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DHS Secretary Now Out of Trump's Cabinet; Brexit Talks Scrambling as Deadline Approaches; Netanyahu Could Still Win Re- election; World Headlines; Libya Clashes Continue; Deadly Anti- Government Protests Escalate; American Woman Kidnapped in Uganda Rescued; Mexico Wrestles with Influx of Migrants; Seeking Justice in Venezuela; Extreme Weather; Behind the Music of "Game of Thrones." Aired 3-4a ET

Aired April 08, 2019 - 03:00   ET

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


[03:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: A key member of the U.S. president's cabinet, the secretary of homeland security, now out of a job, and according to one source, she was forced out.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Plus, it is a tight race in Israel as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tries for a fifth term in Israel's election. We go live to Jerusalem as voters get ready to head to the polls.

HOWELL: Also, ahead this hour, it is one of the most recognizable theme songs in pop culture history. We talked to the man behind the music for "Game of Thrones." A lot of people definitely want to hear that.

Live from CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, we want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and all around the world.

I'm George Howell.

CHURCH: And I'm Rosemary Church. CNN Newsroom starts right now.

HOWELL: As the U.S. president ramps up his battle to stop illegal border crossings, the woman who enforced his policies is now out of a job. A source says that Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen resigned under pressure. President Trump announced her departure on Twitter.

CHURCH: Nielsen defended the White House immigration agenda, including the controversial separation of migrant children from their parents. President Trump named Kevin McAleenan, the current Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, as acting secretary for the department.

Well, Nielsen's resignation comes just days after the president signaled an even tougher stance on immigration.

HOWELL: That's right. Our Boris Sanchez had this report, recent White House decisions that took Nielsen by surprise.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: According to a source close to Kirstjen Nielsen, she did not resign willingly. The source indicates that Nielsen was not expecting to resign when she walked into this Sunday meeting at the White House with President Trump, but that she was prepared to do so.

A source says that she did not beg for the job, that she did not grovel or fight to keep it. Sources have indicated that in the past few months she has been bearing the brunt of President Trump's anger on the border and what he sees as a broken immigration system.

I want to read to you now a portion of her resignation later. She writes, "Despite our progress in reforming Homeland Security for a new age, I've determined that it is the right time for me to step aside. I hope the next secretary will have the support of Congress and the courts in fixing the laws which have imped our ability to fully secure America's borders and which have contributed to discord in our nation's discourse. Our country and the men and women of DHS deserve to have all the tools and resources they need to execute the mission entrusted to them. I can say with confidence our homeland is safer today than when I joined the administration."

Sources close to Nielsen say that she was blindsided by some recent moves made by the White House, first when President Trump decided to pull the nomination of Ron Vitiello to lead Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, an agency that Nielsen would have overseen as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

The second move was the cancelling of aid to three Central American countries, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. Keep in mind, that announcement came shortly after Nielsen was in Honduras talking about the importance of aid to preventing more immigration from those nations to the United States.

President Trump announced via Twitter that her replacement, at least for the time being, would be Kevin McAleenan. He is the commissioner of Customs and Border Protection.

Boris Sanchez, CNN, at the White House.

CHURCH: And the house U.S. speaker was unsparing in her reaction to Nielsen's resignation.

HOWELL: Here's what Nancy Pelosi had to say in a statement. Quote, "It is deeply alarming that the Trump administration official who put children in cages is reportedly resigning because she is not extreme enough for the White House's liking."

It goes on to say "America needs a homeland security secretary who will respect the sanctity of families, honor our proud heritage as a nation of immigrants and restore sanity to the administration's policies."

Democratic presidential candidates also attacked Nielsen's defense of the zero-tolerance policy that separated families. "Elizabeth Warren tweeted this, "About time Secretary Nielsen's legacy

of tearing families apart will follow her for the rest of her life and she should be ashamed of the role she played. She was completely unqualified to lead the Department of Homeland Security and that's why I voted against confirming her."

Kamala Harris wrote this. "Kirstjen Nielsen misled the American people and defended Trump's inhumane policy of separating children from their parents. It was long past time for her to go."

[03:05:01] HOWELL: Border and staffing issues were not the only thing on the White House agenda here. House Democrats have requested six years of the president's personal tax returns and returns from eight of his businesses.

CHURCH: Yes. They have justified the move, citing an obscure code from the Internal Revenue Service. The acting White House chief of staff calls it a political stunt. Here is Mick Mulvaney speaking to Fox News.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICK MULVANEY, ACTING WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: Keep in mind, they knew they are not going to get these taxes. They know what the law is. They know that one of the fundamental principles of the IRS is to protect the confidentiality of you and me and everybody else who files taxes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To be clear, you believe Democrats will never see the president's tax returns?

MULVANEY: No, never. Nor should they. That is not going to happen, and they know it. This is a political stunt by my former colleagues.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Well, for more we are joined now by Scott Lucas. He is a professor of international politics at the University of Birmingham in England, and he's also the founder and editor of E.A. World View. Thank you so much for being with us.

SCOTT LUCAS, POLITICS PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM: Good morning to you, Rosemary.

CHURCH: OK. So, it appears Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen was pressured to quit. And according to Nancy Pelosi it's because President Trump didn't think she was tough enough. And that is despite her heading up the separation of children and parents at the border. So, is that way he got rid of her and how much tougher is he likely to get at the southern border?

LUCAS: Well, first of all, let's be honest, she was fired. I mean, let's use the word that actually happened yesterday. And there's two main reasons for this. The first is this is about 2020 and the run for re-election, and Donald Trump and his inner circle are going to pursue it on a hardline anti-immigrant message. We have seen that in recent days, including with Trump threatening to

shut the U.S.-Mexico border. We saw it with the rejection of the proposed head of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement last Thursday, Ron Vitiello, and now we see it when Nielsen's pushed out for a second reason, and that is this is Stephen Miller.

Stephen Miller, of course, is the young White House adviser who has now been designated by Trump to handle all immigration matters. He and others have always seen Nielsen as weak.

Indeed, some of your viewers may remember that Trump literally tore into Nielsen in front of a cabinet meeting last summer, saying that she was not protecting the border. What was she doing there? What kind of job was she doing?

And at this point, that weakness, and I don't think it's weakness. She had defended the administration, but for Stephen Miller and possibly for Donald Trump, I don't think anyone short of the terminator or Robocop is going to fit their bill for what they want to do in terms of this message that they are defending the U.S. against a mythical invasion by migrants.

CHURCH: Right. And now over the weekend, Mr. Trump tweeted this, repeating his claim that the country is full, system has been broken for many years. Democrats in Congress must agree to fix loopholes. No open borders, will close southern border, if necessary.

So, does this represent the Trump administration's tougher new direction. The country is full so no more migrants allowed in and Democrats must change immigration laws or the border will be shut down, despite the president's own party warning of the economic disaster that would cause.

Last week, of course, Mr. Trump said he would wait one year. What changed his mind and how likely is it that the GOP will support his tougher approach here?

LUCAS: Snake oil salesmen got to keep selling snake oil. First of all, the reality. Remember that over the past 40 years that crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border had decreased and indeed year on year they decreased since early -- since about 2001, 2002.

We have had a spike in the past year, but that in part has been caused by the Trump administration with people trying to cross the border before the situation gets even tougher for them to try to claim asylum.

But having created the crisis, what Donald Trump is going to do is to milk it to say you need me to solve the crisis. Where he can't go is he can't actually close the U.S.-Mexico border because if you do that, you shut off trade. When you shut off trade you damage the economy, you damage the economy, you damage the Republicans and you damage Trump in 2020. But he'll keep saying he'll close the border, even though he will never actually do it. CHURCH: And finally, Mr. Trump's acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney

says Democrats will never see the president's tax returns, despite that obscure IRS code specifically stating that the IRS is required to turn over those tax returns. How will the White House withstand this clear legal requirement to comply and the push from the Democrats?

LUCAS: By stalling, misleading and saying there is nothing to see here and move along.

CHURCH: How long can they do that for?

LUCAS: Well, they can do it perhaps by threatening court action. So, they could go for months trying to take this all the way to the Supreme Court in terms of the rights of Congress to demand the tax records, and that, indeed, is what Trump's own lawyers said on Friday they will do.

[03:10:06] The question here is, is what will the public do? Will they see this as being a justified question about a man who may have conflicts of interest while being president or will they side with Trump and say, I'm being harassed?

But let's play connect the dots, Rosemary. One reason why Kirstjen Nielsen was fired yesterday, guess what took the news cycle away from tax returns? The immigration issue.

So, if they can keep on with a new surprise each day for the media, maybe we never have to get to the nitty-gritty of whether this person in the White House does have irreconcilable political and financial conflicts of interest.

CHURCH: All right. Well, luckily at CNN we watch all of these -- all of these stories. We're not distracted. Scott Lucas, thank you so much. I Appreciate you joining us and sharing your perspective and analysis.

LUCAS: Thanks to you, Rosemary.

HOWELL: After years of catering to Brexit hardliners, Britain's prime minister is now scrambling to make a deal with the opposition party and she has less than a week to do it or risk crashing out of the E.U.

CHURCH: Theresa May will head to Brussels on Wednesday for an emergency meeting with E.U. leaders. She is hoping to postpone Brexit until June 30th, but if the E.U. doesn't allow it, the U.K. could crash out of the European Union without a deal on Friday. Theresa May posted a video message on Sunday calling for compromise.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LUCAS: Now, I think, the government thinks we absolutely must leave the European Union. We must deliver Brexit. That means we need to get a deal over the line. And that's why we've been looking for new ways, a new approach to find an agreement in parliament, and that means cross-party talks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: The talks are infuriating hardline members of the prime minister's own conservative party because Labour is pushing for a closer post-Brexit to the E.U. Some are predicting a revolt while others are resigned to getting on with it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEREMY CORBYN, LEADER, LABOUR PARTY: I'm waiting to see the red lines move, and we have had two meetings this week. The key priority is to avoid crashing out of the E.U. with no deal because of disruption that would mean to industry and to supply chains. And we're determined to make sure there is no crashing out without a deal.

ANDREA LEADSOM, LEADER, BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS: Provided we are leaving the European union --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

LEADSOM: Then it is important that we compromise. That's what this is about. And it is through gritted teeth, but nevertheless, the most important thing is to actually leave the E.U. I would think that the European Union would want to have an extension. I would think that they would want to avoid no deal.

On the other hand, the other side of it is they will also want to avoid the U.K. fighting European elections, which is something I'm also extremely keen to avoid.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: And now live in London, our international diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson is outside number 10. Good to have you, Nic. So, what are the chances that a deal can be reached through these cross-party talks? Because the deadline is very close.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, the deadline is really very close. Theresa May will go to Brussels, as you say, on Wednesday, and I think the expectation is that a deal is -- with Labour at the moment is not within grasp within that window.

What we saw in Theresa May's video there, a very sort of relaxed looking Theresa May, sort of a relaxed setting, sort of almost -- sort of colloquial-type language, trying to explain to the electorate and the clip that you played, a very important one about her sort of setting out what's at stake.

But she also said, you know, as much as I don't particularly like everything that the Labour Party stands for, we do agree on freedom of movement, we do agree on getting a deal to leave the European Union, we do agree on protecting jobs, we do agree on protecting security.

You know, for the conservative hardliners, what wasn't in there was her saying that we disagree over a customs union, which is a direction that the Labour Party are clearly pushing in strongly for their part. Labour saying, well, we don't really see enough movement from the government side on their positions while there was been good engagement and the language around this from both sides from the leadership level is encouraging.

No, I think the expectation is that if something can be hammered out cross-party between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, it's going to take longer than the couple of days she has now.

HOWELL: All right. Nic, look, if the U.K. is able to convince Brussels to grant an extension, look, there are several possible scenarios. Can you walk us through some of those different possibly as we know them now?

ROBERTSON: Well, I think one of the key scenarios before she even gets to Brussels is the legislation is expected to pass this week that would block off, make it legally impossible for her to take the no deal option.

So, what she's going to arrive with in Brussels is what she says either a -- either a deal or -- or the potential of no Brexit at all.

[03:15:04] So what we understand she's asked for is an extension to the 30th of June, accepting that Britain would have to take part in the European elections, which occur on the 23rd of May.

But she said if there is any possibility to get out before then then we will. What the European Union under the Europe Council president Donald Tusk has said is that he needs more from Theresa May than the letter she put out next week.

But he's thinking about the possibility of a sort of flexible extension, if you like. An extension for possibly a year, but with the opportunity for Britain to get out of the European Union if it manages to make a deal internally that is suitable to the European Union prior to that, but, you know, there are huge difficulties in this.

The European Union is divided on this. France is taking a strong position. And the idea that Britain could put up euro MEPs to stand in an election on the 23rd of May and then two weeks later say, no, actually, we've got a deal, we don't need that, we're taking them out of the equation when part of Britain leaving is actually allowing the European union to put forward MEPs in other areas, for example, two additional in Ireland. It's a very, very messy and tangled situation. It's making no one happy, George.

HOWELL: All right. Nic Robertson following the story in London. Thank you, Nic.

So, it could be the most competitive Israeli election ever and it is less than a day away. We are live in Jerusalem with the latest for you.

CHURCH: Plus, an American tourist who was kidnapped in Uganda has been freed. We will have the details of her rescue and how American forces helped find her.

[03:20:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Israeli voters head to the polls Tuesday in an election that looks to be a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu. The prime minister's facing a serious corruption scandal and a major political challenge from the former military chief of staff.

Polls show Benny Gantz with a slight lead, but Mr. Netanyahu might have the edge when it comes to building a coalition.

HOWELL: Gantz thrived to rev up last-minute support on Sunday. You see him there on the streets with a motorcycle. Mr. Netanyahu also using a last-minute tactic as well. He announced on Saturday that he will be annexing the West Bank settlements if he gets re-elected.

Let's go live to Jerusalem. Our Michael Holmes is on the story. Michael, help explain the difference here between winning the role of prime minister, but also being able to build an effective coalition.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's a complicated system here, George, and it's worth sort of going back to basics in a way. You can't become prime minister in Israel without a coalition. No major party's going to get enough votes for that.

To form a government, a candidate has got to get 61 seats in the Knesset, but that takes coalition-building. Now for Netanyahu's Likud Party and his chief opponent Benny Gantz in the Blue and White Party, that means courting enough of the other smaller parties.

Now the last polls before the election, as you pointed out, they were Friday. They show Gantz slightly ahead in the head-to-head with Netanyahu, but Netanyahu likely with the support of enough of those other smaller parties to get to that magic number of 61 seats.

Then it will be up to the President Reuven Rivlin on the night to make the call on who gets the chance to form a government first. Interesting, he's no fan of Netanyahu, but if the head-to-head is close, he will likely give Netanyahu first shot at forming a government.

If Benny Gantz wins the head-to-head convincingly, that opportunity could be given to him. So that's how it's going to work tomorrow when the votes -- when the polls close.

HOWELL: All right. Michael, you touched on this, but, again, Mr. Netanyahu's efforts to attract more far-right voters, is that working for him? Have you heard more about how that's playing into the value of his campaign, given this very tight race?

HOLMES: Yes, and that comes back to that settlements issue that he raised himself. And that's where it gets interesting. That pledge was a lurch to the right by Benjamin Netanyahu. An attempt to pull votes from smaller parties on the right to his own Likud, trying to improve his odds in that head-to-head battle we were talking about with Benny Gantz.

But there is a risk involved, George. Netanyahu needs those smaller right-wing parties to form a coalition. And if he pulls too many votes from them, there is a chance that one or more of those parties might not meet the minimum 3.25 percent threshold needed to get into the Knesset and have seats.

So that's where it gets really interesting. He could have a short-term gain and a long-term loss if that were to happen. Now, as for the promise itself, a massively controversial one, because Netanyahu wasn't talking about major settlement blocks when he said that he could -- he will bring them under Israeli sovereignty.

Many thought those major blocks would be absorbed into Israel in any peace deal anyway. He was talking about all of them, saying I don't distinguish between settlement blocks and the isolated settlements. We're talking 130 or so settlements in the West Bank. If all of those went under Israeli sovereignty, that would make the notion of any viable contiguous Palestinian state almost impossible when you've got 130 of them dotted around the West Bank.

Interestingly, his main opponent Benny Gantz hit out at Netanyahu. He basically said releasing such an historic decision in an election campaign is not serious, it is irresponsible.

And, you know, George, there are plenty of analysts here the day after those comments who were saying that that promise was politics, that last-ditch play for votes, and even if he wins unilateral annexation might not happen any soon. It will slip suddenly down the to-do list, George.

HOWELL: Interesting. People apparently seeing through this at this point. Michael Holmes with the story. Thank you, Michael.

CHURCH: And for more on the race I spoke earlier to Gil Hoffman. He is the chief political correspondent and an analyst at the Jerusalem Post.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[03:25:00] GIL HOFFMAN, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, THE JERUSALEM POST: The reason why Netanyahu is facing such a challenge is if you look back over the last 40 years, the only time his Likud Party lost was two former generals, chiefs of staffs of the army who could make Israelis feel safe and secure.

And for many years Netanyahu has told Israelis that he and only he could make them feel safe and secure. And that perhaps that's no longer the case with Sharia. Now four former chiefs of staff of the IDF are joining forces to run against him. And that's made Netanyahu looking for votes on the right.

There are a lot of parties on the right in Israel that he can take votes away from. Getting another seat or two could make the difference in the election tomorrow.

CHURCH: Right, of course, even without this last-minute announcement on the West Bank settlements, Mr. Netanyahu still has a path to victory, doesn't he, if he can pull together a governing coalition. How are you expecting for this to play out and who is better expected to form a viable coalition?

HOFFMAN: So first of all, I wouldn't take too seriously anything a politician says just a few days before an election in any country, and I don't expect Israel to be annexing any territories after April 9th, even if Netanyahu wins.

The most likely scenario is that Netanyahu would win. After all, Israelis value experience. He is the most experienced leader possible, except if Jesus, Moses or Peres come back between now and tomorrow.

And so, then it's going to be up to the president of Israel who has a very formal role in deciding who he appoints to form a government. He's supposed to take into account not only who the largest party is, which Benny Gantz perhaps could have but also the largest block, which Netanyahu could have, and then there will be recommendations from the different party leaders.

That's the third factor. It could be that neither will have enough recommendations to make it obvious for the president. And then with all due respect to the 6.3 million people who are eligible to vote tomorrow, one man, the president, will decide who our prime minister will be.

CHURCH: Right. Of course, we have to remember that Netanyahu faces multiple corruption investigations. How much do voters care about that and what other issues are influencing their vote for this election?

HOFFMAN: So, apparently, the corruption allegations have not had such an impact on how people are voting because they were aware of them before. And those who have decided that Netanyahu is innocent until proven guilty and are going to give him a chance are going to continue to do that, and those who are disgusted by what he's alleged to have done are going to vote for a different party.

When the corruption allegations were announced as an indictment pending a hearing, the support for Netanyahu's Likud did not go down. In the end, people are voting for security and the economy, like people do in any other country.

CHURCH: And so just finally, what does Mr. Netanyahu's main opponent, former military general Benny Gantz, bring to the table and what does his path to victory look like?

HOFFMAN: So, he brings to the table the security experience. He can tell the people of Israel I can make you feel just as secure while being clean. He brings a certain amount of charisma. He's tall. He has blue eyes. Not a lot of Israelis have blue eyes. They're very captivating.

He at least brings change and hope, which for a lot of Israelis is extremely important after having the same prime minister now for 10 years running and 13 years total. It should be exciting and interesting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Many thanks to Gil Hoffman, talking to me earlier there.

HOWELL: The battle in Libya has now moved to the skies. New air raids are launched as eastern forces continue to advance on Tripoli. We'll have the latest for you.

CHURCH: And how an American tourist who was kidnapped while on an African wildlife tour found her way to freedom. Back in a moment.

[03:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to viewers here in the United States and around the world. This is "CNN Newsroom." I'm George Howell.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rosemary Church. Let's check the headlines for you this hour.

The U.S. Homeland Security secretary has resigned. A source says Kirstjen Nielsen did not go willingly. President Donald Trump announced the resignation Sunday on Twitter. Nielsen defended the administration's hardline immigration policies, but the president has been angry over the influx of migrants at the southern border.

HOWELL: Britain's prime minister says that cross-party cooperation is essential for a successful Brexit. Theresa May posting a video on Twitter calling for compromise. Ms. May is facing pushback from her conservative ranks for reaching out to the opposition Labour Party, but she's running out of options and must present a new deal to the E.U., to leaders there on Wednesday.

CHURCH: The voting begins Tuesday in Israeli elections and the latest polls show a very tight race. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a major challenge from his former military chief of staff, Benny Gantz. Mr. Netanyahu says he will annex West Bank settlements if re-elected. That move is seen as a bid to win over more right-wing voters.

HOWELL: We're following the situation in Libya where clashes continue between competing factions near the capital city of Tripoli. Eastern forces led by renegade General Khalifa Haftar have launched retaliatory air strikes on U.N.-backed government forces.

CHURCH: Haftar's Libyan National Army currently has a hold over the red zone on this map. They are advancing on the yellow areas held by the U.N.-recognized government. CNN's Salma Abdelaziz has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN PRODUCER: Clashes are intensifying in Libya today between General Haftar's forces and troops from the internationally recognized government. The area of focus seems to be the southern districts just outside of Tripoli where a defunct airport is now serving as a front line between these two warring parties as they seem to go into an all-out battle.

Most worryingly, there seems to be a duel from the skies. General Haftar's forces today saying they carried out air strikes on the outskirts of Tripoli. This comes just one day after the internationally recognized government has said it had carried out air strikes as well. This is extremely concerning for residents who are caught in the middle of this fight.

We spoke to a local journalist earlier today who spent time in a Red Crescent operations room. They were receiving dozens of calls from terrified families saying they needed to be evacuated, that they were pinned down in fighting. Some reporting wounded that need immediate medical attention. The influx of distress calls led the United Nations to call for a two-hour temporary truce in those southern districts to allow for the evacuation of civilians.

[03:35:03] The Government of National Accord, for its part, did say it would abide by that truce, but with so many different militias on the ground, it is extremely difficult to guarantee safety. There are U.N. talks scheduled and the United Nations has said that they will continue as planned, but it's very difficult to imagine what progress they could make with these two rivals literally pointing their guns at each other.

Key to any resolution to this conflict will be the international community. Critics of General Haftar will tell you that he has long had ambitions to take control of Tripoli and take control of Libya as a whole. He spent the last few years building this consolidation of power in the east of the country, taking control of oil fields in the south, and most importantly courting governments in Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, the UAE and others, even France.

Now, most of these countries have condemned General Haftar's advance on the capital, but the question is, is this just lip service or are they truly willing to withdraw support? We are also hearing from U.S.- Africa command today saying that a small contingency of U.S. troops had to be evacuated from Libya due to the security situation on the ground, another reminder of just how dangerous these confrontations are.

Salma Adbelazis, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Protests against Sudan's longtime president are intensifying. An opposition group says at least six people were killed in Khartoum Sunday and dozens more hurt in clashes with security forces. The activists say the rally this weekend could have been the biggest since they began in December.

HOWELL: A sea of protesters started gathering outside the president's compound. That's happened since Saturday. They've been calling on him to resign. Security forces have been using tear gas, but witnesses say it has failed to disperse those crowds.

Uganda says its security forces have rescued kidnapped American tourist Kimberly Endicott with intelligence support from U.S. military.

CHURCH: Endicott and her tour guide were taken hostage at gunpoint on April 2nd while on a game drive at Queen Elizabeth National Park. These photos were taken not long after their rescue.

HOWELL: Ugandan government spokesperson tells CNN they were unharmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our Robyn Kriel has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBYN KRIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We do have information that a ransom was paid. However, we're not sure the amount of that ransom. According to a spokesperson for the Wild Frontiers tour group, the handover went over quietly and peacefully. Ms. Endicott and her guide both in good health and safe now.

The Ugandan Police Force and other security agencies in Uganda are calling this a rescue operation. Here is a tweet coming from the Uganda Police Force. They said police and its sister security agencies have today rescued Ms. Kimberly Sue, an American tourist, together with her guide who were kidnapped while on an evening game drive at Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The duo is in good health and in the safe hands of the joint security team. At this point, we don't know if Ms. Endicott was targeted because she was an American. We understand that four other people were with her and her guide but were later released. We're also not sure who these kidnappers were. Were they just an armed group looking for cash or were they part of a terrorist group?

We do know that there are terrorist groups operating in the DRC, as well as a number of just other armed groups operating in that particular part of the country. Obviously, still a lot of unanswered questions that will be explained over the next few days, we hope, but all in all a good news story emanating out of Uganda.

I'm Robyn Kriel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Still ahead here on "Newsroom," seeking justice in Venezuela after losing loved ones to corruption. A group of women is now trying to fight the Maduro government. We'll have their stories for you.

[03:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOWELL: As the United States deals with an influx of migrants from the south, Mexico is wrestling with its own migrant situation.

CHURCH: Yeah, some Mexicans are now fed up with migrants settling in their country, instead of trying to reach the U.S., and they think it's time for their president to take a page from Donald Trump's playbook. CNN's Paula Newton explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She was once part of the caravan, but Maya Lopez-Garcia says she now thanks God and Mexico for letting her stay right here.

"We're fine here," she says. "That's why we're not thinking of going to the United States. We'll stay here."

Granted a temporary visa, Maya makes a living making tortillas. She says she escaped poverty and violence in Guatemala and is now counting on Mexico for her future. Tens of thousands would like to join her. Mexico's borders, both to the north and south, are overwhelmed with migrants, mostly from Central America, who have already been waiting months just for a chance at a new life in the United States.

"So if we end up with a chance to say here in Mexico, we'll take it," says Carlos Gomez from Honduras, "and work hard to make a living." And this is where things are starting to get complicated for new Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. He had promised some more humanitarian policy for migrants and that's being challenged now, not just by President Trump, but more Mexicans, too.

Even people like Aaron Mendez, who helps run a migrant shelter near the Texas border.

"I think one of the solutions is to change the immigration strategy," he says, "which now let in all the undocumented migrants."

That echoes the thoughts of so-called Mexican Trumpistas, who may not even like President Trump but believe he has a point when it comes to immigration.

(AUDIO CLIP)

NEWTON (voice-over): On a popular national radio station, Radio Formula, the head of the migration agency was put on the spot this week about how Mexico will cope with all the new migrants. He admitted his government is granting fewer humanitarian visas. Tere Vale is a Radio Formula journalist and host. She says it's obvious the migrant influx is unsustainable.

TERE VALE, RADIO FORMULA HOST (through translator): Now we see something like never before in Mexico, a president who is very docile when facing pressure from the United States. Mexico is between the sword and the wall.

NEWTON (voice-over): And President Trump claims his ultimatums are the reason the Mexico is now apprehending more migrants on its southern border. Mexican government counters that it has a long-term plan.

LUZ MARIA DE LA MORA, MEXICAN UNDERSECRETARY FOR FOREIGN TRADE: So Mexico is being put under a lot of pressure from both ends.

[03:45:01] NEWTON: You're being squeezed.

DE LA MORA: We're being squeezed, exactly. And I think it's -- I mean, it's unfair to say that we are not trying to be part of the solution, because I think that this administration has done a lot of the things that can be done to help this humanitarian crisis.

NEWTON (voice-over): Mexico says it plans to make history of the caravans with economic development in Southern Mexico and Central America. To do it, though, it will need much help and patience, not just from the Trump administration but Mexicans themselves.

Paula Newton, CNN, Mexico City.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Well, the people of Venezuela have endured so much loss over the past few years: their jobs, basic resources, and now loved ones.

HOWELL: The government has reportedly carried out extrajudicial killings, targeting thousands of men. Many women have now become widows and orphans. But one group has decided to take action as our David McKenzie shows us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Aracela (ph) Sanchez keeps track of the killings despite the death threats. She says she won't give up.

ARACELA (ph) SANCHEZ, MOTHER OF VICTIM (through translator): We have to denounce it. We have to document it. We know we are not in a time of justice, but it has to be done because if we stay quiet, we allow the same thing that happened to us to happen to others.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): She wants justice for her son, Dalwilson (ph), a promising student shot in the back by suspected state actor in 2013, and for the thousands of men killed in extrajudicial violence in Venezuela.

SANCHEZ (through translator): It's a massacre, an extermination of young Venezuelans.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): Human rights groups say the crackdown on Venezuela's young men is getting worse with frequent raids into the barrios surrounding Caracas. Nicolas Maduro's government says it's to curb crime, but the barrios are turning on his regime.

CARMEN ARROYO (ph), MOTHER OF VICTIM (through translator): I think that this is terrorism that they inflict on the people of the barrios so that the people do not come out and protest.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): To face their fear, Aracela (ph) formed a support group of women. They speak out, agitate, and file lawsuits against the state. But for some, the pain is still too raw.

YARKIDYA DIAS (ph), WIFE OF VICTIM (through translator): It was horrible. They had no compassion for our little girl, nothing. They just took him as they struck him. They put him on the van and they hit him and they hit him and they hit him.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): The lady says her engineering husband, Ronnie (ph), was grabbed in March from their home by men in black uniforms. She searched for him for weeks. She doesn't know why they took him, doesn't know what to tell her three children.

DIAS (ph): His children are asking for dad, asking for their dad. I have no more words to explain things to my children because of them.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): The state hasn't commented on Ronnie's (ph) case. He was found next to a pile of trash, both hands missing and badly burned.

DIAS (ph): Just as my children ended up without a father, there are a lot of kids who could as well if you continue this way.

MCKENZIE (voice-over): David McKenzie, CNN, Caracas, Venezuela.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And we'll be back in just a moment.

[03:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOWELL: So, winter is technically over here in the United States, but cold weather is not done yet.

CHURCH: No. A powerful storm is expected to bring snow, rain and strong winds to the American heartland later this week. And our meteorologist, Pedram Javaheri, is here to tell us about that and also severe weather on Monday. Pedram?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, guys. I promise this is one of the last one if not the final winter storm across some of these areas, (INAUDIBLE) this one could be later on. I want to start off with what's happening across portions of the Gulf Coast. There is severe weather to tell you about on Sunday across parts of Texas.

In fact, we had reports of at least 100 severe weather reports in portions of Texas and Louisiana, three reports of tornadoes, up to 70 reports of wind damage. And now that same line begins to move farther towards the east and about 26 million people in line here for some damaging winds, large hail and, again, a few isolated tornados possible.

That threat zone includes portions of central and northern Georgia, east of the Carolinas, even into portions of the mid-Atlantic. Some of these areas have seen plenty of rainfall in recent months, in particular around portions of Mississippi River Valley. So that's the last thing we want to see. We have flood warnings and flood watches in place across this region because of all the rainfall slated come Monday afternoon.

Look at these temperatures. How about almost 90 degrees down in Jacksonville well into areas of the upper 70s in Charlottes, into the 80s in Washington? Even New York City enjoys temps about 80 degrees or so. And Chicago gets up into the 70s. So, spring is certainly here for a couple of days and then you notice a big drop in the temperatures into at least the northern states of the U.S. come Wednesday and Thursday. And look at the bottom drop out in Chicago, from 71 down to 39 degrees for an afternoon high. Even in New York City, temps drop off some 20- plus degrees, so a dramatic shift here. And then you look back towards the west. There is another system beginning to come in across the northwest.

This system comes just in time for all that cold air to arrive, so guess what, another pattern here for some wintery weather into the northern plains and portions of the upper Midwest here, including areas around Green Bay, Minneapolis, Omaha.

Some of these areas that have enjoyed temps into the 60s and 70s could see blizzard conditions come Wednesday and Thursday across that region. We're going to follow this as the week progresses, guys.

CHURCH: Wow, unbelievable stuff. Thank you.

HOWELL: Thanks, Pedram. Well, this next story goes right along with weather. Winter isn't coming. It's already here, almost. In less than a week, the hit show "Game of Thrones" will make its much anticipated return to HBO for its final season.

CHURCH: Yeah, fans have been waiting for this last set of episodes for almost two whole years. Now, the wait is almost over. We decided to take a look at one of the things that has made the series so special, the music.

[03:55:01] Here is Rick Damigella.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICK DAMIGELLA, CNN NEWSSOURCE JOURNALIST (voice-over): The cello- driven theme of "Game of Thrones" is as iconic as the visuals that it accompanies. Composer Ramin Djawadi was aiming for that.

RAMIN DJAWADI, COMPOSER, "GAME OF THRONES": It can be very moody. I think for this dark show, I think it was perfect. That's an instrument I love to write for and that's why it's everywhere in "Game of Thrones."

(MUSIC PLAYING)

DJAWADI: I wanted people to, when they hear this melody, that they know our show is about to come on and just get ready and sit down and get in the mood.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

DAMIGELLA (voice-over): Even working behind the scenes, he shares the audience's reaction to the show's major events, including "The Red Wedding."

DJAWADI: I have to say I'm a fan of the show myself, so even though I do see it before, I see it for the first time, too. I lock myself in the studio and I just watch the episodes and I'm just as surprised as everybody else. It gets quite emotional for me because I get attached to characters and having to write music for them, getting killed off the show is tough sometimes.

DAMIGELLA (voice-over): As is the winding down of the series.

DJAWADI: Who would have thought that the show would have such an amazing success? But at the same time I think it's also very exciting to see this now come to an end. I can't wait for the rest of the world to see this amazing final season. I mean, it's been very emotional for me to write the music on this last season.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

DAMIGELLA (voice-over): In Westeros or rather Hollywood, I'm Rick Damigella.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Love the cello.

CHURCH: Powerful music, isn't it?

HOWELL: Yeah.

CHURCH: Thank you so much for joining us this hour. I'm Rosemary Church.

HOWELL: And I'm George Howell. For our viewers in the United States, "Early Start" is next. For viewers around the world, the news continues with Max Foster in London.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END