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Your World Today

Russian Plane Crashes in Eastern Ukraine; Tehran Responds to Incentives Package; Saddam Hussein Trial

Aired August 22, 2006 - 12:00   ET

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

RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: The pilot said there was a fire on board and heavy turbulence. Then an emergency landing in Ukraine that didn't work.
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Time to talk. After months of back and forth, Iran says it's ready for serious negotiations on its nuclear efforts.

QUEST: The aftermath of war. There's supposed to be a truce in southern Lebanon, but death lurks everywhere, and it's just below the ground.

CHURCH: Hello and welcome. Those are just some of the stories we're following this hour.

I'm Rosemary Church.

QUEST: And I'm Richard Quest.

From a remote region in eastern Ukraine, to Tehran, to southern Lebanon, we're covering the world on today's edition of YOUR WORLD TODAY.

CHURCH: Well, as you've seen, we're covering a lot of ground for you this hour from Ukraine, where rescuers are at the site of a deadly plane crash.

QUEST: Now, we're going to be in Tehran over the next 60 minutes, where high-level officials say they're ready for serious talks on their nuclear program.

What does that mean?

CHURCH: We're also keeping a close eye on the situation in southern Lebanon. There are lingering questions about that peacekeeping force. We'll ask the U.N. special envoy to the region what's taking so long.

QUEST: Yes. We've got it all for you over the next 60 minutes that we'll be together.

We start, though, with that developing story out of the Ukraine.

Recovery workers are sifting through the wreckage of a Russian plane crash in a grim search for human remains and any indication of what went wrong. The plane went down in eastern Ukraine. There were 171 people on board. All are now feared dead, 39 children are amongst the fatalities.

Our senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance, is in Moscow. He joins us now.

We are getting conflicting reports, Matthew, of what actually happened. Bring us up to date, please.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, those reports are still conflicting, the ones we've receiving here in Moscow as well. We've got two versions as to what actually occurred during this flight, which was about 30 minutes into its journey after taking off, this Tupolev 154 aircraft from the Black Sea resort of Anapa on Russia's southern coast.

After about 30 minutes, it issued a distress signal. A few minutes after that it was lost from radar.

The reports from the Ukrainian officials who are investigating this saying that they believe a fire broke out on board and that the pilot had attempted an emergency landing. The Russian officials are saying that it was severe turbulence that led to that attempt of an emergency landing.

But, regardless of that, what both sides agree on is that an emergency landing was attempted, that the landing gear of the aircraft didn't come down, and so the plane actually did a belly landing, and, of course, crashed in that open area. And you can see these first pictures of the images of the crash site now, about 50 kilometers or 30 miles to the north of the Ukrainian city of Donetsk in the east of the country.

You can see it had that belly landing and obviously crashed on impact with the ground -- Richard.

QUEST: We tend to think that the Russia aviation industry has a less good, to use a terrible phrase, safety record than, say, for example, other countries. Is there any truth in that, Matthew?

CHANCE: Well, it's difficult to say without the statistics in front of me. But certainly, you're right, it does seem that way.

It was only last month, remember, where there was another Russian airline crash in the Siberian city of Irkutsk. This time it was an Airbus 3-110 airliner that crashed, killing at least 118 people. Possibly more than that. Some of the people were unaccounted for.

And so, yes, it does seem that there are these regular occurrences in Russia's aviation industry. There are a number of factors that play.

Many of the aircraft that make up Russian fleets are aging. This particular aircraft in the latest crash came into service, I understand, in 1994. So a considerably -- '92, sorry. So it's quite an old aircraft in itself.

There's also the issue of maintenance. There's also the issue of equipment failures on board, pilot training. All these factors come into play when we're talking about the Russian airline industry and, in part, account for why there are so many crashes in this part of the world, in the former Soviet Union -- Richard.

QUEST: And those are the issues that the investigators will be looking at in the days and weeks ahead.

Matthew Chance in Moscow.

Thank you.

CHURCH: All right. To another story we've been monitoring. And Iran says it's ready for serious talks on its nuclear program, saying its response to a package of international incentives offers a new formula. But questions remain on whether Iran is willing to comply with key demands.

We want to bring in Aneesh Raman now, who is in Tehran.

Aneesh, we don't know much detail about this formal response, but what are we learning so far?

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, the headline essentially is that Iran continues to show no indication it is willing to suspend its nuclear program ahead of the U.N. deadline to do so by the end of the month.

This morning, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator handed in written form Iran's official response to member countries who have backed the deal, incentive deal, to try and get Iran to stop its nuclear program. Within it, as you say, he called for a new round of serious negotiations. Of course, those countries will say serious negotiations have been taking place for quite some time now.

Iran has been keen today to not simply say, no, we don't want to accept the U.N. resolution, but rather to say that it is offering a new way to bring about a diplomatic solution. Whether or not that's enough for the U.N., who feels that diplomatic negotiating has run its course, we'll have to see, but it does give fodder, perhaps, to countries like Russia and China, who after the U.N. deadline at the end of the month, their support will be key to bring about swift sanctions, and if they feel any pause for concern because Iran is showing any sign of compromise, that might factor in down the line.

Quickly, where do we go from here? Today was the self-made deadline by Iran to give its official response.

Two days to watch for next week. The first is Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, set to hold a rare press conference. He will perhaps further clarify or change the response we saw today.

And then, of course, August 31st, the U.N. deadline by when Iran must suspend its nuclear program. No sign it will do so. And after that is when potential sanctions can be imposed -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: Aneesh, explain to us something. Why would Iran go earlier than the set deadline? And, two, yesterday we saw sort of an unmoving Iran, an ambiguous answer, and then today a more conciliatory Iran.

What do we read into all of that?

RAMAN: Well, two things.

One, Iran is playing a political game here. It doesn't want to simply say no today. It wants to give the appearance it is looking to find compromise, looking to find a resolution. So, in its terms, it is offering a new formula to do so.

Secondly, though, it seems that they did it with time in advance before that U.N. deadline to try and spark new discussions. If Iran can get people to the table to talk to Iran again, there is, in their mind, the chance that that deadline set by the U.N. might change and that sanctions might not be imposed.

So, again, it could be a test balloon, posturing by Iran to see what the world's will is, whether it is willing to talk. Next week we'll hear from the president, perhaps new comments, and then all of this rides on that U.N. deadline.

Iran is desperately trying to save itself from sanctions. But officials we've spoken to and people out on the streets here tonight say they are ready, they are worried about the economic future of Iran, but they are ready to pursue what in their mind is a right, a peaceful civilian nuclear program. And the people say they believe their government's denial that it is seeking any nuclear weapon -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. Our Aneesh Raman in Tehran.

Thanks.

QUEST: Iran still has until the end of the month to respond formally to a U.N. resolution that demands that Tehran suspend uranium enrichment or face possible sanctions.

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. says the council must be prepared to act if Iran does not comply.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BOLTON, U.S. AMB. TO U.N.: I think we will be prepared to move, to submit elements of a resolution to the council very quickly. But it really is a test for the council. And we'll see how it responds.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST: Bolton also says if Iran chooses the path of cooperation, a different relationship is possible with the U.S. and with the rest of the world.

CHURCH: Well, now to Iraq. A roar from above, a strange smell, and then nausea and agony. That account from a survivor of a chemical weapons attack on an Iraqi village in the late 1980s. The dramatic words come during Saddam Hussein's genocide trial in Baghdad.

Michael Holmes has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Day two of the Anfal trial. The former Iraqi president and six codefendants in the dock, and first testimony in this trial. Two witnesses giving evidence. The first, a chilling account of the day in 1987 that bombs fell from the sky and, he says, chemicals came from those bombs.

ALI MUSTAFA HAMA, WITNESS (through translator): Then I smelled a strange smell like rotten apple or garlic. A few minutes later, the people felt their eyes burning and started vomiting. Then darkness fell.

HOLMES: This attack is believed to be the first instance of the Iraqi government using chemical weapons against their own population. According to a Human Rights Watch report on Anfal, war planes bombed the villages, up to 3,000 of them, and then troops moved in and destroyed them, moving out the survivors, many of whom were never seen again.

The second witness was a 41-year-old woman. She took the stand and described being held in a detention center for nine days when her brother and niece disappeared. She said during those nine days it was like the apocalypse, even Hitler, she said, didn't do this. She then broke down into tears.

Defendants, on their part, insisted that Iraq's military was, in fact, attacking Iranian troops and Kurdish rebels when it launched what is now known as the Anfal campaign.

SABER ABDEL AZIZ, FMR. MILITARY INTELLIGENCE CHIEF (through translator): The Iranians and Kurds were fighting hand in hand against Iraqi forces.

HOLMES: During cross-examination, defense counsel asked the witnesses how he knew that the aircraft were Iraqi and prompted the witness to say that he had indeed helped sheltered the Kurdish rebels in the village. Saddam himself challenged the witnesses, accusing them of being coached in their testimony.

Dramatic first testimony from these two witnesses, but this could be a long trial. Officials say there could be as many as 100 more yet to give their evidence.

Michael Holmes, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUEST: The guns may have been silenced, but the enemy is very much present in southern Lebanon.

CHURCH: When YOUR WORLD TODAY returns...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From what we're seeing on the ground, there's tens of thousands of cluster bombs everywhere -- scattered everywhere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: ... de-mining teams race to find hidden bombs before civilians do.

QUEST: And what to do about Iran. As the world awaits details of Tehran's response, we look at what could be the U.S.' response.

CHURCH: And too hot for holidaying in parts of Greece, where high temperatures are fanning some big flames.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

QUEST: And welcome back.

Italy's responding to a growing sense of urgency to patrol the fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah.

CHURCH: But the country also warns that it will withhold promised troops from the peacekeeping mission if Israel doesn't respect the cease-fire with Hezbollah.

QUEST: The prime minister, Romano Prodi, told the U.N. secretary-general that Italy is ready to take command of a United Nations contingent.

CHURCH: Elsewhere, French newspaper 'Le Monde" reports it has obtained a U.N. documents saying peacekeepers will have the right to fire in self-defense and to protect civilians, but will be barred from trying to disarm Hezbollah.

QUEST: And the U.N. Development Agency says the Israeli offensive has erased 15 years of gains and reconstruction after the end of the civil war.

The pressure for a U.N. force to get to southern Lebanon fast reflects growing concerns that the peace could collapse at any moment.

Earlier, we spoke to the U.N. special envoy to the Middle East about the challenges.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TERJE ROED-LARSEN, U.N. SPECIAL ENVOY TO MIDDLE EAST: It takes time, in real time and in the real world, to put together a complicated peacekeeping operations in one of the most difficult hotspots in this world. And we have to respect that.

And we also have to respect that governments who voluntarily contribute troops, resources of a variety of sorts, that they have legitimate concerns, concerning its mandate, its organization, et cetera. Nobody has the magic wand here. This will take time and this is the way it is in real world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Terje Roed-Larsen there.

Well, as talks on how to maintain the cease-fire continue, Lebanon is still very much a battleground to its people.

QUEST: The soldiers and the planes may have left. When they did so, they left behind a deadly legacy, as our Jim Clancy explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "I want my mother." Twelve-year-old Sicna Miri (ph) is the face of pain, a victim of an unexploded cluster bomblet.

Her cousin, 10-year-old Hassan, lies in a bed next to her. As a monitor tracks his heartbeat, Hassan remembers the gruesome details of almost being killed.

"It was her and my cousin, and Sicna picked up the bomb. It was shaped like a ball. There was an explosion" he says. "My insides fell out. I held them and I started running and screaming."

For a time, doctors weren't sure they would survive, but both have stabilized. They're the lucky ones. Outside the hospital room, a nurse tells us this is the new phase of the war.

(on camera): Inside the homes and gardens across south Lebanon, there are troops on the front lines in this phase of the war. They are the unexploded ordinance teams who search out and destroy the bomblets that are scattered in their tens of thousands across this country.

(voice-over): This is the only way to get rid of those bomblets. Before the blasts, some were taped to secure the triggers, but others had already armed themselves and couldn't be touched.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have to check everywhere we step. OK. One is here.

CLANCY: Frederick Grah (ph) is with the Mine Advisory Group. They're working with the U.N. and the Lebanese. Time and time again, Frederick will check to see if a cluster bomblet has armed or not.

JIHAD SAMHAT, MINE ADVISORY GROUP: OK, we have the second one to do. It spread everywhere. On the roofs, we have to check the roof to see if there is something up. OK, it is good for here.

CLANCY: Anxious villagers south of Tyre have reported hundreds of sightings. They're welcoming Frederick and his team with Arabic coffee, but there isn't time. Cluster bombs have smashed through windows and now lie inside homes. Some of their deadly cargo may be underneath or anywhere up to a kilometer away.

We keep warning the children, says an exacerbated mother. We keep telling them. Her children have been gathering up metal to sell. Including the shell of this cluster bomb.

Cluster bomblets are meant to explode when they hit the ground, but there's always about a 10 percent failure rate. Because these are so old, they may have a failure rate of around 40 percent.

But those are cold, hard numbers, and this is real pain. Hassan and Sicna will be weeks in the hospital. For others, there will be no going home at all.

Jim Clancy, CNN, Tyre, Lebanon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan at CNN Center in Atlanta.

More of YOUR WORLD TODAY in just a few minutes. First, though, let's check on stories making headlines here in the U.S.

At any moment, John Karr is due in a Los Angeles courtroom for an extradition hearing. What he says there could whisk him to Colorado for the next step in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case. A lawyer who has met with Karr says the 41-year-old school teacher will not fight extradition.

CNN plans live coverage of John Karr's extradition hearing. Court is scheduled to begin at any moment. And we will join those proceedings as soon as they get under way.

In international headlines, Iran responding to U.N. demands that it suspend its nuclear program. The response was delivered to Western envoys just a few hours ago. Iranian media says that includes an offer to return to serious talks as early as tomorrow, but there's no indication on whether Iran will stop its nuclear activities first, as demanded by the U.N.

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., John Bolton, says the U.S. will study the response carefully.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOLTON: We've made it clear in the Security Council resolution, 1696, that Iran has a choice. They can either take up the very generous offer that the five permanent members and Germany have extended to them, and if they do, there's a possibility of a different relationship with the United States and others. But if they don't, we've also made it clear that their unwillingness to give up their pursuit of nuclear weapons will result in our efforts in the Security Council to obtain economic sanctions against them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The actual deadline for Iran to respond to the U.N. demands is actually nine days from now.

New developments in the alleged airline terror plot. Eleven suspects in the case appeared in court in London today. Eight have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and preparing acts of terrorism. They were remanded until a second court appearance next month.

Three suspects charged with lesser crimes were ordered held until next week. Eleven other suspects in custody have not been charged. Investigators have until tomorrow to charge them, release them or ask a judge for a longer detainment.

Jacqui Jeras is watching what is happening in the weather world.

Hello, lovely Jacqui.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, hello, lovely Daryn.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: All right, Jacqui. Thank you.

So Rockey has been in Washington. And we've been waiting and watching for his arrival. Moments ago, Katrina survivor Rockey Vaccarella rolled into the nation's capital. He's towing a duplicate of a FEMA trailer. He hauled the trailer all the way from southern Louisiana to bring attention to the slow pace of storm recovery.

A drug warning to pass along to you. It involves popular medicines used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD. U.S. health experts say the drugs, which include brand names like Ritalin and Dexedrine, must carry new warning labels. The FDA says they carry a possible risk of serious heart problems or even sudden death.

The case against John Mark Karr. We will go live to the extradition hearing in Los Angeles as soon as it begins.

Also at the top of the hour, "Headline News" primetime powerhouse Nancy Grace, her thoughts on the evidence and the theories in the Ramsey murder case. Two powerful women, Nancy Grace and Kyra Phillips hosting "LIVE FROM" at 1:00 Eastern right here on CNN.

YOUR WORLD TODAY continues after a short break.

I'm Daryn Kagan.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back to YOUR WORLD TODAY. I'm Rosemary Church.

QUEST: And I'm Richard quest.

(NEWSBREAK)

CHURCH: Well, U.S. President George W. Bush is urging the international community to act to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions. Mr. Bush says there must be a consequence for Tehran's actions.

At the Pentagon, Barbara Starr takes a closer look for what could be next on the horizon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Iran's latest military exercises, these missile firings, designed perhaps to send a message that Iran is determined to be a player on the world stage. These maneuvers come just as the country's leaders say Iran will not suspend its nuclear enrichment program despite international pressure. For President Bush publicly there are no alternatives but diplomacy.

BUSH: Imagine how difficult this issue would be if Iran had a nuclear weapon. And so therefore it's up to the international community, including the United States, to work in concert to -- for effective diplomacy.

STARR: But there is little indication that U.N. sanctions, if imposed, would change Iran's mind. So what next?

COL. SAM GARDINER (RET.), NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR: The primary military option on the table right now with respect to Iran seems to be an air operation, an operation that would involve maybe four or five nights of very intense air attacks, it would include cruise missiles, b-2 bombers, b-52 bombers with cruise missiles, striking the Iranian nuclear facilities and probably other military targets.

STARR: Analysts say support for a strike against Iran would be tough. U.S. forces in Iraq would have to be protected from Iranian retaliation. U.S. military assets such as tanker aircraft and ships must be put into position. A U.N. peacekeeping force first must be deployed in Lebanon to protect Israel. But perhaps toughest?

GARDINER: The long pole in the tent is to convince the world and the American people that Iran has reached the category of serious enough that it requires a strike.

STARR (on camera:) Senior U.S. military commanders say there are no current plans to strike Iran. But they also acknowledge that Tehran seems emboldened these days, especially with Hezbollah still operating inside Lebanon.

Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUEST: The nuclear standoff has the potential to shape Iran's future relationship with the West, also its domestic economic reform and other issues. Ken Pollack believes this. He's the director of research for the Saban Center for Middle East policy.

Ken, is that not a stretch to point out that the Iranian nuclear policy has such a fundamental point in respect to country and its own domestic policies?

KEN POLLACK, SABAN CENTER FOR MIDDLE EAST POLICE: Well, what we need to recognize, Richard, is Iranian decision-making is largely a product of Iranian internal politics. That's the primary driver of their decision making. And the nuclear program lies at the intersection of a major debate within Iran among hardliners, pragmatists and mainstream conservatives, all of whom have very different visions of where they'd like the country to go. And the nuclear issue is the one that's come to head, but it's very much tied to Iran's economy, because of the threat of international sanctions. And you've got hardliners who are basically saying, we want the nuclear weapon and we're willing to ignore the economic sanctions, whereas the moderates are saying exactly the opposite.

QUEST: All right. But if that is the case, then not only is the Iranian authority playing high stakes with the West, it's also playing high stakes within its own country.

POLLACK: Oh, absolutely. And that's why, I think, what you're seeing from the Iranians is, they can't make a decision. On the one hand, the supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who really is the first among equal,s and ultimately makes the decision, clearly doesn't want to give up Iran's nuclear program, and that's as much because he needs the support of the hardliners as because he wants the nuclear weapon. By the same token, though, he seems to understand that Iran simply could not withstand serious international sanctions, and that's why he seems to be trying to give only half a loaf, trying to make the hardliners happy, but also retain some economic cooperation with the west.

QUEST: Well, yes, but then how do would square the circle, in that within the ordinary populous, if you like, this West bashing and nuclear priority is perceived to be very popular?

POLLACK: Well, first Iranians also are extremely pro-Western. They're perhaps among the most pro-Western, pro-American of all Muslim Middle Eastern countries out there. So you also have to square that.

But the end of the day, most Iranians see this as a matter of pride, because it's been painted in very simple terms by the government -- should Iran be allowed to develop this technology which other countries have had. What no one has ever asked the Iranian people is, are you willing to sacrifice your economy? Are you willing to risk international isolation to retain this very esoteric capability, which, quite frankly, most Iranians don't feel Iran needs from a security perspective.

QUEST: If things go awry and, for instance, the Iranian authorities and the government is perceived to have given in or have given away the nuclear capability, where does this leave the president, President Ahmadinejad, in Iran? Does it leave him with anything left?

POLLACK: Well, it certainly boosts him in the short term, because he will be able to say, I argued against this, I didn't want to do this. And if there is short-term anger at the government for having bargained away, he may actually be the beneficiary of it. However, over the longer term, if Iran is seen as doing well in the international markets, if the West is actually very generous to Iran in terms of economic cooperation, that may start to make his claims that Iran really needed to go in this direction, and needed the weapon and should have been willing to withstand this kind of pressure; that might ring a little hollow.

QUEST: Ken, we'll leave it there. Come back, please, again, and we'll talk more about this, Ken Pollack.

POLLACK: Look forward to it.

(NEWSBREAK)

CHURCH: Well, to Western Europe now, and fires are raging in northern Greece. They've left dozens hospitalized with breathing problems and burns. Hotels and homes have been evacuated in the area, which is popular with European holiday makers.

Sarah Soltoon (ph) is following that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARAH SOLTOON (ph), CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The fire raced across hillsides in northern Greece, catching local authorities and thousands of tourists by surprise, and turning one of Europe's most popular vacation areas into a disaster zone.

The speed of the fire forced an overnight evacuation of hundreds of people, many by boat. One German tourist drowned, as he tried to join his family onboard an escape raft.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were in the place, (INAUDIBLE), and we were eating at the pizzeria over there, and we saw thick smoke, and it became -- started to blow winds very hard, and then there was a red light in the in the sky, and everybody started to run everywhere -- east, west, north, south; nobody knows what to do. There was complete chaos.

SOLTOON: As the fire cut off the (INAUDIBLE) peninsula, scores of tourists had to spend the night on the beach. More than 50 homes in the area were damaged, and dozens of people were hospitalized with breathing problems.

This was one of several fires burning in Greece, which is experiencing its hottest week of the summer.

A similar story in southeastern Turkey, where firefighters attacking a blaze around the resort of Badron (ph). One of them said almost 300 or 400 hectares of forest had been destroyed, and described the situation as very, very bad. Hundreds of summer homes around Badron (ph) were evacuated as a precaution.

Forest fires are common across southern Europe in August, but have been made worse this year by record temperatures and a spate of suspected arson attacks.

Sarah Soltoon, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUEST: Now to the John Karr extradition hearing, which is under way right now in Los Angeles. You will, of course, know that Karr is the man arrested in Thailand, allegedly for the murder of a child beauty queen. He arrived in California late Sunday night. And soon, we'll find out whether Karr is going to fight extradition. If it does -- or if he does, it could take weeks before he's sent to Boulder, Colorado. That's where JonBenet Ramsey was murdered ten years ago.

CHURCH: All right, still ahead here on YOUR WORLD TODAY...

QUEST: Two steps forward, one step back. Italy is offering to dance with danger in Lebanon, while some do a swift backpedal. We're going to the man with the inside story at the U.N.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

QUEST: Hello and welcome back.

CHURCH: Seen live in more than 200 countries across the globe, this is YOUR WORLD TODAY on CNN International.

Well, Italian troops will be flexing their muscles in southern Lebanon. Rome has stepped up to the plate to head a 15,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force. France's offer, on the other hand, nearly doubled its contingent of 200 troops. Still, the overall plan should dramatically strengthen a 2,000-strong observer mission already in place.

So, will it work? One man who's likely to know is Terje Roed- Larsen. I spoke with the U.N. special envoy to the Middle East a little earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROED-LARSEN: I think the assessments of the secretary-general, especially political advice (INAUDIBLE) and myself, who are Kofi Annan's envoys here, related to the Security Council resolution 1701 and the cease-fire between Hezbollah and Lebanon -- sorry, Hezbollah and Israel -- our assessment is that there are some positive developments here which are fairly significant. But that there are also reasons for some pessimism.

And the reasons for optimism is first and foremost that for the first time since the 1960s, the Lebanese army has, urged by the United Nations, now deployed in southern Lebanon. This is the story, and this is an effort to, for the first time for Lebanon in many decades, to exert its full authority over southern Lebanon and to allow only arms for authorized personnel under the authority of the Lebanese government to carry weapons in southern Lebanon on a parallel basis with the international peacekeepers there.

This is historic. It's very important, and it gives good reason for optimism. Also to add now, several countries are working hand in hand with the secretary-general, Kofi Annan, in providing troops to robust, solidified, expanded and reorganized peacekeeping force on the ground, UNIFIL. This also gives good reason for optimism. And also...

CHURCH: But sir...

ROED-LARSEN: ... there is good cooperation...

CHURCH: Indeed, sir, but if that...

ROED-LARSEN: ... between U.N. and...

CHURCH: Sorry to interrupt you, but just -- we are short on time here. But it's that very point. It's been a slow process, hasn't it? Because a lot of countries are looking for a clearer definition of what the mission is, what the goal is. Why can they not be given that?

ROED-LARSEN: Because it takes time, in the real world and in real time, to set up a very complicated peacekeeping force in one in the most complicated hot spots in the world. Nobody has a magic wand here where things can happen at a split second. This has to take time, as it always does in such difficult situations.

Unfortunately, it's also so that the U.N. does not have a standing force. We have to, the secretary-general, go to a variety of countries and offer voluntary contributions of troops. And these countries, of course, have very legitimate interests related to the scope of the operation, how it's organized, the mandates, the terms of engagement, et cetera. And this has to be discussed. This is why it takes time.

But we have good hope that, in addition to the more than 2,000 troops that are already in place, that we will have a significant new number of troops there in the very near foreseeable future. But I would also like to say, since I mention the pessimism, that there also -- the situation is complicated. And there are worries, there are dangers, there on the ground. Because there is, until the Lebanese forces have taken complete control -- and until there is a broad presence of the international peacekeepers, there will be, up to a point, a security vacuum which is very, very difficult. And as long as...

CHURCH: Well, how long do you think that will take?

ROED-LARSEN: ... this presence is not there fully, there might be temptations for those who are against the government of Lebanon taking full control.

CHURCH: Indeed. Well, how long do you think that process will take?

ROED-LARSEN: It is very hard to say, but I think the kind of highest risk span of time will be two, three months ahead of us. But, of course, I do hope that the peacekeepers, the new peacekeepers, will be in place in good time before that. But, as I said, to -- for the Lebanese army to be there with the necessary technical resources, the necessary trained personnel, to set up cooperation mechanisms for the peacekeepers to be in order, it will take some time. So there are reasons...

CHURCH: Sir, over the weekend...

ROED-LARSEN: ... for optimism, but there are also reasons to be worried.

CHURCH: Sir, over the weekend, Israel was talking very much in terms of the inevitability of another round of this conflict. Do you feel you can avert that in time?

ROED-LARSEN: I mean, nobody can guarantee that hostilities will not break out again. This is precisely why we have impressed on both parties that have to stand back from any violation of Security Council Resolution 1701. We have told latest the Israelis that violations undermine the willingness of troop contributors to go forward.

The situation is very delicate, and nobody can guarantee that hostilities will not break out once again. But this is precisely why all parties concerned, not only the states, but also the armed groups there involved and political actors in the region and beyond, have to assure a constructive and helpful engagement here. If that helpful and constructive engagement based on goodwill, if that is not there, this will be very, very difficult indeed.

There are huge possibilities for an upside here. The strengthening Lebanese democracy for peace in the region, but there also a high degree of risk that we can again slide into the abyss of bloodshed and war.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Terje Roed-Larsen, talking to me there a short ago. And it's worth saying that France has disappointed the U.N. and other countries by merely doubling its own contingent of 200 troops.

QUEST: Israel is on the move again in northern Gaza. IDF forces entered near the Karni border crossing, searching for weapons and detaining five wanted Palestinian militants. They say two of them are Hamas operatives.

Under the cover of darkness, warplanes roared over the area. Two buildings were hit by airstrikes. One is said to have been a Hamas facility in Rafah. The other in Jabaliya was reportedly being used by Islamic jihad. The Israeli military says that both buildings have weapons stores.

Also, in the Kissufim region, three Palestinians were shot and killed. Israeli forces say they were approaching a border base.

CHURCH: Well, the U.S. president and the press.

QUEST: Now, in just a moment on YOUR WORLD TODAY, what the president does when he has a penchant for humor. Penchant, humor, particularly when the questions get tough. Some of the laughter lines of the U.S. president. We'll have you rolling in the aisles, in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back. Well, critics of U.S. President George W. Bush have said he speaks like a cowboy, especially when it comes to answering questions from the media.

QUEST: Now, you're wondering -- I'm not being disrespectful with a sort of smile on the chops. The reason is because President Bush is known for lightening the mood, with his own brand of humor, as Jeanne Moos explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's coming.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two-minute warning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: About two minute warning.

MOOS: Two minutes until the jokes start. One of the president's favorite weapons to deflect and disarm is humor, which is why seersucker was the star at Monday's presidential press conference.

BUSH: By the way, seersucker is coming back. I hope everybody gets it.

KEN HERMAN, COX NEWSPAPER: I think he insulted my suit no less than three times, but who's counting.

BUSH: Yes, Herman.

MOOS: Ken Herman has reported on President Bush for more than a dozen years. He's used to the Bush brand of humor.

BUSH: Let me finish my question, please. His hand's going up and I'm kind of getting old and, you know, just getting into my peroration, look it up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Peroration.

MOOS: Peroration, the concluding part of a discourse. But even in the beginning part of his discourse ...

BUSH: Helen. What's so funny about me saying Helen?

MOOS: There was a little ripple in the room because the president stopped calling on Helen Thomas for a couple of years. BUSH: Let me finish.

MOOS: And when he had finished...

BUSH: It's kind of like dancing together, isn't it?

MOOS: Though Helen later joked, "I don't waltz with this man."

BUSH: Stretch. Who are you working for, Stretch?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The "Washington Examiner."

BUSH: Oh good, I'm glad you found work.

MOOS: Actually Stretch's full nickname is super stretch, since he's six foot seven. There's also little stretch and plain old stretch. Sometimes the president stretches his luck.

BUSH: Peter, are you going to ask that question with those shades on?

PETER WALLSTEN, "LOS ANGELES TIMES": I can take them off if you want.

BUSH: No, I'm interested in the shade look, seriously.

WALLSTEN: All right, I'll keep it.

MOOS: Turns out "Los Angeles Time's" reporter Peter Wallsten has an eye disease. The president later called him to apologize. Monday's Q&A took place in the new temporary press briefing room. The old one is being remodeled. Reporters fear they'll never get back inside the actual White House.

QUESTION: Are we coming back?

QUESTION: Ever?

BUSH: Absolutely you're coming back. You're coming back to the bosom of the White House.

MOOS: But being bosom buddies doesn't guarantee the question asked will be a soft ball. The president talked about 9/11 and Iraq in the same breath. Ken "Seersucker" Herman interjected.

BUSH: What did Iraq have to do with that?

HERMAN: The attack on the World Trade Center.

BUSH: Nothing.

MOOS: Another media bloodsucker disguised in seersucker.

HERMAN: If I can make the leader of the free world happy with what I'm wearing, so be it.

BUSH: Ridiculous looking outfit.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUEST: The president of the United States ...

CHURCH: Yes?

QUEST: I would cringe inside if Mr. Bush said ridiculous looking outfit to me.

CHURCH: That's -- yes, really put you on the spot. All right. Well, we can end on a light note, for a change. That's it for this hour of YOUR WORLD TODAY. I'm Rosemary Church.

QUEST: And I'm Richard Quest, whether you like it or not in this outfit. That's our report for this hour. See you shortly.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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