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U.S. Justice Department Makes Arrests in FIFA Corruption Case; Sunni fighters, Shia Militia Surround ISIS in Ramadi; 31 Dead After Destructive Storms Hit Southern U.S., Northern Mexico; Heat Wave Kills 1054 in India; Helping People in India Deal with Heat Wave. Aired 2- 2:30a ET

Aired May 26, 2015 - 02:00   ET

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

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[02:00:09] ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: As many as 14 FIFA officials could be slapped with corruption charges by the U.S. after arrests were made in Switzerland.

ERROL BARNETT, CNN ANCHOR: Plus, Iraqi officials claim ISIS fighters are surrounded in Ramadi.

CHURCH: And a sweltering heat wave in India claims the lives of more than 1,100 people.

BARNETT: Hello there, everyone. I'm Errol Barnett. A big welcome to our viewers in the U.S. and around the world.

CHURCH: And I'm Rosemary Church. Thank you for joining us. This is CNN NEWSROOM.

After a three-year FBI investigation, the U.S. is making arrests in a corruption case involving FIFA. 14 officials of world football's governing authority will be charged. And some are being arrested overnight in Zurich and elsewhere. Officials have gathered in the Swiss city for an election that could give Sepp Blatter a fifth term as the leader.

BARNETT: Officials point out that Blatter is not among those being charged but he was investigated and that part of the probe in fact is ongoing.

CHURCH: We spoke with CNN's Alex Thomas to get details what is known about these charges right now.

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ALEX THOMAS, CNN WORLD SPORTS: Very sketchy details right now. Potentially this is something that could blow wide open the FIFA presidential election happening this Friday which determines who will be head of the governing body. It has been Sepp Blatter, since 1988, when he succeeded the head of FIFA before that. And a nice stroll through Zurich. Gathering opinion ahead of Blatter's term as president. He has one challenger. Blatter is the overwhelming favorite to be re-elected as president of FIFA. Now we hear that Swiss police, in plain clothes, overnight, raided the hotel where all of the top officials of FIFA, football's governing body, were staying. 14 have been arrested. It's all connected to FBI investigation of corruption at the highest level of the game.

CNN understands from Swiss police they were ordered to conduct the raid at request of federal authorities. There is cooperation between the Swiss and U.S. authorities. There is a particular extradition treaty between the two nations. "The New York Times" reporting that although people can't be extradited from Switzerland to America, on tax charges, common criminal charges do work in that case. We are yet to find out which of the FIFA official have been amongst the 14 arrested. Although, we understand, Sepp Blatter its not one of them. Nonetheless, accused of cronyism having those closest to him help him maintain power. So interesting to see later today as names emerge. Later on Wednesday, we believe the FBI will hold a news conference and establish that then.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BARNETT: This is quite an explosive development.

Joining us from Zurich with reaction, Kier Radnedge, executive editor of "World Soccer."

There you have it. Justice Department set to announce charges very soon. Tell us what you make of the scale of this case. 14 people charged. All among FIFA leadership. And days now before leadership election.

KIER RADNEDGE, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, WORLD SOCCER: Well, obviously the timing is particularly deliberate. Because all here, are here in spirit. Also this has a potential to be the greatest crisis of all of the crises in FIFA history.

BARNETT: We can all point out FIFA has faced allegations of corruption before. They have done some internal probes. Many people curious at the lack of the findings of those. Sepp Blatter not among those being charged. But from what we can see here, essentially everyone within his inner circle is charged in some way. How then, considering the potential of this coming from the FBI, coming from the U.S., how could this impact his chances, at a fifth term, in these upcoming elections here. Is, would you expect him to still win?

RADNEDGE: Well, I really think what depend comes out late Friday -- later today. I think there's the possibility there will be (INAUDIBLE) in the election (INAUDIBLE) -- to rest on the severity of the charges as we understand so far.

[02:05:08] BARNETT: Now we are awaiting the news conference in Brooklyn, from the FBI offices there. What details then are you interested to find out because as I mention FIFA's reputation before this was pretty lackluster, what do you think will be crucial details we'll want to know?

RADNEDGE: Well, I think the most important thing obviously is know the evidence against the people being arrested. That will lead specifically to the issues. (INAUDIBLE) FIFA did hire an American attorney to investigate it all. But he quit last autumn in frustration basically. The report he produced have been buried.

BARNETT: What do you make of this, the FBI with is according to you deliberate timing, making this announcement ahead of the elections, this hotel in Zurich raided, where the officials were located. What do you think this means as far as the level of corruption at FIFA and its inability to, to stamp it out?

RADNEDGE: Well, obviously the details of the allegations of corruption we're still waiting to hear specifics of that. But the emphasis -- FIFA's inability to govern itself. To run its own business, in a straight forward, clear, transparent way. And, and, this -- really, it's -- possibly, the culmination of all of the criticism and all of it directed at FIFA the last few years.

BARNETT: The difference around this time, we will see substantial punishments. Again, waiting to hear exact details and confirmation from the FBI.

Kier Radnedge, executive editor of "World Soccer," thank you for your time, from Zurich this morning.

Rosemary?

CHURCH: We are watching that story.

But now to another one. It's 9:00 a.m., in Iraq where the defense ministry says its forces, Sunni tribal fighters and Shia militia have ISIS surrounded in Ramadi. The government launched a major offensive to retake the capital of Anbar Province. Shia militias are working to cut ISIS supply routes from the city in the province.

BARNETT: ISIS captured Ramadi a week ago after government forces retreated. Tens of thousands have fled to Baghdad. Tuesday's military complicated by this massive sandstorm, 330 feet, and reduced visibility.

CNN senior international correspondent, Arwa Damon, has more on the operation.

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ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a mass mobilization across multiple fronts in two key Iraqi provinces fueled by the fall of Ramadi, in Anbar, which borders where we are. This territory was recaptured hours before we arrived.

(on camera): Kadar (ph) was just saying when the force moved in here, earlier in the day, there were a number of IEDs that ISIS fighters had buried. Right along this route. A number of them exploding on -- on some of these units. And there were at least 11 casualties.

(voice-over): ISIS used to move with ease, transporting fighters and weapons through areas they controlled.

(on camera): Anbar Province is in that direction. Their main aim here right now is to make sure that they hold the defensive position to keep ISIS from recapturing this territory as -- as other elements of their unit advance further that way.

(voice-over): Hadi Aran (ph) commanders the Budar Brigade (ph) within the Shia paramilitary force leading this joint operation with Iraq's forces.

HADI ARAN (ph), COMMANDER, BUDAR BRIGADE (ph): (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

DAMON: "We cut off their supply routes into Anbar and we surrounded the enemy in this area," Aran (ph) explains.

It is a critical line of defense between the regions that also runs along a vital south-to-north oil pipeline. Throughout the battlefield is a patchwork of ISIS strongholds and logistical lines.

We see but are not allowed to film or speak to Iranian advisers. Iraq's powerful neighbor, a much more reliable ally, in the war against ISIS.

ARAN (ph): (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

[02:10:00] DAMON: "Anyone who depends on American support is depending on a shadow," Aran says. "The dependence by the central government on the United States is one of the reasons we lost Ramadi."

That won't happen here, all of the men vow.

More forces and reinforcements arrive. Through a scope, one fighter pinpoints suspected ISIS vehicles a distance along the berm. Others watch and wait, preparing for ISIS to strike back.

Arwa Damon, CNN, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Let's get the very latest now on this Iraqi offensive.

Ian Lee is following developments from Cairo, Egypt. He joins us now live.

Ian, Iraqi officials claim ISIS fighters are surrounded in Ramadi. Now if that is the case, this happened very quickly. What are you hearing about that?

IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. They're moving pieces into position. We haven't heard of any major fighting taking place yet. But it does appear that -- every piece of this operation is being moved into position. Before the real push to retake Ramadi commences. We have seen that they have cut off the supply routes from one province to Ramadi. As we heard as well that they have surrounded the city. But they are positioning with multiple forces. You have the Iraqi military. You have the Shiite militias. Iraqi police, you also have roughly 4,000 local Sunni tribal fighters. This is a broad coalition. A lot of different pieces to get together before -- what we're seeing, this final battle for Ramadi to take place.

CHURCH: Ian, we know Iraqi forces, Shiite militias and fighters are trying to work together to crush ISIS. But there has been criticism from the U.S. as we reported. Regarding the will of the Iraqi forces, we don't know what portion of this fighting force is made up of the army, do we? But how much of this counter attack is about showing the world that the Iraqi army is capable of fighting off ISIS?

LEE: There has been a war of word, American and Iraqi officials. Really a lot of finger pointing what really caused the fall of Ramadi to ISIS in the first place. We heard from an Arwa Damon piece, one soldier in Ramadi saying they didn't hatch the support from the central government in terms of backup. Or they didn't have the weapons, the ammunition, to keep the fighting going, as well. So -- this is a very significant push for the Iraqis to take back control of Ramadi. But we have to remember that is was still on the offensive only a few days ago. Trying to complete the corridor between the two cities they hold of Ramadi and Fallujah. It's been important for the Iraqi government to stop that advance and to slowly push it back. And, as you said, we have seen these Shiite militias very controversial. We have claims of rights abuses. In the past, they're also heavily backed by Iran, and something that the United States doesn't want to get entangled with, to be seen as helping them because they do have that sectarian nature. But on, the other side, they have been the ones that have proven themselves time after time of being able to stand up to ISIS and to take them on and actually defeat them.

CHURCH: Yeah. They certainly appear to have the will to fight unlike the Iraqi army is the criticism, of course.

Ian Lee, reporting live from Cairo, Egypt, many thanks to you.

BARNETT: The capture of Ramadi followed by the fall of Palmyra in Syria, one week ago. For now the ancient any cities artifacts are intact, according to staff members still there in Palmyra.

CHURCH: The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to Greek, Roman, Persian ruins, the kind ISIS has a record of destroying. But ISIS has the not spared the city's people, reportedly murdering hundred since seizing control there.

And to another story now that we are covering. 31 people are dead after destructive storms hit the southern U.S. and northern Mexico. Several others are missing.

BARNETT: Houston, Texas, was just swamped by flash floods, caused by massive rainfall. About 11 inches of rain, more than 27 centimeters fell.

CHURCH: To the west, in Hayes County, hundreds of homes have been washed off their foundations.

CNN's Ana Cabrera has the latest news from the town of Wimberley. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[02:15:00] ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The devastation here is remarkable. Hearing from residents, the water rose so fast and with such force it was like a tsunami hit. The House behind me buckled. Now that the water has receded, you realize just how high up the water game. The Blanco River lies beyond the trees. At the peak of the storm, the river rose more than 30 feet in just two hours.

We got a chance to visit the heart of the devastation. We saw home after home, torn to bits and pieces. Some homes gone, nothing left but the concrete slab foundation. In all, more than 1,400 homes destroyed in Hayes County alone.

We talked to one man who lost his home. He said he was there with eight other people when the river started rising. Many of them were asleep. It was dark. They rushed to higher ground. While they couldn't see much, what they heard, was horrific.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just loud, cracking, breaking, you can imagine probably houses breaking apart and flowing down the river.

CABRERA (on camera): Must have been terrifying.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was. It was. But we all got out. That's good.

CABRERA (voice-over): The water was so powerful. It ripped trees out of the ground. Some of the trees, 500, 600 years old, we are told. They endured, past floods. This one was just too much.

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BARNETT: Ana Cabrera there for us in Texas.

Later this hour, we'll have more on some people still missing as the search continues.

CHURCH: Absolutely.

All right, well, extreme heat kills more than 1,000 people in India.

BARNETT: And searing temperatures could last much longer. We'll bring you that story next when CNN NEWSROOM continues.

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[02:20:24] CHURCH: Overnight arrests are made in a corruption investigation of FIFA. Swiss justice officials say six FIFA officials have been taken into custody in Zurich.

BARNETT: The U.S. Justice Department is expected to announce charges for up to 14 officials of world football's governing body in the coming hours. Investigated on suspicion of accepting bribes and kick backs between the early 1990s and current day. FIFA officials have gathered in Zurich for an election that could give Sepp Blatter a fifth term as leader. This complicates all that. Law enforcement officials say he is not among those being charged but he was investigated.

There is not much relief in sight as India swelters in a fierce heat wave.

CHURCH: At least 1,054 people have died in the soaring temperatures in three southern states. That's according to Indian disaster management officials.

Mallika Kapur reports the poor seem to be suffering the most.

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MALLIKA KAPUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An extreme heat wave is sweeping across India. Hundreds of people have died either from a sunstroke or dehydration. Temperatures are soaring. In some places, touching 48 degrees Celsius. That's 118 degrees Fahrenheit.

The states in the south are the worst hit. The capital New Delhi and central India are affected, too. The most vulnerable, people who didn't have access to shelter, the homeless, construction workers, beggars, migrant laborers who often live on the streets, and, the elderly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is very severe. Due to that, people are getting dehydrated and so much feeling like fainting. And they're feeling very sick. The early morning, already by 8:00, very severe heat. Losing all of their energy.

KAPUR: Local disaster management officials in some states are urging people to stay indoors between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., to wear cotton clothes and use caps and umbrellas. They're also distributing water and buttermilk to help people stay hydrated.

Still, many are falling sick. Local hospitals are filling up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): My brother is admitted here. He suffered sun stroke going to work yesterday morning. His condition became serious.

KAPUR: The heat wave exposes India's weak spot, power. Around a third of India's 1.2 billion people don't have reliable access to electricity. That means they don't even have a fan to cool off under. It also means those who can afford air conditioners are using them for longer. This surge in demand for power often leads to power cuts in many parts of the country, making a terrible situation worse.

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CHURCH: Mallika Kapur reporting from Mumbai.

BARNETT: Joining us now from New Delhi, Elan Murliss, the program quality manager for Catholic Relief Services, and can give us an update on how efforts to help people are going. Great to see you.

More people are succumbing to the heat unfortunately. Just wondering based on what your team has been doing, what steps you are seeing the government take, to help people, and of course you can let us know how your group is assisting others as well.

ELAN MURLISS (ph), PROGRAM QUALITY MANAGER, CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES: Thank you. So where I live in Delhi there are quite a few homeless people. I have seen the government and locals over the past few weeks assisting with water stations and that area. Also, the state government has taken on several educational programs through media and social media. Basically asking people to stay indoors, wear cotton clothing. And be sure to hydrate. Currently, CRS is checking in with our local partners, both government and the local organizations that we work with to make sure that everyone is looking out for those most vulnerable people.

I think the most important way to do that --

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BARNETT: Sorry. Go ahead.

MURLISS (ph): Sorry. That neighbors -- that neighbors and family members are really those who are in the best position to recognize when some one is recovering from extreme heat. And we want to make sure they have the information on how to help.

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[02:25:07] BARNETT: Usually, these extreme, extreme weather conditions it is the most vulnerable, the sensitive, the younger, elderly susceptible to fluctuations. In this situation we are seeing people in the south of the country who didn't have a lot of money. Don't have access to air conditioners or working as laborers. I know that you also do work to help new mothers. How precarious does this, is this heat wave, and high humidity, for those young mothers and their babies?

MURLISS (ph): Yeah. So pregnant women certainly face greater risks during, during summer in India. In particular, a woman's pregnant woman's core temperature is about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. That can have serious implications for the fetus. And may in fact, increase the risk of miscarriage. So one way of working is working through community health support structures in rural communities and getting out with the correct information to pregnant women to stay indoors, be drinking, keeping electrolyte and salt balances, and drinking, citrus water, and continuing to breast-feed their children so they do not suffer from dehydration.

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BARNETT: As you mention, it's important for neighbors to take care of one another and to essentially have each other's backs during what is a very difficult time for so many people there in India. Thank you so much for your time.

Elan Murliss (ph), the program quality manager for Catholic Relief Services.

We appreciate your time today.

CHURCH: We'll take a very short break now. Still to come, parts of Texas are swamped after powerful and deadly storms in the region. The latest on rescue and recovery efforts, still to come.

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