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American Morning

Headlines Making News in England

Aired July 19, 2002 - 07:41   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.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: Well, well, well, they say misery loves company, right, and Londoners had plenty of both this week. A strike by employees of London's Underground apparently paralyzed the city's subway system, known as the Tube, forcing millions of commuters into the light looking for transportation alternatives.

The Tube strike is just one of the stories making news "Over There," where Richard Quest joins us. Richard, what's up?

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The peasants are revolting, literally! And what seems to have happened is that the stiff upper lip has gone a little limp and feeble, because they have been on strike. We have had two major strikes in the last week or so. One was public workers. That was the teachers. We had people who bury the dead. We had all sorts of public sector workers, who decided to go on strike for a 6 percent pay raise.

That was compounded by a Tube strike, because the workers on the London Underground, the subway, basically caused absolute chaos and mayhem. Over three-and-a-half million people a day use the Tube. They weren't able to get -- we weren't able to get to work. I had to walk, and believe me, that's not a pretty sight, indeed, after a hard day, so to speak.

So all it raised questions about is whether the Labour government of Tony Blair is now in deep trouble with the workers, because let me tell you, there are many more strikes planned over the summer.

NEVILLE: And now, Richard, I hear that you are going someplace, strike or no strike, you are going somewhere, right?

QUEST: Well, the other huge story, of course, this week, has been Morocco and Spain. The two are basically arguing over an island called Perejil or Leila, depending on which country you come from.

This island -- now, I (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of it polite. It's no bigger than two sizes (ph) of the Empire State Building. Six Moroccan troops landed on it. And they were -- they were quickly ejected by over 50 Spanish troops, who came on five warships, two submarines and three attack helicopters. And we are talking about an island where there is nothing but goats and parsley. In fact, Perejil means parsley and that's where -- that's all it is.

(UNINTELLIGIBLE) suggested the best way will to ask the goats who they'd rather belong to, Spain or Morocco.

NEVILLE: Now, Richard, I'm going to back to this suitcase thing, because the producer is saying that you are going someplace, on some trip, so I need to find out about this. Is this true or not?

QUEST: Ah! Ah! Well, this is all about the Belgium woman who decided to smuggle her boyfriend, her Kurdish boyfriend, off the ferry into Italy. She decided to smuggle him in a suitcase. And it was only...

NEVILLE: Ah, there's the suitcase.

QUEST: There's -- it was only when the suitcase looked heavy to the custom's officers that they decided there was more to it. So let's put it to the test. What sort of suitcase could you actually smuggle somebody in? Well, this might do well. It would be nice for holding your bags. But really, I don't think I'm going to get into this particular one in a hurry.

NEVILLE: I don't think so.

QUEST: Right. But how about this steamer trunk? Now, now, we're talking. Look at this.

NEVILLE: Go for it.

QUEST: This is what we think -- this is what we think they used to get him into Turkey -- I mean, into Italy. I'm still having a bit of difficulty. You'll have to forgive me. Well...

NEVILLE: Don't hurt yourself, Richard.

QUEST: Me long vega (ph) is giving me jip (ph) already, and we haven't even got out of the studio. But I'll tell you one interesting thing about this. You wouldn't get in the overhead compartment.

NEVILLE: You're right, not at all. And, Richard, I've got to tell you something. First of all, I wouldn't be getting into a suitcase, but if so, it has to look much better than that.

QUEST: You know...

NEVILLE: I've got to travel in style, no matter what.

QUEST: It's a bit -- it's a rather nice sort of suitcase. It's a bit of an old steamer trunk, but enough of that. Oh, and final one, we could always have this, and then you'd just climb into this one. It's got wheels. I'd better be very careful. This could all end in tears.

NEVILLE: Oh, geez!

QUEST: No, I think I'm just going to have to buy a ticket for my holiday this year.

NEVILLE: Yes, Richard, good luck on that travel thing. That suitcase is not working, OK?

QUEST: All right, thanks.

NEVILLE: Nice to see you, Richard Quest.

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