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More Surfaces On Andreas Lubitz Before Crash; British Parliamentary Elections Poised To Be Hotly Contested; Two Detained ISIS Operatives Speak Out; Saudi Arabia Begins Air Campaign Against Yemeni Houthi Rebels; Indiana Governor Under Fire. Aired 8:00-9:00a ET

Aired March 30, 2015 - 8:00   ET

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

[08:00:22] KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST: Our focus is on the families: that is the message from the airline Germanwings, Lufthansa's budget carrier,

has announced that it will set up care centers in France, Spain and Germany to support the families of flight 9525 victims. It says it will arrange

all expense paid trips to the crash site as well as psychological assistance.

French prosecutor says as many as 80 victims of the crash have now been identified, that's about half of those who were on board.

Now meanwhile, we're learning more about flight 9525's final moments and the man behind them.

Now a German newspaper has published what it says is a summary of the audio from the cockpit voice recorder.

Now CNN's senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Over the weekend, disturbing new details from Flight 9525's mangled cockpit

voice recorder, published by German newspaper Bild.

BILL WALDOCK, PROFESSOR, EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY: The CVR transcript was leaked way too early in the investigation.

PLEITGEN: The leaked transcript, criticized as mere voyeurism by French investigators, captures the steps 27-year-old Andreas Lubitz took to

kill all 150 on board.

Around 10 a.m., the plane takes off from Barcelona. The captain then tells Lubitz he didn't go to the bathroom in Barcelona, and Lubitz replies,

"Go any time."

Around 10:27, the plane reaches 38,000 feet, cruising altitude. The captain asks Lubitz to prepare for the landing, and after the check, Lubitz

repeats, "You can go now."

Then the captain is heard getting up and saying, "You can take over."

Lubitz, now alone with the door locked, reprograms the autopilot from 38,000 feet to 100 feet, sending the jetliner straight towards the Alps,

dropping around 3,000 feet a minute.

Air traffic control tries to contact the plane but receives no answer.

An alarm goes off inside the cockpit warning, "Sink rate." Then a loud bang on the door, the captain screaming, "For God's sake, open the door."

Passengers are also heard screaming.

Five minutes before impact, more bangs can be heard, metallic noises as if someone was trying to knock the door down.

Ninety seconds later, another alarm goes off, warning, "Terrain, pull up." The captain again screams, "Open the damn door."

Two minutes before impact, the paper reports Lubitz can be heard breathing, the plane now only 13,000 feet from the ground.

10:40 a.m., investigators believe they hear the plane's right wing scrape a mountaintop then screams once more from the 149 on board. Lubitz

apparently stays silent.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And that was Fred Pleitgen reporting.

Now questions remain about the co-pilot's medical condition. Now La Parisian newspaper citing sources close to the investigation says Lubitz

had, quote, generalized anxiety disorder. Now the paper also says that he received injections of anti-psychotic medication back in 2010. Now our

chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta will join us later to explain some of the possible affects.

Now the Germanwings crash has unsettled both passengers and crew with some airline employees refusing to fly in the days following. But one

pilot's reassuring words are now going viral. Diana Magnay reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: After Tuesday's horrific crash, and the devastating revelations that Germanwings flight

9525 was likely brought down with intent, its a nervous time for air travelers, which is why the reassuring words of one Germanwings pilot was

so appreciated by his passengers. One of them wrote about it on her Facebook page. Roughly translated, it says "he talked about how much the

crash had affected him and the crew, that the crew also had collywobbles, but they'd all come voluntarily, and about the fact that he also had

family, that the crew members had family, and that he will do everything possible to be with his family again in the evening."

"After a moment silence, the whole plane applauded," she said.

And her post went viral.

Frank Woiton, the pilot she's referring to, is modest about his Facebook stardom.

FRANK WOITON, GERMANWINGS PILOT (through translator): What makes me happy is that I managed to return a little bit of trust to the passengers.

MAGNAY: Just a few weeks ago, he says, he'd flown with Andreas Lubitz, a co-pilot accused of flying his passengers to their deaths.

WOITON (through translator): I had one flight with him. He seemed to me quite normal. I think the media already have mentioned that.

MAGNAY: Strangely, both men come from Bontebauer (ph), the small German town which this week became a focus for the world media. The home

of Lubitz's parents still shuttered there as they digest the terrible news about their son.

Several Germanwings flights were canceled this week. Now more than ever, passengers and crew alike are holding their nerve as they place

themselves in the hands of the crew in the cockpit.

[08:05:15] WOITON (through translator): As a pilot, I think it's important while the cockpit door is closed during the flight to show

yourself before your after the flight so the passengers can build up trust.

MAGNAY: Trust in an airline and an industry where it has been profoundly shaken.

Diana Magnay, CNN, Bontebauer (ph), Germany.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: In light of the crash investigation, the Australian government is issuing a mandatory rule of two for its country's airlines.

This means at least two crew members in the cockpit at all times. While many countries let airlines set their own policy, these countries in red

have the rule of two in place, or in the process of adopting it.

Now we'll have much more on the Germanwings crash right after the break.

And also ahead on the program, an exclusive interview with two ISIS members, one a driver for a top ISIS leader, and the second a bombmaker.

And now both behind bars in Iraq.

A Saudi-led coalition pounds Houthi rebels from the air. Could a ground offensive be next? After the break, a look at the escalating battle

for control in Yemen.

And later in the hour, the British election season kicks off today. As campaigning gets underway, we explain why this year's vote is shaping up

to be the tightest race in a generation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, you're back watching News Stream.

Now talks on a nuclear deal with Iran are entering the home stretch. Now six world powers in Tehran have until Tuesday to meet a self-imposed

deadline for a framework agreement. Negotiations are happening right now in Switzerland, but some core issues, they remain unresolved.

Now diplomats involved with the talks, they say those issues include how much to limit Iran's nuclear research program and when to lift

sanctions on the country.

Now to Tikrit where Iraqi forces are fighting to take control of the city from ISIS militants, but that is proving difficult. Now inside the

town, there were hundreds of ISIS militants fortified in buildings, underground tunnels as well as booby trapped roads.

Local officials say that the ground is simply littered with bombs. Now U.S.-led war planes, they began to hammer ISIS positions in Tikrit last

week to help push forward the slow moving frontline.

Now CNN has been given rare access to two men, once linked to ISIS but now confined to an Iraqi jail cell.

Now the first, a driver for one of the most powerful ISIS military leaders in Mosul, and the other a bombmaker who says he sent 19 suicide

bombers out on their deadly missions.

Now senior international correspondent Arwa Damon has this exclusive interview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Just like ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Sameem Sulaiman's path to the terrorist organization

also stemmed from American detention years ago in Camp Bucca.

Now in an Iraqi jail, he agreed to be interviewed, but not once did he look up, unwilling to speak directly to a woman.

Sulaiman worked for this man, Abu Abdel Rahman al-Bilawi (ph), one of al-Baghdadi's top military chiefs and key operator in Mosul.

[08:10:01] SAMEEM SULAIMAN, DETAINED ISIS MEMBER (through translator): He said, I need you to help me out. I just got out of prison awhile ago.

And I am with the Islamic State.

DAMON: Bilawi (ph) wanted a house, a bride and someone to cover for him if security forces searched. Sulaiman complied.

SULAIMAN (through translator): I would drive him around Mosul. He would always wear a suicide belt and carry a pistol. He wouldn't let me

see anyone who he was meeting.

DAMON: Sulaiman knew something imminent was in the works.

SULAIMAN (through translator): I didn't have specific details, but he told me if there's an operation don't leave.

DAMON: Just days before the ISIS offensive of Mosul, Bilawi (ph) was killed in a federal police operation at his home. Sulaiman was detained.

Police found the suicide belt Bilawi (ph) always wore. He was reaching for it when they gunned him down.

Federal police officers tell us had other Iraqi units taken their intelligence seriously ISIS may not have captured Iraq's second largest

city so easily.

Also in federal police custody Ammar Ali Khalil, an al Qaeda operative during the U.S. occupation, then joining ISIS.

AMMAR ALI KHALIL, DETAINED ISIS MEMBER (through translator): I was the main supplier for the Baghdad emirate for the explosive material and

suicide belts.

DAMON: Khalid says he personally prepared and dispatched 19 suicide bombers.

KHALIL (through translator): We had an Australian, a German and Arabs from other nations and Iraqis.

DAMON: Khalil was also establishing a bomb making factory in the heart of the capital.

The federal police have brought us here. This was a tire selling shop, or so it would seem to anyone who was passing by outside. But

authorities found an entire makeshift weapons bomb manufacturing and production facility.

These stills show some of what they found. In all, over a dozen suicide vests, and around 250 bombs.

It's a minuscule fraction of what ISIS has at its disposal, a small piece of a vast and complex network intelligence agencies are trying to

unravel and destroy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Now Arwa Damon is still on the ground in the Iraqi capital. Let's cross now to Baghdad. And Arwa, in your report, we learn that ISIS

had a bomb making factory there in the heart of Baghdad. And just how much progress are Iraqi forces making against ISIS when they're battling them in

Baghdad, and in Tikrit, and elsewhere?

DAMON: You know, the dynamics do change depending on where you are on the country. In Baghdad, the federal police say that they have managed to

break a number of significant stalls and networks when it comes to trying to decimate ISIS's infrastructure, but of course Iraqi security forces,

backed by the Hashd, that volunteer fighting force coupled with Iranian- backed Shia militias, they're quite entrenched in the battle in Tikrit trying to push through finally able to move into the city in and of itself

over the weekend following coalition airstrikes and a number of strikes by the Iraqi air force and artillery bombardment as well.

It's been really tough going for those forces. They are dealing with booby trapped homes, roads in lane with IEDs. We're hearing today from the

federal police commanders a statement that was written read out on Iraqi state television that they did today alone manage to kill, according to

them, some 25 ISIS militants. They have entered four neighborhoods in southern Tikrit, and they have been spending the bulk of their time at this

stage trying to clear those roads of IEDs and other explosive materials. And this is just a fraction of the battlefield that the Iraqi security

forces are trying to deal with.

Even if they do manage to clear Tikrit, ISIS still remains firmly entrenched in Mosul and in Al Anbar Province to the west.

But what's very key at this stage, Kristie, is perhaps not as how ISIS going to be militarily defeated -- of course that is the top priority at

this stage, but if it is militarily defeated, what is going to be done to eliminate those various factors that allow an entity like ISIS to grow and

thrive.

LU STOUT: You know, it's been a very slow and challenging advance on Tikrit against ISIS. You know, last week we know that the U.S.-led

coalition finally joined the fight against ISIS there in Tikrit. What has been the reaction among the fighters there. How has that gone down,

especially with the Shia militias who have been fighting ISIS in Tikrit?

DAMON: It's been very sensitive, Kristie. And there was a point right after the U.S.-led coalition announced it would be beginning

airstrikes at the request of the Iraqi government where there were widespread and very real concerns that the Hashd, that fighting force that

is predominately made up of those Iranian-backed Shia militias would possibly withdraw from the battlefield. And they have been quite critical

in the gains that have allowed the Iraqi security forces to come this far.

Iraq needs them as a fighting force. And Iraq also needs them to remain firmly on the side of the government. It cannot afford to have them

move from being part of the perhaps military solution to becoming part of the problem.

The concerns when it comes to Tikrit is because this is a mainly Shia fighting force and Tikrit is a Sunni city, we could be seeing massive

revenge reprisal attacks.

And when we were up in Tikrit over the weekend, we did not hear much, if any, gratitude being expressed towards the coalition. In fact, even top

Iraqi security forces, commanders, federal police commanders, were quick to emphasize that this is an Iraqi operation on the ground and in the skies.

They do not want to see this highjacked by the U.S.-led coalition, and perhaps to a certain degree, they don't want to see it hijacked by Iran,

aware of the sensitivities that do exist, Kristie.

[08:15:53] LU STOUT: All right. CNN's Arwa Damon reporting live from Baghdad. Many thanks indeed for that update.

And turning now to Yemen, Houthi military commanders say a Saudi-led coalition has begun daylight strikes in Sanaa.

Now it is day five of that air campaign against Houthi rebels.

Now happening right now live event, a German prosecutor is speaking in Dusseldorf addressing the crash of the Germanwings flight 9525. Let's

listen in.

(GERMAN PROSECUTOR PRESS CONFERENCE)

LU STOUT: OK, that was the office of the Dusseldorf state prosecutor addressing the Germanwings crash as you heard not offering up any new

information just yet, but we'll continue to monitor the situation for you. You're watching News Stream. We'll be back right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:21:32] LU STOUT: Welcome back. You're watching News Stream. Let's go back to the crisis in Yemen. Houthi military commanders say a

Saudi-led coalition has begun daylight strikes in Sanaa.

It is the fifth day of the air campaign against Houthi rebels. Yemen's foreign minister says he expects to see a coalition round campaign

within days, Saudi tanks could be seen heading in that direction over the weekend.

Now the kingdom shares an 1,800 kilometer border with Yemen. And I recently spoke to Gregory Johnson. He's the author of the last refuge,

Yemen, al Qaeda, and America's war in Arabia. And I started by asking about Saudi Arabia's end game.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GREGORY JOHNSEN, BUZZFEED WRITER-AT-LARGE: It looks at what Saudi Arabia is trying to do is to essentially bomb the Houthis back to the

bargaining table. The Houthis are a domestic group with deep local roots in Yemen. And so it's not going to be something like ISIS or al Qaeda

where you can just bomb them out of existence.

LU STOUT: Saudi Arabia says ground troops are a possibility. What would a ground invasion look like? And what are the risks?

JOHNSEN: Yeah, a ground invasion is in my estimation would be a catastrophic mistake for Saudi Arabia and Egypt and the rest of the

coalition.

Saudi Arabia has fought, actually, with the Houthis. In 2009, there were several border skirmishes. And the Saudi army actually came off very

poorly against the Houthis. The Houthis have been fighting, you have to remember, for more than a decade now. They're guerrilla fighters. They're

fairly well trained. And these individuals will be defending their homeland.

Sending troops in Yemen -- if you think about Afghanistan and some of the frustrations and the dangers and the challenges that U.S.-led coalition

forces based there, Yemen is just as much, if not more, of a challenge for foreign military.

LU STOUT: What are Hadi's political prospects? Can he be restored to power even with a military victory?

JOHNSEN: Right. And that's a great question.

President Hadi is in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is bombing his country. And of course any time that bombs are falling on a country, it

has a tendency to sort of unite the locals against the foreigners. And in this case, Hadi has thrown in his -- thrown in his hat, basically, with the

Saudis. And I think it will be very, very difficult for President Hadi to come back.

We have to remember that this is an individual, President Hadi, who came to power without a great deal of domestic support back in 2012. He

was someone who was put in place by the Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia as well as the United States. And he's relied on a great deal of

international support to make up for his lack of domestic support over the past three years.

He's refused to appoint a vice president. And he's someone whose popularity has continued to decline over the past few years. And I don't

see any way that a bombing campaign is going to be able to restore Hadi to the presidential palace in the capital of Sanaa.

LU STOUT: And AQAP, al Qaeda in Yemen, is it benefiting from all of the chaos?

JOHNSEN: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, what we've seen is in February, the United States shut its embassy in Sanaa and then just last week it

withdrew 125 special operations advisers that it had in an airbase in the south.

And so what we have right now are several different groups who are fighting for power in Yemen. And the rule of law is broken down. And when

that happens, groups like al Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula or even groups like ISIS are going to find a lot of territory, and they're also going to

find a lot of recruits, because people are going to flock to them -- al Qaeda has been fighting the Houthis as well.

So this is a multisided, very messy civil war So al Qaeda is not only going to get bigger and stronger, but it's also going to be able to be able

to attempt to take some territory, as we've seen groups like ISIS do in Iraq and Syria. It really is one of the worst-case scenarios.

(END VIDEOTAE)

[08:25:22] LU STOUT: And that was author Gregory Johnson speaking to me earlier.

Now some fear that the conflict could become a regional conflict. It pits Yemen's Shiite Houthis against a coalition of nine majority Sunni

nations.

Now Saudi Arabia says the Houthis are getting help from Iran, a majority Shiite nation, but the extent of Tehran's influence is hotly

contested.

Now you can learn more about what's at stake on our web site. You can find complete coverage of the crisis in Yemen at CNN.com.

Now you're watching News Stream. And coming up next, questions remain about the health of Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz. We'll hear from

CNN's chief medical correspondent.

Plus, the national election begins in the United Kingdom. We'll break down what looks like it's going to be a close race.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. And these are your world headlines.

Now the German newspaper Bild has published what it says were the final moments of Germanwings flight 9525. The paper says it is from the

audio of the cockpit voice recorder. Now the report includes frantic words from the captain locked out of the cockpit as he demands the co-pilot let

him back in.

Today marks the official start of the British election season. And a short time ago, Prime Minister David Cameron opened his campaign for a

second term with a speech a 10 Downing Street. Now before that, the opposition leader Ed Milliband of the Labor Party began his quest to unseat

Mr. Cameron with a speech to business leaders. Now British voters, they head to the polls on May 7.

Iran nuclear talks are up against a Tuesday deadline. Now six world powers and Iran have given themselves until then to come up with a

framework that limits Iran's nuclear program and lifts sanctions. But negotiators say some core issues are unresolved.

The New York Times says Trevor Noah has been named the new host of the Daily Show. The South African comedian will replace Jon Stewart on the

Comedy Central show.

Now let's explore the latest reports on Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz and his possible medical condition.

Now CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us now live from CNN Center. And Sanjay, thank you so much for joining us here.

You're fully aware of these reports out there, these reports that Lubitz had generalized anxiety disorder. Again, CNN has not and cannot confirm

this report just yet. But in general terms, what is this disorder.

[08:30: 12] DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, a generalized anxiety disorder is -- the name really does sort of sum it up.

It is an anxiety disorder that has more generalized symptoms. So, people may have symptoms of anxiety, but when it gets to the point where it's

starting to interfere with your way of life, oftentimes requiring medications, they can call it a generalized anxiety disorder.

What is, I think, also relevant according to those same reports, Kristie, is that at various time it is appears he was taking some pretty

significant medications, olanzapine, Zyprexa is how it's known in some circles, is a medication that's given as an injection typically if someone

has agitation associated with psychosis. Psychosis meaning someone who has psychotic symptoms and they have delusions and they have hallucinations.

And what we're hearing again, Kristie, we have not independently confirmed this, but what we're hearing is that five years ago when he was

22 or 23 years old, he received an injection of this medication. Was he continuing to be treating? We don't know. Were there other diagnoses that

he was assigned, we're not sure. But that is a pretty significant medication if he did, in fact, receive that.

LU STOUT: And again we can't confirm these reports on whether the co- pilot, Andreas Lubitz, was given this type of medication, these anti- psychotic medications, but what would be the impact of taking such a medication, what impact would it have on the patient?

GUPTA: Well, if someone is having agitation associated with psychosis, where it's very difficult to control with oral medications,

there are medications we know that can essentially really treat at least acutely those psychotic symptoms, to try and diminish the hallucinations

and the delusions.

But I will tell you, Kristie, with depression, for example, so many people suffer from and can be treated you know very successfully with

schizophrenia or psychosis associated with schizophrenia, it can be treated, but is more of a lifelong illness, it's something that will

probably need to be treated for one's entire life.

So, again, we have this point in time, five years ago, when he may have received this injection. One of the big questions is was he

continuing to get treated?

You can have overlap in these diagnoses, I think to your point. So someone who may start with depression that for whatever reason is

refractory, meaning does not respond well to medications, and it worsens and it can develop into a psychotic depression.

So you have the depressive symptoms, but you also have psychosis on top of that. That could be a situation that may have emerged for him as

well several years ago.

We just don't know. All we know are these medications that were given at least at one point, sort of speak to the severity of symptoms that he

was having them.

LU STOUT: But you brought up an important point just then, that one can be treated successfully with anti-psychotics, so does merely taking

anti-psychotic medication make a pilot unfit to fly?

GUPTA: Yeah, that's a great question. It's a gray area. And you know it's -- the laws have evolved when it comes to mental illness and

pilots.

You know, five years ago, six years ago in the United States, at least, if you had this diagnosis of depression it would be -- could have

been a disqualifying sign or symptom. And -- but the problem was that what that lead to, Kristie, was people just wouldn't disclose it. They wouldn't

seek treatment. And that was not the intended sort of effect of those sort of laws.

So now if you're someone who has depression, you're getting treated, you can still fly if you disclose that and the treatment is working.

When it comes to psychosis, it's a little bit more challenging. Again, if someone is having delusions, hallucinations, a lifelong illness,

how diligent are they about taking their medications, all these factors come into play and it's not neat and tidy, it can be difficult to figure

out.

And also, the idea that another pilot or crew members would notice some signs or symptoms, that's not necessarily the case. With psychosis,

one's mind can be racing on the inside, and even being delusional, but they may not have as many outward manifestations.

On the other hand, someone who is manic, from a manic sort of depressive state, mania is oftentimes more easily noted. I think over the

last days, weeks, I'd be curious to know were there any signs or clues with him that could have been picked up on. And the answer may very well be

there wasn't. No one really knew for sure what was going on inside his mind at that time.

LU STOUT: Yeah, Sanjay, really, really appreciate your insight and expertise into this very complicated and multi-layered medical story here.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta joining us live from CNN Center, thank you so much.

GUPTA: Thank you.

LU STOUT: Now politicians in the UK, they are kicking off a fierce contest to see who will occupy this address in London. Of course it's the

prime minister's residence at 10 Downing Street. Campaign season officially begins today, five-and-a-half weeks before British voters go to

the polls on May 7.

And Max Foster looks at the various candidates and parties that make the outcome of this year's election so hard to predict.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[08:35:17] MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Majestic, iconic, Westminster Palace looms large as a reminder of the political

traditions that have evolved here over 900 years.

Within these walls, parliamentary debates are robust.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Order, order, order. Passions are running high, but the answer from the prime minister must be heard.

FOSTER: But in the electorate, the argument by Britain's two major parties, the Conservatives and Labor, have increasingly fallen on deaf

ears.

A rising tide of voters choosing instead to follow smaller parties, such as the UK Independence Party, which its outspoken leader Nigel Farage

describes as the people's army. Their rallying cry: a British exit from the European Union in order to restrict immigration.

NIGEL FARAGE, INDEPENDENCE PARTY LEADER: I believe in Britain. I believe in you. I believe in (inaudible). I believe we're going to score

a famous victory on May 7. Thank you very much indeed.

FOSTER: Optimism is all very well, but the outcome of this election is anything but certain. Five (inaudible) parties, and despite growing

disillusionment with the Conservatives and Labor, they are the most likely to win the most seats. The question is whether or not either will have

enough to rule outright. If not, deals will need to be done. And that's where the smaller parties come in.

UKIP is performing strongly in the polls, but the more likely king makers are Nichola Sturgeon's Scottish National Party, which has had a

running start following its referendum on independence, and Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats, which has just spent five years in a coalition

government with the conservatives.

It's the relationship that has soured since 2010. And with a disillusioned parliament, so, too, the coalition.

As the election campaign gets underway, it'll be each party for its own. The economy looming as the largest factor. And whilst the result is

hard to call, pollsters can predict with certainty how the battle lines will be drawn.

JOE TWYMAN, YOUGOV: It'll all be about come back to what you know. Vote for the two main parties. Don't be tempted by the new and exciting

smaller parties. Stay with us, because we're the only two that can actually stand a chance at delivering a government.

FOSTER: A plea that calls on the electorate to trust in tradition.

Max Foster, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream. And still ahead, a U.S. governor is defending a controversial state law that critics call legalized

discrimination. We'll tell you what's at issue here when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:40:01] LU STOUT: Welcome back.

Now a U.S. governor insists that a bill that he signed into law is not about discrimination. But Indiana governor Mike Pence is facing a growing

backlash over the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Shasta Darlington reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, HOST, THIS WEEK: Was it a mistake to sign this law?

GOV. MIKE PENCE, INDIANA: Absolutely not.

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Indiana governor Mike Pence on the defensive over the new religious freedom

law sparking protests and boycotts. Opponents say it would allow businesses to turn away customers on religious grounds.

On ABC's This Week, Pence blames the media.

PENCE: There's been a tremendous amount of misinformation and misunderstanding around this bill. And I'm just determined and I appreciate

the time on your program, I'm just determined to clarify this.

DARLINGTON: The firestorms come amid criticism from business. CEOs from Apple to Yelp lashing out and Angie's List which is based in

Indianapolis canceling a planned expansion there. The NCAA preparing to host its college basketball final four in Indianapolis next weekend saying

we are especially concerned about how this legislation could affect our student athletes and employees.

Former NBA star Charles Barkley piling on the pressure, as long as antigay legislation exists in any state, I strong believe that any big

events such as the Final Four and Super Bowl should not be held in those states' cities.

But Pence made it clear he's not going to change the law or consider a bill making gays and lesbians a protected class, like in many other states.

PENCE: I will not push for that. That's not on my agenda. This is not about discrimination. This is about protecting the religious liberty of

every Hoosier of every faith.

DARLINGTON: But deflecting repeated questions about its impact.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes or no, should it be legal to discriminate against gays and lesbians?

PENCE: George, you're following the mantra of the last week online.

DARLINGTON: The White House quick to react.

EARNEST: When you have a law like this one in Indiana that seems to legitimize discrimination, it's important for everybody to stand up and

speak out.

DARLINGTON: There are now 20 states with some form of religious freedom law on the books. But the blowback in Indiana could deter others

from pursuing such laws.

Shasta Darlington, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: And that is News Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere, World Sport with Christina MacFarlane is next.

END