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Iraqi Police Targeted; Priest Sex Abuse; Bush Speaks On Middle East; Japan Nuclear Leak
Aired July 16, 2007 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KIM IN-SUK, SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA RESIDENT, (through translator): I was always worried that North Korea, if pushed into a corner, might use the nuclear weapons in some way.
SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): But a Seoul bus driver said he didn't trust the North Koreans to completely give up its nuclear ambitions.
These North Korean negotiators understand that this progress is by no means a sign of smooth sailing ahead, for history has proven that a road to a nuclear-free Korean peninsula is long and full of bombs.
Sohn Jie-Ae, CNN, Seoul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Tony Harris. Stay informed all day in the CNN NEWSROOM. Here's what's on the rundown.
A gruesome day in Iraq. Dozens of people killed when a truck bomb rips the city of Kirkuk.
COLLINS: Also, catholic leaders in a Los Angeles courtroom today. They'll formalize a landmark settlement with victims of priest abuse.
HARRIS: And is this any way to spend a summer vacation. Young Americans dodge tear gas to take a stand.
It is Monday, July 16th, and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
A crowded shopping area in northern Iraq. A gruesome scene this morning. Iraqi police say a suicide truck bomber killed at least 80 people in Kirkuk, 170 wounded. A Reuters cameraman says he saw dozens of bodies scattered across the market. Some passengers trapped on a bus where they burned to death. Minutes after that blast, U.S. and Iraqi security forces defused a car bomb near a medical facility. Hours later, one police officers killed in a car bomb attack in southern Kirkuk. More than a dozen people died in other attacks in and around Baghdad.
With that backdrop, U.S. troops trying to build Iraq's police force. It is not an easy task, especially in one town. Here's our Frederik Pleitgen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): This is arguably one of the worst police stations in Iraq, in Jurf a Sakhr, west of Baghdad. There's not a single piece of furniture in the building. The officers sleep on the floor. And the only radio is powered by a car battery.
But the sheer existence of this police headquarters is a big success for Captain Henry Moltz. He says he spent months to get this far.
CAPT. HENRY MOLTZ, U.S. ARMY: It's been two years. So in two years' times, they've been bombed out three times. Three different IP stations completely destroyed. This is the third that we've established. So it seems that this place is -- it's rudimentary. It doesn't have furniture. It doesn't have good electricity. But it's something. We've got a flag on top of this building. We've got IPs back in here into this town. Guys who are willing to fight for Iraq and for Jurf a Sakhr.
PLEITGEN: This is what's left of the last police station, reduced to rubble by an insurgent bomb that killed several officers and left Jurf a Sakhr an insurgent stronghold without a police force.
Every time this unit tried to set up a police department, insurgents would come and bomb the building. So now they're trying to set up a new police force basically from scratch. And that's proving to be a very difficult process.
A flag over the station, machine gun positions on the roof, but not much more. U.S. troops say without American support, the Iraqi police unit wouldn't last a day, even though the officers try to display confidence.
"There's no danger here," the policeman says, "because the coalition forces, the Iraqi army, and the Iraqi police are working together to kill the insurgents. The bad guys are now outside the city."
But it's only with the protection of the Iraqi army and U.S. soldiers that the Iraqi officers can even walk the streets of Jurf a Sakhr. The policemen live in constant fear of being killed. Even so, Captain Moltz says they've made significant progress in the past week. And, he says, he believes eventually they will be ready to take over security in Jurf a Sakhr.
MOLTZ: Absolutely, very soon. I mean, as soon as we get more IPs in here, which are coming, and as soon as we can get them what they need to run this station on their own, these IPs will take over this area.
PLEITGEN: But Moltz also says he knows there will be setbacks along the way, in a town that hasn't had a police force for more than two years. (END VIDEOTAPE)
PLEITGEN: And, you know, Tony, one of the things that really amazed me when I was out there is, you have these American soldiers who are in their mid to late 20s who are basically devising their own strategy and trying to rebuild civil society where your central Iraqi government hasn't had a foothold in the last four years. And it's a difficult task, they say, but they say they will be able to manage it.
Tony.
HARRIS: Now, Frederik, one other quick question. We understand today the military has begun a new operation south of Baghdad. I'm curious as to the cities being impacted by this operation and what the objective is.
PLEITGEN: Well, actually, that's very interesting, Tony, because one of the main cities that is going to be impacted and that is impacted by this operation is the one that you just saw in that report and also other cities close to that. And one of the reasons they're conducting that operation is because there's so many insurgent strongholds in that area and basically they say they want to flush out the insurgents out of that area southeast of Baghdad. But they also say one of their very important objectives, and they keep making this clear, is that they believe that a lot of homemade bombs, a lot of bomb-making material is being smuggled into Baghdad from that area and that's something they're trying to interdict with this big operation.
Tony.
HARRIS: OK. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen for us this morning.
Frederik, thank you.
COLLINS: Seven people killed, at least 800 injured this morning in Japan, victims of a strong earthquake. The quake centered off Japan's northwest coast. Several buildings crumbled. The 6.8 magnitude quake also caused a fire at a nuclear power plant. Japanese broadcast reports say radioactive water leaked from the plant. There was minor damage in Tokyo, about 150 miles from the epicenter. Tsunami warnings now called off.
Well, as you know, money is usually the bread and butter of political campaigns. And the second quarter financial reports spell more trouble for Republican presidential hopeful John McCain. McCain's spending more than he raised, leaving him with a little more than $3 million and almost $2 million in debt. Staff defections and sinking poll numbers add to his woes. Still, McCain tells voters in New Hampshire he is used to tough times.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I know how to campaign. In the state of New Hampshire, I can win in New Hampshire, as I did in 2000. And I know that I can and I know that I will. I never -- I never was going to rely on money to win this campaign. I'm not a very good fund-raiser. And I'll admit it. But I can out- campaign any of these guys, and I will, and I can, and we're going to be doing just fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Democratic candidates raised almost $30 million more than Republicans in the second quarter. The bulk of it flowing to Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
What would you ask the presidential candidates if you could? Well, here's your chance. CNN is teaming up with YouTube for upcoming presidential debates. To submit your videotaped questions, just go to cnn.com/youtubedebates. Democrats take their questions July 23rd, Republicans, September 17th. You can join John Roberts and Kiran Chetry tonight for a CNN/YouTube debate preview. Find out what's on America's minds when we reveal some of the possible video questions for the candidates. That's tonight at 8:00 Eastern.
HARRIS: The catholic church, a sex abuse scandal, and a landmark settlement today in Los Angeles. Hundreds of alleged victims, hundreds of millions of dollars. The details now from CNN's Kara Finnstrom in Los Angeles.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY, L.A. CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE: Once again, I apologize.
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): With those words, the cardinal, Roger Mahony, announced the L.A. Archdiocese record settlement. $660 million to 508 people who have accused priests of sexual abuse.
MAHONY: It should not have happened and should not ever happen again.
FINNSTROM: The cardinal was then repeatedly asked whether he had made mistakes handling the allegations.
MAHONY: Spiritually, because sometimes I honestly had reached the bottom, I didn't know what to do, what to do next. It seems like everything I tried to do was wrong.
FINNSTROM: Sunday's announcement came one day before the civil trials were slated to start. Trials where Mahony might have had to testify.
ESTHER MILLER, ALLEGED ABUSE VICTIM: Mahony decided for a purely business decision to settle this so that he wouldn't stand in front of God and colleagues and the media.
FINNSTROM: Esther Miller is one of the alleged victims who belongs to SNAP, the survivors network for those abused by priests.
MARY GRANT, ALLEGED ABUSE VICTIM: This is the picture of me around the age of 13 when I began to be repeatedly raped by a priest. FINNSTROM: Mary Grant is another.
GRANT: No amount of money or guilty verdict will give back those kids who lost their childhoods.
FINNSTROM: Mahony says the church is now using new screening programs and education to prevent future abuse. He says the settlement costs will largely be split between the Archdiocese , insurers and the religious orders who's priests were accused. Parishioners here are divided over how deeply the church has been tainted.
MYRITA VARNA, PARISHIONER: I don't believe that all these claims are legitimate.
PAULINA ZANUDIO, PARISHIONER The culprits need to be, you know, taken into justice, just like anybody else, whether they're priests or not priests.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: CNN's Kara Finnstrom joins us now from Los Angeles.
And, Kara, why have there been so many cases in Los Angeles? Is it something more than the fact that it is the nation's largest archdiocese?
FINNSTROM: Well, it's due, in part, to the fact that back in 2003, state lawmakers took an unusual action. There was so much national outrage over this scandal that they temporarily lifted the statute of limitations on when these abuse victims could file a lawsuit. Regardless of when the abuse actually took place, they could still file suits. So by the end of that year, 500 suits had been filed.
And, Tony, also, as some stepped forward, I think that also emboldened others to do the same thing.
HARRIS: Yes. CNN's Kara Finnstrom for us in Los Angeles.
Kara, great to see you. Thank you.
COLLINS: A rape and a killing in a college dorm room. The president of Eastern Michigan University has become the latest casualty. John Fallon reportedly confirms he's been filed amid accusations university officials covered up the December crime. The school had publicly ruled out foul play after the body of the 22-year- old woman was found. Her family and fellow students learned otherwise after a suspect was arrested. That suspect, a student, is awaiting trial. He is pleading not guilty.
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ed Henry at the White House where spokesman Tony Snow is promising a significant announcement from the president later today on Israeli/Palestinian peace efforts. That story is coming up in the NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: Beyond your basic tourist. They've picked the protest package.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What you can use is baby wipes or alcohol pads to wipe away the tear gas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: What I did on my summer vacation.
HARRIS: Dozens killed in terror attacks. A cease-fire called off. Pakistan's front in the war on terror getting busier.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Good morning again, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.
Chaos in the tiger exhibit. An unexacting zoo keeper attacked. An update on his condition straight ahead.
And lives on the line. Convicted of making hundreds of children sick, nurses insisting on innocence and praying for compassion.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: You are going to feel the squeeze when you fill up today. The average price for a gallon of gas, up six cents in the last three weeks. Now $3.50. That's from a Lundberg survey of some 7,000 station nationwide. Prices are the highest in the Midwest, it seems. Chicago, $3.46. The lowest national average, $2.80, in Tucson, Arizona. The survey blames higher prices partly and flooding. High water knocked out major oil refineries in Indiana and Kansas.
HARRIS: CNN "Security Watch" now. A story we've been following all morning. Fears al Qaeda could tighten its grip in northwest Pakistan. Taliban militants abandoning a cease-fire there. Weekend suicide attacks and bombings in the region killed dozens. Most of the victims military or police. Tensions have been high since the military stormed a mosque in Islamabad last week killing dozens of militants. The U.S. now waiting to see how Pakistan responds to the latest violence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN HADLEY, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: What we've seen in the last year or so is a problem in the northwest territories in Pakistan, where the President Musharraf had a very aggressive strategy of using force against Taliban and al Qaeda in that area, and over a year ago he reached an understanding with tribal leaders that they were going to police Taliban and al Qaeda. And the truth is, it did not work. And what we've seen pooling of the Taliban, training, operational planning, President Musharraf understands it has not worked. We understand it has not worked. And what you're beginning to see now is his taking steps to bring new troops in place to get control of that situation. It is worrying to us. It's a source of concern.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: National Security Adviser Hadley adding the U.S. wants Pakistan to do more to gain control over its northwest province.
COLLINS: Putting some muscle behind Middle East peace plans,. President Bush talking about new help for the Palestinian government. Those details just hours away. Our Ed Henry is with us right now to give us sort of a look ahead.
Good morning to you, Ed.
ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
That's right. Today at 1:15 Eastern Time here at the White House, the president will be making remarks. And White House Spokesman Tony Snow, a few moments ago, teased to reporters that this will be, in his words, a significant announcement from the president on both the diplomatic and financial front. Though, obviously, you'll always have to point out the devil will be in the details as to whether this is really a major, new initiative or not.
You'll remember that the White House, back a few weeks ago, freed up millions of dollars in aid to the Palestinians, the White House, trying to bolster the emergency government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. His Fatah party, as you know, now runs only the West Bank after Hamas seized power in Gaza. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley saying the president is going to reaffirm his commitment to that emergency government.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN HADLEY, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: He's going to talk about the opportunity we have to advance that cause. And the opportunity is to support President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad, the leader of the Palestinians, in their effort to establish a democratic, effective government that can provide security to the Palestinian people and the region.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Now all of this happening as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice prepares to head to Portugal for Mid East peace talks that will include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Of course, this will be the first real time we'll get a chance to see him in his new role as a special Mid East peace envoy.
Heidi.
COLLINS: Olmert and Abbas did meet this morning. Some interesting news coming out of that with the possibility that 250 Palestinian prisoners will be released and amnesty given to 100 more.
HENRY: That's right. Now I asked Tony Snow off camera about those reports of 250 prisoners maybe about to be released by the Israeli government, Palestinian prisoners. Tony Snow would not confirm that report, but said the U.S. government, in general, is very supportive of any of those efforts by the Israeli government to try and broker some peace.
Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. We'll be watching all of it. Ed Henry, thanks so much, live from the White House this morning.
HARRIS: Japan rattled by a strong earthquake this morning. Seven dead. More than 800 injured. And now word that some radioactive water has leaked out of a damaged nuclear plant. This is serious. Dan Sloan on the phone with us from Tokyo.
Dan, assess this situation, if you would, for us.
DAN SLOAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, obviously, about 12 hours ago we had a very sizable earthquake here on the Sea of Japan side in a place called Niigata. And this has caused, as you noted, at least seven deaths and more than 800 injuries.
The latest news we're getting this evening is from the company that manages some nuclear power facilities that are in this area. What had happened immediately upon the earthquake was that the nuclear plants had shut down. Subsequent to that, there had been a fire at a generator outside of one of the facilities, which actually is the world's largest. That fire was put out about noon.
But this evening we are getting word, as you were noting, that some water containing radioactive material was leaked from the plant. There are conflicting reports about whether that was internal or actually released into the Sea of Japan. But, essentially, the company that oversees this, Tokyo Electric Power, has assured that this is not a sizable release of radioactivity and that there is no danger to the public at large.
Nonetheless, the history of nuclear power facilities in Japan has been a number of accidents that sometimes the gravity of what happens there is not the company that oversees this has assured this is not a sizable release of radio activity, and that there is no danger to the public at large. Nonetheless the history of nuclear power facilities in Japan has been a number of accidents that sometimes the gravity of what happens there is not found out until days later. That's on the heels of this big earthquake and how active this region is, there is a lot of concern here.
HARRIS: Is this a privately owned facility or a government-owned facility?
SLOAN: Yes, Tokyo Electric Power is a listed company. There are a number of companies that are power producers within this region. Comsi (ph), as well as this one in Tokyo. But, essentially, it is not the major factor going into this evening. Right now there's a lot of concern about the number of injured and whether we're going to continue to see the escalation in the number of deaths and injured that we saw in the first day. Initially in the first couple of hours, there did not seem to be great casualties in result to this. But as the day worn on, now we're almost 12 hours after the fact. There were even more injured.
HARRIS: Well, Dan, you know, you can stop a leak or the leak could get worse. Any estimation on how long it will take to stop this leak?
SLOAN: Well, at the press conference tonight, which I did not attend, but my colleagues from Reuters were there, apparently was an attempt by Tokyo Electric Power to say that this is safe, the emissions were not something that was out of the norm. Nonetheless, there is a great of concern as to whether this has been stopped in its entirety and that all facilities in this region are safe. And I think that's somebody that TEP Co, Tokyo Electric Power, will need to provide even greater confirmation over the next few days.
HARRIS: Absolutely.
OK, Dan Sloan reporting from Tokyo for us.
Dan, appreciate it. Thank you.
COLLINS: Contamination or retaliation? China banning meat imports from the U.S.
HARRIS: And exclusive medical care. Some patients paying in advance for a better chance to see their doctor.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And we're not breaking the drought, but we're putting a nice dent in it in some places here across the southeast. More showers into south Florida as well. The forecast coming up after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Well, here's all the excitement for today, I think. I don't know. The Dow Jones Industrial averages is sitting at 13,937, up 30 points already today. We're going to be watching this one. It might go past 14,000. I don't know. We'll check it out.
HARRIS: Hey, look, the other exciting news on the day, Miss Heidi, is the fact that the rains through the southeast, putting a dent in the drought a bit.
COLLINS: I know.
HARRIS: Chad Myers following all that for us in the Weather Center.
Chad, good morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Faith and betrayal. The catholic church, the sex abuse scandal and a final chapter for the nation's largest archdiocese.
HARRIS: The man and the message. Martyrdom for Muslims. A new video from al Qaeda.
COLLINS: Lives on the line. Convicted of making hundreds of children sick. Nurses insisting on innocence and praying for compassion.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Good Monday morning to you everybody, I'm Heidi Collins.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Welcome back to the CNN NEWSROOM.
Among our top stories this hour, the sex abuse cases that rocked the Catholic church. Within hours, the nation's largest archdiocese finalizing a landmark settlement.
The Los Angeles Archdiocese will pay $660 million, the largest payout of its kind. The money will be split by more than 500 alleged victims. That averages more than $1.3 million per plaintiff, but individual payouts will be based on the severity of abuse.
A judge will have to sign off on the settlement. The deal marks the end of more than five years of negotiations, but neither church leaders, nor the plaintiffs are celebrating.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY, LOS ANGELES ARCHDIOCESE: Once again I apologize to anyone who has been offended, who has been abused in the Catholic church by priests, by deacons, religious men and women, or lay people in the church. It should not have happened and should not ever happen again.
STEVE SANCHEZ, ALLEGED ABUSE VICTIM: Just because you have a settlement and give the abuse victims, including myself some compensation, that doesn't erase the emotional scars and damage that's happened to all of us. Whether you give me a check for $10 or $10,000, where can I take that check and cash it at some place to make me 10 years old again?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Cardinal Mahoney says the archdiocese will have to sell off some assets and borrow money to pay the settlement.
COLLINS: A crowded shopping area in northern Iraq, a gruesome scene this morning.
Iraqi police say a suicide truck bomber killed at least 80 people in Kirkuk, 170 wounded. A Reuters cameraman says he saw dozens of bodies scattered across the market. Some passengers trapped on a bus where they burned to death.
Minutes after the blast, U.S. and Iraqi security forces defused a car bomb near a medical facility, and a couple of hours later, one police officer killed in a car bomb attack in southern Kirkuk. More than a dozen people died in other attacks in Baghdad. A new al Qaeda video is on the web. In it, Osama bin Laden, the terrorist leader, is encouraging martyrdom for Muslim causes. His message lasts 50 seconds, and comes off an Islamic website known for carrying al Qaeda statements.
We cannot verify the video, and there is no indication of the date of when it was shot, but CNN's Arab affairs editor says it appears the video clips are old.
HARRIS: Seven people killed at least 800 injured this morning in Japan, victims of a strong earthquake. The quake centered off Japan's northwest coast, several buildings crumbled.
The 6.8 magnitude quake also caused a fire at a nuclear power plant. Take a look at these pictures -- Japanese officials say some radioactive water leaked from the plant. There was minor damage in Tokyo, about 150 miles from the epicenter. Tsunami warnings now called off.
China now suspending some food imports from the U.S. meat products from seven companies now off-limits in China. One of those is Tyson Foods, the world's largest meat processor. Tyson says it is not aware of any tainted products.
China's quality inspection agency says it's found a range of contamination issues in recent shipments from seven U.S. companies. Chinese food products have recently been under fire in the U.S. over safety concerns.
COLLINS: A doctor and five nurses facing death in Libya, convicted of infecting hundreds of children with the AIDS virus. Today a pivotal meeting.
CNN's Ralitsa Vassileva reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RALITSA VASSILEVA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Libyan Supreme Judicial Council could reduce or even overturn the death sentences of six foreign medics. It's the closest the five Bulgarian nurses and Palestinian doctor have come to being released.
JOHN BEYRLE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO BULGARIA: We're very hopeful that that will be the case Ralitsa. We know the higher judicial council now will make a ruling on the death sentence, which was re- upheld by the Libyan supreme court last week.
VASSILEVA: First convicted three years ago of an unspeakable crime if true, five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor found guilty of deliberating infecting more than 400 Libyan children under their care with a virus that causes AIDS. 50 children have died.
Since their arrest in 1999, the doctor and nurses have insisted on their innocence.
TRANSLATOR: No matter what people say, I'm simply innocent. That's all.
VASSILEVA: Libyan prosecutors claim they infected the children as an experiment to find a cure for AIDS, but respected international experts testifying for the defense say poor hygiene, not the medics, are to blame.
They found the HIV strain in Libya's hospitals was present before their arrival in Libya.
DR. ROBERT GALLO, CO-DISCOVERER OF AIDS VIRUS: And the fact that these children are infected with a wide variety of these kinds of viruses, wide number of strains of these viruses, strongly indicate that non-sanitary conditions were being used, that is contaminated syringes and needles and et cetera.
VASSILEVA: Libya's leader Muammar al-Gaddafi's son heads a foundation for the children's medical aid. Last week the foundation announced it has reached a deal with the families of the victims to help pay for their children's treatment in return for the medics release.
AP quotes a victims advocate saying several Eastern European countries would forgive Libyan debt as far back as the Cold War under the proposal to compensate the families. The Bulgarian government says it will not sign on if the asking price implies guilt for the medics.
Ralitsa Vassileva, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Sniper shooting, a singer shot inside the bar, her estranged Army sharpshooter husband on the loose.
COLLINS: Exclusive medical care, some patients paying in advance for a better chance to see their doctor.
SUSAN LISOVICZ: CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange, where the Dow industrials are rallying for the fourth straight day and less than 50 points from 14,000. I'll have the catalyst behind today's move next.
You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: We want to get this news to you now. We've been telling you all morning long about this terrible earthquake that has just rocked Japan. And we already known seven people dead, at least 800 injured. There's been 5,000 people to evacuate.
Right now we are just getting word of a second aftershock, this one 6.7 off the west coast of Japan. I imagine people there are just frightened beyond belief. This is the second aftershock now, five hours after the very first original earthquake, which measured 6.8. There was another aftershock, 5.6. So this one now nearly as strong as the original quake.
I want to bring Chad Myers in for just a moment to talk a little bit more about this.
Chad, tell us how these aftershocks work, because this one is now off the west coast of Japan. The original earthquake was northwestern Japan, and then the second aftershock was, I'm not quite sure where, about 10 kilometers below sea level, we know that much.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right, exactly. The first one up her, the 6.9 in the red, and the orange dot right here, That was offshore. They thought there would probably be a tsunami, and they were expecting about 20 inches on that one.
And then the other earthquake, the other aftershock here, 4.6, a little closer to land. This one is very bizarre, in my opinion. This may not even be connected with this earthquake, but clearly it is. It's all about the movement of the Earth. We're close to new moon. New moon is when the big pulls of the earth make bigger tides, and those bigger pulls obviously pull on other things, not just the water, but 6.6 at 229 miles deep, that's way down there. They may have to correct that. I'm not sure. Sometimes the original numbers don't work out as the numbers start to come in. They have to look at all the other places, all the other recorders that have seen this. And a lot of recorders -- this is the ring of fire where we are here.
But Japan, Tokyo there, way out here in the Sea, of Japan, but this here, I've not seen a 230-mile-deep earthquake in a long time. And all that means is that it's an earthquake, but you have 230 miles of dirt or crust to kind of muffle it a bit. It's like making an earthquake, but putting a pillow on top. The closer you are to the shore, the closer you are to the coast, to the land mass where the water is, the more shaking that can happen, and so the higher the possibility or probability of a tsunami. When it's that deep, that doesn't happen, but we'll see. If this was some kind of big subduction area here, we'll have to see what happens. This is just very preliminary, literally just happened.
COLLINS: Yes, wow, it is huge, no question about that. We're going to continue to watch this one, obviously.
Chad, thanks so much for that.
(BUSINESS HEADLINES)
COLLINS: Getting sick after getting a taste of Chicago -- salmonella poisoning. What you need to know about food safety wherever you live.
HARRIS: And beyond your basic tourists, they picked the protest package. Huh?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What you can use is baby wipes or alcohol pads to wipe away the tear gas. (END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: What I did on my summer vacation.
COLLINS: A case of mistaken identity? Or did police get the right man? Questions taking on urgency as a date in the death chamber nears.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: It is certainly a story we have been following closely here at CNN. We want to bring you the latest on the British investigation into the poisoning death of Alexander Litvinenko. We're just receiving word that Britain has announced that it is planning to expel four diplomats from the Russian embassy in London. And also suspending visa negotiations in retaliation for Moscow's refusal to extradite a suspect in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko.
Live pictures of the Russian Parliament, I understand -- I'm sorry, the British Parliament. It would have helped if I looked up to take a look at the pictures. Litvinenko, a former employee of Russia's federal security force, fled to Britain some time ago, and became a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He died after ingesting a lethal dose of a radioactive isotope polonium-210.
Moscow has since refused to extradite a Andrei Lugavoy a former state security agent. So the latest development, Britain announcing just a short time ago that it plans to expel four diplomats from the Russian embassy in London. We we'll keep and eye on developments in this story and bring you the very latest.
COLLINS: Also want to give you the latest now too, with a story that we've been following out of Japan. Huge earthquake there. We had just reported moments ago to you an aftershock, the second aftershock in fact. Originally we said it was 6.7 magnitude. Well, now we are hearing it's a little bit worse, 6.8 magnitude. That's off the west coast of Japan now. 200 miles deep as well.
So according to Chad Myers, who's been helping us out with this one, that is going to be too deep for a tsunami to happen, thank goodness for that. But once again, reminding you the original quake also the same magnitude 6.8. Seven people dead, at this time 800 injured. We're going to stay on top of that one for you best that we can.
Meanwhile, tourists signing up for a violent vacation in the Mideast. CNN's Cal Perry has the story. Now warning his report includes some graphic language.
CAL PERRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It looks like the first Palestinian uprising in the late 80s. Palestinian children fling rocks towards Israeli troops. Each rock answered by an authoritative incoming Israeli round. But it's not the late 80s. It's now, and this is the village of Bil'in deep in the West Bank. Recently this village was divided by the Israeli separation fence, sparking weekly organized demonstrations. But not all the protester are who you might think they are. They're from Sweden, Chicago, even Canada, beginning their day with a military style briefing, tips on how to be careful out there, given by an Israeli activist who has obvious experience.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNATHEN POLLAK, ISRAELI ACTIVIST: Do not wash your face. Tear gas sticks to wet surface and it will stick more if you water your face. What you can use is baby wipes or alcohol pads to wipe away the tear gas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PERRY: So while those that actually live here battle it out for every inch, a strange community of outsiders has formed. For many it's their summer of living dangerously. As the bullets fly and people run, they tell tales of life and death.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was here when a guy got --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A guy got shot in the head.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, he hit his buddy in the head with a rock.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PERRY: There are, of course, those who are ideologically devoted among the group. Americans with staunch political views.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid and I disagree with what's being done with our money. I feel it's the least I can do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PERRY: Of course a bullet whipping past your head can change your outlook on things, especially when you're from Arizona, and on summer break from college.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PERRY: What worries you the most when you're out here doing this?
RYAN GRAVES, AMERICAN ACTIVIST: Getting shot with American ammunition. Getting shot with rubber bullets. Tear gas. I'm going to start crying in this interview. There's another one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PERRY: In this valley, it all starts and ends the same way, the protesters march to the fence, the Israelis push them back. Nothing ever really changes. Both sides will meet here and do it again next week. Cal Perry, CNN, Bil'in in the West Bank.
HARRIS: We want to get you the latest information on the news we brought you a moment ago, the latest on the British investigation into the poisoning death of Alexander Litvinenko, our Alphonso Van Marsh is standing outside of Number 10 Downing Street. And if you would -- Alphonso good to see you.
This seems to indicate, this new development here the expulsion of four diplomats that Britain is frustrated and trying to move this investigation forward.
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. That news just coming moments ago as you mentioned, this being the first major diplomatic crisis for Prime Minister Gordon Brown since he moved into Number 10 Downing Street behind me. His foreign secretary just a few moments ago, announcing this country's official response to refusal of Russia authorities to extradite what British officials say is that chief suspect in that poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko.
Let's listen to a bit of what David Miliband, the foreign secretary told the House of Commons just moments ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID MILIBAND, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: Given the importance of this issue and Russia's failure to cooperate, we need an appropriate response. Our aims are clear. First, to advance our judicial process, second to bring home to the Russian government the consequences of their failure to cooperate, and third to emphasis our commitment to promoting the safety of British citizens and visitors.
I have therefore agreed with colleagues across government, the following steps. First, we'll expel four diplomats from the Russian embassy in London. Second, we shall review the extent of our cooperation with Russia on a range of issues, and as an initial step, we have suspended visa facilitation negotiations with Russia, and made other changes to visa practice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAN MARSH: Again, Tony the seriousness of these announcements showing just how seriously the U.K. government is taking the situation. Interesting that number four -- the number of diplomats that will be expelled from London, the last time something like this happened, that happened in 1996 when London expelled four Russian diplomats, that was retaliation for Russia expelling nine British diplomats, diplomats accused of running a spy ring. Tony?
HARRIS: And now we wait for Russia's response. Alphonso Van Marsh for us. Alphonso, thanks.
COLLINS: Ghastly scene, dozens of deaths even more wound wounded when a truck blows up in Iraq.
HARRIS: Exclusive medical care, some patients paying in advance for a better chance to see their doctor.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Good morning, again everyone. You're with CNN. You're informed. I'm Tony Harris.
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