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Haiti's Prime Minister Resigns Amid Escalating Violence; Israeli Officials: Ground Incursion Into Rafah Not Imminent; World Food Programme: Famine "Imminent" If Northern Gaza Doesn't Get More Aid; CNN On The Front Line With Ukraine's Medics; Brazil Reports More Than 1.5 Million Cases of Dengue Infection in the Past Few Months; U.S. Carries Out New Strikes on Houthi Targets in Yemen; Princess of Wales Apologizes for Confusion Caused by Her Digitally Altered Photo. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired March 12, 2024 - 02:00   ET

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

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[02:00:32]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world and everyone streaming us on CNN Max. I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead, Haiti's prime minister announces his resignation after weeks of spiraling chaos and violence that's pushed the nation to the brink of collapse.

On the front lines with Ukraine's medivac units as they collect the wounded under the cover of darkness in the hopes of avoiding an attack themselves.

And the princess of Wales apologizes after admitting she edited a photograph of her and her children.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Rosemary Church.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Thanks for joining us. We begin in Haiti, where the prime minister has resigned after weeks of chaos in the country. Ariel Henry, submitted his resignation Monday night, and said he will step down once a transitional council is in place.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARIEL HENRY, HATIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): My government will leave immediately after the integration of the council. It will be a caretaker government until they name a prime minister and a new Cabinet.

Haiti needs peace. Haiti needs stability.

His resignation comes just hours after regional leaders met in Jamaica to discuss a framework for a political transition. The country was plunged into chaos after powerful gangs carried out highly coordinated attacks across the capital Port-au-Prince last month.

Meantime, America's top diplomat says the U.S. will contribute $300 million for a Kenya-led multinational security mission to Haiti. Antony Blinken's announcement came after that high-level emergency meeting in Jamaica to discuss Haiti's political crisis.

And CNN's Paula Newton has the details.

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This resignation was days in the making as political factions had warned that Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry would have to step down if a new political compromise could be brokered.

Now, while the prime minister has resigned, he said he would only officially step down once the transitional presidential council could be formed and a new interim prime minister appointed.

I want you to listen now to how leaders at CARICOM or regional bloc, what they said about this resignation, assuming they hope that it paves the way for a peaceful transition in Haiti. Listen.

DR. IRFAAN ALI, CHAIRPERSON, CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY AND GUYANESE PRESIDENT: We are pleased to announce a commitment to a transitional governance arrangement which paves the way for a peaceful transition of power, continuity of governance and action plan for near term security and the road to free and fair elections.

It further seeks to assure that Haiti will be governed by the rule of law. This commitment reflects high compromises among a diverse coalition of actors who have put their country above all differences. To that end, we acknowledge the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, upon the establishment of a transitional presidential council, and the naming of an interim prime minister.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: Meantime, Henry does remain in Puerto Rico, essentially stranded unable to guarantee of safety if he does try and return to Haiti. Now, a peaceful transition is still quite a challenge. As you can imagine, the gang leaders there, they continue to spar with each other.

But they are also saying that they must share in political power and they are rejecting the idea of any international interference, including the expected arrival of Kenyan police who are supposed to arrive to try and reestablish order.

Now, in the meantime, gang violence continues to hamper access in Haiti by air, land and sea and aid agencies are warning that the country will run out of key medicine, food, and supplies in a few weeks. If the political situation is not resolved. Paula Newton, CNN, Atlanta.

CHURCH: Israeli officials say an offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah is not imminent. They say the IDF has not yet built up the forces needed for a ground incursion, and plans for a civilian evacuation have not been finalized.

[02:05:06]

More than 1 million people are currently sheltering in city. Israeli officials say a potential evacuation could take at least two weeks, but they are not ruling out an offensive into Rafah during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Israeli overnight airstrikes in Gaza killed at least 67 people and two newborns died in a northern Gaza hospital from malnutrition and dehydration. Doctors say it's because hospitals are not getting enough aid.

Meanwhile, more air drops brought aid to Gaza Monday. But experts say it's nowhere near enough to meet the massive need.

The first ship scheduled to bring aid from Cyprus to Gaza is delayed. It was supposed to depart Sunday but a Cyprus official says it's on hold due to practical issues. It's not clear what those issues are exactly.

Amid all this, the World Food Programme director says famine will happen in Gaza if Palestinians don't get more aid.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CINDY MCCAIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME: WFP is gravely concerned about humanitarian conditions across Gaza, particularly the north, which is in the grip of the humanitarian catastrophe. If we do not exponentially increase the size of aid going into the northern areas, famine is eminent. It's eminent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CNNs Paula Hancocks is live in Abu Dhabi with more on what's happening in Gaza.

So, Paula, what more are you learning about efforts to get sufficient levels of humanitarian aid into the people living in Gaza?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, we are seeing yet more airdrops happening over Gaza at this point. We know that the US has just carried out an air drops, some 26,000 meals, 25,000 bottles of water, and specifically this went in to Northern Gaza, which is really the area where it is needed more than anywhere else. This is the area where very little aid has managed to get to over recent months.

Now, we also heard from the World Health Organization that they did manage to actually get a shipment into al-Shifa Hospital. This is one of the few remaining hospitals that is able to take the injured in of this point. And they say that they were able to supply food, fuel, and medical supplies for 42,000 patients.

But they desperately need more. Another hospital as well was able to take some of that aid. But it's not just the aid at this point that the aid groups say that they are bringing and they -- that is needed. They also say that more medical personnel are needed.

Of course, many would have been injured, many have been killed, and many are also trying to keep their families alive. So, this is another one of the challenges that the collapsed health system in Gaza is facing at this point.

Now, we did hear from the head of World Food Programme, Cindy McCain, as you heard then, saying that what is happening at the moment in northern Gaza, despite those air drops from the United States, targeting that particular area is simply not enough.

She has said what is needed at this point is some 300 trucks every single day just to that one area alone. And there are still many concerns and many wounds of Northern Gaza, in particular, being on the brink of famine.

Now, we are unfortunately still hearing reports of newborns, also of children dying of malnutrition, and dehydration. In these situations, children are always the worst hit as they -- their smaller bodies are unable to weather any kind of shock, such as not having enough to eat and to drink.

So, at this point when it comes to the aid getting in still, aid organizations are saying the air drops are not enough. There still needs to be more coming by land, that is the best way to be able to target the areas that need it. But also, there is a welcome for the potential maritime corridor that would be coming from Larnaca in Cyprus.

At this point we heard from a government official in Cyprus, that it was practical issues that postponed this and they believe those issues appear to have been resolved. But we don't know for sure when that maritime corridor will be open completely and when that ship laden with goods will be able to get to those who needed. Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. Our thanks to Paula Hancocks, joining us live from Abu Dhabi.

As Russia's war rages on, the Pentagon is urging Congress to pass additional funding to backfill aid for Ukraine.

[02:10:06]

A supplemental bill stalled in the House would unlock $10 billion that the Pentagon needs to replenish equipment it has given to Ukraine.

In a CNN exclusive, sources say Russia is on track to produce nearly three times more ammunition than what the U.S. and Europe combined can supply to Ukraine. The Kremlin is allegedly making about 3 million artillery munitions a year. A senior NATO official told CNN this is now a production war, adding that the outcome depends on how each side is equipped.

And CNN's Nick Paton Walsh got a firsthand look at the dire situation on the ground. Riding with Ukrainian medics to the front line. They say Russian forces have more weapons and more soldiers on the battlefield.

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NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Light is also their enemy here. Daylight brings the threat of attack drones, so it's hard to collect casualties from the frontline. Dark is when they bring most wounded out -- to medics, hiding in the tree line.

The other light flashes from enormous bombs hitting the village of Orlivka and around, a tiny place of outsized consequence. It's Ukraine's defensive line, but Russia is raging hard for a breakthrough. The flashes constant a seven-mile slog from there to here for the wounded.

MAKSIM, COMBAT MEDIC, 59TH INFANTRY BRIGADE (text): There was a lot this morning. Six or four.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (text): But they are heavily injured.

MAKSIM (text): It depends on the day. Right now, it's relatively few. The Russians have more vehicles, more weapons, more men. And that's the biggest problem.

WALSH (voice over): They wait underground for the radio to say who, when, where. It feels almost mundane, often hours of silence.

The thump of shelling hidden by T.V. series.

ARTEM, COMBAT MEDIC, 59TH INFANTRY BRIGADE (text): Drones are a huge problem. We rarely evacuate during daylight. Mostly at night. We try to extract the heavily injured during the day too.

WALSH (voice over): Then, it is time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (text) One wounded to pick up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (text): What's the condition? When and who delivers?

WALSH (voice over): They never really know what they'll find until they get there. And they too are targets. But along this eastern front, the slick routines carry on. Minus one key thing, hope.

WALSH: Because of the intensity of the fighting here, this happens all night -- every night. The desperate race to use dark to cover up night to get the wounded to hospital as fast as possible, here come some more.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (text): Put the camera away! Put it away!

WALSH (voice over): From one Humvee to another, the wounded of a war they are losing, because the U.S. is dropping out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (text): I don't see blood. Roll the sleeve, brother.

WALSH (voice over): The force of a blast appears to have broken his upper arm.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (text) It's my bone.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (text) Yes, I can see it.

WALSH (voice over): It's going to be a painful drive until the drugs kick in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE). Drive slowly, no potholes please!

WALSH (voice over): He says he only had stitches out four days ago from another injury. A Russian attack drone ripping into their armored vehicle two weeks ago.

One of the five men hid inside then is still in hospital. Tonight, it was also drones.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (text): We were running for kilometers. Under the drones, under everything. They were waiting for us as soon as we arrived. Our two groups were pinned down by drones. The medivac was coming, but we can't see it. It's also being shelled with everything they have. I just heard a bang. I fell down inside the Humvee, couldn't feel my hand, couldn't move the fingers. So, the arm is still there, it its place. Can they fix it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (text): Yes, there is nothing serious. You are very lucky the artery isn't damaged.

WALSH (voice over): When they get to the hospital, all is blacked out and we cannot even film doors.

[02:15:00]

Russia is scouring the front lines for any part of the medical chain to hit, to make help harder and further away, just like American money.

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, near Orlivka, Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Oban says Donald Trump's plan for Ukraine is simple. He "will not give a single penny and that will effectively end the war in Russia's favor."

Trump hosted the Hungarian strong man at his Florida resort on Friday. Sources tell CNN, it was a friendly social meeting with no agenda. The two stand on common ground, they are both far right populists, defined by anti-immigrant rhetoric. And both have long been critical of NATO.

Trump's former national security adviser says NATO would be in real jeopardy if he is reelected president.

Well, now to a CNN exclusive, a former longtime employee at Donald Trump's Florida resort is speaking publicly about the classified documents case for the first time known in court documents as Trump employee five, Brian Butler worked at Mar-a-Lago for 20 years.

Butler told CNN how he unknowingly helped load boxes of secret intelligence documents onto the former president's plane in June 2022.

Butler explained to CNN's Kaitlan Collins what happened when Trump's personal aide, Walt Nauta asked him for help in moving those boxes. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN BUTLER, FORMER MAR-A-LAGO EMPLOYEE: And then, what happened is Walt left before me, and he never goes directly to the plane. He's either in the motorcade when he goes there with the boss, which the former president.

And I remember telling him he left the club with -- I didn't know what he had in his vehicle, but he waited for me at a nearby business and I told him I would tell him when I was leaving Mar-a-Lago.

So, I left Mar a Lago, I texted him, hey, I'm on my way. He followed me, he pulled out and got behind me, we got to the airport, I ended up loading all the luggage I had, and he had a bunch of boxes.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: You noticed that he had boxes.

BUTLER: Oh, yes. They were the boxes that were in the indictment, the white banker's boxes. That's what I remember loading.

COLLINS: And did you have any time, any idea at the time that there is potentially U.S. national security secrets in those boxes?

BUTLER: No clue. No, I had no clue. I mean, we were just taking them out of the escalade, piling them up. I remember they were all stacked on top of each other, and then we're lifting them up to the pilot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Butler says he doesn't believe the criminal case against Trump is a witch hunt as the former president has claimed, but says he believes Americans should know the truth about his ex-boss.

Nigerian soldiers are reportedly helping in the search for hundreds of students kidnapped from their school last week by armed bandits. We will have that story after the break.

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[02:20:17] CHURCH: An urgent search is underway in Nigeria, where more than 300 school students were abducted last week. Gunman on motorcycles stormed their school in the country's Northwest on Thursday and forced them into a nearby forest.

Police say a few students were rescued but at least 287 are still being held. The government says it's doing everything it can to bring the students home safely and making progress.

Ever since, the mass kidnapping of the Chibok school girls by Boko Haram nearly a decade ago. Nigeria has been grappling with bandits using the same tactic and demanding ransoms.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UMAR ALIYU, VILLAGE HEAD, KURIGA (voice over): Since the beginning of this problem of banditry, we have been having sleepless nights. We cannot attend neighboring markets, and we can't go to our farm that is far away from the village.

Even the farms that are close to the community, the bandits still prevent us from going. This year is the worst so far, and we are afraid. We don't know what to do.

CHURCH: Former CNN anchor Isha Sesay, joins me now from New York. She is also the author of "Beneath the Tamarind Tree", a story of courage, family and the lost schoolgirls of Boko Haram.

Isha, so good to have you back with us.

ISHA SESAY, AUTHOR, BENEATH THE TAMARIND TREE: Thank you. Thank you for having me.

CHURCH: So, it has been 10 years since 276 teenage girls were kidnapped from their school in Chibok in Nigeria, by the Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram, and you broke the story when it happened and have written a book about it.

Now, here we are, again, with nearly 300 students abducted from their school in Northwest Nigeria. What more do we know about this latest kidnapping? I think what we can safely say is it points to the fact that the people of Nigeria, certainly certain parts of Nigeria and the North are no safer than they were 10 years ago.

We know in quite eerily familiar fashion, having read some of the accounts of some of the kids who were able to escape, that suddenly they were surrounded by men on motorbikes, who started shooting, herding them into groups and forcing them out of the school compound.

The understanding that they were marched into the surrounding forest, which is eerily similar to what happened to the Chibok girls back in 2014, where the same thing.

But in this case, clearly identified as Islamic militants stormed their school in the middle of the night, herded them off, set fire to their school, and marched them into the forest.

As of yet, no accounts of these almost 300 children aged between eight and 15 by all accounts, having been rescued or having been returned to their loved ones. So, just a lot of heartbreak, a lot of heartbreak from a devastated community.

CHURCH: Yes, it is a tragedy indeed. And there have been other recent kidnappings in Nigeria in recent weeks, in fact, a stark reminder about the security crisis plaguing the country.

How dangerous are conditions there right now and who should be shouldering the blame for the continued violence?

SESAY: Well, let's start with the conditions. Appalling. Appallingly, so, I mean, since the new president, if you will, Bola Tinubu, took office in May of last year, they've been over 4,000 abductions.

Now, the situation is such that I spoke to someone who just returned from Nigeria actually just a few hours ago, and he was in the capital of Abuja. And he told me that he went to a local restaurant with some friends. And as they left that evening, having had their meal, there was great anxiety as they walk to their car, that nearby car. This isn't the capital of Nigeria where we have actually seen abductions in recent months.

So, you know, what used to be an issue that was largely considered to be out of sight up in the north in the northeast, you know, when we talked about Borno, Borno State, which is where the Chibok abductions happen. It's now, you know, moving further and further down, and more and more people are being swept up in this.

In what I'm calling really a kidnapping industrial complex. You know, and who's responsible for these atrocities because that's what they are? We have gangs, local criminal gangs referred to as bandits, plaguing the Northwest. And in the northeast, we're still talking about largely the same actors, Islamic militants.

Now, ultimately, who bears responsibility for all of us can only be the government. They have the social contract with their people to keep them safe. They are the ones who should have a safe schools plan that should be enforced. So, children can go to schools safely.

[02:25:01]

You can only point the finger at the government.

CHURCH: And Isha, you're reporting on the Chibok girls was the driving force behind the global #BringBackOurGirls movement, which shown a spotlight on these abductions. Some of those girls escaped, others were rescued. And tragically, some died. But more than 100 remain missing. Is there any expectation that those young women will ever see their families again?

SESAY: You know, it's so complicated now. Because I'm still very close to some of the young women as they are now who were held in captivity. And actually, spoke to one today. And we were talking about it and the fact that we're approaching the 10-year anniversary, and I asked how she felt and she expressed great sadness, that her sisters and they all refer to themselves as part of a sisterhood are still in captivity.

But I will tell you something which shouldn't surprise many. It is that of some of the young women who have escaped in recent years, and now the count is roughly 98 are unaccounted for, we don't know whether all of them are alive, but we know 98 remain unaccounted for.

Of some of the ones who escaped, most recently, the conversation that is emerging, and what I was told today, then only by one individual is that of some of the women who remain with a captive -- with their captors, they don't want to come back.

There is an element of Stockholm syndrome that is firmly taken hold with some of them, and they do not want to return to their families. And, you know, many years ago, there was a video that came out actually, about one of the girls who actually I write about in my book, "Dorcas Yakubu", and she's on tape saying, I do not want to come back. This is my family.

So, it's become quite complicated. It's not -- it's not simply a situation around the government, locating them, paying a ransom or rescuing them by force. There was now this element because they have been brainwashed where some feel that their place now is with the Islamic militant community.

And then there are those who this young woman also told me, who felt that even if they could escape, they are in such remote places, they wouldn't even know where to go.

They are sort of lost in the wilderness. So, it has taken on an even more heartbreaking context. This entire story, which I continue to follow and continues to devastate me and their families really when you -- when you hear those details, such as I did today.

CHURCH: Yes. So understandable. Tragic for the girls and of course, their families that would love to see them back home with them. Isha Sesay, thank you so much for talking with us. Appreciate it.

SESAY: Thank you so much. And good to see you, Rosy.

CHURCH: Still to come, parts of South America are enduring a spike in cases of Dengue fever. I will speak with an expert about why the virus is thriving in those climates and warning signs to look out for. Back with that in just a moment.

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[02:31:00]

CHURCH: Welcome back everyone. There has been a surge in cases of dengue fever recently with more than 1.5 million cases reported in Brazil in the past few months. That's according to the country's health ministry. Cases of the virus infection have surged amid Brazil's warm and humid climate, but it's not the only place battling the disease. The World Health Organization says about half of the global population is now at risk of the virus with up to 400 million infections possible each year.

Thais dos Santos is a regional advisor at the Pan American Health Organization and she joins me now from Washington. Appreciate you being with us.

THAIS DOS SANTOS, REGIONAL ADVISER, SURVEILLANCE & CONTROL OF ARBOVIRAL DISEASES: It's a pleasure to be here.

CHURCH: So, dengue fever has hit Brazil particularly hard, overburdening hospitals and triggering a state of emergency. What is the situation there right now? And in other parts of South America affected by this as well?

DOS SANTOS: Well, 2023 had been a record-breaking year in terms of case burden for dengue in the Americas. We reached over 4.5 million cases reported to the Pan American Health Organization for the first time ever since we've been keeping records in 1980. This year so far, we are only two months into the year and we've already had reports of nearly 2 million cases of dengue reported, most of those cases coming from Brazil.

But Brazil is not alone in experiencing this dengue surge. Many countries in South America, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and still countries from Central America are experiencing a higher case burden than they usually would for this time of year.

CHURCH: And why do you think we are seeing this rise in dengue fever infections at this particular time? What's behind it? And could higher temperatures create a situation perhaps where this virus becomes a constant threat?

DOS SANTOS: Well, that is what we fear. Arboviral diseases are these viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes are really excellent sentinel for the impact of climate change in human health. Because these are transmitted by a mosquito that thrives in warmer environments, definitely the warmer temperature pitchers allow the conditions for a better transmission of these viruses. What we are seeing is longer transmission periods. We are seeing the virus being transmitted in areas that we had not seen before.

Another component that could be driving some of this is that for two years, while people were maintaining some distance at home during the COVID years, people that would have normally been infected with these viruses did not get infected. So, we accumulated more persons who are now susceptible to these viruses.

CHURCH: And how many cases of dengue fever would there be, do you think, across South America right now? And how long before it spreads to other nations like the United States? While we are actually seeing some cases, but nowhere near the levels that we are seeing in South America.

DOS SANTOS: I think that these viruses transmit well in environments where people -- well, not only tropical environments, but in environments where people have to store their own water. And where water may accumulate and produce breeding sites for these mosquitoes. So in a place in the United States where people live mostly in air conditioned and screened-in houses, the risk of exposure is significantly lower than in places where people are in open air environments and with maybe less access to water and sanitation services.

CHURCH: So, what should people be doing to protect themselves against the dengue fever virus? And how big might this get do you think?

DOS SANTOS: Well, we are, as always, preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.

[02:35:00]

DOS SANTOS: I think that the pandemic has left us some important lessons in terms of contingency planning and mitigation and organization of health services. While I was working with countries -- in training clinicians in identifying the early predictors of severe disease, because while we might have a high case burden, we want to make sure that we reduced in as much as possible the number of deaths from this disease. And this is different from COVID in that this is a virus that we know and we have experience managing. So, it is our hope and all our efforts are geared to preventing deaths.

So, what can persons individually do? They can protect themselves from mosquito bites. They can make sure that they don't have -- this is a mosquito that loves to be around inside and around houses. So within the households, persons need to make sure that they don't have sites where water accumulates and the mosquitoes can breed. And also, we like to -- in terms of messaging for the community, let the community know what are the warning signs that they must be aware of in -- that are signs that the disease is not progressing well and that they may need to seek medical attention.

So, if during the course of the disease, after the fever drops, because the first few days most people have a very high fever, if the person has intense and continuous abdominal pain, drowsiness, dizziness, bleeding from their mucus membranes, especially their gums or their nose, persistent vomiting, restlessness, these are signs that the disease is not progressing well. And these persons should seek immediate medical attention.

CHURCH: Some great advice there, Thais dos Santos. Thank you so much for joining us.

DOS SANTOS: Thank you so much.

CHURCH: U.S. Central Command says it conducted strikes Monday on Houthi targets in Yemen. Military officials say they destroyed an unmanned underwater vessel and 18 anti-ship missiles. CentCom also says the Iranian-backed Houthis fired two missiles at a merchant ship on Monday, but those missiles did not hit the ship. The Houthis have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since Israel's war with Hamas began with the aim of trying to pressure Israel to stop its offensive in Gaza.

Still to come, the Princess of Wales apologizes for a family photo that was digitally altered. But her comments have done little to quiet the speculation surrounding her health. We'll explain.

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CHURCH: Welcome back everyone. Catherine, the Princess of Wales, is apologizing for the "confusion" caused after releasing a photograph of her and her three children on Sunday. Major news outlets quickly withdrew the picture after discovering it had been manipulated.

[02:40:00]

CHURCH: While Kensington Palace has released an explanation for the mishap, it has done little to quiet concerns about Catherine's health. CNN's Richard Quest breaks down the controversy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the picture that was meant to put to rest what is about Kate.

ERIC BARADAT, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY, AFP: This photo of the Princess of Wales and her children has now been pulled from circulation.

QUEST (voice-over): -- only hours after the photo was released on Mother's Day in the U.S. The Associated Press news agency was the first to withdraw it, using what they call a kill notification. The AP said, at closer inspection, it appears that the source has manipulated the image, by source they mean the princess. The problem is Princess Charlotte's sleeve isn't where it should be.

BARADAT We have experts, photoshop experts like the guys sitting behind me, that it doesn't take a second for them to see that the image was altered and manipulated.

QUEST (voice-over): And her hair ends abruptly. The zipper on Kate's sweater is misaligned. The other big agencies, Reuters and AFP, were quick to issue their own kill notices, telling news outlets not to use the image. Then, more than 24 hours after she posted it, the Princess of Wales apologized, saying like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. At one level, this is nothing more than an amateur photographer getting it wrong.

But the underlying issue is the fact that the Princess of Wales has not been seen since having unspecified abdominal surgery back in January. This grainy photograph taken on Monday as Kate traveled to a private appointment with William is one of the few images that surfaced since then.

We don't know what editing she did and the palace hasn't released the unedited version. So, is this just an amateur photographer's learning experience or is there something more to the picture that has fueled a thousand words of speculation?

Richard Quest, CNN, New York

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And thanks for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church. WORLD SPORT is coming up next. Then, I will be back in 15 minutes with more CNN NEWSROOM. Do stick around.

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(WORLD SPORT)

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