Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Joint Terror Attack in Burkina Faso; Iran Awaits Report from IAEA; Polls Close in Taiwan for Historic Election, One Dead, Others Hospitalized in Drug Clinical Trial.; Penn Calls El Chapo Interview Failure. Aired 3-3:30a ET

Aired January 16, 2016 - 03:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:00:13] NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: (HEADLINES)

ALLEN: It's all next here on CNN NEWSROOM, we're live from Atlanta, thank you for joining us. I'm Natalie Allen.

We begin in West Africa where new details are emerging about a terrifying hostage ordeal in the capital of Burkina Faso. One survivor says he made out to a broken window after gunmen storm a hotel and cafe. Soldiers were able to get into the hotel and they're still hunting the gunmen.

An Al-Qaeda affiliate claims responsibility. The same group allegedly attacked the hotel in neighboring Mali just two months ago. Our David McKenzie covered that siege and he joins us now with the latest that you're hearing, David.

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Natalie, there are new details coming from the foreign ministry in Burkina Faso which say at least 20 have been killed in this horrifying siege and attack. They say the operation to clear that hotel to check each room of any hostages or, in fact, gunmen, is ongoing as we speak. It was a terrifying scene on Friday evening in the capital Ouagadougou as witness described, gunmen coming in and shooting as they went.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via translator): It's horrible because everyone was panicked and was lying down on the floor. There was blood everywhere. They were shooting at people at point blank. The sound of the detonation was so loud, you could hear them talking, and they were watching around and kept shooting at people that seemed alive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCKENZIE: It appears that these 63 hostages have been rescued. Several, in fact, scores in hospital with injuries, the nationalities aren't entirely known at this point, but certainly foreign nationals were caught up in that siege according to the foreign ministry, which was on initially a cafe, then a hotel right near the international airport in the capital. The operation is ongoing as I say, and it's unclear yet whether they have found, killed, or even apprehended any of these gunmen. Natalie.

ALLEN: And David, what do we know about them, about this group that claimed responsibility?

MCKENZIE: According to Jihadi monitoring groups, this group is a joint attack -- this attack is a joint attack between Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Al-Mourabitoun. Both groups have been operating for sometime of course in the south hill region in the Maghreb in North Africa, and West Africa.

Now, they have done attacks before as you mentioned the November attack on the Rudisson Blu Hotel in Mali. This attack, with early indication show you the much more sophisticated, potentially more deadly attack. The attackers came in dressed as tourist according to the government officials who spoke earlier to our affiliate, they said, they were in there during the day, they were joined up later by other attackers. And there were several explosions as the attack unfolded.

Al-Mourabitoun is credited at this stage by the Al Qaeda group who actually executing the attack not that's lead by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, who is the blind cleric -- One-Eyed cleric as they call him who has been killed supposedly several times including in Libya middle of last year.

So, these really points to the expanded reach, ambitions, and deadly terror attacks that they're willing to pull of including in Burkina Faso which hasn't an attack of this nature ever. Nathalie?

ALLEN: Very sad for those people there in the capital, and we'll wait and see who the victims are, thank you David McKenzie.

Well, earlier, I spoke with a counterterrorism expert about the groups and their responsibility.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVEED GARTENSTEIN-ROSS SR. FELLOW, FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES: Al Qaeda Islamic Maghreb is the North African branch of Al Qaeda. They made their resurgence in recent years and there are much more operation involved, in particular, is one group that had split with them a little while back called Al Mourabutoun led by a notorious terrorist named Mokhtar Belmokhtar.

For a few years they have made links to Al Qaeda even though they have left Al Qaueda in the Islamic Maghreb or AQM. But just after they carried out an attack at the Rudesson in the Malian capital of Bamako, Al Mourabutoun rejoined AQM.

[03:05:06] And this attack seems to be, based of the earlier reports, the work of Al Mourabutoun specifically, which basically functions like special forces for Al Qaeda. They're very good at terrorism and they had carried out high profile attacks in multiple countries.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: And according to Gartenstein-Ross there, it was the French who were the main target of this assault. The terror group is known to attack areas with frequented, as we said, by Westerners.

Indonesian police have named one of the five attackers who killed people and wounded dozens on Thursday in Jakarta. They say the man named Afif was killed in the attack. He was also known as Sunakim and had been previously convicted for terrorist activity. Police also say this militant Bahrum Naim orchestrated the attack from ISIS headquarters in Syria.

Iran is waiting to learn if several strict decade old sanctions against it will be lifted. The International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to certify if Iran has kept its end of historic deal concerning it's nuclear program.

Senior International Correspondent Frederik Pleitgen joins us now in Berlin with more on this. Certainly for Iran, they hope this will be a pivotal day. Do we know how the IAEA, Fred is going to make this announcement if they're prediction on what they determined.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well it certainly, it would be culmination point Natalie of a lot of international diplomacy that's been going on over the past couple of days. We expect the IAEA to issue a letter today that will indeed say that Iran is in compliance with all the things that it need to do as part of the nuclear agreement that it with the P5+1 nations. Of course one of the last things that the Iranians need to do is they need to disable a reactor that they have in Arak, which is the heavy water reactor. They poured concrete into the reactor core and with that, they believe they are in compliance.

Now, most probably if we're not going to get many of the details in that report except the message from the IAEA saying, yes, Iran is in compliance, and there already are many diplomats descending on the Vienna at this point in time. The Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, the head E.U. Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini will be there as well, and we expect statements from them announcing what they call implementation day, which is the day that the Iranians are in full of compliance and also at the end of the day that sanctions get lifted almost immediately and the Iranians believed that they are going to get, for instance, around $50 billion in frozen assets, unfrozen almost immediately and I think it will be a big boost for their economy, Natalie.

ALLEN: Yeah, it sounds like it would be because they haven't certain for some time. What's the reaction expected to be from the people of Iran?

PLEITGEN: Well, I mean, certainly a lot of them have been looking forward to this moment. I mean, one of the things that we have to keep in mind is that the entire political scene at this point in Iran is very much under the influence of these nuclear negotiations.

On the one hand, you have President Hassan Rouhani who is fairly moderate. Who campaign on the message saying that he would get the sanctions lifted, that he would have Iran's economy, which has been on a lot of trouble recently, do a lot better and of course, sanctions relief is very important.

People looking for foreign investment, there is banks that want to do business internationally again. There are business people, mostly from Europe, already flocking to Tehran looking to make deals, but of course, are dependent on sanctions relief as well.

Then on the other hand, you have the hard liners in Iran, who are always very skeptical of this deal, who felt that Iran was giving up to much, who wants to stay in a state of confrontation with the United States, and they are very skeptical about all this.

So, all the political headway, but that's been made. All the headway with sanctions relief is still something that is very fragile. When you look at the situation in Iran, of course, also, when you look at the situation in the U.S as well where there are some big skeptics into all of these.

However, the government in Tehran and in Washington D.C. will be very happy to see this deal go through and hope that they can build on the diplomatic headway that they've made with this.

ALLEN: All right, Frederik Pleitgen for us covering in. We'll wait and see when they make the announcement, thank you Fred.

Oil isn't the only Iranian business that could boom, but when this announcement is made, Iranian caviar could be in a market near you. Iran was once the biggest exporter of caviar in the world. But the industry suffered since 2010 sanctions forbid the import of Iranian caviar to the U.S. Now, the industry hopes for a big rebound. Popular with food connoisseurs, Iranian caviar has a unique taste due to the Caspian Sea's brackish waters.

Well the results of a land mark election in Taiwan are expected soon, we'll be live in Taipei where voters could still have their first female president. Plus French heath officials launched an investigation after a drug trial turns disastrous, living one dead, brain dead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:12:15] ALLEN: A mass sell off shook up Wall Street investors on Friday with the DOW dropping another 391 points closing just under 16,000. The NASDQ plunged 2.7 percent, its lowest point in 14 months. Oil, also, plummeted below $30 a barrel on Friday, feeling that nervous global sell of.

Well, polls have just closed in Taiwan and results are expected soon in what could be a landmark election. We have live video from Taipei as the vote counting gets underway.

Tai Ing-wen looks to become Taiwan's first female president, and her Democratic Progressive Party could take control of the legislature, both of which would be historical victories. In either case, there are major implications at play for Taiwan's ties of course with China.

Tsai's party has traditionally been in favor of Taiwan's independence. Our Kristie Lu Stout is Taipei with more on the election. She is live for us. And Kristie you talked these voters at the polls there and it looks like it's going to be landslide for to be president.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Indeed which has been historic here in Taiwan, now the polls are closed, now everyone is just waiting for the result it is widely expected that Tsai Ing- wen, the opposition leader of the DPP party will become the next president of Taiwan and so doing would become the first female leader of the Island.

But if she does, she has a host of challenges ahead of her, number one, economic stagnation. The economic troubles facing the 23 million people who call Taiwan home.

Also, these rising voice among the youth who are getting increasingly and politically active and they have that want to be met. There's also that tricky relationship with China that needs to be carefully navigated.

Ad this issue of a sense of Taiwan identity, a very interesting development, there was this video that went viral that showed a Taiwan pop star being forced to apologize for weaving the Taiwan flag at a recent concert.

This is a video that has gotten viral big time here in Taiwan. It's angered a lot of people especially at the polls. I went to a polling station earlier today and talked to some voters there about what issues matter most to them.

This is what they told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via tarnslator): The KMT is less likely to provoke cross (inaudible) troubles. They want peace, that's why I chose them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: OK, well that was from one pro KMT voter, we also talked to a number of pro DPP voters and they said that they are being motivated by a vote for Taiwan. They do not want to be afraid of waving the Taiwan flag. They want to call their home Taiwan not Chinese Taipei, for example, on the global stage.

[03:15:00] So again the polls are closed. We are waiting the result as she'll be coming out in the couple of hours and when that result comes out, we'll deliver to you right here on CNN, Natalie?

ALLEN: Yeah Christie thanks and much are stake here as you just pointed out the details and certainly China is watching.

LU STOUT: Sorry China is definitely watching this. it is interesting because Tsai Ing-wen comes from the DPP Party which is traditionally for independence from China but she's taking in more pragmatic method of (ph) approach saying that she wants to maintain the status quo of improved ties between Taiwan and China and they're just saying that they don't expect any major change in the relationship once the election results comes out that the policies that were put in placed by Ma Ying-jeou will stay in place. The policies of the trade links, the shipping links even the opposed to links between Taiwan and China that were established of the last 8 years so that's not going to be scrapped at all but there'll be an interesting time for both sides China and Taiwan to try to feel each other around and to figure out what things are going to be like for cross-strait relations under the new Taiwan president. Back to you.]

ALLEN: All right, Kristie Lu Stout there in Taiwan for us. Thank you Kristie.

Two people in Ecuador had been infected with the Zika virus. Health officials there say it appears that this is the first time the virus was transmitted locally. The Zika virus is contracted by mosquito bite and it's linked to birth defects. U.S. health officials are advising pregnant women not to travel to Puerto Rico and countries in Central and South America.

In France, one man is brain dead. Five others are in the hospital after volunteering for an early phase drug trial. Dozens of people were given the drug in different doses but the man who suffered adverse reactions all took the sustaining dose.

I spoke earlier with Dr. Joel Zivot, a professor of anesthesiology about the risk volunteers face during clinical trials.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOEL ZIVOT, PROFESSOR OF ANESTHESIOLOGY: Clinical trials are important and we need these trials and we need people to volunteer. We are indebted to volunteers especially to phase 1 trial who recognized and accept to certain degree of risk to be able to allow themselves to be used to learn something very important and one always hopes that a drug and its beginning stages ultimately becomes that drug that makes the difference in a life of someone in the future. So I hoped that no one is dissuaded in any way in participating in clinical trials.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: So this trial has been stopped by while French Health officials investigate.

A U.S. federal judge has ordered a convicted Boston Marathon bomber to pay more than $101 million to 49 of his victims. The order for restitution is at least a symbolic condemnation of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's role in the attack. The judge also denied a request for new trial. Tsarnaev's hit on dearth row for the attack that killed 3 people and injured hundreds in 2013.

After Sean Penn said his controversial interview with Mexican drug lord El Chapo was intended to start a conversation about the war on drugs. But Penn now says the whole thing was a failure. Here's CNN's Brian Todd.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The actor Sean Penn breaking his silence about his secret meeting with Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman facilitated by a Mexican soap opera star Kate del Castillo.

SEAN PENN, ACTO: We all want this drug problem to stop.

TODD: But instead of bragging that he may have helped bring down one of the world's most wanted man, Penn is adamant that his meeting did not lead to El Chapo's capture. In an interview with CBS News, Penn calls that assertion from Mexican officials a myth.

PENN: We have met with him many weeks earlier...

CHARLIE ROSE, CBS ANCHOR: ON October 2nd.

PENN: On October 2nd in a place nowhere near where he was captured.

ROSE: So as far as you know you had nothing to do and your visit had nothing to do with his recapture?

PENN: The thing is -- here's the things that we know. We know that the Mexican government, they were clearly very humiliated by the notion that someone found him before they did. Well, nobody found him before they did. We didn't - we're not smarter than the DEA or the Mexican intelligence. We had a contact upon which we were able to facilitate an invitation.

TODD: Penn claimed he and Del Castillo had ditched their cellphones and other electronics prior to meeting with El Chapo in the Mexican jungle. Now Penn is leveling his own charge saying Mexican authorities are actually trying to set him up.

ROSE: Do you believe that the Mexican government released this with impart because they wanted to see you blamed and to put you at risk?

PENN: Yes

ROSE: They wanted to encourage the cartel to put you in their cross- hairs?

PENN: Yes

ROSE: Are you fearful for your life?

PENN: No

[03:19:59] TODD: A Mexican official tells CNN that claim is "absurd" and nonsensical. The official says the Mexican government would have too much to loose if they put Penn's life at risk but former DEA Operations Chief Michael Braun believes Penn's and Del Castillo's lives could be in danger. MICHAEL BRAUN, PRIOR U.S. DEA CHIEF OF OPERATIONS: And I'm telling you

right now that one or more of the key leaders within the Sinaloa cartel are absolutely infuriated by the fact that the visit by Sean Penn and Ms. Del Castillo certainly contributed to El Chapo Guzman's arrest.

TODD: Meanwhile CNN has learned Del Castillo is being targeted by another group. Mexican officials -- a senior Mexican law enforcement official tells CNN, Mexican authorities are investigating whether El Chapo provided funding to a Tequila company owned by Del Castillo. So far, no response from Del Castillo or her representatives to that investigation.

TODD: We're also told of the possible involvement of another popular Mexican actress in this case. Mexican official telling CNN, the Attorney General's office there is investigating whether actress Yolanda Andrade might have helped Del Castillo facilitate the meeting with El Chapo. The official says Del Castillo and Andrade are good friends and Andrade is from El Chapo's home state of Sinaloa.

Brian Todd, CNN Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Ted Cruz gives a not so heartfelt apology after criticizing what he called New York values. Let's hear what the presidential candidate said coming next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will apologize. I apologize to the millions of New Yorkers who've been abandoned for years by liberal politicians.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Oh that was good as it got. That was Ted Cruz, his version of an apology for his recent criticism of all of New York City. Earlier this week the presidential candidate said his Republican rival Donald Trump both embodies New York values and "meaning it as a clear insult." Trump calls his comment very insulting and received rare back up from New York Democrats that included former New York Senator and candidate for president, Hillary Clinton.

The New York Daily News was a little more blunt in its response. There you go, putting, "Drop Dead Ted" on this Friday cover with the statue of liberty not being very lady like. I think giving him of that finger.

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEROLOGIST: Slug (ph), a little bit more clearer than that.

ALLEN: You know, you put down New Yorkers they don't like it.

VAN DAM: That's how they retaliate.

(CROSTALK)

ALLEN: All right Derek is here and he's not going to get a finger to whether that...

VAN DAM: Yeah no, no.

ALLEN: It's good to impart.

(CROSSTALK)

VAN DAM: And my weather forecast is straightforward. No middle fingers there that's for sure. Natalie, we've got the remnants of what was, it seems show an interest enough.

[03:25:03] Post hurricane -- please stay with me. In post hurricane Alex, this set a whole kind of records across the eastern Atlantic. It was the strongest January hurricane ever recorded and by the way Natalie a hurricane is only formed three times since records began back in the early 1800s. This is visuals coming out of the Azores islands. That's how you can see some of the winds swept ocean's 12 kind of smashing into the coast line there.

There were reports of down palm trees and so with electrical lines but no injuries, no fatalities. That's the most important part more of a nuisance for the people living on this particular island chain, the archipelago just off the coast of Portugal just to give you a geographical reference.

Again post Tropical Storm Alex or post Hurricane Alex, this is taken on extra tropical characteristics, meaning it's loosing it's hurricane almost stunts because it's starting to really deteriorate but nonetheless it still has strong enough winds where it's considered a tropical system.

It is there just south of Greenland. Yeah that's how far north of this across the Atlantic and it'll continue to loose a lot of its strength and characteristics over the coming days and weeks but this is an impressive system and remarkable that it actually happened this time of the year.

Look at this across Eastern Europe. We also had a remarkable storm system that's going to bring destructive snowfall and a potential for a full of blizzard across these southern Balkan Peninsula anywhere from Serbia, into Romania.

Under the storm turning about across this region, we could experience another 15 to 30 centimeters of snowfall into the capital of Bulgaria so here that is particular area that we're going to monitor closely and in fact there in winds in excess of 60 to 70 kilometers per hour and that's right blowing snow will reduce visibility.

It's not only and if people are traveling to that area or around that particular of that region, expect flight delays and certainly some trouble concerns on the roadways. It could get messy starting this month.

ALLEN: All right, Derek, thanks very much.

We wanted to show you now a church in Taiwan. That is a church. The structure is shaped as you can see like an oversized glass high-heel shoe. It will officially open next month. We're told that's 55 feet or 16 meters tall. Look at that and they've taken a couple of months, 2 months to build. Reports say that the church will primarily be used for weddings and photo shoots not regular services.

VAN DAM: Cinderella would be very impressed...

ALLEN: That have changed to now (ph), with that you mean preserved. Thanks for watching along with Derek. I'm Natalie Allen. Up next is "POLITICAL MANN".

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)