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Inside North Korea Ahead of Day of the Sun Celebrations; U.S. Secretary of State Headed to Moscow; Mauritius Chef Cooks Up Local Cuisine. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired April 11, 2017 - 08:00   ET

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


[08:01:40] IVAN WATSON, HOST: I'm Ivan Watson in Hong Kong. Welcome to News Stream. The U.S. Secretary of State heads to Moscow after slamming

Russia's failure in Syria. The CEO of United Airlines is standing by employees after a passenger is dragged off a flight with a bloody face.

And CNN is inside North Korea as the country prepares to celebrate its most important holiday of the year.

Welcome to the program. The U.S. Secretary of State is on his way to Moscow to carry a

message to the Kremlin. Rex Tillerson spent the last two days in Italy, meeting with foreign ministers from the G7 and a few from the Middle East.

They came to a consensus on backing the recent U.S. strike on a Syrian air base. They're hoping Tillerson can persuade Moscow to press Syria's Bashar

al-Assad to agree to a cease-fire.

But tensions between Russia and the U.S. are strained. Moscow says the U.S. air strike violated international agreements while Tillerson accuses

Russia of violating an agreement to remove chemical weapons from Syria.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REX TILLERSON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: It is also clear Russia has failed to uphold the agreements that had been entered into under multiple UN

Security Council resolutions. It is unclear whether Russia failed to take this obligation seriously or Russia has been incompetent, but this

distinction doesn't much matter to the dead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: The White House is pushing back against criticism that it's sending mixed messages on Syria. Here is CNN's Joe Johns.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN SPICER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: If you gas a baby, if you put a barrel bomb into innocent people, I think you can -- you will see a

response from the president.

JOHNS (voice-over): White House press secretary Sean Spicer telling reporters that another chemical attack or use of barrel bombs could result

in more missile strikes.

SPICER: When you watch babies and children being gassed and suffering under barrel bombs, you are instantaneously moved to action.

JOHNS: This would mark a dramatic escalation of U.S. action, considering that Assad's regime has dropped 495 barrel bombs last month alone,

according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights.

Hours later, the White House walking back his apparent red line, saying Spicer meant to signal that the president is never going to rule anything

out.

Further muddying the waters, this interventionist comment from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the G-7 summit in Italy.

TILLERSON: We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world.

JOHNS: Very different from Trump's "America first" vision.

SPICER: We're not going to become the world's policeman, running around the country -- running around the world.

JOHNS: The Trump administration's stance toward Assad also remains unclear.

[08:05:00] SPICER: I can't imagine a stable and peaceful Syria where Bashar al- Assad is in power.

JOHNS: Spicer seemingly taking the position stated by U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley on Sunday.

HALEY: Regime change is something that we think is going to happen. It's going to be hard to see a government that's peaceful and stable with Assad.

JOHNS: Which was the opposite of statements from Secretary Tillerson.

TILLERSON: Once we can eliminate the battle against ISIS, conclude that, and it is going quite well, then we hope to turn our attention to achieving

cease-fire agreements between the regime and opposition forces.

JACK REED, U.S. SENATE DEMOCRAT: I think they're still searching, frankly, for a policy and for a strategy.

JOHNS: Meantime, Syrian warplanes are back in the sky, taking off from the air base hit by the U.S. with dozens of cruise missiles. The Pentagon

claims the strikes caused 20 percent of Syria's operational aircraft to be destroyed. But two senior military officials tell CNN it was 20 planes, not

20 percent.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON: Joe Johns reporting there. CNN's Ben Wedeman is at the Turkish- Syrian border in the Turkish city of Antakia and he joins us now from where he is monitoring the conflict across the border.

Now, Ben, you heard the White House press secretary talking about barrel bombs. Can you explain to our viewers what these weapons are and how

they've been used in this Syrian conflict?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Sure, Ivan. These are barrels packed with high explosives, nails, scraps of metal that are

normally dropped from helicopters. They're not precision weapons. There's nothing smart about them. They're just dropped onto targets or any town or

village in rebel-held Syria. They are deadly. They are destructive. And they do not discriminate between combatants and civilians.

In the past, there have been reports that some of those barrel bombs were also filled with chlorine powder, the same sort of thing - chemical that is

used in swimming pools. And they don't necessarily -- the chlorine doesn't necessarily kill a lot of people, but what it does is it spreads terror.

It causes people to have problems breathing. And they have been used by the thousands.

As Joe Johns was saying earlier in that report, in March alone, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says almost 500 barrel bombs were used. Now,

we can't verify those numbers, but that seems to be part of the pattern. They're cheap and easy to produce, they're deadly. They also produce the

desired effect, which is to terrorize the population. So definitely it's something used time and time again.

If the White House is going to use the use of barrel bombs as a red line, well I think we should all get prepared for busy months ahead, Ivan.

WATSON: I do think that's fair to say, Ben.

Now, there's been so much attention focused on the U.S. cruise missile strike against that Syrian government air base last week, but we also need

to remind people there are also U.S. forces on the ground in Syria that they've been fighting for months against ISIS.

Can you explain how thatconflict is going and the role that those forces are playing on the

ground in Syria as we speak?

WEDEMAN: Yeah, there are about 1,000 U.S. troops in northern Syria. They are with the so-called Syrian democratic forces. That's an American-backed

force composed of Arabs and Kurds. Their focus is on Raqqa, the de facto capital of ISIS, which is on the Euphrates River in the north

central part of the country. There are also U.S. forces in the town of Manbij, which is to the east

of Aleppo.

And there, they are, as one official said, within hand grenade range of a force of Russian troops in that town as well. They're there to keep

separated Turkish-backed forces, Syrian rebels, from American-backed Syrian rebels.

And the situation on the ground in Syria is so absurdly complicated. You have American troops, Russian troops, Turkish troops, Iranian troops,

troops from Hezbollah, as well as ISIS, as well as a myriad of Syrian factions as well as, of course, the Syrian military

itself.

So, what could possibly go wrong - Ivan.

WATSON: It's a civil war, a proxy war. And again we have to hammer home the immense cost on the civilians of that country, half of which, of the

entire population, have been displaced from their homes throughout these six years.

Ben Wedeman live from the Syrian border, from the Turkish city of an Antakia (ph), thank you very much.

Now, as we've mentioned, America's top diplomat will soon touch down in Moscow. And tensions surrounding his visit are extremely high.

Let's now get the view from the Russian capital. Our Michelle Kosinski is there. Do you get an idea, Michelle, of what kind of message Tillerson

will be bringing to Moscow on the back of this G7 meeting that some other Middle Eastern diplomats attended?

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's going to be a difficult one. I mean, days ago, even before the tensions escalated the way they

have, the U.S. was talking about sending a message to Russia to talk bluntly about it, saying that the U.S. is going to hold Russia accountable,

that it's not going to remove sanctions over the Crimea situation until Russia changes its course.

Since then, though, there's been a lot of really tough language on both sides. Russia calling the U.S. air strikes inadmissible, an act of

aggression, and saying that the U.S. is actually moving closer to a military confrontation with Russia.

So, it's been reported out there and Secretary of State Tillerson has faced questions over what is

this message going to be? Is it going to be an ultimatum to tell Russia you must back away from Assad now? Is it going to be an accusation that

Russia was actually complicit in the chemical attack in Syria?

But the secretary of state on the U.S. side isn't really saying that now with any detail. They're saying, well, they're going to call on Russia to

change course and that the course that they're on is not in Russia's best interest.

So, they don't want to really use this strong language going right into this meeting. I think the world will be watching to see what kind of

ultimatum, if any, the U.S. does present and what the effect would be.

I mean, the secretary of state was asked that question, so what happens if Russia doesn't get on board? What happens if Russia really was complicit

in this attack? And the most the secretary of state secretary of state would say during the interviews that he's done over the

past couple days is, well, it would damage the U.S.-Russia relationship, which is more than obvious at this point.

WATSON: That's right. And I think the Russian foreign ministry has put out a statement

saying that relations between the two countries are the worst, or the most difficult they've been since the Cold War.

Michelle, Tillerson before leaving Italy, he was quoted saying that the time for the reign of the Assad family is coming to an end. Are you

getting any sense that the Kremlin might be open to any kind of compromise or negotiation when it comes to its allies, Bashar al-Assad and the Assad

dynasty in Syria?

KOSINKSI: If they are, they're not letting on any movement in public. I mean, what Russia has been doing over the last few days is denying

everything. I mean, even with the U.S. having strong evidence that the Assad regime was to blame for this vicious chemical attack, Russia has said, well, where is the hard evidence? There is none.

Russia has tried to blame a rebel supply of the chemical weapons that they said was hit by an air strike and that's what caused the attack.

So, it's been continual denials.

I think one opening you did see from Russia was them saying, you know, first how terrible the relationship was and how bad it's getting with the

U.S. But that doesn't mean that it's irreparable.

The U.S. has kind of said similar, that the U.S. wants to work with Russia, that there are areas of cooperation, but it's really going to have to be

determined by what happens next after they face-to-face deal with this terrible situation over Syria.

WATSON: It's incredible tension, Michelle, given that just a few months ago you had glowing

coverage of the new U.S. President Donald Trump in the Kremlin-controlled media. And now you have this rupture of relations, or tension in the

relationship.

That's Michelle Kosinski live from Moscow. Thank you very much, Michelle.

Now, the United Airlines, that airline is in hot water right now as this shocking video spreads like wildfire through the internet. We'll have the

latest on why a passenger was violently dragged from a United Airlines plane.

And an underwater wonderland rapidly being destroyed. We'll look at how the race to

claim the South China Sea is killing pristine marine life. Stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:16:54] WATSON: Welcome back to News Stream. I'm Ivan Watson broadcasting from Hong Kong.

Now, here is a story that has got some people thinking twice about the next time they fly the friendly skies. Social media is blowing up over shocking

video of a passenger getting violently dragged out of a United Airlines plane leaving him bloodied and dazed.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says it will review the incident. And United, well, it's trying to fend off the criticism. Here is more on

the chaotic scene.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A disturbing scene unfolding in front of horrified passengers as this man is wrestled from his seat...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on.

CAMEROTA: ...and dragged off the plane.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, this is wrong. Oh, my God, look at what you're doing to him.

CAMEROTA: Three Chicago airport security officers seen forcibly removing this passenger to make room for crew members on the overbooked flight, the

man hitting his mouth on the armrest across the aisle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They busted his lip.

CAMEROTA: Moments later the distraught passenger runs back onto the plane.

PASSENGER REMOVED FROM UNITED FLIGHT 3411: I have to go home. I have to go home.

CAMEROTA: Witnesses say the man told the crew he was a doctor and was yelling that he was being profiled because he was Chinese. The incident

prompting outrage on board...

TYLER BRIDGES, PASSENGER ON UNITED FLIGHT 3411: The United employees come on the plane. The other passengers were just berating the employees, saying

things like you should be ashamed of yourself, you should be embarrassed to work for this company.

CAMEROTA: ...and sparking a major backlash against the airline on social media. United Airlines first explaining in a statement, "Normally when this

occurs, passengers are asked to voluntarily give up their seats for compensation and the situation is resolved. However, this was not the case

on Sunday night's flight and United was forced into an involuntary deboarding situation."

United CEO Oscar Munoz later addressing the incident on social media saying, "I apologize for having to reaccommodate these customers. Our team

is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened." Munoz later calling the

passenger "disruptive and belligerent" in an email to employees.

CHARLIE LEOCHA, PRESIDENT, TRAVELERS UNITED: Well, I've never seen this happen before. I've never, ever seen a passenger roughed up and dragged off

a plane to put a flight attendant on. I mean, that's just idiocy.

CAMEROTA: The officer involved in pulling this passenger from the flight is on paid leave while officials investigate what happened.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is wrong. Oh, my God.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They busted his lip.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON: You heard those screams from onlookers as the passenger was dragged off the plane. A few minutes ago, CNN talked to two passengers on

that flight who described the chaos. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: What was your impression of this passenger? Was he traumatized from this experience or was there something else going on with him?

ANSPACH: You know, it's hard to tell. As he runs back on that plane and he's, you know, saying over and over again "I need to go home, I need to go

home" it could have been his daze from hitting his face on the armrest. You know, he was acting a little bit differently since he came back on the

plane. I don't even know how he got back on the plane -- what was happening in the jetway because it wasn't until, I don't know, seven to 10 minutes

later that he ran back on the plane.

[08:20:16] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All United had to do was try to convince some passengers, and it wouldn't have taken much more convincing to get

some folks to leave that plane.

But after the first offer was made, the United employee left and it escalated. She chose the people who were going to be taken off the plane.

No one was talked to personally. Had she just come and talked to people, had they just tried some diplomacy, none of this had to take place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: This fiasco looks like it could hit United in a major market: China. The videoes got more than 100 million views on China's Weibo social

media site. Some users accuse the airline of discriminating against the passenger because he is Chinese.

Our Matt Rivers has more on the reaction in China.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This incident isn't just a U.S. issue, it's also making a major impact here in China. United carries

more passengers between the United States and China than any other airline. We're talking thousands of people per day.

So, the airline will need to pay attention to the angry reactions from people here. CNN can't yet confirm the man's identity.

But passengers on board the plane reported the man shouted he was only being removed because he was Chinese. And that has struck a cord.

"You see the blood in his mouth," says this man. "That's obviously wrong."

"Of course I'm angry as a Chinese," says another man. "This airline is very dangerous."

Chinese social media is also ablaze with comments calling for a United boycott. On Weibo, China's version of Twitter, one user wrote, quote, it's

straightup discrimination.

Let me tell you a joke, wrote another, the U.S. is the best country in the world for people's rights.

This user said, I'm not going to fly United again in my lifetime.

Tens of millions of people have weighed in, nearly all upset, quickly making it Weibo's top trending topic.

United has said the man was chosen for removal not because of his ethnicity, but because of

things like connecting flights and how long passengers would be delayed.

For now, that explanation is falling a bit flat here. China is the world's second largest aviation market and it's still growing. So, people that are

upset over United's treatment of that passenger could really put a dent in the company's bottom line if they choose to spend their money somewhere

else.s

Matt Rivers, CNN, in the Beijing International Airport.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON: As you would perhaps expect, questions are being raised about all this. Do airlines have a right to involuntarily de-board a paying

passenger? And what rights do passengers actually have?

To answer that, CNN Money looks at airline policies and what compensation passengers are

legally entitled to if they get bumped. You can check out how it all works on our web site at Money.CNN.com.

Now, here's a story that is frankly quite disturbing. This is Australia's Great Barrier Reef, it's home to billions of organisms.

But scientists warn much of this natural wonder is cooking and dying, and they're blaming

climate change.

Researchers found shocking amounts of bleaching across more than two-thirds of the coral. They say a 1,500 kilometer stretch has been devastating.

Bleaching is when algae is expelled from the reef turning it white. Experts say rising sea

temperatures are to blame.

Pristine marine life is also suffering in the South China Sea. And the threat there, it's entirely man-made.

This body of water is one of the most congested in the world with China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and The Philippines scrambling to turn the

Spratly Islands into military bases.

The problem is, they're also destroying an underwater paradise in the process.

Craig Asner from the Carnegie Institution for science, he went diving there to see the damage

and the untouched wonders firsthand.

And our Kristie Lu Stout spoke with him about what he saw.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GREG ASNER, CARNEIGIE INSTITUTION FOR SCIENCE: What we found is that the biodiversity there is in the southeast corner of the Archipelago is quite

intact, and that there is Amazing, absolutely amazing ecosystems to see and explore.

Once we combined that information with our satellite data, we started to see that other parts of that region in the South China Sea are not doing so

well.

LU STOUT: And how much loss of reef cover did you discover?

ASNER: Well, using the combination of diving and satellite data, we assessed pretty much all the tolls that are found in the South China Sea,

the tolls that are currently occupied by one nation or another. And we found up to a 70 percent decrease in coral reef ecosystem

presence in some of these tolls that have been massively converted into military bases.

So, it's a range of conditions from highly pristine. Those are the areas that are still untouched or relatively much less impact all the way to

those that are -- have been radically converted to military bases.

Those have seen big losses in coral reef ecology and coral reef systems.

LU STOUT: Yeah, and as you discovered, a 70 percent reduction in reef cover is quite significant. Now, these tolls are occupied by China as well

as Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines. Is China making the most negative ecological impact here?

ASNER: Yeah, on a scale of who is doing the converting and who is destroying reef, China is in the lead in the sense of they are building the

fastest and they are converting these atolls which is a process where they go and they literally dredge up the coral itself and fold it into the

center part of the atoll as kind of a foundation and then they add to it and ultimately build runways and infrastructure. And that obviously

destroys the coral reef, and along with it, we're seeing millions and millions of individuals creatures being lost in that process.

LU STOUT: And have you shared your research with the Chinese and other nations who are involved in the South China Sea so they can understand the

ecological impact of their outpost building there?

ASNER: The process we typically go through is through our scientific community. And right now we published a paper on what we found. We're

communicating that information to other scientists including to scientists in China and the other countries that are interested and claimants of that

part of the South China Sea.

We're sharing the biodiversity, knowledge that we're gaining. And we're building up the scientific basis for making the case even more strongly

that this is a special region, this is an opportunity for people to come together to have on the table the issue of conservation and protection of

this unique biodiversity hotspot.

LU STOUT: And a final question for you. China is undeterred, it continues to build military outposts and even man-made islands in the South China

Sea. So what hope is there for the coral reefs and for the biodiversity of the South China Sea?

ASNER: Well, in the Spratly Islands, which is the archipelago in the South China Sea that we're talking about, out of about 100 atolls and reef

systems that are part of this archipelago, about 15 have been deeply impacted so far.

So 15 percent or so.

So, the news can be good if we turn this around before more reefs and atolls are converted.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON: That was Greg Asner from the Carnegie Institution for Science speaking with my colleague Krsitie Lu Stout. And you can read more about

Greg's experiences on our website. All you have to do is go to CNN.com.

Coming up, North Korea is celebrating its most elaborate holiday of the year and the world is watching if there will be any surprise from Kim Jong-

un. We are taking you live to Pyongyang straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

[08:32:00] WATSON: Now, we want to take you inside North Korea now. The country will soon celebrating its most important holiday of the year. And

there's concern that Kim Jong-un may mark the occasion with some form of military action.

Just this hour, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted this: North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If

not, we will solve the problem without them: USA.

All right, so let's bring in CNN's Will Ripley from Pyongyang.

And, Will, we've just seen these tweets now coming from the U.S. president addressing North

Korea. So, my question to you is, have you gotten a sense on this visit as to how the North Korean

government and officials there view this new U.S. president who has president seen yet 100 day

in office?

MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is the first time I ever thought I'd say this, Ivan. But there are times now that North

Korea's propaganda actually seems more restrained than the tweets that are coming from the president of the United States.

It used to be the other way around for a long time.

We just got off the phone with our North Korean government contacts. We told them about these tweets. We don't know if we're going to get any sort

of reaction this evening, because it is already quite late. People are going on with their evening here.

But this is playing into what the North Koreans have said all along, that the United States under

the Trump administration, they feel there's a real potential for a military confrontation. They have always said that, that at least during the Obama

years, during the strategy of strategic patience, they didn't necessarily truly - they weren't truly concerned to the point where

now they feel like they have to accelerate their weapons program development as a result of the rhetoric and the actions of the United

States' president who is focusing very closely on this country.

WATSON: Will, I know you'll be following the situation there and when those official responses, if they come, you'll be very quick to report

them. In the meantime, the country is gearing up for its biggest holiday of the year. And you've been given rare access there. Can you tell us

about the importance of this upcoming celebration?

RIVERS: Yeah, it's interesting because you have the tension that's brewing in the outside world, and yet when we're here on the ground in Pyongyang,

this is a very festive, celebratory week. But it's a real contrast happening, because the Day of the Sun holiday on Saturday is a time, these

major events are times when North Korea has traditionally liked to show force, liked to project strength both domestically here inside the country

and also around the world.

And there are indications that that could happen really any time.

RIVERS: Facing mounting global pressure to stop testing nuclear weapons, many fear North

Korean leader Kim Jong-un might accelerate his weapons program. And they're waiting for his next

move. On Saturday, North Korea celebrates the Day of the Sun, their most

important holiday of the year, honoring the birth of the nation's founding father Kim il-Sung.

Five years ago, North Korea tried to launch a satellite just two days before the Day of the Sun. The first attempt failed, followed by a

successful launch later that year. Now North Korea may be ready for another dramatic show of force after a series of missile launches, U.S. and

South Korean intelligence officials believe North Korea is ready to conduct a nuclear test at any time.

In response to recent provocations, U.S. is rerouting the Carrier strike group Carl Vincent to the Korean peninsula, just days after President

Trump's surprise missile strike on Syria.

Some view the strike as a warning to North Korea. The U.S. is willing to respond with force if provoked.

The situation is so tense, we're at the brink of war, says this Pyongyang residence. But if that happens, we'll all go to the front lines to fight

the Americans.

President Trump may be trying to put pressure on North Korea to strop developing nuclear weapons. But here Pyongyang, that pressure seems to be

having the opposite effect.

One North Korean government official tells CNN the aggressive acts of war on the part of the United States are getting increasingly reckless.

In response, we will continue to strengthen our self-defense capability.

North Korea is working to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile that can deliver a nuclear warhead to the mainland U.S. Most analysts say

they don't have one yet, but it's only a matter of time.

"We think we're very capable of defending ourselves," this Pyongyang resident says, because we have the strong leadership of Marshall Kim Jong-

un."

The mood inside North Korea is not tense, but festive on their biggest holiday week of the

year.

Tens of thousands are visiting national landmarks like the birthplace of late President Kim

il-Sung.

For the first time, CNN cameras are allowed inside the Museum of the Korean Revolution. More than 120 rooms chronicling all three generations of Kim

family leadership. This rare inside look at North Korean history shows the entire nation is built around these three men.

I'm shown footage from 2011 when North Koreans learned of the unexpected death of the nation's second leader Kim Jung-il. The footage brings our

guide to tears.

Now, their Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un is leading her and 25 million North Koreans, like his

grandfather and father before him, he has absolute power over the lives of his people.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RIVERS: The ministry of foreign affairs here in Pyongyang put out a statement earlier today that hasbeen repeated on television and in all the

other local media calling the United States an aggressor, talking about the deployment of that carrier strike group and

saying that North Korea will be prepared to defend itself against whatever type of conflict the United States chooses.

But they say they will move forward on the road that they have chosen, Ivan, the road to develop nuclear weapons.

WATSON: All right, Will Ripley live in Pyongyang. And during this time of tension, we'll look forward to your upcoming reports. Thank you very, very

much.

Now, still to come on News Stream, cooking up a feast. We take you to Mauritius for

a mouthwatering meal that draws on the island's unique culture.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:40:14] WATSON: Welcome back to the program.

Imagine a place where you can find food to satisfy just about every pallet. Well, Mauritius might be just that. Its cuisine combines the best of

Indian, Chinese, French and Creole influences. Today, we fallow an award- winning chef as he puts together a tasty feast with a myriad of flavors.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When people come to Mauritius, the first thing to their mind is to have the sun, the sea, the coconut trees and the local food,

Mauritian food.

I like working with local food, local vegetable and local meat also local fish. But you have got to see behind (ph) of you. and you can talk to a

fisherman. He can bring you every day fresh fish.

It's very nice. You see it. This fish we call Dorado. Dorado (inaudible).

Now we are in Port Louis. Port Louis is the capital of our country, Mauritius. And we are situated now in the central market. I come here to

find all the ingredients, the fresh vegetables and also the spices like curry powder, saffron, cumin and many things just to realize my recipe at

the hotel.

This is fresh saffron that we'll use in our chicken curry.

Mauritian food it's a little bit spicy, but all the guests who come here, they love Mauritian region food. On Thursday, we have a Mauritian buffet

with many types of foods from different regions.

It's very nice. It's good.

What do you want eat? Indian food, Chinese food, creole food, Maurer (ph), or Muslim food? The beauty of Mauritius is that you can have any type of

food you want.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON: I don't know about you, but I'm hungry.

And that is News Stream. I'm Ivan Watson. But don't go anywhere. World Sport with Christina Macfarland is next.

END