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Live From...
8.2 Quake Strikes Off Indonesia Coast; Jackson Judge Allows Past Accusations Into Trial
Aired March 28, 2005 - 13:30 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.
JAN EGELAND, U.N. UNDER-SECRETARY, HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS: We have helicopters now. We have trucks. There are more than 1,000 international relief workers now in Sumatra. There are around 300 international relief organizations present in Sumatra, which is where the epicenter is located outside of. So, we're in a very different situation than we were on the 26th of December.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MILES O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: All right. We've been talking to people on the ground all throughout the region, all throughout the day.
Joining us now on the line is Allesandra Boas. She is with Oxfam International, one of the nongovernmental organizations -- nongovernmental organizations that has been there ever since the December 26 event.
Allesandra, where are you right now?
ALLESANDRA BOAS, OXFAM INTERNATIONAL: Now, I'm in Banda Aceh right now.
O'BRIEN: What have you seen and heard all throughout this night there in Banda Aceh?
BOAS: Well, yes, we were in the building, our office, and where our houses are. And we felt a tremor, a light tremor at the beginning. And we walked out of the building, as we formally do when you feel a tremor. But it became stronger. And it lasted for a couple of minutes, which was longer than normally, than the tremors have lasted normally here.
And so we went out of the building and to the streets. And soon after that, we saw some panic around the city, people getting on their motor bikes and cars to run away. And we were there for a little less than half an hour. The host was in the streets, waiting for the earthquake to stop. And to make sure that we could go back in the building safely.
O'BRIEN: Allesandra, at any time did you feel it was necessary to move to higher ground?
BOAS: Well, when the earthquake was going on, we were in the streets. And then after it stopped, we had our engineers coming back to check the building to see whether or not it was safe to come back. And then we came back to the building. And the cabs (ph) were following up on news from here about the possibility of a tsunami being triggered by the earthquake.
And we are now in a three-story building. And we have a roof. And it's the place where we are supposed to go in case we know that a wave is coming.
O'BRIEN: What -- you said you noticed a fair amount of panic. Describe the scene that you saw there. And it's quite understandable that people would react that way.
BOAS: Yes, yes. Definitely. We were -- our building is on the Easy Street in Banda Aceh. It's one of the big streets. And as we were out there, after the earthquake, we saw lots of motor bikes and cars. And people running to the opposite direction, the coast, trying to run away. And really fearing a new -- a new wave.
And also among our staff, we have lots of international staff. And some of them were with us this evening. And they were quite frightened, those who have lived through the tsunami.
O'BRIEN: I assume you're waiting for first light to get a good assessment. Do you have a sense, however, as to how big...
BOAS: Sorry?
O'BRIEN: I assume you're waiting for dawn to make a proper assessment of the damage. But do you have any sense of what sort of a setback this might be to efforts to rebuild?
BOAS: Well, we -- actually, as we are now in the building, we don't know what has happened around the city. We know that there is an island where there has been some casualties. And we are planning to go there tomorrow, early in the morning, to see whether they would need some kind of assistance from us.
But we will always, of course, go to -- around the city tomorrow to see whether or not there have been other casualties and if there's something else we can do.
But of course, we will keep on doing the work we have been doing, that has been now to moving to recovery, as the early relief assistance has been -- has been done. It has moved pretty much to recovery assistance, to people who are now moving back to their original community.
O'BRIEN: Allesandra Boas of Oxfam International in Banda Aceh, thank you -- Betty.
BETTY NGUYEN, CO-HOST: We're covering a lot of other news today, as well.
With time running out and most legal avenues spent, the parent parents of Terri Schiavo and their supporters are begging those in power to intervene, again.
A few hours ago, a group took their 11th hour pleas to the White House and to Congress. They want lawmakers to enforce the subpoena issued a week ago Friday, calling on Terri Schiavo to appear before Congress.
Now, Schiavo is in her 11th day without food or water. Her father, who saw her just a few hours ago, says she's failing. And he's raising concerns about what might happen to her, at the hands of those caring for her.
CNN's Bob Franken is outside the hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida, with the latest on that -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, he said that she's failing. But she still can fight this battle. It's not over yet, he said. He's concerned, as family members are, that the political leaders are still trying to influence in Washington and in the state of Florida will believe that the fight is over. They're saying the fight is not over.
But Bob Schindler, who visited his daughter, came out to say she had been responsive to him but that they need to be very worried about the treatment she was going to get.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: I'm sure that she's still in discomfort. And I am -- I have a grave concern that they'll expedite the process to kill her, with overdose of morphine. That's the procedure that happens. And that -- she has to be saved.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: That brought a response from the hospice, which for the most part has not had any public comment. Mike Bell, speaking for the Hospice Woodside here said, "We are not going to do anything to hasten or postpone natural death. That is fundamental to hospice." He went on to say they are trying to provide comfort to the patient and the family.
So feelings are running very high. There is almost an air of desperation, as the different government avenues, the legal avenues and the political avenues seem to be shutting down. The family saying, please do not give up the fight yet -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Bob, this situation is not only affecting Terri Schiavo and her family, but also children who go to school nearby. Tell us what's happening with them today.
FRANKEN: Well, as you can imagine, this is not an area that is used to this kind of attention, this kind of crowd. In fact, it's a narrow road that goes past the hospice. And suddenly, it's filled this area with dozens and dozens of satellite trucks, countless television crews and reporters and all the people of the vigil, heavy police presence.
So to avoid any disruption at the school, which is next door to the hospice, which had been on Easter break, district officials decided the better part of valor was to send their children to other schools while this was going on -- Betty. NGUYEN: CNN's Bob Franken in Pinellas Park, Florida, right outside the hospice where Terri Schiavo is being cared for there. Thank you, Bob, for that.
We do want to tell you, as well, that Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, will hold a news conference today at 5:15 Eastern time. And when that happens, we will take it live, right here on CNN, 5:15 eastern. Michael Schiavo's attorney will hold a news conference.
There are 69 other patients besides Terri Schiavo at that hospice in Pinellas Park. It hasn't been an easy time for them, either, especially with all the added security.
In fact, one woman says it kept her from spending the final minutes with her dying grandfather. Jennifer Johnson says two police officers delayed her, one asking for I.D., the other conducting a weapons search.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNIFER JOHNSON, GRANDFATHER DIED IN HOSPICE: I had -- went through the process with a police officer and a metal detector test. I ran down the hallway. Flew open the door. And the nurses who were attending to my grandfather told me I had missed it by one minute.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: The constant protests have also caused disruptions in the neighborhood. Police have had to block the road in front of the hospice, making it difficult for other businesses to operate.
Well, continuing concern over the health of the pope, as the 84- year-old pontiff skips one more traditional appearance to bless pilgrims on this day after Easter. CNN's Alessio Vinci has the latest now from Rome, as Vatican officials remain tight-lipped on the condition of the frail Catholic leader.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the long series of events, which Pope John Paul II has missed throughout this past few days, we can add one last one this morning. For the first time in his long papacy, Pope John Paul II has missed his traditional Angelus prayer on the Monday following Easter.
Cameras from Vatican television at some point pointed towards the window of the pope overlooking St. Peter's Square as if he was about to make an appearance. But after a few minutes, it turned away and the few thousand pilgrims who were down in the square, hoping to see the pope, were left with basically nothing.
And indeed, throughout this past holy week, the events at the Vatican have been marked by the pope's absence or by his silent presence. He missed most of the events throughout the week, including the masses. And on Easter Sunday, the pope unable to say mass. He is, first and foremost, a priest. And it must have been a terrible burden for the pope not to say that mass on Easter Sunday. It was delivered by a top Vatican cardinal.
The pope, at one point, tried to say a few words. He made an appearance, a long appearance at a window of -- overlooking St. Peter's Square, at some point, trying to say a few words. But he just simply wouldn't. A microphone was there, ready for him to say something. But all we could hear was just a simple murmur. And so eventually the pope opted for a silent blessing, with his hand.
Nevertheless, the crowds, by the tens of thousands yesterday, in St. Peter's Square, were ecstatic. Some people even in tears. So clearly, this pope still unable to talk, but able to message and to send a powerful message of suffering.
I'm Alessio Vinci, CNN, reporting from Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: A setback for entertainer Michael Jackson, as his child molestation trial enters week number five. The judge going to allow testimony about past allegations of child molestation. They involve five boys. One of the boys expected to testify in person.
Yesterday, Jackson again declared his innocence, during an interview with the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL JACKSON, ACCUSED OF CHILD MOLESTATION: I gain strength from God. I believe in Jehovah God very much. And I gain strength from the fact that I know I'm innocent. None of these stories are true. They're totally fabricated. It's very bad. And it's very, very painful. And I pray a lot. And that's how I deal with it.
And I'm a strong person. I'm a warrior. And I know what's inside of me. I'm a fighter. Very painful. At the end of the day, I'm still human, you know? I'm still a human being. It does hurt very, very, very much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Jackson says he considers himself unjustly accused, much like other black luminaries, including Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali.
A gun shows up on a carry-on baggage X-ray and then seemingly disappears.
NGUYEN: Ahead on LIVE FROM, it adds up to delays and a dilemma for holiday travelers. We'll have those details.
O'BRIEN: Also ahead, is it game over for Sony? A major setback for that company's PlayStation in the U.S. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. They're asking which way did he go? That's what Cincinnati airport screeners were saying Sunday after an X-ray of a carry-on bag showed the possible image of a handgun. Trouble is, by the time the image was detected, the bag had already passed through the machine and had been collected by its owner, now mingling amid thousands of other passengers.
Reporter Becky Freemal of our affiliate WCPO in Cincinnati picks up the story from there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BECKY FREEMAL, WCPO REPORTER (voice-over): Travelers headed out for spring break...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're headed out to Riviero de Mayo for Cancun, Mexico.
FREEMAL: ... and thousands of others quickly realized they would be getting a late start.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come down the escalator. And he says the line starts here for check-through. And that's where we've been ever since.
FREEMAL: Security lines grew and checkpoints backed up, after security shut down terminal three and grounded planes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The image of a revolver appeared on the x- ray. It occurred at a time when x-ray operators were changing positions, relieving each other, which caused some confusion. The passenger was allowed to proceed because of that.
FREEMAL: Once police caught up with the passenger, they found no gun. So they cleared the concourses and began their search.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were this close to the gate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I heard a noise. And suddenly security forces gathered around each other. They dropped the gates and blocked everybody in.
FREEMAL: Those already cleared through security were turned back, forced to stand at the end of the line behind thousands of others.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Aggravating. It's very aggravating.
FREEMAL: One passenger told us this was his second attempt flying out, after his first flight got canceled yesterday.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's kind of a shock to come in here and see about 3,000 people ahead of us in security lines. FREEMAL: Airport security never found the gun and believe it is no longer in the airport. More than two hours after it all began, they allowed passengers to continue on their way.
Becky Freemal, 9 News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: So, everything reported to be back on schedule at Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport. But you will want to stay tuned to CNN for the latest information affecting your security day and night.
O'BRIEN: Singer Willie Nelson is promoting a new project and he's hoping it will be a big hit. We're not talking about a song or a concert, though. It's something that might be coming to a gas station near you.
CNN economic correspondent Kathleen Hays has the story of BioWillie.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIE NELSON, SINGER (singing): On the road again...
KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Willie Nelson is on the road again. But these days, it's not about a music tour, like the one those famous lyrics celebrate. It's a new venture that's always on his mind these days, bio diesel fuel. Willie's in the business of marketing this clean burning fuel called BioWillie.
NELSON: When I first heard about it, my wife told me -- this is a couple of years ago. She said, "I'm going to buy this car that runs on vegetable oil."
I said OK. So, I bought a Mercedes. And it's never had anything in it except vegetable oil.
HAYS: Yes, bio diesel is made from vegetable, soybeans, even animal fats. BioWillie is a blend of pure biodiesel and petroleum diesel known as B-20. But even biodiesel blends reduce emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter.
Cleaner air is one big reason government agencies are using it. The U.S. Navy recently ordered that all Navy and Marine nontactical vehicles operate on B-20 blend biodiesel by June 1 of this year.
It's in all of Willie's tour buses. In fact, any diesel-burning car or truck can run on it, even school buses, without making any special changes to the engine.
Right now, biodiesel is sold at over 300 service stations across the country. Willie and his partners hope that by getting BioWillie distributed at more truck stops, more people will start using it.
It's still a niche product, though. The Energy Information Agency estimates that 44 million barrels of pure biodiesel will be sold this year. That compares with 44 billion barrels of petroleum diesel and 142 billion barrels of gasoline.
FRED MAYES, ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION: It has a lot of promise for reducing pollution. But it's still far too early to determine whether it will become viable, you know, in the marketplace.
HAYS: The government is doing its part to promote biodiesel. It provides generous subsidies to biodiesel producers. And President Bush set up tax breaks that can be passed on to people who use biodiesel.
Willie says he's not in it for the money. He's hoping biodiesel can help America's family farmers get back on their feet.
NELSON: I want to see millions of acres and millions of farmers, new farmers, old farmers, back out there growing fuel for America.
HAYS: It's a cause that gives the words of Willie's famous song a whole new meaning.
NELSON (singing): On the road again...
HAYS: Kathleen Hays, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Who knew what a little vegetable oil could do?
O'BRIEN: The only question I have had is does it taste great or is it less filling, you know?
NGUYEN: It's yellow. You know, let's just leave it at that that.
O'BRIEN: Susan Lisovicz, let's talk about Sony PlayStation, shall we?
(STOCK REPORT)
O'BRIEN: All right, Susan. We'll see you tomorrow. Thank you very much.
Neighborhood watch, Iraqi-style. We'll show you how some families there are guarding against insurgents on their own. That's ahead on LIVE FROM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Security concerns are mounting in Iraq. Insurgents, they launched a number of attacks on security forces today, killing or wounding a dozen people. A police chief and his driver were killed in one of those attacks in Baghdad.
Now, south of the capital, Iraqi security forces made a valuable find. The U.S. military says forces uncovered a large terrorist base in Salman Pak and arrested more than 90 terrorist suspects.
O'BRIEN: One of the biggest threats looming in post-Saddam Iraq, kidnappings. Many of the victims are children, snatched off the streets by money-hungry bandits. But CNN's Aneesh Raman shows us the extreme measures one neighborhood is taking to try to keep its streets safe.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On this nondescript Iraqi street resides a commonplace fear.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): A child was kidnapped from our neighborhood, taken for ransom.
RAMAN: Bikar Ahmed (ph), clinging to her 3-year-old daughter, vividly recalls what happened a year ago. The parents paid. The child was returned. And her community came to a stark realization: in post-war Iraq, nobody's safety is guaranteed. The survival of family is an individual concern.
So, these Iraqis are taking action. Pooling resources and hiring guards like Shakir Hasan to patrol houses, blockade the street, protect their children.
SHAKIR HASAN, GUARD (through translator): Of course people fear the gangs, those who are kidnappers, killers, muggers and looters, those who terrify people.
RAMAN: Shakir is one of three guards that rotate responsibilities, filling a void not yet met by a fledgling government. And for the kids like Hussein (ph), Shakir symbolizes freedom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Our families tell us don't go out. The thieves might kidnap you. If the guard is not there, I cannot go outside.
RAMAN (on camera): Guards like these have been protecting the 20 houses along this street for over a year now. Neighborhood watches are popping up all over Iraq but only in the neighborhoods wealthy enough to afford it.
(voice-over) This area of Baghdad is a rich one, making the residents both targets and defenders, able to hire street-specific security, a luxury for most Iraqis.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of course, we are lucky, because some people can hardly get some money for their basic life, especially under this situation. They can't pay for guards like we do.
RAMAN: Caught in the cross-hairs of conflict, Iraqis like Bikar (ph) cannot simply wait to hear the silence of peace. Daily life must go on. But as long as her daughter is at risk, armed guards will patrol this street.
Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Well, that wraps up this edition of CNN's LIVE FROM.
NGUYEN: "INSIDE POLITICS" is next. John King is in today for Judy Woodruff.
Hello, John.
JOHN KING, HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": Hello, Betty and Miles. Thank you very much. Enjoy your afternoon.
Friends and family say she's near death. But the fight to save Terri Schiavo is anything but over. Ahead on "INSIDE POLITICS," the Christian Defense Coalition confronts lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The Reverend Pat Mahoney joins me live.
Plus, we're following all developments on that massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra. Our reporters are on the ground there now.
Lots ahead on "INSIDE POLITICS". We're back in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Hello, I'm Miles O'Brien at the CNN Center. "INSIDE POLITICS" next, after a look at stories now in the news.
An 8.7 magnitude earthquake jolted Southern Asia hours ago, triggering fears of another tsunami. Dozens are reported dead. Much more on this story throughout the day.
Supporters of Terri Schiavo take their case to Washington to urge Congress to intervene in the life or death battle. Schiavo now in her 11th day without food or water. "INSIDE POLITICS" will have a live report from Washington momentarily.
A big defeat for the Michael Jackson defense. The judge says the -- he will allow jurors to hear previous allegations of child molestation against the pop star in his current trial. "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS" will have a live report from California at 5 Eastern on that.
Now, "JUDY WOODRUFF'S INSIDE POLITICS."
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 March 28, 2005 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JAN EGELAND, U.N. UNDER-SECRETARY, HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS: We have helicopters now. We have trucks. There are more than 1,000 international relief workers now in Sumatra. There are around 300 international relief organizations present in Sumatra, which is where the epicenter is located outside of. So, we're in a very different situation than we were on the 26th of December.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MILES O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: All right. We've been talking to people on the ground all throughout the region, all throughout the day.
Joining us now on the line is Allesandra Boas. She is with Oxfam International, one of the nongovernmental organizations -- nongovernmental organizations that has been there ever since the December 26 event.
Allesandra, where are you right now?
ALLESANDRA BOAS, OXFAM INTERNATIONAL: Now, I'm in Banda Aceh right now.
O'BRIEN: What have you seen and heard all throughout this night there in Banda Aceh?
BOAS: Well, yes, we were in the building, our office, and where our houses are. And we felt a tremor, a light tremor at the beginning. And we walked out of the building, as we formally do when you feel a tremor. But it became stronger. And it lasted for a couple of minutes, which was longer than normally, than the tremors have lasted normally here.
And so we went out of the building and to the streets. And soon after that, we saw some panic around the city, people getting on their motor bikes and cars to run away. And we were there for a little less than half an hour. The host was in the streets, waiting for the earthquake to stop. And to make sure that we could go back in the building safely.
O'BRIEN: Allesandra, at any time did you feel it was necessary to move to higher ground?
BOAS: Well, when the earthquake was going on, we were in the streets. And then after it stopped, we had our engineers coming back to check the building to see whether or not it was safe to come back. And then we came back to the building. And the cabs (ph) were following up on news from here about the possibility of a tsunami being triggered by the earthquake.
And we are now in a three-story building. And we have a roof. And it's the place where we are supposed to go in case we know that a wave is coming.
O'BRIEN: What -- you said you noticed a fair amount of panic. Describe the scene that you saw there. And it's quite understandable that people would react that way.
BOAS: Yes, yes. Definitely. We were -- our building is on the Easy Street in Banda Aceh. It's one of the big streets. And as we were out there, after the earthquake, we saw lots of motor bikes and cars. And people running to the opposite direction, the coast, trying to run away. And really fearing a new -- a new wave.
And also among our staff, we have lots of international staff. And some of them were with us this evening. And they were quite frightened, those who have lived through the tsunami.
O'BRIEN: I assume you're waiting for first light to get a good assessment. Do you have a sense, however, as to how big...
BOAS: Sorry?
O'BRIEN: I assume you're waiting for dawn to make a proper assessment of the damage. But do you have any sense of what sort of a setback this might be to efforts to rebuild?
BOAS: Well, we -- actually, as we are now in the building, we don't know what has happened around the city. We know that there is an island where there has been some casualties. And we are planning to go there tomorrow, early in the morning, to see whether they would need some kind of assistance from us.
But we will always, of course, go to -- around the city tomorrow to see whether or not there have been other casualties and if there's something else we can do.
But of course, we will keep on doing the work we have been doing, that has been now to moving to recovery, as the early relief assistance has been -- has been done. It has moved pretty much to recovery assistance, to people who are now moving back to their original community.
O'BRIEN: Allesandra Boas of Oxfam International in Banda Aceh, thank you -- Betty.
BETTY NGUYEN, CO-HOST: We're covering a lot of other news today, as well.
With time running out and most legal avenues spent, the parent parents of Terri Schiavo and their supporters are begging those in power to intervene, again.
A few hours ago, a group took their 11th hour pleas to the White House and to Congress. They want lawmakers to enforce the subpoena issued a week ago Friday, calling on Terri Schiavo to appear before Congress.
Now, Schiavo is in her 11th day without food or water. Her father, who saw her just a few hours ago, says she's failing. And he's raising concerns about what might happen to her, at the hands of those caring for her.
CNN's Bob Franken is outside the hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida, with the latest on that -- Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, he said that she's failing. But she still can fight this battle. It's not over yet, he said. He's concerned, as family members are, that the political leaders are still trying to influence in Washington and in the state of Florida will believe that the fight is over. They're saying the fight is not over.
But Bob Schindler, who visited his daughter, came out to say she had been responsive to him but that they need to be very worried about the treatment she was going to get.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: I'm sure that she's still in discomfort. And I am -- I have a grave concern that they'll expedite the process to kill her, with overdose of morphine. That's the procedure that happens. And that -- she has to be saved.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: That brought a response from the hospice, which for the most part has not had any public comment. Mike Bell, speaking for the Hospice Woodside here said, "We are not going to do anything to hasten or postpone natural death. That is fundamental to hospice." He went on to say they are trying to provide comfort to the patient and the family.
So feelings are running very high. There is almost an air of desperation, as the different government avenues, the legal avenues and the political avenues seem to be shutting down. The family saying, please do not give up the fight yet -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Bob, this situation is not only affecting Terri Schiavo and her family, but also children who go to school nearby. Tell us what's happening with them today.
FRANKEN: Well, as you can imagine, this is not an area that is used to this kind of attention, this kind of crowd. In fact, it's a narrow road that goes past the hospice. And suddenly, it's filled this area with dozens and dozens of satellite trucks, countless television crews and reporters and all the people of the vigil, heavy police presence.
So to avoid any disruption at the school, which is next door to the hospice, which had been on Easter break, district officials decided the better part of valor was to send their children to other schools while this was going on -- Betty. NGUYEN: CNN's Bob Franken in Pinellas Park, Florida, right outside the hospice where Terri Schiavo is being cared for there. Thank you, Bob, for that.
We do want to tell you, as well, that Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, will hold a news conference today at 5:15 Eastern time. And when that happens, we will take it live, right here on CNN, 5:15 eastern. Michael Schiavo's attorney will hold a news conference.
There are 69 other patients besides Terri Schiavo at that hospice in Pinellas Park. It hasn't been an easy time for them, either, especially with all the added security.
In fact, one woman says it kept her from spending the final minutes with her dying grandfather. Jennifer Johnson says two police officers delayed her, one asking for I.D., the other conducting a weapons search.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNIFER JOHNSON, GRANDFATHER DIED IN HOSPICE: I had -- went through the process with a police officer and a metal detector test. I ran down the hallway. Flew open the door. And the nurses who were attending to my grandfather told me I had missed it by one minute.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: The constant protests have also caused disruptions in the neighborhood. Police have had to block the road in front of the hospice, making it difficult for other businesses to operate.
Well, continuing concern over the health of the pope, as the 84- year-old pontiff skips one more traditional appearance to bless pilgrims on this day after Easter. CNN's Alessio Vinci has the latest now from Rome, as Vatican officials remain tight-lipped on the condition of the frail Catholic leader.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the long series of events, which Pope John Paul II has missed throughout this past few days, we can add one last one this morning. For the first time in his long papacy, Pope John Paul II has missed his traditional Angelus prayer on the Monday following Easter.
Cameras from Vatican television at some point pointed towards the window of the pope overlooking St. Peter's Square as if he was about to make an appearance. But after a few minutes, it turned away and the few thousand pilgrims who were down in the square, hoping to see the pope, were left with basically nothing.
And indeed, throughout this past holy week, the events at the Vatican have been marked by the pope's absence or by his silent presence. He missed most of the events throughout the week, including the masses. And on Easter Sunday, the pope unable to say mass. He is, first and foremost, a priest. And it must have been a terrible burden for the pope not to say that mass on Easter Sunday. It was delivered by a top Vatican cardinal.
The pope, at one point, tried to say a few words. He made an appearance, a long appearance at a window of -- overlooking St. Peter's Square, at some point, trying to say a few words. But he just simply wouldn't. A microphone was there, ready for him to say something. But all we could hear was just a simple murmur. And so eventually the pope opted for a silent blessing, with his hand.
Nevertheless, the crowds, by the tens of thousands yesterday, in St. Peter's Square, were ecstatic. Some people even in tears. So clearly, this pope still unable to talk, but able to message and to send a powerful message of suffering.
I'm Alessio Vinci, CNN, reporting from Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: A setback for entertainer Michael Jackson, as his child molestation trial enters week number five. The judge going to allow testimony about past allegations of child molestation. They involve five boys. One of the boys expected to testify in person.
Yesterday, Jackson again declared his innocence, during an interview with the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL JACKSON, ACCUSED OF CHILD MOLESTATION: I gain strength from God. I believe in Jehovah God very much. And I gain strength from the fact that I know I'm innocent. None of these stories are true. They're totally fabricated. It's very bad. And it's very, very painful. And I pray a lot. And that's how I deal with it.
And I'm a strong person. I'm a warrior. And I know what's inside of me. I'm a fighter. Very painful. At the end of the day, I'm still human, you know? I'm still a human being. It does hurt very, very, very much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Jackson says he considers himself unjustly accused, much like other black luminaries, including Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali.
A gun shows up on a carry-on baggage X-ray and then seemingly disappears.
NGUYEN: Ahead on LIVE FROM, it adds up to delays and a dilemma for holiday travelers. We'll have those details.
O'BRIEN: Also ahead, is it game over for Sony? A major setback for that company's PlayStation in the U.S. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. They're asking which way did he go? That's what Cincinnati airport screeners were saying Sunday after an X-ray of a carry-on bag showed the possible image of a handgun. Trouble is, by the time the image was detected, the bag had already passed through the machine and had been collected by its owner, now mingling amid thousands of other passengers.
Reporter Becky Freemal of our affiliate WCPO in Cincinnati picks up the story from there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BECKY FREEMAL, WCPO REPORTER (voice-over): Travelers headed out for spring break...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're headed out to Riviero de Mayo for Cancun, Mexico.
FREEMAL: ... and thousands of others quickly realized they would be getting a late start.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come down the escalator. And he says the line starts here for check-through. And that's where we've been ever since.
FREEMAL: Security lines grew and checkpoints backed up, after security shut down terminal three and grounded planes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The image of a revolver appeared on the x- ray. It occurred at a time when x-ray operators were changing positions, relieving each other, which caused some confusion. The passenger was allowed to proceed because of that.
FREEMAL: Once police caught up with the passenger, they found no gun. So they cleared the concourses and began their search.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were this close to the gate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I heard a noise. And suddenly security forces gathered around each other. They dropped the gates and blocked everybody in.
FREEMAL: Those already cleared through security were turned back, forced to stand at the end of the line behind thousands of others.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Aggravating. It's very aggravating.
FREEMAL: One passenger told us this was his second attempt flying out, after his first flight got canceled yesterday.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's kind of a shock to come in here and see about 3,000 people ahead of us in security lines. FREEMAL: Airport security never found the gun and believe it is no longer in the airport. More than two hours after it all began, they allowed passengers to continue on their way.
Becky Freemal, 9 News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: So, everything reported to be back on schedule at Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport. But you will want to stay tuned to CNN for the latest information affecting your security day and night.
O'BRIEN: Singer Willie Nelson is promoting a new project and he's hoping it will be a big hit. We're not talking about a song or a concert, though. It's something that might be coming to a gas station near you.
CNN economic correspondent Kathleen Hays has the story of BioWillie.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILLIE NELSON, SINGER (singing): On the road again...
KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Willie Nelson is on the road again. But these days, it's not about a music tour, like the one those famous lyrics celebrate. It's a new venture that's always on his mind these days, bio diesel fuel. Willie's in the business of marketing this clean burning fuel called BioWillie.
NELSON: When I first heard about it, my wife told me -- this is a couple of years ago. She said, "I'm going to buy this car that runs on vegetable oil."
I said OK. So, I bought a Mercedes. And it's never had anything in it except vegetable oil.
HAYS: Yes, bio diesel is made from vegetable, soybeans, even animal fats. BioWillie is a blend of pure biodiesel and petroleum diesel known as B-20. But even biodiesel blends reduce emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter.
Cleaner air is one big reason government agencies are using it. The U.S. Navy recently ordered that all Navy and Marine nontactical vehicles operate on B-20 blend biodiesel by June 1 of this year.
It's in all of Willie's tour buses. In fact, any diesel-burning car or truck can run on it, even school buses, without making any special changes to the engine.
Right now, biodiesel is sold at over 300 service stations across the country. Willie and his partners hope that by getting BioWillie distributed at more truck stops, more people will start using it.
It's still a niche product, though. The Energy Information Agency estimates that 44 million barrels of pure biodiesel will be sold this year. That compares with 44 billion barrels of petroleum diesel and 142 billion barrels of gasoline.
FRED MAYES, ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION: It has a lot of promise for reducing pollution. But it's still far too early to determine whether it will become viable, you know, in the marketplace.
HAYS: The government is doing its part to promote biodiesel. It provides generous subsidies to biodiesel producers. And President Bush set up tax breaks that can be passed on to people who use biodiesel.
Willie says he's not in it for the money. He's hoping biodiesel can help America's family farmers get back on their feet.
NELSON: I want to see millions of acres and millions of farmers, new farmers, old farmers, back out there growing fuel for America.
HAYS: It's a cause that gives the words of Willie's famous song a whole new meaning.
NELSON (singing): On the road again...
HAYS: Kathleen Hays, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Who knew what a little vegetable oil could do?
O'BRIEN: The only question I have had is does it taste great or is it less filling, you know?
NGUYEN: It's yellow. You know, let's just leave it at that that.
O'BRIEN: Susan Lisovicz, let's talk about Sony PlayStation, shall we?
(STOCK REPORT)
O'BRIEN: All right, Susan. We'll see you tomorrow. Thank you very much.
Neighborhood watch, Iraqi-style. We'll show you how some families there are guarding against insurgents on their own. That's ahead on LIVE FROM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Security concerns are mounting in Iraq. Insurgents, they launched a number of attacks on security forces today, killing or wounding a dozen people. A police chief and his driver were killed in one of those attacks in Baghdad.
Now, south of the capital, Iraqi security forces made a valuable find. The U.S. military says forces uncovered a large terrorist base in Salman Pak and arrested more than 90 terrorist suspects.
O'BRIEN: One of the biggest threats looming in post-Saddam Iraq, kidnappings. Many of the victims are children, snatched off the streets by money-hungry bandits. But CNN's Aneesh Raman shows us the extreme measures one neighborhood is taking to try to keep its streets safe.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On this nondescript Iraqi street resides a commonplace fear.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): A child was kidnapped from our neighborhood, taken for ransom.
RAMAN: Bikar Ahmed (ph), clinging to her 3-year-old daughter, vividly recalls what happened a year ago. The parents paid. The child was returned. And her community came to a stark realization: in post-war Iraq, nobody's safety is guaranteed. The survival of family is an individual concern.
So, these Iraqis are taking action. Pooling resources and hiring guards like Shakir Hasan to patrol houses, blockade the street, protect their children.
SHAKIR HASAN, GUARD (through translator): Of course people fear the gangs, those who are kidnappers, killers, muggers and looters, those who terrify people.
RAMAN: Shakir is one of three guards that rotate responsibilities, filling a void not yet met by a fledgling government. And for the kids like Hussein (ph), Shakir symbolizes freedom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Our families tell us don't go out. The thieves might kidnap you. If the guard is not there, I cannot go outside.
RAMAN (on camera): Guards like these have been protecting the 20 houses along this street for over a year now. Neighborhood watches are popping up all over Iraq but only in the neighborhoods wealthy enough to afford it.
(voice-over) This area of Baghdad is a rich one, making the residents both targets and defenders, able to hire street-specific security, a luxury for most Iraqis.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of course, we are lucky, because some people can hardly get some money for their basic life, especially under this situation. They can't pay for guards like we do.
RAMAN: Caught in the cross-hairs of conflict, Iraqis like Bikar (ph) cannot simply wait to hear the silence of peace. Daily life must go on. But as long as her daughter is at risk, armed guards will patrol this street.
Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Well, that wraps up this edition of CNN's LIVE FROM.
NGUYEN: "INSIDE POLITICS" is next. John King is in today for Judy Woodruff.
Hello, John.
JOHN KING, HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": Hello, Betty and Miles. Thank you very much. Enjoy your afternoon.
Friends and family say she's near death. But the fight to save Terri Schiavo is anything but over. Ahead on "INSIDE POLITICS," the Christian Defense Coalition confronts lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The Reverend Pat Mahoney joins me live.
Plus, we're following all developments on that massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra. Our reporters are on the ground there now.
Lots ahead on "INSIDE POLITICS". We're back in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Hello, I'm Miles O'Brien at the CNN Center. "INSIDE POLITICS" next, after a look at stories now in the news.
An 8.7 magnitude earthquake jolted Southern Asia hours ago, triggering fears of another tsunami. Dozens are reported dead. Much more on this story throughout the day.
Supporters of Terri Schiavo take their case to Washington to urge Congress to intervene in the life or death battle. Schiavo now in her 11th day without food or water. "INSIDE POLITICS" will have a live report from Washington momentarily.
A big defeat for the Michael Jackson defense. The judge says the -- he will allow jurors to hear previous allegations of child molestation against the pop star in his current trial. "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS" will have a live report from California at 5 Eastern on that.
Now, "JUDY WOODRUFF'S INSIDE POLITICS."
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