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Lebanon Mourns After Qana Attack; Heat Wave Scorches Country; Will New Orleans Violence Hinder Recovery?; Hate Crime Shocks Seattle Community

Aired July 31, 2006 - 15:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: By car or by foot, they are leaving any way they can. Here's what we know on day 20 of the Middle East crisis.
Thousands of Lebanese civilians are packing up and moving north. They're streaming out of southern Lebanon, taking advantage of Israel's 48-hour pause in most airstrikes. Israeli forces still launched some attacks in Lebanon today, including one near the Syrian border. And Israeli ground troops have entered another south Lebanese village. Those troops will see a lot more action.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says there will be no cease- fire in the coming days. He says Israel has made progress in crippling Hezbollah, and the battle will go on.

Now, here's the kind of reporting you will see only on CNN. Veteran correspondent Brent Sadler is CNN's Beirut bureau chief. He is at the scene of yesterday's attack in southern Lebanon, the attack by the Israelis that killed so many civilians.

Here's Brent's report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRENT SADLER, CNN BEIRUT BUREAU CHIEF: This is the level of destruction that was inflicted on the building where dozens of refugees were taking shelter from the Israeli bombardment.

The actual bomb blast detonations were in this location here. Bulldozers have cleared much of the crater away. But, as we move inside, you can see all around that the heavy concrete slabs of the structure have been blown apart, the metal framework twisted, and various pieces of personal belongings, mattresses scattered around this area.

We can actually go deeper inside the building and take a look at where the people were actually hunkered down, when the strike hit this location.

You can see, from this devastation and the piles of smashed rocks, just how difficult it was for Lebanese rescuers to get inside this building. It's difficult enough now.

I understand, from the rescue services, that they did manage to get to all the people that were trapped inside here and those that were killed. I understand, from some humanitarian organizations, that they were able to recover only 27 intact bodies.

And one of the problems that they are having is really trying to identify people from the body fragments that rescue workers pulled out of this rubble.

According to locals, the families had decided to take shelter in here collectively. And there were dozens, we understand, lying in this area, where I see pillows and mattresses in the corner, if we just switch the camera around to that location over there.

They would have been lying in this basement part of the building, pillows there in the corner, when the structure collapsed. The bombs, we understand, were about 20 or 30 meters away. But it was the detonation, the tremendous power of the blasts, that toppled the building.

As I climb over the rubble here, I can see a representative from Amnesty International over there, who is on the ground, making an assessment, here, obviously a shredded foam mattress, one of the makeshift beds that the people inside the building would have been sleeping on, or preparing to sleep, when the attack took place.

What do you deduce from those preliminary observations and accounts of what happened here?

DONATELLA ROVERA, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL RESEARCHER ON ISRAEL: Well, what we can deduce is that, obviously, knowing that precision weapons are available and are regularly used by the Israeli army, some very serious questions must be asked, and, also, in view of knowing the level of surveillance that has been going around in the area, why this particular building was targeted.

And -- and -- and, in terms of the allegations that have been made so far by the Israeli army, we really feel that those do not answer those very serious questions.

SADLER: Now, the Israeli Defense Forces say the strike against the building was an accident, but they also claim that Hezbollah was firing Katyusha rockets into Israel from a location very near to the building.

Let's take a wider-angle view of this area. And you can see the terrain behind me there, spotty patches of rock, plus some olive groves out there. And, given the past experience of the way Hezbollah operates, this would be the kind of area that they would set up a Katyusha firing station, but, of course, no proof that we have seen so far from the Israelis that there were rockets fired near this building.

For Lebanese, history is repeating itself with the heavy loss of life Qana for the second time. Every year, Lebanese commemorate the 1996, what they call massacre at Qana. And, along here, you can see the pictures, the still photographs, of what was happening at that time. It was called the Grapes of Wrath Israeli offensive. The objective then was the same as today, to destroy Hezbollah. As in 1996, Qana has, again, grabbed world attention. Israel, after the attack, announced a temporary lull in air activity, airstrikes against south Lebanon. And, at the United Nations, diplomatic activity shifted into higher gear, but, as yet, no indication that this war is going to end any time soon.

Brent Sadler, CNN, Qana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, can there be lasting peace in the Middle East? The $10 million question -- President Bush says, yes, but it depends on a number of conditions.

He laid them out just a few hours ago in Miami.

Our White House correspondent Ed Henry is there.

Hi, Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon Kyra.

That's right. The president came here to talk about economy, but, obviously, the whole world focused right now on the escalating violence in the Mideast. So, the president topped off this economic speech by saying that the U.S. grieves for both sides, the innocent victims in Lebanon, as well as Israel.

But he once again rejected these international calls for an immediate cease-fire -- instead, the president saying that Secretary of State Rice, all weekend, was working urgently on trying to craft a United Nations resolution that will be stronger, so that it will actually deliver a lasting peace. He laid out some of those conditions that you noted a moment ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Lebanon's democratic government must be empowered to exercise sole authority over its territory. A multinational force must be dispatched to Lebanon quickly, so we can help speed the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Lebanese people.

Iran must end its financial support and supply of weapons to terrorist groups like Hezbollah. Syria must end its support for terror and respect the sovereignty of Lebanon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: When he returns from Miami, in a couple of hours, the president will have a working dinner with Secretary of State Rice in the White House residence, along with his national security adviser, Stephen Hadley -- White House spokesman Tony Snow saying, the president really wants to hear the secretary's honest views about the way forward. That's obviously a very difficult path ahead, especially because of the ratcheting pressure on the administration to come up with some sort of a peace deal -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Ed, didn't the president tour the Hurricane Center as well?

HENRY: That's right. He met with Max Mayfield, the director there, at the center here in Miami.

As you know, we are about to come up on the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. I think this is an opportunity for the president, as we get closer to the real crunch time for the current hurricane season, a chance for the president to reassure Americans that he believes the federal government, this time, will be prepared -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: White House correspondent Ed Henry -- thanks, Ed.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is heading home to Washington with a new plan for peace.

Our John King has details from Jerusalem.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fresh from one diplomatic achievement, Secretary of State Rice set her sights on the bigger, much more difficult goal -- a full cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: To make a cease-fire more than words alone, the international community must be prepared to support and sustain it. And I call on my international partners to do so this week in New York.

KING: Secretary Rice immediately headed home to oversee negotiations at the United Nations, voicing confidence there is a consensus on approach that includes a permanent cease-fire, deployment of the Lebanese army in areas now controlled by Hezbollah, an international embargo against rearming Hezbollah, and creation of a new international force to police any cease-fire.

RICE: And Lebanon should, assisted by -- as appropriate, by the international community, disarm unauthorized armed groups.

KING: Secretary Rice made no mention of concessions by Israel. But U.S. and Israeli sources tell CNN, she was assured this weekend Israel is ready to discuss prisoner exchanges and returning disputed land to Lebanon, as long as the soldiers Hezbollah kidnapped to provoke this conflict are released.

Secretary Rice spoke hours after forcing a significant Israeli concession, a 48-hour suspension of airstrikes in southern Lebanon to clear the way for major humanitarian missions.

RICE: These are important, yet temporary measures. KING: The suspension of Israeli airstrikes in the south is a direct fallout of the tragic bombing at Qana, and the first time the United States forced a major Israeli concession, since the hostilities began nearly three weeks ago.

(on camera): The proposal rejects, once again, urgent worldwide calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

But, by brokering the hiatus in Israeli airstrikes, and now by calling for action in the Security Council this week, Secretary Rice hopes to quiet her Arab and other critics who say the United States too often takes Israel's side, and, as a result, shares responsibility for the continued bloodshed.

John King, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: CNN's Betty Nguyen has a new update on diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

Betty, what do you have?

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

Republican Senator Chuck Hagel today, on the Senate floor, urged President Bush to call for an immediate cease-fire in the Middle East.

Let's take a listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: ... sickening slaughter on both sides, Mr. President, must end, and it must end now. President Bush must call for an immediate cease-fire. This madness must stop. The Middle East today is more combustible and complex than it has ever been.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: He also went on to say that our relationship -- meaning the U.S. relationship -- with Israel is a special and historic one, but that it need not and cannot be at the expense of our Arab and Muslim relationships, that this is irresponsible, and dangerous, and a false choice.

And he also said, the United States and Israel must understand that it is not in their long-term interests to allow themselves to become isolated in the Middle East, and the world, for that matter. He says, it's in Israel's interests, as much as ours, that the United States be seen by all states in the Middle East as fair. This is the currency of trust.

And, again, that's Senator Chuck Hagel on the Senate floor today, urging President Bush to call for an immediate cease-fire in the Middle East -- Kyra, it's interesting to note that very few members of Congress have directly challenged this administration's position on the Mideast, especially when it comes to asking for an immediate cease-fire. But, today, it happened. Senator Chuck Hagel has asked for it.

PHILLIPS: All right, thanks, Betty.

Straight ahead: hot temperatures and high winds, dangerous wildfire conditions in the nation's heartland. The heat that has been clamping down on the West, well, it's settling over the Midwest, an extensive heat wave -- excessive heat wave, rather, and warning has been issued in several cities.

The news keeps coming. And we will keep bringing it to you. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Hot, windy and extremely dry, fueling fires out West -- now, this one is burning north and south of Harrison, Nebraska, a town on standby to evacuate. Another is threatening two towns in Nevada. It has already scorched nearly 300 square miles northeast of Winnemucca.

Other wildfires are racing across parts of Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

A break for the West Coast, baking still in the Upper Midwest and Plains -- heat warnings are out from Minnesota to Oklahoma, with temperatures nearing or topping 100 degrees. Add in the humidity, and it feels a good 10 degrees hotter. It has reached triple digits in Oklahoma 17 times already this year -- last year, just twice.

On the East Coast, it was hot enough to send a dozen people attending the International Scout Jamboree straight to the hospital.

Well, when will this dangerous heat end?

Let's take you to Jacqui Jeras, standing by in the CNN Weather Center -- Jacqui.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Kyra, it's coming.

We just have to be a little bit patient. But I would say, by the end of the week, pretty much everybody that has been under this grip of the heat wave across the nation's midsection and into the Northeast will be feeling that relief.

In the meantime, check out this picture behind me here from Des Moines, Iowa -- the sun just beating down on you. It looks like a beautiful picture, though. You can see 801 Grand there. Temperature in Des Moines is 97 degrees -- the heat index, 101. Average high in Des Moines is 86 degrees this time of the year -- not very often that the temperature in Des Moines is hotter than it is in Hotlanta.

But I have great news for you in Des Moines. Let me show you what's going on over here, in terms of the temperatures and the heat index values across much of the upper Midwest. And not only is this a great-looking map, just because I like the colors on it...

(LAUGHTER)

JERAS: ... but it shows you that some of these yellows and these oranges, these are heading your way.

So, we have got a nice cold front here that is going to be dropping on through. Look at Bismarck, North Dakota, 79 degrees, while Minneapolis is backing, with the heat index at 101. Rapid City, 80 degrees is your temperature right now. And check this out behind me here now. The temperature yesterday in Rapid City, 109 degrees -- that was a record high for you yesterday, so really dropping that temperature down by a good 10 to 20 degrees.

We also had an all-time record high yesterday at Mount Rushmore, by the way, 100 degrees, hit the century mark for the first time since records were kept.

Well, that cooler air will continue to progress eastward, but the hot air will be doing the same ahead of it. So, those of you across the northeastern corridor right now, in the lower 90s, can expect to see middle to upper 90s over the next couple of days.

For example, Washington, D.C., 95 today, you will see 100 on Tuesday and Wednesday, cooling down a little bit by the end of the week, back down to a little bit more tolerable level at 91 -- New York City, 91 today, but getting close to the century mark Tuesday and Wednesday, before you cool down by the end of the week as well.

And those of you in the West, oh, had to show you this just for good measure -- Salt Lake City, after just an awful hot week last week, we're looking at 86 today, comfortable, perfect summertime conditions all the way across the board -- great week to get on out.

Just wanted to make a quick reminder -- CNN, your hurricane headquarters. Boy, we haven't talked about hurricanes a whole heck of a lot, have we? So far, two named storms this season -- time last year, we had seven named storms. So, we're really doing pretty good so far. Next week, NOAA is going to be updating their hurricane forecast. So, we will have to take a very close look and see what kind of numbers come out, whether or not they are going to change their forecast, possibly bring it out or keep it the same.

We have got a few areas of disturbed weather. This one, right here, you see the Leeward Islands, they think, has the most potential for development over the next couple of days. But, right now, overall, the winds aren't a whole heck of a lot favorable for that, which I am plenty happy about -- Kyra.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: All right, Jacqui, thanks.

Well, a building in flames, exploding cylinders of gas, and thick black smoke you could for miles, this was the scene at the studio where "James Bond" flicks are filmed. But this wasn't a movie. It just wrapped. This was the set.

What caused the fire at the Pinewood Studios outside London, still a mystery.

Still to come: crime tape and police lights -- in New Orleans, headlines of shootings and murder, well, it may be one of the city's biggest obstacles to recovery.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Killing after killing in New Orleans -- now new concerns the city's image is in more danger. Six people were killed in New Orleans over the weekend in a 24-hour period. City leaders worry that violent crime will hurt tourism, as the city tries to cover from Katrina.

CNN's Sean Callebs has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Crime tape, police lights, and another bloody weekend in post-Katrina New Orleans.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know if nothing's going on. If they got my grand-baby, please, bring him to me.

CALLEBS: Six people dead in three separate shootings this weekend -- and this after five teenagers were killed a month-and-a- half ago in a bloody shooting.

Authorities blame the recent violence on the drug trade. New Orleans is struggling to rebuild, bring its residents back, and see tourists once again fill the French Quarter.

But ask Mayor Ray Nagin about a perceived crime problem, and he offers this rosy assessment.

RAY NAGIN (D), MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS: The National Guard state troopers and the NOPD have done an incredible job. Crime is dropping dramatically.

CALLEBS: City leaders say, fewer people were killed this year in New Orleans compared to the same date last year. But there are far fewer citizens in the city right now. In an effort to allay fears that could cripple the rebuilding effort, police are telling tourists and law-abiding citizens, they aren't being targeted.

WARREN J. RILEY, NEW ORLEANS POLICE SUPERINTENDENT: But it is clearly, clearly, people who live the life, that are involved in drugs and violence, who are killing each other and who are dying.

CALLEBS: And, they say, the spate of killings also coincides with government benefits running out for Katrina victims.

JOHN BRYSON, NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT: What's happening is that they have no jobs. They have no place to stay. So, therefore, they take to the streets and try to support themselves through the narcotics trade, which is dangerous.

CALLEBS: In fact, police say, this sign is right on the mark.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I don't know what is next, what we're going to do with the young people.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, Louisiana's Governor Blanco says that she is extending the time state police and National Guard will remain in New Orleans. They were expected to leave in September.

Apple's iPod dominates the market for digital music players, but now it's getting some competition from a new cell phone.

Susan Lisovicz is live from the New York Stock Exchange...

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: ... with that story.

Susan, there are so many gadgets, I can't keep up with them all now.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I know. They -- you know, making a call on the phone is actually going to be an afterthought at this point, because...

(LAUGHTER)

LISOVICZ: ... they take pictures. They play videos. They play music.

And Verizon Wireless, Kyra, is the latest entry, the latest contender to go after the iPod. It's releasing a new phone that doubles as a music player, and even has a design that includes a click wheel similar to -- you guessed it -- the iPod.

The Verizon Chocolate phone -- it looks black, but it's called the Chocolate phone -- it's made by an electronics firm out of South Korea -- will be in stores one week from today. And it will sell for $249 with a two-year contract.

The phone is another attempt by wireless carriers to grab market share from Apple and tap into another source of revenue, music downloads from their own stores.

Cellular operators have also been rolling out handsets with prominent playback buttons and more storage space for songs. The Chocolate phone has a memory card that can hold up to 1,000 songs. It also has one feature the iPod doesn't. It allows users to download a song over the air without the need for a computer -- the iPod being challenged by lots of potential rivals. Microsoft recently said it will make a new MP3 player. Everybody wants a piece of the Apple pie -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Of course.

Well, let's turn from music to video and a major new offering from AOL.

LISOVICZ: Oh, yes.

AOL is in the midst of a big shift in strategy. And part of that shift is a new Internet video service. The new service, AOL Video, will let users search for video across the Web, upload their own videos, or watch TV shows on nearly any device.

The site will include 45 video-on-demand channels, including Viacom's MTV, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central networks, and Time Warner channels. AOL is, of course, owned by Time Warner, which is also the parent of CNN.

Later this year, the site will allow users to subscribe and rent videos. The new video portal plays a significant role in the company's transformation, which is also expected to include a switch from a business that relies on subscriptions for 80 percent of its stales to one driven primarily by online advertising -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. What's happening on Wall Street?

LISOVICZ: Well, it was nice while it lasted.

(LAUGHTER)

LISOVICZ: We had a terrific rally on Friday -- no follow-through today -- one reason why, oil prices up more than $1, on a disruption of a major pipeline in Russia, continued violence in the Middle East, and that brutal heat wave.

Natural gas prices soared to their biggest gain this year, up nearly 14 percent, but no gains for the Dow industrials, right now down 32 points, or more than a quarter-of-a-percent lower -- the Nasdaq composite, meanwhile, down 2.5 points.

And that's the latest from Wall Street. I will be back in about a half-an-hour with a roundup of the trading day.

Stay with us. LIVE FROM will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: By car or by foot, they are leaving any way they can.

Here is what we know on day 20 of the Middle East crisis.

Thousands of Lebanese civilians are packing up and moving north. They're streaming out of Southern Lebanon, taking advantage of Israel's 48-hour pause in most air strikes. Israeli forces still launched some attacks in Lebanon today, including one near the Syrian border. And Israeli ground troops have entered another South Lebanese village. Those troops will see a lot more action. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says there will be no cease-fire in the coming days. He says Israel has made progress from crippling Hezbollah and the battle will go on.

More on the Middle East crisis. The aftershocks hit Washington. Just a short time ago, an influential Senate Republican sent a message to President Bush.

With the story from Capitol Hill, CNN's Dana Bash. Tell us about it, Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. What we saw this afternoon is probably the most high-profile challenge to President Bush when it comes to his approach toward the Middle East.

This afternoon, Senator Chuck Hagel, whom, as you mentioned, is an influential Republican, especially on foreign policy, said on the Senate floor that he does think the U.S. should remain committed to defend Israel; however, he said, it should not be of, quote, "Arab and Muslim relationships." Therefore, he said, President Bush should call for an immediate cease-fire.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: How do we realistically believe that a continuation of this systematic destruction of an American friend, the country and people of Lebanon, is going to enhance America's image and give us the trust and credibility to lead a lasting and sustained peace effort in the Middle East? The sickening slaughter on both sides, Mr. President, must end and it must end now. President Bush must call for an immediate cease-fire. This madness must stop.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now, Senator Hagel also did say that United Nations Security Council should adopt a resolution that provides political security and economic framework for dealing with this. But he says a cease-fire should come first, and that is where he appears to differ with the administration's approach.

Now, a couple of things, Kyra, to put this in context. First of all, Senator Hagel is a frequent Republican critic of this president, especially when it comes to foreign policy; most notably in recent months has been so when it comes to Iraq. He talked about Iraq, as well, today.

Even so, though, for a Republican to come out at a time and advocate a policy that we've heard advocated from the Vatican to Arab countries, even to many countries' capitals in Europe, that the administration and Israel opposes, which is an immediate cease-fire, cannot be a comfortable thing for the White House right now, especially since Condoleezza Rice is making her way back with a proposal that seems to differ from Chuck Hagel.

It's also noteworthy, Kyra, because senior Democrats haven't even come out and said what we just heard from this Republican senator, when it comes to a cease-fire. What Democrats have been arguing, however, is that they do not believe that the administration in general has been -- has had the right approach when it comes to the Middle East. Simply, they've said that the administration has been absent and that has caused us them to not have enough -- essentially have enough influence in the region. And that is something that Senator Hagel essentially agreed with when he spoke on the Senate floor just a short while ago -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Dana Bash on the Hill, thanks so much.

Well, huge piles of rubble and a few remaining stragglers picking right through it. This is the Lebanese border town of Bint Jbeil, just days after fierce ground fighting.

Our Karl Penhaul paid a visit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is downtown Bint Jbeil, or at least what's left of it. This was the scene of some of the heaviest combat. For their part, the Israeli military says they fought Hezbollah guerrillas here hand-to-hand, door-to-door, window- to-window.

But I've also talked to a member of the Hezbollah militia, and he says there were no running gun battles in downtown. He says there were no Hezbollah fighters here in town. Though he does say around a hundred Hezbollah fighters were stationed in the hills roundabout.

I've also talked this morning to a doctor who remained in Bint Jbeil Hospital through the thick of the fighting. He said it was so intense at one stage, he counted 300 Israeli artillery shells falling on the town in a space of just half an hour.

Karl Penhaul, CNN, Bint Jbeil, South Lebanon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well, Octavia Nasr, senior Arab affairs editor, following developments in this crisis and gauging reaction to yesterday's death in Qana.

I mean, when you see that, you do wonder, where are all the people? I mean, there are still people living within that rubble.

OCTAVIA NASR, CNN SR. ARAB AFFAIRS EDITOR: Absolutely. There are people, and they're really hurting right now. You watch Arab networks, and you're going to hear appeals -- people either looking for loved ones, asking for anyone who knows anything about them to call certain numbers. And also people appealing for help.

You know, Israel announced yesterday a halt of aerial attacks, basically asking people of the south to leave. Some people are screaming and saying, you know, we have nowhere to go, the roads are blocked. As you see, you know, roads no longer exist. And people have no place to go. So it's really tough. But people are there, and we're hearing from them.

As a matter of fact, we have a little segment that we can play for our audience of some voices from Qana.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Twenty-five children were killed under the rubble. These are the honor of Lebanon.

UNIDENTIFIED CROWD (through translator): Beirut is free, Beirut is free, Beirut is free!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I was there, I was inside the building that was destroyed. I was making tea and my uncle asked me to get and get two cups at 12:45. Before I even walked out, when the air strike hit us, the pressure pushed me outside. I was thrown outside. My uncle was pushed out and hit the wall. I heard the kids and the women crying.

We carried seven of the injured and we went to the city, asking for help. They told us they can't do anything because of the airstrike. They asked us to call the Red Cross and the Lebanese internal forces. We were afraid to go and get them because of the airstrikes. I lost my sister, my uncle and his kids and his wife. My other uncle's family, too, the kids were 10, 13 and seven.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I can't tell you anything. The bodies can tell you a better story. Look at them. Most of them are kids. Why should I talk? Their picture speaks for them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Even though I am in the military and I am not supposed to talk, but today I will talk. I have to tell you this. This is a message that Israel sent us. They sent us this message to turn us into monsters. But I will respond to them in a different way. You see this? This is a message that we want to send to the Israeli people. They will not turn us into monsters. We are not going to kill their children and women.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): What can I say? They destroyed Lebanon. They destroyed the South. We had civilians there. They were all kids. They didn't have bread. They were hungry without food for five days.

Look at them, they were kids! They were all killed in their homes. We don't have resistance here. The resistance is at the borders fighting. They will defend us. Nasrallah will defend us. We were not terrorists. These kids were not terrorists. Show them the images of the children, show these pictures to Bush and Rice.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NASR: So you see, Kyra, you know, a lot of emotions. These emotions coming from Qana. Of course, the piece that we saw earlier from Karl Penhaul is in Bint Jbeil. Today was the first day that a convoy of Red Cross and civil defense was able to get there with a lot of human -- humanitarian aid. And they're trying to get people out.

But, you know, the interesting story is some people are saying, look, we don't want to go anywhere, we want to die in our own homes. Not everyone wants to leave.

PHILLIPS: You know, you see images like that. And, you know, Israel's perspective is, look, you know, Hezbollah is hiding out in these neighborhoods, in these homes and these buildings. I mean, are the networks talking about that? Are they saying why these areas were struck? Have you been able to monitor and get any kind of reaction?

NASR: Yes, yes. Yesterday, for example, the video that was released by the IDF, showing basically proof that Hezbollah is filing rockets from residential areas, that was shown on Arab networks. But I tell you, the feeling right now is -- the emotions are so high and the sadness is so deep that the focus is more on the victims, on these people. Especially that -- half of them were children. So the focus is more on that than the rest.

And also, it is known that Hezbollah lives in these areas. So that's not really a secret that Hezbollah lives, operates, in those areas. So basically they're saying, you know, what next?

As a matter of fact, I heard from this woman. We're going to translate her later and air it on CNN. This woman in the South basically saying, look, I moved from the first house and now I'm bombed here. I have six children and my husband, where do you want us to go? We have nowhere to go. And then she said, if I have to beg, I'll beg for this to stop. And then she said, if I have to beg Nasrallah to stop it, I will beg him. So basically people there know exactly who's starting this.

PHILLIPS: Well, that's interesting, because you wonder if they're going to speak up and say Hezbollah, look, you know, move out of the neighborhoods or move out of these buildings, we don't want to tolerate that anymore. I mean, they have to cry out to Hezbollah, also, correct?

NASR: Absolutely. And it seems like, you know, with that woman -- in a village in the South, staying what she said today, is proof that people are going to be so fed up with the destruction that they're seeing, with the death that they're seeing, that they're going to start speaking up against Hezbollah.

PHILLIPS: All right, the foreign ministers -- the Lebanese foreign minister and the Iranian foreign minister -- met today. You were monitoring that. Anything interesting come out of that?

NASR: You know, condemnation. Condemnation from both sides. The Iranian was interesting because he first of all offered aid. He said that Iran is going to send planes with humanitarian aid to their brothers in Lebanon.

They also condemned everything that's happening in Lebanon. And, of course, blamed Israel for everything that's going on, saluted the resistance, which is Hezbollah. And basically, they said that they hold the whole world responsible and anyone who supports Israel, they say that they are partners in this crime, as they say it.

PHILLIPS: Arab affairs editor Octavia Nasr, appreciate it. Well, straight ahead, a hate crime sends shock waves through Seattle. More on the man who opened fire at a Jewish center. The news keeps coming, we'll keep bringing it to you. More LIVE FROM, coming up next.

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PHILLIPS: Well it's a rampage that left one woman killed, five wounded and a community in shock. A Jewish center became a crime scene when a gunman burst in and opened fire. And we're learning the suspect has a troubled history. Katherine Barrett reports.

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KATHERINE BARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Saturday's bail hearing in Seattle was not Naveed Haq's first encounter with the law. He faced a charge of lewd conduct in eastern Washington state and was scheduled to appear in court there the day before his alleged rampage. His lawyer in the prior case had shifted the court date. It was that day that police say Haq picked up two legally acquired semi- automatic handguns.

LARRY STEPHENSON, ATTORNEY: He wanted that thing over with. He wanted it over with real bad. And because I was in a jury trial, I had to continue it, again and so I'm just hoping that wasn't any kind of a trigger event here.

BARRETT: Stephenson is not representing Haq in the Seattle case, but says he knows him well and that his client has struggled with mental illness and keeping a job.

STEPHENSON: He takes medication for bipolar. He has a pretty difficult mental illness that's been with him for 10 years.

BARRETT: A written statement from Haq's father offered condolences and prayers to victims and their families and went on to say, "We could not have imagined for a moment that our son would do this senseless act. This is utterly contrary to our beliefs and Islamic values."

The family of Pamela Weachter, who died in Friday's shooting, said this.

NICOLE WEACHTER, DAUGHTER OF VICTIM: How ironic for someone who chose to be Jewish. She converted and her whole life was dedicated to Judaism and she was killed for it.

BARRETT: Seattle's Jewish leaders met privately Sunday with police, FBI and the city's mayor to decide how to restore their community's security.

CHIEF GIL KERLIKOWSKE, SEATTLE POLICE: He took a hostage at gunpoint. He was very determined. He was heavily armed. These are pretty tough and you don't want to promise people that only if you do something more can you prevent that. Sometimes awful, terrible things happen. BARRETT (on camera): In fact, the police chief pointed out that with this bullet-proof glass, keypad door lock and gate, the Jewish federation office was arguably one of the more secure buildings in this city and still not enough to stop a determined killer. Katherine Barrett for CNN, Seattle.

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PHILLIPS: Hundreds of miles away, Jewish leaders are concerned about another incident. Someone spray painted swastikas and other disturbing graffiti on two synagogues on two Jewish businesses in North Miami Beach, Florida. It happened just a day after the shooting rampage at a Seattle Jewish center. Police are still looking for the culprit.

A sad incident during a grueling race in California. A 43-year- old man died of a heart attack while running the San Francisco Marathon yesterday. He collapsed as he approached the last three miles of the race. Marathon officials say a spectator gave him CPR and medical personnel reached him within moments, but the runner never regained consciousness.

More fallout from Boston's Big Dig. Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is apologizing for referring to the troubled construction project as a "tar baby." He says he didn't know anyone would be offended by the term that some consider a racial epithet. Well in a speech Saturday, Romney said, quote, "The best thing politically would be to stay as far away from that 'tar baby' as I can. I'll get the blame for anything that goes wrong," un quote.

Still to come, the story that a lot of people are talking about. Mel Gibson arrested on suspicion of DUI. But the real scandal seems to be what happened afterwards. Even Mel was apologizing. That story straight ahead.

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PHILLIPS: Actor and director Mel Gibson could be facing a drunk driving charge, but a reported outburst during the arrest is likely to haunt him more than the DUI. CNN has not seen the news report, but the celebrity news Web site TMZ.com reports that Gibson launched into an antisemitic rant during the arrest that includes comments like expletive Jews, the Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world. Gibson then reportedly turns on the police officer, allegedly asking, "Are you a Jew?"

Gibson did issue a statement saying, quote, "I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I apologize to anyone who I've offended. I disgraced myself and my family and my behavior. And for that, I am truly sorry."

Surrounding the case are accusations that the L.A. police department is somehow covering up for Gibson and that the alleged antisemitic remarks are taken out of that police report. An independent investigation is underway. Actually, the L.A. sheriff's department.

The arrest controversy is just the latest to hit the mega-star. What remains indisputable it his string of accomplishments, both in front of and behind the camera. Here's a CNN fact check.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Though he sounded like a native Australian, speaking with a thick Aussie accent in some of his first movies, Mel Gibson didn't set foot in the land down under until he was 12 when his father moved the family there. Gibson was born in Peekskill, New York in 1956, one of 11 children of devout Catholic parents.

He made his screen debut in 1977 in the Aussie flick, "Summer City," a low-budget teen drama. But it was the "Mad Max" series that launched Gibson on a course to international stardom. Other hits of the '80s included "Gallipoli" and "The Year of Living Dangerously."

Around this time, Gibson made his Hollywood debut in "The Bounty," playing alongside Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins. Gibson's star soared even higher when he appeared with Danny Glover in the first of the hugely successful "Lethal Weapon" films.

In the early '90s, Gibson made his directorial debut and starred in "The Man Without a Face." Gibson hit pay dirt again in 1995 with "Braveheart," which won him Oscars for the best director and best picture.

His most recent megahit was "The Passion of the Christ" in 2004, produced and directed by Gibson. Some charged the film was antisemitic. Gibson's father Hutton Gibson added fuel to that fire by telling interviewers that the Holocaust was mostly fiction and that Jews are trying to take over the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Time now to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. He's standing by in "THE SITUATION ROOM" to tell us what's coming up at the top of the hour. Hey, Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Kyra, thanks very much. No cease-fire. Israel's prime minister vowing to fight on until Hezbollah is pushed back. But will the White House continue to stay on the sidelines? We are watching the story plus women and children in the line of fire. We'll take you inside a town devastated by coming, where the civilian death toll has been staggering.

Also a Republican senator now calling for an immediate end to the quote, "sickening slaughter." Find out why he's asking President Bush to change courses in the Mideast. And the reports of Mel Gibson's antisemitic rant. We're going to have more on that story, Kyra, a DUI arrest lands him on the front lines of the culture wars. All that right here in "THE SITUATION ROOM," Kyra, at the top of the hour.

PHILLIPS: All right Wolf, great to see you back, we'll be watching. Well the closing bell and a wrap of the day's action on Wall Street straight ahead. Susan Lisovicz joins us live.

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PHILLIPS: In the Congo, ballots are being counted in the troubled nation in the heart of sub-Saharan Africa. Yesterday, the country staged its first national election in more than four decades. Two vote was peaceful, if not picture perfect. Some 17,000 U.N. peacekeepers helped preserve order. Two former warlords are among those challenging President Joseph Kabila. Voters say that the loser should accept the results and let Congo have peace.

Arizona Senator John McCain's youngest son has joined the Marine Corps. According to the published report, 18-year-old Jimmy McCain will begin basic training in September and he could be deployed to a war zone in a matter of months. Senator McCain says he's very proud, but also a little nervous.

You think there would be more pressing issues to worry about in Iran, but President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad apparently has the time to correct everyone's language. After Persian agency watchdogs found about 2,000 westernized words that have crept into daily use, Ahmadinejad issued executive orders, saying pizza has to go, among with other farslish terms. He's -- so when in Tehran, go to "elastic loaf hut" if you've got a taste for an extra large with peppers. And if the blinking cups up, he was born in a "small room," not a cabin. And for Pete's sake, you're having a "short talk," not a chat.

The closing bell is about to ring on Wall Street. Let's chat with Susan Lisovicz live from the New York Stock Exchange with a wrap of the trading.

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