Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Noel Bears Down; State of Emergency in Pakistan; Interview with Benazir Bhutto; Diet and Cancer

Aired November 03, 2007 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up next in the NEWSROOM, high winds, dangerous seas, a critical time along the Northeast coast. A late-season storm is not finished yet.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm meteorologist Jacqui Jeras. We're at the critical time where the winds are picking up 54 miles- per-hour right now on Nantucket. How bad will it be for New England? The forecast is coming up.

WHITFIELD: Plus -- a state of emergency for one of America's biggest allies in the Middle East. Pakistan's government is in disarray.

And you're in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. The deadliest storm of the Atlantic hurricane season is beginning to rattle New England now. These are the remnants of Noel, the wandering storm that flooded the Caribbean. A hurricane no longer, not even a tropical storm. Noel could make for a frightening night along the Cape Cod area, even as far inland in Boston.

With the latest now, CNN's Jim Acosta on the banks of Nantucket sound. He's in Chatham, Massachusetts where boy, those winds are still kicking up. That storm still seems like the beginning stages.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, what did I do to get this gig, Fredricka, I have to tell you. Things I have to say have deteriorated throughout the day. When we were out here this morning, the wind gusts were only around 30 miles-per-hour. The last time we checked, they are now close to 60 miles-per-hour.

Over the next couple of hours, we are expecting those gusts to reach hurricane-force strength. That means over 74 miles-per-hour, taking a couple of hits now. We are on the elbow of Cape Cod, if you look on the map.

And we're taking a few elbows right now from the remnants of Noel. Our friends over at NOAA are issuing a coastal flooding advisory. They are expecting this storm surge -- small storm surge. It will be accompany high tide out here. They are advising people on those low-lying roads to be careful. Also with the high winds. There are concerns about downed trees out here, concerns about power outages. Also people living in mobile homes, they are being advised to take shelter because those structures may not be able to hold up when these wind gusts kick up to close to 80 miles-an-hour. Having said all of that, these are hardy New Englanders out here. I will tell you, behind us here, we can see some of the fishing vessels just off the shore here. A lot of those vessels were brought in by the coast guard over the last 24 hours. So the commercial fishing folks are now onshore, which is a good thing. Also at the hotels we have been checking out for last couple of hours, I can tell you - (INAUDIBLE) reservations there, hunkering down and staying put for the time being. While this is a vicious storm and it should not be messed with, people are playing it safe, staying inside and not really hitting the panic button just yet, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, it is a vicious storm and that's why our signal with you, Jim, keeps going in and out. Makes a lot of sense with this pretty rotten Nor'easter/remnant of Noel. Thank you so much, Jim. We will check back with you as long as the weather permits.

However, all the way back into the Caribbean, the death toll now from Noel is expected to grow. Confirmed deaths right now already more than 130. On Tuesday, the storm hit the island of Hispaniola, triggering catastrophic flooding in Haiti, as it too often does. Thousands of Haitians are homeless. At least 48 dead and at least 82 have died in the Dominican Republic, Haiti's neighbor on Hispaniola. U.S. military rescue teams are being deployed into the crisis. The Dominican government said the number of homeless is at least 62,000. Enormous numbers.

Jacqui Jeras is in the Weather Center. It has been an incredibly devastating hurricane, which is why the potential even as a remnant is still pretty awful. Not on that scale, but still pretty awful.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right well international news now, political upheaval in Pakistan. Today President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency, saying he's trying to restore civil rule. That's why he explained suspended his country's constitution for one. Well that set off a whole series of events, including street protests in the capital, police and paramilitary groups blocking the city's main roads and breaking up the demonstrations. Well Pakistan's Supreme Court declared that state of emergency illegal. Musharraf expelled the chief justice and appointed a new chief judge in his place. And then just two hours ago, Musharraf addressed his nation on Pakistani T.V.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESIDENT PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PAKISTAN: After all we have achieved in the past seven years, I see in front of my eyes Pakistan's upwards journey escaping downwards. I personally, with all of my commitment and with all of the facts available to me consider that inaction at this moment is bad for Pakistan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is reacting strongly to Musharraf's decision to impose such emergency rule. She spoke exclusively with CNN State Department Zain Verjee, who is traveling with Rice in Istanbul, Turkey.

And so Zain, your interview came before Musharraf took to the airwaves explaining his position, and that this is his way of restoring order in a country he says is on the verge of instability. So they have Secretary Rice's position changed at all within the past couple of hours now that Musharraf has spoken?

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: No, it hasn't. She did add, though, that she has not spoken directly to Pervez Musharraf since he made this declaration. Secretary Rice said to us in an exclusive interview, this move takes Pakistan off the Democratic path and off civilian rule and she says anything that does that is a big problem. Today the U.S. says it is deeply disturbed. This is how Secretary Rice herself puts it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: I understand there are difficult circumstances in Pakistan but we have been very clear extra constitutional means is not the way to deal with difficult circumstances. But again, the situation is just unfolding. I think we should wait for that. But anything that takes Pakistan off the Democratic path, off the path of civilian rule, is a step backward and is highly regrettable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERJEE: Secretary Rice, Fredricka, says that the U.S. wants to see a quick return to Democratic rule, that Pakistan has to stay on the path to free and fair elections. That is something the U.S. has really been pushing hard for.

So this is going to be a big blow for them. Secretary Rice also said that everyone involved in the situation needs to show restraint, and at all costs to avoid violence.

She added, too, she had been in touch with Musharraf over the past several days, but she didn't characterize the substance of the discussions that they had. She added, too, that this situation is just unfolding. What the United States is doing is waiting to see what the facts are on the ground and to assess the extent of this development, but she said the focus will be on the need to push forward to Democratic elections. But the U.S., she said, made it very clear, does not support this move. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: And Zain, what's interesting on both sides whether it's the U.S. or Pakistan side, each are using some of the same language, Democratic path and it would be a step backward, and Musharraf saying himself he's actually making a step forward towards democracy. I'm wondering if Secretary Rice or any other U.S. diplomats are planning a trip or face-to-face talks with Musharraf?

VERJEE: There's been no indication that, that is going to happen. But this is unfolding and they are trying to figure out exactly what is going on. They need to get in touch with Musharraf and make their own assessment. But this is something that will definitely set the United States back in what it wants to accomplish in Pakistan.

The reason, Fredricka, it cares so much is because Pakistan and Pervez Musharraf have been a key ally in the war on terror, fighting the al Qaeda, fighting the Taliban, fighting extremism.

And also one of the biggest fears of the U.S. is that Pakistan has nuclear weapons and that could fall into the hands of terrorists. So the law and order issue is a major one in Pakistan. Many U.S. officials pretty frustrated with Musharraf saying, you know what, he hasn't got a handle on the law and order situation and extremism has spread.

Musharraf is saying he needs to impose a state of emergency in order to get a handle on that situation. But the U.S. is saying you have to hold elections and move towards democracy. That's what you have to do. It's been supporting Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister wanting to go back to Pakistan. She's there tonight and wanting really for her to participate in an election and give Pakistan that Democratic face. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: Zain Verjee, thanks so much from Istanbul, Turkey, traveling with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Meantime in this country, emotions are running high and that's why so many people have come out for a rally of the victim of a vicious crime. Straight ahead.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Kathleen Koch in Charleston, West Virginia, where hundreds rallied here at the state capital calling for hate crimes charges to be brought against the suspects who allegedly tortured and abused a young African-American woman. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much Kathleen. We will check back with you.

Meantime, something to perhaps make you lose your appetite. Another massive beef recall to tell you all about. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The crime was unthinkable, but now divide over what charges should be imposed. Today the victim of that brutal attack got a lot of support in West Virginia today. Megan Williams, a black woman allegedly beaten, tortured, raped and held captive by six white men and women. Friends and supporters are rallying to get prosecutors to add hate crimes to the charges. Our Kathleen Koch is in Charleston, West Virginia, where the turnout was pretty significant.

KOCH: Yes, Fredricka. A crowd of about 300 turned out here. As can you see though they have already left the West Virginia state capital, headed in a march to the federal courthouse. As you mentioned, they are demanding that hate crime charges be filed against the six suspects who allegedly in September kidnapped, brutally tortured and sexually assaulted young 20-year-old Megan Williams, a resident of this city of Charleston, West Virginia.

Now during much of the protest, Williams sat quietly in the audience, listening attentively to the speakers. Finally at the end of the rally she stood up and thanked the audience.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MEGAN WILLIAMS, VICTIM OF ALLEGED ASSAULT: I would like to thank the Lord Jesus for saving me. If it had not been for him, I don't know where O would be today. I just want to thank you all, thanks. I love you all.

(END VIDEO CLLIP)

KOCH: Now so far state and federal officials have declined to bring any hate crime charges. In the state of West Virginia, for example, hate crimes carry maximum penalty of 10 years.

Now the six suspects in the case are already facing very stiff penalties for the charges that have been brought against them, kidnapping among the charges. That carries in West Virginia a sentence of life, maximum sentence of life. Also charges of sexual assault, where the maximum penalty, if convicted, is 35 years. So though the protesters today were very firm they thought the maximum penalty should be levied against the suspects if they are found guilty. At this point, again, state and federal officials are not going there, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Kathleen, have the suspects at all spoken? Is there anyone who is describing, you know, a motive behind this crime?

KOCH: Not really. Obviously, the suspects are going to be having a court appearance coming up. I believe the next one is scheduled in January. But one thing that the local prosecutors did say to the "Associated Press" was that Megan Williams had a previous relationship with one of the suspects, Bobby Brewster. So we -- that is certainly how she got to know the six, but certainly does not explain why they did what they apparently did.

WHITFIELD: Wow. It is confusing and perplexing all the way around. Thank you very much, Kathleen Koch in Charleston, West Virginia.

And now to other news across the country right now, I hope this is not on your dinner menu. A new massive beef recall to tell you about. Cargill Foods is voluntarily recalling more than a million pounds of ground beef sold at these supermarkets throughout the Northeast. The meat is sold under the store's brand name. Federal investigators say the meat maybe contaminated with the dangerous e. Coli bacteria.

And this woman, a Nebraska school teacher, Kelsey Peterson is now in federal custody and back in the U.S. The 25-year-old was arrested in Mexico after police say she ran off with a 13-year-old student. The boy is now with his relatives. Court papers indicate that Peterson and the boy had an intimate relationship.

It looks like Ford employees will be staying on the job. The carmaker signed a new contract with the United Autoworkers Union early this morning. The tentative agreement resolves tricky differences over health care coverage for retired workers. And the deal still needs to be ratified by the union's 60,000 members.

And take a look at these pictures right here. Pretty alarming stuff. Parts of Mexico flooding, and hundreds of thousands of people are affected, just like this. Harris Whitbeck reports live from Tabasco, Mexico.

You're watching CNN, the most-trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Wow, is that a familiar scene or what? It is reminiscent of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath, but this time on an even larger scale. We are talking about the extreme flooding in Tabasco, Mexico. Hundreds of thousands of people driven from their homes, and in many cases to their roof tops, still looking for a way out.

CNN's Harris Whitbeck is live in the Tabasco state of the capital of Villahermosa, and it was just about an hour ago where you took to the skies and kind of got the aerial view of all of that devastation. It is hard to put into perspective, isn't it?

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, it's only when you go up into the sky in a helicopter that you can see the extent of the flooding caused here, not only in the city the Villahermosa but in other parts of the state of Tabasco.

And literally entire chunks of the city are completely under water. Behind me, you can see part of the rescue efforts. These have going on all day. Members of the Mexican army have been using launches to go to different neighborhoods street by street, house by house, looking for people who might still be trapped.

The waters in this part of town are already receding, but the concern is there's a new cold front coming in that's going to bring more rain and the concern is that not only will these water levels rise again, but others in other parts of town might rise as well.

So people are now being evacuated. They're being sent to other cities, other states because there's simply no room here in Villahermosa for them. That leaves 65,000 people, and that's' at least 65,000, are believed trapped on rooftops and those people on rooftops are being bussed by helicopter, taken to safer, dryer ground, and from there being transferred to temporary refugee shelters. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: Wow, those numbers are extraordinary, 65,000 people you're saying still on rooftops, more rain expected. So how in the world are the emergency response teams, if there is such a thing, to actually get to all of these people? It doesn't sound like they could possibly have enough boats.

WHITBECK: Well, that was one of the concerns, that there were not enough boats and not enough aircraft to get to all of the people. The Mexican army is out in force. They have an emergency response plan called the DM-3 plan. They trained for this and one of the main activities of the Mexican army is train for these contingencies.

They have been out in force. The Mexican president has been traveling through the area, has been offering all sorts of support. And there's been a lot of solidarity shown by ordinary Mexican citizens.

All around the country, they have been organizing food drives, sending convoys of trucks down to this part of southeastern Mexico with food, with bottled water, with bags of rice and so on, things that can be needed.

And it's curious, Fredricka, everywhere you go and you see a truck stopped, where people are giving away water or mattresses, you see long lines of people waiting to retrieve the material, but you also see people who are just volunteering there, trying to help their neighbors out. So it's a disaster on a large scale, but we have seen a solidarity also on a very large scale, as well.

WHITFIELD: That's good to hear. You know, it's pretty remarkable to see so many people who are in this predicament. And then to make matters worse, here you survive this kind of massive flooding and to think that now your health or life is still in jeopardy because of cholera and other water-borne illnesses. Pretty sickening indeed. Harris Whitbeck, thanks so much from Villahermosa there in Mexico.

Let's check in with Jacqui Jeras who's in the Weather Center. And Jacqui, there images are remarkable and is there an explanation of what system is responsible for this kind of flooding there?

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Well coming up, hope you don't have fear of heights, or let's hope that this astronaut doesn't have a fear of heights. Something tells me he doesn't. But he's also conducting a sort of emergency surgery right here at the International Space Station. Some pretty remarkable images coming from space. Our Miles O'Brien will explain all of it coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right happening right now, political upheaval in Pakistan where President Pervez Musharraf has declared a state of emergency and martial law. The nation's Supreme Court ruled the move illegal before the judges themselves were actually ousted. We are monitoring the escalating situation and will bring you the very latest as it warrants. And this just in -- former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has just returned to Pakistan, touching down at Karachi Airport. No long ago Bhutto had lived in exile for the past six years, but was believed willing to take part in a power-sharing plan with Musharraf upon her return. Next hour, we will zero in on what the crisis in Pakistan really means to the U.S. and American interests abroad. That's next hour here in the NEWSROOM.

And demand for justice in the West Virginia capital of Charleston. Demonstrators there want six white suspects to be charged with hate crimes for the alleged tortuous days -- days-long assault of a young, black woman. Prosecutors say the victim's prior relationship with one of the suspects makes hate crime charges nearly impossible.

And time to check that freezer once again for possibly contaminated ground beef. More than one million pounds of it is being recalled in 10 Eastern states over E. coli contamination concerns. The stores in question are right there on the screen. Well, they were on the screen. So far there have been -- there they are -- so far no reports of illnesses. That's good. If you have it, Cargill ground beef, throw it out or return it to the store.

So you're near hundreds of miles above earth, trying to fix a powerful electrical solar array and you're tethered to a robotic arm. All with no safety net, by the way. It truly is risky business and this is what it looked like for the brave astronaut doing a successful patch job to the space station earlier today. Pretty scary stuff, huh? CNN's space correspondent Miles O'Brien breaks it all down for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is going to be a great ride.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): And a hazardous one. The space walker Scott Parazynski rode a 75-foot long cherry picker to the outer edge of the space station to fix a badly torn and snarled solar panel. The closer he got, the worse the mess looked.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is ugly. Wow! That's really frayed.

O'BRIEN: The trouble began on Tuesday as the crew unfolded the array, the panels got hung up and snarled in the guide wires. Engineers on the ground and the crew in space worked for three days on a plan to fix the array.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think you can see the tip of the tool that we've already started to work on.

O'BRIEN: Because the solar power generation cannot be turned off, they spent a lot of time insulating Parazynski's tools and the metal part of his space suit to guard against an electrical shock.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got the first half in, second half in. All right.

O'BRIEN: Parazynski installed six jury rigged cuff links designed to prevent any more tearing and carefully cut some cables to remove the snarl. All the while being very careful to avoid touching the solar panels. Parazynski's space walk pushed the envelope, as they say. The extended robot arm could not go any farther at all.

Good thing Parazynski is 6'2" and his nickname, Longbow, for his impressive reach.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not too many people in the office can do what you're doing right now, Scott.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hope they don't have to.

O'BRIEN: And in fact, all went well when they unfurled the damage asked now sutured array. And NASA engineers can take this off their list of worries as they plan the next station construction mission now slated for launch in December. Miles O'Brien, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: News flash here -- they are bringing spicy back. The Spice Girls reunion tour starts in about a month. You know you want a ticket or two. You will never believe how long it took for tickets to actually sell out. If you don't have one, you're out of luck.

But first, love a good burger? Before you chow down tonight, there's something you need to know about your beloved burger and your health and it's not just about that E. coli recall I told you about. There's more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Diet and cancer. A new study has bad news for those of us carrying around a little extra weight. It says that excess fat is just as much of a cancer risk as smoking. Sue Saville has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUE SAVILLE, ITV NEWS CORREPSONDENT (voice-over): The advice from the Global Study is the most authoritative yet on how to prevent cancer. The key recommendations are be lean, at the lower end of your weight range, avoid processed meats, mothers should breastfeed their children for at least six months, avoid fatty and sugary foods, cut down on salt and drink only moderately.

For the first time the data shows that it's not just being obese that risks cancer, but even being slightly overweight. Excess fat is now thought to be as high as cancer risk as is smoking.

SIR MICHAEL MARMOT, WORLD CANCER RESEARCH FUND: The factors that are related to good nutrition so it probably accounts for the same sort of number of cancers as does smoking in current Western society.

SAVILLE: The Western habits of too much alcohol, smoking and fatty, sugary foods are killing us. And the evidence is piling up that we must take quite drastic actions to prevent cancer. Sue Saville, ITV News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: So this study is based on a massive amount of data, 7,000 previous study that's link diet and cancer. Our Dr. Bill Lloyd joins us to talk more about the connection. And more importantly, what are some of the things we can do to minimize our risk? So what kinds of foods, Dr. Lloyd, do we want to eliminate right off the bat?

DR. BILL LLOYD, SURGEON: Sure, Fredricka. We know cancer is multi-factorial, lots of different things, including dietary choices. So we can't change the things that we can't change. We can't change your genes and risk for cancer based on your DNA, but you can make smart dietary decisions.

One thing they went after, Fredricka, was meat. And not just red meat but white meat as well. They don't think beef or chicken is very good for you. Instead, you probably should make sense of whole grain noodles once in a while.

WHITFIELD: So is a quantity issue? Meaning, OK, you can do the red meat or white meat, but just in moderation?

LLOYD: You're looking for a consensus and I don't think this huge report from the American Institute for Cancer Research has that specific answer.

There are different pools of critics, Fredricka. We have some people who are saying why are we talking about nutrition? If we just stop the smokers, we would get rid of so much cancer.

And then we've got the other fringe that is saying, why are we eating anything? If we are eating meat is bad for us, eating fish is bad for us. We ought to be eating grains and drinking water.

So they are trying to find a real world solution because they know if your food is not appetizing, doesn't look good, it is not tasty and not full of good nutrition, you're probably not going to eat it. So instead they say, try to cut back. Cut back to maybe red meat once a week rather than having it four or five nights a week.

WHITFIELD: OK and that's what I was going to ask you. There are some folks who are going to say there's no way I'm going vegetarian. That's just not going to be a real world solution for a whole lot of people. So if you do cut back to maybe once or twice a week if you're an everyday meat eater, that's kind of a compromise you're saying you should try to go for?

LLOYD: We're talking about the cumulative risk, 10, 20, 50, 60 years of making these dietary choices. But we know that thinking along the food pathway, they have shown the evidence is in the literature. Cancers of the mouth, the esophagus, the stomach, the colon, are all related to dietary choices.

WHITFIELD: Wow. LLOYD: But guess what, Fredricka, other areas of the body, lung cancer and breast cancer are also at risk if you make some of the unwise choices. Mainly too much meat, too much salt and washing it down with too much alcohol.

WHITFIELD: OK so where is exercise in all of this? We talk about minimizing, controlling your weight. You can't do that if it's just a matter of what you eat, but it's also about how you take care of your body.

LLOYD: That's what made the story so news worthy. In addition to food choices, they also raise the issue about obesity and, of course, we know it's at epidemic proportions here in the United States. By bringing your weight down, and they do that by using that scale, that body mass index, that BMI, get it down below 30, you will significantly reduce your risk of getting cancer.

So everyone should be thinking about smaller portions and smarter choices within those portions.

WHITFIELD: Wow. All right, Dr. Bill Lloyd, thank you so much for helping to keep us healthy.

LLOYD: We will talk again soon.

WHITFIELD: Will do.

Speaking of America's waist line, so this you probably know. It has been expanding at an alarming rate for the past 20 years. Want to check on your state's condition? Log on to CNN.com and scroll down the page to Fit Nation headline, then click on the states with the heaviest people.

How about this? If you spend a lot of time on the Internet that you know already that there's a booming market for breast milk. Hmm. Martha Heller of Iowa has joined the crowd. She's taken out an ad, actually, in a local newspaper. She's actually offering excess breast milk pumped for her four-month-old daughter, who apparently has had her fill. So experts say breast milk can generally be stored in a freezer for up to six months. Well, the practice is legal but unregulated. We are talking about the freezing part, yeah, that's legal. But trying to sell it, I don't know if all doctors would endorse that idea. It is a bodily fluid after all.

Well, if you have a sweet tooth, you might end up wearing it on your face. A new study links the sugar you eat to wrinkles. That's our story in today's "Health for Her." here now is CNN's Judy Fortin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JUDY FORTIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just one more thing to add to your list of what not to eat if you want to eat if you want to look younger -- sugar. That's right. The sweet stuff just moved to the front of the wrinkle producing line.

A study done in the British Journal of Dermatology found sugars, not just refined but also foods that turn into glucose after being eaten are skin vandals.

The crime happens as follows. Sugars in your bloodstream latch onto proteins and form new corrupting molecules. They're called AGEs or rather appropriately, ages. As these ages multiply, they damage other proteins. The most vulnerable being our skin's personal trainers, collagen and elastin. Those are the elements that keep our outer layer firm and elastic. The result -- sagging, wrinkled skin.

The good news is, it's not too late to counteract the effects. You can build up collagen by using retinol, a compound found in over- the-counter and prescription drugs. You can also avoid more damage by being proactive. Start with eating less sugar, supplement your diet with vitamins B-1 and B-6. Wear SPF 30 sunscreen and eat more foods rich in antioxidants. Because when it comes to your skin, aren't you really sweet enough already? Judy Fortin, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, time for a look at the most popular videos at CNN.com. How to get Google through your cell phone. You might not have known it, but you can do it. Find out how. It's a handy little tool there.

Also big on the Web site, Duane Dog Chapman's racist rant. You can hear some of the latest fallout, including a chat with Chapman's pastor, who happens to be an African-American.

And if you're getting increasingly anxious about the rise of gas prices, you're not alone. Gas prices are on the rise across the country, with the average price of regular unleaded $2.79 a gallon, and that is among some of the stuff that people seem to want to tap into there at CNN.com

So why are prices so darn high? CNN's Allan Chernoff has some answers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Prices at the pump are soaring yet again. The national average for regular gas now approaching $3 a gallon.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's getting outrageous.

CHERNOFF: Is there a shortage of gas? Not at all, it's crude oil's rapid climb of $100 a barrel, say energy experts, that's driving the price of gasoline as well as home heating oil. Yet there's no shortage of crude oil either, say fuel distributors like David Shilwatner (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have more than enough oil.

CHERNOFF: In fact, the Department of Energy reports oil supplies are above average for this time of year. And demand -- it's actually declined in the past couple of weeks.

Energy analysts say crude is rising because of fear there might be a disruption in the flow of imported oil. The last time there was a significant cut in foreign supply was when the U.S. invaded Iraq. Back then, the price of oil hit $35 a barrel, a fraction of today's price.

Andrew Lebow has been an energy trader for nearly three decades. Never, he says, have there been so many investors bidding up oil. Is there any way that the supply and demand situation justifies oil at this level?

ANDREW LEBOW, SR. VICE PRESIDENT, MF GLOBAL: No, I don't think so. And I think we have seen a tremendous inflow of speculative money coming into not only the oil markets but commodities in general.

CHERNOFF: Investors are putting hundreds of millions of dollars into the energy market.

SM GREER, MERCANTILE EXCHANGE: Now it's as acceptable to invest in, let's say, crude oil or gasoline as it is to invest in IBM.

CHERNOFF: And many traders are embracing the old Wall Street rule -- the trend is your friend. The trend for oil has been up, and it's been paying handsome dividends.

FADEL GHEIT, ENERGY ANALYST: The largest financial institutions control oil price or dictate the direction of oil price much more than any oil country.

CHERNOFF: Of course, the trend could quickly change, leading traders to bail out of oil. But for now, a major reason we are paying more at the pump is that big investors have been striking black gold in the oil trade. Allan Chernoff, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well something else to rev your engine, perhaps you thought you never would live to see the day the Spice Girls back on tour. You know you want a ticket. Guess what? All sold out, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: An update now on a top story talking about Pakistan and its state of emergency. President Pervez Musharraf, just about two hours ago addressed the public saying his country was on the verge of instability and that's why he imposed a state of emergency. He addressed his people there about two hours ago and also made a very pointed statement to the U.S. as well as Great Britain, assuring them that he is still on the path of democracy.

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was out of the country when the state of emergency was imposed but has since has returned to Karachi. She's on the phone with us now. Ms. Bhutto, former prime minister, what are your thoughts about Musharraf saying he cannot watch his country commit suicide and that's why he imposed this state of emergency?

BENAZIR BHUTTO, FORMER PRIME MINISTER, PAKISTAN (on phone): Well, it's very difficult to accept that the country was committing suicide. Many people think that the state of emergency was actually in force because Musharraf did not want the Supreme Court to give a ruling that went against his interests.

Now, I can understand that he might have had difficulty in accepting the verdict of the Supreme Court, but one has to accept the ruling of a court. Instead General Musharraf has suspended the constitution of Pakistan, and he has strengthened military rule in the country, which is very disappointing. He could have sought a political solution, a constitutional solution, with other political parties but he chose to go it along and he chose to have a military solution and that's not good.

WHITFIELD: Now, the Supreme Court, just to backtrack a little for folks who are just now joining us, when you talk about the Supreme Court making its statement, saying that he would have to step down as army chief. He can't be that as well as president. He said, he disagreed with that, and that's why he also put into power a new Supreme Court chief justice.

Do you believe that that was his way of further entrenching his position, his army chief role, or was he simply saying that this is directly a response to his country in disarray, and that the Supreme Court's ruling exemplifies that?

BHUTTO: Many people would say that he is simply entrenching his position. After General Musharraf had given a commitment to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, as well as to the people of the country and even to me personally that he would retire as chief of army staff.

Now he's reneged on that commitment that he made to the courts and to the people and to the political parties. And the price has been very great for my nation. We were hoping to make a transition to democracy, and instead we find that General Musharraf in his capacity as chief of army staff has declared that the constitution of Pakistan shall remain -- our constitution has been suspended, our chief justice has been sacked, our judges have been removed. Senior lawyers in our country have been arrested. And there's a wave of disappointment in the country. We were hoping to move away from uncertainty to stability with free elections and now there's a big question mark on those elections.

WHITFIELD: It's interesting, Ms. Bhutto, you use the word transition to democracy because those are the exact words that he too used in his address moments ago, saying that this transition to democracy is also being exemplified in the fact that he's trying to bring some stability.

You yourself have seen firsthand upon your return to Pakistan after exile for more than six years the kind of violence that was associated with even your homecoming, the kind of violence that this country has seen pretty aggressively in the past year.

Would you agree with General Pervez Musharraf that these are signs of a country in turmoil, of disarray, of instability?

BHUTTO: Yes, I very much agree with General Musharraf on the diagnosis of the present political situation. The militants are on the march. There have been a series of bomb blasts. There have been attacks on the air force, on the army, on political leaders. I do agree with the diagnosis, but I don't agree with the cure.

I believe it is dictatorship which has fueled extremism, dictatorship feeds off extremism and extremism feeds off dictatorship. Dictatorship needs the extremist strength to justify itself in power. And the extremists need the dictatorship to demoralize people and then exploit those sentiments of demoralization.

So while I agree with the diagnosis, I disagree with the solution. I believe the solution lies in democracy, in the empowerment of the people and in providing people with education and employment, and giving them hope of a better life. I had hoped to work with General Musharraf in taking our country towards a civilian rule, towards democracy.

WHITFIELD: Do you feel like you could still work with him?

BHUTTO: It's very difficult to work with a military dictator. I would like to see General Musharraf restore the constitution of Pakistan. I would like to see him restore the judiciary and the judges who have been removed and to hold fair, free and impartial elections.

WHITFIELD: What about you? What is your ambition on a return to power, and in your pursuit of that, how would you be able to work with Musharraf in the interim?

BHUTTO: Well, my concern is that the country should move towards constitutional rule, rule of law and the empowerment of the people. And at the moment, I'm at a loss to say how General Musharraf and I could work together, because he's declared marshal law.

He's calling it emergency, but he's declared marshal law. If he wishes to work with my party and other political parties, I think he must immediately restore the constitution of Pakistan.

We will get confidence if he restores the constitution of Pakistan and restores the judges that have been removed, free the political prisoners. The president of the Supreme Court of the bar association, who happens to be a member of my party, has been arrested with scores of other lawyers. Mr. Hahn (ph), who is a politician, has been arrested with other political activists and members of my party, and I don't know when they will come to arrest us either.

But we do know one thing, that if we want to save our country from the extremists, then regime change in Pakistan is important.

WHITFIELD: Do you consider yourself, or worry that saving your country may also cost your life?

BHUTTO: Well, I don't like to think of the dangers. I like to think of the job that needs to be done. I know that there are risks to my life and risks to the life of my supporters. This is the life of the armed forces of Pakistan, whose members have also been targeted to the police.

Every citizen in Pakistan today is under threat of the extremists. And my concern is if the same regime stays in power that has been there since the elections of 2002, that this will just increase the militancy and lead to an increased threat of the takeover of Pakistan by Islamist radicals.

WHITFIELD: Let me ask you about something that General Musharraf said in his statement to the country, saying that he's seeing a moment of setbacks for the kind of progress that his country has enjoyed in the past seven years, particularly.

And I am hearing that he was implying the relationship between Pakistan and the U.S., in terms of any progress in the ongoing war on terror. When you look at the ongoing war on terror, do you see indicators of progress? Is there hope in your view, the way things are going right now or do you believe that an entire restructuring needs to take place?

BHUTTO: I believe that the U.S. and Pakistan might fight the war on terrorism together. We have common objectives in doing that. But at the same time, I believe there's been a dismal failure on the part of authorities in Islamabad to contain the terrorists and the extremists. In fact, the tribal areas of Pakistan appear to have become safe havens for some of these terrorist groups.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxant.com