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Witness Claims Utter Carnage in Misrata; The Dangers of Plutonium in Japan; Senators Briefed on Nuclear Crisis; Snow Blamed for 11-Car Crash in Virginia; Ex-Mistress Testifies Against Barry Bonds; Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Discusses Action Against Libya; 82,000 Apply for Sheen Internship; Syrian Government Resigns

Aired March 29, 2011 - 09:00   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Lots to talk about. Have a great day. Thanks so much. It is 9:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 6:00 a.m. in the West. I'm Carol Costello in for Kyra Phillips.

News breaking right now in Libya. Gadhafi forces are attacking the town of Misrata. We're heating that they're firing on civilians and looting their homes.

In Japan workers are trying to keep highly radioactive water from leaking into the Pacific Ocean and now there's word that plutonium has turned up in the soil near the nuclear plant.

And explosive testimony in Barry Bonds perjury trial. His former mistress telling the court that he threatened to cut off her head.

But we begin in Libya because the violence there is terrible this morning. What -- one witness describing it as utter carnage. We're getting chilling reports of Gadhafi's troops on a rampage in Misrata, rounding up thousands of civilians and herding them into the streets.

Here's one eyewitness account.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMED, EYEWITNESS: The displacer (ph) forces are overwhelming Misrata and that is partially and maybe mostly viewed to the fact that the international forces planes are reluctant, and we understand why, to hit the tanks and heavy artillery industries of Misrata.

We call up on the international community to take some risks and hit those heavy artillery and tanks in the streets because they are causing carnage and destruction and they are making the humanitarian situation much, much worse.

By going door-to-door and evicting Libyan families from their home and terrorizing them, and not allowing them even to take some of their belongings or take their car. They tell them run for your life. And the fire bullets are just above them.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: CNN's Nic Robertson is in Tripoli. Nic, you heard Mohammed. There was talk earlier of coalition planes circling above Libya. Are they able to stop what's happening on the ground in Misrata?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's a very tough thing for the coalition to do from the air and this is the problem, enforcing civilian safety through aircraft alone and not with troops on the ground.

We were in Misrata yesterday. It was the first time after -- over a month that the government has allowed journalists to go there. We weren't allowed to go into the areas where the rebels, where the opposition are. The government kept us held well back. But what we could see there, very clear evidence of heavy weapons being used such as tanks, artillery.

But you could see that from the destruction around us. But we could also see hiding under the trees there tanks at the side of the road, artillery weapons standing out in the open -- in the open fields. So the tanks were hiding under the trees. But we could -- we could get the impression, not something you can say 100 percent for sure, but it seemed very, very clear, to not just to us but the other journalists as well.

That there have been many more tanks on the streets there. They just -- while we were there, they had been pulled out of the way. So to hear what these reports that we're getting from Misrata right now certainly seem to tally with the presence of Gadhafi forces and tally with the presence of these heavy weapons.

COSTELLO: So --

ROBERTSON: But also when we were there seen the smoke rising in the air.

COSTELLO: So, Nic, you heard this witness in Misrata. He said that he wishes the coalition forces flying above Libya would be more aggressive and fire on these tanks that are hiding under the trees. Why -- I mean, it's a no-fly plus zone, whatever that is. Why isn't the coalition firing on these tanks, Gadhafi's tanks on the ground?

ROBERTSON: It's very hard to say why they are not firing today. We did hear last week, General Carter Ham, at that time leading the U.S. effort there to enforce the no-fly zone, describing Misrata specifically and saying it was very difficult to know exactly where the opposition was, exactly where the government was, exactly where the civilians were, and exactly where these heavy weapons were because they are hiding in houses.

As we drove out of Misrata yesterday we saw soldiers with their vehicles hiding inside buildings, inside buildings. They had driven in through the store fronts and were hiding behind the -- inside the stores and the tanks hiding under trees, so this makes it very, very hard for aircraft to see these heavy weapons and to target them easily without the fear of injuring civilians and that's the challenge that these aircraft flying overhead are facing right now -- Carol. COSTELLO: Nic Robertson reporting live in Tripoli, thanks.

As the fighting rages in Libya, President Obama goes on television to face a war-weary nation -- that would be our own. He says ignoring Moammar Gadhafi's threats of slaughtering civilians would have betrayed our values as Americans, but he said using the military to force Gadhafi from power could cost too many lives and too much money.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Of course, there is no question that Libya and the world would be better off with Gadhafi out of power. I, along with many other world leaders, have embraced that goal. And will actively pursue it through nonmilitary means. But broadening our military mission to include regime change would be a mistake.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: You heard that nonmilitary means. The president says diplomatic president will topple the Gadhafi regime.

And today, the coalition got that ball rolling. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and more than 40 foreign ministers and representatives are meeting in London right now. With them the Libyan opposition leader.

CNN's Becky Anderson is in London.

Tell us what's going on, Becky.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they are meeting just behind me here at Lancaster House. The family photos being taken earlier this morning. And we've just seen David Cameron, the British prime minister, walk in. In fact the cars behind me on my right hand side here are Hillary Clinton's. They've got their engines on waiting for the opening of this conference to end and then the parties will depart for their bi-lat.

So what you've got here is a conference which they tell us is focusing on coordinating assistance to avert a humanitarian crisis. What David Cameron, though, the British prime minister, has already told us this morning is that he is looking to ensure political and diplomatic unity for the U.N.-led military action in Libya. So expecting a lot of condemnation of Gadhafi.

But what (INAUDIBLE) here is March about what happens the day after the military action to a certain extent. This is more about the sort of medium to long term for Libya rather than what happens in the next days and weeks so far as the military action is concerned, but of course, you and I know, Carol, that there are many unanswered questions still here.

And they will be proved by the press, those who are here, as to what this NATO mission actually is, what it means, and the ultimate question, when does it finish. What is the exit strategy here? It's still very unclear at this point.

We may not get it from the guys here who are absolutely determined that this is about the day after tomorrow, the humanitarian stuff, but we're certainly going to be pushing them on that -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Absolutely. Becky Anderson, live in London, many thanks.

As world leaders meet in London, Congress is back in session here. And it's talking Libya, too. The president speech aimed to tamp down criticisms on Capitol Hill but members of both parties are demanding he better explain his long-term plans and that vow to topple Gadhafi through nonmilitary means.

This morning the views are mixed and split as you might expect largely along party lines.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: If Gadhafi remains in power, it will be a stalemate. We saw a stalemate before after Operation Desert Storm. We saw a no-fly zone and sanctions that lasted for 10 years that Saddam Hussein was able to remain in power. A stalemate is not an acceptable solution.

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: The Arab League has expelled Libya and Gadhafi. The Arab League came to us and asked for our help. The people of Libya who were the victims of Gadhafi asked for us to stand up and assist them, and that message won't be lost in the Arab and Muslim world.

It says that the United States is willing to stand by those in part of the world who really stand by our values.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And we'll talk much more about the politics of Libya including the new so-called Obama doctrine. That'll come in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM.

More breaking news to tell you about from another Arab nation hit by unrest. Syria, where the government, but not the president, Bashar Assad, has resigned. State TV says thousands came out for rallies today in Damascus, the capital, and other cities. And this is Seven Seas Square in Damascus.

The government promised to lift a longtime state of emergency after two weeks of protests. A government official says the president will have, quote, "a very important speech tomorrow."

Troubles at Japan's damaged nuclear plant widen. While workers try to prevent radioactive water from leaking into the ocean there's a new find of plutonium in the soil. The latest on the crisis next.

And Barry Bonds, he's on trial for perjury. His ex-mistress has some explosive testimony for the court. She said the slugger threatened to cut off her head. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: We're continuing to follow the nuclear crisis in Japan. Here's what's new this morning from that damaged Fukushima plant.

Workers are using sandbags and concrete panels to keep contaminated water inside a trench. Authorities say the water is radioactive enough to be an immediate hazard and they want to keep it from leaking into the Pacific Ocean.

The head of TEPCO, the company that owns the plant, has not been visible during this crisis. "The Washington Post" quotes company officials as saying he had a small illness due to working too hard and he is now back on the job. But "The Post" also reports that officials were vague about actually seeing him at work.

And TEPCO says tests have detected low levels of plutonium in soil near the plant. The power company says there is no health risk to humans and that monitoring will continue.

So exactly what is plutonium and what kind of health hazard is it really?

Let's bring in CNN contributor Jim Walsh who's been helping us understand the implications of the Japanese nuclear crisis.

So plutonium found in the soil. TEPCO says hey, it's not dangerous. That's so hard to believe.

JIM WALSH, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I know. When you here plutonium, naturally you think of radiation and health effects. But in this case, I think they are probably right. The levels of plutonium and the radiation that they are emitting, they are on the plant site because plutonium is not something that travels very far.

It's not so much a health concern, Carol. But it is important. It's important because it is another clue that perhaps the containment vessel inside one of the reactors has a leak and that fuel -- fuel rods that have been burning up are now leaking out into the environment.

That's what's important about this. And it gets to the broader question that you raised, this problem with water building up and water building up and then leaking out. Essentially, TEPCO is in an awful dilemma right now. Because on the one hand they want to cool the reactor. They have to keep that reactor cool so they have to pour water in.

But if there's a leak in one of the containment vessels that water keeps leaking out, and so they have a problem where the more they try to cool it down, the greater the radiation hazard as that water leaks out from the plant.

COSTELLO: So "The Washington Post" is reporting the CEO of TEPCO, the power company in charge of these nuclear plants, has sort of just disappeared and I suppose that is part of the Japanese culture, you know, this intense shame, the CEO disappears. Sometimes CEOs commit suicide in these circumstances. But that is he absent and that the government -- Japanese government is now saying they may take control of TEPCO.

Is that just confusing things even more or is that a good thing? I mean how should we interpret that?

WALSH: Well, I would take a couple of signals from that. One is that the fact that the CEO is not out there and in front of this, I mean he may have suffered a health problem. That would certainly be understandable given the circumstances. But it's symbolic of a general problem here that has been true from day one. And that is that the company has not been forthcoming with the government.

And the government was sort of deferring to the company, at first, understandably because they didn't recognize the seriousness of the accident, and because the workers on the plant, there on the ground, are the best experts for dealing with what is happening.

But by deferring to the company, and then the company not saying anything, this crisis got worse and worse and then reached the level where it's now very hard to put that genie back in the bottle.

So, understandable that the CEO may not be out right now, but it's a problem, and it continues to be a problem for the government, who needs better information about what's happening on the ground.

I wouldn't be -- they set early in the -- I'd say a couple of days in, they started to form a joint committee between the company and the government, and I think we'll see the government take an increasing role as this goes forward.

COSTELLO: Jim Walsh, many thanks. We appreciate it.

WALSH: Thank you, Carol.

COSTELLO: In about 15 minutes, a Senate panel will take up the Japanese nuclear disaster. Members of the energy and natural resources committee will fill that room, there, and get a briefing on the latest developments from the plant.

Steroid use has been linked to mood changes and fits of rage. Barry Bonds' ex-mistress says he talked about using the drugs and got so angry with her, he threatened to cut off her head. We'll talk more about the explosive testimony coming from Bonds' perjury trial.

An unusual giveaway when you buy satellite TV at a store in Montana. A gift certificate for a free gun. We'll have this and other stories from Cross Country, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Stories making news Cross Country. The FBI is trying to find out what or who caused a hole in the side of a US Airways jetliner. The pilot of flight 737 was making a visual inspection of the plane when he noticed small hole above the passenger windows. The flight originated in Philadelphia and had just landed safely at the airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, when he made that discovery.

People who sign up for satellite TV at a RadioShack in Montana get a gift certificate for a gun. The owner says that guns are the part of the way of life in Montana. He says the giveaway is just a way to bring customers into his store.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVEN STRAND, STORE OWNER: There's nothing illegal going on here, or are we promoting vandalism or shooting or anything of that nature. That's not what this promotion is about. This promotion is about selling Dish Network. We're in a hunting area. Guns are just part of our life here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Engineers in Utah pulled of quite a feat when they installed a new highway overpass in just a few hours. The 350-feet long concrete bridge weighed nearly 4 million pounds. They used hydraulic jacks to hoist the bridge into the air, and then they rolled it into place across eight lanes of freeway. That is amazing!

April is almost here, but it's feeling like winter in much of the country, including Atlanta. Rob Marciano is here with details. I was expecting warm weather when I came back from Baltimore this weekend.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I know.

COSTELLO: But no.

MARCIANO: It's nice to have you here. You warm up our day --

COSTELLO: Aw.

MARCIANO: -- with just your lovely smile.

COSTELLO: Aw.

MARCIANO: But it hasn't been enough, though, to warm us temperature wise.

Yes, it's been cold across much of the South, across the North as well. It's just been chilly. A chilly spring. February was warm. I just want to point that out. February was warm across much of the country, but March is certainly turning out to be more winter-like.

Case in point, check out this in Christiansburg, Virginia, where they saw snow yesterday. Not completely unheard of, but certainly very, very rare along this stretch of highway near Roanoke. There was an 11-car pileup so, causing slick roads there.

There was a record-setting snowfall in Greensboro, North Carolina. They tied a record. So, we continue to break records with what's going on this winter.

A little bit of snow moving its way across the nation's midsection. This isn't -- there's not a whole lot of moisture with this. There's got some energy that'll be transferred to the south, and that will tap into a Gulf storm, which will cause, I think, a little bit more in the way of some more direct impact.

Seattle, Portland, Eugene, boy. It's been a wet spring -- wet winter for you, hasn't it? Portland hasn't gotten above 60 degrees yet, and that has never, ever happened. So, you want to talk about some chilly temperatures, you've got it right there.

As far as where we expect to see severe weather today, it's across the South, parts of Texas in through New Orleans, and this will be moving across the deep South again. Will be rough weather with this over the next 48 hours, Carol. It will remain fairly chilly, but we do need the rain. And so, the rains that we do get are beneficial.

COSTELLO: That is looking at the glass half full --

MARCIANO: There you go.

COSTELLO: -- and I love that.

MARCIANO: I know you do.

COSTELLO: Because you know what an optimistic person I am.

MARCIANO: You and me both.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Rob.

MARCIANO: See you in a bit.

COSTELLO: The testimony coming out of the Barry Bonds perjury trial is about a whole lot more than baseball and performance-enhancing drugs. Bonds' ex-mistress says he admitted to her that he used steroids, and she says they made him so angry and controlling that he threatened to cut off her head. Christine Brennan writes for "USA Today." Thanks for joining us, Christine.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN, SPORTS COLUMNIST, "USA TODAY" (via telephone): Thank you, Carol.

COSTELLO: So, I'm sure you are following this trial. What did you think when you heard about Kimberly Bell's testimony?

BRENNAN: Some of this isn't a surprise, Carol, because there have been stories, of course, before. This has been an ongoing saga with Barry Bonds, as you know, for a good decade.

And so now, it's coming to trial. So, now she's on the witness stand and saying that Barry Bonds became increasingly aggressive, irritable, agitated, impatient, almost violent which, of course, is what the prosecution wants her to say -- wants to hear, wants the jury to hear, because that would indicate, of course, a lot of the side effects of steroid use.

So -- but you're right, it got really tawdry and messy yesterday, and I think it's a natural turn in something that is -- it's unpleasant conversation all the way around.

COSTELLO: Oh, you're not kidding, because there was another quote out of the trial. She said, "He would cut out my breast implants because he paid for them." I mean, you're right. This is very tawdry stuff.

She also described some of the physical changes he underwent because he supposedly took steroids.

(SILENCE)

COSTELLO: Christine, are you still there?

BRENNAN: I'm here, yes.

COSTELLO: Oh, good. I was just -- I just wanted you to get into that a little bit, because --

BRENNAN: Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were playing --

COSTELLO: -- she said acne broke out on his back, and things like that.

BRENNAN: Yes.

COSTELLO: What did that tell you? Was that credible? Because a lot of people say that Kimberly Bell is just testifying because she's in it for the money.

BRENNAN: Right, and I'm sorry, I thought you were going to play a clip. But I thought -- I think the reality is, here, impotence, obviously, that's a big deal. The acne, Barry Bonds talking about his elbow injury and the fact that, as he was describing it, because of steroids, the muscles, the tendons were growing faster than the joint, so he told her that.

That's important. Whether the jury buys it or not, whether he is convicted of perjury or not, it is important to have those physical situations and issues described.

COSTELLO: I'm sure you'll stick around for the rest of the trial. Christine Brennan, thank you for joining us. We appreciate it.

BRENNAN: Carol, thank you for having me.

COSTELLO: Right now, we want to head to London. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talking about Libya. Let's listen.

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: -- humanitarian assistance to reach all Libyans.

But beyond our military efforts, all of us are called to continue to work together along three tracks. First, delivering desperately needed humanitarian assistance. Second, pressuring and isolating the Gadhafi regime through robust sanctions and other measures. Third, supporting efforts by Libyans to achieve their aspirations through political change. On the humanitarian front, under the leadership of the United Nations, we will work with NATO, the EU, other international organizations and regional partners to deliver assistance. The coalition military campaign has made it possible for more help to get through.

For example, a convoy organized by the World Food Program was able to reach Benghazi this weekend with 18 tons of supplies, including food and blankets. But a great deal more aid is needed, and we have to work quickly and cooperatively to assess and respond.

Beyond the humanitarian crisis, we know long-term progress in Libya will not be accomplished through military means. All of us have to continue the pressure on and deepen the isolation of the Gadhafi regime.

This includes a unified front of political and diplomatic pressure that makes clear to Gadhafi he must go, that sends a strong message of accountability, and that sharpens the choice for those around him. It also includes financial pressure through the vigorous enforcement of sanctions authorized under Security Council resolutions 1970 and 1973.

As President Obama said last night, while our military mission is focused on saving lives, we must continue to pursue the broader goal of a Libya that belongs, not to a dictator, but to the Libyan people.

Now, we cannot and must not attempt to impose our will on the people of Libya, but we can and must stand with them as they determine their own destiny. And we have to speak with one voice in support of a transition that leads to that time.

We agree with the Arab League that Gadhafi has lost the legitimacy to lead. We agree with the African Union on the need for a democratic transition process, and we support UN Special Envoy Khatib's planned travel to Libya following this conference to assess conditions and report to the international community.

We believe that Libya's transition should come through a broadly inclusive process that reflects the will and protects the rights of the Libyan people. The transitional national council and a broad cross-section of Libya's civil society and other stakeholders have critical contributions to make.

Earlier today, I had the opportunity to meet with senior representatives of the council and to talk about the path forward. The UN, the African Union, the Arab League, the OIC, and the EU all -- excuse me -- all have important roles to play.

And through this, the United States will join the international community in our commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national unity of Libya.

This is a time of great change for Libya, for its neighbors across the region and around the world. Under different governments and under different circumstances, people are expressing the same basic aspirations. A voice in their government, an end to corruption, freedom from violence and fear, the chance to live in dignity, and to make the most of their God-given talents.

Now, we know these goals are not easily achieved. But they are, without question, worth working for together, and I'm very proud that this coalition has come to this place at this time to try to pursue those goals. Thank you very much.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you very much, Secretary Clinton. I've got requests from the --

COSTELLO: We were listening to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She is in London meeting with members of the coalition and other diplomats to try to figure out an end game for Libya.

Basically, she said we must not impose our will on the Libyan people and allow them to determine what that end game will be. She also said the coalition will continue to help the Libyan rebels do that, although she didn't specify how.

Of course, we're keeping a close eye on Libya all morning long. Gadhafi's forces attacking the city of Misrata. One witness calling it utter carnage.

And the woman who told the media and the world that Gadhafi's troops raped her, a brazen move that could make her the face of Libya's revolution.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

COSTELLO: Checking our top stories now.

Japan was shaken by two more aftershocks today -- a 6.3 and a 6.4 magnitude. They hit as worker at the damaged nuclear plants struggled to stop radioactive water from leaking into the ocean. Low levels of plutonium have been found in soil near the plant.

Heavy fighting going on right now in Misrata. A Misrata city official opposed to Gadhafi says government tanks and artillery are firing on civilians and troops are looting homes throughout Misrata.

And right now, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and more than 40 foreign ministers and representatives are meeting in London to pressure Gadhafi to step aside and to call for more aid for Libya's people. The Libyan opposition leader is also part of those talks.

Nearly every revolution in the Middle East has had a face, one person who on purpose or by accident becomes a symbol of the uprising. Iran had Neda, the young woman shot and killed during mass government protests in Tehran, back in 2009.

Egypt had Wael Ghonim, the Google executive. His Facebook page helped organize the protests that brought down Hosni Mubarak.

Mohammed Bouasizi inspired the revolution in Tunisia, when the government seized his scale, he couldn't sell fruit anymore so he set himself on fire. The days of Tunisia dictator were numbered after that.

And this could be the face of Libya's revolution. Eman Al-Obeidy, the woman who dared approached the media and the world to proclaim that Gadhafi troops had raped her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SCREAMING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The men she says raped her are now countersuing for slander. So let's get more on this.

CNN's Nic Robertson was there when Al-Obeidy suddenly became a voice and face of Libya's opposition.

Nic, first of all, do we know where she is now?

ROBERTSON: We still don't. The government said yesterday, the day before yesterday, that they'd freed her and we still don't know exactly where she is. They said she is in Tripoli, but we haven't been able to go and find her. The government controls our movements here and it's not clear that her family know where she is at the moment, Carol.

So there's a big question, not only where she is, but how is her health? How is her safety? These are all important questions and nobody seems to be able to get an answer right now -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, the other question is her alleged rapists have countersued. Where are they?

ROBERTSON: For slander. This is just another, again, confusing turn in everything that's happening here. I mean, it's confusing because the government here has taken so much heat over the way they've handled her, over the way they mistreated her, over the way that they've tried to lie about where she is, about her mental welfare, smearing her, saying that she is a prostitute.

And when you think this -- for the government here would be such a toxic subject that they would try to leave well alone and let this -- let Eman Al-Obeidy go free and stop trying to drag up all sorts of allegations against her. When you think they would understand the strength of feeling in the international community among everyone outside of Libya for this poor woman, they continue, they continue.

And today, they're saying there are going to be countercharges by the men who she accuses of raping her. They're going to be countercharging her with slander. Again, this just shows how the government seems to be mishandling and misreading and trying to smother her tiny voice of dissent that we heard for just a few minutes before she was dragged away, Carol.

COSTELLO: Is part of this reason for this is that she's sort of becoming a symbol for this uprising? ROBERTSON: Part of it is. Part of it is because her family is sticking by her. Her father, you know, has been on various television stations saying, you know, she's a law student. We stand by her. She's not a prostitute as the government says, she's not crazy as the government said. Her family has essentially held an engagement party for her, there's somebody who wants to marry her.

This is all the family showing and her tribe that they still honor and respect her because of being raped here in the Arab culture is hugely negative for a woman. There's more understanding in the west, but here it can often mean that a woman can be ostracized and thrown out of a family, even targeted for killings. But here her family is standing right squarely behind her.

So it's becoming a big issue for the government. They see the tribe now effectively standing against the government over this. And that is big.

COSTELLO: Nic Robertson, thanks for bringing us up-to-date, live in Tripoli this morning.

Amid competing protests for and against the government. A big political shake-up in Syria today. More on that breaking story coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Oh, there has been a lot of debate in the Republican Party about whether there should be a truce over social issues.

CNN's senior political editor Mark Preston is here.

So, will there be?

MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, Carol, you know, I don't think so. In fact, I was in Iowa this past weekend. I was at one a -- of these presidential cattle calls. Five potential Republican candidates appeared. The main theme of this conference was social issues.

This is the second such forum that was in Iowa that we've seen candidates go and talk about faith. You know, Newt Gingrich was one of the speakers, Carol, and one of the things that he said is that you can't talk about economic issues without talking about social issues.

COSTELLO: What?

PRESTON: Now, some in the Republican Party -- yes, well, you know they say it all gets tied together.

Some social conservatives say that folks who are just say that Republicans that need to just talk about the economy don't understand the entire picture.

And, you know, come June here, there's going to be another big conference by the Faith and Freedom Conference. That is Ralph Reed's organization and he just announced that Michele Bachmann who appeared on this conference in Iowa on Saturday, that Michele Bachmann is going to appear in his conference. Guess who else has invited? Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich.

Speaking of social conservative issues, Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, there's a lot of folks in Iowa, Carol, that are wondering if these two former governors are actually going to run for president. They've made a lot of waves, they've talked a lot about perhaps running, but they haven't taken any serious steps.

And if they do not run, Carol, what I heard out here in Iowa this past weekend is that opens the door for Michele Bachmann. She's the Minnesota Congressman who really gives a fiery speech. She's a very good fund raiser. Some folks even think that Michele Bachmann, Carol, could perhaps win Iowa next February.

COSTELLO: You have more dirt on another well-known figure in the conservative part of the Republican Party. Spill it.

PRESTON: Yes, sure. In the social conservative party, Judge Roy Moore, some folks with remember, he was the Alabama judge who just a few years ago got in trouble and lost his job because he wanted to display the Ten Commandments outside his courthouse. He lost his job.

Well, guess what? He's going to perhaps is running for president and in the next few weeks we expect him to form a presidential exploratory committee. He's already been to Iowa. So when we talk about social conservative issues, add Roy Moore to the list of somebody who will be talking about him if he runs for president, Carol.

COSTELLO: Already added it to my list.

Mark Preston, thanks. Live in Washington.

We'll have your political update is in one hour. And a reminder, for all the latest political news, go to our web site, CNNPolitics.com.

When the word tiger blood is in job description and Charlie Sheen is the hiring manager you probably aren't applying for a regular 9:00 to 5:00 gig. I'll talk to one of his top candidates for a top job, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: When Charlie Sheen tweeted that he was looking to hire a winner intern with tiger blood more than 82,000 people from 180 countries tweeted back expressing their interest in the job of Charlie Sheen's intern. Of those, 50 finalists were chosen and each submitting a YouTube video so Sheen can pick the winner. You got to take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For this intern election, there is only one key vote. A swing vote by Charlie Sheen.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The first thing I'm going to do is take a sip of my tiger blood.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tiger blood. Duh.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Charlie internship, tiger blood. Duke Powell, that is me.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Charlie Sheen don't you think it's time to choose someone you know will never lose.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: That's pretty good. Lindsey Vanstone is one of the top 50 and says she's got the winning edge to live the Sheen dream and she joins me now live via Skype. Lindsey, welcome.

LINDSEY VANSTONE, APPLICANT FOR SHEEN INTERNSHIP: Hi, Carol. How are you doing?

COSTELLO: I'm good. Now, I understand you're a successful radio anchor at a radio station in Canadian. So why do you want a job as Charlie Sheen's intern?

VANSTONE: Who doesn't want a job as Charlie Sheen's intern? I think it would be the most fun job ever. He is so out there right now. He is everywhere, it's absolutely amazing. And for me I think it would just be a great opportunity.

COSTELLO: What sorts of things would you be doing for Charlie Sheen as an intern?

VANSTONE: Well it's actually social media position. You would be doing all of his tweeting, all of his Facebook update, probably some stuff with YouTube. The whole position actually communicating with internships.com has been through using social media, too.

COSTELLO: You would have to get inside of his head which is kind of a scary proposition to me and tweet as Charlie Sheen would tweet.

VANSTONE: You know what, though, I think he's not crazy at all. I think that it's all just like a walking phoenix situation. He just kind of putting this on and everyone is going to be really surprised.

I think my position as a social media intern will be part of his comeback. I mean, he's going to Haiti even "Two and a Half Men" offered him his job back. So they can't make you bad out there.

COSTELLO: Well, that proved not to be quite true; the offering his job back. Seriously, though, Charlie Sheen has been accused of really serious stuff. In fact, he held a knife to his ex-wife's throat. He's not been very great toward women. In many instances, Charlie Sheen is not a very nice man. What about that? I mean aren't you scared of him in a way? Does that bother you?

VANSTONE: You know, I think it is a concern, but I think that really, honestly, he has just gone through some really tough times and, again, I think this is part of his career. It went down really quickly. (CROSS TALK)

COSTELLO: Oh come on. He's gone through tough times? He is a millionaire, gazillionaire. He had a hit TV show. He is gone through tough times?

VANSTONE: When people have that much money, what do you do with your money? Sometimes you spend on things like drugs and things that you shouldn't. You party extravagantly and it does lead to trouble.

You know, I think he's on the right path. And I think he's definitely going to turn things around.

COSTELLO: So you think he's not going to be abusive toward women any longer?

VANSTONE: I really honestly believe that. Otherwise I wouldn't have applied for the position. I wouldn't put myself in -- in harm's way. I mean I have a successful job here in Canada. I love my life. It's really great. And I just think honestly that this experience would add to it for me.

COSTELLO: And I'm just curious about something, because Chris Brown has similar problems.

VANSTONE: Right.

COSTELLO: Would you be an intern for Chris Brown too?

VANSTONE: It's an interesting one. I don't know if I would. Charlie Sheen, I'm actually a fan of his, where Chris Brown, I'm not. So yes, I guess I have to really think about that. But Charlie Sheen, like I actually have followed his career. I like his show and I truly believe that he's not actually crazy. So Chris Brown, on the other hand, I think he's got some real issues.

COSTELLO: Well, I hope you're right about Charlie Sheen. But I have my doubts I'll be honest with you. But I do wish you the best and thank you for joining us. We appreciate it.

VANSTONE: Thank you so much, Carol.

COSTELLO: Sure.

Switching gears now -- really switching gears. We're following some breaking news out of Syria where the government has suddenly stepped down amid clashes and protest across the country. We'll have the latest for you next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: After days of political unrest across Syria, the capital is now in chaos. And -- and we have word that the government has resigned, not the president but the rest of the government.

Zain Verjee is in London to -- to sort of put this in perspective for us. So what happened, Zain?

ZAIN VERJEE, ANCHOR, CNN INTERNATIONAL: Well, pro-government demonstrators are out on the streets. The regime is really making a point here in saying that they also have backers and supporters, but what's key here, Carol, is to understand what's at stake. The reason we are watching these pictures in Syria so closely is because there is a lot.

Syria is literally in the middle of the Middle East, both geographically and politically. It's a really key player in the Arab/Israeli conflict. Any kind of instability in Syria affects the rest of the Middle East. Also for example, it would cause instability in Lebanon where there has been so much sectarian conflict.

Also Syria is Iran's very key ally in the region. The U.S. has tried for years to try and break up the team of Syria and Iran and they failed. So anything that happens to Syria is going to affect Iran. And that's why it's so important.

COSTELLO: Well, the other question I have, is we saw this sort of thing play out in Egypt where Hosni Mubarak --

(CROSS TALK)

VERJEE: Right.

COSTELLO: -- the government dissolved there but he stayed in power. It didn't work out so great for Egypt so how does President Assad think it will work out differently for him?

VERJEE: Yes. Well, the jury is out. And what he's going to do in the next couple of days or so is going to be critical. And it will determine what happens in Syria.

Analysts I've spoken to, Carol, say that Bashar Assad has a really tight grip on the country. The Ba'ath party and the regime controls the military, the intelligence, the security forces; they are all the arm of the government, ok.

The other thing too is that the protests have been very localized and they haven't spread yet. So it doesn't really pose a real threat to the regime right now.

COSTELLO: Zain Verjee, live in London, many thanks.

We're also keeping a close eye on Libya this morning. Gadhafi's forces attacking the city of Misrata. One witness calling it "utter carnage". We'll have much more of that at the top of the hour.

And back here in the United States, a state with rampant unemployment decides to cut unemployment benefits. The where's and whys coming up in our next hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Looking at stories making news later today. A Senate committee is hearing testimony on the possible connections between clusters of disease and environmental contamination. An environmental action group says there have been 42 disease clusters in 13 states since 1976.

Erin Brockovich is among those set to testify.

At the Supreme Court big bucks in play, Arguments are being held on whether a sexual discrimination case against Wal-Mart should become a class action lawsuit. A ruling is expected by late June.

In the nation's capital, three Democratic senators hold a morning conference call to urge Republican House Speaker, John Boehner to stop allowing Tea Party activists to influence budget talks. Later Boehner and several other Republican House leaders talk about budget spending cuts with the news media.

And the six member crew of the shuttle Endeavour arrives at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida tonight. Endeavour is set to lift off April 19th for a two-week mission to the International Space Station.