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Croc Hunter Killed; Captured In Iraq; New York Manhunt; Eye On Iran

Aired September 04, 2006 - 10:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: He was known as the crocodile hunter. But Steve Irwin usually made himself the prey. The flamboyant TV host wrestled with man-eaters and flirted with death. The world of thrill- seeking couch potatoes were mesmerized by his exploits. Earlier today, Irwin died in his latest adventure. Irwin was filming off Australia's northeast coast when a stingray plunged his barb into his chest. Details now from reporter Melissa Downs (ph) of Australia's Channel 9.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA DOWNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): It was the way he lived his life. He was shooting a new TV series in north Queensland called "Deadly Sea Creatures" when he came too close to one. The 44-year-old was swimming at Bat Reef (ph) off Port Douglas around 11:00 when he was struck in the heart by the barb of a stingray.

JOHN STAINTON, IRWIN'S MANAGER: Came over the top of a stingray and a barb hit -- the stingray's barb went up and went into his chest and put a hole into his heart. It's likely that he possibly died instantly when the barb hit him.

DOWNS: A rescue helicopter was called, but there was little the medical team could do. Friend and colleague Trevor Long from Sea World says stingray toxin causes your circulation to shut down.

TREVOR LONG, SEA WORLD: There's antidote to it. It's just a very form of venom that we don't know a lot about. And getting hit in the trunk is a bad situation.

DOWNS: Steve Irwin's body was taken to Kent (ph) Hospital and word spread south swiftly with 9 News first reporting just after 2:00 something terrible had happened to the crocodile hunter. For a man loved around the world, emotions were particularly high at his Australia's zoo on the Sunshine Coast. Many struggled with word their hero was dead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It can't be right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course he seemed the invincible. But, yeah, it's an absolute tragedy what happened.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He died doing what he loves, didn't he. DOWNS: The country's leaders are paying glowing tributes.

JOHN HOWARD, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: I really do feel Australia has lost a wonderful and colorful son.

DOWNS: A stunned premier describing Steve Irwin as perhaps our greatest international ambassador.

PETER BEATTIE, PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND: He put Queensland and Australia on the international map. I mean I can remember going to the United States where people would not know the prime minister of Australia but they would -- they knew Steve Irwin.

DOWNS: America has been quick to report on the tragedy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is known to have wrestled some of the most dangerous animals, reptiles in the world. He is also known as one of the best known wildlife crusaders in the world today.

DOWNS: Steve's wife, Terry, was on a trecking holiday in Tasmania and is tonight returning to Queensland. As family groups continue to pay their respect, staff left Australia's zoo in absolute shock.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: The truth of the matter is, little kids love them. They pet them. Some people swim with them. But what about when stingrays attack. A marine biologist from the Georgia Aquarium joins me on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

And tune in tonight. CNN re-airs Larry King's one-on-one interview with Steve Irwin. That encore presentation is tonight at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific.

A blow to the terrorist network in Iraq. The number two leader of al Qaeda in Iraq is in custody this morning. More from CNN's Michael Holmes in Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was a very proud national security advisor, Muwaffaq al-Rubaie, who told a news conference on Sunday about the capture of Hamed Jumaa Farid al-Saeedi, the number two man, he said, of al Qaeda in Iraq. He was a deputy to Abu Ayyub al-Masri, who himself took over al Qaeda in Iraq after U.S. troops killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. That happened in June.

Now why is he significant? Well Mr. al-Rubaie says that he was primarily responsible for the bombing of the Samarra shrine back in February. A holy place for Shia Muslims and an act that sparked much of the major sectarian violence we've seen in Iraq and mainly in Baghdad since that attack.

Now we've been told that he was known as the prince or Amere (ph) of Salahadine (ph) province where he worked out of. We're told that under questioning he has admitted receiving money from other groups who had been kidnapping Iraqis and getting ransoms for their release. He was caught with three other members of al Qaeda we're told.

Now to put this in context, the insurgency in Iraq is not based around al Qaeda, although that organization is responsible for many of the spectacular attacks and most of the suicide bombings we've seen. But it is just one slice of the picture. The insurgency, in general, is very much homegrown, domestic and operated by non- foreigners.

Now, when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed, let's also remember that it didn't reduce violence in Iraq by much. And when it was reduced, it wasn't for long. Al Qaeda has suffered the loss of leaders in the past and it hasn't stopped their activities. However, the Iraqi government says that this has dealt a major blow to the operation here in Iraq.

Michael Holmes, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And this morning, a New York manhunt grows more urgent. State police are now mourning one of their own while still hunting an elusive fugitive. Casey Bortnick of our CNN affiliate R (ph) News brings us up-to-date.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY BORTNICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sad news from western New York as New York State Police announce they have lost one of their own. Police Superintendent Wayne Bennett confirms Trooper Joseph Longobardo has passed away from his injuries just days after police believe he was ambushed by fugitive Ralph "Bucky" Phillips.

At 3:35 Sunday afternoon, 32-year-old Joseph Longobardo passed away at a Buffalo area hospital. Longobardo underwent a leg amputation Saturday night in an attempt to save his life. An attempt that ultimately failed. Longobardo and his partner, Donald Baker, were conducting surveillance behind the house of the elusive fugitive's former girlfriend in the town of Stockton in Chautauqua County. Both troopers were fired at several times near a wooded area. Longobardo was hit in the leg by a bullet that pierced his artery. Police believe the shooter was indeed Ralph "Bucky" Phillips who escaped from prison on April 2nd.

Longobardo is survived by his 13-month-old son Lewis and his wife Terry. The couple were supposed to celebrate their wedding anniversary on September 7th.

Now as for Donald Baker, the other trooper shot Thursday night, he has been upgraded to serious condition after a third surgery at a Pennsylvania hospital.

In fact, the search for Ralph "Bucky" Phillips continues. Police believe he is still in Chautauqua County. There were several sightings of him Sunday. None of them were confirmed. Reporting from Fredonia, New York, Casey Bortnick, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Looking for answers in Chicago today. Six children are dead. Another three children and an adult injured after a terrible fire on the city's north side. The likely cause, fire crews say, a candle used to light an apartment that had no electricity. The dead range in age from three to 14. Five are from the same family.

John Bolton speaks out on the nuclear standoff with Iran. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., a live interview next on CNN NEWSROOM.

And the world knew him as the crocodile hunter. Steve Irwin called himself a wildlife warrior. His mission and his legacy straight ahead on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Iran pushes ahead with its nuclear program today. In weekend talks, U.N. chief Kofi Annan failed to sway Iranian leaders to hold activity. At the U.N., the issue was still a key concern for U.S. Ambassador John Bolton. He is getting ready to talk with our senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth. Richard joins us from New York.

Richard, good morning.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

Ambassador Bolton, how do you read Iran's response to Secretary- General Kofi Annan? They want to have some more dialogue, but they're not willing to freeze uranium enrichment programs.

JOHN BOLTON, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: I think the answer is consistent with what Iran has been saying for months and months and up to a year now, that they'd love to talk about positive aspects of the European Union's offer to them, but they don't want to talk about the fundamental precondition established by the Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency. And that is, they must suspend their uranium enrichment activity. So no change that I can see.

ROTH: Because of that, and probably no change down the road, what makes you think sanctions will work?

BOLTON: I think the issue is how to put increased pressure on Iran to isolate them internationally in an effort to get them to change the strategic decision they have been following this past 20 years of trying to seek nuclear weapons. I think if we move and the Security Council move elsewhere, that that increases the pressure on Iran, increases its isolation and increases the possibility for that to occur.

ROTH: China and Russia said they would be always willing to talk if Iran didn't cooperate with that last resolution deadline, which they didn't do. But what makes you think China and Russia are going to accept sanctions?

BOLTON: Well, remember, in June, the foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the Security Council in Germany agreed that they would follow the course of action that we've seen unfold. That they would give Iran one more chance to take up this very generous offer that the Europeans have given them. And that if Iran failed to do that and failed to meet the precondition of suspending uranium enrichment, they would all come to the Security Council seeking sanctions. That's what they agreed to and that's what we expect them to do.

ROTH: But Sergey Lavro, Russian foreign minister, says sanctions overall are a dead end. Is he just playing for national consumption or is he also now saying that sanctions really don't work in many situations, even though I know you have cited international history that in many cases they do?

BOLTON: I think you have to go back to what the foreign ministers agreed, and that is that they committed to come to the Security Council if Iran has done what it's doing, which is refusing to suspend uranium enrichment. And I know there's been rhetoric from Moscow and Beijing that they don't think sanctions will work. Let's see what happens when we actually put a resolution on the table and get down to cases.

ROTH: What about the United States getting bogged down in Iraq? Does that embolden Iran to challenge the U.S. or even overall U.N. moves and authority?

BOLTON: Well, I'm not sure I can read the mind of President Ahmadinejad and the Iranian leadership. I do think that the efforts that the Bush administration has been making for four years now to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapon status are not affected by the situation in Iraq. Obviously that's a circumstance that Iran causes a lot of trouble in on their own. But in focusing on Iran's nuclear weapons program, we're focusing on a distinction problem. The president has rallied international support to our position. We're going to continue to pursue it.

ROTH: The Kofi Annan diplomat swing also took him through Damascus. Syrian says it's willing to make sure the border with Lebanon works so that there's no illegal smuggling. Do you trust the Syrian word and do you want U.N. troops on that border?

BOLTON: Well, if Syria's now concerned about preventing smuggling across its border with Lebanon, this would be the most significant change in Syrian attitude about Lebanese independence that we've seen in some number of years. What we have seen as a possibility coming out of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel is the possibility of actually restoring Lebanon to full sovereignty. Take its democratic government and put it in full control of its territory.

One of the key aspects of the resolution that ended the hostility, 1701, was an arms embargo that would preclude arms from going to Hezbollah, Palestinian, Islamic Jihad or other militias inside Lebanon. If Syria's willing to cooperate and make sure that Hezbollah and others are not rearmed, that would be a step forward. But I'll wait for the actions, not just their rhetoric.

ROTH: They're beginning to arrive, the peacekeepers, in southern Lebanon. The conservative base, which love you and the United States, always attacks the U.N. But if this operation works, do you think this is a major step forward in the U.N. prestige that it can work? Do you, and the U.S. and other countries had to go to the Security Council and get this force in there to separate the parties?

BOLTON: The concept for the enhanced UNIFIL that's embodied in Resolution 1701 is that together with the armed forces of the government of Lebanon, that they will provide sufficient security in southern Lebanon. That as the Israeli forces withdraw, Hezbollah will not be allowed to reinfiltrate. So a very difficult assignment.

It's going to be a very dangerous assignment. It's one of the reasons why there was some hesitation on the part of European countries to put troops in. So I think we need to see how it unfolds. We've worked hard with these governments in Europe. We're providing logistical support. It's a very difficult assignment.

ROTH: All right, less than 20 seconds. Sudan, another country with a tough resolution. The government doesn't want to let U.N. peacekeepers in. Today Sudan said, when the African Union deployment ends, it's time for them to get out. No U.N. How are you going to overcome that?

BOLTON: Well, President Bush has made it clear he wants to stop the genocide in the Sudan. We're going to continue to put pressure on the government of Sudan, work with the African Union and others who are interested. We're not going to give up on those.

ROTH: And this month you want to try to get the Security Council to put Burma Memar (ph) on the agenda, which it hasn't really done at the council.

BOLTON: We think Burma's actions constitute a threat to international peace and security. We're going to push hard to get it on the agenda. We take this very seriously.

ROTH: He's Ambassador John Bolton of the United States. I'm Richard Roth here in New York.

Thank you very much, Ambassador.

Now back to you.

HARRIS: Thank you both.

Well, it was surprising news this morning. Croc hunter Steve Irwin, the man who became famous for his dangerous interactions with wild animals, was dead. Killed by the barb of a stingray.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) STEVE IRWIN: I see wildlife. I know that if I'm respectful and I understand and I'm well researched and well rehearsed that the animal is not going to just swing around and knife me in the back, unlike some people will.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Aussie Steve Irwin on a visit with Larry King. We will recue that tape. Candid comments that have such resonance today.

And we'll learn more about stingrays straight ahead. A marine biologist from the Georgia Aquarium joins me soon. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Welcome back, everyone. Just want to give you a look at our newsroom. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM coming to you from our world headquarters here in Atlanta. Watching some of the people there who make up the heartbeat of our operation.

Welcome back, everyone. Good morning. I'm Tony Harris. Heidi Collins will be with me tomorrow morning.

He was known as the crocodile hunter, but Steve Irwin usually made himself the prey. The flamboyant TV host wrestled with man- eaters and flirted with death. The world of thrill-seeking couch potatoes were mesmerized by his exploits. Earlier today Irwin died in his latest adventure. Irwin called himself a wildlife warrior, but his passion sometimes seemed at odds with common sense. He ignited a firestorm for feeding a crocodile while holding his infant sons in his arms. Months later he answered his critics and explained his trust in animals. It came in an interview with CNN's Larry King.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE IRWIN: My parents actually guided me in the direction that I've gone. They started Australia Zoo in 1970. So I was rung around in the wilderness since the day I was born.

LARRY KING, CNN ANCHOR: But you didn't have to like it. Some kids are born into a family situation, the father's a lawyer, they don't want to be a lawyer.

IRWIN: Yes, absolutely. My three sisters . . .

KING: So you, obviously, liked it.

IRWIN: Loved it. Not only did I take to it like a fish to water. When I was four years of age, my dad noticed that I had a gift with wildlife that he'd never seen nor encountered ever before, you know.

How many singles (ph) do you got back there, dad?

We were out catching snakes for the Commonwealth Syrum (ph) Laboratory. I found this big brown snakes and I sunk my foot, bam, right on it and I was like bare foot. Had these little sandals on. And I'm going, dad, dad, I've got one. And he comes over and he goes, whack, knocked me out of the way. Broke my heart. I ran away crying.

The snake was at my leg, poised, but it wasn't biting. And from that moment, when he saw that, he thought to himself, what's this kid got? And then when I was nine years of age, he allowed me to catch my first croc and I guess I must have made him proud and I demonstrated to him that I had a gift with wildlife. And he nurtured that with my mom and now (INAUDIBLE).

KING: What, Steve, is the gift?

IRWIN: The gift. Firstly, Larry, you know, I'm a wildlife warrior. You know, a warrior is someone who is trained or engaged in battle. My battle is conservation. OK. So I'm a wildlife warrior and anyone can be one. But I have a gift. God put me on this planet with a mission. And my mission is to educate people about conservation.

KING: But the gift to communicate with animals, where did that come from?

IRWIN: That's right. (INAUDIBLE).

KING: Animals like you.

IRWIN: Yes. It's in my genetic makeup. That's where it comes from. Now I can do stuff with animals that no one else in the world can do. I've got the ability to be attractive to wildlife and vice versa. And then, on top of that, I've got a gift that I didn't know I had of communicating to cameras, which is in essence looking to millions of people and combine those two and there you see my mission is to educate people about conservation.

KING: Ivan Tour (ph) is the famed founder of Flipper, who's an old friend of mine. He told me that he trusted animals more than humans as long as they were fed. He would walk into wild animals easier than to Hollywood film producers.

IRWIN: Here, here.

KING: You feel the same way?

IRWIN: Absolutely, 100 percent. Yes. I'm lucky in that respect. I see wildlife. I know that if I'm respectful and I understand and I'm well researched and well rehearsed, that the animal is not going to just swing around and knife me in the back, unlike some people will.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Tune in tonight, CNN re-airs Larry King's one-on-one interview with Steve Irwin. That encore presentation is tonight at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific. Steve Irwin said he had only one goal, grabbing people's attention so that he could educate them about conservation. But he often downplayed the danger of his exploits. Earlier on CNN's AMERICAN MORNING, we spoke to another high-profile expert about animal attacks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACK HANNA, "JACK HANNA'S ANIMAL ADVENTURE": You know, 99 percent of the time that someone's hurt by an animal, it's your fault. The times I've been hurt, it's been my fault. And you just have to be carefully of that. You know, you have to know what your limits are, what that animal is. Because they're wild animals. They have their defenses, you know. People use the word dangerous and that sometimes is a word that's not fair to that animal because that animal always has been given the defenses that God gave it. So you have to understand what all that involves. And if you understand that, like I have for many, many years, then hopefully nothing will happen.

You try and bring the animal world to people so they can learn in the best way possible, like Marvin Perkins (ph) started, as you just said, and Jacque Cousteau (ph) and Steve. And, you know, they've brought a lot to us and hopefully we can continue that in a safe way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: And still ahead, a big catch in Iraq. Al Qaeda's number two leader in Iraq in custody. Will it curb the violence? That's the question. A report from Baghdad still ahead on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And welcome back, everyone, to CNN NEWSROOM. The premier of CNN NEWSROOM from our world headquarters here where it all happens in Atlanta.

Good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. Heidi Collins will be with me tomorrow.

Days after Tropical Storm Ernesto made landfall, its remnants are still bringing grief to parts of the east coast. Homes and businesses, fields and roads still flooded in eastern North Carolina. Forecasters expected the bloated Cape Fear river to stop dropping today. Right now it's more than five feet above flood stage.

High water also causing problems in Virginia. Dozens of roads are still blocked by downed trees and power lines. Some are washed out by the storm's flood waters. Tens of thousands of homes from the Carolinas to New York don't have power this morning.

And, Chad, as we look out to the Atlantic, we're looking at TD-6?

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Well, a deadly friendly fire incident in southern Afghanistan to tell you about this morning. NATO says its war planes killed a Canadian soldier in Kandahar province. It happened during an operation designed to drive Taliban fighters out of the area. Several other Canadian soldiers were wounded. Operation Medusa launched on Saturday. In another development, NATO says a British soldier was killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul along with at least four civilians.

A stinging rebuke of U.S. foreign policy from a former president of Iran and his words were spoken on American soil. Mohammad Khatami is on a nearly two-week visit to the U.S. His first public appearances were in suburban Chicago over the weekend. While there, he sat down with an exclusive interview with CNN's Zain Verjee. She joins me now from Chicago.

Zain, good to see you. My question off the top here is, were you able to get a further explanation, further understanding of what Iran's nuclear ambitions really are?

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: Well, President Khatami was very clear on the nuclear question. He said we're not after a nuclear bomb. It doesn't matter what the United States or the European countries are accusing of us. That's certainly not the case. He said that their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. He said it's just to generate energy and electricity and they have every right to do it under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

But the U.S. and many European countries as you know, Tony, have been very suspicious of Iran's program. Here's what he had to say about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMAD KHATAMI, FORMER PRESIDENT OF IRAN (through translator): I believe the one who commits violence is committing a crime. And the one who commits crime in the name of the religion of God is committing two crimes whether it's in the name Islam, Christianity, Hinduism. Particularly Islam.

Violence is a crime in Islam. The elimination and the killing of innocent people brings about hate. It is not accepted in Islam. And if in the name of religion particularly a religion that came into being that was brought to us by God in order to create peace, it's even a bigger crime.

Whether it's in the name of Islam or in the name of other religions is whatever mindset. It is a crime to commit violence and it's the Muslim people first and foremost who must stand against such violence. Violent movements and extremism.

And the United States more than anyone else perhaps along with the Muslim world can help defeat such extremist movements.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERJEE: That was what he said while criticizing U.S. foreign policy, essentially saying there that it incites more violence in the region. I want to go back, though, to the nuclear issue and see what he had to say about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VERJEE: Why should the West trust Iran?

KHATAMI: Why should the West not trust Iran? That's my question. See, at this moment, Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, has declared many times it has no interest in building the nuclear bomb. All the inspections have shown that there has been no movement toward building atomic weapons or bombs. This country, as any country, who is interested in having nuclear technology for civilian purposes in order to advance its own energy independence in the future ...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERJEE: President Khatami is on his way now to New York and Washington. He said the way out of deadlock in the standoff between Tehran and Washington is really one of dialogue. He says there's no point slapping sanctions on Iran. He said that's not going to help. He said dialogue is the key.

And in fact on his trips to Washington and New York that is going to be a real centerpiece of what he wants to talk about. He says a dialogue of civilizations and not a slash of civilizations, Tony?

HARRIS: Zain Verjee for us this morning. Zain, good to see you. Thanks, appreciate it.

VERJEE: Appreciate it.

HARRIS: And this just in. After numerous delays because of weather concerns it looks like we're going to get a Wednesday launch for the space shuttle Atlantis.

As you know this launch was originally scheduled for August 27. Put off at that time because of concerns about Ernesto. But it looks like the weather will clear and improve to the point where we will get a Wednesday launch for the space shuttle Atlantis.

Well he snatched thrills from the jaws of danger and turns his passion into prime TV ratings. Even a movie.

Earlier today crocodile hunter Steve Irwin was working on his latest adventure when a massive stingray plunged a barb into his chest. It's believed he died within moments. Our John Vause is covering this story from Brisbane, Australia, not far from the Irwin family's Australia zoo.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For many Australians it just doesn't seem real. The man who built a global reputation wrestling crocodiles and playing with deadly snakes, who courted death with enthusiasm and a broad smile, seemed invincible.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can't be right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course he seemed invincible. Yeah, absolute tragedy what happened.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He died doing what he loved, didn't he.

VAUSE (voice-over): Even harder for many, the way he died. Swimming in shallow waters on the Great Barrier Reef not far from the resort of Port Douglas in north Queensland. He was filming a segment for a children's TV show he was making with his eight-year-old daughter Bindi.

She wasn't with him at the time but those who were say Irwin was killed by a stingray, normally a defensive animal which rarely attacks.

JOHN STANTON, IRWIN'S MANAGER: Came over the top of a stingray and a barb hit the stingray's barb went up and went into his chest and put a hole into his heart. It's likely that he possibly died instantly when the barb hit him.

VAUSE: Irwin's support crew made a 30-minute dash to a nearby island and awaiting medical helicopter but no one could save his life making this the third fatality in Australian waters from a stingray attack.

JOHN HOWARD, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: I'm quite shocked and distressed at Steve Irwin's sudden untimely and freakish death. It's a huge loss to Australia. He was a wonderful character. He was a passionate environmentalist. He brought joy and entertainment and excitement to millions of people.

VAUSE: Those who know him best, the man who turned "crikey!" into a catch phrase and spent a lifetime trying to make crocodiles, snakes and sharks loveable, died doing what he loved most of all. John Vause, CNN, Brisbane, Australia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

IRWIN: And with me now, marine biologist Ray Davis. He is vice president of zoological operations at the Georgia Aquarium which has an interactive exhibit where you can actually touch the stingrays. Good to see you, sir. Thanks for your time.

RAY DAVIS, GEORGIA AQUARIUM: One of the things we want to make sure that everyone understands, how tragic this is. Our sympathy go out to the family, friends and colleagues of Steve Irwin.

At Georgia Aquarium we have the opportunity in a protected contact situation for people to engage and understand stingrays better among many of the other animals at Georgia Aquarium. And in that, we need to understand that these barbs, this spine is at the base of the tail of the stingrays. It's a defensive mechanism. It's not something they use for hunting for prey because they use their mouths with the crushing plates to get crabs and shrimp from the sand.

IRWIN: Well, Ray, let me ask you a quick question. It was -- Jack Hanna said something on AMERICAN MORNING that might have sounded a little harsh but I want your response to it. What Hanna was suggesting when accidents like this happen, it is usually of the fault of Steve Irwin in this case. Or in his case it's been his fault when he's been attacked by an animal. What is your take on that? Was this ultimately Steve Irwin's fault?

DAVIS: I think one of the things that we need to wait for is the investigation into the whole circumstance. So we can better understand how this happened. And then better understand how to prevent this from happening in the future.

We need to also understand that these are animals in the native environment. They may have mistaken Irwin, Steve's position as something of a predator and therefore responded. In a defensive posture. It would be ill-advised to speculate ahead of any investigation.

IRWIN: But you have to tell us, Ray, you have an interactive exhibit there. We know people swim with these stingrays. Give us a sense of how rare this accident really is?

Well, if you take a look at things. There are statistics out there to indicate that worldwide we're looking at 17 of these cases over the last number of years. So it's a very small case. One of the things that does happen frequently in coastal zones, people wind up getting stung by the barbs on the sail of the stingray when they are shuffling -- not shuffling but stepping through shallow water and they accidentally step on a sting ray.

And in this case what happens is defensive posture, the stingray swings its tail up over the back. The barb is then not really laying against the tail but comes out a bit and allows them to slash or jab to try to get the predator away from them. I have spine here. I'll hold it against my shirt. This is a small specie and it's a small variety of stingray. You can see the serrations that make up the barb.

If you think about it, the larger species probably something along the lines of what Steve Irwin was seeing, those spines are probably six, 10 or 12 inches long. Easily approaching 25 centimeters long. And very rigid, very structurally sound.

HARRIS: And Ray, let me ask you something, where do you find the venom on that barb?

DAVIS: There's a thin layer of tissue that goes across this barb and this thin layer of tissue has the venom associated with it along with bacteria. It's very painful. So those people that have experienced the stingray wound to the foot when they have been walking through shallow water, it can be very crippling in its effect to you as far as the intense pain.

HARRIS: What is the treatment for that? DAVIS: What you keep in mind -- I'm sorry?

HARRIS: What's the treatment for that?

DAVIS: What is the frequency of that?

HARRIS: The treatment. How would you treat that?

DAVIS: Any fish venom, remember stingrays are fish, it's heat sensitive. All you have to do is apply as hot as water as the victim can stand without scalding the flesh. It will get almost instant relief from the pain. The next most critical thing then is watching for bacterial infection. And also making sure the barb hasn't broken off inside the wound. You definitely need to seek medical attention as soon as you've been envenomated.

HARRIS: OK. A marine biologist Ray Davis joining us from the Georgia Aquarium. He is the vice president of zoological operation there is at the aquarium. Ray, thanks for your time. Appreciate it.

DAVIS: Thank you very much.

HARRIS: And again tune in tonight, CNN re-airs Larry King's one- on-one interview with Steve Irwin. That encore presentation is tonight at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific.

Juice, energy drinks, sodas, one nutritionist says sugary drinks are making us fat. He says we should be made to pay. That story coming up.

And Agassi's last stand. The tennis great bids farewell to the game. His career and match that ended it, coming up on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Welcome back, everyone, to CNN NEWSROOM here from CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Good morning again, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. Heidi Collins joins me tomorrow.

Just a reminder looks like the weather is going to cooperate for a Wednesday launch of the shuttle Atlantis. You know originally the shuttle was scheduled to blast off on August 27. That was put off because of concerns about whether related to Hurricane Ernesto but it looks like the weather will clear sufficiently to allow for a Wednesday launch of the space shuttle Atlantis.

Well the stakes are higher this morning in a manhunt in western New York State. Sunday one of two troopers shot in an ambush last week died. They were helping search for fugitive Ralph "Bucky" Phillips. Police say Phillips escaped from a New York prison in April. He allegedly shot a trooper in June.

A teacher strike hangs over one of the nation's largest school systems. A judge in Detroit has ordered around the clock talks to end a walkout by 9,500 teachers. Students are still being told to report tomorrow for the first day of class but it's been shortened to a half day session. The district wants teachers to accept $88 million of pay and benefit cuts in order to balance the budget.

More trouble for San Diego Charger Steve Foley. This morning, his agent says the linebacker is out of surgery and out of danger. He was shot in the leg, arm and chest by an off-duty police officer.

This latest trouble happened early Sunday morning near Foley's San Diego home. Officials say an off duty policeman followed the car after it weaved through traffic. According to police Foley eventually stopped and got out of his car and advanced on the officer. That's when he was shot. Foley's been in trouble before. He was arrested in April for battery, drunkenness and resisting arrest.

Boy did you see this yesterday? The tears flowed and the crowd gave a huge ovation as tennis icon Andre Agassi called it a game, set and match. He's retiring from pro tennis at age 36. CNN's Larry Smith reports.

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LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A gimpy Andre Agassi tearfully succumbed to Father Time on Sunday losing his third round match at the U.S. Open to a 25-year-old opponent who idolized him as a child and then joined the legion of Agassi fans to say good- bye.

ANDRE AGASSI, TENNIS PLAYER: I was overwhelmed with how they embraced me at the end. And they saw me through my career and seen me through this, as well.

SMITH: Agassi walks away a legend. Not just an eight-time major winner and one of only five men to complete the career grand slam but someone who morphed into a sports icon on the way. He was once a precocious phenom who blazed a trail to the a game to the tune of image does everything.

ANDY RODDICK, U.S. TENNIS PLAYER: I think what makes him so different is just his crossover appeal. He was able to take tennis to a totally different demographic. Create interesting in tennis at all times.

JAMES BLAKE, U.S. TENNIS PLAYER: We all owe a little debt of gratitude who what he has done to the sport. He has transcended the sport to become an international superstar more so than any other tennis player of the last 20 years probably.

SMITH: Later Agassi discovered that substance is better. He rebounded from dropping out of the top 100 and from his divorce from his first wife, actress Brooke Shields, to reclaim the number one ranking in 1999, later becoming the only man to hold the top ranking in three different decades.

Off the court, the eighth grade drop-out received his high school diploma through correspondence courses. His foundation has started a charter school in his hometown of Las Vegas. CHRIS EVERT, FORMER TENNIS GREAT: He got older and he started using his head out there on the tennis court and started really trainer harder. Married Steffi Graf. He has two kids now. He has a great foundation. He really gives back a lot to society.

RODDICK: I don't think we have seen his greatest accomplishment yet. That's a big statement considering what he has accomplished already.

HARRIS: And that may have little to do with tennis. A good-bye to his playing days, Agassi says hello to tomorrow and whatever lies ahead.

AGASSI: I'm going to wake up tomorrow and start with not caring how I feel. That's going to feel great. And then I'm imagining for a long time any time somebody asks me to do something I'm going to go, sure. Why not?

SMITH: Larry Smith, CNN, Atlanta.

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HARRIS: That's a career.

Your photos live on CNN. A water spout offshore in Miami. Chad has got that shot for you next.

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

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HARRIS: And welcome back everyone to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris. You know what? Chad Myers, I-Report the link at cnn.com that allows folks to send in the pictures of what they see and what's happening in the world. Doesn't that work beautifully for you?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It's so perfect.

HARRIS: Isn't it? You have got a great picture now that's a perfect illustration of how it works.

MYERS: It's actually a water spout off the beach in Miami. I mean obviously the buildings in the foreground, pretty amazing looking at the shot.

It does look to me as I look at this water spout it is well out into the ocean and not like right on top of that building like a two dimensional picture almost makes it look like.

Though thanks to our guy there. I think his name is James Hecht (ph) that sent that in yesterday. You can go to cnn.com go to /ireport. You can send us a picture, yo ucan e-mail us a movie. Whatever you might get. It really is an amazing way to get instant pictures out of weather systems there.

(WEATHER) HARRIS: So when whatever happens, happens, with td-6 and folks want to grab some video from the camera phone or whatever it is and you want to send it to us here.

MYERS: Right.

HARRIS: If you would like to say I report for CNN here's how.

ANNOUNCER: Wish you could say I report for CNN? Here's how you can join the most trusted name in news when you have pictures or video of breaking news or cool stories from your part of the world go to cnn.com and click on i-Report. There you'll get complete instructions on how to submit your stories to CNN. It's fast and easy. If we use our pictures or video on air you can tell your friends "I report for CNN."

HARRIS: Surprising news this morning when we learned that the man known as the crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin had died. More on that story at the top of the hour. You're watching CNN newsroom on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

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RICHARD LUI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: United Nations issued a report late last week that said Iran continues its enrichment of uranium. The Iranian government insist the country has the right to pursue nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. More on this at cnn.com.

In this article you can read about why the UN may consider economic sanctions against Iran. And in a speech to the American Legion on Thursday President Bush said the IAEA findings showed why the U.S. considers Iran a danger to world peace.

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GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT: It is time for Iran to make a choice. We have made our choice. We will continue to work closely with our allies to find a diplomatic solution but there must be consequences for Iran's defiance and we must not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.

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LUI: For a more personal perspective, international correspondent Aneesh Raman writes about what it's like to be behind the scenes in Tehran and catch this interactive guide on how uranium is enriched and why it's a key component in nuclear weapons.

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