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CNN Live Today

Istanbul Airport Fire; Sniper Trial; Taliban Comeback; Hurricane Preps; Judicial Crisis?; Memorial Day Travel Tips

Aired May 24, 2006 - 10:00   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: As we move on, a couple hours here together, heads up on a couple of key stories we're watching this hour.
We're keeping a close eye on a massive fire at the Istanbul Airport. We'll go live to a reporter there very soon for this breaking story.

And check out this spectacular rollover. The story behind the pictures is even more amazing.

First, though, let's get to the breaking news out of Turkey. There we go. A massive fire at the international airport in Istanbul. The thick, black smoke is billowing high into the sky. Airport officials say the blaze may have been caused by an electrical spark in the cargo area. Firefighter are attacking the blaze from the air and the ground. CNN Turk Reporter Gokhan Guvenc joins me now. He is on the phone from Istanbul.

Gokhan, what can you tell me about the status of the fire at this time?

GOKHAN GUVENC, CNN TURK ASSIGNMENT EDITOR: At the moment we can say it's seriously (ph) under control. The smoke coming out from the cargo area is so small at the moment. An hour ago, when the fire broke out, it was a huge, dark cloud coming from the area. But now you can hardly see the smoke at the moment. It's under control.

And two people were injured in this incident. It's (INAUDIBLE) been announced by the Istanbul governor himself. Only three people are injured. And we haven't got any information whether any people were trapped inside the cargo area, which hasn't been yet (INAUDIBLE) confirmed.

And the area is open to international flights. So planes can land and taking off from Istanbul Airport, out of the airport. It is no problem in the international traffic.

Firefighters are still fighting to extinguish the fire, including the flames from the area. But what we heard from the officials is there might be some chemical inside the cargo other area. So because of those chemicals, it might be a potential danger for the people around the area. But nobody knows the amount of the chemicals or whether besides chemicals, what's also been announced is there might be some radioactive material at the cargo area. So we haven't heard anything yet from the authorities, whether it's serious, potential trapped (ph) for the people inside and there are (INAUDIBLE) area, which isn't being confirmed or announced yet. But at the moment what I can say, it's open to traffic, the fire is under control, and the firefighters are still working on it. And the latest I can add, besides two people were injured, no deaths. Nobody died out of this accident.

KAGAN: So, Gokhan, is the entire airport shut down?

GUVENC: No. It's a part of the international airport, which is the cargo area. So it's not down. Only the area where the cargo department locates (ph) is down, but it's open to traffics (ph) on the other side.

KAGAN: And what makes them so sure that this was maybe an electrical fire on chemicals and not terrorism?

GUVENC: Yes. The official hasn't (INAUDIBLE) or hasn't announced that there's a potential terrorist attack at the airport. What they said officially, that it might be, and they are (INAUDIBLE) about this, that there might be a short circuit at the cargo department and the reason for the fire is the short circuit. This is not 100 percent confirmed yet. This might be the main reason or (INAUDIBLE) reason what the governor announced half an hour ago, that it a short circuit (INAUDIBLE).

KAGAN: Gokhan Guvenc our reporter with CNN Turk. Thank you for the information. And these have been taped pictures we've been watching from just a little time ago at the airport in Istanbul.

Back here in the U.S., right now in a Maryland courtroom convicted sniper John Allen Muhammad takes on the young man he still calls his son. Muhammad is being tried again for the 2002 sniper killings that terrorized the Washington area and he's acting as his own lawyer. His cross-examination of former accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, is revealing chilling new details of a second phase to their attack plan. Our Kathleen Koch has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): "You took me into your house and made me a monster." The first words sniper suspect Lee Boyd Malvo had for the man he once loved and would have died for. In Montgomery County Circuit Court, Malvo, the now 21-year- old suspect, called John Allen Muhammad a "coward."

He revealed a 45-year-old defendant had planned a month of terror. His goal, kill six people a day. Then Malvo said they would begin phase two using improvised explosives packed with nails and ball bearings to attack children on buses and schools and at children's hospitals. Malvo said they were about to begin phase two when they were caught.

Calm and articulate, the young man described how he became distraught when his mentor and father figure first unveiled the plot. He sat in the bathroom for hours crying and playing Russian roulette. "I loaded one round. Spun. Put it to my head. Fired, fired, fired. Until I reached the fourth round, and then realized this was the one. I just broke down and couldn't do it."

Still, they traveled to Montgomery County, Maryland, that Malvo says Muhammad described as well off, mostly of white. "The perfect area to terrorize." Malvo described how they scouted each shooting location to make sure there were no surveillance cameras, few witnesses and good escape routes. He was the spotter, saying over and over, "I told Mr. Muhammad he had to go. And he took the shot." Malvo even demonstrated how some victims fell. Victim's family members cried. One woman was so overwhelmed she left the courtroom sobbing.

Malvo said they train their sights on other victims in Washington and Maryland. In Baltimore he says Muhammad ordered him to shoot pregnant women at a cemetery. Malvo couldn't pull the trigger.

In cross examination, Muhammad questioned Malvo's memory, vision and honesty. Pointing out he confessed to the murders before in seven hours of questioning by detectives. Muhammad: "So seven hours of lying, is that correct?" Malvo: "Yes." Muhammad: "That was a sworn statement? And you're sitting here today and this is a sworn statement?" Malvo: "Yes."

Malvo now says he shot three victims, two survived. He admitted firing the shot that killed bus driver Conrad Johnson. Those in court say Malvo was not the timid, brainwashed boy they'd thought he was.

MARY BRANCH, FRIEND OF SNIPER VICTIM: Malvo, I thought he was more control by Muhammad. But, no, he had a large part in the situation also. He was very articulate. I mean I didn't know he was going to be so articulate. He was very articulate. That changes everything, I think, as far as I was concerned.

KOCH: Kathleen Koch, CNN, Montgomery County, Maryland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Well, there's a lot going on in this trial. A lot more surprises to come. We are watching it for you and we'll bring you the latest from inside the courtroom all day long. Keep it here on CNN.

And we're going to find out more about the relationship between these two men. In our next hour I'll talk to the metro editor of "The Washington Post" who has been covering the trial and is at the courthouse.

A terror sweep is underway in Britain this morning. Authorities say they've arrested seven people in several area, including London. Searches are expected to continue the rest of the day. The warrants are being issue under Britain's new terrorism act. About 500 officers are involved in the sweep.

A first for Osama bin Laden. The most wanted man in the world says he personally assigned the job for the 9/11 attacks. Bin Laden's audiotape comments were aired on an Islamic website. Just a short time ago, the CIA confirmed the voice is indeed that of the al Qaeda leader. Two other comments from bin Laden on that tape. He says Zacarias Moussaoui was not involved with the September 11th attacks. Moussaoui is the only person in the U.S. convicted for the 9/11 crimes. And bin Laden says all the detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay prison are innocent, except, he says, two brother, but he did not name them.

The hunt for Osama bin Laden keeping coming up cold and the Taliban keep coming back for more. ITN Reporter Bill Neely shows us. He is on the front lines with U.S. troops in the Afghan mountains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL NEELY, ITN REPORTER, (voice over): A nighttime attack by American troops. Rocket have just hit their base. They hit back. The war against an enemy once beaten is raging again. The Taliban in the mountains are back on the offensive.

It's around the clock war, special forces, thousands of troops, the casualties mounting. Night and day, U.S. helicopters scour the mountains where the Taliban are based. They move armored and fast to avoid attacks, but the attacks are mounting. These troops ambushed a dozen times.

Here, not long ago, these U.S. troops surprised one of three groups of heavily armed mean who they believe were about to launch an attack. And that's becoming more and more common.

The Americans have the heavy armor. The Taliban know the land.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A position up there who's over watching. They could see them moving around. So we're hitting all around them and they just disappeared after we -- we don't know if we killed them or what. We didn't find any bodies over there, though.

Someone's shooting.

NEELY: The shooting and the casualties are mounting. Two dozen Americans killed in combat missions so far this year.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: CNN security watch keeps you up-to-date on safety. Stay tuned day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JONI HICKS, TAYLOR HICKS' GRANDMOTHER: I am the grandmother of the "American Idol." I know I am. I just know I am.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: OK, we're shifting gears a little bit here thanks to grandma. A proud grandmother, that is. She's whooping it up. "American Idol" gets set to crown a new winner. Tears of joy. That was Taylor Hicks grandmother. They flowed after last night's showdown between the top two "Idol" contestants.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAYLOR HICKS, (singing): I never have been the one to raise my hand. That was not . . .

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Hicks is a blues singer from Birmingham, Alabama, and has quite a following.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATHARINE MCPHEE, (singing): We have always dreamed of this. I'll admit that there was . . .

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: But he's up against some tough competition. The sultry Katharine McPhee from Sherman Oaks, California. Tonight, the winner will be revealed. But we want to -- why wait for tonight. We want to hear from you. Who should be this year's "American Idol"? We want to hear what you have to say. E-mail me at livetoday@cnn.com. And, by the way, our own Larry King will have the winner of "American Idol" right here on CNN. And that is Friday night at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

Meanwhile, check out our video of the day. It's a rollover in Michigan. This is from a dash cam in a sheriff's cruiser which sees it all. So you're wondering what happened to the driver of this SUV? I'll tell you when CNN LIVE TODAY returns. After the break, as Ryan Seacrest would say.

Also, New Orleans, can it handle another hurricane this year. Just ahead, the storm-battered city put to the test. We'll find out where things stand right now.

Plus, Katrina left prisoners stuck on a bridge. Now thousands of suspects are stuck in city jails, no lawyers, no trials. Some say, no justice.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Caught on tape, a terrible crash in Michigan. This SUV rolling over several times before going off the road. Let's watch it again as we slow down the dashboard camera video. Comes from a sheriff's car. You can see the car as it swerves to avoid a merging vehicle and then hits the SUV. Police say a seat belt saved the life of the SUV driver and the driver of the other car has not come forward.

Hurricane drills in New Orleans today, just eight days ahead of a new storm season. No time to waste. City leaders are taking stock to see where things stand right now.

Here's our Gulf Coast correspondent Susan Roesgen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Are you pretty much self reliant? Do you live alone?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I do not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You do not? OK. But you do have a (INAUDIBLE) that's going to be going with you?

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): There's a hurricane bearing down on New Orleans, a big one, category three, like Katrina, with winds over 110 miles an hour, and people have to get out. That's the scenario the city is testing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have any medical problems?

ROESGEN: Volunteers playing the role of elderly evacuees at a senior center, picked up on city buses and taken to the Amtrak train station. For the first time, the city plans to use trains to get some people out, although the deal with Amtrak is not yet final.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your last name, please?

ROESGEN: Meanwhile, at the New Orleans Convention Center, names and addresses are entered into a computer database and each evacuee is given a wrist band with a bar code, a new way to track evacuees. A way for family members who get separated to find each other.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have a young baby and I'm not taking any risks.

ROESGEN: In the next hurricane, the city estimates that of the roughly 180,000 residents, 15,000 would need help getting out. This drill is the first step to find out if the city can do it.

Susan Roesgen, CNN, New Orleans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Well, also from New Orleans, lives, families and homes all turned upside by Hurricane Katrina. And now you can add this to the list -- the criminal justice system. Right after the storm, thing were so chaotic that prisoners were held temporarily on a bridge.

Well, it hasn't gotten much better. A federal investigation says justice for poor defendants is, in a word, unavailable. Thousands have been in jail since the storm without a trial or access to a lawyer. Most public defenders have been laid off since the hurricane.

The downtown courthouse had 10 feet of water from the storm. Mold covered the walls and files were waterlogged. But they have been cleaning up. Now the city plans to hold its first criminal trial since Katrina shortly after Memorial Day weekend.

Our guest knows all about the city's legal struggles. He has his own Katrina story to tell. District Attorney Eddie Jordan is with me this morning.

Mr. Jordan, good morning.

EDDIE JORDAN, ORLEANS PARISH DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Good morning.

KAGAN: Is the justice system there broken?

JORDAN: I think it is certainly crippled. We have many challenges, including problems with impaneling a jury. We do have a grand jury, though. In fact, we have two of those. They've been in place for some time and they've been charging the most serious offenders with capital crimes in some instances and with other crimes.

But we have challenges with our own space. We've been in a nightclub for the last five months or so. We're about to move our office again to an office building, thankfully. But we've been in the Union passenger terminal. We were also in a hotel. So we've got a lot of problems. And we had to lay off a good number of people as well.

KAGAN: It sounds like a similar story in the public defender's office, which has laid off most of its attorneys. I understand there are about 2,100 people waiting in local jails for trial and many of those have had no legal representation.

JORDAN: Well, I don't think that they've all seen defense attorneys and I think that that is a serious problem. And I think it should be remedied by providing them with defense attorneys. I think that there needs to be funding for the public defender defenders' program. And that's something I believe that's within the power of the court to make happen.

KAGAN: Well, the talk is ratcheting up there because criminal district court judge, Arthur Hunter (ph), is saying that he's considering releasing thousands of these prisoners if the state does not come up with money for the public defenders' office. What is the idea of thousands of those people back out on the streets of New Orleans do to you?

JORDAN: I think that's outrageous. I think that would be a slap in the face of the citizens. The law-abiding citizens of New Orleans. I think that we deserve better. We deserve a safe community. Certainly the wholesale release of inmates on the streets of the city of New Orleans would create enormous havoc. And I think that the Constitution does not provide for this scenario. I'm adamantly opposed . . .

KAGAN: Well, the judge is saying this is a constitutional issue, and if you don't have justice, then you can't keep people locked up.

JORDAN: Well, I think that the solution is to provide these poor inmates with the lawyers that they deserve. I don't think the solution to their problem is to release them on the streets of the city of New Orleans.

KAGAN: Can the system be fixed? Do you think that funding will come through?

JORDAN: Yes, I do believe that the system can be fixed. And I think that we need to come up with creative solutions to finding this funding. But I don't think it's a realistic or sensible or responsible solution to the problem to simply open the jail doors and let all of the inmates on the streets. I think that's totally outrageous and we're going to do everything in our power to fight that and keep it from happening.

KAGAN: How do you fight that if this judge decides to make that move? What would be your next move?

JORDAN: Well, we would certainly appeal the decision. We don't think that there's any precedent for the wholesale release of inmates who are represented by public defenders.

KAGAN: Eddie Jordan from New Orleans, thank you. The district attorney. Thank you for your time.

JORDAN: Thank you.

KAGAN: And good luck with the move as you try to put your own office back together. Thank you, Mr. Jordan.

JORDAN: Thank you very much.

KAGAN: We're moving overseas now to look at a culture clash, religion and reality television in the Middle East.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They all have this idea about the Arabic women that's covered up that's supposed to be at home and just take care of the kids. And I think she's really courageous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Coming up, a Saudi fashion designer plays to win and make as statement along the way. And Gerri Willis is along. If you're thinking about hitting the road or the skies for the holiday weekend.

Hi, Gerri.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Daryn.

You know, the traffic, the crowds, the kids whining in the back seat. We're going to take the hassles out of travel. That's up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: And the markets have been open almost an hour, headed in positive territory or a positive direction. The Dow is up 34 points. The Nasdaq also in positive territory. It is up 15.

Well that bang you'll hear Friday is the starter's gun for summer travel. But we have ways to beat the Memorial Day weekend rush. Our Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis is here with her "Top Five Tips."

Gerri, good morning.

WILLIS: Hey, good morning, Daryn. Good to see you.

Let me tell you, there's going to be a lot of traffic out there. In fact, 84 percent of Americans will be hitting the road this Memorial Day weekend, 21 million people will be flying. And the good news here, gas is expected to remain steady at $2.88 on average. Also the temperatures, weather predicted to be pretty good unless, of course, you're in the plains states where you may see some thunderstorms.

KAGAN: Did you catch the music? "Leaving On a Jet Plane," Peter, Paul and Mary.

WILLIS: Hey, I'm loving that. That's really nice.

KAGAN: I like that song.

WILLIS: Almost at good as "American Idol."

KAGAN: That's it. But that's an upcoming ing segment. We've got to keep you focused on, what are we looking at, avoiding peak travel time.

WILLIS: That's right, it's all in the timing. You want to leave before noon on Friday and come back before or after Monday at 6:00 p.m. You're going to see a crush of Memorial Day bargain hunters at stores too. Remember, it's not just the roadways, it's also the malls where you're going to see a ton of people.

KAGAN: Here's the phrase that defines traveling with kids. Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

WILLIS: Oh, yes, I'm telling you, if you travel with kids, a I know lot of people do, it can be a real hassle. One idea here, rent a DVD system for the road. Check out inmotionpictures.com or driveinsane.com. That's pretty well named. You can rent a system for $60 a weekend. It may be worth it if you've got a long road trip ahead.

KAGAN: What about parking spaces at the airport?

WILLIS: Well, one good thing to do, because it can be really expensive to park at the airport, and it's going to be hideously jammed, airport hotels may let you use their parking lot for a reduced rate or even free if you book a night there right before you go. Let's say you have a really early morning flight, it may be a good idea to do. You can get up to seven days free. Also take advantage of airport parking service liked theparkingspot.com or parkandfly.com. Now these companies will let you park at their lot and then they shuttle you to the airport. Rates vary from about $7 to $15 a day depending on your location.

KAGAN: Gerri, this has happened to almost all of us. You think you're all set. You get to the airport only to find that you've been bumped from your flight.

WILLIS: Awful isn't it?

KAGAN: Yes.

WILLIS: It's a terrible feeling. And if it happens on a holiday weekend, you're not getting on another plane, right, in all likelihood because the flights are all jammed. So arrive at least an hour and a half before your flight. Print out your boarding pass. This could save you 25 minutes. Check the security wait, too. If you check security wait times you're likely to get on. The website you want to check, waittime.tsa.dhs.gov.

And, Daryn, don't forget, we want your viewers to e-mail us with any ideas they have for "Top Five Tips." We want to answer your questions on the air. Send us your e-mails at 5tips@cnn.com.

KAGAN: They can do two at once. They can send the tips and we're also asking them to e-mail who they think should win "American Idol" tonight.

WILLIS: Taylor Hicks. Taylor Hicks.

KAGAN: We will log your vote, but I think it's pretty much a no brainer there.

Gerri, thank you.

WILLIS: You're welcome.

KAGAN: Breaking news -- actually developing news that we're watching from the floor of the U.S. Senate. The Senate has voted to limit debate on the immigration bill. And there you see Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on the floor as they talk about that. We'll have more on exactly what would be in that immigration bill ahead.

But first, long lines and long waits. Las Vegas wants to check your check-in time at the airport.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We actually think it's even more secure than the system that we have today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: We're going straight to baggage check-in on LIVE TODAY. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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