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CNN Live Saturday

Six of The Sears Tower Seven Arraigned in Miami; Violence Breaks Out Between German and English World Cup Fans; First Convention Since Katrina Comes to New Orleans

Aired June 24, 2006 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A mother's anguish. The moms of two suspects held in this week's terror investigations speak out.
Thousands of librarians in the Big Easy this weekend. Why their visit is so important to the city's book.

And time to treatment. How the body's internal clock can help cancer patients get the upper hand.

Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE Saturday. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. All that and more after this check of the headlines.

Big plans but little to work with. The FBI says seven terror suspects alleged plot was "more aspirational than operational." The latest in a live report straight ahead.

Violence mars the World Cup soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, as police try to break up fights between English and German fans. A live report from Germany straight ahead.

Patsy Ramsey, the mother of murdered six year old Jon Benet Ramsey, died this morning. She had been battling ovarian cancer even before her daughter's 1996 slaying. That case remains unsolved.

The Pentagon has announced that 14 Saudis held at Guantanamo Bay have been transferred back to their home country. Officials say 120 more may soon be transferred or released. Some 450 detainees remain at Guantanamo.

Al Qaeda wannabes scrambling for resources? That's how federal agents describe seven suspects, who allegedly wanted to wage war on American soil. Investigators say the men hoped to blow up the Sears Tower and other buildings. Our Kyung Lah is live from Washington with the very latest.

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Fredricka, you mentioned resources, these men apparently had no weapons, no bombs and no money. But the federal government says they had intent. Seven men remain in custody today for what the indictment charges as conspiring to wage war against the U.S. in an act as damaging as 9/11. The U.S. attorney general says the defendants are part of a homegrown terror cell, people who "came to view their home country as the enemy."

The feds showed off secretly shot photographs of each participant at meetings that allegedly plotted attacks. The government says the targets, the tallest building in America, the Sears Tower in Chicago and various federal buildings in five different cities. A government informant, who pretended to be a member of al Qaeda, infiltrated the group and that led to the raid. Federal agents swarmed the Miami warehouse Thursday in the impoverished community of Liberty City. No weapons were found, no bomb making materials either. And the defendants are so impoverished they can't afford private attorneys. Observers wonder if this is an appropriate use of federal powers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIDA RODRIGUEZ-TASEFF, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: If this is all that the government is doing to fight the war on terror, then we are in real trouble. Because these are not, from everything that's been disclosed thus o far, these are not people who are real threats to America.

CLARK KENT ERVIN, FMR. HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIAL: You can't wait until the plot is operative and about to be launched because a mistake might be made and the attack might come, when in fact the attack could be prevented. So based on what I know, it seems to me that the FBI got this right and they're to be applauded.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAH: U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says that's the time to swoop in and make an arrest before a potential cell can act, Fredericka?

WHITFIELD: And so what's next for these suspects?

LAH: They're actually going to be in court next week. That is when they are officially going to be arraigned.

WHITFIELD: Alright, thanks so much. Kyung Lah. All but one of the seven accused conspirators appeared in court yesterday. The one who didn't Stanley Grant Phanor was taken into custody three days ago on a concealed weapon charge. His mother says he's innocent.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELIZENE PHANOR, SUSPECT'S MOTHER: My son never did nothing. I have 63 years, 63 years I have now. My son never did nothing wrong. My son just go work, read bible, after that every five day he has the money, he just give it to me, to eat, to pay, to take care of self.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: At the half hour, we'll hear more of Drew Griffin's interview with Elizine Phanor about her son.

Another al Qaeda video surfaced this week. It appears to be part of a PR offensive. The question is why now? CNN's David Ensor reports.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE) DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On a slickly produced tape with a photo of al Qaeda's dead leader in Iraq behind him, al Qaeda's deputy leader expressed grief over Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death in an American air strike and called him the prince of martyrs.

Ayman al-Zawahiri warned Americans on the tape that killing Zarqawi and the like will not stop attacks on the West.

AYMAN AL-ZAWAHIRI, AL QAEDA SECOND IN COMMAND (through translator): Bush is lying to you when he tells you that you will win when you kill Osama bin Laden, Mullah Omar and the members of al Qaeda and Taliban. He is hiding a lot behind his lies. He's hiding the true catastrophe that you're facing.

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: The tape looks to me like an attempt by Zawahiri to remind the world that al Qaeda central is still in charge. This is the third tape in a month. And, for the first time, Zarqawi's no longer dominating the headlines.

ENSOR: McLaughlin and other analysts point to the letter captured by U.S. intelligence written by Zawahiri to Zarqawi in which he advised him to stop beheading foreigners -- too bloody -- and especially to stop killing fellow Muslims. The latter advice Zarqawi ignored.

MCLAUGHLIN: In fact, if you could put one of those sort of subliminal bubbles over his head like in a cartoon, it would probably say, "Good riddance."

ENSOR (on camera): But Arabic translators say they were struck by the anger and frustration they heard in Zawahiri's voice -- anger at the U.S.; frustration, perhaps, that all he may be able to do from hiding is issue tapes.

David Ensor, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And remember to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

Eight American soldiers have died this week in Iraq. The latest casualties coming this morning south of Baghdad, where a bomb killed two soldiers on patrol. Four servicemen were killed earlier in the week in roadside bombings. And the other two deaths were termed non- combat incidents. In all, 2,519 American personnel have died in Iraq.

North Korea's plan to test fire a new ballistic missile has cemented greater cooperation between the United States and Japan. Just yesterday both countries agreed to an expanded joint missile defense program. It follows multiple warnings to Pyongyang not to test the weapon. Barbara Starr reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The U.S. military believes North Korea has completed preparations for the test launch of its Taep'o-dong 2 long range ballistic missile. The Pentagon has completed its preparations, as well. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has signed orders detailing how the U.S. would try to shoot down the missile if it appeared on an attack trajectory for the U.S. U.S. spy satellites and radars are already watching. If there is a North Korean launch, there will be just minutes to tell President Bush.

DONALD RUMSFELD, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: The president would make a decision with respect to the nature of the launch and whether it was threatening to the territory of the United States or not.

STARR: The president will have to almost instantly decide whether to order a shoot down. The U.S. has 11 missiles it could use to try to intercept the Taep'o-dong. Only North Korea knows if it will conduct the launch and whether the missile will carry a warhead.

In a CNN interview, Vice President Cheney offered a clue that the missile may have enough boosting power to launch a satellite.

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a first test of this particular Taep'o-dong 2 missile. We believe it does have a third stage added to it now, but again, we don't know what the payload is.

STARR (on camera): The Bush administration has already drafted three versions of a public statement to be used if there is a North Korean missile launch. One says there was a launch and it was just a test. Another statement says there was a launch, it was an attack and the U.S. felt it had to shoot the missile down. The third statement says there was a launch, it was an attack and the U.S. failed to shoot it down.

Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

WHITFIELD: New Orleans is hoping thousands of librarians will whisper the praises of the Big Easy. We'll tell you why this is such an important weekend for the city.

And will the weather provide any relief to those crews fighting fires across the southwest. This is CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Nightfall in Stuttgart, Germany, and still arrests are being made after clashes, violent clashes, between English World Cup fans and German World Cup fans then, of course, police got involved when they tried to break up the violence. Then the fans started turning on police. Many people were arrested, even some were hurt. A live report coming up. Here in the states, dozens of people near Sedona, Arizona, are now being allowed to return to their homes after fleeing wildfires, burning out west. Fires still cover thousands of acres in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. Firefighters have been make something progress containing the fire in Arizona. A transient's campfire sparked the blaze last weekend, forcing the evacuation of more than 400 homes.

And the dry conditions certainly don't make it any easier for those firefighters. Bonnnie Schneider in the Weather Center, Hi Bonnie.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Bonnie, thanks so much.

Now, overseas, World Cup clash. Things turned ugly as soccer's premier tournament this afternoon. Several fights broke out between English and German fans in Stuttgart, Germany. When police moved in, fans started throwing chairs and bottles at the officers and at each other. Our Mark McKay is live in Berlin with more on the clashes. How in this world did this get started?

MARK MCKAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, let me set the stage. The host nation Germany made it out of the first round of this tournament. They played their first match in the second round earlier on Saturday. A big win by Germany over Sweden 2-nil. That puts the Germans into the quarterfinals of this tournament. Now, that match took place in Munich, but all across the country you have what are called outdoor viewing centers, a fan fest if you will. This is where supporters of any side get together. Well, in Stuttgart where England plays its first match of the second round on Sunday against Ecuador, English fans and German fans, German fans of course celebrating their team's win, got into a taunting session in the city center. What began as taunting and jawing back and forth regressed into the pictures you're seeing, all out bottle and chair throwing. German authorities, they were quick on the scene. Riot police moved in, used a bit of tear gas, separated two sides. About 100 people were detained from this situation. A handful of injuries reported. Fredricka, it is worth noting that this isn't considered hooliganism. I think a lot of people in North America may see this and consider that to be hooliganism. That's an organized effort from one group of people to disrupt something. I think Fredricka, in this instance we had a long day in the hot German sun of a lot drinking and a lot of tempers flared after this German/Sweden match, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Mark, some reports indicate that the English fans kind of started it by taunting some of the German fans shortly after watching one of the tournaments. Does that sound about right?

MCKAY: Well, there's good natured and there's bad natured taunting at the World Cup. You have every nation, at least the ones that are playing in this tournament represented. And you will hear good natured taunting and you will hear what is considered bad natured, it just depends on how high the tensions were, how high the alcohol content was among these fans. Yes it could very well have been that. It could have been the other way around. Remember England hasn't played their first match yet, while Germany has done everything right in this tournament. So the Germans, perhaps boastfully so, they have a reason to be boastful as their team continues on, here at their home World Cup Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Alright Mark, I guess it doesn't matter in the end who started it, because folks lost control on both sides and all sides, it appears. Mark Mckay in Berlin. Thanks so much.

Coming up, and the auction is off. What's ahead for Martin Luther King Jr.'s personal papers? You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

And coming up at the top of the hour, more of the CNN exclusive that made headlines this week. Angelina Jolie talks to Anderson Cooper about her passionate fight for refugee relief and how motherhood has changed her life. A one on one with Angelina Jolie at 5:00 Eastern and again at 8:00 tonight, only on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Hard to believe it's been ten months since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. One test now facing the city is whether it can recover its economic backbone. And as Sean Callebs explains, that's got officials and residents rolling out the welcome mat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It will be hard to replace the images of the suffering at the convention center following Hurricane Katrina. But this weekend, New Orleans is trying to put a new face on one of its most recognizable symbols. The city is hosting its first convention since the storm. So far, so good.

AMY ROSENBAUM, CONVENTIONEER: As I walk up and down the streets, are you with the American Library Association, welcome, thank you for coming. We've never been welcomed like we've been welcomed here.

CALLEBS: Amy Rosenbaum is one of 18,000 librarians who have come to the Crescent City for the American Library Association convention. You can't overstate how important their arrival is to the city.

STEPHEN PERRY, PRES., CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU: This is a very magical week for New Orleans because it's the relaunching of a multi-billion dollar part of our economy.

CALLEBS: This convention alone is expected to bring in $25 million. Very little when compared to the $3 billion the city lost in convention business when Katrina hit. But it's a first step. Tourism officials say two more conventions will be held this week alone. And the books are filling up with plans for the fall.

LESLIE BURGER, AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION: I would say to any convention group that's thinking about coming back to New Orleans, now is the time to come and to be part of this great rebuilding effort. CALLEBS: A lot of hard work and cold cash went into getting the convention center ready for this weekend. Nearly $70 million in restoring and renovating so far. And the work is only about 75 percent complete. At the same time, tourist areas of the city were spruced up as part of a campaign called company's coming. And then there's the question of security. The city was worried about its national image on the heels of five teenagers being shot and killed and the mayor calling in the national guard to help curb the violence.

PERRY: The timing could have been better. But the reality is that fighting crime is good business, it's good for tourism and it's good for the social fabric of the city.

BURGER: If anything, I think it may have reassured our members that things were under control. Did we have some questions? Absolutely. But we were very quick to talk to the city and talk to the Convention and Visitors Bureau about why that had happened and to get a message out to our members immediately.

CALLEBS: And that's the message the city hopes to get out as it launches its first major conference, that New Orleans is not on the brink of falling apart, but a city slowly but surely putting itself back together. Sean Callebs, CNN, New Orleans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Auction averted. Some 10,000 pages of work written by Martin Luther King Jr. will not go on the auction block after all. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin says an anonymous group stepped in to buy the collection, which includes an early draft of the I Have a Dream speech. The papers will be kept at Atlanta's Morehouse College, a historically black school, in Dr. King's home town, also his alma mater.

In other news across America, an off duty Seattle police officer opens fire after being attacked. Department spokesman says several men confronted the officer, pushing him off his motorcycle, then hitting and kicking him. The officer drew his weapon and fired, badly wounding one man.

Also in Washington State, a missing 9-month-old is recovered and his mother arrested for kidnapping. The baby was taken from a Seattle hospital before a scheduled operation. He was in state custody at the time. Police say the mother snuck her son out of the hospital in a diaper bag.

In Los Angeles, a shocking end to a police standoff. Interstate 10 was shut down for an hour Friday after police chased down a stolen SUV. The suspect barricaded himself in the vehicle, so police used a taser gun on him to get him out.

And a daring river rescue in Idaho. Three men trapped on the roof of their van for hours until rescue crews could get them out. The van fell into the river early Friday morning. The driver was thrown clear and swam to shore. Straight ahead, family and friends of the suspects speak out about this week's terror arrests. Plus a mountain climber dedicates his life to building schoolrooms in some of the toughest locations in the world.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Here's what's happening right now in the news. The FBI says these men were planning to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago. Six of the seven suspects have appeared in court. According to the indictment they had no money, weapons or supplies.

The Pentagon has moved 14 Saudi detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Saudi Arabia. Officials say another 120 are eligible for transfer or release as well, 450 detainees are still locked up on the island.

President Bush calls for spending cuts in his weekly radio address. He also wants what's called a line-item veto. It would give him the power to remove specific items from a spending bill. Many lawmakers, though, feel it would give the president too much power.

Wildfires near Sedona, Arizona, forced the evacuation of more than 400 homes. But officials say the fire is now 20 percent contained. They are allowing some residents to return, but warn that the area is not yet out of danger.

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