Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Fidel Castro Temporarily Turns Over Power to Brother; Fierce Fighting Just Across Lebanese Border; Heat & Air Quality Warnings in New York

Aired August 01, 2006 - 11:01   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY, the second hour.
I'm Daryn Kagan.

Let's kick things off by taking a look at what we know, what is happening in Cuba right now.

President Fidel Castro undergoes intestinal surgery. The 79- year-old leader temporarily turns over power to his younger brother Raul. That is the first time the Cuban leader has ever transferred power.

Cuban exiles in Miami's Little Havana district took to the streets in celebration. They hope this is the beginning of the end of Castro's regime.

We have reports from Cuba and from the U.S. this morning.

Our Shasta Darlington is live in Havana. Susan Candiotti is in Miami.

Shasta, we'll begin with you.

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, people may be partying in Cuba, but here in Havana, the mood is a lot more somber. Most Cubans are trying to put a brave face on the turn of events. They're going to work as though it were just another day.

Still, a couple hundred, maybe two or three hundred, Cubans did gather in the historic center of Havana this morning to show their support for the two brothers, for Fidel Castro and Raul, and their anger at the reactions in Miami. Here is what a couple of people had to say about the events.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We Cubans are here for no other reason than to support Fidel. We are the right arm. He is the left. We are the body of him, the soul of him.

We are going forward. We are prepared for anything and whatever he tells us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): He has been a father for the people, and I think that, yes, the people are very pained by that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DARLINGTON: But while many Cubans may be concerned about Fidel's health, for better or worse, they expect much of the same under Raul. He's a man who's been in Fidel Castro's shadow for 47 years now and who is finally coming into his own, even if only in a provisional -- in a provisional way. So now they want to know what lies ahead, they want to know how Fidel Castro is doing, and they want to know what changes they may or may not be able expect under Raul -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And what about the latest on Fidel Castro? I understand the hospital where he's being cared for is in lockdown. No one is allowed to leave, no one is allowed to come in?

DARLINGTON: We're obviously not allowed anywhere near Fidel Castro. We don't know what condition he's in. We haven't actually even had any news on his state of health since the letter was read last night that he wrote and that his personal secretary read live on television.

All we -- all we know is what was said in that letter, and now it's a question of sitting and waiting, really. This evening there will be a roundtable discussion live on Cuban television, and so there may be new details coming out in that, but we'll have to see -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Shasta Darlington live from Havana, Cuba.

Thank you for that.

Let's head north to the U.S., to Florida. Susan Candiotti is in Miami. There is literally dancing in the streets there this morning.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Only 90 miles away from Cuba, and here, compared to the sheer gridlock and pandemonium of last night, where people were pounding on pots and pans in the street, now traffic has pretty much returned to normal, with the exception of some blaring horns from time to time. Here people are void (ph) by the mere notion that Castro is out of power, at least for now.

In fact, this is the headline that south Floridians woke up to in "The Miami Herald": "Castro Cedes Power." Now, of course, parenthetically you might add, "For Now."

Everyone here hopeful that it might be permanent. We spoke to a number of people who were out here demonstrating this day, even this day coming out, wrapping themselves in the Cuban flag, as well as waving the American flag, monitoring events from here, hoping that perhaps this means that Castro will be out of power for good.

Of course, hard to tell exactly what is happening because it is so difficult to get information out of Cuba, but here is what one man told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) FRANK PENA: I don't think he's dead yet, or that we know that he's dead yet, but I think -- I think it's time for justice. And we don't know what's going to happen afterwards. You can't get too excited that Cuba is going to be free.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: All right. Coming back out live now, we are in front of Versailles restaurant. This is where President Bush was yesterday sipping some Cuban coffee. And again, it is commonly a place where people come and gather each day. But I can tell you this, they haven't had gossip like this to share in decades -- Daryn.

KAGAN: I can only imagine.

Now, 650,000 Cuban-Americans living there in Florida, as I understand it, but it's a split community. Not everybody has the same vision of what Cuba should be or how it should be treated.

CANDIOTTI: That's true, and so that is why, as there is change in Cuba, it will be interesting to see what develops. For example, there are people who talk about the possibility of going back to Cuba and re-establishing their lives, or trying to fight for property that was taken away from them decades ago. And others wonder how that could possibly be, because, of course, there are people who support the communist regime.

And there is also talk of the possibility of many Cuban exiles -- or, rather, Cubans from Cuba leaving there and taking to the Florida straits, making their way here to Florida. And vice versa, family members who would go to Cuba to try to pick up exiles. So there is a great deal of difference of opinion about what will happen when eventually there is a permanent transition when Fidel Castro leaves power.

KAGAN: Susan Canndiotti live from south Florida in Miami.

Thank you.

And let's get some more reaction. Senator Mel Martinez, from Florida himself, a Cuban-American immigrant, he held a news conference in the last hour. And our Tony Harris is monitoring that -- Tony.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: That's' -- Daryn, good to see you. Good to see you.

KAGAN: Good to see you, Tony.

HARRIS: Yes, I can wrap some of the reporting that Shasta did for you at the top, along with what Susan was reporting just a moment ago.

As you mentioned, a Cuban-American and Florida senator, Mel Martinez, met with reporters just a few minutes ago talking about his reaction to the news as he received it last night.

Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MEL MARTINEZ (R), FLORIDA: Well, first of all, it's immensely emotional because last night when the news flashed across the screen I thought I was living in something that I had dreamed would happen but had never really seen occur. And so I felt a certain emotion of the moment.

The uncertainty part keeps that in check, because we don't know really exactly what's occurring. Although, I do know that if one were to diagnose how the Cuban government would react to the death of Castro, this is kind of how you would do it, you would trickle it out. You would try to avoid the shock to the Cuban people.

It's certain that their plan is for there to be a transfer from one dictator to another. That isn't really a just way of dealing with the Cuban people's desire for freedom. There ought to be an opportunity for the Cuban people to also be heard on this. And so I hope voices of freedom will come forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: And Daryn, you and Shasta just a moment ago were talking about the situation on the ground of the hospital there, pretty much on lockdown. Martinez went on to say, as you heard just a bit there, that he would expect the information to come out of the hospital very slowly, and if, in fact, Castro dies, he says we may not learn about that event for days after the death.

He went on to say that when Castro does die, many have wondered aloud what will happen. And Susan was mentioning a moment ago, could we see the scene on the ground in Cuba where we have boats lined up and ultimately in the Florida straits as a mass exodus takes place?

Senator Martinez was appointed to a panel by the president to work on that situation, basically to answer the question, what happens when Castro leaves the scene? No doubt with this news today, the news from last night, and the reaction to it today, that planning is picking up in its intensity -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Thank you very much.

HARRIS: Sure thing.

KAGAN: Tony Harris.

Well, and it was just hours before we learned of the Cuban president's surgery President Bush was interviewed by a Miami television station. And he had this to say about Fidel Castro.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We had to balance the combination of, you know, family and Fidel Castro using migration as a way to earn hard currency to keep his tyrannical regime in place. And, you know, our objective is to free the Cuban people. That's our objective.

Fidel Castro was the one who caused families to be separated. He's the one that makes it difficult for people to come from Cuba to the United States to visit relatives.

And so the U.S. government has got what I think is a balanced program. On the one hand, you know, we let people go over, as you said, once every three years. But on the other hand, people have got to understand that he uses travel and visa policy to earn currency.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Let's tell you what we know on the latest from the Middle East at this hour.

Israel widens its ground offensive in southern Lebanon. This video was just taken this morning. Israel claims to have killed or wounded more than 20 Hezbollah fighters over the last two days.

Meanwhile, Syria, Lebanon's neighbor and Hezbollah's backer, is on alert. Syria's president has ordered troops to increase their readiness. Syria's ambassador, however, says his country does not plan to enter the conflict.

Our Matthew Chance is in northern Israel.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Thanks very much, Daryn.

And a degree of fierce fighting taking place just across the border on Lebanese soil over the past several hours, particularly around the town of Aita Shaab, which is described by the Israeli military as a Hezbollah stronghold. Fierce fighting there with heavy artillery pounding at buildings on the hillside, and also close combat taking place between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah fighters. There have been a number of casualties on both sides, we understand, although we haven't had any confirmation yet from the Israeli censors on the nature of the injuries suffered by the Israeli Defense Forces, though they do say they've conflicted casualties on the Hezbollah side as well.

It's not the only place where military activities are taking place across southern Lebanon. All around that central zone of southern Lebanon there are Israeli forces on the ground. They're striking at Hezbollah infrastructure, according to the Israeli military. That means things like tunnels and trenches and bunkers and fortresses that the militia has built up over the past six years since Israel ended its occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000.

According to the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, there will be no cease-fire in the days ahead, and, indeed, we're expecting some kind of expansion of those ground operations inside southern Lebanon -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, and let's talk about this call-up of these thousands of reserves into the military. How might that affect things, Matthew?

CHANCE: I think it's going to affect it a great deal, because over the past several -- several days, in fact, there was a big call- up of reserves possibly numbering tens of thousands of people, although the exact figures haven't been made clear to us by the Israeli military. A further call-up has taken place over the course of the last 24 hours. And what we understand from Israeli media is that tomorrow, Wednesday local time, will be the day when many of those reserves are ready for some kind of deployment, even some kind of combat operation.

And so if we are going to see an expansion of ground operations, as the Israeli government says it intends to do, we may well see the start of that, if we haven't seen the start of it already, begin tomorrow, on Wednesday. Certainly we're braced to see any expansion of those ground activities in the days ahead -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Matthew Chance, thank you.

New attacks and new concerns in Iraq as well. Details on another explosive day from there ahead on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: You might want to take a hint from these kids. Do whatever you can to stay cool today.

From St. Louis to Chicago, and over to the Northeast, many areas will see temperatures hit the 100-degree mark. Smothering humidity will make it feel even hotter than that. And worse, 20,000 people on Chicago's south side have lost electricity. Hundreds of elderly have been evacuated.

They're trying to stay cool and hydrated in St. Louis as well. About 1,500 homes and businesses there are without power. And parts of Oklahoma are likely to swelter near 100 degrees through Thursday, but at least there is a chance of scattered showers.

Allan Chernoff has found his way to New York's Union Square, where it's a little sweltering.

Allan, hello.

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SR. CORRESPONDENT: That's an understatement, Daryn. It is really steamy down here.

In fact, I am holding a digital thermometer. It's showing 101 right now. Maybe it's not exactly reliable, but it's pretty close, and with the humidity, it actually feels like 105. But that's not nearly as bad as what those guys up there are feeling right now.

Construction workers working in the open sun. And guess what they're doing? They're actually putting steel rods in place into concrete.

They're going to be pouring a floor early tomorrow morning for a 15-story condominium. They're going to be pouring it at 6:00 a.m. because it won't pour properly in the midday heat.

Anyhow, New York City is definitely broiling. The city is under an emergency heat announcement, and so people are advised to stay indoors, drink lots of fluids, and any elderly who don't have air conditioning, they're being told to go to cooling centers. More than 300 are available.

Another concern here also is power. Con Edison, the local (AUDIO GAP) reporting record usage, and already they have announced that there are some minimal, they're calling them minimal scattered outages, in the borough of Queens.

You will recall a few weeks ago there was an outage there, a blackout in parts of Queens for at least nine days for many people. So that is a major concern. Con Edison, the utility here, advising people to cut back on non-essential power usage -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right, Allan. You get you and yourself and your crew a cool drink. Something like that.

Thank you, Allan.

The other weather news is Tropical Storm Chris form forming in the Atlantic. Chad Myers has that -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Just in time for our new weather center here, another tropical storm, Daryn.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: All right, Chad. Thank you.

Actor Mel Gibson has been in the news, and there's a new development in his story.

Tony Harris has that -- Tony.

HARRIS: Well, you know, Daryn, I'm sort of looking through it right now. It just crossed from the AP.

We have been wondering for a while now, Daryn, when Mel Gibson would make a fuller statement to explain the remarks, the anti-Semitic remarks attributed to him in the police reporting on the arrest for DUI, for suspected DUI. The Associated Press is now reporting that actor Mel Gibson has admitted making the anti-Semitic remarks during his drunken driving arrest and is asking members of the Jewish community to help him recover from his alcohol addiction.

He's asking for help for the alcohol addiction, maybe for some understanding as well. Let me get to the statement here.

Here is what Gibson says. He's quoted in the AP report as saying, "There's no excuse nor should there be any tolerance for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark." And he apologizes to everyone in the Jewish community.

"Please know from my heart that I am not an anti-Semite. I am not a bigot. Hatred of any kind goes against my faith."

That as reported in The Associate Press. Just -- just crossing just a couple of moments ago.

We had wondered when there would be first an acknowledgement of the attributed comments, and then some kind of fuller explanation of them. And it looks like we're getting it in this report that we are going to confirm independently, but just crossed from The Associated Press -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. Another development from Mel.

Thank you.

HARRIS: OK, Daryn.

KAGAN: Another celebrity facing a PR challenge. Tour de France hero or disgraced American? Questions about doping and the Tour de France champion. Cyclist Floyd Landis is up next.

And dancing in the streets in Miami, but is it too soon to celebrate the end of Fidel Castro's rule? Insight from someone who is in touch with the Cuban community.

You're watching LIVE TODAY on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's take a look at what we know right now from Cuban.

Seventy-nine-year-old president Fidel Castro undergoes intestinal surgery. He has handed control of the government to his younger brother, 75-year-old Raul. It's the first time the Cuban leader has ceded power.

As the White House and Coast Guard monitor the situation, Miami's Cuban exiled community is celebrating. But some warn that Raul Castro is "worse than Fidel in every way."

So there is jubilation and speculation in Miami. Joining me there for reaction from there is Ninoska Perez Castellon. She is a radio commentator and director of the Cuban Liberty Council.

Good morning.

NINOSKA PEREZ CASTELLON, DIRECTOR, CUBAN LIBERTY COUNCIL: Good morning.

KAGAN: We can tell what the mood is from all the horn-honking behind you, but tell me more about what people are saying there.

CASTELLON: Well, you have to understand that for this community, which is made up of victims, many people who have had to leave their homeland, who have been in prison, or had had a relative killed before the firing squad, this is major news, the fact that Castro is no longer in power, even though this is basically a succession. But the fact or the possibility that Castro is dead is, of course, a tremendous joy to this community.

KAGAN: And, of course, at this time we only know that he is sick and had surgery in the hospital. But most people there who you have talked with believe that he will never be back in power? That this isn't just temporary?

CASTELLON: Well, basically, this is what the Cuban government is saying. The Cuban government has never really been very open about Castro's health.

In this case, we don't have to assume that what they're saying is true. So in such a close-knit society, it's very hard to know what the truth is. You have to remember that when Stalin died, the world found out a week later. So for all we know, Castro might be dead or totally incapacitated.

KAGAN: OK. And we haven't had reports of that here at CNN, but let me ask you this, after the celebrating is over within the Cuban- American community, is there a common vision for what Cuba should be going forward?

CASTELLON: There is a common vision to help rebuild Cuba. I think it's also the fact that we have to tell the world that handing over power to Raul Castro doesn't mean change in Cuba.

Raul Castro has been the minister of defense of a dictatorship. (INAUDIBLE) generals were no different from (INAUDIBLE). So this doesn't mean any change in Cuba. And we have to be very clear about that.

I hear that they're trying to sell the image of Raul Castro as a family man. He's not. He's basically an instrument of a dictatorship, and it will be unacceptable to pretend that there would be change in Cuba.

Cuba needs elections. Cuba needs free press, freedom of expression, and the opportunity for the Cuban people to end this nightmare.

KAGAN: How close do you think that day would be when that might be possible for Cuba?

CASTELLON: Well, hopefully soon. It's been 47 years. Way too long for any country, and for Cuba it's time already.

I know there's a lot of celebration. We basically don't know what has happened, but many see it as the beginning of the end of Castro's dictatorship.

KAGAN: Thank you for giving us a look at what it's like inside the Cuban-American community.

Ninoska Perez Castellon, thank you for your time.

CASTELLON: Thank you.

KAGAN: And once again, acting superstar Mel Gibson making news today. Let's go back to Tony Harris -- Tony.

HARRIS: OK, Daryn.

CNN has confirmed that -- and as a matter of fact, I have the statement in my hand, the new statement, the second statement from actor Mel Gibson explaining his reaction to his drunken driving arrest on Friday evening. And let me read a bit of it for you.

Here's a statement from Mel Gibson. "There is no excuse nor should there be any tolerance for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark. I want to apologize specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I said to a law enforcement officer the night I was arrested on a DUI charge."

Now let's take a moment and show you one of the quotes attributed to Mel Gibson from that night.

You can read it for yourself. I'll read it with you.

"(EXPLETIVE DELETED) Jews. The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world."

And Mike, do we have the second quote?

This is when Gibson apparently was taking on one of the cops in kind of an aggressive fashion for the arrest, for the traffic stop and the arrest. He apparently just turns to the officer and says, "Are you a Jew?"

OK. So these are the comments that have been attributed to Mel Gibson, and let me give you another line from the apology.

No, that's not a good one.

"I am a public person, and when I say something either articulated and thought out or blurted outed in a moment of insanity, my words carry weight in the public arena. As a result, I must assume personal responsible for my words and apologize directly to those who have been hurt and offended by those words."

Gibson is going on to ask for a kind of one-on-one intervention with a member of the Jewish community who he can talk about these issues with. And in sort of a general statement, just wants to apologize -- here is the statement. "Please know from my heart that I am not an anti-Semite. I am not a bigot. Hatred of any kind goes against my faith."

So just further clarification. More of the statement, Daryn, from Mel Gibson.

And I'll sort through a little bit more of this and find some more pertinent information that I can share with you in just a couple of minutes.

KAGAN: All right. You work on Mel. HARRIS: OK. Thanks, Daryn.

KAGAN: OK. You got it.

Thank you, Tony.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com