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Activists Say Attacks on Homs Continue; Kim Jong-Un Addresses Country for First Time; Alleged Norway Shooter on Trial; ; Brazen Attacks in Afghanistan; Piermario Morosini Tragedy

Aired April 16, 2012 - 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 Norway. The man accused of 77 people admits he did it, but tells the court it was in self-defense.

Kabul under siege as militants stage an 18-hour attack on the Afghan capital.

And we'll tell you the sad story of Piermario Morosini, the Italian footballer who collapsed and died during a match.

A not guilty plea and a far-right salute. It's day one in the trial of Anders Behring Breivik, the man accused of killing 77 people in Norway and committing what's been called the country's worst atrocity since World War II.

Now, Breivik gave a clenched-fist salute and then pleaded not guilty as his trial got under way on Monday. He admits carrying out a bomb attack in Oslo on July the 22nd and then, dressed as a police officer, spending more than an hour on a shooting rampage of the nearby island of Utoeya. But he denies criminal responsibility for the two attacks, claiming he was acting in self-defense.

Now, on Utoeya Island, authorities say that Breivik gunned down 69 people, most of them teenagers, at a youth camp organized by Norway's ruling Labour Party.

Diana Magnay reports from the island that has been changed forever.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nearly nine months since the gunman's murderous rampage, the island of Utoeya has been cleared of the signs of the killings. The hideous work of the first days and weeks long done identifying and removing the dead, clearing the bullet cases, the traces of the carnage.

(on camera): This is the cafeteria, one of the buildings that is going to be pulled down. And I have the indictment against Breivik here in my hand, and you can read pages of names of people who were killed, gunned down here, most of them teenagers.

(voice-over): It will be hard for those who look out over Utoeya each day to forget the horror.

JORN OVERBY, RESCUER: It's spooky as you see this fog -- the rain and fog coming out down there, because it was like that that Friday.

MAGNAY: Jorn Overby doesn't know how many he rescued that night -- 15, maybe more, before the police came. At one point, Anders Behring Breivik shot at him as he was pulling children from the water.

(on camera): Was it adrenaline that was keeping you going? Was it fear? What was it?

OVERBY: No, I don't think -- I don't think at all of it, because acting like a machine. I have to rescue people. It was all I think about.

MAGNAY (voice-over): He shows me the tattoo his daughter designed, the indelible imprint of the 22nd of July on his skin and on his memory.

OVERBY: I survived, but I will never forget it.

MAGNAY: Mads Hartz also took his boat out that night. Later, after hours spent ferrying survivors, the police asked him to take the perpetrator, Breivik, back to shore.

(on camera): And how did he behave?

MAADS HARTZ, RESCUER: He was tired and (INAUDIBLE). I was tired by myself, been there many hours. So I don't think so very much about it that night, but the day after I was thinking more about it, and -- but someone needed to bring him back to the (INAUDIBLE) so they can bring him back to - - in a cell.

MAGNAY (voice-over): Now the bereaved will have to face this man each day in court. For a country still in trauma, his trial is a 10-week ordeal.

HARTZ: I don't know if I'll follow the trial every day. I don't need that.

MAGNAY: A country forever marked by the attacks in Oslo and on Utoeya, as much now a part of the national identity as Jorn Overby's tattoo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: So was Breivik sane or insane at the time of the killings? Now, that is a question the court must answer at the trial, which is expected to take 10 weeks.

Diana Magnay is in Oslo following the case. She joins us now live.

Diana, Breivik has pleaded not guilty, but what exactly did he tell the court today?

MAGNAY: Hi, Kristie.

Well, yes, he's spoken twice. The first time, to say that he didn't respect the authorities of the court because he believes that they were appointed by the multicultural political parties. You see, he believes that the ruling Labour Party is responsible for the influx of Muslims, as he sees it, into Europe, and that is a war that he believes he is fighting, trying to rid Europe of Muslims.

And this is, therefore, the plea that he submitted. Let's just take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELISABETH ARNTZEN, JUDGE (through translator): Do you plead guilty, completely or in part, to these charges?

ANDERS BEHRING BREIVIK, DEFENDANT (through translator): I acknowledge the acts, but I do not plead guilty. And I claim that I was doing it in self- defense.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MAGNAY: And Kristie, you know, the prosecution read out the indictment against Breivik, the 77 names of the people he killed in those attacks in Oslo and then on the island of Utoeya. And now they are going to a presentation of where exactly those children -- really half of the 69 killed on the island were under 17 -- where exactly they were gunned down. It is horrific stuff.

We've just been listening to an audio recording of a girl who locked herself in a loo, calling the police, absolutely terrified, horror in her voice. And you can hear in the background the firing, endless firing, as he carried on his rampage.

Throughout all of that, he has shown absolutely no emotion at all. The only emotion that he has shown so far in the proceeding is when his own video was shown, a sort of manifesto for this war that he believes he's fighting. And it was only at that, perhaps, that the pride of his work -- I can only guess at his motives, but it was only when he saw his own work, his own sort of presentation about the Islamization of Europe, as he sees it, that he actually shed a tear -- Kristie.

STOUT: You know, there was -- and let's talk more about that moment during the trial, when he seemed to shed a tear.

What happened?

MAGNAY: Well, it was video played that he had created to run alongside his manifesto. He's written a sort of rambling 1,500-page document all about the Islamization of Europe, as he sees it, and about how to wage a war against that as a (INAUDIBLE), which is how he styles himself. And this was a sort of 15-minute video that also goes as a sort of visual accompaniment of this manifesto that he himself produced.

And it was in the third part talking about the hope -- hope -- talking about the fact that there is some hope, as he describes it, of Europe being rid of Muslims. And it was at that moment that you could see him visibly emotional, his bottom lip shaking, tears in his eyes, at the end of the session in the morning, the only point at which he has shown some emotion.

And we know from the psychiatrist's report that this is a man who has a real problem in showing any kind of -- in feeling any kind of empathy, that he has a sort of narcissistic personality disorder, a grandiose self image, that it really is all about him. And he has a great deal of difficulty really feeling anything for anybody else. And you certainly got a sense of that in this morning's proceedings -- Kristie.

STOUT: And we also heard from the prosecutor today. He commented on not only Breivik's ideology, but his playing of the "World of Warcraft." What exactly did the prosecution say, and will that be a major element of this trial?

MAGNAY: Well, I imagine we'll be returning to the world of war craft element.

Yes, we know from the manifesto, in fact, Breivik himself admits that over the last few years, he played "World of Warcraft," this pretty violent video game, pretty much constantly. For a year, he was playing it as much as 12 hours a day. And it does make you wonder and there has been speculation, you know, did he -- did he actually see these children on the island of Utoeya as real? Did they appear real to him? Did he feel that he was playing some sort of virtual video game where he had the power of life and death over these children?

You know, these are questions that have been asked in the run-up to this trial. These are probably points that the prosecution will be referring to as they continue with their charges -- Kristie.

STOUT: We'll be looking out for that.

Diana Magnay, joining us live from Oslo.

Thank you.

Now, still to come here on NEWS STREAM, major concerns about security in Kabul and other Afghan cities after insurgents carry out a wave of brazen attacks.

Reported sightings of more than 100 tornadoes in the United States as severe storms bear down on the Midwest and the plains. And we go in chase of the storm.

And Mike Tyson starts a new chapter in his life. From the boxing ring to a Las Vegas stage, he promises to pull no punches.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE TYSON, FORMER PROFESSIONAL BOXER: I should never have met this woman and talked to her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: Now, 18 hours of terror have tested the mettle of Afghan security forces as the clock ticks toward the withdrawal of NATO troops. Now, the Afghan military countered a series of brazen attacks in the heart of Kabul and elsewhere on Sunday and early Monday. Thirty-five insurgents died in the operation.

Now, the Taliban claim they coordinated the attacks which also killed four civilians and eight Afghan troops. Some U.S. and Afghan officials suspect that they were actually the work of the Haqqani network.

No matter who was responsible, the scope and ambition of these latest assaults is a source of concern to the NATO command in Afghanistan. Four suicide bombers wearing women's burqas attacked an airfield in the eastern city of Jalalabad, where U.S. troops are based. Three of those attackers were killed.

And further South, in Gardez, eight civilians were injured as a group of suicide bombers targeted a police training center. But the focus of the offensive, it was the capital of Kabul, where the U.S., British, German and Japanese embassies were among those targeted, as well as the Afghan parliament. Officials say that all but one of the attackers died, most in clashes with security forces.

Now, CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom was in Kabul as those attacks were taking place, and he joins us now live from the Afghan capital.

Mohammed, tell us more about the assault and just how the attackers were able to target the center of Kabul.

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kristie, the assault was officially over around 7:00 a.m. local this morning, about 18 hours after it initially started here in this very heavily guarded, heavily fortified section of central Kabul. Now, the Interior Ministry today announced some of the details as to how some of these insurgents were able to target these areas. We were told that, in fact, some insurgents wore burqas, disguised themselves as women, and that in central Kabul, they were able to get past security checkpoints by even having flowers in their cars so they can fool security personnel here into thinking they were going possibly to wedding parties or other gatherings where women would be.

Now, throughout the overnight hours, from about 1:00 a.m. until about 4:00 or 5:00 a.m., we heard RPGs multiple times, loud blasts. These RPGs were fired into an empty building where insurgents were hiding out, launching their attacks from throughout the day.

We also heard helicopters, coalition forces, helicopters. Air support was being given to Afghan security forces as they were trying to end these operations against the insurgents here in central Kabul.

Now, there's finally been a statement from the presidential palace here. It was released just a short while ago. It reads in part, "President Hamid Karzai pointed out that the issue of terrorists entering Kabul and other cities showed an intelligence failure for Afghans and especially NATO, which should seriously be looked at."

It's interesting to note here that President Karzai is including NATO as another institution that should be blamed for the failure of intelligence gathering. Afghan security forces are officially in charge of security in Kabul. They're meant to be taking over security for other parts of the country as well as the drawdown continues. And this really points to the divisions and the confusion over who exactly is in charge of security here in Afghanistan -- Kristie.

STOUT: Yes, there was this debate out why this attack was able to take place, also a debate over who is truly responsibly for it. Is it the Taliban or is it the Haqqani network?

JAMJOOM: Another interesting question, Kristie, because although the Taliban did claim responsibility for these attacks early on yesterday, and they explained why they were attacking these different parts of Afghanistan -- and they were saying that it was also part of their spring offensive -- the fact of the matter is that, as the day wore on, more officials started saying that they believe that, in fact, this was the work of the Haqqani network. Now, the Haqqani network another Islamist militant network with ties to al Qaeda, this one based in Pakistan, but works under the umbrella of the Taliban as well and sometimes supports the Taliban here in Afghanistan.

It will be interesting to see how exactly this plays out. But even in the press conference today with the Interior Ministry, the interior minister was saying at times that this was the Taliban, and then at other times saying that they had arrested some of the insurgents and that some of these insurgents had said that they were part of the Haqqani network -- Kristie.

STOUT: Now, the Taliban claiming that they're behind this attack. They said that this was an opening of its spring offensive.

So should we expect more such attacks ahead?

JAMJOOM: It would not be surprising to see more attacks, Kristie. This time of year, when the weather warms up, typically the time that the spring offensive by the Taliban is launched.

Now, we were told by Taliban spokespeople yesterday that, in fact, this was a precursor to their spring offensive, which would be launched in the days to come. Because the weather has warmed up substantially in the last couple of weeks here in Afghanistan, it's easier for insurgents and militants to move around, it's easier for them to plan and carry out attacks, as opposed to how difficult it is to try to do so in the bitterly harsh, cold winters here in Afghanistan.

So this is the time of year when there is traditionally an uptick in violence. And it will not be surprising to see more such attacks, and more attacks as specifically part of the spring offensive being launched -- Kristie.

STOUT: So this could be just the beginning.

Mohammed Jamjoom, joining us live from Kabul.

Thank you.

And while the U.S. is set to wind down its mission in Afghanistan, forces are determined to finish their job properly.

Now, Nick Paton Walsh joined them on an air assault deep into Taliban territory and sent us this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A last stand in a Taliban heartland. Americans and Afghans launch an air assault before dawn into a remote, hostile district of Ghazni they've not set foot in for six months.

(on camera): We've landed over an incredibly flat, exposed space, about a mile away from the village where there are two high-value targets the Americans want to arrest.

(voice-over): America's withdrawal is meant to awaken Afghan forces to take over these manhunts. But as they push into the village, in search of the Americans' most wanted local militant, the Afghans seem pretty casual. Some doors stay locked, their prey likely vanishing when they heard helicopters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They hear the birds coming and they usually flee immediately.

WALSH: But as the Americans search a former weapons cache, they become the targets.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where's it at? Where's it at? Where's it at?

WALSH (on camera): Clearly, the insurgents are keen to defend this building, or at least attack the Americans as they get near it.

(voice-over): The shots come in close, fired from a distant tree line. The Afghans spring into life, firing a rocket, and then move to flank the insurgents who keep taking potshots.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, they don't like me running.

WALSH: Warning flares from attack aircraft massing above stop the gunfire, and distant figures, probably women and children, appear, meaning a counterattack is too risky and the fight over.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the one in the white is a child.

WALSH: But keen warriors make for poor police. Riding motorcycles is illegal, and they have to decide of a punishment. Should they shoot the fuel tank? Perhaps not. They let the tires down, and then deliver what is here a rare encounter with Afghanistan's government.

That night they leave, and the Taliban surely return, knowing that without American support, the Afghan's state (ph) relevance here slips further into the distance.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STOUT: Now, Nick Paton Walsh filed that report. He now joins us live.

And Nick, what was your sense about how well trained and well equipped the Afghan soldiers are, especially in light of the brazen attacks that have taken place in Kabul and elsewhere. Are they ready to secure their country on their own?

WALSH: I think they differ widely wherever you go. I have been consistently told over the past years by NATO officials how well the Afghan security forces are improving at their task. But to be honest, many times when you go out on the ground, on patrol with them, with the Americans, they do consistently lack readiness professionalism.

I think in that piece you just saw, some of it a clear example, really, of the failures there, they're very keen to fight, they're very keen to engage the insurgency. And the Americans are always -- are very, I think, impressed by that level of vigor that they show in battle, but it's the other things around that.

It's the issue of government, it's the issue of police being here. It's how they slapped that boy for just riding a motorcycle.

Those questions remain, and that's a big fear, I think, in the months ahead, as so much more of the country is handed back to Afghan national security forces, the police or the military, what level of professional confidence do they have and what kind of Afghanistan are people leaving? Many concerns to factionalism within the armed forces, which particular part of the ethnic groups of Afghanistan they belong to. And I think there's perhaps -- there's a potential for funding (ph) collapse for this military in the years ahead, and they may fracture slowly, but that could potentially speed the country's move toward further internal conflict -- Kristie.

STOUT: Nick Paton Walsh reporting.

Thank you.

Now, the political scandal that's been gripping China has turned into a murder mystery concerning the U.K. British Prime Minister David Cameron is likely to discuss the case with a visiting Chinese delegation on Tuesday.

And you'll remember that Britain asked Beijing to reopen an investigation into the death of businessman Neil Heywood. The Briton was found dead in Chongqing last November. His body was quickly cremated without an autopsy.

And last week the wife of Chongqing's former leader, Bo Xilai, was arrested in the murder investigation. Chinese state media report that Gu Kailai, who you see here, fell out with Heywood over economic interests.

Now, Reuters quotes unnamed sources with close ties to Chinese police, who say Heywood threatened to expose her attempts to move a large sum of money abroad. She allegedly planned to kill him after he demanded a bigger cut. Some of the rumors have been swirling in China for several days.

Up next here on NEWS STREAM, Chelsea beat Tottenham by five goals to one on Sunday, but one of the goals is bringing up the old debate about goal line technology in football again. A sports update is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, you're back watching NEWS STREAM.

For the second year running, it's been hugely controversial, but it now seems certain that Bahrain's Formula 1 Grand Prix will go ahead.

Let's join Alex Thomas with more on that and other sports stories -- Alex.

ALEX THOMAS, CNN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, Kristie, the so-called Formula 1 circus is due to fly into Bahrain later, with Grand Prix organizers insisting there are no safety concerns for any of the teams or their drivers. Despite evidence the island Gulf state is still suffering from outbreaks of violence, F1 bosses have declared the race will go ahead as planned this Sunday.

Anti-government protesters have been calling for it to be canceled. However, motorsport's world governing body, the FIA, announced last week that the Grand Prix won't be called off as it was 12 months ago.

Now, if you were upset by the weekend's news over the death of Italian footballer Piermario Morosini, I'm afraid the tale is even sadder than we first realized. Morosini couldn't be saved after collapsing when his heart stopped during a Serie B match between Livornio and Pescara.

He was only 25 years old and had a tragic family history. His mother and father died before he turned 18, and his disabled brother committed suicide. The player leaves a disabled sister who needs constant care. Close friend Antonio di Natale, the Udinese captain, says he'll look after her, but is also questioning the future of his own career after that dreadful death.

So one other thing to say on this story, Kristie. The referee who gave the goal was Martin Atkinson, and he's due to be an additional assistant referee for Tuesday night's Champions League semifinal between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. And also at Euro 2012, I believe.

So, certainly, all eyes are going to be on his performance, because clearly he's having a few issues, seeing whether or not the ball can get across the line. But that is difficult to tell.

STOUT: Now a few issues, a lot of attention on this story.

Alex Thomas, thank you.

Coming up next here on NEWS STREAM, a UN observer team arrives in Syria amid reports that the city of Homs is coming under renewed attack. We have that story straight ahead.

And it is tornado season in the United States. 10 states have spent the weekend on high alert. We'll take you into the eye of the storm next on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching NEWS STREAM and these are your world headlines.

Anders Breivik, the man accused of killing 77 people in Norway last July has gone on trial in Oslo. Now Breivik is accused of carrying out a bomb attack and then going on a shooting rampage at the nearby island of Otoya. He has admitted carrying out these acts, but pleaded not guilty. Beivik has shown little emotion so far, except when the court was shown a video he made setting out his beliefs. And Breivik appeared to shed a tear.

Afghan president Hamid Karzai says a series of coordinated insurgent attacks across the country revealed a failure of NATO and Afghan intelligence. Now fighting continued until early Monday when Afghan security forces said that they have finally quelled attacks in the capital Kabul and elsewhere. Now four civilians and eight Afghan security forces were killed.

Australia says it is easing sanctions and normalizing trade with Myanmar. The foreign minister says Australia recognizes what he calls far reaching political, economic and social changes taking place in Myanmar and that Australia will encourage further reforms.

Now a team of UN observers is in the Syrian capital Damascus to monitor a truce that is barely holding together.

Activists say the city of Homs is coming under renewed attack this Monday. At least 10 people are reported to have been killed across Syria today. On Saturday, the UN security authorized the observer mission. Now six observers, they arrived in Damascus on Sunday and they are part of an advance team that should grow to 30 monitors in the coming days.

CNN's Ivan Watson, he is following the latest developments from neighboring Turkey. He joins us now live in Istanbul. And Ivan, UN peace monitors are there and yet the shelling goes on. What's the latest?

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the UN secrtary-general Ban Ki- Moon has actually come out criticizing the Syrian government for the ongoing bombardment of Homs, which should have stopped. And according to UN brokered peace plan the Syrian government should have pulled its troops out of Homs and other cities and towns, but that hasn't happened either.

In the meantime, these first military unarmed observers have started to arrive. They are the first of what should be a larger team of about 30 that should arrive. And then Ban Ki-Moon is calling for the UN Security Council to pass a motion for a larger team of 250 to 300 to arrive.

But it is not stopping the violence from taking place. The Syrian government accusing the Syrian opposition of numerous violations. And we have seen reports of at least five civilians and Syrian security forces killed according to state media -- varied according to state media within the last 24 hours. And of course the Syrian opposition accusing the Syrian government of violations as well.

A very shaky and increasingly violent ceasefire -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: Also, what are the thoughts of the rebel army at this point? Is it willing to compromise and talk to the Assad regime and end the fighting?

WATSON: Well, they're paying lip service to this ceasefire. And they insist they are not carrying out attacks, except in self-defense. But we're hearing about another disturbing development. We've talked to a couple of Free Syrian Army commanders. And they're telling us that they're using this -- you know, lull in the fighting to re-arm basically. And we've talked to one who claims, and officer who claims he's gone to Iraq and actually brokered a deal within the last week to buy anti-tank missiles as well as other weapons to fight against Syrian armor. And that that is being smuggled in to rebel fighters across the Iraqi/Syrian border.

Their argument -- these Free Syrian Army commanders we're talking to - - is OK we're going to observe the ceasefire right now, but assuming that this Annan plan will fail, we're getting ready for the next phase of fighting. We need better weapons to fight against the Syrian tanks and armored vehicles. And we're going to be ready for them. And they're assuming that this ceasefire will -- it's just a matter of time before it fails completely.

It's a disturbing development -- Kristie.

LU STOUT: The ceasefire looks shaky indeed. Very disturbing. Ivan Watson on the story for us. Thank you very much indeed, Ivan.

And turning now to the United States where powerful storms barreled through 10 states in the Midwest and the plains. Now there were sightings of more than 100 tornadoes over the weekend. At least five people were killed in the state of Oklahoma. And Rob Marciano, he was in the eye of the storm.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROB MARCIANO, CNN CORRESPONENT: We just came on the eastern flank of this storm. And a tornado just dropped out of the clouds. This has had a history of producing tornadoes south and west of here towards Woodward. And it's moving north at about 30, 35 miles an hour. Just pulled over to get a better look at it. You can see the condensation swirling around it. You can see also the in-flow, the rear flank downdraft. This is just how they describe them in textbooks. Sirens from vehicles and sirens in the town of Carmen happening right now.

With that amazing circulation there was just a funnel that dropped out of that storm, had a history of producing several tornadoes from Woodward, Oklahoma now just north of Carmen. Moving pretty slowing about 35 miles to our north. So we're going to get back in the car here and catch up to it on eastern flank.

But amazing circulation. You can plainly see it there with those dark clouds spinning around. And it's just matter of time before the funnel drops back down to the ground.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Incredible pictures behind Rob Marciano there. Let's get more on these storms and the damage caused from these storms there in the U.S. Mari Ramos is standing by. She joins us from the world weather center -- Mari.

MARI RAMOS, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Kristie, those pictures were amazing. And you can see the tension there in the air. The wind beginning to blow. It's a very dangerous thing. And really do not recommend storm chasing for the feint of heart and for the inexperienced.

Rob and his team have been doing that for quite a long time, so they were making sure that they stayed and not got too close to that storm. But very dangerous indeed.

We also had an update from Rob Marciano earlier just in the last hour or so. And he reported that a sixth person has been killed in that tornado. One person that was taken to the hospital unfortunately died from injuries sustained during that storm.

Let's go ahead and see what some of that actually -- some of the damage that you mentioned looked like. Let's go ahead and roll the pictures that we have from this area.

This is Woodward, Oklahoma, the hardest hit area where now we know six people have died, including three children. Tragic situation. Homes blown off completely obliterated. It looks like a bomb went off. There's almost nothing left. That -- you know, once it comes into focus, that's a car. Looks almost like a truck there just completely tossed on the side just to give you an indication of the sheer power of the storm.

Let's go ahead and roll the next piece of video right there. But there are people helping. Volunteers coming in to Woodward to help people clean up and salvage whatever they can.

Skies expected to remain clear today, if anything, a bit on the warm side across portions of the plains as they clean up from these powerful storm systems.

Come back over to the weather map over here. That storm is now moving form the Great Lakes here and all the way down into the Texas Gulf Coast region.

Some of these storms are going to be a strong, but we're not expecting any kind of severe weather, at least not in the south, but eventually maybe some stronger storms continuing to pick up once the heating of the day gets going possibly even as we head into portions of the northeast. So behind that staying relatively quiet.

The Boston Marathon is starting today ahead of this weather system. The wind coming out of the south making for a very warm day. Organizers there allowing people to drop out or to defer their enrollment until next year, because temperatures are expected to be so warm today.

And let's go ahead into an area where you would expect temperatures to be warm and of course very dry. We're talking about parts of the Middle East. We continue to see some pretty strong storms moving across this area, not just through Iran, let's go ahead and go to Tehran right now. And I want to show you some of the pictures that we have from that region.

Oh no, this is a dust storm from Saudi Arabia, my bad. Those storms have been pretty impressive through here. These pictures amazing taken by one of our iReporters, Kristie. Look at that. It's a dust storm. They happen when these thunder storms pop up, the winds begin to blow. Our iReporter says these were amazing, that the wind was so strong you could feel in the car. They also cover, that's why you're not going to see the storm actually come through, but it's a day turned to night. It was amazing.

And let's go ahead and roll the next piece of video from Tehran. This is what happened there. Very heavy rain moving through that region. We're expecting more unsettled weather throughout this entire area in the next couple of days even. And what happened with the rain came hail, and the hail clogged the drainage systems. And so it was quite a mess, especially neighborhoods that were flooded. They're trying to clean it all up. Now the hail has turned into chunks of ice. Look at that, amazing. They're having to clean it up. This just happening in the last few hours -- Kristie.

Wow.

LU STOUT: Wow, from too much water to too much ice. Mari Ramos, thank you.

Now with only days to go until France holds presidential elections, the candidates are pulling out all the stops to promote themselves and their platforms. Now Jim Bittermann has the campaign round-up from Paris.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORREPSONDENT: If there was an urgency in the air, it was because the beginning of the end was rapidly approaching. With less than a week to go before the first round of France's presidential elections, all 10 official candidates were taking advantage of every minute to make their pitches.

But it was the two leaders who held the most visible rallies in Paris. President Nicolas Sarkozy has been running neck and neck with his Socialist opponent, repeated a theme he's used before making it sound as if the ship of state would run onto the rocks if he was not at the helm.

NICOLAS SARKOZY, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): It is the thoughts of Victor Receaux (ph) and General DeGaulle the France which looks to the future, the France which chooses progress, the France which wants to put itself at the service of all humanity, that is your France. Take your destiny in hand.

BITTERMANN: Meanwhile, across town his rival, Francois Hollande, made an equally passionate appeal for changing the captain on the ship of state.

FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SOCIALIST CANDIATE (through translator): I call on you to severely judge the last five years, to judge is legitimate, necessary and a moral obligation. So many broken promises, so many decision that were not thought out, behaviors not mastered, so many failures left unrecognized.

BITTERMANN: But the two men are not the only ones in this first round. And what's truly most interesting for the pundits is what's happening on the fringes. On the extreme right, National front leader Marine Le Pen seems to be pulling President Sarkozy's discourse her way, especially on the issue of immigration as the president tries to attract her supporters.

And on the extreme left, Jean-Luc Mellenchand (ph), a former teacher who represents a coalition of Communist, Trotskyites and others is showing unexpected strength. So much so that he could finish in third place next Sunday, enough to inject his views into the political discourse and Hollande may need his help to beat Sarkozy.

If there was a common theme in all of the candidate's pitches, it was to get out the vote. And despite some recent polls that indicate up to a quarter of the French don't intend to cast a ballot next Sunday, at least at the big rallies, electoral passions were running high. And some thought more was at stake than just domestic politics.

MARIO GONZALEZ, HOLLANDE SUPPORTER (through translator): At the international level, and at the European level, and it's very important that the left be in power again in France.

MARIE CHRISTINE, SARKOZY SUPPORTER: He's a good president, you know, and we hope that he will be there for a long time. It's important for us international and for France and for Europe.

BITTERMANN: But the real importance for next Sunday's election is for the two frontrunners who are already engaged in direct combat.

It's almost certain that Sarkozy and Hollande will be the two men left standing after next Sunday's vote. The real battle between the two men is over who is going to come out on top, something that could provide the momentum going towards the ultimate victory, the run-off election on May 6.

Jim Bittermann, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now coming up on NEWS STREAM, new management, old policies, well 100 years after the birth of North Korea's founding father, it's new leader makes his first public speech.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Live from Hong Kong, you're back watching NEWS STREAM.

Now North Koreans are celebrating 100 years since the birth of their country's founder Kim il-Song. As part of the festivities, crowds heard something they had never heard before, a speech by their new leader Kim Jong-Eun. And as Stan Grant reports, he's vowing to carry on the family legacy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STAN GRANT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: (INAUDIBLE) and supreme commander of all he sees, Kim Jong-Eun now stands on the shoulders of his father and grandfather as the leader of this reclusive nation with one of the world's biggest armies. He is adored here, yet they have never heard him speak until now.

His tone was soft, a stark contrast to the deafening roars of his people. He pledged to build on the legacy of the two leaders who have gone before him, and a hope to reunite a fractured Korean nation.

"We have suffered the pain of separation for nearly 70 years," he says. "We have lived as one people on the same land for thousands of lands. To suffer like this is heartbreaking."

But this was a military parade and with menace.

This is not just a show of strength to the North Korean people, this has being designed to send a deadly message to the rest of the world. The so-called Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Eun says his enemies think they have a monopoly on weapons. Well this, he says, shows that North Korea also has the firepower to prevail in any war.

KIM JONG UN, NORTH KOREAN LEADER (through translator): Our military has become a powerful military able to handle any kind of modern warfare with complete offensive and defensive capabilities. The foreign powers are not the only ones with the monopoly on military supremacy. And the days of their threatening and lying to us with atomic weapons is forever gone.

GRANT: This was all to mark the anniversary of 100 years since the birth of the founding father of the country Kim il-Song. On Display the full range of the nation's firepower, soldiers in lockstep, tanks and big guns. And if seeing is believing, their answer to western high tech weapons, drones and the latest in missile technology that could potentially strike thousands of kilometers or miles away.

This is an army always battle ready, a country still technically at war with the United States and with soldiers determined to follow any order.

"With the strategy of the great leader Kim il-Song, the dear leader Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-Un, our supreme leader, and with our bombs and weapons we will destroy them," these soldiers say.

In North Korea, the army comes first, no expense spared. While it shows off its guns to the world, people here go hungry. The military is well fed, but aid agencies say rural people scrounge for food have stunted growth and chronic malnutrition.

In a veiled concession, Kim Jong-Un said this regime will not allow people to suffer any more.

JONG-UN (through translator): Our fellow citizens, who are the best citizens in the world, who have overcome countless struggles and hardships, it is our party's firmest resolve not to let our citizens go hungry again.

GRANT: And in this country, loyalty to the regime is demanded. The people know exactly what to say.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kim Jong-un?

(CHEERS)

GRANT: "I want to shout to the world how proud we are," this man says, "to have such a great man as leader of this country."

On this day, Kim Jong-un, the man who has inherited power can honor the past, but when the parade passes, then there is a reality of ruling this poverty stricken pariah state.

Stan Grant, CNN, Pyongyang.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now let's go back to our top story and take you to Oslo Norway. It is day one of the trial of the man accused of killing 77 people in a bomb and gun rampage last summer. It's underway. Let's listen in.

(BEGIN LIVE FEED)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): And he was at the schoolhouse. Ivan Rindel (ph) was in the boat (INAUDIBLE) was at (INAUDIBLE), Mohammed Abdul Raman Mohammed (ph) was at (INAUDIBLE), Maurice Hofts (ph) was on a cliff on the north side, (INAUDIBLE) was at the pump house, (INAUDIBLE) was in a tent not very farm from the schoolhouse in a tent is called the rock tent.

(INAUDIBLE) he will tell us about contact with two young boys on the Island.

Odved Homsson (ph), he -- he led a boat that took -- picked people from the water.

And (INAUDIBLE) is the secretary-general of AUF. And she was also close to the lover's path.

And while I'm standing here, it suddenly struck me that I did not read the names of the witnesses -- the current witnesses of the government quarters that I mentioned though more in general. But for the order, I would also like to specify their names from page two on the list of those who are not named in the indictment.

Tom Hilosleh (ph) was inside R4 (ph), Jan Ullarshen (ph) was in the F bloc, Uluf Hethernheim (ph) was in Y bloc, (INAUDIBLE) was at (INAUDIBLE), Leif (INAUDIBLE) was in a car in (INAUDIBLE), and (INAUDIBLE) in the crossing of (INAUDIBLE), both street names. So they are not mentioned in the indictment, but they are included in more general wordings in the indictments.

Back to page seven of the list of evidence and the subject 10, the apprehension. Here we will first hear a police officer in Melby (ph). He was the first unit on -- to arrive on the land side. And then police officer (INAUDIBLE) from (INAUDIBLE) police station, police officer (INAUDIBLE) who was the head of the response team at Utoya. And then police officer (INAUDIBLE) from Oslo police (INAUDIBLE), he was the head of operations of the delta force. And Professor (INAUDIBLE) from the National Institute of Public Health will talk about whether -- the assessment of weather Breivik was under the influence of any substances when he was apprehended.

And after this we have a subject that we have called about the contact with Breivik. Here, first, we have the name (INAUDIBLE). This person who has had contact with Breivik at Minerva (ph), the youth conservative party's chatting site. (INAUDIBLE) is a friend of Breivik. (INAUDIBLE), friend of Breivik. (INAUDIBLE) previous acquaintence of Breivik. And (INAUDIBLE) Breivik, Breivik's mother -- the defendant's mother.

Furthermore, we have included subject number 12 from the investigation. First police officer will come to describe the mandate of the investigation. The name has not completely been decided upon yet. Then officer Nisson (ph), a few steps to the right here, will appear to talk about the analysis work of the police. Police Officer (INAUDIBLE) from PST will talk about Breivik's companion. (INAUDIBLE) from Klipos (ph) will talk about Breivik's acquisitions, the subject that I have already touched on surface. And Police Officer (INAUDIBLE) will provide you with the necessary information about Breivik's financial situation. And Police Officer (INAUDIBLE) will talk about findings and possibly also certain assessments with respect to Knight's Templar.

After this, some days are reserved for the presentation of evidence from the defense and to the counsel to the aggrieved parties. Therefore, we have subject 14 forensic psychiatry and here are the four appointed psychiatrists and senior adviser (INAUDIBLE) have been appointed and also Professor (INAUDIBLE) and head surgeon Karl Heinrich Mueller who is the chair of the forensic commission, the board of forensic medicine.

(END LIVE FEED)

LU STOUT: Live video there from Oslo, Norway. The prosecutor speaking, giving additional details on the trial of Anders Breivik, accused of murdering some 77 people. Breivik has pleaded not guilty. He also had denied criminal responsibility for the attack. He has shown very little emotion, appear to be remorseless on this day, day one of the trial so far.

The only times when he did seem to offer some emotion was when he smiled when looking at photos of himself in uniform and a picture of his videogame avatar. And Anders Breivik appeared to shed a tear, and that was when the courtroom had screened a video showing details of his ideology.

This is day one of the Norway massacre trial. You're watching CNN. And the news continues after this.

END