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CNN Live Saturday
Tony Blair's Labour Party Loses Local Elections; Former President George H.W. Bush Celebrate 80th Birthday; Fear Of Oil Disruption In Saudi Arabia Fuel High Gas Prices
Aired June 12, 2004 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLINS SPENCER, CNN ANCHOR: The cost off terror at the gas pump: how the fear premium is taking a bite out of your wallets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many people do you have to kill before you get the death sentence?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SPENCER: A different trial, different jury, but the same outcome: why an Oklahoma bombing conspirator escaped execution once again.
Plus, a rough start to the weekend for portions of "Tornado Alley." We'll tell you where the twisters touched down.
Hello, welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY, I'm Collins Spencer. And in half an hour, saving your family from financial feuds. That's our topic today on "Dollar Signs." Call us at 1-800-807-2620, or e-mail us to dollarsigns@CNN.com. "Dollar Signs" starts in half an hour, but first the headlines.
The U.S. embassy in Riyadh is confirming that an American has been killed in the Saudi capitol. Saudi security sources say the man was killed in a drive-bye shooting while trying to park his car in an upscale neighborhood. Saudi police also say they discovered a car rigged with explosives in another part of town.
In Baghdad, another Iraqi official is assassinated. An Iraqi deputy foreign minister was killed this morning in an ambush outside his Baghdad home. Government sources say he had just returned from the United States.
The U.S. military says it's planning to release 650 more inmates from the notorious Abu Ghraib Prison on Monday. There have been four major releases of prisons since the prison abuse scandal became public in April.
And Rush Limbaugh is moving into the singles world. The conservative radio host and his third wife are calling it quits on their ten-year marriage, that's according to Limbaugh spokesman. The split comes amid a criminal probe of Limbaugh's prescription painkiller use. The spokesman says that's not related to the divorce. We begin in Iraq, where there is more turmoil with less than three weeks to go before the handover of sovereignty. One trouble spot that continues to be a source of tension is Fallujah. A top U.S. military official today said the coalition is not satisfied there's been any progress on most of its objectives of the volatile town. The area has been calmer since a cease fire ended fighting between U.S. marines and insurgents, but Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt says quote, "there's still a long way to go in Fallujah."
Meanwhile a radical Shiite cleric is hinting he will support Iraq's interim government. In a statement, Muqtada al-Sadr said that would only happen if it sets up a timetable to withdraw coalition forces.
And three people who were taken hostage in Iraq were found shot dead today near Ramadi. The Lebanese national and 2 Iraqi worked for a Lebanese telecommunications company.
There was also violence in the capital, an Iraqi deputy foreign minister was gunned down in front of his home this morning. It's the second attack this week on an Iraqi government official. CNN's Harris Whitbeck reports from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shards of glass from a shattered car window, bullet holes in the car seat, a Baghdad mortgage once again the repository of an Iraqi government official, victim of an assassination. This time it was Bassam Kubba, deputy foreign minister, the most senior career diplomat on the staff of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. Witnesses and government officials say he was gunned down as he headed for work on Saturday morning just days after he returned home from a diplomatic mission in the United States.
Last Wednesday, gunmen opened fire on Deputy Health Minister Ammar al-Safar as left his home for work. He escaped unharmed, but shaken.
And last April 17, Izzedine Salim, then president of the governing council, died when his car was hit by a bomb at a checkpoint a week ago. Other government officials and family members have been attacked, some killed. Al-Safar told CNN security for ministry deputies can be spotty because each ministry is responsible for its own security, there is no centralized organized effort to safeguard mid level officials. Coalition spokesman Dan Senor, said it cannot provide security personnel for all.
DAN SENOR, COALITION AUTHORITY SPOKESMAN: We either provide security ourselves or we training and funding for security for the Iraqi officials administer security.
WHITBECK: Iraqi Interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, condemned the latest attack. In a statement, he said, once again, the shedders of innocent blood, the dwarfs who have only known, treachery, treason and aggression have perpetrated a new crime. (on camera): The fear is more crimes will be committed. As the June 30 handover data approaches, U.S. and Iraqi officials predict a spike in attacks on representatives of the new government.
Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SPENCER: And we have this programming note, be sure to tune in tomorrow for an exclusive interview with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. She'll discuss the countdown to the hand over in Iraq, and the G-8 summit. The interview aires tomorrow on CNN's "LATE EDITION" at noon Eastern.
Aggressive, relentless and successful: that's how the U.S. military is describing U.S. marines fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Marines have killed more than 80 militants in the last 3 weeks during an assault in the southern part of the country. U.S. forces are trying to put the militants on the defensive ahead of Afghanistan's September elections.
And the fight against al Qaeda is intensifying in neighboring Pakistan. Pakistani forces are targeting a militant training camp and a safe house used by the terror network in a remote tribal region. More than 50 people have been killed in three days of fighting.
While the search continues for Osama bin Laden along the Afghan- Pakistani border there is a new videotape purportedly from Amin al- Zawari, the second in command. The voice on the tape says Americans don't want democracy and freedom in the Arab world. The speaker also mentions the Arab summit that took place last month in Tunis and denounces the reforms discussed at the meeting.
The authenticity of the tape has not been verified.
Tapes like the one purportedly from al-Zawari are a chilling reminder that the terrorists are still out there planning more attacks. It's one reason you're paying so much at the gas pump. CNN's Sean Callebs explains the fear premium.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They may gasp and complain, but they still guzzle. The United States consumes one quarter of the world's petroleum, most of it pumping into vehicles. The price per gallon is at an all time high in the U.S., but few is say that is changing their habits.
SETH KLEINMAN, MARKET ANALYST: It might affect a little bit on summer trips, weekend trips, but for the most part, you just have to suck it up and deal with it.
CALLEBS; Oil is selling for around $40 a barrel, roughly $15 higher the same time last year. The reasons are many: most oil producers, other than Saudi Arabia are pumping at capacity, demand is high, especially in China, meaning only a small global surplus and there's something deeply affecting the market right now, called the fear premium, fear of terrorism.
ADEL AL-JUBEIR, ADVISER TO SAUDI CROWN PRINCE: A significant disruption to Saudi oil supply would make $40 seem very cheap.
CALLEBS: Some energy analysts are saying the global fear factor has added anywhere from $8 to $15 for a barrel of crude. Al Qaeda is being blamed for terrorist attack last month on oil compound in Kobar. The organization has made it clear, they want to disrupt Middle East oil supplies. Saudi officials are doing what they can to ease world- wide concerns.
AL-JUBEIR: We are learning, we are equipping ourselves, we are dealing with it and we will weather the storm and god willing, we will destroy them.
CALLEBS: But the fact that traders are willing to shell out $40 a barrel right now, leads some to middle east experts to believe widespread instability in Saudi Arabia could fuel a huge spike in price of crude.
BOB BAER, FRM. CIA AGENT: When they bet that kind of price on oil, their putting their money on their bet. They're saying, we'll pay more money in the future, because we think it's going to be that expensive, because a country like Saudi Arabia is in trouble.
CALLEBS (on camera): OPEC says it would like to see the price of crude stable, at about $28 a barrel. Stability would take some of the sting out of a visit to the pumps. But since 9/11, motorists have learned they are living and driving in a different world. Sean Callebs, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SPENCER: The public will have its first opportunity Monday to visit President Ronald Reagan's final resting place. CNN's Donna Tetreault is at the Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California. Hi, Donna.
DONNA TETREAULT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Collins. Well, the library is closed today here in Simi Valley, but you can see there is some activity going on here behind me. Their breaking down after last night's sunset service.
This, of course, is the place Ronald Reagan chose himself. He loved this setting here.
Now, even to the though the library itself is not open to the public, that hasn't stopped people from gathering at the entrance to the library. People continue to come here to pay their respects to our 40th president, each person feeling their own personal closeness to Ronald Reagan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are only here for one day. This is the thing we chose to see. not Disneyland, not the zoo or anything else, we are here for this?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I needed to come here. I love him. My father died when I was young, I just felt, he sort of like a father. I just feel close to him here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TETREAULT: Now, many people we talked to here said they watched last night's service. Many commented how beautiful it was. They said there was so much love at the service. Others said that it was like a Hollywood production.
Now, the Reagan library will re-open on Monday. There will be extended hours. The library will open at 8:00 -- or excuse me, at 10 a.m. and will be open through 10:00 p.m. Through the rest of the week, there will also be some extended hours. And all of this is in anticipation of more people expected to pay their respects to Ronald Reagan -- Collins.
SPENCER: And Donna, any anticipation, or any thoughts on an estimate of the amount of people that will be come going through Monday?
TETREAULT At this point, is there no estimate. But what it's looking like now, there could be hundreds, possibly thousands.
SPENCER: OK. Thank you, Donna. Donna Tetreault in Simi Valley, California.
Well, terry Nichols won't be hiding -- or heading to the death row for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing. After the break, why some jurors decided to spare the man's life.
Plus, could a new program to protecting migratory birds mean lights out for some of the nation's biggest cities? We'll explain.
And coming up in less than a half hour, what do you need to do today to help keep your family together after you're gone. Just e- mail your questions to dollarsigns@CNN.com, or call us at 1-800-807- 2620. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SPENCER: Welcome back. On August 9, Terry Nichols is scheduled to be sentenced again for his part in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Thanks to a deadlocked jury in his state trial, Nichols has been spared the death penalty for a second time. CNN national correspondent, Susan Candiotti reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
QUESTION: Terry, you escaped death again, what do you think? Are you relieved?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Terry Nichols silent as he was led away. From a grieving mother, an outcry. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to hell, Terry Nichols.
CANDIOTTI: For Nichols, a second escape from execution for his part in the Oklahoma City bombing. The jury deadlocked after three days of deliberations, unable to reach a verdict on whether to let him live or die. Leaving that to the trial judge, who under law, must sentence him to life in prison. Roy Sells said he has one question for the jury?
ROY SELLS, VICTIM'S HUSBAND: How many people do you have to kill before you get the death sentence? Is it 500, a 1,000? I don't know. I'd just like to ask them that question.
CANDIOTTI: A lead prosecutor walked away from court crying. Nichols ailing mother and his sister left without comment.
The end result of the trial is meaningless for Nichols, he is already serving life without parole after the previous jury in his federal trial, also deadlocked in its life or death debate. The defense team had pleaded for his life, saying Nichols had found religion in prison.
BRIAN HERMANSON, ATTORNEY FOR TERRY NICHOLS: Terry Nichols asks for you all to keep in their prayers everyone who has suffered a loss and hope that all people can recover from the hate and fear that has resulted from the Oklahoma City bombing.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): Now, new details emerging about why the jury was almost evenly split: 7 for death, 5 for life. One juror, who wanted to execute Nichols told CNN, "the others felt sorry for him, and felt he could do some good in prison, because he had become religious." The same juror added he wanted to apologize to victim's families for, as he put it, "not getting justice for their loved ones." Susan Candiotti, CNN, McAllister, Oklahoma.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SPENCER: Elsewhere across America, turning out the lights of sky scrapers in cities, such as Philadelphia isn't just saving money, bird lovers say it's helping save the lives of thousands of birds migrating across North America to their spring breeding grounds.
In Los Angeles, singer Courtney Love is out of jail on $55,000 bond for allegedly assaulting a woman with a liquor bottle. Love had scheduled a summer tour to promote her new CD. Her police record is and LP, as in long playing. She's faced a string of charges in 3 other cases in L.A. and New York.
Iowa officials say 7 counties are reporting damage from yesterday's tornadoes. One farmer lost his home, barn and 3 other out buildings, a place he says his life is building up, gone in seconds.
Let's see if the weather in the Midwest is any better today, meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is in the CNN weather center. And Jacqui, how's it looking for the Midwest? JAQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, we've got a tornado watch, Collins, across parts of Western Iowa once again for today. And some pretty strong thunderstorms are rumbling through at this hour.
Tornado watches, also a brand new one here, extending down into parts of Oklahoma and into North Central parts of Texas. We also have severe thunderstorm watches here into the Tennessee valley. So a rough afternoon.
Our biggest concern is where those tornadoes are possible. We have a tornado warning for Fillmore County here in Nebraska. That possible tornado moving up to the north and the east. You want to be taking cover right now.
You're also under the watch area here in Omaha, extending over towards Des Moines metro area. So be aware of that impending weather.
Nashville, we've got a severe thunderstorm warning now for Davidson and Rutherford Counties. This is east of the city already, but we are expecting to see another wave push through. Damaging storms and large hail is going to be a good possibility with these thunderstorms.
Very sultry, very hot across much of the South and Southeast. Temperatures in the 90s right now. We are expecting to see more severe weather in the same parts of the country for your Sunday. Greatest risk will be East of Chicago, extending down towards Kansas City -- Collins.
SPENCER: All right. Good to see you, Jaqui. Thank you.
Well, looking for something to do on your birthday? Former President Bush has a high flying idea, he's out to prove, once again, that age is just a number.
And coming up at 4:30 Eastern, 1:30 Pacific how to protect your family from financial fights when it gets hit by divorce or death. E- mail you questions to dollarsigns@CNN.com or call, 1-800-807-2620. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SPENCER: Well, after paying tribute to the late President Ronald Reagan, President Bush is at his Texas ranch celebrating his father's 80th birthday. And the presidential ranch at Crawford is where we find CNN's Elaine Quijano. Hello, Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Collins. Well as you said, after a difficult week for President Bush, he is now getting the chance to turn his attention to happier events, namely, as you said, the celebration of his dad's birthday.
George Herbert Walker Bush turns 80 years old and they are celebrating in grand style in Texas. Later tonight, there will be a gala dinner. And that's set to take place at the Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros. There will be a host of foreign dignitaries there, we are told, including former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Now, entertaining all of the guests will be some big names in country and Christian music, including Vince Gill, Clint Black and Amy Grant.
Now tomorrow, Mr. Bush senior will continue to celebrate by jumping out of a plane in the skies over his presidential library in College Station, Texas. And will be parachuting to the ground, something he has done four times before. The very first time was when he was in the Navy, he had to bail out of his plane, since then, he has done the plane jumps. There you see him there, three other times to mark birthdays as well.
He says he wants to send a message to the country and to the world that just because you're 80, doesn't mean you can't do quote, "fun stuff, or interesting things."
So the Bush family, now, celebrating, perhaps maybe a little anxiously awaiting the event tomorrow, when the Bush Senior will be take off in the skies over Texas, to make his fifth jump to celebrate his 80th birthday -- Collins.
SPENCER: Elaine, did the former President Bush have to do any type of training to get ready for this parachute jump?
QUIJANO: There was training, we understand, with army officials, in order to just make sure he had the basics down again, to get a little refresher course in, if you all. Now we also understand that a few days ago, he talked about having a sprained thumb, that does not seem to be a factor, we understand the jump is still going forward, but at one point he didn't want to shake Larry King's hand for fear that he would further injure that sprained thumb saying, I want to make sure that when I make this jump that everything is okay and he can pull that cord.
SPENCER: All right. Thanks, Elaine. Elaine Quijano near the President ranch in Texas.
Well, time for some news around the world now. In Britain, a royal celebration for a royal birthday. Queen Elizabeth actually turned 78 on April 21 , but the public celebration of her birthday is always held on a Saturday in June. So, it was officially marked today with a grand display of royal pageantry. More than a thousand soldiers marched and saluted the monarch in a ceremony near Buckingham Palace.
In Moscow's Red Square, Russia celebrates itself. It's Russia Day and thousands have turned out for the lavish holiday celebrations. This holiday was originally called Independence Day. It marks the Russian Parliament's declaration of sovereignty from the Soviet Union on this date in 1990.
And it's day 3 of a 4 day vote for the European parliament. Voting is to take place in all 25 EU member nations. Today, voters in Latvia, Malta, the Czech Republic and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) cast their ballots. Official results from Britain's local elections won't be released until tomorrow, but they are already causing quite a stir. For the first time, the governing Labor Party has dropped to third place. CNN's Robyn Curnow explains why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The war in Iraq is deeply unpopular in Britain. Now, those anti-war protests and feelings have shown up at the ballot box. The tally won't be final until Sunday, but Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labor Party appears headed for a stunning defeat in local elections.
PROF. RODNEY BARKER, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMY: No government has done that badly in living memory. It's largely a protest vote. It's not about the government's domestic policy, it's a protest vote against a government which, incomprehensibly to many people in this country, has taken the country into a U.S. led war in Iraq.
CURNOW: Even Blair says his government is being punished for the Iraq war.
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think I said during the course of the election campaign, Iraq has, and the worries over Iraq, have been a shadow over our support.
CURNOW (on camera): It is a bad showing for Mr. Blair's Labour Party, but it doesn't mean the Labour Government will be voted out of power by the electorate in the next general election. However, these local results have renewed speculation about the political future of the prime minister.
(voice-over): The election results could put pressure on Mr. Blair and heighten calls for him to step aside and hand over leadership to his presumed heir, Chancellor Exchequor Gordon Brown.
Brown is untainted by accusations of lying in the run-up to the Iraq war, nor viewed with suspicion, as Mr. Blair is, over a close relationship with U.S. President George W. Bush.
BARKER: The question really now is not does Blair go, but when does Blair go?
CURNOW: The next general election is in 2005. So the question is will Labour still be led by Tony Blair, or will his own party force him aside? Robyn Curnow, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SPENCER: Just ahead on "Dollar Signs," avoiding the cash clash when a loved one passes away. Send your questions to us at dollarsigns@cnn.com or call us at 1-800-807-2620. We'll be right back.
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Aired June 12, 2004 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLINS SPENCER, CNN ANCHOR: The cost off terror at the gas pump: how the fear premium is taking a bite out of your wallets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many people do you have to kill before you get the death sentence?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SPENCER: A different trial, different jury, but the same outcome: why an Oklahoma bombing conspirator escaped execution once again.
Plus, a rough start to the weekend for portions of "Tornado Alley." We'll tell you where the twisters touched down.
Hello, welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY, I'm Collins Spencer. And in half an hour, saving your family from financial feuds. That's our topic today on "Dollar Signs." Call us at 1-800-807-2620, or e-mail us to dollarsigns@CNN.com. "Dollar Signs" starts in half an hour, but first the headlines.
The U.S. embassy in Riyadh is confirming that an American has been killed in the Saudi capitol. Saudi security sources say the man was killed in a drive-bye shooting while trying to park his car in an upscale neighborhood. Saudi police also say they discovered a car rigged with explosives in another part of town.
In Baghdad, another Iraqi official is assassinated. An Iraqi deputy foreign minister was killed this morning in an ambush outside his Baghdad home. Government sources say he had just returned from the United States.
The U.S. military says it's planning to release 650 more inmates from the notorious Abu Ghraib Prison on Monday. There have been four major releases of prisons since the prison abuse scandal became public in April.
And Rush Limbaugh is moving into the singles world. The conservative radio host and his third wife are calling it quits on their ten-year marriage, that's according to Limbaugh spokesman. The split comes amid a criminal probe of Limbaugh's prescription painkiller use. The spokesman says that's not related to the divorce. We begin in Iraq, where there is more turmoil with less than three weeks to go before the handover of sovereignty. One trouble spot that continues to be a source of tension is Fallujah. A top U.S. military official today said the coalition is not satisfied there's been any progress on most of its objectives of the volatile town. The area has been calmer since a cease fire ended fighting between U.S. marines and insurgents, but Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt says quote, "there's still a long way to go in Fallujah."
Meanwhile a radical Shiite cleric is hinting he will support Iraq's interim government. In a statement, Muqtada al-Sadr said that would only happen if it sets up a timetable to withdraw coalition forces.
And three people who were taken hostage in Iraq were found shot dead today near Ramadi. The Lebanese national and 2 Iraqi worked for a Lebanese telecommunications company.
There was also violence in the capital, an Iraqi deputy foreign minister was gunned down in front of his home this morning. It's the second attack this week on an Iraqi government official. CNN's Harris Whitbeck reports from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shards of glass from a shattered car window, bullet holes in the car seat, a Baghdad mortgage once again the repository of an Iraqi government official, victim of an assassination. This time it was Bassam Kubba, deputy foreign minister, the most senior career diplomat on the staff of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. Witnesses and government officials say he was gunned down as he headed for work on Saturday morning just days after he returned home from a diplomatic mission in the United States.
Last Wednesday, gunmen opened fire on Deputy Health Minister Ammar al-Safar as left his home for work. He escaped unharmed, but shaken.
And last April 17, Izzedine Salim, then president of the governing council, died when his car was hit by a bomb at a checkpoint a week ago. Other government officials and family members have been attacked, some killed. Al-Safar told CNN security for ministry deputies can be spotty because each ministry is responsible for its own security, there is no centralized organized effort to safeguard mid level officials. Coalition spokesman Dan Senor, said it cannot provide security personnel for all.
DAN SENOR, COALITION AUTHORITY SPOKESMAN: We either provide security ourselves or we training and funding for security for the Iraqi officials administer security.
WHITBECK: Iraqi Interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, condemned the latest attack. In a statement, he said, once again, the shedders of innocent blood, the dwarfs who have only known, treachery, treason and aggression have perpetrated a new crime. (on camera): The fear is more crimes will be committed. As the June 30 handover data approaches, U.S. and Iraqi officials predict a spike in attacks on representatives of the new government.
Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SPENCER: And we have this programming note, be sure to tune in tomorrow for an exclusive interview with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. She'll discuss the countdown to the hand over in Iraq, and the G-8 summit. The interview aires tomorrow on CNN's "LATE EDITION" at noon Eastern.
Aggressive, relentless and successful: that's how the U.S. military is describing U.S. marines fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Marines have killed more than 80 militants in the last 3 weeks during an assault in the southern part of the country. U.S. forces are trying to put the militants on the defensive ahead of Afghanistan's September elections.
And the fight against al Qaeda is intensifying in neighboring Pakistan. Pakistani forces are targeting a militant training camp and a safe house used by the terror network in a remote tribal region. More than 50 people have been killed in three days of fighting.
While the search continues for Osama bin Laden along the Afghan- Pakistani border there is a new videotape purportedly from Amin al- Zawari, the second in command. The voice on the tape says Americans don't want democracy and freedom in the Arab world. The speaker also mentions the Arab summit that took place last month in Tunis and denounces the reforms discussed at the meeting.
The authenticity of the tape has not been verified.
Tapes like the one purportedly from al-Zawari are a chilling reminder that the terrorists are still out there planning more attacks. It's one reason you're paying so much at the gas pump. CNN's Sean Callebs explains the fear premium.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They may gasp and complain, but they still guzzle. The United States consumes one quarter of the world's petroleum, most of it pumping into vehicles. The price per gallon is at an all time high in the U.S., but few is say that is changing their habits.
SETH KLEINMAN, MARKET ANALYST: It might affect a little bit on summer trips, weekend trips, but for the most part, you just have to suck it up and deal with it.
CALLEBS; Oil is selling for around $40 a barrel, roughly $15 higher the same time last year. The reasons are many: most oil producers, other than Saudi Arabia are pumping at capacity, demand is high, especially in China, meaning only a small global surplus and there's something deeply affecting the market right now, called the fear premium, fear of terrorism.
ADEL AL-JUBEIR, ADVISER TO SAUDI CROWN PRINCE: A significant disruption to Saudi oil supply would make $40 seem very cheap.
CALLEBS: Some energy analysts are saying the global fear factor has added anywhere from $8 to $15 for a barrel of crude. Al Qaeda is being blamed for terrorist attack last month on oil compound in Kobar. The organization has made it clear, they want to disrupt Middle East oil supplies. Saudi officials are doing what they can to ease world- wide concerns.
AL-JUBEIR: We are learning, we are equipping ourselves, we are dealing with it and we will weather the storm and god willing, we will destroy them.
CALLEBS: But the fact that traders are willing to shell out $40 a barrel right now, leads some to middle east experts to believe widespread instability in Saudi Arabia could fuel a huge spike in price of crude.
BOB BAER, FRM. CIA AGENT: When they bet that kind of price on oil, their putting their money on their bet. They're saying, we'll pay more money in the future, because we think it's going to be that expensive, because a country like Saudi Arabia is in trouble.
CALLEBS (on camera): OPEC says it would like to see the price of crude stable, at about $28 a barrel. Stability would take some of the sting out of a visit to the pumps. But since 9/11, motorists have learned they are living and driving in a different world. Sean Callebs, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SPENCER: The public will have its first opportunity Monday to visit President Ronald Reagan's final resting place. CNN's Donna Tetreault is at the Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California. Hi, Donna.
DONNA TETREAULT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Collins. Well, the library is closed today here in Simi Valley, but you can see there is some activity going on here behind me. Their breaking down after last night's sunset service.
This, of course, is the place Ronald Reagan chose himself. He loved this setting here.
Now, even to the though the library itself is not open to the public, that hasn't stopped people from gathering at the entrance to the library. People continue to come here to pay their respects to our 40th president, each person feeling their own personal closeness to Ronald Reagan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are only here for one day. This is the thing we chose to see. not Disneyland, not the zoo or anything else, we are here for this?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I needed to come here. I love him. My father died when I was young, I just felt, he sort of like a father. I just feel close to him here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TETREAULT: Now, many people we talked to here said they watched last night's service. Many commented how beautiful it was. They said there was so much love at the service. Others said that it was like a Hollywood production.
Now, the Reagan library will re-open on Monday. There will be extended hours. The library will open at 8:00 -- or excuse me, at 10 a.m. and will be open through 10:00 p.m. Through the rest of the week, there will also be some extended hours. And all of this is in anticipation of more people expected to pay their respects to Ronald Reagan -- Collins.
SPENCER: And Donna, any anticipation, or any thoughts on an estimate of the amount of people that will be come going through Monday?
TETREAULT At this point, is there no estimate. But what it's looking like now, there could be hundreds, possibly thousands.
SPENCER: OK. Thank you, Donna. Donna Tetreault in Simi Valley, California.
Well, terry Nichols won't be hiding -- or heading to the death row for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing. After the break, why some jurors decided to spare the man's life.
Plus, could a new program to protecting migratory birds mean lights out for some of the nation's biggest cities? We'll explain.
And coming up in less than a half hour, what do you need to do today to help keep your family together after you're gone. Just e- mail your questions to dollarsigns@CNN.com, or call us at 1-800-807- 2620. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SPENCER: Welcome back. On August 9, Terry Nichols is scheduled to be sentenced again for his part in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Thanks to a deadlocked jury in his state trial, Nichols has been spared the death penalty for a second time. CNN national correspondent, Susan Candiotti reports.
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QUESTION: Terry, you escaped death again, what do you think? Are you relieved?
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Terry Nichols silent as he was led away. From a grieving mother, an outcry. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to hell, Terry Nichols.
CANDIOTTI: For Nichols, a second escape from execution for his part in the Oklahoma City bombing. The jury deadlocked after three days of deliberations, unable to reach a verdict on whether to let him live or die. Leaving that to the trial judge, who under law, must sentence him to life in prison. Roy Sells said he has one question for the jury?
ROY SELLS, VICTIM'S HUSBAND: How many people do you have to kill before you get the death sentence? Is it 500, a 1,000? I don't know. I'd just like to ask them that question.
CANDIOTTI: A lead prosecutor walked away from court crying. Nichols ailing mother and his sister left without comment.
The end result of the trial is meaningless for Nichols, he is already serving life without parole after the previous jury in his federal trial, also deadlocked in its life or death debate. The defense team had pleaded for his life, saying Nichols had found religion in prison.
BRIAN HERMANSON, ATTORNEY FOR TERRY NICHOLS: Terry Nichols asks for you all to keep in their prayers everyone who has suffered a loss and hope that all people can recover from the hate and fear that has resulted from the Oklahoma City bombing.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): Now, new details emerging about why the jury was almost evenly split: 7 for death, 5 for life. One juror, who wanted to execute Nichols told CNN, "the others felt sorry for him, and felt he could do some good in prison, because he had become religious." The same juror added he wanted to apologize to victim's families for, as he put it, "not getting justice for their loved ones." Susan Candiotti, CNN, McAllister, Oklahoma.
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SPENCER: Elsewhere across America, turning out the lights of sky scrapers in cities, such as Philadelphia isn't just saving money, bird lovers say it's helping save the lives of thousands of birds migrating across North America to their spring breeding grounds.
In Los Angeles, singer Courtney Love is out of jail on $55,000 bond for allegedly assaulting a woman with a liquor bottle. Love had scheduled a summer tour to promote her new CD. Her police record is and LP, as in long playing. She's faced a string of charges in 3 other cases in L.A. and New York.
Iowa officials say 7 counties are reporting damage from yesterday's tornadoes. One farmer lost his home, barn and 3 other out buildings, a place he says his life is building up, gone in seconds.
Let's see if the weather in the Midwest is any better today, meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is in the CNN weather center. And Jacqui, how's it looking for the Midwest? JAQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, we've got a tornado watch, Collins, across parts of Western Iowa once again for today. And some pretty strong thunderstorms are rumbling through at this hour.
Tornado watches, also a brand new one here, extending down into parts of Oklahoma and into North Central parts of Texas. We also have severe thunderstorm watches here into the Tennessee valley. So a rough afternoon.
Our biggest concern is where those tornadoes are possible. We have a tornado warning for Fillmore County here in Nebraska. That possible tornado moving up to the north and the east. You want to be taking cover right now.
You're also under the watch area here in Omaha, extending over towards Des Moines metro area. So be aware of that impending weather.
Nashville, we've got a severe thunderstorm warning now for Davidson and Rutherford Counties. This is east of the city already, but we are expecting to see another wave push through. Damaging storms and large hail is going to be a good possibility with these thunderstorms.
Very sultry, very hot across much of the South and Southeast. Temperatures in the 90s right now. We are expecting to see more severe weather in the same parts of the country for your Sunday. Greatest risk will be East of Chicago, extending down towards Kansas City -- Collins.
SPENCER: All right. Good to see you, Jaqui. Thank you.
Well, looking for something to do on your birthday? Former President Bush has a high flying idea, he's out to prove, once again, that age is just a number.
And coming up at 4:30 Eastern, 1:30 Pacific how to protect your family from financial fights when it gets hit by divorce or death. E- mail you questions to dollarsigns@CNN.com or call, 1-800-807-2620. We'll be right back.
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SPENCER: Well, after paying tribute to the late President Ronald Reagan, President Bush is at his Texas ranch celebrating his father's 80th birthday. And the presidential ranch at Crawford is where we find CNN's Elaine Quijano. Hello, Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Collins. Well as you said, after a difficult week for President Bush, he is now getting the chance to turn his attention to happier events, namely, as you said, the celebration of his dad's birthday.
George Herbert Walker Bush turns 80 years old and they are celebrating in grand style in Texas. Later tonight, there will be a gala dinner. And that's set to take place at the Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros. There will be a host of foreign dignitaries there, we are told, including former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Now, entertaining all of the guests will be some big names in country and Christian music, including Vince Gill, Clint Black and Amy Grant.
Now tomorrow, Mr. Bush senior will continue to celebrate by jumping out of a plane in the skies over his presidential library in College Station, Texas. And will be parachuting to the ground, something he has done four times before. The very first time was when he was in the Navy, he had to bail out of his plane, since then, he has done the plane jumps. There you see him there, three other times to mark birthdays as well.
He says he wants to send a message to the country and to the world that just because you're 80, doesn't mean you can't do quote, "fun stuff, or interesting things."
So the Bush family, now, celebrating, perhaps maybe a little anxiously awaiting the event tomorrow, when the Bush Senior will be take off in the skies over Texas, to make his fifth jump to celebrate his 80th birthday -- Collins.
SPENCER: Elaine, did the former President Bush have to do any type of training to get ready for this parachute jump?
QUIJANO: There was training, we understand, with army officials, in order to just make sure he had the basics down again, to get a little refresher course in, if you all. Now we also understand that a few days ago, he talked about having a sprained thumb, that does not seem to be a factor, we understand the jump is still going forward, but at one point he didn't want to shake Larry King's hand for fear that he would further injure that sprained thumb saying, I want to make sure that when I make this jump that everything is okay and he can pull that cord.
SPENCER: All right. Thanks, Elaine. Elaine Quijano near the President ranch in Texas.
Well, time for some news around the world now. In Britain, a royal celebration for a royal birthday. Queen Elizabeth actually turned 78 on April 21 , but the public celebration of her birthday is always held on a Saturday in June. So, it was officially marked today with a grand display of royal pageantry. More than a thousand soldiers marched and saluted the monarch in a ceremony near Buckingham Palace.
In Moscow's Red Square, Russia celebrates itself. It's Russia Day and thousands have turned out for the lavish holiday celebrations. This holiday was originally called Independence Day. It marks the Russian Parliament's declaration of sovereignty from the Soviet Union on this date in 1990.
And it's day 3 of a 4 day vote for the European parliament. Voting is to take place in all 25 EU member nations. Today, voters in Latvia, Malta, the Czech Republic and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) cast their ballots. Official results from Britain's local elections won't be released until tomorrow, but they are already causing quite a stir. For the first time, the governing Labor Party has dropped to third place. CNN's Robyn Curnow explains why.
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ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The war in Iraq is deeply unpopular in Britain. Now, those anti-war protests and feelings have shown up at the ballot box. The tally won't be final until Sunday, but Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labor Party appears headed for a stunning defeat in local elections.
PROF. RODNEY BARKER, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMY: No government has done that badly in living memory. It's largely a protest vote. It's not about the government's domestic policy, it's a protest vote against a government which, incomprehensibly to many people in this country, has taken the country into a U.S. led war in Iraq.
CURNOW: Even Blair says his government is being punished for the Iraq war.
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Well, I think I said during the course of the election campaign, Iraq has, and the worries over Iraq, have been a shadow over our support.
CURNOW (on camera): It is a bad showing for Mr. Blair's Labour Party, but it doesn't mean the Labour Government will be voted out of power by the electorate in the next general election. However, these local results have renewed speculation about the political future of the prime minister.
(voice-over): The election results could put pressure on Mr. Blair and heighten calls for him to step aside and hand over leadership to his presumed heir, Chancellor Exchequor Gordon Brown.
Brown is untainted by accusations of lying in the run-up to the Iraq war, nor viewed with suspicion, as Mr. Blair is, over a close relationship with U.S. President George W. Bush.
BARKER: The question really now is not does Blair go, but when does Blair go?
CURNOW: The next general election is in 2005. So the question is will Labour still be led by Tony Blair, or will his own party force him aside? Robyn Curnow, CNN, London.
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SPENCER: Just ahead on "Dollar Signs," avoiding the cash clash when a loved one passes away. Send your questions to us at dollarsigns@cnn.com or call us at 1-800-807-2620. We'll be right back.
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