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CNN Saturday Morning News

Gunmen Open Fire In Iraq, Killing One Russian Diplomat; Manhunt For Man Believed To Have Shot And Killed Seven Members Of One Family; New Yorkers Feeling Shortchanged With Homeland Security; U.S. Marines Accused Of Deliberately Killing Two Dozen Unarmed Civilians In Haditha

Aired June 03, 2006 - 08:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone.
A developing story out of Iraq this morning. Less than an hour ago, we got word that gunmen opened fire, killing one Russian diplomat -- new video into CNN -- and kidnapping four others.

Stay with CNN. We'll talk with John Vause in our Baghdad bureau in less than a minute.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Also in Iraq, U.S. troops accused of intentionally killing civilians in the town of Ishaqi have been cleared of wrongdoing. Up to a dozen Iraqis were killed in a March raid on a suspected al Qaeda safe house. The U.S. admits some civilians may have died from collateral damage.

Now to Indianapolis. A manhunt is on this morning for a man believed to have shot and killed seven members of one family on Thursday night. And some call it the worst mass murder in Indianapolis in 25 years. We have a live report from the city in about two minutes.

Iran's foreign minister said today a breakthrough over Tehran's nuclear program is possible, but only if the U.S. drops its conditions. Six world powers, including the U.S., are poised to present a proposal. It offers Iran incentives to end its nuclear program and threatens U.N. sanctions if Tehran refuses.

HARRIS: Anti-terror arrest in Canada. Police say at least 10 people were arrested on terrorism-related charges during raids in Toronto. Police would not confirm a report the charges involved an explosives plot in the province of Ontario. More arrests are expected.

A major settlement for a former nuclear scientist suspected of being a spy. The federal government and five news organizations have agreed to pay Wen Ho Lee $1.6 million in a privacy lawsuit. Lee accused federal officials of leaking information he was under investigation as a spy for China. Lee was later clear of espionage.

CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This incident has shocked our police department and shocked our city. This outrageous and inexplicable act of violence is not the norm in our city.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Not at all. A manhunt in Indianapolis. The main suspect in the family murder case is still on the loose.

Live from the crime scene is our Keith Oppenheim. He's standing by to give us the latest. And that will happen in just a moment. There's Keith.

From the CNN Center, though, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING. It is June 3rd, 8:00 a.m. here at CNN headquarters in Atlanta.

Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: Also coming up...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All loss of innocent life is tragic and unfortunate, and we absolutely regret such occurrences.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: ... Haditha, the aftermath. What's the political fallout from allegations from U.S. troops in Iraq? We'll go live to the White House in less than 10 minutes from now.

And good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. Thank you for being with us.

We begin with a developing story out of Iraq.

CNN's John Vause is tracking it for us from Baghdad and he joins us live -- John.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony, what we understand, five workers from the Russian embassy were driving from the upscale Mansour district a short time ago. They were in one vehicle when they were stopped by gunmen who were driving two separate vehicles.

The gunmen opened fire. We understand one man was wounded, four others were then kidnapped. What we're being told by sources from the interior ministry here, the wounded man was taken back to the Russian Embassy, it was only a short distance away, but he died a short time later.

Now, the vehicle did have diplomatic plates, so there was a good chance that they may have, in fact, been targeted by the gunmen in this particular incident. And it would not be the first time.

Two weeks ago, the most recent case of a diplomat being kidnapped. A worker with the United Arab Emirates Embassy here was taken hostage. He was held for a week or so, and he was released just a few days ago. And you may recall about this time last year the ambassador from Egypt was kidnapped and then later killed -- Tony.

HARRIS: CNN's John Vause for us in Baghdad.

John, we appreciate it. Thank you.

NGUYEN: Well, back in this country, the hunt for a suspected mass murderer is under way in Indianapolis. Police believe this man that you see right up there in the top corner of the screen killed seven members of one family at their home this week.

CNN's Keith Oppenheim is live in Indianapolis with the latest on this.

A lot of questions, Keith.

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There are, and a lot of searching going on, Betty. Indianapolis police say they have been searching throughout the night for who they say is the key suspect in this case.

His name is Desmond Turner, police say, and he's 28 years old. In fact, police also say that there was a raid late last night at a home about a mile from where I am, but Desmond Turner was not there.

Investigators, however, say they did make an arrest of someone they say is the accomplice in this case, 30-year-old James Stewart (ph). And police say he will be charged with murder.

It was around 10:15 on Thursday night that an execution-style shooting took place at the home that I'm at. A married couple, along with their four children and one grandson, were all murdered. And late last night Indianapolis Police Chief Michael Spears talked about how investigators are closing in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF MICHAEL SPEARS, INDIANAPOLIS POLICE: Desmond Turner is still at large, but he is not comfortable here. The police department is applying a tremendous amount of pressure to him. The community is applying a tremendous amount of pressure. The department and the citizens of our city, we're not going to tolerate this kind of conduct, and I believe it's just a matter of time before we have him in custody as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OPPENHEIM: Desmond Turner is a convicted felon. He was released on parole from prison last November. And by the way, Betty, there will be a funeral for six of the seven murder victims on Wednesday of this week.

Back to you.

NGUYEN: It's just such a tragedy, including the four children who were murdered in that.

Thank you, Keith. We'll stay on top of the story.

And for complete coverage of breaking news and today's stop stories, you'll want to stay with CNN, the most trusted name in news.

HARRIS: And other stories making headlines "Across America."

Federal authorities say they've arrested 11 members of an alleged smuggling ring in Los Angeles. They're suspected of transporting hundreds of illegal immigrants across the border, including babies and children. Officials say the smuggling fees ran as high as $2,800.

Wicked weather causing damage today in parts of New Jersey. Storms knocked a tree on to a house in Clarksboro. This is new video coming in to us from Clarksboro, New Jersey.

Forecasters say more bad weather is on the way. Heavy rain could cause flooding in some low lying areas. We will get details and the complete forecast from meteorologist Reynolds Wolf in about 15 minutes.

A wildfire that destroyed five buildings in Arizona is now 50 percent contained. The fire charred more than 800 acres south of Sedona. Fire officials say no more homes are in immediate danger. The 200 remaining evacuees are expected to be allowed to return home a bit later today.

NGUYEN: So, when it comes to funding homeland security, the purse strings are getting a little tighter and New Yorkers are feeling shortchanged. But the Bush administration says New York has been getting more from the federal piggybank than any other city.

CNN's Tom Foreman has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's going on two days already!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you live under a rock?

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: New Yorkers are good at getting mad, and they are good and mad about the 40 percent cut in their federal homeland security funds. The big apple's papers and politicians are hurling tomatoes at the White House.

REP. CAROL MALONEY, (D) NEW YORK: There is only one way to describe this administration's approach to homeland security. And that is incompetence.

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER, (D) NEW YORK: Somehow this administration thinks that Georgia peanut farmers are more at risk than the Empire State Building. Something is dramatically wrong.

FOREMAN: D.C. took a hit to its security budget, too, and has joined the protest.

MAYOR ANTHONY WILLIAMS, (D) WASHINGTON, D.C.: I think it's shortsighted for the federal government to cut funds in this way to the district and to the region.

FOREMAN: The White House suggests this is far too much fuss over a reduction that anyone could have seen coming.

TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Last year was a year in which significant resources were pumped into New York for capital expenses, which were supposed to be one time only expenditures. FOREMAN: New York lawmakers have responded with sarcastic postcards, pointing out their city's landmarks. Homeland Security admits New York is a huge terrorist target.

MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: But I do think it's fair to ask this question. After a city gets $500 million, more than twice as much as the next largest city, is it correct to assume they should continue to get the same amount of money year after year after year after year with everybody else dividing up what remains?

FOREMAN: Well, "The New York Post" seems to think so, saying the federal tax dollars their city wants are now being wasted on hicks in the sticks. But New York is still getting more than three times as much money as San Francisco. More than twice as much as Chicago. And vastly more than smaller cities like Louisville, Omaha, and Orlando. Many of whom received little or nothing last year aren't too worried about New York's tantrum.

SHERIFF KEVIN BEARY, ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA: I'm sure glad to be one of those 46 groups that got it. So show me the money.

FOREMAN: Still, some New York politicians are hinting, they may try to push out the Homeland Security chief over all of this. So if they can't get the money, they can at least get even.

Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And you'll want to be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your safety and security.

HARRIS: U.S. Forces in Iraq under fire and under scrutiny. An Army investigation clears troops of wrongdoing in one incident, but the military is still looking into an alleged massacre and two deadly shootings.

First, the March raid in the town of Ishaqi -- that is north of Baghdad -- the Army now says troops there acted properly and will not face charges. Officials say U.S. forces came under attack and fired back. They say as many as a dozen Iraqi civilians may have died.

Now to the shooting death of an Iraqi man in Hamandiyah in April. A dozen U.S. troops are under investigation. A source says murder charges are likely against several of them. Another incident happened this week in Samarra. The military is looking into reports that soldiers shot and killed two women. One of them was pregnant. The women's vehicle apparently sped through a checkpoint while taking the pregnant woman to the hospital to give birth.

NGUYEN: And then there is Haditha. Just a few short weeks ago, few in the U.S. knew much about this Iraqi town. Well, that all changed when U.S. Marines are now accused of deliberately killing two dozen unarmed civilians there last November. Now, Haditha could define the political landscape not only in Iraq, but in this country as well.

CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Prime minister Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq governs precariously between uncertain hope and complete chaos. He came to power through a democratic process. He stays in power largely through the security provided by U.S. troops. His fierce comments on alleged U.S. atrocities in Haditha speak directly to the fragile internal politics of Iraq.

NOURI AL-MALIKI, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): This is a phenomenon that has become common among many of the multinational forces, no respect for citizens, driving over vehicles, and killing on suspicion of a hunch. It's unacceptable.

CROWLEY: It is the first and most dangerous political impact of Haditha, backlash on the world stage, something the president tried to temper with his words.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One of the things that happens in a transparent society like ours, is that there is -- there will be a full and complete investigation. The world will see the full and complete investigation.

CROWLEY: In Iraq and in the Arab world, where U.S. motives are suspect, war atrocities committed by American Marines would be a propaganda tool, a way to fuel hatred in a war less about winning territory than hearts and minds.

In the U.S., with a midterm election in five months, most strategists and politicos think, even assuming the worst in Haditha, it's too early to assess political fallout. Others suggest, it may be too late, that Haditha would only add to the existing Zeitgeist.

Terry Jeffrey is editor "Human Events," a conservative weekly.

TERRY JEFFREY, EDITOR, "HUMAN EVENTS": I mean, I really think we have sort of reached a default level. Everything about the politics of Iraq I think is already discounted into American politics.

CROWLEY: Nonetheless, those who support this now unpopular war brace for another hit.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Things that happen like this are always harmful, and as far as public opinion is concerned, and disappointing to many Americans.

CROWLEY: Still, U.S. military personnel are almost universally honored across the political spectrum. However they feel about the war, said one Democrat, most Americans believe that our guys are the good guys, which may mean that Haditha, used as a purely political issue, may not sit well.

JEFFREY: Any politician who seems to prejudge them or to genuinely besmirch the service of our troops in Iraq I think is going to meet the wrath of the voters.

CROWLEY: For now, Democrats have been cautious about using Haditha as a political weapon. They don't know yet what really happened. And, in any case, they may not need it.

Candy Crowley, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And our thanks for that report from Candy Crowley, part of the best political team on television.

HARRIS: Senator John Warner has announced he'll hold hearings into what happened in Haditha.

CNN White House Correspondent Elaine Quijano joins us with more on the political fallout.

I hear birds chirping behind you, Elaine. Good morning.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Tony.

Well, President Bush has, in fact, been briefed on two of the three investigations. At least two of them, we should say, Hamandiyah and Haditha. Unclear at this point what exactly he has been told about that third investigation at Ishaqi. But generally, word of these troubles (ph) is coming at a bad time for President Bush, particularly as he has been trying to turn around low public opinion on Iraq.

Officials here, in fact, have been trying to tout Iraq's recent political success, the fact that the Iraqis now have leaders in place who will govern over the next four years. The U.S. saw that unity government as a new opportunity, a new chapter, if you will. Now, though, these investigations are greatly complicating that picture. News of Iraq's political success is being overshadowed by these probes, and officials here say they're being very careful to comment because these investigations are ongoing -- Tony.

HARRIS: CNN's Elaine Quijano for us at the White House.

Elaine, appreciate it. Thank you.

NGUYEN: The investigations in Iraq lead us to our e-mail question this morning. It's a good one. What do you think? There's been so much talk, but what do you think about the recent allegations against U.S. troops in Iraq?

E-mail your thoughts to Weekends@CNN.com. And then we're going to read some of those replies throughout the morning. We've got some really good ones so far.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One guy got hurt pretty bad, so we're just going to be very, very cautious.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Well, I mean, that's probably very smart.

NGUYEN: What is that thing right there?

HARRIS: It's called an emu, Betty. Thank you for asking.

NGUYEN: Not an ostrich, but an emu.

HARRIS: An emu on the loose.

All right. You have to stay tuned to see what kind of trouble...

NGUYEN: That's crazy.

HARRIS: ... the emu caused in Albany, New York. Emu -- can't say it enough -- on the loose...

NGUYEN: Apparently.

HARRIS: ... in about 10 minutes on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's been called nature's health club. People are kayaking more than ever for fitness and adventure. Expert kayaker Bubba Sloan (ph) says he enjoys the serenity of nature and muscle toning at the same time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You decide how fast you want to paddle and what type of aerobic exercise you want to get. It works not only your arms, but your back muscles, your stomach muscles and your thighs.

FIRFER: Kayakers burn an average of 300 calories or more in an hour's worth of paddling.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kayaking is actually a great workout. It combines an incredible upper body workout with cardiovascular exercise. If you keep moving, depending on your water conditions, you're going to burn a lot of calories.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The most comfortable stroke would be right in front of you.

FIRFER: Whether you're a beginner or an expert paddler, those who do it say kayaking is great for a true mind and body workout.

Holly Firfer, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Washington, D.C., now. Take a look at this. How many people participated in this? What did Kyung say last hour? Was it 40,000?

NGUYEN: Forty thousand women taking part in this.

HARRIS: Forty thousand participated.

NGUYEN: And, you know, Condoleezza Rice is going to be there today. She's helping out with the warm-up. And this is really important for her, because her mother came down with breast cancer when Secretary Rice...

HARRIS: When she was 15, right?

NGUYEN: ... was 15 years old, but because of treatment, which is exactly why they're running to find a cure, because of treatments her mom was able to live another 15 years.

HARRIS: And, of course, it looks like a pretty decent day, maybe a little overcast, which helps if you're doing the run.

Let's go back to the live pictures. Yes, let's do that.

Reynolds Wolf is there with us.

And Reynolds, of course if you want to get to the finish line, take the metro. Take the metro. A little traffic and weather together.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. I'll tell you, as a guy who's a runner, you don't mind running in conditions like that.

HARRIS: Yes, that's good stuff. Yes.

WOLF: I'm telling you, those are great conditions.

(WEATHER REPORT)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It looks like a chicken, but it's much bigger. (END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: YES, a lot bigger. And look at that thing run.

HARRIS: Pretty swift. Pretty swift. Hang on. Hang on. Hang on.

NGUYEN: Oh, don't get hit.

And you know what? At times they're really mean. Yes. A neighborhood struggle with an emu on the loose. You don't want to miss this.

That's in three minutes right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

HARRIS: Plus, a big counterterrorism sweep since the September 11th attacks. Details and a live report from Toronto on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. That is at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Graduation day for a bunch of kindergartners in a suburb of Albany, New York, but it's a feathery fugitive that has them giddy with excitement. Look out, get out of the way.

Steve Ference of affiliate Capital News 9 has the fast-moving story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they fight with their feet, and they're pretty big and they're pretty fast.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And my son said to me, "There's an ostrich in the road."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It looks like a chicken, but it's much bigger.

STEVE FERENCE, REPORTER, CAPITAL NEWS 9: This was Catherine Futia's (ph) big day, a.m. kindergarten graduation.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just a little scary moment, but otherwise exciting.

FERENCE: This party crashed by an unexpected visitor.

(on camera): Was it scary?

DALTON FUTIA, KINDERGARTNER: No.

FERENCE: Was it cute?

FUTIA: No.

FERENCE: What was it? FUTIA: An ostrich.

FERENCE (voice over): Actually, an emu that escaped from a farm that gave animal control and drivers near Route 146 the bird. Just a little smaller than an ostrich, it can be fast, reaching speeds over 30 miles an hour, and not necessarily too friendly.

CHERYL FUTIA, PARENT: A few years ago we'd gone down to the farm with our older kids and the farmer had showed them to us, and he said that they're quite dangerous.

FERENCE: The farmer couldn't be reached by animal control, but this may not be the emu's first run-in with the law.

RICHARD SAVAGE, DIR., GUILDERLAND ANIMAL CONTROL: A couple of times he's been out and we've got him back. He just goes back on his own. One guy got hurt pretty bad, so we're just -- we want to be very, very cautious.

FERENCE (on camera): If it comes what would you do to it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd twist his neck.

FERENCE (voice over): Twist her neck or not, this emu was on the run for hours. Animal control just kept circling around trying to herd it back to its home.

SAVAGE: We're definitely going to wait it out, and that's the game plan for right now.

FERENCE: The theory, the emu will get tired and go back to the farm. Instead, the zoo exhibit that wouldn't go away continued to race around the neighborhood, even returning to school during the p.m. kindergarten graduation, as police kept watch.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A graduation they'll never forget.

FERENCE: Because, after all, it's not every kindergarten graduation where big bird makes an appearance.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: That's good. That's good.

That was reporter Steve Ference from our Albany affiliate, Capital 9 News.

NGUYEN: Yes, but that little girl said that she was going twist her neck.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: I'm a little disturbed by that. That -- what?

HARRIS: I'm told that that's -- well.

NGUYEN: She was only this big.

HARRIS: Little baby.

NGUYEN: All right. They learn young, don't they?

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: We're keeping an eye on this weather for you this morning. Take a look at these pictures.

Hit by flashflood overnight, Clarksboro in New Jersey. Reynolds Wolf will give us the latest at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

For complete coverage of breaking news and today's top stories, you know you need to stay with CNN, the most trusted name in news.

HARRIS: Now time for your "House Call." Today with Elizabeth Cohen, the topic, live organ donations. What about the successes and complications of these life-saving surgeries? "House Call" coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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