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Your World Today

At Least 12 Killed in Suicide Bombing in Baghdad Hotel; New Video Shows Kidnapped Journalist Alan Johnston Wearing Explosives Belt; Transformed Russia

Aired June 25, 2007 - 12:00   ET

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

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Death amid the debris. Iraqi tribal leaders are targeted in a bombing inside a hotel.
And...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Am I a legitimate target because I'm British?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: A grin and a snicker from the bombing suspect in policy custody. One leader of an Indonesian terror network sees Westerners as legitimate targets.

CHURCH: Trouble follows a pair of trousers. A U.S. judge makes a ruling in a $54 million lawsuit over missing pants.

HOLMES: And riding an economic resurgence. Our eye on Russia peeks into a nation churning out dozens of new billionaires.

CHURCH: It's 8:00 p.m. in Moscow, 12:00 p.m. in Washington.

Hello and welcome to our report broadcast all around the globe.

I'm Rosemary Church.

HOLMES: And I'm Michael Holmes.

From Montreal to Mumbai, wherever you're watching, this is YOUR WORLD TODAY.

Well, he made it past several layers of security, walked into a crowded hotel lobby, and set off an enormous blast.

CHURCH: That's right. We begin in Iraq, where that suicide bomber killed at least 12 people in an attack on a prominent Baghdad hotel.

HOLMES: As Hala Gorani reports, many of the victims tribal leaders who had traveled there to talk peace.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The aftermath of a devastating suicide attack on a downtown Baghdad hotel. This is what is left of the al-Mansour lobby after a bomber managed to penetrate several layers of security and detonate himself in the crowd.

The hotel houses several Western organizations and the Chinese Embassy. But it seems the target this time was a conference of tribal leaders.

At least seven of them were killed. The significance, these are some of the sheikhs who recently allied themselves with American forces to combat al Qaeda in the western Iraqi province of Anbar. Many fingers are now pointing at al Qaeda as being behind the attack.

Also among those killed, Rahim al-Maliki (ph), an anchor for Al Iraqiya Television, where there was a black band on the upper end of the screen in sign of mourning.

The questions now, how will this impact fighting in key areas of Iraq where Sunni tribal leaders have turned against al Qaeda with American help? And how did a suicide bomber manage to carry out such a bloody attack on what was thought to be one of the most secure buildings in Baghdad?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And Hala, that is the main question here. How on earth did this bomber penetrate those many levels, get into the lobby? Are there any answers at this point, or is it considered far too early?

GORANI: It is too early to tell. But these questions are questions that are being raised right now, that were raised immediately after the attack.

As I said in my report, this is one the buildings, a hotel that houses Western organizations. There is an embassy in there, the Chinese Embassy, and a tribal leader conference with sheikhs who are used to potentially being -- having to deal with the idea or the notion that they are the target of attacks.

So how did that suicide bomber get in there? Did that suicide bomber simply slip through layers of security? Did that suicide bomber somehow get inside help?

These are all questions that are being asked right now. Of course, this bombing and its aftermath under investigation -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right.

Our Hala Gorani reporting there from Baghdad.

Thanks so much -- Michael.

HOLMES: All right. Staying in the Middle East, a summit aimed at boosting the government of the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, is under way in Egypt. Abbas meets with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Jordan's King Abdullah, and the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, in Sharm-el-Sheikh. Mr. Olmert is expected to talk about releasing hundreds of millions of dollars of funds to the Palestinian Authority, Palestinian tax money, money that is now frozen.

CHURCH: Well, disturbing developments in the kidnapping of British journalist Alan Johnston in Gaza. The BBC reporter was seen in an Internet video wearing what appears to be an explosives belt.

As Ben Wedeman reports, his message came with a warning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A chilling message from kidnapped BBC journalist Alan Johnston.

ALAN JOHNSTON, KIDNAPPED BBC JOURNALIST: As you can see, I have been dressed in what is an explosive belt which the kidnappers say will be detonated if there's any attempts to storm this area.

WEDEMAN: This is the second video released by Johnston's captors, the shadowy Jaish al-Islam, or army of Islam, which kidnapped the Gaza-based reporter on March 12th.

Since Hamas' takeover of Gaza earlier this month, the group's leaders have stressed their desire to win Johnston's freedom and have issued thinly-veiled threats that if talks fail, they may pursue other tactics.

JOHNSTON: Captors tell me that very promising negotiations were ruined when the Hamas movement and the British government decided to press for a military solution to this kidnapping, and the situation is now very serious.

WEDEMAN: Hamas' patience does seem to be running out. "The issue of the journalist must end, must end," declared Ismail Haniyeh, the dismissed Hamas prime minister who still runs Gaza. "We will never accept the continued kidnapping of the British journalist."

Following the broadcast of the latest video, the BBC issued the following statement. "It is very distressing for Alan's family and colleagues to see him being threatened in this way. We ask those holding Alan to avoid him being harmed by releasing him immediately."

After months of anarchy and factional fighting, calm is returning to Gaza. Hamas' executive force, the group's de facto militia, is policing Gaza's crowded and busy streets. But Johnston's continued captivity means they're grip on the strip is incomplete.

(on camera): Sources in Gaza tell CNN the kidnappers want guarantees they won't be punished or worse by Hamas if they free Johnston. Hamas leaders claim they've made those guarantees, but still, the Army of Islam won't free him. Ben Wedemen, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Now, we're also hearing from the abducted Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. You may remember it's been now a year since his capture by Palestinian militants, an action that was one of the triggers to last year's war between Israel and Hezbollah.

A tape posted on the Internet purportedly from Shalit is the first substantive evidence that he is alive. His father has confirmed that it is his son, but we're waiting on other official confirmation. He asks in Hebrew for medical help and for also Israel to release Palestinian prisoners.

CHURCH: All right. We are going to take a short break. Just ahead here on YOUR WORLD TODAY, though, inside the mind of a terrorist.

HOLMES: Yes. If you haven't seen this video, it's pretty chilling, actually. Our Dan Rivers talks to a man alleged to be one of the worlds most notorious terrorist masterminds in Asia. He has an exclusive interview with him.

CHURCH: That's right.

Also ahead, dramatic pictures of a rescue attempt as firefighters in China try to save a man trapped in a burning building.

JIM CLANCY, CNN INTERNATIONAL COLLINS: And I'll be joining Michael and Rosemary here live from Moscow. We're going to give you an update on where things stands in this city in the midst of a new dawn.

Plus, we're going to hear from a member of the political opposition. He says he doesn't get very much television time here in Russia. Let's see what he has to say.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy. Welcome back, everyone. We're here live in Moscow, and we're giving you a bit of an update here as we turn our eye on Russia and look at the new dawn here.

Certainly, since that last time that I spent any real time in Moscow things have changed dramatically. The economy has virtually been turned around. Of course, Moscow isn't the whole story of Russia, but no one can tell the story of Russia unless you make Moscow the main character.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLANCY (voice over): Moscow's glitterati on the red carpet, striking a pose in Europe's most populous capital. In one way or another, many of this city's 10 million residents feel they have officially arrived.

Just ask them. They have a word for it. Optimistic about their future.

"Russians are a very promising people with a great future," this woman says. Adding, "I love Russia. I love Moscow."

The confidence is evident everywhere, including bustling nightclubs across the city, where we found world class figure skater Evgeny Pluschenko. "I've been invited to train in the United States," he says, "but it doesn't appeal to me. Russia is my country, my homeland. And today everything here suits me."

At an even higher end, Moscow now boasts 33 homegrown billionaires.

SHALVA CHIGIRINSKY, BILLIONAIRE DEVELOPER: Moscow is a business (INAUDIBLE) of the country, for sure.

CLANCY: Meet one of them. Moscow's skyline helped make Shalva Chigirinsky a rich man. As the world looks on, his vision of this city is welded in place. His $2 billion Moscow city project reaches for the sky, forging a clean break from the past.

CHIGIRINSKY: And now, everybody wants to change their lifestyle. They want to have new apartments, new cars, new furniture, you name it. Everything. They want to travel more, they want to dress better.

It's a booming economy.

CLANCY: That boom is based largely on Russian oil and gas exports. The wells may be in Siberia, but the wealth is pumped through Moscow.

It's hardly any wonder that President Vladimir Putin enjoys an approval rating of more than 70 percent. But independent journalists claim Putin's Russia has taken control of 90 percent of the media, blocking out criticism from all of its political opponents.

YEVGENIA ALBATS, RADIO HOST: There is no way to get information out. People across Russia, they just don't know what's going on in the country. Because as it was in the Soviet times, there is pure state propaganda, nothing but that.

CLANCY: Many Russians would disagree. While Moscow's soaring rents and apartment prices are painful, there appears deep skepticism a more raucous political scene could do much to help.

CHIGIRINSKY: They feel that they live better. And you can't tell them that they live better because of democratic improvements of the country. What democrat -- so-called Democrats, what they did? Nothing.

CLANCY: Muscovites readily admit their new Russia is far from perfect. They want a real democracy, but not at the price of stability. (END VIDEOTAPE)

CLANCY: Well, what is a Russian to do at this point? They can worry about what might be wrong with the country, or they can sit back and enjoy what they have today. Most of them are doing the latter.

Now, that's not a problem, it is? Well, it is if you're a member of the political opposition here in Russia.

And we're joined by a prominent one right now, Mikhail Kasyanov, who is leader of the People's Democratic Union, part of the other Russia coalition here.

Many Russians very happy with the way things have gone. The economy, especially here in Moscow, is booming. And they really don't care about politics, do they?

MIKHAIL KASYANOV, FMR. RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER: To a great sense. Eight years ago we managed to put Russia on the vector on the development of growth, and it seems to be that this growth is sustainable. And we leave (ph) everything so that to ensure that. But today, for three years already, no single reform is taking place.

CLANCY: Why?

KASYANOV: And properties which we hear from Kremlin (ph), from leadership of the government, just makes popularity of the president and the government just on such a fair (ph) level as 70 percent. But more and more people started to understand that, that not everything is nice in our country.

CLANCY: All right. They understand that things aren't nice. But they also remember the chaos of the Yeltsin years. They say you democratic reformers came in and it was chaos.

Are they are thinking of democracy as the economy? In other words, when the economy was bad, so was democracy. Today, they like the democracy because the economy is good. This kind of new democracy, if you want to call it that.

KASYANOV: I would answer this question the following way. After the crisis in 1998, we started to build up, further build up a democratic state with a mode of decorum. And we managed to achieve a lot, together with President Put.

But then, suddenly, in 2004, the direction of our development has been changed. And no reform is taking place.

We see only control of public opinion. And a heavy manipulation of public views. And that's why today, it's very difficult for people to obtain a single piece of information about alternative views on anything (ph) taking place in Russia or outside.

CLANCY: You're blocked from television?

KASYANOV: Absolutely. No access. It's prohibited even to mention my name on television.

CLANCY: That's a sad situation. At the same time, President Putin is really enjoying huge popularity.

Let me show you just a report, an idea from an art gallery, a photo gallery that we visited, an exhibition called "The Four Seasons of Vladimir Putin".

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLANCY (voice over): Russia's youthful president was there in dozens of compelling photographs capturing his many moods. There were stern lecturing moments and moments that showed Vladimir Putin as a man with a sense of humor. The Vesegod (ph) Gallery was filled with apparently ardent admirers, or at the very least Russians who say his youth, love of sports and aversion to alcohol easily make Vladimir Putin the best president they've ever had.

Clearly, Russia's economic success is having an impact. And if anything, this is the season of Putin in Moscow.

Nineteen-year-old Igor Boiko has plans to visit that exhibition. He's the head of the Putin Fan Club, a group of young, die-hard activists who adore the president and the good times he's brought to Russia. They want him to stay on.

"Once we had 50 girls," says Boiko, "all Putin club activists and all wearing pink T-shirts like this one that say on the front, 'I want Putin...' And when you turn around, you can read the end of the sentence... '... for a third term.'"

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CLANCY: All right. We're back with Mikhail Kasyanov.

The opposition -- they want Putin for a third term. Some of the young people here.

How do you counter that?

KASYANOV: Yes, because presidents say nice words. That's why popularity is 70 percent.

But the rating of trust, if, for instance, voting would take place tomorrow, just only 40 percent would vote for President Putin. And such a situation wouldn't last long, because with political freedoms, you can not run the country with such -- not hating the reforms in the government (ph).

CLANCY: Mikhail, what would you do differently? What can you tell the Russian people?

KASYANOV: Just give freedoms to people first. Because people should understand, prosperity could be achieved, all this, through personal freedoms, political and civil freedoms. That's what we have to give people back. Or just establish those freedoms, and then to issue reforms.

We should leave these reforms. We should explain to people, you people should be on board with us because we'll bring you to the prosperity through competition, but not have control of the economy.

CLANCY: All right. Mikhail Kasyanov, thank you very much for being with us. Taking time out of a busy schedule to be here.

KASYANOV: A pleasure.

CLANCY: All right.

Well, that's the way that it looks now. You hear the voice of the opposition there.

They feel that they can't get the air coverage that they need to even get the issues out in front of the Russian people.

Michael and Rosemary, back to you.

CHURCH: All right. Thank so much, Jim.

Well, as part of our eye on Russia week, we asked you to send us pictures of your experiences there, and some people sent those in.

HOLMES: They did. Yes, lots of great photos. Want to show you some of them right now.

CHURCH: Now, this first picture is from Lee Eisenberg from the United States. And it's a picture of him sitting on a statue's lap. Of course, you can see that they're taken when he was an exchange student in St. Petersburg, just a few years ago.

HOLMES: And Jordan Couch sent us this photo. Jordan's from the U.S. as well.

This is the opening of the Palace Bridge over the Neva River in St. Petersburg. Everyone goes to St. Petersburg. A beautiful city.

That bridge was opened during the celebration of White Nights.

CHURCH: Gorgeous shot there.

And this next picture is also from Jordan. This is the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg, also during White Nights.

HARRIS: Absolutely gorgeous city.

Yes, do send in pictures. Keep them coming, yes. If you want to be an I-Reporter, share your photos, your experiences, go to CNN.com, click on the "I-Report" logo. It's there somewhere.

CHURCH: It's pretty easy, actually, to follow. And also, if you want to see more of our extensive coverage on Russia, just go to cnn.com/russia for more pictures, interviews, and, of course, much, much more. HOLMES: All right. Stick around.

Next up, we're going to tell you about a man who lost more than his pants.

CHURCH: He did. A verdict in a $54 million pants lawsuit in the U.S.

And more famous than ever, and more than ready to return to the luxurious life. Paris Hilton is set to get out of jail this week and plans to tell CNN's own Larry King all about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(NEWSBREAK)

HOLMES: No major breakthroughs are expected at that Middle East summit which begins today in Egypt. The gathering at the Red Sea resort of Sharm al-Shaikh is seen as a public show of support for the government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas will join the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert Jordan's King Abdullah, and the Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.

Well, the situation isn't going to change the situation on the ground very much, that's for sure. In fact, some decision reached ahead of time will have a much bigger impact. After the U.S. and the E.U. decided to resume their aid to the Palestinian Authority, Israel said it would hand over millions of dollars in Palestinian taxes.

Jonathan Mann now with some insight.

JONATHAN MANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Palestinian government has a problem -- it's a government that does control its own economy or collect most its own taxes. Israel does. And Israel uses the taxes to pay the Authority or punish it as it sees fit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YITZHAK HERZOG, ISRAELI CABINET MINISTER: Now that Hamas is out of the government, therefore we can definitely cooperate with this coalition to enhance and enable a moderate government to prevail in the West Bank.

MOHAMMED DAHLAN, FATAH SR. OFFICIAL (through translator): This is not a gift. It's not a big deal by the Israelis. This is the Palestinian people's money, which was stolen the Israelis. The Palestinian people were starving because of the holding of this money. There is no moral or political justification to hold this money.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANN: Palestinians estimate that Israel currently holds about $700 million in Palestinian funds. Israel puts that number at roughly $560 million, after deducting what it considers Palestinian debts for services like electricity and water. Either way, it is big money. Benjamin Netanyahu was the first Israeli leader to cut off Palestinian funds after a series of suicide bombings in the summer of 1997. The Israel government did it again for two years after the start of the intifada in the year 2000. And then most recently, of course, when Hamas won the Palestinian parliamentary elections back in January of 2006.

Where does the money come from in the first place. Well, essentially the same places that all taxes tend to. Israel taxes goods moving in and out of the territories, and Palestinian workers in Israel pay taxes on the wages they earn there.

The most widely used estimate, that it all amounts to roughly $50 million a month. The Authority collect taxes inside of the territories, but that's always been very much less.

And actually, foreign aid is much a bigger source of the Authority's money, more than $600 million a year from the European Union, another, $400 billion, $420 billion from the United States, and few hundred million as well from Arab nations and others. That money, in particular, wasn't really cut off. Most of it was redirected to organizations outside of the Palestinian Authority.

But now that money as well will be heading back to the Authority itself. Most of it, it's important to remember, isn't going to Gaza, as long as Gaza is ruled by Hamas. And Hamas isn't happy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ISMAIL HANIYA, DISMISSED PALESTINIAN PM (through translator): The Israeli occupation interferes with the internal crisis, first by strengthening the siege over Gaza Strip, pumping money into our people in the West Bank, releasing tax money and political maneuvering by holding summits in this area, especially in this era, and specifically these days.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANN: The international money is flowing again, though it's just starting up. The Israeli money is not flowing yet. The Associated Press reports that Israel wants the new Palestinian government to formally renounce violence and recognize Israel first. That's probably one of the things they're talking about right now. And even then, the money wouldn't be released all at once, but only gradually.

HOLMES: That's amazing. The aid never really stop. There have been reports about that. The Palestinians got as much money from outside as ever. Is that the case?

MANN: It is the case. Both the United States and the European Union struggled to find other ways to get the money into the Palestinian Authority, and they did that, through independent organizations and through their own means, all kinds of strange little things.

So the money was still going. What was crucial, though, is that it was going to do things like buy food. It was going to do things that would just keep those people alive. It wasn't paying salaries. It wasn't being used for constructive investment. It was just from keeping an impoverished place from starving to death.

Now, it will be doing more useful things. But more important is the question of what else going to happen to the rest of the Palestinian economy?

HOLMES: That's what I was going to ask you, very briefly -- about what the rest of the economy?

MANN: Well, the rest of the economy shutdown because the Palestinian territories are shutdown. If Ehud Olmert will open some of the checkpoints, if he'll allow Palestinians to return to their jobs in Israel, that will be a dramatically more important thing than this talk about tax money. Palestinians earn more money on their own in Israel and from other sources than Israel gives them in taxes. They want their jobs back. They want their ability to move back. And that would be an enormous thing. And once again, that's why Sharm al- Shaikh really is important.

HOLMES: There's plenty of Israeli employers who would like to employ them, too.

MANN: Exactly.

HOLMES: Yes, good to see you, Jon. Thanks for that.

CHURCH: All right, now, a rare glimpse into the mind and motives of an unrepentant terrorists. Abu Dujana was Indonesia's most-wanted man, described as the military leader of the notorious terrorist group Jemaah Islamiya.

HOLMES: Now he was arrested earlier this month.

Dan Rivers was granted an exclusive interview with him at a police station. There was a lot of security, as you can imagine. Here's part one of that interview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's a figure in silhouette. Handcuffed and flanked by police, you may not know his face, but the mark of his organization can be found here -- among the ruins of suicide-bomb attacks, targeted assassinations and violence against Westerners that has wracked this part of the world for nearly a decade.

This small, wiry man seems unassuming to me, but Abu Dujana is accused of masterminding the cold-blood murders of hundreds of innocent people.

He's proud to call himself the military leader of Jemaah Islamiya, the Indonesian terrorist group linked to al Qaeda, which has carried out devastating attacks in the region. This suicide bombing in 2005 that killed at least 19 people. A car bomb caught on CCTV at the Australian embassy in 2004. It killed 11, and wounded more than 100. The bombing outside the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, leaving 12 dead. And this bombing in Bali in 2002, clearly targeting tourists; 202 people died, including seven Americans.

Now, I had the extraordinary opportunity to ask this military commander why Jemaah Islamiya harbors such hatred for Westerners, and there's not one ounce of remorse...

ABU DUJANA, JEMAAH ISLAMIYA MILITARY: (through translator) Americans or other civilians can become a target, that's how I see it.

RIVERS (on camera): Where does it say in the Koran that it is acceptable to kill completely innocent people? I mean, I'm sorry. You know, you hide behind the cloak of using Islam as an excuse for what you're doing. It's just cold-blooded murder, isn't it?

DUJANA (through translator): I didn't read it in the Koran. It's based on the teachings of our teachers, clerics, especially what Osama bin Laden first said.

RIVERS: So am I a legitimate target because I'm British?

DUJANA (through translator): This is how it is -- Islam has ruled, and everything is based on Sharia law. If you ask me if you are a legitimate target, if there's clear evidence your country has attacked Islam, then we are permitted to kill you.

RIVERS (voice-over): Permitted to kill, that's how Abu Dujana sees it. But he didn't expect to find himself here at a police station in Yogyakarta, Indonesia facing me, exactly the type of person his organization has targeted in the past.

The police caught alleged members of his cell first. Their arrests led to officers to Islamiya. Islamiya was shot in the leg during a violent struggle as police arrested him at his family home. An elite anti-terrorist unit has brought him here in secret, to talk to me. I really want to know one thing.

(on camera): Why do you hate the west so much? Why do you hate us so much?

DUJANA (through translator): Many lands owned by Muslims have been taken away by our enemies. America is part of it. Like in Palestine and other places. We demand those governments return that land and let us put Sharia law in place.

RIVERS (voice over): Our chat was interrupted suddenly by Dujana's call to prayer. It surprised me that this man professing to be so devout, was so full of hate.

(on camera): It was a very candid and, in my opinion, pretty chilling interview and admission. He was very frank about his membership of Jemaah Islamiya, his hatred for the west.

(voice over): I found it strange that he smiled frequently, even as he began to talk about massive and sophisticated suicide bombings which killed hundreds of people.

Dan Rivers, CNN, Jakarta, Indonesia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And chilling, as Dan said there, and also disturbing. When we return, we'll have the second part of Dan Rivers' exclusive interview with Abu Dujana.

HOLMES: Yes, if anything, the conclusion even more chilling. As the man who admits to spearheading Indonesia's deadliest attacks, talks about the wider war on terror.

CHURCH: And says the thousands of Americans who died in the September 11th attacks, had it coming.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Welcome back, everyone. You're watching YOUR WORLD TODAY, right here on CNN international.

CHURCH: You certainly are. Well, we are seen live in more than 200 countries and territories across the globe.

HOLMES: OK, now before the break, we brought you part one of our exclusive look into the mind of a terrorist.

CHURCH: That's right. Abu Dujana was the military leader of Indonesia's most notorious terrorist group, Jemaah Islamiya, he was arrested earlier this month.

HOLMES: Yes. Now in part two, Dan Rivers talks more with Abu Dujana. This time about the crimes he's accused of and about the larger war on terror.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RIVERS (voice over): The Indonesian police describe Abu Dujana as the most dangerous terrorist suspect they've ever dealt with. They say he's intelligent, cunning and evasive. He's used seven different aliases, it took four years for the police to catch him.

The police are convinced Abu Dujana sanctioned this attack at the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta in 2003. A suicide bombing that killed 12 people and injured another 150. Abu Dujana admits he attended a key meeting before the attack.

Jemaah Islamiya's chief bomb maker was there. His name is Nordin Mohammed Top (ph), and he's still on the run.

DUJANA (through translator): It's true, I did have a meeting with Nordin before the Marriott bombing, but that doesn't mean I was involved in the attack. In that meeting, we were just aligning our views with each other. There was absolutely no discussion about planning any bombing. RIVERS (on camera): But at the time, you were a senior member of Jemaah Islamiya. Are you saying you had no prior knowledge, whatsoever, of the major attack by the organization you were a senior member of?

DUJANA (through translator): I had no prior knowledge of it, as far as it being apart of Jemaah Islamiya's plans. There's one thing I want to clear up, the bombing that have been attributed to Jemaah Islamiya, we didn't do it.

RIVERS: But you knew where Nordin was before the Marriott bombing, you could have handed him over to the police, with one phone call, you could have saved lives. And you chose not to do that, by not ringing the police, by not handing over Nordin Top, you are complicit in murder. It's perfectly clear, isn't it?

DUJANA (through translator): I believe in Nordin is my brother. We are undeniably brothers in Islam. I cannot tell on him and surrender him to the police or to institutions that don't recognize Sharia (ph) law. And that are obviously influenced by America to fight against Islam.

RIVERS (voice over): His allegiance to the cause runs deep. There's no sympathy for the victims of terrorism, just listen to his reaction to the events of September 11th.

DUJANA (through translator): As an enemy of America, and because it was the result of America's arrogance, I was happy.

RIVERS (on camera): Almost 3,000 people died that day.

DUJANA (through translator): Yes, it was their fault. It was America's own fault.

RIVERS (voice over): And at one point he goes further, saying that Americans are legitimate targets.

DUJANA (through translator): Because of America's arrogance, many in the Muslim world believe it's permissible to kill American soldiers or civilians. It's, hallow (ph), it's permitted.

RIVERS: Dujana has a wife and children, his lawyer has said he's planning to sue the police after being wrestled to the floor and shot in the leg when he was arrested at the family home. But regardless of how the case ends, Abu Dujana vows he will remain committed to Jemaah Islamiya.

Abu Dujana admits, he met Osama Bin Laden while fighting with the Mujadine (ph) in Afghanistan in the 1980s. He says his group shares al Qaeda's aim of establishing a hard line Islamic state.

DUJANA (through translator): We are aligned in our principles, but when it comes to strategies on the ground, we differ. Al Qaeda operates globally, but Jemaah Islamiya works only within Indonesia.

RIVERS (on camera): What would be your message to those in power in the west?

DUJANA (through translator): My message is, give Muslims the chance to be in power, so that justice can be served. If they refuse, we'll continue doing what we're doing.

RIVERS: And in fact, Abu Dujana suggests someone may have already been chosen as military commander of this terrorist group that promises more attacks ahead.

Dan Rivers, CNN, Jakarta, Indonesia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Fascinating insight there. Coming up, perched on a ledge. Now, have a look at this video. Perched on a ledge, flames all around it. Lucky to escape with his life.

CHURCH: Just incredible, when YOUR WORLD TODAY returns, we'll see how this man was rescued from a house fire in Shanghai.

HOLMES: And then, what does life after prison hold for Paris Hilton? We all want to know. Everyone, the world is waiting to hear what she says.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: OK. Well in China, it could have been tragic. But luck followed a man being rescued from a burning building. Look at that. Firefighters in Shanghai were able to reach a trapped resident just enough to give him a safety harness. Now, the man lost his footing, slipped and fell, and luckily, his trousers caught on the ladder and a safety rope also kept him from hitting the ground.

I think we're going to see that again there. But quite an incredible story. That is what you call a close call. Oh, my goodness. That -- he'd be feeling pretty lucky today, I think.

HOLMES: That's what sportsmen call the play of the day, I think.

CHURCH: Now to your favorite story.

HOLMES: One of those days you're glad you put your underwear on.

CHURCH: Absolutely. Well, most days we're all happy for that.

HOLMES: Oh, yes. Now this is a story, of course. Let's get to the real news.

After nearly a month of hard-ish time, America's most famous celebrity inmate, she's about to be free.

CHURCH: Thank goodness.

HOLMES: Everyone rejoice.

CHURCH: Paris Hilton ditches her boring cell and orange jumpsuit this week, to return to her life of luxury in Hollywood.

HOLMES: Oh joy, oh rapture. She says she's a changed woman. But is she really ready to leave the party girl lifestyle behind her? Dan Simon is in Los Angeles. Thank goodness it's him, not me.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): What does the future hold for Paris Hilton? The hotel heiress herself may have provided some insight. The day she went to jail, Hilton said the whole ordeal had already helped her realize what's important.

PARIS HILTON, CELEBRITY SOCIALITE: You know, even though this is a scary thing, I'm using it in a positive way. And when I come out, I can't wait to start my new life and be even stronger than I am now.

SIMON: Perhaps she'll get involved with children's charities or cancer research. At least that's what she told ABC's Barbara Walters.

BARBARA WALTERS, ABC REPORTER: I was very pleased when Paris called me. She called collect, which is what prisoners have to do. She talked about being a changed person. I'm sure what she is going through has changed her.

SIMON: Hilton said she believed God had given her a new chance. She told Walters she spent time reading the bible. She vowed to never again drink and drive which, of course, led to her incarceration. Twice, she was caught driving on a suspended license. The judge ordered she spend 45 days in jail. Legal experts across the board said those convicted of similar crimes would be sentence to far less time. With good behavior, Paris served just over three weeks. The question now, how will she behave in the future?

(on camera): So what's next on Paris' plate? Well, really depends on what you read. One report has her having a big bash in Las Vegas. Sort of a post-jail celebration with close friends and family. Perhaps we'll get some better insight when she sits down with Larry King for her first interview on Wednesday.

I'm Dan Simon reporting from Lynwood, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: And I know you can't wait. So Paris is going to be talking to Larry King, her first interview after she gets out of the slammer. That's Thursday, 0900 hours GMT.

For our viewers in the United States, that's 9:00 p.m. eastern. Don't miss it.

CHURCH: Because Michael won't. And another exclusive interview, on Wednesday, Larry talks to former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr and Yoko Ono and Oliva Harrison' George's widow. That's Wednesday at 0900 GMT.

HOLMES: Alright, now there is ugly, and then there is really ugly. Beyond that there is Elwood.

CHURCH: Poor old Elwood. Now, the weird-looking chihuahua-type thing some are saying, isn't about to take home any beauty contest crowns, but he is a winner as Kiran Chetry reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That dog looks like the world's ugliest dog.

Oh, you're sweet.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bless your heart! You really are in person.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I never saw a dog like that before! I think it's really unique.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Beautiful.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's really gorgeous.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he's cute. He's different, but he's cute.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's creepy looking.

KIRAN CHETRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Karen, Elwood's owner, has heard it all and loves showing him off.

KAREN QUIGLEY, "WORLD'S UGLIEST DOG" OWNER: The usual the first reaction is, like complete stunned -- they're stunned. They are not sure. They are not real -- sometimes, they're not even sure it's a dog.

CHETRY: And the question she gets most, what's with his tongue?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It looks like he swallowed half of a fruit rollup and the other half is hanging out of the side of his mouth.

QUIGLEY: He just doesn't have any teeth on the left side of his mouth. So there is nothing to keep his tongue in there.

It never goes in. It's out all the time. He's very confident in his looks. He thinks he's very handsome.

CHETRY: For being the world's ugliest dog, his animal magnetism is undeniable. So is there a lesson we can learn from little Elwood?

QUIGLEY: You don't have to be beautiful, you don't have to be perfect to be special. The message is to, you know, be compassionate and caring.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think being special is a good feeling ... UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... because everybody is special.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And everybody has a good heart.

CHETRY: Well, judging from all the attention that little Elwood got here at Columbus Circle in Central Park, it's not a face only a mother could love, right, buddy?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: That is not a dog. It's not a dog.

CHURCH: It's a rodent with a horrible tongue.

HOLMES: It's like an old mate of mine on Saturday mornings, alright.

CHURCH: Alright, that's it for this hour, at least. I am Rosemary Church.

HOLMES: Talking about your husband. I'm Michael Holmes, this is CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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