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U.S. Suggesting Syria May Have Had Hand in Hariri Killing; Slick Swimming

Aired February 21, 2005 - 11:30   ET

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

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


RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: We are coming up on the half hour. A lot of news to bring you. I'm Rick Sanchez.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's what's happening now in the news...

SANCHEZ: We're watching the extremely wet conditions in Southern California with plenty of pictures to show to prove it. Mudslide advisories are posted for eight different counties. There's been several inches of rain since Thursday, and another two to five inches could fall by midweek. Mountain areas are expected to get up to four feet of snow.

President Bush is trying to put disagreements with Europe over Iraq war behind him. He was in Brussels today. Here's some of the photos of that. He called for a new era of trans-Atlantic unity. The president says a united Europe is a partner for United States, not a rival.

And today marks 40 years since the assassination of Malcolm X. He was one of the more charismatic and controversial figures of the civil rights era. Malcolm X helped build the Nation of Islam before he split from the group. Ceremonies planned tonight at the Harlem auditorium where he was shot.

Also delegates from the International Olympic Committee are visiting New York today. They're going to help determine the city's chances for the 2012 Olympics. That decision will be announced in July, and they were welcomed by cheering fans, who are saying pick us, pick us, please.

Keeping you informed, we're CNN, the most trusted name in news.

KAGAN: Head overseas now, several thousand angry, noisy protesters hit the streets of Beirut today. The crowd's marched to the grave of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Demonstrators called on Syria to get troops out of Lebanon, and demanded the Syrian-backed Lebanese government resign. Opposition groups in Lebanon blame Syria for the assassination and push for the outside investigation. A team of U.N. investigators is due in Beirut this week.

The U.S. is suggesting that Syria may have had a hand in the Hariri killing. The Bush administration recalled its ambassador to protest.

Our Brent Sadler is in the Syrian capital today of Damascus with the latest -- Brent.

BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Daryn.

We have been seeing, again, earlier this day, thousands of demonstrators on the streets of the Lebanese capital Beirut. These are the kinds of scenes you do not normally see in this part of the world, in the heart of the not so Democratic Middle East. Now Syria has been for decades the power broker of its weaker neighbor Lebanon. Syria now seeing upheaval, not only in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, but also on its doorstep in Iraq with a fledgling democracy. Syria certainly been accused by many of those demonstrators of somehow having a hand in the assassination of Rafik Hariri exactly one week ago.

Demonstrators calling for Syrian troops to withdraw from Lebanon immediately, for the Lebanese government to resign and Syria to stop meddling, they say, in Lebanese political affairs, stop appointing puppet governments, they claim.

Now Syria denies any responsibility for the Hariri murder, and a senior cabinet minister told CNN a few hours ago, that it was not only a matter of Syrian troop presences in Lebanon, there was a bigger issue at stake here, she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOUTHEINA SHAABAN, SYRIAN MINISTER OF EXPATRIATES: The troops will redeploy, and there was a plan, and there is a plan for the troops to redeploy, and for the election, Syria said that we will not interfere in the Lebanese election. I think, as I'm telling you, the issue is not here, it's not the troops. The issue is not the assassination of Hariri. The issue is to take Syria and Lebanon into a very unstable and chaotic future, and this is what the people in this region fear most.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SADLER: That chaotic future she was talking about, she says, and other Syrian officials, say is to the advantage of Israel, both Syria and Lebanon technically at a state of war with still their neighbor, powerful neighbor Israel. This part of that wider Middle East Syrians scenario to weaken Syria and its strategic alliance with Lebanon -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Brent Sadler, live, thank you.

SANCHEZ: Let's stay in that part of the world. Israel did free 500 Palestinian prisoners today. This is a goodwill gesture as the fallout continues. They arrived home in the West Bank to a hero's welcome. Israel's promised to release another 400 prisoners by spring. None of the men took part on the attacks on Israel. The release comes a day after the Israeli government also gave approval to pullout of the settlers in the Gaza area. Those settlers, Israeli settlers, have until July 20th to leave, or they will be removed by force. KAGAN: In other news around the world, former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton are touring parts of Asia nearly two months after the deadly tsunami there. Today's travels include a stop in Sri Lanka. They're getting a firsthand look at the toll of the devastation and the relief efforts as well.

A top Vatican university is now teaching priests a new technique, how to battle demons. The two-month course is designed to teach priests how to identify demonic possession and how to carry out exorcism. It's in response to a growing number of Italians said to have contact with Satanic sects.

And in Hong Kong, here's an idea for you, relaxing swim, you found one of the world's busiest shipping channels, make sure there's plenty of oil in the water. And then, at the coldest time of the year, dive right in. If you really want to enjoy the experience, you should be about 80 years old.

CNN's Andrew Brown has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREW BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These exercises are part of a daily routine for some of Hong Kong's heartiest seniors. After a warmup, they take a dip in the ocean, which in winter means braving the chilly currents of the South China Sea. The youngest swimmers, in their 50s, are outnumbered by others in their 60s and 70s, and veterans like Kong Seck, who's turned 82. You can't keep him out of water.

KONG SECK, SWIMMER (through translator): It's so beautiful, why not swim here?

BROWN: Why not? Well, for a start, this stretch of water is called Sulfur Channel, named after the chemicals locals say were once stored nearby. The channel is also near the world's busiest container port, and in this working harbor, you'll find vessels so large, they can't fit through the Panama Canal. Fortunately, the swimmers are unfazed by the swells generated by all the ocean traffic.

LUK MEI YONG, SWIMMER (through translator): These waves, when they wash over you, it's very relaxing. We're used to riding them up and down.

BROWN: The swimmers claim the water's quite clean, although they have to dodge different kinds of trash, and they're affected by more stubborn forms of pollution, especially fuel spills.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We are used to it, and jumping in the water is something we just have to do.

BROWN (on camera): The swimmers say about half the time they come here they get covered in oil. I don't see any oil, but does smell of diesel. Despite the environmental hazards and often choppy conditions, the seniors keep coming. As for a trip to the swimming pool, well, apparently, that's not even worth contemplating. KONG SECK (through translator): Swimming in this ocean water is healthier than swimming in fresh water.

BROWN: Many people would disagree the sea here is actually healthy, but that's what makes this such a singular salute to Mother Nature.

Andrew Brown, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: How about Andrew Brown really diving into a story assignment there? Taking the plunge.

SANCHEZ: That's right. Brave man. If the cold won't get you, the sludge or the sulfur will.

KAGAN: Different type of water on the minds of California. Will nature let the golfers play out in the Nissan Open? Latest weather update coming up.

SANCHEZ: And then "Lonely Planet" picks this year's hottest destination, the very best getaways. Boy, those are worth sticking around for. You stay there, because we're going to have them for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Time for getaways. Let's find out the must-be-there vacation spots for this year. It's from "Lonely Planet" staffers around the world. They voted on their top destinations for 2005. I think you're going to be surprised.

Don George is a global travel editor for "Lonely Planet," joining us from San Francisco. Don, good to see you again.

DON GEORGE, EDITOR, "LONELY PLANET": Nice to see you, Daryn.

KAGAN: Let's get right to the places. I looked at the list, I didn't expect Croatia to be number one.

GEORGE: I tell you, Croatia. It was number four on the list last year and now it just soared up to number one. And what we say about Croatia is all the treasures of the Mediterranean at half the price.

KAGAN: Oh, well, that sounds good.

GEORGE: Yes. You've got great culture, great cuisine, really rich history, beautiful, stunning landscapes. Very accessible, very affordable. It's really, really the destination this year.

KAGAN: Okay and China is at number two. Not that big of a surprise except that it hadn't been this high on the list before.

GEORGE: No, exactly. I think that people are recognizing that this is China's century. China is really emerging on the world stage as a very, very important central figure. China, of course, has tremendous history, great culture. There's such a vast array of riches in China that you can visit as a traveler, so it warrants probably repeated trips.

KAGAN: The comeback award, I guess, would go to Argentina, that came in third on the "Lonely Planet" list?

GEORGE: Right. Argentina came in third. Partly, of course, the Lake District, which was featured in the "Motorcycle Diaries" film so beautifully. A lot of people are attracted to that. Bueno Aires, a wonderful cosmopolitan city. And again, a very, very affordable destination. So that attracts a lot of people these days.

KAGAN: This was interesting. The United States. Hey, let's go there!

GEORGE: Yes, the United States!

KAGAN: Heard of it.

GEORGE: It was very exciting for us that the U.S. finished as it did. And New York and San Francisco are especially mentioned by people as being really great draws. But, of course, the Grand Canyon, New Orleans. I mean, we know we have a lot to offer people. But it's nice to see that all of "Lonely Planet" staffers around the world felt the same way.

KAGAN: Very good. Quickly, I just want to ask you -- if some surprise countries moved up, that means some old favorites moved off. Who and why?

GEORGE: Well, a couple of old favorites that moved down a little bit. For example, Japan, which has always finished very high. I think that people have already been there, so they're trying to go somewhere else. Italy moved down a litle bit on the list. Italy always finishes very high. I think that there's just a sense of discovering new destinations that motivates "Lonely Planet" travelers. And so we felt let's give Croatia and some of the places we haven't mentioned before, those are the ones that really attractive to us this year.

KAGAN: You do tend to be kind of a cutting edge group, you "Lonely Planet" people.

DON GEORGE: We're pretty passionate.

KAGAN: Yes. Safe travels to you. Thank you.

GEORGE: Thank you. Same to you, Daryn.

SANCHEZ: Did you check to see, by the way, whether the CNN tour in the visit to Atlanta was on his list?

KAGAN: It should be number one. Number one.

SANCHEZ: It is an awful lot of fun. And we'll throw in Stone Mountain to boot.

Well, taser guns. Supporters say that they're actually safer. But are they being used too often? We're going to look at question of taser gun safety when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY. I'm Rick Sanchez with a look at your security. There is a debate that seems to be shaping over the use of tasers, or stun guns as they're often called. These are used by law enforcement officials to try and subdue violent suspects. Critics say that problem is 90 people in the United States and Canada have been killed with tasers since 2001. Taser safety is something the CEO of one particular company says he takes issue with.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK SMITH, CEO/CO-FOUNDER, TASER INT'L: I think the way to think about tasers is like you would think airbags in your car. They don't make a crash risk-free, neither does a taser make a confrontation with police risk-free. But they reduce the risk of injury and death dramatically.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: CNN's Kelly Wallace picks up the story from here.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the death of Freddie Jerome Williams (ph) in a Georgia jail last year that got state representative Tyrone Brooks' attention.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was tasered at home and tasered in the jail and he died. I said something needs to be done.

WALLACE: While the autopsy concluded there was no evidence the taser shocks caused or contributed to Williams' death, Brooks wasn't satisfied, so he introduced a bill calling for a statewide ban of these, 50,000-volt tasers, until there is more research surrounding their safety.

STATE REP. TYRONE BROOKS SR. (D), GEORGIA: I hope that we will have a product that won't kill people prior to them getting their day in court.

WALLACE: Since 2001, according to Amnesty International, 93 people have died in the United States and Canada ever being shocked by tasers. The latest case earlier this month in Chicago, a 54-year-old man died, and a 14-year-old boy went into cardiac arrest after being tasered by police officers.

And just last week, Toledo Police suspended the use of tasers following the January death of a suspect who had been shocked nine times. All of this has human rights groups calling for a national moratorium on the use of tasers and a federal study about their impact on people of all ages.

WILLIAM SCHULZ, AMNESTY INTL. USA: We think it's terribly important that we all know the truth, that Taser International know the truth, that Amnesty International know the truth and that police departments know the truth, so that we can tell exactly to what extent these weapons ought to be restricted.

WALLACE: The manufacturer, Taser International, says although the devices are not risk free, there is no evidence to show that a taser device was the singular cause of any death, and credits the device with saving lives every day. The president of International Association of Chiefs of Police agrees based on what he's seen so far.

JOSEPH ESTEY, INTL. ASSN. OF CHIEFS OF POLICE: What I've been told by sheriffs and chiefs that approve of the device and the technology, it is a very effective way to basically reduce the threat and bring somebody under control very quickly.

WALLACE (on camera): This week, the police chief's association will issue guidelines for officers around the country on what to consider before buying or using tasers.

(voice-over): Back in Atlanta, Tyrone Brooks says he's thinking both about the officers and people like Freddie Jerome Williams.

BROOKS: I certainly don't want to take away options from law- enforcement agencies, but we also want to make sure whatever they're using is safe to be used on humans.

WALLACE: Kelly Wallace, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: CNN Security Watch. We're here to keep you up to date on safety, and stay tuned day and night about the most reliable news about your security.

KAGAN: It was a three-car race for much of the Daytona 500, but one of them drove a little faster than the rest. Surprise ending, the winner, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: All right, they bumped, they charged, they passed! Jeff Gordon won NASCAR's Daytona 500 Sunday in Florida, becoming the third driver ever to win at least three of the big races. He held off Kurt Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to take the checkered flag in one of the more exciting finishes for the season-opening race. It was Gordon's first win since the 1991. Biggest race of the year, they start with it.

SANCHEZ: Sounds like you were doing your sports thing for a while.

KAGAN: It all comes back. SANCHEZ: Speaking of driving, they were driving in Colorado as well, driving the lane that is. That's a basketball term that Daryn is very familiar with. Yes, Eastern Conference won the NBA All-Star Game in Denver, score, 125-115. That's for the east by the way. Philadelphia 76ers stars, the tattooed one, that would be Allen Iverson. Yes, he got the MVP, the all-star, the whole nine yards. He finished with 15 points and 9 assists. That's actually a lot when you considering these guys usually play only a few minutes because they got a million people in there.

And there he is, getting the big trophy.

Let's keep the driving theme going, driving rains. California storms left Tiger Woods and the rest of the Nissan Open feeling all wet. They'll try and play again today after Sunday's round was washed out. Good luck.

(WEATHER REPORT)

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Aired February 21, 2005 - 11:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: We are coming up on the half hour. A lot of news to bring you. I'm Rick Sanchez.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Daryn Kagan. Here's what's happening now in the news...

SANCHEZ: We're watching the extremely wet conditions in Southern California with plenty of pictures to show to prove it. Mudslide advisories are posted for eight different counties. There's been several inches of rain since Thursday, and another two to five inches could fall by midweek. Mountain areas are expected to get up to four feet of snow.

President Bush is trying to put disagreements with Europe over Iraq war behind him. He was in Brussels today. Here's some of the photos of that. He called for a new era of trans-Atlantic unity. The president says a united Europe is a partner for United States, not a rival.

And today marks 40 years since the assassination of Malcolm X. He was one of the more charismatic and controversial figures of the civil rights era. Malcolm X helped build the Nation of Islam before he split from the group. Ceremonies planned tonight at the Harlem auditorium where he was shot.

Also delegates from the International Olympic Committee are visiting New York today. They're going to help determine the city's chances for the 2012 Olympics. That decision will be announced in July, and they were welcomed by cheering fans, who are saying pick us, pick us, please.

Keeping you informed, we're CNN, the most trusted name in news.

KAGAN: Head overseas now, several thousand angry, noisy protesters hit the streets of Beirut today. The crowd's marched to the grave of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Demonstrators called on Syria to get troops out of Lebanon, and demanded the Syrian-backed Lebanese government resign. Opposition groups in Lebanon blame Syria for the assassination and push for the outside investigation. A team of U.N. investigators is due in Beirut this week.

The U.S. is suggesting that Syria may have had a hand in the Hariri killing. The Bush administration recalled its ambassador to protest.

Our Brent Sadler is in the Syrian capital today of Damascus with the latest -- Brent.

BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Daryn.

We have been seeing, again, earlier this day, thousands of demonstrators on the streets of the Lebanese capital Beirut. These are the kinds of scenes you do not normally see in this part of the world, in the heart of the not so Democratic Middle East. Now Syria has been for decades the power broker of its weaker neighbor Lebanon. Syria now seeing upheaval, not only in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, but also on its doorstep in Iraq with a fledgling democracy. Syria certainly been accused by many of those demonstrators of somehow having a hand in the assassination of Rafik Hariri exactly one week ago.

Demonstrators calling for Syrian troops to withdraw from Lebanon immediately, for the Lebanese government to resign and Syria to stop meddling, they say, in Lebanese political affairs, stop appointing puppet governments, they claim.

Now Syria denies any responsibility for the Hariri murder, and a senior cabinet minister told CNN a few hours ago, that it was not only a matter of Syrian troop presences in Lebanon, there was a bigger issue at stake here, she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOUTHEINA SHAABAN, SYRIAN MINISTER OF EXPATRIATES: The troops will redeploy, and there was a plan, and there is a plan for the troops to redeploy, and for the election, Syria said that we will not interfere in the Lebanese election. I think, as I'm telling you, the issue is not here, it's not the troops. The issue is not the assassination of Hariri. The issue is to take Syria and Lebanon into a very unstable and chaotic future, and this is what the people in this region fear most.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SADLER: That chaotic future she was talking about, she says, and other Syrian officials, say is to the advantage of Israel, both Syria and Lebanon technically at a state of war with still their neighbor, powerful neighbor Israel. This part of that wider Middle East Syrians scenario to weaken Syria and its strategic alliance with Lebanon -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Brent Sadler, live, thank you.

SANCHEZ: Let's stay in that part of the world. Israel did free 500 Palestinian prisoners today. This is a goodwill gesture as the fallout continues. They arrived home in the West Bank to a hero's welcome. Israel's promised to release another 400 prisoners by spring. None of the men took part on the attacks on Israel. The release comes a day after the Israeli government also gave approval to pullout of the settlers in the Gaza area. Those settlers, Israeli settlers, have until July 20th to leave, or they will be removed by force. KAGAN: In other news around the world, former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton are touring parts of Asia nearly two months after the deadly tsunami there. Today's travels include a stop in Sri Lanka. They're getting a firsthand look at the toll of the devastation and the relief efforts as well.

A top Vatican university is now teaching priests a new technique, how to battle demons. The two-month course is designed to teach priests how to identify demonic possession and how to carry out exorcism. It's in response to a growing number of Italians said to have contact with Satanic sects.

And in Hong Kong, here's an idea for you, relaxing swim, you found one of the world's busiest shipping channels, make sure there's plenty of oil in the water. And then, at the coldest time of the year, dive right in. If you really want to enjoy the experience, you should be about 80 years old.

CNN's Andrew Brown has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDREW BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These exercises are part of a daily routine for some of Hong Kong's heartiest seniors. After a warmup, they take a dip in the ocean, which in winter means braving the chilly currents of the South China Sea. The youngest swimmers, in their 50s, are outnumbered by others in their 60s and 70s, and veterans like Kong Seck, who's turned 82. You can't keep him out of water.

KONG SECK, SWIMMER (through translator): It's so beautiful, why not swim here?

BROWN: Why not? Well, for a start, this stretch of water is called Sulfur Channel, named after the chemicals locals say were once stored nearby. The channel is also near the world's busiest container port, and in this working harbor, you'll find vessels so large, they can't fit through the Panama Canal. Fortunately, the swimmers are unfazed by the swells generated by all the ocean traffic.

LUK MEI YONG, SWIMMER (through translator): These waves, when they wash over you, it's very relaxing. We're used to riding them up and down.

BROWN: The swimmers claim the water's quite clean, although they have to dodge different kinds of trash, and they're affected by more stubborn forms of pollution, especially fuel spills.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We are used to it, and jumping in the water is something we just have to do.

BROWN (on camera): The swimmers say about half the time they come here they get covered in oil. I don't see any oil, but does smell of diesel. Despite the environmental hazards and often choppy conditions, the seniors keep coming. As for a trip to the swimming pool, well, apparently, that's not even worth contemplating. KONG SECK (through translator): Swimming in this ocean water is healthier than swimming in fresh water.

BROWN: Many people would disagree the sea here is actually healthy, but that's what makes this such a singular salute to Mother Nature.

Andrew Brown, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: How about Andrew Brown really diving into a story assignment there? Taking the plunge.

SANCHEZ: That's right. Brave man. If the cold won't get you, the sludge or the sulfur will.

KAGAN: Different type of water on the minds of California. Will nature let the golfers play out in the Nissan Open? Latest weather update coming up.

SANCHEZ: And then "Lonely Planet" picks this year's hottest destination, the very best getaways. Boy, those are worth sticking around for. You stay there, because we're going to have them for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Time for getaways. Let's find out the must-be-there vacation spots for this year. It's from "Lonely Planet" staffers around the world. They voted on their top destinations for 2005. I think you're going to be surprised.

Don George is a global travel editor for "Lonely Planet," joining us from San Francisco. Don, good to see you again.

DON GEORGE, EDITOR, "LONELY PLANET": Nice to see you, Daryn.

KAGAN: Let's get right to the places. I looked at the list, I didn't expect Croatia to be number one.

GEORGE: I tell you, Croatia. It was number four on the list last year and now it just soared up to number one. And what we say about Croatia is all the treasures of the Mediterranean at half the price.

KAGAN: Oh, well, that sounds good.

GEORGE: Yes. You've got great culture, great cuisine, really rich history, beautiful, stunning landscapes. Very accessible, very affordable. It's really, really the destination this year.

KAGAN: Okay and China is at number two. Not that big of a surprise except that it hadn't been this high on the list before.

GEORGE: No, exactly. I think that people are recognizing that this is China's century. China is really emerging on the world stage as a very, very important central figure. China, of course, has tremendous history, great culture. There's such a vast array of riches in China that you can visit as a traveler, so it warrants probably repeated trips.

KAGAN: The comeback award, I guess, would go to Argentina, that came in third on the "Lonely Planet" list?

GEORGE: Right. Argentina came in third. Partly, of course, the Lake District, which was featured in the "Motorcycle Diaries" film so beautifully. A lot of people are attracted to that. Bueno Aires, a wonderful cosmopolitan city. And again, a very, very affordable destination. So that attracts a lot of people these days.

KAGAN: This was interesting. The United States. Hey, let's go there!

GEORGE: Yes, the United States!

KAGAN: Heard of it.

GEORGE: It was very exciting for us that the U.S. finished as it did. And New York and San Francisco are especially mentioned by people as being really great draws. But, of course, the Grand Canyon, New Orleans. I mean, we know we have a lot to offer people. But it's nice to see that all of "Lonely Planet" staffers around the world felt the same way.

KAGAN: Very good. Quickly, I just want to ask you -- if some surprise countries moved up, that means some old favorites moved off. Who and why?

GEORGE: Well, a couple of old favorites that moved down a little bit. For example, Japan, which has always finished very high. I think that people have already been there, so they're trying to go somewhere else. Italy moved down a litle bit on the list. Italy always finishes very high. I think that there's just a sense of discovering new destinations that motivates "Lonely Planet" travelers. And so we felt let's give Croatia and some of the places we haven't mentioned before, those are the ones that really attractive to us this year.

KAGAN: You do tend to be kind of a cutting edge group, you "Lonely Planet" people.

DON GEORGE: We're pretty passionate.

KAGAN: Yes. Safe travels to you. Thank you.

GEORGE: Thank you. Same to you, Daryn.

SANCHEZ: Did you check to see, by the way, whether the CNN tour in the visit to Atlanta was on his list?

KAGAN: It should be number one. Number one.

SANCHEZ: It is an awful lot of fun. And we'll throw in Stone Mountain to boot.

Well, taser guns. Supporters say that they're actually safer. But are they being used too often? We're going to look at question of taser gun safety when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY. I'm Rick Sanchez with a look at your security. There is a debate that seems to be shaping over the use of tasers, or stun guns as they're often called. These are used by law enforcement officials to try and subdue violent suspects. Critics say that problem is 90 people in the United States and Canada have been killed with tasers since 2001. Taser safety is something the CEO of one particular company says he takes issue with.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK SMITH, CEO/CO-FOUNDER, TASER INT'L: I think the way to think about tasers is like you would think airbags in your car. They don't make a crash risk-free, neither does a taser make a confrontation with police risk-free. But they reduce the risk of injury and death dramatically.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: CNN's Kelly Wallace picks up the story from here.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the death of Freddie Jerome Williams (ph) in a Georgia jail last year that got state representative Tyrone Brooks' attention.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was tasered at home and tasered in the jail and he died. I said something needs to be done.

WALLACE: While the autopsy concluded there was no evidence the taser shocks caused or contributed to Williams' death, Brooks wasn't satisfied, so he introduced a bill calling for a statewide ban of these, 50,000-volt tasers, until there is more research surrounding their safety.

STATE REP. TYRONE BROOKS SR. (D), GEORGIA: I hope that we will have a product that won't kill people prior to them getting their day in court.

WALLACE: Since 2001, according to Amnesty International, 93 people have died in the United States and Canada ever being shocked by tasers. The latest case earlier this month in Chicago, a 54-year-old man died, and a 14-year-old boy went into cardiac arrest after being tasered by police officers.

And just last week, Toledo Police suspended the use of tasers following the January death of a suspect who had been shocked nine times. All of this has human rights groups calling for a national moratorium on the use of tasers and a federal study about their impact on people of all ages.

WILLIAM SCHULZ, AMNESTY INTL. USA: We think it's terribly important that we all know the truth, that Taser International know the truth, that Amnesty International know the truth and that police departments know the truth, so that we can tell exactly to what extent these weapons ought to be restricted.

WALLACE: The manufacturer, Taser International, says although the devices are not risk free, there is no evidence to show that a taser device was the singular cause of any death, and credits the device with saving lives every day. The president of International Association of Chiefs of Police agrees based on what he's seen so far.

JOSEPH ESTEY, INTL. ASSN. OF CHIEFS OF POLICE: What I've been told by sheriffs and chiefs that approve of the device and the technology, it is a very effective way to basically reduce the threat and bring somebody under control very quickly.

WALLACE (on camera): This week, the police chief's association will issue guidelines for officers around the country on what to consider before buying or using tasers.

(voice-over): Back in Atlanta, Tyrone Brooks says he's thinking both about the officers and people like Freddie Jerome Williams.

BROOKS: I certainly don't want to take away options from law- enforcement agencies, but we also want to make sure whatever they're using is safe to be used on humans.

WALLACE: Kelly Wallace, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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KAGAN: It was a three-car race for much of the Daytona 500, but one of them drove a little faster than the rest. Surprise ending, the winner, coming up.

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KAGAN: All right, they bumped, they charged, they passed! Jeff Gordon won NASCAR's Daytona 500 Sunday in Florida, becoming the third driver ever to win at least three of the big races. He held off Kurt Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to take the checkered flag in one of the more exciting finishes for the season-opening race. It was Gordon's first win since the 1991. Biggest race of the year, they start with it.

SANCHEZ: Sounds like you were doing your sports thing for a while.

KAGAN: It all comes back. SANCHEZ: Speaking of driving, they were driving in Colorado as well, driving the lane that is. That's a basketball term that Daryn is very familiar with. Yes, Eastern Conference won the NBA All-Star Game in Denver, score, 125-115. That's for the east by the way. Philadelphia 76ers stars, the tattooed one, that would be Allen Iverson. Yes, he got the MVP, the all-star, the whole nine yards. He finished with 15 points and 9 assists. That's actually a lot when you considering these guys usually play only a few minutes because they got a million people in there.

And there he is, getting the big trophy.

Let's keep the driving theme going, driving rains. California storms left Tiger Woods and the rest of the Nissan Open feeling all wet. They'll try and play again today after Sunday's round was washed out. Good luck.

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