I can't digest food correctly. I also can't eat or drink some of the things that you should normally be able to eat and drink.

SYLVESTER: Court papers later reveal Nabut never graduated from college, but he still was accepted to medical school in sunny Guadalajara, Mexico. The autonomous University of Guadalajara is one of several foreign universities that have acceptance criteria that falls far short of most U.S. medical schools.

Foreign doctors must still pass a test to be licensed to practice in the United States, but eight states go even further and have banned or placed restrictions on medical students graduating from certain Caribbean schools. California's medical board has done several site visits.

JOYCE HADNOT, MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA: When we go out and we find that some schools may or may not actually provide them with the level of education that would ensure that they can come back to the United States and practice medicine on our consumers. SYLVESTER: Dr. Nabut denies a connection between his medical mistakes and his education. In a statement, he said, "I have been practicing medicine without incident since then. They were unfortunate events. I did my best to avoid them. I have been through the system and have already been disciplined for them."

DR. SIDNEY WOLFE, CO-AUTHOR, "WORST PILLS/BEST PILLS": In this country, about 100 years ago almost, the worst medical schools were pretty much knocked out of existence. That has not happened, at least in some other countries.

SYLVESTER: John Nesteruk still has a high regard for doctors in general. He just wishes he never crossed paths with the medical doctor who graduated from Guadalajara.

SYLVESTER (on camera): Three of Dr. Nabut's patients were awarded $50 million, but they have seen very little of that money because Dr. Nabut did not have malpractice insurance. His medical license was suspended in 1999, but it was recently reinstated. So he continues to practice in Florida.

Lisa Sylvester, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And for more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/health.

And here is what is all new coming up in the second hour of DAYBREAK.

Lawyers launch opening salvos later today in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial. We will get a live update.

Also, are you paying too much in taxes? Of course you are, and for things you might think are absolutely ridiculous.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired February 28, 2005 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you, and welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Kelly Wallace, in today for Carol Costello.
"Now in the News."

The death toll is rising dramatically this morning after a suicide car bombing south of Baghdad. The attack in Hilla has left at least 100 people dead and more than 200 wounded. The bomber drove into a crowd of police recruits lined up for a physical.

We expect a Vatican briefing on the pope's health in the next hour of DAYBREAK. It will be the first update in three days and would follow the surprise appearance by the pontiff from his hospital window in Rome on Sunday.

Opening statements begin this morning in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial. CNN will bring you extensive live reports throughout this day and throughout the trial.

Taking the stand, former WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers plans to testify in his federal trial in New York today. He is accused of being behind the massive accounting fraud at WorldCom. Ebbers says he's done nothing wrong.

And people in Palm Bay, Florida are cleaning up from a tornado. Officials say the twister injured at least 5 people and destroyed at least 14 homes.

Time to get another check of the weather. Good morning again to you, Chad, good to be with you on this Monday.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Kelly.

That was one of the areas that was so hard hit with one of those hurricanes as they all kind of X across Florida over this summer and the fall month. Tell you what, it's been a very difficult couple of months down there for the folks in Florida.

(WEATHER REPORT)

I'll get back to you.

WALLACE: I like the moving around there. And Miami and its 82 degrees is the thing I'm focusing on, wondering when we're going to see that kind of weather here. MYERS: Guess we got the most important one. Yes.

WALLACE: All right, Chad, we'll talk to you in a few minutes.

MYERS: OK, thanks.

WALLACE: Turning again to Iraq. The death toll from an attack south of Baghdad climbing dramatically, more than 100 people have been killed and 200 more wounded.

For more on this, we take you live to CNN's Nic Robertson in Baghdad.

Good morning to you, Nic, what can you tell us from there?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kelly, this seems to be the deadliest blast in many, many months in Iraq. What we know from Iraqi police is that about 9:30 this morning people were lining up, young police recruits were lining up at a medical center in Hilla. It was part of their program to get drafted into the new Iraqi police. They were waiting for medical checks.

A car bomber, we are told, drove into the crowd. This medical center is at the center of the town of Hilla, about 60 miles, 10 kilometers south of Baghdad. At 9:30 a.m., he detonated his explosives. The area, we are told, is a market area. It would have been very, very busy at that time.

And the Iraqi Red Cross, the Iraqi equivalent of the -- the Iraqi Red Crescent, rather, which is the equivalent to the Red Cross in Iraq, has said so far over 100 people have been killed, more than 200 wounded in this particular blast. It is not clear how many of those were police recruits, how many of them were bystanders.

But what has apparently happened this morning is that insurgents, as they have done so many times in the recent past, have targeted would-be recruits for the Iraqi police. These particular recruits lining up to get medical checks before they could be drafted into the police -- Kelly.

WALLACE: And, Nic, what impact is this having on the ability of Iraqi forces to recruit and train more people to become part of the Iraqi security forces?

ROBERTSON: That's a very, very interesting question. I spoke with a senior adviser within the Interior Ministry about that very issue a few weeks ago because of the number of attacks on police. He told me recruitment is in fact up, that they're doing very well, that they're not having any problems.

He said that the elections had given people a boost. The elections marked several policemen as heroes, they died trying to stop suicide bombers getting to the polling stations. There was huge public support for those acts of bravery.

And what the two very senior U.S. generals said here over the weekend is that what they're witnessing with not only the Iraqi police but the Iraqi army as well is that recruitment is doing very, very well. So well, they say, that they don't even have enough trainers to train all the young would-be recruits that are stepping forward at this time.

So it doesn't seem, from what we are being told by both Iraqi and U.S. officials here, it doesn't appear to be having an impact. However, such a deadly blast as the one this morning will likely send shock waves through the community here. It really is the deadliest blast for many, many months -- Kelly.

WALLACE: All right, Nic, we'll be checking in with you throughout the morning.

Nic Robertson reporting from Baghdad.

To "The War Room" now for more on the deadly bombing in Iraq. CNN's senior international editor David Clinch joins us now live.

David, what do you make Nic reporting that the deadliest blast they've seen really in many months?

DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Right. By some accounts the deadliest blast since or the deadliest attack since the fall of Saddam Hussein. We're still getting the details and the effect of this will reverberate through the day in Iraq and of course back here in the United States as well.

Behind the deadliness of the attack and the human cost, of course the questions that we were already looking into at the start of the day today, the U.S. military has been launching massive counterattacks through -- offensive throughout Iraq, mostly in Al Anbar Province north of here, but even in this region itself to try and crack down on this insurgency. And working with the Iraqis to try and stop these kinds of attacks, and yet another example that that is just a very difficult thing to do.

But of course the other question behind that, where is this insurgency coming from? We've been covering the story for the last 24 hours of Saddam Hussein's half-brother. Apparently, according to some reports, handed over by Syria. And these details still emerging as well. According to Iraqi officials, handed over by Syria. A man thought to have been funding and controlling the insurgency from inside Syria.

So the question, still, who is behind these attacks, who is funding them? And Syria, in handing him over is of course a positive sign, but of course in some ways also acknowledging the fact that he has been there for many, many months and operating from within Syria all this time. Now they're handing him over, but he has of course been there for a long time. So the insurgency far from over.

WALLACE: And the question, David, then why, if the Syrians did in fact hand him over, why now? Is this a sign that Damascus could in fact be feeling some pressure from Washington? CLINCH: Well Syria is facing pressure from all directions at the moment, from Washington on the question of the insurgency, from Israel who is accusing militants based in Syria of the suicide attack in Tel Aviv the other day and the other story we're covering in Lebanon today where Syria all of a sudden facing massive global pressure to pull its troops out. So Syria right in the middle of the focus of that pressure from many directions today.

WALLACE: All right, David, a lot going on on this Monday morning. David Clinch our CNN's senior international editor.

Good to talk to you this morning -- David.

CLINCH: All right -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Thanks so much.

Back in this country, Wichita, Kansas is breathing a sigh of relief. Charges are to be lodged today or tomorrow against a man suspected of being the BTK serial killer. The Sunday paper in Wichita was more positive that police got their man, saying -- quote -- "BTK Is Arrested." The string of killings terrorized Wichita from 1974 to 1991, followed by taunting letters to police and the media.

CNN's Carol Lin recounts how the arrest came about.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAROL LIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The words a community had been waiting to hear for more than 30 years.

CHIEF NORMAN WILLIAMS, WICHITA POLICE: Bottom line, BTK is arrested.

(APPLAUSE)

LIN: Fifty-nine year old Dennis Rader arrested on Friday for first degree murder. Kansas officials plan to charge him this week on eight counts of first degree murder and two counts of homicide.

LT. KEN LANDWEHR, WICHITA POLICE: Joseph Otero, Julie Otero.

LIN: As the lead investigator read the victims' names out loud, a collective sigh of relief. The man authorities believed taunted and tortured the Wichita community for more than 30 years was finally behind bars.

While publicly proud of the arrest, police have been tight lipped about details of the case and what led them to Rader. The one thing police did say is that DNA played a factor in Rader's arrest. It was the DNA of Rader's own daughter that helped lead police and the FBI to her father. Sources tell the station that they don't believe, at this point, his daughter actually turned him in.

With police refusing to give more detail about Rader's background, reporting has come largely from the local Wichita media. KAKE reports that Rader was the president of his local Lutheran church. And according to the "Wichita Eagle" newspaper, he worked as a compliance supervisor, essentially enforcing city codes. He worked as a dogcatcher for Park City, a Wichita suburb where he lives. The people in that community now expressing shock that the man police believed terrorized the city for so long was living among them the whole time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: That report from CNN's Carol Lin.

Well the nation's chief diplomat, Condoleezza Rice, is off to London today. It is her third trip abroad in a month. This time, it is to boost the new Palestinian Authority's role in Mideast peace efforts. We will get a live report from Robin Oakley in just four minutes.

You are watching DAYBREAK for a Monday. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Condoleezza Rice is heading to London this morning for a conference on reforming the Palestinian Authority. British Prime Minister Tony Blair is under pressure to prove his alliance with President Bush brings dividends, especially on Middle East peace efforts.

Live now to CNN's European political editor Robin Oakley in London.

Good morning to you, Robin, and what is the main goal of this conference?

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN EUROPEAN POLITICAL EDITOR: Good morning, Kelly.

Well the main goal of this conference is practical reform for the Palestinian Authority, economic reform, security reform, issues like that. Officials in London recognize that this isn't a full-scale peace conference, but they do feel it will achieve practical steps in the peace process.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OAKLEY (voice-over): Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair has long yearned to play his part in bringing peace to Palestinians and Israelis.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I think you know the depth of my commitment to the Middle East peace process and share my frustration at the lack of progress.

OAKLEY: Come Tuesday, he gets his chance, sharing an international conference in London to build support for the new Palestinian leadership. BLAIR: The conference is going to be extremely important in setting out in a clear way that can then be agreed by the whole international community what we mean by an independent, viable Palestinian state in terms of its structures, what are the political, the economic, the security structures that are necessary.

OAKLEY: There is, say experts, some danger Mr. Blair may have been overtaken by events. Notably February's cease-fire agreement in Sharm el-Sheik between the Palestinian's new President Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

But he insisted to CNN that the conference isn't mere posturing.

BLAIR: I assure you, those people who have been intimately concerned with this peace process do not see this as a, you know, simply as sort of a piece of grandstanding or you know a photo opportunity, far from it.

OAKLEY: And experts say the Palestinians hope for a real boost from a meeting involving key international donors like the U.N. and the European Union.

ROSEMARY HOLLIS, ROYAL INSTITUTE OF INTL. AFFAIRS: Originally they thought this was yet another instance of them being put on the spot to prove how reformed they can be, how transparent they can be, how democratic they can be before they're even allowed to consider talking peace. As it is, they hope that it's going to be more about what the international community can do for them.

OAKLEY: The problem for the Palestinians, though, is that Israel won't be at the conference.

HOLLIS: There is much that they cannot do without the involvement of the Israelis. They cannot deliver on the security front without some help from the Israelis. And principally, some promise from the Israelis that a restarted process will get the Palestinians independent status.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OAKLEY: Mr. Blair insisted to CNN that it had never been intended the Israelis would be at the conference, but others have their doubts. And some diplomats say that without an Israeli presence, what can be achieved for the Palestinian Authority in terms of economic and institutional reform and better security will be strictly limited -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Robin, what are officials saying behind the scenes also about the violence we saw on Friday, the suicide bombing in Israel, the first since the truce between the Israelis and the Palestinians what impact this could have on the goals of this conference?

OAKLEY: It's given the conference a bit of a jolt. They're not happy, of course, that such a thing has happened. But with the finger being pointed firmly at Syria by the Israelis on this, there is perhaps less damage to relations with the Palestinian Authority than might have been expected.

And officials are hoping that they can keep the conference focused on the practicalities and perhaps get some good promises from various donors, like the European Union, of real practical help for the Palestinian Authority, particularly on the security front -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Robin, thanks so much for being with us. CNN's European political editor Robin Oakley reporting from London.

Well your news, money, weather and sports. It's about 48 minutes after the hour, and here is what is all new this morning.

Wichita, Kansas police believe they got their man behind bars. A suspect in the BTK killings faces at least 10 counts of murder and homicide. Police expect to file charges against Dennis Rader today or tomorrow.

In Florida now, this could be the last day in the official search for Jessica Lunsford. The 9-year-old has been missing from her bedroom since Wednesday night. Four days of searching have turned up no clues.

In money, millions of American buffalo are headed to cash registers. The bison replaces the image of Thomas Jefferson's home Monticello on the new nickel.

In culture, Jamie Foxx surprised nearly no one by winning the Oscar for best actor in last night's Academy Awards ceremony. Other winners included Clint Eastwood for best director and Eastwood's "Million-Dollar Baby" for best film.

In sports, the University of Kansas won the battle of the top 10 teams against Oklahoma State. The last minute 81 to 79 win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Jayhawks.

Time for another check of the weather, Chad Myers in Atlanta.

Good morning -- Chad.

MYERS: Good morning, Kelly.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WALLACE: All right, Chad, we'll talk to you then.

Well before you even think about going under the knife, think and think again, then double check your doctor's qualifications. We will tell you the reasons why you need to check so carefully straight ahead on DAYBREAK. Don't go away.

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WALLACE: And welcome back.

"Health Headlines" for you this morning. Bird Flu claims its 47th Asian victim. He is a 69-year-old Vietnamese man. Experts fear the virus could unleash a global influenza pandemic capable of killing millions of people.

A worldwide anti-smoking treaty went into effect Sunday. The treaty is designed to turn children against smoking and help adults kick the habit through strong warnings and bans on advertising. More than 50 countries have ratified the pact with the World Health Organization.

Disturbing news about seniors and their medications, more than 30 percent of people over the age of 65 in managed care plans are prescribed medication potentially deemed inappropriate for older people. That's according to new research published in the "Journal of American Geriatrics Society."

So how concerned are you about the qualifications of your surgeon? This next report from CNN's Lisa Sylvester may make you think about that if you ever have to go under the knife.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): John Nesteruk will feel a sharp pain in his left shoulder for the rest of his life. His spinal accessory nerve was mistakenly severed during surgery to remove a cyst on his neck. He successfully sued the Florida doctor, Jose Nabut.

JOHN NESTERUK, SUED DOCTOR: It was and continues to be a never- ending nightmare. Rarely a day goes by that I don't think about Dr. Nabut and what he's put me through.

SYLVESTER: Dr. Nabut also accidentally stapled Glenn O'Loughlin's bile duct.

GLENN O'LOUGHLIN, HAD BILE DUCT STAPLED: I take approximately 840 pills a month because I can't digest food correctly. I also can't eat or drink some of the things that you should normally be able to eat and drink.

SYLVESTER: Court papers later reveal Nabut never graduated from college, but he still was accepted to medical school in sunny Guadalajara, Mexico. The autonomous University of Guadalajara is one of several foreign universities that have acceptance criteria that falls far short of most U.S. medical schools.

Foreign doctors must still pass a test to be licensed to practice in the United States, but eight states go even further and have banned or placed restrictions on medical students graduating from certain Caribbean schools. California's medical board has done several site visits.

JOYCE HADNOT, MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA: When we go out and we find that some schools may or may not actually provide them with the level of education that would ensure that they can come back to the United States and practice medicine on our consumers. SYLVESTER: Dr. Nabut denies a connection between his medical mistakes and his education. In a statement, he said, "I have been practicing medicine without incident since then. They were unfortunate events. I did my best to avoid them. I have been through the system and have already been disciplined for them."

DR. SIDNEY WOLFE, CO-AUTHOR, "WORST PILLS/BEST PILLS": In this country, about 100 years ago almost, the worst medical schools were pretty much knocked out of existence. That has not happened, at least in some other countries.

SYLVESTER: John Nesteruk still has a high regard for doctors in general. He just wishes he never crossed paths with the medical doctor who graduated from Guadalajara.

SYLVESTER (on camera): Three of Dr. Nabut's patients were awarded $50 million, but they have seen very little of that money because Dr. Nabut did not have malpractice insurance. His medical license was suspended in 1999, but it was recently reinstated. So he continues to practice in Florida.

Lisa Sylvester, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And for more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/health.

And here is what is all new coming up in the second hour of DAYBREAK.

Lawyers launch opening salvos later today in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial. We will get a live update.

Also, are you paying too much in taxes? Of course you are, and for things you might think are absolutely ridiculous.

We'll be right back.

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