Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
New Interim Iraqi Government; Latest Controversy in Case of Jose Padilla
Aired June 02, 2004 - 05:00 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Let me bring you up to date now.
U.N. special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has a message for the Iraqi people -- give the new government a chance. Speaking to reporters just over an hour ago, Brahimi says the way the government conducts itself over the critical months ahead is the key to winning the people's trust.
Washington and Saudi Arabia are trying to get some major anti- terrorism help from the U.N. Security Council. They want the Council to help freeze the assets of a Muslim charity accused of backing terrorist groups, including al Qaeda.
In money news, get ready, you could soon be paying even more at the gas pump. U.S. crude oil hits a new all time high, $42.45 a barrel.
In sports, the Detroit Pistons beat the Indiana Pacers 68-65 in the Eastern Conference finals. They now head to the NBA finals to face the Los Angeles Lakers. Game one slated for Sunday.
In culture, and the winner is Miss. Australia. Model and dancer Jennifer Hawkins is the new Miss. Universe. Miss. USA, Shandy Finnessey, was named the first runner-up. Congratulations.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well.
COSTELLO: That's all you have to say?
MYERS: Well, I didn't know my mike was open, but I would have said more if I knew that. That was actually under my breath. I was just kind of thinking.
COSTELLO: I think it's time for the weather now.
MYERS: That was pretty awesome that she got first runner-up.
COSTELLO: Yes.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Iraq is nearing a critical juncture in its return to sovereignty. An important step -- upcoming national elections. Special U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said just a short time ago the next major step for Iraq will be those elections next year. In the meantime, Iraqis must work under the interim government. Brahimi commented on that during a news conference just a short time ago in Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAKHDAR BRAHIMI, U.N. SPECIAL ENVOY: Now that the government's composition has been announced, it is ultimately up to the Iraqi people to judge for themselves whether this is a good government and how good it is. I believe that they will make up their minds about that on the basis of what the government does and says during the critical few months ahead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And back at the United Nations, there has been a significant revision draft of that U.S.-British proposal on Iraq. The proposed U.N. resolution now makes clear that Iraqi security forces would be under control of the interim Iraqi government. The revision also sets up a time frame for U.S. and other forces to leave Iraq, and that could be December of 2005, when there is a new Iraqi constitution and a freely elected government.
Right now, Iraq's interim government is less than 24 hours old. It's got a lot to do to get ready for those national elections come January.
Our Jim Clancy has more on the interim government.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It wasn't sudden, but it was a surprise to some. Iraqis announced the formation of a new interim government Tuesday, disbanded the Governing Council and in the process appeared to defy both the U.S. and the U.N.
Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawer was given the post of interim president after the U.S.-backed candidate said he was declining the appointment. Though Yawer was recently critical of the way the U.S. is handling its occupation, his first message to Iraqis was one of unity.
SHEIKH GHAZI AL-YAWER, IRAQI INTERIM PRESIDENT-DESIGNATE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Let Iraq live with all its nationalities -- the Kurds, the Arabs, the Turkamens and the Christians from every corner of our precious country. It is a moment of being grateful to you all and to all our colleagues from the spectrum of all the communities that have assured that this country would be one above all divisions.
CLANCY: A Sunni, Yawer comes from one of the major Arab tribes and is expected to hold more influence in the interim government than is outlined in the largely ceremonial presidential post. His two deputy presidents, Ibrahim al-Jaffery, a Shia Muslim and the leader of the inflation Dawa Islamic Party; and Rosh Shawais, the speaker of the parliament in the Kurdish autonomous region. The most powerful post in the interim government still in the hands of Iyad Allawi, a U.S.-backed Shia whose experience in security matters was seen as important in trying to calm the current violence that plagues the country.
GHAZI AL-YAWAR, IRAQ'S INTERIM PRESIDENT (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Iraq will be a main partner in this force that will take on the responsibilities after June 30 and we would like to get into treaties, sovereign for peace, partnerships for the multinational force will leave Iraq and with our great gratitude towards it.
CLANCY: Notably absent from any of the new positions and apparently out of power, Ahmad Chalabi, controversial head of the Iraqi National Congress.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: The new Iraqi government, the June 30 handover, you can get the U.S. perspective on this on "American Morning" in the seven o'clock Eastern hour. Dan Senor, a spokesman for the coalition, talks this morning.
Some call him the dirty bomb and for years the government has only said Jose Padilla was planning to detonate a radioactive or dirty bomb on U.S. soil. Within the last 24 hours, we've been hearing a lot more.
Here's CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was dubbed the dirty bomb. The government said he planned to set off a radiological device in the United States. Now, newly declassified documents allege Jose Padilla also planned to blow up apartment buildings using natural gas.
JAMES COMEY, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: Once in the country, they locate high rise apartment buildings that had natural gas supplied to all floors, that they rent two apartments in each building, seal those apartments, turn on the gas and set timers to detonate and destroy the buildings simultaneously at a later time.
ARENA: The new documents outline Padilla's alleged relationship with al Qaeda leaders, including now deceased al Qaeda military head
Mohammed Atef and September 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.
The government also sheds new light on his terror training, with an emphasis on explosives.
COMEY: On May the 8th of 2002, a soldier of our enemy, a trained, funded and equipped terrorist, stepped off that plane at Chicago's O'Hare, a highly trained al Qaeda soldier who had accepted an assignment to kill hundreds of innocent men, women and children.
ARENA: The Justice Department cites interrogations with Padilla.
But his lawyer says it's a one-sided expose of the government's version of events.
DONNA NEWMAN, PADILLA'S ATTORNEY: The government is simply saying look, you're going to have to trust us. This is what he said. I don't know what -- if that's what he said. But more important, there was nothing in that report that suggested any imminent danger.
ARENA: The deputy attorney general denies the timing of the release has anything to do with Padilla's pending Supreme Court case.
(on camera): The high court will soon rule on whether the government has the authority to hold U.S. citizens indefinitely as enemy combatants.
Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And we're going to delve deeper into this topic in the next hour of DAYBREAK in our Coffey Talk segment. That's when we talk with our CNN legal analyst, Kendall Coffey. That will come in the 6:30 Eastern half hour of DAYBREAK.
Stories from across America this Wednesday.
The Democrats have picked up another seat in Congress. Lawyer Stephanie Herseth won the special election to fill out the seven months remaining in former Republican Congressman Bill Janklow's term. Janklow resigned in January. He went to jail for a manslaughter conviction involving a fatal highway accident.
In Virginia, an update on the "Waiter, there's a mouse in my stoop!" -- that was so poorly done by me and I apologize. But we're going to update this Cracker Barrel story involving a mouse. Prosecutors have now charged a woman and her son with attempted extortion, a felony. The woman claims she found a mouse in her soup at a Cracker Barrel restaurant. There she is. But the restaurant chain says the woman dropped the rodent in her soup. Why do they think that? Well, the company says the mouse died from a fractured skull, had no soup it its lungs and had not been cooked, which means she probably allegedly brought the mouse, the dead mouse, in with her.
The defense gives its opening statements today in the Scott Peterson double murder trial. Prosecutors in their presentation showed jurors photos of the bodies of Peterson's wife Laci and her unborn son. Their bodies washed ashore in the San Francisco Bay last April.
Now to Oklahoma. Prosecutors are making their case that Terry Nichols deserves to die for his part in the Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 people. Some family members of the victims agree. Others say that's too easy.
CNN's Susan Candiotti has an update on the penalty phase of the Nichols trial.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Now twice a convicted killer, Terry Nichols is facing a jury which will decide whether he should live or die. Prosecutors called on victims' families and survivors to describe the horror of the Oklahoma City bombing.
REGINA BONNY, BOMBING SURVIVOR: And I stood up, heard the explosion. After that I, it was like I was asleep and woke up.
CANDIOTTI: Survivor Regina Bonny was working on the ninth floor, with the DEA task force. Five other coworkers, including a pregnant drug agent, were killed; ironically a fate Bonny does not want for Terry Nichols.
BONNY: I know that's what a lot of people want. I just think that that's just too easy for him. I think that's just a chicken way out.
CANDIOTTI: Rudy Guzman is against a life sentence.
RUDY GUZMAN, VICTIM'S BROTHER: I want Mr. Nichols to pay the ultimate price and I want the death penalty for him. He deserves it.
CANDIOTTI: Guzman's brother Randy was a Marine recruiter. At first, Guzman did not know it was his brother's building that was bombed.
GUZMAN: I shuffled through my wallet, pulled out Randy's card. I looked at the address and it just matched the address so I knew.
CANDIOTTI: Roy Sells, who lost his wife, also wants Nichols executed.
ROY SELLS, VICTIM'S HUSBAND: I think I could rest a lot easier and feel a lot better about it when he is no longer breathing our clean air.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): Nichols' defense will call witnesses, asking that his life be spared. In the words of his attorney, "a life that is not beyond redemption."
Susan Candiotti, CNN, McAlister, Oklahoma.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: There is much more ahead on DAYBREAK.
Coming up, skyrocketing oil prices -- who holds the key when it comes to stabilizing the market? We'll have a live report for you.
A family's sacrifice -- a California surgeon is saving lives in Iraq while his own family suffers at home.
And the check's in the mail for thousands of women who developed health problems related to silicon breast implants.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 5:15 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Gunmen open fire on civilians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. No one believed to have been wounded. Saudi security forces are hunting for three terrorists who attacked an oil compound last weekend.
Palestinian sources say Israeli troops are back in the Rafah Refugee Camp demolishing homes. Last week, Israel withdrew its forces after an operation to find and destroy tunnels used to smuggle weapons.
In money news, Sony says it plans to stop selling its PDAs, or personal digital assistants, in the United States. The demand for handheld computers has dropped dramatically because now cell phones can do anything a PDA does.
In sports, Indiana Pacers All Star Jermaine O'Neal says he's probably not going to play in the Athens Olympics. O'Neal says he'll need four to six months to recover from a knee injury.
In culture, Michael Moore's film "Fahrenheit 911" will hit theaters on June 25. The film is being released by a partnership that includes the Weinstein brothers who run Miramax Films -- Chad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
Have you noticed? I seem to ask you that every morning, don't I? You're finally getting a teeny, teeny, tiny break at the pump. You really are. Really. The government says the price of gas fell $0.013, to an average $2.05 a gallon. Oh, that penny really helps you, doesn't it? It's the first decline, though, in five weeks.
But you'd better fill up fast, because it might not last long. Crude oil prices have spiked at an all time high of more than $42 a barrel. How come? Well, that deadly terrorist attack on oil workers in Saudi Arabia over the weekend is one reason. And about an hour ago, Saudi Arabia's oil minister said Riyadh hopes to bring down oil prices to between $22 and $28 a barrel. That's a far cry from the more than 42 bucks now. He made those comments in Beirut ahead of tomorrow's OPEC meeting. Saudi Arabia says it's ready to increase its oil production in an effort to bring down prices.
So, oil prices still have investors a little spooked.
Let's check the overseas markets now. For that we head live to London and Robyn Curnow -- good morning, Robyn.
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Carol.
Well, as you can see, investors are OK so far this morning. They seem to be shrugging off those high oil prices for the moment. They're not really digesting the fact that crude oil, light sweet crude hit over $42 a barrel in New York overnight. In fact, these main markets here in Europe seem to be taking more of a cue from Wall Street overnight, which saw some positive gains. These markets perhaps lifted by those gains on Wall Street overnight.
But all in all, they're ticking away, over there, in the plus column, for the moment. Like I said, not affecting that oil price. But at the same time, overriding concern still a real focus on the oil price and, of course, that big fear factor issue -- just when and will there be more terror attacks, not just on oil workers, as we've seen on the weekend and even this morning, but will there perhaps be some sort of terror attack on oil supplies?
These all really very much concerns for investors in these markets.
But I want to have you take a look at Brent crude futures for July here in London. It's obviously a lot less than that $42 a barrel we're getting in New York, but it's still pretty high, nearly $39 a barrel here in London. And, of course, this is a real concern.
OPEC oil -- the Saudi oil minister coming out today saying that OPEC still really wants to see these prices in the $22 to $28 range. So they're still very much out of sync. And, of course, within that, is that what they call the terror premium? We're paying nearly about $8 in this price for fears that there's going to be a terrorist attack.
So, Carol, all in all, still very much the focus over here across the Atlantic on oil, as well -- back to you.
COSTELLO: Thank you.
Robyn Curnow reporting live from London.
Coming up next on DAYBREAK, a delish dish? Depends on who you ask. Put away that chicken. Fried cicada is now on the menu. Delicacy details straight ahead.
And gearing up for the Olympic Games. And ancient tradition steps off today -- travels of the Torch ahead.
This is DAYBREAK for Wednesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The Olympic Torch set to be lit today, Chad.
MYERS: Yes. And the first leg goes today, 34 days, 33 cities and five continents.
COSTELLO: That's right. The Olympic Torch, of course, is being lit in Greece. And then it's going to hop on a plane.
MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: And it's going to be run through 33 cities across the world.
MYERS: I wonder if they keep jogging on the plane.
COSTELLO: I'm sure they do.
MYERS: I wonder if they just keep jogging in place.
COSTELLO: Well, the weird thing is the flame remains lit on board the plane.
MYERS: Oh, yes. All right.
COSTELLO: They have special clearance.
MYERS: Oh, yes, I know. That's kind of...
COSTELLO: And as you know, Chad...
MYERS: It's a little frightening to think about that. But obviously it's not on just like a regular plane. I mean, you know, it's not like...
COSTELLO: No.
MYERS: You're not going to...
COSTELLO: They have special...
MYERS: Somebody's not going to walk down the aisle with their carryon walking...
COSTELLO: The pilot's going to be holding it as he flies.
MYERS: You are actually going to be carrying that thing. You're going to run it.
COSTELLO: I'm going to be running the torch through the city of Atlanta on June 19.
MYERS: That is very cool.
COSTELLO: You know a DAYBREAK viewer nominated me for that honor.
MYERS: I didn't know that.
COSTELLO: And they chose me. So thank you, whoever nominated me, but it was one of our viewers. And I am so eternally grateful. MYERS: Have you been practicing?
COSTELLO: Yes, I've been running a lot, because, you know, I have to look good in the little outfit they provide me.
MYERS: She'll be in the Marine Corps marathon. Don't worry about her.
COSTELLO: You only run like a quarter mile or less.
MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: It's not like you run for a long distance.
MYERS: Exactly.
COSTELLO: But June 19, so...
MYERS: We'll be looking for video of that.
COSTELLO: We'll be taking pictures.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK Eye-Opener right now.
How about a little snack with a definite crunch?
MYERS: No. No.
COSTELLO: I know, Chad. The once every 17 year invasion of cicadas has some people bringing out their recipes. Yes, that's what these people in Knoxville, Tennessee are chewing on. The cook says the recipe is easy -- a dusting of flour and lots and lots and lots of salt.
MYERS: No.
COSTELLO: I hope you're not eating breakfast now.
In Hawaii -- you saw this, Chad.
MYERS: I did.
COSTELLO: Streams of lava from the Kilauea volcano are pouring into the Pacific. It's the first time the lava has reached the ocean since July of last year. The U.S. Geological Survey also has detected some low frequency earthquakes, but no noticeable tremors from the summit, and that is definitely good news.
You didn't feel any tremors?
MYERS: Nope, no tremors.
COSTELLO: Thank goodness.
MYERS: Hot land, though.
COSTELLO: I bet.
MYERS: It certainly was.
COSTELLO: In Miami, an unwelcome visitor. This gator showed up for breakfast about four in the morning at an apartment complex. All is well, though. Fish and wildlife officials removed the gator and things are pretty much back to normal now.
MYERS: Guess what? They were there first.
COSTELLO: That's right.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
Some call it black gold or Texas tea and others just plain old expensive. With a crucial OPEC meeting on the horizon and oil prices at a record high, could relief at the pump be a thing of the past?
And will the announcement of the new Iraqi government signal a change in the tactics of U.S. forces in Iraq?
Also, prosecutors paint a sordid picture of a cheating husband who lied and killed. We'll look at day one of the Scott Peterson trial.
This is DAYBREAK for Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: When you sell more music players than computers, are you still considered a computer company? For Apple Computer, that's now the case. It recently sold over 800,000 iPod music players, surpassing sales of its computers for the first time. Apple has only a tiny four percent share of the computer market, yet its iPod holds a 40 percent market share and its iTunes service takes in 70 percent of all music download sales.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Good morning to you.
Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Let me bring you up to date now.
U.S. officials are labeling this man, Ahmad Chalabi, as a turncoat and a spy. According to published reports, Chalabi told Iranian officials that U.S. intelligence was monitoring top secret communications by Tehran's chief spy service. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia are joining forces. They're lobbying the U.N. Security Council to block the assets of a Muslim charity. They say the Islamic Foundation helps terrorist groups like al Qaeda.
In money news, oil prices hit an all time record high. Light sweet crude oil has topped $42 a barrel. Analysts say the fear factor, the worry that terrorists will disrupt oil supplies, is driving up the price.
In sports, the Williams sisters are not feeling the love at the French Open.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 2, 2004 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Let me bring you up to date now.
U.N. special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has a message for the Iraqi people -- give the new government a chance. Speaking to reporters just over an hour ago, Brahimi says the way the government conducts itself over the critical months ahead is the key to winning the people's trust.
Washington and Saudi Arabia are trying to get some major anti- terrorism help from the U.N. Security Council. They want the Council to help freeze the assets of a Muslim charity accused of backing terrorist groups, including al Qaeda.
In money news, get ready, you could soon be paying even more at the gas pump. U.S. crude oil hits a new all time high, $42.45 a barrel.
In sports, the Detroit Pistons beat the Indiana Pacers 68-65 in the Eastern Conference finals. They now head to the NBA finals to face the Los Angeles Lakers. Game one slated for Sunday.
In culture, and the winner is Miss. Australia. Model and dancer Jennifer Hawkins is the new Miss. Universe. Miss. USA, Shandy Finnessey, was named the first runner-up. Congratulations.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well.
COSTELLO: That's all you have to say?
MYERS: Well, I didn't know my mike was open, but I would have said more if I knew that. That was actually under my breath. I was just kind of thinking.
COSTELLO: I think it's time for the weather now.
MYERS: That was pretty awesome that she got first runner-up.
COSTELLO: Yes.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Iraq is nearing a critical juncture in its return to sovereignty. An important step -- upcoming national elections. Special U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said just a short time ago the next major step for Iraq will be those elections next year. In the meantime, Iraqis must work under the interim government. Brahimi commented on that during a news conference just a short time ago in Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAKHDAR BRAHIMI, U.N. SPECIAL ENVOY: Now that the government's composition has been announced, it is ultimately up to the Iraqi people to judge for themselves whether this is a good government and how good it is. I believe that they will make up their minds about that on the basis of what the government does and says during the critical few months ahead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And back at the United Nations, there has been a significant revision draft of that U.S.-British proposal on Iraq. The proposed U.N. resolution now makes clear that Iraqi security forces would be under control of the interim Iraqi government. The revision also sets up a time frame for U.S. and other forces to leave Iraq, and that could be December of 2005, when there is a new Iraqi constitution and a freely elected government.
Right now, Iraq's interim government is less than 24 hours old. It's got a lot to do to get ready for those national elections come January.
Our Jim Clancy has more on the interim government.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It wasn't sudden, but it was a surprise to some. Iraqis announced the formation of a new interim government Tuesday, disbanded the Governing Council and in the process appeared to defy both the U.S. and the U.N.
Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawer was given the post of interim president after the U.S.-backed candidate said he was declining the appointment. Though Yawer was recently critical of the way the U.S. is handling its occupation, his first message to Iraqis was one of unity.
SHEIKH GHAZI AL-YAWER, IRAQI INTERIM PRESIDENT-DESIGNATE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Let Iraq live with all its nationalities -- the Kurds, the Arabs, the Turkamens and the Christians from every corner of our precious country. It is a moment of being grateful to you all and to all our colleagues from the spectrum of all the communities that have assured that this country would be one above all divisions.
CLANCY: A Sunni, Yawer comes from one of the major Arab tribes and is expected to hold more influence in the interim government than is outlined in the largely ceremonial presidential post. His two deputy presidents, Ibrahim al-Jaffery, a Shia Muslim and the leader of the inflation Dawa Islamic Party; and Rosh Shawais, the speaker of the parliament in the Kurdish autonomous region. The most powerful post in the interim government still in the hands of Iyad Allawi, a U.S.-backed Shia whose experience in security matters was seen as important in trying to calm the current violence that plagues the country.
GHAZI AL-YAWAR, IRAQ'S INTERIM PRESIDENT (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Iraq will be a main partner in this force that will take on the responsibilities after June 30 and we would like to get into treaties, sovereign for peace, partnerships for the multinational force will leave Iraq and with our great gratitude towards it.
CLANCY: Notably absent from any of the new positions and apparently out of power, Ahmad Chalabi, controversial head of the Iraqi National Congress.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: The new Iraqi government, the June 30 handover, you can get the U.S. perspective on this on "American Morning" in the seven o'clock Eastern hour. Dan Senor, a spokesman for the coalition, talks this morning.
Some call him the dirty bomb and for years the government has only said Jose Padilla was planning to detonate a radioactive or dirty bomb on U.S. soil. Within the last 24 hours, we've been hearing a lot more.
Here's CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was dubbed the dirty bomb. The government said he planned to set off a radiological device in the United States. Now, newly declassified documents allege Jose Padilla also planned to blow up apartment buildings using natural gas.
JAMES COMEY, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: Once in the country, they locate high rise apartment buildings that had natural gas supplied to all floors, that they rent two apartments in each building, seal those apartments, turn on the gas and set timers to detonate and destroy the buildings simultaneously at a later time.
ARENA: The new documents outline Padilla's alleged relationship with al Qaeda leaders, including now deceased al Qaeda military head
Mohammed Atef and September 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.
The government also sheds new light on his terror training, with an emphasis on explosives.
COMEY: On May the 8th of 2002, a soldier of our enemy, a trained, funded and equipped terrorist, stepped off that plane at Chicago's O'Hare, a highly trained al Qaeda soldier who had accepted an assignment to kill hundreds of innocent men, women and children.
ARENA: The Justice Department cites interrogations with Padilla.
But his lawyer says it's a one-sided expose of the government's version of events.
DONNA NEWMAN, PADILLA'S ATTORNEY: The government is simply saying look, you're going to have to trust us. This is what he said. I don't know what -- if that's what he said. But more important, there was nothing in that report that suggested any imminent danger.
ARENA: The deputy attorney general denies the timing of the release has anything to do with Padilla's pending Supreme Court case.
(on camera): The high court will soon rule on whether the government has the authority to hold U.S. citizens indefinitely as enemy combatants.
Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And we're going to delve deeper into this topic in the next hour of DAYBREAK in our Coffey Talk segment. That's when we talk with our CNN legal analyst, Kendall Coffey. That will come in the 6:30 Eastern half hour of DAYBREAK.
Stories from across America this Wednesday.
The Democrats have picked up another seat in Congress. Lawyer Stephanie Herseth won the special election to fill out the seven months remaining in former Republican Congressman Bill Janklow's term. Janklow resigned in January. He went to jail for a manslaughter conviction involving a fatal highway accident.
In Virginia, an update on the "Waiter, there's a mouse in my stoop!" -- that was so poorly done by me and I apologize. But we're going to update this Cracker Barrel story involving a mouse. Prosecutors have now charged a woman and her son with attempted extortion, a felony. The woman claims she found a mouse in her soup at a Cracker Barrel restaurant. There she is. But the restaurant chain says the woman dropped the rodent in her soup. Why do they think that? Well, the company says the mouse died from a fractured skull, had no soup it its lungs and had not been cooked, which means she probably allegedly brought the mouse, the dead mouse, in with her.
The defense gives its opening statements today in the Scott Peterson double murder trial. Prosecutors in their presentation showed jurors photos of the bodies of Peterson's wife Laci and her unborn son. Their bodies washed ashore in the San Francisco Bay last April.
Now to Oklahoma. Prosecutors are making their case that Terry Nichols deserves to die for his part in the Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 people. Some family members of the victims agree. Others say that's too easy.
CNN's Susan Candiotti has an update on the penalty phase of the Nichols trial.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Now twice a convicted killer, Terry Nichols is facing a jury which will decide whether he should live or die. Prosecutors called on victims' families and survivors to describe the horror of the Oklahoma City bombing.
REGINA BONNY, BOMBING SURVIVOR: And I stood up, heard the explosion. After that I, it was like I was asleep and woke up.
CANDIOTTI: Survivor Regina Bonny was working on the ninth floor, with the DEA task force. Five other coworkers, including a pregnant drug agent, were killed; ironically a fate Bonny does not want for Terry Nichols.
BONNY: I know that's what a lot of people want. I just think that that's just too easy for him. I think that's just a chicken way out.
CANDIOTTI: Rudy Guzman is against a life sentence.
RUDY GUZMAN, VICTIM'S BROTHER: I want Mr. Nichols to pay the ultimate price and I want the death penalty for him. He deserves it.
CANDIOTTI: Guzman's brother Randy was a Marine recruiter. At first, Guzman did not know it was his brother's building that was bombed.
GUZMAN: I shuffled through my wallet, pulled out Randy's card. I looked at the address and it just matched the address so I knew.
CANDIOTTI: Roy Sells, who lost his wife, also wants Nichols executed.
ROY SELLS, VICTIM'S HUSBAND: I think I could rest a lot easier and feel a lot better about it when he is no longer breathing our clean air.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): Nichols' defense will call witnesses, asking that his life be spared. In the words of his attorney, "a life that is not beyond redemption."
Susan Candiotti, CNN, McAlister, Oklahoma.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: There is much more ahead on DAYBREAK.
Coming up, skyrocketing oil prices -- who holds the key when it comes to stabilizing the market? We'll have a live report for you.
A family's sacrifice -- a California surgeon is saving lives in Iraq while his own family suffers at home.
And the check's in the mail for thousands of women who developed health problems related to silicon breast implants.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 5:15 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Gunmen open fire on civilians in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. No one believed to have been wounded. Saudi security forces are hunting for three terrorists who attacked an oil compound last weekend.
Palestinian sources say Israeli troops are back in the Rafah Refugee Camp demolishing homes. Last week, Israel withdrew its forces after an operation to find and destroy tunnels used to smuggle weapons.
In money news, Sony says it plans to stop selling its PDAs, or personal digital assistants, in the United States. The demand for handheld computers has dropped dramatically because now cell phones can do anything a PDA does.
In sports, Indiana Pacers All Star Jermaine O'Neal says he's probably not going to play in the Athens Olympics. O'Neal says he'll need four to six months to recover from a knee injury.
In culture, Michael Moore's film "Fahrenheit 911" will hit theaters on June 25. The film is being released by a partnership that includes the Weinstein brothers who run Miramax Films -- Chad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
Have you noticed? I seem to ask you that every morning, don't I? You're finally getting a teeny, teeny, tiny break at the pump. You really are. Really. The government says the price of gas fell $0.013, to an average $2.05 a gallon. Oh, that penny really helps you, doesn't it? It's the first decline, though, in five weeks.
But you'd better fill up fast, because it might not last long. Crude oil prices have spiked at an all time high of more than $42 a barrel. How come? Well, that deadly terrorist attack on oil workers in Saudi Arabia over the weekend is one reason. And about an hour ago, Saudi Arabia's oil minister said Riyadh hopes to bring down oil prices to between $22 and $28 a barrel. That's a far cry from the more than 42 bucks now. He made those comments in Beirut ahead of tomorrow's OPEC meeting. Saudi Arabia says it's ready to increase its oil production in an effort to bring down prices.
So, oil prices still have investors a little spooked.
Let's check the overseas markets now. For that we head live to London and Robyn Curnow -- good morning, Robyn.
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Carol.
Well, as you can see, investors are OK so far this morning. They seem to be shrugging off those high oil prices for the moment. They're not really digesting the fact that crude oil, light sweet crude hit over $42 a barrel in New York overnight. In fact, these main markets here in Europe seem to be taking more of a cue from Wall Street overnight, which saw some positive gains. These markets perhaps lifted by those gains on Wall Street overnight.
But all in all, they're ticking away, over there, in the plus column, for the moment. Like I said, not affecting that oil price. But at the same time, overriding concern still a real focus on the oil price and, of course, that big fear factor issue -- just when and will there be more terror attacks, not just on oil workers, as we've seen on the weekend and even this morning, but will there perhaps be some sort of terror attack on oil supplies?
These all really very much concerns for investors in these markets.
But I want to have you take a look at Brent crude futures for July here in London. It's obviously a lot less than that $42 a barrel we're getting in New York, but it's still pretty high, nearly $39 a barrel here in London. And, of course, this is a real concern.
OPEC oil -- the Saudi oil minister coming out today saying that OPEC still really wants to see these prices in the $22 to $28 range. So they're still very much out of sync. And, of course, within that, is that what they call the terror premium? We're paying nearly about $8 in this price for fears that there's going to be a terrorist attack.
So, Carol, all in all, still very much the focus over here across the Atlantic on oil, as well -- back to you.
COSTELLO: Thank you.
Robyn Curnow reporting live from London.
Coming up next on DAYBREAK, a delish dish? Depends on who you ask. Put away that chicken. Fried cicada is now on the menu. Delicacy details straight ahead.
And gearing up for the Olympic Games. And ancient tradition steps off today -- travels of the Torch ahead.
This is DAYBREAK for Wednesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The Olympic Torch set to be lit today, Chad.
MYERS: Yes. And the first leg goes today, 34 days, 33 cities and five continents.
COSTELLO: That's right. The Olympic Torch, of course, is being lit in Greece. And then it's going to hop on a plane.
MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: And it's going to be run through 33 cities across the world.
MYERS: I wonder if they keep jogging on the plane.
COSTELLO: I'm sure they do.
MYERS: I wonder if they just keep jogging in place.
COSTELLO: Well, the weird thing is the flame remains lit on board the plane.
MYERS: Oh, yes. All right.
COSTELLO: They have special clearance.
MYERS: Oh, yes, I know. That's kind of...
COSTELLO: And as you know, Chad...
MYERS: It's a little frightening to think about that. But obviously it's not on just like a regular plane. I mean, you know, it's not like...
COSTELLO: No.
MYERS: You're not going to...
COSTELLO: They have special...
MYERS: Somebody's not going to walk down the aisle with their carryon walking...
COSTELLO: The pilot's going to be holding it as he flies.
MYERS: You are actually going to be carrying that thing. You're going to run it.
COSTELLO: I'm going to be running the torch through the city of Atlanta on June 19.
MYERS: That is very cool.
COSTELLO: You know a DAYBREAK viewer nominated me for that honor.
MYERS: I didn't know that.
COSTELLO: And they chose me. So thank you, whoever nominated me, but it was one of our viewers. And I am so eternally grateful. MYERS: Have you been practicing?
COSTELLO: Yes, I've been running a lot, because, you know, I have to look good in the little outfit they provide me.
MYERS: She'll be in the Marine Corps marathon. Don't worry about her.
COSTELLO: You only run like a quarter mile or less.
MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: It's not like you run for a long distance.
MYERS: Exactly.
COSTELLO: But June 19, so...
MYERS: We'll be looking for video of that.
COSTELLO: We'll be taking pictures.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK Eye-Opener right now.
How about a little snack with a definite crunch?
MYERS: No. No.
COSTELLO: I know, Chad. The once every 17 year invasion of cicadas has some people bringing out their recipes. Yes, that's what these people in Knoxville, Tennessee are chewing on. The cook says the recipe is easy -- a dusting of flour and lots and lots and lots of salt.
MYERS: No.
COSTELLO: I hope you're not eating breakfast now.
In Hawaii -- you saw this, Chad.
MYERS: I did.
COSTELLO: Streams of lava from the Kilauea volcano are pouring into the Pacific. It's the first time the lava has reached the ocean since July of last year. The U.S. Geological Survey also has detected some low frequency earthquakes, but no noticeable tremors from the summit, and that is definitely good news.
You didn't feel any tremors?
MYERS: Nope, no tremors.
COSTELLO: Thank goodness.
MYERS: Hot land, though.
COSTELLO: I bet.
MYERS: It certainly was.
COSTELLO: In Miami, an unwelcome visitor. This gator showed up for breakfast about four in the morning at an apartment complex. All is well, though. Fish and wildlife officials removed the gator and things are pretty much back to normal now.
MYERS: Guess what? They were there first.
COSTELLO: That's right.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
Some call it black gold or Texas tea and others just plain old expensive. With a crucial OPEC meeting on the horizon and oil prices at a record high, could relief at the pump be a thing of the past?
And will the announcement of the new Iraqi government signal a change in the tactics of U.S. forces in Iraq?
Also, prosecutors paint a sordid picture of a cheating husband who lied and killed. We'll look at day one of the Scott Peterson trial.
This is DAYBREAK for Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: When you sell more music players than computers, are you still considered a computer company? For Apple Computer, that's now the case. It recently sold over 800,000 iPod music players, surpassing sales of its computers for the first time. Apple has only a tiny four percent share of the computer market, yet its iPod holds a 40 percent market share and its iTunes service takes in 70 percent of all music download sales.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Good morning to you.
Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Let me bring you up to date now.
U.S. officials are labeling this man, Ahmad Chalabi, as a turncoat and a spy. According to published reports, Chalabi told Iranian officials that U.S. intelligence was monitoring top secret communications by Tehran's chief spy service. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia are joining forces. They're lobbying the U.N. Security Council to block the assets of a Muslim charity. They say the Islamic Foundation helps terrorist groups like al Qaeda.
In money news, oil prices hit an all time record high. Light sweet crude oil has topped $42 a barrel. Analysts say the fear factor, the worry that terrorists will disrupt oil supplies, is driving up the price.
In sports, the Williams sisters are not feeling the love at the French Open.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
