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Condoleezza Rice Will Be Back In Middle East This Weekend; U.N. Pulling Out of Two Observation Posts; Death Toll From California Heat Wave at 112, Could Rise Further

Aired July 28, 2006 - 13:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, he's been the president's staunchest ally in the war in Iraq. But will British Prime Minister Tony Blair be able to retain first pal status when it comes to the crisis involving Israel and Hezbollah?
You heard the two leaders talking. President George Bush saying that he is sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice back to the Middle East, that he and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are going to push next week for what you heard, the formation of a multi- national force to stop the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Our Elaine Quijano was there in the room. And as soon as she gets up and mic'd up, we're going to talk to her about the questions that took place there among reporters. The question was pointed to the president and Blair about, do you have a message to Syria, a message to Iran?

As you know, as we've been talking about this conflict over and over again, we've been talk about Syria, Iran, sort of the wild cards in this mix. Both countries -- we have talked about the fact that they have been funneling weapons and support to Hezbollah guerrillas.

So this branch of the Lebanese parliament can stay in this fight in this battle between them and Israel. Elaine Quijano now mic'd up, ready to go. You were right there in the room, Elaine. Tell me your first impressions. Do you think that the discussions went well today and these two leaders are going to be able to make a difference in this conflict?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I thought there was an interesting moment at the end, particularly, Kyra, underscoring, really, the closeness still that remains in this relationship between the British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush.

It was not, in fact, the president who raised the specter of September 11th in defending what, in essence, is the president's freedom agenda, that is, the idea that spreading democracy throughout the world can defeat terrorist ideology. It was, in fact, the prime minister himself who raised that question.

But a number of issues discussed. A multi-national force, now we know, discussions will get under way next week to talk about what kind of force, what shape that might entail. The president offering no details on that. At the same time, he announced that, in fact, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be returning to the Middle East region this weekend to continue with discussions.

Also, humanitarian aid and reconstruction major concerns as well. But many were looking to see whether or not, in fact, the British prime minister, who is facing not only international pressure from European and Arab allies to press the United States for a cease-fire, whether or not he would divert from the United States. All indications here from the East Room today, Kyra, he did not. He is standing with President Bush on the Middle East situation -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Elaine Quijano, thanks so much. We'll talk to you, of course, throughout the next couple of hours. We will take you live all across the Middle East coming up right after a quick break. More LIVE FROM after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, another attempt to revive Middle East diplomacy. Here's what we know right now this hour. Condoleezza Rice will be back in the Middle East this weekend. President Bush said last hour that Rice will return to the region tomorrow for more talks with Lebanese and Israeli leaders.

The United Nations is pulling its unarmed observers from the Israeli-Lebanese borer. That pullout follows this week's Israeli bombing of a U.N. post that killed four U.N. observers. Israel has expressed regret for that bombing.

And a convoy of civilians and journalists have been hit by a mortar round near to the Lebanon coast. Three people were injured slightly. It's not clear if the mortar came from Israeli or Hezbollah forces.

Now, a relentless day in the skies over the Middle East with Israel and Hezbollah both pounding dozens of targets. For desperate evacuees, it's hard to avoid that crossfire. And in Lebanon, a humanitarian convoy was hit by a mortar on its way to Tyre. CNN's Ben Wedeman joins us live from Tyre, now.

Any word on those injuries in that convoy, Ben?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kyra. We're told that a German reporter, a Jordanian cameraman and a Lebanese driver were slightly wounded in that attack on the convoy in addition to several civilians who were also injured.

Let me tell you what happened. We were actually going to join this convoy. It was essentially an ad hoc group of drivers who had gotten together to go down south to a town called Yarun, which is on the border with Israel to pick people up.

Now, they tried to get a green light, a security guarantee, from various embassies. They tried with the American embassy; it didn't work. The Australians, apparently, it's not clear whether they gave them a green light or not. Some of the journalists called the IDF, the Israeli military, who told have to drive every 20 minutes, stop, tell them their location, and carry on. What happened, they could only get to Ramesh, which is another town near the Israeli border, predominantly Christian town, which is now full of refugees from the surrounding villages. Once they got to Ramesh, they were told by the IDF it's simply too dangerous to go beyond that point.

They picked up some refugees, and on the way back, they came under fire. And as you said, it's not clear. I spoke to some reporters who told me that the fire was coming from the direction of Israel. It's not clear, though, what exactly happened.

And one point, as I said, they came under fire. Several of the journalists were injured, not too seriously. They were taken to the Najm Hospital right outside Tyre, where they were treated. But this incident really underscores the danger to journalists, to civilians, to humanitarian workers who are trying to get around south Lebanon. It's a war zone. And there's really final -- when all is said and done, there's really no guarantee for anybody's safety -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Ben Wedeman, we'll talk some more. Appreciate it.

Well, there's no sign of a cease-fire in the Middle East. United Nations official are worried about the deepening humanitarian crisis. Let's bring in CNN's senior United Nations correspondent, Richard Roth.

What's the talk today, Richard?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Secretary General Annan is currently speaking. He just attended a closed door Security Council meeting on the situation, among other topics. And Annan is stressing that it's time to stop the exhortations and come up with some concrete plans on Lebanon. He said, "The time has come to be action oriented. Concrete practical steps are needed."

Echoing President Bush and Prime Minister Blair, who spoke earlier in Washington, he said that there is a need to protect the sovereignty of Lebanon and to help the government of Lebanon, which of course is under siege right now. He also spoke about how he hopes the recent attack by Israel on a U.N. outpost does not stop countries from contributing troops to a planned multinational force for the area.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECY.-GEN.: I think the whole unfortunate event, which happened with the U.N. peacekeepers and the time it took the council to be able to react has had a bit of a pall on them. But I hope they all realize the urgency and the importance of what we are dealing with, and will be able to come forward with troops.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: Now, Kofi Annan said that there may be indeed on Monday, maybe Tuesday, a meeting of troop-contributor nations here at U.N. They usually do that after the Security Council has mandated some type of new force, but that hasn't happened yet. The Security Council here has been reluctant to even say anything about the fighting. And Annan did not know about rumors or reports of a ministerial meeting here at the Security Council. And he said he's always available to go the region, but he but hasn't been asked to do so -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Richard Roth, thanks so much.

Well, let's get back over to the northern part of Israel. On the border, our Matthew Chance is standing by for an update today.

Matthew, what's the latest?

Matthew, can you hear me OK? Matthew, can you hear me all right? I know we're via broadband. Are you able to hear me?

All right. We'll try to get connected with Matthew. As you know, it's hard to sometimes, via that technology, to coordinate. We'll work on that and get back to him.

Meanwhile, back here, severe heat, severe flooding. How long will it last, and who's in danger? CNN's your world headquarters. We've got all of the latest for you.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: All right, we've got connected with Matthew Chance now, and he's standing by for us in northern Israel.

Matt, the latest news has been hearing about this new rocket that has hit parts of Israel, going beyond Haifa. What can you tell us about Hezbollah, and even after all of these airstrikes, we're seeing not only the rocket fight continue, but a new rocket now.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Kyra. It is a rocket which according to experts that have examined the scene, they say it's of a kind that has never before landed in Israel. It caused quite extensive damage in the area where it landed.

And from that, experts that are down there have told us that they believe it carried a significantly larger payload of explosives than the regular Katyusha rockets that we've seen over the last several weeks really raining down into northern Israel.

It landed in a town called Afula, which is considerably more south than all of the previous towns that have been hit. Afula has been hit in the past by Katyusha rockets, but it seems that this rocket was launched from much deeper into Lebanon. So the range of the rocket is believed to be much, much longer.

We know that because the Israeli Air Force, we're told, actually saw when the missile was launched, and they took action against the launching site. They say they destroyed that launching site. Now, there's a great deal of concern, of course, in Israel and elsewhere about the range of the rockets that are held by Hezbollah. Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, has vowed to strike at Israel's biggest city, Tel Aviv. He hasn't done that so far.

But with this rocket there's a lot of concern whether this may be the start of a major escalation in the conflict.

In the meantime, of course, things have not been going well on the battlefield from Israel's point of view either. There have been fierce clashes again around that town of Bint Jbeil, described as a Hezbollah stronghold. And fierce clashes, very close combat, and we understand, again, a lot of activity going on there still, as we speak -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So, Matthew, with this new rocket that we're seeing now, this Kaibar One (ph), apparently has longer range,is there a concern on behalf of the IDF that Hezbollah may have some other type of weapon hidden in its pocket?

CHANCE: Yes, there is. And that concern has been expressed over the past several weeks since this fighting has really began. The big concern that is the Hezbollah have a rocket known as a Zilzal, which is an Iranian-supplied rocket which has a range of about 150 miles. Now that would, from areas of Southern Lebanon, easily be able to strike in Tel Aviv, Israel's biggest city.

Now we're told by the police and the explosive experts on the ground in Afula that this latest rocket to strike that town not a Zilzal rocket, so it's not the biggest of the biggest rockets that it's believed Hezbollah holds. But nevertheless, it is a serious concern, and it is a major escalation.

Now what Israelis are very frustrated, at least a lot of them are frustrated about, is the fact that despite all of the airstrikes, despite all of the intense military activity that has been thrown across the border by Israel's military into Hezbollah strongholds, Hezbollah's ability to throw these rockets back into northern Israel does seem, at the moment, undiminished. They're still coming over at a rate of about 100 a day -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Matthew Chance, at the Israeli-Lebanese border, pushing this story forward with new information. Appreciate it, Matthew.

The United Nations has had enough. It's pulling out of two observation posts in Southern Lebanon, saying the unarmed observers there are at risk. An Israeli airstrike destroyed one U.N. observation post earlier this week killing four observers. The wife of one of those observers, a Canadian, says she's convinced that that attack was no mistake.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CYNTHIA HESS-VON KRUEDENER, WIDOW OF U.N. OBSERVER: Why did they bomb the U.N. site? And in my opinion, if those are precision-guided missiles, then that is intentional.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, the blast also killed U.N. observers from China, Austria and Finland.

A cooling trend. For some, though, it doesn't seem soon enough. LIVE FROM with the tragic results of days of relentless heat, right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: "Really tragic" -- that's how the coroner in one California county describes the devastating heat wave of the past two weeks. Statewide, the death toll keeps climbing.

CNN's Sumi Das joins us now from Los Angeles. Sumi, what are the numbers?

SUMI DAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the number right now is 112, and those are the number of deaths that are most likely caused as a result of the heat wave which began about two weeks ago. A little more than half of those are confirmed to be a result of heat stress and the rest are presumed to be heat-related.

Now, that is the figure with about one-third of California's counties reporting back to the Office of Emergency Services. So that death toll may, unfortunately, still continue to rise, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. So let's talk about the governor yesterday making this temporary regulations permit, Sumi, for outdoor workers. Tell us more about that and how it's playing out.

DAS: Well, what it requires is that employers must now provide outdoor workers with all of the things that they need in order to sort of combat the effects of extreme heat. So that means water, a place to take a break that's in the shade if they start to feel effects of the heat, as well as training to recognize and treat any heat-related stress. And the fines are pretty stiff if there's any violation, up to $25,000 in some cases.

We're at a construction site and these gentlemen are working on a football field, a drain for a football field. This will eventually be a high school and as you can see here, no shade whatsoever. We spoke to the foreman at site, and he said it was just miserable earlier in the week.

And, Kyra, unlike, you know, kids in school -- when we were kids in school, during the winter you'd keep your fingers crossed for a snow day. There's no such thing as a heat day in the construction business, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: You're absolutely right. I used to sit and listen to the old AM/FM radio hoping that we'd get that day off. You've have had a chance to talk to those workers, no doubt. Are their bosses cutting them any slack or do they have to stay on the job?

DAS: They've had to stay on the job but, you know, they say that it's doable. What they do is they make sure that they're drinking plenty of water. That, of course, is very important.

The foreman told me that, you know, earlier in the week he saw that one of his workers was having a bit of a tough time in the heat. He took him out of the heat, put him in the car, made sure he was rested and OK to continue working at a later time. But I think it's just a matter of being diligent and really aware of, you know, what heat-related stress looks like.

PHILLIPS: Well, part two to this story, too, these rolling blackouts in a lot of -- in many areas. Talk to us about the stress to the power system and, you know, a lot of people questioning what's happening in Southern California and where's the money going and who's going to fix this antiquated system.

DAS: That's right. Power has been restored to almost all of Los Angeles and as well as the rest of the state. But that wasn't the case earlier in the week. There were some blackouts, as you mentioned. People were taking refuge indoors, but they couldn't run their fans or their air conditioning units because they simply didn't have the electricity, and there's a couple of reason for that.

First of all, the utility companies' equipment was outdated. The structure hadn't been updated. They hadn't kept up with it as fast as they, perhaps, should have. And also the demand was simply unprecedented. You know, typically you see a cooling at night. That wasn't the case with this heat wave.

And you see triple digit temperatures in California, and you know this, but imagine this. In Stockton, California for four straight days it was 113 degrees or higher. I mean, that's just -- I can't even begin to imagine what that must have felt like. So no cooling at night, and that was just a burden that the power grid couldn't handle -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Sumi Das in L.A., appreciate it.

Let's get straight to the newsroom now, Carol Lin working details on a developing story -- Carol.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: It's not the heat but the water, Kyra, rising in Lake County, Ohio just outside of the Cleveland suburbs. We've got some amazing rescue tape of a woman who had to be rescued out of her house window. There you can see as rescuers have to arrive to these houses by boat. More than 100 people have had to be evacuated from their homes, Kyra, because of rising water.

According to the Associated Press, they told a compelling story about a couple in their 50s who looked into their basement and saw the water rising to the fifth step, and they realized they had to get out of there. A daycare center had to be evacuated, as children were watching as the water was rising around their little school.

Nine inches of rain have fallen since yesterday in Lake County and it's now been declared a disaster area. That woman, a very lucky woman to get out safely and alive. We have seen from hurricane coverage, Kyra, that the water can rise in an instant and then you're trapped. So that is the situation.

Look at that. That is a merry-go-round, Kyra, floating in the water. Some of the neighborhoods there in the Cleveland suburbs, and this is what they're dealing with right now.

PHILLIPS: Appreciate our affiliate WJW and other affiliates there in the area bringing us those picture. Carol, thanks so much.

Well, meteorologist Reynolds Wolf, he is monitoring all this also from the CNN Weather Center. Reynolds, what's your take? Is there any relief in site? I mean, all times different locations, different types of weather, did I get you to the map? There we go? Did I stall long enough? Reynolds, are you with me?

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Reynolds.

Well, Northern Israel, the city of Haifa is under siege from Hezbollah rockets. Wolf Blitzer went there for a firsthand look at the disaster and devastation. We'll have his report for you straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Naturally high. That's Floyd Landis' explanation for the alleged high levels of testosterone found in his system while winning the Tour de France last week. A little while ago, Landis spoke out on the current controversy surrounding him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FLOYD LANDIS, TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER: I would like to leave absolutely clear that I am not in any doping process. In this particular case, nobody can talk about doping. And for this reason, I ask all of the media, both in Europe and in the United States, that they know how to interpret and understand where we are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Floyd Landis will be the guest tonight on "LARRY KING LIVE," 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Larry will be asking some of your questions, as well. You can submit questions now, actually. Just click on to CNN.com/larryking.

Floyd Landis can count on the people of Farmersville, Pennsylvania, for their continued support. After all, it's his hometown. And they're not backpedaling on their Tour de France champ one bit.

Reporter Meredith Jorgensen from CNN affiliate WGAL has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MEREDITH JORGENSEN, REPORTER, WGAL (voice-over): It's a small community with big old trees, tall corn, and a slower pace of life. It's Farmersville, Pennsylvania, and it's recently become a little famous as Tour de France winner Floyd Landis' hometown.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean, it's quite an accomplishment, and someone in our area. It's big news.

JORGENSEN: Floyd's parents have signs and cards from well- wishers displayed on the front lawn. But now Landis' success might take a back seat to doping allegations.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It would just be devastating. I just hope and pray it isn't so.

JORGENSEN: The media spotlight is once again shining on this family, but it's not all good news this time.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's been an emotional high with Floyd's victory, obviously, and now this was definitely a tailspin today.

JORGENSEN: Landis' mother says she stands behind her son.

ARLENE LANDIS, LANDIS' MOTHER: Floyd talked to me in a lot of discouragement because of the media press that he's getting. But, you know, the fact is that there's nothing proven that anything is wrong with his test. He said, "This test is so irregular." And there's no reason why it wouldn't have shown up other days he was riding if that was a fact.

JORGENSEN: Floyd's family members say they and Floyd have the strength to get through anything.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm proud of my brother, that I can honestly say that he won fair and that he is a man of integrity.

JORGENSEN: At the cycle shop where Landis bought his first bike, fans have shown their support on the front windows. Owner and friend Mike Harrington says he thinks the allegations are false.

MIKE HARRINGTON, LANDIS' FRIEND: It's just not Floyd's style to cheat. He never has before, I don't see why he would ever start now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, that was Meredith Jorgensen from WGAL-TV out of Pennsylvania. And a quick program reminder once again. Floyd Landis, he'll be a guest tonight on "LARRY KING LIVE," 9:00 Eastern, right here on CNN. You can send Larry your e-mail questions. Just go to CNN.com/larryking.

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

PHILLIPS: Well, from prime ministers to primetime idols. President Bush is playing host at White House today. In the next hour, Mr. Bush meets "American Idol" champ Taylor Hicks. But there's something else that Taylor Hicks wants to see in Washington today. He may owe his "Idol" victory to the Soul Patrol, but he probably owes his White House invitation to a certain fan in the East Wing. Now, we don't know if the first lady voted for Hicks, but we bet that woman standing next to her did. In fact, Susan Whitson, who is now Laura Bush's press secretary, may have unleashed the ham in the Birmingham high-schooler, as Hicks' ninth grade English teacher at Hoover High, with an occasion to let him entertain his classmates with his harmonica skills.

The next hour of LIVE FROM starts in just one minute.

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