Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Britain and the International Community Turn Up the Heat on Iran; Police Speak Out About the Death of Steve McNair; New Details Emerging About Michael Jackson's Public and Private Memorials

Aired July 05, 2009 - 18:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: There will be consequences. Britain and the international community turn up the heat on the Iranian government about harassment and intimidation. And new evidence tonight that the opposition may be gaining ground.

A deadly mystery: What is behind the death of a former football superstar and his girlfriend? Police speak out tonight.

Have you seen this face? If so, run and then call police. They say he's a serial killer.

And laid to rest: New details emerging about Michael Jackson's public and private memorials. What role is his family's religion playing in the services? We talk to a close family friend.

The news starts right now.

Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon in Los Angeles.

The latest developments in the Michael Jackson story are just ahead -- but tonight, in Iran, there are growing signs of political discontent even among the country's religious elite. High-ranking clerics and seminary students have now called last month's presidential election skewed. It is perhaps the most direct challenge yet to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, who declared President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the undisputed winner.

Stanford University Iranian scholar Abbas Milani spoke to CNN a short time ago about the rising dissent.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABBAS MILANI, STANFORD UNIVERSITY: Sometimes, regimes that have big cracks in them continue to survive by cracking people's bones. And this is exactly what this regime has tried to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Even though public street demonstrations have been shut down, protesters have been taken to the roofs at nights to shout "Allahu Akbar," "God is great." It has become a rallying cry of the opposition. And this type of nocturnal demonstration has been going on for three weeks now.

CNN's Reza Sayah has been covering the tensions in Iran since before the election. He joins us now by phone from Philadelphia.

Reza, thank you very much. What exactly does this mean for Iran?

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Don, I think, with the end of the mass street protests in Iran, the obvious question is: now what? Is the opposition movement over? Was the government successful in crushing the opposition's voice and is it now business as usual?

When you have a development like this, the answer is no. The dissent and defiance in Iran is not over, but it looks like it shifted into a different form, and that shift appears to show cracks in divisions within the religious establishment, Don.

LEMON: Speaking of the religious establishment, tell us more about the clerics, their influence in all of this. What is their influence, Reza?

SAYAH: Yes. This is a seminary in Qom, where you have some of the top scholars of Shia Islam in the world. I mean, seminaries like this were started decades ago by the father of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini. So, they don't lack clout and credibility. They usually stay out of politics.

But here, you have this group coming out in direct opposition to the president, the establishment, and the supreme leader himself Ayatollah Khamenei. They're coming out and basically saying these elections were illegitimate.

And here's how we can illustrate the apparent crack that's formed within the religious establishment. On one land, you have Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, who is supposed to be the ultimate word on most matters. He's come out squarely behind President Ahmadinejad. On the other hand, we have these very influential clerics who are clearly rejecting the most powerful man in Iran, saying this is not over.

LEMON: Does this at all, I guess, reignite the opposition movement? Because they have still been protesting, they have been protesting for three weeks now. But does it ramp up even more, Reza?

SAYAH: Well, they haven't been protesting out in the streets, but this is certainly a positive development for them. The Iranian government has shown no hesitation in aggressively going after average citizens and even opposition political leaders to shut them up. But clearly, it's not going to be easy going after senior clerics with batons and clubs. I mean, imagine security forces and the Revolutionary Guards going after senior clerics. It's not going to be as easy.

And this is important for the hundreds of thousands who come out in the streets and protested. They are wondering what's next, who is going to lead us, do we have anyone in the establishment willing to carry our cause. And it looks like this particular group does.

LEMON: Hey, Reza, talk to us also about the British embassy employee, because the British government had a very stern warning to the government in Iran.

SAYAH: They have. I mean, this is Tehran and London continuing to lock horns over the past couple of weeks. Iran has made an all-out effort to shift the focus from the internal issues to the U.K., blaming all the turmoil on the British government. They have, at least, one local employee of the British embassy in custody, and here you have Foreign Minister David Miliband saying, if he is mistreated, there will be consequences. So, the face-off continues between London and Tehran.

LEMON: All right. Reza Sayah -- Reza, we appreciate your reporting. Thank you very much.

Meantime, in Central America, high drama in Honduras tonight. Deposed President Jose Manuel Zelaya ousted one week ago in a coup took off from Dulles airport outside Washington this afternoon. Now, he is on a jet bound for the capital of Honduras.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CROWD CHEERING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: The announcement that Zelaya was returning home sent cheering supporters into the streets, but it is not clear, not at all clear Zelaya will actually arrive or what will happen if he does. A live report from CNN's Karl Penhaul just moments away.

In just two hours, President Barack Obama leaves for Russia and a two-day summit with President Dmitry Medvedev. CNN's White House correspondent, Ed Henry, is in Moscow with a preview for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The president's first stop here in Moscow, all about trying to warm up the U.S./Russian relationship which got downright chilly in the Bush years because of tensions with then-President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Obama and top aides are talking about hitting the reset button. And so far, his outreach to the current Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, has been bearing fruit. Russia is recently signing on to sanctions against North Korea.

Also, both sides hoping this week to officially announce that Russia has agreed to allow U.S. military equipment to fly over Russian territory -- very important and a critical juncture in the war in Afghanistan. Both sides hope to announce this week cuts in nuclear arms. Mr. Obama appears to be trying to work through some of the sticking points by driving a bit of a wedge between Medvedev and Putin, who is still around as prime minister.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES : The old Cold War approaches to U.S./Russian relations is outdated. It is time to move forward in a different direction. I think Medvedev understands that. I think Putin has one foot in the old ways of doing business and one foot in the new.

HENRY: Mr. Obama is also lobbying for Russian cooperation in dealing with Iran's nuclear program. That, of course, will be a major topic of discussion at the president's second stop on the middle of the week when he goes to Italy for the G-8 summit. In addition to Iran, of course, Afghanistan, as well as the financial crisis, climate change and the industrialized nations trying to wipe out global poverty. All major topics of discussion there.

The president will wrap up his trip next weekend in Ghana. Obviously, there will be a lot of international attention on a visit to Ghana by the first African-American president.

Ed Henry, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right, Ed.

Here at home, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's decision to resign at the end of the month is sparking a wide range of reactions, including within her own party. At her Friday news conference, Palin mentioned everything from family concerns to desire to work for political change beyond Alaska.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), ALASKA: Though it may be tempting and more comfortable to just kind of keep your head down and plod along and appease those who are demanding, hey, just sit down and shut up. But that's a worthless, easy copout. That's the quitter's way out. And I think a problem in our country today is apathy. It would be apathetic to just kind of hunker down and go with the flow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: On the Sunday morning news shows, Republican strategist Karl Rove described her move as a, quote, "risky strategy," and conservative columnist George Will even invoked the word "quitter."

Over in Iraq, Vice President Joe Biden, her Democratic rival in last fall's election, said he gives her the benefit of the doubt.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSEPH BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I respect her decision. I don't -- I don't know what prompted her decision to not only not run again and also to step down as a consequence of the decision not to run in 2010. And I take her at her word. It had a personal ingredient in it, and you have to respect that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: In a Facebook posting to supporters yesterday, Governor Palin offered a small hint about her future plans. In her words, quote, "I look forward to making a difference with you." Let's talk more about Sarah Palin and other hot stories in the political world. CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser joins me now from Washington.

Paul, I have to be very honest with you. When I listened to the entire Sarah Palin announcement, I didn't understand what she was talking about. What is she talking about?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, you're not alone. I think, a lot of people are confused, Don, about her motives for stepping down, and I think, also, the big question is: does this mean that she wants to run for the White House in 2012? Nobody really knows. It's mixed signals here.

But if she does decide to run, you just mentioned it, Don, some may call her a quitter for dropping out with a year and a half left in her term -- her first term as Alaska governor. And you heard some of that criticism today on the Sunday talk shows.

But, Don, in that same Facebook mention that you just brought up, she also said that she, Sarah Palin, has done more in her 2 1/2 years as Alaska governor than some governors do in two terms. So, that's how she's going to fight back against that strategy if she decides to run for the White House, Don.

LEMON: There is something -- and, you know, we -- in this country, Americans are very big on work ethic. You work and you stay there, you hunker down -- that's her word. And you work through it even if you don't like what's going on and you work within the system to make change. Is that not her belief in all of this?

STEINHAUSER: I think she would believe -- yes, listen, she, of course, has a strong work ethic, she would say. But, at the same time, Sarah Palin, Don, is somebody who's often played by her own rules. She kind of goes her own way. And this is a very, very good example of that.

LEMON: Yes.

STEINHAUSER: I mean, this was quite a surprise to everybody, Don.

LEMON: All right. Yes, absolutely.

And let's talk about another governor here, let's talk about Mark Sanford. He's been in the news -- and some say way too much lately and he should just be quiet. So, talk to us about that.

STEINHAUSER: You know, it's just the opposite, right? They both have about a year and a half left in their terms as governor. Sarah Palin is giving up and stepping down, Governor Sanford is trying to hold on. He has spent this past week, this holiday weekend, with his wife Jenny and their children down in Florida. And I guess he was trying to make amends and see if they can repair the marriage.

There have been calls, as you know, this past week, a lot of calls for his resignation by some top Republicans in the state. Nearly half the state senators, a Republican congressman as well and others in the state saying it's time for him to go.

I think a big thing will be whether he and his wife can repair their damage, because he needs her to survive. She was instrumental for his victories in Congress and his victories as governor -- two terms, two elections. So, he's going to needs her by his side. They're both back later today, and what we don't know is if they're back together or separately, Don.

LEMON: Yes. Well, we should probably leave them to their own private matters when it comes to their marriage. But if they're calling for him to step down, that is going to -- that's going to be a loud, loud voice that he's going to have to overcome there.

All right. Deputy political director Paul Steinhauser -- Paul, thank you very much for that.

Let's turn to this tragic death that we have reported on last night. We are hearing from police just moments ago on the violent death of a former NFL quarterback, Steve McNair. Also, the search grows more urgent for a serial killer in South Carolina.

And we want you to be part of our show tonight. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or iReport.com is how you can get on the air.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We want to get you now live to Honduras. You're looking at pictures -- this is from Honduran TV, Telesur. And this is Tegucigalpa. Tegucigalpa, it's a capital city, and the Honduran president who was ousted there last week is trying to return.

Again, this is at the airport. It is really -- as we said, it's a high stakes drama that was playing out in the skies. He left an airport in Washington, D.C. here in the United States earlier and was trying to land at this airport.

You can see the chaos there right now. Not sure if they're going to allow him to land if he -- when he gets there, if he's going to be allowed back in power. It is a developing story that we're following very closely here. You can see the drama in all of the folks at the airport.

I'm watching these live pictures come in just as you are. We are here at CNN watching this, and we are watching our -- getting this from Telesur. Telesur, which is a Honduran television station.

We're going to keep a close watch on this story for you. Our Karl Penhaul is there amongst the chaos, and we're trying to get him up for you. As soon as we do, we'll bring him to you live. Very interesting what's playing out there in Honduras.

Back here in the United States, was it a murder suicide? Nashville police are not yet saying as they investigate the shooting deaths of former star, NFL star quarterback Steve McNair and 20-year- old Sahel Zokemi (ph). Now, she is described as his girlfriend. Her name is Kazemi -- I should say, pardon me for that -- Kazemi. The bodies of both were found yesterday at a downtown Nashville condominium, and police discovered a gun under the body of Kazemi, who apparently had been dating the married McNair for several months.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DON AARON, METROPOLITAN NASHVILLE POLICE: While it is clear that Steve McNair's death is a homicide as the result of being shot four times, the police department is not yet classifying Ms. Kazemi's death. She does have a single gunshot wound to the side of the head, but there is more investigation required. We're going to be interviewing persons throughout the day today and probably for the next several days. I would expect that it will be a number of days before the classification is placed on Ms. Kazemi's death.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Steve McNair's death has stunned Nashville and the entire NFL community. He played 13 seasons of pro ball, all but two years with the Tennessee Titans leading the Titans to their only Super Bowl appearance back in 2000. Steve McNair was 36 years old.

Well, Sahel Kazemi's family is already speaking out on the tragedy, talking to CNN affiliate WSMV. Kazemi's sister says she can't believe the deadly turn of events or what could have led up to them.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP, WSMV TV)

SEPIDE SALMANI, SISTER OF SHOOTING VICTIM: She was very young, very pretty, very loving. She would never hurt a person, outgoing, really very independent, very strong. We were supposed to be celebrating Fourth of July. And around 5 o'clock, I got a phone call from my brother. He said go see watch the news. So, I went in to, you know, watch the news, and I saw it.

And we both were saying that that's her, because they did not release the name until like 11 o'clock, 10 o'clock. So, we were hoping that it is not her. We had a feeling that it was her, because she would be the only young woman with him at that time, as far as we knew.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

LEMON: Nashville police said in a press conference last night that Ms. Kazemi was arrested for DUI earlier this week. Both McNair's and Kazemi's bodies were found discovered yesterday afternoon. We're working with our affiliates there and sources to get the very latest on that.

While much of the country enjoys the Fourth of July weekend, no such celebration in Cherokee County, South Carolina, where the killing of five people within a week have authorities hunting for a serial killer.

CNN's Richard Lui joins us now from Gaffney, South Carolina, the center of that manhunt.

RICHARD LUI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Don, you're right. An absolutely somber day here in Gaffney, South Carolina. Pallbearers arriving early Sunday afternoon at First Baptist Church here in town. They're here in Gaffney to a memorial service for Gena Parker, 50, and her mother Hazel Linder, 83, both teachers.

Co-workers of Parker, in fact, came in a school bus to this service that started four hours ago, finishing roughly about an hour and a half ago. They were also still in the parking lots. They were packed with cars of family and friends attending the memorial to remember the two women.

We spoke with a couple. This is what some of them said as they entered the church.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ms. Linder was my seventh grade schoolteacher, and I loved her dearly. My heart really goes out to all the victims of Gaffney, South Carolina, because he's sick, and only God knows the reason.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We as a small community, but we work together as a whole no matter what color we are. We need to stick together, because this needs to come to an end. Too many innocent people are losing their lives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LUI: All right. And that's from one of our affiliates WLOS.

You know, Gena and Hazel were killed Wednesday at the mother's rural home, found bound and shot. They were the second and third victims of what the Cherokee County sheriff is calling a serial killer. He believes the man who did this is a white male, 6'2", with is salt and pepper hair. They also think here, Don, that the suspect is driving an early '90s two-door Ford Explorer.

We're waiting for updates again as they follow up on many, many leads here in Gaffney.

LEMON: All right. CNN's Richard Lui -- Richard, thank you.

We want to keep that picture of the suspect up just for a little while. If you have seen that man, make sure you call police. Police say that is the face of a serial killer. And you heard our Richard Lui report. He has killed five people within a week -- within a week.

A final farewell: New details tonight about the funeral plans for Michael Jackson.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: A fiery sermon from pulpit takes the media to task for its coverage of Michael Jackson, and there's new information about the private funeral service from the Jackson family. For the latest on all of this, let's join our Susan Roesgen now. Susan, you're outside the church where the Reverend Al Sharpton took on the media today. First, I want to ask you, what is the latest on the plans for that private service?

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Don, Reverend Al Sharpton would not say anything about a funeral. I asked him a couple of times here as did other reporters: when and where is the funeral. And both times, Don, he said, the public memorial is 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday. In case he misheard us the first time, when's the funeral? Again, he said the public memorial is at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

So, he didn't want to say anything about what he knows about the funerals. And we know he's been meeting with the family for the last week.

But we did get a strong hint that there is going to be a funeral on Tuesday at Forest Lawn Cemetery at Hollywood Hills here in Los Angeles. And that hint came from the assistant chief of the LAPD today, who told reporters that Forest Lawn staff are meeting with the Jackson family to plan what he called a package of events on Tuesday.

And through the process of deduction, Don, you know, we already know from Jermaine Jackson that the family has been planning a private memorial service of some kind on Tuesday before the public memorial service. There is a possibility that we could very well have a funeral at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills before the public memorial on Tuesday.

Again, that's just putting things together based on what the assistant chief of the LAPD told us today. And again, Reverend Sharpton will not say anything about it -- Don?

LEMON: Yes, and a lot of people -- Susan, you're right, they are talking off the record also saying that it's going to be Tuesday. But, again, that is -- as you said -- those are just people talking about that.

I found it very interesting -- Reverend Sharpton apparently blasted the media today. What did he say?

ROESGEN: Boy, he took us to task. He took media in general to task. This fiery sermon, as you said, Don, had the congregation in the church here behind me on its feet.

He said that the media had been disrespectful of Michael Jackson, disrespectful of his legacy, had denigrated Michael Jackson, and he said that the media didn't treat Michael Jackson's legacy fairly. He said, remember how the media treated Frank Sinatra when he died and Elvis when he died. Reverend Sharpton said both of those men had personal problems but they weren't talked about in the media before the funeral.

Now, of course, Don, at CNN, as you know, throughout the past week, ever since Michael Jackson died, we have done many, many tributes to Michael Jackson. We have consistently pointed out here on CNN that he had 13 number one hits, that he had the bestselling album of all time, "Thriller," which sold 50 million copies. You know we've been looking at the terrific history of this man in American music.

But this was Reverend Sharpton's words to all the media today. He said he didn't want to hear anything bad about Michael Jackson until after the funeral -- Don?

LEMON: You know, Susan, there is something about, you know, saying let's not speak ill of the dead, and I have not seen a lot of the coverage. You probably haven't either because we've both have been working this story. But, you know, with all due respect to Reverend Sharpton, I don't know if he's talking about CNN and our coverage, because I think that we have been very respectful of Michael Jackson and his legacy, and we have to tell the whole story. Michael had a controversial life, end of story.

All right. Thank you very much for that, Susan Roesgen.

And former Secretary of State Colin Powell, you can add him to the long list of people who had fond memories of Michael Jackson. On CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION," he tells our John King that the early years of the Jackson Five will always be his favorite memory.

(BEGION VIDEO CLIP, FROM CNN'S "STATE OF THE UNION")

GEN. COLIN POWELL, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: He was a great entertainer, and he crossed so many lines with his -- with his skill and the skill of his brothers. I always remember him most vividly as a young boy with his brothers, the Jackson Five. These fresh, exciting kids with the 'fros in the early '70s and singing those wonderful songs, "ABC" -- don't ask me to sing it.

(LAUGHTER)

POWELL: But that is what I remember about Michael.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. So, joining us now in Los Angeles is CNN contributor Bryan Monroe. He's a former vice president and editorial director of "Ebony" and "Jet" magazines, and he has conducted -- really, he conducted the last interview with Michael Jackson.

Let's talk about this, Bryan. Thank you so much for joining us here. Let's talk about this because, you know, like I said, with all due respect to the Reverend Sharpton and the Reverend Jackson all of these people -- you know, I have heard some negative things about Michael Jackson, but I've also heard some very respectful coverage.

What are -- what are they talking about? What is he talking about, I should say?

BRYAN MONROE, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, you know, I think the coverage of the story has been tremendous across all the mediums, but it reflects the complexity that Michael Jackson was.

LEMON: Right.

MONROE: He's a complex man. He was an amazing entertainer, a creative force that, you know, many of us have never seen in our lifetime. And he also had his complexities, his controversies and his drama in his life. And I think the coverage is reflecting both sides of that story.

LEMON: Yes.

MONROE: I think, as we go and get closer to the services, you will hear a lot more about the life that he lived and his kids.

LEMON: Right. But when you had the controversy surrounding -- and the questions surrounding his death, and you can't get one consensus on when there's going to be a funeral and all of these things, so that does add to the circus-like effect of it. You have to admit that.

But I do have to say, and I, you know -- I'm just going to be honest. When I spoke with Joe Jackson, the father, and I asked him the question about the family, and he responded by promoting his record company, and then in the next day, he held a press conference to clear that up and he did the same thing. And I said, "You know, well, maybe people are giving you the benefit of the doubt saying that maybe, you know, it's your state of mind and that you're grieving." And he said, "No, I'm strong."

So, in one sense, even a family member is adding to some of that coverage.

MONROE: Well, it has been, you know -- he was certainly in the center during your interview right before the awards. But he is indicative of everything that's been around Michael Jackson.

LEMON: Right.

MONROE: The strength of the family, the controversy of the family, the brothers have each tried to create their own lives but also have come together. I talked to someone close to the family yesterday. Inside that house, they're trying to come together, trying to take care of the kids. The kids are there with the cousins.

LEMON: Right.

MONROE: It is a complexity of Michael Jackson we're seeing right now.

LEMON: Especially the mom. That is a strong mother, Katherine Jackson. My hat's off to her. She's taking care of her baby and her baby's babies and trying to maybe sure that everything is provided for them. I have the utmost respect for her. And also Janet when she came out to the BET Awards. She said to you he was an icon. To us he was a family member.

I have to tell you that most African-Americans feel the same way, because eight in 10 African-Americans are following this story like never before.

MONROE: We saw that those that say they are Michael Jackson fans, 51 percent of Americans say they are. That's tracking closely particularly with women and African-Americans and oddly enough with Democrats.

LEMON: You hearing anything about the service, public or private? The tickets? What about the tickets that all the people are supposed to get?

MONROE: They are supposed to be notified today. The notifications were going out today. I know that they had to wash the list, make sure there wasn't duplications and those automatic programs that try to register you automatically. They're trying to wash that out of the system.

LEMON: Brian Monroe, thank you very much. Our conversation took a turn I didn't think it would take. That's what we're here for, to get to the bottom of it. We really appreciate it.

Bryan Monroe is going to be joining us to help us through the Michael Jackson coverage. He's a contributor here at CNN now.

Thank you, sir. Appreciate it.

MONROE: Thank you, Don.

LEMON: Tune in for "CNN Special Presents" on the life and times, the music of Michael Jackson, "Man in the Mirror," airing tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern only here on CNN.

Tuesday join us for around-the-clock coverage of the memorial celebrating the life of this worldwide pop icon as family, friends, and fans all say good-bye to Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson, the memorial, CNN, all day Tuesday starting on "American Morning" 6:00 a.m. eastern.

Bryan is right, on Tuesday is when you'll start to hear about the tribute and Michael Jackson's legacy, as well it should be.

Thanks again, Bryan.

More political turmoil in Iran and new trouble for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as some top clerics may be turning against him. What's next?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We want go back to Honduras and the airport there. This is -- boy, again, I'm looking at these pictures as you see them here. This is the airport where the ousted president is expected to land. These pictures from Telesur, which is Honduran television.

We're working to get our Karl Penhaul up to explain to us exactly what is going on. We know that the ousted president, Manuel Zelaya, is now approaching the airport there in a Venezuelan plane. He's asked the military that kicked him out to please let him land in the name of God.

There's some fires that have been set there. Again, we don't have control of this video, because this is coming from someone we work with in Honduras. I don't recall the affiliate, but it's Telesur television. I'm trying to make this out as you are. It's interesting to see all of this going on, especially playing out live.

We should ping with these guys as long as we can. Can you blank the prompter for me, please? Karl Penhaul is there at this airport.

We know that this -- it started last week when we got word of a coup, and then it played into -- spilled over to a couple of days ago. We know that Manuel Zelaya was kicked out of the country, and that he came into the United States. He took off from Dulles Airport this afternoon here and then went to try to land at this airport. So he is asking that the army there, the military let him land, again, as I said, in the name of God. This appears to be chaotic.

OK. Now we see it better. I couldn't make it out. Maybe the cameraman was moving around. There is chaos there when you look at it. You can see motorcycles on the ground being burned. People are chanting there. Again, this is from Telesur at Honduran television.

Just getting -- let me read some of the information off the wires here. Speaking live from the plane on the Telesur network, Zelaya said he was minutes away from landing. That was a short time ago. He faces arrest by the interim Honduran government. He asked that the soldiers occupying the airport instead return their allegiance to him, in the name of God, the people and justice. But the politicians who ousted him aren't backing down. And violence has broken out and a huge crowd surrounding the airport on Sunday with at least one person killed so far. That's according to an Associated Press photographer at the scene.

We're going to go to CNN's Karl Penhaul. This is all developing as we speak. Karl may not hear me. He may be doing a report in progress.

Do we have Karl available?

Karl, can you hear us? This is Don Lemon in the U.S.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, right now we're at the airport at the capital. Thousands of supporters of the ousted President Manuel Zelaya have gathered there. They have come because they know in the next few minutes they're due to land the plane here.

On the one hand, the interim government and the military has said they will not allow that plane to land. If they do, as soon as Mr. Zelaya steps foot on Honduran soil, they say they will arrest him.

On the other hand, Mr. Zelaya's supporters turned out here in mass. They said if the president is arrested, they will try to take the airport and put a human fort around him to protect him and take him away to safety. At the last moment we have heard shots fires, shots being fired by the Honduran military. We heard the commotion here on the other side of the airport. We were told by another CNN team on the ground that tear gas was fired as well.

From the march organizers here, we are being told that we initially understood there were shots in the air, but we understand from march organizers that some of Zelaya supporters may have been injured or killed in the shooting. We're still awaiting for official confirmation on that. They're talking about two people injured or even killed. Still waiting, as I say, for confirmation for that.

Now, in the next few moments as I say if Mr. Zelaya's plane lands and the thousands of protesters here break and police lines on this side of the airport. They fired at police up there, and then blocking the entrance to the airport. We also have a dozen assault guns and we also know that out there on the airstrip as well, dozens of soldiers have been deployed there. They will try to surround the president's plane -- Don.

LEMON: That's Karl Penhaul in Honduras following this developing story. We'll continue to monitor those pictures and get information from Karl Penhaul as the day and evening progresses here on CNN so you won't miss any of it. Our producers are monitoring those pictures.

We have more international news to tell you about. Political rumblings inside the Iran are growing louder tonight. Some high- ranking clerics and seminary students are adding their voices to the discontent over the presidential election. They call the election skewed. It's perhaps the most direct challenge yet to supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who declared Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the undisputed winner. Former president, Rafsanjani, who backed the main opposition candidate, has expressed doubt over the legitimacy of the vote. The big question is, can the current regime stay in power in the face of growing high-level dissent from the nation's religious elite?

My guest is Trita Parsi. He is president of the National Iranian American Council. He's also the author of "Treacherous Alliance, the Secret Dealings of Iran, Israel and the United States."

Trita, it's good to see you.

TRITA PARSI, AUTHOR: Good to see you.

LEMON: Is this a chink in the armor of the government in power there? If you have Rafsanjani and all the other people, these clerics speaking out against this election?

PARSI: It shows from the very outset you had severe splits in the government, and those splits have become even greater. The opposition's strongest card right now is the fact that the Ahmadinejad faction, the Khamenei faction has lost so much legitimacy in the eyes of the people. As long as they have enough time and continue to play that card of the lack of legitimacy, it's difficult to see how the Khamenei/Ahmadinejad will survive.

LEMON: Talk about that. What do you mean it's difficult to see how they'll be able to survive?

PARSI: See, in the past...

LEMON: They're in power. They control it. They're in power now.

PARSI: That is true, but in the past, even though this is a government quite unpopular, they have enjoyed a modicum of legitimacy amongst some of the people. Now, even those elements are starting to turn against what they view as a fraud by Ahmadinejad. and the fact that the supreme leader so strongly sided with Ahmadinejad, even though his role is supposed to be more of someone who is tilting the balance, not someone completely taking the side of either faction. That has lost -- that has caused him to lose a lot of legitimacy. Without that legitimacy, you have to rule by force. And I'm not so confident that this government will be able to do so.

LEMON: I'll get to the force, because I'll ask you about the police or the people out on the street and the Revolutionary Guard and all of that. If you say that they may not be able to stay in power, then what happens next? I mean, does this mean that Mousavi will suddenly come into office? Is there another election? What happens next here?

PARSI: I'm not 100 percent sure, but it's more likely at some point they will try to strike some sort of compromise. So far, Ahmadinejad and Khamenei have been reluctant to engage in discussions about a compromise. I'm not so sure in the long run that's a strategy they will continue to pursue.

LEMON: Trita, we're talking about descent. What about the Revolutionary Guards? What about the people that are out? And you saw people saying they were beaten? Are they still siding with Ahmadinejad here, or are you seeing decent among there?

PARSI: Clearly, the higher echelon of the IRGC are still siding with Ahmadinejad, but even before these elections, we knew that there were splits within the IRGC as well. Not necessarily that it will turn against the government as a whole, but not this more partisan type of approach that they've taken lately. So there are question marks. And this is the difficult that Ahmadinejad has been faced with. He's trying to present himself and his election as a -- he's trying to make sure that internationally he's recognized as the president, but increasingly you're starting to see question marks not just because foreign leaders are not dealing with him in the way they thought he would, but also because internally there's more and more people starting to express their descent.

LEMON: That's has to be the last word. Treat, thank you very much.

PARSI: Thank you.

LEMON: As the world prepares to say good-bye to Michael Jackson, it's sad to say there are con artists looking to cash in. We'll tell you how to protect yourself. (CNN EDGE OF DISCOVERY)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: 1.6 million fans have registered for free tickets to the memorial service on Tuesday. Only a fraction, less than 9,000, will get the tickets. If you think scam artists smell a golden opportunity, you're absolutely right.

Christine Durst is a CEO of Staffcentrix, a company that specializes in home-based employment, and she's an expert at spotting online scams.

This is awful here. How might scammers try to capitalize on the high demand for these tickets? Are they transferrable?

CHRISTINE DURST, CEO, STAFFCENTRIX: They're not transferrable. Anytime any time there is a rush for anything, whether it's tickets or really anything that the public wants to get their hands on, scammers will be the first ones to get out there and take advantage of people who are unsuspecting. The rush for tickets, don, leaves it wide open.

LEMON: Oh, boy, OK. So what are they doing? What are they saying that they can get people tickets or what?

DURST: Well, of course, yeah. They're playing -- they're playing up the willingness for people to do just about anything for people to get those tickets. We know historically scammers and hackers will leverage anything in the media to turn it to their advantage and take advantage of unsuspecting individuals. So tragedies play well for that.

LEMON: You'll have people who will try to capitalize on that, yeah. You said internet security companies went on high alert for scams related to Michael Jackson even before his death was confirmed? Why, Christine?

DURST: They did. They did. As soon as he was in an ambulance on his way to the hospital, the security companies around the world were already saying be on high alert. It's just a matter of time before you start to get scam e-mail with hackers, malware programs, that type of thing attached. And they were dead on. Michael Jackson's death is about as good as it gets unfortunately for scammers. It's too delicious for them to leave alone unfortunately.

LEMON: Thank you very much for that. Christine Durst.

Tuesday, make sure you join us for round-the-clock coverage of the memorial, celebrating the life of this icon, as family, friends and fans say good-bye. "Michael Jackson, the Memorial," CNN, all day Tuesday, starting on "American Morning" at 6:00 a.m. eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right. What do kids in the United States think about life in Africa? And what do Africa kids think about life in the United States? CNN's Soledad O'Brien investments a school in Mississippi where African-American and African students come together and learn more about one another.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SOLDEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gadaffi Nkosi (ph) feels at home on the rural Mississippi campus of the Piney Woods School. This primarily African-American boarding school is a world away from the impoverished South African village he grew up in. His mother still lives there.

ALETTA SIBONGILE NKOSI, MOTHER OF GADAFFI: I don't know how he came out of this because if you can look at the -- some of the kids at his age, they've been destroyed.

O'BRIEN: Like many of the international students here, Gaddafi came to the school with expectations about the United States.

GADAFFI NKOSI, AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENT: When I was at home, one thing that I saw the United States to be was a paradise. This is a place where you go and everything, you know, is delivered to you, almost like in a gold place.

O'BRIEN: On community service trips, he's seen that life for some Americans is surprisingly familiar.

KNOSI: You had a lot of people that were illiterate. Places where you could see, you know, were vandalized by poverty. Places where, you know, HIV/AIDS is still common. Those are the three things that are currently affecting South Africa.

O'BRIEN: He also had expectations about African-Americans.

KNOSI: The media -- when I was back home, you know, portrayed an image to me about African-Americans that made it seem as if they were these aggressive people that did nothing constructive with their lives except occupy prison space.

O'BRIEN: School president, Reginald Nichols, says it's a common misperception.

REGINALD NICHOLS, SCHOOL PRESIDENT: If you see "Cops" you go, OK, everybody's like that.

O'BRIEN: The stereotyping goes both ways.

CYDNEY SMITH, PINEY WOODS STUDENT: I think Africans were uncivilized tribe, the jungle. You remember "the lion king" from your childhood pretty much.

O'BRIEN: Cydney Smith now says her roommate makes her work harder.

SMITH: I need to take this opportunity because they're not always going to be around.

O'BRIEN: Nichols says learning about each other is the most important lessons these students will walk away with.

NICHOLS: That's why I like having the mix of students here because here they're getting an opportunity to dialogue and to create U.N., United Nations, here.

KNOSI: You have to, you know, try to find common ground with other people, you know. It never hurts, you know, to get out of your comfort zone and reach out to another person and learn from them. There's so many things we can learn from each other.

O'BRIEN: Soledad O'Brien, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Soledad, thank you for that.

While other reporters are covering the stories developing every day in the black community, Soledad O'Brien has been work on some special stories you'll see on July 22nd and 23rd when CNN presents "Black in America 2," two nights, two primetime documentaries right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)