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Al Qaeda Releases Video of 9/11 Planning Meeting; Austrian Kidnapping Survivor Speaks Out; Ahmadinejad Presses for Debate

Aired September 07, 2006 - 14:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: This one, of Osama bin Laden apparently. This is never-seen-before video tape. Al Jazeera is coming out and saying they have this video of OBL with al Qaeda leaders actually planning the 9/11 attacks. We are working, a number of our correspondents and terrorism experts to find out more about this videotape. And where exactly it came from and what is exactly on it.
But we are being told through Al Jazeera that it is never-seen- before video of Osama bin Laden with al Qaeda leaders planning the 9/11 attacks.

Fredricka Whitfield, of course, all throughout the morning has been telling us about the other al Qaeda tape that was released and we've been talking about that as well.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This taping released on Islamic Web sites and now still translators are trying to go over to try and get some details as to what exactly is being said purportedly by the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, the new leader, Abu Hamza al- Muhajer. He's the person who succeed Abu Musab al Zarqawi, who was killed a couple of months ago by coalition forces.

In the meantime, this new message reportedly being released on the Islamic Web site is saying that -- al-Muhajer, he is saying that he is confident that victory will be achieved, and that he is calling upon Muslims as a whole to unify the ranks with the Mujahideen in Iraq.

All this taking place as we're now hearing about this new alleged tape that you speak of, Kyra, from Osama bin Laden. New tape, meaning it hasn't been seen before publicly, but it's believed to be recorded five years ago on the planning of 9/11.

And this now coming, this new reported tape from Abu Ayyub al- Masri, he's also known as Abu Muhajer. And this is coming two days after Al Qaeda's number two deputy released a tape along with American who is most wanted, Adam Gadahn. And translations are being done right now on the new purported tape, that are being seen on Islamic Web sites, and of course when we get anymore information on them and whether this tape is being authenticated by the new leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, we'll be able to bring that you to, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: OK, and it's not an audio tape, that's incorrect what's on our air right now. If we can take that off. It's actually a videotape. We'll go to it right now.

OK.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (Speaking Arabic)

(INAUDIBLE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: OK. We're trying to figure out a few technical things right now. We apologize for that. Pete Bergen, one of our terrorism experts, on the phone with me right now. He's actually in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Peter, are you with me?

PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Yes, I am with you.

PHILLIPS: I believe we now have the videotape from Al Jazeera ready to go. Is that correct? Are we going to roll this? OK, we're going to roll it here, just for a second, Peter, and than I'm going to bring you in.

BERGEN: OK.

PHILLIPS: OK, so we're not going to show the captions. All right, Peter, we're apparently just getting this videotape in, I apologize for the confusion. It's coming through Al Jazeera where we can see Osama bin Laden with other al Qaeda leaders, apparently this is when they were meeting and talking and planning 9/11. According to the Al Jazeera, this videotape is from 2001.

Are you just getting word of this as well, that you know that this was going to be released?

BERGEN: Well, I mean, I think we fully anticipated that we would have a release from bin Laden in a sort of rather ghoulish celebration of the fifth anniversary of 9/11. I think we've been expecting some kind of statement from him, a videotape, an audio tape. And it's interesting that instead of a contemporary audio tape or videotape we have this, sort of more historical footage. But no surprise, I think, to those of us at CNN, who follow the al Qaeda story that they would want to put out something themselves that demonstrates, you know, note to milk the fifth anniversary for as much as they can get.

It does sort of beg the question, why aren't we getting a live audio tape or a live videotape from bin Laden? Perhaps we will also get one of those. We haven't had a videotape of bin Laden since October 29, 2004, you may remember. Five days before the U.S. presidential election, he appeared behind a desk, looking sort of, you know, in a sort of Halloween parody of the Oval Office address. He talked to the American people directly, a well-lit production.

But we haven't seen anything since then. We've had five audio tapes this year, and it all al Qaeda produces is this historical footage, it's got to raise some questions about, you know, is bin Laden out of it in some way.

But, of course, we've got a few more days before the actual anniversary. And so, you know, it's quite possible that al Qaeda, which is very interested in propaganda, as you know, would also want to produce an audio or videotape of bin Laden of a more contemporary nature.

Bin laden himself, by the way, has said that 90 percent of the battle is the media battle. So this is a guy who has had a media strategy almost from the moment he woke up. He's very savvy. The people around him in al Qaeda, the video production arm, which is call al-Sahab, in Arabic, is very active. We've had 12 videotapes from Ayman Al Zawahiri, Al Qaeda's number two this year. So they are putting out a lot of these productions right now.

PHILLIPS: Peter, a couple things I'm noticing and we are seeing the shot right now, some of these members of al Qaeda, practicing hijacking -- or, excuse me, practicing martial arts. And then what you are seeing is sort of a simulated takeover, it's sort of chilling, when you look at it, it looks like they could have approached, say, the pilot of an airplane or somebody -- that's what goes through your mind as you see this. How they practice these techniques to take over another individual.

And, of course, we're not showing the translation right now. There's some sensitivity issues, as we're looking at this, we're figuring out whether we want to air that or not. We're trying to make shows decisions right now through standards and practices. But as we see this videotape, I mean, and I don't know -- can you see it from where you -- I'm assuming you cannot see this from where you are right, Peter? Is that right? Can you see it?

BERGEN: I can't unless we're simulcasting on CNN International.

PHILLIPS: OK. I mean, it's Osama bin Laden gathering with other individuals and you can clearly see their faces. And I'm curious, I mean, could this identify other individuals that possibly could be tied to 9/11? I mean, could this help authorities, the military in tracking down other individuals? I'm just --

BERGEN: I doubt it, because I think they would be pretty careful about. The people that we're going to see in this tape are people that are in the inner circle, who are well known to U.S. law enforcement, U.S. intelligence.

But, you mentioned these sort of -- the kind of training exercises that you're seeing on this tape. You know, CNN recovered something like 200 al Qaeda videotapes. A lot of these tapes were training exercises. They -- you know, al Qaeda came of age, you know, in the age of the handheld personal video camera. They shot a lot of their own material. And these are people who have a -- you know, a quite lively sense of propaganda and also a quite active video production arm that is headquarter in Pakistan at this moment.

But another thing that strikes me about this tape, you know, this shows kind of a lot of -- a lot of planning in a sense, to hold this tape back so long. You know, for five years. You may remember that they held back tapes, suicide wills, quote-unquote, of some of the 19 hijackers. Some of those they could have had on the first anniversary of 9/11, reeling those out over the years.

They also did an Al Jazeera interview which aired around the first anniversary of 9/11, which showed members of al Qaeda poring over U.S. flight schedules and training and exercises to takeover, you know, an American passenger jet. So, you know, it shows a certain amount of forward planning that they made these tapes and that they are being sort of parceling them out over the years to remind everyone about the ghastly attack on 9/11.

PHILLIPS: Terrorism Analyst Peter Bergen. We appreciate it, Peter. I know we'll be talking some more. If you are just tuning in we are getting a video tape in, through Al Jazeera. We're still working to confirm it, as well as discuss whether we'll show the translation from the tape or not.

What we're being told from Al Jazeera this is never before seen videotape of Osama bin Laden meeting with al Qaeda leaders five years ago, planning the 9/11 attacks.

We'll still keep working this story. We have our correspondents working it as well, and we'll bring you as much information as we can, as soon as we get it.

Well, a debate is apparently out, but the president of Iran still plans to make his case in person this month at the U.N. So what might be on the diplomatic agenda with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran?

Richard Roth, our CNN U.N. Correspondent. What do you think, Richard?

RICHART ROTH, CNN U.N. CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSROOM: Kyra, the U.N. calls this annual meeting here the general debate. So Iran could claim it's getting a debate, but there will be separate speeches by President Bush and the president of Iran hours apart on Monday, September 19th.

Now, the president of Iran was here last year on September 14th, when the general assembly convened. And the Iranian president, seen here recently with, Kofi Annan, spoke from the rostrum of the General Assembly, and then he was in the audience later when President Bush spoke out.

Now, the White House was asked about the -- the Iranian plan for a debate here. Tony Snow, the White House spokesman, told reporters that there's not going to be, he says, a steel-cage, grudge match between the president and Ahmadinejad. Tony Snow went on, "The president will deliver his speech, and at some other juncture, President Ahmadinejad, if the General Assembly so decides will speak.

And he's already listed, Kyra, on the schedule to speak. On September 19th, 7:00 or so Eastern Time. This, while the U.S. pushes for sanctions against his country. But there's still resistance from China and Russia. More negotiations in Europe this week, between the European Union and the Iranian delegation. Back to you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: What do you think, Richard, how close can these men get actually get to each other, at the U.N.?

ROTH: They try to sketch out the maneuvers of these high-level leaders point by point, minute to minute. But things happen in the hallways. And a few years ago, President Clinton met with Fidel Castro, just passing, and there was a handshake, and not many cameras captured it. Anything is possible, but its very likely that President Bush would be out of the building a lot. There is an annual lunch for the heads of state, not sure if the president of Iran will attend. He's here for a short visit, we're told, maybe two days, but you can certainly expect some fireworks.

PHILLIPS: Richard Roth, no doubt. Our Senior U.N. Correspondent. Thanks.

Once again, if you are just tuning in, we are trying to confirm this tape that we've gotten through Al Jazeera television. Apparently it is old videotape from 2001 of Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders planning the 9/11 attacks. You see everything from these takeover, mock takeover situations, to martial arts practice to Osama bin Laden with other al Qaeda leaders, to gathering there in the mountainside.

According to Al Jazeera, this is never-seen video. It's the first time it's been released, showing Osama bin Laden and his leaders planning the 9/11 attacks. As you know, the fifth-year anniversary of 9/11 is coming up this Monday. And we are seeing other videotapes being released, but this is really the first one that if, indeed, it is verified to be true, gives you chills when you think that they were here gathering, talking about what was going to happen on the September -- on September 11th, five years ago.

We're trying to get as much information and trying to confirm what indeed is being talked about on this tape. And if, indeed, it's authentic.

Also straight ahead, another developing story. An arrest in the serial killer case. The suspect, the charges, the city gripped with fear. Straight ahead from the CNN newsroom.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: If you are just tuning in, we are following up on a videotape that has just been released. It came to us through Al Jazeera. We are trying to authenticate this tape as well as try to figure out what the captions in English on this tape are saying, if, indeed, it is the proper translation, because we don't know if al Qaeda did it or Al Jazeera did it. We're listening to the tape right now.

We will have our own translation from someone here that is fluent in Arabic, we're working that now. But we're still trying to even authenticate the tape, whether it is Osama bin Laden with al Qaeda leaders planning 9/11. That is what we are being told, that this tape is from 2001, where you can see members of al Qaeda practicing takeover maneuvers, martial arts and here up in the mountains. You will see Osama Bin Laden with various al Qaeda leaders. And we are being told this was the tape, or the tracking of the meetings and events on videotape as they planned the attacks on the United States on September 11th.

We're working it. We'll bring you as much information as soon as we get it.

Police in phoenix call him a suspect. The mayor says he may the monster who has been terrorizing the city. But neighbors say that Mark Goudeau can't possibly be the man that authorities want. Reporter Courtney Zubowski with out affiliate, KTBK, is outside his house.

Courtney what are you hearing?

COURTNEY ZUBOWSKI, REPORTER, KTBK: Good afternoon, Kyra. We're hearing that neighbors are saying that this man is clean-cut and meticulous and they believe that they could not be responsible for a sexual assault, let alone be the baseline killer, the Baseline Killer, terrorizing the city of Phoenix for over a year.

Right now, we are outside the 41-year-old Mark Goudeau's home, and he is in jail facing one count of kidnapping and one count of sexual assault, all quiet here now and not the same story yesterday around 5 o'clock local time, when 30 police officers were here going through the house, not the same story earlier this morning, when lookie-lus from all over the city were stopping by to see what was going on and definitely not the same story when, just an hour ago, Mark Goudeau's family was here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's honest. He's not guilty.

ZUBOWSKI: Relatives pour in and out of this house in on Pinchot, in Central Phoenix, the home where police say Mark Goudeau lives.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's not guilty.

ZUBOWSKI: Yesterday at 5:00 in the evening, on Mark Goudeau's 41st birthday, 30 police officers armed with a search warrant surrounded the home. They arrested Goudeau right outside after a traffic stop.

SU-ELLEN BENNETT, NEIGHBOR OF MARK GOUDEAU: They are way off base. Way off. I've known this guy since he came home, and that's been about a year and a half. And you could practically track him. And he -- he rakes his yard. You can see the footsteps.

ZUBOWSKI: This morning phoenix attorney Corwin Townsend stopped by the home. He says he's not officially on the case, but he's looking into it.

CORWIN TOWNSEND, ATTORNEY: It's a big case. I understand that, but at this point, obviously you guys are all here, but there's nothing -- I don't know the facts yet. We don't know anything. It's just the beginning of this thing, so we'll see where we'll go from here.

ZUBOWSKI: We have yet to hear from the wife, who has been hold up inside the home since yesterday. Neighbors say she just wants her space but says her husband is innocent.

And she just wants her space, but she says her husband is innocent.

BENNETT: She said no way, the man is innocent. He's a home-body, and he's a hard worker, and he's a good -- a good neighbor and friend.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZUBOWSKI: This arrest stems from a sexual assault in September of 2005. The baseline killer is said to be responsible for 23 crimes. At this point again, Phoenix Police not confirming whether or not this is the baseline killer, but the sexual assault has been connected to the baseline killer. And that's why they are saying that they have this man in custody at this time. Neighbors, again saying that he's a great neighbor, a good guy. They also say he's a very good looking guy.

But they are also telling us that he has spent some time in prison and we have confirmed that Mark Goudeau spent 13 years in prison and got out in August of 2004. He was in for a felony aggravated assault.

PHILLIPS: Courtney, appreciate you working the story for us. We'll continue to check in with you.

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, kidnapped, held captive, so terrified she couldn't even cry for help.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NATASCHA KAMPUSCH, KIDNAPPING VICTIM (through translator): For example, the nice ladies in the home improvement store, they would ask, can I help you? And I would just stand there completely intimidated and panicked, and my heart pounding and my circulation, barely being able to move. I then just had to stand by helplessly while he got rid of the sales people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: An Austrian woman speaks out about her eight-year nightmare. You're in the newsroom, on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: If you are just tuning in, from the CNN newsroom we brought you a videotape through Al Jazeera television. We're still trying to work the authenticity of this tape, the timing of this tape, and also the translation of this tape.

But what we are being told, through Al Jazeera television, is that this is Osama bin Laden and fellow al Qaeda leaders pre-9/11, five years ago, actually planning the 9/11 attacks.

As you know, the five-year anniversary is coming up on Monday. We're slowly seeing various audio tapes and videotapes being released. This is Al Jazeera, this is video tape never seen before, of Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda leaders, planning the 9/11 attacks.

Our Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena is working the story for us.

Kelli, can you identify any of the other men on this tape other than OBL?

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSROOM: Yes, well, one most notable Ramzi Binalshibh. That name a little bit familiar because just yesterday it was announced that he would be moving from one of the CIA secret prisons over to Guantanamo Bay. Ramsis bin Al- Shibh is one of the planners and facilitators of the September 11th attacks, according to government officials.

And if not for a twist of fate he may have been one of the 9/11 hijackers himself. He was denied a U.S. visa several times, Kyra. There are also two of the hijackers on this tape. One is Wal Al Shahiri, he was actually on American Airlines Flight 11, that crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center; that was the plane that Mohammed Atta, the ringleader was on.

And there's another hijacker as well, Hamza Alghamdi that who was on united flight 175, which also crashed into the South tower of the World Trade Center. This is the first time, Kyra, that we will have seen Ramzi bin al-Shibh and Osama bin Laden together on videotape, some significance there.

So, you know, Al Jazeera is saying this was a planning meeting, for 9/11. Well, you have, you know, three of the players who are definitely on site.

PHILLIPS: So, now, as you've been talking to your sources, do they believe that the timing of this is pre-9/11, that it definitely was 2001? I mean, you're obviously seeing two of the hijackers on this tape. You're seeing Ramzi bin al-Shibh with Osama bin Laden. It seems to make sense. I guess the next question is why release it now?

ARENA: Well, first of all, two of the guys are dead, right? So obviously it had to happen before, before 9/11. Bin al-Shibh has been in custody for several years. So we know the tape is an old tape. Whether or not it was right before the 9/11 attacks or how old, that's something the analysts will have to decide.

This is very much a part of what Al Jazeera has said is its agenda, which is to, you know, use the media and use tapes like this to -- as part of their terror campaign. This is not the first time that we have seen a tape released around the anniversary of September 11th. The first anniversary, we saw an al Qaeda tape released. This just happens to be in a flurry of recent tapes. We've started to see more and more come out, leading some to believe, well, is there something up?

You know, is this a signal of an impending attack? I did have an opportunity this morning, Kyra, to speak with Director Robert Mueller, the director of the FBI, and asked him if there was any intelligence of an impending attack. He said that there was not. But, he did say that although it is a weaker enemy, al Qaeda remains a lethal enemy, and still does have designs on pulling off another 9/11-style attack on U.S. soil.

Kelly arenas, stay with us. Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson is working the story for us also from Islamabad, Pakistan.

Nic what have you learned?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INT'L. CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSROOM: Well, Kyra, in the past, Al Qaeda's released tapes and videotapes to Al Jazeera and in their Islamabad office in Pakistan. We were in the office just yesterday. No indication there at that time that they had received or were about to receive any material.

What's very interesting here, we've seen in the past that al Qaeda has switched from releasing material to Al Jazeera to releasing it on the Internet, because it appeared, perhaps they were unhappy that Al Jazeera was just releasing, airing the clips of messages, rather than the whole message itself. Also perhaps al Qaeda realizing that this was some intelligence flaw in their planning. Because if they delivered a hard tape, hard copy, to Al Jazeera, there was always a possibility that could get intercepted it could get traced back to Osama bin Laden.

Perhaps -- it appears here that al Qaeda has given more tapes. Although these are old, the reporter says that they're more than five years old, these tapes, and that they have given these to Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera's put this together.

Clearly al Qaeda wanting to push its own message, push its own agenda, try and show its relevance around the anniversary of September the 11th. But, again, opening up the intelligence window here by handing off, it appears, tapes, or at least some hard copy, to Al Jazeera at this time -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Nic, do you have any idea how Al Jazeera gets these tapes? Are they delivered to Al Jazeera? Is there someone within Al Jazeera that has sources and that''s how they retrieve them? Do you have any idea how the handling is carried out?

ROBERTSON: Well, it's carried out -- it's been carried out in the past in a variety of ways. The first time Al Jazeera here in Pakistan were told about a tape, they were told to go to a market not far from their office, and there a man came up to them in a crowded, busy market and said, I have a tape for you, take this and be careful with it. Take it, it's important, it's Osama bin Laden. And that was the first time, they said, that a message was being -- the tape was being handed off to them in the market, that they realized that was an al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden tape.

The next time they got a tape, it was handed in an envelope to the guard right outside their office, right in the heart of the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, on a quiet, suburban street. Clearly al Qaeda perhaps not too concerned that somebody might have been watching that particular office. But this new material now shows bin Laden up in the mountains. Could it be inside Pakistan? Could it be inside Afghanistan? He's got Ramzi Binalshibh with him. It's their mountain hideout. We can see on this videotape their sort of cave- type dwellings, with (INAUDIBLE) pulled across it.

Some of the vegetation there looks like vegetation I've seen around the eastern part of Afghanistan. Very difficult to place it precisely. But this is a not unexpected development, and it's certainly going to offer new clues, perhaps to tracking how these tapes get to Al Jazeera. And they also offer more clues, again, about how and with whom bin Laden plotted this whole thing -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Nic Robertson from Islamabad, Pakistan. Also our justice correspondent Kelli Arena. Both working this story for us. Thank you both very much. We'll keep working all the details and bring them to all of you as we get them.

Meanwhile, this weekend, get a closer look at this man who brought 9/11 to America. Watch "In the Footsteps of bin Laden," the "CNN PRESENTS" special investigation, already seen by more than 10 million people around the world. That's Saturday and Sunday night at 7:00 Eastern.

Three days, three speeches, one message. President Bush came to Atlanta today for speech number three this week on the U.S. war on terror. He said that the U.S. has learned lessons from the 9/11 attacks, and he defended his often controversial efforts to stop new attacks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Patriot Act has increased the flow of information within our government, and it has helped break up terror cells in the United States of America. And the United States Congress was right to renew the terrorist act -- the Patriot Act.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The president also defended a tactic recently struck down by a federal judge: warrantless wiretaps of international phone calls and e-mails. Mr. Bush wants Congress to authorize it.

The Iraqi military under new management, gradually. Ceremonies in Baghdad today marked the hand-over of Iraq's navy and air force, and one of its ten army divisions from U.S. to Iraqi control. Americans call it a huge, significant event, but it's still not clear when Iraqi forces will stand on their own, allowing U.S. forces to leave.

Black smoke over Baghdad, as a suicide car bomb goes off outside a fuel station. In all, at least 19 people were killed today in various attacks. That's not counting four bodies found dumped in Baghdad neighborhoods.

The White House declines an offer from the president of Iran. Is it a diplomatic smackdown? Well, we're going get to the mat to get all of today's top stories right here from the "NEWSROOM."

Plus, free after years held captive, still haunted by her abduction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NATASCHA KAMPUSCH, KIDNAPPING VICTIM (through translator): He grabbed me. I tried to scream, but no sound came out. Yes, I was in desperation and very angry. I was upset with myself that I did not change the side of the street, and that I did not go to school with my mother in her car. That was awful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: A young Austrian woman speaks about her captivity. Her story from the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Just days ago, police closely protected her identity. Now a young Austrian woman is going public with her harrowing story of kidnap, imprisonment and escape.

CNN's Matthew Chance has her story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For eight long years she was a terrified hostage. Aged just 10, abducted by a suspected pedophile as she walked to school.

NATASCHA KAMPUSCH, KIDNAP SURVIVOR (through translator): He grabbed me. I tried to scream but no sound came out. Yes, I was in desperation and very angry, I was upset with myself that I did not change the side of the street and that I did not go to school with my mother in her car. That was awful.

CHANCE: Now a young woman of 18, this is the first time Natascha Kampusch has spoken on camera since her dramatic escape last month, and the suicide of Wolfgang Priklopil soon after, the man who held her captive.

KAMPUSCH (through translator): I was fully aware that my escape would also be his death sentence because he always threatened me with suicide.

CHANCE: This was a kidnapping that shocked Austria. In 1998 police had searched the country, but found no trace of Natascha. All along, she had been held in this tiny underground cell not 10 miles from her home. It had a bed and a toilet and a lot of books, but little else.

KAMPUSCH (through translator): It felt very claustrophobic in that small room. I threw water bottles against the walls or banged against them with my fists so that maybe someone could hear me. I don't know. It was harrowing and if he had not taken me up into the house at some point to have a bit more space to move, I think I might have gone crazy.

CHANCE: How long was it, she is asked, before he took you up to the house? Was it years? "No, after a half a year," she said, "Then I was allowed up to wash and to take a bath in the bathroom."

Over the years Priklopil occasionally took Natascha out of the house, into shops, even on a skiing trip. But all the time, Natascha says she was closely watched.

KAMPUSCH (through translator): He was very careful. He barely left my side. He would show signs of panic every time I was more than three centimeters away from him. He always wanted me to walk in front of him and not behind him so he could keep me in view. I couldn't approach anyone because he threatened to harm them if I spoke with them. He would kill or get rid of them.

CHANCE: And she was so terrified she couldn't even cry for help, she says.

KAMPUSCH (through translator): For example, the nice ladies in the home improvement stores, they would then ask, can I help you? And then I would just stand there, completely intimidated and in panic. My heart pounding with problems in my circulation, barely being able to move. I then just had to stand by helplessly while he got rid of the salespeople.

CHANCE: The exact nature of this relationship remains unclear, though police believe there was sexual contact. Natascha is unwilling to discuss this. It's the future she wants to talk about.

KAMPUSCH (through translator): I want to travel. For instance, go on a cruise with my family. Also, if I pass my Austrian high school graduation diploma, to go on a trip after completion of secondary school. But, of course, not with alcohol and partying, but a nice one. Not a summer splash or an all-inclusive, but, rather, something nice.

CHANCE: Something to make her life feel normal again, now her eight-year nightmare has come to an end.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: We told you that we were going to stay on top of this next story, the senseless weekend killing of a disabled man near Houston. Police are now holding two men linked to the death of Barney Goodman, 57 years old, and confined to a wheelchair.

The first reports from the weekend were that Goodman was robbed of his disability check, beaten and thrown off a bridge and left to die. He was eventually spotted by an off-duty policeman but died later in the hospital. The sheriff says the details are slightly off, but the charges no less serious.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF GREG ARTHUR, LIBERTY COUNTY, TEXAS: The initial reports that Mr. Goodman had been thrown over the bridge after being robbed were inaccurate. The investigators -- this investigation revealed that Goodman was taken under the bridge by Dollery and Buckley and beaten and robbed. The victim's artificial legs were removed, thrown in the San Jacinto River to prevent him from following.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, Goodman was a Vietnam vet who lost his feet to diabetes. The suspects have both been charged with capital murder. Liberty County sheriff Greg Arthur will join me live next hour.

Six-and-a-half years, but not just yet. A day after his sentencing in federal court, former Illinois Governor George Ryan is still hoping that he won't have to serve a day.

We get the story now from reporter Carlos Hernandez Gomez of CNN affiliate CLTV in Chicago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARLOS HERNANDEZ GOMEZ, CLTV REPORTER (voice-over): In the end, a clout-heavy law firm, infirmities, 102 letters and prior good acts couldn't get George Ryan a short sentence. In court, Ryan told Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer it was, quote, "the saddest day of his life," and admitted he let the people of Illinois down. But prosecutors are angry with what they say is a lack of contrition.

PATRICK M. COLLINS, ASST. U.S. ATTORNEY: There certainly is victimization of innocent people on the defendant's side of the ledger, but I think that pain, as serious and strong as it is, pales in comparison to some of the pain that was suffered by the victims with the corruption in this case.

GOMEZ: Defense counsel Dan Webb painted Ryan as a very decent, good person who deserved a light sentence so he could live out his days with his family. And despite the judgment, that could effectively be a life sentence for a man Ryan's age, the defense isn't giving up.

DAN K. WEBB, RYAN'S ATTORNEY: We are going to vigorously pursue his appellate rights. We are going to take the case up to the higher court and based on the jury deliberations, we are very hopeful that someday this conviction will be reversed and George Ryan will be vindicated. GOMEZ: Still, Ryan was spared the shame of what's colloquially the perp walk and was spirited in and out of the building through the parking ramp and judge's elevator, with the former governor and U.S. attorney Jim Thompson. A spokesman says the Chief Judge James Holderman made the call for security reasons. Holderman was an assistant U.S. attorney when Thompson was the city's top fed. But shame or not, one ex-fed said today's message is clear.

DEAN POLALES, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: You don't have to take an envelope in order to commit a corrupt act, and I think what it should say is that everybody out there should be paying attention to their legal obligations when they are performing public service.

GOMEZ (on camera): And this isn't the last we've heard of the case. Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer still has to rule whether or not Ryan can stay out on bond pending appeal. And it could be months before the court of appeals weighs in.

But this case will likely live on in the political arena as gubernatorial candidates Rod Blagojevich and Judy Baar Topinka work to paint each other as more like George Ryan.

At the Dirksen Federal Building, Carlos Hernandez Gomez, CLTV News.

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PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, entertainment news with Brooke Anderson of "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." Brooke, what's on tap?

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, Paris Hilton has been busted. I'm going to tell you what the hotel heiress did that landed her in the slammer.

And what's got former Clinton officials taking aim at ABC? Those stories straight ahead when LIVE FROM (sic) returns.

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PHILLIPS: Let's get straight to Fredricka Whitfield. What are you working on, Fred?

WHITFIELD: Well, Kyra, about a week ago, we told you how a North Dakota jury had found guilty Alfonso Rodriguez of the killing of a North Dakota student, Dru Sjodin. Well, today, that same jury, a federal jury of seven women and five men, met again today and have decided that Rodriguez is eligible for the death penalty. Now, they will meet again and decide whether he should get the death penalty. The other option is life without parole -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, thanks, Fred.

Big sky country is burning. Hundreds of firefighters on the frontlines doing everything they can to corral the biggest blaze. We're on top of it from the CNN NEWSROOM. Plus, was Paris impaired? Paris Hilton busted on a DUI charge this morning, amid claims she wasn't really drunk. We'll tell you about it.

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PHILLIPS: Bill Clinton takes on ABC, Paris Hilton tries on some silver bracelets. Or does she? "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT's" Brooke Anderson live from L.A. with all those stories and more.

Hey, Brooke.

ANDERSON: Hey, Kyra. She did, indeed, get to try those silver bracelets on for size, by the way. The party gal was arrested early this morning here in Hollywood, just a couple blocks away from where I am here at CNN. The 25-year-old star was leaving a charity event and she said on the radio she was on her way to the In and Out Burger to get something to eat. But the late-night food run was stopped short when she was pulled over at about 12:30 a.m., when police say they saw her driving erratically.

After a failed sobriety test, which we're told by the LAPD spokeswoman, after that which she failed, she was busted and taken to the LAPD's Hollywood station. She was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI.

Now here's little sister Nicky Hilton. She and her boyfriend, "Entourage" star Kevin Connolly, quickly came to the rescue, along with Paris' publicist, Elliot Mintz. Mintz confirmed the arrest after he drove Hilton home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELLIOT MINTZ, PARIS HILTON'S PUBLICIST: She went through the same procedure that everybody else does. When it was determined that she is obviously not a flight risk, and she is not inebriated, I offered to drive her home. But they released her on her own recognizance. So, of course, these matters are never to be taken lightly. And it's unfortunate that she was behind the wheel of a car, even with one drink. And it's her first offense and hopefully it will never happen again.

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ANDERSON: Mintz says Hilton's blood alcohol level was the minimum level needed to warrant an arrest. Under California law, that is .08. He also said Paris had been working all day shooting a music video, had had nothing to eat, and had only had one drink, a margarita. The LAPD spokeswoman tells CNN Paris hasn't yet been formally charged with anything. They also tell us that Paris' next court appearance will be at the end of the month. At that time, she will learn if she is charged, and will at that point will enter a plea.

OK, well, less than a week before the five-year anniversary of the September 11th attacks, ABC is coming under fire from former President Clinton administration officials. They're angered by the network's planned 9/11 miniseries, "The Path to 9/11."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No one is taking terrorism seriously. Political corruptness rules the day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you sure about this?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former national security adviser Sandy Berger are among those saying the movie is factually incorrect, and it should be corrected or not aired at all. Representatives from former President Clinton's office characterize the portrayal as, quote, "terribly wrong and biased." The concerned individuals say "The Path to 9/11" suggests that Clinton, while in office, wasn't paying enough of a threat to terrorism and that Berger was shown refusing to authorize an attack on Osama bin Laden.

Meantime, New York Congresswoman Louise Slaughter is calling for ABC to make it clear to viewers that the miniseries is not a documentary. She wants the disclaimers noting that it's a docudrama to be shown throughout the five-hour film.

ABC tells CNN, quote: "The path to 9/11 is not a documentary, it's a dramatization drawn from a variety of sources, including the 9/11 Commission report. For dramatic and narrative purposes, the movie contain's fictionalized scenes. No one has seen the final version of the film, because the editing process is yet not complete, so criticisms of film specifics are premature and irresponsible."

And, finally, there's about to be one more mouth to feed on Wisteria Lane. Forty-four-year-old "Desperate Housewives" star Marcia Cross and her stockbroker husband Tom Mahoney are expecting their first child in April. The couple married in June. Congratulations to them.

All right, coming up on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," we will have more on Paris and the police. The inside story on Paris Hilton's arrest. How much trouble is she really in? We take a look at it. The story on TV's most provocative entertainment news program. That is "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 8:00 Pacific, CNN Headline Prime. We hope to see you then -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Brooke.

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