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CNN Saturday Morning News

Little-Known Shia Militia Claims To Have Five Kidnapped Contractors In Iraq; President Bush In Vietnam; Two New Gaming Consoles Hit The Market

Aired November 18, 2006 - 09:00   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Some stories making news this morning. Fine and dining and diplomacy. Here is some new video coming into CNN of President Bush and other world leaders from Asia are attending an Economic Summit in Vietnam today. Right now they are at a gala dinner. But earlier they discussed North Korean and it's nuclear program. We do have a live report from Hanoi in just minutes.
President Bush's trip takes him to Indonesia on Monday. Security in the mostly Muslim country is especially high. Some Islamic groups have already promised trouble during the President's visit. Indonesian police say the terror threat in Jakarta has increased dramatically in the recent days. Though, no specific plot has been revealed.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Some developments we are following out of Iraq this morning. No proof shown. But claims aired on Iranian TV that a little-known Shia militia abducted western contractors in Iraq. No evidence was offered to support the claim. Four of the contractors including this man are Americans. The latest live from Baghdad is straight ahead.

Things getting down right ugly in down under. Riots are breaking in Melbourne, Australia, as the G20 Economic Summit gets under way there. The protesters faced off against police throwing rocks and bottles. Representatives from major economic powers such as China and the U.S. are attending the trade summit.

NGUYEN: A medieval castle north of Rome hosting one of the years most anticipated weddings. Here is a live picture, what a lovely place to be. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes expected to be married there in just a few hours and a host of celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Jim Carey, Will Smith, among many others are expected to be on hand to celebrate the nuptials. As you know, we'll be there as well.

In fact, we will go now to CNN's Bonnie Schneider. Is Reynolds Wolf at the wedding? Is that why he's not here today?

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: All right Bonnie, thank you for that. And we do run down the top stories every 15 minutes right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING with in depth coverage all morning long. So your next check of the headlines coming up at 9:15 Eastern.

HOLMES: A California town takes a drastic step to fight illegal immigration. "Open House" tells you why landlords may be banned from renting to certain families. That's coming up at the bottom of the hour.

NGUYEN: From the CNN Center though here in Atlanta, good morning everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen. This is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

HOLMES: Good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes. Thank you so much for starting your day right here with us.

Some new developments out of Iraq this morning. A little-known Shia militia says it has the five contractors kidnapped from a fake police checkpoint Thursday. From the five are Americans Including this man Paul Reuben; CNN's Arwa Damon is live in Baghdad. Do we have anything else new concerning these five, Arwa?

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: T.J., some interesting details, that information actually coming out of Iran. An Iranian satellite TV station which broadcast in Arabic showed video of the man who the anchor says, you can't hear his voice, but the anchor says that he is claiming to be a representative of the Islamic Mujahedeen Battalion.

This is a very not well-known battalion militia here in Iraq. They are claiming to have these five, four Americans and the one Austrian in their custody. But they are offering no evidence and no proof of life to back this claim.

Now the battalion, the Islamic Mujahedeen Battalion is a very little known Shia militia that operates in southern Iraq. They only became public some six months ago. They are believed to have carried out a number of attacks against the British military operating in that area. They are also believed to be trained in Iran. And they have threatened that they will be attacking private security companies that move through their area.

There are currently still ongoing military operations to try to rescue the four Americans and the one Austrian, T.J.

HOLMES: All right. Our Arwa Damon covering the latest for us from Baghdad, thank you so much Arwa.

NGUYEN: Well, meanwhile the family of one of the Americans who has been identified is just trying to hold on, but it's not easy. Paul Reuben's family tells our Ed Lavandera that they are just consumed with worry.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNNIE REUBEN, PAUL REUBEN'S MOTHER: I came home from work. I was really tired, and I found this note on my door.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This little scrap of paper has never meant so much to Johnnie Reuben. Left by her son when he was just a high school senior.

J. REUBEN: It said, important, please open, immediately. I love you very much. Love Paul. 1985. And he was always like that. LAVANDERA: Twenty one years later, Paul Reuben is an American contractor held hostage in Iraq. This simple note is one of the few things that brought a smile to her face. As we talked with her and his sister in their Minneapolis home.

J. REUBEN: I thought about him so much last night. Wondered if he's cold, if he's hungry, if he's injured, or if he's here.

LAVANDERA: Before heading to Iraq, Paul Reuben spent eight years working as a police officer in a Minneapolis suburb. Three years ago, he was lured by high-paying security contractors to work in Iraq. His family said the longer he stayed, the more he loved the work. But a week ago, Paul called to say he was done, and that he'd be home in a few days. The job was becoming too dangerous, too violent. Paul's family could sense something had changed.

J. REUBEN: I always saw his strength every time when he met that part of that fear that was the reality fear. But not let it overtake him.

LAVANDERA: Paul Reuben's family says they are receiving updates from the U.S. State Department, but there's little information leaving them fearful and upset.

SUZANNE REUBEN, PAUL REUBEN'S SISTER: I cry in spurts. And I just hope that my brother, whom I love very much, comes home safe and sound.

LAVANDERA: To those holding Paul Reuben hostage, his mother pleads for mercy.

J. REUBEN: If there's any goodness or kindness, after anything that you can show a fellowman, show it. Because that kindness will come back to you, too.

LAVANDERA: Johnnie and Suzanne Reuben say they are holding onto threads of hope that Paul will soon be home, alive, to celebrate his 40th birthday with a twin brother. Ed Lavandera, CNN, Minneapolis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: That is a difficult situation there. The situation in Iraq will be the focus of tonight's Lou Dobbs this week. If the election was lost because of frustration with the Iraq war, why aren't more troops being sent? Find out tonight at 6:00 Eastern, then at 7:00 Eastern John Roberts host "This Week at War." CNN correspondents discuss military options and the war of words on Capitol Hill over U.S. troop levels.

HOLMES: You may be sipping your morning coffee, but it's dinnertime in Asia. And President Bush and Mrs. Bush are attending a big dinner in Vietnam. That's the scene of this weekend's Economic Summit. And CNN's Elaine Quijano joining us now from Hanoi with more from there.

Hello, Elaine. ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, T.J.

Well, you know, trade was not the main focus today here in Hanoi, Vietnam. Vietnam of course is the host country to this year's Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum. Instead a security issue dominated the discussions President Bush had today with his Asian counterparts.

That issue, of course, North Korea and its nuclear weapons program. You are right, President Bush having dinner this hour. Capping off the day really with a gala dinner attended by the other 20 leaders of APEC Member Nations. Those are Pacific Rim countries part of he APEC group.

Earlier, though, Mr. Bush sat down with the president of South Korea. And though he tried, Mr. Bush was not able to persuade the Korean leader to support intercepting ships suspected of carrying nuclear weapons supplies headed to North Korea. Instead, Mr. Bush emphasized after the meeting that the two leaders do agree on the overarching goal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our desire is to solve the North Korean issue peacefully. And if I have made clear, I made a speech as recently as two days ago in Singapore, that we want the nuclear weapons ambitions, that we will be making security arrangements with the North Koreans as well as move forward with economic incentives with the North Korean people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: And tomorrow President Bush will once again focus on North Korea when he sits down with China's president, President Hu Jintao as well as another meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Also a statement tomorrow by all 21-member nations from APEC expressing concern about North Korea's recent nuclear activities.

That statement, by the way, T.J. of course, endorsed by the White House.

HOLMES: And Elaine, I guess the President may be making some new friends while he's there. Getting to meet with prime minister of Japan, Prime Minister Abe. Did they hit it off?

QUIJANO: It's interesting. Because there's been a lot of discussion about this relationship. As you know, President Bush had a very close relationship with a previous prime minister. He's the one who remember who accompanied the President down to Elvis's house as the president likes to say.

But on a serious note, President Bush today after his meeting with the new prime minister, said that he admires the prime minister's intellect. That he's comfortable with his style. And he says he looks forward to having him over to the United States next year. And Prime Minister Abe said he looks forward to coming. Whether or not the relationship will be as close as the former prime minister remains to be seen. But certainly Japan has remained a staunch ally of the United States in the war on terror and President Bush very much wants to keep it that way -- T.J.

HOLMES: Maybe he'll take him to Graceland too. We'll see. Elaine, thank you so much.

NGUYEN: Well, they waited in line for days. Spent hundreds of dollars to get their hands on one. What is the new PlayStation 3 worth? All the wait and all that cash. We'll take a look at the new features in ten minutes.

HOLMES: And at the bottom of the hour, Sin City comes up with a new kind of cop to deal with the growing threat. A threat drought. We'll show you why it's such a serious concern.

SCHNEIDER: And things are definitely drying out across the mid Atlantic and the northeast. Temperatures are cool though in the 40s. It is 40 degrees right now in Columbus, Ohio. We have a live picture to show you, the anticipation in the air, some clouds hanging too. But you can see the horseshoe in the background there just to the right of those white towers getting ready for today's game at 3:30. I'll have a look at the forecast for Columbus and the rest of the country coming up, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, there is a claim, but no proof. Iranian television is reporting that a little-known Shia militia group claims it has five contractors kidnapped Thursday in Iraq. The report offers no evidence, though, that the group actually has the hostages. Four of the kidnaps including this Minnesota man, Paul Reuben, are American. We'll have more on that.

In the meantime, it is dinnertime in Asia. Some new video coming in to CNN. President Bush is attending a gala dinner at the Economic Summit in Vietnam. Earlier the leaders agreed on a statement to ratchet up the pressure on North Korea over its nuclear program.

Listen to this. Grammy-winning R&B singer Ruth Brown has died, she was 78 years old. Brown is best known for a short run of hits in the 1950's including "Tear Drops in My Eyes."

The East Coast says the U.S. should get a pretty good show tonight. Set your clocks, astronomers expect this year's Leonid meteor shower to be especially busy averaging two shooting stars per minute for two hours. If you plan to watch, take your digital camera or camcorder then submit your images to iReport on the CNN Web page. And we can put it on the air for millions of people to see. And that shower should occur around midnight Eastern Time.

We do run down the top stories every 15 minutes right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING with in depth coverage all morning long. Your next check of the headlines that is coming up at 9:30 Eastern. HOLMES: All right, Bonnie here with us this weekend. I know you've been talking about it a bit with the weather. Everybody wants to make sure things are cool for the Ohio State/Michigan game. Don't need any weather problems.

NGUYEN: Exactly.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: In the meantime, would you just let the gaming wars begin? Up next, find out who wins in a showdown between PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii.

HOLMES: Yes. But first we have a preview of today's "OPEN HOUSE."

GERRI WILLIS, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up at 9:30 a.m. Eastern "OPEN HOUSE." The illegal immigration debate reaches one housing market. We'll tell you what has folks on both sides fired up.

Plus, how to dig deep and make sure you get your money's worth from a contractor.

And we'll take you to Las Vegas where they are cracking down of on after all things, water. That and a whole lot more on "OPEN HOUSE" 9:30 am Eastern right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: The Christmas rush already on for all you gamers out there. Maybe we should call this the Christmas crush. It has been kind of ugly in some places. Huge crowds on hand all over to get their hands on the new Sony PlayStation 3 gaming system.

But as CNN's Daniel Sieberg reports in today's "Tech Effect" its not the only new game in town.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Gamers are in for a treat this holiday season as two new gaming consoles hit the market. We are talking about Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii. They join Microsoft's Xbox 360, which is already out there.

Joining us now is Brian Cooley from CNET. Brian lets starts with Nintendo's Wii. Rather a unique spelling of Wii by the way, Wii. A unique design, especially when we are talking about the controller or the Wii remote.

BRIAN COOLEY, CNET: The Wii remote is a wireless remote. But it also has motion sensing. So as you move it around in space, it translates those motions to the game and makes sports games very interactive as opposed to moving little jog wheels.

SIEBERG: And there is a sports packaging bundle. And you can carry around your character in your remote? COOLEY: When you create your on screen character. You can load it to the remote. Go to your friend's house who has a Wii and then transfer yours in to keep your personality as you go from home to home.

SIEBERG: If you have a game you can use two hands, you can have a controller?

COOLEY: Yes two motions sensing, like boxing games or anything else that has two hands involved.

SIEBERG: Now what about some of the older titles we remember? Super Mario or Zelda Game. Can you play these on the Wii?

COOLEY: Nintendo's all about their legacy catalog. They have gone deep. They have support for every game you've ever thought of on Nintendo Plus Sega. Giant back catalog.

SIEBERG: And cheaper priced then the other two that are going to be out.

COOLEY: Yes $250.

SIEBERG: OK. Now we will talk about the PlayStation 3. You are going to pay more for the processing tower.

COOLEY: This is the big dog; this is going to be a devise that gives you high definition games. It has a blue raid disc player. So you are entering the era of blue ray high definition. Movies and it has a hard drive so it can become a media server in your home to store other types of audio, video and images to show on your TV. So it is more than just a gaming message. It is really a powerful box.

SIEBERG: Wireless controller as well?

COOLEY: Same thing. Looks like the traditional PlayStation controller but it now it has wireless and motion.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Just sick.

NGUYEN: In a good way.

HOLMES: The good sick. Well, which games did you try to get for your kids this holiday season? Stick around. In the next hour, we are going to unleash our own Betty Nguyen on both of these gaming systems and see if she can help you compare them.

NGUYEN: I'm a gamer, guys, watch out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Looking at some pictures of Katie and Tom. Going to get married today. And the singer of this lovely song Keith Urban. Yes, the irony is not lost. We know he is married to Tom's ex Nicole Kidman. It is a beautiful love song for a wonderful day. One to remember for this lovely couple as we are on watch for the TomKat wedding. Which leads us to our email question today. Yes, look at that.

OK, so, are you like T.J. over here. Do you have TomKat fever? Or do you have TomKat fatigue?

HOLMES: We will start where, with Suzy in Colorado, she says, "What I have is TomKat nausea yes. I can't believe I have to say this on TV. But she says put on your big-girl underpants and get over it."

NGUYEN: Big-girl underpants. All right then. Kathy from Rockville, Maryland says, "I love the TomKat story and I love seeing and hearing about the wedding. And I do have a life, so bring on the coverage." Not to worry, because we will.

HOLMES: Yes, it's not going to stop.

NGUYEN: And T.J. wants me to read this one for obvious reasons. Laura in Connecticut says, "Forget TomKat. All I want to know is whether Alessio Vinci is married or not. More close-ups of him, please." In fact, we will be going live to Alessio in just 45 minutes, Laura, so stick around. We'll try to get the close-ups for you.

HOLMES: Maybe the next wedding in Italy will be Laura and Alessio. Of course, what happened around the world while you slept. We have a check of the morning's top stories coming up next.

NGUYEN: Then Gerri Willis tackles the issue of housing illegal immigrants. Why is one California town trying to ban them from rentals? "Open House" talks with people on both sides of the issues in just five minutes.

HOLMES: At the top of the hour find out how Billy Crystal was using his comedic talent to help ease the pain of an American tragedy. Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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