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Iran Releases U.S. Hikers; Showdown over Palestinian Statehood; Troy Davis, Less Than 10 Hours to Live; U.S. Hikers Release is Minutes Away; Obama Addresses the U.N.; Obama to Speak at United Nations; U.S. Hikers Released

Aired September 21, 2011 - 09:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, guys. Thanks so much.

Well, locked up by Iran for two years. Two American hikers are finally free. That's what tops our hour this morning. Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, convicted of spying and illegally entering the country, they wasted no time leaving it as soon as they were officially bailed out.

CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom joining us now with the latest -- Mo.

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, we've heard from U.S. official that Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer have been released from a prison there, but we're also hearing that they're still in the prison.

Our sources in Iran are saying that they don't if they've actually left Evin Prison yet. That Swiss officials and Omani officials are actually still in that prison, trying t o make sure that they are free.

There's a lot of speculation that once they are free, even though the Iranian judiciary, has issued a statement as reported by Press TV, that their sentence -- that their detention sentence has been commuted and they've been released on bail, a lot of speculation is that once they are released, they will head to Muscat, Oman.

And the reason there is that speculation, and we're hearing Muscat, Oman, is because last year the Omani government played an integral part in negotiating and securing the release of Sarah Shourd, the third American hiker who was detained along with Fattal and Bauer and who was released last September.

Omani government officials aren't confirming this at this point, but we do know from our producers in Tehran that Omani government officials did go into the prison earlier today and we're awaiting word as to when and if they will leave the country, and in fact, they will be headed to Muscat, Oman.

PHILLIPS: And it makes sense, Mohammed, if you wanted to look at the politics behind all of that and the relationship between Oman and the U.S. -- Mohammed, are you still connected with me? All right, we've lost connection with Jamjoom, apologize for that. And we will be talking more about, of course, this incredible day for the Fattal and Bauer families, and for Sarah Shourd, also, the third hiker, as Mohammed mentioned, that was released just over a year ago because of health concerns.

Susan Candiotti has spent time with those families over the last couple of years and she joins us now live from New York -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

Of course, the families, too, are waiting for official word that Shane and Josh have left the prison. As Mohammed has reported, certainly we have word, officially, that the paperwork has been signed. That their sentences have been wiped away. That they are allowed to leave -- you know, commuted sentences and that they will be allowed to leave the prison.

And of course, we're standing by for a visual verification that they've actually, physically, left the building.

So the families, as we know, have been waiting in Oman for more than a week ever since the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said that they would be released in a couple of days. So it's been a very long and anxious wait for them.

The expectation is that they will be transferred on a plane, just as Sarah was, just over a year ago, to Oman, where there will be hugs and a reunion there. It is possible that the -- that Josh and Shane will say a few words in Oman before leaving as soon as possible for the United States.

The last time, because of the U.N. general assembly, they were unable to get a direct flight to New York. Of course, the route isn't known for sure, but the expectation is they will try to make it to New York perhaps via Washington, D.C. It's unclear at this point. And hopefully, would have some public words to say just as Sarah did the last time -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Susan Candiotti there out of New York for us.

Susan, thanks.

And one hour from now, President Obama faces a high-stakes test of diplomacy. He's going to stand before the United Nations and face two very different audiences. One, the international community on edge over U.S. efforts to block Palestinian membership. The other, his Republican challengers ready to pounce on any hint he's backing away from Israel.

Brianna Keilar standing by at the White House.

Brianna, how careful do you think the administration being in trying to achieve the right balance here? BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: You know overall in the actions the administrations had taken over months, you could argue that they've tried to have a balance there. But if you look, Kyra, at the president's actions in New York, what we're expecting him to say before the U.N. general assembly today, if you look at those things in isolation, this is not walking a very fine line.

This is the president coming down firmly on the side of Israel to say that this is not the venue for the Palestinians to seek statehood and it's also the president coming down firmly on the side of a very important Democratic voting and donor block. That, of course, being Jewish Americans, and he has a lot of ground to make up here because he's made this community unhappy with some of his actions.

You had in May, he called for the pre-1967 borders of Israel to be the starting point for negotiation between Palestinians and Israelis, angered many Israelis, angered many Jewish Americans.

And there's been tension between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Top that off with the recent special election in New York. This was Anthony Weiner's former seat, Chuck Schumer's former seat. A large Jewish American population and for the first time in almost a century, this district elected a Republican.

There's a lot of concern in the administration that they have lost ground with Jewish Americans, a constituency that they cannot afford to lose as the president heads into a bruising re-election battle -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Brianna Keilar at the White House.

Let's continue the conversation and head to the United Nations now. That's where we'll find our senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth.

Richard, give us the world view here. President Obama receiving a warm welcome his first two years there. So how much do you think that has changed this year?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think the Arab Spring fever that broke out has changed a little bit of the dynamics in the world. President Obama had called in various speeches in the Middle East and elsewhere for more democracy. I don't think there's more opposition to President Obama. There may be some frustration with the continuing wars, but there's a lot of developments going on and a lot of issues inside the general assembly right now.

The U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has convened this 66th general assembly session. A few speakers away will be the U.S. President Barack Obama.

Now Obama is going to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and also prime -- Palestinian President Abbas. These will be individual meetings, not the type of direct face-to-face negotiations the United States wants. Instead of what Abbas wants, which is a formal application for statement which he plans to submit after his speech on Friday to the U.N. Security Council.

The U.S. awaits with a veto there so there's a lot of more negotiating and a lot of maneuvering still to come. There won't be instant statehood following this general assembly session -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Richard Roth there from the U.N. -- Richard, thanks. We'll be talking about it all throughout the morning.

And in the Middle East, the impassioned debate over Palestinian statehood has ignited a number of flair ups. Palestinian protesters clashing with Israeli troops near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank.

You see here it was those settlements that helped paralyze the peace talks with Israel more than a year ago. Palestinian Authority has called for mass demonstrations today and thousands of people have held rallies in major cities and towns already across the region. For the most part, they have been peaceful.

We're going to have live coverage of President Obama's speech to the U.N. general assembly. It is now scheduled to begin less than an hour from now, 10:00 Eastern. We will take it live.

Denied clemency. Troy Davis has less than 10 hours to live now. Protesters already gathering outside Georgia's death row. They're outraged that the execution is going to go ahead despite questions raised about the case.

Our David Mattingly discussed that with the prosecutor that convicted Davis of killing a police officer.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CROWD: Stand up and testify. We won't let Troy Davis die.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Their last means of legal recourse seemingly exhausted. There may be little more for Troy Davis's legion of supporters to do but shout their frustrations and pray.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stand up and testify.

MATTINGLY: Meanwhile, the prosecutor who sent Davis to death row for the murder of Savannah Police Officer Mark MacPhail broke years of silence, calling the campaign to save Davis unfair and unjust.

SPENCER LAWTON, PROSECUTED TROY DAVIS: We have felt that we were ethically down to maintain our silence and express our opinions and judgments on the facts in court, which is where we have and every place where we have, we won.

MATTINGLY: Now retired, former D.A. Spencer Lawton believes his witnesses who testified against Davis 20 years ago and later changed their stories or recanted did so under pressure from Davis' supporters. And failed to appear credible, he says, in the eyes of the court.

LAWTON: It has been a game of delay throughout. The longer the delay, the more time they have to create not doubt, not honest doubt, not real doubt, but the appearance of doubt.

MATTINGLY: The Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole, again, refused to stop Davis's execution, saying its decision was based on the totality of the information presented in this case.

Davis supporter say, race was a factor.

REV. RAPHAEL GAMALIEL WARNOCK, SENIOR PASTOR, EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH: This is Jim Crow in a new era. There's just too much doubt for this execution to continue.

MATTINGLY: This is Davis' fourth appointment with execution. Another last-minute delay seems far less likely this time. Families of Davis and Officer MacPhail both prepare for the end.

MARTINA DAVIS-CORREIA, TROY DAVIS' SISTER: It's like reliving a nightmare over and over. But the thing about it is, we have to stay strong in our faith.

JOAN MACPHAIL, WIFE OF SLAIN OFFICER: We have lived this for 22 years. We know what the truth is. And for someone to ludicrously say that he is a victim, we are victims. Look at us. We have put up with this stuff for 22 years and it's time for justice today.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: All right, breaking news to bring you now. We want to take you to Iran, you know, they were locked up for two years. Two American hikers. Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer convicted of spying, illegally entering the country.

Well, they now are going to be free any moment now. As we have reported, $500,000 bail for each one of them.

Our CNN producer Shirzad Bozogmehr is right there outside the prison where those American hikers are about to walk out.

Shirzad, we were wondering when exactly this was going to happen. We got word that they were going to be set them? Have you seen them? Do you expect them to step out at any moment?

SHIRZAD BOZOGMEHR, CNN PRODUCER: The lawyer just came out of the prison and he said that he has done all the formalities taking care of them and all that was expected of him. And he asked I asked the authorities when they would actually be released, they said four or five minutes.

It's already been five minutes, but they haven't been released yet. The authorities said very soon they will be released. The Swiss ambassador is here, the lawyer sitting next in the car and they're talking and we can't hear what they're saying. Lots of reporters around and we just have to wait and see when they are actually released.

We expect them to be released in the custody of the Swiss ambassador so that's why they're hanging around their car and as soon as they're in the car, hopefully we can get a word out of them before they leave.

PHILLIPS: Shirzad, I'm sorry. Who did you say is waiting to pick them up? Who is in the car? Who will be taking them?

BOZOGMEHR: This is what we've been led to believe by the prison authorities who said the prison car will bring the two Americans and release them in the custody of the Swiss ambassador (INAUDIBLE) -- the interest of the United States here in Iraq, in the absence of embassy of the United States.

And the Swiss ambassador, Mr. Agosti, also confirmed it and said, as a representative of the interest of the United States here, they will be able to be released to us and then we will facilitate whatever they need to do, we'll facilitate it.

She would not confirm whether they're going to go to Oman or wherever. She said I can't tell you yet. But we're hoping that after they're released maybe we can get a word out of them and find out where she -- where are the two American governors are going to be heading soon. And when.

PHILLIPS: And Shirzad, if you don't mind, we know you are right there outside of Iran's most notorious prison where these two Americans hikers are about to walk out of. If you don't mind just staying with us on the line and as soon as you see them, as soon as you can get some more information, just let us know. But let's keep chatting, if you don't mind, for a minute. I just want to bring our viewers up to date right now.

Breaking news. We've been telling you about the two American hikers, Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer. You remember they were convicted of spying and illegally entering the country two years ago. And now we are being told that $1 million in bail has been submitted. $500,000 each. So these two can walk free.

And our CNN producer Shirzad Bozogmehr is right there outside of Iran's most notorious prison where they have been held.

Shirzad, please, as soon as you see them, we're going to keep you up live, keep connections with you.

Zain Verjee, I know we were going to talk about a totally different story with you out of London, but I'd like to get you to weigh in on this because you have been talking about this -- since yesterday when we got word that they were going to walk free.

What do you know about this prison and how this might unfold? You heard Shirzad, of (INAUDIBLE), is there waiting for them and then the question is, where will they go next? Our sources telling us, possibly Oman. ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Well, Evin Prison is one of the most notorious prisons in Iran. As to what could happen next, they're likely to go to a third country. And yes, there are reports that they would go to Muscat in Oman.

I spoke to a source just a short while ago there who confirmed to me, that would be the case, that they were already on alert to pick up the two Americans, that the families have been there for a while.

Also, what would likely happen is that they would stay for medical checkups to make sure that they were OK. The source I spoke to indicated, too, that they would stay there overnight and then just get back to the U.S. as soon as possible. It's likely, I was told, too, that they would just fly on a commercial plane from Iran to Oman, and all that was being waited for was which airstrip they were going to land on and then things would happen from there.

But, again, you know, it's unclear how quickly this would happen. But if the previous person that was in Evin Prison as part of this group, Sarah Shourd, she was released almost immediately and ended up in Oman pretty quickly, and came home very, very fast.

So, that's the information that we have. It's likely that they will go to Oman.

PHILLIPS: Got it. All right. Zain Verjee there, live for us out of London -- Zain, thanks.

And Shirzad is still with us, just outside that prison in Tehran, waiting for those two American hikers that will finally be set free. They are supposed to walk out of that prison any minute now.

We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: We're now being told those prison cars are pulling up to that prison in Iran, the Evin Prison there where the two American hikers are about to be set free. Let's take you back quickly to our CNN producer Shirzad Bozorgmehr, who is right there.

Shirzad, what can you tell us?

SHIRZAD BOZORGMEHR, CNN PRODUCER (via telephone): Well, the car carrying the Omani people is beginning to drive up there, the hill, to get to the gates. But they stop again. It looks like they're beginning to go over to the gate and get them out.

Let's see what happens -- going through the security check right now.

PHILLIPS: OK.

BOZORGMEHR: The ambassador cars, also -- the Omani past the security check and going up the hill to go to the prison gate.

PHILLIPS: OK. So, they've gone through security. They are headed up to the gate. How long do you think it will take for them to retrieve the two American hikers?

BOZORGMEHR: They're stopping at the checkpoint now. Walking up the hill. (INAUDIBLE)

PHILLIPS: OK. Can you see the hikers yet?

BOZORGMEHR: No, not yet. The cars are, the two Omani cars went inside the prison and the Swiss ambassador is joining them. We don't know if they're going to bring them out or the Swiss ambassador is going to go in and bring them out.

PHILLIPS: What's the conversation like there at the gate, Shirzad?

BOZORGMEHR: Sorry?

PHILLIPS: What's the conversation going on right there at the gate? I can them speaking Farsi. What they did they say?

BOZORGMEHR: Someone has overheard the prison authority saying the two Omani cars are going to bring them out. But I didn't hear it myself.

PHILLIPS: OK. So, right now, Shirzad, let's go ahead -- let's go ahead and set the scene for our viewers. If you're just tuning in to CNN, breaking news now. Yes?

BOZORGMEHR: It's 2:00 p.m. Iran time. (INAUDIBLE), 5:30, three and a half hour, we'll be waiting outside Evin Prison gates. The lawyer came in about two hours ago, went inside and handed over the documents and the proof that they had been paid. They been in there for over an hour and a half and came out about 10 minutes ago, went straight to the Swiss ambassador's car.

But before he went in, he said that prison authorities have told them everything is OK and prisoners will be released in five minutes. It's already been 15 minutes. But the Omani cars today, the Omani embassy, have gone past checkpoint and gone inside the prison, and hoping they will be coming out soon with the two American hikers.

PHILLIPS: OK, Shirzad. We're going to keep the phone lines hot and you let us know as soon as you see Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, the two American hikers about to be free, about to walk out of Evin Prison there in Iran. We're going to bring it to you live as soon as it happens.

Shirzad, let us know.

We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: We continue our breaking news coverage, possibly minutes even seconds away those two American hikers about to walk out of Iran's most notorious prison, the Evin Prison. Our Shirzad Bozorgmehr, CNN producer, is right there. He has been giving us a sort of a minute-by-minute play of what has happened.

Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer convicted of spying and illegally entering this country, about to be set free after $1 million bail.

Shirzad, anything else you can tell us?

BOZORGMEHR (via telephone): (INAUDIBLE) the checkpoint for the police motorcycle escort has gone up to the gate, supposedly to wait for the Omani cars to come out and escort them out of the prison, and then hopefully take a look at it and make sure that they are in the cars, if they bring them out of this gate. But usually or sometimes, they take them out of the back door and without anybody seeing them. That's what happened to Sarah Shourd last time.

But we have no choice but to wait here at the main gate.

PHILLIPS: Obviously, this is an important story for us because they are two Americans. But I'm curious, has there been any kind of reaction so far in the Iranian media, Shirzad?

BOZORGMEHR: Very little. They carried the news that they had been accepted and paid and that was the end of it. And the judiciary has agree to set the bail and that set a debate and it's been approved and received. So, that's about it. They didn't make a big splash, but it was mentioned in the news.

PHILLIPS: So, Shirzad, do we know if Josh and Shane were kept together or in solitary confinement? Do you have any idea?

BOZORGMEHR: I have no idea. It's never been mentioned.

PHILLIPS: OK. Shirzad, please, stay with us. Stay on the line with us. We want to continue following this story.

If you're just tuning in and you are waiting for special coverage of the president's speech, just hold on. We are minutes away from that. But, just to keep you updated. The two American hikers, Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, who were convicted of spying and illegally entering the country are about to be freed from Iran's Evin Prison. The bail has been paid and we're right there outside the prison at the gates -- our Shirzad reporting to us.

The Swiss ambassador, two Omani cars have gone through security, or at the gates of the prison, waiting to get these two American hikers inside their cars. As soon as that happens, it could be any minute now. We will bring that to you live.

OK, let's take it to New York now where our Wolf Blitzer and "The Best Political Team on Television" will set the stage for the president's comments about Palestinian statehood. Just after the break, our Wolf Blitzer and special coverage of the president's speech, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)