Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Snow Piles Up in Upstate New York; Helicopters Becoming Target for Insurgents; FDA Approved Diet Pill Headed for Shelves

Aired February 08, 2007 - 13:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CO-HOST: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CO-HOST: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Kyra Phillips.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Once we got it, we were going to get it really good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: At least 50 inches of snow in four days.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm Rob Marciano in Oswego, New York, where they are measuring snow by the foot. A live report is coming up.

WHITFIELD: And six choppers down in less than three weeks. Is there a new enemy threat against U.S. helicopters in Iraq?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I kind of enjoy controlling mine when I want to. I'll just stick with my fries.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Is it a fat buster or just a bust? The first government approved over the counter diet pill hits the market. But wait until you read the warnings.

You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

We start with some developing news. We take you live right away to Kansas City. This is a tanker fire. It's on the northbound lanes of Interstate 435. That's near Interstate 35. A fiery wreck caused all of this. You're looking at firefighters and rescuers on the scene there. A pretty bad accident.

The crash involves two trucks, a car, and smoke from this resulting fire could be seen for miles. And we're just getting into CNN that there's at least one person who died as a result of this, and some serious injuries are also reported. This is live in Kansas City on an interstate there, a fiery wreck involving a tanker. We'll have updated information on this throughout the CNN NEWSROOM today.

WHITFIELD: And unless you're in a chilly upstate New York, imagine this, snowdrifts taller than you. How do you dig your way out?

Our Rob Marciano doing his best in Oswego, New York, where it started snowing on Sunday. And Bonnie Schneider in much cozier digs in the CNN weather center.

First to you, Rob. So how is Oswego coping?

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, they've been digging and digging and digging some more. Luckily right now, actually, the past couple of hours, there's been a bit of a break in the action, a little bit of snow flurry activity.

But I mean, just look at the sidewalk. Last night, we got another 18 inches of fresh snow. That's on top of 46 inches. Almost 6 feet falling here in -- in Oswego, New York.

And you know, once you get this lake effect snow machine cranking, it's tough to turn it completely off.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO (voice-over): Nearly 50 inches have fallen over four days on this upstate New York community that sits on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. The snow is expected to continue on and off right through the weekend.

Schools have been closed since Monday. The different sections of the major highway through town were shut down for part of the storm. The never-ending snowfall comes after weeks of mild weather. But residents of this port city were not fooled.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Once we got it, we were going to get it really good. We were just waiting for it to happen.

MARCIANO: Good Samaritans were easy to find. Tim Rooney (ph), an off-duty police officer, rescued a stroke victim and his son, who were stranded in their car on the side of the road.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is wonderful (ph).

MARCIANO: Heroics aside, the mayor of Oswego says folks here are coping just fine.

MAYOR RANDOLPH BATEMAN, OSWEGO, NEW YORK: That snow is just another day. That's something for a topic of discussion, how much snow we're going to get. Some people actually make bets, you know, at work. But it's a typical day in the winter.

MARCIANO: William Gregway has been an observer for the National Weather Service for 39 years. He remembers a year very similar to this one.

WILLIAM GREGWAY, WEATHER OBSERVER: In 1972, we had a mild January, and then at the end of January, the weather changed, and we got into snow and cold. January ended with 80 inches. And February had 90 inches. And March and April were both substantial, and we ended up with about 250 inches of snow that winter.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARCIANO: In other word, the snow here in Oswego, you know, may not end anytime soon. This could be another banner year over the next couple of months.

Scenes like this are all around this city. They've got snowplows out. They've got snow blowers out. They've got front loaders out. Because it's not just enough to shove the snow off to the side. You have to actually pick it up and move it somewhere. And piles as high as 10 or 12 feet high are all around this city.

We are seeing a bit of a break. But one of the main reasons that we have seen such a tremendous lake effect snow event is because it was so warm in January and December. That lake, Ontario, is warmer now that it really should be in February. And this cold air coming across that warm lake is really getting things craning.

Right now, they've been able to catch up, the road crews. Nobody better than in the Snow Belt to get the roads clear. We'll see what happens. Later on tonight, I'm told that lake effect snow warnings are in place until 6 p.m. tomorrow.

Bonnie Schneider is in the CNN weather center to bring us a little bit more details on that -- Bonnie.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right, thank you so much, Bonnie -- Don.

LEMON: The fight for Iraq. It's been on the ground since day one. Now U.S. control of the air is no longer absolute. Six American helicopters down in less than three weeks. At least five of those crashes with fatalities.

January 20, an Army Black Hawk goes down in Diyala province. Twelve soldiers killed there. Three days later, a helicopter belonging to the Blackwater security company crashes in Baghdad. Four U.S. civilians killed.

January 28, an Apache attack helicopter goes down fighting in Najaf. Pilot and gunner both killed.

February 2, another Apache, like this one, likely shot down north of Baghdad. Both crewmen killed.

Yesterday, a Marine Corps CH-46 Sea Knight crashes with seven people on board. All of them were killed. That crash is still being investigated, as is the crash of another civilian helicopter on January 31. No word yet on a cause or casualties there.

That's at least 27 American military -- Americans and military and civilians killed in downed helicopters since January 20. Explaining the surge in attacks isn't easy. But explaining the wealth of potential targets is.

Here's CNN's senior Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEN. PETER PACE, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: At this point in time, I do not know whether or not it is the law of averages that caught up with us or if there had been change in tactic, techniques or procedures on the part of the enemy.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With Iraq's roads becoming IED killing zones, transport helicopters are increasingly relied on to move troops. Apaches provide vital airborne defense for troops in combat on the ground.

U.S. military helicopters often are large, slow-moving targets, vulnerable to attack by shoulder-fired missiles, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms. The threat is readily seen in Baghdad. Helicopters fly low and fast, zigzagging across the city to avoid some threats.

BRIG. GEN. DAVID GRANGE (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: High altitude is more susceptible to surface to air missiles taking them down. Low altitude, it's better for small arms fire to take out a helicopter.

STARR (on camera): There's no magic solution to keeping helicopters safe. They do carry highly classified electronics to help them avoid being hit. But privately, U.S. commanders say the insurgents simply might be getting better.

Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: We'll have much more on the dangerous aviation mission in Iraq. Later on in the NEWSROOM, retired Air Force Major General Don Shepperd will join us.

WHITFIELD: And we want to update you right now on this breaking story taking place out of Kansas City, where both the north and southbound lanes of I-435 in Kansas City are closed because of four truckers colliding.

What we understand, you're looking at live pictures of the scene right there. At least one overturned four wheeler right there. We also understand at least one person has been killed in this collision.

So both sides of the lanes on 435 near the I-35 intersection just north of the Mississippi River, all closed as a result of this accident and emergency crews now trying to clean up the scene there and close up that investigation. We'll continue to keep you updated on that situation out of Kansas City when we get it.

Meantime, he no longer believes he's guilty of kidnapping, assault and murder. A United States Marine facing life in prison for what he now says he believes was legal in wartime Iraq. It's the court-martial of Corporal Trent Thomas.

CNN's Jason Carroll is covering that story -- Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, Trent Thomas, the 25-year-old Marine Corporal, he's one of eight men charged in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a 52-year-old Iraqi, Hashim Ibrahim Awad.

The allegation: the men were looking for an insurgent. They couldn't find that person. They were frustrated. They were angry. They found Awad instead. They allegedly bound his hands and feet and shot him multiple times in a roadside ditch. This happening on April 26 last year in Hamdaniya, Iraq, which is northwest of Baghdad.

Trent Thomas initially pleaded guilty to several charges, including murder, conspiracy, kidnapping and making false official statements. Now his attorney tells me he has asked the judge to withdraw that plea, instead entering a plea of not guilty, saying he acted with lawful authority.

Thomas' family told me they believe he was ordered to shoot Awad that day. In an exclusive interview with Thomas, I asked him whether his commanding officer did, in fact, order him and the other men in his battalion to murder Awad.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: Do you still feel as though you personally did what you had to do that day?

CPR. TRENT THOMAS, ON TRIAL FOR MURDER: At the time, I felt that I was doing what I had to do. Now, you know, that I'm back here, I know that it was wrong, of what we did. And for that I'm truly sorry.

CARROLL: Were you ordered to do what you did?

THOMAS: I really can't say.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: Camp Pendleton had no comment on this recent development. Thomas' attorney tells me he will, in fact, argue that Thomas was following orders.

Thomas was the fifth of eight men from the Camp Pendleton base, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, to plead guilty in connection with the Awad slaying. He was the only one to date who had pled guilty to murder. The others pled guilty to lesser charges.

We'll, of course, have Thomas' exclusive interview tonight on "A.C. 360" -- Fredricka. WHITFIELD: Jason Carroll, thanks so much for that update.

And of course, you can get more of Jason's reporting on this case tonight on "ANDERSON COOPER 360" at 10 p.m. Eastern.

LEMON: A prescription diet drug will soon jump over the counter. But do the side effects outweigh the benefits? We'll check in with the CNN NEWSROOM for the medical 411 and the results of our CNN.com quick vote.

WHITFIELD: The story shocked Atlanta. A grandmother gunned down in her own home by cops on a misguided drug raid. Now the D.A. is calling it murder. The story straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

LEMON: Menace, magic and maybe even murder. Rebels vow to do whatever it takes to get control of Nigeria's oil-rich delta. Our African correspondent, Jeff Koinange, take us on a dangerous mission to get this story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Well, one of the most popular things in our web site is this nonprescription diet pill that's going to be hitting stores soon. It was available only by the doctor, and now you can get it online.

So the pill is a fat blocker. This is on CNN.com, if you go to the health page. It's a fat blocker. If you take it, you can experience side effects which include gas with oily spotting -- it's the truth -- loose stools, more frequent trips to the bathroom that come on fast and furious.

And now considering all this, we asked if you would try -- it's called Alli. And here's -- this is our quick vote. We have a quick vote here, and it's on our web site. We asked if you would try. And according to our web site, let's see, how many, 69 percent say yes, they would try it. And the rest said no, they wouldn't try it.

Go onto our web site and vote. We'd love to get the results updated throughout this broadcast.

Now dieters have a new ally. It's a nonprescription diet pill, the first ever approved by the FDA. But you know, there are things you need to weigh in before making this purchase, don't you think?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you just named them. So yes, they are definitely things. But before we talk about that, let's talk about some of the positive points of this pill. Of course, many Americans are looking...

LEMON: It is positive.

COHEN: ... to lose weight. And when you go to the drugstore, you'll see shelves and shelves of diet pills. Well, those are not actually approved by the FDA. This will be the first officially FDA approved diet pill that will be sold over the counter. A stronger version is sold currently by prescription. It's called Alli. You can see the web site there. It won't be available for several months.

Of course, the big question is, how much weight will it help you lose? Well, we took this right from one of the studies they did with this pill. The folks in the study started out at about 220 pounds. When they just dieted, they lost 9 pounds in one year. When they dieted, plus took this pill, they lost 16 pounds in one year. And again, they started out at 220. So you can see that there's a difference there. It's not gigantic, but there definitely is a difference.

Well, what will it cost you? It will cost you about $600 per year. You take three pills a day. And you take them with meals.

LEMON: Yes, OK. So there are these side effects.

COHEN: Right, we've got to talk about these side effects because they are a real problem for many people.

LEMON: And you know, before you get to that, I just want to say that on the thing we just resulted, we talked to people about that, 53 percent now say yes that they would take it; 47 percent say no they wouldn't. But we've got to talk about those side effects.

COHEN: You do. Because that's why many people, of course, don't want to take it. So we'll be frank here. We'll use -- hopefully no one's eating lunch. We'll use some frank language right now.

The way that this pill works is that you eat food. It has fat in it. The pill bonds with the fat, and so you expel the fat. So unfortunately, what can happen when you take this pill is you get side effects such as loose, more frequent stools that may be hard to control. Gas and bloating. Of course, not everyone experiences these, but some people do.

In fact, I talked to some people who took the prescription version of this, which is stronger and therefore has more side effects. And I talked to them, and they said, "Gosh, I just -- I had to stop taking the pill. I couldn't get through a work day without running to the bathroom all the time."

And one lady said, "I didn't even make it to the bathroom one time, all the time."

LEMON: Yes.

COHEN: Again, not everyone has those affects, but they can be really annoying.

LEMON: Yes, but you know, if you're morbidly obese, you may -- I mean, what are the benefits of -- does it outweigh the cost of this and the possible side effects? Do you think the benefits outweigh that?

COHEN: You know, it is something that you really have to think about. I talked to several doctors who prescribed this drug to many people. And they said look, the weight loss is not gigantic; it's not huge. It's not as if you go from being 220 pounds to 150 pounds. The weight loss is not absolutely gigantic.

And in addition, they said with these side effects their patients, some of them, just decided to stop taking it. So those are two things that you really have to think about it. Is that amount of weight loss worth it, 16 pounds versus 9 pounds that you could do on your own? Is it worth the side effects and the $600 a year?

LEMON: OK. You know what? This story got so much -- got the NEWSROOM buzzing, and so many people buzzing, at least online. Let's check and see what the results are.

And still, 53 percent say yes, 47 percent say no.

So we decided to go out and take a look and talk to people about the potential side effects of this new Alli and see if they would take it. Here's what they had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Would you take it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

LEMON: Why not?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, because there's so many things that could happen that could affect you, versus the not knowing whether or not the pill will work in the first place.

LEMON: Would you take a diet pill if it would help you lose weight?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I might.

LEMON: You might. OK. Some of the side effects are bowel movements containing fat, unable to control bowel movement, oily leakage. Would you take this pill?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

LEMON: Why not?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't want a loose bowel movement. Of course not, I wouldn't take it. I'm a health conscious person, so I definitely wouldn't take it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just pretty nasty, especially the acute infection (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

LEMON: Do you think some people would take it, though?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes.

LEMON: Why?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because they're stupid. And they'll do anything to lose weight.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not healthy to take all those pills. It's better for people to walk. They can't walk, then they need to take yoga and sitting aerobics.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: And that was an unscientific survey, Elizabeth. And, you know, those folks, in reading the side effects, it is a bit strange.

We want to tell you, in addition to a new Alli, here's another diet resource. It has everything from interactive guide to creating healthy meals to a chart on which foods contain antioxidants or other nutrients. It's CNN.com. And just click on the "health" tab at the top of our homepage, and from there you'll see it on the left-hand side of your screen.

And just, you know, like I said, if you're morbidly obese, it may outweigh any of that. Thirty-seven percent said, yes, they would; 63 percent say -- now say no, they wouldn't.

Elizabeth Cohen, thank you.

COHEN: After hearing that list of side effects, they're looking elsewhere.

LEMON: Yes. Thank you so much for that.

WHITFIELD: Menace, magic and maybe even murder? Rebels vow to do whatever it takes to get control of Nigeria's oil-rich delta. Our Africa correspondent, Jeff Koinange, takes us on a dangerous mission to get that story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Remember that huge chemical plant explosion yesterday out of Kansas City about this time yesterday? Well, now a follow-up.

Apparently federal authorities are now looking into the cause. It's still unclear exactly why this chemical distribution plant ignited in flames. There were a series of explosions. And even today, firefighters who are still trying to investigate the situation, are dealing with spontaneous explosions there.

Huge plumes of smoke went up. A very dark ominous cloud of smoke just kind of sat on top of the Kansas City skyline yesterday. These are the pictures from yesterday.

Well, now federal authorities are still looking into it right now, trying to figure out what may have ignited this explosion and how to prevent something like this from happening again.

Of course, we get any more information about the investigation and where it's going, we'll be able to bring that to you.

LEMON: Yes, and it's been a very -- 24 hours when it comes to fires in Kansas City, at least near Kansas City. You're looking at pictures now. This is a tanker explosion. We're getting word that at least one person has died in all of this.

Four trucks collided on the northbound lanes of I-435 at I-35 north of the Missouri River. One semi rolled over and exploded just after 11 a.m. Central their time. Firefighters are on the scene, battling this fire now, but again, one person has died.

And we're hearing that the southbound lanes of I-35, as well as the northbound lanes -- at least the southbound lanes of i-35 have been closed here. So one person dead, near Kansas City in Lake Quivira (ph), Missouri, after a tanker fire and accident. Details coming up in the NEWSROOM.

WHITFIELD: A new government report confirms what many airline travelers already know: getting from here to there took longer than advertised.

Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange with details.

And what does this all result into?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, one would think that things will get better. I mean, after all, you know, Fredricka, you know, we're way past 9/11 now. Airlines are actually starting to report profits. So you would think that service would improve, as well. Well, not just yet.

The Department of Transportation says only 75 percent of flights arrived on time last year. And that's the lowest level in six years.

Carriers blame much of that on an outdated air traffic control system. Of course, foul weather is a big factor, too. Those blizzards in Colorado that we covered late last year, it shut down Denver's airport, which is a key hub. And a string of storms in Dallas caused more than 100 flights to be rerouted there.

By the way, the government definition of on-time means the flight gets to the gate within 15 minutes of scheduled arrival time.

Baggage handling also a big problem last year. For every 1,000 passengers, six reports of lost, damaged or stolen luggage. But because of restricted carry-on rules, the airlines had to take care of a lot more bags this year. And keep in mind that the industry has far fewer workers due to cost cutting efforts in recent years.

Despite all the problems, the number of formal complaints actually declined last year and cancellations also were down last year. So flights took longer to get there, but the cancellations actually improved.

WHITFIELD: All right, well, what about the airports? Are certain airports handing it all better than others? LISOVICZ: They are. And I think this could be the year for you to fly to Cincinnati, Ohio.

WHITFIELD: Oh, really? There you go.

LISOVICZ: Let's hear it for the Buckeyes. It had the most flights come in on time.

Also in the top five, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Baltimore, and Orlando. And if you're looking for Atlanta on that list, Fred, you're going to have to go down a bit lower, all the way down to number 24.

WHITFIELD: Whoa.

LISOVICZ: But that's still better than New York City's three airports, which were on the bottom of the list of the 31 largest. Yes, and of course, a lot of people from Atlanta to New York and vice versa.

WHITFIELD: They do, indeed.

LISOVICZ: Especially in our company.

WHITFIELD: That's right. And especially international flyers.

LISOVICZ: That's right. I mean, let's face it, I mean, they're a very busy airport, international airports, and so in some ways perhaps an unfair -- not completely level playing field.

(STOCK REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot, Susan.

Well, she is out of this world, Susan, as well as Sunita Williams.

Well, Sunita Williams' boots are walking into the record books now. The American astronaut spent another six hours, or so, outside the International Space Station today. That brings her space walking total to about 29 hours, more than any other woman.

You're looking at live pictures, right now, of this spacewalk. Isn't that remarkable we can see all this as it happens so many miles away? This indeed is a milestone for NASA. It is the third, in nine days, the busiest schedule yet for a station crew without a shuttle crew on standby.

LEMON: Look how far we've come. Live pictures from outer space, unbelievable.

WHITFIELD: It's remarkable, yeah.

LEMON: The story shocked Atlanta. A grandmother gunned down in her own home by police officers on a misguided drug raid. Now the D.A.'s calling it murder. The story's ahead right here in the CNN NEWSROOM. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Hello, I'm Don Lemon live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.

WHITFIELD: I'm Fredricka Whitfield filling in for Kyra Phillips.

Into the heart of darkness, it's not Joseph Conrad, it's Jeff Koinange. Venturing into the treacherous waterways of the Niger Delta, where men with guns make the rules. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

It's the land of mystery and stark contrasts. Nigeria is home to Africa's richest oil deposits, but its people are mired in poverty. Rebel groups blame the government and multinational oil companies. And the militants are growing in power and numbers.

Our Africa Correspondent Jeff Koinange ventured into the heart of this dangerous region, and returned with an incredible story. He joins us now from Johannesburg, South Africa -- Jeff.

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fredricka.

You know, we went to a part of the world where few journalists have dared to go to tell a story that has to be told. So much wealth surrounded by so much poverty. And in the midst of it all, a group of rebels who say they're willing to do whatever they can, to get what's rightfully theirs.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KOINANGE (voice over): A treasure lies beneath these brackish waters. Billions of barrels of oil, so much that Nigeria produces about 10 percent of the oil brought into the U.S. So if this oil is interrupted, or stopped, it's all but certain to cause a disastrous recession in the U.S.

But where there are vast riches in Africa, there's always something else, bloodshed.

But to see for ourselves what is happening in the Delta, we first needed permission from a mysterious rebel leader named Jomo, who communicates via e-mail and whose heavily armed men are fighting for the Delta and the oil.

Jomo agreed to have us come by but he wrote, there's a snag: "I don't do audio or video interviews."

Days later, we were on a speed boat to meet the phantom Jomo. We were an hour and a half up river from the Delta town of Worry, when suddenly out of nowhere, masked gunmen in powerful speed boats surrounded us, shooting over our heads and demanding to know who we are. Their weapons, impressive, small machine guns, a boat-mounted 50- caliber, and grenade launchers. Far more fire power than I had ever seen in the Delta. Simply put, in their black outfits, and black ski masks, these guys were terrifying.

And that's exactly what they've become, Nigeria's worst nightmare. They call themselves the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND. Their goal, they insist, is to mend what they say is the unequal distribution of the vast wealth reaped from Nigeria's oil bonanza.

These murky waters contain some of the richest oil deposits and, ironically, some of the poorest people in the world.

The rebels say they are like Robinhood, and it's a matter of taking back the oil money from corrupt politicians, a corrupt military, and the oil companies, and giving it to the people who live here.

Recently the rebels have ratcheted up. They are kidnapping expatriate workers who have come to work here. The number of hostages is growing quickly. As for the Nigerian military, when they come down to the hostile swamps of the Delta, they are easy prey for the rebels who kill them indiscriminately.

Oil facilities here are also favorite targets. Explosions have sharply cut the flow. A drop from 3 million barrels of Sweet Crude, a day down to 2 million.

But for us, there seemed to be a dangerous misunderstanding. The rebel leader Jomo had invited us here, but these men in the black ski masks were suspicious and angry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many times do you come here with your cameras and you didn't do anything? I don't want you guys to come here again.

KOINANGE: But we weren't about to leave so easily. We asked about Jomo. But they insisted he doesn't talk to anyone, especially journalists. But to prove how serious they are, they offered to take us to one of their hideouts, to show us something no Western journalist has seen. Another hour winding through the mangrove swamps, and we arrived at a scene I never thought possible in Nigeria.

Men put on a show for us. Men in black, dancing and chanting themselves into a trance, some point their guns menacingly at us. Others try to intimidate us. And yet we still had no idea who was in command here. No sign at all of our host, Jomo. And there's no way we could have ever guessed what they wanted us to see next.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOINANGE: Now, Fredricka, this Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, tells us they have 200,000 fighters in an area twice the size of Maryland. They mean business. And they also said they're about to escalate their struggle. WHITFIELD: Oh, it's a fascinating report, Jeff. We're going to get the second half of your investigative story in the next hour. So we look forward to seeing you then. Jeff Koinange, thank you so much, from Johannesburg, South Africa.

LEMON: This next story shocked Atlanta. An elderly woman gunned down in her own home by police officers, on a misguided drug raid. Now the D.A. is calling it murder. That story straight ahead right here in CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A breakthrough in Palestinian talks; our Atika Shubert is in Gaza -- Atika.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONDENT: We understand from Fatah officials that they have decided on the national unity government. They divided up into ministerial portfolios, nine going to Hamas, six to Fatah.

The crucial interior ministry, which controls Palestinian security forces, will be an independent. Hamas will nominate him. It will be approved or rejected by Fatah.

But more importantly, for the international community, there's still contention on whether or not Hamas will recognize the State of Israel, renounce violence, and abide by previously signed peace agreements. Those are the three conditions needed to lift the international embargo that's affected not just the government but also the economy here, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Atika Shubert, thank you so much for that update from Gaza.

LEMON: It started out as a drug raid and ended with an elderly woman shot dead by police in her own home. It happened right here in Atlanta, back in November of last year. Now more than two months later, three narcotic officers are looking at possible murder charges. Details from Reporter Ryan Deal of CNN affiliate WGCL.

RYAN DEAL, REPORTER, WGCL: (AUDIO GAP) going to charge three Atlanta police officers with murder following the November shooting death of 92-year-old Catherine Johnston. In a so far unsigned indictment, obtained by CBS 46 News, the D.A. will try to prove the officers committed burglary when they broke down the elderly woman's door while executing an illegally obtained, no-knock drug search warrant.

RAND CSEHY, OFFICER'S ATTORNEY: There will be no plea agreements, there will be no cooperation, with regard to this, we will fight this.

DEAL: Saying in no way was it murder, that attorney for one of the officers, calling the D.A.'s actions overbroad and premature, citing the prosecutor's pledge to assist in a federal investigation that is far from over and some now fear in jeopardy. CSEHY: All Paul Howard has done, at this point, is stop the investigation in its tracks.

DEAL: The move took the FBI, even the U.S. attorney's office, by surprise. Their federal probe had been garnering cooperation from the officers to arrive at what sources call the real problem, a culture of corner-cutting, and poor training. A spokesperson for the Johnston family is outraged at the DA's actions.

REV. MARKEL HUTCHINS, RIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE: He did so without the support, without the knowledge, of the family, of the federal investigators that oversaw this investigation, and one can only deduce that he's being motivated by his own political interests and not what is best for this community.

DEAL: Howard is not commenting. Ryan Deal, CBS, 46 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Our very own Rusty Dornin has been following this story. She joins us now.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Amazing.

LEMON: Seems like, one, it's a conflict of interest here.

DORNIN: Well, yes, and the family's claiming the DA actually has a conflict of interest because prosecutors work so closely with police that they should not be taking the lead on this. The interesting thing is this was supposed to be a joint investigation with federal authorities.

You have to remember, the city and the police chief. They called the federal officials in right away, the FBI, the U.S. attorney's office, let's look at this from the beginning, together, and they would -- the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office both say they were not contacted, at all, by the local D.A. before he filed -- he issued this proposal to -- for a grand jury indictment of these officers. There is, some sources tell us that it could endanger the federal investigation.

LEMON: Right.

DORNIN: Because they have witnesses. They have evidence, which the local D.A. won't have access to.

LEMON: You gotta ask, how much does politics play into this?

DORNIN: That's what a lot of people are saying, that he wanted to go forward. The one thing that they can do locally that the feds can't do, locally they can file murder charges. Now, whether he is going to be able to prove them, that's another question.

Of course, in a federal investigation or a federal indictment, you don't have these charges. They would be -- if they were charged with something like that, they would be charged with violation of civil rights resulting in a death.

So very interesting to see what happens, whether they start working together. If it got really ugly and the federal officials felt that very strongly, they could try to stop it by getting an injunction against the local D.A. in this case.

LEMON: Rusty Dornin, you'll be following this story. If you get something new, please let us know. Thank you so much for that.

WHITFIELD: Fat and under attack, or is it thinly veiled flattery? One director says, chill out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is the big deal? Relax, people. It's not that big a deal. We are just having fun with what we know to be our lives, period.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Weight debate in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: In Kansas City, Missouri, we continue to keep a close watch on this; residual effects from yesterday's huge explosion at a chemical distribution plant in that city. Well, another explosion took place today while firefighters were trying to apply foam to continued smaller fires at that plant.

People who were working at businesses, who were allowed back after yesterday's evacuation were, once again, today evacuated. Meantime, no residents in the area have been allowed back in. Help from federal investigators from the Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms are assisting in this ongoing investigation still. No clear cut answers as to what caused this explosion in the first place.

LEMON: All right. Ahead here in the CNN NEWSROOM, six U.S. chopper crashes in Iraq in less than three weeks. Most, if not at all, shot from the sky. Ahead in the NEWSROOM why the sudden spike in deadly attacks? We'll talk with Retired Air Force General Don Shepperd.

WHITFIELD: E-mails, cell phones, text message, lots of ways for people to reach out and touch your teen these days, but what if it's all abusive, and flying under your radar? A disturbing new report, straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Fat black women: They're big at the movies these days. But critics say it's more like cruelty than comedy. CNN's Sibila Vargas reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANICE ARMSTRONG, COLUMNIST, "PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS": I'm perplexed, as well as horrified.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN HOLLYWOOD CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Jenice Armstrong is mad as hell. The object of her outrage, Eddie Murphy's upcoming movie "Norbit."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Excuse me, ma'am, we have a 300 pound weight limit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't weigh no damn 300 pounds. I weigh 165.

ARMSTRONG: Think about who this movie is making fun of, and it's black women, fat, black women.

SIBILA: In the comedy, Murphy plays several characters, including an overweight, overbearing woman who makes Norbit, also played by Murphy, the target of her affection.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What am I going to do?

SIBILA: The movie's billboard even features Norbit being squished by a larger than life character with these words over their heads, "Have you ever made a really big mistake?"

Some might find it funny, but Armstrong, a columnist for the "Philadelphia Daily News" isn't laughing. She says it's a stereotype perpetuated for far too long.

ARMSTRONG: It kind of goes back to the 19th-century minstrel shows where people dressed up in black face, and the black woman was overweight, usually with her hair tied up in a rag. She was sassy, and emasculating the black man.

That's an old, old image that we have had with us -- you know, it goes back to slavery times. You know, "Gone With The Wind," Mammy.

SIBILA (on camera): "Norbit" isn't the only flick that uses plus-size, outspoken black women as punch lines. Two other prominent African-American stars have made millions playing these types of characters.

(Voice over): Martin Lawrence, who donned a fat suit in "Big Mama's House" and "Big Mama's House 2".

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Damn, man! Put on some drawers.

SIBILA: And Tyler Perry as the fast-talking elderly Medea, in "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" and "Medea's Family Reunion."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shut ol' lady!

SIBILA: But Perry says it's more about appreciation than condemnation.

TYLER PERRY, PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, ACTOR: I think it's been the biggest form of absolute flattery to imitate our women. My mother was a big woman. Her mother was a big woman. All we're doing is mimicking what we've seen and what we know to be -- that was so hilarious in our households.

SIBILA: Perry says these characters are just a reflection of some people in the black community that he feels he shouldn't have to apologize for.

PERRY: I know a couple of women who are taller than I am and who are heavier than I am. What is the big deal? Relax people. It's not that big a deal. We are just having fun with what we know to be our lives, period.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mary, Mother of God.

SIBILA: Sibila Vargas, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: So will all this fat chat hurt Eddie Murphy's chances for an Oscar? We'll talk more about that with "Show Biz Tonight" A.J. Hammer, next hour, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

WHITFIELD: Also, in the next hour, attacks have terrorized young men near Houston for months. How police finally caught up with a serial rapist. Ahead in the NEWSROOM. And arrest police hope will solve the mystery.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm CNN Meteorologist Bonnie Schneider. The lake-effect snow machine in Oswego, New York, refuses to shut off. I'll have the latest snow fall totals coming the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.

LEMON: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.

WHITFIELD: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield in today for Kyra Phillips.

What kind of messages are you teens getting, that you don't know about. A new study raised red flags about high tech abuse.

LEMON: Choppers down in Iraq. A wave of deadly crashes sets pilots on edge. Can technology and training help avoid more casualties?

WHITFIELD: We're also at mound zero, Oswego, New York under aerial assault from snow that is just not stopping. Hunker down, you're in the NEWSROOM.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxant.com