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British Authorities Make Arrests; Dujail Seeks Justice; Stem Cell Split

Aired July 29, 2005 - 14:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR, LIVE FROM: From the CNN Center in Atlanta. I'm Tony Harris in for Kyra Phillips. This hour CNN LIVE FROM starts right now.
Up first this hour, arrests hundreds of miles apart, but at the heart of one investigation. It appears all prime suspects in the July 21st London attacks are now in custody. Italian officials say one of them was arrested in Rome. Three men are also under arrest after a major anti terror operation today in London. Sources say two of them are suspected would-be bombers. Police there raided two residences a mile apart in the Notting Hill area. In a separate incident in London police arrested two women in a subway station under Britain's terrorism act. While we wait a news conference from Scotland Yard lets go to CNN's Chris Burns who is tracing all the developments in London.

Chris.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony, dramatic and shocking events for people living here in Notting Hill, one of the most picturesque parts of London. Just a few blocks away from the Port Bellow Road antique dealers. A very shocking event for people here in two hearts, two areas, Council Flats they call them. Low cost housing areas in this area where police closed in, rushing in with their sirens and lights flashing, heavily armed with heavy protection, even with gas masks going in. To close off the areas they went, they arrested two people believed to be part of the failed London attacks from last week, including Muktar Said Ibrahim. He was the attempted bus bomber. The authorities continue to look through these areas. They are looking for forensic evidence and so as you can see, the place remains blocked off. There were dramatic pictures that came out of there, of the police rounding these people up. Very, very careful because obviously they could have run into more explosives.

In fact, they went after a BMW 4 x 4, and kept us blocks away. As they moved in on that one. They were heavily armed and protected themselves. So also as you said, at a subway station, the Liverpool Station here, two women were arrested on terrorism charges. There was also a suspect suitcase there that was found. So it's a city really that remains on edge. But these arrests are believed to be, all four, including one found in Italy could reassure Londoners that perhaps there is a little more of the situation under control.

But authorities still warn that there could be more attacks ahead.

Tony. HARRIS: Hey Chris is this pretty much unprecedented activity in London? I mean this has to be shocking Londoners. You have helicopters moving in, you have got anti terror police and masks and guns drawn. Is this close to being unprecedented activity?

BURNS: Tony, it's quite very much so. You keep in mind there were the I.R.A. bombings of the last few decades, but really as far as closing off certain areas and moving in with such heavy arms is quite unprecedented. We did talk to a number of people here, one man who just left one of those housing projects going to his car. The police said, give me your keys. You're not going anywhere. And moved these people back for several blocks. So quite a surreal situation for quite a few people here including residence and tourists alike.

HARRIS: OK. Chris Burns, Notting Hill in London. Chris we appreciate it. Thank you.

BURNS: Thanks, Tony.

HARRIS: Cameras were rolling during the dramatic police action today in London. They captured some tense moments out of an apartment building where two of the arrests were made. ITV's James Mates has the pictures and the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMES MATES, ITV CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The moment the police closed in on the suspected hackney bus bomber. The sound of shots is almost certainly tear gas being fired into the flat from the top floor balcony. Shortly, you'll see wafts of gas blowing out of the now open door. Eyewitnesses spoke of hearing voices at this time inside the flat shouting at men to take their clothes off and come outside.

On a balcony two floors below, police wearing gas masks are trying to get into another flat. It appears to be empty. But then right in the middle of an operation to capture men who have already tried to blow themselves up a child appears. Apparently attracted by the police dog, he wants to talk to the officer. But it gets worse. Another child comes out on the balcony. It's a policing nightmare. The possibility of an explosion at any time, and children around. Eventually, an adult appears. But still followed by the children the officer is forced to give up with attempted entry.

Two floors up, two men naked, at least from the waist up have been ordered at gunpoint out on to the balcony. There on top of the screen. The man on the left appears to be following orders to lower his trousers. Both men seem to be suffering from the effects of gas. The sound of shouted orders from police can be heard, though the words are hard to make out. The identity of the man on the right, the first to be turned around and taken away, is unknown.

But police sources have told ITV news they believe him to be the man who tried to explode a device on a train near Ovaltroop (ph) Station in South London. The man on the left appears to be and there is a striking resemblance to the photographs of Muck tar Sayid Ibrahim (ph). He is alleged to have attempted to blow up himself and the number 26 bus in Hackney on July the 21st.

An armed policeman covering every move, he's then ordered to approach and turn around. Ibrahim was born in East Africa, coming from (INAUDIBLE) to this country as a child. Despite having served more than two years in jail as a violent criminal, he was given British citizenship less than a year ago. As Ibrahim was lead away police are confident that eight days after these men tried, but failed to bring brutal carnage to London's transport system. They and their accomplishes are now safety in custody.

James Mates, ITV NEWS.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And once again, we're expecting a briefing on all of the events of today any moment now. Let me just take a look at the picture from the hole where Scotland Yard will be offering of that briefing. Starting to fill up just a bit, just a bit now we're expecting that briefing to take place any time. Led by Ian Blair, Metropolitan Police Commissioner. When it happens, we will of course take you there live.

Senate majority leader Bill Frist has official broken with President Bush on a major political issue. Reversing his stands from just a month ago. Frist called today for expanding federal funding of stem cell research using human embryos. Standing by live with the story from the White House. CNN's Dana Bash. Hi Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi Tony. And it is incredibly rare, maybe even unprecedented for a Senate majority leader of the president's own party to defy him on a veto threat from the president. But that's exactly what Bill Frist did on the Senate floor this morning before coming over to the White House to join the president in a bill signing here. Bill Frist is of course, an ally of the president, a close ally. And in a position instrumental in helping craft the presidents policy that he put in place four years ago to allow federal funding on a limited basis for embryo stem cell research for the first time. Senator Frist essential says now it's time to expand those limits.

SEN. BILL FRIST, (R) MAJORITY LEADER: I believe the president's policy should be modified. We should expand federal funding, and the accompanying NIH oversight and current guidelines governing stem cell research carefully and faithfully staying within ethical bounds.

BASH: Now Senator Frist is among now a growing number of self- described pro-life Republicans who consider "life" expanding this research on otherwise discarded embryos to help cure diseases. The president still disagrees very much with this, the White House again today saying that he does not support the idea of expending taxpayer funding for what they call destruction of human life. So here at the White House they say the president's policy still stands.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECY: When Senator Frist told him he was going to be making these remarks. The president said you need to vote your conscience when it comes to this legislation. There's a lot of common understanding between the two. Both recognize that there are real ethical issues involved in this decision.

BASH: Now, Tony, the White House had planned to spend the day talking about some significant legislative accomplishments this week on Capital Hill. A big trade bill, a highway bill, an energy bill that has been stalled for some time. Really maybe to give you an I told you so to some who are calling him a lame duck. But instead, they're trying to explain why the president is on the opposite side now where it certainly has broken I should say, from one of his top allies, a doctor on Capitol Hill, about a very controversial subject embryonic stem cell research and how much taxpayer money should go to that research.

HARRIS: So Dana how politically risky is it for a man with political aspirations, presidential aspirations to be seen in this light in opposition with the president of his own party?

BASH: Well Tony it depends on who you're asking. Certainly it is no secret that Bill Frist seems to have ambitions for the White House for 2008, it is also no secret that the conservative base of his party whom he will need for the nomination many of them support the president's policy. They don't want to expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

However, Senator Frist has what we call political cover in the fact you have Nancy Regan, and other self-described pro-life Republicans coming out and saying that they believe life is supporting federal funding for this kind of research. But certainly it is a dice situation and we've already have heard from conservatives this morning that they're not happy with Bill Frist.

HARRIS: CNN's White House correspondent Dana Bash. Dana thank you.

2008 is a long way off, but not if you're running for president. Later this hour we'll talk with CNN's Bill Schneider on the politics involved in Senator Frist's decision and his possible run for the White House. It will come up again in greater detail on "Inside Politics" that comes your way at 3:30 Eastern Time.

On Capitol Hill, two major spending bills with approval. The house passed a $286 billion highway and mass transit bill that provides new money for every state to improve roadways, bridges and rail systems. It also is expected to create tens of thousands of new jobs, and the Senate sent President Bush a $1.5 billion increase in the budget for veteran's health care. The need for the extra money rose after the Veterans Administration miscalculated the health care needs of veterans.

Now to the contentious nomination of John Bolton as U.N. Ambassador. President Bush could side step the Senate confirmation process by giving Bolton the pose through a recess appointment. Two senior administration officials tell CNN that could happen next week. If it does Bolton would have the job until January of 2007.

Adding to the controversy, a state department spokesperson says Bolton's Senate foreign relations committee question air was not entirely accurate. The spokesman said Bolton incorrectly stated that he had not been interviewed as part of any investigation over the past five years, but Bolton had been questioned about reports Iraq allegedly tried to obtain uranium from Niger.

Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer is calling on President Bush to withdraw Bolton's nomination.

We'll take a break. More LIVE FROM when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And once again we're waiting for an update from Scotland Yard on the fast and furious activity in and around London today as the terror bombing investigation continues to move forward. Now, let's go to CNN's Jonathan Mann live at Scotland Yard. And Jonathan I have to ask the question I asked Chris Burns just a short time ago, does this feel for someone who is based in London close to being unprecedented when we talk about the type of response that you're seeing in London today and over the last couple of weeks?

JONATHAN MANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. Absolutely. I'll tell you, I was talking to a senior official at Scotland Yard, a man who served on the force here for 28 years. He said he never saw anything like this. And keep in mind this is a country that has been fighting more than it's share of terrorism against the Irish Republican Army for decades.

Never in all that time had they seen the like this in this city. Depending on how you want to do the math two-maybe three simultaneous coordinating raids that had an extraordinary successful result as you know, and no one really was hurt. No harm done. Considering that they were suicide bombers, men who are extraordinarily dangerous, it was an astounding thing. In his words just some terrific police work.

HARRIS: Jonathan let me end it right there, let's take you inside now as the press briefing is underway with officials from Scotland Yard.

DAC PETER CLARKE, ANTI-TERRORIST BRANCH: Today has been a day of intense activity. The investigation continues to develop at great speed. There have been important developments today in respect to the attacks of the 21st of July. In particular today, we have conducted operations at two residential addresses in West London. From those addresses a total of three men were arrested. One man was arrested in Tavistock Crescent, London West 11. And he will be questioned in relation to the attacks in London on the 21st of July.

Two men were arrested who had been in a flat in Peabody Buildings, Delgado Gardens, London West 10. One of these men has identified himself to police as Ibrahim Muktar Said. The other man has said that his name is Ramzi Mohammed (ph). During the course of that operation, it was necessary to ask some residents to move away from the immediate area. We do apologize for any inconconvenience that was caused, but of course as always the safety of the public is paramount.

We would like to thank the public in that area for their cooperation. The men in the Peabody Building were asked to surrender to police, but failed to do so. As a result, and in order to minimize risk to the public and the police officers, specialist tactics were used. The premises will now be thoroughly searched, and that is a process that will take some time.

I can also confirm that another man of interest to the investigation has been detained in Rome. We have been aviating very closely with the Italian authorities. A European arrest warrant has been issued and we will be seeking the return of that man to this country under the authority of that warrant. The man who has been arrested in Rome and who is named on the warrant has been identified as Hussein Oswald. The safety of the public is always our first concern.

We also, of course, have a duty to investigate and bring to justice those who break the law. I must therefore be very careful not to say anything, which could prejudice the right of any individual to receive a fair trial. To that end, I'm not able to give more information this evening. Nor to answer questions. The investigation has moved with some speed.

But I must emphasize, that it is still continuing. It is dynamic and it is wide ranging. There will be more very visible police activity. I cannot, for obvious reasons, set out when and where this will be, but I will emphasize I'm very grateful for the continuing support and understanding of the public as these operations continue. Despite the progress that has been made with the investigation, we must not be complacent. The threat remains and is very real.

The public must be watchful and alert. I would like to reassure the public that we are doing all we can to keep you safe. We do that to continue to appeal for information concerning the four men whose images we released earlier in the investigation. We would also still like to hear from anyone who has any information about either of the attacks on the London transport network. I would urge anyone who believes they can help our investigations to contact the confidential antiterrorist hotline. That number remains as 0-800-789-321. That's the end of the statement. Thank you very much.

HARRIS: You have been listening to Peter Clarke of the antiterrorist branch, and a couple of points. He made the point that two operations were conducted in West London. If we can show the picture of the two men that we have been showing you at least the last hour at the start of this hour. Two men who were arrested in West London. We have the identifiers on both of them Ramzi Mohammed (ph), and Muktar Said Ibrahim. Now we don't know what Ramzi Mohammed's (ph) connection, if there was any connection at all is to the attempted bombings, but July 21st. But Muktar Said Ibrahim, Peter Clarke said he identified himself to authorities, he's the man who is suspected of being the person behind the attempted bombing of the Hackney bus on July 21st.

He was asked, both men were asked to surrender, but they failed to do so. And they were taken down by the authorities. Then you heard Peter Clarke describe as a person of interest, a man of interest, the person was arrested in Rome that we have been telling you about. His name is Hussein Osman. Authorities are now seeking to get him extradited back to London. So they can question him. And that's the latest from Scotland Yard and the latest on the investigation. More details. We'll continue of course to follow the story through out the day here on CNN.

A tiny Iraqi village preparing to take center stage (INAUDIBLE) Suddam Hussain. We'll take you there just ahead on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Now to the war in Iraq. Another devastating suicide bombing. The attacker detonated explosives at an army-recruiting center in the Northern Iraqi town of Rubia. At least 26 people were killed, 35 wounded. The town is near the Syrian border. A prime spot for insurgent infiltration. The U.S. military spokesman says that part of the border has been shut down.

Two U.S. marines died in combat in Al-Anbar providence a military statement says they unit came under fire from a small arms and rocket propelled grenades a total of 1,786 U.S. services members have been killed in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Saddam Hussein has been questioned by the special investigative tribunal about a 1991 Shi'ite uprising. The rebellion erupted after the Gulf War. It was crushed by Iraqi government troops. The chief investigative judge on tribunal said the former Iraqi leader answered questions alone during the hearing.

The tribunal is expected to announce a trial date soon for Saddam alleged roll in 1982 massacre of Shi'ites. Scores of villagers from Dujail, north of Baghdad, were killed after a failed assignation attempt on the former dictator. CNN's Aneesh Raman visited the city 23 years later.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It is on this road where Saddam Hussein past and present collide. In a matter of months, he's set to face trial for what he did here in the small town of Dujail and the lives he destroyed among these remaining residents. In 1982, they were just kids, and Saddam maintained a steel grip of Iraq, touring villages that were forced to show allegiance. On July 8 it was Dujail's turn. A Shiite dominated village in the midst of the Sunni triangle. Resentment here simmering underneath.

SHEIKH IBRAHIM, DUJAIL RESIDENT ( Through translator): An operation was planned by more than 15 members of our Mujahadin. We had been meeting for months before.

RAMAN: Sheik Ibrahim at the time only 15 was part of a group of young men in Dujail committed to fighting Saddam's oppression, waiting for the right moment. It came here that July morning. Saddam paid a visit. An ambush was hastily planned. On this road six men sought to kill their tyrant. Mohammad Ali drove one of the shooters, Hassan, to the scene. MOHAMMED ALI, DUJAIL RESIDENT: I took him on my motorcycle. He was carrying two pistols. We drove through orchards looking for other men. We only saw two. Hassan shot with his pistol to give the group a sign to start shooting at Saddam.

RAMAN: When the convoy reached the orchards, three gunmen started shooting at his convoy from the left side. Saddam's convoy started shooting back. The dictator narrowly escaped and within hours held descended upon Dujail. Thousands of innocent villagers like Ali who was 14 at the time were thrown in jail, tortured, many others executed. And Dujail itself was destroyed. The men show us an area that once blossomed with orchards where those gunmen hid that faithful day. Saddam sent in bulldozers to clear the ground, wiping out homes in the process and sending a message to any one who dared pose a challenge to his regime.

These men like Ali are lucky -- sent to prison for four years but still alive, tortured, though, by the memory. Ali never found out what happened to his brothers, also taken into custody, until after the war when he discovered evidence confirming the worst.

ALI HAIDARY, DUJAIL RESIDENT (Through translator): I found a document signed by Saddam in 1985 to execute some of the Dujail people with us in the prison. One hundred forty-nine people, including seven of my brothers, thirty-four of my relatives and one hundred eighteen people of my town. They are now for God -- to God they have returned.

RAMAN: In sheer numbers, Dujail is not nearly the worst of Saddam's atrocities, but that's of no consequence to the villagers.

IBRAHIM: Saddam should be executed immediately for this, because he killed and executed too many.

RAMAN: And now justice may finally come to Dujail, perhaps 23 years too late, but sooner than anyone here could have imagined.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, Dujail, Iraq.

HARRIS: A stem cell split: Is a personal difference over funding foir stem cell research signalling a bigger political ambition for the Senate's top Republican? We'll talk about that, next.

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