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Carnage in Iraq; Priest Sex Abuse; Mideast Meeting Between Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas
Aired July 16, 2007 - 08:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Tony Harris.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
Watch events come into the NEWSROOM live on this Monday morning. It's July 16th.
Here's what's on the rundown.
Twin attacks rock Iraq. Dozens of people killed when a truck and car blow up in Kirkuk.
HARRIS: Six hundred and sixty million dollar settlement. The Los Angeles Archdiocese is in court today, finalizing a payout to clergy abuse victims.
COLLINS: A robber crashes a party, but he's subdued by wine and cheese and a little group hug.
Vintage nonfiction in the NEWSROOM.
Carnage in northern Iraq this morning. A suicide truck bomber kills dozens in a busy shopping area. South of Baghdad, new moves by the U.S. military, as well.
We want to live to our Frederik Pleitgen in Baghdad.
Frederik, first let's start about the attack in Kirkuk. Tell us what you know at this point.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Heidi, absolutely.
That was a devastating attack at around noontime, local time, here in Iraq. That attacked happened in Kirkuk.
Now, what we have just learned really moments ago from Kirkuk officials is at least 80 people were killed in that attack and well over a hundred people were wounded. And city officials in Kirkuk say they believe the toll, the death toll, could rise even more. And certainly seeing the pictures from Kirkuk, that is very easy to believe.
There's one eyewitness report that speaks of a 30-foot-deep crater where that truck bomb exploded near that market. And also, over two dozen cars that were completely destroyed and then burned out.
Now, the city of Kirkuk has a mix of an Arab population and a Kurdish population. The market that was hit here was predominantly Kurdish, so it does look like this was a strike against the Kurdish population. That's something that we have been seeing more and more of in this area. A whole lot more attacks happening in the northern part of Iraq against the Kurdish population -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Oh, man. The video is awful.
What do we know, also, about the new operation of the U.S. military south of Baghdad? You learning anything on that?
PLEITGEN: Well, there's a major operation going on south of Baghdad that started today. The military officials call this operation Marne Avalanche.
Now, this operation, they say, is targeting insurgents in that area. They're trying to drive out insurgents of that area south of Baghdad.
And the other thing they're trying to do -- and this, they say, is very important -- they say they believe that from that area, a lot of bomb-making parts, a lot of homemade explosives, and also a lot of terrorists are actually smuggled into Baghdad. So basically what they're trying to do is to drive out the insurgents and also to interdict those smuggling routes into Baghdad.
Now, they say that this operation is part of that major troop increase, that U.S. troop increase here in Baghdad and around, and that this is an operation that's targeted outside of Baghdad, but that is actually aimed at increasing security inside of Baghdad -- Heidi.
COLLINS: CNN's Frederik Pleitgen watching all the stories for us out of Iraq this morning.
Frederik, thank you.
HARRIS: And new fears this morning 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 have 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 have seen, pooling of Taliban, training, operational planning.
President Musharraf understands it has not worked. We understand it has not worked. And what you are 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 is a source of concern.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley adding the U.S. wants Pakistan to do more to gain control over the northwest province.
And a story we've been following all morning for you, five people killed, at least 240 injured in Japan. Victims of a strong earthquake there. The quake centered off Japan's northwestern coast. Several buildings crumbled.
The 6.8-magnitude quake also caused a fire at a nuclear power plant, and there was minor damage in Tokyo, about 150 miles from the epicenter. Tsunami warnings now called off.
COLLINS: The Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal, a landmark settlement in a Los Angeles courtroom today. It is worth $660 million.
Kara Finnstrom in L.A. for us this morning.
Kara, where is that money coming?
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the cardinal, Roger Mahony of Los Angeles, says that the archdiocese here will be splitting the cost of that with insurers and with the specific religious orders that these accused priests belonged to. He also did mention, though, that the archdiocese will have to sell off some property.
All the details of this massive settlement expected to be formalized later on today at the courthouse just behind me. Yesterday, Mahony announced all of this for the first time, and he did so at a press conference by first offering up an apology to all of the victims.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY, LOS ANGELES DIOCESE: Once again, I apologize to anyone who's been offended, who's 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.
And so, our efforts go forward. While we reach a settlement of the civil cases, we still stay focused on the road ahead. And that is to never let down our guard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FINNSTROM: Now, Mahony was asked repeatedly during that press conference whether he felt he'd made mistakes in the handling of all this. He said first that many of these alleged incidents had taken place before his leadership began back in 1985, then he also said that he felt he spiritually bottomed out during much of this, that he kept trying to do what was right but many times felt he just didn't do anything that was right at all.
The attorney for the plaintiffs spoke with "AMERICAN MORNING" earlier on today and said those answers just fell short.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY DRIVON, ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF: He's apologized for what other priests did, for what religious did, et cetera, et cetera, but what he did was equally or perhaps even more wrong. The cover-up was the real big problem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FINNSTROM: Now, as part of this settlement, the records, church records that initially Mahony had refused to release of the priests that are accused, some confidential records, now will be made available. And that should offer us more information about exactly what the church knew and when and what actions the church took in response -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Information everybody has been waiting for. That's for certain.
Kara Finnstrom, live from L.A. this morning.
Kara, thank you.
HARRIS: And what do you say we get a check of weather across the nation now?
(WEATHER REPORT)
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Money, the bread and butter of political campaigns. And the second quarter financial report spells more trouble for Republican presidential hopeful John McCain. McCain's spending more than he raised, leaving him with 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's used to tough times.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), 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.
(APPLAUSE)
MCCAIN: I never -- I never was going to rely on money to win this campaign. I'm not a very good fundraiser. 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 questions July 23rd. Republicans September 17th.
Join us tonight with John Roberts and Kiran Chetry for a CNN- YouTube debate preview. It's your vote. Will your voice be heard?
Find out what's on America's mind when we reveal some of the possible video questions for the candidates tonight at 8:00 Eastern.
HARRIS: A show of support for a leader going up against Islamic extremists. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert meeting this morning with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas' emergency government is in control of the West Bank, but Hamas controls Gaza.
Our Atika Shubert is in Jerusalem for us.
Atika, good morning.
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony.
Well, the meeting between Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas has just ended, and Olmert made an offer in which Israel has now said it will release 250 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and grant amnesty to more than 100 Palestinian militants if they give up their weapons. Now, this offer is aimed at bolstering support for President Abbas, allowing him to consolidate power among the various militant groups in the West Bank as he faces off against Islamic militant group Hamas, now in control of Gaza.
But as you can imagine, it's a very controversial policy here. Critics in Israel are saying it's too big of a security risk with no guaranteed political gains -- Tony. HARRIS: Just a quick question. Any progress that you know of in negotiations with Hamas to win the release of the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit?
SHUBERT: None so far. We have heard of no progress on that front.
Of course, Israel says that Hamas is a terrorist organization and it will not have direct contacts with Hamas. But there is still hope that because BBC reporter Alan Johnston was released a few weeks ago, that there may be some room for that soldier, Gilad Shalit, to be released, as well.
HARRIS: CNN's Atika Shubert for us this morning.
Atika, thank you.
COLLINS: Food festival illnesses. Three hundred seventy-eight people sickened at Taste of Chicago. At least 32 said to be confirmed cases of salmonella poisoning.
Our medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen tells us more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It happened in Chicago, but everyone needs to pay attention because it seems like we're hearing more and more about salmonella outbreaks in some foods that might surprise you.
In this case, the salmonella has been linked to a dish that was a salad -- a cucumber and tomato salad -- served on hummus at a Persian restaurant at the Taste of Chicago food festival. At least 378 people have become ill and 12 people hospitalized. Now, again, what makes this unusual is that usually we think of salmonella in animal products like eggs or chicken, but recently we have been hearing about other kinds of food -- peanut vegetable, vegetable snacks and now a salad on hummus.
Elizabeth Cohen, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: China now suspending some 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's not aware of any tainted products. China's quality inspection agency says it has found a range of contamination issues in recent shipments from seven U.S. companies. Chinese food products have recently under fire in the U.S. over safety concerns.
HARRIS: Still ahead, chaos in the tiger exhibit. An unsuspecting zookeeper attacked. An update on his condition straight ahead.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ali Velshi, "Minding Your Business".
In New York, the Dow is now 100 points shy of 14,000. Is it going to happen today? I'll tell you when we come back in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: A San Antonio zookeeper is in stable condition this morning recovering from a tiger attack over the weekend. The veteran zookeeper was alone inside the tiger exhibit when the big cat pounced.
The zoo was evacuated shortly after the attack but has since reopened. The tiger's expected to be kept out of public view for now. Zoo officials say the 5-year-old tiger will not be put down.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COLLINS: Ghastly scene. Dozens of deaths, even more wounded when a truck and car blow up in Iraq. We'll tell you more about that.
Plus, the man and the message. Martyrdom for Muslims. New video coming in from al Qaeda.
HARRIS: 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: And welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Tony Harris.
COLLINS: Hi there, everybody. I'm Heidi 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 on a bus, well, they burned to death.
Minutes after the blast, U.S. and Iraqi security forces diffused a car bomb near a medical facility. And a couple 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.
HARRIS: U.S. troops stage a new offense south of Baghdad. Meanwhile, back in Washington, more pressure on President Bush and his Iraq strategy.
Here's CNN's Ed Henry.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The president is on the defensive over a plan by two senior Republicans, John Warner and Richard Lugar, to limit the mission of U.S. troops in Iraq. So National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley tried to shift the focus to what the plan does not do.
HADLEY: If you listen to Senator Warner and Senator Lugar, things they are not calling for, they are not calling for an arbitrary withdrawal schedule.
HENRY: Yes, but the Republican duo is demanding that the president come up with a new plan in October that would begin redeploying U.S. troops by the end of the year. A serious intraparty challenge to the commander in chief.
SEN. JOHN WARNER (R-VA), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: We're co- equal branches, the president and the Congress, and we just have to sometimes slug things out.
HENRY: Trying to stave off that slugfest, the White House is pleading for patience until September, when General David Petraeus submits a progress report on the military surge.
HADLEY: Congress in May set out a schedule and a structure for that process of consideration. It begins in September.
HENRY: But Democrats insist that process actually began last week with a preliminary report showing some progress on security but few gains from the Iraqi government.
SEN. JACK REED (D), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: Without a political solution, our military efforts will just buy time but not success.
HENRY: And veteran Republicans like Senator George Voinovich are telling the president's inner circle time is running out. CNN has learned that in a phone conversation last week, Voinovich told top aide Karl Rove the president's legacy is on the line and the way to save it is to come up with a workable plan to pull out troops as soon as possible.
SEN. GEORGE VOINOVICH (R), FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE: I do want to put the pressure that the sooner we can exit there in a -- in a sensible way, that we ought to be doing that.
HENRY (on camera): In private, Senator Voinovich is a little more blunt, using a profanity to describe the White House's handling of Iraq, charging the administration (EXPLETIVE DELETED) "... up the war."
And while Voinovich is giving the White House until September, he's privately warning if there's not a dramatic new strategy then, he will endorse a Democratic plan mandating a timeline for withdrawing U.S. troops.
Ed Henry, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE) HARRIS: 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 Web site known for carrying al Qaeda statements. We can't verify the video and there is no indication of the date when it was shot, but CNN's Arab affairs editor says it appears the video clips are old.
COLLINS: Want to go ahead and take you to the New York Stock Exchange now on this July 16th. Waiting for that opening bell to ring.
Some pretty excited people today after Friday's close. Hey, we are so close to 14,000 on this thing. It's been pretty amazing to watch.
Not sure if we'll be able to duplicate -- there you have it, the opening bell -- the type of activity that we had last week again this week, but that's always the question.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And still to come in THE NEWSROOM this morning, scene of destruction in Japan. A strong earthquake jolts the country. There are deaths and injuries.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Clergy abuse in the Catholic Church -- a long, legal battle comes to an end today in Los Angeles.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Japan rattled by a strong earthquake this morning. Five people dead, more than 200 injured.
Dan Sloan is on the phone with us now from Tokyo. He is a Reuters journalist.
Dan, tell us a little bit about what you felt, if anything, and what you are able to see around you.
DAN SLOAN, REUTERS: Well, Heidi, the initial earthquake of the 6.8 magnitude hit about 12 hours ago. We've had a number of aftershocks that have happened throughout the day.
Tokyo is a good two hour train ride, about 150 miles from the site of the earthquake epicenter. But essentially there has been, as the day as gone on, an escalating number of fatalities, as well as those injured. The latest -- the national broadcast RNAJK (ph) saying is seven dead, 800 injured. We've had -- I'm sure you're seeing pictures -- of over 300 homes destroyed. There have been a number of roads and buildings that have fallen. And essentially right now what has gone on have been relief efforts to try to evacuate. Almost 5, 000 evacuated so far. Many tens of thousands without water, without gas, without power as you might expect.
Generally, this could have been more calamitous. There was an earthquake in this area of Nigatha (ph) about three years ago that killed 65 and injured more than 3,000. But today, a national holiday, perhaps, might have helped to keep the numbers lower. COLLINS: Wow. I certainly want to remind everyone of that update you just gave us, Dan.
Seven people dead now. At least 800 injured in this terrible earthquake that we are hearing about. Also, Dan, we had learned about -- we always think about aftershocks. I know there was at least one that was also very powerful. We're looking at a number here, 5.6.
That's correct, just a matter of a few hours ago. That's a major concern over the next few days. Also, there are expectations of rain on Tuesday here in Japan. The area was saturated. We just had a major typhoon come in, bringing heavy rain. So, really, relief efforts need to be quick and people are working throughout the night to try to make sure that some of these collapsed buildings or that all of the collapsed structures have been checked to make sure no one remains underneath.
As I mentioned, a lot of things were canceled yesterday. Trains were shut down. Some of the roadways were blocked off. But three nuclear power facilities that are in this area were shut down and remain shut down. It was a small fire that was outside of one at -- not within the facility itself. But that has been contained.
but basically, right now, relief efforts are continuing. The government has set up an emergency center to deal with this. The prime minister has gone to the site. And all are hoping that, in the next few days, that this will be dealt with as best they can.
COLLINS: Wow. Certainly. As we continue to get pictures in from the area, just unbelievable there. Well, we certainly appreciate that.
Dan Sloan, our Reuters journalist, for us this morning from Tokyo.
Thank you, Dan.
HARRIS: Let's turn our attention now to the sex abuse cases that rocked the Catholic Church. Within hours, the nation's largest archdiocese finalizes 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: 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.
(END VIDEO CLIP) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE SANCHEZ, ALLEGED ABUSE VICTIM: Just because you have a settlement and give the abuse victims, including myself, some compensation, it doesn't erase the emotional scars and damage that's happened to -- to all of us. Whether you give me a check for $10 or $10,000, where -- where can I take that check and cash it at someplace to make me 10 years old again?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Cardinal Mahony says the archdiocese will have to sell off some of its assets and borrow some money to pay off the settlement.
COLLINS: Chad Myers joining us now to talk more about the weather situation all across the country, starting with Florida. Big time rains.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Still to come, summer vacation?
Hardly. Young Americans join Palestinian protesters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What worries you the most when you're out here doing this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Getting shot with American -- American ammunition.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Find out what motivates the tear gas tourists.
COLLINS: And crashing the party -- an unexpected dinner guest shows up with a gun. But after he knocks back some wine and a little cheese, it's all good. Attitude adjustment in THE NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: The defense says witnesses changed their stories, but the sentence stands. Today, attorneys for a Georgia death row inmate will have one more chance to make their case before tomorrow's scheduled execution.
CNN's Rusty Dornin reports.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MARTINA CORREIA: I'm trying to answer all these e-mails and things about Troy.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): On a mission, Martina Correia works 18 hour days with one aim -- to save her brother Troy's life.
Troy Davis was convicted of killing Savannah police officer Mark McPhail in 1989. He's scheduled to be executed on Tuesday. There was no physical evidence, no murder weapon found.
Correia says that alone should cast doubt on the jury's guilty verdict.
CORREIA: When you only have eyewitness testimony, you have no physical evidence, people have fallacies and we make mistakes.
DORNIN: A case of mistaken identity -- that's what Davis' lawyers and supporters claim.
This was the scene in 1989 -- this parking lot at the Greyhound bus station in Savannah, Georgia. Some witnesses say Davis and two other men were following a homeless man across the street, harassing him. Off duty officer Mark McPhail ran out to break up the fight. That's when some witnesses claim Troy Davis shot the policeman twice and ran.
In Savannah, the manhunt was on. Davis surrendered to investigators days later.
(on camera): Since Davis' conviction, the defense claims seven witnesses have changed -- and sometimes eve contradicted -- their own stories. During the trial, the defense claimed it was another man that shot McPhail in this parking lot. Now, some of the witnesses are pointing their finger at the same man, claiming that fear of reprisal and police coercion caused them to accuse Davis.
(voice-over): Monty Holmes is one witness who changed his story. Now he claims he was coerced by police.
MONTY HOLMES, WITNESS: They were trying to get me to say that he did it but he didn't do it.
DORNIN: Major Everett Ragan headed the homicide investigation back then. He dismisses allegations of coercion. And as for witnesses changing their stories, he doesn't believe it.
MAJ. EVERETT RAGAN, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA POLICE: There's no doubt in my mind we arrested the right person.
DORNIN: (on camera): There's no element of doubt that it could have been the other man?
RAGAN: No.
DORNIN: (voice-over): Sergeant David Owens has no doubts either. He was a close friend of the victim, a man everyone called Mack. It was Owens you see here trying to save McPhail's life in the back of the ambulance in 1989. Owens now hopes the victim won't be forgotten.
SGT. DAVID OWENS, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA POLICE: I just hope people remember this man stood for what's good in society and he was murdered for it. And now the punishment needs to be fulfilled.
DORNIN: (on camera): But how can you fulfill the punishment, argue defense attorneys, if you execute the wrong man. They claim other witnesses who were there that night have never testified but have submitted affidavits. Prosecutors in Savannah declined comment, but in court papers state: "These same affidavits have been presented to other courts and found insufficient to materially affect the verdict in this case."
The Supreme Court also refused to hear the case.
Here in Savannah, his lawyers filed an extraordinary motion for a new trial.
JASON EWART, TROY DAVIS' ATTORNEY: No court has ever been able to sit down and take a look at the evidence. They've never heard testimony. They've never talked to the witnesses again.
DORNIN: And no court will. Davis' plea for a new trial was denied late Friday.
Within the last week, there was a rally by civil rights activists and Amnesty International in hopes of saving Davis' life.
We spoke to him on death row on Friday. During the trial, he never pointed the finger at anyone else.
TROY DAVIS, DEATH ROW INMATE: Because I didn't want to be labeled as a snitch.
DORNIN: (on camera): And that's the only reason?
DAVIS, yes, which is stupid.
DORNIN: (voice-over): Davis says he remains optimistic that his cries will be heard. But --
(on camera): How are you preparing for the idea that these efforts to save your life may not work?
DAVIS: I put it all in god's hands. I'm just being -- being prayerful.
DORNIN: (voice-over): Monday both sides will present evidence to the state parole board in Atlanta. The board could allow the execution to go forward the next day or commute Davis' death sentence in what may be Troy Davis' last chance for life.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
HARRIS: A show of support for a leader going up against Islamic extremists. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert meeting this morning with Palestinian President Abbas. The goal -- building support for the Abbas government. It's in control of the West Bank, but Hamas controls Gaza, after a violent takeover last month.
This morning, Mr. Olmert offered to release 250 Palestinian prisoners. He announced plans to grant amnesty to 100 Palestinian militants if they give up their weapons.
When a javelin toss goes off course, an athlete stabbed in the back. We will tell you and show you what happened.
Sweet road hazard -- traffic troubles crop up, loads of peaches and it's not even Peachtree Street.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: So we are -- oh, sorry.
Where's the music?
We are pod casting later today. We're putting it together right now.
Where's that shot of the national desk?
OK. The national desk feeding us information, not only for CNN NEWSROOM 9:00 until 12:00 weekdays, but also for the pod cast that we put together. So that's being formulated right now. It's cooking up in the oven there, the pod cast, Heidi, that we do together every day.
The CNN daily pod cast, available to you on your iPod 24-7. There we are.
Download us today, why don't you?
COLLINS: Have you seen this video, by any chance, from the track and field event in Rome?
The javelin thrower lost his footing and then look at the highlighted part of this video. The spear goes hurling well outside the target zone and hits another athlete in the back. The injury was not as serious as it first appeared, surprising, I'm sure, nonetheless, the javelin penetrated only a short way into the athlete's lower back. He's out of the hospital and I think there were five stitches, something like that. That was it. Ugh.
Can you imagine?
HARRIS: Oh, he's horrified. Look at him over there.
COLLINS: Yes.
HARRIS: Well, talk about an attitude adjustment. A would-be robber crashes a dinner party, but instead of stealing, he ends up chilling, feeling the love in the circle of life. A group hug, anyone?
Here's our Zain Verjee.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE) XAVIER CERVERA, HOMEOWNER: OK, Henry. Come on.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Xavier Cervera took his dog out for a walk as his guests were winding down a dinner party last month on his patio, sipping French wine and nibbling cheese. Almost as soon as Xavier left, his party was crashed by an armed, hooded gunman who burst through an opened patio door.
CERVERA: I usually latch it when I leave. That evening, I did not. And so they were all sitting spread out in the courtyard and he just kicked the gate in.
VERJEE: The intruder pressed his gun against a 14-year-old's head, saying, "Give me your money or I'll start shooting."
Then Xavier's guests did something extraordinary.
CERVERA: They offered him some food and wine, which he accepted, which I assume really helped.
VERJEE (on camera): The wine or the cheese?
CERVERA: Probably both. But maybe the wine more so.
VERJEE (voice over): Then someone hit a sore spot.
CERVERA: One of them said to him, "Your mother would be ashamed of you." And, apparently, that really toned him down. He became a little morose upon hearing that and he said his mother was no longer alive.
VERJEE (on camera): The attacker took down his hood, had a little bit more wine, helped himself to some cheese. Then he tucked away his gun and looked around and said, "Maybe I've come to the wrong place."
(voice over): William Chambliss is a professor of sociology at George Washington University and says that comment by the gunman was revealing.
WILLIAM CHAMBLISS, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: "I think I came to the wrong place." He came to the wrong place because these people were so nice and because they treated him like a human being, he couldn't really go through with the robbery.
VERJEE: Chambliss says treating the gunman with dignity was the key. And for the intruder, getting hugs was important, too. First, he wanted individual hugs. Then, a group hug.
(on camera): And after the group hug, he just turned around and left, just the same way that he came?
CERVERA: Yes. Thanked -- thanked them again and apologized again and went on his way.
VERJEE (voice over): Police told "The Washington Post" it was strange but true. The suspect still hasn't been found, only the crystal glass he left with.
Zain Verjee, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: A peach of a problem for motorists -- 25 tons of peaches.
HARRIS: Oh, come on.
COLLINS: Look at that. The food hit the California freeway when a truck overturned. There were no injuries but it did take crews a few hours to clean up the mess. Maybe they took the peaches home with them.
HARRIS: An important first step -- North Korea shutting down its nuclear reactor. A U.S. envoy talking about what comes next.
COLLINS: Sniper shooting -- singer shot inside the bar. Her estranged Army sharpshooter husband now being looked out for.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: United Nations inspectors confirming it this morning -- North Korea's nuclear reactor shut down. But diplomats say it's only a first step.
CNN's Sohn Jie-Ae has more.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): In the aftermath of North Korea's announcement that it shut down the nuclear reactor in Yongbyon -- a reactor that produces weapons grade plutonium -- a welcome reaction from Washington's State Department, but more cautious words from the man on the ground, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, who is in Asia ahead of six party nuclear talks with North Korea on Wednesday.
CHRISTOPHER HILL, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE: What we're not interested in is a shutdown as the end. And, as I said earlier, we're interested in a shutdown as a step and then we go to the next step and we would get to disabling and eventually dismantling and fully abandoning these facilities. So if you look at the February agreement, it says shutdown for the purpose of eventual abandonment. And I think that's an important sentence because it suggests we're not just temporarily freezing.
JIE-AE: In the agreement reached in February, North Korea agreed to shut down Yongbyon in return for 50,000 tons of fuel oil. But further negotiations are needed to get the North to completely abandon its nuclear weapons program, which includes submitting a list of all its nuclear materials for U.N. inspectors.
Analysts believe North Korea already has enough weapons grade plutonium to make at least six to seven nuclear bombs. On Seoul's streets, some breathed a sigh of relief.
"I was always worried that North Korea, if pushed into a corner, might use the nuclear weapons in some way," says this woman.
But a Seoul bus driver said he didn't trust the North Koreans to completely give up its nuclear ambitions.
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