Return to Transcripts main page

NEWS STREAM

Fighting Resumes In Gaza; Defense Rests Case in Oscar Pistorius Trial; Interview with Dr. Sheik Omar Khan's Family; Islamic State Advances Into Kurdish North

Aired August 08, 2014 - 08:29   ET

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

(LIVE COVERAGE OF OSCAR PISTORIUS TRIAL)

KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: Live from Pretoria, you've been watching the closing arguments live in the trial of Oscar Pistorius there on your

screen. The defense council Barry Roux, he's been speaking. He's trying to shore up the character and the credibility of his client Oscar

Pistorius. He was accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in his home last year. And we will continue to watch developments in that

trial for you.

But for now, let's return to CNN U.S. for its continuing coverage of the ISIS advance in Iraq.

(SIMULCAST WITH CNN USA)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. We're going to break away form our partner network CNN USA to bring you this edition of News Stream.

We'll be taking a closer look at ISIS, the Islamic militant group that's been gaining ground, advancing across Iraq as the U.S. President Barack

Obama authorizes targeted air strikes.

We'll also be live in Gaza where Israeli airstrikes and Hamas rockets are flying in the aftermath of a ceasefire.

And the defense gives its closing argument in the trial of the Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius. All that and much more after this short break.

Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. And let's start with the world headlines.

Now U.S. President Barack Obama has authorized airstrikes in Iraq to combat the advance of an extremist militant group and to protect American advisers

and consular staff in the city of Erbil. Now the U.S. has carried out an air drop of humanitarian supplies for thousands of families fleeing

persecution from the militants.

Now the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has just spoken out from Kabul about the seriousness of the situation in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: The stakes for Iraq's future could also not be more clear. And today's crisis underscores them significantly.

ISIL's campaign of terror against the innocent, including the Yazidi and Christian minorities and its grotesque targeted acts of violence show all

the warning signs of genocide.

For anyone who needed a wakeup call, this is it.

(END VIDEOATPE)

LU STOUT: John Kerry there condemning the ISIS advance in Iraq.

Now meanwhile, a three day ceasefire in Gaza is over. And it appears any hope of extending that temporary truce has faded for now. Now the Israeli

military has carried out several air strikes in Gaza in response to what it says were dozens of rockets fired toward Israel. Israel says it will not

negotiate under fire.

Now the senior defense attorney for Oscar Pistorius is delivering his final arguments at the sprinter's murder trial in Pretoria. Barry Roux has

accused the prosecution of making mistakes.

Now yesterday the state prosecution Gerrie Nel said that Pistorius was a poor witness and that his version of events was fabricated.

The World Health Organization has declared Ebola an international health emergency, calling for a global effort to tackle the epidemic, which is

ravaging West Africa. Now the UN health agency says the number of deaths from Ebola has now surpassed 930.

And for more now on the possibility of U.S. airstrikes in Iraq as a Sunni militant group continues its violent march across the country. In the past

week, ISIS has taken control of several towns in Northern Iraq adding to existing strongholds in western Iraq and in northern Syria. Nic Robertson

has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Islamic State 's advance is big. They're destroying anything, even mosques, that don't

conform with their puritanical brand of Islam, forcing everyone -- Muslims, Christians they conquer, to convert to radicalism or die.

What makes this advancing army different to others, they are brazenly documenting their own war crimes, not just brutality that beggars belief,

but a staggering statement, they don't ever expect to be held to account.

In January, they consolidated their grip in the west of Iraq, reaching Fallujah, barely half an hour's drive from the capital Baghdad. In June,

from bases in Syria they swept into the north of Iraq taking the city of Mosul and Tal Afar. And then pushing further south, contesting the oil

rich town of Baiji and further towards Baghdad.

In the past week, they've begun what appears to be a massive consolidation and new land grab in the north, forcing 200,000 minorities Yazidis from

their home in Sinjar here and contesting this strategic dam in the north providing electricity to Mosul and other areas as well in the past few days

of uprooting about 100,000 Christians from their ancient hometown here, forcing them towards Erbil.

What is particularly worrying, the Islamic State's gains over the past week have not been over the week an ill disciplined Iraqi army that fled their

advance earlier this year, but against the respected and strong Kurdish pesh merga fighters.

The Islamic State, in its own propaganda pictures, can be seen raising its flag over former Kurdish HQ. It has the international community worried.

CHARLIE COOPER, QUILLIAM FOUNDATION: Not only are ISIS fighters become better experienced, more battle hardened, ideologically more passionate

about their -- the (inaudible) that they're fighting for, they've also been picking up huge caches of weaponry.

ROBERTSON: The same pictures show the Islamic state advancing in an array of expensive new Land Cruisers, deploying rocket and mortar teams to back

up the front line fighters, just like a regular army.

And although we cannot verify the pictures, they match what Kurdish officials are describing to CNN. Their agenda clear: exploit, then

consolidate.

ROBERT MCFADEN, FORMER SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, U.S. NAVY: Once it takes over areas, first and foremost weapons caches, storage, ammunition depot,

then other sources -- of natural resources in power, whether it's oil fields, or as I said before dams.

ROBERTSON: The test is going to be if, and for how long, Kurdish pesh merga forces can hold out, protecting not just their own region, but Iraq's

minorities -- Christians among them.

Nic Robertson, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And as we mentioned, the brief ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is over and explosions again rocking the area. This, after a three

day truce ended with no agreement to extend it. An Israel official tells CNN, quote, "we will not negotiate under fire."

Plumes of smoke were seen hanging over Gaza today as Israeli forces resumed air strikes there. The Israeli military says the attacks are in response

to incoming rockets from Gaza, dozens, they say, were fired at Israel after the temporary ceasefire expired today and two before it ended.

Now Palestinian health official said one of the strikes has already taken a life, a 10-year-old boy. And Israel says an Israeli soldier and a civilian

have been injured by rocket fire.

Now let's go now to CNN's Martin Savidge. He joins us live from Gaza. And Martin, tell us more. I mean, what has been the military reaction and the

human toll since the end of that three-day ceasefire?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, unfortunately it's just only now being tallied up, I suppose you could say.

8:00 a.m. was the time that the first rockets reportedly went into Israel and that would, of course, signify that was the end of the ceasefire.

Islamic Jihad says the reason that they stopped the ceasefire was the fact that their demands were not being met at the negotiations that were taking

place in Cairo.

So we've had a lot of military activity with outgoing and incoming. The Israeli military has been pretty activity launching air strikes in about

the last hour-and-a-half. We've seen four or five of them just from here. And they're about several kilometers away in all different directions. And

then on top of that, we've heard that there's tank fire coming in from the north and from the east. And there's also Israeli artillery strikes as

well going on.

Israel actually waited about three hours from the first rockets, it said, that landed in its territory before retaliating, but it now appears to be

retaliating in great strength and it's choosing its targets.

Right now we've been told that the death toll is only one. As you mention, a boy that was killed, several people wounded outside of a mosque, but

there have been other air strikes. It's clear that this is not happening without anybody around, so it -- we may not have the full count just yet --

Kristie.

LU STOUT: Indirect talks in Cairo have broken down, that's what led to this resumption of violence. You've mentioned Hamas's demands were not

met, that's led to the breakdown of those talks. What were those demands? And why did Hamas reject any extension of the truce?

SAVIDGE: Well, essentially what was wanted, even just to extend the ceasefire was the lifting of the blockade, that's a very significant

demand. The Israelis, of course, believe that that is not the sort of thing you grant just for a ceasefire, that this would be something that

would be negotiated for a long-term kind of agreement, but it appears that from Islamic Jihad and from Hamas's perspective that was the absolute

minimum required.

Israel said that it was willing to ease the blockade, but it was not willing to lift the blockade. Apparently Hamas believes that wasn't enough

for them, so they resumed their military operations.

The question is now what happens next, how long will? Will it just be this back and forth with rockets and then retaliatory strikes? Is there any

time they're going to go back to the table? It's really unclear at this particular moment, but it appears that Hamas and Islamic Jihad believe that

carrying on as they have in the past is the best solution to try to bring some kind of relief for the Palestinian people.

Hard to image, given the fact that they have had over 1,800 people killed, and that number is once again climbing, Kristie.

LU STOUT: And now we have that period of calm over, all that violence has returned. Martin Savidge reporting live from Gaza. Thank you, Martin.

You're watching News Stream. And after the break, the Oscar Pistorius trial enters a decisive stage with the defense today giving closing

arguments. We'll tell you what was said in court when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now after five months of emotional testimony and tough interrogation the defense and prosecution in the Oscar Pistorius trial have one last chance

to prove their points.

Now yesterday, prosecutor Gerrie Nel gave his closing argument. He said Pistorius was a poor witnessed and he'd lied in his testimony.

Now today, defense loyal Barry Roux alleges the state had made mistakes and failed to back up its claims with evidence.

Now Roux said Pistorius acted under pressure when he shot and killed his girlfriend through a bathroom door, and that his decision to open fire

resulted from deeply rooted anxieties about his handicap.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARRY ROUX, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: And he stands now with his finger ready to fire if necessary. And he stands there and a --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now Barry Roux also used his closing argument to attack the way the police handled the crime scene. In the end, he says the state's case

has been a failure.

Now when the arguments have been heard, it will be up to the judge to make the final call with the help of two lay advisers, they're called assessors.

South Africa does not have a jury system.

Now let's bring in our correspondent Robyn Curnow. She joins us live from Pretoria. He's been following the trial from the very beginning.

And Robyn, in this final very critical moment of the trial, how is Barry Roux today, how is he refuting the prosecution while shoring up the

credibility and defending the actions of his client, Oscar Pistorius?

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is essentially the last time, the last opportunity Oscar Pistorius, through his legal

team, can try and convince the judge that his version of events is true.

And what we saw in court today, again, another intense, very absorbing day in court despite a full courtroom, very claustrophobic, quite warm in

there. Oscar Pistorius as well as his family and Reeva Steenkamp's family stony-faced throughout.

But it's been Barry Roux who has been talking nonstop since 9:00 this morning to the judge, explaining his closing arguments. And I think to

give us a sense of how he's faring, Kelly Phelps, our legal analyst, is the best person to give us some sense of how you think Oscar Pistorius's

defense is doing today.

KELLY PHELPS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: The defense team needed to come out strong today, because the state put forward very strong closing arguments

yesterday and they have certainly managed to accomplish that.

They have gone straight into the attack on the fundamental parts of the state's case, claiming that the gun charges were added just to plug holes

in the murder charge. That is early on as from the bail stage they've been putting facts up in front of the court that they simply do not have any

evidence to support and that the evidence has not transpired during the trial.

CURNOW: Crucially, Barry Roux coming out today saying that this should never have been about a murder charge, but they should have been dealing

with culpable homicide all along, conceding on one hand that that's what he think perhaps the judge might convict Oscar of.

PHELPS: Absolutely. He did mention as well that he will be putting argument forward to try counteract the culpable homicide charge. But he

explicitly said this trial should never have been about murder, it should have been about culpable homicide.

And there has been an interesting contradiction in approach between the two teams. Yesterday, Nel spoke about this mosaic of inconsistencies. And

today Mr. Roux picked on that to say they have to create a mosaic, because the inconsistencies are so small, are so insignificant that they simply

have no case to put forward. And he then contracted their approach by putting forward objective evidence like phone records and saying the state

has not had objective evidence to put forward, but we do. And all of this evidence supports the story that Pistorius has been saying from day one.

CURNOW: OK.

So important that time-line for the defense, a list of phone calls that they say forms the basis of Oscar Pistorius's version of events.

Also, remember, we talked about it on Thursday. Gerrie Nel, the state prosecutor, illicited or spoke about 13 consistencies, a baker's dozen of

lies in Oscar Pistorius's own testimony.

Today, you heard his defense say, listen, those are all very small, as Kelly said, and if that's a baker's dozen of lies he's rather -- Riley (ph)

said I don't want to eat that cookie.

So there have been some light moments. But all in all very serious, very intense last day in terms of closing arguments and very soon in the next

perhaps half an hour or so we might hear from the judge when she will deliver her verdict.

LU STOUT: And we'll be waiting for that moment and reporting on it live when it happens. Robyn Curnow with Kelly Phelps joining us live from

Pretoria, thank you very much indeed for that.

Now the World Health Organization has declared Ebola an international health emergency, calling for a global effort to tackle the epidemic, which

is ravaging West Africa.

Now the UN health agency says the number of deaths from Ebola has now surpassed 930.

Now firs the first time since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the CDC, has moved to its highest state of alert.

And according to Agence France Presse, officials in Benin say that they are treating two suspected cases of Ebola. Now the test results are not yet

in, but if confirmed it would be the fifth West African nation to be hit by the current outbreak.

Now Sierra Leone has lost a leading Ebola specialist, Dr. Sheik Omar Khan recently died of the disease. He oversaw the treatment of Ebola Patients

while trying to contain the spread of this deadly virus. And David McKenzie sat down for an exclusive interview with his family.

(BEGIN VIDEOATPE)

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Dr. Sheik Omar Khan's family new the risks, he was the country's only Ebola specialist. When the

deadly virus first hit, his father pleaded with him to come home. So did his brother.

C. RAY KHAN, BROTHER OF DR. SHEIK OMAR KHAN: This was a -- this was a young man who went to his work. He said I'm going to it --

MCKENZIE: It's very difficult to talk about this, isn't it?

KHAN: Yes, of course. It is. In retrospect, I wish I forcibly get him out of that place, personal for me. I mean, you can understand that as a

brother.

MCKENZIE: But in the Ebola strickened Kenama (ph) region, Dr. Khan kept treating patients at the state hospital, more than 100 received his care.

And he promised his brother that he would stay safe.

KHAN: I'm a little bit angry. You just have to expect that from me, because there's a lot, a lot of things the government should have done to

mitigate the spreading of this dreadful disease.

MCKENZIE: Despite a crumbling health care system, the government says it's doing everything it can. But Dr. Khan went from caregiver to patient, from

fighting the disease, he succumbed to it.

If you had to say one thing to your brother right now, what would it be?

KHAN: Hey, Omar, you didn't die in vain. No, you didn't die in vain. You died for humanity, for this country.

MCKENZIE: C. Ray Khan said his brother was alone in his fight, but in his death a nation woke up to this outbreak.

David McKenzie, CNN, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: He died for humanity. Powerful words there.

You're watching News Stream. And still ahead in the program, as tropical storm Isel hits Hawaii residents are taking shelter, but that is not the

only weather threat there. We'll give you the full details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: All right, breaking news coming out of the Pentagon, let's go straight to our sister network CNN USA for more.

(SIMULCAST WITH CNN USA)

END