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New Iraqi Government Diverse, Not Perfect

Aired June 01, 2004 - 14:31   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, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to the CNN Center in Atlanta. This is LIVE FROM... I'm Kyra Phillips.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Here's what's happening this half hour. They face security and credibility issue. Our guest has details on the top members of the Iraq interim government and how they're being received in the Arab world.

PHILLIPS: Think about this: the dangers of flossing, cleaning your ears and microwaving with plastic. Oh, yes, LIVE FROM... has a common-sense caution you just won't want to miss. But first, here's what's happening this hour.

Trying the case in public rather than a court of law, that's what Jose Padilla's attorney charges the government is doing after it declassifies documents in the case. The records indicate that Padilla admitted he was planning to set off a so-called dirty bomb. Padilla denies that.

In place but not yet in charge. Iraq ushers in an interim government. Thirty-three members representing a cross-section of Iraqis. They're to take over after the handover on June 30 and will run the country until national elections are held next year.

Just in the last hour, a federal judge in San Francisco has handed the Bush administration a setback on the issue of abortion. The judge blocked enforcement of the partial-birth abortion ban act calling it unconstitutional. The judge ruled it unfairly infringes on a woman's right to choose.

Opening statements under way in the double murder trial of Scott Peterson. Prosecutors hope to prove that he killed his wife Laci and their unborn son almost a year and a half ago. He could be sentenced to death.

NGUYEN: Joining us now to talk more about Iraq's new interim government, Professor Walid Pheres of Florida Atlantic University. Professor Pheres is an expert on Middle East politics, Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism. Thanks for being with us today.

PROF. WALID PHERES, FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY: Sure.

NGUYEN: First off, let's talk about the makeup of this new government. Something that you call a work of art. Why?

PHERES: Now the work of art could be very precarious and full, but it nevertheless is a true representation if not of all Iraqis through democratic elections but all Iraqi communities. It has never been seen before neither in Iraq nor in any other Arab country, a very balanced representation of Sunni Arabs, Shi'ite Arabs, Kurds, even minorities including Turkomen and Christians.

And the makeup of gender between males and females in addition to the political organization. It's not perfect, but it is much better than under Saddam Hussein, of course.

NGUYEN: And balance is so very important. Let's talk about makeup, specifically the president and prime minister.

PHERES: The president, Betty, is someone who represents really the Arab Sunni face of Iraq. Many in the Arab world, many more in the Sunni Triangle inside Iraq, were very concerned with the removal of Saddam Hussein because they feared a Shi'ite invasion tidal wave that would basically take over Iraq.

The appointment of a president, the head of state, although ceremonial, of Yawar, the man who is tribal looking and who is also a very pure Sunni, I think, will stabilize the Sunni community with time.

The prime minister, the real, is the head executive. The prime minister of Iraq will be the Tony Blair of that country. He will have the control over the cabinet, but he is representative of the mainstream Shi'ite, very close to Sistani.

The combination between he head of whose Sunni, a prime minister head executive who's Shi'a I think it will create some sort of stability for the future of Iraq, for now at least.

NGUYEN: But will Sunnis be a little bit upset that their person in office, the president, that role is purely ceremonial?

PHERES: Of course. This is a Westminster model. This is how parliamentary executives function. That position is to be ceremonial. The Sunnis are in a minority in Iraq.

But remember one thing, Betty, that a large number of ministers, three ministers in the cabinet are Sunni. And they are in charge of economic, of security and other social departments in that government.

It has been carefully prepared by Lakhdar Brahimi to represent the fears of some, the Sunni and also the ambitions of others, the Shi'ites. Of course, this is the best you're going to get before elections. When have you the elections in January, that will represent the numerical majorities of Iraq, Betty.

NGUYEN: So in you're opinion, there is a good balance. And you mentioned the elections. Let's talk about that. This new government now that it's in place, what's it working on? You suspect the elections that are coming up next year?

PHERES: Basically that government is a shock to reawaken Iraqi consensus about Iraq itself. But more importantly, in July, they would be one of the largest legislative assemblies that Iraq or the Arab world have ever seen. It will be designated by this government representing all political parties, organizations of Iraq. That interim parliament will help the executive branch to organize, psychologically prepare and then organize the real elections, legislative elections which will take place in even December, most probably in January of 2005.

That new assembly will basically form the new future independent government of Iraq, Betty.

NGUYEN: There's a lot of work to be done between now and then. Can they get these elections under way by January?

PHERES: Everything is possible if the national security of Iraq is well protected. If the main players in Iraq, Kurds, Shi'a Sunni and others, are really agreeing on that particular government.

Terrorism is not going to be the major threat against that future election because terrorism will be around in the region and in Iraq for as long as one can imagine. However, it's the consensus that very carefully chosen equilibrium between Kurds, Shi'a and Sunni, for the next month is very successful, election would be successful. But accidents are still possible.

NGUYEN: Let's talk about terrorism, briefly. What kind of security is being provided for this new government?

PHERES: That would be the mother of all securities. I mean, imagine those are the most sensitive leaders in Iraq. One advantage, though is this is a collective leadership. Assassinating one, as al Qaeda or the others would want to do, as the did in the past, is not going to create instability. They will be replaced immediately.

But to answer your question, quickly, there will be at least three circles of security. The coalition, the widest circle, the armed forces of Iraq, the middle circle.

But the real security would be provided by ethnic security. Meaning The Kurds would be protected by the Kurds. So would go for the Shi'ites, the Arab Sunnis and others, Betty.

NGUYEN: And just as important, how are Iraqis responding to this new government?

PHERES: From what we see in the polls, from Al Jazeera, al- Arabiya and other Web site, expressions, Iraqis who at the beginning were against the Americans, those who are pro-Khomeinis, pro- Ba'athists or pro-al Qaeda are not accept this government, of course.

But most other Iraqis who were afraid that it's not going to work, with the strong speeches made by the president, the prime minister and at least 18 of those leaders of Iraq, certainly are going to come closer and closer to the government as soon as the government will deploy on the ground real Iraqi security forces. Nothing is going to be done abruptly. We're not going to see a major change. It's going to be gradual, it's going to be long and it will need a lot of patience.

NGUYEN: Interesting insight. Walid Pheres, a professor at the Florida Atlantic University, thank you.

PHERES: Thank you.

NGUYEN: The rapid but grim business of portrait painting in Gaza. The young men in these portraits all have one thing in common -- they're all dead.

PHILLIPS: You rarely hear about violent crime in Japan, but a deadly school stabbing is making headlines today.

NGUYEN: And later on LIVE FROM.., ghost hunting. We'll go along with 21st century ghost trackers trying to break through to the, quote, "other side."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: News around the world. Beginning in Haiti. A four- nation force headed by the U.S. is handing over peacekeeping duties to United Nations forces. The U.N. troops are arriving amid a natural disaster. Floods in Haiti and the Dominican Republic killed 1,700 people last week.

Police in southern Japan report a deadly attack at an elementary school with one student allegedly killing another. Police say an 11- year-old girl attacked a fellow six grader using a box cutter. The victim bled to death.

And in Israel, a new poll says the majority of Israelis support Sharon's plan for withdraw drawl from Gaza. Fifty-five percent of those polled endorse the proposal. That support comes amid growing criticism of plan within Sharon's own political party.

NGUYEN: Out of the death and destruction of the Middle East comes a grim chronicler of that deadly conflict. They are artists whose subjects are Palestinians killed fighting the Israelis. CNN's Matthew Chance reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Gaza every Palestinian dead is considered a martyr, whether a father with his son or a gunman like this man shot dead attacking a Jewish settlement.

For each there is a portrait. Their faces peer out at passers- by.

FAYEZ AL HOSNI, PALESTINIAN ARTIST (through translator): It's the pride that the family wants the community to know about. To say, we have sacrificed the most precious thing we have. CHANCE: It's an example many others follow. Fayez al Hosni is a Palestinian artist who's painted more than 100 of what are known as martyr portraits. It sickens him, he says. But for 3 1/2 years, there's been no shortage of this work.

AL HOSNI (through translator): When I paint these pictures, I feel such pain. Don't think I'm happy doing this. I would prefer to paint the living, not the dead. But this will only happen when we have our rights.

CHANCE: It's the families of the dead who commissioned the work. Here, the brother of the boy in the frame is inspecting the progress. Fayez works from photographs, mixing fact with fantasy, to create what he feels is the right image.

AL HOSNI (through translator): The family told me to paint the child in a military uniform. I was against this because he was just 14 years old. He had a stone in his hand. This is why I've decided to also paint him in the background as he was, a child dressed in a school uniform.

CHANCE: It's an image that blends militant and civilian into one.

(on camera): On the streets of Gaza, these are the real popular heroes of the intifada. For some these death portraits are a haunting reminder of the cost, of the bloodshed. For others they're just celebrations of those who've killed and been killed in this conflict.

(voice-over): For their critics these are images that glorify death and incite more violence. But among Palestinians who believe they're the victims, these are the icons of their sacrifice.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Gaza.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Definitely moving on to something less serious. A little health quiz for you here. Should you use a Q-Tip to clean your ears? how about leave your contact lenses in at night? Twelve common medical myths. We're going to talk about the just ahead.

NGUYEN: She's soon to be Mommy Julia. Baby news for the "Pretty Woman."

PHILLIPS: And pop diva Britney Spears gets the green light to visit China, but only if she passes the dress code. Good luck.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Checking entertainment headlines this Tuesday, June 1. Hollywood's "Pretty Woman" is looking forward to being a busy mom. Julia Roberts is pregnant with twins. The 36-year-old actress is married to cinematographer Danny Moder. The twins are expected next early year. Buttoning up Britney? Well we'll see. Pop sensation Britney Spears has been given the OK to perform in China, but there is a catch. When she goes on stage in Shanghai and Beijing, she has to be PG-rated. China wants strict standards exposed so Spears doesn't show too much skin. But concert organizers are balking at the idea. They said Spears can't have a specific wardrobe just for China.

Booted again. "Apprentice" runner-up Kwame Jackson knows the feeling of being let go. Fired by Donald Trump two months ago, Jackson has just lost another gig. He's been disqualified as a judge for the Miss Universe Pageant after waving to some of the contestants. Interacting with the beauties is considered a big no-no.

PHILLIPS: They are serious. A group of ghost hunters prowling for the paranormal in West Virginia. Here's CNN's Jonathan Freed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The West Virginia penitentiary in Moundsville was built right after the civil war. It is a place marked by violent death. Close to 100 people were executed here. Most by hanging.

JOHN MCCLINTOCK, GHOST HUNTER: I think you really have to be prepared, be a little scared. Because when you lose that edge, the fun of it's gone. The awareness.

FREED: In all, about 1,000 died. Half murders and suicides. The prison hasn't housed an inmate for a decade now. At least, not officially.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It felt like somebody was up here behind the railing.

FREED: Al Brimsa (ph) and his fellow Allegheny mountain ghost hunters believe many inmates are still here in spirit. In part, because their earthly departure was so sudden.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're essentially a walking wired machine between maybe a still camera, motion picture camera, and an audio recorder. We're good to go.

FREED: The group stakes out supposedly haunted places. Hoping a paranormal stalker will float by their infrared gear.

MCCLINTOCK: Ghost hunting is one of the most boring things in the world. But it's shattered by moments of pure excitement when you either see something like a ball of light moving in your camcorder.

FREED: They say that looks like this. You're matching their video of what they claim are moving orbs of concentrated ghostly energy. But the group captured it's prize footage last year, thanks to Brimsa (ph) who explains he's sensitive to psychic disturbance.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I get like a jab of a head headache on my right side there. FREED: Brimsa says he took these images in the prison basement. The specter of a bearded man, the group believes was killed here a century ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When this happened, I just knew there was somebody standing over against that wall.

FREED: Do you ever have moments where you stop and think to yourself, what on earth am I doing in the basement of this prison at 4:00 in the morning?

MCCLINTOCK: Do I wonder? Yes, but if you like history, and you like the good ghost story, it doesn't get any better.

FREED: Jonathan Freed, CNN, Moundsville, West Virginia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: You can tune in for Anderson Cooper. He's doing a whole series of paranormal activity all week long. Check it out tonight on "360." 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific.

(MARKET UPDATE)

NGUYEN: Here's a question, true or false. Can you put styrofoam in the microwave? How about plastic wrap? Health dos and don'ts, that's next.

PHILLIPS: I blow everything up in the microwave.

Plus CNN's interview with the first President Bush. Paula Zahn sits down with him.

NGUYEN: And some special TV history. See what was happening here at CNN on this day, 24 years ago.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Here's something from the "Oops, I didn't know that" file. Holly Firfer tells us about some of the routine things we do every day that just may be harmful to our health.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLLY FIRFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Food in styrofoam containers can be microwaved and with plastic wrap. Well some doctors say no, don't do it.

DR. ERICA BROWNFIELD, EMORY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: Plastic wrap, plastic containers that can be potentially harmful. If they are heated, they can release chemicals. However, the FDA tests these chemicals and there has never been any evidence to show that it's harmful to humans. So as long as you aren't putting the plastic directly on food. Styrofoam, you don't want to put into the microwave because it can actually catch on fire and melt.

FIRFER: If you are taking birth control pills, you are always safe from pregnancy, right? Well, not quite.

BROWNFIELD: There are certain antibiotics, particularly penicillins, tetracyclines, some of the syphilis sporrans and you're also on the birth control pill, that hormone pill becomes less effective and so you want to have a backup method so you don't get pregnant.

FIRFER: It's OK if you floss really hard and your gums bleed because it will clean out the bacteria. Wrong says Dr. Brownfield.

BROWNFIELD: Problem is you can cut actually into the gum and you can expose the root of the tooth. And by doing that, you can have problems with the nerve, again, damage to your tooth, pain, bleeding. But flossing is important, so you should do it to remove plaque and bacteria.

FIRFER: Take your allergy medicine first thing in the morning, not always.

BROWNFIELD: Because everybody has different allergy symptoms and allergens can be at all times during the day. So the common sense thing to do is figure out when your allergy symptoms are worse and make sure and take your medication a few hours before then.

FIRFER: Can't hear, clean your ears out with a cotton swab. Dr. Brownfield says no.

BROWNFIELD: You can actually move the wax further into the ear causing problems with wax impaction and decreased hearing. And the other thing is if you push too hard with a Q-tip or any kind of object you can actually put a hole in your eardrum which can be harmful.

FIRFER: Too tired to take your contacts out, oops.

BROWNFIELD: Because you don't want to wear it for more than eight hours. In particular, you don't want to wear them when your eyes are closed because it sets up a risk of infection and possibly blindness.

FIRFER: And that's just for starters.

Holly Firfer, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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 1, 2004 - 14:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to the CNN Center in Atlanta. This is LIVE FROM... I'm Kyra Phillips.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen. Here's what's happening this half hour. They face security and credibility issue. Our guest has details on the top members of the Iraq interim government and how they're being received in the Arab world.

PHILLIPS: Think about this: the dangers of flossing, cleaning your ears and microwaving with plastic. Oh, yes, LIVE FROM... has a common-sense caution you just won't want to miss. But first, here's what's happening this hour.

Trying the case in public rather than a court of law, that's what Jose Padilla's attorney charges the government is doing after it declassifies documents in the case. The records indicate that Padilla admitted he was planning to set off a so-called dirty bomb. Padilla denies that.

In place but not yet in charge. Iraq ushers in an interim government. Thirty-three members representing a cross-section of Iraqis. They're to take over after the handover on June 30 and will run the country until national elections are held next year.

Just in the last hour, a federal judge in San Francisco has handed the Bush administration a setback on the issue of abortion. The judge blocked enforcement of the partial-birth abortion ban act calling it unconstitutional. The judge ruled it unfairly infringes on a woman's right to choose.

Opening statements under way in the double murder trial of Scott Peterson. Prosecutors hope to prove that he killed his wife Laci and their unborn son almost a year and a half ago. He could be sentenced to death.

NGUYEN: Joining us now to talk more about Iraq's new interim government, Professor Walid Pheres of Florida Atlantic University. Professor Pheres is an expert on Middle East politics, Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism. Thanks for being with us today.

PROF. WALID PHERES, FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY: Sure.

NGUYEN: First off, let's talk about the makeup of this new government. Something that you call a work of art. Why?

PHERES: Now the work of art could be very precarious and full, but it nevertheless is a true representation if not of all Iraqis through democratic elections but all Iraqi communities. It has never been seen before neither in Iraq nor in any other Arab country, a very balanced representation of Sunni Arabs, Shi'ite Arabs, Kurds, even minorities including Turkomen and Christians.

And the makeup of gender between males and females in addition to the political organization. It's not perfect, but it is much better than under Saddam Hussein, of course.

NGUYEN: And balance is so very important. Let's talk about makeup, specifically the president and prime minister.

PHERES: The president, Betty, is someone who represents really the Arab Sunni face of Iraq. Many in the Arab world, many more in the Sunni Triangle inside Iraq, were very concerned with the removal of Saddam Hussein because they feared a Shi'ite invasion tidal wave that would basically take over Iraq.

The appointment of a president, the head of state, although ceremonial, of Yawar, the man who is tribal looking and who is also a very pure Sunni, I think, will stabilize the Sunni community with time.

The prime minister, the real, is the head executive. The prime minister of Iraq will be the Tony Blair of that country. He will have the control over the cabinet, but he is representative of the mainstream Shi'ite, very close to Sistani.

The combination between he head of whose Sunni, a prime minister head executive who's Shi'a I think it will create some sort of stability for the future of Iraq, for now at least.

NGUYEN: But will Sunnis be a little bit upset that their person in office, the president, that role is purely ceremonial?

PHERES: Of course. This is a Westminster model. This is how parliamentary executives function. That position is to be ceremonial. The Sunnis are in a minority in Iraq.

But remember one thing, Betty, that a large number of ministers, three ministers in the cabinet are Sunni. And they are in charge of economic, of security and other social departments in that government.

It has been carefully prepared by Lakhdar Brahimi to represent the fears of some, the Sunni and also the ambitions of others, the Shi'ites. Of course, this is the best you're going to get before elections. When have you the elections in January, that will represent the numerical majorities of Iraq, Betty.

NGUYEN: So in you're opinion, there is a good balance. And you mentioned the elections. Let's talk about that. This new government now that it's in place, what's it working on? You suspect the elections that are coming up next year?

PHERES: Basically that government is a shock to reawaken Iraqi consensus about Iraq itself. But more importantly, in July, they would be one of the largest legislative assemblies that Iraq or the Arab world have ever seen. It will be designated by this government representing all political parties, organizations of Iraq. That interim parliament will help the executive branch to organize, psychologically prepare and then organize the real elections, legislative elections which will take place in even December, most probably in January of 2005.

That new assembly will basically form the new future independent government of Iraq, Betty.

NGUYEN: There's a lot of work to be done between now and then. Can they get these elections under way by January?

PHERES: Everything is possible if the national security of Iraq is well protected. If the main players in Iraq, Kurds, Shi'a Sunni and others, are really agreeing on that particular government.

Terrorism is not going to be the major threat against that future election because terrorism will be around in the region and in Iraq for as long as one can imagine. However, it's the consensus that very carefully chosen equilibrium between Kurds, Shi'a and Sunni, for the next month is very successful, election would be successful. But accidents are still possible.

NGUYEN: Let's talk about terrorism, briefly. What kind of security is being provided for this new government?

PHERES: That would be the mother of all securities. I mean, imagine those are the most sensitive leaders in Iraq. One advantage, though is this is a collective leadership. Assassinating one, as al Qaeda or the others would want to do, as the did in the past, is not going to create instability. They will be replaced immediately.

But to answer your question, quickly, there will be at least three circles of security. The coalition, the widest circle, the armed forces of Iraq, the middle circle.

But the real security would be provided by ethnic security. Meaning The Kurds would be protected by the Kurds. So would go for the Shi'ites, the Arab Sunnis and others, Betty.

NGUYEN: And just as important, how are Iraqis responding to this new government?

PHERES: From what we see in the polls, from Al Jazeera, al- Arabiya and other Web site, expressions, Iraqis who at the beginning were against the Americans, those who are pro-Khomeinis, pro- Ba'athists or pro-al Qaeda are not accept this government, of course.

But most other Iraqis who were afraid that it's not going to work, with the strong speeches made by the president, the prime minister and at least 18 of those leaders of Iraq, certainly are going to come closer and closer to the government as soon as the government will deploy on the ground real Iraqi security forces. Nothing is going to be done abruptly. We're not going to see a major change. It's going to be gradual, it's going to be long and it will need a lot of patience.

NGUYEN: Interesting insight. Walid Pheres, a professor at the Florida Atlantic University, thank you.

PHERES: Thank you.

NGUYEN: The rapid but grim business of portrait painting in Gaza. The young men in these portraits all have one thing in common -- they're all dead.

PHILLIPS: You rarely hear about violent crime in Japan, but a deadly school stabbing is making headlines today.

NGUYEN: And later on LIVE FROM.., ghost hunting. We'll go along with 21st century ghost trackers trying to break through to the, quote, "other side."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: News around the world. Beginning in Haiti. A four- nation force headed by the U.S. is handing over peacekeeping duties to United Nations forces. The U.N. troops are arriving amid a natural disaster. Floods in Haiti and the Dominican Republic killed 1,700 people last week.

Police in southern Japan report a deadly attack at an elementary school with one student allegedly killing another. Police say an 11- year-old girl attacked a fellow six grader using a box cutter. The victim bled to death.

And in Israel, a new poll says the majority of Israelis support Sharon's plan for withdraw drawl from Gaza. Fifty-five percent of those polled endorse the proposal. That support comes amid growing criticism of plan within Sharon's own political party.

NGUYEN: Out of the death and destruction of the Middle East comes a grim chronicler of that deadly conflict. They are artists whose subjects are Palestinians killed fighting the Israelis. CNN's Matthew Chance reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Gaza every Palestinian dead is considered a martyr, whether a father with his son or a gunman like this man shot dead attacking a Jewish settlement.

For each there is a portrait. Their faces peer out at passers- by.

FAYEZ AL HOSNI, PALESTINIAN ARTIST (through translator): It's the pride that the family wants the community to know about. To say, we have sacrificed the most precious thing we have. CHANCE: It's an example many others follow. Fayez al Hosni is a Palestinian artist who's painted more than 100 of what are known as martyr portraits. It sickens him, he says. But for 3 1/2 years, there's been no shortage of this work.

AL HOSNI (through translator): When I paint these pictures, I feel such pain. Don't think I'm happy doing this. I would prefer to paint the living, not the dead. But this will only happen when we have our rights.

CHANCE: It's the families of the dead who commissioned the work. Here, the brother of the boy in the frame is inspecting the progress. Fayez works from photographs, mixing fact with fantasy, to create what he feels is the right image.

AL HOSNI (through translator): The family told me to paint the child in a military uniform. I was against this because he was just 14 years old. He had a stone in his hand. This is why I've decided to also paint him in the background as he was, a child dressed in a school uniform.

CHANCE: It's an image that blends militant and civilian into one.

(on camera): On the streets of Gaza, these are the real popular heroes of the intifada. For some these death portraits are a haunting reminder of the cost, of the bloodshed. For others they're just celebrations of those who've killed and been killed in this conflict.

(voice-over): For their critics these are images that glorify death and incite more violence. But among Palestinians who believe they're the victims, these are the icons of their sacrifice.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Gaza.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Definitely moving on to something less serious. A little health quiz for you here. Should you use a Q-Tip to clean your ears? how about leave your contact lenses in at night? Twelve common medical myths. We're going to talk about the just ahead.

NGUYEN: She's soon to be Mommy Julia. Baby news for the "Pretty Woman."

PHILLIPS: And pop diva Britney Spears gets the green light to visit China, but only if she passes the dress code. Good luck.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Checking entertainment headlines this Tuesday, June 1. Hollywood's "Pretty Woman" is looking forward to being a busy mom. Julia Roberts is pregnant with twins. The 36-year-old actress is married to cinematographer Danny Moder. The twins are expected next early year. Buttoning up Britney? Well we'll see. Pop sensation Britney Spears has been given the OK to perform in China, but there is a catch. When she goes on stage in Shanghai and Beijing, she has to be PG-rated. China wants strict standards exposed so Spears doesn't show too much skin. But concert organizers are balking at the idea. They said Spears can't have a specific wardrobe just for China.

Booted again. "Apprentice" runner-up Kwame Jackson knows the feeling of being let go. Fired by Donald Trump two months ago, Jackson has just lost another gig. He's been disqualified as a judge for the Miss Universe Pageant after waving to some of the contestants. Interacting with the beauties is considered a big no-no.

PHILLIPS: They are serious. A group of ghost hunters prowling for the paranormal in West Virginia. Here's CNN's Jonathan Freed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The West Virginia penitentiary in Moundsville was built right after the civil war. It is a place marked by violent death. Close to 100 people were executed here. Most by hanging.

JOHN MCCLINTOCK, GHOST HUNTER: I think you really have to be prepared, be a little scared. Because when you lose that edge, the fun of it's gone. The awareness.

FREED: In all, about 1,000 died. Half murders and suicides. The prison hasn't housed an inmate for a decade now. At least, not officially.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It felt like somebody was up here behind the railing.

FREED: Al Brimsa (ph) and his fellow Allegheny mountain ghost hunters believe many inmates are still here in spirit. In part, because their earthly departure was so sudden.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're essentially a walking wired machine between maybe a still camera, motion picture camera, and an audio recorder. We're good to go.

FREED: The group stakes out supposedly haunted places. Hoping a paranormal stalker will float by their infrared gear.

MCCLINTOCK: Ghost hunting is one of the most boring things in the world. But it's shattered by moments of pure excitement when you either see something like a ball of light moving in your camcorder.

FREED: They say that looks like this. You're matching their video of what they claim are moving orbs of concentrated ghostly energy. But the group captured it's prize footage last year, thanks to Brimsa (ph) who explains he's sensitive to psychic disturbance.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I get like a jab of a head headache on my right side there. FREED: Brimsa says he took these images in the prison basement. The specter of a bearded man, the group believes was killed here a century ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When this happened, I just knew there was somebody standing over against that wall.

FREED: Do you ever have moments where you stop and think to yourself, what on earth am I doing in the basement of this prison at 4:00 in the morning?

MCCLINTOCK: Do I wonder? Yes, but if you like history, and you like the good ghost story, it doesn't get any better.

FREED: Jonathan Freed, CNN, Moundsville, West Virginia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: You can tune in for Anderson Cooper. He's doing a whole series of paranormal activity all week long. Check it out tonight on "360." 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific.

(MARKET UPDATE)

NGUYEN: Here's a question, true or false. Can you put styrofoam in the microwave? How about plastic wrap? Health dos and don'ts, that's next.

PHILLIPS: I blow everything up in the microwave.

Plus CNN's interview with the first President Bush. Paula Zahn sits down with him.

NGUYEN: And some special TV history. See what was happening here at CNN on this day, 24 years ago.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Here's something from the "Oops, I didn't know that" file. Holly Firfer tells us about some of the routine things we do every day that just may be harmful to our health.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLLY FIRFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Food in styrofoam containers can be microwaved and with plastic wrap. Well some doctors say no, don't do it.

DR. ERICA BROWNFIELD, EMORY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: Plastic wrap, plastic containers that can be potentially harmful. If they are heated, they can release chemicals. However, the FDA tests these chemicals and there has never been any evidence to show that it's harmful to humans. So as long as you aren't putting the plastic directly on food. Styrofoam, you don't want to put into the microwave because it can actually catch on fire and melt.

FIRFER: If you are taking birth control pills, you are always safe from pregnancy, right? Well, not quite.

BROWNFIELD: There are certain antibiotics, particularly penicillins, tetracyclines, some of the syphilis sporrans and you're also on the birth control pill, that hormone pill becomes less effective and so you want to have a backup method so you don't get pregnant.

FIRFER: It's OK if you floss really hard and your gums bleed because it will clean out the bacteria. Wrong says Dr. Brownfield.

BROWNFIELD: Problem is you can cut actually into the gum and you can expose the root of the tooth. And by doing that, you can have problems with the nerve, again, damage to your tooth, pain, bleeding. But flossing is important, so you should do it to remove plaque and bacteria.

FIRFER: Take your allergy medicine first thing in the morning, not always.

BROWNFIELD: Because everybody has different allergy symptoms and allergens can be at all times during the day. So the common sense thing to do is figure out when your allergy symptoms are worse and make sure and take your medication a few hours before then.

FIRFER: Can't hear, clean your ears out with a cotton swab. Dr. Brownfield says no.

BROWNFIELD: You can actually move the wax further into the ear causing problems with wax impaction and decreased hearing. And the other thing is if you push too hard with a Q-tip or any kind of object you can actually put a hole in your eardrum which can be harmful.

FIRFER: Too tired to take your contacts out, oops.

BROWNFIELD: Because you don't want to wear it for more than eight hours. In particular, you don't want to wear them when your eyes are closed because it sets up a risk of infection and possibly blindness.

FIRFER: And that's just for starters.

Holly Firfer, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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