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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports

A look at Protesters Outside of Hospice Occupied by Terri Schiavo

Aired March 28, 2005 - 17:00   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.


ANNOUNCER: Happening now: we're waiting for the first public comments in two days by the lawyer for Terri Schiavo's husband, Michael, and for news conference by the father of the brain-damaged woman. He says she's failing, but also says it's not to late for the authorities to step in.
Stand by, for WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Double jeopardy in the disaster zone: they're heading for higher ground, as a massive earthquake rocks the area where last year's tsunami struck

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This looks like a fraternal twin of the December 26th earthquake.

KING: A final plea from Terri Schiavo's father.

ROBERT SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: All we need is, if it's not too late, for someone to save her.

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: I've done what I can do. I can't do more than what the law allows me to do.

Fallout from the Schiavo protest: 600 children forced out of their nearby school.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The protesters are getting much more aggressive, more unstable. The environment is changing there quite a bit

KING: We'll look at the people behind the picket signs.

Three months after the battle, the U.S. finally won the war in Falluja.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE SOLDIER: Folks can let their kids play soccer on the streets and in the fields. There's -- when you go in, there's a vibrance inside of the town, of fruit markets, butcher shops, kids selling fish they caught in the river.

KING: Wolf reports from the front lines in Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE) ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Monday, March 28, 2005.

KING: Thanks for joining us. I'm John King; Wolf is on assignment today.

A powerful, deadly earthquake struck Indonesia today, triggering fears of another tsunami in the same region devastated by the giant killer wave just three months ago. The quake had a magnitude of 8.5. A government official says at least 50 people were killed. There are reports of up to 290 dead; 100 others are injured, and about 300 homes are destroyed on the island of Nias, near the epicenter of the quake, which is off one of Indonesia's main islands, Sumatra.

Tsunami warnings were issued in Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and Japan. So far, though, only one small tsunami rolled into Australia's remote Cocos Island. Perhaps the greatest fear was in Banda Aceh, the Indonesian city hardest hit in December. Scores of people ran into the nighttime streets, many crying and praying.

There are reports of injuries and widespread damage in other areas of Indonesia and residents in coastal regions are being urged to evacuate to higher ground.

Joining us, now, live, with the latest from the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, is CNN's Kathy Quiano.

Kathy, what is the latest?

KATHY QUIANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, it's 5:00 a.m. in Western Indonesia right now. It's pitch dark. Power lines have been cut off, and local officials we spoke to just moments ago, said that there could be hundreds that were killed in this earthquake, maybe more injured, possibly still trapped under rubble of the damaged homes and buildings. He said the public market is on fire. He's going around the city trying to assess the damage, but, again, it is still very dark, and we'll only get a clearer picture of how much damage this earthquake has caused when light comes in about an hour or two. John?

KING: Kathy, is there an advantage, if you will, to the government, that there are resources already on the ground, across Sumatra, especially in Banda Aceh, because of the disaster three months ago -- there are government resources there for the reconstruction, there are various aid groups on the ground. I assume that's an advantage?

QUIANO: That's definitely an advantage, John.

There are more than 1,000 aid workers on the ground working and starting -- actually, the government has just shifted from relief operations to rehabilitation and, later on, reconstruction. So we have eight or nine organizations that are both local and international, and money is pouring in.

Also, there is -- the security forces have been beefed up in the area, and this will surely help once we know how much damage has been caused. John?

KING: Kathy, of course, the greatest fear on the ground would be of another tsunami following the earthquake. Based on your reporting, no evidence at all, correct, that any tsunamis came ashore in Indonesia? We had the small one in Cocos Island?

QUIANO: That's correct. The experts and the National Earthquake Center people that we spoke to earlier said that a tsunami would have occurred already, and it hasn't. And they all said that there weren't enough factors for a tsunami to follow this earthquake. John?

KING: Kathy Quiano in our Jakarta, Indonesia, bureau. Kathy, thank you for all of your terrific work today.

With me now with a scientific assessment of today's earthquake, Patrick Leahy, the associate director for geology at the U.S. Geological Survey.

Let's begin, sir, with just basic geography. Where was this quake compared to the quake in December?

PATRICK LEAHY, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY: Well, this quake was located approximately 125 miles south of the December 26th earthquake, about the same distance off-shore.

It was the same type of earthquake, in terms of something seismologists call a "subduction zone earthquake." Subduction zone is where two of the earth's plates are grinding together with one sliding beneath another, and frankly, perfect setting for the creation of tsunamis.

There are some differences. The December 26th quake, the rupture basically moved northwest, tear in the earth moved in that direction. This particular case, the rupture moved southeast, so, again, that may have something to do with the fact that that small island off Australia did see a small tsunami.

KING: A small tsunami. Is the danger passed for anyone else, or is there still a risk and where would it be?

LEAHY: Tsunami waves move very, very fast across open oceans, typically four to five hundred miles per hour, and of course, associated with that 8.7 magnitude earthquake. They would have migrated to other land masses by now.

KING: And, so, we would know if there's any more devastation to come.

LEAHY: Exactly. But keep in mind, a magnitude 8.7 earthquake creates severe shaking, and certainly some of the photographs coming out show the devastation done, just from the collapse of structures associated with that severe shaking.

KING: As you well know, one of the questions -- one of the demands after the December tsunami and earthquake -- was to get more early warning systems in place. Too soon for that to be in place at all?

LEAHY: I think what's happening and what we've seen in this event is a greater public awareness of the threat of tsunamis in the Indian Ocean. And, frankly, people's behavior reflected that awareness. There will be additional instrumentation.

My own organization, the U.S. Geological Survey, maintains 130 seismic stations globally. Almost all of those are real-time stations but not all, and the ones that are not real-time are basically being upgraded. But it's just been too soon to get those enhancements installed yet.

KING: Reports now are up to 290 people killed. There certainly will be more deaths found as people search through the rubble.

After a quake of this magnitude, what is your sense -- what is the biggest worry, if you will -- more after shocks?

LEAHY: Well, one has to keep an eye on the after shocks, and there have been two after shocks that have occurred already, a magnitude six and a magnitude 6.7. Obviously, there needs to be research done to look at the mechanics of this fault, in terms of what kind of displacements took place, why there wasn't a tsunami in that setting. And, of course, that's research that will come over the next months to year.

KING: Patrick Leahy at the U.S. Geological Survey. Sir, thank you very much for your time.

LEAHY: Thank you, John.

KING: And despite the deadly and destructive nature of today's earthquake, it pales in comparison to the 9.0 quake and the tsunami on that hit South Asia on December 26th. 169,710 people were killed. Indonesia was the hardest hit, more than 122,000 are confirmed dead, more than 114,000 remain missing. In Sri Lanka, more than 30,000 were killed. In India, more than 10,000 lost their lives, and in Thailand, the death toll was more than 5,000.

Moving on now, Terri Schiavo's father says there's still time to keep his daughter alive. Bob Schindler appeared before reporters in Florida today and again urged authorities to reconnect his brain- damaged daughter's feeding tube, saying ,"she's failing, but she's still with us." Supporters of the Schindlers continue their vigil outside the hospice. They want Congress or Florida governor Jeb Bush to take new steps to intervene. Governor Bush says that his heart is broken, but there's nothing more he can do to get that feeding tube reconnected.

Now, a closer look at today's developments in Schiavo case. Let's start with CNN National Correspondent Susan Candiotti outside the hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, John.

It's been another day of high stakes and emotion on a very windy day here in Pinellas Park, Florida, in the battle over what should happen with Terri Schiavo. It's been a busy scene out here again today, with another prayer vigil, very commonly seen out here, and characters who feel very strongly on both sides of this issue. Whether Terri Schiavo's feeding tube should be reinserted, whether, as you pointed out, Florida governor Jeb Bush or Congress should get involved at this stage, step in and take over, or as some say, whether Terri Schiavo should be able to die with dignity, as they put it.

Now, some people continue to side with Michael Schiavo, Terri's husband, and there are a lot of people out here, not so many as the protesters, of course, but some are out here making their presence known. There are other people, for example, one woman I saw who was dressed in a homemade camouflage outfit that says "SWAT Team" written on it.

Terri Schindler's father Robert did visit his daughter here today as he does every day. He is never crossing paths with Michael Schiavo, however. In his words, his daughter is "fighting like hell to live." However, he is expressing some concern about how the hospice is treating terri.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: I'm sure that she's still in discomfort. And I have a grave concern that they'll expedite the process to kill her with an overdose of morphine, because that's the procedure that happens. And she has to be saved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now, that prompted a rare response from a spokesperson for the hospice who said the following, "We are not going to do anything to hasten or postpone natural death. That's just fundamental to a hospice. We are trying to provide comfort to the patient as well as to the family."

Now, in just a little while from now, we are expecting a news conference from the attorney representing Michael Schiavo. And after that are expecting a response from family members here at the hospice site.

Back to you, John.

KING: Susan Candiotti tracking developments for us on another difficult day at the hospice in Florida, thank you very much.

And now for a look at today's protests and the protesters.

Let's go to CNN's Mary Snow.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, since March 18, the day that Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed, there have been protesters here outside the hospice. Since then police here in Pinellas Park, Florida, say there have been 39 arrests, 5 of them from Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the bond.

SNOW (voice-over): There have been prayers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let Terri live!

SNOW: Protests, and politics.

RANDALL TERRY, OPERATION RESCUE: If she dies, there's going to be hell to pay.

SNOW: Outside Terri Schiavo's hospice, protesters have kept an around the clock vigil. Divided on their purpose for being there, they are united in feeling their presence makes a difference.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just stand here day after day and I feel so helpless that I can't do anything, and that in our great country that this is actually happening to this decent girl.

SNOW: 40-year-old Christina Brusco (ph) says she's a student and she's Catholic. She lives about an hour from the hospice. Others traveled further, like 25-year-old Ernie Inson (ph) from Mobile, Alabama. He describes himself as a street creature.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would consider myself a Bible believing Christian. As far as the Christian right conservative, I don't even think George W. Bush, the man talks out of both sides of his mouth.

SNOW: Some of the protesters come for a different reason. Thirty-five-year-old Raymond Simmons (ph) of Tampa describes himself as a retired soldier. He's here to protest the government's intervention in the case.

This is first time I actually took a stand that gives me something against the constitution or any other right. But this is my first.

SNOW: Others say they mostly protest abortion, like high school teacher Alen Smith (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What was happening out here was totally wrong. We are a nation of laws, not a nation of judges.

SNOW: Others, like these protesters, say they came to protest the anti-abortion movement and Randall Terry, the founder of Operation Rescue. He has once again re-emerged to the national spotlight, acting as a spokesman for the Schindler family.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW: Now, you might be able to see behind me a crowd at the entrance to the hospice, this as someone else tries to get in to bring water to Terri Schiavo. There's been one arrest made today. Also there is an elementary school down the block, and more than 600 school children and their teachers were moved to another location. The school superintendent saying that the protests have become more aggressive, the signs more graphic and he didn't want the children to be exposed to that -- John.

KING: And Mary, this massive crowd behind you, how are the protesters, regardless of which side of this debate they're on, how are they getting their information?

Are they listening to the radio?

Are they asking the reporters questions?

How are they tracking the latest developments?

SNOW: It's a variety of things. And they're asking -- reporters are also asking people associated with the family who have been here outside the hospice getting information. There's a little section over there where cameras have been set up for these impromptu news conferences. So they've been getting some updates through that as well.

KING: Mary Snow in the middle of it all in Pinellas, Florida. Mary, thank you very much.

Now, we're expecting to hear from Michael Schiavo's attorney and also members of Terri Schiavo's family. We'll bring you those remarks live.

Plus more on that major earthquake that struck Indonesia today. I'll speak with the U.S. agency for International Development director in Jakarta, Indonesia.

New development in the Michael Jackson trial. Will past allegation against the pop star be allowed to take center stage.

And more from Wolf in Iraq. His interview with the out going commander of U.S. Marines in Fallujah. A story you'll see only here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We are moments away, we are told, from a news conference by George Felos, he is the attorney for Michael Schiavo in the Terri Schiavo case in Florida. And Schiavos' parents and their representatives scheduled to speak after that. Let's go back live now to our Mary Snow who is outside the hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida.

Mary, have you this scene unfolding, more than 10 days since the feeding tube was removed. And we're about to have this news conference, what is, to you, the defining question to be answered?

SNOW: The defining question for these protesters, they say, is the fundamental right for the Schindler family to be able to take care of Terri Schiavo. That was -- you know there was a really broad spectrum of protesters from all walks of life. And you know, these protesters have been here around the clock. Some of them sleeping in sleeping bags overnight. And they've come every day. Just a couple of dozen really and not a tremendous amount of protesters. But their presence has been here since that very day when her feeding tube was taken out.

Now you probably see behind me there's a crowd every time someone tries to symbolically bring water into Terri Schiavo a crowd will gather around her. They were cheering this person on before. One arrest had been made earlier this morning. For the most part, they're pretty peaceful, though. Over the weekend, there was some aggressiveness yesterday with some of the protesters. And you may recall that Bobby Schindler, Terri Schiavo's brother had actually stepped in and asked them to calm down. Saying that we're not going to solve this problem today, and that arrests at this point are not going to help the situation.

KING: And Mary, more than 10 days now since the feeding tube was removed. You mentioned the protesters there over the weekend. Has the mood changed at all as the days add up, if you will?

Is there a sense of resignation that perhaps their efforts, their protests, their demands that the feeding tube be reinserted will not be met?

SNOW: A sense of desperation, John, you can sense among the protesters. And actually, the tone now has changed over the days. Last week, they were more peaceful and prayerful. But we are seeing some of the protests get a bit more heated as these past couple of days have gone on. Also over the weekend, at one point, police had to kind of walk down two blocks to try and prevent about 25 people coming in, because protesters had become somewhat more heated.

So you do sense that there has been a change in tone over the weekend. Today, mostly peaceful, but as you can see, there are times when people are still continuing to try to bring Terri Schiavo some water as a symbolic gesture.

KING: Mary stand by, if you can. I want to bring Susan Candiotti into the discussion as well. Susan, you've covered this case for many years. And one of the sad subplots of it is how the two sides, Michael Schiavo and his attorney and the Schindler family, essentially compete. As we await for information on Terri Schiavo's health, her condition, you have dueling news conferences, if you will.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure. And I guess that's to be expected certainly as one side gets information or they want to make a point; then the other side of course will want to weigh in as well. That's human nature.

And yet, despite all the coverage on this, I know as I talk with people in the area and outside of the area, it's still very surprising to me in many ways that still many people still don't have a grasp of the main issues here and are still uninformed about many of the key points involved here.

There is still discussion and argument, even though the plans have been in place for quite some time, as an example, about how Terri will be buried eventually when that day comes. Michael Schiavo has plans to have his wife cremated and buried in a family plot in Philadelphia, his home. Terri Schiavo's parents, sister and brother, want her to stay in this area and are opposed to having her cremated, because they say that is against the Catholic faith, and want her to remain here so that they can be closer to her to visit her burial site.

So even in death, eventually when that comes one day, there is a dispute -- John.

KING: Susan Candiotti, stand by there outside the hospice. We have correspondents covering every angle of this story. I want to bring in now Randi Kaye, who is Dunedin, Florida, where we are expecting that news conference from George Felos, the attorney for Michael Schiavo. Randi, from your perspective, what is the biggest question to be answered on this day?

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think the biggest question here, John, is what is the real condition of Terri Schiavo. Over the weekend here, we heard from George Felos, outside his office here in Dunedin, and he had talked quite a bit about her condition. He had spent some time with her at the hospice, about 20 minutes in her room, and she says that she looked beautiful to him. He said that in all the time he's known her, he's never seen her more at peace. Her skin was not chapped, her lips were not bleeding, as there had been some -- some of that had been said. He said she just looked absolutely at peace.

So I think the question is with the dueling news conferences and the family coming out and saying that she was in terrible shape, and Bobby Schindler, her brother, coming out and saying that he wouldn't even recommend his parents go in to the hospice and see their daughter, that this was so awful in his opinion.

So I think what we really need to clarify here is exactly how Terri Schiavo is doing, and also the issue of the morphine. There had been some accusations by Bob Schindler, her father, today coming out and speaking about whether or not the hospice would give her too much morphine, and so we're waiting to get an answer on that. And I'm now being told that we have seen George Felos. He's on his way down, he makes his way down from the upstairs office here at his office. And there has been a sighting of him. He's still not in sight, but we should expect him here just about any minute. He's walking down the steps, and on his way over here to the microphones. So I am going to duck out of the way and let you listen to what George Felos has to say today about Terri Schiavo's condition.

GEORGE FELOS, MICHAEL SCHIAVO'S ATTORNEY: Good afternoon, everyone. I didn't expect to be here making another statement. Last time I was here, you all reported to me that the Schindlers had stated that they wouldn't be making any subsequent statements, that they wouldn't be making any subsequent statements -- well, hold on a second.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right behind you. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(CROSSTALK) FELOS: Unfortunately, I don't have any time for any other clients right now.

(LAUGHTER)

As I was mentioning, I didn't think I would be making another statement, but there have been a number of statements made that we believe needed clarification.

First of all, I visited with Terri this afternoon at the hospice, spent about, oh, an hour and 15, an hour and 20 minutes there this afternoon. It's the first time I saw Terri since I was there two days ago. Her condition for the most part seemed the same, when I walked into the room. She looked very peaceful, she looked calm. There was music playing in the room. There were flowers in the room. Underneath Terri's arm was a stuffed animal of a tabby cat.

Terri is -- I would say the primary difference was that Terri's eyes do look more sunken than when I saw her last, and also her breathing was a little on the rapid side.

I wanted to also be very factually accurate about her condition, because there have been a lot of things said. And so I had an opportunity to review the medical chart along with some of the hospice staff.

When I was here on Saturday, I was asked if Terri had any morphine. And I answered, "not to my knowledge, I didn't see any administered." So I specifically asked the hospice staff about that. And morphine was administered to Mrs. Schiavo on two occasions. At 3:00 in the morning on March 19th, and at 1:55 in the morning on March 26th. The morphine delivered was five milligrams, which was delivered through a compound in a suppository.

I am told that five milligrams is the lowest possible dose of morphine to administer -- administer in that manner. I am also told that for patients in pain, such as cancer patients, doses of morphine anywhere from 30, 50, 100, 150, 200 milligrams on a continuing basis is often -- is often the case. Also regarding her -- oh, and Mrs. Schiavo is not on a morphine drip. She has never been on a morphine drip. That is absolutely -- that is absolutely false. And again, the doses -- the dose of five milligrams in this manner, I was told, was about as low or as small as a dose as could be -- as could be given.

In addition to that, the only other -- and also, my information is that the administration of the five milligrams of morphine through a suppository lasts approximately four hours. And again, the last administration was at 1:55 a.m. on March 26th. That was the second of two. And that was two and a half days ago.

Mrs. Schiavo's pulse is described by the nursing staff as thready. Also, she's had no urine output since last night.

But again, Mrs. Schiavo's appearance to me was very calm, very relaxed, very peaceful. There was no -- I saw no evidence of any bodily discomfort whatsoever. That's one thing I wanted to say. The second thing is there was some dispute or information regarding the administration of communion. Pursuant to the court's order, as you'll recall, Mrs. Schiavo was to receive the sacrament prior to the removal of the feeding tube on March 18th, which occurred, and was also to receive the sacrament on one other occasion. That did occur yesterday on Easter, at approximately 4:00 p.m. The spiritual adviser of Mr. and Mrs. Schindler was notified in advance as the court ordered. And it is my understanding that a drop of wine was administered, was put on Mrs. Schiavo's lip by the hospice chaplain, and on the hand of the hospice chaplain was the hand of the Schindlers' spiritual adviser. That occurred Sunday at 4 p.m.

Also, I wanted to mention, because there have been many questions about autopsy and cremation, Mr. -- and there are, of course -- I haven't heard them, but it's been reported to me that some persons were questioning Mr. Schiavo's motives in having Mrs. Schiavo cremated. Mr. Schiavo has requested the Pinellas County medical examiner to perform an autopsy on Mrs. Schiavo. He's requested this very strongly. He believes it's important to have the public know the full, the full and massive extent of the damage to Mrs. Schiavo's brain that occurred through the cardiac arrest in 1990.

I am informed that the autopsy will be performed by the chief medical examiner. His name is Dr. John Thogmartin, that he is certified anatomically, clinically and forensically, for purposes of autopsy. And he will be assisted by his staff.

The last thing I wanted to mention before I'll take questions is, we heard reports or statements of Governor Bush, reported statements that he's acknowledged that there's no further legal avenues to take in this case, and that his heart went out to both the Schindlers and to Mr. Schiavo. And we appreciate that expression of sentiment on behalf of Mr. Schiavo.

So, I would be happy to take any questions.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: ... say when Mr. Schiavo actually made the request and...

FELOS: Excuse me.

QUESTION: And can you spell the M.E.'s name for us, please?

FELOS: Yes, Mr. Schiavo -- Mr. Schiavo made the request. And the name is Dr. John Thogmartin, I'm informed, T-H-O-G-M-A-R-T-I-N.

QUESTION: And when did he decide to make that request?

FELOS: Well, this is something that we have contemplated for a few days.

And we've had discussions with the medical examiner or persons with the procedure of obtaining an autopsy for a considerable time prior to this. We didn't feel it was appropriate to talk about an autopsy prior to Mrs. Schiavo's death. But, again, because claims have been made by, I guess, the opponents to carrying out her wishes that there was some motive behind the cremation of Mrs. Schiavo, we felt it was necessary to make that announcement today.

QUESTION: Would this include some kind of a full-body scan that would answer these persistent rumors about broken bones, etcetera, or will it not go that far?

FELOS: Well, I guess you're watching too much "CSI." I don't know. I don't know what procedure they use for performing their autopsy. From what I have heard, it is my information that Dr. Thogmartin has extremely high and well-regarded credentials. And he's the medical examiner in Pinellas County, and we assume and are confident that he'll do an excellent and appropriate job.

QUESTION: Will the results be released?

FELOS: Yes.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) only those two occasions, since it only lasts for four hours?

FELOS: My information from the hospice staff is that they received open-ended orders from the physician, and they administer when they feel appropriate in response to physical symptoms.

That's common in treating hospice patients, and so it was the decision of the -- it was a decision of the hospice nurses. I did -- in the nurses' notes, and this is from the second time the morphine suppository was administered, that the nurse's note stated light moaning and facial grimacing and tensing of arms. So, that was the physical symptom which led the nurse to make that decision.

QUESTION: Why was Mr. Schiavo not present for this meeting yesterday?

FELOS: Well, the -- at the communion yesterday, in addition to the Schindlers' spiritual advisers adviser, I believe that Mrs. Schiavo's siblings were present at that time, with additional friends or associates. And Mr. Schiavo just did not feel it was appropriate to be in the room with the -- with Terri's siblings at that time.

However, after that communion was administered and the siblings left, Mr. Schiavo did enter the room just with the hospice chaplain and prayers were said. And the -- what's called a spiritual communion, the prayers for the sick. And also the anointing of Terri Schiavo was performed by the hospice chaplain solely in the presence of Mr. Schiavo.

QUESTION: Has the hospice indicated whether they're going to be administering any more morphine and has Mr. Schiavo requested that they do so?

FELOS: Mr. Schiavo has not requested any administration of morphine. We're talking about two minuscule doses in an 11-day period that have the effect of one hour. And I would encourage you and the media to talk to your medical advisers about that, to see how minor this was. That's a call, apparently, by the nurse. He hasn't requested it. I'm told that she has received Tylenol by suppository on occasion. And that's -- and that was done if her body temperature elevated a bit.

Yes?

QUESTION: Has there been any agreement yet? On Saturday, you mentioned you were trying to work out an agreement with the Schindlers and their attorney in terms of who could be in the room in Terri's final minutes (OFF-MIKE)

FELOS: I have nothing to further -- I have nothing further or no further information to report on that right now.

QUESTION: In your experience with hospice patients, do you have any idea in your opinion how close she might be to the end?

FELOS: Well, I think most hospice personnel would say, obviously, death is near. Whether it's imminent is another question.

As it's been explained, one of the results of withdrawal of artificial life support is a change in the body's chemistry, their electrolytes. And that may cause a rapid heartbeat or it could cardiac arrest. So, it is possible that Mrs. Schiavo could die momentarily from cardiac arrest. But then, on the other hand, her breathing is not labored. Her -- I mean, her skin tone is fine.

She doesn't -- it doesn't appear from -- it doesn't appear from at least me seeing her -- and, you know, I'm not a doctor by any means. But it doesn't appear that her death is imminent at that moment. But it's just impossible to say.

QUESTION: How is Michael Schiavo doing?

FELOS: Yes.

QUESTION: How will notification of her death be given? How will that happen? Will it come from the court? Will it come from Michael?

FELOS: Well, I would expect -- and I don't know this for sure, but I would presume, that, of course, any family members that are not present at the time would be notified before there's any public announcement whatsoever.

After that, I had received a call from a member of the Associated Press asking me to call them. And they said it would be put on the newswire. I don't know if that's -- it's a fair way to do it. Otherwise, I was just -- I would have put out a press release. But if that's the quickest way to do it, then maybe that's the way that could be done. But I haven't given more thought on that.

KING: George Felos, the attorney for Michael Schiavo, speaking to reporters, describing his latest visit to Terri Schiavo, describing her as near death, but peaceful. We're expecting to hear from members of Schiavo's parents, her parents, the Schindlers, this hour. We'll bring you their remarks live when they happen.

Plus, a strong earthquake strikes the same area hit hard by December's tsunami. We'll get a live update from Jakarta.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Welcome back.

We're expecting shortly a news conference from the family of Terri Schiavo's parents. And we'll bring it to you live when it happens.

In the meantime, a look at other stories now in the news.

Michael Jackson's defense team suffered a major legal setback today. The judge ruled that prosecutors will be allowed to present evidence of past molestations allegations against the entertainer. Also today, comedian George Lopez became the first celebrity to testify in the case, talking about the family of the Jackson's accuser. Lopez accused the boy's father of being more interested in money than in his son.

Federal prosecutors in Minnesota say a juvenile has been arrested in connection with last week's school shooting in Red Lake. They won't say what the charges are or what the juvenile's connections to the shootings might be. The gunman, 16-year-old Jeff Weise, killed nine people before committing suicide a week ago.

Another troubling absence today for Pope John Paul II. For the first time in his papacy, he missed the prayer service that traditionally marks the end of Holy Week. The pope also missed Easter mass yesterday, another first for the ailing pontiff.

A powerful earthquake has killed at least 290 people in the Indonesian island of Nias. U.S. officials now say it had a magnitude of 8.7. It was centered in the same area as the giant December quake that caused the tsunami disaster. But officials say, so far, no major waves have struck.

For more on the situation in Indonesia, we're joined on the phone now by William Frej. He's in the capital of Jakarta. And he's the Indonesian mission director for the U.S. agency for International Development.

Mr. Frej, thank you for joining us today. What's the latest information you have, sir, in terms of any devastation, any deaths, destruction caused by this earthquake?

WILLIAM FREJ, MISSION DIRECTOR, USAID: Well, the latest information that we have is that Nias was very heavily damaged. There were hundreds of deaths. And we have reports of up to...

(CROSSTALK) KING: Mr. Frej, my apologies, sir. We know you're in Jakarta.

We need to go live now to Pinellas Park, Florida, the family of Terri Schiavo.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

SUZANNE VITADAMO, SISTER OF TERRI SCHIAVO: She recognizes me. And, you know, I began to talk with Terri, like I always do.

And she does what she always tries to do, is talk. She's weaker, but she's still trying to talk. She has a different look on her face, though. It's -- she made a sound trying to utter like some type of words. But you can't understand her. But I will tell you this. The look on her face is, please, help me. and that's exactly what I get from her when I'm in there. Please, help me. So, she's fighting. She's struggling. And does this sound like somebody that wants to die? I don't think so.

KING: Terri Schiavo's sister Suzanne there presenting a starkly different view than George Felos, the attorney for Michael Schiavo, did just moments ago, saying that Terri Schiavo, her sister, is fighting and that she wants help. George Felos, Michael Schiavo's attorney, just moments ago saying that she was resting peacefully and near death.

More on this story. We'll continue following developments on this story. For now, we'll take a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Returning now to our top story, an 8.7 magnitude earthquake off Indonesia earlier today. For more on the situation, we're joined on the phone again now by William Frej in the capital of Jakarta. He's the mission director for the United States Agency for International Development.

Mr. Frej, thank you for your patience, sir.

FREJ: Yes.

KING: When we were on earlier, you were trying to explain what you know about the devastation and where it is centered.

FREJ: Yes, the most recent reports that we've received is that the island of Nias, which is off the western coast of Sumatra, was very, very heavily damaged.

We have -- receiving reports of 90 to 95 percent of all structures on that island were heavily damaged, with the casual figures now beyond 300. The damage on Nias, though, which did not occur on the March -- on the December 26 earthquake, is relatively limited in terms of the total context of what happened on the 26th of December in Aceh.

The Acehnese last night, when the earthquake hit, many, many of the residents took to high ground. But the Indonesians were relatively prepared. There were loudspeaker systems in place warning people that a tsunami was imminent. And many of the residents, in somewhat of a panic mode, but they all took to the high ground in that city. I think that's a lesson learned from the December 26 earthquake.

KING: And, sir, does USAID or any of the nongovernmental aid organizations in the region, do you have any personnel on Nias?

FREJ: We have no personnel on Nias, although it is my understanding that both CARE and Mercy Corps have -- which are NGOs -- have staff based in Nias that were dealing with the aftermath of the December 26 earthquake. We have staff. The USAID has staff in Banda Aceh right now, along with a whole cadre of American NGOs still working on the tail end of the relief phase of our humanitarian assistance program.

KING: And will some of those resources now be diverted and, for example, with the rubble in Nias, obviously not of the scope of three months ago, but will there be search-and-rescue teams going in, dog teams going in?

FREJ: Yes. I mean, I would guess that we're going to be sending -- we have a DART representative right now in Banda Aceh. And I would strongly recommend that.

We have our mobile -- our resources mobilized immediately to go on to Nias, if, in fact, transportation there is available. Is it a very isolated island. And we're very concerned about the impact the earthquake had on that island right now.

KING: I assume because of the tragedy three months ago, you have the resources and the supplies nearby, which is an advantage, if you will, in this case. Is that correct?

FREJ: We do. We certainly have stockpiled humanitarian relief supplies in Banda Aceh, as well as Medan. But, again, as we encountered in Banda Aceh and the whole Aceh province, transportation, delivering supplies is a very, very, very difficult task. And with Nias and its isolation, it is going to be even more difficult. There's an airport on the island. We don't know yet if it's operable.

KING: You mentioned Aceh Province. I spent some time there after the tsunami. And every time there was an aftershock, people would run panicked from their homes and run to higher ground. What are the reports you're getting from your folks on the ground there?

FREJ: Everyone ran to higher ground. An 8.7 earthquake is a major earthquake. And our staff in Banda Aceh, our NGO groups working very, very hard on the relief effort, everyone left their premises and went as quickly as possible to higher ground.

KING: And, sir, help us understand the scope still of the refugee problem in Aceh and elsewhere. How many people are still living in these camps? FREJ: There are currently over 400,000 people living in camps and that are without shelter. And it's got to be -- shelter, the provision of shelter must be a major component of the next phase of reconstruction in Aceh, because there are still many internally displaced people.

KING: William Frej, mission director for the U.S. Agency For International Development, joining us live on the phone from Jakarta, Indonesia.

Sir, thank you for your thoughts. And we wish you good luck as you try to help yet again in the days ahead.

FREJ: Thank you, John.

KING: Thank you, sir.

We'll update new developments in the Terri Schiavo case just ahead. Plus, a positive trend in Iraq. We'll have a report from our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: When it comes to abuses by members of the United States military, the Abu Ghraib prison scandal was a low point.

But, our Barbara Starr reports, things may be looking up.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Even as some U.S. troops have faced criminal charges of prisoner abuse in Afghanistan and Iraq, including the Abu Ghraib scandal that stunned the world, CNN has learned, the number of reported cases has dropped dramatically.

The latest statistics obtained by CNN show that, from April 2004 through the end of the year, abuse reports recorded by the Army dropped more than 70 percent. Why? Officials credit better training for troops, improved prison conditions and clear interrogation procedures. At the same time, Army numbers show, 68 detainees have died in Army custody since 2002 in Afghanistan and Iraq. And 24 of those cases are confirmed or suspected homicides.

Overall, 308 abuse cases were reported since 2002, with 107 still under investigation. Some examples, new details are emerging in the case of a U.S. soldier charged with beating a detainee to death at Bagram Air Base in 2002. Military investigators say the Afghan had his hands chained to a ceiling and was then beaten for days, the result, eventually destroying his leg muscle tissue with repeated unlawful knee strikes.

And, at the San Diego Naval Base, a court-martial is planned this spring for a Navy SEAL charged with abusing this prisoner in Iraq in 2003. A suspect in a bombing attack, Manadel al-Jamadi died a few hours after being turned over to the CIA at Abu Ghraib. On Capitol Hill, some lawmakers are asking questions.

SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: So there's been no assessment of accountability of any senior officials, either within or outside of the Department of Defense, for policies that may have contributed to abuses of prisoners.

STARR: The Pentagon insists, multiple investigations have found no overall problem.

VICE ADM. ALBERT CHURCH, U.S. NAVY: Clearly, there was no policy, written or otherwise, at any level that directed or condoned torture or abuse.

STARR (on camera): Still, critics believe the problem is more widespread than the military would like to acknowledge. More than 100 cases of alleged abuse by U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan remain under investigation.

Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: Updates on our top stories just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Recapping our top story, a powerful earthquake struck off Indonesia's western coast, the same area of the catastrophic quake and tsunami three months ago. Today's quake killed at least 290 people on the island of Nias. So far, only one report of a tsunami, a small one, rolling into Australia's remote Cocos Islands.

Ten days after her feeding tube removed, the father of Terri Schiavo says she's failing, but is calling again on authorities to -- quote -- "save" the severely brain-damaged woman. Bob Schindler says he's concerned the hospice could -- quote -- "kill her" with an overdose for morphine. The lawyer for her husband, Michael, says Terri Schiavo has only received two very small doses of morphine. He describes Terri Schiavo as near death, but says she appears -- quote -- "very calm."

Reacting to that just a few minutes ago, Terri Schiavo's sister said Terri is -- quote -- "fighting."

Thanks for joining us. Wolf will be back tomorrow. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" 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 March 28, 2005 - 17:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANNOUNCER: Happening now: we're waiting for the first public comments in two days by the lawyer for Terri Schiavo's husband, Michael, and for news conference by the father of the brain-damaged woman. He says she's failing, but also says it's not to late for the authorities to step in.
Stand by, for WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Double jeopardy in the disaster zone: they're heading for higher ground, as a massive earthquake rocks the area where last year's tsunami struck

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This looks like a fraternal twin of the December 26th earthquake.

KING: A final plea from Terri Schiavo's father.

ROBERT SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: All we need is, if it's not too late, for someone to save her.

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: I've done what I can do. I can't do more than what the law allows me to do.

Fallout from the Schiavo protest: 600 children forced out of their nearby school.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The protesters are getting much more aggressive, more unstable. The environment is changing there quite a bit

KING: We'll look at the people behind the picket signs.

Three months after the battle, the U.S. finally won the war in Falluja.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE SOLDIER: Folks can let their kids play soccer on the streets and in the fields. There's -- when you go in, there's a vibrance inside of the town, of fruit markets, butcher shops, kids selling fish they caught in the river.

KING: Wolf reports from the front lines in Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE) ANNOUNCER: This is WOLF BLITZER REPORTS for Monday, March 28, 2005.

KING: Thanks for joining us. I'm John King; Wolf is on assignment today.

A powerful, deadly earthquake struck Indonesia today, triggering fears of another tsunami in the same region devastated by the giant killer wave just three months ago. The quake had a magnitude of 8.5. A government official says at least 50 people were killed. There are reports of up to 290 dead; 100 others are injured, and about 300 homes are destroyed on the island of Nias, near the epicenter of the quake, which is off one of Indonesia's main islands, Sumatra.

Tsunami warnings were issued in Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and Japan. So far, though, only one small tsunami rolled into Australia's remote Cocos Island. Perhaps the greatest fear was in Banda Aceh, the Indonesian city hardest hit in December. Scores of people ran into the nighttime streets, many crying and praying.

There are reports of injuries and widespread damage in other areas of Indonesia and residents in coastal regions are being urged to evacuate to higher ground.

Joining us, now, live, with the latest from the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, is CNN's Kathy Quiano.

Kathy, what is the latest?

KATHY QUIANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, it's 5:00 a.m. in Western Indonesia right now. It's pitch dark. Power lines have been cut off, and local officials we spoke to just moments ago, said that there could be hundreds that were killed in this earthquake, maybe more injured, possibly still trapped under rubble of the damaged homes and buildings. He said the public market is on fire. He's going around the city trying to assess the damage, but, again, it is still very dark, and we'll only get a clearer picture of how much damage this earthquake has caused when light comes in about an hour or two. John?

KING: Kathy, is there an advantage, if you will, to the government, that there are resources already on the ground, across Sumatra, especially in Banda Aceh, because of the disaster three months ago -- there are government resources there for the reconstruction, there are various aid groups on the ground. I assume that's an advantage?

QUIANO: That's definitely an advantage, John.

There are more than 1,000 aid workers on the ground working and starting -- actually, the government has just shifted from relief operations to rehabilitation and, later on, reconstruction. So we have eight or nine organizations that are both local and international, and money is pouring in.

Also, there is -- the security forces have been beefed up in the area, and this will surely help once we know how much damage has been caused. John?

KING: Kathy, of course, the greatest fear on the ground would be of another tsunami following the earthquake. Based on your reporting, no evidence at all, correct, that any tsunamis came ashore in Indonesia? We had the small one in Cocos Island?

QUIANO: That's correct. The experts and the National Earthquake Center people that we spoke to earlier said that a tsunami would have occurred already, and it hasn't. And they all said that there weren't enough factors for a tsunami to follow this earthquake. John?

KING: Kathy Quiano in our Jakarta, Indonesia, bureau. Kathy, thank you for all of your terrific work today.

With me now with a scientific assessment of today's earthquake, Patrick Leahy, the associate director for geology at the U.S. Geological Survey.

Let's begin, sir, with just basic geography. Where was this quake compared to the quake in December?

PATRICK LEAHY, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY: Well, this quake was located approximately 125 miles south of the December 26th earthquake, about the same distance off-shore.

It was the same type of earthquake, in terms of something seismologists call a "subduction zone earthquake." Subduction zone is where two of the earth's plates are grinding together with one sliding beneath another, and frankly, perfect setting for the creation of tsunamis.

There are some differences. The December 26th quake, the rupture basically moved northwest, tear in the earth moved in that direction. This particular case, the rupture moved southeast, so, again, that may have something to do with the fact that that small island off Australia did see a small tsunami.

KING: A small tsunami. Is the danger passed for anyone else, or is there still a risk and where would it be?

LEAHY: Tsunami waves move very, very fast across open oceans, typically four to five hundred miles per hour, and of course, associated with that 8.7 magnitude earthquake. They would have migrated to other land masses by now.

KING: And, so, we would know if there's any more devastation to come.

LEAHY: Exactly. But keep in mind, a magnitude 8.7 earthquake creates severe shaking, and certainly some of the photographs coming out show the devastation done, just from the collapse of structures associated with that severe shaking.

KING: As you well know, one of the questions -- one of the demands after the December tsunami and earthquake -- was to get more early warning systems in place. Too soon for that to be in place at all?

LEAHY: I think what's happening and what we've seen in this event is a greater public awareness of the threat of tsunamis in the Indian Ocean. And, frankly, people's behavior reflected that awareness. There will be additional instrumentation.

My own organization, the U.S. Geological Survey, maintains 130 seismic stations globally. Almost all of those are real-time stations but not all, and the ones that are not real-time are basically being upgraded. But it's just been too soon to get those enhancements installed yet.

KING: Reports now are up to 290 people killed. There certainly will be more deaths found as people search through the rubble.

After a quake of this magnitude, what is your sense -- what is the biggest worry, if you will -- more after shocks?

LEAHY: Well, one has to keep an eye on the after shocks, and there have been two after shocks that have occurred already, a magnitude six and a magnitude 6.7. Obviously, there needs to be research done to look at the mechanics of this fault, in terms of what kind of displacements took place, why there wasn't a tsunami in that setting. And, of course, that's research that will come over the next months to year.

KING: Patrick Leahy at the U.S. Geological Survey. Sir, thank you very much for your time.

LEAHY: Thank you, John.

KING: And despite the deadly and destructive nature of today's earthquake, it pales in comparison to the 9.0 quake and the tsunami on that hit South Asia on December 26th. 169,710 people were killed. Indonesia was the hardest hit, more than 122,000 are confirmed dead, more than 114,000 remain missing. In Sri Lanka, more than 30,000 were killed. In India, more than 10,000 lost their lives, and in Thailand, the death toll was more than 5,000.

Moving on now, Terri Schiavo's father says there's still time to keep his daughter alive. Bob Schindler appeared before reporters in Florida today and again urged authorities to reconnect his brain- damaged daughter's feeding tube, saying ,"she's failing, but she's still with us." Supporters of the Schindlers continue their vigil outside the hospice. They want Congress or Florida governor Jeb Bush to take new steps to intervene. Governor Bush says that his heart is broken, but there's nothing more he can do to get that feeding tube reconnected.

Now, a closer look at today's developments in Schiavo case. Let's start with CNN National Correspondent Susan Candiotti outside the hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, John.

It's been another day of high stakes and emotion on a very windy day here in Pinellas Park, Florida, in the battle over what should happen with Terri Schiavo. It's been a busy scene out here again today, with another prayer vigil, very commonly seen out here, and characters who feel very strongly on both sides of this issue. Whether Terri Schiavo's feeding tube should be reinserted, whether, as you pointed out, Florida governor Jeb Bush or Congress should get involved at this stage, step in and take over, or as some say, whether Terri Schiavo should be able to die with dignity, as they put it.

Now, some people continue to side with Michael Schiavo, Terri's husband, and there are a lot of people out here, not so many as the protesters, of course, but some are out here making their presence known. There are other people, for example, one woman I saw who was dressed in a homemade camouflage outfit that says "SWAT Team" written on it.

Terri Schindler's father Robert did visit his daughter here today as he does every day. He is never crossing paths with Michael Schiavo, however. In his words, his daughter is "fighting like hell to live." However, he is expressing some concern about how the hospice is treating terri.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: I'm sure that she's still in discomfort. And I have a grave concern that they'll expedite the process to kill her with an overdose of morphine, because that's the procedure that happens. And she has to be saved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Now, that prompted a rare response from a spokesperson for the hospice who said the following, "We are not going to do anything to hasten or postpone natural death. That's just fundamental to a hospice. We are trying to provide comfort to the patient as well as to the family."

Now, in just a little while from now, we are expecting a news conference from the attorney representing Michael Schiavo. And after that are expecting a response from family members here at the hospice site.

Back to you, John.

KING: Susan Candiotti tracking developments for us on another difficult day at the hospice in Florida, thank you very much.

And now for a look at today's protests and the protesters.

Let's go to CNN's Mary Snow.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, since March 18, the day that Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed, there have been protesters here outside the hospice. Since then police here in Pinellas Park, Florida, say there have been 39 arrests, 5 of them from Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the bond.

SNOW (voice-over): There have been prayers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let Terri live!

SNOW: Protests, and politics.

RANDALL TERRY, OPERATION RESCUE: If she dies, there's going to be hell to pay.

SNOW: Outside Terri Schiavo's hospice, protesters have kept an around the clock vigil. Divided on their purpose for being there, they are united in feeling their presence makes a difference.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just stand here day after day and I feel so helpless that I can't do anything, and that in our great country that this is actually happening to this decent girl.

SNOW: 40-year-old Christina Brusco (ph) says she's a student and she's Catholic. She lives about an hour from the hospice. Others traveled further, like 25-year-old Ernie Inson (ph) from Mobile, Alabama. He describes himself as a street creature.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would consider myself a Bible believing Christian. As far as the Christian right conservative, I don't even think George W. Bush, the man talks out of both sides of his mouth.

SNOW: Some of the protesters come for a different reason. Thirty-five-year-old Raymond Simmons (ph) of Tampa describes himself as a retired soldier. He's here to protest the government's intervention in the case.

This is first time I actually took a stand that gives me something against the constitution or any other right. But this is my first.

SNOW: Others say they mostly protest abortion, like high school teacher Alen Smith (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What was happening out here was totally wrong. We are a nation of laws, not a nation of judges.

SNOW: Others, like these protesters, say they came to protest the anti-abortion movement and Randall Terry, the founder of Operation Rescue. He has once again re-emerged to the national spotlight, acting as a spokesman for the Schindler family.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW: Now, you might be able to see behind me a crowd at the entrance to the hospice, this as someone else tries to get in to bring water to Terri Schiavo. There's been one arrest made today. Also there is an elementary school down the block, and more than 600 school children and their teachers were moved to another location. The school superintendent saying that the protests have become more aggressive, the signs more graphic and he didn't want the children to be exposed to that -- John.

KING: And Mary, this massive crowd behind you, how are the protesters, regardless of which side of this debate they're on, how are they getting their information?

Are they listening to the radio?

Are they asking the reporters questions?

How are they tracking the latest developments?

SNOW: It's a variety of things. And they're asking -- reporters are also asking people associated with the family who have been here outside the hospice getting information. There's a little section over there where cameras have been set up for these impromptu news conferences. So they've been getting some updates through that as well.

KING: Mary Snow in the middle of it all in Pinellas, Florida. Mary, thank you very much.

Now, we're expecting to hear from Michael Schiavo's attorney and also members of Terri Schiavo's family. We'll bring you those remarks live.

Plus more on that major earthquake that struck Indonesia today. I'll speak with the U.S. agency for International Development director in Jakarta, Indonesia.

New development in the Michael Jackson trial. Will past allegation against the pop star be allowed to take center stage.

And more from Wolf in Iraq. His interview with the out going commander of U.S. Marines in Fallujah. A story you'll see only here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We are moments away, we are told, from a news conference by George Felos, he is the attorney for Michael Schiavo in the Terri Schiavo case in Florida. And Schiavos' parents and their representatives scheduled to speak after that. Let's go back live now to our Mary Snow who is outside the hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida.

Mary, have you this scene unfolding, more than 10 days since the feeding tube was removed. And we're about to have this news conference, what is, to you, the defining question to be answered?

SNOW: The defining question for these protesters, they say, is the fundamental right for the Schindler family to be able to take care of Terri Schiavo. That was -- you know there was a really broad spectrum of protesters from all walks of life. And you know, these protesters have been here around the clock. Some of them sleeping in sleeping bags overnight. And they've come every day. Just a couple of dozen really and not a tremendous amount of protesters. But their presence has been here since that very day when her feeding tube was taken out.

Now you probably see behind me there's a crowd every time someone tries to symbolically bring water into Terri Schiavo a crowd will gather around her. They were cheering this person on before. One arrest had been made earlier this morning. For the most part, they're pretty peaceful, though. Over the weekend, there was some aggressiveness yesterday with some of the protesters. And you may recall that Bobby Schindler, Terri Schiavo's brother had actually stepped in and asked them to calm down. Saying that we're not going to solve this problem today, and that arrests at this point are not going to help the situation.

KING: And Mary, more than 10 days now since the feeding tube was removed. You mentioned the protesters there over the weekend. Has the mood changed at all as the days add up, if you will?

Is there a sense of resignation that perhaps their efforts, their protests, their demands that the feeding tube be reinserted will not be met?

SNOW: A sense of desperation, John, you can sense among the protesters. And actually, the tone now has changed over the days. Last week, they were more peaceful and prayerful. But we are seeing some of the protests get a bit more heated as these past couple of days have gone on. Also over the weekend, at one point, police had to kind of walk down two blocks to try and prevent about 25 people coming in, because protesters had become somewhat more heated.

So you do sense that there has been a change in tone over the weekend. Today, mostly peaceful, but as you can see, there are times when people are still continuing to try to bring Terri Schiavo some water as a symbolic gesture.

KING: Mary stand by, if you can. I want to bring Susan Candiotti into the discussion as well. Susan, you've covered this case for many years. And one of the sad subplots of it is how the two sides, Michael Schiavo and his attorney and the Schindler family, essentially compete. As we await for information on Terri Schiavo's health, her condition, you have dueling news conferences, if you will.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure. And I guess that's to be expected certainly as one side gets information or they want to make a point; then the other side of course will want to weigh in as well. That's human nature.

And yet, despite all the coverage on this, I know as I talk with people in the area and outside of the area, it's still very surprising to me in many ways that still many people still don't have a grasp of the main issues here and are still uninformed about many of the key points involved here.

There is still discussion and argument, even though the plans have been in place for quite some time, as an example, about how Terri will be buried eventually when that day comes. Michael Schiavo has plans to have his wife cremated and buried in a family plot in Philadelphia, his home. Terri Schiavo's parents, sister and brother, want her to stay in this area and are opposed to having her cremated, because they say that is against the Catholic faith, and want her to remain here so that they can be closer to her to visit her burial site.

So even in death, eventually when that comes one day, there is a dispute -- John.

KING: Susan Candiotti, stand by there outside the hospice. We have correspondents covering every angle of this story. I want to bring in now Randi Kaye, who is Dunedin, Florida, where we are expecting that news conference from George Felos, the attorney for Michael Schiavo. Randi, from your perspective, what is the biggest question to be answered on this day?

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think the biggest question here, John, is what is the real condition of Terri Schiavo. Over the weekend here, we heard from George Felos, outside his office here in Dunedin, and he had talked quite a bit about her condition. He had spent some time with her at the hospice, about 20 minutes in her room, and she says that she looked beautiful to him. He said that in all the time he's known her, he's never seen her more at peace. Her skin was not chapped, her lips were not bleeding, as there had been some -- some of that had been said. He said she just looked absolutely at peace.

So I think the question is with the dueling news conferences and the family coming out and saying that she was in terrible shape, and Bobby Schindler, her brother, coming out and saying that he wouldn't even recommend his parents go in to the hospice and see their daughter, that this was so awful in his opinion.

So I think what we really need to clarify here is exactly how Terri Schiavo is doing, and also the issue of the morphine. There had been some accusations by Bob Schindler, her father, today coming out and speaking about whether or not the hospice would give her too much morphine, and so we're waiting to get an answer on that. And I'm now being told that we have seen George Felos. He's on his way down, he makes his way down from the upstairs office here at his office. And there has been a sighting of him. He's still not in sight, but we should expect him here just about any minute. He's walking down the steps, and on his way over here to the microphones. So I am going to duck out of the way and let you listen to what George Felos has to say today about Terri Schiavo's condition.

GEORGE FELOS, MICHAEL SCHIAVO'S ATTORNEY: Good afternoon, everyone. I didn't expect to be here making another statement. Last time I was here, you all reported to me that the Schindlers had stated that they wouldn't be making any subsequent statements, that they wouldn't be making any subsequent statements -- well, hold on a second.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right behind you. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

(CROSSTALK) FELOS: Unfortunately, I don't have any time for any other clients right now.

(LAUGHTER)

As I was mentioning, I didn't think I would be making another statement, but there have been a number of statements made that we believe needed clarification.

First of all, I visited with Terri this afternoon at the hospice, spent about, oh, an hour and 15, an hour and 20 minutes there this afternoon. It's the first time I saw Terri since I was there two days ago. Her condition for the most part seemed the same, when I walked into the room. She looked very peaceful, she looked calm. There was music playing in the room. There were flowers in the room. Underneath Terri's arm was a stuffed animal of a tabby cat.

Terri is -- I would say the primary difference was that Terri's eyes do look more sunken than when I saw her last, and also her breathing was a little on the rapid side.

I wanted to also be very factually accurate about her condition, because there have been a lot of things said. And so I had an opportunity to review the medical chart along with some of the hospice staff.

When I was here on Saturday, I was asked if Terri had any morphine. And I answered, "not to my knowledge, I didn't see any administered." So I specifically asked the hospice staff about that. And morphine was administered to Mrs. Schiavo on two occasions. At 3:00 in the morning on March 19th, and at 1:55 in the morning on March 26th. The morphine delivered was five milligrams, which was delivered through a compound in a suppository.

I am told that five milligrams is the lowest possible dose of morphine to administer -- administer in that manner. I am also told that for patients in pain, such as cancer patients, doses of morphine anywhere from 30, 50, 100, 150, 200 milligrams on a continuing basis is often -- is often the case. Also regarding her -- oh, and Mrs. Schiavo is not on a morphine drip. She has never been on a morphine drip. That is absolutely -- that is absolutely false. And again, the doses -- the dose of five milligrams in this manner, I was told, was about as low or as small as a dose as could be -- as could be given.

In addition to that, the only other -- and also, my information is that the administration of the five milligrams of morphine through a suppository lasts approximately four hours. And again, the last administration was at 1:55 a.m. on March 26th. That was the second of two. And that was two and a half days ago.

Mrs. Schiavo's pulse is described by the nursing staff as thready. Also, she's had no urine output since last night.

But again, Mrs. Schiavo's appearance to me was very calm, very relaxed, very peaceful. There was no -- I saw no evidence of any bodily discomfort whatsoever. That's one thing I wanted to say. The second thing is there was some dispute or information regarding the administration of communion. Pursuant to the court's order, as you'll recall, Mrs. Schiavo was to receive the sacrament prior to the removal of the feeding tube on March 18th, which occurred, and was also to receive the sacrament on one other occasion. That did occur yesterday on Easter, at approximately 4:00 p.m. The spiritual adviser of Mr. and Mrs. Schindler was notified in advance as the court ordered. And it is my understanding that a drop of wine was administered, was put on Mrs. Schiavo's lip by the hospice chaplain, and on the hand of the hospice chaplain was the hand of the Schindlers' spiritual adviser. That occurred Sunday at 4 p.m.

Also, I wanted to mention, because there have been many questions about autopsy and cremation, Mr. -- and there are, of course -- I haven't heard them, but it's been reported to me that some persons were questioning Mr. Schiavo's motives in having Mrs. Schiavo cremated. Mr. Schiavo has requested the Pinellas County medical examiner to perform an autopsy on Mrs. Schiavo. He's requested this very strongly. He believes it's important to have the public know the full, the full and massive extent of the damage to Mrs. Schiavo's brain that occurred through the cardiac arrest in 1990.

I am informed that the autopsy will be performed by the chief medical examiner. His name is Dr. John Thogmartin, that he is certified anatomically, clinically and forensically, for purposes of autopsy. And he will be assisted by his staff.

The last thing I wanted to mention before I'll take questions is, we heard reports or statements of Governor Bush, reported statements that he's acknowledged that there's no further legal avenues to take in this case, and that his heart went out to both the Schindlers and to Mr. Schiavo. And we appreciate that expression of sentiment on behalf of Mr. Schiavo.

So, I would be happy to take any questions.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: ... say when Mr. Schiavo actually made the request and...

FELOS: Excuse me.

QUESTION: And can you spell the M.E.'s name for us, please?

FELOS: Yes, Mr. Schiavo -- Mr. Schiavo made the request. And the name is Dr. John Thogmartin, I'm informed, T-H-O-G-M-A-R-T-I-N.

QUESTION: And when did he decide to make that request?

FELOS: Well, this is something that we have contemplated for a few days.

And we've had discussions with the medical examiner or persons with the procedure of obtaining an autopsy for a considerable time prior to this. We didn't feel it was appropriate to talk about an autopsy prior to Mrs. Schiavo's death. But, again, because claims have been made by, I guess, the opponents to carrying out her wishes that there was some motive behind the cremation of Mrs. Schiavo, we felt it was necessary to make that announcement today.

QUESTION: Would this include some kind of a full-body scan that would answer these persistent rumors about broken bones, etcetera, or will it not go that far?

FELOS: Well, I guess you're watching too much "CSI." I don't know. I don't know what procedure they use for performing their autopsy. From what I have heard, it is my information that Dr. Thogmartin has extremely high and well-regarded credentials. And he's the medical examiner in Pinellas County, and we assume and are confident that he'll do an excellent and appropriate job.

QUESTION: Will the results be released?

FELOS: Yes.

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) only those two occasions, since it only lasts for four hours?

FELOS: My information from the hospice staff is that they received open-ended orders from the physician, and they administer when they feel appropriate in response to physical symptoms.

That's common in treating hospice patients, and so it was the decision of the -- it was a decision of the hospice nurses. I did -- in the nurses' notes, and this is from the second time the morphine suppository was administered, that the nurse's note stated light moaning and facial grimacing and tensing of arms. So, that was the physical symptom which led the nurse to make that decision.

QUESTION: Why was Mr. Schiavo not present for this meeting yesterday?

FELOS: Well, the -- at the communion yesterday, in addition to the Schindlers' spiritual advisers adviser, I believe that Mrs. Schiavo's siblings were present at that time, with additional friends or associates. And Mr. Schiavo just did not feel it was appropriate to be in the room with the -- with Terri's siblings at that time.

However, after that communion was administered and the siblings left, Mr. Schiavo did enter the room just with the hospice chaplain and prayers were said. And the -- what's called a spiritual communion, the prayers for the sick. And also the anointing of Terri Schiavo was performed by the hospice chaplain solely in the presence of Mr. Schiavo.

QUESTION: Has the hospice indicated whether they're going to be administering any more morphine and has Mr. Schiavo requested that they do so?

FELOS: Mr. Schiavo has not requested any administration of morphine. We're talking about two minuscule doses in an 11-day period that have the effect of one hour. And I would encourage you and the media to talk to your medical advisers about that, to see how minor this was. That's a call, apparently, by the nurse. He hasn't requested it. I'm told that she has received Tylenol by suppository on occasion. And that's -- and that was done if her body temperature elevated a bit.

Yes?

QUESTION: Has there been any agreement yet? On Saturday, you mentioned you were trying to work out an agreement with the Schindlers and their attorney in terms of who could be in the room in Terri's final minutes (OFF-MIKE)

FELOS: I have nothing to further -- I have nothing further or no further information to report on that right now.

QUESTION: In your experience with hospice patients, do you have any idea in your opinion how close she might be to the end?

FELOS: Well, I think most hospice personnel would say, obviously, death is near. Whether it's imminent is another question.

As it's been explained, one of the results of withdrawal of artificial life support is a change in the body's chemistry, their electrolytes. And that may cause a rapid heartbeat or it could cardiac arrest. So, it is possible that Mrs. Schiavo could die momentarily from cardiac arrest. But then, on the other hand, her breathing is not labored. Her -- I mean, her skin tone is fine.

She doesn't -- it doesn't appear from -- it doesn't appear from at least me seeing her -- and, you know, I'm not a doctor by any means. But it doesn't appear that her death is imminent at that moment. But it's just impossible to say.

QUESTION: How is Michael Schiavo doing?

FELOS: Yes.

QUESTION: How will notification of her death be given? How will that happen? Will it come from the court? Will it come from Michael?

FELOS: Well, I would expect -- and I don't know this for sure, but I would presume, that, of course, any family members that are not present at the time would be notified before there's any public announcement whatsoever.

After that, I had received a call from a member of the Associated Press asking me to call them. And they said it would be put on the newswire. I don't know if that's -- it's a fair way to do it. Otherwise, I was just -- I would have put out a press release. But if that's the quickest way to do it, then maybe that's the way that could be done. But I haven't given more thought on that.

KING: George Felos, the attorney for Michael Schiavo, speaking to reporters, describing his latest visit to Terri Schiavo, describing her as near death, but peaceful. We're expecting to hear from members of Schiavo's parents, her parents, the Schindlers, this hour. We'll bring you their remarks live when they happen.

Plus, a strong earthquake strikes the same area hit hard by December's tsunami. We'll get a live update from Jakarta.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Welcome back.

We're expecting shortly a news conference from the family of Terri Schiavo's parents. And we'll bring it to you live when it happens.

In the meantime, a look at other stories now in the news.

Michael Jackson's defense team suffered a major legal setback today. The judge ruled that prosecutors will be allowed to present evidence of past molestations allegations against the entertainer. Also today, comedian George Lopez became the first celebrity to testify in the case, talking about the family of the Jackson's accuser. Lopez accused the boy's father of being more interested in money than in his son.

Federal prosecutors in Minnesota say a juvenile has been arrested in connection with last week's school shooting in Red Lake. They won't say what the charges are or what the juvenile's connections to the shootings might be. The gunman, 16-year-old Jeff Weise, killed nine people before committing suicide a week ago.

Another troubling absence today for Pope John Paul II. For the first time in his papacy, he missed the prayer service that traditionally marks the end of Holy Week. The pope also missed Easter mass yesterday, another first for the ailing pontiff.

A powerful earthquake has killed at least 290 people in the Indonesian island of Nias. U.S. officials now say it had a magnitude of 8.7. It was centered in the same area as the giant December quake that caused the tsunami disaster. But officials say, so far, no major waves have struck.

For more on the situation in Indonesia, we're joined on the phone now by William Frej. He's in the capital of Jakarta. And he's the Indonesian mission director for the U.S. agency for International Development.

Mr. Frej, thank you for joining us today. What's the latest information you have, sir, in terms of any devastation, any deaths, destruction caused by this earthquake?

WILLIAM FREJ, MISSION DIRECTOR, USAID: Well, the latest information that we have is that Nias was very heavily damaged. There were hundreds of deaths. And we have reports of up to...

(CROSSTALK) KING: Mr. Frej, my apologies, sir. We know you're in Jakarta.

We need to go live now to Pinellas Park, Florida, the family of Terri Schiavo.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

SUZANNE VITADAMO, SISTER OF TERRI SCHIAVO: She recognizes me. And, you know, I began to talk with Terri, like I always do.

And she does what she always tries to do, is talk. She's weaker, but she's still trying to talk. She has a different look on her face, though. It's -- she made a sound trying to utter like some type of words. But you can't understand her. But I will tell you this. The look on her face is, please, help me. and that's exactly what I get from her when I'm in there. Please, help me. So, she's fighting. She's struggling. And does this sound like somebody that wants to die? I don't think so.

KING: Terri Schiavo's sister Suzanne there presenting a starkly different view than George Felos, the attorney for Michael Schiavo, did just moments ago, saying that Terri Schiavo, her sister, is fighting and that she wants help. George Felos, Michael Schiavo's attorney, just moments ago saying that she was resting peacefully and near death.

More on this story. We'll continue following developments on this story. For now, we'll take a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Returning now to our top story, an 8.7 magnitude earthquake off Indonesia earlier today. For more on the situation, we're joined on the phone again now by William Frej in the capital of Jakarta. He's the mission director for the United States Agency for International Development.

Mr. Frej, thank you for your patience, sir.

FREJ: Yes.

KING: When we were on earlier, you were trying to explain what you know about the devastation and where it is centered.

FREJ: Yes, the most recent reports that we've received is that the island of Nias, which is off the western coast of Sumatra, was very, very heavily damaged.

We have -- receiving reports of 90 to 95 percent of all structures on that island were heavily damaged, with the casual figures now beyond 300. The damage on Nias, though, which did not occur on the March -- on the December 26 earthquake, is relatively limited in terms of the total context of what happened on the 26th of December in Aceh.

The Acehnese last night, when the earthquake hit, many, many of the residents took to high ground. But the Indonesians were relatively prepared. There were loudspeaker systems in place warning people that a tsunami was imminent. And many of the residents, in somewhat of a panic mode, but they all took to the high ground in that city. I think that's a lesson learned from the December 26 earthquake.

KING: And, sir, does USAID or any of the nongovernmental aid organizations in the region, do you have any personnel on Nias?

FREJ: We have no personnel on Nias, although it is my understanding that both CARE and Mercy Corps have -- which are NGOs -- have staff based in Nias that were dealing with the aftermath of the December 26 earthquake. We have staff. The USAID has staff in Banda Aceh right now, along with a whole cadre of American NGOs still working on the tail end of the relief phase of our humanitarian assistance program.

KING: And will some of those resources now be diverted and, for example, with the rubble in Nias, obviously not of the scope of three months ago, but will there be search-and-rescue teams going in, dog teams going in?

FREJ: Yes. I mean, I would guess that we're going to be sending -- we have a DART representative right now in Banda Aceh. And I would strongly recommend that.

We have our mobile -- our resources mobilized immediately to go on to Nias, if, in fact, transportation there is available. Is it a very isolated island. And we're very concerned about the impact the earthquake had on that island right now.

KING: I assume because of the tragedy three months ago, you have the resources and the supplies nearby, which is an advantage, if you will, in this case. Is that correct?

FREJ: We do. We certainly have stockpiled humanitarian relief supplies in Banda Aceh, as well as Medan. But, again, as we encountered in Banda Aceh and the whole Aceh province, transportation, delivering supplies is a very, very, very difficult task. And with Nias and its isolation, it is going to be even more difficult. There's an airport on the island. We don't know yet if it's operable.

KING: You mentioned Aceh Province. I spent some time there after the tsunami. And every time there was an aftershock, people would run panicked from their homes and run to higher ground. What are the reports you're getting from your folks on the ground there?

FREJ: Everyone ran to higher ground. An 8.7 earthquake is a major earthquake. And our staff in Banda Aceh, our NGO groups working very, very hard on the relief effort, everyone left their premises and went as quickly as possible to higher ground.

KING: And, sir, help us understand the scope still of the refugee problem in Aceh and elsewhere. How many people are still living in these camps? FREJ: There are currently over 400,000 people living in camps and that are without shelter. And it's got to be -- shelter, the provision of shelter must be a major component of the next phase of reconstruction in Aceh, because there are still many internally displaced people.

KING: William Frej, mission director for the U.S. Agency For International Development, joining us live on the phone from Jakarta, Indonesia.

Sir, thank you for your thoughts. And we wish you good luck as you try to help yet again in the days ahead.

FREJ: Thank you, John.

KING: Thank you, sir.

We'll update new developments in the Terri Schiavo case just ahead. Plus, a positive trend in Iraq. We'll have a report from our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: When it comes to abuses by members of the United States military, the Abu Ghraib prison scandal was a low point.

But, our Barbara Starr reports, things may be looking up.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Even as some U.S. troops have faced criminal charges of prisoner abuse in Afghanistan and Iraq, including the Abu Ghraib scandal that stunned the world, CNN has learned, the number of reported cases has dropped dramatically.

The latest statistics obtained by CNN show that, from April 2004 through the end of the year, abuse reports recorded by the Army dropped more than 70 percent. Why? Officials credit better training for troops, improved prison conditions and clear interrogation procedures. At the same time, Army numbers show, 68 detainees have died in Army custody since 2002 in Afghanistan and Iraq. And 24 of those cases are confirmed or suspected homicides.

Overall, 308 abuse cases were reported since 2002, with 107 still under investigation. Some examples, new details are emerging in the case of a U.S. soldier charged with beating a detainee to death at Bagram Air Base in 2002. Military investigators say the Afghan had his hands chained to a ceiling and was then beaten for days, the result, eventually destroying his leg muscle tissue with repeated unlawful knee strikes.

And, at the San Diego Naval Base, a court-martial is planned this spring for a Navy SEAL charged with abusing this prisoner in Iraq in 2003. A suspect in a bombing attack, Manadel al-Jamadi died a few hours after being turned over to the CIA at Abu Ghraib. On Capitol Hill, some lawmakers are asking questions.

SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: So there's been no assessment of accountability of any senior officials, either within or outside of the Department of Defense, for policies that may have contributed to abuses of prisoners.

STARR: The Pentagon insists, multiple investigations have found no overall problem.

VICE ADM. ALBERT CHURCH, U.S. NAVY: Clearly, there was no policy, written or otherwise, at any level that directed or condoned torture or abuse.

STARR (on camera): Still, critics believe the problem is more widespread than the military would like to acknowledge. More than 100 cases of alleged abuse by U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan remain under investigation.

Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KING: Updates on our top stories just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: Recapping our top story, a powerful earthquake struck off Indonesia's western coast, the same area of the catastrophic quake and tsunami three months ago. Today's quake killed at least 290 people on the island of Nias. So far, only one report of a tsunami, a small one, rolling into Australia's remote Cocos Islands.

Ten days after her feeding tube removed, the father of Terri Schiavo says she's failing, but is calling again on authorities to -- quote -- "save" the severely brain-damaged woman. Bob Schindler says he's concerned the hospice could -- quote -- "kill her" with an overdose for morphine. The lawyer for her husband, Michael, says Terri Schiavo has only received two very small doses of morphine. He describes Terri Schiavo as near death, but says she appears -- quote -- "very calm."

Reacting to that just a few minutes ago, Terri Schiavo's sister said Terri is -- quote -- "fighting."

Thanks for joining us. Wolf will be back tomorrow. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.

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