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American Morning

Deadly Roof Collapse; Mayhem in Iraq; Dealing with Disasters; Rice's Surprise Visit; Torino 2006

Aired February 23, 2006 - 06:00   ET

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


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome, everybody. I'm Soledad O'Brien.
Look who's back from vaca.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's good to see you, too.

I'm Miles O'Brien.

A search for survivors in Russia after a roof collapse at a busy market. It happened overnight. More than 30 are dead. We're live on a developing story there.

Mayhem in Iraq. All across the country, repercussions from that attack on a shrine, is the country on the brink of civil war? We're live on that story.

S. O'BRIEN: What the White House has learned from Hurricane Katrina, a final report is due out in just a few hours. We're getting already, though, a peek at what's inside.

And Scotland Yard is now searching for suspects in what's being called one of the biggest heists in British history. We've got a live report just ahead.

M. O'BRIEN: And tonight is the night. American figure skater Sasha Cohen going for Olympic gold, trying to put the Russian favorite on ice. A live report from Turin ahead.

S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.

We start with a developing story out of Moscow this morning. The search is on for survivors who may still be trapped underneath the collapsed roof of a busy market.

Let's get right to CNN's Matthew Chance. He's at the scene in Moscow this morning.

Matthew, good morning.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, as well, Soledad.

Unfortunately, it's one of those tragic stories that the people of Russia have grown all too accustomed to, a major commercial building, its roof collapsing, perhaps under the pressure of heavy snow that's been falling here overnight.

The -- over the course of the last several hours, since we've been watching this story develop, we've also been watching the death toll creep slowly upwards. The latest casualty figures that I can pass on to you come to us from the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry, which is overseeing all the rescue efforts on the ground here. They are now saying at least 33 people are confirmed dead, another 29 are injured.

And there's still work ongoing in this building right behind me, and I'll take a step out of the way of the camera so you can see the situation here, to retrieve other people. They still believe there are survivors still alive underneath the rubble.

Rescue teams engaged in a very sensitive operation, Soledad, freezing conditions. They're blowing hot air into the cavities of the wreckage to try and keep people alive, to try and keep them warm. Teams of sniffer dogs are out there, as well, trying to trace survivors. They are not using heavy cutting equipment to reach the rubble -- to reach the survivors, rather, for fear that may disturb any survivors and cause even more casualties.

And so, again, it is a very sensitive operation which the officials here on the ground say it could take several more hours before it reaches any kind of conclusion about the true toll of the number of people killed in this tragedy here -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: My gosh, Matthew, those pictures look just terrible. Quick question for you, there were some reports that they had been talking by cell phone to some of the people trapped inside. Is that right?

CHANCE: That's right. And this -- it's a slow situation that's -- obviously time is running out.

But, yes, what we're hearing from the rescue workers just over there is that one of the things they are doing to zero in on the survivors is calling their cell phones. Relatives have given them cell phone numbers. They're calling them. They're getting voices in response. And that way that's how they are knowing that there are a number of people inside that are still able to talk. But from our understanding, Soledad, that number is decreasing pretty much by the hour, which is why we're seeing this death toll obviously rising very considerably.

Back to you.

S. O'BRIEN: How horrific.

All right, Matthew Chance for us with an update out of Moscow.

Matthew, thanks -- Miles.

M. O'BRIEN: Mayhem in Iraq this morning, angry protests and deadly clashes spread in response to the explosion at that sacred Shiite mosque. Since then, at least 50 Sunni mosques have been attacked and more than 50 are dead now.

CNN's Aneesh Raman is following it for us from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A dawn attack striking one of Shia Islam's most sacred shrines. Reduced to rubble, the iconic Askariya Mosque in Samarra now without the golden dome that, for a century, proclaimed its importance, destroyed after men dressed as Iraqi police commandos bound the guards on duty, and once inside, detonated a series of bombs.

The attack ignited immediate fury among Iraq's majority Shia community, pouring onto the streets in thousands. In Samarra, in the Kadamiya (ph) area of Baghdad, in neighboring Sadr City where Mehdi militia loyal to the Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr armed themselves, threatening to descend on Samarra.

We are prepared to strongly defend our shrine, says this man, and we swear by God that we will battle all those who do not defend the holy shrines of our imams.

So devastating was this assault that Iraq's Shia spiritual authority, the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who has not been seen in public in a year and a half, made a television appearance surrounded by senior Shia clerics urging, in a separate statement, peaceful protests, in line with the words of Iraq's prime minister announcing a three-day period of mourning, condemning the attack, calling for calm.

But that's been a hard sell to an enraged people.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

M. O'BRIEN: That was Aneesh Raman in Baghdad.

President Bush is using the lessons of Katrina to shape his plans for coping with future disasters. He is set to unveil those plans today, but it may be what's not in the report that gets the most attention.

CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux with a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): With hurricane season just three months away, President Bush is unveiling his much-anticipated report about the government's failures, as well as lessons learned over Hurricane Katrina.

There are 125 recommendations. They fall under 17 categories. They include having the military take on a much more robust role during a national catastrophic event when state and local first responders are overwhelmed.

Also, a restructuring of how the federal government deals with national emergencies and having each department become more proactive in its response.

The president's Homeland Security Advisor, Fran Townsend, will be giving the details. This of course after the president meets with his Cabinet. And White House aides tell me do not expect any bombshells. No calls, of course, for FEMA to be removed from the Homeland Security Department and no calls for the secretary, Michael Chertoff, to resign.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

M. O'BRIEN: The president's Homeland Security Advisor, Fran Townsend, was instrumental in preparing that report, of course. She'll join us next hour with more details on the president's new plan for future disasters.

And remember we'll be in New Orleans next week. "Hurricane Katrina: Six Months Later," AMERICAN MORNING live from the Gulf Coast Monday through Wednesday -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice making a surprise touchdown in Beirut just hours ago. The visit briefly delays a planned stop in the United Arab Emirates amid controversy over that Muslim country's role in managing six U.S. ports.

Let's get right to Beirut this morning and our bureau chief there, Brent Sadler.

Brent, good morning.

BRENT SADLER, CNN BEIRUT BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Soledad.

Secretary of State Rice has just wrapped up a meeting here with Lebanon's Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. This is a very quick visit to show strong U.S. support for pro-independence, anti-Syrian politicians, who essentially have the parliamentary majority here.

This is a very big boost at a critical time for the Lebanese government as it strives to reduce Syria's still continuing influence in this country. Almost a year ago that the world was captivated by the seat (ph) of revolution, very much supported by the U.S. And now the next goal for these pro-independence politicians here is to topple the pro-Syrian President Emile Lahud.

From Lebanon, Condoleezza Rice goes straight to Dubai to tackle head on in the United Arab Emirates that very difficult, thorny issue of a management of those U.S. ports. Already a lot of condemnation in the United Arab Emirates, in Dubai, by business leaders and analysts who say that if the U.S. can't trust an ally like Dubai in the war against terror, then who else can it trust in this part of the world.

Very much a hot button issue there, and one that the secretary of state is going to be facing, really, head on. But it will be a very quick visit, a couple of hours, maybe a little bit more, really trying to cool down the growing resentment to this controversy in the U.S. -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, a hot button issue there, and here, too.

Brent Sadler for us this morning.

Brent, thank you for the update.

And eight minutes past the hour, let's get our first check of the forecast.

Chad is off. Bonnie Schneider is in for him, though.

Lots of rain to talk about.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely, Soledad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

So I'm not the bearer of great news today, I apologize for that.

S. O'BRIEN: No, you're not, but today is the day. I mean 45 today for us...

SCHNEIDER: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: ... here in New York.

SCHNEIDER: Good.

S. O'BRIEN: Not so bad.

All right, Bonnie, thank you.

But you know TV viewers are soon going to have another choice on the dial...

M. O'BRIEN: We sure need another choice.

S. O'BRIEN: ... because 700 channels are not enough.

M. O'BRIEN: It's not enough. Not enough.

S. O'BRIEN: There is a new TV network on the way. We get off -- talking about the CW. We're going to tell you about this new one in a minute.

M. O'BRIEN: Also, plenty of speculation this morning about figure skater Sasha Cohen. The entire U.S. dreams and hopes now rest on her and her sequins.

S. O'BRIEN: She is beautiful. Look at the skate. She's gorgeous.

M. O'BRIEN: And she didn't show up for practice. So there is some questions that are being asked about all of this. You know I think the proof is in the pudding. If she can skate, who cares when she practices, right?

S. O'BRIEN: We'll see tonight, won't we?

M. O'BRIEN: We'll see, won't we, yes.

S. O'BRIEN: And later, we're going to catch up with America's ice princess from 30 years ago. Remember this woman? Remember this haircut?

M. O'BRIEN: Did you have the haircut? Did you have it?

S. O'BRIEN: I tried, but I had nappy hair. My hair didn't do that.

Dorothy Hamill, though, is going to talk about how Olympic gold changed her life. She says for good and for bad, too. We'll talk about that just ahead.

I love her.

M. O'BRIEN: So cute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

S. O'BRIEN: Coldplay.

M. O'BRIEN: Coldplay. Must be Coldplay, right?

S. O'BRIEN: John Mayer, hello. What's wrong with you -- man?

M. O'BRIEN: No? I don't know, what is it? It's John Mayer?

S. O'BRIEN: John Mayer.

Thirteen minutes after the hour, trying to wake you up, a little rock now a little bit.

Let's get right to Kelly Wallace. She's got headlines for us.

M. O'BRIEN: Let's get right to it, yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Good morning.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, and hello, everyone.

We begin with the White House, which will be facing more tough questions today over its proposed port deal. Administration officials will brief the Senate Armed Services Committee on why they approved the agreement. The agreement transfers control of six U.S. ports to a Dubai-based company. Some lawmakers have threatened to block the deal, while President Bush has promised to veto any such bill.

A developing story we are following out of Moscow, the roof of a 30-year-old market building caved in earlier this morning, killing at least 33 people and injuring dozens more. Authorities say workers are still trying to rescue people trapped under the rubble. Investigators say a build-up of snow may have caused that collapse.

South Dakota is one step closer to scrapping Roe versus Wade. The State Senate Wednesday passed a bill banning nearly all abortions in the state. The only exception would be if the procedure is needed to save the mother's life. South Dakota's House will now vote on that bill.

A New York man is recovering after being accidentally exposed to anthrax. Officials say it's likely the anthrax was -- quote -- "naturally transmitted" through a contact with animal hides. The man, who is a drum maker, is in a Pennsylvania hospital. Authorities say they believe this is an isolated incident, not related to terrorism.

And say a big hello to the great eight. The winners of the record $365 million Power Ball jackpot were revealed Wednesday during a news conference in Lincoln, Nebraska. The eight co-workers at a meat processing plant will each take home, get this, $15.5 million after taxes. And one of the winners was joking that he has been retired since he found out he won.

Who could blame him, Bonnie, right?

SCHNEIDER: Absolutely. I'd be retired, too, sure.

(WEATHER REPORT)

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, yes, yes.

Bonnie, as my daughter would say, you are so not my friend today.

M. O'BRIEN: Boy, you're tough.

S. O'BRIEN: I know. I know. I want it to be summer already.

Thanks, Bonnie, appreciate it.

Get ready for some Chinese PCs. Plus, we've been talking about this Fox launching a new network.

Carrie Lee has got our "Financial News Update."

Good morning.

CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Even more reality shows coming down the pike this fall.

S. O'BRIEN: Just what we need.

M. O'BRIEN: Boy, needed a few more.

LEE: I know. Hey, it's all formulaic, right, if it makes money and if it works.

Well we talked about the WB and the UPN Networks coming together to form CW Networks. What this basically means is a lot of stations across the country are not going to have programs. So now News Corporation and the Fox division is coming out with a lot of new programming to fill the airwaves. They are going to start doing this this fall.

Let's take a quick look at some of the affiliates that are going to be receiving this new programming which is called My Network TV. Here are some of the affiliates in New York, L.A., right on down through Houston.

Some of the programs will be two new soap operas called "Desire" and "Secrets," very highbrow stuff here. Also a reality show featuring...

S. O'BRIEN: Sounds good.

LEE: ... aspiring models, celebrities and a quiz show called "America's Brainiest." So of course going for the demographic that so many places do, the younger audience.

S. O'BRIEN: Aspiring girls, well they already have that.

LEE: I know. I know.

S. O'BRIEN: A quiz show. They already have that.

LEE: I don't know how this is going to be any different.

M. O'BRIEN: They already have that whole thing is already there.

LEE: But this, the plan, anyway, starting this fall. So that's what's happening there.

Lenovo, you might remember this. This is the Chinese PC company bought IBM's personal computer unit over a year ago. Well now they are finally rolling out their Lenovo branded product starting in stores today, like Office Depot. It's going to cost around $349. And we'll see what Lenovo is made of.

M. O'BRIEN: For a desktop with everything?

LEE: This is going to be a desktop.

S. O'BRIEN: Wow!

M. O'BRIEN: Wow!

LEE: Prices have really come down. It's amazing. You know you think about years ago would be well over a thousand dollars for something like this.

M. O'BRIEN: Commoditized I think is the term. What...

S. O'BRIEN: And that looks pretty good, too...

LEE: It does. And it's not expected to be a big threat to IBM's ThinkPad. But still,...

S. O'BRIEN: Right.

LEE: ... they've been working on this for a long time.

S. O'BRIEN: But you've got a kid and you want to get a computer for your child,...

LEE: Absolutely.

S. O'BRIEN: ... that's not, you know, super, super...

M. O'BRIEN: Good price.

LEE: Absolutely. So we'll see how they do. The Lenovo debut today.

By the way, stocks looking set for a weak open, especially for technology issues. We'll see what happens this Friday eve, as we like to call it, right, for Thursday.

S. O'BRIEN: Friday eve.

(CROSSTALK)

S. O'BRIEN: Only you business people call it Friday eve, the rest of us call it Thursday.

LEE: Right.

S. O'BRIEN: Thanks, Carrie.

M. O'BRIEN: So great when Thursday is Monday. I just love this.

S. O'BRIEN: Thanks, Carrie.

M. O'BRIEN: Figure skater Sasha Cohen will make headlines at the Olympics one way or another, but this morning it's we're talking about her practice habits. We're going to go live to Turin and delve into that.

S. O'BRIEN: Or Torino, as they like to call it.

M. O'BRIEN: Whatever you like. Torino, you have to do it with your hands when you do that.

Plus, after sitting on the bench this whole season as team manager, an autistic teenager get four minutes to realize his hoop dreams and, boy, did he ever take...

S. O'BRIEN: Nice shot.

M. O'BRIEN: Swing. There you go, perfect, nothing but net.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) M. O'BRIEN: You know what Groucho Marx says. You know what he said, I intend to live forever or die trying. Or outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog is too dark to read.

All right, well behold the gathering of -- I'm a terrible Groucho imitator, sorry about that.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, you are.

M. O'BRIEN: It's -- but that goes consistent with other imitations I try.

S. O'BRIEN: What is this?

M. O'BRIEN: This is a world record attempt at Auburn University. More than a thousand people showed up with their rubber noses and glasses, the Groucho deal, but no record.

S. O'BRIEN: Why not?

M. O'BRIEN: There is a record for everything, isn't there? It seems they needed to find a few hundred more Groucho Marx wannabes in order to reach the big time. So this is we're putting them on television even though they didn't get the record...

S. O'BRIEN: It's like.

M. O'BRIEN: ... and only because they look kind of silly.

S. O'BRIEN: I like the cute kids. The kids...

M. O'BRIEN: The kids. The kids are cute, yes.

S. O'BRIEN: ... are really cute.

Let's talk figure skating.

M. O'BRIEN: Let's.

S. O'BRIEN: Because tonight's the night, big night. Women are lacing up the skates tonight. They're going to try to Lutz their way or more into a gold medal. The early leader, of course, as we all know now is Sasha Cohen. And she prepared for center stage in figure skating by skipping her practice on Wednesday. The coach says no problem whatsoever.

Let's see what CNN's Larry Smith says. He's in Torino for us this morning.

Good morning to you, Larry. What's going on?

LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

We're hearing the same thing that it's no reason for alarm, that Sasha is fine and prepared to go for a gold medal, an event, really, that women -- the women -- American women have really dominated in this field when you look back.

Sasha Cohen, three one hundredths of a point ahead of her rival, Russian Irina Slutskaya. Once again she was phenomenal in the short program on Tuesday. Tonight it's the free skate, and Cohen trying to bring home the gold and make this a banner year. She won her first U.S. Nationals title last month. Trying to follow up now with her first Olympic medal in this, again, the one that she wants is gold.

As for Slutskaya, well she's trying to become the first Russian woman ever to win figure skating gold. This is an event, again, the American women have really dominated in. By the way, the others, Kimmie Meissner stands in fifth, Emily Hughes seventh place. And don't forget about Shizuka Arakawa of Japan, she is in third place.

Now Slutskaya does have one advantage, 24 skaters tonight. Slutskaya gets to go last. Cohen 20th. So Slutskaya gets to see what everyone has done, what kind of scores have been posted before she goes out and performs. And we'll see if that's an advantage for her -- Soledad.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, I always wonder how much of an advantage that is or if you get more nervous as you wait and let everybody else go ahead of you. But you know I guess we'll see it tonight, won't we?

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Let's talk about the U.S. hockey team.

SMITH: (INAUDIBLE) Sasha really helped her out.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, it did. It certainly did, but I can imagine situations when it doesn't.

SMITH: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: But hockey team, kind of out of the running now for the medal, right? And you know again...

SMITH: Out.

S. O'BRIEN: ... there's been a lot of finger pointing in this whole Olympics, don't you think?

SMITH: Yes, there really has been. It's been a mess for both USA and for Canada. Who would have ever thought they'd already be on their way back home at this point? But, yes, USA losing to Finland, and what a disappointing finish. One win in six games here.

And Mike Modano, the American veteran who's won Stanley Cups, he's done everything in the National Hockey League. He really took the America -- the USA hockey to task. And here is what he said -- I'm quoting -- "you'd think USA hockey would be a well-oiled machine, but it's not. ....Basically we were on our own for hotels, tickets, flights, and stuff like that."

Now certainly the first we've heard of this. I mean a bit of frustration on their parts, but I'm certain it is difficult for all of these players to get in from the various cities around the U.S. to get here. But then again, there are so many international players play in the NHL, everyone, I guess, would have that problem. But this is an issue it seems that Mike Modano is not happy about and that USA hockey may need to address in time for 2010.

S. O'BRIEN: Well you'd think there'd be like one person who can handle the booking the hotels and the travel logistics for goodness sake.

Well, all right, Larry, thank you very much.

SMITH: You'd think.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, you'd think.

SMITH: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Larry Smith for us. We'll talk with you a little bit later this morning as well.

SMITH: OK.

S. O'BRIEN: Let's get to the medal count, shall we? Germany is leading the way with 22. Austria, second place, 19. The U.S., Canada and Norway are now in a three-way tie, each with 18 medals there.

M. O'BRIEN: Go Norway. Go Norway. We're big on Norway here. They were leading for awhile. Anyway, yes, I guess you're not with us on the Norway thing.

All right, we have all heard of the basketball stars Michael, Magic and LeBron. But at New York's Greece Athena High School, they're talking about J-Mac.

S. O'BRIEN: J-Mac.

M. O'BRIEN: Jason McElwain happens to be autistic, is the team manager for the varsity team. He gets in. He gets one game, four minutes, and what does he do, he is on fire. Look at him.

S. O'BRIEN: That's a three-point shot, isn't it?

M. O'BRIEN: It was a magical four minutes.

S. O'BRIEN: Yes. Wow!

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JASON MCELWAIN, "J-MAC," SCORED 20 POINTS: I was very excited. The team was excited. Everybody else is excited. I was on fire. I was hotter than a pistol.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

M. O'BRIEN: Hotter than a pistol. He tied the school record, six three-pointers.

S. O'BRIEN: He sounds like LeBron and Magic, I was on fire. I was hotter than a pistol.

M. O'BRIEN: He's got it down. He racked up 20 points in four minutes.

S. O'BRIEN: My God.

M. O'BRIEN: Now let's remind you here we're talking about a fact -- the fact that J-Mac, as they call him -- now look at them -- is autistic...

S. O'BRIEN: Storming the court.

M. O'BRIEN: ... and has not played much this year. Wow!

S. O'BRIEN: Hey, good for him. That's a great story.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: A look at the morning's top stories straight ahead this morning.

Plus, we're going to catch up with a woman I love, figure skating legend Dorothy Hamill. You know she's going to talk about the highs...

M. O'BRIEN: Was that a Hamill Camel there?

S. O'BRIEN: That was, I believe, a Hamill Camel.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: And she's beautiful, nice, smart, everything.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

S. O'BRIEN: And -- but has really interesting stories to tell about the highs and the lows that followed her Olympic success 30 years ago.

Then later, the stars of "Brokeback Mountain," they are literally -- this is kind of yummy -- they are literally giving the shirts off their backs for a good cause. Hey, I'd take that from Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, come on. Some lucky guys.

M. O'BRIEN: Laundered? Laundered?

S. O'BRIEN: Of course they are.

That's ahead. We're back in a moment.

Laundered.

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