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Barack Obama Reports Fundraising Figures; Iran Releases British Sailors and Marines; Republican Tommy Thompson Runs for President; CNN's Kyra Phillips Tours the Institute of Hope in Baghdad; Holy Week

Aired April 04, 2007 - 13:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CO-HOST: Hello, I'm Don Lemon live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CO-HOST: And I'm Brianna Keilar in for Kyra Phillips, who's on assignment in Iraq.

LEMON: We're following several developing stories, including the standoff between Iran and Britain. Iran called it a gift. Fifteen British troops call it freedom. So what comes next?

KEILAR: Also, cold hard cash and lots of it. A political newcomer gives old school opponents a run for their money.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Dramatic news from the Persian Gulf. The high stakes standoff between Britain and Iran appears to be over. In a surprise announcement, Iran's president today said 15 British sailors and marines detained for allegedly sailing into Iranian waters are being freed.

CNN reporters have much more on the breakthrough, what's behind it, and what happens next.

LEMON: But first, we have some developing political news. Barack Obama has made a career out of beating the odds, and today the Democratic presidential candidate turns in an eye-popping performance in the race for cash. Obama reports raising at least $25 million in the first three months of this year.

So, what does that mean for the Democratic presidential race? Let's ask our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, who joins us from Washington.

Bill, first question. What does it mean?

BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: It means we've got a real horse race on the Democratic side. We have Obama breathing down Senator Hillary Clinton's neck in terms of fund raising and also in the polls. She's dropped a bit in New Hampshire, in the latest New Hampshire poll, and it looks like we're going to have a real race on the Democratic side.

LEMON: Yes, a real race. And a horse race, I guess you could call it, because no one -- I mean, if you could have, a couple of months ago, not have predicted this, Bill.

So, what does that say about Barack Obama's campaign style? Let's break it down. Let's compare this to Hillary Clinton's campaign chest. Does this mean she's going to have to turn the fundraiser to chief former presidential -- chief former president, rather, Bill Clinton, to keep up the pace here?

SCHNEIDER: Well, she has used her husband quite extensively. I think he had 16 hosted or attended 16 fundraisers in the past six weeks on behalf of his wife. As you see, she's got $26 million raised for her campaign.

Barack Obama's just behind her, he says, he reports more than $25 million. In addition, more than a quarter of his money comes from fundraising over the Internet. That's about -- and by comparison, she raised about 16 percent of her sum on the Internet.

Barack Obama has had particularly good success with small contributors. He's reporting that over 100,000 individuals gave him money. In the case of Senator Clinton, it was about 50,000 people who gave her money. So, his support appears to be a lot of small contributors, a very broad-based support.

But he's also able to pull in the big money, because he has a good fundraising base in Chicago, his hometown. He's the senator from Illinois. Also, Hollywood, where he raised a lot of money. Wall Street, and in Boston, when he went -- where he want to law school.

So, he appears to combine both a lot of establishment contributors as well as grass roots supporters.

LEMON: Yes. You had that information up again, but Senator Clinton, apparently, raised, what, $4.2 million online, a total raised, $36 million. Of course, $26 million from new contributions, and $10 million, which she transferred from her senatorial campaign.

And this is very interesting. Senator Barack Obama, $25 million in contribution, $6.9 million raised online. That's a lot of money. It seems like the Internet possibly making it easier for campaign contributions, Bill.

SCHNEIDER: That's right. And especially from people who feel passionately about a candidate.

Barack Obama has a lot of passionate support from people looking for a new style of politics. People look to him as someone who can unify the country and also, of course, a lot of strong anti-war supporters who seem him as the strongest anti-war candidate, who opposed the war in Iraq from the very beginning.

In addition, unlike Senator Clinton, he did not accept contributions from lobbyists or political action committees.

LEMON: Right, right.

SCHNEIDER: So that also means he's got a broader base of support.

LEMON: Hey, Bill, just real quick before we move on here. We talked about Mitt Romney raising $20 million yesterday, and then, of course, Senator Clinton and than Barack Obama today. Is this going to be -- are we getting close to the billion dollar presidential campaign?

SCHNEIDER: Well, we're far from that now, but people are expecting by the time the campaign ends in November 2008, yes, this is likely to be the first billion dollar presidential campaign.

LEMON: Goodness. All right, thank you very much, Bill Schneider, for that.

We're going to also talk politics. HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson expected today to announce his candidacy. Of course, he set up an exploratory committee back in December. Today, he is in Milwaukee, where he's expected to make that announcement. You're looking at live pictures there.

The former health and human services secretary kicked off the campaign, GOP nomination, this morning -- sorry, he is in Iowa, at a high school in Milwaukee. That's where he kicked off the -- his campaign.

He said, if elected, he'd work to apply school voucher programs nationwide, and he wanted to create a program that would allow low income families to send their children to private schools at the state's expense.

We will continue to monitor this. He is in New Hampshire today -- in Iowa today, and we'll continue to monitor this. Find out what's going on there. If there's any information on that, we'll bring it to you live, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

KEILAR: Now back to today's dramatic announce from Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He waited until almost the end of a televised news conference to break the news.

In what he called a gift to the British people, he's releasing 15 British sailors and marines. Iran has been holding them since March 23.

Now, after his bombshell, Ahmadinejad met with the captives, while the TV cameras rolled.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking foreign language)

MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, PRESIDENT OF IRAN: I hope you success. Good luck.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President. Nice to meet you. It's an honor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd like to say we are very grateful for your forgiveness. I'd like to thank yourself and the Iranian people.

AHMADINEJAD: Have a good luck, sir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much, sir.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: After this news broke, British Prime Minister Tony Blair addressed reporters outside of 10 Downing Street. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I'm glad that our 15 service personnel have been released. I know their release will come as a profound relief, not just to them, but to their families that have enjoyed such discuss and anxiety over these past 12 days.

Throughout, we have taken a measured approach, firm, but calm. Not negotiating, but not confronting, either.

I would like to thank our allies in Europe, our allies in the United Nations Security Council, for their support. And also, our friends and allies in the region, who played their part. We're grateful to all of them, as we are to the officials in the foreign office, and the ministry of defense, and here at Downing Street for the work that they have done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: And that was British Prime Minister Tony Blair, just moments ago. British officials said it, President Bush said it. No deals for the release and return of those British troops from Iran. So today's developments raise questions about the fate of five Iranians in American custody in northern Iraq.

Let's bring in CNN's Frederik Pleitgen for more on that. He is in Baghdad.

Frederik, what do you have for us?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. That was one of the very big questions raised here in Baghdad over the past couple of days: will these Iranians maybe be exchanged for these five British sailors? But really, we've not seen much movement in the case of these five detained Iranians.

The Irna (ph) news agency of Iran reported today that an Iranian official will be able to visit these five Iranians and see how they're doing.

Now, we talked to an American military official here in Baghdad today, and he said, quote, "No decision has been made" on whether Iranian officials are going to be able to visit these five detained Iranians.

Of course, this is still a very, very big issue between Iran and the United States. The Iranians, of course, saying that American forces effectively raided one of its consulates, one of its diplomatic consulates, in the northern city of Erbil and effectively kidnapped these five Iranians.

Now, the United States says that the building it raided was not a consulate but just a liaison office that has no diplomatic status. It accuses these five Iranians of having ties to Iran's Revolutionary Quds Forces, which it says are equipping and outfitting Shiite militias here in Iraq -- Don.

LEMON: All right. Frederik Pleitgen, thank you so much for that report.

A Baghdad classroom where war isn't the only challenge.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In the U.S., it's beautiful.

No, you are beautiful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM, our Kyra Phillips visits a school for the deaf and sees signs of hope for the future.

KEILAR: And scores of tax preparation offices find themselves on the wrong side of the IRS. What you as a taxpayer should know, ahead in the NEWSROOM.

And Reynolds Wolf tracking severe weather across the country. We'll show you some of the damage already reported throughout the southeast.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: It's 13 past the hour, and here are three of the stories we're working on here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Those British troops will soon be headed home. Iran's president said today that he's releasing the 15 sailors and marines seized in the Persian Gulf. They're expected to leave Iran tomorrow.

And Barack Obama proves he can raise serious cash for his presidential campaign. His first quarter fundraising totals at least $25 million. That money came from more than 100,000 individual donors.

And despite White House criticism, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a U.S. delegation to Syria today for talks with Syria's president. President Bush has said that Pelosi's trip sends mixed signals about U.S. policy.

Let's get back now to today's dramatic announcement from Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He waited until almost the end of a televised news conference to break the news. In what he calls the gift to the British people, he's releasing 15 British sailors and marines that Iran has been holding since March 23.

Let's get now to CNN Middle East correspondent Aneesh Raman. He's joining us live from Amman, Jordan.

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The developments really came as a surprise to those who were in the press conference in Tehran, and also, it would seem to the British government.

Iran's president, as you mentioned, saving for near the end of that press conference the announcement of presidential amnesty, the freedom for the seized British military personnel who had been in Iranian custody for almost two weeks.

Now we don't know when exactly they will return to London. Logistically, we understand the first flight out of Tehran to London is early Thursday morning, local time.

But the final images of Iran's president, smiles, shaking hands, one-by-one with the British military personnel, is the last salvo in what has been a fairly sophisticated P.R. campaign by the Iranian government.

When this all started, the first video that came out clearly was intended to show that the British military personnel were in good condition. They aired the confession of the sole woman sailor among the group of 15.

As Iran got pressure over these videoed confessions, we saw less of the confessions, more just video of the British military personnel. And in the end, just still photos released.

And then, of course, this final image. Iran's president, often decried as being controversial, if not bellicose, in his statements, today, seeming the bigger nation, at least projecting that image, saying that for humanitarian reasons, Iran had decided to release these British military personnel.

So, what's the bigger message? That Iran seeks and can respond to diplomacy. Iran, of course, is facing pressure over its nuclear defiance. There is an impasse in terms of whether to negotiate with Iran until or unless it suspends its program. Iran clearly sent a message of its own today, Brianna.

KEILAR: So, it sounds like you're saying that this gives Iran the opportunity to say, "Hey, we're the bigger nation there." So, would you characterize this as a win for Iran in terms of how its Middle East neighbors see it as a power in the region?

RAMAN: Well, I think Iran will feel good about how far it went in a calculated equation. Meaning this: domestic consumption in Iran, hardliners specifically, did not want to see their government back down to international pressure over this issue, because of broader issues like the nuclear defiance, like the allegations of Iran's involvement in Iraq.

At the same time, Iran knew how far this went, the more pressure it would face, the longer term implications that it would face.

And, so, Iran seems to have gone long enough to appease hardliners in the country, and not so long that it really, to a point of no return, dealt with international pressure.

So, I think Iran feels this was a calculated and successful decision. Of course, the answer to that will be what comes down the line in terms of any potential negotiations over its nuclear defiance. But diplomacy was the message Iran wanted projected today.

KEILAR: All right, Aneesh Raman, live for us from Amman, Jordan. Thanks for that report.

LEMON: Wow. Take a look at this. Extensive damage coming to light after an unsettling night across the southeast. Intense winds ripped roofs and siding from at least 35 homes in the north Georgia town of Flowery Branch.

This home, you can see, was just obliterated, just destroyed. Thankfully, the family was away on spring break in Florida.

And a severe storm also dumped a lot of heavy rain and hail and caused more than a few accidents. These in Nashville, Tennessee.

Some people think a tornado caused this damage at an industrial park in Jonesboro, Arkansas. But that has not been confirmed.

And here's what it was like just north of Atlanta. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God! I can't believe this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: You probably guessed it. It was a hailstorm. And our i- Reporter, Jack Kearney, says it lasted a good 15 minutes.

And this i-Report photo was sent to us from George Salyers at Morehead State University in eastern Kentucky. He says a lot of thunder followed all that lightning that you can see.

We want you to share your video and your photos with us of severe weather in your area. Just go to CNN.com and click on i-Report.

Wow. Some amazing pictures and video there. All that storm video happening.

Never fails. You pack away your winter clothes, then it turns chilly. And you've got hail; you've got, you know, high winds.

What's going on, Reynolds Wolf, checking it out for us?

(WEATHER REPORT)

LEMON: Yes, fresh snow on spring break for skiers.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I know.

LEMON: They've got to be loving that, right?

WOLF: No question about it.

LEMON: All right. Reynolds Wolf, thank you. We'll check back.

KEILAR: Republican Rudy Giuliani is off to a strong start in the race for his party's nomination. He just reported a first quarter fundraising total of $14 million, ahead of John McCain and second only to Mitt Romney.

Giuliani's stance on social issues has turned off many conservatives, but in an interview today with CNN's Dana Bash for "THE SITUATION ROOM", the former New York mayor said he's sticking with his moderate stand on abortion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: On abortion, you're a self- described pro-choice Republican. There's a woman out there who says, "I like Rudy Giuliani, because I think he's going to keep me safe. He's going to lower my taxes. He's going to get our budget balanced. But I want to know, is he going to have the same position that he did as president that he did as mayor, which is to protect and defend my right to choose?" What would President Giuliani say?

RUDY GIULIANI (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The same position. I'm in the same position now that I was 12 years ago when I ran for mayor or as mayor. Which is personally opposed to abortion: don't like it, hate it. Would advise that woman, have an adoption, rather than an abortion. I'll help you find the money for it.

But, it's your choice. It's an individual right. You get to make that choice, and I don't think society should be putting you in jail for it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Giuliani also weighed in on the day's news from Iran. He said he's glad the British troops have been released. But he has a dire warning about Iran's leader.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIULIANI: He's a big threat. And in some ways I think Iran is a bigger threat than Iraq. Maybe, certainly now. I don't know about before; it's hard to evaluate all of that. And he seems like -- he seems like a very irrational person. And he's sort of the worst nightmare of the Cold War, which is possibly nuclear weapons in the hands of an irrational person.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: You can see Dana's full interview with Rudy Giuliani on "THE SITUATION ROOM". That's tonight at 7 Eastern, right here on CNN.

LEMON: All right, speaking of people who are wanting to be president, first -- we're going to get to Susan Lisovicz in just a moment. Not Susan Lisovicz. She would make a great president, though, I think.

We're going to get you now to -- to Iowa, and Tommy Thompson, the former health and human services secretary, made an official announcement earlier in Wisconsin. He's expected to make another one today. He's about to be introduced. And as soon as he is, we'll bring it to you live, let you know what some of his comments are, straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Now, Susan Lisovicz, take it away, please.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Susan Lisovicz, and I'm not running for anything, Don Lemon.

I'm at the New York Stock Exchange. When NEWSROOM returns, I'll tell you about a big filing at one of the nation's biggest tax preparation companies. It's a lawsuit from the government. Details coming up.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: There you have it. You're looking at live pictures happening in Iowa right now. Former health and human services secretary, Tommy Thompson, expected to announce his presidency. He made an official announcement this morning in Wisconsin, but he's expected to do it again here in Iowa.

As soon as that happens, we're going to bring it to you live. And hopefully, it doesn't happen during our next segment with Susan Lisovicz. She's going to talk to us about tax trouble. One of the nation's biggest tax preparation companies.

Susan Lisovicz, at the New York Stock Exchange with all the details on what it means for you and for all of us -- Susan.

LISOVICZ: Hey, Don.

Well, it couldn't happen at a worse time. The government suing the operators of more than 125 Jackson Hewitt tax preparation offices, accusing them of filing fraudulent tax returns on behalf of their clients. The government calling it massive and pervasive fraud. The complaints target five franchises that operate offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit and Raleigh-Durham, as well as 24 individuals who manage or work at those franchises.

Investigators accuse the defendants of encouraging bogus tax returns by claiming fake deductions and tax credits. The lawsuits also allege that some of the franchise employees took kickbacks from customers for helping them file fraudulent returns.

All told, the government says it's been cheated out of more than $70 million. As for Jackson Hewitt, the company says the complaints are limited to just one franchise out of 125 -- Don.

LEMON: It's still very scary. So what if you're a Jackson Hewitt customer? What does this mean for you?

LISOVICZ: Well, we don't know yet. And that's part of the problem. The government, Don, is still investigating the claims. No moves have been made yet.

But if the claims of fraud hold up, tax audits are likely, and someone's going to have to pay. If customers claimed an improper refund, they could be responsible for paying the actual amount due and could be subject to penalties, as well.

Let's go back to you, Don.

LEMON: All right, thanks a lot.

Tommy Thompson, former health and human services secretary, in Iowa today, expected to talk about his running for president. Are we going to listen in or we just move on?

All right. Let's take a listen.

TOMMY THOMPSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We've heard that the British marines and sailors are going to be released on Thursday. And I think that -- I think our prayers are answered.

But it certainly shows that, in this time, we have to have a ready and strong military in order to protect ourselves, ladies and gentlemen.

Before I begin, I'd like to have you -- you know, you've met me. I've been in a lot of your houses and a lot of your communities, over 30 counties since the beginning of the year. I'd like to introduce my family. I'm very proud of my family, my wife, Sue Ann, who is here, and I thank her so very much. My daughters, Kelly and...

LEMON: All right. Tommy Thompson talking about the release of those British sailors today, and got a rousing applause for that. Talking about what it means to have a strong military, and the importance of having a strong military here in the country.

Introducing his family now to the audience. He's expected to talk about that shortly. You won't miss any of it. As soon as it happens, we'll bring it to you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

KEILAR: Untangling the diplomatic snarl between Iran and Britain. How did it happen? We'll ask a State Department veteran from the Clinton administration, ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Hello, I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.

KEILAR: And I'm Brianna Keilar. Instead of a trial, Iran's British captives get amnesty. A veteran of the U.S. State Department, Jamie Ruben (ph), takes us behind the scenes. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

KEILAR: Live pictures now, coming in from Iowa. More hats in the ring for 2008 presidential election. This time, Tommy Thompson, former Wisconsin governor and former secretary of the Health and Human Services Department. Let's listen to him making his announcement, just a short while ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOMMY THOMPSON, U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: President Reagan had great expectations for America, because he had such great expectations for the American people. He believed that we were capable of anything, and so do I. And so must America once again. And so, it is with the greatest expectation, for the future of our great country, that I officially announce today my candidacy for president of the United States of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: That is Republican Tommy Thompson there, officially making it known that he going to be running for president. He is the former governor of Wisconsin and the former secretary of the Health and Human Services Department, under President Bush, joining a very crowded field for the 2008 presidential race.

LEMON: And now to Iraq. As Iraq struggles to its feet after four years of war, just keeping a normal school open and safe is quite a triumph. CNN's Kyra Phillips found a haven for special needs kids in Baghdad, where we can all learn volumes about the Iraqi spirit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): These kids can't hear the explosions that reverberate throughout their city. But they sure feel the devastation. They can't hear this patriotic song, either. They feel the vibration, using sign language, to pledge their allegiance to Baghdad. They sign about suffering, power and pride. so strong, you can feel it throughout this classroom. Ten-year-old Mohammed Hashum (ph) teaches me the Iraqi sign for freedom. He's heard a lot about that word. His father is an Iraqi policeman.

They are very aware about what's going on, their teacher says. Our students have been killed, and their mothers and fathers killed by car bombs. This all effects their lives.

Birds, planting, today, these kids aren't talking about the violence. They are learning about the beauty of spring.

PHILLIPS (on camera): Beautiful? Okay, in the U.S., it's beautiful. No, you are beautiful.

PHILLIPS (voice over): When I asked Isma (ph), who is one of her brightest students, she introduced me to eight-year-old, Rowaita Ali (ph). I can see why. I'm amazed at all the forms of communications Rowaita and her classmates learn here. Speech, Arabic, lip reading, Iraqi sign. And now, English and American sign language.

PHILLIPS (on camera): Boy. Okay. In the U.S., it's boy. Boy. Uh-huh.

PHILLIPS (voice over): They are so enthusiastic, Isma tells me. I just want them to learn tow to sign, read and write, so they have jobs and can adapt to society, no matter what happens in our country. If you are looking for good news from Iraq, this is one place you'll find it. Baghdad's school for the deaf. It's name? The Institute of Hope.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: And Kyra joins us now live from Baghdad. Kyra, that's a great story. I want to ask you, once these children graduate, what types of jobs are they able to take on?

PHILLIPS: Well, Don, you know my mom, she's a professor in deaf education, my grandfather was also in the field. So we all grew up learning sign language and signing with the deaf community.

And what I found interesting was, is that immediately, once need these kids graduate, the boys go to one school, the girls go to another school to learn certain skills. The boys learn carpentry, blacksmith work. The women learn how to be seamstresses and cooking skills. And part of that may seem, well isn't that not enough? These kids should think about being political leaders, doctors, and lawyers, and teachers, and athletes, but it's a little behind the times, I guess is the best way to say it.

They are still figuring out the Iraqi deaf education system. So, hopefully, at one point, they'll be able to move on and think about jobs like that, in the future, like the deaf community does in the United States.

LEMON: And they've been through so much, you can understand why they are a little bit behind the times. But the kids taught you some Iraqi signs. Which ones stand out to you?

PHILLIPS: Well, I asked them what the sign was for Americans. And they told me this is the sign, so of course, I panic, thinking , oh my gosh, with all the U.S. soldiers in Iraq, they are thinking that's the sign, but that's not it. This actually is the sign for Americans, because of the old western movies. That's how that sign was started. But it stood out in my mind. They did a lot of power for Baghdad. That was very positive. I thought that was interesting, the sign for Americans. Cute history there.

LEMON: I saw in the piece, you are beautiful. How do you do that one?

PHILLIPS: This is beautiful in American Sign Language. That's another great question. I noticed this. The culture here in the Middle East, the women are very well put together, and have beautiful scarves, and they care about their hair and the makeup. They are very sophisticated. So they always have this move, when they are presenting them self. Right? So the sign for beautiful is beautiful, with the move, like, don't I look good.

LEMON: The head roll here in the U.S.

PHILLIPS: Exactly! You've got it. So, little Rowaita taught me that one. That and it was pretty similar, American Sign Language is somewhat the same.

LEMON: All right, Kyra Phillips in Baghdad. And you can't see me but I'm signing to you now, saying that you are beautiful.

PHILLIPS: Giving me an I love you? Aww, thank you, Don.

LEMON: Come home soon. Thank you, Kyra.

PHILLPS: All right, you bet.

KEILAR: This time yesterday, a deadly shooting was unfolding not far from where I'm sitting, just inside a front entrance to CNN Center here in Atlanta. Police say Clara Riddles was arguing with her ex- boyfriend when he pulled out a gun and shot her. The 22-year-old Riddles later died at a nearby hospital. Police say Arthur Mann (ph) will be charged with murder. He was shot by a CNN security guard, and today is in stable condition.

The circumstances behind this ugly affair sound all too familiar. CNN's Tony Harris filed this report for AMERICAN MORNING.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Certainly it is significant that it happened here, this fatal shooting happened right here in the CNN Center. But I have to tell you, what we're dealing with here -- and it's worth noting as another example of a young woman who, apparently, as the story goes, was trying to get out of this relationship with this ex-boyfriend and distance herself from that relationship. This is a man who, according to the reporting so far, would not have any of that.

And because he would not accept no to this relationship, that the relationship had ended, we have got a 22-year-old woman, Clara Riddles, who today is dead. And right behind me is where the story started to unfold here. This is the Omni Hotel complex, a part of the CNN Center. And just up there -- Steve, can you get a shot of that, up there on that landing where you see folks talking now -- is where the altercation began, where the suspect, Arthur Mann, began to argue with Clara Riddles. The whole argument escalated.

Our understanding is that he actually dragged her by the hair down the escalator. Imagine that.

This is the CNN Center, the Omni Hotel. You can imagine how many people were on hand witnessing this as it unfolded.

Dragged her down the escalator, brought her over here -- Steve, follow me over here -- to this area here. You see the sign indicating this is the CNN Conference Center, and this is where the actual fatal shooting took place, right in this area here.

And you can see we already have the makings, the beginnings of this little memorial to Clara. One of her coworkers in the Omni complex who had spoken to her just an hour or so before the shooting took place has already left this bunny and card right here.

But what you can't see, what you can't see is that there was a huge struggle here. One of our security guards was close by and was able to take down Arthur Mann, the suspect in this case. But in the exchange of gunfire, you can't see it from this shot, there is -- there is a bullet that that has now been repaired just below one of the pictures there on the other side of that glass.

Just a horrible scene that played out right here, very close to home for us here at the CNN Center.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: You may recall there was a similar shooting Monday at the University of Washington. So, in our next hour, we'll get some insights from a domestic abuse counselor in the NEWSROOM.

LEMON: Untangling the diplomatic snarl between Iran and Britain. How did it happen? We'll ask a State Department veteran from the Clinton administration, straight ahead, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And it witnessed one of history's greatest betrayals, the Garden of Gitsemini (ph), where the Bible says Jesus was betrayed by Judas. Our search for the truth about Jesus continues from the Holy Land, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: It looks like 15 British sailors and marines will be going home, probably tomorrow. In a surprise announcement just a few hours ago, Iran's president declared he's granting amnesty to the Brits, accused of trespassing in Iranian waters. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with the 15 shortly afterward, handshakes and smiles all around. In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he, too, is happy, and he has message for the Iranian people.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We bear you no ill will. On the contrary, we respect Iran as an ancient civilization, as a nation with a proud and dignified history. And the disagreements that we have with your government, we wish to resolve peacefully through dialogue. I hope, as I've always hoped, that in the future we are able to do so.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Blair denies negotiating for the captives release, but also notes that Britain avoided a confrontational approach. And that veiled allusion to behind-the-scenes maneuvers brings us to Jamie Rubin. He is no stranger to that world. He was an assistant secretary of state and a State Department spokesman during the Clinton administration, and he joins us now from London.

Thanks for being with us, Jamie.

JAMES RUBIN, FMR. STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: Happy to be with you.

KEILAR: And let me ask you about this, give us some sense of the behind the scenes here -- how would this have played out to secure the release of these 15?

RUBIN: Well, I suspect what was happening is that the British diplomats across the region were calling in all their chips. They were discussing this issue with not only Europeans and the members of the Security Council to put pressure on Iran, but also key regional countries, like Syria, like Qatar and others, were contacted by the British and urged to tell the Iranians that this situation was just going to get worse and to resolve the problem.

I don't believe they made a grand bargain, a grand trade for some other policy. What I suspect did happen, though -- and evidence is developing -- that they did agree in diplomatic exchanges late last week that kind of thing wasn't going to happen again, and thereby acknowledged that there was a problem, didn't admit that this particular boat was in Iranian waters, but acknowledged that there was a problem. And I suspect that's about as far as the British went to secure the release.

KEILAR: Well, let's take that a little bit further, because that's something people have been talking about, beyond just a diplomatic exchange. Tony Blair spoke against any quid pro quo here. President Bush backed him up on that. Let's listen to something Tony Blair said a short time ago, and then I'll I will ask you about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I'm glad that our 15 service personnel have been released. I know their release will come as a profound relief not just to them, but to their families, that have endured such distress and anxiety over these past 12 days. Throughout, we have taken an measured approach, firm, but calm, not negotiating, but not confronting, either.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: So, Jamie, we hear him there say "not negotiating." But an Iraqi official did say that yesterday a top Iranian diplomat seized by gunmen in Baghdad two months ago was released. And U.S. officials are considering a request from Iran, that an Iranian representative can talk with -- meet with five Iranians who have been detained in Iraq since January. I mean, if you look at that, if someone looks at that, they might say, hey, maybe there is something going on here.

RUBIN: Well, I think you have to distinguish between accelerating things that were already in train, perhaps discussions about getting an Iranian released by the Iraqi government, which happened yesterday, and also, dealing with the larger problem of Iranians held by the United States. Things that were already going on may have been accelerated. What -- no quid pro quo really means in this context is no changes in policy. No agreements to do something you wouldn't have done before.

And, so, I think Blair is emphasizing, Prime Minister Blair, that they wanted to discuss things with the Iranians, they wanted to agree that there was a problem, in this part of the world, with the ships going in and out of these waters, and that they wanted to avoid that in the future. And when it came to these other so-called releases, I suspect they made phone calls to find out the status of such issues, but didn't, as I said earlier, change policy, in response to what they regarded as a hostage taking. That would be negotiating for hostages, which Tony Blair does not want to start doing, or else he'll have British servicemen or diplomats taken all over the world.

KEILAR: All right, so things already going on may have been accelerated by this. Thanks for explaining that for us, Jamie Rubin, and thanks for joining us from London.

LEMON: Tracing the pet food scare. The possible source of the contamination found in rural China. We'll take you there. Straight ahead, in the CNN NEWSROOM.

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LEMON: Holy week for Jews and Christians alike. The Jewish festival of Passover celebrates the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Throughout the seven-day holiday, Orthodox Jews abstain from eating leavened or raised bread. Tradition also dictates that the meals be prepared and served using utensils and dishes reserved for Passover.

And for Christians, it is a time to focus on what the Bible describes as Jesus' last days on earth.

CNN's Atika Shubert visited the garden where Jesus is said to have faced his most difficult test.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): According to the Gospels, after the Last Supper, Jesus and his disciples came to a place called Gethsemane, Aramaic for oil press. It is at this place that Jesus is said to have prayed for the world, and where he was ultimately betrayed and arrested.

(voice-over): Olive trees said to be nearly 2,000 years old. Silent witnesses, perhaps, to what the Bible describes as Jesus' most difficult test and his ultimate betrayal, here in the Garden of Gethsemane.

These stairs are believed to be one of the routes Jesus may have walked over the Mount of Olives to preach in the Temple of Jerusalem in the week before his crucifixion.

It is here in the Garden of Gethsemane that Jesus is said to have wrestled with the prospect of his own death, gazing over the tombs of the Kidron Valley.

REV. JEROME MURPHY O'CONNOR, BIBLICAL SCHOLAR: I think the struggle was for self-mastering, that Jesus had been forced to think about his death as something imminent by the sight of the great tombs in the valley. In other words, personality was coming apart, under fear.

SHUBERT (voice-over): The Basilica of the Agony houses a rock, said to be the very one on which Jesus prayed. But historians say the exact spot remains unknown.

STEPHEN PFANN, PRES., HOLY LAND UNIVERSITY: The site of the Garden of Gethsemane, which is fairly certain, is much bigger than the size of that church. So, could it happen anywhere in that garden.

SHUBERT: It is also here that Judas is said to have kissed Jesus, identifying him for arrest. But the only witnesses keep their secrets. Whispering to those that come to visit, revealing nothing.

(on camera): The Garden of Gethsemane has become so popular for pilgrims and tourists alike that they have actually had to fence off the olive trees in the garden. But that hasn't discouraged visitors, especially now, during Holy Week.

Atika Shubert, CNN, Jerusalem.

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LEMON: And CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING" continues its journey through the Holy Land tomorrow. Still another place where Jesus may be buried. We will visit the garden tomb and see why some people are convinced that's where Jesus was laid to rest, and what some historians have to say about all of it. That's tomorrow starting at 6:00 a.m. Eastern on "AMERICAN MORNING."

KEILAR: In medical news now, obesity is bad enough in adults, but as you can imagine, it's worse for children. Today, the nation's largest health philanthropy group said its devoting $500 million to fight the problem of dangerously overweight kids.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation says the obesity epidemic threatens the health of one-third of America's youth. It's proposing programs that focus on exercise and better access to healthy food.

And a legal victory for a teenage boy who under went breast reduction surgery. An appeals court in New York says the teen's health insurance company must help pay for it. The insurer had called it cosmetic and not medically necessary. But the judges say the condition was a deformity that had psychological consequences. They are ordering the company to reimburse the family $5,000, about two- thirds the cost of the surgery.

And coming up, a rookie rakes it in. Ahead in the NEWSROOM, Senator Barack Obama flexes his fundraising muscle. What's it say about his clout as an '08 contender?

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