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CNN Live At Daybreak

Three British Men Charged with Terrorism by U.S. Authorities; Plea Bargain by Eric Rudolph

Aired April 13, 2005 - 06:00   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Just ahead here on DAYBREAK, terrorists targeting U.S. financial institutions. The government reveals the details on an alleged plot. We'll have a live report for you straight ahead.
And then a busy day in court for accused bomber Eric Rudolph. He's cut a deal. Now he'll make his pleas in two different courtrooms.

Plus, Nike opens up the doors to its overseas factories. It's a move many are calling a first.

It's Wednesday, April 13.

You are watching DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you.

From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

Now in the news, three separate bombs targeted U.S. military convoys in Baghdad today three hours apart. There are no reports of American casualties, but several Iraqis were wounded.

After a quick trip to Iraq, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is in Afghanistan this morning. He's meeting with U.S. commanders and troops fighting the war on terrorism.

In Iraq, Rumsfeld met with the newly elected transitionally president and prime minister.

Scientists around the world are scrambling to destroy vials of a deadly 1957 pandemic flu strain. The World Health Organization is urging the destruction because of a slight risk to the public.

The FDA has rejected at least one company's effort to end a ban on silicon breast implants. Another company will make its case today on why implants should be allowed on the market. CNN's medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, will joins us live for more on this story in the next half hour.

But for now, let's head to Atlanta and Chad -- good morning.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: We get started this hour with our "Security Watch" and details on an alleged terrorist plot targeting financial institutions in the United States. The U.S. government has indicted three British citizens. They're charged with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction and providing material support to terrorists. The suspected plot triggered an increase national threat level this summer, or last summer, rather. The Justice Department says it's proof al Qaeda wants to strike again here in the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES COMEY, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: I don't believe this is any example of a failure. I believe this is an example of a success. Information was developed, it was brought to the attention of the American people when the threat level was elevated. We have followed up on it very, very aggressively.

But, again, it highlights the nature of the enemy we face, and that's an enemy that is patient, that has spread throughout the world and that is bent on killing Americans in a spectacular way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All three suspects in question have been in British custody since last year.

So let's head live to London for more details.

Matthew Chance is there -- good morning, Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning to you, as well.

They have, indeed, been in British custody here since August, 2004, when they were arrested as part of the big sweep, anti-terrorism sweep, ongoing anti-terrorism operations here in the United Kingdom.

This is the first time, though, that we've heard officially these indictments, these charges actually framed against them. They're being held in a British high security facility on the outskirts of London. They face terrorism charges there, as well. But, again, these are the first actual sort of public announcements of the exact linkages of these individuals to a specific security alert in the United States.

All three of these individuals are British citizens. They're all said to be of South Asian origin and they were all arrested, again, after a tip-off from the Pakistani security services that said to the British authorities that they'd had computer evidence which indicated there were these British citizens who are undertaking surveillance operations in the United States at key financial buildings, buildings like the Citibank building, the New York Stock Exchange in New York, of course, as well as the World Bank offices and the offices of the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. So, the British authorities had to act on that Pakistani information very quickly to get these people off the streets in 2004 -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Matthew Chance live in London this morning.

Thank you.

Now to your security at the airport and a word this morning from the manager at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International -- get ready for longer lines. He says the Transportation Security Administration is planning to eliminate up to 400 baggage screeners. That's about 30 percent of them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BEN DECOSTA, MANAGER, HARTSFIELD-JACKSON AIRPORT: That, at a busy airport like ours, would spell a disaster. If they have to become more efficient, there are better ways to do it. For one thing, you don't make across-the-board cuts, you cut where your traffic and your customers can tolerate it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Oh, but the TSA says that kind of comment is, and I'm quoting here, "premature and speculative."

And this reminder, to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

Talk about feeling insecure, we're all afraid to have our identities stolen. Well, you will soon find out if you are now a victim. Data broker Lexis-Nexis says personal information on 310, 000 people nationwide may have been stolen from its database. That's nearly 10 times more than people -- 10 times more people than the company first admitted. Lexis-Nexis complies and sells information on you, like where you live, your driver's license and Social Security number and what you buy.

Letters are going to go out this week to inform those of you who may have been affected.

Let's shift focus now.

The nationwide manhunt for a man suspected of murder and sexual assault is over. Thirty-seven-year-old Stephen Stanko was captured in Georgia. Police say he began his deadly crime spree in South Carolina on Friday. He's suspected of killing a man and a woman and raping a 15-year-old girl.

Stanko is an ex-con who had served more than eight years for kidnapping, assault and battery. He was released from prison just nine months ago.

Accused bomber Eric Rudolph has a date with two judges today in two separate states. Keep in mind, this guy is accused of killing two people, setting off a bomb at the Olympics in Centennial Park and he cut a deal. That deal with prosecutors calls for a guilty plea in Birmingham, Alabama, followed by another one in Atlanta.

For more on Rudolph's day in court -- or should I say courts -- we're joined by our legal analyst, Kendall Coffey, in Miami -- good morning, Kendall.

KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Hey, good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: You know, I thought America was cracking down on terrorists. Rudolph now escapes the death penalty.

Does this plea bargain come as a surprise?

COFFEY: Well, I think a lot of people are surprised. He was an especially bad guy in terms of the things he did. These were bombs not only set up to destroy facilities, they were really focused on people, filled with shrapnel, filled with nails. And in two of the bombing scenarios, Carol, he set up secondary bombs to go off an hour after the first bomb so that first providers -- fire personnel, medical emergency personnel and the lot -- would be hit by the second bomb.

Really bad stuff.

COSTELLO: So I don't get it. So he gets to enter this plea deal where he's not going to get the death penalty.

If this had been carried out by a member of al Qaeda, would it have been different?

COFFEY: I think it probably would have been different. Here's the rationale. As we know, the administration, since 9/11, has tried to focus its legal wars on preventing future terrorism. What's striking and unusual about this deal is that by alerting the authorities to where 250 pounds of TNT could be found, Eric Rudolph basically may have prevented future terrorism, because somebody might have come up with that stuff at some point and perpetrated still more bombings.

As we found out a few weeks ago, it took authorities over 10 years to find some of the explosives materials that were generated by Terry Nichols, one of the OKC bombers. So without Eric Rudolph's help, this stuff might have stayed there hidden until some other terrorist found it or was tipped off to it.

COSTELLO: Yes, but I mean I know it was a large cache of explosives, but it wasn't wired in any way. It wasn't a bomb, in other words.

COFFEY: No. There was no imminent danger. One of the things, though, that I don't think has been answered by what we've seen about the federal plea agreement is whether it leaves the state authorities free to pursue their own homicide charges. Remember, people were killed, including Alabama and Georgia. And ordinarily a federal criminal prosecution and a plea deal doesn't tie the hands of state authorities who, if they think this guy deserves death for what he's done, they would have the ability, under state laws, to pursue the death penalty against Eric Rudolph.

COSTELLO: Well, we're going to keep our eye on it.

Kendall Coffey live in Miami for us this morning.

Thank you.

COFFEY: Thank you, Carol.

COSTELLO: The final resting place of a much loved religious leader is open to the public now and the lines are forming to see the crypt of Pope John Paul II. We'll take you there live just ahead.

Just do it -- it's the slogan that has the corporate giant doing something after much cajoling.

And the battle of the breast implants isn't over yet. It's still silicon versus saline and looks versus safety.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.

It's 6:13 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning.

A New York grand jury has indicted three men accused of planning terrorist attacks on the New York Stock Exchange and other financial targets. The men, all with suspected al Qaeda ties, are already in custody in Britain.

In money news, rising oil prices are partially to blame for a new record trade deficit. February numbers show the U.S. deficit has risen to $61 billion.

In culture, just for you, Chad, once again, because we can't tell the story enough.

MYERS: Britney, Britney!

COSTELLO: Britney!

MYERS: Whoo-hoo!

COSTELLO: Britney Spears is telling her fans that, yes, indeedy, she is pregnant. It will be Britney's first. But husband Kevin Federline, as you know, already has two children with an ex- girlfriend. No word yet on a due date, but on her Web page she signs her message of pregnancy with "love, Britney."

MYERS: Oh, and she doesn't care whether it's a boy or a girl. She just wants a healthy baby, like everybody. COSTELLO: Yes. Ain't that sweet?

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: In sports, Sammy Sosa finally got his first home run for his new team. His first Orioles home run was also the 575th of his career. He's now eight behind Mark McGwire for sixth all time. And, by the way, the Orioles beat the Devil Rays 7-6. The Orioles are looking good this season.

MYERS: And you know what, Carol? Although it doesn't show there, maybe because it was either a late game or maybe that was already the eighth inning, attendance has been very good for baseball so far this year. A lot of places are selling out these early games.

COSTELLO: So I guess that steroid scandal really didn't make much difference.

MYERS: It doesn't seem to be making any difference. People want to see home runs one way or the other.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Those are the headlines for you this morning.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, pilgrims become part of history, recording an enormous event thanks to ever improving technology. I'll talk with a man who just got back from Rome. See the story of his experience told through the lens of his camera and his camera phone, when DAYBREAK continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Time now for a little "Business Buzz."

Interesting details coming out about another corporate scandal, this one at AIG.

Carrie Lee joins us live -- how do you keep them all straight?

CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I know, it's very hard to do this. But these numbers are really going to surprise you. Former AIG Chief Hank Greenberg gave his wife $2 billion worth of stock as a gift. Pretty generous. He did this just a couple of days before he stepped down as CEO of the reinsurance giant.

COSTELLO: Interesting timing.

LEE: Very interesting timing. Certainly causing some questions here among the regulators looking into this case. He transferred over 40 million shares to his wife, leaving him with less than two million shares personally. Greenberg, of course, forced to resign by the company last month for his role in some questionable insurance transactions.

Also yesterday, Greenberg invoked his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination in a meeting with federal and state regulators. They are looking into those questionable transactions. So interesting.

Transferring itself not illegal, but it could raise some questions. It could implicate him when this whole thing starts to go forward.

COSTELLO: I just, I read an interesting article about Mr. Greenberg. Apparently he's rather arrogant and his attitude, in part, is what invited more investigation into his doings at the company.

LEE: I will say, though, you can kind of understand this because this is a company he created decades ago. So you can certainly understand how he's going to be defensive to some extent.

But an interesting development here, isn't it?

COSTELLO: Yes, it is.

Carrie Lee, many thanks.

LEE: Sure.

COSTELLO: We're going to take a short break.

We'll be back with much more.

You are watching DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Thousands of pilgrims are again standing in line at the Vatican they're waiting to see the tomb of Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's Basilica. Vatican officials have opened up the doors to the grotto that holds the crypt earlier today, and as you might expect, of course, there were long lines.

Many of the pilgrims who flocked to Rome last week watched history unfold before their eyes, and, boy, did they record it. Through the technology of camera phones, visitors to the Vatican were able to save images they saw there.

Joining me now, one such photographer, Salim Madjd, who just returned to San Francisco after his trip to Rome.

Thank you for waking up so early to join us this morning.

SALIM MADJD, PHOTOGRAPHER: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Salim, we looked at your pictures on your Web site and we must say they're just gorgeous.

MADJD: Well, thank you very much.

COSTELLO: How many did you take?

MADJD: Probably over 1, 000.

COSTELLO: We're going to put some up on the screen, because we'd like to ask -- you were able to get so close to the events of history, like this shot.

How close were you?

MADJD: I was actually very close. I was very fortunate because I got there early enough on Tuesday morning and only after three hours of line waiting, which is kind of unusual for what you hear from other people, I was able to see the body of the pope. And that's how I was able to take those pictures that you see.

COSTELLO: Something I found very interesting, you're not Catholic. You're actually agnostic.

MADJD: That's correct. When I heard the news on Saturday, I don't know exactly what it was, something really compelled me that on a whim I booked a ticket and I flew to Rome the next day. And I feel, looking back at it, I have no idea what I was doing, but I'm so glad I did it. It's perhaps the most moving experience of my lifetime.

COSTELLO: I'm looking at a picture you took of the massive crowds standing in line, waiting to go by the pope's body.

What was that like to be in the midst of that crowd?

MADJD: Carol, I mean no picture can do justice to just the feeling of being there, to be honest with you. Just the enormity of the crowd, the sense of high level of, a heightened spirituality, the kindness of people, the kind of energy and emotion that you sensed. It was quite moving. I mean I was moved so much at a few occasions, you know, I had to stop myself from breaking down.

COSTELLO: Oh.

Well, some of the close-ups you took of people -- oh, this is the big crowd of cardinals, just so many of them dressed in that bright, their bright red garments. That just must have been such a dramatic sight.

MADJD: And the part that, unfortunately, the viewers can't see is the sound and the sense of being there. And you have, you know, the choir singing in the background while these things are happening. It's quite moving, the spiritual, you know, essentially chanting that's going on. And then be -- if I, when I turned back after taking that picture, behind me was a sea of people, many of them of Polish pilgrims who had their red and white flags, and the flags was waving in the wind. And I just knew that I would never see this thing in my lifetime again.

COSTELLO: Oh, the next picture we're going to see a shot of pilgrims kind of like doing what they -- because, you know, they stood in line, what, up to 12 hours at some points.

When you saw these people like playing cards, others were sleeping, others were passing out due to the extreme heat, what was going through your mind?

MADJD: I, you know, I sort of felt compelled with my camera. I had the duty to sort of record the history. And not just focus on one aspect of it, but just essentially for generations to come in the future, to have a sense that what it was to be there, you know? People had to do what they had to do to occupy themselves. I mean the pictures that you have right now in front of you, I mean it was amazing that people would just camp out there in the street like this.

COSTELLO: Beautiful pictures.

And thank you for sharing with us.

We really appreciate it.

Salim Madjd joining us live from San Francisco this morning.

You are watching DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning to you.

From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

A couple of stories we're working on for you this morning, one state chooses English as its official language. But was it an accident and why choose English as your official language? What's the point? We'll explore that issue.

Some breast implants could be a thing of the past. An important vote on the safety of silicon.

But now in the news, three separate bombs targeted U.S. military convoys in Baghdad today three hours apart. There are no reports of American casualties. Several Iraqis are wounded. But north of the capital, near Kirkuk, 12 Iraqi guards were killed while trying to defuse a roadside bomb.

Attendance was light at school reopened for the first time since the shooting spree in Red Lake, Minnesota. It's been three weeks since a teenaged gunman killed seven people and himself at the high school.

Former President Bill Clinton is making his first appearance today at the United Nations as the top envoy to countries devastated by the sass tsunami. He'll spend at least two years in his new role. His aides says he'll oversee billions of dollars in relief effort.

And scientists around the world are scrambling to destroy vials of a deadly 1957 pandemic flu strain. The World Health Organization is urging the destruction because of a slight risk to the public.

To the Forecast Center now and Chad -- good morning.

MYERS: I don't like that word pandemic.

COSTELLO: Scary, isn't it?

MYERS: It sure is. A slight risk? yes, let's see what we can do.

COSTELLO: Well, that's what the WHO is saying.

MYERS: I know. Let's get rid of it if we can.

(WEATHER REPORT)

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 April 13, 2005 - 06:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Just ahead here on DAYBREAK, terrorists targeting U.S. financial institutions. The government reveals the details on an alleged plot. We'll have a live report for you straight ahead.
And then a busy day in court for accused bomber Eric Rudolph. He's cut a deal. Now he'll make his pleas in two different courtrooms.

Plus, Nike opens up the doors to its overseas factories. It's a move many are calling a first.

It's Wednesday, April 13.

You are watching DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you.

From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

Now in the news, three separate bombs targeted U.S. military convoys in Baghdad today three hours apart. There are no reports of American casualties, but several Iraqis were wounded.

After a quick trip to Iraq, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is in Afghanistan this morning. He's meeting with U.S. commanders and troops fighting the war on terrorism.

In Iraq, Rumsfeld met with the newly elected transitionally president and prime minister.

Scientists around the world are scrambling to destroy vials of a deadly 1957 pandemic flu strain. The World Health Organization is urging the destruction because of a slight risk to the public.

The FDA has rejected at least one company's effort to end a ban on silicon breast implants. Another company will make its case today on why implants should be allowed on the market. CNN's medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, will joins us live for more on this story in the next half hour.

But for now, let's head to Atlanta and Chad -- good morning.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: We get started this hour with our "Security Watch" and details on an alleged terrorist plot targeting financial institutions in the United States. The U.S. government has indicted three British citizens. They're charged with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction and providing material support to terrorists. The suspected plot triggered an increase national threat level this summer, or last summer, rather. The Justice Department says it's proof al Qaeda wants to strike again here in the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES COMEY, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: I don't believe this is any example of a failure. I believe this is an example of a success. Information was developed, it was brought to the attention of the American people when the threat level was elevated. We have followed up on it very, very aggressively.

But, again, it highlights the nature of the enemy we face, and that's an enemy that is patient, that has spread throughout the world and that is bent on killing Americans in a spectacular way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All three suspects in question have been in British custody since last year.

So let's head live to London for more details.

Matthew Chance is there -- good morning, Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning to you, as well.

They have, indeed, been in British custody here since August, 2004, when they were arrested as part of the big sweep, anti-terrorism sweep, ongoing anti-terrorism operations here in the United Kingdom.

This is the first time, though, that we've heard officially these indictments, these charges actually framed against them. They're being held in a British high security facility on the outskirts of London. They face terrorism charges there, as well. But, again, these are the first actual sort of public announcements of the exact linkages of these individuals to a specific security alert in the United States.

All three of these individuals are British citizens. They're all said to be of South Asian origin and they were all arrested, again, after a tip-off from the Pakistani security services that said to the British authorities that they'd had computer evidence which indicated there were these British citizens who are undertaking surveillance operations in the United States at key financial buildings, buildings like the Citibank building, the New York Stock Exchange in New York, of course, as well as the World Bank offices and the offices of the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. So, the British authorities had to act on that Pakistani information very quickly to get these people off the streets in 2004 -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Matthew Chance live in London this morning.

Thank you.

Now to your security at the airport and a word this morning from the manager at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International -- get ready for longer lines. He says the Transportation Security Administration is planning to eliminate up to 400 baggage screeners. That's about 30 percent of them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BEN DECOSTA, MANAGER, HARTSFIELD-JACKSON AIRPORT: That, at a busy airport like ours, would spell a disaster. If they have to become more efficient, there are better ways to do it. For one thing, you don't make across-the-board cuts, you cut where your traffic and your customers can tolerate it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Oh, but the TSA says that kind of comment is, and I'm quoting here, "premature and speculative."

And this reminder, to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

Talk about feeling insecure, we're all afraid to have our identities stolen. Well, you will soon find out if you are now a victim. Data broker Lexis-Nexis says personal information on 310, 000 people nationwide may have been stolen from its database. That's nearly 10 times more than people -- 10 times more people than the company first admitted. Lexis-Nexis complies and sells information on you, like where you live, your driver's license and Social Security number and what you buy.

Letters are going to go out this week to inform those of you who may have been affected.

Let's shift focus now.

The nationwide manhunt for a man suspected of murder and sexual assault is over. Thirty-seven-year-old Stephen Stanko was captured in Georgia. Police say he began his deadly crime spree in South Carolina on Friday. He's suspected of killing a man and a woman and raping a 15-year-old girl.

Stanko is an ex-con who had served more than eight years for kidnapping, assault and battery. He was released from prison just nine months ago.

Accused bomber Eric Rudolph has a date with two judges today in two separate states. Keep in mind, this guy is accused of killing two people, setting off a bomb at the Olympics in Centennial Park and he cut a deal. That deal with prosecutors calls for a guilty plea in Birmingham, Alabama, followed by another one in Atlanta.

For more on Rudolph's day in court -- or should I say courts -- we're joined by our legal analyst, Kendall Coffey, in Miami -- good morning, Kendall.

KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Hey, good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: You know, I thought America was cracking down on terrorists. Rudolph now escapes the death penalty.

Does this plea bargain come as a surprise?

COFFEY: Well, I think a lot of people are surprised. He was an especially bad guy in terms of the things he did. These were bombs not only set up to destroy facilities, they were really focused on people, filled with shrapnel, filled with nails. And in two of the bombing scenarios, Carol, he set up secondary bombs to go off an hour after the first bomb so that first providers -- fire personnel, medical emergency personnel and the lot -- would be hit by the second bomb.

Really bad stuff.

COSTELLO: So I don't get it. So he gets to enter this plea deal where he's not going to get the death penalty.

If this had been carried out by a member of al Qaeda, would it have been different?

COFFEY: I think it probably would have been different. Here's the rationale. As we know, the administration, since 9/11, has tried to focus its legal wars on preventing future terrorism. What's striking and unusual about this deal is that by alerting the authorities to where 250 pounds of TNT could be found, Eric Rudolph basically may have prevented future terrorism, because somebody might have come up with that stuff at some point and perpetrated still more bombings.

As we found out a few weeks ago, it took authorities over 10 years to find some of the explosives materials that were generated by Terry Nichols, one of the OKC bombers. So without Eric Rudolph's help, this stuff might have stayed there hidden until some other terrorist found it or was tipped off to it.

COSTELLO: Yes, but I mean I know it was a large cache of explosives, but it wasn't wired in any way. It wasn't a bomb, in other words.

COFFEY: No. There was no imminent danger. One of the things, though, that I don't think has been answered by what we've seen about the federal plea agreement is whether it leaves the state authorities free to pursue their own homicide charges. Remember, people were killed, including Alabama and Georgia. And ordinarily a federal criminal prosecution and a plea deal doesn't tie the hands of state authorities who, if they think this guy deserves death for what he's done, they would have the ability, under state laws, to pursue the death penalty against Eric Rudolph.

COSTELLO: Well, we're going to keep our eye on it.

Kendall Coffey live in Miami for us this morning.

Thank you.

COFFEY: Thank you, Carol.

COSTELLO: The final resting place of a much loved religious leader is open to the public now and the lines are forming to see the crypt of Pope John Paul II. We'll take you there live just ahead.

Just do it -- it's the slogan that has the corporate giant doing something after much cajoling.

And the battle of the breast implants isn't over yet. It's still silicon versus saline and looks versus safety.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.

It's 6:13 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning.

A New York grand jury has indicted three men accused of planning terrorist attacks on the New York Stock Exchange and other financial targets. The men, all with suspected al Qaeda ties, are already in custody in Britain.

In money news, rising oil prices are partially to blame for a new record trade deficit. February numbers show the U.S. deficit has risen to $61 billion.

In culture, just for you, Chad, once again, because we can't tell the story enough.

MYERS: Britney, Britney!

COSTELLO: Britney!

MYERS: Whoo-hoo!

COSTELLO: Britney Spears is telling her fans that, yes, indeedy, she is pregnant. It will be Britney's first. But husband Kevin Federline, as you know, already has two children with an ex- girlfriend. No word yet on a due date, but on her Web page she signs her message of pregnancy with "love, Britney."

MYERS: Oh, and she doesn't care whether it's a boy or a girl. She just wants a healthy baby, like everybody. COSTELLO: Yes. Ain't that sweet?

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: In sports, Sammy Sosa finally got his first home run for his new team. His first Orioles home run was also the 575th of his career. He's now eight behind Mark McGwire for sixth all time. And, by the way, the Orioles beat the Devil Rays 7-6. The Orioles are looking good this season.

MYERS: And you know what, Carol? Although it doesn't show there, maybe because it was either a late game or maybe that was already the eighth inning, attendance has been very good for baseball so far this year. A lot of places are selling out these early games.

COSTELLO: So I guess that steroid scandal really didn't make much difference.

MYERS: It doesn't seem to be making any difference. People want to see home runs one way or the other.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Those are the headlines for you this morning.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, pilgrims become part of history, recording an enormous event thanks to ever improving technology. I'll talk with a man who just got back from Rome. See the story of his experience told through the lens of his camera and his camera phone, when DAYBREAK continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Time now for a little "Business Buzz."

Interesting details coming out about another corporate scandal, this one at AIG.

Carrie Lee joins us live -- how do you keep them all straight?

CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I know, it's very hard to do this. But these numbers are really going to surprise you. Former AIG Chief Hank Greenberg gave his wife $2 billion worth of stock as a gift. Pretty generous. He did this just a couple of days before he stepped down as CEO of the reinsurance giant.

COSTELLO: Interesting timing.

LEE: Very interesting timing. Certainly causing some questions here among the regulators looking into this case. He transferred over 40 million shares to his wife, leaving him with less than two million shares personally. Greenberg, of course, forced to resign by the company last month for his role in some questionable insurance transactions.

Also yesterday, Greenberg invoked his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination in a meeting with federal and state regulators. They are looking into those questionable transactions. So interesting.

Transferring itself not illegal, but it could raise some questions. It could implicate him when this whole thing starts to go forward.

COSTELLO: I just, I read an interesting article about Mr. Greenberg. Apparently he's rather arrogant and his attitude, in part, is what invited more investigation into his doings at the company.

LEE: I will say, though, you can kind of understand this because this is a company he created decades ago. So you can certainly understand how he's going to be defensive to some extent.

But an interesting development here, isn't it?

COSTELLO: Yes, it is.

Carrie Lee, many thanks.

LEE: Sure.

COSTELLO: We're going to take a short break.

We'll be back with much more.

You are watching DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Thousands of pilgrims are again standing in line at the Vatican they're waiting to see the tomb of Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's Basilica. Vatican officials have opened up the doors to the grotto that holds the crypt earlier today, and as you might expect, of course, there were long lines.

Many of the pilgrims who flocked to Rome last week watched history unfold before their eyes, and, boy, did they record it. Through the technology of camera phones, visitors to the Vatican were able to save images they saw there.

Joining me now, one such photographer, Salim Madjd, who just returned to San Francisco after his trip to Rome.

Thank you for waking up so early to join us this morning.

SALIM MADJD, PHOTOGRAPHER: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Salim, we looked at your pictures on your Web site and we must say they're just gorgeous.

MADJD: Well, thank you very much.

COSTELLO: How many did you take?

MADJD: Probably over 1, 000.

COSTELLO: We're going to put some up on the screen, because we'd like to ask -- you were able to get so close to the events of history, like this shot.

How close were you?

MADJD: I was actually very close. I was very fortunate because I got there early enough on Tuesday morning and only after three hours of line waiting, which is kind of unusual for what you hear from other people, I was able to see the body of the pope. And that's how I was able to take those pictures that you see.

COSTELLO: Something I found very interesting, you're not Catholic. You're actually agnostic.

MADJD: That's correct. When I heard the news on Saturday, I don't know exactly what it was, something really compelled me that on a whim I booked a ticket and I flew to Rome the next day. And I feel, looking back at it, I have no idea what I was doing, but I'm so glad I did it. It's perhaps the most moving experience of my lifetime.

COSTELLO: I'm looking at a picture you took of the massive crowds standing in line, waiting to go by the pope's body.

What was that like to be in the midst of that crowd?

MADJD: Carol, I mean no picture can do justice to just the feeling of being there, to be honest with you. Just the enormity of the crowd, the sense of high level of, a heightened spirituality, the kindness of people, the kind of energy and emotion that you sensed. It was quite moving. I mean I was moved so much at a few occasions, you know, I had to stop myself from breaking down.

COSTELLO: Oh.

Well, some of the close-ups you took of people -- oh, this is the big crowd of cardinals, just so many of them dressed in that bright, their bright red garments. That just must have been such a dramatic sight.

MADJD: And the part that, unfortunately, the viewers can't see is the sound and the sense of being there. And you have, you know, the choir singing in the background while these things are happening. It's quite moving, the spiritual, you know, essentially chanting that's going on. And then be -- if I, when I turned back after taking that picture, behind me was a sea of people, many of them of Polish pilgrims who had their red and white flags, and the flags was waving in the wind. And I just knew that I would never see this thing in my lifetime again.

COSTELLO: Oh, the next picture we're going to see a shot of pilgrims kind of like doing what they -- because, you know, they stood in line, what, up to 12 hours at some points.

When you saw these people like playing cards, others were sleeping, others were passing out due to the extreme heat, what was going through your mind?

MADJD: I, you know, I sort of felt compelled with my camera. I had the duty to sort of record the history. And not just focus on one aspect of it, but just essentially for generations to come in the future, to have a sense that what it was to be there, you know? People had to do what they had to do to occupy themselves. I mean the pictures that you have right now in front of you, I mean it was amazing that people would just camp out there in the street like this.

COSTELLO: Beautiful pictures.

And thank you for sharing with us.

We really appreciate it.

Salim Madjd joining us live from San Francisco this morning.

You are watching DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning to you.

From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

A couple of stories we're working on for you this morning, one state chooses English as its official language. But was it an accident and why choose English as your official language? What's the point? We'll explore that issue.

Some breast implants could be a thing of the past. An important vote on the safety of silicon.

But now in the news, three separate bombs targeted U.S. military convoys in Baghdad today three hours apart. There are no reports of American casualties. Several Iraqis are wounded. But north of the capital, near Kirkuk, 12 Iraqi guards were killed while trying to defuse a roadside bomb.

Attendance was light at school reopened for the first time since the shooting spree in Red Lake, Minnesota. It's been three weeks since a teenaged gunman killed seven people and himself at the high school.

Former President Bill Clinton is making his first appearance today at the United Nations as the top envoy to countries devastated by the sass tsunami. He'll spend at least two years in his new role. His aides says he'll oversee billions of dollars in relief effort.

And scientists around the world are scrambling to destroy vials of a deadly 1957 pandemic flu strain. The World Health Organization is urging the destruction because of a slight risk to the public.

To the Forecast Center now and Chad -- good morning.

MYERS: I don't like that word pandemic.

COSTELLO: Scary, isn't it?

MYERS: It sure is. A slight risk? yes, let's see what we can do.

COSTELLO: Well, that's what the WHO is saying.

MYERS: I know. Let's get rid of it if we can.

(WEATHER REPORT)

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