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President Reveals Terrorist Plot to Crash Plane into L.A. Building; International Ships Move to Stop Terrorists from Escaping Yemen; Entwistle Arrested for Wife, Baby's Murders

Aired February 09, 2006 - 13:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, HOST: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips.
We begin this hour with newly declassified details on an al Qaeda plot to crash a plane into the tallest building on the West Coast, the U.S. Bank tower in Los Angeles.

According to President Bush, terrorists from Southeast Asia planned to use shoe bombs to hijack a commercial plane and fly into the skyscraper in 2002. The plot was broken up, the president says, after a raid by a southeast Asian country he didn't name. And the reason that happened, he says, is because of cooperation of U.S. allies in his war on terror.

He first mentioned the plot last year as one of 10 the U.S. had disrupted, rather, since 9/11. But the White House refused to give any details. Today, he spelled out a few details in a speech in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We now know that in October 2001 Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the September the 11th attacks, had already set in motion a plan to have terrorist operatives hijack an airplane using shoe bombs to breach the cockpit door and fly the plane into the tallest building on the West Coast. We believe the intended target was Liberty Tower in Los Angeles, California.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, Mr. Bush misspoke on the name of that target. The White House immediately corrected him, saying the intended target was the former Library Tower, now known as the U.S. Bank tower.

CNN's Kareen Wynter is there to tell us more about what we've learned just within the past couple of hours.

Kareen, what can you tell us?

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, well, what I can tell you is that this building has not -- this isn't the first time it's been an apparent target or actually out in the news.

In fact back in March 2004 "The Los Angeles Times" reported a lot of the details we heard today in Mr. Bush's speech, referring to the alleged mastermind of the 2000 -- of the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed.

It was also named in their -- he was named in their article also, the work from the Los Angeles Police Department, to implement immediate safety precautions when they first learned about this back then. That also included evacuation drills involving skyscrapers here in downtown Los Angeles.

What the article did not mention, Kyra, is this reference to the attacks and the method of using a shoe bomb and also enlisting the help of Southeast Asian operatives.

So again, while this is new for, perhaps, some people, we've heard about this report several years ago, and it's also coming to light with more details today -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So as more details come to light, is it possible that security around this building, other buildings there in downtown L.A., could be increased?

WYNTER: We're checking on that right now. The article did mention -- although this is a few years old -- that after 9/11 that there were safety measures immediately implemented regarding this building, the U.S. Bank Tower.

It's safe to say that, you know, since it has been targeted before, that many buildings out here, because of how high they are, the tower more than 1,000 feet high, they're also what's called helicopter landing pads. And it's a requirement here in case there's an evacuation. So there are always changes that one can expect after a major domestic account, for example, 9/11. So it's unclear whether or not today's announcement will change things. We'll have to see -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Kareen Wynter, thanks so much.

On patrol, on the lookout, off the coast of Yemen. U.S. Navy ships aiming to corral and maybe capture al Qaeda prisoners who broke out of a Yemeni prison. Our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, is standing by with more.

The purposes of these ships, to try and contain a possible escape, Barbara?

BARBARA STARR: Exactly right, Kyra. The Navy announced overnight that a number of international warships had moved into the waters off of Yemen. They're not giving a lot of details. They're not saying what countries. They're not saying how many ships. But we are told that they have moved in. They will stay in international waters, 12 nautical miles off shore.

And their mission, indeed, will be to try to stop any escape out of Yemen of those 23 terrorists that escaped last week.

It will be pretty tough business. Yemen has a very long coastline, as you can see from the map. Much of the terrain is rugged and deserted. And once you are on the high seas, it's an awful lot of water to keep track of.

But the Navy says they're going to do it. They want to be out there in case they get any intelligence that these men are trying to escape by sea, and so they are making an effort, as well as Yemen making an effort inside the country, to try and find these escapees, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Barbara, do they know if these 23 escapees are operating all together or do they believe they've probably split up by now, which I'm assuming would make that search much tougher?

STARR: Right, indeed. I mean, no one can say for sure. But the logical conclusion that some officials we've spoken to who have direct knowledge of the investigation is that the men would have split up.

There's a small group, three or four, who clearly are more senior, have a lot of expertise, a lot of operational expertise, are of very great concern. And some of them are so-called foot soldiers.

The question at this point is, if this was a so-called inside job, which a lot of people think it was, that there was help from the prison authorities, from maybe people in the security services in Yemen, what other arrangements had these people made, once they got out, where they would get shelter and what their escape routes are? So the longer goes on that they are at large, of course, the more concerned everyone is.

PHILLIPS: And Barbara, back to this escape route, this tunnel, and you even mentioned if possibly this might have been an inside job. Do we know anything about that investigation, if, indeed, they had help from the inside?

STARR: That is the working assumption at this point. The tunnel was more than a football field long. So clearly, it took time to dig. One person I spoke to today who's been looking into all of this on a government level said, you know, the assumption is they were digging for more than a month.

And clearly, it was fairly sophisticated. It held long enough for 23 people to escape. Apparently, nothing collapsed inside the tunnel. So someone had to have passed them the tools and the capability to do this.

A number of people that work in that prison facility and work in the security services in Yemen have now been detained for questioning. So they're hoping that that will provide some leads to try and find out where these people are, who's sheltering them.

But consider this, Kyra: it has now been just about a week since they escaped from jail. And to the best of anyone's account, Yemen has not arrested anybody yet and has found none of the escapees.

PHILLIPS: Barbara Starr, live from the Pentagon, thank you.

Peace one minute, outrage the next. It happened in northwestern Pakistan on the holiest day for Shiite Muslims. A suicide attacker struck as hundreds of people were leaving the main mosque in the city of Hangu. More than 20 people were killed.

Enraged -- enraged survivors burned cars, shops, and fought police. Some even attacked ambulances. So far -- so far no claim of responsibility.

In neighboring Afghanistan, the holiday has been one of grenades, gunfire and burning mosques. Fighting erupted among hundreds of Shiites and Sunnis in the western city of Herat -- of Herat. At least three people killed. Dozens hurt. Hundreds of troops have been sent to restore order. Witnesses say if troops are there they haven't seen any on the streets.

In Iraq, no violence on this holiday but incredible outpouring of religious fervor. More than one million Iraqi pilgrims marched through the streets or the holy city of Karbala, many soaked in blood after beating their heads with long swords. That's the ritual of grief that was banned under Saddam Hussein. This ancient ceremony marks 10 ten days of mourning for the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. Officials credit the presence of some 8,000 security forces for the lack of any violence.

Up until now, he was only a person of interest. But today, Neil Entwistle is under arrest in London, accused of murdering his wife and baby daughter in Massachusetts.

The killings took place on the morning of January 20 at the couple's home in suburban Boston. The D.A. says Entwistle had money problems and he may have been planning a murder/suicide.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTHA COAKLEY, MIDDLESEX DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Sometime Friday morning Neil Entwistle, with a firearm that we believe he had secured at some time before that from his father-in-law, Joseph Matterazzo, shot Rachel Entwistle in the head and then proceeded to shoot baby Lillian, who was lying on the bed next to her mother. We believe, possibly, that this was intended to be a murder/suicide. But we cannot confirm that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Entwistle, a British subject, flew to England before the killings were discovered. He was arrested this morning in a London subway station and appeared in a London courtroom just moments ago.

CNN's Becky Anderson is standing by with more -- Becky.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Here, in fact, he's just left the magistrate's court here in central London.

The hearing lasted just under five minutes. Ben Brandon, his lawyer, confirmed that he is looking for bail. He was remanded in custody and will appear here again at 10 on Friday morning.

He was asked whether he understood the nature of the charges. Neil Entwistle said he did. He said, "Do you consent" -- the judge asked him whether he consented to extradition. And he said no.

He was wearing a black sweater, white T-shirt and gray track suit pants. And he appeared calm, casual, fairly serious, though he didn't look up, he didn't look around, he just looked at his lawyer at this point.

So just left the court here. The hearing lasting just less than five minutes. He will back here at 10 a.m. in the morning -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So what do you think, Becky? How is he going to fight extradition?

ANDERSON: It's an interesting point. This is a process that could take some time. We're told it could take nine to 12 months at this point.

Now, the U.S. has 65 days, in fact, to serve the formal papers in this case. After that, the hearing is established within two months. If the U.S. wins that case, then it will go to the secretary of state here, Charles Clark. He will decide what happens, whether, indeed, Neil Entwistle will be extradited to the U.S.

Remember a couple of things here, that the secretary of state here will have to get assurances from the U.S. that there will not be a death penalty at the end of this. The extradition treaty of 2003 between the two countries dictates that the U.K. will not send anybody anywhere where their sentence could be a death penalty.

So it will be an interesting case. As I say, he has applied for bail at this point. He does have the opportunity to look to be charged in the U.K. under a 19th century law. He could do that, which would make it an awful lot more difficult, if he were to do that, for the U.S. to effectively get him extradited.

As I say, this could take some nine to 12 months, we're told. At this point, it's going to be a slow process, for the U.S. One expects will try to expedite this process and get him back to the U.S. as quickly as possible.

PHILLIPS: Becky Anderson, thank you.

Straight ahead on LIVE FROM, on a list of life's burdens, you'll probably agree that hiccups rank pretty low. But not for Robert Smith. He has the hiccups on and off, day in and day out, nights included, and no doctor has been able to help him yet. You'll meet him when LIVE FROM returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: More now on this West Coast airliner terrorist plot that we've been learning more details about. We want to go straight to the White House.

Suzanne Malveaux following what the administration has to say about this. Already, talking about it, since we first found out about it, for a couple hours. But they're revealing more information now, Suzanne?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, they just had a conference call with Fran Townsend, the president's adviser for counterterrorism, giving us more details about this that we are learning here.

She sets a time line, an outline, really, here. Very interesting what we know, what we don't know. She said it was Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, of course, the mastermind of the September 11 attacks, who in October of 2001 really got this whole thing going with the blessing of Osama bin Laden.

We've been told that there was a terror cell that they had created, a member of four or so. So one of them, Hambali, who was the leader, from Southeast Asia, that they took a trip to actually visit with Osama bin Laden, to hatch this plot, to develop this plot, that they got the blessing from him and actually swore their allegiance to Osama bin Laden before they started to plot and plan to carry this out.

What we don't know about this is, she said, they didn't know which flight it was, when -- what week or what day it was going to happen. All they knew was that they were aiming for the tallest building on the West Coast. And that it would be a commercial airliner. Let's take a listen to President Bush.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: We now know in October 2001 Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the September 11 attacks, had already set in motion the plan to have terrorist operatives hijack an airplane using shoe bombs to breach the cockpit door and fly the plane into the tallest building on the West Coast.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, Kyra, some details about how it was actually interrupted. Hambali was actually arrested in a Southeast Asian country. We know there are four different countries involved, two Southeast Asian, two Asian.

Then Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was arrested later. All of this disrupted or so in about February of 2003.

One very interesting note, Fran Townsend said. She said this is an example, a case that underscores the importance of real-time information sharing. And we asked her what does that mean, because of course, the larger context here is this an example of the NSA's surveillance program at work? Is this a way for the administration to push that forward, saying, here's a success story involving that, without being obvious in doing so?

Well, she would not get into the operational details. She said they used all tools available but certainly calling this a success story. One the things she said, they got valuable information from detainees, that they got information from those allies in Southeast Asia, that that was also a part of the information-collecting process.

But again, the larger political context, you've got to ask that question, you've got to push, is this the administration's way of perhaps changing the subject or introducing a success story that they believe will make it easier to push forward that domestic spying program -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Suzanne Malveaux, live from the White House, thank you.

Cowards. That's how Alabama's attorney general describes the people who have burned nine churches and stoked fears in many others. The attorney general says that some worshipers are sleeping at their churches now to protect them.

Governor Bob Riley says the five blazes last Friday and the four on Tuesday appear to be linked. The ATF is working the case. Witnesses report seeing two white men in a dark SUV near the fires. The four churches that burned Tuesday all have black congregations. Four of the five churches destroyed last Friday are mostly white.

I'm joined on the phone now with Larry Cooper, assistant special agent in charge for the ATF. He's in Centerville, Alabama.

Appreciate, Larry, you being with us. I guess first I want to ask you the newest bit of information here. Some worshipers sleeping at their churches to protect them. Do you think that's a smart idea? Are they putting themselves at risk?

LARRY COOPER, ASSISTANT SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, ATF: Well, I'd say at this point right now that with vehicles being parked out in front of the church, churches that the perpetrators will realize there's somebody there, that they're going to be in their churches, to keep the lights on. That will indicate to the perpetrators that someone is there, and they would not go to that particular location. But that would -- that's the parishioners' choice, if they choose to be at their churches.

PHILLIPS: Larry, do you feel good about any strong leads right now that might be leading you to a person or persons who are involved in this?

COOPER: Well, we have good leads that are coming in. And we continue to track down those leads. We've gotten over 200-plus leads. And as the information comes in, we're going out and investigate. We just ask the public to keep calling in. They may not think the information that they have is important, but it could tie something in that we already have.

PHILLIPS: Do you think this person or persons are still in the area, waiting to strike again?

COOPER: That would be an assumption on our part right now. It's obviously -- these individuals are familiar with all these locations, and they've got to be somebody, probably, within the community. We think that they are probably still in the area. We just hope that they don't commit anymore acts at this time.

PHILLIPS: Is there increased security around other Baptist churches today?

COOPER: There has been some recommendations by church members on their own who have hired some security. Again, that's a personal choice with each church. And we encourage all folks in the community just to be aware of their surroundings.

PHILLIPS: Racial or religious motive do you think, Larry?

COOPER: Well, until we actually have a viable suspect, we can only guess as to what their motivations are to burn nine churches.

PHILLIPS: Larry Cooper, assistant special agent in charge of the ATF, thank you for your time, sir.

COOPER: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Straight to the newsroom. Fredricka Whitfield working a developing story -- Fred.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, Kyra.

Well, as early as tomorrow, former FEMA director Michael Brown is expected to testify before a Senate committee, but he may say a few things the White House would rather he not.

Our Jeanne Meserve is covering the story from Washington and, Jeanne, what is at issue?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, it appears at this point he will say more than the White House would have wanted him to.

In a letter to the White House, the former FEMA director's lawyer says that his client intends to answer all questions fully, completely and accurately.

The White House had asked Brown and other government officials not to answer questions from congressional investigators about communications with the president, vice president, and other top officials, in order, the White House said, to protect the confidentiality of presidential decision making.

But Brown is no longer a government employee and his lawyer, Andrew Lester, writes the law -- writes the White House, excuse me, "Unless there is specific direction otherwise by the president, including an assurance that the president will provide a legal defense to Mr. Brown if he refuses to testify as to these matters, Mr. Brown will testify, if asked, about particular communications with White House officials."

The lawyer, Andrew Lester, asked the White House for a response by 5 p.m. last night. He still had not received one this morning. He describes Mr. Brown as being between a rock and hard place, namely, the Congress and the White House.

Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman, who has complained bitterly about the White House stance, says he is heartened by Mr. Brown's letter and hopes now to get answers to some key questions about who in the White House knew what, when they knew it, and what they did about it, before, during and after Katrina.

Fredricka, back to you.

WHITFIELD: So Jeanne, this also shines a spotlight on what obligation a former director of a federal agency may have to continue to be, you know, mum on certain communications with the White House. He is no longer obligated in any way to be quiet on any of those securities?

MESERVE: Well, Mr. Brown's lawyer says that Mr. Brown respects President Bush and respects the office of the presidency, and if the president asks him to, he will keep quiet about these things.

But the fact is, he also respects the Congress, the lawyer says. He's going to be under oath tomorrow, and so it is a very difficult position for him. He's trying to get the backing of the White House before he walks into that committee room. Hasn't gotten it yet, though.

WHITFIELD: And so Jeanne, even aside from no response from that letter sent by the attorney of Michael Brown, has there been any dialogue between the White House and Michael Brown?

MESERVE: His lawyer told me this morning that he hadn't heard from him. And that is all I know at this point in time.

WHITFIELD: All right, Jeanne Meserve in Washington, thanks so much.

MESERVE: You bet.

WHITFIELD: Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Fred.

New furor over the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay. Tough measures taken to end a hunger strike. Some are asking again whether the Pentagon is crossing the line. A legal expert joins us ahead on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Cancer deaths in America have dropped overall on a year to year basis for the first time since the 1930s. A clear indication that 21st Century medicine is making strides against some of humankind's stubbornest illnesses and conditions.

This next story shows the opposite. Here's CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Robert has the hiccups from the moment he wake up until he tries to go to sleep. And when he's sleeping, the hiccups come back and wake him up. It's not uncommon for him to get the hiccups at least 12 times a day.

When most of us hiccup, our diaphragm twitches. Usually, we've swallowed too much air or we've eaten too much too fast. But chronic hiccups, which can make your life miserable, generally stem from something else in the brain, chest or abdomen.

ROBERT SMITH, SUFFERS FROM CHRONIC HICCUPS: Sometimes I think I'm going to choke to death. It's just that bad. But it's painful.

GUPTA: Regular home remedies and drugs normally prescribed for chronic hiccups did not work for him. But he developed some home remedies of his own.

SMITH: I drink a bunch of water sometimes and it come back. I take -- I walk around with a cigar and I take the cigar, tear the end off of it, and light it and inhale it, exhale it and hold it in. It might stop it for an hour. Then it will come back.

GUPTA: Having hiccups that won't stop has had an impact on every aspect of his life.

SMITH: It affects my work habit. It affects my relationship with people.

GUPTA: Robert was desperate to find a way to make it stop.

SMITH: I went to almost every doctor in Montgomery. Then I went to UAB in Birmingham six times. No help. Then I went to Atlanta, to Emory Clinic. No help.

GUPTA: So he went to New Orleans to see Dr. Bryan Payne, who's a neurosurgeon at the LSU health sciences center. He has treated three other chronic hiccup patients with some success by implanting what's called a Vagus Nerve Stimulator. A battery for the stimulator is implanted in the chest, and the stimulator wire is wrapped around the vagus nerve in the neck.

DR. BRYAN PAYNE, NEUROSURGEON: The reason that we decided to try it was because we essentially block the vagus nerve and got a brief period, several hours, of hiccup-free time.

GUPTA: Robert had the device implanted three months ago. But so far, it's only had minor success, because it takes time to find the right setting.

SMITH: I can stand that pain every 10 minutes. I can deal with it. I mean, if he had to cut off some thumbs and say, it will stop me from hiccupping, I'll let him. That's how bad the hiccup is. It's ain't nothing near what you just saw me go through.

GUPTA: A few days later, when Robert was back in Montgomery, back at work, his hiccups are back, as well. This time we see him using his water remedy.

SMITH: I take a cup of water. I drink it down, just drink it down. And I drink about two good cups of water. It will stop it. It might stop it five minutes; it might stop it 30 minutes.

GUPTA: Less than an hour later, the hiccups are back again. So he uses his other tried and true method for making it stop: smoking a cigar.

SMITH: Sometimes it stop it for hours. Sometimes it don't work, sometimes.

GUPTA: So Robert waits for the hiccups to return and for someone to make it stop. Until then, he keeps his cigar close by, because he knows it's just a matter of time until he'll need it again.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: We're going to get straight back to Fredricka Whitfield in the newsroom. Still same story, or are moving into something else?

WHITFIELD: Well, it is going to be a different story. This one in Massachusetts, involving the 27-year-old British man, Neil Entwistle, who we know is in a magistrate's office in Great Britain today. Well, now you're looking at the spokesperson for the family of Rachel Entwistle and the 9-month-old daughter that Rachel and Neil had together. This is Joe Flaherty. Let's listen in, out of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

JOE FLAHERTY, SPOKESMAN, RACHEL ENTWISTLE'S FAMILY: I would like to thank the Middlesex district attorney Martha Coakley, the Massachusetts state police, Hopkington police, Scotland Yard and the Metropolitan Police in London, their extradition unit, for their unwavering efforts to solve this case. We'd also like to thank our friends, neighbors, the media, and the Carver Police Department for helping us maintain our privacy during this most difficult time.

QUESTION: Can you tell us how you are handling the arrest and a little bit about how they reacted?

FLAHERTY: The family was notified by the Middlesex County district attorney's office of the arrest, of the warrant and subsequent arrest of Neil Entwistle.

And as I said, the family was very saddened, shocked by the news. And just was incomprehensible to them that Neil, someone as trusted as he was as a husband and father, would be charged with such a crime.

QUESTION: You say shocked. Obviously, the (INAUDIBLE). But they obviously knew a lot more than what we knew. Can you characterize their level of belief that this day would come? FLAHERTY: Well, I would rather characterize it that the family always had confidence in the district attorney's office, the state police, the Hopkington police, that they would do a thorough investigation, that they would meticulously examine the evidence in this case, and we're satisfied they did that, and that when they reached a conclusion, or a level that they felt that an arrest was the proper thing to do, that they would let us know. The family left that in the hands of the professionals. And this was the result.

QUESTION: Given what they knew, did they believe that Neil was the killer? And how did they deal with it?

FLAHERTY: Again, I think -- you know, I don't want to comment too much on how the family felt during the investigation. Suffice as to say that today they're very saddened, and they -- just incomprehensible that this could happen to their loved ones.

QUESTION: Any thoughts on the fact that the gun came from his collection?

FLAHERTY: Again, it's always been the family's position here that they are not going to comment on the -- this is still a very active criminal investigation. The family has always refused to comment on anything surrounding the investigation. As you know, the proper forum for that is in -- through the district attorney's office, and in a court proceeding.

The families maintain that they will not comment on this case. They want to maintain the integrity of this case and will not answer any questions surrounding the investigation itself.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) tell us the family's reaction to the (INAUDIBLE).

FLAHERTY: Again, I think that's -- you're getting into the family's thoughts, and I'd rather not do that at this time.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) conversations between you?

FLAHERTY: Again, that would be something that would be under investigation by the authorities in The Middlesex DA's office, state police, Hopkington police, and the family would not comment on that either.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) outside the investigation. What about conversations between the in-laws, before or after the arrest? Have they talked to Neil's in-laws (INAUDIBLE)?

FLAHERTY: Again, everything in this case is going to be subject to interviews by the investigators and the police, and the family will not comment on the investigation itself.

QUESTION: Knowing the family as you do for the past years, can you tell us more about Rachel Entwistle as a mother, as a person?

FLAHERTY: Well, I think it's been stated before. She really was the essence of a loving mother, of a loving daughter and sister. She was very close to her family. Everyone that became a friend of Rachel's became a very close friend, and everyone that had any contact with her loved her as a sister.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) developments help them in their (INAUDIBLE)?

FLAHERTY: Well, I don't know if it really helps in a situation like this. I mean, it's certainly -- there's never really closure in a matter like this. Maybe it will bring them some peace, and they're hoping that justice will be served in this case.

QUESTION: Any surprises or (INAUDIBLE) had they anticipated this day would come?

FLAHERTY: While They were confident this day would come, and that being the fact they would solve the case and bring whoever was responsible to justice on this. And apparently the district attorney's office has made that decision, and they were confident they would get there at some point.

But by the same token, the family's always been very patient and believed in the investigators in this case, that -- knew how hard they were working and how tenacious they were and eventually they would solve this.

QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) Neil and Mr. Matterazzo (ph) used some of these weapons together. (INAUDIBLE)

FLAHERTY: Again, you're delving into facts of the case I have no personal knowledge of, and the family would not comment on that.

I'll take a couple more and then -- yes?

WHITFIELD: All right, you're listening to Joe Flaherty. He's a spokesperson for Rachel and Lillian Entwistle. That was the mother and daughter that have been found dead earlier in the month of January, after being allegedly shot by Neil Entwistle who, today, went before a British magistrate to face charges, two counts of murder on Rachel and Lillian Entwistle, and the family, their spokesperson describing there, Kyra, that it's an incomprehensible crime, the family is shocked and saddened, but they have no further comment about how the investigation is going on right now -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Fredricka Whitfield, thanks so much.

The news keeps coming. We'll keep bringing it you. More LIVE FROM after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Spotlight on Gitmo again. The "New York " reports the U.S. military is going to extremes to end a hunger strike by prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It says prisoners are being strapped into chairs for hours a day, force-fed through tubes in their noses, and the process reportedly has reduced the number of hunger strikers from 84 to four since December.

Officials believe that some of the strikers would gladly have starved to protest their infinite confinement -- definite confinement, rather. And they say the feeding measures are consistent with those used in federal prisons.

Joining me now on the legal issues involved at Gitmo, international law expert Rahul Manchanda.

Rahul, good to see you.

RAHUL MANCHANDA, INTERNATIONAL LAW EXPERT: Good to see you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, first just looking back at what the "New York Times" is reporting. Prisoners strapped into chairs for hours a day, force-fed through tubes through their noses. I talked with officials within the army that have been there. They said, actually, they're little microscopic tubes. There's no resistance. Medical personnel do this. It's actually a very humane process. What do you know?

MANCHANDA: Well, that's true. There's no right to suicide. You're not allowed to just kill yourself. The reality is that this is not torture. It's a very humane procedure, carried out by medical doctors, medical personnel, to prevent people from committing suicide over time. And, you know, it really doesn't seem like there's any torture here at all.

PHILLIPS: Now, intravenously, wouldn't that be a little more humane and wouldn't that pretty much dispel any allegations of torture?

MANCHANDA: Sure, but I think that's where the microscopic tubing comes into play. The reality is intravenous would probably be more humane. It's a painless procedure, essentially, and certainly would, you know, solve the problem and keep them alive.

PHILLIPS: Has this happened at Gitmo prior to this hunger strike? I was trying to remember and research and wasn't sure if this has sort of been an ongoing thing every few months, every year.

MANCHANDA: Well, no, not really. This is the first time it's been publicized, at least. Last year, I believe in July, about 200 out of 500 went on a hunger strike. That number was reduced. They had some concessions, but that was quickly withdrawn. And now it looks like they're starting up again. From what I've heard, it's only 26 at this time right now.

PHILLIPS: What happens if one of those detainees that's on a hunger strike dies?

MANCHANDA: Well, not a very good thing. It would certainly look pretty awful. And I think that's probably why the U.S. government's trying to keep them alive. They're in custody right now and they have a lot of information that's essential for the war on terror. But it just wouldn't be very good publicly, citing the Abu Ghraib issue, from a few -- you know, from a few years back. But the reality is it would not be a good thing if somebody did pass away under custody.

PHILLIPS: What does the law say? Does the military have to feed them and have to make extreme efforts to keep them alive when they decide to go on a hunger strike?

MANCHANDA: Well, there are a lot of legal, ethical issues involved. Certainly, the United States does not allow someone to commit suicide. However, a person can refuse medical treatment, pharmaceuticals, if you will. But it calls into play the Terri Schiavo case, as well. People do have a right to refuse medical treatment. However, they do not have the right to commit suicide.

PHILLIPS: Interesting. So it's kind of a -- I mean, how do you define if they're trying to commit suicide? Some would say, look, they're just trying to prove a point. Because, also, I was being told that they are -- on this hunger strike, missing nine meals straight and then going back and eating again.

MANCHANDA: Well, certainly that is the case. And that would sort of militate against the whole notion of a hunger strike to death, if they're eating. It probably is more of a publicity stunt than anything else. Their counsel certainly is facilitating that argument.

But at the same time, it's really important to know the U.S. government is doing everything possible to maintain safe and humane conditions. And the feeding process is as humane as possible.

PHILLIPS: Rahul Manchanda, thanks for your time today.

MANCHANDA: Pleasure.

PHILLIPS: Well, the commotion over cartoons. The Muslim world on edge. The heart of the matter, pictures of a prophet. But how do Muslims feel about images of Jesus, Buddha? You might be surprised. LIVE FROM has the story, coming up.

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PHILLIPS: Fred is beautiful, isn't she? Well, it's Fashion Week in New York and our Sibila Vargas is backstage with an inside look -- Sibila.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hey, you know, Fashion Week is winding down, but not before a few top designers take to the stage. Vera Wang is one of them. She's going to be taking the stage shortly.

And here to talk about Vera Wang and give us a little exclusive is fashion stylist extraodinaire Phillip Bloch.

PHILLIP BLOCH, CELEBRITY STYLIST: Good to see you today.

VARGAS: Nice to see you today. BLOCH: This is exciting. We actually get to see the clothes before everybody else. These dresses hanging before will be on the catwalk in no time.

VARGAS: A sneak peek.

BLOCH: Sneak peek, exactly. And the other gossip running rampant in the tents and "Women's Wear Daily" has been reporting it all week is that Vera Wang is about to ink a deal with the St. John Company and she will be the head designer.

VARGAS: Now, St. John, I mean, Angelina Jolie is doing some side work for them.

BLOCH: Exactly. Angelina Jolie is the campaign. Twelve million dollars...

VARGAS: No.

BLOCH: ... she was reportedly paid. Yes.

VARGAS: No wonder, because at first I was thinking, Angelina Jolie doing ads? It just didn't seem...

BLOCH: Doesn't seem right, but $12 million goes a long way to help the charitable causes she works with, so I'm sure that was a lot the reason behind it.

VARGAS: Yes. Well, we've been talking about celebrities. And this year, they've been talking about possibly having a backlash. But you were telling me that you don't see a presence that much, not as much as it was last year.

BLOCH: No, there was so much backlash and the shows were running so behind because of the celebrities and the paparazzi and the commotion. Anna Wintour at "Vogue" and the rest of the editors were just fed up and they weren't going to have it. This year, it's a much more toned down -- we're seeing a lot of like Rachel Bilson, and Kristin Cavalleri from "Laguna Beach." It's more of the younger girls.

They need the exposure. The bigger stars are sitting back a little. But at Bill Blass, I sat next to Cynthia Nixon and Joel Grey and Isabella Rossellini, so we're seeing a little.

But the big hit this week celebs, star-studded was Donatella Versace's party. They revamped the store on Fifth Avenue, and everybody -- J. Lo was there. Halle Berry was there, canoodling with her new boyfriend Versace model, and Denise Richards, Nicolas Cage and his new wife was there, Heather Graham.

Claire Danes wasn't at the Narciso Rodriguez show, so that was a little tradeoff there. So that was really glamorous. So that was the big hit. Leave it to Donatella, not even to do a show but have all those stars.

VARGAS: And you said Halle Berry with her new boyfriend -- is that confirmed yet?

BLOCH: They were canoodling a little. I don't know what goes on behind closed doors but they were definitely looking very romantic, and there was a lot of hugging and kissing going on so ...

VARGAS: What's been the energy so far of this Fashion Week, and compare it to the ones -- because you've been to so many. This Fashion Week, this year, how has it compared to all the rest?

BLOCH: It's been very organized and, again, because of less celebrities. I think a lot of people were at the Super Bowl, they were out in L.A. for the Grammys, so I think it's definitely kept the star power down which helps the fashion people work.

And after all, at the end of the day, it's about the designer, it's about the fashion and the celebrities are the icing on the cake. And we all like a little icing on our cake.

VARGAS: We sure do and it's always very nice to talk to you. Thanks a lot, Phillips.

BLOCH: Thank you.

VARGAS: Back to you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: What's your favorite icing, Sibila?

VARGAS: Chocolate. What about you? What's yours?

PHILLIPS: Still thinking about that.

VARGAS: All right, well, get back to me then.

PHILLIPS: All right.

VARGAS: OK.

PHILLIPS: We'll see you in a little bit.

More from Sibila backstage at the Vera Wang show in the next hour of LIVE FROM. LIVE FROM, of course, has all the news you want this afternoon. Stay with us.

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PHILLIPS: A real sign of the times in Amsterdam and very popular, too. It may be the first street sign banning marijuana smoking. There it is. The sign serviced in Amsterdam in a busy city square, but then people started stealing them. Almost 400 others asked to just buy the signs legally from the town council. So guess what? Now they can for a smoking price of 90 euros. That's about $108.

And if you think thousands of half naked people dancing in the streets might give people ideas, well, the government of Brazil agrees with you. That's why the health ministry is handing out 25 million free condoms at this year's Carnival -- Carnivale, I guess.

They won't be tossed from parade floats though, but readily available in health clinics in public squares. I'm sure people will find time to go there and get them. Parades, parties, and for many, hanky-panky. All that begins later this month.

She has her TV show, her magazine and her book club but that's just not enough. Oprah Winfrey is expanding her reach even further. Susan Lisovicz has the story from the New York Stock Exchange. What is she doing now, Susan?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN ANCHOR: She's got her own radio show, Kyra. We think she should do an IPO, she's that big, she's everywhere. She's on mission, the talk show host signing a three-year, $55 million deal with XM Satellite Radio to launch a new radio channel beginning in September.

XM has also signed other big programming contracts, including an 11-year deal with Major League Baseball. XM and Sirius Satellite Radio, of course, have been locked in a fierce battle to sign up big personalities as they both try to achieve profitability. Sirius has Howard Stern and Martha Stewart, and by the way, XM Satellite Radio shares are up about five percent on the news today.

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