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Sivits Claims MPs Acted on Their Own in Abu Ghraib; Massive Anti-Bush Rally in Havana

Aired May 14, 2004 - 12:59   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hundreds of detainees are free from Abu Ghraib, five days before the first prison abuse court-martial proceeding. So how does a military trial work? A former Air Force attorney weighs in.
Thousands of Cubans take to the street. They call it a "gigantic protest against fascist policies of Bush." Stage by, you guessed it, Fidel Castro. We'll take you there live.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Rusty Dornin at the NextFest in San Francisco, where the future technology for amputees is up and running.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Give me a huah to shake the marble.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And what's in a huah? Our Jeanne Moos spells it out for us.

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield, Miles O'Brien and Kyra Phillips have the day off. It is Friday, May 14, CNN's LIVE FROM... starts right now.

Up first this hour, fingers pointed, bucks passed, motives questioned in Abu Ghraib inmate abuse scandal. Days before the first round of courts martial of U.S. soldiers, graphic new accounts have come to light, this time in the form of words not pictures. The speaker is a defendant who apparently has broken ranks with his fellow accused who aren't taking the allegations lightly. Keeping track of all this is CNN's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Fredricka. Well, it is specialist Jeremy Sivits that we have now heard from in documentation what he told investigators about what happened in Abu Ghraib Prison. But first, today in Baghdad, the military justice system took another step forward.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY: Charges were referred to Specialist Charles A. Graner to general court martial. The seven charges against Specialist Graner are conspiracy to maltreat detainees; dereliction of duty for willfully failing to protect detainees from abuse; cruelty and maltreatment; maltreatment of detainees; assaulting detainees; committing indecent acts; adultery; and obstruction of justice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

But it is Specialist Charles Graner and others that are mentioned in Jeremy Sivits statement to investigators. And what he talked about the abuse, specifically what was done to Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib Prison. Let's just look at one thing that Sivits told investigators.

He says: "They put detainees in a pile on the floor. The detainees were tossed in the middle of the floor together. That is when Sergeant Davis," he's referring to Sergeant Javal Davis, "ran across the room and lunged in the air and landed in the middle of where the detainees were. I believe this is when Corporal Graner told Specialist Wisdom (ph) to come in and 'get him some.'"

Now Specialist Sivits was asked, what about the chain of command? And he said: "Our command would have slammed us, they believed in doing the right thing. If they saw what was going on, there would have been hell to pay."

An indication that the soldiers who engaged in this activity did not tell superiors, Specialist Sivits saying -- asked, why didn't you tell your chain of command? He said he was trying to be a friend to everybody but now he knows there's a price to pay for all that. And of course, we should remind everyone, this is the statement of one person, Specialist Jeremy Sivits. Very clear that others involved will have plenty to say about it -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Barbara, is it believed that his statements taken in January essentially kind of cut him a break and that's why he has got a special court martial, which is more like a misdemeanor trial?

STARR: That is certainly the implication one could draw from what we are seeing. So far everyone else appears to be headed towards general court martial proceedings, which indeed, as you say, are much more serious and could lead to much stiffer penalties.

The implication is analogous to what happens in the civilian court system, that Jeremy Sivits cut some sort of plea bargain, some sort of deal. But we won't really know until next Wednesday, May 19, when his court martial proceeding opens in Baghdad -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Barbara Starr from the Pentagon, thank you.

The father of accused soldier Javal Davis says his son is a pawn. Davis is one of those facing so-called general court martial, the military equivalent of felony trials, on charges including cruelty, dereliction of duty and committing in decent acts.

Jonathan Davis spoke with CNN's Soledad O'Brien today on "AMERICAN MORNING."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "AMERICAN MORNING") JONATHAN DAVIS, FATHER OF ACCUSED SOLDIER: My son is just -- he's a good soldier. They were directed to do a job and that's exactly what he did. And this is a -- I think, is just a ploy or whatever have you to put it all on the smaller guys. As I play chess, they're just pawns, you know, there are bigger people behind this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And later today on LIVE FROM..., we'll talk with the lawyer for accused GI Charles Graner, who some soldiers claim was the central figure in the documented abuse. That's at 3 p.m. Eastern, noon Pacific right here on CNN.

As the investigation continues at Abu Ghraib, there are some changes there to speak of today. It's a bit less crowded. Hundreds of inmates were shown the door in-line with the coalition's plans to make the prison less of a pressure cooker.

CNN's Ben Wedeman was there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Out of prison and on their way home. Five buses left Abu Ghraib Friday morning, taking around 300 former detainees away from a prison that under Saddam Hussein was spoken of only in whispers. And under U.S. control has become for many Iraqis symbolic of an American occupation gone sour.

A moment of joy for some. Others saw no familiar faces smiling back. Samir Ahmed (ph) was hoping his brother, in coalition custody for nearly a year, would be released. He wasn't.

"My brother has six small kids," says Samir. "This is painful."

In Baghdad, Hussein Sami (ph) and his three brothers returned home, months of anxiety finally over, though one of Hussein's brothers is still a prisoner. And inevitably, there are claims of abuse.

"They stripped me," says one prisoner who didn't give his name. "They beat me and sprayed cold water on me."

Such claims have yet to be confirmed. But following widespread broadcast of graphic photos of prisoner abuse, few Iraqis are likely to dispute them.

(on camera): The recent Red Cross report on Iraq estimates that anywhere between 70 and 90 percent of detainees were arrested by mistake. But there's no mistaking that among those who were released today, the coalition has created new enemies at a time when it hardly needs any more.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, outside Abu Ghraib Prison.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: Elsewhere in Iraq, war in the Valley of Peace. That's a sprawling cemetery, possibly the world's largest in the holy city of Najaf. And for a while today, it was a battleground. U.S. forces rolled in to root out the so-called Mehdi militia which had been lobbing mortar shells at U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police. At least 17 fighters loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr were killed, apparently caught in the crossfire was the golden dome of Najaf's most sacred shrine, slightly damaged by bullets of unknown origin.

We're little more than two hours away from a private service in West Chester, Pennsylvania, for the American civilian who was kidnapped and brutally killed by terrorists linked to al Qaeda. CNN's Maria Hinojosa has spent days talking with the friends and family of Nicholas Berg, whose final weeks are still a bit of a mystery -- Maria.

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredericka, a very difficult day for the Berg family as they prepare to lay their son to rest. We believe that this family left their home early this morning, pretty much out the back door, trying to avoid the media attention that has basically swarmed them since the news of the death of their son. Going to the funeral, we believe we have -- we saw them as they were returning, looking very solemn, very sad. They are preparing, of course, for a memorial here for friends that will be open only to friends and family at Nick Berg here at Kesher Israel.

Now of course, this family is wanting privacy, wanting to say these final goodbyes. But the fact is as the days pass, more and more people want to know about Nick Berg, want to know more about his life, want to know more about what would motivate this young man to go and spend this time in Iraq. And even though the father, very much against the war, very much critical of President Bush, in fact, saying that his son died for the sins of President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney had this to say about the murder of Nick Berg earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The recent murder of Nicholas Berg, like the murder of Daniel Pearl in 2002 is a reminder that there are evil people in the world capable of any atrocity, and determined to take innocent life. This nation will never be intimidated by the killers who despise us and everything we stand for. We're taking this fight to the enemy, and we will prevail.

HINOJOSA: There are still many, many questions for this family, about where the final information, about who was detaining Nick Berg in Iraq. His family insisting it was the United States. The United States again saying today that this is -- he was never in U.S. custody when he was in Iraq. All of these questions swirling at a time when the family is preparing to meet here at 3:30 at Kesher Israel for a memorial -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Maria, thank you.

News from across America now. A convicted hijacker gets 160 years in prison. A judge sentenced Zaid Hassan Abd Latif Safarini yesterday for his role in the 1986 hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Pakistan. The terrorist killed 21 passengers. Safarini apologized to the victim's relatives who were in the courtroom for the sentencing. The judge said he didn't buy it.

Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick goes on trial today. He and two other players are accused of giving alcohol to three teenager girls. Vick is also accused of having sex with one of the girls, a 15-year-old. Vick is the brother of NFL star Michael Vick.

And fire officials say the pilot was killed when a small turbo prop plane crashed this morning in a neighborhood near Washington D.C. An FAA official says two people were on board. There's no word on what happened to the other person.

So far, the sandbags are holding in Roseau (ph), Minnesota. The Roseau River has crested at 20 1/2 feet, that's well above flood stage but about a foot-and-a-half below the top of the levees. Two years ago, floods devastated that town.

The news is a lot worse in Hearne, Texas. Flood waters broke a dam and destroyed bridges there. Whole neighborhoods are under water. People climbed to tree tops and roof tops for safety. Others headed for higher ground in boats, tractors and pick-up trucks.

And take a look at these pictures. It's one of the largest anti- American protests in Cuba, courtesy of Fidel Castro. What exactly is inspiring this business (ph)? We'll go there next.

And invisibility coats, robots, personal flying machines, no, we're not making this stuff up. Science fiction becomes reality in San Francisco. Later in this hour of LIVE FROM...

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Hundreds of thousands of Cubans take to the streets for a massive anti-American demonstration led by their president, Fidel Castro. The protest follows tighter economic restrictions imposed by the U.S. CNN's Havana bureau chief, Lucia Newman, has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF: This really looks like the mother of all marches here. Cuba, which has a lot to say -- this country which regularly stages enormous protest marches. In fact, President Fidel Castro who is heading this major demonstration against the United States and presumably the Bush administration, has called it the largest march in Cuban history.

(UNINTELLIGIBLE) starting the march (UNINTELLIGIBLE) write a letter which he said was directed at President Bush. It said: "You have no moral authority to talk about freedom and human rights and democracy. You have imposed a war (UNINTELLIGIBLE), Mr. Bush."

Now the people here are carrying placards with President Bush being depicted as Adolph Hitler with little moustaches under his nose, other posters of U.S. military brutalizing Iraqi prisoners. All this, of course, being used by the Cuban government who is trying to discredit the United States and a plan that was presented by the White House just last week to try and accelerate the downfall of Cuban communism.

There are hundreds of thousands of people here today. Many of the people are very upset at the U.S. government. They say that they are afraid in fact that President Bush could be tempted to invade the United States (sic) next. And of course, the Cuban government is doing everything in its power to feed that (UNINTELLIGIBLE), even though the U.S. administration until now has said that it is not considering invading or any sort of military action against Cuba at this time.

It's expected that this march could last three or four more hours. The people have come not only from Havana but also the province of Havana, they were bused here overnight. There is nobody at work or at school. Everybody has been told to come out here and send President Bush the message that they do not want what they call here any U.S. intervention.

Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: In other news around the world, Denmark is celebrating its newest couple. Australian-born Mary Donaldson and Danish Crown Prince Frederik have tied the knot. They exchanged vows in front of dozens of dignitaries from around the world and it all happened on live television. She's the first Australian woman to stand in line to become a queen. The two met in a pub four years ago.

In South Africa, emotions are running high. The Federation of International Football Association is about to decide which African country will host the 2010 soccer World Cup. South Africa is thought to be a slight favorite. Morocco and Egypt are not far behind. The decision will be made in Zurich tomorrow morning.

Soccer fever is also high in Iraq, where for the first time the national soccer team is heading to the summer Olympic games. CNN's Aneesh Raman has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Good news in Iraq is scarce these days. But Iraqis found some Wednesday on a Jordanian soccer field. In order for Iraq's national soccer team to clench its first ever Olympic bid, not only did they have to beat Saudi Arabia, the odds-on favorite, but Kuwait and Oman had to tie in their game. And that's exactly what happened.

In Baghdad, the celebrations were immediate, as locals watched the final minutes on television, gunfire filled the air. A day later at this local coffee shop, the joy still quite apparent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The outcome of this game made us very happy, especially with what is happening in Fallujah and Najaf, this game made us feel very happy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): They really raised our heads high. And I hope they continue to raise our heads.

RAMAN: For the country, the win is a giant break from the past. In Saddam Hussein's Iraq, his younger son Uday was in charge of the National Olympic Committee, running it in much the same way his father ruled the country. Soccer players who did not perform were routinely tortured. Iraqi athletes able to defect told of beatings, floggings and even imprisonment. It is a painful past that is clearing its way for a future set on Olympic sites.

(on camera): And perhaps the most joyous celebration will come from members of the team who played under Uday. For them this victory not a forced outcome, but the source of personal pride.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Next week, the first of U.S. soldiers facing courts martial will be in court next week involving the Abu Ghraib Prison trial -- abuse. Can he get a fair trial, an inside view of the military law later this hour.

It's the most wanted ticket in the Democratic camp. So who has a chance of winning it? We'll name possible candidates ahead on LIVE FROM...

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: When does science fiction become science fact? From the look of things, pretty soon. A mini world's fair begins today in San Francisco and the list of cool cutting edge stuff includes invisibility coats and the next wave of artificial limbs. CNN's Rusty Dornin joins with us live with a firsthand look.

Hi, Rusty.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredericka, it's called NextFest. And there are 110 things here that many inventors have been dreaming about for years and some of us have been dreaming about all our lives, especially in the medical industry here, there are some things that they are using right now with prosthetics. We're here with Cameron Clack (ph) who lost both legs and an arm when he was hit by a train three years ago?

Now you have actually a computer chip in your prosthesis, is that right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's true, actually I have a microprocessor knee. And it enables me to walk at gait desired s.

DORNIN: So it measures your weight and how much you're leaning over, that sort of thing? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's correct, with the help of a computer program on a laptop computer, they program it to my weight, to my gait, the resistance levels.

DORNIN: Why don't you go ahead and show us? He can even walk downstairs, that sort of thing.

Also, with this -- if you have one leg you can also actually run with this device, as John Siciliano (ph) is doing right here on the treadmill. He's actually running with this. John, how hard is it to do this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's a combination of training the body and technology, of course.

DORNIN: Does it hurt -- I mean, is it painful at all?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not at all. It's very smooth, just takes some stamina and strength, combined with this great knee.

DORNIN: Also some other great designs that have come out are also in arms and legs that actually look like arms and legs. Now we're here with Carrie Davis (ph) who has the most amazing arm here. You can see her fingers actually can grip. And you can actually even eat and that sort of thing?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh absolutely, I can do everything with this hand. Anything that I can do with my right, I can do with my left, my prosthesis.

DORNIN: Now you can -- and this is from the sensation in your upper arm?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's in the muscles, in my flexors and extensors in my forearm. Inside the socket there are sensors that pick up those muscle flexes, and so the arm then corresponds with those flexes.

DORNIN: Now you have had prosthesis for years. But the newer ones, how are they different?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, with my (ph) electric, I have great strength, I have independent movement because I can move around. I used to have a cable-operated system. So I can operate my prosthesis here or above my head. And it's just really, it's going to be great independence.

DORNIN: Great, thanks a lot, Carrie Davis.

Some great things that are happening. Now, of course, many of the exhibits here are in the near future. The one rule though is these things have to be up and working. And as you said, there is an invisibility cloak that's transparent. There's even a flying car, of course, we're not able to see it do that within the exhibit hall. But some great stuff here in San Francisco. It's all sponsored by "WIRED" magazine. They wanted stuff that was just fun. We don't know whether it will a lot of it will ever really become reality. But they're having a lot of fun with it now -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Well, the prosthetics are incredible that you just showed us. And of course, they do bring some fun for people who are able to use them and they're very useful medically as well. Any indication as to how much they are, because they are so advanced I imagine they have a huge ticket price with it?

DORNIN: Well, let's go ahead ask Carrie. Carrie, they're talking about the price here. What can -- for an arm like this, what does that cost?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, it really just depends on the kind of components that are put in the arms. There are so many variety of hands that can be used. Mine in particular is probably $25,000 to $35,000.

DORNIN: And how about something like the legs that John and...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Again, that's another thing that depends on what's used in the leg itself. I would think around $35,000 to $50,000.

DORNIN: Great, thanks a lot, so very, very expensive but something that's really giving the folks here some flexibility in their lives, to be able to do things they never thought they'd be able to do.

WHITFIELD: Rusty Dornin, at NextFest, that is unbelievable, thanks very much for bringing it to us out of San Francisco.

(MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired May 14, 2004 - 12:59   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hundreds of detainees are free from Abu Ghraib, five days before the first prison abuse court-martial proceeding. So how does a military trial work? A former Air Force attorney weighs in.
Thousands of Cubans take to the street. They call it a "gigantic protest against fascist policies of Bush." Stage by, you guessed it, Fidel Castro. We'll take you there live.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Rusty Dornin at the NextFest in San Francisco, where the future technology for amputees is up and running.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Give me a huah to shake the marble.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And what's in a huah? Our Jeanne Moos spells it out for us.

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield, Miles O'Brien and Kyra Phillips have the day off. It is Friday, May 14, CNN's LIVE FROM... starts right now.

Up first this hour, fingers pointed, bucks passed, motives questioned in Abu Ghraib inmate abuse scandal. Days before the first round of courts martial of U.S. soldiers, graphic new accounts have come to light, this time in the form of words not pictures. The speaker is a defendant who apparently has broken ranks with his fellow accused who aren't taking the allegations lightly. Keeping track of all this is CNN's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Fredricka. Well, it is specialist Jeremy Sivits that we have now heard from in documentation what he told investigators about what happened in Abu Ghraib Prison. But first, today in Baghdad, the military justice system took another step forward.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY: Charges were referred to Specialist Charles A. Graner to general court martial. The seven charges against Specialist Graner are conspiracy to maltreat detainees; dereliction of duty for willfully failing to protect detainees from abuse; cruelty and maltreatment; maltreatment of detainees; assaulting detainees; committing indecent acts; adultery; and obstruction of justice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

But it is Specialist Charles Graner and others that are mentioned in Jeremy Sivits statement to investigators. And what he talked about the abuse, specifically what was done to Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib Prison. Let's just look at one thing that Sivits told investigators.

He says: "They put detainees in a pile on the floor. The detainees were tossed in the middle of the floor together. That is when Sergeant Davis," he's referring to Sergeant Javal Davis, "ran across the room and lunged in the air and landed in the middle of where the detainees were. I believe this is when Corporal Graner told Specialist Wisdom (ph) to come in and 'get him some.'"

Now Specialist Sivits was asked, what about the chain of command? And he said: "Our command would have slammed us, they believed in doing the right thing. If they saw what was going on, there would have been hell to pay."

An indication that the soldiers who engaged in this activity did not tell superiors, Specialist Sivits saying -- asked, why didn't you tell your chain of command? He said he was trying to be a friend to everybody but now he knows there's a price to pay for all that. And of course, we should remind everyone, this is the statement of one person, Specialist Jeremy Sivits. Very clear that others involved will have plenty to say about it -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Barbara, is it believed that his statements taken in January essentially kind of cut him a break and that's why he has got a special court martial, which is more like a misdemeanor trial?

STARR: That is certainly the implication one could draw from what we are seeing. So far everyone else appears to be headed towards general court martial proceedings, which indeed, as you say, are much more serious and could lead to much stiffer penalties.

The implication is analogous to what happens in the civilian court system, that Jeremy Sivits cut some sort of plea bargain, some sort of deal. But we won't really know until next Wednesday, May 19, when his court martial proceeding opens in Baghdad -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Barbara Starr from the Pentagon, thank you.

The father of accused soldier Javal Davis says his son is a pawn. Davis is one of those facing so-called general court martial, the military equivalent of felony trials, on charges including cruelty, dereliction of duty and committing in decent acts.

Jonathan Davis spoke with CNN's Soledad O'Brien today on "AMERICAN MORNING."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "AMERICAN MORNING") JONATHAN DAVIS, FATHER OF ACCUSED SOLDIER: My son is just -- he's a good soldier. They were directed to do a job and that's exactly what he did. And this is a -- I think, is just a ploy or whatever have you to put it all on the smaller guys. As I play chess, they're just pawns, you know, there are bigger people behind this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And later today on LIVE FROM..., we'll talk with the lawyer for accused GI Charles Graner, who some soldiers claim was the central figure in the documented abuse. That's at 3 p.m. Eastern, noon Pacific right here on CNN.

As the investigation continues at Abu Ghraib, there are some changes there to speak of today. It's a bit less crowded. Hundreds of inmates were shown the door in-line with the coalition's plans to make the prison less of a pressure cooker.

CNN's Ben Wedeman was there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CAIRO BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Out of prison and on their way home. Five buses left Abu Ghraib Friday morning, taking around 300 former detainees away from a prison that under Saddam Hussein was spoken of only in whispers. And under U.S. control has become for many Iraqis symbolic of an American occupation gone sour.

A moment of joy for some. Others saw no familiar faces smiling back. Samir Ahmed (ph) was hoping his brother, in coalition custody for nearly a year, would be released. He wasn't.

"My brother has six small kids," says Samir. "This is painful."

In Baghdad, Hussein Sami (ph) and his three brothers returned home, months of anxiety finally over, though one of Hussein's brothers is still a prisoner. And inevitably, there are claims of abuse.

"They stripped me," says one prisoner who didn't give his name. "They beat me and sprayed cold water on me."

Such claims have yet to be confirmed. But following widespread broadcast of graphic photos of prisoner abuse, few Iraqis are likely to dispute them.

(on camera): The recent Red Cross report on Iraq estimates that anywhere between 70 and 90 percent of detainees were arrested by mistake. But there's no mistaking that among those who were released today, the coalition has created new enemies at a time when it hardly needs any more.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, outside Abu Ghraib Prison.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: Elsewhere in Iraq, war in the Valley of Peace. That's a sprawling cemetery, possibly the world's largest in the holy city of Najaf. And for a while today, it was a battleground. U.S. forces rolled in to root out the so-called Mehdi militia which had been lobbing mortar shells at U.S. soldiers and Iraqi police. At least 17 fighters loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr were killed, apparently caught in the crossfire was the golden dome of Najaf's most sacred shrine, slightly damaged by bullets of unknown origin.

We're little more than two hours away from a private service in West Chester, Pennsylvania, for the American civilian who was kidnapped and brutally killed by terrorists linked to al Qaeda. CNN's Maria Hinojosa has spent days talking with the friends and family of Nicholas Berg, whose final weeks are still a bit of a mystery -- Maria.

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredericka, a very difficult day for the Berg family as they prepare to lay their son to rest. We believe that this family left their home early this morning, pretty much out the back door, trying to avoid the media attention that has basically swarmed them since the news of the death of their son. Going to the funeral, we believe we have -- we saw them as they were returning, looking very solemn, very sad. They are preparing, of course, for a memorial here for friends that will be open only to friends and family at Nick Berg here at Kesher Israel.

Now of course, this family is wanting privacy, wanting to say these final goodbyes. But the fact is as the days pass, more and more people want to know about Nick Berg, want to know more about his life, want to know more about what would motivate this young man to go and spend this time in Iraq. And even though the father, very much against the war, very much critical of President Bush, in fact, saying that his son died for the sins of President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney had this to say about the murder of Nick Berg earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The recent murder of Nicholas Berg, like the murder of Daniel Pearl in 2002 is a reminder that there are evil people in the world capable of any atrocity, and determined to take innocent life. This nation will never be intimidated by the killers who despise us and everything we stand for. We're taking this fight to the enemy, and we will prevail.

HINOJOSA: There are still many, many questions for this family, about where the final information, about who was detaining Nick Berg in Iraq. His family insisting it was the United States. The United States again saying today that this is -- he was never in U.S. custody when he was in Iraq. All of these questions swirling at a time when the family is preparing to meet here at 3:30 at Kesher Israel for a memorial -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Maria, thank you.

News from across America now. A convicted hijacker gets 160 years in prison. A judge sentenced Zaid Hassan Abd Latif Safarini yesterday for his role in the 1986 hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Pakistan. The terrorist killed 21 passengers. Safarini apologized to the victim's relatives who were in the courtroom for the sentencing. The judge said he didn't buy it.

Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick goes on trial today. He and two other players are accused of giving alcohol to three teenager girls. Vick is also accused of having sex with one of the girls, a 15-year-old. Vick is the brother of NFL star Michael Vick.

And fire officials say the pilot was killed when a small turbo prop plane crashed this morning in a neighborhood near Washington D.C. An FAA official says two people were on board. There's no word on what happened to the other person.

So far, the sandbags are holding in Roseau (ph), Minnesota. The Roseau River has crested at 20 1/2 feet, that's well above flood stage but about a foot-and-a-half below the top of the levees. Two years ago, floods devastated that town.

The news is a lot worse in Hearne, Texas. Flood waters broke a dam and destroyed bridges there. Whole neighborhoods are under water. People climbed to tree tops and roof tops for safety. Others headed for higher ground in boats, tractors and pick-up trucks.

And take a look at these pictures. It's one of the largest anti- American protests in Cuba, courtesy of Fidel Castro. What exactly is inspiring this business (ph)? We'll go there next.

And invisibility coats, robots, personal flying machines, no, we're not making this stuff up. Science fiction becomes reality in San Francisco. Later in this hour of LIVE FROM...

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Hundreds of thousands of Cubans take to the streets for a massive anti-American demonstration led by their president, Fidel Castro. The protest follows tighter economic restrictions imposed by the U.S. CNN's Havana bureau chief, Lucia Newman, has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LUCIA NEWMAN, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF: This really looks like the mother of all marches here. Cuba, which has a lot to say -- this country which regularly stages enormous protest marches. In fact, President Fidel Castro who is heading this major demonstration against the United States and presumably the Bush administration, has called it the largest march in Cuban history.

(UNINTELLIGIBLE) starting the march (UNINTELLIGIBLE) write a letter which he said was directed at President Bush. It said: "You have no moral authority to talk about freedom and human rights and democracy. You have imposed a war (UNINTELLIGIBLE), Mr. Bush."

Now the people here are carrying placards with President Bush being depicted as Adolph Hitler with little moustaches under his nose, other posters of U.S. military brutalizing Iraqi prisoners. All this, of course, being used by the Cuban government who is trying to discredit the United States and a plan that was presented by the White House just last week to try and accelerate the downfall of Cuban communism.

There are hundreds of thousands of people here today. Many of the people are very upset at the U.S. government. They say that they are afraid in fact that President Bush could be tempted to invade the United States (sic) next. And of course, the Cuban government is doing everything in its power to feed that (UNINTELLIGIBLE), even though the U.S. administration until now has said that it is not considering invading or any sort of military action against Cuba at this time.

It's expected that this march could last three or four more hours. The people have come not only from Havana but also the province of Havana, they were bused here overnight. There is nobody at work or at school. Everybody has been told to come out here and send President Bush the message that they do not want what they call here any U.S. intervention.

Lucia Newman, CNN, Havana.

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WHITFIELD: In other news around the world, Denmark is celebrating its newest couple. Australian-born Mary Donaldson and Danish Crown Prince Frederik have tied the knot. They exchanged vows in front of dozens of dignitaries from around the world and it all happened on live television. She's the first Australian woman to stand in line to become a queen. The two met in a pub four years ago.

In South Africa, emotions are running high. The Federation of International Football Association is about to decide which African country will host the 2010 soccer World Cup. South Africa is thought to be a slight favorite. Morocco and Egypt are not far behind. The decision will be made in Zurich tomorrow morning.

Soccer fever is also high in Iraq, where for the first time the national soccer team is heading to the summer Olympic games. CNN's Aneesh Raman has details.

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ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Good news in Iraq is scarce these days. But Iraqis found some Wednesday on a Jordanian soccer field. In order for Iraq's national soccer team to clench its first ever Olympic bid, not only did they have to beat Saudi Arabia, the odds-on favorite, but Kuwait and Oman had to tie in their game. And that's exactly what happened.

In Baghdad, the celebrations were immediate, as locals watched the final minutes on television, gunfire filled the air. A day later at this local coffee shop, the joy still quite apparent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The outcome of this game made us very happy, especially with what is happening in Fallujah and Najaf, this game made us feel very happy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): They really raised our heads high. And I hope they continue to raise our heads.

RAMAN: For the country, the win is a giant break from the past. In Saddam Hussein's Iraq, his younger son Uday was in charge of the National Olympic Committee, running it in much the same way his father ruled the country. Soccer players who did not perform were routinely tortured. Iraqi athletes able to defect told of beatings, floggings and even imprisonment. It is a painful past that is clearing its way for a future set on Olympic sites.

(on camera): And perhaps the most joyous celebration will come from members of the team who played under Uday. For them this victory not a forced outcome, but the source of personal pride.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.

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WHITFIELD: Next week, the first of U.S. soldiers facing courts martial will be in court next week involving the Abu Ghraib Prison trial -- abuse. Can he get a fair trial, an inside view of the military law later this hour.

It's the most wanted ticket in the Democratic camp. So who has a chance of winning it? We'll name possible candidates ahead on LIVE FROM...

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WHITFIELD: When does science fiction become science fact? From the look of things, pretty soon. A mini world's fair begins today in San Francisco and the list of cool cutting edge stuff includes invisibility coats and the next wave of artificial limbs. CNN's Rusty Dornin joins with us live with a firsthand look.

Hi, Rusty.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredericka, it's called NextFest. And there are 110 things here that many inventors have been dreaming about for years and some of us have been dreaming about all our lives, especially in the medical industry here, there are some things that they are using right now with prosthetics. We're here with Cameron Clack (ph) who lost both legs and an arm when he was hit by a train three years ago?

Now you have actually a computer chip in your prosthesis, is that right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's true, actually I have a microprocessor knee. And it enables me to walk at gait desired s.

DORNIN: So it measures your weight and how much you're leaning over, that sort of thing? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's correct, with the help of a computer program on a laptop computer, they program it to my weight, to my gait, the resistance levels.

DORNIN: Why don't you go ahead and show us? He can even walk downstairs, that sort of thing.

Also, with this -- if you have one leg you can also actually run with this device, as John Siciliano (ph) is doing right here on the treadmill. He's actually running with this. John, how hard is it to do this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's a combination of training the body and technology, of course.

DORNIN: Does it hurt -- I mean, is it painful at all?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not at all. It's very smooth, just takes some stamina and strength, combined with this great knee.

DORNIN: Also some other great designs that have come out are also in arms and legs that actually look like arms and legs. Now we're here with Carrie Davis (ph) who has the most amazing arm here. You can see her fingers actually can grip. And you can actually even eat and that sort of thing?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh absolutely, I can do everything with this hand. Anything that I can do with my right, I can do with my left, my prosthesis.

DORNIN: Now you can -- and this is from the sensation in your upper arm?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's in the muscles, in my flexors and extensors in my forearm. Inside the socket there are sensors that pick up those muscle flexes, and so the arm then corresponds with those flexes.

DORNIN: Now you have had prosthesis for years. But the newer ones, how are they different?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, with my (ph) electric, I have great strength, I have independent movement because I can move around. I used to have a cable-operated system. So I can operate my prosthesis here or above my head. And it's just really, it's going to be great independence.

DORNIN: Great, thanks a lot, Carrie Davis.

Some great things that are happening. Now, of course, many of the exhibits here are in the near future. The one rule though is these things have to be up and working. And as you said, there is an invisibility cloak that's transparent. There's even a flying car, of course, we're not able to see it do that within the exhibit hall. But some great stuff here in San Francisco. It's all sponsored by "WIRED" magazine. They wanted stuff that was just fun. We don't know whether it will a lot of it will ever really become reality. But they're having a lot of fun with it now -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Well, the prosthetics are incredible that you just showed us. And of course, they do bring some fun for people who are able to use them and they're very useful medically as well. Any indication as to how much they are, because they are so advanced I imagine they have a huge ticket price with it?

DORNIN: Well, let's go ahead ask Carrie. Carrie, they're talking about the price here. What can -- for an arm like this, what does that cost?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, it really just depends on the kind of components that are put in the arms. There are so many variety of hands that can be used. Mine in particular is probably $25,000 to $35,000.

DORNIN: And how about something like the legs that John and...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Again, that's another thing that depends on what's used in the leg itself. I would think around $35,000 to $50,000.

DORNIN: Great, thanks a lot, so very, very expensive but something that's really giving the folks here some flexibility in their lives, to be able to do things they never thought they'd be able to do.

WHITFIELD: Rusty Dornin, at NextFest, that is unbelievable, thanks very much for bringing it to us out of San Francisco.

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