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Details of Jackson Memorial Announced; Marines Meet Resistance in Afghan Mission; Obama to Ink Deal with Russia to Clear Way to Afghanistan; Disney's Hall of Presidents to Reopen with Obama Addition; British Embassy Employees on Trial in Iran;

Aired July 03, 2009 - 13:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Tony, thanks so much.

Countdown to potential chaos. We are pushing forward on the public memorial for Michael Jackson. The fans who mobbed him all through his life set to celebrate it Tuesday, tens of thousands of them. This hour, a live announcement from L.A., laying out all the details.

The Taliban in their sights, U.S. Marines gain ground in Afghanistan. Now they've got to hold it. Our correspondent in Kabul joins us with an update on the big offensive.

And things weren't always fair in Philadelphia, Mississippi, but the city notorious for its racist past, today turns a corner for good. History, and handshakes, as the first black mayor is sworn in.

Hello, everyone, I'm Kyra Phillips, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Well, he rocked our world. And now that he's left it, Michael Jackson's fans are ready to say good-bye in a big way. Just four days until a public memorial service for the pop star at the Staples Center. And this minute, we're awaiting a live briefing out of Los Angeles, announcing some of the details. Tens of thousands of people are expected to descend on that city to try and pay their respects. Live pictures right now, as we look, and L.A. planners and police still sorting out how they're going to handle such a huge crowd.

And as the investigation into Jackson's death widens, we've got some new details, courtesy of our own Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Sanjay's been told an anesthesiologist was part of the posse on the singer's last tour. You'll hear from him.

And on the custody front, some mixed messages from Debbie Rowe's camp in the last 24 hours. Will she or won't she fight for the Jackson kids?

Right now, we are watching a live picture, waiting for all the details about that memorial that's going to be announced today, live at the Staples Center. Tuesday, 10 a.m. Pacific Time, that's what we know, right here at this location. Let's go live to Kara Finnstrom. She's there at the center, and she's going to try to give us the details or at least, when we'll find out about them -- Kara. KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, that press conference expected to get under way any minute now. City officials have said they expect this to be the largest memorial Los Angeles has ever seen, so there are lots of questions swirling around about how they're going to carry this off from, you know, who exactly will get those free tickets to the logistics of it: parking, you know; will Port-a-Potties be brought out? What will happen to all the people who don't get in, down to who is going to pick up the price tag for this and what will it be?

Just behind me here is the Staples Center, and the Staples Center is where this will be taking place. We can tell you that it seats about 20,000 people. We mentioned, you know, about 11,000 fans will be getting tickets. They'll have to register for those. We don't know who those additional tickets will be, you know, distributed to, perhaps groups of fans that they know about, people within the musical industry. And maybe we'll learn more about that today.

Also at the Staples Center, you know, this is really a fitting place, Kyra, for this to be held, because two days before his death this is where, you know, Michael Jackson's last images of him singing and dancing were captured. And we do have some of that video that we want to share with you now.

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FINNSTROM: So, Kyra, some very vibrant, energetic images of Michael Jackson for a 50-year-old, you know, even broke out the moonwalk at one point during that performance, raising a lot of questions amongst fans here who say this really only fuels, you know, the speculation further about what were the circumstances leading up to his death. Obviously, these are images that will be talked about here as these fans prepare to pay their final tributes to him.

And, you know, the other thing we're waiting to learn, Kyra, is, you know, the details of this tribute. We don't know, you know, will there be performances? Are there going to be a number of speakers? Who will be talking? Hoping to get answers to all of those questions coming up.

PHILLIPS: My guess is it will be a pretty remarkable service. Now Kara Finnstrom, as soon as we know more, we'll check in with you. Thanks so much.

And another big story that we're watching right now: thousands of U.S. Marines pushing deeper into enemy territory, and the enemy is firing back. The operation is called Strike of the Sword, and it's escalating right now in southern Afghanistan, specifically Helmand province, where U.S.-led forces are trying to root out and hunt down Taliban militants.

Our Atia Abawi is in the Afghan capital of Kabul. Atia, the Marines reporting pretty significant fighting. What's the latest? What are you hearing?

ATIA ABAWI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, we spoke to a U.S. Marine spokesperson who told us that the engagement with the enemy is still light and sporadic, but he also told us on day one of the operation there was an area in Helmand province, in the southeastern sector, where the Marines did engage for several hours with the enemy.

Let's remember, Garmsir is near the Pakistani border. These are villages, these are areas of Helmand, that have not seen coalition troops to secure and hold. They haven't had Afghan government go down there, because they're fearful. These villages are under Taliban rule. It's entrenched with the Taliban.

And this is the first time in a very long time that troops are going in to secure and hold the region and try to get that Afghan population on their side and away from the Taliban -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Atia Abawi there, live in Kabul for us. Thanks so much. We will follow the offensive.

Also in Afghanistan, the search for an abducted American soldier growing by the day. More troops have come in from nearby areas to help, along with helicopters and Afghan army support.

The unidentified soldier vanished from his outpost on Tuesday, and U.S. military sources believe that he's now in the clutches of a militant clan. They also believe that video of him could surface at any time.

The Taliban's being blamed in the death of a British regiment commander now. Forty-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe is the highest-ranking British soldier to be killed in action in nearly three decades. He and an 18-year-old trooper died in a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan's Helmand province. Prince Charles, a personal friend of his, said he's heartbroken.

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PRINCE CHARLES, UNITED KINGDOM: I was completely mortified by it, I must say. Because having been colonel the last 34 years, as you can imagine, it's a wonderful family, really, the regiment. And so, everybody knows everybody. And having been involved for 34 years, I start to see the sons and the grandsons of people I first met 34 years ago coming into the regiment, so you can imagine the shock and the horror.

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PHILLIPS: U.S. forces also targeting the Taliban beyond the Afghan border. A suspected U.S. missile strike today in Pakistan's South Waziristan district is believed to have killed at least 15 suspected insurgents and wounded two dozen more. The missile strike was carried out from an unmanned drone. The target? A high-value Taliban commander. His status right now, unknown. CNN senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is in Pakistan. He will have more on this story in a live report next hour.

Thousands of surgery patients get the word: You may have been exposed to a deadly virus. And it apparently was not accidental. It was criminal.

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PHILLIPS: The buzz around pro baseball today? Well, this un- bee-lievable delay of game last night. I won't drone on, but instead of calling the bullpen, they had to call a beekeeper.

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PHILLIPS: President Obama spending part of the Fourth of July weekend at Camp David. He left the White House this morning for the presidential retreat in Maryland. He's going to help celebrate his daughter, Malia's, 11th birthday. Then it's back to the White House where he and the first lady will hold a barbecue this evening for 1,200 military families.

Sunday the president leaves Washington for a trip in Moscow, a summit in Italy, and his first visit to Africa as president.

Vice President Joe Biden will be celebrating America's birthday with U.S. troops in Iraq. A special treat this morning: he got to have breakfast with his son Beau, who's serving in Iraq with the Delaware National Guard.

During his visit, Biden will underscore President Obama's commitment to a drawdown of U.S. combat forces in Iraq. This week marked a major milestone in the war when U.S. troops pulled out of Iraqi cities.

Right now, a developing story out of Moscow as Russia extends a helping hand to the U.S. military in its war on the Taliban. This is in advance of President Obama's visit to Russia next week.

CNN's foreign affairs correspondent, Jill Dougherty, in Moscow now with more -- Jill.

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, we're getting this confirmation both from the Russian side and from U.S. officials. And they're confirming that the two presidents, President Obama and President Medvedev, who he will be meeting next week here in Moscow, at a summit, are likely to announce this deal. And the deal would allow the transit of military material, military equipment, across Russian territory into Afghanistan. And it would be a step in the direction that the United States was hoping.

You know, the Russians, Kyra, already allow, as they call it, non-lethal material to be transited across Russia by rail. But this would be a step up, and it would be very helpful, right now especially.

PHILLIPS: Talk about the timing, and why it's so important to do this now.

DOUGHERTY: Well, No. 1, immediately, it could help the troops that are in Afghanistan right now, in those operations that are taking place. It could get material in to them much more quickly.

And then also in a more political sense, this is coming, as we just said, on the eve of this summit. So, it's a sign that the Russians are actually giving something to the United States, that the U.S. really did want. It is -- it's a political thing, in that sense, and an important step.

They have been concerned about the U.S. presence in central Asia, at the same time that they said that they wanted to help the operation in Afghanistan. So, now, apparently, they've made that decision, and they're saying, OK, let's go ahead.

PHILLIPS: Jill Dougherty, thanks.

The Statue of Liberty, she's an American icon, and tomorrow on America's birthday, tourists can once again get the full experience when they visit Lady Liberty.

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PHILLIPS: A crowning moment on America's 233rd birthday. The Statue of Liberty's crown reopens tomorrow for the first time since 9/11. It was shut down after the terror attacks because of security and safety concerns. The statue, a gift from the people of France, has stood in New York Harbor since 1886.

The Hall of Presidents is a big attraction at Disney World, and this year there's a new face in the exhibit. No, not CNN's Rob Marciano. He's just there to tell us about it.

Hi, Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. Yes, no, I'm definitely not in that hall behind me, the Hall of Presidents. One of the big exhibits, one of the big animatronic shows here in Disney World. It's been going since the early 1970s and, obviously, with a new president, well, time to update it.

They've had every president in the Last 43 of them in that hall, and with Barack Obama getting in gear, they built a brand-new one with all of his facial expressions, even had him track his own voice that went directly into that exhibit. Grand reopening is tomorrow.

What happened today is just as inspirational. Maybe more so. A thousand immigrants were sworn in at the steps of the Cinderella castle, and the keynote speaker there was Andy Garcia, talking to some of these new citizens. It's really inspirational here, their patriotism.

I managed to talk to one, Abdel Shabaneh. Listen to what he had to say about being sworn in today as a citizen.

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ABDEL SHABANEH, NEW U.S. CITIZEN: Where I came from, I was always saying (ph) trying to -- dreams come true, but it will never happen but in the States. So, that was my big thing. So, we're working on my dream, you know: own your own business, you know, your school, finishing up, trying to, you know, raise a family here. And that's the best atmosphere to raise a family, in the States. You can't ask for more.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARCIANO: Kyra, what do you think? A pretty good-looking guy, don't you think? Hello?

PHILLIPS: I just love it when you put me on the spot. He's a handsome young man, Rob. Handsome young man.

MARCIANO: The reason I say that is because he and his parents moved here from Jordan. He and his brother have gone into the business of selling beauty products.

PHILLIPS: Aha!

MARCIANO: And apparently, it's going very well, and that business is growing. And now he's a citizen.

And not only Abdel, but every citizen that we talked -- spoke to today time and again said the number one thing that they're going to enjoy most, the No. 1 thing they look forward to most about being a citizen, was the right to vote. And every one of them said that, and they certainly want to encourage folks like me and you, who are born in this country, certainly to get out and vote every time.

So what better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than at an all-American vacation spot like the Magic Kingdom?

PHILLIPS: I totally -- hey, I tell you what, that's right. A little Small World, a little Hall of Presidents, and give me a little bit of the wrinkle cream, OK? Thanks, Rob.

MARCIANO: Take care.

PHILLIPS: Well, barbecues, picnics, trips to the beach. So, will the weather cooperate for all the fun on the Fourth? Chad Myers, what do you think?

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Thank you very much, Chad.

We're getting the details now on Michael Jackson's memorial service on Tuesday. Here we go.

KEN SUNSHINE, JACKSON FAMILY SPOKESMAN: ... particularly the police, fire department, AEG, which has been extraordinary in this difficult time, but especially the fans. The fans, everything about the memorial has to do with accommodating as many fans as possible. And when you hear the details and how the tickets are going to be distributed and how we're doing this, it is all about the fans.

Unfortunately, every detail that press people may want to ask, we're not going to answer, I'm afraid. And I think you can understand that. But particularly at this time we really -- on behalf of the family, we're asking the media, to show some consideration and some respect at this -- at this difficult time. Thank you.

JAN PERRY, COUNCILWOMAN, LOS ANGLES: My name is Councilwoman Jan Perry, and I'm the councilperson for the district that includes Staples and L.A. Live, and acting mayor through next Tuesday, as the president pro tem. And I'd like to extend my condolences to the Jackson family and friends and all those who loved Michael, on behalf of the City of Los Angeles.

The primary obligation of the City of Los Angeles is to ensure public safety, and this includes strategic planning to meet this obligation. We cannot limit service that would in any way jeopardize the health and safety of the public.

The Los Angeles Police Department has a great deal of experience in assessing the needs and for deployment of personnel that includes all necessary city departments for special and extraordinary events such as this. That includes planning for First Amendment marches, protests and funerals. And other special events that are -- that are large in scope and that have a potential to impact public safety.

Every year the city budget is developed, and a provision is made in the police department's budget to cover the overtime costs for extraordinary events. This is not the first, nor will this be the last time, our police department is called upon to make and to execute the necessary plans for a special event of this magnitude. The police department and the city leadership know and understand that its primary responsibility is to protect people's welfare, and we'll work hard to coordinate the services that this special event requires.

I want to stress to those people who are coming or thinking about coming here to our city for this special event, that you might want to consider watching this from the comfort of your own home. Without a ticket, your very best option will be for viewing and experiencing the service commemorating the life of this extraordinary individual from your home.

Now, I'm going to continue to work, along with my colleagues, with all city departments involved in the planning, for this memorial services at Staples. And we'll present a motion this coming Tuesday to discuss that in city council.

And I want to thank AEG and the family and all the city departments, the police department, fire department, and all city departments, for the work that they are doing to ensure that all of those who do come here are safe.

It is important that we observe news bulletins, notifications about freeway off-ramp closures, alternate routes into the city, and directions from the city and the police department to ensure that, if you come to this area, that you come here safely. And it's my hope that this event will be a dignified and very uplifting memorial for the Jackson family, for AEG at the Staples Center, and here for our city and to make our city proud. Thank you very much.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning. Thank you for being patient with us. As you would imagine, we have an enormous amount of details we're trying to go through at this point, to plan the memorial service on Tuesday.

First off, our thoughts and our prayers are with the family, all of the Jackson family, and in particular, with Michael Jackson's fans. It is the family's wish to create a service and a celebration that all of Michael's fans around the world can be part of. Thus, the family has made arrangements to provide a worldwide pool feed from the services for every network for free.

The family has also made available 17,500 tickets for Michael's fans to be part of this service. Eleven thousand of those tickets will be at Staples Center; 6,500 of those tickets will be at the Nokia Theater for a simulcast of the funeral on three big screens across the street.

These tickets will be made available through fans registering at StaplesCenter.com as of this morning. This registration will continue until 6 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday. At that time, we will randomly draw 8,750 names that will receive two tickets each for either Staples Center or the Nokia Theater. We will notify those selected that they have a ticket on Sunday, between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Those that were randomly drawn will receive a code. They will go to Ticketmaster, who will then provide them specifics on the location to go to on Monday morning to pick up their tickets and wristbands. Two tickets and two wristbands.

There will be no tickets sold for this memorial service. We will issue wristbands for everyone that ultimately receives the tickets to make sure that we do not have any issues with people trying to take advantage of this system.

There will be no distribution of tickets at Staples Center or L.A. Live, so, please, do not come down here. There will be no outside broadcast of the memorial service in or around Staples Center or L.A. Live, including the LED boards. There is a worldwide pool, and we request and encourage everyone to join us for the memorial service by following the worldwide pool. There will be no funeral procession.

I would like to thank the Jackson family, in particular Randy Jackson, Ken Sunshine, the City of Los Angeles, and Councilwoman Jan Perry, Chief Bratton and Chief Paysinger, the LAPD, the L.A. Fire Department, and the California Highway Patrol for a phenomenal job in the last two days as we tried to pull together these details. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning. On behalf of the chief of police, William Bratton, and the entire Los Angeles Police Department, I would like to express my sincere and deep condolences for the Jackson family, for the loss of such a great man who meant so much to legions of people around the world.

I'd also like to thank Mr. Tim Leiweke and the entire staff at AEG for being such marvelous partners, as we pulled together such a phenomenal undertaking for the fans and many well-wishers of Michael Jackson in the last few days.

Our responsibility as the LAPD is one of public safety, and we have gone to great lengths over the last several days to ensure just that, by having partnered with the Los Angeles City Fire Department and Chief Doug Barry, the California Highway Patrol, and all of the law enforcement agencies in this region who have pulled together to ensure that this memorial service is one that we can all be proud of, not only in the city of Los Angeles, but throughout the world.

I would just like to emphasize a point that Mr. Leiweke just offered. If you do not have a ticket, if you are not credentialed, not only will you not be allowed at these venues, you will not be allowed in this area. You must have a ticket in order to be admitted into this venue on Tuesday.

This public memorial service is a live feed, and I would encourage all of the Michael Jackson fans and well-wishers and all of them who loved him as a man and an entertainer, to take advantage of the TV broadcast, the Internet feed, and any other way that you choose to watch and view this wonderful memorial service that's coming Tuesday, by not coming to this venue if you do not have a ticket.

For purposes of information, the boundaries, where there will exist hard closures on that day are Flower Street on the east, Olympic Boulevard on the north, Pico Boulevard on the south and Blaine Street -- which is one street west of the Harbor Freeway -- on the west. Thank you very much.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to take a couple of questions here in just a moment. I did want to point out to you that there will be streaming of the event on the Internet.

If you continue to read the newspaper -- read the newspapers, watch on TV, this information, when all is coordinated, will be put out to the media. The coordinates for the worldwide feed that will be available free to television networks will be put out. And any additional information on these 17,500 tickets, which are completely -- which are free to anybody, all of Michael's fans, will be on all of the Web sites pertinent. There will be no tickets sold whatsoever. These tickets are free.

Are there a couple questions? And we'll have a microphone to pass around, but let's try to start the ones up front first. Right here.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Details about what the memorial will consist of.

KEN SUNSHINE, JACKSON FAMILY SPOKESMAN: No details are forthcoming about the memorial. It's still being developed. But there are going to be no details about it today.

QUESTION: Will any media be allowed inside the proceedings?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will any media be allowed inside the proceedings? We are working on our media plan still. We will be announcing to the media what these processes are. People have been calling to sign in. We'll have a press release to pass out to you shortly, which will give you a Web site to go and get what these rules are going to be. Manny, go ahead.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

PERRY: What I said earlier, you know, this is why I wanted to explain this up front. Each year our budget builds in for extraordinary events and is part of the police department's budget. And the reason for that is, is that we have to plan in advance and anticipate things like First Amendment marches. You might recall the immigrants' rights march that was downtown where a million people showed up on Spring Street and Broadway.

This is considered to be an extraordinary event, because of the magnitude and the number of people who are potentially going to show up. So, the budget anticipates for those events, large in scope. This only applies to the police department. It does not apply to the other departments, such as ITA or Sanitation or Transportation.

And actually, I'm glad you asked that question, because I did want to put it out there for public consumption and hope to approach other entities throughout the day. But the city would deeply appreciate help to offset what are the incremental costs, the nonpolice costs, things I just mentioned, the sanitation, the ITA, the staging, the people who set up the k-rails (ph).

So, we would very much appreciate incremental cost support to the city departments. And if anyone is interested in discussing that with me, they can e-mail me at jan.perry@lacity.org.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just a couple more right here.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

TIM LEIWEKE, PRESIDENT/CEO, AEG: Folks, I want to remind everybody, this is a memorial service. I'm hoping that people have dignity. I'm hoping that people understand we're trying to do the best we can to accommodate the worldwide demand of Michael's fans. We're hoping that no one takes advantage of this particular process. And we're going to great lengths, per the request of the family, to create a system that will allow us to get the tickets and the wristbands in the hands of the fans. For those that would try to take advantage of this, shame on them.

SUNSHINE: Let me just echo that on behalf of the family. It's among the most difficult times we've had the last day or two, in planning this, is to try to avoid people that would stoop to that depth and counterfeit tickets or try to scalp tickets for this. On behalf of the family, we plead with the public or anybody that might think about this, please don't do that.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

LEIWECKE: Well, it's -- the remainder of the tickets are being given to the family and the friends of the family as determined by the family for their use. So, with the exception of the tickets to the public and the tickets to the family and the friends of the family, there are no other tickets.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

SUNSHINE: It is a memorial.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Anybody else about the specific process for what we're doing and the event on Monday? Go ahead, (INAUDIBLE) TV, sir.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are no plans right now on what we're going to do with it. Everybody's encouraged to watch it, to celebrate at home with their friends, the life of Michael Jackson. Go ahead. Right here. Right here in blue.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are no details to be given out about the service. Next in blue.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Let me go through. People, beginning right now, can go to staplescenter.com. They will have a registration period that will go until 6:00 Saturday night, July 4th. After that, the program will randomly select the names, who will then be contacted via e-mail on Sunday, to know if they will be receiving the tickets.

They will then be given further instructions on where to go to pick up the tickets and other information and the wristbands that they need so that they will be coming. Because it's important to emphasize that fans, media or anybody else doing business in this venue will have to come through police areas, where they will be checking identification and will be checking the wristbands.

So, that's why unless you are selected in the media or a fan, there is no need to come down because you will be stopped at great distance away from Staples Center. Thank you very, very much for coming out. We appreciate your help. Thank you very much.

PHILLIPS: OK. After a lot of speculation, information and retractions, finally some details on the Michael Jackson memorial in a live briefing right here, as you just heard, at the Staples Center. It's definitely going to be Tuesday, next Tuesday, there at the Staples Center that can hold 20,000 people.

But here's the interesting part. It's not going -- it will not only be held at the Staples Center, but also the Nokia Theater. And this is how it's going to work out. There's 17,500 tickets, free tickets -- none of these tickets will be sold -- that will be offered up to fans. The rest of those tickets will go to the Jackson family. They will be able to distribute those among their friends and their family members. So, 11,000 tickets will be available for the Staples memorial service, and then via the feed, there will be another 6,500 tickets available at the Nokia Theater.

And this is how you, members of the public, can try and get a ticket. You register on staplescenter.com. You'll be able to do that between now and 6:00 tomorrow, we're told. So, you go on staplescenter.com. You register for this ticket. And then there will be a random draw. So, 17,500 people will get their names drawn randomly for a free ticket to this memorial service. It will be announced Sunday, and then you will be advised via e-mail where to pick up all your information, your wristbands, your tickets on Monday.

There will be no outside broadcast, and there will be no funeral procession. Also, you heard, too, members of the police and the city council and also the representative for the family asking that just out of the deepest respect not to scalp these tickets. A lot of people obviously will be tempted to do that, but they would like to try and avoid that, of course, at all costs.

And speaking of costs, as you can imagine, the state of California in tremendous deficit, dealing with IOUs even to get by there in that state. So, a lot of questions surrounding how much this is going to cost. You heard the councilwoman there, Jan Perry, step forward, talking about this special budget that they have put together for events like these. And that's where they get the money to pay for public safety. We're actually going to interview her coming up in just a little bit. We can get a little bit more specific about that. Because as you know, a lot of private donors funded the huge Lakers parade that took place there in Los Angeles not long ago, when the Lakers won the championship.

So, there you have it. Those are the final details on the memorial service. Who will perform, what will take place there, how this memorial is going to go down, still don't know. They don't want to give any details on that. As you can imagine, there's probably a lot of people that want to participate and honor Michael Jackson, and they just have not solidified those details yet.

Also, too, the question was not asked: Will his body be there? Still don't know that. The reporters didn't ask that question. We'll try and find that out, and indeed, see if that will be a part of this memorial service.

Also, at the same time that we're finding out about this memorial service, we are getting word here the Associated Press reporting that a law enforcement official has come forward and said that a sedative -- the sedative, actually, they're naming the sedative, Diprivan, was found in Michael Jackson's home. This is the latest now coming from a law enforcement official, coming through the Associated Press.

So, we made a call immediately to Michael Jackson's doctor's attorney to respond to this, and here's the quote from Matt Alford. He said, "We are treating all unnamed sources as rumors, and as we have stated before, we will not be responding to rumors or innuendo. We are awaiting the facts to come out, and we will respond at that time."

We're going to take a quick break. More from the CNN NEWSROOM straight ahead.

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PHILLIPS: Well, after a lot of speculation and retractions, we finally did get some details on the Michael Jackson memorial. Here it goes. Tuesday's public service will be at the Staples Center, capacity 20,000. It will start at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time, and in a live briefing that we just had on, we found out that 17,500 tickets will be released for the event, free tickets.

Eleven thousand of those will allow entrance into the Staples Center. The rest will go to the Nokia Theater, just across the street, to watch a simulcast of the service on three big screens. Now, fans can register for the ticket lottery at staplescenter.com. And don't worry if you can't make it to L.A. The Jackson family has arranged for a live worldwide feed of that memorial. So, you'll be able to stay home and watch it.

The Associated Press is also reporting that the powerful sedative, Diprivan, was found in Michael Jackson's home. It's also known as Propofol. It's mainly used in the O.R. as an anesthesia. The AP actually cites that a law-enforcement official is reporting this. We're working on confirmation.

Meantime, the California attorney general's office has joined the Jackson investigation on this. And the A.G.'s folks will help police sift through the state drug database. It lists all the doctors who prescribed controlled medications plus the amount, the date and the patient. The same database played a big part in the investigation into Anna Nicole Smith's death.

Three weeks after Iran's presidential election, the fallout is still setting off global alarms. And today, Britain is protesting Iranian plans to put some of its embassy workers on trial. Our Phil Black is watching the developing story for us out of London -- Phil.

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra. Yes, the relations between Britain and Iran continue to decline. And now Britain is very unhappy with this latest development. And it says it is very concerned by this announcement out of Iran that the country plans to put on trial at least two, they think, local workers, who work for its British Embassy there.

Iran had detained as many as nine local workers at the British Embassy in Tehran. Most of them have been released over the last week or so. Britain believes that two of them are still being held, and now Iran says it plans to put a couple of those on trial. Britain had been, even before this development, lobbying Europe to present a united front in protesting this continued detention.

Today the European Union announced that all Iranian ambassadors across all European countries will be hauled in, summoned and told very strongly, pressure applied, that these workers should be released. The European Union says this is it's first step, and if Iran doesn't comply, it will escalate its diplomatic pressure from there -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So, Phil, why is it that Iran has taken a much harder line with Britain versus other countries?

BLACK: Well, there's a lot of history here. For a long time, for centuries, Britain has had a reputation within Iran for supposedly being devious and meddling and these sorts of things. This was something that the British foreign secretary, David Miliband, spoke on today. Let's hear from him now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID MILIBAND, FOREIGN SECRETARY OF BRITAIN: I think there's history, which means there are reasons that Britain is picked on, and it's deepened the Iranian rhetoric. However, I think that we've been clear for some time that a policy of engagement from America to Iran was much, much need. And the demonization that's happened for 30 years has been exacerbated by the fact that America wasn't present, in my view, in Iran.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACK: Another theory on why Iran is attacking Britain and not especially the United States, among analysts, they believe possibly that Iran wants to keep open the possibility of engaging the United States. Perhaps taking up President Obama on his offer of talks at some point down the track -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Phil Black, thanks.

Well, what happens if you refuse to get medical insurance under the Democrats' new health care reform? Well, it could be pretty costly.

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PHILLIPS: Paying a fine for refusing to buy medical coverage? That could happen under the health care reform bill unveiled by Senate Democrats. The government would provide subsidies for the poor and many middle-class families, but those who refuse to sign up could be fined more than $1,000, calling the fines shared responsibility payments.

The idea is that they would offset at least half of the cost of basic medical coverage. Well, we're just getting started here in the NEWSROOM.

An American sailor gunned down on his home base. Was he a random victim or a target of a hate crime? His family wants answers, and so do we.

Plus, it's a child's fantasy world. It's full of rides, candy, toys. It's the house that Michael Jackson built, and we're going to take you inside Neverland.

A woman posted an ad in the Casual Encounters section of Craigslist advertising, I need a little affection. Why is that a problem? Well, she gave out the name and number of a 9-year-old girl, and wait until you hear why.

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PHILLIPS: Well, I have two words for a Long Island mother who allegedly tried to get revenge for her daughter: Grow up. I'm talking to you, Margery Tannenbaum. Ticked off at a 9-year-old girl who argued with her daughter, the Long Island mom apparently took out an ad on Craigslist's escort section.

The ad reads, "Looking for a good time? I need a little affection." Then Tannenbaum fielded the e-mails and gave the sex- seeking men the little girl's phone number. Folks, you just don't do that to a 9-year-old. Well, police have now charged Tannenbaum with child endangerment and aggravated harassment. She's entered a not guilty plea. And here's the kicker. Forty-year-old Margery Tannenbaum is a social worker. Shame on you, Margery.

Here's another shame on you, this time to Kristen Diane Parker, a former surgery tech in Colorado Springs. Parker may have exposed thousands of Colorado patients to Hepatis C, and not because of an innocent mistake, but rather her drug addiction.

Get this -- Parker is facing criminal charges for swapping her own dirty syringes for ones filled with a powerful narcotic. The feds say Parker admitted to changing out syringes containing saline solution with ones filled with the painkiller Fentanyl. She allegedly made the swaps while working at Audobon Ambulatory Surgery Center in Colorado Springs and Rose Medical Center in Denver.

Now, about 6,000 patients may have been exposed to Hep C, a bloodborne disease that can cause cirrhosis of the liver, even cancer. Kristen Diane Parker faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. She actually told detectives, I can't take back what I did, but I'll have to live with this for the rest of my life. True. But those infected with Hepatitis C have no cure.

Spectacle, circuit, zoo, whatever you call the King of Pop's upcoming memorial, one thing is for sure, it will be one of the most viewed, most attended events in American history. So, is L.A. ready to handle it? Let's ask Los Angeles City Councilwoman and acting Mayor Jan Perry, who's filling in for the vacationing mayor, Antonio Villaragosa. Jan Perry, are you bracing yourself for Tuesday?

PERRY: Yes, I am.

PHILLIPS: Well, we were just able -- no, go ahead.

PERRY: I hope it will be an uplifting and beautiful event, to remember this gentleman, Michael Jackson.

PHILLIPS: Well, we just heard you a few minutes ago speak live at that news conference there at the center. And, Councilwoman, a lot of people are wondering, you know, in this state that is suffering tremendously financially how this is going to get paid for. I think it's very interesting there will not be a procession and that there will only be a certain amount of tickets. You're even asking people to stay home if you don't have a ticket. Are all these parameters with the hopes of not only honoring Michael Jackson respectfully but also saving your city money?

PERRY: I think they are. And I think they're good mitigations. And I think we are all emphasizing for those individuals who don't have tickets that they can enjoy and watch and celebrate and remember this man, Michael Jackson, from the comfort of their own home. There will be a very hard parameter around the Staples area. So, if people don't have tickets, they really should not come and try to attend this service.

Now, as I explained in the open session before, the city has in its budget through the police department money set aside to prepare for the public safety and the protection for extraordinary events, and this is an extraordinary event. But I think everyone, AEG, the police department, fire, have done an excellent job to mitigate the impacts to the community, to the streets. And I expect it will be a very well-run operation.

PHILLIPS: So, Councilwoman, let me ask you this. Because obviously, there was a lot of controversy over the Lakers parade when they won the championship. That cost $2 million. A lot of folks from the private sector pitched in for that. Taxpayers also pitched in for that. So, how much is this going to cost, and will there be any private parties pitching in?

PERRY: Now, as for the Lakers parade, we don't have the final costs on that. And you might recall we introduced a motion to have our legislative analyst come back into city council and give us a final accounting of what the parade actually cost. We will do the same process here after the event has taken place.

I have already issued a call to all of our city departments to report in on what resources they anticipate may be used this coming Tuesday. As for private donors, none have stepped up as of this point for the funeral. And I would be more than pleased to issue an appeal right now as I did in the earlier session to say, anyone who is interested in providing support, financial support, to reimburse the city for the incremental costs, those are the nonpolice, nonfire- related cost, sanitation, information technology, that would be a great thing to do.

Just remember, the City of Los Angeles, through its budget process, has set aside money for extraordinary events through the Los Angeles Police Department. So, there is money available to prepare the department to secure the public area for people so that there will be public safety.

PHILLIPS: Councilwoman Perry, will Michael Jackson's body be there at the memorial service?

PERRY: That is a question I cannot answer. I do not know.

PHILLIPS: OK. And is the Jackson family in any way, shape, or form helping pick up this tab for this when it comes to taxpayer dollars?

PERRY: At this point, I am not aware of any activity from the family to do that. And I hope to speak with them at some point and see if they can direct me to individuals who might be interested in honoring Michael's memory by helping the city cover the cost of this event.

PHILLIPS: And you also mentioned in your news conference, you asked people to please stay home if they didn't have a ticket. What will happen -- because obviously, that will be costly to you, if people show up and they can't get in. I mean, it could be thousands and thousands of people that are causing a problem that could be very expensive.

Could you tell me what will happen to those folks and also the perimeter that will be set up? I mean, how far away will the roads be blocked off?

PERRY: Well, I think you heard Deputy Chief Pasinger (ph) say it would be from Olympic all the way to Flower (ph), down to Pico (ph), and then Blaine (ph) Street, which is one block west of the 110, or the Harbor Freeway. So, what it is, is a zone that is created to only allow people in who have tickets. So, that if you don't have a ticket, you actually won't be able to get in through those perimeters, or that barricade.

They are going to push people out and away from Staples. The off ramps around the Staples area will be closed, and if people have a ticket, they will be directed by signs on the freeway where to get off to come in.

PHILLIPS: Councilwoman Jan Perry, 9th District, city of Los Angeles. You've got a big week next week. Good luck, Councilwoman.

PERRY: Yes, we do. Thank you very much.

PHILLIPS: Thank you.