Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Iraqis Sign Interim Constitution; Violence Erupts in Haiti During Demonstration; Girl Kidnapped after Fire Returns Home Today; Cuban Americans Key to Winning Florida

Aired March 08, 2004 - 13:00   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, ANCHOR: I'm Kyra Phillips. Miles worked the early shift today. CNN LIVE FROM starts right now.
It's a little bit late and many who signed it are still a little bit leery, but Iraq's new constitution is a done deal today, signed by 21 of the 25 members of the governing council and proxies of the four absentees.

Clause for clause, word for word, it's the very same document Shiite members refused to sign on Friday. So why all the names on the dotted line?

CNN's Ben Wedeman fills in the blanks from Baghdad -- Ben.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kyra, after months of wrangling and debating over this document, they finally got around to signing it. The members of the Iraqi Governing Council, appointed by the coalition provisional authority, signed in the early afternoon Iraq's interim constitution.

Now, members of the council described the document as one of the most progressive constitutions in the Middle East. They say it will create a federal, pluralistic and democratic framework upon which to create a new Iraq.

And of course, this is a very important steppingstone in the direction of the June 30 transfer of power from the U.S.-led coalition to an Iraqi government.

Now Iraq's foreign minister today described the interim constitution as a new beginning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOSHYAR ZEBARI, IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER: It's a major significance, especially it's a new beginning for Iraq. It is the beginning of rebuilding the Iraqi state on a new basis, and new tenets. State of laws, state of democratic institution, the state of quality, state of bill of rights. I think this framework is essential for rebuilding Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEDEMAN: Now, this doesn't mean that the disputes and debates have been ended. In fact, just hours after the members of the governing council signed this interim constitution, we heard new objections from the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

Now, he is not a member of the council, but he is probably one of the most, if not the most influential and powerful figure within Iraq's Shiite community, which makes up about 66 percent of Iraq's population of 25 million.

His objection now is basically that any body that is in control of Iraq, not having been elected democratically, has no right to pass laws, that what needs to be the next step is to elect a national assembly in democratic elections. That's not scheduled to take place until January 2005.

So the debate goes on, even if they do have something of a new interim constitution.

Now while the members of the governing council signed that document in the presence of the senior officials from the coalition provisional authority, more violence in Baghdad. In this case, rockets or mortars were fired in the direction of a home right next to an Iraqi police patrol station. This attack resulted in the injuring of four people, including two children -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Ben Wedeman live from Baghdad, thank you. And don't forget, you can read all about the new constitution and everything else in the new Iraq on CNN.com.

Aristide airing grievances from his home away from Haiti in the heart of Africa.

The exiled Haitian president held a news conference today for the first time since his controversial exit. He maintains he was politically abducted by U.S. Marines and says he's still Haiti's rightful head of state.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE, EXILED HAITIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): I'm the democratically elected president, and I remain so. And it is in the name of those who elected me that I ask the full democracy should be restored in my country. We have started building a state based on the rule of law. We wish to continue to develop the state based on the rule of law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: We learned today from the Pentagon that roughly 1,700 of the 2,000 Marines being planned for Haiti now have boots on the ground.

Yesterday, one of them engaged in hostile fire for the first time during a huge anti-Aristide rally in Port-au-Prince. A spokesperson says that troops killed a gunman firing either at the demonstrators or at Marines. In all, seven people are reported dead after a day of disorder.

We get the latest details now from CNN's Lucia Newman. She's in the capitol -- Lucia.

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.

Well, yes, the United States Marines, as you say, have confirmed that they did for the first time since arriving in Haiti fire a weapon. In fact, they said that they were firing back at someone firing at them, although the identity of the person killed in front of the presidential palace yesterday during the disturbances cannot be independently verified.

We did ask Colonel Mark Gurganis today, the Marine colonel, what efforts have been made to find out who the person was.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COL. MARK GURGANUS, U.S. MARINES: I know two things about him. One, he was firing at my Marines and two, he was killed. I do not know who he was, and we did not recover him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWMAN: Now, Kyra, there have been a lot of questions raised, though, about the effectiveness of the U.S. Marine and French military presence here, as to whether they could have done more, perhaps have avoided the violence that occurred yesterday when thousands of people, demonstrators marched, to the presidential palace to celebrate the departure of President Aristide one week earlier.

Many say that had there been a bigger, more visible presence of the foreign peacekeepers this wouldn't have happened. But also many are saying why haven't the Marines moved in to disarm these armed gangs loyal to the former president? But they say that that is simply not their role.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GURGANIS: We will work very closely in cooperation with the Haitian national police. Once they make the decision that they're going to take the lead on disarmament, we will help them enforce -- enforce their disarmament policies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWMAN: The problem, in the meantime, while everyone is trying to decide who should move first is that the chaos here continues as the massive looting again today, as there has been for the last few days, hundreds of millions of dollars of property lost, jobs as well, Kyra.

In the meantime, a council of sages, which is scheduled to appoint a new prime minister, who in turn would name a new government, is expected to make an announcement about that as early as tomorrow -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Our Lucia Newman, live from Port-au-Prince. Thank you. And as you can imagine, Lucia is covering this story from a number of angles. And in just a few minutes, she's going to tell us a story on a searing report on Haitians with no voice, no homes, often no food and little no hope for better lives.

You see in the pictures here, they're Haiti's orphans. And for all they lack, they do have Father Raymond Pierson. We're going to talk to him live, later in this hour of LIVE FROM.

Other news across America now. It starts in Maryland.

A collision between a truck and two trains disrupts rail service in Riverdale. The driver managed to escape after his truck stalled at a railroad crossing.

A CSX freight train hit the truck and pushed it into a marked passenger train. There were no reports of injuries.

Search crews back at work in Baltimore Harbor. They're trying to find three people still missing since a Maryland water taxi capsized over the weekend. The NTSB is investigating the accident, which left one person dead, seven people injured.

In Los Angeles, the story just keeps getting weirder. Two men have been arrested for allegedly selling body parts from cadavers in UCLA's willed body program. "Los Angeles Times" reports that police are trying to determine if the parts were stolen or taken with the school's knowledge.

John Henry Williams, remember that name? He's the son of baseball great Ted Williams. Well, he's died at the age of 35. He had leukemia. You'll remember Williams drew controversy two years ago for trying to have his father's body cryogenetically frozen.

Straight ahead, she's met with her probation officer. What's next for Martha Stewart? We'll get the latest on her legal moves and a move by CBS to drop her show.

Another high profile case, the Jayson Williams manslaughter trial. Why the former NBA star is not in court.

And March madness strikes a small school with big dreams and an undefeated record to back them up. It's a Cinderella story of the college basketball season.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Martha Stewart back inside a courthouse in New York City following her felony conviction Friday. The domestic diva met with her probation officer today.

Meantime on Wall Street, her company's stock falls further and in mid-town, Viacom canceled her TV show.

CNN's Mary Snow has the latest now on what's shaping up as another pretty bad day for the domestic diva -- Mary.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kyra. Martha Stewart showing up here at the probation office, the federal courthouse for about an hour this morning. This was pretty much routine.

This is part of the pre-sentencing process, as you mentioned, meeting with a probation officer. And also at these kinds of meetings, personal information, financial information exchanged and a report to be compiled to give to the judge in this case for the sentencing, which is now scheduled for June 17.

Leaving the courthouse, Martha Stewart, obviously met by a crowd of cameras and reporters, only saying, quote, about her company, quote, "It's a very good company."

And Kyra, as you mentioned today, Viacom confirming that it has canceled her TV show on CBS and UPN networks, only part of her business empire. A source familiar with the situation saying that Martha Stewart, over the weekend held a series of conversations with attorneys, saying that her business strategy and the future of her company right now seems to be her main focus.

Also here today at the probation office, Peter Bacanovic, her former stockbroker, he also went through the same routine. And legal experts say because neither Bacanovic or Stewart had a criminal history, that they would be eligible for the minimum sentence, legal experts estimating that Martha Stewart would probably at this point be sentenced to 12 to 18 months in jail.

Again, that sentencing coming in June.

PHILLIPS: Mary snow, live from New York. Thank you.

(STOCK REPORT)

PHILLIPS: In today's legal briefs, there's a pause in the manslaughter trial of former NBA star Jayson Williams in New Jersey. A death in the family of one of the lawyers led to the halt in today's proceedings. Williams, as you know, is accused of using a shotgun in the shooting and killing of a limousine driver.

Lawyers in the Scott Peterson murder trial are resuming the jury selection process. Potential jurors are answering a 23-page questionnaire. It seeks their views on marriage, monogamy and the media.

And in Los Angeles, the trial of rocker Courtney Love getting underway after a delay last month. She is accused of misdemeanor drug charges. Love was arrested outside the home of a boyfriend, where police say she was breaking windows in the middle of the night.

Well, straight ahead, she's waited six years for this. Today, a mother gets to take her daughter home after being separated by an alleged elaborate kidnapping plot. And children orphaned in Haiti. How do the poorest of the poorest survive that embattled country? We'll talk with one man that's making a major difference in their lives.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: I want to update you now on a story that we told you about last week about a Philadelphia mom and her missing daughter.

Well, the baby was presumed to have died in a fire, that is until the mom spotted her at a birthday party. Amy Buckman with CNN affiliate WPVI says the girl is coming home today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMY BUCKMAN, WPVI CORRESPONDENT: The 6-year-old girl has been living with a foster family in New Jersey ever since the woman she knew as her mother, 42-year-old Carolyn Correa, was charged with kidnapping and arson.

The charges came in connection with 1997 fire at the little girl's home. After that fire, officials ruled Delimar had died.

Sources close to the case say the girl's biological mother, Luz Cuevas, will pick her up at the foster home later today and bring her to her new home.

Officials have apparently determined there's no further reason to postpone the reunification of mother and daughter.

After their first official meeting last week, Cuevas, acknowledged some of the difficulties ahead. She said she will work to improve her English and will call her daughter by the name to which she's most accustomed.

LUZ CUEVAS, MOTHER: For now, the doctors say they have to call her Aaliyah, because she have the name for six years, you know. And then I'm going to say to her, the real name is Delimar.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Amy Buckman from WPVI for that update. We'll continue to follow that story, of course.

Straight ahead, caught in the middle of a political crisis. We've got the story of some of the smallest victims of the turmoil in Haiti.

Also, hitting the trail in familiar territory. President Bush making moves this afternoon in the Lone Star State. Meanwhile, Democratic candidate John Kerry heads south, trying to shore up support in Florida.

Live updates just ahead from the campaign trail.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Headlines at the half hour: the money is rolling in. President Bush hoping to raise $3 million in campaign cash today. He's attending a fund-raiser this hour in Dallas. Live pictures now. And then he moves on to Houston. We'll have a live report from the campaign trail, just ahead.

No proof. During closing arguments today, an attorney for former finance chief Mark Schwartz says prosecutors failed to prove his client's guilt. Schwartz and former CEO Dennis Kozlowski -- excuse me -- are accused of looting millions of dollars from the company. Kozlowski's attorneys have yet to present their final arguments.

Taking action. Health officials in Maryland have destroyed more than 300,000 chickens after a single case of bird flu was discovered on a farm yesterday. The strain is the same as the one found in Delaware and is not believed to be harmful to humans.

Other news around the world now.

Threatening revenge. Hamas is vowing to avenge a deadly Israeli raid in Gaza. Eleven Hamas militants and three boys were killed in Sunday's attack, the bloodiest in 17 months. Israel's army is checking reports that a 14-year-old Palestinian boy was shot dead today.

A turning point in Greek politics. Greece's socialist leader is out, conservatives are moving in. The new Democracy Party won a majority of seats in parliament in Sunday's elections, ending the socialist 11-year rule.

Seized in Zimbabwe. Authorities in the African nation say they've intercepted a U.S. registered jetliner and taken dozens of suspected mercenaries into custody. Investigators say military equipment was found on board. It's unclear whether any of the passengers were American.

Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry is looking for a little southern comfort in the land of sunshine. He told Florida supporters today that he's the man some foreign leaders want sitting in the Oval Office.

Our John Zarrella is live in Miami with more on Kerry in Florida and the impact of the Cuban American voters -- John.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, you know, Senator Kerry got more than just a little southern comfort here in Florida. A poll just released by the "Miami Herald" and the "St. Petersburg Times" of 800 likely voters shows Senator Kerry now leading President Bush here in the Sunshine State 49-43 percent.

The senator is here today. This morning he was in Hollywood, Florida campaigning, then up in West Palm Beach at lunchtime for a rally. And this evening, he will be over on the west coast of Florida, in Tampa.

Both -- All of those, actually, Democratic strongholds, where Senator Kerry is likely to do very well in November.

But there is one group of voters here in south Florida that Senator Kerry cannot count on for support.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZARRELLA (voice-over): Florida, political experts say, is a difficult state for any candidate. The message has to appeal to a diverse population: retired and active military, elderly voters, affluent young suburbanites and minorities.

Among them, traditionally Republican Cuban Americans.

One party message, maintaining a tough stance against Fidel Castro, has for decades play Played well in south Florida.

PEPE LOPEZ, LATIN AMERICAN VOTERS ASSOCIATION: Whoever wants to win Florida better come here and better say what we want to hear. I mean, I don't even say do what we want to do, because I know in Florida for years they haven't done it. But at least, you know, I want to hear it.

ZARRELLA: Among a large majority of Cuban American voters, President Bush is still their man. But recently, there have been uncharacteristic grumblings.

The Cuban American National Foundation, once a powerful Republican all, has expressed frustration that the administration hasn't done enough to put pressure on Castro.

But so far, political science professor Dario Moreno (ph) says Democrats haven't taken advantage of the opening.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Democrats' problem in Florida is that they haven't had a very powerful outreach program towards Hispanics.

ZARRELLA: Even if Democratic candidate John Kerry doesn't strike a chord with Cuban voters, the Republicans can't, political analyst Jim Kane says, rely on the old saying, "Who else are they going to vote for?"

JIM KANE, POLITICAL ANALYST: It doesn't work with Cuban Americans, because they'll stay home and sit on their hands and turnout will drop dramatically. A Republican candidate can't win Florida without an energized Cuban American vote.

ZARRELLA: That energized vote is one Republicans have counted on. And the president will no doubt do everything he can to make sure it stays that way.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZARRELLA: Now, regarding that poll, that just released poll, the political experts are saying that we can expect the numbers to flip- flop back and forth between now and November between Senator Kerry and President Bush. And as usual, come November, Florida may very well be too close to call -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. You know I have to ask this question, John. The voting machines, are we sensing disaster or not?

ZARRELLA: I don't think anyone is sensing disaster yet, but I can tell you that Congressman Robert Wexler is filing a federal lawsuit this afternoon, and basically he is demanding that printers be provided with the electronic machines that are present in the big counties.

That's because right now he believes that voter intent can't be measured, because your vote really is in cyber space. And if something goes wrong nobody will really know what the voter intended once again.

We may not have chads, but we still might have cyber-snafus come November -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. John Zarrella, thanks.

Well, hitting the trail for campaign cash. We'll get an update on President Bush in Texas.

Also, healthy eating at the vending machine? We'll tell you about one idea that's raising a few eyebrows.

And they've already been anointed, the darlings of the dance. We'll profile the small school that's made history in college basketball.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




During Demonstration; Girl Kidnapped after Fire Returns Home Today; Cuban Americans Key to Winning Florida>


Aired March 8, 2004 - 13:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, ANCHOR: I'm Kyra Phillips. Miles worked the early shift today. CNN LIVE FROM starts right now.
It's a little bit late and many who signed it are still a little bit leery, but Iraq's new constitution is a done deal today, signed by 21 of the 25 members of the governing council and proxies of the four absentees.

Clause for clause, word for word, it's the very same document Shiite members refused to sign on Friday. So why all the names on the dotted line?

CNN's Ben Wedeman fills in the blanks from Baghdad -- Ben.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kyra, after months of wrangling and debating over this document, they finally got around to signing it. The members of the Iraqi Governing Council, appointed by the coalition provisional authority, signed in the early afternoon Iraq's interim constitution.

Now, members of the council described the document as one of the most progressive constitutions in the Middle East. They say it will create a federal, pluralistic and democratic framework upon which to create a new Iraq.

And of course, this is a very important steppingstone in the direction of the June 30 transfer of power from the U.S.-led coalition to an Iraqi government.

Now Iraq's foreign minister today described the interim constitution as a new beginning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOSHYAR ZEBARI, IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER: It's a major significance, especially it's a new beginning for Iraq. It is the beginning of rebuilding the Iraqi state on a new basis, and new tenets. State of laws, state of democratic institution, the state of quality, state of bill of rights. I think this framework is essential for rebuilding Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEDEMAN: Now, this doesn't mean that the disputes and debates have been ended. In fact, just hours after the members of the governing council signed this interim constitution, we heard new objections from the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

Now, he is not a member of the council, but he is probably one of the most, if not the most influential and powerful figure within Iraq's Shiite community, which makes up about 66 percent of Iraq's population of 25 million.

His objection now is basically that any body that is in control of Iraq, not having been elected democratically, has no right to pass laws, that what needs to be the next step is to elect a national assembly in democratic elections. That's not scheduled to take place until January 2005.

So the debate goes on, even if they do have something of a new interim constitution.

Now while the members of the governing council signed that document in the presence of the senior officials from the coalition provisional authority, more violence in Baghdad. In this case, rockets or mortars were fired in the direction of a home right next to an Iraqi police patrol station. This attack resulted in the injuring of four people, including two children -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Ben Wedeman live from Baghdad, thank you. And don't forget, you can read all about the new constitution and everything else in the new Iraq on CNN.com.

Aristide airing grievances from his home away from Haiti in the heart of Africa.

The exiled Haitian president held a news conference today for the first time since his controversial exit. He maintains he was politically abducted by U.S. Marines and says he's still Haiti's rightful head of state.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE, EXILED HAITIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): I'm the democratically elected president, and I remain so. And it is in the name of those who elected me that I ask the full democracy should be restored in my country. We have started building a state based on the rule of law. We wish to continue to develop the state based on the rule of law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: We learned today from the Pentagon that roughly 1,700 of the 2,000 Marines being planned for Haiti now have boots on the ground.

Yesterday, one of them engaged in hostile fire for the first time during a huge anti-Aristide rally in Port-au-Prince. A spokesperson says that troops killed a gunman firing either at the demonstrators or at Marines. In all, seven people are reported dead after a day of disorder.

We get the latest details now from CNN's Lucia Newman. She's in the capitol -- Lucia.

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.

Well, yes, the United States Marines, as you say, have confirmed that they did for the first time since arriving in Haiti fire a weapon. In fact, they said that they were firing back at someone firing at them, although the identity of the person killed in front of the presidential palace yesterday during the disturbances cannot be independently verified.

We did ask Colonel Mark Gurganis today, the Marine colonel, what efforts have been made to find out who the person was.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COL. MARK GURGANUS, U.S. MARINES: I know two things about him. One, he was firing at my Marines and two, he was killed. I do not know who he was, and we did not recover him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWMAN: Now, Kyra, there have been a lot of questions raised, though, about the effectiveness of the U.S. Marine and French military presence here, as to whether they could have done more, perhaps have avoided the violence that occurred yesterday when thousands of people, demonstrators marched, to the presidential palace to celebrate the departure of President Aristide one week earlier.

Many say that had there been a bigger, more visible presence of the foreign peacekeepers this wouldn't have happened. But also many are saying why haven't the Marines moved in to disarm these armed gangs loyal to the former president? But they say that that is simply not their role.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GURGANIS: We will work very closely in cooperation with the Haitian national police. Once they make the decision that they're going to take the lead on disarmament, we will help them enforce -- enforce their disarmament policies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWMAN: The problem, in the meantime, while everyone is trying to decide who should move first is that the chaos here continues as the massive looting again today, as there has been for the last few days, hundreds of millions of dollars of property lost, jobs as well, Kyra.

In the meantime, a council of sages, which is scheduled to appoint a new prime minister, who in turn would name a new government, is expected to make an announcement about that as early as tomorrow -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Our Lucia Newman, live from Port-au-Prince. Thank you. And as you can imagine, Lucia is covering this story from a number of angles. And in just a few minutes, she's going to tell us a story on a searing report on Haitians with no voice, no homes, often no food and little no hope for better lives.

You see in the pictures here, they're Haiti's orphans. And for all they lack, they do have Father Raymond Pierson. We're going to talk to him live, later in this hour of LIVE FROM.

Other news across America now. It starts in Maryland.

A collision between a truck and two trains disrupts rail service in Riverdale. The driver managed to escape after his truck stalled at a railroad crossing.

A CSX freight train hit the truck and pushed it into a marked passenger train. There were no reports of injuries.

Search crews back at work in Baltimore Harbor. They're trying to find three people still missing since a Maryland water taxi capsized over the weekend. The NTSB is investigating the accident, which left one person dead, seven people injured.

In Los Angeles, the story just keeps getting weirder. Two men have been arrested for allegedly selling body parts from cadavers in UCLA's willed body program. "Los Angeles Times" reports that police are trying to determine if the parts were stolen or taken with the school's knowledge.

John Henry Williams, remember that name? He's the son of baseball great Ted Williams. Well, he's died at the age of 35. He had leukemia. You'll remember Williams drew controversy two years ago for trying to have his father's body cryogenetically frozen.

Straight ahead, she's met with her probation officer. What's next for Martha Stewart? We'll get the latest on her legal moves and a move by CBS to drop her show.

Another high profile case, the Jayson Williams manslaughter trial. Why the former NBA star is not in court.

And March madness strikes a small school with big dreams and an undefeated record to back them up. It's a Cinderella story of the college basketball season.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Martha Stewart back inside a courthouse in New York City following her felony conviction Friday. The domestic diva met with her probation officer today.

Meantime on Wall Street, her company's stock falls further and in mid-town, Viacom canceled her TV show.

CNN's Mary Snow has the latest now on what's shaping up as another pretty bad day for the domestic diva -- Mary.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kyra. Martha Stewart showing up here at the probation office, the federal courthouse for about an hour this morning. This was pretty much routine.

This is part of the pre-sentencing process, as you mentioned, meeting with a probation officer. And also at these kinds of meetings, personal information, financial information exchanged and a report to be compiled to give to the judge in this case for the sentencing, which is now scheduled for June 17.

Leaving the courthouse, Martha Stewart, obviously met by a crowd of cameras and reporters, only saying, quote, about her company, quote, "It's a very good company."

And Kyra, as you mentioned today, Viacom confirming that it has canceled her TV show on CBS and UPN networks, only part of her business empire. A source familiar with the situation saying that Martha Stewart, over the weekend held a series of conversations with attorneys, saying that her business strategy and the future of her company right now seems to be her main focus.

Also here today at the probation office, Peter Bacanovic, her former stockbroker, he also went through the same routine. And legal experts say because neither Bacanovic or Stewart had a criminal history, that they would be eligible for the minimum sentence, legal experts estimating that Martha Stewart would probably at this point be sentenced to 12 to 18 months in jail.

Again, that sentencing coming in June.

PHILLIPS: Mary snow, live from New York. Thank you.

(STOCK REPORT)

PHILLIPS: In today's legal briefs, there's a pause in the manslaughter trial of former NBA star Jayson Williams in New Jersey. A death in the family of one of the lawyers led to the halt in today's proceedings. Williams, as you know, is accused of using a shotgun in the shooting and killing of a limousine driver.

Lawyers in the Scott Peterson murder trial are resuming the jury selection process. Potential jurors are answering a 23-page questionnaire. It seeks their views on marriage, monogamy and the media.

And in Los Angeles, the trial of rocker Courtney Love getting underway after a delay last month. She is accused of misdemeanor drug charges. Love was arrested outside the home of a boyfriend, where police say she was breaking windows in the middle of the night.

Well, straight ahead, she's waited six years for this. Today, a mother gets to take her daughter home after being separated by an alleged elaborate kidnapping plot. And children orphaned in Haiti. How do the poorest of the poorest survive that embattled country? We'll talk with one man that's making a major difference in their lives.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: I want to update you now on a story that we told you about last week about a Philadelphia mom and her missing daughter.

Well, the baby was presumed to have died in a fire, that is until the mom spotted her at a birthday party. Amy Buckman with CNN affiliate WPVI says the girl is coming home today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMY BUCKMAN, WPVI CORRESPONDENT: The 6-year-old girl has been living with a foster family in New Jersey ever since the woman she knew as her mother, 42-year-old Carolyn Correa, was charged with kidnapping and arson.

The charges came in connection with 1997 fire at the little girl's home. After that fire, officials ruled Delimar had died.

Sources close to the case say the girl's biological mother, Luz Cuevas, will pick her up at the foster home later today and bring her to her new home.

Officials have apparently determined there's no further reason to postpone the reunification of mother and daughter.

After their first official meeting last week, Cuevas, acknowledged some of the difficulties ahead. She said she will work to improve her English and will call her daughter by the name to which she's most accustomed.

LUZ CUEVAS, MOTHER: For now, the doctors say they have to call her Aaliyah, because she have the name for six years, you know. And then I'm going to say to her, the real name is Delimar.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Amy Buckman from WPVI for that update. We'll continue to follow that story, of course.

Straight ahead, caught in the middle of a political crisis. We've got the story of some of the smallest victims of the turmoil in Haiti.

Also, hitting the trail in familiar territory. President Bush making moves this afternoon in the Lone Star State. Meanwhile, Democratic candidate John Kerry heads south, trying to shore up support in Florida.

Live updates just ahead from the campaign trail.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Headlines at the half hour: the money is rolling in. President Bush hoping to raise $3 million in campaign cash today. He's attending a fund-raiser this hour in Dallas. Live pictures now. And then he moves on to Houston. We'll have a live report from the campaign trail, just ahead.

No proof. During closing arguments today, an attorney for former finance chief Mark Schwartz says prosecutors failed to prove his client's guilt. Schwartz and former CEO Dennis Kozlowski -- excuse me -- are accused of looting millions of dollars from the company. Kozlowski's attorneys have yet to present their final arguments.

Taking action. Health officials in Maryland have destroyed more than 300,000 chickens after a single case of bird flu was discovered on a farm yesterday. The strain is the same as the one found in Delaware and is not believed to be harmful to humans.

Other news around the world now.

Threatening revenge. Hamas is vowing to avenge a deadly Israeli raid in Gaza. Eleven Hamas militants and three boys were killed in Sunday's attack, the bloodiest in 17 months. Israel's army is checking reports that a 14-year-old Palestinian boy was shot dead today.

A turning point in Greek politics. Greece's socialist leader is out, conservatives are moving in. The new Democracy Party won a majority of seats in parliament in Sunday's elections, ending the socialist 11-year rule.

Seized in Zimbabwe. Authorities in the African nation say they've intercepted a U.S. registered jetliner and taken dozens of suspected mercenaries into custody. Investigators say military equipment was found on board. It's unclear whether any of the passengers were American.

Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry is looking for a little southern comfort in the land of sunshine. He told Florida supporters today that he's the man some foreign leaders want sitting in the Oval Office.

Our John Zarrella is live in Miami with more on Kerry in Florida and the impact of the Cuban American voters -- John.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, you know, Senator Kerry got more than just a little southern comfort here in Florida. A poll just released by the "Miami Herald" and the "St. Petersburg Times" of 800 likely voters shows Senator Kerry now leading President Bush here in the Sunshine State 49-43 percent.

The senator is here today. This morning he was in Hollywood, Florida campaigning, then up in West Palm Beach at lunchtime for a rally. And this evening, he will be over on the west coast of Florida, in Tampa.

Both -- All of those, actually, Democratic strongholds, where Senator Kerry is likely to do very well in November.

But there is one group of voters here in south Florida that Senator Kerry cannot count on for support.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZARRELLA (voice-over): Florida, political experts say, is a difficult state for any candidate. The message has to appeal to a diverse population: retired and active military, elderly voters, affluent young suburbanites and minorities.

Among them, traditionally Republican Cuban Americans.

One party message, maintaining a tough stance against Fidel Castro, has for decades play Played well in south Florida.

PEPE LOPEZ, LATIN AMERICAN VOTERS ASSOCIATION: Whoever wants to win Florida better come here and better say what we want to hear. I mean, I don't even say do what we want to do, because I know in Florida for years they haven't done it. But at least, you know, I want to hear it.

ZARRELLA: Among a large majority of Cuban American voters, President Bush is still their man. But recently, there have been uncharacteristic grumblings.

The Cuban American National Foundation, once a powerful Republican all, has expressed frustration that the administration hasn't done enough to put pressure on Castro.

But so far, political science professor Dario Moreno (ph) says Democrats haven't taken advantage of the opening.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Democrats' problem in Florida is that they haven't had a very powerful outreach program towards Hispanics.

ZARRELLA: Even if Democratic candidate John Kerry doesn't strike a chord with Cuban voters, the Republicans can't, political analyst Jim Kane says, rely on the old saying, "Who else are they going to vote for?"

JIM KANE, POLITICAL ANALYST: It doesn't work with Cuban Americans, because they'll stay home and sit on their hands and turnout will drop dramatically. A Republican candidate can't win Florida without an energized Cuban American vote.

ZARRELLA: That energized vote is one Republicans have counted on. And the president will no doubt do everything he can to make sure it stays that way.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZARRELLA: Now, regarding that poll, that just released poll, the political experts are saying that we can expect the numbers to flip- flop back and forth between now and November between Senator Kerry and President Bush. And as usual, come November, Florida may very well be too close to call -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. You know I have to ask this question, John. The voting machines, are we sensing disaster or not?

ZARRELLA: I don't think anyone is sensing disaster yet, but I can tell you that Congressman Robert Wexler is filing a federal lawsuit this afternoon, and basically he is demanding that printers be provided with the electronic machines that are present in the big counties.

That's because right now he believes that voter intent can't be measured, because your vote really is in cyber space. And if something goes wrong nobody will really know what the voter intended once again.

We may not have chads, but we still might have cyber-snafus come November -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. John Zarrella, thanks.

Well, hitting the trail for campaign cash. We'll get an update on President Bush in Texas.

Also, healthy eating at the vending machine? We'll tell you about one idea that's raising a few eyebrows.

And they've already been anointed, the darlings of the dance. We'll profile the small school that's made history in college basketball.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




During Demonstration; Girl Kidnapped after Fire Returns Home Today; Cuban Americans Key to Winning Florida>