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IGC Selects Interim Iraqi Govt.; Opening Arguments in Scott Peterson Trial Begin
Aired June 01, 2004 - 13:23 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: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, hello, everyone, I'm Kyra Phillips. It's Tuesday, June 1.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen, in for Miles O'Brien. Welcome to LIVE FROM...
PHILLIPS: Well, starting out this afternoon, the first step down in an undoubtedly long and difficult road, that's how U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi characterizes today's word out of Iraq. The Governing Council has dissolved itself and picked an interim government. The new leadership is to take over when sovereignty is transferred June 30. The head of the Governing Council, Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawar will be president. Al-Yawar is Sunni Muslim. Word of the new Iraqi government comes once again with more violence. Two car bombs exploding this morning, killing more than a dozen Iraqis.
Harris Whitbeck has more on the day's developments.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN ANCHOR: Iraqis were presented with the interim government that will lead them through elections early next year after days of sometimes intense negotiations and meetings between Iraqi and American politicians and United Nations diplomats.
The Iraqi Governing Council chose one of their own, Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawar, as interim president. The presentation of the government was marked by expressions of hope from both members of the Iraqi government and from U.N. special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAKHDAR BRAHIMI, U.N. SPECIAL ENVOY TO IRAQ (through translator): It is the first step of this road which will be no doubt long and difficult. But I believe that those who were chosen to perform this mission will be qualified and effective and capable of it .
SHEIKH GHAZI AL-YAWAR, IRAQI INTERIM PRES.-DESIGNATE (through translator): My pledge to you is to put every effort with my brothers and my colleagues to bring back Iraq and to shun all kinds of forms of discrimination and weakness so that this country would be one nation without murderers, without criminals, without bad ambitions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITBECK: Initial reaction on the streets of Baghdad to interim government seemed positive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We are very happy for this day because soon we will have first sovereignty in the country. Ghazi is a true Iraqi and hopefully he will change this into a better and safer place for the Iraqis.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITBECK: But security is still the principal concern of many in Iraq. A car bomb early Tuesday outside the Green Zone in Baghdad left two persons dead and more than 20 wounded.
Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: President Bush made a point of praising the caretaker government and the man who will lead it. CNN's Kathleen Koch is at the White House with more on the president's reaction.
Hi, Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty. Well, President Bush this morning -- this afternoon, I should say, or morning, welcomed the new government, saying that it does bring Iraqis a step closer to realizing their dreams of democracy. The president described the leaders as talented, a good group. Though he insisted he personally had no role in selecting them.
Now it's important to point out the new prime minister, Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, this morning went to great lengths to -- great pains to thank the United States for its efforts in Iraq. However, the new president, Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawar, only thanked the United Nations. Difficult to say whether or not that was a purposeful snub.
But though his role is largely ceremonial, this new president has been outspoken, in recent broadcast interviews he has been critical of the American presence in Iraq. He's blamed some of the deteriorating conditions there on what he calls blunders by the U.S. military.
But President Bush this morning said that it is really reflective of the quality of this selection process that leaders have emerged who are by and large, first and foremost, loyal to the Iraqi people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It sounds like to me that these men are patriots, men and women are patriots who believe in the future of Iraq. And if there's some criticism of the United States, so be it. But the end result is a peaceful Iraq in the heart of the Middle East.
(END VIDEO CLIP) KOCH: Well, President Bush did predict that a tough road lies ahead, that there is indeed the possibility of more violence in Iraq as insurgents try to stop progress there. So the central issue is what will happen if this new government asks U.S. and coalition forces to leave the country.
But this morning, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice predicted that would not happen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We want, and the Iraqis want, a much larger role in their own security. But that they do not, at this particular point in time, have the forces to take care of the threats that are there. So I just, frankly, don't think that this is going to be an issue. I think that they will want our help. We will be prepared to give them our help. But the key is going to be to secure Iraq so that democracy can take place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: So the administration today going to great lengths to point out that U.S. forces have been used to help ensure security in sovereign nations before, countries like Bosnia, countries like Afghanistan. And President Bush in his remarks saying, therefore, he does not believe himself that this will be an issue, that the U.S. can bridge any gap because it has done so before in country after country -- Betty.
Kathleen Koch, at the White House, thank you.
NGUYEN: And you can read a lot more about the newly appointed leaders on our Web site, cnn.com, it lists all of the new Iraqi leaders and you can read more about what's ahead in our interactive special report "The New Iraq. ".
PHILLIPS: Almost a year-and-a-half after a pregnant Laci Peterson vanished without a trace, her husband is on trial for murder. Opening statements began a short time ago in Redwood City, California. CNN's David Mattingly joins us now live from the courthouse with more -- David.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, opening statements are under way and right away, prosecutor Rick Distaso seems to be attacking Scott Peterson's credibility. And he's doing it by focusing on the little things. First of all, he told the jury to think back to that day that Laci was first reported missing, Christmas Eve on 2002, and that first phone call that Scott Peterson made to Laci's mother, Sharon Rocha.
Sharon Rocha arrived today, didn't have anything to say. But earlier, months ago, she said that Scott used a strange choice of words in that phone call, saying, Laci is missing. And after she thought about it, she said that that line eventually made her suspect her son-in-law. The prosecutor right now is presented a very meticulous lay of the land of the neighborhood and the chain of events that night on Christmas Eve 2002, pointing out twice that Scott told a neighbor and then a relative of Laci's that he had been golfing that day, not fishing, as he told investigators.
And he also pointed one conflicting fact so far, that Scott told investigators he left his house about 9:30 that morning, but cell phone records, according to the prosecutor, indicate that Scott was still at home.
There are 10 members and friends of Scott Peterson's family and extended family in the courtroom right now. He has a very strong show of support there. They didn't have anything to say as they arrived today. But they were all smiling, and apparently very upbeat as they went inside.
So far, reports from inside the courtroom indicate that the jury is paying very close attention to the prosecutor as he lays out his case. And of course, the jury's attention span and their stamina could become an issue later as this trial winds on and the months go by -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: David Mattingly, thank you.
More LIVE FROM... right after a quick break.
(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
Aired June 1, 2004 - 13:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, hello, everyone, I'm Kyra Phillips. It's Tuesday, June 1.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen, in for Miles O'Brien. Welcome to LIVE FROM...
PHILLIPS: Well, starting out this afternoon, the first step down in an undoubtedly long and difficult road, that's how U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi characterizes today's word out of Iraq. The Governing Council has dissolved itself and picked an interim government. The new leadership is to take over when sovereignty is transferred June 30. The head of the Governing Council, Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawar will be president. Al-Yawar is Sunni Muslim. Word of the new Iraqi government comes once again with more violence. Two car bombs exploding this morning, killing more than a dozen Iraqis.
Harris Whitbeck has more on the day's developments.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN ANCHOR: Iraqis were presented with the interim government that will lead them through elections early next year after days of sometimes intense negotiations and meetings between Iraqi and American politicians and United Nations diplomats.
The Iraqi Governing Council chose one of their own, Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawar, as interim president. The presentation of the government was marked by expressions of hope from both members of the Iraqi government and from U.N. special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAKHDAR BRAHIMI, U.N. SPECIAL ENVOY TO IRAQ (through translator): It is the first step of this road which will be no doubt long and difficult. But I believe that those who were chosen to perform this mission will be qualified and effective and capable of it .
SHEIKH GHAZI AL-YAWAR, IRAQI INTERIM PRES.-DESIGNATE (through translator): My pledge to you is to put every effort with my brothers and my colleagues to bring back Iraq and to shun all kinds of forms of discrimination and weakness so that this country would be one nation without murderers, without criminals, without bad ambitions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITBECK: Initial reaction on the streets of Baghdad to interim government seemed positive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We are very happy for this day because soon we will have first sovereignty in the country. Ghazi is a true Iraqi and hopefully he will change this into a better and safer place for the Iraqis.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITBECK: But security is still the principal concern of many in Iraq. A car bomb early Tuesday outside the Green Zone in Baghdad left two persons dead and more than 20 wounded.
Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: President Bush made a point of praising the caretaker government and the man who will lead it. CNN's Kathleen Koch is at the White House with more on the president's reaction.
Hi, Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Betty. Well, President Bush this morning -- this afternoon, I should say, or morning, welcomed the new government, saying that it does bring Iraqis a step closer to realizing their dreams of democracy. The president described the leaders as talented, a good group. Though he insisted he personally had no role in selecting them.
Now it's important to point out the new prime minister, Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, this morning went to great lengths to -- great pains to thank the United States for its efforts in Iraq. However, the new president, Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawar, only thanked the United Nations. Difficult to say whether or not that was a purposeful snub.
But though his role is largely ceremonial, this new president has been outspoken, in recent broadcast interviews he has been critical of the American presence in Iraq. He's blamed some of the deteriorating conditions there on what he calls blunders by the U.S. military.
But President Bush this morning said that it is really reflective of the quality of this selection process that leaders have emerged who are by and large, first and foremost, loyal to the Iraqi people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It sounds like to me that these men are patriots, men and women are patriots who believe in the future of Iraq. And if there's some criticism of the United States, so be it. But the end result is a peaceful Iraq in the heart of the Middle East.
(END VIDEO CLIP) KOCH: Well, President Bush did predict that a tough road lies ahead, that there is indeed the possibility of more violence in Iraq as insurgents try to stop progress there. So the central issue is what will happen if this new government asks U.S. and coalition forces to leave the country.
But this morning, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice predicted that would not happen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We want, and the Iraqis want, a much larger role in their own security. But that they do not, at this particular point in time, have the forces to take care of the threats that are there. So I just, frankly, don't think that this is going to be an issue. I think that they will want our help. We will be prepared to give them our help. But the key is going to be to secure Iraq so that democracy can take place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: So the administration today going to great lengths to point out that U.S. forces have been used to help ensure security in sovereign nations before, countries like Bosnia, countries like Afghanistan. And President Bush in his remarks saying, therefore, he does not believe himself that this will be an issue, that the U.S. can bridge any gap because it has done so before in country after country -- Betty.
Kathleen Koch, at the White House, thank you.
NGUYEN: And you can read a lot more about the newly appointed leaders on our Web site, cnn.com, it lists all of the new Iraqi leaders and you can read more about what's ahead in our interactive special report "The New Iraq. ".
PHILLIPS: Almost a year-and-a-half after a pregnant Laci Peterson vanished without a trace, her husband is on trial for murder. Opening statements began a short time ago in Redwood City, California. CNN's David Mattingly joins us now live from the courthouse with more -- David.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, opening statements are under way and right away, prosecutor Rick Distaso seems to be attacking Scott Peterson's credibility. And he's doing it by focusing on the little things. First of all, he told the jury to think back to that day that Laci was first reported missing, Christmas Eve on 2002, and that first phone call that Scott Peterson made to Laci's mother, Sharon Rocha.
Sharon Rocha arrived today, didn't have anything to say. But earlier, months ago, she said that Scott used a strange choice of words in that phone call, saying, Laci is missing. And after she thought about it, she said that that line eventually made her suspect her son-in-law. The prosecutor right now is presented a very meticulous lay of the land of the neighborhood and the chain of events that night on Christmas Eve 2002, pointing out twice that Scott told a neighbor and then a relative of Laci's that he had been golfing that day, not fishing, as he told investigators.
And he also pointed one conflicting fact so far, that Scott told investigators he left his house about 9:30 that morning, but cell phone records, according to the prosecutor, indicate that Scott was still at home.
There are 10 members and friends of Scott Peterson's family and extended family in the courtroom right now. He has a very strong show of support there. They didn't have anything to say as they arrived today. But they were all smiling, and apparently very upbeat as they went inside.
So far, reports from inside the courtroom indicate that the jury is paying very close attention to the prosecutor as he lays out his case. And of course, the jury's attention span and their stamina could become an issue later as this trial winds on and the months go by -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: David Mattingly, thank you.
More LIVE FROM... right after a quick break.
(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
