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Your World Today
Al Qaeda-Linked Group Claims Responsibility for Iraqi Parliament Building Bombing; Paul Wolfowitz Under Fire for Partner's Promotion
Aired April 13, 2007 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RALITSA VASSILEVA, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: A moment of silence, an emotional emergency session of Iraq's parliament, a day after a bomb ripped through its cafeteria.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you take that kind of a "holier than thou" attitude, you better not have your own hands in somebody's cookie jar.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JIM CLANCY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Under fire. World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz is mired in a favoritism scandal involving his girlfriend.
VASSILEVA: Strong words against Russia's leadership. An exiled Russian tycoon and longtime Kremlin critic says President Putin has to go.
CLANCY: And the rap against hip-hop. The firing of a television and radio host over racial slurs he used on air stirs up a raging debate over the music's impact and its message.
VASSILEVA: It is 8:00 p.m. in Baghdad, noon in Washington.
Hello and welcome to our report broadcast around the globe.
I'm Ralitsa Vassileva.
CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy. And this is YOUR WORLD TODAY.
VASSILEVA: An al Qaeda-linked group says it carried out that suicide bombing inside Iraq's parliament but delayed claiming responsibility so its members could escape the scene.
CLANCY: We begin with the details about that deadly attack inside one of Baghdad's most heavily fortified areas.
VASSILEVA: Parliament members met in a rare session on Friday, the Muslim day of prayer, to honor a colleague killed in the blast.
CLANCY: And in the meantime, police are looking into whether the bomber had some inside help. They've detained several cafeteria workers and security guards for questioning. VASSILEVA: Arwa Damon has more now walking us through the scene of that attack.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The attack took place just on the other side of this wall. This is the convention center at the heart of the heavily fortified Green Zone, where parliament convenes on a regular basis.
A day later, the devastation still remains. There are pieces of flesh and dried blood embedded in the carpet, shards of glass littering just about everything. All is covered with a thick layer of dust.
Parliament did convene today in an emergency session to commemorate the life that was lost in the attack, that of Mohammed Hassan Awa (ph). They placed a wreath of flowers in the chair that he will no longer be occupying, and many individuals spoke out in his memory, also calling for true national unity and national reconciliation, saying that his death, his martyrdom would continue to represent the Iraqi government's ongoing effort and determination to stand up against terrorism.
But the most emotional testimony came from Nada Mohammed. She barely escaped with her life and said that it was a life-altering experience.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NADA MOHAMMED IBRAHIM, NATIONAL DIALOG FRONT: And after I had, you know, concussion, and I have injury in my neck, they took me to the hospital. I never, ever think about myself or the other injured people who I have been with them in the hospital. I don't know why, because -- maybe because I am a doctor. I always think that -- about the other Iraqis who have been for the last four years hit and killed, and they couldn't have the chance even to go to a decent hospital to have good treatment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DAMON: We also heard from the Kurdish deputy prime minister, Barhem Saleh, who said that the Iraqi government could not afford to lose and that they would not lose. But for the Iraqi people, many of them are looking at this attack as an example of the Iraqi government's inability to protect itself and, therefore, its inability to protect them. They have heard calls of national unity and national reconciliation from members of parliament and from their own government many times in the past. If the government is truly going to stand behind those statements, the Iraqi people are waiting to see the rhetoric turned into action.
Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CLANCY: There from the scene of yesterday's crime against the Iraqi legislators.
Let's get some reaction now from the Iraqi government on how it plans to handle this major security setback.
We are joined by a spokesman for Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Ali al-Dabbagh is in Washington, joins us now.
What can you tell us, the latest on the investigation as you're hearing it?
ALI AL-DABBAGH, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER'S SPOKESMAN: It is under investigation. Just now, the ministerial committee headed by (INAUDIBLE) in the meeting, and they took steps in order to protect the -- of course, this is the parliament, which is symbolic of Iraqis, which they had 12 million -- they had made this one.
And the investigation is going on. Nobody will be untouchable. Everyone will be questionable. And to find out who are those evil enemies which they had trying to destroy the Iraqi -- the Iraqi interests to build their country.
CLANCY: Can you tell us, sir -- some talk about a split between al Qaeda and many of the Iraqi insurgents. What does the government know about that? What does the prime minister know about that?
AL-DABBAGH: Well, we know -- we know this is the security information that is a problem of a leadership between al Qaeda, which they are -- the Arabs, what they are called -- so-called Arab extremists, and the Iraqi al Qaeda and Iraqi insurgents. There is a problem in Diyala and somewhere else.
This is high security information. And -- but there is -- there is a real problem among them. But nevertheless, that we are facing all of them, and this is -- there is no choice for us. There is no choice for us.
We have to fix the problem. We have to build our country. We have to do whatever in order to keep Iraq and to protect Iraqis. This is -- there is no choice, again, no alternative for us, only to win.
CLANCY: You are there at the White House. And I'm sure the question comes up again and again, when will the Iraqis be ready to manage their own security?
The president, the Congress under a lot of pressure to pull troops out here. I mean, what would you have -- what would you say to the people that say we've got to get the troops out now, let the Iraqis stand on their own?
AL-DABBAGH: We do understand the debate here in Washington and the United States. But there is a benchmark that should be achieved.
Iraqi security forces should be ready to get control of the security issue in Iraq. The threat is not for Iraqis. The threat is all for international community, including the United States people. The al Qaeda group, the terrorist group in Iraq is not only attacking Iraqis. There should be a certain -- a measure should be taken in order to achieve that benchmark. I guess that the plan of President Bush and the prime minister, al-Maliki, is going well.
They are speeding up the training. They are speeding up the equipping the Iraqi security forces. And we are achieving good objectives. And definitely this benchmark.
We are -- at the same time, the transfer of control is going on. (INAUDIBLE) going to be transferred this month, in April. And so 2007 will be a remarkable year of transferring the control of the government, as well as the army. I think that our benchmark, rather than a timetable to be achieved.
CLANCY: Ali al-Dabbagh, a spokesman for the prime minister of Iraq, joining us there from the White House.
Thank you very much, sir.
AL-DABBAGH: Thank you, sir.
VASSILEVA: Well, let's check some other news we'll be following closely for you today.
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CLANCY: All right. Back in the United States, he is probably the most famous neocon anywhere. Paul Wolfowitz, best known as one of the U.S. architects of the war in Iraq, but now he's making some headlines as head of the World Bank.
VASSILEVA: But they aren't the good kind of headlines, and right now the bank's board of directors is actually deciding whether to give him the boot.
Jim Boulden explains why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BOULDEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz spent his two years in the job trying to build his credentials as the banker to the developing world. But one of his first decisions back in 2005 put his job on the line.
On Friday, the World Bank released documents showing Wolfowitz signed off on the promotion and pay raise of his girlfriend, Shaha Riza. Wolfowitz apologized for his involvement.
PAUL WOLFOWITZ, WORLD BANK PRESIDENT: In hindsight, I wish I had trusted my original instincts and kept myself out of the negotiations. I made a mistake for which I am sorry.
But let me also ask for some understanding. Not only was this a painful personal dilemma, but I had to deal with it when I was new to this institution and I was trying to navigate in uncharted waters.
BOULDEN: The board said proper procedures were not followed, noting, "The Ethics Committee... had not been involved in the discussions with the concerned staff member." And that "Neither were the terms and conditions of the agreement commented on, reviewed or approved by the Ethics Committee."
Wolfowitz's moved from the Pentagon to the World Bank was controversial from the moment President George W. Bush nominated him in 2005. Wolfowitz was one of the principal architects of the Iraq war. But he has also spearheaded an anti-corruption drive throughout the World Bank.
JEFFREY ROBINSON, AMERICAN COMMENTATOR: He wanted countries where there was enormous corruption to clean up their act before he would give them the money. Now, that's not a bad idea because the money gets into these countries and goes into corrupt pockets. So he had the right idea. But when you take that kind of a "holier than thou" attitude, you better not have your own hands in somebody's cookie jar.
BOULDEN: The bank's employee association called for his firing. Wolfowitz said he wanted to focus on what the bank does.
WOLFOWITZ: In the larger scheme of things, we have much more important things to focus on. For people who disagree with the things they associate with me in my previous job, I'm not in my previous job.
I'm not working for the U.S. government. I'm working for this institution and its 185 shareholders. I believe deeply in the mission of this institution and I have a passion for it.
BOULDEN: The World Bank will have to rebuild its reputation, now tarnished by the Wolfowitz controversy.
Jim Boulden, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VASSILEVA: So what do you think about all of this?
CLANCY: You really want me to answer? No, you don't.
VASSILEVA: No.
CLANCY: But we are wondering, was that apology enough for you? Should Wolfowitz be fired? Let us know. Send us an e-mail at yourviews@cnn.com.
VASSILEVA: And we will read some of your responses later on the air.
Well, a return to Kurdistan. Turkey's top general considers sending troops into northern Iraq. Find out what's at stake.
CLANCY: A microphone silenced. U.S. radio host Don Imus is off the air because of his racist and sexist comments about a women's basketball team. But are others just as offensive?
VASSILEVA: Well, why some say hip-hop culture is making it too easy to degrade women. A closer look just ahead on YOUR WORLD TODAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CLANCY: Hello, everyone, and welcome back to CNN International and YOUR WORLD TODAY.
VASSILEVA: We're covering the news that the world wants to know and giving you some perspective that goes deeper into the stories of the day.
Well, after nearly a 30-year career in radio, Don Imus is off the air. The longtime U.S. talk show host has been fired over using racist and sexist slurs to refer to members of a U.S. women's college basketball team.
Imus met with the team and their coach last night to apologize. Today they say they have accepted his apology.
CLANCY: And while many may have been insulted by the comments that were made by Don Imus, there are those who argue there is enough blame to really go around for more.
VASSILEVA: Absolutely. Mainly, what about the lyrics in hip- hop music?
Anderson Cooper examines the impact of what is becoming a sign of the times.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): In this explicit X-rated music video, women are objects for sex and for show, put on display, put down, and humiliated. The rapper is Nelly, one of the biggest stars in the multibillion-dollar hip-hop industry.
Many hip-hop artists are African-American. Some use lyrics laced with sexist words aimed at fellow African-Americans, words that Imus says didn't start with him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE TODAY SHOW")
DON IMUS, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: I know that phrase didn't originate in a white community. That phrase originated in the black community.
And I -- I'm not stupid. I may be a white man, but I know that these young women, and young black women all through that society, are demeaned and disparaged and disrespected by -- by their own black men.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: His argument has supporters in the African-American community. They believe their own culture has fostered and fueled an anti-black, anti-woman lifestyle.
SHARPTON: I remember, my last conversation with James Brown, which hip-hop started out of. He said, how did we go from "Black and Proud," which was his song, to calling ourselves niggers, hos and bitches?
BYRON HURT, DIRECTOR, "HIP-HOP: BEYOND BEATS & RHYMES": What you're seeing mostly, though, is you're seeing repetitive images of women as boy toy, as sex kitten, as sex objects. And I think that's a problem.
COOPER: While many agree it's a problem, some think this form of expression is a reflection of the times.
Russell Simmons is a successful record executive and entrepreneur.
RUSSELL SIMMONS, CHAIRMAN, HIP-HOP SUMMIT ACTION NETWORK: We're a violent and oversexed country. That's our sad truth, you know? And rappers are reflections of -- sometimes, reflections of our sad truth.
COOPER: As the influence of hip-hop spreads, so do the questions about its message and who it's hurting.
Anderson Cooper, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VASSILEVA: A very, very interesting issue. And now we'll be joined in just a few moments in our show with a special radio talk show host. He actually hosts a hip-hop radio station. We're going to talk to him. His name is Cocoa Brother (ph).
For those of you who are fans of his, we'll be talking to him in just a few moments.
CLANCY: It's interesting to hear what he has to say.
VASSILEVA: Yes, I can't wait to see what he has to say.
CLANCY: All right.
We've got to take a short break.
Still ahead, a live look at midday trading on Wall Street.
And this...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need to use force to change this regime.
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VASSILEVA: An exiled business tycoon wants to overthrow the Russian president. He claims to have Kremlin insiders on his side. We'll go live to Moscow for that.
CLANCY: And it's a mind-boggling number, 18,000 children die of hunger each week, each month? No. Each day. Some are convinced it doesn't have to be this way.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VASSILEVA: And welcome back to all of you joining us for from more than 200 countries and territories around the globe, including the United States.
CLANCY: This is YOUR WORLD TODAY.
I'm Jim Clancy.
VASSILEVA: I'm Ralitsa Vassileva.
Here are some of the top stories we're following for you today.
Iraqi lawmakers held a rare Friday session to honor a colleague killed in attack inside the parliament building. An al Qaeda-linked group says it carried out Thursday's suicide bombing but delayed claiming responsibility so its members could escape the scene. Police have detained several cafeteria workers and security guards for questioning.
CLANCY: The Israeli army suspending one of its commanders whose troops in its words apparently made prohibited use of civilians. Amateur videotape filmed in the West Bank showed the soldiers using two Palestinian youths to protect an army vehicle from stone throwing locals. Israeli and international law bans military personnel from using any human shields. The army says it launched an investigation.
VASSILEVA: In Pakistan, thousands of lawyers and others marched on the Supreme Court during a hearing for a top judge. They burned flags and called for President Pervez Musharraf to step down. The president suspended the chief justice last month, accusing him of abusing his power.
Well, the speaker of the Iraqi Parliament made a blunt threat on Friday. He said the hand that reaches out to interfere in our internal affairs will be cut. It is strong talk in response to some menacing words from the Turkish military which has its eyes on northern Iraq. Jonathan Mann joins us now with some insight on that.
JONATHAN MANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Ralitsa, the people of northern Iraq have another familiar name for their region. Kurdistan. It is a place with too painful a past and too promising a future to be easily contained. But there is an army ready to do just that. Setting off what could be a whole new war in Iraq.
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MAJ. GEN. YASAR BUYUKANIT, TURKISH CHIEF OF STAFF (through translator): If you're asking me the question of whether there should be an operation in northern Iraq, I would say that there are two faces to the issue. First, if you look at the subject just as soldiers, the answer is yes. An operation should be done. Would it be useful? Yes, it would.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MANN: The Kurds are spread across the region in northern Iraq, of course. But also in southeast turkey. They're in Iran as well. And as you can see in the corner of Syria. In Iraq, under U.S. protection, they have never had it so good. They're essentially on their own. Peaceful and prosperous.
Then Kurds may be the rest news in all of Iraq. And then there is oil. An estimated 15 billion barrels of it in the city of Kirkuk. A disputed city officially just outside of the Kurdish region. Now if the Kurds can move the map lines a bit and get Kirkuk and its oil, there is no telling what they may hope for next. A lot of them want their own country.
Across the border in Turkey, a similar dream, but a very different result. Kurds there have been waging a guerrilla and terrorist war for decades trying to break away. The Turks say the guerrillas shelter under U.S. protection across the border in Iraq and cross the border at will. Turkish troops cross the border too.
Ten years ago, long before the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the Turks staged a very big invasion of their own. An enormous one, really, officially 40,000 troops backed by tanks, artillery and jets. Unofficially the number may have been very much higher.
The Turks went in a number of other times too, but here is the current state of Turkish tensions. The Turkish chief of staff, General Yasar Buyukanit, says this week that he wants to send in his troops again and Masud Bazarni, the top leader in Kurdish Iraqi, said there will be trouble if the Turks try it.
The U.S., meantime, is trying very hard to get both sides to step back.
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SEAN MCCORMACK, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: It is clearly a very emotional issue, I think, on both sides. Everybody understands that. But the focus should be on trying to resolve this in a cooperative way, in a joint way, rather than to resort to unilateral actions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MANN: Right now the Turkish military is already mounting a spring offensive against Kurdish guerrillas inside its own - that is to say, inside its own Turkish borders. The military says it is a small operation, but the Reuters news agency says there are 10,000 troops involved.
There are reasons to think that the Turks won't cross the border, but the Iraqi government says Iraq will be ready if they do.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALI AL-DABBAGH, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER'S SPOKESMAN: This is a dangerous issue. And the Iraqis all, all Iraqis, I mean it, all Iraqis will be stopping and will be defending their country. So we do warn everybody not to take such a step.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MANN: Iraqis are taking this very seriously. They made reference to what the speaker of the Iraqi parliament had to say, more constructively the Iraqi president, himself, a Kurd, has been working the phones. Different people have been, all kinds of diplomacy behind the scene trying to make sure in addition to all the other trouble that Iraq has, the best part of it, northern Iraq, where things are going well, the best part of it isn't paradise lost as well.
VASSILEVA: Absolutely. You were telling us what the Turkish military is saying. What about the Turkish government?
MANN: In theory, it is a good question. Because in theory the Turkish government runs Turkey. But in practice, the Turkish military outranks the Turkish government.
VASSILEVA: Absolutely.
MANN: They're being quiet for the time being. But in a sense, the Turkish government could send a signal to the military. The military is waiting for its signal. The general who we heard from said explicitly, parliament will decide. He wants a signal from the government and he wants a signal from Iraq and he wants a signal from the United States, after all.
The Turks wouldn't dare invade northern Iraq if they thought that they were going to be facing Iraqi troops and U.S. troops in defense of those borders. The mess, as the spokesman was telling us, the government spokesman, the mess, this could create and it is a real possibility, the mess would be enormous.
VASSILEVA: I'm glad you're having your attention on that. And focusing on that for us. Thank you very much, Jon. Very important story.
CLANCY: And we're going to shift to another important story, the original front line in the war on terror. Already there is new evidence that winter lull in fighting the Taliban has ended. Already this week, 12 coalition soldiers killed.
This has been indeed a difficult week for NATO. A bomb in the south on Wednesday killed two Canadian soldiers. The U.S. says NATO needs some help in Afghanistan. It needs more aircraft, it needs more medical equipment and it needs more boots on the ground. Some of the Taliban's strength is the result of the Afghan government's failures.
Senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is in Kabul. He covers this story more than any other correspondent I know. This front line in the war on terror. He joins us now by broadband.
Nic, what has this week been like? What does this week represent for NATO and the Taliban?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well it does appear to be the indication that the Taliban's much vaunted spring offensive is under way. It's the bloodiest week for NATO so far, just today one NATO soldier was killed in fighting in south of the country. Three American soldiers have been killed this week. Two of them yesterday in separate car bomb incidents in the east of the country. There were two Canadian soldiers killed in a single car bombing in the south on Wednesday.
The bloodiest single car bombing was on Sunday this week. That killed another six Canadian soldiers. So far since the last summer, the Canadians have lost close to 50 soldiers in Afghanistan. British troops here as well lost close to that number as well since last summer.
The lion's share of the fighting is in the south of the country. There has been a relative lull through the winter. But the weather has become much warmer here. The snow line has visibly retreated up the mountains over the past few weeks and it does appear that if the Taliban are launching a spring offensive, then this perhaps is the beginning of it, Jim, given these high NATO and coalition casualties.
Having said that, the coalition here has gone on the offensive just yesterday saying, but using their air power in support of an Afghan national army operation. They killed 24 Taliban members. The aircraft, they say, fired heavy machine gun rounds at an area of concentration of Taliban fighters. That's where the coalition believes it has the strength.
If it can get Taliban fighters in a confined area, then they say they have the air power really to effectively kill them and defeat them in those areas, Jim.
CLANCY: But people are talking about a resurgent Taliban, a Taliban that is benefiting with some disillusionment, un-kept promises from the government of President Hamid Karzai. And the United Nations today, one official even calling saying there should be negotiations with the Taliban. What do we make of that?
ROBERTSON: Well, Jim there are certain elements within the Taliban that do say that negotiations are the only way. They do say, however, that they would put conditions on that, that they wouldn't negotiate with President Hamid Karzai as long as there are occupation forces meaning NATO and U.S. forces inside the country.
There are efforts by people, behind the scenes, to get those talks going between the Taliban, between President Hamid Karzai and certainly I talked to NATO's commander here recently and he said if there was a negotiated settlement, he would be willing to tolerate that. But it is really in the hands of the government to effect that. What plays to the Taliban's strength is that there are many tribes in the south of the country that are disaffected with President Hamid Karzai, that he hasn't delivered on jobs, hasn't delivered on an improved economy as they believe that they were promised. And that means that they're much more susceptible to Taliban's message.
There is also Taliban, sources very close to Taliban have told me that some of those tribes feel that they have been unfairly targeted by coalition forces. And that's another thing that drives them towards supporting the Taliban. The Taliban claim to have wide influence in some of the provinces in the south. NATO dismisses that. They say that Taliban's influence is spotty in the south of the country. But the Taliban are able, it seems, to mass still large numbers of fighters. And effectively engage, even if it is in guerrilla operations, engage with the NATO forces there, Jim.
CLANCY: Nic Robertson, fascinating. So much going on in Afghanistan. We don't hear enough about it. Thank you for keeping us up to date on what we're going to see play out right in the field, right on our television screens in the days, the weeks, the months ahead. Nic Robertson, live from Kabul tonight.
VASSILEVA: Well, a question for you, is there a difference between the words force and violence? Well, exiled Russian businessman and Kremlin critic Boris Berezovsky says the two are not necessarily the same. He is seeking to clarify comments he made to a British newspaper that have effectively stirred an international hornets' nest. Matthew Chance explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's the man at the Kremlin loves to hate. But these are his strongest words yet for the Russian leadership. Exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky says he's actively plotting a new Russian revolution and is in close contact with political elites in Russia who want to force change.
BORIS BEREZOVSKY, EXILED RUSSIAN: We need to use force to change this region, because, first of all, this regime is anti- constitutional. It means that I call to use force to recreate a constitutional regime again. That Putin created an authoritarian regime by force and present that no chance to change that through elections and only way is to use power.
CHANCE: Berezovsky has subsequently told CNN he's not advocating violence, only direct action. But the billionaire's comments are provoking a political storm. The Kremlin, which has already indicted the exiled tycoon on charges of fraud and embezzlement, is renewing demands Britain strip Berezovsky of his political asylum. And extradite him to Russia.
SERGEI LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): There is a long-standing request in terminating the situation when Boris Berezovsky takes advantage of his refugee status, grossly abusing this status, committing actions which under British legislation require his extradition.
CHANCE (on camera): On the face of it, this is just the latest salvo in a long running war of words between Berezovsky and Vladimir Putin inside the Kremlin. The tycoon accuses the president of backsliding on democracy and crushing political opposition. The trouble is, he's making these accusations from British soil. And that is provoking considerable diplomatic strain.
(voice-over): Since the poisoning earlier this year of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko, a close associate of Berezovsky, relations between Moscow and London have been complicated. From his death bed, Litvinenko accused the Kremlin of ordering his killing and a trail of radioactive polonium 210 led British investigators to the Russian capital. Trying to avoid another diplomatic spat, the British Foreign Office says it is now examining Berezovsky's latest revolutionary remarks.
"We expect everyone living, working or visiting the U.K., whatever their status, to obey the laws," the statement says. "We will look carefully at these and any future statements by Mr. Berezovsky in that light."
But few expect the tycoon's legal status in Britain to be revoked. Least of all Berezovsky himself. Because of the Litvinenko case, he says, the reality of returning Kremlin critics to Russia is simply changed.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VASSILEVA: And Matthew Chance is joining us live now from Moscow to dig a little bit deeper into this controversy. Matthew, how much influence does Berezovsky have among the Russian people? Is what he has to say really going to matter?
CHANCE (on camera): That's a good question, Ralitsa, because calling for a revolution from London is quite different from making it happen on the streets of Moscow and other cities around Russia.
Certainly Boris Berezovsky is a deeply controversial figure in this country, he is very much associated with that period after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the minds of many Russians when for many people the riches of the country were essentially stolen by a select few business men. He was one of the original oligarchs that amassed great wealth and wielded enormous political influence in those early days of the modern Russian state.
And so while there may be people that agree with the idea in Russia that democracy is being undermined under Vladimir Putin and that opposition parties are being suppressed, etc, it is not all together clear that Boris Berezovsky will be the man that they are likely rally around.
VASSILEVA: Matthew Chance in Moscow, thank you very much.
CLANCY: We're going to take a short break. When we come back, we all have to do a better job. VASSILEVA: That's right, from the retiring director of the World Food Program who says that starvation can end.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM MORRIS, WORLD FOOD PROGRAM: Four hundred million hungry kids in the world, 18,000 die every day. We can feed a child for $34.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CLANCY: Some eye opening views on hunger and generosity. Just ahead, right here on YOUR WORLD TODAY.
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CLACNY: Hello, everyone and welcome back. You're watching YOUR WORLD TODAY on CNN International. If you're used to listening to the news here and taking stock of the latest death tolls coming in from Iraq, Afghanistan, or other conflicts around the globe, consider this.
Today, 18,000 children will die from hunger. You heard it right, 18,000. The outgoing head of the World Food Program has called for a global crusade. And challenged governments and individuals to take up the fight.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLANCY (voice-over): For the past five years, Jim Morris has spearheaded one crisis response after another to feed hundreds of millions of people around the world. The natural disasters are more numerous. The price of some food aid has doubled. Chronic hunger hot spots have grown worse. Says Morris, the bottom line is it doesn't have to be that way.
MORRIS: These are solvable problems. You know what, 400 million hungry kids in the world, 18,000 die every day. We can feed a child for $34 for a full year in school. And everything about the child's life changes for the better.
The fact of the matter is the world needs a crusade, a movement that involves the business community, the service club community, the Boy Scouts, students, the faith-based community, governments, NGOs, to say it is no longer acceptable for so many children to be hungry. And we're all going to do a little more.
CLANCY: As head of the largest food agency in the world, Morris traveled the globe and analyzed what worked, and what didn't. Feeding programs in schools are a pillar of Morris' strategy.
MORRIS: You feed a child, make it possible for the child to go to school, everything about the child's life changes for the better. For the little girl in Malawi, 50 percent less likely to be HIV positive, 50 percent less likely to give birth to a low birth weight baby. And all of the aspirational notions of her life, for herself, her family, her community, they all change for the better. (END VIDEOTAPE)
CLANCY (on camera): Jim Morris there, the outgoing head of the World Food Program bringing it all into focus, saying all of us have to do a little bit more, take care of our brothers and sisters around the globe a little bit better.
We're going to take a break here. We'll be right back with more of YOUR WORLD TODAY.
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VASSILEVA: And welcome back. We are going back now to one of our top stories, the firing of radio talk show host Imus. A very popular man with 2 million visitors -- listeners in the United States, who was fired for using racial slurs that were very offensive regarding women's basketball team from the college of Rutgers College. It has created a huge controversy, I'm sure most of you have already heard about it.
We want to talk a little bit more about that and some are raising the issue as to whether it is OK for hip-hop artists to use that kind of language, to use that language or is it simply a sign of the times or does the idea that to let hip-hop musicians and fans off the hook, is it something we are really doing too easily.
And here now to talk with us now about that is Cory "CoCo Brother" Condrey, he is host of the "Spirit of Hip-Hop" radio on radio. We're so glad you can join us.
CORY "COCO BROTHER" CONDREY, HOST, "SPIRIT OF HIP-HOP": Thanks for having me.
VASSILEVA: So what do you think? Should Imus have been fired for what he said?
CONDREY: I think that there is such a thing called forgiveness. And one thing about the spirit of hip-hop, we teach love. That's one of the first commandments in the Bible is to love and to forgive. I think the big thing right now is do people forgive him? He said one thing, he said I said a bad thing, but I'm a good guy. That's a lot of hip-hop artists that say a lot of bad things, but they're great as well.
VASSILEVA: And I want to talk about the bad things. Because some people are saying that it is a double standard. Why is it OK for all of this offensive language to women, you know, is it -- why is it OK for the hip-hop artist to say all these slurs? I don't even want to mention them on air. And it is not okay for Imus to do that?
CONDREY: There is such a thing called freedom of speech. And that's what happens. I think what happens with hip-hop, the reason why it makes it so bad is because hip-hop speaks to a community. So when you have an urban community that doesn't have a dad in the house or a father figure, you're looking at the videos. Looking at everything going on and sitting back and saying that's what I'm supposed to be.
So then you start using the word hos and so on and so forth and you start degrading your women and saying that, what happens is you think that's how you're supposed to treat them.
VASSILEVA: So shouldn't that be addressed?
CONDREY: Sure.
VASSILEVA: Aren't we sweeping it under the rug if we say it is OK, it is freedom of expression, it is OK for hip-hop artists to continue that? What do you think?
CONDREY: Yeah. Well, I really think that it has to be addressed. And one thing about it we're addressing it. Paula, she did this thing on CNN called "The State of Hip-Hop." I came on and spoke about the state of hip-hop. Whether it is an art, is a poison. Hip-hop is an art. Is there certain poises been hip-ho hip-hop? Yes. In life there is good and bad in everything. Not just hip-hop.
VASSILEVA: And great.
CONDREY: Not just in hip-hop. You look at someone like Reverend Al Sharpton who sat back and said this is what he feels, this is that it is. Then he's sitting back and saying why hasn't Reverend Al Sharpton sat back and forgave him?
VASSILEVA: I want to ask you, something that Russell Simmons, who is chairman and president of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, what he said, just want you to address that. We're going to put that on the screen for our viewers.
Here is what he's saying. "Like the artists throughout history, their messages are a mirror of what is right and wrong with society. Sometimes their observations or the way in which they choose to express their art and may be uncomfortable for some to hear."
What do you think about that? "Our job, goes on to say, is not to silence or censor that expression."
CONDREY: Our job is to raise a generation. That's our job. Our job is to be the standard. I was talking about Reverend Al Sharpton, about what is happening. He's taking a stand. He sat back and said that's not right. And that's great. And then you someone like myself who comes back and says, you know what, it is time to take a stand.
And one thing to do hip-hop as an art or as a poison. And it's another thing for Russell Simmons to make the statement he made. What is the solution? The solution is we have taken a stand. September 8th, the whole hip-hop generation, the community is coming together, Reverend Al Sharpton, he is part of it and it is called Stand 2007. It is happening near Atlanta. And it is their responsibility. Is it? Yes.
Whoever has the microphone has the power. If you are given a platform to get on national television and talk, don't sit back and say, well, say whatever you want. No. Don't say whatever you want. You know, you need to sit back and take control and be the standard and stand.
CLANCY: It's not always the person who has the microphone. It is sometimes the producer that has the stop watch. We've got to end it here.
VASSILEVA: Yes.
CLANCY: You're familiar with that.
VASSILEVA: Thank you so much.
CLANCY: Great ideas. We'll be looking for that.
CONDREY: Thank you so much for having me.
VASSILEVA: Pleasure to talk you to.
CLANCY: That has to be it for this hour.
I'm Jim Clancy.
VASSILEVA: I'm Ralitsa Vassileva.
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