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CNN International: Violent Demonstrations Rage on Across Iran; Protests in Latin America; What's Next for Prince Andrew Amid Epstein Scandal; Israeli PM Charged With Bribery, Fraud, Breach Of Trust; Final Public Witnesses Further Corroborate Quid Pro Quo; Local Elections To Be Held Sunday Amid Violent Unrest. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired November 22, 2019 - 01:00   ET

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

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JOHN VAUSE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm John Vause, you're watching CNN NEWSROOM live from Studio Seven at CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta. Ahead this hour, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit with corruption charges throwing Israel's political deadlock into further chaos.

More evidence presented against Donald Trump, the more Republicans seem focused on conspiracy theories, and all that is to the delight of Russia's Vladimir Putin. And the city divided over democratic rights gets a chance to exercise those rights with election day in Hong Kong just around the corner.

Benjamin Netanyahu will be the first Israeli Prime Minister indicted while serving in office. The attorney general has announced his final decision to indict Netanyahu on three charges of corruption. But the current political stalemate was neither major party able to form a coalition government, it's not exactly clear what happens next. CNN's Oren Liebermann reports from Jerusalem.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Benjamin Netanyahu suffered his biggest blow as prime minister, this one not political, but legal, the first sitting Prime Minister to face criminal indictment in Israel's history. Netanyahu was defiant.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL (through translator): This evening, we are witnessing a governmental coup attempt against a prime minister by false libel and with a tenacious and contaminated investigation process.

LIEBERMANN: The 70-year-old leader has spent years fighting against this very moment proclaiming his innocence. Ever since the criminal investigations were made public nearly three years ago, Netanyahu has railed against them. A media-fueled witch hunt, he said, an attempt to topple him through the justice system when they couldn't beat him at the polls. NETANYAHU (through translator): The time has come to investigate the

investigators. It is time to investigate the prosecution that approves these contaminated investigations.

LIEBERMANN: Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister faces charges in three cases. In case 4000, prosecutors say Netanyahu advanced regulatory benefits for his friend, a multimillionaire businessman. Those benefits were worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

In exchange, prosecutors say Netanyahu received favorable news coverage from a news site owned by that businessman. In this case, Netanyahu faces the more serious charge of bribery as well as the charge of fraud and breach of trust.

In case 2000, prosecutors say Netanyahu was working on an arrangement with the owner of one of Israel's largest paper Yedioth Ahronoth. Netanyahu sought more favorable news coverage in exchange for limiting the circulation of the paper's rival. Netanyahu faces the charge of fraud and breach of trust in this case.

Finally, in case 1000, prosecutors say Netanyahu received valuable gifts such as cigars and champagne from overseas businessmen, gifts they say a public servant shouldn't have received. Here Netanyahu also faces a charge of fraud and breach of trust.

Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit called it a very sad day for Israel but rejected any idea that this was a political decision against the Prime Minister.

AVICHAI MANDELBLIT, ATTORNEY GENERAL, ISRAEL (through translator): This is not an issue of right or left. It's not a matter of politics. This is a duty that everyone has to obey. This is my duty towards the public that everyone will live in a state where any accusation of illegality is going to be checked and investigated.

LIEBERMANN: Netanyahu's rival former IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz call on him to step down. He said of Netanyahu, "He is well aware that the grave and complex challenges facing the State of Israel both in terms of security and in the societal and economic arenas require a prime minister able to invest his full time, energy, and attention."

Netanyahu failed to form a government twice, first after April's elections, and then again after September's elections. For months now, Israel has been stuck in political deadlock. That deadlock now protects Netanyahu. As long as no one can former government, he remains prime minister. Oren Liebermann, CNN Jerusalem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Earlier, I spoke to Reuven Hazan, a Political Science Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. I asked him what happens next since Parliament was dissolved back in May and a new government is yet to be formed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REUVEN HAZAN, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR, HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM: The Knesset dissolved itself but the Knesset was reelected in September. So as a parliamentary system, we do have a legislative branch that is in office and can function. The first task of that legislature is to establish a majority government which it can't seem to be able to do so we might be heading full steam into a third election that will be in March.

But at some point, the Attorney General can tell the parliament, you have been elected, you are an office, get a committee together and get this done. If not, it'll go to the Supreme Court.

[01:05:21]

VAUSE: Everything ends up in the Supreme Court it seems ultimately in Israel which is a good -- great part about the system. It works, I guess, ultimately. Right now, neither major parties mentioned able to form a coalition. So what a third general election in 12 months, this could be dragged on what, till next year? You know, then it comes this question of immunity.

There's an opinion piece in Haaretz that finishes with this. "It will be a toxic and divisive confrontation between Israelis who believe in the judicial system, and those who've been convinced that the elites out to suppress them." Is that how you see in the coming months?

HAZAN: Well, what we saw last night was Netanyahu's response to the attorney general is probably the beginning of the election campaign. And you can put it under a nice category of the Attorney General announced that the court case will be the State of Israel versus Benjamin Netanyahu. And last night Netanyahu announced that it will be Benjamin Netanyahu against the state of Israel and the ruling elite. So you're definitely correct on that.

The election campaign will be divisive. It will not be about economics, social security, foreign policy issues, it will be a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu. And you could see some people who supported him as a politician, realizing that maybe it's time for him as an indicted criminal to go.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Thanks again to Reuven Hazan. Now, in the U.S., the first day to the impeachment inquiry has wrapped up for now. All up 17 witnesses testified, eight in public, and none of them were challenged by Republican lawmakers on the facts.

And the final day on Thursday came with a dire warning from a former White House Senior advisor on Russia. She said conspiracy theories and partisan policy attacks adding to the already deep political divide. And with adversaries like Russia exploiting those divisions, U.S. national security is at risk. CNN's Alex Marquardt reports now from Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Scathing testimony today, David Holmes and Dr. Fiona Hill laying out first-hand accounts of the political demands that the president was making of Ukrainians in order for them to get a White House meeting and eventually military aid.

FIONA HILL, FORMER SENIOR DIRECTOR, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: It became very clear that the White House meeting itself was being predicated on other issues.

MARQUARDT: Hill who grew up in England and as the White House is former top Russia expert also chastising Republicans for pushing a conspiracy theory that it was Ukraine that meddled in the 2016 election.

HILL: I refuse to be part of an effort to legitimize an alternate narrative that the Ukrainian government is the U.S. adversary and the Ukraine, not Russia, attacked us in 2016.

MARQUARDT: Hill said that she had several testy encounters with the U.S. ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland as he pushed for Ukraine to agree to the President's investigations. Then she said, she realized there were two competing Ukraine policies.

HILL: He was being involved in a domestic political errant. And we were being involved in national security foreign policy, and those two things have just diverged. And I did say to him, Ambassador Sondland, Gordon, I think this is all going to blow up, and here we are.

MARQUARDT: Hill wasn't the only one. Her then-boss John Bolton told her that the errand that Sondland was working on was a drug deal.

HILL: And Ambassador Bolton had looked pained basically indicated with body language that there was nothing much that we could do about it. And he then in the course of that discussion said that Rudy Giuliani was a hand grenade that was going to blow everyone up.

On July 26, at a restaurant in Kiev, Sondland called Trump on an unsecured cell phone to tell him that the Ukrainians were agreeing to investigations. Across from him at the table was David Holmes from the U.S. Embassy in Kiev.

DAVID HOLMES, COUNSELOR FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS, U.S. EMBASSY IN UKRAINE: I've never seen anything like this in my Foreign Service career, someone at a lunch in a restaurant making a call on a cell phone to the United States, being able to hear his voice, it's very distinctive personality.

MARQUARDT: Holmes described how Sondland held the phone away from his ear because the President was speaking so loudly.

HOLMES: Ambassador Sondland replied yes, he was in Ukraine and went on to state that President Zelensky "loves your ass." I then heard President Trump asked so he's going to do the investigation. Ambassador Sondland replied that he's going to do it, adding that President Zelensky will do anything he asked him to do. MARQUARDT: Zelensky was being asked by Trump via Sondland to investigate the energy company Burisma which Hunter Biden had been on the board of and which had become a nickname for the investigation into the Biden's. Throughout Solomon's testimony, he claimed he hadn't been aware that Burisma meant the Biden's. Dr. Hill said that's impossible.

HILL: It is not credible to me that he was oblivious. He did not say Biden's however, he just said Burisma. He said 2016 and I took it to me in the elections, as well as Burisma.

[01:10:07]

MARQUARDT: Alex Marquardt CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Fiona Hill's testimony seemed like a hot knife slicing through one conspiracy theory after another conspiracy theories which made Republican lawmakers have embraced in defense of the President. And while she may set the record straight, does anyone actually really believe that we've seen the last of at least what Hill calls fictional narratives?

Robert English is a Professor of International Relations and Director of Central European Studies at the University of Southern California. He's with us from Los Angeles. Rob, it's been a while so thank you. Good to see you.

ROBERT ENGLISH, DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL EUROPEAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: Good to see you, John.

VAUSE: OK, a little more from Fiona Hill and an opening statement which seemed clearly directed at Republican lawmakers. You know, it seems she was almost accusing them of being useful idiots for Putin. Here she is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Based on questions and statements I've heard, some of you on this committee appear to believe that Russia and its security services did not conduct campaign against our country, and that perhaps somehow for some reason, Ukraine does. This is a fictional narrative that has been perpetrated and propagated by the Russian security services themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: You know, it may be good politics for president facing impeachment for him and his supporters to muddy the waters with you know, half-truth of these conspiracy theories. You know, but what's the immediate costs and the long term cost to the U.S. especially when she sort of revealed that you know, this all started from the Kremlin?

ENGLISH: You know, she's absolutely right. And we all know that sensible people who watch sensible media with facts that in this case the Russians interference, the e-mails from the Democratic National Committee, the social media campaigns help spread these lies, false narratives and frankly, lunatic conspiracy theories.

We should remember, however, that Fiona Hill's boss is the lunatic conspiracy theory spreader in chief. And Trump made his career right on Birtherism, on the Central Park Five, on the good people at Charlottesville. In other words, an administration that has been trading in this from the very beginning.

Russia's entry is actually in a sense kind of late. And I would argue, Putin as a spreader of lies and conspiracy has done far less to harm our political system than Trump and the people he's been working with, right, the Steve Bannon's, and the Alex Jones crowd, and all of that for nearly a decade.

VAUSE: To that point, actually, because actually, Hill went on to outline, you know, how the Russians are operating, and how and why essentially it's actually working. Here she is again.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: President Putin and the Russian security services operate like a super PAC. They're deploying millions of dollars to weaponize our own political opposition research and false narratives. When we are consumed by partisan rancor, we cannot combat these external forces as they seek to divide us against each another, degrade our institutions, and destroy the faith of the American people in our democracy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: You know, to your point, the divisions have been there, but past presidents have promised to unite the country. You know, they may have had varying success, but at least they didn't try to exploit those divisions for political advantage. And that, as you say, cannot be said about the current president.

You know, and this is a strategy which would seem very obviously to Putin's benefit. And we actually heard on Thursday morning from the White House pool reporter, the White House accused the Democrats of doing first thing Thursday morning. They backed that up, they say by selectively quoting part of Hill's opening statement playing into Putin's hands.

So you know, deciding where to begin with for Putin and the Russians to make the most of this, and what you're saying, I think, is that what Trump is just a multiplying factor here?

ENGLISH: I think so. How can I put it? Fiona Hill in her comet noted that the Russians have spent millions in spreading these theories and trying to sow division our political life. And she's right. But our own extremists have spent tens of millions, probably hundreds of millions.

So all I'm saying is that maybe this has woken us up and that's good, the Russian interference to a problem that's 90 percent of our own making, and one that we should have addressed long ago. In other words, our house is on fire. And it's important to put out that little ember burning in the corner, but that raging inferno on the other side, which is our domestic problems, is an even bigger symptom, is an even bigger problem.

VAUSE: That's a good point. Yes. As a reminder though, what -- this is going back to what's actually happening in Ukraine because they've been in a hot war with Russia since March 24 invasion of Crimea. Putin justified that because there was a day to protect he said the rights of Russian citizens and Russian speakers in Crimea, Southeast Ukraine. Later that month, what was considered a total sham, Crimea voted overwhelmingly to join the Russian Federation. Keep my 10,000 people have died over the last couple of years. Russia controls seven percent of Ukrainian territory.

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So, when Republicans in Congress, you know, essentially do the Kremlin's bidding and they talk about these unfounded conspiracy theories, Ukraine defeated the 2016 election, that kind of stuff, it really gets a, what, a twofer effect. It's a double win for Moscow, and Ukraine is one of the big losers. How is it that the Republican Party which used to be the party of Reagan, tear down this wall, that kind of stuff, has now turned into the party of Putin?

ENGLISH: Isn't that interest -- I wonder the same myself. And I've come to the conclusion that the foreign policy interest, which was tough on security and tough on the Russians, on the Soviets, during the Cold War, was really superficial. They were mainly about domestic politics, they are tax breaks, the dominance of the -- you know, the white growing -- the white political system that we inherited from decades past, resisting immigration, all the things we know. And the foreign policy side, you know, didn't seem to matter that much. So, Ronald Reagan, to them, we always assumed they understood his ideology, his priorities. But in fact, all they cared about what was in their narrow, immediate financial, and ideological interests. Maybe they never even understood international affairs. And that part of Reagan's legacy, the Republican Party, never really penetrated. How else can we explain how quickly they've discarded it?

VAUSE: Yes, it's amazing. We also have this reaction in Russia be it on talk shows or all the way up to President Putin, essentially sort of yacking it up. This is Putin joking on Wednesday. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): Thank God, nobody is accusing us anymore of interfering in the elections in the United States. Now, they are accusing Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Real knee-slapper. Sergey Lavrov, the foreign minister, has also made light of the allegations of election interference. Does that cover the fact that they are supremely confident, they believe there's very little the U.S. will be doing to stop them from interfering again? ENGLISH: Perhaps. Certainly under this administration, but it also comes from a sense that they're talking to their domestic audience, right? Those jokes are for Russians, makes them feel good, poking fun. What they -- I guess what I'd say, John, for me, internationally, with Putin and Ukraine, we're both wrapped up in our own domestic. We are focused on Washington's impeachment hearings, everything is at a white hot pitch. Everything that happens abroad is being interpreted through the lens of Washington. And maybe something similar in Russia. We've both lost sight of what's important to Ukraine.

You know, this has been going on for over a month, almost two months, right? And it's only in the last few days that our media in the U.S. has reminded us that, yes, there's a peace process underway. And that Russia and Ukraine, each prodded by Germany and France, have been making small steps towards compromise, right? They've had a prisoner exchange, they've toned down the rhetoric, they've pulled back troops from the front line. And in early October, completely ignored in our media was that next stage peace agreement was signed with the German Foreign Minister, letting out a schedule that would lead to local elections in Donbass. Like this is all really important, more important than Moscow or Washington, I would argue, as important as those are. We've got to find peace in Ukraine. And we are moving towards that. At least Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union, guiding them -- we're moving towards that.

And I'm afraid it's become so politicized. And so, each of us, twisting it to our own domestic needs, that it could poison the atmosphere and delay that peace process. And let's not forget, Zelensky was elected to make peace with Russia. That was the number one issue for Ukrainian voters, shortly followed -- closely followed by fighting corruption. So, they need peace. It's vital to their economic recovery, and It's going to take some compromise on both sides, and we've barely paid any attention to that. I hope that's not lost in all of this.

VAUSE: It's a very good point to finish on that, Robert, so thank you so much for making it. And it's, I guess, it's on all of us to be aware of what's happening, essentially on the ground, and yes, it's underreported very much, so -- but good to have you with us. Thank you.

A short break. When we come back, no news is good news they say and that may explain why Iran has shut down the internet amid nationwide anti-government protest, the Islamic Republic has gone dark in and nothing out. We'll tell you why. Also ahead, police in Hong Kong urging prodemocracy protesters take a break just for today, so the very right your demanding can be exercised peacefully.

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DEREK VAN DAM, CNN INTERNATIONAL WEATHER ANCHOR: Cool front moving across the eastern half of the U.S. will bring some rainfall to the Mid-Atlantic and some of the major East Coast cities. As you travel towards upstate New York, that's where we get that transition to a rain-snow mix. But it will stay a liquid variety for places like Boston into New York, as well as Washington D.C. There's hi-res future cast radar. Cold front moves eastward, still plenty of moisture across the deep south. Atlanta, you've got a wet weekend ahead of you. You can see rainfall totals through Sunday could exceed 50 millimeters in a few locations. A wide swath of at least 25 to 30 millimeters with our cold front moving through.

Now, we have plenty of mountain snow to talk about. Great news for the ski resorts out west across the Rockies. You can see winter storm warnings and advisories ongoing, another 15 to 20 centimeters in the forecast for places like Aspen into Colorado Springs, as well as Telluride. Temperatures, we're talking cold weather for Denver. Three degrees with snow showers in your forecast. Three for Chicago, as well. 12 for New York. Very comfortable 20 degrees forecast in Atlanta. Several opportunities for cool weather settling in across the Great Lakes all the way to New England. Here's a four-day forecast taking you through the weekend for places like New York, DC, Charlotte, and Atlanta. Temperatures, for the most part, in the middle teens, even single digits for the nation's capital by the weekend.

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VAUSE: In the next few days, the U.S. President will be faced with a very consequential decision about Hong Kong's prodemocracy protests. Both Houses of Congress have now passed a bill supporting the democracy movement is now awaiting for final presidential approval. But if the President signs the bill into law, he risks retaliation from China, which has already warned of consequences and that could mean trouble for the seemingly never-ending trade talks with Beijing.

Meantime, Hong Kong Police are concerned about potential unrest this Sunday, as voters cast their ballots in local elections. For more on that, let's go live to Hong Kong. CNN's Will Ripley standing by. So, yes, this is the thing, they want more election. They want the results. They rather (INAUDIBLE) right. Here it is in front of them.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is going to be the big test, John. The protesters say they've been fighting for democracy. Sunday is democracy in action. It's actually the only example of universal suffrage here in Hong Kong. People choose their district councilors at local elections. More than 600 polling stations across the city including this one. Hong Kong Police are saying that there will be riot officers at every single location. Will it scare voters away? Will it make people feel safe at the polls? We just don't know.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RIPLEY (voice-over): A city in turmoil prepares for election day. Political banners in tatters like Hong Kong's reputation. Nearly six months of this. And now, politics took a dark turn. Junius Ho, a prominent lawyer and pro-Beijing lawmaker, stabbed at a campaign event earlier this month.

[01:25:06]

Jimmy Sham, a pro-democracy protest organizer, an outspoken LGBT activist, beaten with hammers by at least four men and left for dead. Not only did both survive, they're still campaigning. Sunday's district elections are widely seen as a referendum on Hong Kong's highly-unpopular government. A government pro-Beijing lawmaker, Holden Chow, stands firmly behind.

HOLDEN CHOW, VICE-CHAIRMAN, DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE FOR THE BETTERMENT AND PROGRESS OF HONG KONG: We want democracy which is pragmatic and fits Hong Jong situation.

RIPLEY: Charles says he and his colleagues faced almost daily intimidation.

How many times has your office been (INAUDIBLE)?

CHOW: Four times in total.

RIPLEY: Do you see that as a -- as a threat?

CHOW: Under this kind of atmosphere, you can tell that people are very much having a kind of a fear and the people have grave concern.

RIPLEY: Undaunted, candidates carry on, putting their best face forward. Here's the question nobody knows the answer to, what happens this weekend? Will there be more violence? Will there be a huge voter turnout? Can Hong Kong actually pull off what protesters say they've been fighting for all along, democracy.

At least as close to democracy as Hong Kong gets. Citizens only elect their local leaders. The Chief Executive and legislative council who actually make laws, are selected by a system stacked in Beijing's favor. The establishment always has the majority. Hong Kong's short- term stability and long-term survival greatly depends on finding a peaceful compromise, says prodemocracy lawmaker, Ted Hui.

TED HUI, DEMOCRATIC PARTY CANDIDATE: Sadly, I think this doesn't end until the government can take a few more steps. Just a very slight sorry? That's not enough.

RIPLEY: He embedded with protesters for two days at the height they're standoff with police at Poly U.

HUI: I witnessed that. They are just defending themselves.

RIPLEY: Police say they only reacted when protesters provoked. Hui is calling for calm this weekend on all sides.

HUI: For those who just want to vote peacefully, and boys have that voice out. This is that chance to show, you know, their power.

RIPLEY: Less violence in the streets means higher voter turnout, and he hopes more power for the pro-democracy movement.

(END VIDEOTAPE) RIPLEY (on-camera): This will be the first time in Hong Kong's

history that all 18 districts have pro-democracy and pro-Beijing candidates going after the same seat. So, depending on how people vote, and there expected s going to be possibly huge voter turnout based on registration. Well, it could send a very clear message to the city, one way or the other, depending on who comes out. And if they feel safe to hit the polls. John?

VAUSE: Matt Rivers live for us in Hong Kong. Big weekend, coming up. Thanks, Matt.

Will, I'm sorry. Will Ripley there.

RIPLEY: Matt Rivers?

VAUSE: I'm sorry. I'm been distracted.

(LAUGHTER)

VAUSE: Thanks, Will.

RIPLEY: Yes.

VAUSE: Boy. OK, widespread internet outages across Iran, as the government tries to control the narrative on recent protests. The latest on these deadly demonstrations when we come back.

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VAUSE: Welcome back, everybody. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm John Vause.

Well, Internet services slowly being restored in parts of Iran, that's days after a government shutdown, an attempt to stop news of violent protests from reaching the outside world.

CNN's Arwa Damon reports now on the toll from a week of unrest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: "They killed him," a voice cries out, crowded around what appears to be a lifeless body. Seconds later on the same video, another group of men carry away someone else -- a snippet of the violence that has rippled across Iran in the last week, as protesters rage over a sharp spike in fuel prices.

The country is in the midst of an unprecedented near-total Internet shut down. Information trickles out slowly, with a handful of videos and photographs hinting (ph) at the scale and brutality of what is taking place.

In the capital people shout, "death to the dictator". Tehran University students chant for the release of their friends, now in government custody. Riot police are seen out in force across the capital.

Anger mutated into violence as rioters stormed banks, torched petrol stations and government buildings. The figure (ph) on this clip claims that the (INAUDIBLE) city hall is on fire, saying this was its symbol of corruption, a claim CNN cannot confirm.

The echo of gunfire can be heard in other video clips. Wednesday (ph) the United Nations said it had seen reports of a significant death toll during the recent protests but there is no way to verify the numbers although the government on Sunday acknowledged several deaths.

The Internet blackout has succeeded in stemming the flow of information, both within the country and to the outside world. And the government declared victory over its enemies.

HASSAN ROUHANI, IRANIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Those anarchists who came out onto the street were few in number. However they were organized, armed anarchists with prior planning, and they are based on a plot that the region's reactionary, the Zionists and Americans had hatched.

DAMON: It's a narrative consistently repeated by the Iranian government when its people take to the streets, an effort to discredit the demonstrators as much as arguably an attempt to conceal the reasons behind their rage.

Iran is loath to admit it is feeling the strain of economic struggle brought on by U.S. sanctions, a tanking currency, food and medicine shortages coupled with Iran pillaging its own -- coffers to prop up proxies across the region.

And while we don't yet have a complete understanding, we have enough pieces to know that while Iran may continue to block the flow of information through the Internet, it's rulers cannot control the picture that is emerging.

Arwa Damon, and CNN -- Istanbul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Protests have also broken out in countries across South America. The latest is Colombia.

CNN's Matt Rivers tells us why people there are flooding the streets.

[01:35:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Mass demonstrations erupt in Colombia. The national strike, a day of protest has been called by indigenous activists, unions and university students against the right wing government of Ivan Duque. Angry Colombians have a long list of grievances including economic inequality, corruption and violence against social activists, prompting widespread discontent across the country. The government appeared to be in a state of panic, sealing its borders, putting its military on high alert and sending police in riot gear to the streets.

And Colombia is just the latest Latin American country to see this kind of anti government uprising.

In Chile, deadly protests have paralyzed the country for weeks, sparked by transit price hikes, anger spread over economic inequalities, living costs and rising debt. Once one of the most stable countries in the region, Chile is now facing the worst unrest it has seen in decades.

In an effort to quell the protests, Chilean president Sebastian Pinera walked back the price hikes, declaring a state of emergency. The congress there has agreed to reform the constitution adopted during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. And Chilean President Pinera has shuffled his cabinet.

Still, many are demanding his resignation and further economic reforms. And tensions boiled over after accusations of police brutality, responding to demonstrators by firing tear, gas rubber bullets and water cannons. And now, several organizations are looking into possible human rights abuses.

And in Bolivia, dozens have been killed in protests following the disputed presidential elections on October 20th. President Evo Morales denied allegations of election fraud but resigned under pressure and fled to Mexico.

The interim government led by Jeanine Anez plans to hold new elections, but the political and social turmoil has continued. Morales' supporters including his indigenous base do not feel represented by the interim government.

The rage in Latin America shows no signs of slowing down. Social media and mobile devices had made organizing protests easier, while the ability to post videos and photos online have prevented government censorship.

Matt Rivers, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Next up here on CNN NEWSROOM -- a royal without a role. What is next for Prince Andrew and the British monarchy as the fallout continues over Andrew's friendship with a convicted sex offender?

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[01:39:48]

VAUSE: After an interview best described as a train wreck, Britain's Prince Andrew remains under relentless scrutiny over his friendship with the late, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

As the royal withdraws from public life, CNN's Max Foster looks at what is next for the Duke of York.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: By speaking out, Prince Andrew hoped to end speculation about him and his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But it ended up costing him his job.

According to a royal source, he agreed to step back from his public duties following discussions between him and the Queen, Prince Charles and others.

In a follow-up statement, the Duke expressed sympathy for Epstein's victims and regret for his association with Epstein, both noticeably absent from his BBC interview.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you regret the whole friendship with Epstein?

PRINCE ANDREW, BRITISH ROYALTY: Now, still not -- the reason being is that the people that I met and the opportunities that I was given to learn either by him or because of him were actually a very useful.

FOSTER: The Duke has denied all the allegations made by Virginia Roberts who alleges Epstein forced her to have sex with Prince Andrew while she was underage.

PRINCE ANDREW: I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady -- none whatsoever.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You don't remember meeting her.

PRINCE ANDREW: No.

FOSTER: He even questioned the authenticity of this photograph of them together. He refuted Roberts' claims that he was sweating whilst dancing in a nightclub, saying an overdose of adrenaline after he was shot at while serving in the Falkland sweater medically unable to sweat. A medical expert has cast doubt on that claim.

ASHLEY GROSSMAN, PROFESSOR, ENDOCRINE SPECIALIST: I can't readily see how someone, following stress, can stop sweating and then subsequently overtime stop sweating again. That is -- if it occurs it must be very, very rare.

FOSTER: Prince Andrew also said that during a 2001 trip to New York, he did not stay with Epstein but rather with then British Consul General Thomas Harris.

But in an interview with the "Daily Mail", Harris said he did not recall the Prince staying with him then. Buckingham Palace told CNN they wouldn't comment on the discrepancy.

One by one, corporate sponsors for the Prince's charitable causes peeled away. And when the story became part of the British election debate, it was clear the Duke's position was becoming untenable.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is the monarchy fit for purpose (ph) -- Jeremy Corbyn?

JEREMY CORBYN, BRITISH LABOUR PARTY LEADER: Needs a bit of improvement.

FOSTER: That was the red line for any member of the British royal family. The Duke's actions had affected the institution that he was born into.

PETER HUNT, ROYAL COMMENTATOR: This has damaged the British monarchy, make no mistake of that. It is not yet a full blown crisis. What has been called into question is the judgment of many people, including the judgment of the Queen, for allowing this interview to take place.

FOSTER: An attorney for some of Epstein's victims has asked for the Prince to testify but so far, no official requests from investigators. No charges have been filed.

He says he will help with appropriate law enforcement investigations, if required.

Max Foster, CNN -- London.

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VAUSE: Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm John Vause.

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