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CNN Live At Daybreak

Rice & Abbas News Conference; Inside North Korea; Counterfeit Crackdown

Aired November 14, 2005 - 05:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(WEATHER REPORT)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you -- Bonnie.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Sure.

COSTELLO: We'll get back to you.

Let's head live to Ramallah, once again, in the Palestinian territory, because Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is there.

This is Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader, making remarks to reporters.

Condoleezza Rice earlier met with the Israeli president, Ariel Sharon, and she was talking about restarting the peace process in this region, because there has been much sporadic violence of late. Then she met with Mahmoud Abbas to talk about the -- what troubles him. And she's trying to come to a meeting of the minds between the two sides.

Let's listen to Mr. Abbas now.

MAHMOUD ABBAS, PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): It's capital alongside living peacefully and in secure borders alongside Israel. Here we also welcome the statement made by Madam Secretary about the need to seize the settlement activities in the West Bank. And we have also committed -- reiterated our commitment to the understandings of the road map, which means that there should be only one authority and one gun for the authority and political pluralism.

In this context, we thank President Bush for his continuous support to the question of peace. And we stress on our commitment to reach an agreement and to reach a Palestinian settlement that is based on a Palestinian state that lives alongside the state of Israel.

Thank you.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: Thank you very much, Mr. President. It's good to see you again. And to discuss with you a way forward on the road map and a way forward toward the establishment of two states, an independent Palestinian state, a democratic state living side by side with its Israeli neighbor.

We have indeed had very good discussions of a wide variety of issues. I have assured the president that we want to work very hard to make certain that the benefits of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza are fully felt by the Palestinian people.

That means that we need to work very hard on issues of movement, issues of access. Because, as I said last night in a speech in Jerusalem, it is very important for ordinary Palestinian people in their daily lives, whether it is the farmer or the university student or the restaurant owner, that there be freedom of movement established in between Gaza and the West Bank. And also that we ease issues of movement in the West Bank. And so we have spent a good deal of time talking about that.

I said to the president that I believe very strongly that if the parties work very hard now on the Wolfensohn agenda that there is agreement in sight, because they, with enough will and creativity, I believe these issues can be resolved. And we talked about some of those aspects.

We talked about the need to support the democratic process here in the Palestinian territories and also the need to condemn and fight terror. It is a road map obligation of the Palestinian Authority to fight terror and to dismantle the infrastructure of terror.

We talked about the desire for a Palestinian state in which there is, as the president has put it, one authority, one gun and in fact, where there is political participation of a wide variety of Palestinians.

And so we look forward, Mr. President, to the elections that will be held. We look forward to your continued leadership. And we look forward to continued friendship and cooperation and partnership between the United States and the Palestinian people.

Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We'll take your questions at this time.

First one from Reuters.

(INAUDIBLE)

QUESTION: Mrs. Rice, the United States considers settlements an obstacle to peace and the road map calls for halting settlement expansion. What action will the United States take to make Israel halt settlement expansion? And what action will the United States take if the Israelis do not remove the small outposts?

President Abbas, you have issued many orders to impose the rule of law, but the Palestinian people complain that on the ground there is little or no improvement, actually, there is no improvement on the ground. Where is the problem, in your view?

RICE: Well on settlement activity, we have made it very clear that settlement activity is counter both to U.S. policy and we believe counter to the obligations that the Israelis have undertaken. We've been very clear that there should be no activities that prejudge a final status agreement. And we're in constant discussion with the Israelis about those matters. We do with the Israelis what we do with each of the parties, which is to ask them to concentrate very hard on what they need to do to fulfill their obligations. These are partnerships in which we are involved and we expect that our partners are going to indeed live up to their obligations.

ABBAS (through translator): The obstacles we face on the ground are still there. And we are trying to remove those obstacles that we have started. And today we spoke about this in depth. We reached an agreement about a number of issues regarding the Gaza Strip. And we hope that this would be an opening for our people in Gaza where movement would be free for them in and out of Gaza. And to be followed by a freedom of movement and also the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

With regard to the West Bank, we know -- we very well know that there are lots of roadblocks in the roads back. And if we go back to the understandings of the Sharm el-Sheik, which spoke of the return of the Israeli troops to the lines of 28th of September 2000, we would have already removed all those obstacles. Now, as I said, we are working with Israelis, we are with the Americans as well, in order to remove those obstacles on the ground.

COSTELLO: And you've been listening to the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, along with the American Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. And Condoleezza Rice announcing a deal that she managed to hammer out between Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, to open up the Rafah border crossing. And that's the border crossing between the Palestinian territories and Egypt. Very important, because it's something that greatly upset the Palestinian people. And perhaps this will be a step forward on that so-called road map to peace.

We'll have much more on this story a little later all throughout the day on CNN.

President Bush will talk to Asian leaders this week about getting nuclear talks with North Korea moving again. There's word the North has proposed a plan to scrap its nuclear weapons program. But the latest round of talks has ended with no firm deal.

In the meantime, we're getting a rare glimpse into the secretive nation. Our special correspondent Frank Sesno has more in a story you can see only on CNN. And we want to warn you, some of the pictures you are about to see are disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK SESNO, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the past year, a movement of dissident filmmakers, some motivated by money, others by the desire for change, have used undercover cameras to expose a chilling picture of North Korea that's never been seen before. If they are caught filming, they will face prison or death.

Korean reporter Jung On Kim (ph) is searching for some of these dissident cameramen and for the rare images they have captured and smuggled out of the country. Images like these.

This is Yo Duk (ph), a concentration camp. Authorities deny it exists. The inscription above the entrance says, "Give up your life for the sake of our leader, Kim Jong-Il." Human Rights Watch estimates that there are 200,000 political prisoners inside North Korea. These men and women are ferrying buckets of their own waste for fertilizer.

On the city streets, another cameraman captured these images. Homeless and hungry children forced to fend for themselves steal from the markets. A pickpocket is caught and justice is carried out on the street.

This is rice donated by the U.N.'s World Food Program. It should be rationed out directly to the people, but instead, it is sold for profit in the street market. Only the well-off can afford it, leaving the rest with nothing.

This woman is lying in the street dead. North Korean refugees say it's a common sight.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: We'll take you even deeper into North Korea in the next hour of DAYBREAK. We'll talk live with filmmaker Sarah MacDonald who compiled some of that dissident footage you saw in that gripping documentary. It's coming your way in our 6:00 a.m. Eastern hour.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 5:44 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

We just showed you Condoleezza Rice in Ramallah speaking with the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas. She -- actually, this news conference is still going on. These are live pictures.

She announced a deal that she managed to hammer out between Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, to open up a border crossing between the Palestinian territories and Egypt, something that the Palestinians have long wanted. It's hoped that that will be a move step -- that will be a step forward in the so- called road map for peace.

Don't call it a health drink, but research at Oregon State finds a compound only in the hops, the main ingredient in beer, that may actually help prevent certain types of cancer. It may also lower levels of bad cholesterol.

In money news, you may soon be able to watch TV online. AOL says it plans to launch a free Internet television service by early next year. It will start off with old shows produced by Warner Brothers. AOL is owned by CNN's parent company, Time Warner. In culture, hip-hop and R&B stars were out in full force at the Vibe Awards in California. They had to pass through metal detectors and tight security after last year's brawl and stabbing. Mariah Carey was the big winner, taking home four awards. The show airs tomorrow on UPN.

In sports, LeBron James is the youngest player in NBA history to score 4,000 career points. He did it in Cleveland's 108-to-100 win over the Orlando Magic. James is about a month and a half shy of turning 21.

To the Forecast Center and Bonnie Schneider.

SCHNEIDER: Well that's pretty young for being so successful.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Bonnie.

CNN's team of meteorologists are saying that the tornadoes that touched down in Iowa were packing 150-mile-per-hour winds. The twisters hit at least 10 towns, destroying more than 70 homes. Amazingly, only one person was killed.

In this "Beyond the Soundbite," we bring you the pictures captured by the amateur photographer at the center of it all.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do it now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, there's stuff (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take your (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my god, that's it, get over here by that dog (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Guard that...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sweetie, sweetie (INAUDIBLE)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes, yes. Is there anybody else in there with you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you need help?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I don't think so.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Is there anybody else down here? Everybody accounted for?

Oh my, natural gas. Oh my, Jesus Lord. Oh, Jesus.

Come here. Come. You all right? You all right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm OK.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will you ask if they have got a pair of pants or sweatpants I can put on because...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Yes.

Oh my lord.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have nothing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, hey, Doug (ph), come on, let's go.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: So some incredible images for you this morning.

SCHNEIDER: Yes, very disturbing.

COSTELLO: Let's bring in Bonnie.

Bonnie, can you hear me?

SCHNEIDER: Yes, I can hear you.

COSTELLO: OK, I was just going to...

SCHNEIDER: I was just saying it's disturbing to see those pictures.

COSTELLO: I know, you just want to tell those people please stop and go to the basement.

But let's talk about the issue of tornadoes in November. That's pretty unusual.

SCHNEIDER: It's unusual, Carol, but not impossible. And it's not like it never happens. About 10 to 12 percent of tornadoes annually occur in November, like the ones we saw here in Iowa on Saturday.

And we're talking about F3 damage, which it looks like preliminary reports indicate the one that went through Stratford is. That means a severe tornado, a tornado strong enough to tear the roof off even a home that's really well constructed and well structured.

So the tornado threat in November, as we mentioned, rare but not impossible. It's actually known as the Second Season for tornado outbreaks, mid-October through November. Seventy-five percent of tornadoes do occur March through June, but 10 to 12 percent occur in mid-October through November.

Now the reason why we saw the outbreak this weekend and last weekend has to do with our weather setup, low pressure over the Great Lakes tapping into some very cold air. That, for the time being, has been very bottled up in Canada.

And as that low pulls down the cold air, it encounters the warm, moist air beneath our jet stream. And really the contrast of air masses we have been seeing here in November is similar to the setup we see in the springtime. So by the time we get to the end of November, the cold air really does permeate through the country and you just don't have as much as of a contrast.

So it is certainly possible to see tornadoes as we have seen in the past couple of weeks. And they do tend to come in outbreaks and be short-lived. Because by the time we get to late November, that cold air does drop to the south. So it's this contrast that we're watching for the threat of tornadoes mid-October through November -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, thanks, Bonnie.

From handbags to jeans to shoes, if it's got a designer label on it, somebody is making a cheaper knock-off. Up next, California tries to ferret out the fakes and put a stop to designer counterfeiting.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: In news "Across America" this morning, strange story here, a Phoenix family says they were attacked by a monkey in their front yard. No kidding. The family was celebrating a birthday when their neighbor's pet monkey escaped and came after some children, biting two of them. No word yet on if the pet's owner will face charges.

The pilot of this small plane is awfully lucky. He tried to land at a Milwaukee airport during a thunderstorm when his plane hit utility wires. The crash knocked out electricity to the area. Firefighters smashed the plane's windshield to rescue him.

And a good reason to watch the Discovery Channel. An Illinois cab driver delivered a woman's baby on the side of Interstate 88. They just didn't have time to make it to the hospital in Naperville (ph). The cabby had been driving a cab only for a week. He says all he knew about childbirth came from watching a program on the Discovery Channel.

Designer merchandise can cost a fortune. So why pay retail if you can wear a knockout for a lot less? That's what has Los Angeles police concerned.

CNN's Kareen Wynter takes us inside the aggressive efforts to crackdown on California counterfeiters.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's not where you would expect to find brand name items, from pricey purses to expensive eyewear by Chanel, Gucci, even Louis Vuitton, the gritty downtown allies of Los Angeles' fashion district. A magnet for shoppers, like Cassandra Martinez (ph), looking for a steal on high- fashion shades.

CASSANDRA MARTINEZ, CONSUMER: And I got two pairs of sunglasses. And they're both black Chanel sunglasses.

WYNTER: Sounds like a bargain? Los Angeles police say it's not. That this fashion corner has become an epicenter for illegal trade, businesses profiting from counterfeit products at the cost of major corporations that are now fighting back.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How much is this one?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's supposed to be 45. I'll give you for 40 dollars.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Forty dollars?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's quality, it's very good, you know.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The color and everything.

WYNTER: This undercover video was made by Kris Buckner, a private eye hired by some of those high-end designer labels to protect their trademarks.

KRIS BUCKNER, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR: No matter how many guys we arrest and we take out, the next guy is popping up because the demand is there.

WYNTER: Buckner also made this surveillance video and worked with police earlier this year on a bust involving pirated DVDs.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is "Chicken Little."

WYNTER: The movie titles now available on the streets include some of Hollywood's hottest new releases.

Los Angeles Police Sergeant R.J. Acosta says counterfeit merchandise is the number one problem in this precinct.

(on camera): Sixty million dollars seized in illegal goods just within the past few years. To crack down on piracy, Acosta is working with the Motion Pictures Association, which funded some of the hidden cameras monitoring six square blocks of the fashion district.

SGT R.J. ACOSTA, LAPD: We can kind of clean this up and get legitimate business back in here. Every street corner had four or five different vendors selling the counterfeit DVDs. Now you can't even find them on the street corner anymore. WYNTER (voice-over): But you can still find countless knock-off items. Many vendors are eager to push, except when the camera is rolling.

Kareen Wynter, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: All new in the next hour, North Korea unscripted. Filmmakers are risking their lives to smuggle out these images. We'll talk to the producer of a chilling "CNN PRESENTS."

And the suspension of Terrell Owens, justified or is it too harsh? And should Jesse Jackson have anything to do about it? Take a look at the debate as DAYBREAK continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It is Monday, November 14.

She looks frail and nervous, but Jordanian authorities say she is the face of terror. A woman calmly describes how she planned to kill herself and countless others. And it was all shown on television.

Also, howling winds, debris flying through the air, houses blown away. We'll take you to the heart of the terrifying twister.

And if the storm season hasn't been busy enough already, the winds are picking up yet again in the Caribbean.

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