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Martyr in the Fight for Libya; Radiation Shapes Woman's Life; Gunfire in Syria During Protests

Aired March 25, 2011 - 11:00   ET

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

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Live from Studio 7, I'm Suzanne Malveaux.

I want to get you up to speed this Friday, March 25th.

We've got some breaking news, various countries.

First, from Jordan's violence now erupting in central Amman. That is the capital. Supporters of King Abdullah reportedly attacking anti-government protesters with rocks and sticks while police stood by. Coincidentally, Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Amman just a short time ago for talks with the king.

It is a bloody day next door in Syria now, as well. Residents in Daraa tell CNN that 15 anti-government protesters were gunned down today. They were trying to march into the city for today's big protest.

(CHANTING)

MALVEAUX: Last night, demonstrators chanted, "The revolution will continue!" outside a mosque that has been the focal point of the violence. Now, it is difficult now to say whether organizers are drawing the huge crowds that they said that they had hoped for.

And Japan's nuclear agency says the protective shell housing the nuclear core at reactor number 3 is probably cracked. Their evidence, water that leaked from the reactor was 10,000 times more radioactive than normal. Three workers who stood in that water for 40 to 50 minutes are now in the hospital.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES ACTON, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE: We may very well see significant radioactive releases larger than anything that we have seen to date, but the explosion at Chernobyl that spread a large amount of material far and wide is unlikely to be replicated here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: First, Tokyo. Now tap water in Hitachi and surrounding communities is too radioactive for babies to drink. Now, authorities say that parents should use bottled water for infant formula. Hitachi is about halfway between Tokyo and the nuclear plant at Fukushima. Now, officials say that radiation in Tokyo's water supply has now fallen to safe levels.

NATO will takes command over the no-fly zone over Libya, perhaps as early as this weekend. But NATO has not agreed to target Libyan military hardware or Libyan troops to protect the citizens. NATO's secretary-general told our Wolf Blitzer a decision on that expanded role will be made soon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN, NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL: We are actually considering right now whether we should take on that broader responsibility in cooperation with partners from the region. I think we might be able to take that decision within the coming days.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: The Pentagon says U.S. war jets will still bomb Libyan targets, only now it's going to be under a NATO banner. The American military will also provide logistical support like refueling NATO jets. But Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says that the U.S. has already dialed back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: NATO is well-suited to coordinating this international effort and ensuring that all participating nations are working effectively together toward our shared goals.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: The United Arab Emirates announced today 12 of its fighter jets will patrol the no-fly zone. Six warplanes from Qatar are already in place at a military base in Greece.

Now, rebel fighters trying to hold the hard-hit town of Ajdabiya got a break today. Coalition war jets bombed Moammar Gadhafi's armored vehicles just outside there. The coalition says that it hit Gadhafi's forces because they were targeting civilians, not to help the rebels.

An air traffic controller at Reagan National Airport has been suspended. Federal investigators say that he fell asleep on the job early Wednesday morning, forcing two commercial jetliners to land on their own. The controller, a 20-year veteran, was the only one on duty.

Now for the fight for Libya and the human face behind that civil war. This is a story of a husband, a father who sacrificed his life to help the rebels gain an upper hand. His actions led to a major turning point in the battle for Benghazi, now, which is a stronghold for rebels.

Our CNN's Reza Sayah reports on the main being hailed as a martyr.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is where Al Mehdi Zu (ph) gave his life. It's the old military barracks here in Benghazi. It's pretty much demolished today. But on February 19th, rebel fighters had surrounded it, and they were facing heavy firepower.

They were trying to get inside these military barracks. They couldn't. They needed something to shift their momentum.

What Al Mehdi did was pack his car full of plastic car fuel containers in cooking gas cylinders, and witnesses say he parked his car right over there, where that SUV is, and prayed and read the Koran for about 30 minutes. And then he sped towards the main gate, where he blew himself and his car up.

(voice-over): This is a picture of Al Mehdi's best friend, Abdul Farhoud, carrying his remains after the blast.

ABDUL FARHOUD, AL MEHDI'S FRIEND: If I didn't saw his body in the car, I could not believe it.

SAYAH: He says Al Mehdi's suicide attack sent Gadhafi troops running, clearing the way for rebel fighters to overtake the barracks.

FARHOUD: He's a hero. He's a real hero.

SAYAH: For opposition forces, the taking of the barracks was a monumental victory made possible, they say, by Al Mehdi, one of hundreds of civilians who died in the war for Libya. For two daughters, the sudden loss of their father is heart-wrenching, but one they say they're honored to live with.

"He did something very important. We're definitely very proud of him."

Reza Sayah, CNN, Benghazi, Libya.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Well, it takes a lot of money to wage a war, which has sparked a debate over who's going to pick up the tab for enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya?

Our Carol Costello, she joins us for today's "Talk Back."

And Carol, I know it's been a debate, because we really don't know how long this mission is going to last. And they say it's just days, but now we're going to have some sort of role here.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And it's already a big price tag -- for the United States, that is. Maybe it will all work out.

The United States seems steps away from turning over the Libya problem to NATO and our allies, but the U.S. is a big part of NATO. And when I say U.S., I mean us, as taxpayers. Want an itemized list? As of yesterday, the Navy has launched 15 Tomahawk missiles at $1.4 million each. That adds up to $235.2 million.

U.S. warplanes have flown 449 sorties. The cost, $10,000 per hour. And there are 26 American ships supporting the no-fly zone.

Add it all up, and the U.S. is on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars. NATO's not going to pick up the tab. But why should the United States be forced to pay for all or most of it?

What about those oil-rich Arab states who wanted us to enforce a no-fly zone so they didn't have to? And what about Moammar Gadhafi's frozen assets? That's $30 billion. Why not make him pay double for killing his own people?

So, the "Talk Back" question today, who should pick up the tab for enforcing Libya's no-fly zone?

Join the conversation at Facebook.com/CarolCNN.

MALVEAUX: It's a very expensive -- war is very expensive.

COSTELLO: And Moammar Gadhafi, perhaps he should pick up some of the tab.

MALVEAUX: Yes. We're making --

COSTELLO: I mean, somebody has control of his assets So why not use some of them?

MALVEAUX: We're making cuts in this country and we're paying a lot for this war.

COSTELLO: That's right, we are. And it could add up to, what, a billion dollars?

MALVEAUX: That's right.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MALVEAUX: This will beat (ph) the cost of Iraq.

COSTELLO: It will be interesting to see what people have to say.

MALVEAUX: All right. Thank you, Carol.

COSTELLO: Sure.

MALVEAUX: Here's a look at what's ahead "On the Rundown."

We're going to go live to Japan, where a reactor core may be leaking radioactive material that could -- would lead to a nuclear meltdown? We're going to ask that question.

Also, a Hiroshima survivor who used radiation to help save lives as a cancer doctor.

Plus, the Hispanic population in the United States here reaches a new milestone. We're going to break down those numbers.

And Syrian protesters calling for a "Day of Dignity."

Finally, Libyans living in exile and hoping -- just hoping for change back home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are fighting for our lives. They're fighting to change. They're fighting to have equal opportunities. They just want to be normal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: It's now your chance to "Choose the News." We're going to tell you about three stories. You vote by texting for the one you would like to see in detail the next hour. So here are the choices.

People pretending to be U.S. soldiers are tricking their online victims into giving them money. The soldier dating scam has ripped off thousands of people across the world.

Nigeria has the third largest number of people living with HIV or AIDS in the world. The popular children's show "Sesame Street" goes to Nigeria with an HIV-positive character.

And experts say social networking can lead to trouble for children under 13. So how young is too young for Facebook?

So, vote by texting 22360. Vote 1 for "Soldier Dating Scam"; 2 for "Nigeria Sesame Street"; or 3 for "Too Young to Facebook."

The winning story will air in the next hour.

Survivors of the atomic bombings in Japan have a unique perspective on what is happening with this current nuclear crisis. One woman who lived through Hiroshima went on to help save lives as a cancer doctor.

Our CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta has her story in "The Human Factor."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dr. Ritsuko Komaki was 2 years old when the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima more than 65 years ago. Her family lost six relatives. Her grandmother had radiation sickness.

DR. RITSUKO KOMAKI, ANDERSON CANCER CENTER: Her hair fell out and she had the nose bleeding and the diarrhea. GUPTA: At that time, no one in Hiroshima understood how dangerous radiation could be. Little Ritsuko grew up playing among the radioactive ruins.

KOMAKI: Well, I was just too small to know how much radioactive material is staying on the ground.

GUPTA: When she was 11, Komaki lost a friend to leukemia and she began to suspect that the bomb had long-lasting invisible effects on her city. She wanted to learn more about what killed her friend and how to stop it.

Eventually, she went to medical school. And that's when she learned about radiation.

KOMAKI: I volunteered during summertime to check all those people who were exposed to the atomic bomb.

GUPTA: Later in her medical training, Dr. Komaki learned that radiation could actually save lives, not just ruin them.

KOMAKI: When I saw this patient who was cured by radiation treatment, you know, I saw the light and I said, "Oh, my goodness, this is incredible."

GUPTA: As a cancer specialist, she uses radiation to treat patients and educates people about how radiation can be a force for good both in the United States and in her native Japan, where most cancer patients forgo this type of treatment because they fear radiation so much. For nearly a decade, Komaki has made it as her mission to change that.

KOMAKI: I really, truly hope, you know, that people, they don't get any wrong idea. You know? This accident of the nuclear plant, it's not like regular radiation treatment.

GUPTA: For now, she is back in the United States treating patients, but hopes to head to Japan again soon to help her homeland, and also to continue to spread her message that radiation doesn't always have to be a dirty word.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: A hundred years ago today, a fire in New York helped spark the growth of a labor union movement here in the United States. We're going to go live to New York, where descendants of fire victims are marking the anniversary.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: We have some breaking news that we're following. This development, more violence coming out of Syria. There are demonstrations, and now it looks like there are people who are injured, perhaps even killed in these demonstrations. I want to bring in our Hala Gorani to talk about, first of all, this southern city that you've been mentioning, Daraa. Tell us what is taking place there today.

HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: It's very significant, because in Syria, over the last few weeks, we've seen this southern city, Daraa, the residents of that city stage protests. We've seen a security crackdown. We've seen demonstrators shot and killed. Some of the video that has come to us has cross-checked with information coming to us from eyewitnesses.

Now, today, we've been hearing from eyewitnesses that there's been heavy gunfire in the streets of Daraa, and that protesters, according to this eyewitness who spoke to CNN, have toppled the statue of Hafez al-Assad -- this is the father of the current president, Bashar al-Assad -- and that they've set fire to a poster, a picture, a giant picture of Bashar al-Assad, Suzanne. This is significant because, in Syria, we haven't seen these types of anti-government demonstrations, unlike other parts of the Arab world, where unrest has actually led to the toppling of some of these longtime dictators.

MALVEAUX: And this is not just about -- we're seeing -- we're getting new video now of various places throughout Syria, including Damascus and Hama.

Can you tell us what's going on there?

GORANI: Well, it's significant that it has spread. The demonstrations are small. Let's keep things in perspective, but it has spread outside of Daraa in the south of Syria.

This, I believe, is Hama. This is Damascus, so this is happening, it looks like, outside or inside of a mosque.

MALVEAUX: This is new video that's just coming into us now to CNN.

GORANI: Right. This is new amateur video that was posted on YouTube that we've been able to confirm is probably genuine, although, of course, Suzanne, as you know, CNN can't independently confirm. This is happening in Damascus.

MALVEAUX: Let's take a quick minute just to listen if we could.

(CHANTING)

MALVEAUX: Hala, can you tell us what they're chanting when you listen to that, when you see those pictures?

GORANI: Yes. So they're saying, "God, Syria and freedom!" "Variya (ph)" is "freedom." So this is what they're chanting.

This is happening in Damascus. And I understand we also have video from Hama, which is very significant as well, Suzanne, because Hama is where in 1982, in the very early '80s, the father of the current president, Bashar al-Assad, cracked down on a Muslim Brotherhood organized opposition leader and against his regime and killed in this military action up to 40,000 people.

MALVEAUX: Why is this -- what are they hoping to achieve here? Why is this taking place?

GORANI: You know, I think there are several factors at play here, Suzanne.

First of all, the example of other Arab regimes. Egypt, of course, President Hosni Mubarak was one of the most entrenched autocratic leaders of the Arab world. It took 18 days to force him to step down.

The Arabic news satellite channels that are broadcast in Syria as well. People are seeing the example of other demonstration movements that have brought down dictatorial leaders. And I think that is giving them enthusiasm and hope.

MALVEAUX: I think when you take a look at these pictures, as dramatic as this is, and you see the people on the streets, you've got to wonder, what happens if Assad goes down, if that regime ends? I mean, this is a state sponsor of terror. This is a group, a country, a regime that supports -- financially supports Hezbollah.

We don't even know who could replace that leader. And what would that possibly look like?

GORANI: Well, I think like in all these Arab police states with a heavy military institution calling the shots, in many cases, even when the dictatorial leader is in power in an executive sense, it's the military that ends up determining which way the country goes. It's the case in Egypt, where some are now saying that they're turning the clock back by banning street protests, by criminalizing some organized street protests and the right for Egyptians to assemble peacefully.

So that is going to always be in these countries, including Yemen, including Libya, where does the military fall? Does it splint sprinter? Does it end up siding with the protesters? Does it end up siding with the autocratic regime and turn against its own people?

That, in Syria, is going to be the big determining factor.

MALVEAUX: And you've been in the region. You've covered this from country to country. Are you surprised that this is still happening, that this is spreading, that it's still continuing?

GORANI: You know, yes and no. I'm surprised that it started and that it led to such radical change in Egypt as quickly as it did. I'm not surprised that it's spreading now, because the power of example in these countries is -- has proven in Yemen and Bahrain and other countries to be extremely effective.

Syria is a very different situation on one level, in that the leadership in Syria is a religious and ethnic minority, the Alawites. And they rule over the majority Sunnis. And they have a lot to lose if they lose power. So it is not completely impossible to imagine a scenario where they will try to hold on to power by all means necessary.

MALVEAUX: And, Hala, tell us who these people are on the streets, because we've seen in other Middle Eastern countries, Arab countries, they are the young, perhaps they are highly educated, unemployed, frustrated. Do we have a sense of who the folks are on the ground in Syria who want to bring about dramatic change?

GORANI: Well, I'm not seeing many women. I saw more women in Egypt, for instance.

They seem young. Well, most of the population in these Arab is under the age of 35 anyway, so it is more likely that they are very young. And I think these are just frustrated people who, economically, feel disenfranchised, and who want reform.

There is a sense in this country and in many countries in the Arab world that enough is enough with the corruption. That's a big, big issue for these demonstrators, where they say it's enough that we have to pay every single step of the way, to get paperwork, to get our kids to go to certain schools, to get this type of a security situation in our street. And I think people are very, very upset with the corruption and the cronyism in these countries, and that's what's driving some of them out as well.

MALVEAUX: Hala, thank you for putting it all into perspective on Syria. Thank you very much, Hala.

There are new Census numbers that are showing that Hispanics have now topped 50 million people in the United States. So what does this mean culturally and politically?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: New Census numbers show a huge increase in the number of Hispanics here in the United States. One out of every six people living in the United States is now Hispanic.

Well, joining me from Miami is CNN's John Zarrella to talk about this.

And John, do the Census numbers surprise you at all? Did we expect it?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, I don't think it's surprising at all that the Hispanic number has increased. I think they solidified themselves as the second largest group in the country.

What is surprising is the percentage increase. The Hispanic percentage increase was 43 percent. Ten years ago, there were 30 million Hispanics in this country. Now, today, more than 50 million Hispanics. More than 16 percent of the population is Hispanic.

So why that big increase? The Census Bureau says it's too early to tell. They're still studying the reasons why that took place. Some other experts say it has nothing to do or not so much to do with immigration as it has to do, as they said, with the birth rate increasing, that the Hispanic population is just overall a younger population -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: And I understand we also have some new information on folks moving around the country, deciding to leave some of the colder areas for the warmer areas.

ZARRELLA: Yes. People are just now catching on to what I've known for a long time. The South is -- it's beautiful down here.

(LAUGHTER)

ZARRELLA: I'm surprised it took them so long.

It's something like more than 84 percent of the growth in the United States in the last 10 years has taken place in the South, in the West, in those two areas. And Nevada had the largest increase of all, a 35 percent increase in population.

Again, hard to say right now what those numbers were. Nevada struck us as somewhat surprising because of the fact that we've heard so much about the foreclosure rates out there and the unemployment rate, but, yet, in the last 10 years, that increase was 35 percent, followed by places like Arizona and Utah and Texas -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: All right, John. I'm one of those people who figured it out and moved to a warmer climate, Atlanta.

(LAUGHTER)

ZARRELLA: Yes.

MALVEAUX: All right. Thanks, John.

Want to go beyond the headlines here. What does this dramatic increase in the Hispanic population meaning for other groups culturally, politically?

Well, Michael Eric Dyson is a sociology professor at Georgetown University.

Michael, very good to see you.

PROF. MICHAEL ERIC DYSON, SOCIOLOGY, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Good to see you, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: I want to talk about the significance of this. A 43 percent increase in Hispanic population over the last 10 years, making them the largest minority group, 16 percent of the population.

What does this mean in terms of who gets resources, money that goes to various districts, even political influence?

DYSON: Well, all of that is up for debate and all of that is certainly at stake, Suzanne. I think that there has been -- and it's not a secret -- tensions between certain Latino groups and certain African-American groups around areas of immigration, around distribution of resources, around the fact that some groups and corporations and businesses are more likely to hire Latino people who are interested in and available to work for lower wages than certain African-American people.

And it's no disrespect to Latinos who want to work hard for their jobs. It's just that African-Americans who feel that they've worked hard to gain civil rights and to be paid a fair wage shouldn't be undercut.

So you have enormous tensions between these groups. And then you've got issues about whether or not Latinos can also signify as or identify as black. Because when you've got 50 million Latinos in this country, certainly a sizable number of them happen to have African roots, too.

We don't speak about the African roots of certain Puerto Ricans or Panamanians and the likes. But when you talk about Hispanic, you're not talking simply about white Hispanic. You're talking about black Latino as well. And that's an interesting inter-mixture there that we have to contend with.

But I think ultimately it is about distribution of resources, political power and who's going to have the bully pulpit to claim interest in the larger American scene.

MALVEAUX: And how does that play out politically, because we know there's this whole battle of redistricting. Who's actually going to get the funding for programs, for education, for housing? How will that play out --

DYSON: Right.

MALVEAUX: -- now Hispanics being the largest minority group?

DYSON: Well, there's tremendous contention, because one of the unfortunate realities is, is that in American society when the powers that be have found ways to creatively avoid the claims of African- American people. It has done so with tremendous aplomb and skill.

Now that you have a competing interest group, so to speak, you have an exploded Latino population, distribution of resources, educationally, because of speaking a different language, of course, the bilingual movement will certainly open up and gain greater power.

African-American people may be -- in severe competition over scarcer resources left to one side because of the perception that now we must cater to Latino interests. I think we have to have a broader understanding of this, however, and then tamp down on the black-brown tensions.

And if we could figure a way for Latinos and African-Americans to forge connections at critical points over immigration, there's been tremendous difficulty and tremendous disagreement, but there could be a way in which black and Latino people organize together to make sure wages are fair, to make sure that access to housing is great. To make sure that access to education is great --

MALVEAUX: OK.

DYSON: -- so that it doesn't have to become an either/or but of both hand.

MALVEAUX: All right, Professor Dyson, thanks for putting it all into perspective for us.

DYSON: All right. Thank you.

MALVEAUX: And we'll be following more breaking news after this very quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: We're following breaking news from two different countries here in the Middle East. The extraordinary demonstrations and protest that are erupting and the violence.

Want to show you first. This is Damascus, Syria. This is where anti-government protests outside a mosque are occurring. You see the people gathered there. This happened after Friday prayers. The crowd chanting, "God, Syria and freedom only."

There are at least three different cities in Syria now that have erupted in protests. Some of them turning bloody and violent.

We are also following what is taking place in Jordan. This out of Amman, Jordan. Our producer Jomana Karadsheh, she is there on the ground. I understand that there are protests that are happening -- that have turned potentially bloody.

Can you tell us, Jomana, what you're seeing, what you're hearing?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN PRODUCER: Hi, Suzanne. At this point I had to pull back from the protests that quickly turned pretty violent. We saw wounded protesters, and police forces who were injured in these -- in the outbreak of violence between anti-government protesters who have camped out starting last night in a main Amman square, and so- called government loyalists, pro-government demonstrators who converge on the square slowly.

A few hours ago I arrived at the square. The mood was pretty much a celebration on the anti-government side, but slowly we started seeing a buildup with pro-government demonstrators who were arriving.

The two sides were kept apart by heavy police presence who created a human chain to keep them apart. There was sporadic throwing of rocks and sticks from each side on to the other, but in the past 45 minutes or so, the police could no longer control the so-called pro- government demonstrators who attacked at these anti-government protesters. Also police forces arrived on the scene in the hundreds, and they have also taken part in the violence. I've seen police also beating up demonstrators. It quickly turned pretty violent, Suzanne, and it seems like the anti-government protesters that was supposed to be an open-ended one called for yesterday by youth movements.

Some of them Islamists, some of them leftists, saying that they are going to stay at this square until their demands are met. It seems to have been disbursed forcefully at this point.

MALVEAUX: And Jomana, we just want our viewers to know they're looking at live streaming video. Some of it from earlier, and some of it right there that is taking place on the ground.

Can you give us a sense of who these people are and what do they want? We know that they at least -- the Jordanian government has offered some concessions recently. Are the people all satisfied?

KARADSHEH: They most definitely are not, Suzanne. The protests in Jordan started back in January pretty much influenced by the popular uprisings that we saw in other Arab countries mainly in Tunisia and Egypt.

People took to the streets. We saw large demonstrations that really kicked off because of the economic situation here. Unemployment, hike in prices, and also there were later some demands for political reform.

And over the weeks, the demonstrations, for the large part, were peaceful ones. They were calling for the dismissal of the government, and last month King Abdullah II of Jordan did dismiss then Prime Minister Samir. He assigned his Cabinet, appointed a new prime minister.

There is also, you know, government subsidies that were introduced, lowering of fuel and food prices, but that was not enough. We have seen these protests gaining more momentum, seeing the other youth movements in other Arab nations and how their demands were met and how they were able to change their countries.

It's given these demonstrators more momentum here. So we've seen a long list of demands that have started to gradually grow and now they're, again, calling for more political reform.

They want to --

MALVEAUX: Yes.

KARADSHEH: They're calling for curbing.

MALVEAUX: And Jomana, we just want our viewers to know what they're watching here --

This is live stream video that is coming in. This is live video from on the ground where you are. Very close to where you are. People addressing the cameras, trying to talk about, explain what it is that they're doing out there on the streets.

Do you get a sense at all that this is dying down? Or is this picking up steam now that the police have started to crack down and use sticks and rocks to suppress the demonstrations?

KARADSHEH: Well, Suzanne, definitely talking to these anti- government demonstrators, it does not seem that this will stop them or deter them. We're going to have to wait and see what happens. As, you know, Friday is a big day in the Arab and Muslim world. And there was a lot of apprehension and fear of what might happen with today's demonstrations and so far as feared by many, it did turn violent, because for the most part these demonstrations were peaceful. So we're going to have to wait and see what happens now.

MALVEAUX: All right. All right. Jomana, thank you so much four watching that for us there out of Amman, Jordan. Thank you, Jomana. Be safe.

We want to update you now on the nuclear threat of the Fukushima power plant in Japan today. There are new fears that the protective shell that is housing the nuclear core at reactor number three has been cracked.

Our CNN's Paula Hancocks is joining us from Tokyo to explain this.

And Paula, what does this mean? Tell us what this means and how are the engineers responding to this.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Suzanne, if this is true, this is potentially very dangerous. What may have happened is that there may be a crack or a rupture in the containment vessel.

Now this vessel is basically the last line of defense when it comes to this reactor core. It is a shell around it, and it's basically supposed to stop any radioactive waste or material from seeping into the atmosphere.

Now the reason they realized something was wrong, if you remember, Thursday, yesterday, there were three workers who were taken to hospital -- two at least were taken to hospital because they had radioactive contamination. They were standing in about five inches of water and there was 10,000 times the limit of radiation than there should have been in that water.

At the moment, though, officials can't actually get to it. The workers can't go back into that basement where those workers were injured because the water is still there. And so they can't actually find out exactly what is wrong there. They think it may be a rupture, and if it is that would be potentially very dangerous -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: And Paula, do we have any idea of those workers who you say were exposed to such a high level of radiation? What are their conditions?

HANCOCKS: Well, at this point we understand they're in a special radiological institution for observation. The two that were in hospital or at the hospital now. We don't know exactly how they are. But they have had a certain amount of contamination up to about 180 millisieverts.

Now to put that into contents, you and I would have about three millisieverts exposure over the period of one year. So certainly this is significant amount. It's not at the limit that the government has said is the safe limit. That's about 250. But at this point they are being observed.

MALVEAUX: Paula, is there a sense of fear that where you are in Tokyo, when you hear this kind of news, that this is what's happening with reactor number three? It certainly makes us all listen and pay attention very closely.

HANCOCKS: Absolutely. And certainly for the residents that are still living near the plant as well it's going to be quite alarming. The government decided today to actually extend the voluntary -- the evacuation zone up to 16 miles now, they're saying. Those that they said will stay indoors, they're now saying if you want to leave, we will help you leave, we will bus you out.

But they're saying that's more because it's very difficult for them to live there because there's no amenities. But inevitably, all this drip feed of information, some positive, some negative, some very negative is of course keeping people on edge. And the prime minister himself said that they don't know exactly what's going to happen, and it is a very insecure -- an insecure situation at this point -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Very volatile and insecure situation. Paula, thank you very much. Paula Hancocks out of Tokyo.

A five-star chef bring some meals to some fidgety customers. We're going to introduce you to this week's "CNN Hero" who says his mission is feeding hungry children.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: For two decades Bruno Serato has been doing what he loves. Feeding customers at his restaurant in Anaheim, California. Six years ago the "CNN Hero" realized that many of the kids at the local boys and girls club often go to bed hungry. So he decided to do something about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNO SERATO, CNN HERO: I came to this country 30 years ago. I love to cook. But to be in the restaurant business you must love the people.

How's your lunch, ladies?

In 2005, my mom was on vacation from Italy. I said, mom, let's go to the boys-girls club. And this little boy, 5 years old, eating potato chips for his dinner. He was a motel kid. I find that a poor family who has nothing else live in a motel. The motel environment is pretty bad. Drugs, prostitution, alcohols. It's all of them.

When they go back after school, there's no dinner. There's no money. My mom said, Bruno, you must feed them pasta.

I'm Bruno Serato, I listened to my mama, now my mission is feeding hungry children. Six years ago we start feeding the kids. When the recession came, customers dropped and the children doubled.

I don't give the kids leftovers. I make them fresh pasta.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bruno brings the tray in, and all the kids. They start getting excited.

SERATO: Are you hungry? Are you hungry?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's good to be included.

SERATO: Right now we are between 150 to 200 kids seven days a week.

Who liked the pasta?

CROWD: Me.

SERATO: My mom, she made me start. Now I could never stop.

I see you soon.

They are customer. My favorite customers.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Bruno Serato has served more than 270,000 dinners to date.

Remember every one of this year's "CNN Heroes" are chosen from people who tell -- you tell us about. To nominate someone you know who's making a difference in your community, go to CNNheroes.com.

And we've been getting quite a bit of responses on our "Talk Back" question, who should pick up the tab for enforcing Libya's no- fly zone? Your responses straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Don't forget to choose the news, vote by texting 22360 for the story that you'd like to see in detail in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM. Vote one to find out how people posing as U.S. soldiers steal money and break hearts in online dating sites. Two, for the story about Nigeria's "Sesame Street" with the character that is HIV positive. Or, three, to explore how young is too young for social networking.

The winning story will air in the next hour.

The cost of war is adding up. The price tag to fully establish Libya's no-fly zone could reach up to $800 million. So who should pay the bill?

This is your chance to talk back, our Carol Costello, she's been getting your responses.

What do they think?

COSTELLO: Just that number makes your eyes water, doesn't it?

Yes, the "Talk Back" question --

MALVEAUX: Immediately.

COSTELLO: Exactly. "Talk Back" question today, who should pick up the tab for enforcing Libya's no-fly zone.

This from Johnny, "We're not the world's policeman. This money would help a lot of state budgets so people wouldn't lose their jobs."

This from Stephen, "McCain and Lieberman and Kerry wanted it, let them write a check."

This from Paul, "Use the $30 billion of Gadhafi money that we froze here in the United States."

And this from Tom, "General Electric should pay."

Jacqee agrees, "Between Gadhafi's $30 billion and GE's taxes they should pay. That should take care of it."

And in case you're wondering why some viewers want GE to pay, well, "The New York Times" is reporting that General Electric earned more than $14 billion last year and it paid no federal taxes.

Keep the conversation going. I know, that's stunning.

(LAUGHTER)

MALVEAUX: I can't believe the number, when you think about that.

COSTELLO: I know. That also makes your eyes water. Facebook.com/CarolCNN. And I'll see you in about 15 minutes.

MALVEAUX: All right. I know a lot of people were thinking the Arab countries should really kick in, that that -- you know, they're neighbors, they're friends, and they clearly have a lot of influence that they should foot the bill.

COSTELLO: Exactly. The Arab League voted for this or endorsed this no-fly zone, they're in the hunt, it's in their part of the world, why aren't they helping out? MALVEAUX: Yes. Well -- have there been any offers that we know?

COSTELLO: Not monetarily. I mean Qatar offered a few warplanes.

MALVEAUX: Yes.

COSTELLO: I know it's using -- you know, we're using some of its military hardware, but other than that, crickets.

(LAUGHTER)

MALVEAUX: You think there might be some arm-twisting behind the scenes?

COSTELLO: I'm sure many people are hoping so.

MALVEAUX: I know. I think the White House might make a suggestion or two there.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MALVEAUX: All right, thanks, Carol.

COSTELLO: Sure.

MALVEAUX: See what they have to say.

Well, another slap of reality for a weather-weary California, if you can believe this. The latest on hundreds of people evacuated as pounding rain now taking its toll.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Santa Cruz, California, more than 1,000 homeowners got orders to evacuate because of mudslides.

Our Rob Marciano monitoring all of that. I mean it must be getting a ton of rain.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You know it started this past weekend where parts of California got, you know, about half the rain they would typically get for the entire year and they've had a couple of more storms rolling in and they're strong storms both with the amount of rain, the amount of wind and the amount of snow. It feels really more like January in this La Nina or waning La Nina year.

Show you some of the pictures now. As mentioned, parts of Santa Cruz around the San Lorenzo River are being evacuated. There's also this threat and there's been a number of mudslides that have rolled around the Bay area.

Out on the coast, Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway has been shut down in some spots because of rock and mudslides, and this threat will continue right through the weekend.

And on top of that, Interstate 80 in spots is shut down as you get up and over the -- in the Sierra Nevadas, where winter storm warnings are posted right now, and this extends also into parts of San Jose, back up through north of the Bay Area and in through Marin County and in through Sonoma as well.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MALVEAUX: It's rough going. Thank you, Rob.

MARCIANO: OK.