Return to Transcripts main page

NEWS STREAM

7.2 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Turkey; Thailand Flooding; Libyans Celebrate Liberation; Tunisia Celebrates First Election in Decades; New Zealand Celebrates All Blacks World Cup Championship

Aired October 24, 2011 - 08:00   ET

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


KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: Welcome to NEWS STREAM, where news and technology meet.

I'm Kristie Lu Stout, in Hong Kong.

And we begin in eastern Turkey, where rescue workers are combing the rubble for survivors of a devastating and deadly earthquake.

And rising waters threaten the headquarters of Bangkok's flood relief operations as more residents of Thailand's capital are asked to evacuate.

And the CNN Freedom Project takes us to Cambodia, and "The Sanctuary," set up for child victims of sex slavery.

Now, entire buildings in parts of southeastern Turkey are now just mounds of rubble. Rescue teams are combing through the debris, and they are looking for more possible trapped victims of Sunday's deadly earthquake. Authorities say more than 200 people have been killed at least 1,300 are injured. It is feared the toll will continue to rise.

But amid the devastation, there are scenes of hopes like this one. Rescuers, they carefully pulled a man buried in a crumbled building to safety. He appeared weak and exhausted, but alive.

Sunday's 7.2 magnitude quake, the worst to hit Turkey in more than a decade, it struck about 16 kilometers northeast of the Turkish city Van. That's near the border with Iran.

The nearby town of Ercis may be the hardest hit. Dozens of buildings and a student dormitory there just tumbled to the ground. And cargo planes are flying in medical teams and aid from the Turkish capital. And to give you an idea of just how remote this area is, Van is more than 800 kilometers away from Ankara.

Turkey's prime minister toured the stricken region by helicopter to get a first-hand look of the quake's aftermath. And Diana Magnay is there in Ercis. She joins us now live.

Diana, describe the scenes you have witnessed today.

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kristie.

Well, earlier on this morning, we were down in the heart of Ercis Square, around these buildings that have been destroyed, really just to rubble, where search and rescue teams are picking their way through. And obviously because so many people and parts of this town, and also the town of Van, have been effected, it was difficult for rescue teams to get to the particular buildings. So people were having to take the rescue effort into in their own hands and pick through the rubble themselves.

Let's just listen to what this man had to say about his night's work.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Yesterday, there were knocking sounds, and then there were two screams. And then the rescue people came late because there was destruction in the region, and they couldn't make it any quicker. So, yesterday, we tried to pull the rubble ourselves, but what can human power do?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MAGNAY: That man had no luck in searching for his relatives today. That area where he was only dead were pulled out of the rubble today, Kristie.

Now I am at a tent city, one of two that have been built up to provide shelter for those who lost their homes, and for also those who were too scared to go back into their homes tonight because of the many aftershocks that have shaken the region. So, here, they're being provided for. There are 118 tents in this tent city.

Also, around the town there are individual tents that have been provided for people so that they can camp near their homes. There is food for 5,000 being cooked up, been stew, and a lot of blankets, heaters, things like that, to keep people here warm in what promises to be a very, very cold night. The temperatures here are freezing at night, Kristie, and that is obviously something that the rescue operation and rescuers provide for -- Kristie.

STOUT: Now, there have been international offers of aid given to Turkey, including one from Israel. Does Turkey need international assistance, or is this a crisis that the country can handle on its own?

MAGNAY: Turkey has said that it can deal with this crisis itself. Of course, that it's grateful for help. And the Red Crescent itself has a donation page for those who want to give help.

In fact, we've seen scenes from Iran and Azerbaijan. They had already made their way across the border and were helping with the rescue effort in the town of Ercis.

But bear in mind that this is a country that is crisscrossed by seismic fault lines, and it has experienced earthquakes in the past. Think back to 1999, when two earthquakes in the Marmara region killed 18,000 people.

So, the death toll here is far smaller. And although it is a huge effort to try and get the rescue teams and the aid to this remote part of Turkey, it is something that Turkey feels it is equipped to do -- Kristie.

STOUT: And let's hope that more lives can be saved.

Diana Magnay, joining us live from the quake zone there in Turkey.

Thank you.

Now, Turkey is no stranger to earthquakes, and this map, it shows you how the country has two major fault lines running through it. But it has been a long time since it's been hit by something this strong.

Now, the U.S. Geological Survey says the earthquake that hit Van province at magnitude of 7.2, that is considered powerful enough to do damage over a large area. Now, Van sits near what geologists call the Eastern Anatolian Fault. And you have to go back to 1999 for the last earthquake with a magnitude that high.

There were actually two that year, both along the northern Anatolian fault. Now, the first, it struck with a magnitude of 7.6 near Izmit in August, killing more than 17,000 people. And then, in November, a quake with a magnitude of 7.2 rocked Duzce. Around 900 people died.

(WEATHER REPORT)

STOUT: Now, Thailand's prime minister says authorities have tried to control the flood of water coming into Bangkok by using the country's dikes and dams. As it stands now, the Thai capital is partially submerged amid the country's worst flooding in half a century. Emergency officials have been using Don Mueang -- it's one of Bangkok's two main airports -- as the flood response center.

Now, authorities say the floodwaters have reached there as well. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says protecting the Thai capital's inner city district remains a priority.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YINGLUCK SHINAWATRA, THAI PRIME MINISTER: Right now, we try to manage and to control the water level by using all the dams and also the dikes by King (ph) Drive to try to slow the water, the flow of the water. So we believe that from next month, we should come back from the situation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: And with the floodwaters spreading and more high tides expected this week, authorities are urging people not to panic.

Paula Hancocks reports from Bangkok.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Water is inching ever closer to central Bangkok. This Monday, we've seen some buildings in the central business district start to put up sandbags around their entrances just in case. Authorities, though, do tell CNN that there's still confident that the central part of Bangkok can remain dry.

That is little comfort, though, for those in the suburbs. We are seeing more suburbs in the north being submerged in water, and more neighborhoods are having to be evacuated.

Also, the Don Mueang domestic airport in Bangkok is starting to be surrounded by water, a meter of water in some areas there. Now, we have about 3,500 people that we've seen in tiny tents within the domestic airport, in the departures and the arrivals area. Authorities say that they won't be moving those evacuees anywhere, they are safe on the higher levels.

But, ironically, this airport is also where the flood relief operations command is headquartered. They're considering whether or not they have to move out to try and keep the head course dry.

Now, also, one university area which was being used as an evacuation center is now being evacuated itself. Four thousand people having to leave there because of the waters cutting off electricity there. They're now being moved further into central Bangkok, into a stadium.

The Bangkok governor this Monday has been calling for more volunteers to help with sandbagging efforts, particularly for two industrial states. In the eastern part of Bangkok, the authorities are understandably desperate to keep the economic heart of the capital safe, and they are racing against time. There's more than a thousand soldiers also in that effort in these two industrial states.

And remember, around seven industrial states have already been inundated with water north of the capital. Many of those have been under water for over a week.

Now, while water further north, we're being told by authorities, is actually starting to recede from the northern parts of Thailand, within Bangkok itself the waters are still rising. The Chao Phraya River, which runs through the capital, is still rising. The next focus for authorities is next weekend and into early next week, when the high tides come back once again. Obviously, that will hamper some of the water flowing through the canals and through the rivers, into the sea.

We have been told by authorities they believe that it will be at least two weeks before we can see the situation start to improve. Some said it could be up to six weeks before the waters recede.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Bangkok.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: A day after the U.S. Embassy in Kenya warned a terror attack might be imminent, a grenade either thrown or placed inside a Nairobi nightclub early on Monday morning injured a dozen people. No one has claimed responsibility, and police are investigating.

The attacks comes about a week after Kenya sent troops to Somalia to track down al-Shabaab militants. In response, al-Shabaab leaders said that they would retaliate.

And ahead on NEWS STREAM, questions linger about the chaotic final moments of Moammar Gadhafi's life. Libya's triumphant revolutionary fighters are celebrating, but others are asking, just how did Gadhafi die?

A meeting of the minds on the eurozone debt crisis. Can Germany and France come up with a cure.

And a hero's welcome for rugby's reigning World Cup champs.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: Welcome back.

Now, celebrations continued across Libya over the weekend as supporters of the country's National Transitional Council cheered news of Moammar Gadhafi's death and the end of his 42-year grip on power.

Nick Paton Walsh was there as the NTC finally declared Libya liberated.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: An intense celebration, but there's also extreme chaos. This procession of people, literally pushing towards the (INAUDIBLE) despite the intense security of this historic event. Perhaps a sign of how difficult it's going to be to withhold people in their desire to celebrate, their desire to see progress in Libya, and also to have some kind of order here to keep people of the rebel movement about to appear on stage and deliver a momentum speech.

MUSTAFA JALIL, CHAIRMAN, NTC (through translator): This revolution started peacefully, demanded the minimum of legitimate tribes. But it was faced with violence, and excessive violence, so God has put to us what can help us to gain victories.

WALSH: While these celebrations continue (INAUDIBLE), surely the words of Mustafa Abdul Jalil, who declared the country's liberation an hour ago, just to my right here, echoing in people's ears, calling on Libyans for honesty, patience and tolerance, asking them to forget about (INAUDIBLE), saying that all brothers, united at last (ph). Clearly a recognition of a need to appeal to a better nature of people after this lengthy and bitter civil war, as the road ahead of reconstruction, redevelopment, and rebuilding, finding a new life after the Gadhafi regime could prove to be even longer (ph).

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Benghazi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: And amid those raucous celebrations in Libya, questions are growing louder about events leading up to Sirte's fall and Moammar Gadhafi's death.

Now, take a look at this image. It's from Human Rights Watch. And this was taken on Sunday in the garden of Sirte's Mahari hotel.

Human Rights Watch says 53 bodies were found, some with bullet wounds and hands tied behind their backs. Human Rights Watch says that residents identified many of the corpses as pro-Gadhafi supporters, and they are calling for an immediate investigation.

And the questions don't end there. The manner of Gadhafi's death is also sparking speculation. An autopsy confirms he died of a gunshot wound to the head, and whether it was at close range or in crossfire remains to be answered.

Now, the United Nations and activist groups are calling for an investigation into Gadhafi's death. Amnesty International is one of them and issued this statement: "Investigating whether or not his death was a war crime might be unpopular. However, the NTC must apply the same standards to all, affording justice even to those who categorically denied it to others."

Now, Dan Rivers has more on the controversy surrounding Gadhafi's death.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN RIVERS, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With liberation just declared, questions about Moammar Gadhafi's death just won't go away. This video obtained by Reuters purports to show the ambulance carrying Gadhafi's corpse mobbed by fighters.

This man claims to have killed the former dictator. Another screams he witnessed that shooting. Neither seems remorseful.

CNN could not independently confirm these claims.

This video also emerged over the weekend showing a gun being brandished near Gadhafi's head, images that throw into question the transitional government's claims that the former dictators was killed in the crossfire after he was captured. His body was on public display for two days until it was removed for autopsy and then returned to cold storage for further viewing. The autopsy concluded he had been killed by a shot to the head, but it's not clear if that shot was at close range. The specific details of the report have been passed to Libya's attorney general and have not been released.

(on camera): The NTC said they would treat Gadhafi's body with dignity, but now he and his son have been turned into a ghoulish freak show, with people queuing for hours to see the former dictator of Libya.

(voice-over): His death has tainted the declaration of Libya's independence in Benghazi. Mustafa Abdul Jalil, the chairman of the National Transitional Council, told a crowd of tens of thousands that tolerance, forgiveness and reconciliation were (INAUDIBLE) for Libya's future success, but his words are apparently ringing hollow to some who point to these disturbing scenes of Gadhafi's last minutes alive.

Dan Rivers, CNN, Tripoli.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: An autopsy was also conducted on Gadhafi's son Mutassim, who was killed around the same time. Now, a pro-Gadhafi TV station has aired a video said to be of his capture, and we want to show you a portion of it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MUTASSIM GADHAFI, MOAMMAR GADHAFI'S SON (through translator): Oh, life is so strange. Now the entire world is watching you as a wounded man. We will treat you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: Now, that is Mutassim there on the screen. You can hear his captors in the background. They're repeatedly taunting him, while Mutassim, himself, he sits slightly dazed, as you can see, wiping blood from his face.

Now, this right here next to me, this is how the European stock markets stand at the moment. And the early optimism that we saw early on in the trading day appears to be on the wane just a touch, despite hopes of a solution to the European debt crisis. That is after these two figures, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, announced that they had made significant progress on a plan to solve the region's financial woes.

And we'll have more on that in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: All right. Coming to you live from Hong Kong, you are back watching NEWS STREAM.

Now, it has taken a while, but there might be some progress in Europe. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had been at odds over how to solve the European debt crisis, but at a meeting in Brussels on Sunday, President Sarkozy, he reportedly backed down on one main sticking point, meaning the eurozone could be one step closer to finalizing a recovery plan.

Final agreement isn't expected until Wednesday, ahead of a big summit in Cannes in early November, but nothing is set in stone yet.

Now, Nina Dos Santos joins us now live from Brussels.

And Nina, give us more details on the recovery plan that is taking shape there.

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. First off, Kristie, let's tell you exactly what it is that they're trying to find a solution to. They're trying to find one solution that fits all 17 nations within the eurozone, that share the euro as the single currency, but to adjust three specific and interlinked, complex issues.

On the one hand, they're going to have to boost the financial firepower in the eurozone, bail out (INAUDIBLE) to try and (INAUDIBLE) the Greek problems and the problems that a disorderly default by Greece could cause for other eurozone countries, like, for instance, Italy. So, the ESFS will have to be boosted somehow. The question is, how, if you don't have more money allocated to that fund?

They're also going to have to be imposing haircuts on investors. This means to try and give Greece a bit of a breathing space on the debts that it just can't pay back at the moment. Well, investors will have to share more of the pain of bailing this country out, and that means they could have some of the investments they have in Greek sovereigns written down to the tune of more than 21 percent, which was already what we saw agreed the last time these leaders came to a conclusion in July.

And then, finally, they did make some progress -- at least their finance ministers did -- two days ago, when it comes to a plan to re-capitalize the banks. That could be worth about 100 billion euros, nearly $140 billion.

Now, the Polish president, Jerzy Buzek, is also the president of the European Parliament at the moment, because Poland is hosting its rotating presidency of the European Union. So he was steering a lot of these discussions. He told me that there's no question there will be a deal in place by Wednesday evening.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JERZY BUZEK, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: I am quite sure that there will be a solution, because we need a comprehensive package of proposals for the eurozone and for the European Union as a whole. And it will be given as late as Wednesday, but I'm quite sure that it will be the popular solution found. And at the end, it will be a full agreement, because we need cooperation and we need full agreement, and to be united before the G- 20 meeting, very important for the global economy. A strong signal from the European Union that we are united is important for financial markets all over the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOS SANTOS: And, as you can see, Kristie, the markets have already borne the brunt of what wasn't decided today. A lot of optimism out there in the markets. The question is, will it last until Wednesday, especially now that people are getting rather concerned about Italy? And reportedly, there was an ultimatum issued by Merkel and Sarkozy to the prime minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, to rein in those debts ASAP.

STOUT: So, a resolution by Wednesday. We'll be looking out for it.

Nina Dos Santos, joining us live from Brussels.

Thank you.

And we will bring you more from the eurozone summit and the debate on whether the U.K. should exit the European Union next hour on "WORLD BUSINESS TODAY."

Now, still ahead here on NEWS STREAM --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On the surface you would say that doesn't happen, but just yesterday we rescued a 5-year-old girl here in Svay Pak.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: -- our Freedom Project takes us to a village in Cambodia where things have largely changed for the better as efforts grow to protect young girls from the sex trade.

And happy to wait in line. Tunisia's registered voters turn out in high numbers for the country's landmark polls.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.

Now Turkish officials say more than 200 people are dead following Sunday's massive earthquake in the country's southeast, another 1,300 are injured. The 7.2 magnitude quake, it hit one of the country's poorest regions destroying buildings, roads, and school dormitories. And rescue teams are scouring the rubble for trapped survivors.

Now 53 bodies were found in a hotel that's been under anti-Gadhafi fighter control in Sirte on Sunday. According to Human Rights Watch, the bodies are those of supports of Moammar Gadhafi. The rights group is calling on Libyan authorities to investigate.

Janet Jackson canceled her shows in Australia to be with her family during what could be the last week of Conrad Murray's trial. Michael Jackson's physician has been charged with involuntary manslaughter of the pop star's death in 2009. And this week his defense will challenge testimony that Murray's treatment of the pop star was so grossly negligent it was criminal.

Now with the CNN Freedom Project we're helping keep the spotlight on human trafficking. And with that in mind, a powerful documentary made its TV premiere on CNN this weekend. Not My Life, it was filmed on five continents across four years. And it touches on all forms of modern-day slavery from bonded labor to child soldiers, but perhaps the most difficult to comprehend is child sex trafficking. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On the shores of the Mekong River, outside Phom Pehn live children whose lives are in daily danger. To the homes of these poor families come sex traffickers looking for young girls to bring into the city where travelers from abroad await them.

DON BREWSTER, AGAPE INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS: Right behind me you see the two-story yellow building looks pretty nice compared to the other buildings back there. That's one of the brothels specifically for young girls. Westerners, foreigners from all over the world come to that brothel every day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what do you have down behind that little alleyway. What do you see when you go back there?

BREWSTER: You'll see row upon row actually of tiny little shacks. You'll see little boardwalks, and I mean little narrow boards to walk in between those places. Those are holding pens for young girls. And when a westerner, or again a foreigner comes to this village they'll take them back there. They'll go house to house, or shack to shack really, look at the girls, pick one out and then have them delivered to their guest house in a hotel that they're staying at.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the guest house is also in the vicinity?

BREWSTER: Yeah, usually they'll take them back to Phom Pehn.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really?

BREWSTER: Yeah, depends on the deal they negotiate. It could be -- could keep them as little as overnight or a few hours to a week or a month.

Oh yeah, guys will come and they'll take a girl for a month.

We have girls at our aftercare center who guys would come in once a quarter and have that -- pick up that same girl and have them for a month at a time. And I mean, just brutalize them for that month.

Westerners come in to Svay Pak everyday. I mean, there's not a single day Westerners don't come here. And there's no reason to come here except for that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: Absolutely horrific. And that was Don Brewster of the organization Agape International Missions.

And CNN has just traveled to the Cambodian village you saw in that clip. And there, our Sarah Sidner, she met dozens of girls who had either been tricked into the sex trade or else directly sold into it by members of their own families.

Now Sarah Sidner is in Phom Pehn. She joins us now live -- Sarah.

SARAH SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDNET: Yeah, Kristie, we did revisit Svay Pak which is a few kilometers outside the capital Phom Pehn. That place has a terrible reputation, a reputation for selling young girls, as young as the age of 5 years old for the use of sex, generally. Men going in, taking their girls sometimes back here to the capital and doing whatever they want with them.

What we found when we arrived was a place that -- it wasn't really out and open. You couldn't see it. It wasn't in your face, but it was certainly still going on.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER: This is Svay Pak, Cambodia, once a place known for openly selling little girls to foreign predators looking for sex. Poli (ph) was one of those girls.

"I was about 5 or 6 years old," she says.

Before she could read, she was working in a brothel.

"The first man said to me I want to have sex with you. At the time, I didn't know what to do. No one could help me," she says.

Dozens of girls have had the same experience here.

This seven foot by seven foot windowless room with just a bed in it was where little girls were forced to have sex. This was actually a part of a brothel that specialized in prepubescent girls.

And this is where Poli (ph) once lived and suffered as a sex slave.

"At the beginning, they talked to me gently, but when they raped me they also beat me up," she says.

Poli (ph) is now 18 and no longer trapped. She found a safe haven after Don Brewster and his wife moved into the neighborhood and began operating a rehabilitation center for child sex slaves.

BREWSTER: I really think it's an evil. I mean, there's no understanding it. I mean, there's no -- the girls, I mean, they're in such pain and suffer so greatly and it's obvious to the man that's raping them.

SIDNER: Things have changed in Svay Pak. Girls no longer beacon openly from behind barred windows.

BREWSTER: On the surface you would say that doesn't happen. But just yesterday we rescued a 5 year old girl here in Svay Pak.

SIDNER: But the sex trade is operating more discretely and much less pervasive than it was before there was a place that provided a secure environment for children to just be children.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER: Now you might be wondering where exactly the (inaudible) are, where the police are, where the government authorities are to get rid of this problem that they know exists in this particular part of Cambodia.

Actually they have gone into the area. There have been raids. Some of the brothels have been shut down. But child advocates say the police have also been complicit, sometimes protecting the brothel owners, the very people who sell these young girls for sex -- Kristie.

STOUT: You know, Sarah, thankfully that there is one village there in Cambodia that is working to end the child sex trade, but what about elsewhere in the country? And just how pervasive is child sex slavery in Cambodia?

SIDNER: Well, I think the problem in Cambodia is that there is a mindset from those who would do terrible things to children, predators basically, those people who would come into this country, pedophiles, looking for easy access to a child. This country is known to be a place where that can happen easily, where the punishment, you can just buy someone off and you can get away with it. And as long as Cambodia is known as a place that allows this then it will likely continue not just in this one part of the country, but in many parts of the country.

And the government is trying to do something about that. We understand there's a governor in one part of Cambodia who is really telling police you don't crack down on this, you'll lose your job.

So there is work being done. And there are organizations in here. And people on the ground, people in Svay Pak, families have started telling on other families who are even selling their own children, trying to make sure this doesn't happen to another child. But there is definitely a lot of work still needs to be done here in Cambodia, Kristie.

STOUT: Yeah, especially as we just heard from that one worker a 5 year old girl was just recently saved from a child sex trafficking ring there in Cambodia. A lot needs to be done there.

Sarah Sidner on the story. Thank you very much for that.

And you can find out more, a lot more, about modern-day slavery and how CNN is trying to expose it and bring it to an end on this web site. And there, you can play video reports, you can find out what you can do to help. It's all at CNN.com/Freedom.

Now many people like these women here are proudly showing their ink covered fingers in Tunisia. And they are among the millions who turned out across the country to vote this weekend.

Now Sunday marked Tunisia's first national election since January's uprising tossed President Ben Ali from power and helped trigger the wave of revolutions known as the Arab Spring across the region.

Now more than 90 percent of Tunisia's registered voters cast ballots. That is a stunning turnout. And one couple said that they had waited 50 years for the chance to vote.

Now Ivan Watson joins us now live from Tunis. And Ivan, tell us more about these voters. Who showed up to the polling stations to register and to vote?

IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kristie, Tunisia was the first of the Arab countries this year to overthrow its long ruling dictator. And now it appears to have been the first of the Arab Spring countries to hold a peaceful, and what so far international observers are saying, successful election.

You had really unexpectedly large turnout in Sunday's historic vote with some election officials saying that as many as 90 percent of pre- registered voters showed up at the polls, more than they anticipated. They say that there were large numbers of voters who didn't register in advance, who showed up and tried to register at the last minute using a pretty ingenious method via text message through cell phones to try to cast their last minute ballots.

And we talked to an international observer who had high marks for the vote that she saw on Sunday. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANE HARMAN, WILSON CENTER: Tunisia has set a marker here, a marker for what you do from a standing start. They had nothing going on here except two decades of autocratic, corrupt rule nine months ago, nine months ago. This is how you do a fair election. This is how people participate. And this is how you open it to the world to see it while it's happening.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: Now, Kristie, no official results have come out yet. And the counting process is pretty complicated, because you had more than 60 political parties, thousands of independent candidates. You know, I saw ballots in some districts where there was as many as 95 choices that an individual voter could pick from, which is remarkable in a country that had decades of single party rule. So it's taking a long time to count up the ballots and figure out who has won.

The contest here is for 217 seats in a constituent assembly. This is going to be charged with drawing up an entirely new constitution and probably laying the framework for a post dictatorial state, a system of government here in Tunisia.

The initial indicators that we are seeing are that the moderate Islamist el-Nahda Party probably did quite well as was predicted in pre- election polls. The contest is going to be for which of the secular parties will win second and third place in what can truly be described as a historic election here in Tunisia -- Kristie.

STOUT: Yeah, historic -- people in Tunisia and all over the Arab world are watching this democratic milestone.

Ivan, can the transition in Tunisia be replicated in other Arab Spring countries?

WATSON: Well, that's really going to be the test, isn't it? But we have to remember that Tunisia by overthrowing its dictator peacefully in January really inspired this historic landmark pro-democracy movement that we've seen sweep across so many Arab countries now which we call the Arab Spring. And I think many Tunisians who were so excited and overjoyed at the simple act of casting their ballot for the person that they chose yesterday also felt history on their shoulders, that they were also setting once again an example to other countries here in North Africa and across the Middle East to Libya, to Egypt which is expected to hold elections in a little bit more than a month time.

They did see themselves, some of the people told me, as role models for other countries which are having in some cases a much more violent transition period as you can see in Libya which is right next door.

STOUT: All right. Ivan Watson joining us live from Tunis. Thank you very much for that.

Now in an exclusive interview with CNN, Jordan's King Abdullah has reiterated his commitment to political reform. The king's comments come as the country's prime minister designate moves to form a new government.

Now earlier, King Abdullah told CNN's John Deftarios that holding national elections next year remains the goal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KING ABDULLAH, JORDAN: If we're going from the Arab Spring to the Arab Summer, in other words we need to role up our sleeves and we have to get -- to get to national elections in 2012 we have to ratify 30 rules and amendments. So there's going to tremendous work between the government and the parliament so that we can get ourselves in position for elections in 2012.

JOHN DEFTARIOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: But some would say this is a knee- jerk reaction to the street. It's almost desperate if you're going to change governments that quickly. You're not letting a government settle in to get a mandate to change laws.

ABDULLAH: I don't think it was a knee-jerk reaction. It's just if we're sincere about getting Jordan to a national elections and a new phase of political life, you've got to get the right players. So this prime minister is coming in for a specific reason so that we can achieve those ends.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: And you can hear more of that exclusive interview with King Abdullah of Jordan in just over three hours time. Tune in to Prism right here on CNN.

Now still to come on News Stream we will look back on a historic win for the All Blacks and a monumental party for all of New Zealand.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: Welcome back.

It is time now for a look at sport. And for the second time in as many weeks the world of motor sport is mourning the death of one of its own. Pedro Pinto is in London with more -- Pedro.

PEDRO PINTO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kristie.

Well, last Sunday Indycar driver Dan Wheldon died in an accident in Las Vegas. This Sunday it was MotoGP driver Marco Simoncelli who passed away following a crash at the Malaysian Grand Prix. The tributes have been pouring in for the 24 year old Italian. In his hometown of Coriano locals gathered in the central square and left flowers and personal messages for the young rider who always had number 58 in MotoGP.

Simoncelli has been described as someone who was daring on the track, but caring off it. Seven time world champion Valentino Rossi said on Twitter, and I quote, "Simoncelli for me was like a younger brother: so strong on track and so sweet in the normal life. I will miss him a lot," end quote.

Well, you've probably have seen pictures of the crash which took Simoncelli's life. It happened just four minutes into the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang. He lost control of his bike and then was hit by Collin Edwards and Valentino Rossi as he slid across the track on his Honda.

The Italians helmet was knocked off and he was left laying on the circuit motionless. He was taken to the medical center for treatment, but was pronounced dead 45 minutes later. The race was canceled.

Simoncelli's death was the first in the premiere class of motorcycle racing since 2003.

On a lighter note, in Major League Baseball the World Series is now tied at 2 games apiece. The Texas Rangers won game 4 at home against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday night.

The Rangers manager Ron Washington gave starting pitcher Derrick Holland a pep talk before the game and it seemed to work perfectly as he didn't give up a single run.

Josh Hamilton gave Texas the lead in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI double.

No more runs were scored until the sixth. Mike Napoli changed all of that with two men on. He smacked a shot to left off the first pitch from reliever Mitchell Boggs. That made it 4-0.

Holland, meanwhile, had a fantastic night on the mound going eight- and-a-third scoreless innings. He finished with seven strikeouts. The Rangers win. And the series is now tied at 2.

That is a quick look at the sports headlines for this hour. Kristie, back to you.

STOUT: Pedro, thank you.

Now it took them 24 years, but the All Blacks have finally got their hands on the rugby world cup again. New Zealand edged out France by 8-7 in Sunday's final, triggering a nationwide party.

And as the festivities continued into today, Alex Thomas was in the thick of it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: This is a once in a lifetime experience for New Zealanders, cheering on their famous team, the All Blacks, as they parade through Auckland as rugby's new world champions.

We've seen people on top of phone boxes, on top of bus shelters, leaning out of office windows, getting any vantage point they can to see captain Richie McCaw and his boys with that famous Webb Ellis trophy.

It was so much closer than they had expected against France in the final. Just a one point margin of victory. But maybe that makes the success all the sweeter.

This won't be the only parade that the All Blacks team does. They're going to go on to other cities, too. Most notably Christchurch. And that's very poignant. That town suffered a devastating earthquake earlier in the year. It damaged the stadium there and meant they couldn't host any world cup games.

As the trophy is lifted again -- every time it is, the crowd cheer. They are relishing this moment. And why shouldn't they?

World cup organizers said this tournament will be played out in a stadium of 4 million, the population of this country. And by common consent they delivered that.

The All Blacks' victory is just the icing on the cake.

Alex Thomas, CNN, Auckland, New Zealand.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: And the All Blacks have just been voted the IRB team of the year. Graham Henry won the coach of the year award. And Rugby's governing body did surprise a lot of people by giving the player of the year award to French international Thierry Dusautoir.

Now ahead here on News Stream, a remarkable man's remarkable life. A new authorized biography of Steve Jobs is hitting store shelves. And it's divulging some fascinating facts like whether Apple's co-founder ever met his biological father.

Find out, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: Welcome back.

Now for Apple watchers and fans of Steve Jobs there is a lot of digest today. There's the just released official biography, new audio recordings of Steve Jobs, and a new online video. Now Apple has released this video of its company wide memorial service for the late co-founder available on Apple.com. It is called a celebration of Steve's life. And in it, Apple CEO Tim Cook reveals Jobs' parting advice to him. Quote, "don't ask what I would do. Don't ask what I would want. Just do what's right."

Now the official biography is now available for download via iTunes and Kindle. And already some juicy highlights are getting posted online.

Now here's an excerpt. It's about a shouting match between Steve Jobs and the Google guys Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Now Jobs had tried to dissuade them from developing the Android operating system. In fact, he offered Google guaranteed iPhone access and home screen icons to not develop Android.

And finally there is the 60 Minutes interview with Jobs' biographer Walter Isaacson. Now he conducted more than 40 interviews with Steve Jobs over two years as has released some of the audio recordings. And one remarkable story is how Steve Jobs meets his biological father by accident.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALTER ISAACSON, AUTHOR: So Mona goes to the coffee shop, meets this guy, Mr. Jandali, who says among other things when she asks, you know how sorry he is -- but then he says that he had had another child. And Mona said, what happened to him? He said, oh I don't know. We'll never hear from him again.

And then he says, I wish you could have seen me when I was running a bigger restaurant. I used to run one of the best restaurants in Silicon Valley. Everybody used to come there even Steve Jobs used to eat there.

And Mona is sort of taken aback. And bites her tongue and doesn't say Steve Jobs is your son. But she looks shocked. And he says, yeah, he was a great tipper.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: And Steve Jobs said that he shook hands with his biological father and that was it. And the two men never spoke again.

And finally, it is time to go over and out there with a rugby theme. Now at the start of the tournament New Zealand's fourth choice fly half was widely chastised and seemingly unlikely to get a game, but following injuries Steven Donald, aka Beaver, was called up for the biggest match of his career. Even on the eve of the world cup final, New Zealand cartoonist Tom Scott, he drew this. With full time up on the clock, directly in front of the post, Donald has an easy kick to win the cup. And below as a man screams in horror, he was awakened from his nightmare.

Well, Scott's premonition, it all came true. The fourth string playmaker, he found himself with the wait of the nation on his shoulders, but the Beaver he was up to the task, kicking the 3 points that ultimately sealed victory for the All Blacks, sending the players and the whole country into raptures. From zero to hero, chump to champ, once again New Zealand believes in Beaver.

And that is News Stream, but the news continues at CNN. World Business Today is next.

END