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Mugabe Sworn In; More Midwest Flood Damage; San Francisco Gay Pride

Aired June 29, 2008 - 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: Straight ahead this hour, Robert Mugabe sworn in as president of Zimbabwe, again. It's been called a one-man circus, either way, will the violence stop now?
An alleged peeping Tom was no match for this mom? Zero tolerance after cell phone pictures are taken of her daughter.

And celebrating gay pride. Newly weds in California. Thousands take to the streets in San Francisco today. Hello, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Well despite the world condemnation, including U.S. urged sanctions, Zimbabwe's president was sworn in today for a sixth term as president. He took the oath just hours after he triumphed in a run off where he was the only candidate. Like most news outlets, CNN is currently banned from Zimbabwe. Our story now comes from South Africa. And CNN's David McKenzie where he joins us live. And so people were forced to vote for Mugabe. But what does that mean for anyone there who may have been forced to attend the inaugural? Or did that happen?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we don't know exactly who attended the inaugural but you are right in saying that people are saying they have been forced to vote. We did find out that there were, in some instances in the cities, low voter turnout. Those cities are strongholds of the opposition. But the main news here is that Robert Mugabe, president from almost 30 years was roundly criticized for helping lead those intimidation and violence against the people of Zimbabwe. The supporters of the opposition is yet again president of that country. The opposition leader told reporters that this again is a sham of an election.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN TSVANGARAI, OPPOSITION LEADER: The inauguration is a meaningless exercise. The world says so. Zimbabweans say so. So, it's an exercise in self delusion.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCKENZIE: Well, Morgan Tsvangirai saying he believes that it's meaningless. But the next step, tomorrow, Fredricka, is that they are having this African Union meeting in Egypt. Then, we'll have to see whether African leaders started to criticize Mugabe can put actions where there have only been words up to this point, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And David, he's still an invited guest. No chance that he would be turned away from that meeting of African leaders?

MCKENZIE: Well, no. Mugabe will definitely be at that meeting. He is the elected leader of a country even though many people would say that it's from an unfair election. But what will happen is that the leader, Morgan Tsvangirai will not be going to that meeting. They didn't give him a new passport. The government didn't give him that passport but opposition leaders in Egypt are saying that it's time for strong action against Robert Mugabe.

WHITFIELD: All right. David McKenzie, thank you so much from Johannesburg. We're reporting from South Africa because we and nobody else can get access to Zimbabwe. Meantime, a little bit more about who Robert Mugabe is.

Well, he led an uprising against the white Rhodesian government back in the late 1970s. He was elected Prime Minister of the newly named Zimbabwe come 1980. well, that was the country's highest office at the time. The title has later been changed to president and that was in 1987. Mugabe is now 84 years old and the only leader Zimbabwe has ever known.

Well, new developments today in the investigation of the death of a pregnant soldier in North Carolina. A fellow soldier is now considered a person interest in the death of Megan Tuoma. Bryan Mims with CNN affiliate WRAL has the latest

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRYAN MIMS, WRAL, REPORTER: An official at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare school at Fort Bragg confirms that one of its students is being questioned in the death of Specialist Megan Tuoma. She was 23 years old and seven months pregnant when she was found dead in a hotel room. Lt. Col. John Clearwater says the solder is a male but would not release his name or whether he's related to Specialist Tuoma. He says the soldier has not been charged with anything and declined to comment further. This development came the same day the "Fayetteville Observer" published a letter claimed to be written by the killer. The person calls the murder a "masterpiece" and threatens to kill again. At the bottom of the letter is a symbol like the one used by the Zodiac killer, a serial murderer from the 1960s who was never caught. Dr. Michael Teague, a forensic psychologist and former criminal profiler for the Raleigh Police Department says there's a variety of reasons someone would use that reference.

MICHAEL TEAGUE, FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST: It's probably more a chance of somebody wanting publicity or having a very kind of strange sense of humor. Or maybe even the actual perpetrator trying to confuse the police.

MIMS: A Fayetteville police official told the newspaper he believes the letter was written to try to mislead police. Specialist Tuoma had been staying at this Fairfield Inn by Cross Creek Mall when a hotel employee found her decomposed body in the bathtub last Saturday. Search warrants released Friday night showed two sections of dry wall in the hotel room had what appeared to be blood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Again, no charges had been filed against the soldier who is now considered a person of interest. The Army says he is training in psychological operations at Ft. Bragg.

Well, a roller coaster at a theme park just outside Atlanta remains closed today after a teenager's horrific death. Officials at Six Flags over Georgia says a 17-year-old climbed two fences into a clearly marked restricted area and then was decapitated by the Batman ride.

A witness tells how it happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One of them ducked under the ride. The other one got caught between the ride. It picked him up and slammed him to the pole. You heard a big pop and he just laid there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Oh, gosh. It's gruesome. Well, the park and the police are still investigating why the teen and his friend entered the off limits area in the first place.

Well, now to the raging wildfires out the west. Fast moving flames not the only concern. Smoke and ash are filling the skies over northern California. The product of more than 1,000 wildfires burning there. Officials called the air quality dangerous. And it closed pools and cancelled outdoor events as well. Firefighters are also scorching parts of Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico.

Well, heavy rain is bringing more flooding to parts of Missouri, all ready under water. Those aerial shots show the town of Winfield which lost the battle against the swollen Mississippi River. An emergency sandbag levee gave way yesterday flooding dozens of homes that you see right there. A county to the south got five inches of rain, too much for that bridge. It collapsed there. No one was hurt. Where's the weather headed next? Let's check in with CNN meteorologist Karen Maginnis.

KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Thanks so much, Fredricka. What we're looking at are a few isolated showers. This is really nothing that's terribly fantastic on our extreme weather. Watching a few of those showers just kind of line the rim of the basin across interior California. Now, there's a little bit more in Arizona, but generally speaking, not much to speak of. It produces very little in way of wet weather. And these are the rainfall totals we've seen in California for the month of June. Los Angeles, no rain. Bakersfield, no rain. Fresno, Sacramento, San Francisco had a trace of rainfall.

We do have that red flag warning out. It extends all the way from Oregon into northern California. You can see portions of Nevada as well. What does this mean. It means that there are critical fire weather conditions. What does that mean? Well, we could see some dry thunderstorms, maybe some gusty winds. By dry thunderstorms, I mean, the rain doesn't make it to the ground. The atmosphere is so dry you don't get moisture at the surface. But you could see some lightning and that's what sparked a number of these fires, just about 1,100 out there.

All right. We have a couple I-reports. This one from Paradise, California. And Barry Scott Cunningham said he grabbed his dog, he grabbed his paper and he's moved out. Paradise is near Chico which is in north central California. Then, from NASA, several pictures showing you where the smoke is blowing. There, you can see right around the Cape, the Sacramento Valley region. And that air, the particulate matter, just kind of settles across the valley. And they're saying that some of these areas are seeing ten times worse air than the federal standards for clean air goes. Well, in some area, they are also saying that they have seen the worst air quality that has ever been recorded, Fredricka. It's really more than just dangerous and a fire hazard and people concern out running in fires. But this is a health problem as well.

WHITFIELD: Really is, which is why so many people are urged particularly in that region to stay inside when the air quality is bad. And it really is because not just short term, but long term effects as well.

MAGINNIS: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: OK. Karen, we're going to get back with you in a minute on weather. But before I let you go, do you like soccer or football?

MAGINNIS: Football.

WHITFIELD: You're talking American football, aren't you?

MAGINNIS: Auburn football.

WHITFIELD: OK. The world sport is football. And I mean soccer, when talking about that and of course, if it meant that the NFL football would perhaps the Super Bowl every four years. Well, perhaps the hype just might compare to what we're seeing in Europe, particularly. The excitement gripping Europe right now. A lot of them monitors here in the international news room section are all turning towards the game between Spain and Germany. The Eurocup is taking place in Vienna. And that's where we find our Pedro Pinto as well, a lot for us there. We can hear the folks in the background. People are over the top crazy about football.

PEDRO PINTO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You say soccer, we say football, Fredricka. But One thing is for sure, there's a huge party going on all over Europe right now. I'm watching the game here in Vienna with around 70,000 people. That's more people that are in the stadium. Also, here in Vienna following the action. Now, as far as the score is concerned. Spain is about 15 to 20 minutes away from winning the finals. This is the second largest soccer tournament in the world. And right now, it's a rival for the Olympics as the second most watched event as far as sports are concerned on the planet. Right now, it's being televised. This game is being televised around 200 countries and territories around the planet. Around 250 million people are tuning in. And here I can tell you that over the last month, Mozart and Strauss have moved over because football fever is really in action, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: People are so into it. I know you are too. I know you clamor for assignments just like this.

PINTO: Well, definitely. You have to understand that football really here captures the attention and imagination of everyone. And here on the continent, everyone has been waiting for this tournament to come along for two years since the World Cup. The best teams of the World Cup, the last World Cup are all here. And now, it's a big party coming to an end. Definitely a huge occasion for the continent and for the world of football, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: It really underscores why if it's Spain or Germany, whoever wins this tournament. They wear this winning like a badge of honor and will boast about it for years to come. I mean, it is not just, you know, it's a world's sport but it really is the national sport especially when you talk about some of these European nations that are in there.

PINTO: Completely, I think it's different from the states. I think it's completely different from the states. Because over there, I lived there for nine years, and you've got American football, baseball, basketball. So many sports competing for the national attention. But over here, it's all really about football. There's a saying over here that goes something like football is not a matter of life or death, it's more than that. You really get that feeling, being here with these people following every minute of the action. They are really, their nerves are on the edge I think as they are watching this game come to an end. And we'll find out the champion very shortly, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: OK. How shortly are we talking like within the hour? Should I be checking back with you?

PINTO: Feel free to check back within the next half hour. We could have a winner unless Germany scores an equalizer and then the match will go into overtime or extra time like we say over here. It's all about terminology. You can check back and maybe I'll have a winner for you in the next 10 to 15 minutes.

WHITFIELD: OK. We're going to count on it and check back with you. Pedro, thanks so much, from Vienna. A very noisy Vienna as we see you play around with your earpiece. Thanks so much.

All right. Did you hear about the new hit from Amy Winehouse? We're talking music, sort of. Now, it came out last night, right from her fifth by the way and into the crowd.

Plus a battle over U.S. beef. Some people are violently opposed to it in their country.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: All right. We know you love those all American beef patties. Well, not the case in Seoul. Hundreds of protestors and police were hurt in an all out street brawl because of U.S. beef. South Koreans are outraged that their government is importing American beef again. It has been banned since the first U.S. case of mad cow disease back in 2003. Meanwhile, North Korea welcoming U.S. food, beef and all with open arms. Christiane Amanpour just got back from that country with this news.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A U.S. ship has just, in the last day, docked at the North Korean port of Nampo. It will take some two days to unload and then take out, start taking it out around the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. That's just a little of our interview with Christiane. More in our next hour. You want to stick around for that.

And now, something about the other so-called acts of evil nation, Iran. Veteran investigative journalist Seymour Hersh is reporting that President Bush and Congress have increased covert operations inside Iran to the tune of some $400 million. White House correspondent Ed Henry has been following this story, joining us from Washington now. Ed, give us more.

ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, he's back. Once again, every few months, we see Sey Hersh him publish a story in the "New Yorker" with sensational charges, very hard to verify. You have to remember in April 2006, he reported the White House had increased clandestine activities inside Iran and then in his words "intensified planning for a possible major air attack." More than two years later, obviously such an attack has not panned out yet. Nevertheless, Hersh is back again and charging the president late last year signed a highly classified finding to escalate covert operations once again, trying to disrupt the government there and prevent them from obtaining nuclear weapons. The import of all of this, of course, a suggestion that this is a build up with a possible U.S. war with Iran. Here's Sey Hersh laying out his case on CNN's "Late Edition."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEYMOUR HERSCH, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST: Bush and Cheney do not want to leave Iran in place with a nuclear program. What they believe a nuclear weapons program. They simply don't believe the National Intelligence Estimate that came up late last year that said they haven't done anything in military weapons, nuclear weapons since '03. They just don't believe it. So they believe that their mission is to make sure that before they get out of office next year, either Iran is attacked or it stops its weapon program.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HENRY: Now officials at the CIA, the Defense Department, the State Department, all refusing to talk about the thrust of the story. And a White House spokesman told me earlier today, "as usual, with his quarterly pieces, we'll decline to comment." That is something the White House has repeatedly done when Sey Hersh comes out with these stories. But Ryan Crocker, interestingly, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, was also a quest on "Late Edition" and he did sharply deny one aspect of this magazine piece, the claim that American special op forces have gone from Iraq into Iran to seize Iran's insurgents and then take them back into Iraq for interrogation. Take a listen to how he put it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RYAN CROCKER, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: I haven't seen the - I haven't read the article, Candy, but, I can tell you flatly that U.S. forces are not operating across the Iraqi border into Iran in the south or anywhere else.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Now, pressed on that point, Sey Hersh stood behind his account. So that part of the story is still in dispute. If you take a step back from this one piece, how to deal with Iran. Obviously is a major issue in the presidential campaign. Democrat Barack Obama has been criticized, as you know, for wanting to talk directly to Tehran. John McCain, the republican expected nominee, taking a more hard line along with President Bush. So, the big question is where is this all headed? There's a lot of fear that Israel may feel that if Iran is getting to nuclear weapons, it may need to attack Iran. The story today alleging that the U.S. may be getting closer to doing that. So, obviously the international community paying very close attention, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Stirring things up once again. Seymour Hersh has a tendency to do that.

HENRY: He does.

WHITFIELD: Something tells me the White House isn't a huge fan of his.

HENRY: I think you're right.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Ed.

HENRY: Thanks, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: I appreciate it.

All right. Today's parade in San Francisco celebrating a lot more than just gay pride.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: Too many children around the world are dying from preventable illnesses and diseases. It's the focus of survival project "One Child At A Time" hosted by our Dr. Sanjay Gupta as well as playing a role actress Lucy Liu. You also are a UNICEF ambassador. Sanjay, let me begin with you. Both of you have been traveling around the world. You've made many observations about children from Baghdad to Peru. It would seem that as a practicing physician, you've seen it all, but perhaps there are still some surprises in what you witnessed?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I think the biggest surprise, and maybe not that much of a surprise in retrospect is that, you can do so much so little. Again, in the United States, we're used to having all these resources available to us, you know hospitals with lots of supplies, equipment and clean water as a birthright. Essentially, you turn on the tap and you expect to be able to drink that water. It's just not the case in so many places but small amounts of money, small amounts of resources can make a huge difference.

WHITFIELD: And Lucy, what were you observing and how do you use your celebrity to make a difference?

LUCY LIU, ACTRESS, AMBASSADOR TO UNICEF: I think what I observed is how, what Sanjay said basically, is how children really don't need a lot and how much they have such hope and such a way of going through such crisis without food, without water, without protection and how they survive and how they continue to survive. I mean, if you give them a little bit, they can go so far with that. And that's the amazing thing. They bounce back so quickly. And if we always put that effort in mind, that little things happen for them in such a fast manner, especially when they are sick that you take care of it right away. It's amazing to see how quickly they recover.

WHITFIELD: Well, it's one thing to witness it, and it is the stark reality. It's another to actually get the need there. How is it that we're able to supplement what many of these villages and small towns already have?

LIU: I don't think they have a lot. I think what we need to do is essentially water is something that is very, very important. I'm sure that Sanjay can say it's the resource for them. It is the source of life for them. If you have water, they're able to have agriculture which will help with nutrition and it will also give the children the ability to go to school because normally if they don't have water that's close by, they have to go, you know, miles and miles away to get this water which then in turn gives them the inability to go to school and so they're basically taking care of chores the whole time. Also, water will also get, clean water, fresh water will give them the ability to have health and sanitation because without that, they'll drink water that's contaminated. They'll be sick. They'll be unable to get treatment for that because of the hospital or what. They don't really know what's going on. I think education helps in that way too.

WHITFIELD: Well Sanjay are you surprised that we're not further along globally to help stamp out many of these preventable illnesses? GUPTA: Yes. I am surprised. I think that one thing I learned is that people are inherently compassionate. I really do believe that. And I think that's - Lucy and I have traveled to some of the worst places I think in the world. I mean, Lucy saw - I remembered when she got back from Congo last year. It dramatically affects you. But you see a lot of hope over there and you see a lot of people wanting to do the right thing. So, I think that you know that energy and that positive sort of thinking, I think a lot more can be done.

WHITFIELD: All right. And the special, "Survival Project: One child at a time," July 6th. Of course, folks will be motivated and inspired to find out exactly how they as individuals can do more to help so many children around the world. Good work.

GUPTA: Thanks, Fred.

LIU. Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: An alleged peeping Tom turned into a bleeding Tom. Thanks to an angry mom.

And saving the world's most endangered species. Who killed them? And who's trying to save them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Happening right now, Robert Mugabe takes his oath and begins his sixth term as president of Zimbabwe. It comes after an election that much of the world considers a fraud. Mugabe's opponent withdrew from Friday's runoff citing state sponsored violence and intimidation.

Hopes and a levee dashed along the Mississippi River. As much as five more inches of rain fell in parts of the midwest yesterday. In Winfield, Missouri, an emergency levee just couldn't withstand all that water. So dozens more homes and businesses were flooded.

This is out of the what was he thinking file. We had it coming. Police in Statesville, North Carolina were called to this Wal-Mart after an angry mom punched out a suspected peeking tom. Police said she decked the man she saw him snap a photo of her daughter in the dressing room.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GUADELUPE JIMINEZ, PUNCHED SUSPECTED PEEPING TOM: He said help me, help me. One man said no.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The 40-year-old suspect is in jail under a $10,000 bond on the charge of secret peeping.

What happened and why? A European cover girl plunges to her death in Manhattan in broad daylight. This after noon the New York medical examiners office officially ruled it a suicide. Twenty year old Ruslana Korshunova fell nine stories from her apartment building yesterday. A friend said the beauty had just return from a job in Paris and seemed to be in great spirits.

Check out this, always spicy but especially spicy Amy Winehouse. It was during a concert in Britain this weekend, the singer was punching a fan in the crowd, at the Music Festival, but she kept singing and everything. Why? The concert organizer says somebody was trying to grab her body parts. She's performing before 80,000 people there.

Coming into to NEWSROOM, CNN's Candy Crowley reports that Senator Barack Obama will meet with former President Bill Clinton within the next two days. This comes from Senator Hillary Clinton's former campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe. We understand the two men will meet to talk about what role Mr. Clinton might play in the Obama campaign.

Faith and trust on John McCain's mind this weekend. He visited the Reverend Billy Graham and his son Franklin this morning in North Carolina to praise McCain. Last night in Kentucky, McCain questioned Barack Obama's trust worthiness. He cited Obama's change of heart on the use of public financing for his presidential campaign.

And of course all the latest campaign news is just at your finger tips. Just go to CNNPOLITICS.com. We have analysis from the best political team on television. It's all there at CNNPOLITICS.com.

And it will cost you even more next time you fill up, according to AAA; gas prices climbed 7/10 of a cent over night. The new national average per gallon of regular is $4.08 we are all looking for some relief from the rise in gas prices. A huge oil reserve is hidden in plain sight under the countries second largest city of Los Angeles. But getting at it is the hard part. CNN's Ted Rollins reports.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TED ROLLINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Driving along Eagle Boulevard in Los Angeles you wouldn't know this, but inside that building, the tower there is a working oil drill helping to produce more than 900 barrels gallons of oil a day. Take a look at this building from the street; now look at it from above. Across Los Angeles oil production blends into urban life, some of it hidden, some of it out in the open. It's in neighborhoods, near baseball fields, even Beverly Hills High School had oil pumping on campus discussed as a work of art.

IRAJ ERSHAGHI, UNIV. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: More than two thirds is on the ground.

ROLLINS: Dr. Iraj Ershaghi is the director of Petroleum Engineering at USC. He estimates there's more than 9 billion barrels of oil still to be had in the Los Angeles basin. A real opportunity to reduce imports which he says should not be lost.

ERSHAGHI: It took millions of years to cook that stuff underground. You can't just walk away from it. ROLLINS: Perhaps a significantly part of the Los Angeles basin is rich in oil, but so many people living here, getting to it, without disrupting lives or the environment requires facilities like the one on Peco. Here an electric, not diesel drill does the work. It is capable of going thousands of feet down and up to a mile in any direction.

GREG BROWN, BREITBURN ENERGY PARTNERS: The technology is here to do this sort of a facility in ways that are environmentally very sensitive.

ROLLINS: Greg Brown of Breitburn Energy says resistance to drilling usually comes from cities and neighborhoods. The state is encouraging more drilling as long as all the environmental concerns are addressed.

(UNIDENTIFED FEMALE): What kind of noise is going to come out at will? What is the air pollution like? What kind of engines are they using?

ROLLINS: Oil drilling has along history in California which includes a track record of spills, accidents and greed. Depicted in the movie, "There will be Blood." While many people are worried about the drilling, it is coming. More than 4,000 applications have been filed already this year for new wells or opening old ones. That is up from a total of 3,000 last year. Oil companies say with more wells, imports go down, tax revenues and jobs go up. And the companies promise not to disturb the neighborhood.

Ted Rollins, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The economy is issue number one. We'll bring you all the latest financial news weekdays at noon Eastern. Its information that you need on the mortgage meltdown, the credit crunch and much more. "Issue Number One" noon Eastern right here CNN.

Well, today, the streets of San Francisco are bubbling over with pride. A recent state Supreme Court ruling thousands of gays and lesbians marched in the annual gay pride parade. It may seem they have an extra spring in their step; well it is because of their newfound freedom to marry. As decreed by the court just two weeks ago. Tomorrow, in our next hour we'll speak with two newlyweds. You met them when they were about to get married, but now they are officially married. Coming up next hour.

Also meet the many four legged victims of the Midwest flood.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD (voice over): Their homes washed, their owners gone, they are alone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: The Israeli government has approved a deal to exchange five Lebanese Hezbollah prisoners for two kidnapped Israeli soldiers. One of the prisoners said to have killed infants with his bare hands. The two Israeli soldiers are believed to be dead. The Israeli government spokesman said it's important for the soldier's families to know for sure.

They are national treasures in Central Africa. When seven mountain gorillas were killed in Congo last year it made international headlines. Pictures of the dead gorillas being carried like royalty appeared in magazines and newspapers around the globe. So who would slay them and why? We go to one of the most dangerous places in the world. A national park in war torn Congo near the border with Rwanda. It is the cover story of this month "National Geographic" Magazine. And the subject of an upcoming documentary.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): They took leaves and bound the mouths and the wounds. It was almost as if these rangers were attempting to preserve what remained of the animals.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: I spoke with photographer Brent Stirton who took the now famous pictures. It is just so heart breaking to see the images, but it really is a topic that people need to understand. The gravity of what has taken place after these gorillas was killed. They are national treasures, so much so that these families of gorillas have been given names. To learn that this 12-member family named the Ragunda (ph) family had actually been killed horridly like this. Talk to me about the importance of these animals.

BRENT STIRTON, PHOTOJOURNALIST: Well I think Fredricka that you have to remember they are just over 700 of them left on the planet today. In terms of our DNA as human beings, they are second only to chimpanzees to us. They are animals which are very close to us as human beings. It makes a wider comment about diminishing resources and where we are as a civilization as to what we would care about today in the natural world.

WHITFIELD: Brilliantly intelligent. Why in the world would anyone want to kill them?

STIRTON: This is a classic case of an illegal person trying to get in the way of their activity, being stocked. The way the illegal activity continues, they slew the gorillas in order to discredit the rangers. To have them removed from the park so they can continue with their activities.

WHITFIELD: This illegal charcoal industry that we are talking about. There is coal, charcoal at the base of the very property where the animals inhabit?

STIRTON: The way that it works, charcoal comes from hardwood. Militia groups and corrupt people in the army are involved in this industry as well as a couple of corrupt officials with in the company's conservation authority. This was created in the park. It is currently a $30 million industry in one of the poorest countries in the world.

WHITFIELD: And were there other minerals at stake as well? Gold, tin, some of the other natural resources that are buried are highly sought after that happens to be in the neighborhood of these gorillas?

STIRTON: Those resources have a lot to do with the militia in the region.

WHITFIELD: The many militia or these rebels that have been seen walking through the jungles with their weaponry, they are not actually attacking the gorillas?

STIRTON: There was some controversy around that. We know that in January, 2007, they said they killed two gorillas and ate one. They deny that. But locals backed it up and we retrieved the body from that region which they occupied. So I think that evidence speaks for itself. Now, the rebel militia seen to be occupies the gorillas Roman National Park. They have forced out the conservation rangers looking after the gorillas. The people who are most well informed as to the welfare of the gorillas are no longer in survival of the species are no longer present in the park as a result of this militia group.

WHITFIELD: So as a photo journalist what kind of journey did this take you on?

STIRTON: I've been working since 1994 in humanitarian issues. This is the first time I ventured into the conservation round. The biggest thing I've had is realizing the connection between the diminishing resources and conflict and how much a part of the future we can expect that to be unless we pay attention to these issues now.

WHITFIELD: What about these animals. When you saw them, the few hundred that are living, what was that like to see them so close and in their natural habitats?

STIRTON: As someone who hasn't spent a lot of time with these animals what really struck me was how human they are. They are very gracious creatures. They are large. They are welcoming. They are very sophisticated society of their own. You know, it seems, with so few of them around, it would be a tremendous pity to lose this resource. So for me working with these gorillas has been a breakthrough in terms of seeing my work as going beyond conflict and into the realm of the national world.

WHITFIELD: What did you notice about just their family reaction or interaction, I should say, and how they were. We're looking at images of keepers and the babies. Did you get a chance to see the adult gorillas interact with the babies?

STIRTON: That's always a very enduring sight. It's a very human reaction. When you see -- what you see to be a wild animal behaving in the same way that you would expect to see members of your family behaving when it comes to children, I think that is always very enduring and it reminds us of how just how connected we are to these animals.

WHITFIELD: They are beautiful. It's hard to understand and imagine how anyone could kill them and so brutally. They were brutal killings, as you described in the documentary of their mouths being stuffed with grass and leaves so they couldn't breathe, being suffocated and really being hacked to death.

STIRTON: Well you know these gorillas were shot, at least five rounds in each. One of the female gorillas was burnt. This is a statement of power by a very brutal group of people in a very tough part of the world. Like I say, an attempt to discredit the group failed to work.

WHITFIELD: This is jaw dropping. You don't want to miss it. You can watch the "National Geographic Investigation" Tuesday night at 10:00 p.m. Eastern as well as Pacific. Explore gorillas murdered on the National Geographic channel.

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WHITFIELD: All right. Football fans have been glued to their TV set, if they didn't have tickets. I'm talking about soccer, the world sport of football. The European championship just ended. We have a winner now, between Spain and Germany. The title for the first time in 44 years goes to Spain. Pedro Pinto is there in Vienna, where folks are going crazy, or are they? It looks mellow behind you.

PEDRO PINTO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm sure you'll be able to see the fans behind me in just a minute. They were outnumbered here by German fans, but they are making the party. And Fredricka I'm sure you know that Spanish people know how to party, especially when they have a good reason to do so which is the case tonight.

Spain was crowned champions of Europe for the first time since 1964; they beat Germany, 1-0 in the final here in the Austrian capital. And I have to tell you this was a fantastic occasion for everyone on the continent and nearly every around the world. This game was watched by around 250 million people worldwide in around 200 countries and territories.

For the first time actually in the United States this tournament was broad cast live in its entirety. The borders of soccer, as it is known in the states are keeping -- continue to be broken as this game continues to be more and more the world game and there's a passion for it everywhere in the world.

WHITFIELD: Wow. It was sort of in neutral territory for Spain in Germany. Was there any way of telling whether Spain or Germany had more fans attending there in Vienna than the other?

PINTO: Definitely. Definitely a majority of German fans, Germany is closer to Austria so it was easy for them to travel here. Spanish fans are outnumbered about 3-1. Now, I can tell you, they are making all the noise. The Germans are starting to go home, they are very disappointed, and they lost their third final. This is Spain's second title, but was a long time coming, 44 years. They live and die for this stuff. Tonight, will stretch into tomorrow morning, tomorrow morning will stretch into tomorrow night. There won't be much sleeping going on in Spain. I can tell you that much.

WHITFIELD: That's great. It's good to know everyone behaved nicely. Every now and then, you have folks acting up at huge events like this one when thousands concierge at one time over soccer. They all behaved right?

PINTO: Very well behaved. The Spanish are passionate but disciplined. They usually abuse the alcohol. That can be the problem. They like a couple glasses of wine. They are not that violent. They are more interested in living the game and following the kicking on the field.

WHITFIELD: That's clever.

PINTO: There have been in problems, all though, we've had 70,000 people here. There's been no problem what so ever. Very good natured. It's just a big party.

WHITFIELD: All kicking it over football. Pedro Pinto thanks so much from Vienna.

Back to this country. Humans are not the only ones who are the victims of this months Midwest flood. Hundreds of dogs and cats have been abandoned by people who have lost their homes. Some brought to the Washington D.C. area. They are hoping to find new, forever homes.

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(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): I think the dog we are looking for is something a little bigger and a good personality.

(UNIDENTIFED FEMALE): A couch potato, that comes to a good home.

(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): It doesn't exist anymore. It's probably 800 animal in a temporary shelter. We brought back 30 animals all together.

(UNIDENTIFED FEMALE): I kind of looked for them after Katrina, also. I couldn't find one that I really liked.

GARY WEITZMAN, WASHINGTON ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE: Animals don't have to be left in a disaster.

(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): We heard about the Iowa flood, dogs that had been brought here, so we thought it was a good opportunity to come see what pets were available.

WEITZMAN: This is really nice dog named Cedar. He was hit by a car a couple weeks before the flooding happened. His guardian took him to the vet. He survived getting hit by a car, only to lose his home with his owner.

(UNIDENTIFED FEMALE): They are the cutest thing and they are defenseless. (UNIDENTIFED FEMALE): Thanks for the kitten.

WEITZMAN: The apartment building was wiped out. There were about 45 cats in the building.

(UNIDENTIFED MALE): We found a dog that we think we like a lot. So, we're going to keep playing with her and see if she's the right one.

WEITZMAN: Animals are the one that really suffer. They can't fend for themselves. You can't forget about them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: You can help too. How could you not want to each out and want to help those pets? Our Website has lots of resources on how to impact your world. Go to CNN.com/impact for information.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Just in case you missed it, we just learned for the first time in 44 years, the new European champion in football, or soccer, is Spain. Winning one dip over Germany. The folks in Spain are over the top, over joyed, excited. In the middle of it all is our own Al Goodman who is in Madrid. So Al I understand you're in the thick of it. Oh, yeah. People are riled up behind you.

AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Well, the biggest fiesta you could imagine is on. Not just in Madrid but in cities across this nation, the fiesta behind me they are watching a big screen right here as Lou on the Main Blvd in Madrid. This is a historic victory for Spain. They not only beat Germany here 1-0 in this match, but Spain also beat their past, not getting this title for 44 years.

What was the difference? Many people say a very young team. Most of these guys under 30, who meshed and played well. Coached by the oldest coach in the tournament, 69 years old, and a grandfather. He had the vision. This has been a turning point for Spain.