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Bush Weighs in on Iraq, Ukraine Elections, U.N. Scandal; Ukrainian President Confers with Russian President Over Elections; Friends, Family Plead for Leniency for Scott Peterson

Aired December 02, 2004 - 13:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thought the political crisis in Ukraine was over? Think again. The Ukrainian president, in the Russian capital talking about a looming revolution in his country. I'll have more on that in just a minute.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CO-HOST: And it's called Viagra for women. But does the so-called sex patchwork for everyone? A new study on its effectiveness.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: Here's Barney building a snowman. Or else eating the carrot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the White House. First lady Laura Bush takes us on a tour.

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Kyra Phillips.

WHITFIELD: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in for Miles O'Brien. CNN's LIVE FROM begins right now.

PHILLIPS: We begin this hour with elections in Iraq, post- election commotion in Ukraine and disclosure of the facts on oil-for- food. All came up at President Bush's give and take with reporters today, as he hosted the president of Nigeria in the Oval Office.

Mr. Bush says the Iraqi election date is firm, January 30, creating elections are a matter of -- for Ukrainian voters and a good, honest appraisal is called for at the U.N.

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is at the White House with more on all of these.

Hi, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hello, Kyra.

Now that President Bush's own reelection is sealed, he is focused on some other critical elections. We got news this morning that Vice President Dick Cheney, as well as his wife, Lynne Cheney, and a delegation will be going to Kabul, Afghanistan. That is happening next Tuesday.

Along with him, of course, will be Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and a former political adviser to the president, Karen Hughes. They're going there for the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai's, inauguration. It is seen as a big success story for the Bush administration there.

And still many questions remain, however, about the situation about Iraq's elections. It is to be held on January 30, but there have been calls from Iraqi leaders to delay it, saying it is much too dangerous.

President Bush this morning, meeting with the president of Nigeria, emerging from that meeting, saying they have to stick to their deadline. Otherwise, he believes that certainly this gives a message that the insurgents would win.

President Bush also weighing in on another controversial matter. This is surrounding the corruption of the oil-for-food program, the United Nations program, investigations showing that perhaps billions of dollars illegally went to Saddam Hussein's government, that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's son perhaps played a role in that.

There have been even calls for Annan Annan's resignation. President Bush today did not join in that chorus, but he did call for a full accounting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's very important for the United Nations to understand that there ought to be a fair and full and open accounting of the oil-for-food program. In order for the taxpayers of the United States to feel comfortable about supporting the United Nations, there has to be an open accounting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And Kyra, the president, his advisers say, really sees this as a credibility test for the United Nations. It also adds to somewhat of the suspicion from this White House of international organizations, just how effective they can be, in actually not only running a program like this but getting a consensus together in dealing with some of the crises around the world -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, talking about crises, we can't forget the Ukrainian elections and what's happening there. What's your take from the White House?

MALVEAUX: Well, certainly, President Bush, again, saying that he believes that foreign interference, interference from outsiders, shouldn't happen in the Ukrainian elections, that there's negotiations that continue about whether or not they will actually redo those elections.

And we know that president of Russia, Putin, has been very much involved in -- even calling for those elections to stand. That is a point of tension between President Bush and President Putin. Again, the president insisting that democracy has to take hold and play out in that area.

Still, not resolved, Kyra. It's going to be very interesting to see how that plays out.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne Malveaux, live from the White House, thanks so much.

WHITFIELD: Well, the European parliament weighed in today on the Ukrainian election mess, joining the opposition's calls for a revote and rebuking the Russian president, who today called a new vote pointless.

A day after the opposition pledged to lift a ten-day siege of government building, demonstrators are still demonstrating.

And CNN's Ryan Chilcote is watching from Moscow. He joins us live.

Hi, Ryan.

CHILCOTE: Well, Fredricka, the Ukrainian president has actually now come and gone. He met with the Russian president, actually, at the airport for some very urgent talks. The two sides focusing on their historical ties, both of them calling for closer cooperation in finding a resolution of the political crisis in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president, Leonid Kuchma, laying out a very ominous picture of the situation in his country, indirectly accusing the opposition of trying to ruin Ukraine's economy to create the conditions for a revolution there.

The Russian president offered to intervene, to serve as the mediator, to the extent that the Ukrainian president would like to see the Kremlin involved in the political resolution. They're also -- the Ukrainian president telling the Russian president that it is natural for Russia to do that, and it would be strange for the Kremlin to sit on the sidelines -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And, Ryan, opposition leader Yushchenko getting an awful lot of support and at the same time, it's spawning a lot of questions as of recent, not about his politics but, instead about his appearance. What's that all about?

CHILCOTE: Sure. Ukrainians have been talking about the leader of the opposition's face, Viktor Yushchenko's face, ever since early September, when he was admitted into a hospital in Austria.

There are many theories about what happened to it. But it really has caught the attention of all of the people in Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHILCOTE (voice-over): He had movie star looks, experience in leadership as Ukraine's prime minister, but according to the pollsters, he lacked the support of enough ordinary Ukrainians to win the presidency.

Then this September, after complaining of food poisoning, he was admitted to a hospital in Kiev, then an Austrian clinic. When he emerged, his face had changed dramatically. His small lines had turned into deep pockmarks and with them, the contours of Ukraine's political landscape.

Yushchenko told his supporters the government was trying to poison him.

VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (through translator): I want to express a special message to the authorities -- you will not poison us.

CHILCOTE: Ukraine's top prosecutor investigated. His conclusion, Yushchenko was suffering from herpes.

The same Kremlin spin-doctors who crafted President Putin's image in Russia were in Ukraine at the time to support the pro-Moscow candidate, Viktor Yanukovych.

"The election took on a folklorish, mythic nature," Theo Povlosky (ph) says. "It was a lie Yushchenko's staff used to hide the fact that their candidate was ill late in the campaign."

Whether the allegations are fairy tales or not, Yushchenko, the politician, became more attractive. Some Yushchenko watchers say he even ditched the makeup he was using to cover up his new face.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHILCOTE: Fredricka, a U.S. -- a leading U.S. dermatologist that CNN spoke with says there are very few things that can cause such a dramatic change to someone's face over such a short period of time, just three months.

Basically three things. One: toxins, actually, dioxins, things that, for example, Agent Orange is made of. Two, a very serious viral infection, perhaps even bacterial infection, something like herpes, but that would be strange, because usually herpes is easily treated. And lastly, perhaps this was a very bizarre, very rare reaction to some hormones that were used in that Austrian clinic to treat Mr. Yushchenko. It is still a very big mystery at this point.

WHITFIELD: Bizarre, nonetheless. All right. Ryan Chilcote, thanks so much, from Moscow -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: No go on a main road in Baghdad. The U.S. embassy is barring personnel from the notoriously dangerous highway linking Baghdad with the international airport.

This happened as mortar fire rocked five or more sites in the Iraqi capital, including the offices of Iraq's mobile phone company, where one person was killed. Another attack wounded eight students at Baghdad's technical university. Life in Iraq's Kurdish north has long been very different from that farther south. And that's even more evident now as the region rebuilds, and U.S. forces are welcomed as partner, not shunned or attacked as occupiers.

Here's CNN's Nic Robertson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAJ. ROBERT SCHULTZ, CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICER: That one's bad too.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When civil affairs officer Major Robert Schultz begins his day's work in Kurdish- controlled northern Iraq, he has much to be thankful for.

SCHULTZ: Is this -- is this the water closet facility that needs the most attention?

ROBERTSON: Unlike his fellow servicemen, an hour's drive to the south, Schultz finds the Kurds in the north actually welcome his help.

SCHULTZ: They say because what we have done here in this region, they don't want anything to happen to us. There are secret police that are out on the streets that are -- are watching us. Anything that goes wrong or looks suspicious, they're out there asking questions.

It looks like it's progressing pretty good. Got the walls up.

ROBERTSON: In the next 12 months, Schultz and his teams expect to spend more than $100 million, helping the Kurds strengthen their civil society.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's good; it's also raised off the ground. It gives you more control of the cameras.

ROBERTSON: Hastily arranged visits like this one, to check on the building work at a TV station they're helping, are enabling them to get more bang for their bucks.

SGT. OLLIE ROWE, CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICER: Because we don't have to go through all the security measures here that they have to go through down there we're able to touch base with a lot more people and do a lot more things and network a lot better here.

ROBERTSON: That also made easier, they say, by good cooperation from their hosts.

(on camera) The result is that, even with just a few civil affairs teams to cover 1.1 million people in an area the size of Rhode Island, they're able to work on a diverse number of projects, from aiding refugees and displaced people to helping out at hospitals, rebuilding schools, equipping and training the police, to helping advance women's issues.

(voice-over) Computer classes for women are supported. Laptops have been given for outlying communities, and plans are under way to help women learn to drive and maybe even help them develop a much need women's sports facility.

JULA HAJI, KURDISH WOMEN'S UNION (through translator): I hope in the south they will learn from us as they see us rebuild our country, that the more peace you have, the quicker you can do it.

ROBERTSON: But for all the optimism, there is anger the instability in the center of Iraq is costing the Kurds much wanted international aid.

MUSA ALI BAKIR, REFUGEE COORDINATOR: You cannot make all Iraq the victim of the middle of Iraq.

ROBERTSON: A point not lost on these civil affairs officers, who count themselves lucky to make a difference.

Nic Robertson, CNN, northern Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Ft. Bragg is the front line today in two of the Army's highest profile criminal cases, that of Abu Ghraib defendant Lynndie England and Hassan Akbar, the sergeant who admits he bombed his own officer's tents last year in Kuwait.

CNN's Susan Candiotti is following both -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka.

First, let's talk about Private First Class Lynndie England. Her defense at a hearing today wants two critical pieces of evidence thrown out.

First of all, we're talking about three sworn statements that England made to investigators, describing her role in the alleged abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison. The implication from the defense is that she did not fully understand her rights when she made those statements without having attorneys present.

Now, the defense also wants the judge to ban what are now notorious photos seen around the world, England, holding for example, a prisoner on a leash, England pointing to a row of naked detainees, England, smiling and posing behind a human pyramid of prisoners.

Now, it's not known on what basis her defense lawyers are trying to get those photos banned. That is an issue that will be argued before the judge this day.

All along, the defense has maintained that England was simply following orders when she did what she did in order to soften up prisoners for interrogation.

Now, the same judge here at Ft. Bragg is hearing another case, also stemming from the war in Iraq. This involves a pending court- martial of Sergeant Hassan Akbar of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. He is charged with the murder of two soldiers and the attempted murder of 14 others, who were injured when Akbar allegedly threw hand grenades into their tents of fellow -- his fellow soldiers in March of 2003.

Today, he also appeared in court here at Ft. Bragg, and two main issues were decided. First of all, prosecutors will be allowed to use a statement that he allegedly made right after the incident happened in which he was asked, "Sergeant, did you do this?"

And he supposedly said, "Yes, I did."

Also, he won a delay in his court-martial. His new trial date has been set for April of next year.

You'll recall that Lynndie England's court-martial is scheduled for next month. She faces 19 charges and, if convicted, the new mother of a 7-week-old baby boy could spend up to 38 years in prison -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Susan Candiotti, thanks so much -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: The grisly cleanup from Ground Zero did not end once the rubble was hauled away. Dump truck by dump truck, workers began sorting through debris, looking for valuables that might eventually be returned to 9/11 families.

Right now, a new effort is being unveiled, aimed at reuniting lost jewelry with its rightful owners. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly is holding a news conference at this hour, explaining the details of a new web site, where survivors can purse through more than 500 unclaimed pieces.

And most of the jewelry salvaged has been claimed. But the items being posted online are pieces without serial numbers or other personal inscriptions.

WHITFIELD: The fight to save Scott Peterson's life is on.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In Redwood City, California, one of Scott Peterson's lifelong friends is trying to convince a jury not to deliver the death penalty. We'll have the very latest coming up.

WHITFIELD: Also ahead, Martha Stewart takes on her fellow inmates in a competition she's sure to win.

And later, actor Cuba Gooding Jr. joins us live to talk about why he's hanging out in Central Park today for a great cause.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Saying he's frightened and deeply saddened, Scott Peterson's father launched efforts yesterday to spare his son from the death sentence. Lee Peterson was the first of many character witnesses who will testify for the defense during the penalty phase of the Scott Peterson trial.

CNN's Ted Rowlands is in Redwood City, California, with more on Lee Peterson's testimony and what lies ahead.

ROWLANDS: Well, Fredricka, there was a short delay here this morning. But testimony has resumed, and the defense continues their case in the penalty phase here, of course.

They're trying to convince this jury, that convicted Scott Peterson of first-degree murder, that he should not die for his crime.

Right now, on the stand is one of Scott Peterson's lifelong friends, a gentleman by the name of Aaron Fritz, someone who has known Peterson since he -- since he was a freshman in high school.

And he is talking at great lengths about how Peterson is a wonderful person and a great friend of his. He's talking about taking trips with Peterson to Tijuana, Mexico, to help children in that -- in that city, and how, as a friend, Peterson has always been there for him.

This is the next -- the latest in a series of witnesses that the defense has put forward for this jury to try to show this jury Scott Peterson's entire life.

This is a guy that had absolutely no criminal record. But beyond that, he really had nobody that would come forward and say that he was a bad guy, even. He had good grades in school. He seemed like the, quote, "Boy Scout" type of personality that his family has portrayed him to be and even his in-laws portrayed him to be, before they started to think that he had something to do with the murder here.

Of course, this comes on the heel of very emotional testimony from Sharon Rocha, Laci Peterson's mother. It's unclear what effect all of this will have on this jury.

A very, very big decision for, of course, this jury of six men and six women. They think he killed his wife. Now it is up to them on whether or not they should impose -- or whether they think they should impose the death penalty on him.

It is expected that this phase of the trial will continue through at least Monday and at that point, jurors will begin their deliberations -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Ted Rowlands in Redwood City, California, thanks so much.

PHILLIPS: We're going to go to other news now, across America. If you're asking Santa for an official Red Ryder carbine action 200 shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and a thing that tells time -- woo, or any other gun, and you live in Massachusetts, well, be ready to present your fingers for printing.

The state is the first in the nation to adopt electronic fingerprinting for gun licensing. It allows police and gun shop owners to know immediately if someone is naughty or nice enough to own a gun.

In Alderson, West Virginia, Martha Stewart is likely to give an annual prison tradition a bit of a goose. According to the upcoming issue of "People" magazine, there's a spirited competition to deck the prison halls with hand-made decorations composed entirely of prison resources. Well, this year's theme, peace on earth, lends itself to some toilet paper doves. What do you think?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Four, three, two, one -- uh-oh. Oh no! Let's pretend it's lit and clap anyway.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And today's winner of the Murphy's Law prize is Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was tipped up -- or tripped up, rather, by a tripped circuit breaker while trying to light up a Chicago Christmas tree yesterday.

He managed to crack a joke about difficult budget times causing cutbacks on tree lights. And after a long, awkward pause, well, the lights came on and everyone went home, full of holiday cheer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Next on LIVE FROM, our picture of the day. He's no Lance Armstrong, but this cyclist's story is just as dramatic as the end of his ride.

Later on LIVE FROM, can you keep your employer on spying on you? The answer might surprise you.

Tomorrow on LIVE FROM...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why do we need privacy?

PHILLIPS: Why this man knows more about you than you'd ever dream. And he's selling what he knows.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: And news around the world now, if Madonna can do Kabala in Tel Aviv, well, why not Christine -- Christine Aguilera in Mumbai, Indian, on her own spiritual quest? She's reportedly seeking inspiration for her next album and will also hold talks with a top Hollywood filmmaker about a dance number in a Hindi film.

Now to Sydney, Australia, and the end of a 2,700-mile trip across the island continent. A painful voyage under any conditions, but especially on a penny farthing bicycle while attired as Sherlock Holmes.

It's coming up here, I promise. It took Briton Lloyd Scott 50 long, hot days to do it. There you go. Scott, a leukemia survivor, made the trip to raise money for leukemia research. Well, we can't blame him for pitching his penny farther as far as he could when he finally finished.

WHITFIELD: Well, November was a disappointing month for well- known stores like Wal-Mart and The Gap. Rhonda Schaffler joins us from the New York Stock Exchange for some of the numbers -- Rhonda.

(STOCK REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired December 2, 2004 - 13:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thought the political crisis in Ukraine was over? Think again. The Ukrainian president, in the Russian capital talking about a looming revolution in his country. I'll have more on that in just a minute.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CO-HOST: And it's called Viagra for women. But does the so-called sex patchwork for everyone? A new study on its effectiveness.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: Here's Barney building a snowman. Or else eating the carrot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the White House. First lady Laura Bush takes us on a tour.

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Kyra Phillips.

WHITFIELD: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in for Miles O'Brien. CNN's LIVE FROM begins right now.

PHILLIPS: We begin this hour with elections in Iraq, post- election commotion in Ukraine and disclosure of the facts on oil-for- food. All came up at President Bush's give and take with reporters today, as he hosted the president of Nigeria in the Oval Office.

Mr. Bush says the Iraqi election date is firm, January 30, creating elections are a matter of -- for Ukrainian voters and a good, honest appraisal is called for at the U.N.

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is at the White House with more on all of these.

Hi, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hello, Kyra.

Now that President Bush's own reelection is sealed, he is focused on some other critical elections. We got news this morning that Vice President Dick Cheney, as well as his wife, Lynne Cheney, and a delegation will be going to Kabul, Afghanistan. That is happening next Tuesday.

Along with him, of course, will be Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and a former political adviser to the president, Karen Hughes. They're going there for the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai's, inauguration. It is seen as a big success story for the Bush administration there.

And still many questions remain, however, about the situation about Iraq's elections. It is to be held on January 30, but there have been calls from Iraqi leaders to delay it, saying it is much too dangerous.

President Bush this morning, meeting with the president of Nigeria, emerging from that meeting, saying they have to stick to their deadline. Otherwise, he believes that certainly this gives a message that the insurgents would win.

President Bush also weighing in on another controversial matter. This is surrounding the corruption of the oil-for-food program, the United Nations program, investigations showing that perhaps billions of dollars illegally went to Saddam Hussein's government, that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's son perhaps played a role in that.

There have been even calls for Annan Annan's resignation. President Bush today did not join in that chorus, but he did call for a full accounting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's very important for the United Nations to understand that there ought to be a fair and full and open accounting of the oil-for-food program. In order for the taxpayers of the United States to feel comfortable about supporting the United Nations, there has to be an open accounting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And Kyra, the president, his advisers say, really sees this as a credibility test for the United Nations. It also adds to somewhat of the suspicion from this White House of international organizations, just how effective they can be, in actually not only running a program like this but getting a consensus together in dealing with some of the crises around the world -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, talking about crises, we can't forget the Ukrainian elections and what's happening there. What's your take from the White House?

MALVEAUX: Well, certainly, President Bush, again, saying that he believes that foreign interference, interference from outsiders, shouldn't happen in the Ukrainian elections, that there's negotiations that continue about whether or not they will actually redo those elections.

And we know that president of Russia, Putin, has been very much involved in -- even calling for those elections to stand. That is a point of tension between President Bush and President Putin. Again, the president insisting that democracy has to take hold and play out in that area.

Still, not resolved, Kyra. It's going to be very interesting to see how that plays out.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne Malveaux, live from the White House, thanks so much.

WHITFIELD: Well, the European parliament weighed in today on the Ukrainian election mess, joining the opposition's calls for a revote and rebuking the Russian president, who today called a new vote pointless.

A day after the opposition pledged to lift a ten-day siege of government building, demonstrators are still demonstrating.

And CNN's Ryan Chilcote is watching from Moscow. He joins us live.

Hi, Ryan.

CHILCOTE: Well, Fredricka, the Ukrainian president has actually now come and gone. He met with the Russian president, actually, at the airport for some very urgent talks. The two sides focusing on their historical ties, both of them calling for closer cooperation in finding a resolution of the political crisis in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president, Leonid Kuchma, laying out a very ominous picture of the situation in his country, indirectly accusing the opposition of trying to ruin Ukraine's economy to create the conditions for a revolution there.

The Russian president offered to intervene, to serve as the mediator, to the extent that the Ukrainian president would like to see the Kremlin involved in the political resolution. They're also -- the Ukrainian president telling the Russian president that it is natural for Russia to do that, and it would be strange for the Kremlin to sit on the sidelines -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And, Ryan, opposition leader Yushchenko getting an awful lot of support and at the same time, it's spawning a lot of questions as of recent, not about his politics but, instead about his appearance. What's that all about?

CHILCOTE: Sure. Ukrainians have been talking about the leader of the opposition's face, Viktor Yushchenko's face, ever since early September, when he was admitted into a hospital in Austria.

There are many theories about what happened to it. But it really has caught the attention of all of the people in Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHILCOTE (voice-over): He had movie star looks, experience in leadership as Ukraine's prime minister, but according to the pollsters, he lacked the support of enough ordinary Ukrainians to win the presidency.

Then this September, after complaining of food poisoning, he was admitted to a hospital in Kiev, then an Austrian clinic. When he emerged, his face had changed dramatically. His small lines had turned into deep pockmarks and with them, the contours of Ukraine's political landscape.

Yushchenko told his supporters the government was trying to poison him.

VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (through translator): I want to express a special message to the authorities -- you will not poison us.

CHILCOTE: Ukraine's top prosecutor investigated. His conclusion, Yushchenko was suffering from herpes.

The same Kremlin spin-doctors who crafted President Putin's image in Russia were in Ukraine at the time to support the pro-Moscow candidate, Viktor Yanukovych.

"The election took on a folklorish, mythic nature," Theo Povlosky (ph) says. "It was a lie Yushchenko's staff used to hide the fact that their candidate was ill late in the campaign."

Whether the allegations are fairy tales or not, Yushchenko, the politician, became more attractive. Some Yushchenko watchers say he even ditched the makeup he was using to cover up his new face.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHILCOTE: Fredricka, a U.S. -- a leading U.S. dermatologist that CNN spoke with says there are very few things that can cause such a dramatic change to someone's face over such a short period of time, just three months.

Basically three things. One: toxins, actually, dioxins, things that, for example, Agent Orange is made of. Two, a very serious viral infection, perhaps even bacterial infection, something like herpes, but that would be strange, because usually herpes is easily treated. And lastly, perhaps this was a very bizarre, very rare reaction to some hormones that were used in that Austrian clinic to treat Mr. Yushchenko. It is still a very big mystery at this point.

WHITFIELD: Bizarre, nonetheless. All right. Ryan Chilcote, thanks so much, from Moscow -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: No go on a main road in Baghdad. The U.S. embassy is barring personnel from the notoriously dangerous highway linking Baghdad with the international airport.

This happened as mortar fire rocked five or more sites in the Iraqi capital, including the offices of Iraq's mobile phone company, where one person was killed. Another attack wounded eight students at Baghdad's technical university. Life in Iraq's Kurdish north has long been very different from that farther south. And that's even more evident now as the region rebuilds, and U.S. forces are welcomed as partner, not shunned or attacked as occupiers.

Here's CNN's Nic Robertson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAJ. ROBERT SCHULTZ, CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICER: That one's bad too.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When civil affairs officer Major Robert Schultz begins his day's work in Kurdish- controlled northern Iraq, he has much to be thankful for.

SCHULTZ: Is this -- is this the water closet facility that needs the most attention?

ROBERTSON: Unlike his fellow servicemen, an hour's drive to the south, Schultz finds the Kurds in the north actually welcome his help.

SCHULTZ: They say because what we have done here in this region, they don't want anything to happen to us. There are secret police that are out on the streets that are -- are watching us. Anything that goes wrong or looks suspicious, they're out there asking questions.

It looks like it's progressing pretty good. Got the walls up.

ROBERTSON: In the next 12 months, Schultz and his teams expect to spend more than $100 million, helping the Kurds strengthen their civil society.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's good; it's also raised off the ground. It gives you more control of the cameras.

ROBERTSON: Hastily arranged visits like this one, to check on the building work at a TV station they're helping, are enabling them to get more bang for their bucks.

SGT. OLLIE ROWE, CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICER: Because we don't have to go through all the security measures here that they have to go through down there we're able to touch base with a lot more people and do a lot more things and network a lot better here.

ROBERTSON: That also made easier, they say, by good cooperation from their hosts.

(on camera) The result is that, even with just a few civil affairs teams to cover 1.1 million people in an area the size of Rhode Island, they're able to work on a diverse number of projects, from aiding refugees and displaced people to helping out at hospitals, rebuilding schools, equipping and training the police, to helping advance women's issues.

(voice-over) Computer classes for women are supported. Laptops have been given for outlying communities, and plans are under way to help women learn to drive and maybe even help them develop a much need women's sports facility.

JULA HAJI, KURDISH WOMEN'S UNION (through translator): I hope in the south they will learn from us as they see us rebuild our country, that the more peace you have, the quicker you can do it.

ROBERTSON: But for all the optimism, there is anger the instability in the center of Iraq is costing the Kurds much wanted international aid.

MUSA ALI BAKIR, REFUGEE COORDINATOR: You cannot make all Iraq the victim of the middle of Iraq.

ROBERTSON: A point not lost on these civil affairs officers, who count themselves lucky to make a difference.

Nic Robertson, CNN, northern Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Ft. Bragg is the front line today in two of the Army's highest profile criminal cases, that of Abu Ghraib defendant Lynndie England and Hassan Akbar, the sergeant who admits he bombed his own officer's tents last year in Kuwait.

CNN's Susan Candiotti is following both -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka.

First, let's talk about Private First Class Lynndie England. Her defense at a hearing today wants two critical pieces of evidence thrown out.

First of all, we're talking about three sworn statements that England made to investigators, describing her role in the alleged abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison. The implication from the defense is that she did not fully understand her rights when she made those statements without having attorneys present.

Now, the defense also wants the judge to ban what are now notorious photos seen around the world, England, holding for example, a prisoner on a leash, England pointing to a row of naked detainees, England, smiling and posing behind a human pyramid of prisoners.

Now, it's not known on what basis her defense lawyers are trying to get those photos banned. That is an issue that will be argued before the judge this day.

All along, the defense has maintained that England was simply following orders when she did what she did in order to soften up prisoners for interrogation.

Now, the same judge here at Ft. Bragg is hearing another case, also stemming from the war in Iraq. This involves a pending court- martial of Sergeant Hassan Akbar of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. He is charged with the murder of two soldiers and the attempted murder of 14 others, who were injured when Akbar allegedly threw hand grenades into their tents of fellow -- his fellow soldiers in March of 2003.

Today, he also appeared in court here at Ft. Bragg, and two main issues were decided. First of all, prosecutors will be allowed to use a statement that he allegedly made right after the incident happened in which he was asked, "Sergeant, did you do this?"

And he supposedly said, "Yes, I did."

Also, he won a delay in his court-martial. His new trial date has been set for April of next year.

You'll recall that Lynndie England's court-martial is scheduled for next month. She faces 19 charges and, if convicted, the new mother of a 7-week-old baby boy could spend up to 38 years in prison -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Susan Candiotti, thanks so much -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: The grisly cleanup from Ground Zero did not end once the rubble was hauled away. Dump truck by dump truck, workers began sorting through debris, looking for valuables that might eventually be returned to 9/11 families.

Right now, a new effort is being unveiled, aimed at reuniting lost jewelry with its rightful owners. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly is holding a news conference at this hour, explaining the details of a new web site, where survivors can purse through more than 500 unclaimed pieces.

And most of the jewelry salvaged has been claimed. But the items being posted online are pieces without serial numbers or other personal inscriptions.

WHITFIELD: The fight to save Scott Peterson's life is on.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In Redwood City, California, one of Scott Peterson's lifelong friends is trying to convince a jury not to deliver the death penalty. We'll have the very latest coming up.

WHITFIELD: Also ahead, Martha Stewart takes on her fellow inmates in a competition she's sure to win.

And later, actor Cuba Gooding Jr. joins us live to talk about why he's hanging out in Central Park today for a great cause.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

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WHITFIELD: Saying he's frightened and deeply saddened, Scott Peterson's father launched efforts yesterday to spare his son from the death sentence. Lee Peterson was the first of many character witnesses who will testify for the defense during the penalty phase of the Scott Peterson trial.

CNN's Ted Rowlands is in Redwood City, California, with more on Lee Peterson's testimony and what lies ahead.

ROWLANDS: Well, Fredricka, there was a short delay here this morning. But testimony has resumed, and the defense continues their case in the penalty phase here, of course.

They're trying to convince this jury, that convicted Scott Peterson of first-degree murder, that he should not die for his crime.

Right now, on the stand is one of Scott Peterson's lifelong friends, a gentleman by the name of Aaron Fritz, someone who has known Peterson since he -- since he was a freshman in high school.

And he is talking at great lengths about how Peterson is a wonderful person and a great friend of his. He's talking about taking trips with Peterson to Tijuana, Mexico, to help children in that -- in that city, and how, as a friend, Peterson has always been there for him.

This is the next -- the latest in a series of witnesses that the defense has put forward for this jury to try to show this jury Scott Peterson's entire life.

This is a guy that had absolutely no criminal record. But beyond that, he really had nobody that would come forward and say that he was a bad guy, even. He had good grades in school. He seemed like the, quote, "Boy Scout" type of personality that his family has portrayed him to be and even his in-laws portrayed him to be, before they started to think that he had something to do with the murder here.

Of course, this comes on the heel of very emotional testimony from Sharon Rocha, Laci Peterson's mother. It's unclear what effect all of this will have on this jury.

A very, very big decision for, of course, this jury of six men and six women. They think he killed his wife. Now it is up to them on whether or not they should impose -- or whether they think they should impose the death penalty on him.

It is expected that this phase of the trial will continue through at least Monday and at that point, jurors will begin their deliberations -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Ted Rowlands in Redwood City, California, thanks so much.

PHILLIPS: We're going to go to other news now, across America. If you're asking Santa for an official Red Ryder carbine action 200 shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and a thing that tells time -- woo, or any other gun, and you live in Massachusetts, well, be ready to present your fingers for printing.

The state is the first in the nation to adopt electronic fingerprinting for gun licensing. It allows police and gun shop owners to know immediately if someone is naughty or nice enough to own a gun.

In Alderson, West Virginia, Martha Stewart is likely to give an annual prison tradition a bit of a goose. According to the upcoming issue of "People" magazine, there's a spirited competition to deck the prison halls with hand-made decorations composed entirely of prison resources. Well, this year's theme, peace on earth, lends itself to some toilet paper doves. What do you think?

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Four, three, two, one -- uh-oh. Oh no! Let's pretend it's lit and clap anyway.

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PHILLIPS: And today's winner of the Murphy's Law prize is Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was tipped up -- or tripped up, rather, by a tripped circuit breaker while trying to light up a Chicago Christmas tree yesterday.

He managed to crack a joke about difficult budget times causing cutbacks on tree lights. And after a long, awkward pause, well, the lights came on and everyone went home, full of holiday cheer.

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PHILLIPS (voice-over): Next on LIVE FROM, our picture of the day. He's no Lance Armstrong, but this cyclist's story is just as dramatic as the end of his ride.

Later on LIVE FROM, can you keep your employer on spying on you? The answer might surprise you.

Tomorrow on LIVE FROM...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why do we need privacy?

PHILLIPS: Why this man knows more about you than you'd ever dream. And he's selling what he knows.

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PHILLIPS: And news around the world now, if Madonna can do Kabala in Tel Aviv, well, why not Christine -- Christine Aguilera in Mumbai, Indian, on her own spiritual quest? She's reportedly seeking inspiration for her next album and will also hold talks with a top Hollywood filmmaker about a dance number in a Hindi film.

Now to Sydney, Australia, and the end of a 2,700-mile trip across the island continent. A painful voyage under any conditions, but especially on a penny farthing bicycle while attired as Sherlock Holmes.

It's coming up here, I promise. It took Briton Lloyd Scott 50 long, hot days to do it. There you go. Scott, a leukemia survivor, made the trip to raise money for leukemia research. Well, we can't blame him for pitching his penny farther as far as he could when he finally finished.

WHITFIELD: Well, November was a disappointing month for well- known stores like Wal-Mart and The Gap. Rhonda Schaffler joins us from the New York Stock Exchange for some of the numbers -- Rhonda.

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