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British Troops in Their Own Words; New Deployments to Iraq

Aired April 06, 2007 - 10:59   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, the top of the hour. Events...
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's been busy, hasn't it?

HARRIS: Events are happening, unfolding from moment to moment.

NGUYEN: Yes.

HARRIS: Thank you for your patience this morning.

I'm Tony Harris.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen.

We have a lot to tell you about. A lot of it surrounding those 15 marines and sailors who have been released.

Developments just coming in to the NEWSROOM on this Friday, April 6th, Good Friday.

Here is what is on the list.

Again, those freed British troops describing their ordeal as captives in Iran. They were blindfolded, kept in isolation, subjected to mind games. One marine calls the incident a complete media stunt by Iran.

HARRIS: And in other news, the list of tainted pet food products growing longer. Dog biscuits facing recall today. We will talk live this hour to the veterinarian for TV's Lassie.

NGUYEN: And sex offenders with nowhere to call home, living the life of a bridge troll. A new meaning for community shelter, in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: So, a much clearer picture right now of what happened to British troops in the Persian Gulf two weeks ago and in the days that followed. The Royal Navy sailors and marines held a news conference last hour, right here in the NEWSROOM, detailing their captivity in Iran. Their dramatic remarks live right here on CNN.

Of keen interest, were the troops in Iranian or Iraqi waters on March 23rd?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LT. FELIX CARMAN, BRITISH ROYAL NAVY: We were equipped (INAUDIBLE) true navigational equipment and hand-held GPS for backup. The helicopter and support provided continuous navigational confirmation, and we were also linked to HMS Cornwall, who were monitoring our exact position at all times.

Let me make it absolutely clear, irrespective of what has been said in the past, when we were detained by the IRG, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, we were inside internationally recognized Iraqi territory waters. And I can clearly we were 1.7 nautical miles from Iranian waters.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The troops also addressed why they chose to surrender.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. CHRIS AIR, BRITISH ROYAL MARINES: Let me absolutely clear, from the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was simply not an option. Had we chosen to do so, then many of us would not be standing here today. Of that I have no doubts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: And the consensus among the troops, they were used by Iran for propaganda.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE TINDELL, BRITISH ROYAL MARINES: Being in the country, there's a selected few that we -- subjected to a lot. As you know, obviously various mind games, and obviously we're not pleased about it.

And as far as I'm concerned, the whole thing was a complete media stunt. And I've got nothing to say, really. I'm not their biggest fan, put it that way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Of course, everyone was eager to know whether they had been tortured.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARMAN: We were blindfolded, our hands were bound, we were forced up against a wall. Throughout our ordeal we faced constant psychological pressure. Later, we were stripped and then dressed in pajamas.

The next few nights were spent in stone cells approximately 8 feet by 6, sleeping on piles of blankets. All of us were kept in isolation.

We were interrogated most nights and presented with two options. If we admitted that we had strayed, we'd be back on a plane to the U.K. pretty soon. If we didn't, we faced up to seven years in prison.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: And Captain Chris Air with the Royal Marines was one of the leaders of the British troops.

CNN's Paula Hancocks spoke with him just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Captain Christopher Air, thank you for joining us.

How does it feel, first of all, to be at home and know that you're safe?

AIR: We were just elated. I think it was only really when we touched at London Heathrow that we knew we were safe. And just to see the look of delight on our family's faces, it was just (INAUDIBLE).

HANCOCKS: So how much have you been through? And what sort of -- what sort of treatment did you have?

AIR: We encountered a variety of different organizations and people, different stages at the time we were in Iran. And the treatment varied from being very polite and people who said they were here to help us and they're there for our benefit, to people who we really couldn't trust and we thought they were out there to harm us.

HANCOCKS: Are there any points where you thought that you either had to try and escape or...

AIR: There was, I guess, some critical points. One of them was when we encountered the Iranians first when we were on the vessel. And that was probably the key point.

It could have gone very wrong. And I think the fact that we're back home here alive and there isn't a major political incident is clearly -- shows that probably the right decision was made. We had the choice under ROE to engage. And I just told the lads to just cooperate, put their hands in the air. I think otherwise they wouldn't be here today.

HANCOCKS: So when you were doing a televised message, when you were being coerced into something like that, what goes through your mind? What are you thinking?

AIR: Well, we knew what we were going to be asked before, because we were interrogated before. And they were asking us to say several things.

And if you listen to the interview I gave, I, myself and several others, were very specific in what we said. We never admitted we were in Iranian waters, and we were very clear about that. We just said that there were differences and discrepancies between the charts they gave (ph) us and the ones that we knew that we had correct. And just that a mistake had been made (INAUDIBLE).

HANCOCKS: And your training, obviously you've been trained for this kind of situation as the worst-case scenario. What goes through your mind? And how do you keep yourself going?

AIR: Well, in terms of the marines, I guess all the training we go through is under duress. And (INAUDIBLE) we were taught about (INAUDIBLE), lads showed them in abundance. The qualities of unselfishness, determination, and a sense of human adversity really kept them going.

HANCOCKS: And then you being in the Iraqi waters in the first place, I mean, what was your primary reason for being there? You have said -- and you've cleared this up to a certain extent -- that also you gather intelligence on Iranian activities in the area. What does that mean?

AIR: Well, what I mean is, in terms of the fact that Iranians actually coming to Iraqi waters -- and they're part of the activity in the craft (ph), going to Iraqi waters. So we were not just gathering intelligence on them specifically, but on all sorts of activities in the waters. And it just so happens that they're included in that.

HANCOCKS: And then, finally, obviously you're going back to HMS Cornwall. But this could happen again, obviously, if you say you were in Iraqi waters. This could happen again.

What can you physically do to stop this?

AIR: I think in terms of the intelligence picture, we now know a bit more about their intent.

HANCOCKS: You see them more of enemies now?

AIR: Well, we don't regard them as the enemy. And this event has been unprecedented, them coming into Iraqi waters and taking us. We'll have several issues and steps that we're currently look into to make sure this doesn't happen again.

HANCOCKS: Captain Christopher Air, thank you very much for joining us.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And that was CNN's Paula Hancocks, as we're looking at some video from earlier when this news conference began and we learned some details from these British sailors and marines that were held captive.

We do want to let you know that right now, CNN's Paula Hancocks is continuing to gather interviews. In fact, she will throughout the morning. And we'll bring them to you just as soon as we can.

We were hoping the last time that we spoke with her that she would get with Lieutenant Felix Carman. And he provided a lot of really good insight during the press conference that you see right there.

So, as soon as we get more of these interviews, we'll bring it straight to you.

HARRIS: Let's see if we can get some other news in this morning.

The secretary of defense expected to sign new marching orders today for thousands of National Guard troops. Destination: Iraq.

Let's check in now with Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr.

Barbara, good morning to you.

When will this begin and who will be affected?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning to you, Tony.

As you say, Defense Secretary Robert Gates expected to sign orders today that will send 12,000 Army National Guard troops to Iraq, perhaps as soon as early 2008. This is a scheduled rotation, if you will. This is not an increase in the overall troop levels going to Iraq.

But these National Guard troops are earmarked for some particularly dangerous duty. They will perform convoy security and guard bases throughout the country.

What is significant here, however, Tony, is this is going to be the first time the National Guard has returned to Iraq on a second tour of duty. They did an initial tour in the opening months of the war, about three years ago or so. And now, they will go back for the first time for a second combat tour -- Tony.

HARRIS: And Barbara, when some of these units were first deployed, we weren't talking about explosively-formed projectiles, were we?

STARR: No. You know, when -- you're absolutely right. When the National Guard first when the to Iraq, it was more, shall we say, of perhaps a conventional combat mission.

HARRIS: Sure.

STARR: As they go back now, these troops which will come from across the country really are going to face a different combat scenario. The insurgency itself has moved on. A lot of explosively- formed projectiles, sectarian violence, and these horrific car bombs that we see so often at these checkpoints, the type of checkpoints they will be involved in guarding -- Tony.

HARRIS: It sounds leak a very challenging mission.

CNN's Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, for us this morning.

Barbara, thanks. NGUYEN: Well, the calendar says Easter weekend, but it looks more like Christmas in parts of the nation.

Check this out. A snowstorm canceled yesterday's home opener for a Minor League Baseball team in Manchester, New Hampshire. The team owner is offering free tickets for games next week. But here's the catch: to anyone who shows up with a shovel to help dig out the field.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: And in northern Michigan, blinding snow made for treacherous driving. The storm brought high wind gusts and record snowfall in several areas.

And in Wichita, Kansas, snowy roads slowed traffic. Farmers across the state are fearful of crop damage.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: British troops describe 13 days in Iranian custody, blindfolded and isolated. They didn't know if the outside world even knew they were missing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARMAN: The questions were aggressive and the handling rough, but it was no worse than that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Their story in their own words. Plus, reaction from the Iranian government.

That is coming up in the NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: Also, a heavyweight report on climate change. That is out today. Scientists foresee disaster.

Global warming chiller in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: Yet another pet food recall. What should you do to protect your pets? We'll ask -- wow -- Lassie's vet coming up this morning in the NEWSROOM.

NGUYEN: And just hanging around. Sometimes life really is a roller-coaster ride. Stuck, though, above the Vegas Strip? That doesn't happen every day.

HARRIS: No.

NGUYEN: But it's in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: CNN's Paula Hancocks has been speaking one on one with freed British sailors and marines. A few moments ago, she had this exchange with Able Seaman Arthur Batchelor.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANCOCKS: So, Arthur Batchelor, thank you for doing this.

How do you feel at the moment?

ABLE SEAMAN ARTHUR BATCHELOR, BRITISH ROYAL NAVY: Very happy. Relieved, to be completely honest. Relieved to be here with my sister and my grandmother (ph).

HANCOCKS: So, how was it though once you were over there? What were the real low points?

BATCHELOR: Like being alone. Just solitary. You know, not knowing what's happening to the others. One person I was at first worried for because I actually was (INAUDIBLE).

HANCOCKS: So how did they treat you at the beginning? I mean, when they first came in the boats, did you have any idea this was going to be the way it would turn out?

BATCHELOR: No, but I had believed that this would one day (INAUDIBLE) -- would one day happen. But I did not know how long we'd be captive for. I had no idea.

HANCOCKS: But when the other two Iranian boats came up to you in the first place, did you have any idea that this would ensue? Did you feel you were in danger?

BATCHELOR: There was a little fear because we had seen (INAUDIBLE).

HANCOCKS: So what exactly were you doing in those waters? It was Iraqi waters.

BATCHELOR: It was Iraqi waters. And me, personally, I was a boat commander. Therefore, (INAUDIBLE) to make sure we get certain positions, and just tell them where about the position is from ourselves, from forces and things. And we were at the time boarding a vessel suspected of smuggling.

HANCOCKS: So when you obviously -- that's the worst point -- what goes through your mind? What keeps you going?

BATCHELOR: Like I said, this, the reunion, the getting back to normality. You know, just everything.

HANCOCKS: Now, you've all said that you're quite keen to get back on to the HMS Cornwall. I mean, do you know when that would be? And to be honest, are you not worried this could happen again?

BATCHELOR: Not at all worried, because I believe -- I believe that this was just, you know, them -- they had planned it. But I believe this won't happen again, and I'm very keen to get back to work, yes. HANCOCKS: Do you believe the particular boats, the men in the boats, had planned it, or do you think this was a higher thing, do you think?

BATCHELOR: I'm not sure who planned it. I just think that it was preplanned, preempted.

HANCOCKS: And your opinions of the Iranians now? Will you be far more wary of them when you're in Iraqi waters?

BATCHELOR: See, the thing is, the people as a whole, you know, we bear nothing bad towards them. It was just those individuals that we came across. So, you know, we have nothing against them personally. It's just what happened.

HANCOCKS: And during that near two weeks, were there any moments where you considered trying to escape or anything like that?

BATCHELOR: Well, I did have a very good imagination during that time, so I had seen things happening. But to be honest, I felt if we tried to escape, it could have gotten a lot worse for people. And if one person would escape, then the others could have maybe been treated a lot worse.

HANCOCKS: Thank you very much.

BATCHELOR: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Able Seaman Arthur Batchelor, all of 20 years old there . He's been through quite an ordeal.

We want to gauge the reaction to this news conference this morning from Tehran.

On the line with us now is our CNN producer, Shirzad Bozorgmehr.

Shirzad, have you been able to get any reaction from the government in Tehran?

SHIRZAD BOZORGMEHR, CNN PRODUCER: Not directly, but Iranian state television, which usually reflects the views of the officials, gave the news of the press conference and said that the six sailors and marines had recanted what they said in Iran and why they were in Iran, and had said that -- claimed that those statements were made under certain circumstances. Iranian television said that Prime Minister Blair had pressured these guys to make -- to give false information.

This is the extent of the coverage so far.

HARRIS: Was the news conference covered live/ Was it aired live?

BOZORGMEHR: No, it was not. No. Afterwards, they just had this small piece of news about it.

HARRIS: Well, I'm just sort of curious then. So what then did the Iranian people see of this news conference? Did they just see snippets of it, just sound bites of it, or did they get a sense of the context of the news conference?

BOZORGMEHR: No, they didn't. They just heard that six of the sailors and marines had rejected what they had already said in Iran and said that they were made under certain circumstances. And also that this was kind of an editorializing, that Prime Minister Blair had pressured them to give false information.

HARRIS: And this -- I suspect that the Iranian people did not hear the one marine call the captivity a total media stunt.

BOZORGMEHR: No. Only those who have satellite dishes and watching CNN and others from Western stations, channels may have heard it.

HARRIS: Give us a sense of what the reaction has been. You were in the room for the news conference when the statement was made by the Iranian president that the sailors and marines would be released. Give me a sense of what the reaction been on the streets of Tehran, say, the last 24, 48 hours.

BOZORGMEHR: The reaction was basically what had been the feeling of the Iranian people throughout this ordeal, which was that they believed that -- most of them, at least, believed that the incursion was made into Iranian territory, these people were arrested, and their arrest was quite legal because they had come into Iranian territory without permission. And some expected them to go on trial. The hard- liners insisted on them going on trial, but the more moderate people in the government finally prevailed, and the decision was made to release them.

The government and the president said that the release was based on humanitarian grounds, and also on the auspicious occasion of the birthday of Prophet Mohammed, as well as Easter. And so it was -- from the Iranian point of view, a humanitarian gesture towards a group of foreigners who had made incursions illegally into Iranian territory.

HARRIS: OK. Let's leave it there for now.

CNN producer Shirzad Bozorgmehr in Tehran.

Thank you.

NGUYEN: Well, back here in the U.S., yet another pet food recall. So, what should you do to protect your pets? We're going to ask Lassie's vet. He should know.

That's ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Another alert this morning for dog and cat owners. Yes, another pet food recall to tell you about.

Sunshine Mills in Alabama recalling 20 types of large dog biscuits sold under the Ol'Roy label at Wal-Mart. The company says the biscuits were made with imported Chinese wheat gluten, and testing has revealed the wheat gluten was contaminated with melamine, which is used to make plastics.

Now, earlier on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," the FDA's chief vet was asked about the possibility that melamine was intentionally added.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. STEPHEN SUNDLOF, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR FDA VETERINARY MEDICINE: Well, we don't know if it was intentionally added at this time. We do have a theory, and that theory is that somebody may have added melamine to the wheat gluten in order to increase what appears to be the protein level.

Wheat gluten is a high protein substance, and by trying to artificially inflate the protein level, it could command a higher price. But that's just one theory at this point. And we are not in a position to say whether or not this is our major theory or whether it may be some other.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Now, Senate majority whip Dick Durbin says senators will hold a hearing on the FDA's handling of this recall.

But in the meantime, I want you to look at the bottom of the screen. You will see that crawl there. We are listing all the names of the pet food that is under this recall, just in case you're wondering if those are in your cabinet somewhere.

Again, the names will be there on this crawl throughout the rest of this hour, at least, I believe, unless I'm told otherwise. I'll let you know.

In the meantime, though, here to tell us how to protect your pets is Dr. Jeffrey Werber. He's the veterinarian to the stars. Dr. Werber is also Lassie's vet, which is in very good hands.

And I want to thank you for being with us. And I want you to clear up a lot of the questions that we have.

First and foremost, I spoke with you last week, and you pretty much did not believe that this melamine is the culprit in all of these dogs and cats -- mainly cats -- falling ill and dying of this.

DR. JEFFREY WERBER, "VETERINARIAN TO THE STARS": Right. We feel the same way still in that melamine, it doesn't belong in pet food, certainly, but it is an inert substance, it's a plastic, it's used in fertilizer as well. And it doesn't cause -- it's relatively nontoxic.

However, because it continues to show up in these tainted foods, it's a great way to at least track these foods and then continually to look for it. And I know the Pet Food Institute and the FDA, the pet food companies all working so diligently to try to find out what the real culprit or culprits may be.

NGUYEN: Well, Dr. Werber, as we talk to you about all these different types of food being recalled today, even more in those dog biscuits -- and we have that crawl at the bottom of the screen to label exactly what is on the list -- with all of this out there, are you surprised that more animals have not died because of it?

WERBER: Well, I think since the initial recall, the manufacturers have done a great job pulling the food off the shelves. I know that with this recent recall of Sunshine Mills, many of these products haven't even made it to the shelves, so -- which is good news. And I think obviously the consumer, the pet parent, myself included, are more careful.

I think you should look at labels, see if wheat gluten is on the label. If it is, check the Web sites, check with the manufacturers. Ask your veterinarian. Veterinarians are a great source of information. And just stay away from these foods.

The truth is that, still, with all that's going on, less than one percent of the total pet food on the market has been affected by this recall.

NGUYEN: Well, should people, just to be absolutely certain that their animal is not going to be fed tainted food, should they go organic, should pet owners start to cook their food for their pets?

WERBER: No, I think that the level of confidence should be up. I don't think that you should worry. Again, if your food isn't on the list, the food that you feed your pets, it's probably going to be OK.

My concern with home-cooked meals is that in a short, in a pinch, it's going to be fine, a week or so, maybe. But in the long term, the best way to get that balanced essential nutrition is through a balanced commercial pet product because these companies spend fortunes on trying to make the perfect pet food and the perfect balance for your pets.

NGUYEN: Well, also, though, there are going to be some hearings, Senate hearings into what exactly has happened with all of this food and the recall, and all that goes along with it.

Do you think the FDA waited too long? Did they act quick enough?

WERBER: You know, it's hard to say. You know, I can't answer for the FDA. And I see that they are doing what they can.

The interesting thing that I find is that a lot of these sources of this wheat gluten started in America. Actually two sources, one in Minneapolis, on to Las Vegas, and then finally to this source in China.

So, it's scary, it's frightening to think how many tiers are involved when you buy a product. And I also start wondering what's going to happen with our foods as well when you buy a product, you think it's safe, and you find out it's manufactured someplace else where they don't have the same strict regulations that we have here in the United States.

NGUYEN: And really quickly, what is Lassie eating these days?

WERBER: Lassie actually eats her own brand of food.

NGUYEN: Of course she does.

WERBER: Right, of course, and her food is doing just fine.

NGUYEN: All right, Dr. Jeffrey Werber, the veterinarian to the stars. And Lassie's very own personal vet. We thank you for your time.

WERBER: Thank you, Betty.

NGUYEN: And for more information on this developing story, all you have to do is go to CNN.com/petfoodrecall to find the details on the companies involved. You can also watch a report filled with tips for pet owners as well.

Welcome back, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And Good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. Live here on CNN, a short time ago, British sailors and marines spelled out details of their captivity in Iran. The troops said they were overtaken by heavily armed Iranians, while conducting a routine ship inspection in Iraqi waters. Fighting the Iranians, they said, was not an option, nor was the HMS Cornwall in a position to come to their defense. The troops also spoke about the decision not to fight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. CHRIS AIR, BRITISH ROYAL MARINES: There was, I guess, some critical points. One of them is when we encountered the Iranians first, when we were on the vessel, and that was probably the key point. It could have gone very wrong. I think the fact we're back home here alive, and there isn't a major political incident is clearly -- shows the right decision was made. We had the choice under RROE to engage them, and I just told the lads to cooperate, put their hands in the air. I think otherwise they wouldn't be here today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The troops were reunited with their families yesterday. They are now on what's called two-week compassionate leave.

NGUYEN: At least 25 dead, 32 wounded in Iraq, in a suicide truck bombing. Iraq's interior ministry says the truck was carrying chlorine gas cylinders. The chemical attacks are the latest deadly tactic used by insurgents. The attack happened at a police checkpoint in Ramadi, the capital of the volatile Anbar province. Also today, word that another U.S. soldier was killed by gunfire in northern Iraq. The incident happened yesterday. Another soldier was injured. Let's see these live pictures. Oh, great, you are looking at live pictures now, Pope Benedict XVI is celebrating Good Friday services. Christians around the world celebrate Easter this Sunday. Later the pope will take part in a stations of the cross procession around the ruins of Rome's coliseum, services commemorating Jesus' crucifixion.

Well, on this good Friday, there are chilling predictions about the fate of our planet. A serious global warning report, that is ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: This just in. I want to show you some new video of an oil-well explosion and fire in East Tennessee. This is about 27 miles west of Knoxville. It happened about 9:00 a.m. Eastern. Now it's not known what caused the explosion, but I want you to take a listen to what was being said on the ground just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Two people, they were actually hooking up a tuck to pull it away when the fire -- when the explosion happened, one of them ran down the mountain, one of them injured his leg, but he managed to get back up and was walking down the road. We took him to the hospital just as a precaution.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Now, this oil well is owned and operated by Atlas America Inc. The vice president, Don Loughlin (ph) said about five workers would have been at the rig, but he wasn't sure of any injuries. Again, the cause of this explosion and fire has not been determined just yet. It's about 27 miles west of the Knoxville. And as soon as we get more information, we'll bring it straight to you.

HARRIS: And just out this morning, troubling predictions about climate change. Scientists say there could be floods, famines, storms and entire species wiped out, all because of global warning.

CNN's meteorology Rob Marciano takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST (voice-over): February's report from a United Nations panel on global climate change was just the tip of the iceberg. It concluded that global warming is real, it's getting worse, and that human activity is driving it. And a follow-up released Friday in Brussels offers new details of the devastating effects climate change will likely bring to bear on humans, animals and the environment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're no longer arm-waving with animals. This is what we call empirical information. On the ground, we can measure it. MARCIANO: Reporter: Perhaps the most troubling finding is that by the end of the century, floods will permanently displace hundreds of millions of people, as low-lying coastal areas are swallowed up by rising sea levels.

ROBERT CORELL, CLIMATE SCIENTIST: With a meter or two of sea level rise, we're likely to see hundreds of millions of what we'll call environmental refugees, people who no longer can live where they had lived for maybe thousands of years.

MARCIANO: The report predicts where it's wet and hot, insect- borne diseases such as malaria will explode. Where it's dry, it's likely to become much drier, and some water supplies will vanish, notably the glaciers in the Himalayas, the key water source for hundreds of millions of Asians, and the deserts will expand.

JAMES HANSEN, EARTH SCIENTIST: Already, we're beginning to see in the western United States that it is becoming drier and hotter. And if we go down the path of business as usual, we can expect basically permanent drought in the western United States.

MARCIANO: Another grim finding is that the world will see a spike in endangered species, with a wave of extinction from coral reefs to polar bears.

CORELL: Our study in the Arctic suggested that the polar bear is on its way to extinction, during this century, in most likelihood, and the reason for that is that they live on the ice, they get their food off the ice, they snatch the seals through small air holes, and now most of that ice is no longer there, and will disappear.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: All right. Rob Marciano is live in the weather center.

And, Rob, when will this panel release the rest of the report? And what is that expected to say?

MARCIANO: Well, that will be the third release, Tony, going to come out in about a month. The first one pretty much said global warming is happening, we know that for a fact. We think it's going to warm this much more. And we're very, very high confidence that humans are -- have an impact as far as how much carbon dioxide is in the air now, as opposed to 100 or so years ago. And this report says, obviously, here's what it means for actual humans and animals.

The next report is going to be, well, what can we do about it? Because even the most dire scientists out there, think it's not too late to make a difference and do what we can.

And, likely, Tony, some of the obvious things they'll be talking about is what you can do at home, drive a more fuel-efficient car, change out those light bulbs, turn down the heat and the air- conditioner.

And I think what I'll be more interested to see is what they're going to tell, you know, governments and companies to do, because that may very well have a larger impact.

HARRIS: Rob Marciano, for us in the weather center, thanks.

MARCIANO: You bet.

NGUYEN: And I want to direct your attention right now to the bottom of the screen. See that crawl right there? We're continuing to put up the names of the different types of pet food under recall at this hour. There are so many of them. And just today, a couple more were added, dealing with dog biscuits. So as you look at the bottom of the screen, pay a lot of attention, especially you pet owners, to make sure you don't have these types of food in your cabinet somewhere at home and are about to feed it to your animal. So that will be up for at least the next 20 minutes.

Alright. Other news, paroled from jail but are they sentenced to homelessness?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On the state's sex offender web site, each man's address is listed as the Julia Tuttle Causeway.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: CNN's John Zarrella (ph) reports, straight ahead, right here in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: Hanging out in Vegas, but this probably isn't what these folks had in mind. Stuck on a roller coaster. What are the odds of that? The story coming up in the NEWSROOM.

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HARRIS: And checking your daily dose, medical stories effecting you. The source of salmonella contamination of Peter Pan peanut butter made in a Georgia plant, now identified. Conagra says it likely spread through water from a leak in the roof or a faulty sprinkler system, last August. More than 400 people were sickened by the contamination. Conagra says it will re-open the plant this summer. And to get your daily dose of health news online, log on to our web site. You will find the latest medical news, a health library and information on diet and fitness. The address, CNN.com/health.

NGUYEN: Well, "Your World Today" is coming up on CNN International. But first, big-time bust on the high seas. Fifteen tons of cocaine off loaded, Tony, from the USS McGinnery. at the Mayport, Florida, naval station. Now, Coast guard crews made two separate busts in the Pacific Ocean, 14 suspected smugglers are being held, the cocaine had an approximate value of $400 million. Goodness.

HARRIS: All right. Convicted sex offenders living under a bridge in South Florida? CNN's John Zarrella investigates why they're there and why a lot of people are concerned.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The noise never stops. Day or night. The sound of cars traveling the causeway, linking Miami to Miami Beach. And beneath that mass of concrete and steel, live a handful of homeless men.

Kevin Morales (ph) has been here three weeks. At night, he sleeps in a recliner, perched at the top of the embankment.

KEVIN MORALES, HOMELESS: You can even hear the mice behind you, picking away at your bags.

ZARRELLA: But there is something the people in the cars above don't know about Morales and others. All four of these men are convicted felons. Sex offenders who committed crimes against children. They are here, Morales says, because they have no place else to live.

MORALES: I went and gave a down payment to hold the apartment. Needless to say, the following day, I get the bad news from my probation officer, that I'm not allowed to live there because the building had a pool where children may congregate.

ZARRELLA: Laws in both Miami and Miami Beach prohibit sex offenders from living within 2500 feet of schools, playgrounds and anywhere children congregate. With nowhere to put these men, the Department of Corrections first placed them under a highway off-ramp in Miami. But that location was near, of all places, a center for sexually abused children. So corrections officers moved them here, on the state's sex offender web site, each man's address is listed as the Julia Tuttle Causeway. State corrections officials say they know it's not ideal, but they had no choice.

BRUCE GRANT, FL. DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS: The real question is, do we really want people wandering around without a place to live? Without a country? Without a location to be? Because the increasing restrictions push them further and further out.

ZARRELLA: At least here, Bruce Grant says, they are all in one place and can easily be monitored. Nearly every morning at 5:00 a.m., with his flashlight in hand, Benito Cassal (ph) comes by.

BENITO CASSAL, PROBATION OFFICER: Sanchez here. Kevin Morales here.

ZARRELLA: Cassal is their probation officer, responsible for making sure they are here, complying with the conditions of their parole. So far he says, they all have. A couple of hundred yards from where Kevin Morales lives under that bridge, right over here, behind these bushes, lives another registered sex offender, Rene Matamoros (ph). He's been here since last August.

RENE MATAMOROS, SEX OFFENDER: This is aluminum.

ZARRELLA: Matamoros makes about 200 bucks a month selling the aluminum. He sleeps in a tent and has a makeshift kitchen, complete with rats. For the foreseeable future, this is his existence. MATAMOROS: I don't have nowhere I can go.

ZARRELLA: We asked State Senator Dave Aronberg to meet us at the bridge.

DAVE ARONBERG, SENATOR: They're horrible criminals.

ZARRELLA: Aronberg is sponsoring legislation that would set a uniform state-wide standard that would keep offenders 1,500 feet from where children gather. And it requires all offenders to wear electronic monitoring devices. He believes forcing men to live this way is asking for trouble.

ARONBERG: They're desperate. They're angry. And who do they hang around, but other sex offenders. And they feed off each other's anger and desperation. I just don't see how this helps public safety.

ZARRELLA: For Kevin Morales going back to jail might be a blessing.

MORALES: If homeless life is what I have to look forward to, then I am better off in there. Because there's nothing out here for me.

ZARRELLA: None of these men know where they will go after this. What they all do know, is that few people have any sympathy for their plight. John Zarrella, CNN, Miami.

HARRIS: "Your World Today" coming up at the top of the hour, oh, in about 11 minutes. Hala Gorani is standing by with a preview. We have a pretty good idea, Hala, of what your lead story is.

HALA GORANI, CNN ANCHOR: You think?

NGUYEN: We're not playing guess the lead today.

GORANI: That's right.

We bring you the world on "Your World Today" at the top of the hour. And we are going to hear directly from those released British Sailors and Marines who were detained in Iran for almost two weeks. They say they were subjected to psychological pressure, they were kept blindfolded and in isolation. We'll tell you more of what have they had to reveal, very interesting stuff. We'll go live to the United Kingdom for that.

Also, a chilling climate report if we can recall it, that by the United Nations. A new U.N. study predicts that unless the world reduces carbon emissions, we will all face water shortages, massive floods and it's the world's poorest who will pay the highest price. We speak to one of the authors of that report.

Also, the tragedy of anorexia, the case of the daughter of Donatella Versace, Allegra Versace, highlighting that problem in Italy. Jennifer Eccleston reports on that. Also we take you to southern Egypt. There is a lot ahead here at the top of the hour. Jim Clancy and myself will bring you all of that. For now though, back to you guys.

HARRIS: All right Hala, thank you.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Susan Lisovicz in New York. The biggest economic report of the week is out today, a day when stock exchanges are closed. I'll have details about the March jobs report when NEWSROOM continues. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

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NGUYEN: Let's get to you business news right now. The stock market is closed today. So investors will have to wait until Monday to react to this morning's release of the biggest economic report of the month.

CNN's Susan Lisovicz is at our New York studios to break down these numbers. Hey there, Susan.

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NGUYEN: All right, Susan, have a great weekend.

LISOVICZ: You too.

HARRIS: And there's this -- a plea deal in a murder trial leads to an emotional outburst in Tennessee. Court officers had to restrain members of Mickey Wright's family when his killer pleaded guilty to second degree murder.

Andrew Douglas of CNN affiliate WMC has details.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dale Martis, upon your plea of guilty to the offense of murder in the second degree.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: [ bleep ]. No!

ANDREW DOUGLAS, WMC REPORTER (voice-over): The daughter of murder victim Mickey Wright exploding after hearing a guilty plea of second degree murder from Dale Mardis. The man admitted to killing and dismembering her father.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You deny the state's request for a lesser plea?

DOUGLAS: The family addressed the court, pleaded for a jury trial to move forward but the guilty plea went through. Bringing tears and anger to the family not only inside the courtroom but outside as well.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stop it! Wesley (ph), stop!

DOUGLAS: Mickey Wright was a code enforcement officer for Shelby County who disappeared on the job in April 2001. The last place he visited was commercial property owner, Dale Mardis, a man he had run- ins with in the past. Three years later, Mardis was charged with first degree murder. He eventually admitted to killing and destroying Wright's body, a source of incredible grief for the Wright family.

TOM HENDERSON, SHELBY COUNTY PROSECUTOR: The body was burned and whatever was left after burning was dismembered and placed in derelict vehicles which were later crushed.

DOUGLAS: I had a chance to speak with Wright's widow outside the courtroom.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have waited and waited and waited. We feel like we are -- this is a slap in our face.

DOUGLAS: Wright insists race played a role in the plea deal.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We just don't think it would have gone the same way had Mickey killed a white man. And I'm sorry to say that, but that's the way I feel.

DOUGLAS: The prosecutor said it was simply evidence that made him accept the deal of second degree murder with a mandatory 15 years in prison.

HENDERSON: The evidence of premeditation had diminished considerably.

DOUGLAS: Evidence or not, Thursday's sentence inflamed wounds for the family whose sadness erupted violently in court.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Man.

NGUYEN: Well, the CNN NEWSROOM does continue one hour from now.

HARRIS: "YOUR WORLD TODAY" is next with news happening across the globe and here at home.

I'm Tony Harris.

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