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CNN Live Sunday
New Pill Give Hope To Smokers, Obese; Fresno Murder Suspect Also Suspect Of Polygamy, Incest; Socialists Win Elections In Spain
Aired March 14, 2004 - 16:00 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.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: They are two major health issues that Americans face: puffing and putting on the pounds. Are you trying to stop from doing both? A new pill, just might be the magic pill. Is it too good to be true?
And nearly one year after invading Iraq, what have coalition forces learned? A reality check from our Pentagon correspondent.
Hello and welcome to CNN SUNDAY. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. We'll have those stories and more, but first a look at headlines.
Israel is canceling a scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia. The move follows a pair of suicide bombings that killed 11 people in the tightly guarded Israeli port city of Ashdod today. Two Palestinian militant groups are claiming responsibility for the attacks.
Russian officials say a short-circuit may have sparked a fire that gutted a historic building near Moscow's Red Square. That's the word from Russia's news agency, which also reports two firefighter were killed when the building's attic caved in. The 19th Century structure was used as a horse riding center during the Czarist days.
A roadside bomb blast claimed the life on one U.S. soldier in Baghdad this morning. Coalition officials say the early morning explosion was the latest in a string of weekend bombings in Iraq that have killed six soldiers and wounded six others.
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft will be sticking close to his home for a while, getting quiet rest after surgery to remove his gallbladder. Ashcroft was discharged a few hours ago from George Washington University Hospital in Washington. And the Justice Department says Deputy Secretary Attorney General James Comby remains in charge until Ashcroft's return.
We begin in the Middle East, where it's been a bloody Sunday in Israel. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up in the port city of Ashdod. The deadly attacks led to the cancellation of the next step in the Middle East road map to peace, but police say the aftermath could have been much worse. CNN's Chris Burns joins us now from Ashdod with the latest -- Chris.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, yes, at least 11 people killed plus the two suicide bombers, at least 20 people injured, three of them in serious condition so there could be more in that death count.
Over my shoulder, there is what is left of that office, that small office building that was blown to smithereens by the second bomber. Across the street was the first one, just minutes before that blew a hole in the ceiling of this warehouse where there was citrus being stored there.
So, the total number of people killed, 11 people, between the two sites, only minutes away, after the first bomb went off. Four minutes later, the second bomb went off here as people are gathering to try to figure what was going on.
However, it could have been much worse, of course, had it been in a highly populated area. This is the port city, the port area of Ashdod. It's a major industrial port inside Israel, and that is one thing that is very significant about this attack, it is the first economic target that has been hit by suicide bombers.
Second of all, the Hamas and the al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade, closely linked to Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, they both claimed joint responsibility for this attack and say the two bombers came from Gaza. That is the first time if it is true, it would be the first time two suicide bombers came out of Gaza, despite Israel's security fence that rings the Gaza strip.
Now, what could that shed light on, it could raise questions about the security barrier built in the West Bank. We asked an Israeli official about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GIL KLEIMAN, ISRAELI POLICE SPOKESMAN: If after 3 1/2 years they succeeded one time then I still say that fence was very effective and very helpful as far as the fences in Gaza. What we've seen lately is, or what we fear, is that because of the fence in the north is built, that we've seen lately in the last two weeks a lot of terror activity down in the south. We're thinking the terrorists are just moving south where there's no fence. And that's the reason we see a rise in the southern area of terrorist attacks and suicide bombings.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Now, the Palestinian authority has condemned these latest attacks and called for a cease-fire and peace talks. However, the Israeli government says they are putting off efforts at trying to arrange a first meeting between the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers siting this attack -- Fredericka.
WHITFIELD: Now, Chris I imagine the root of this investigation also now stems into the infiltration of the security when apparently the port there has very high security that had been fortified just because of the kind of activity that takes place commercewise there?
BURNS: Yes, absoultely. That's another worrying aspect that Israeli officials will be looking at, how is it these two suicide bombers managed to get through what they call a hardened area, an area where there is security. Where in order to get into this area, there are checks of people getting in, and how did they manage to get in and slip into this area? That is going be closely looked as, Israeli officials say.
WHITFIELD: All right, Chris Burns, from Ashdod just south of Tel Aviv.
Well now, let's move on to Spain where an investigation intensifies there. One of the five men held in connection with last week's deadly train bombing has been linked to an alleged al Qaeda ringleader in Spain. Meanwhile, the attack turned today's national elections into a rather somber affair. Brent Sadler joins us from Madrid with all of the details.
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Fredericka. It seems that the devastating bomb attacks against the rail commuter network here in Madrid just a few days ago has had a dramatic impact on the way voters have been casting their ballots this day in Spain's general election.
Latest figures, unofficial ones, are showing that 68 percent of people have voted and 165 seats for the opposition Socialist Party as opposed to 145 for the ruling Popular Party. So this does show a significant swing against the government.
The government having been blamed by many voters for leading Spain into a war with the United States against Iraq a year ago, when up to 90 percent of Spaniards were vehemently against involvement of Spanish troops in that invasion against Iraq. And the continuing presence of Spanish troops, about 1,300 of them, on the ground with coalition forces in Iraq today. So a dramatic turnabout here in voter patterns.
A week ago, before those bomb blasts, the ruling Popular Party was just ahead, about 5 percentage points, but over the past couple of hours or so since the polls closed throughout Spain, the exit polls, exit results, showing the beginners of a voter trend, a reaction to punish the government it seems, a referendum on that Spanish involvement, that Spanish commitment a year ago to the U.S.-led coalition of Iraq. So, dramatic events unfolding here, Fredericka.
WHITFIELD: And Brent, obviously, officials predicted early on that the voter turnout would be very high. Consequently that is the case.
SADLER: Yes, indeed that is the case. And it has been a traditional in the past, when there's been a high voter turnout here, there has been a dramatic change in government over more than the past decade. And it does seem, unofficial results so far, we're going to see another dramatic change here statistically as they're showing it now on state television.
WHITFIELD: Brent Sadler in Madrid, thank you very much.
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says Spain has been an important partner in the war on terror and has fighting terrorists for many years. He reacted to the attacks while making the rounds of the morning talk shows today. Rumsfeld says life everywhere must go on, despite the potential terror threats.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: We simply have got to recognize that a terrorist can attack any time, any place using any technique, and you can't defend against it. An attack anywhere in the world, at any moment of the day or night, against any conceivable technique. The only choice you have is to go after the terrorist. And that's what the world is doing. And when I say the world, I mean the international community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Well, let's talk more about the relations between the U.S. and Spain with Viveca Novak. She's a correspondent for "TIME" magazine. And joins us now from Washington. Good to see you.
VIVECA NOVAK, "TIME": Good afternoon.
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, already, crossing the wires right now, Socialist Party declaring victory in Spain, with so far at least 77 percent of the votes now in, or the count now in. Do you believe that this popularity of a Socialist Party is a direct response to the bombings or consequently a direct response to the latest information in the investigation, the arrests of five?
NOVAK: Well I think it's both. The information that seems to be leading to the preliminary conclusion, at least, that al Qaeda has some connection to the bombings is certainly going to have an impact on the elections.
You have to remember that before Spain committed to going into Iraq and becoming a coalition partner, 90 percent of Spaniards in one poll opposed that very action. And so there were huge demonstrations against the war. So it is not illogical that Spaniards would blame the current government, and blame the U.S., frankly, for creating the bombing situation that we have this week.
WHIFIELD: And given that 90 percent figure, of course it had been predicted as well, that as long as it appeared as though it was the Basque separatist group Eta that may be responsible. that perhaps the Popular Party still might be able to come out on top during this election. But with the latest information linking al Qaeda, certainly things changed very quickly, within hours today?
NOVAK: Absolutely. And, you know, assuming the Socialists do prevail in this election, that presents another very sticky foreign policy situation for the United States.
WHITFIELD: In what way?
NOVAK: Well, the Socialist candidate for prime minister has said that he will immediately pull his troops out of Iraq. So we lose a coalition partner there. And then, you know, the whole situation. I mean, Spain is a traditional Western European ally, a very strong one. And that is no longer going to be assumed to be the case.
WHITFIELD: So, you think within the next 24 hour as decision will be made about us secretary of state Colin Powell, perhaps, making a very quick and impromptu visit to Spain to talk to some of these Socialist Party leaders?
NOVAK: Yes. I think we're going to do everything question. The government's going to do everything it can to try to smooth over relations with Spain at this point, and keep Spain as happy as possible.
WHITFIELD: So what kind of bargaining chips does the U.S. really have in this situation, if, indeed it turns out to be the case that the Socialist Party carries out its promise of pulling out its troops in Iraq, along with coalition forces?
NOVAK: Well, I think we don't know all of the tools in the toolbox here. But there are always issues of trade and immigration and financial assistance in various ways. You know, Spain has not been a particularly needy country on our list of people who want U.S. help, countries that want U.S. help, but there are obvious situations that could be improved, and will be -- we'll be looking at those very carefully.
WHITFIELD: Do you see beyond the governments of Spain and the U.S., perhaps the relations between the Spaniards and Americans would be strained as a result of the events that have taken place in the last three days?
NOVAK: Well I think the Spanish people are not going to be very happy with Americans and the United States in general not for the immediate future, anyway. You know, like much of Western Europe, we haven't had a problem with relations in general there, but I do think that the invasion of Iraq changed the picture with so many countries in so many ways, and a number of people, lots of the population there, has reacted in a way much different than they have in recent decades.
WHITFIELD: Viveca Novak of "TIME" magazine, thanks very much for joining us.
NOVAK: Good to be with you.
WHITFIELD: Well, this Sunday proves to be a difficult day of worship for one church congregation in particular. But after a deadly fire, members of the historic church promised to rise up above the ashes.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Miguel Marquez, live in Fresno, California, the memorial grows to a family of nine killed. The investigation continues. I'll have a live report.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Police in Fresno, California are trying to unravel the bizarre details of a mass murder case. Officials have been looking into reports of incest and polygamy. 57 year-old Marcus Wesson is accused of killing nine family members yesterday, more specifically, police belive Wesson was both father and grandfather to some of the victims. Miguel Marquez has the latest from Fresno.
MARQUEZ: Hello, Fredericka. As we get into this case, we find those bizarre twists as well, but there are some things that aren't so bizarre, we see it happen in these cases across the country. The memorial that started with just a few flowers and some stuffed teddy bears has grown into an enormous memorial in front of the house.
The house is being occupied now by the family again, a few members of the family back and forth today. The bus there at the house was the bus the father was apparently going to take his family on a long road trip on across country. The house is up for sale now.
We are also learning more about Marcus Wesson a senior, 57 years old. Two of his sons talking to reporters say that their father was not in a cult. He was a Seventh Day Adventist. It's difficult to confirm that, though, through the churches here in town. One son also saying he did believe in polygamy, as does the son, but did not say that he was married to more than one woman.
Another son seemed to verify what the police are saying. That this was a custody dispute that happened between Mr. Wesson and two women who came to pick up their children on Friday. That son saying he felt that Mr. Wesson was going to handle all of this in court, and couldn't believe that he handled this way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERAFINO WESSON, SUSPECT'S SON: He didn't return to the family because of the way -- the way my other members of the family were just raised. Like, all of them most likely ran away from home, all into drugs. Raised the way no kid should be raised. Whether -- left the house gave the house to my kids. My dad, there's no way you're going back there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: That young man's point, those women weren't worthy to take care of his kids, and decided to take action and felt that -- hoped his father would take action in court rather than this way. Also says his father served about two months in jail at one point, but did not specify exactly for what.
Two of the dead here, police, with the difficulty police have in determining who everybody is, two of the dead are both the grandchildren of -- are the grandchildren of Mr. Wesson, children he fathered by his daughters. So, there's an incestuous relationships here. Police believe. So, a DNA test will be conducted before they have exact identification on everything, on everybody.
The other thing police are saying, everyone died in a unique and consistent manner. So they're trying to figure what exactly that means and how exact it was that they died. Arraignment is still expected in early this week -- Fredericka.
WHITFIELD: Miguel Marquez, thanks for the report from Fresno.
In Pittsburgh today, nine firefighters remain hospitalized after battling Saturday's four-alarm blaze at a downtown church. Two firefighters were killed when a bell tower of the Ebenezer Baptist Church collapsed.
Today, parishioners gathered to pray at another church just blocks away from the rubble. Despite the devastation, the church's pastor says his congregation will return to the scene.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. J.V.A. WINSETT, EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH: We're going to make plans starting tomorrow to rebuild, because we want to rebuild. We own that property there. The property next door.
QUESTION: Want to rebuild right here?
WINSETT: Right there. .
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: A quick look now at some other stories across America. A Tennessee youth minister says the teenager police say killed a Loudon County sheriff Friday had problems and slit his wrists last fall. The "Knoxville News Sentinel" says the 16-year-old also spent time in a mental health facility. The teen was found dead yesterday following a 28-hour standoff with police. Officials say the boy shot himself.
A Utah mother charged with murder for allegedly refusing a cesarean section was previously convicted of child endangerment. The "Pittsburgh Tribune Review" says Melissa Rowlands go 5 years probation for punching her toddler daughter in the face at a supermarket 4 years ago.
And seeing green prematurely? Because March 17 falls on a Wednesday this year, many cities are celebrating St. Patrick's day a little early. Street parades filled with shamrock laden floats, marching bands and Irish dancers, mark the day when everybody's a little bit of Irish. Today and every day this week just about!
Well, scared to kick the smoking habit in fear of putting on the pounds? Not to the worry. Coming up next, a new super two-in-one pill. Can it help with both concerns?
And later, it's a new era, but the old laws still exist. Be careful where you park your giraffe and watch what you carry on a train, it could land you in jail. We'll explain when CNN LIVE SUNDAY when it returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Well, welcome back to big health problems plaguing the country: smoking and obesity. Sometimes it's hard to control the urges that lead people to light up or fill up. The researchers say one pill, not on the market yet, may curb the cravings. Is it too good to be true? It certainly sounds like it. Let's ask Dr. Randy Martin, a cardiologist at Emery University here in Atlanta. Good to see you.
DR. RANDY MARTIN, EMERY UNIVERSITY: How are you. Good to see you.
WHITFIELD: I'm doing great.
All right, it's not on the market yet, but it's promising to do incredible things: take care of the No. 1 and No. 2 health problems in this country. How does it work?
MARTIN: You know, when you ask, is it too good to be true? It's maybe yes and maybe no. Don't you like when a doctor does that? It basically, what's exciting about it it blocks a pathway in our brain that leads to some of the addiction of smoking and some of the urges to overeat. So, that looks very, very exciting.
In fact, it's a brand new class of drug. And it came out interestingly, the marijuana research of why people that smoke marijuana got the munchies, got hungry all the time. So, it's a very exciting drug, in the way it works. We've done good studies.
WHITFIELD: Great promises.
MARTIN: Great promises, but you know, the Americans are addicted to the magic pill concept. So, know, I think for some people this may be very helpful. For the vast majority of Americans who are overweight, you know, again, diet, exercise, calories, calories, calories will count. But exciting studies on how it was done.
WHITFIELD: So, for the sliver of candidates who might find this pill appealing, who would they be?
MARTIN: Well, I think the interesting thing is, the studies that looked at people overweight, and it did look at people who were very obese, about 1,000 people, and they lost about 20 pounds, but the dramatic thing is they stayed on the pill and their risk factors for heart disease, their abnormal cholesterol, their abnormal glucose levels improved and they lost the weight where it's the worst: around the waist.
So, I would think that for the morbidly obese, people who have trouble losing weight, very good as a start. The people 10, 20 pounds overweight, they've got to exercise and watch the calories. And you know, we have a big problem with childhood obesity. I don't think it will be recommended for children.
WHITFIELD: We've heard the label magic pill placed on a lot of things. Even the more controversial, more recently, controversial ephedra. And then there are caffeine pills and a lot of dieters say these of the answers. How is this one different? You say it really does attack the cravings and able to have that one-two punch.
MARTIN: What's exciting it comes into little receptors in our brain cells that sort of trigger the urge, when they're turned on, it's sort of like a lock and key, when they're turned on, it triggers that urge and concept. So, this pill looks effective in cutting off that urge to smoke. When smokers took about twice as many stopped smokes as those on a placebo pill. And it cuts off the urge to eat.
And if you talk to people who are really overweight, they don't eat because they're hungry, they eat because they have an uncontrollable urge to eat.
So, I think it looks very effective, but again, I think the bottom line for most Americans are, there are lots of things are out there to help you stop smoking and get a little calorie restriction and exercise, instead of three jobs (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for most of us to lose weigt.
WHITFIELD: The clinical name being ribonobant (ph), right? But it's far from being on the market. How far are we talking?
MARTIN: Well, I think realistically, 2006. There's this old adage that if you eat 100 less caolories every day and burn 100 more colories, you can be 30 pounds lighter by the time this comes out. But interestingly, I think this is going to offer a lot of hope for cigarette smokers.
You know, one of the biggest reason people don't stop smoking they say, because they're afraid of gaining weight. But when the real reason is, they ought to stop because it's going to kill them. But this pill appears to help people stop smoke and also lose weight or not gain weight.
WHITFIELD: Huge promises.
MARTIN: Absolutely.
WHITFIELD: All right, Dr. Randy Martin of Emery University. Good to see you. Thanks.
MARTIN: Thank you, Fredericka. Good to see you.
WHITFIELD: Well, One year later and still the bombings, the deaths and the search for weapons of mass destruction. What has the U.S. learned from its invasion of Iraq?
Plus...
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPODNENT: I'm Elaine Quijano, live outside the gates of Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Hundreds voiced their opposition to the war in Iraq today. That story, when we return.
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Suspect Also Suspect Of Polygamy, Incest; Socialists Win Elections In Spain>
Aired March 14, 2004 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: They are two major health issues that Americans face: puffing and putting on the pounds. Are you trying to stop from doing both? A new pill, just might be the magic pill. Is it too good to be true?
And nearly one year after invading Iraq, what have coalition forces learned? A reality check from our Pentagon correspondent.
Hello and welcome to CNN SUNDAY. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. We'll have those stories and more, but first a look at headlines.
Israel is canceling a scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia. The move follows a pair of suicide bombings that killed 11 people in the tightly guarded Israeli port city of Ashdod today. Two Palestinian militant groups are claiming responsibility for the attacks.
Russian officials say a short-circuit may have sparked a fire that gutted a historic building near Moscow's Red Square. That's the word from Russia's news agency, which also reports two firefighter were killed when the building's attic caved in. The 19th Century structure was used as a horse riding center during the Czarist days.
A roadside bomb blast claimed the life on one U.S. soldier in Baghdad this morning. Coalition officials say the early morning explosion was the latest in a string of weekend bombings in Iraq that have killed six soldiers and wounded six others.
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft will be sticking close to his home for a while, getting quiet rest after surgery to remove his gallbladder. Ashcroft was discharged a few hours ago from George Washington University Hospital in Washington. And the Justice Department says Deputy Secretary Attorney General James Comby remains in charge until Ashcroft's return.
We begin in the Middle East, where it's been a bloody Sunday in Israel. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up in the port city of Ashdod. The deadly attacks led to the cancellation of the next step in the Middle East road map to peace, but police say the aftermath could have been much worse. CNN's Chris Burns joins us now from Ashdod with the latest -- Chris.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, yes, at least 11 people killed plus the two suicide bombers, at least 20 people injured, three of them in serious condition so there could be more in that death count.
Over my shoulder, there is what is left of that office, that small office building that was blown to smithereens by the second bomber. Across the street was the first one, just minutes before that blew a hole in the ceiling of this warehouse where there was citrus being stored there.
So, the total number of people killed, 11 people, between the two sites, only minutes away, after the first bomb went off. Four minutes later, the second bomb went off here as people are gathering to try to figure what was going on.
However, it could have been much worse, of course, had it been in a highly populated area. This is the port city, the port area of Ashdod. It's a major industrial port inside Israel, and that is one thing that is very significant about this attack, it is the first economic target that has been hit by suicide bombers.
Second of all, the Hamas and the al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade, closely linked to Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, they both claimed joint responsibility for this attack and say the two bombers came from Gaza. That is the first time if it is true, it would be the first time two suicide bombers came out of Gaza, despite Israel's security fence that rings the Gaza strip.
Now, what could that shed light on, it could raise questions about the security barrier built in the West Bank. We asked an Israeli official about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GIL KLEIMAN, ISRAELI POLICE SPOKESMAN: If after 3 1/2 years they succeeded one time then I still say that fence was very effective and very helpful as far as the fences in Gaza. What we've seen lately is, or what we fear, is that because of the fence in the north is built, that we've seen lately in the last two weeks a lot of terror activity down in the south. We're thinking the terrorists are just moving south where there's no fence. And that's the reason we see a rise in the southern area of terrorist attacks and suicide bombings.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Now, the Palestinian authority has condemned these latest attacks and called for a cease-fire and peace talks. However, the Israeli government says they are putting off efforts at trying to arrange a first meeting between the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers siting this attack -- Fredericka.
WHITFIELD: Now, Chris I imagine the root of this investigation also now stems into the infiltration of the security when apparently the port there has very high security that had been fortified just because of the kind of activity that takes place commercewise there?
BURNS: Yes, absoultely. That's another worrying aspect that Israeli officials will be looking at, how is it these two suicide bombers managed to get through what they call a hardened area, an area where there is security. Where in order to get into this area, there are checks of people getting in, and how did they manage to get in and slip into this area? That is going be closely looked as, Israeli officials say.
WHITFIELD: All right, Chris Burns, from Ashdod just south of Tel Aviv.
Well now, let's move on to Spain where an investigation intensifies there. One of the five men held in connection with last week's deadly train bombing has been linked to an alleged al Qaeda ringleader in Spain. Meanwhile, the attack turned today's national elections into a rather somber affair. Brent Sadler joins us from Madrid with all of the details.
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Fredericka. It seems that the devastating bomb attacks against the rail commuter network here in Madrid just a few days ago has had a dramatic impact on the way voters have been casting their ballots this day in Spain's general election.
Latest figures, unofficial ones, are showing that 68 percent of people have voted and 165 seats for the opposition Socialist Party as opposed to 145 for the ruling Popular Party. So this does show a significant swing against the government.
The government having been blamed by many voters for leading Spain into a war with the United States against Iraq a year ago, when up to 90 percent of Spaniards were vehemently against involvement of Spanish troops in that invasion against Iraq. And the continuing presence of Spanish troops, about 1,300 of them, on the ground with coalition forces in Iraq today. So a dramatic turnabout here in voter patterns.
A week ago, before those bomb blasts, the ruling Popular Party was just ahead, about 5 percentage points, but over the past couple of hours or so since the polls closed throughout Spain, the exit polls, exit results, showing the beginners of a voter trend, a reaction to punish the government it seems, a referendum on that Spanish involvement, that Spanish commitment a year ago to the U.S.-led coalition of Iraq. So, dramatic events unfolding here, Fredericka.
WHITFIELD: And Brent, obviously, officials predicted early on that the voter turnout would be very high. Consequently that is the case.
SADLER: Yes, indeed that is the case. And it has been a traditional in the past, when there's been a high voter turnout here, there has been a dramatic change in government over more than the past decade. And it does seem, unofficial results so far, we're going to see another dramatic change here statistically as they're showing it now on state television.
WHITFIELD: Brent Sadler in Madrid, thank you very much.
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says Spain has been an important partner in the war on terror and has fighting terrorists for many years. He reacted to the attacks while making the rounds of the morning talk shows today. Rumsfeld says life everywhere must go on, despite the potential terror threats.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: We simply have got to recognize that a terrorist can attack any time, any place using any technique, and you can't defend against it. An attack anywhere in the world, at any moment of the day or night, against any conceivable technique. The only choice you have is to go after the terrorist. And that's what the world is doing. And when I say the world, I mean the international community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Well, let's talk more about the relations between the U.S. and Spain with Viveca Novak. She's a correspondent for "TIME" magazine. And joins us now from Washington. Good to see you.
VIVECA NOVAK, "TIME": Good afternoon.
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, already, crossing the wires right now, Socialist Party declaring victory in Spain, with so far at least 77 percent of the votes now in, or the count now in. Do you believe that this popularity of a Socialist Party is a direct response to the bombings or consequently a direct response to the latest information in the investigation, the arrests of five?
NOVAK: Well I think it's both. The information that seems to be leading to the preliminary conclusion, at least, that al Qaeda has some connection to the bombings is certainly going to have an impact on the elections.
You have to remember that before Spain committed to going into Iraq and becoming a coalition partner, 90 percent of Spaniards in one poll opposed that very action. And so there were huge demonstrations against the war. So it is not illogical that Spaniards would blame the current government, and blame the U.S., frankly, for creating the bombing situation that we have this week.
WHIFIELD: And given that 90 percent figure, of course it had been predicted as well, that as long as it appeared as though it was the Basque separatist group Eta that may be responsible. that perhaps the Popular Party still might be able to come out on top during this election. But with the latest information linking al Qaeda, certainly things changed very quickly, within hours today?
NOVAK: Absolutely. And, you know, assuming the Socialists do prevail in this election, that presents another very sticky foreign policy situation for the United States.
WHITFIELD: In what way?
NOVAK: Well, the Socialist candidate for prime minister has said that he will immediately pull his troops out of Iraq. So we lose a coalition partner there. And then, you know, the whole situation. I mean, Spain is a traditional Western European ally, a very strong one. And that is no longer going to be assumed to be the case.
WHITFIELD: So, you think within the next 24 hour as decision will be made about us secretary of state Colin Powell, perhaps, making a very quick and impromptu visit to Spain to talk to some of these Socialist Party leaders?
NOVAK: Yes. I think we're going to do everything question. The government's going to do everything it can to try to smooth over relations with Spain at this point, and keep Spain as happy as possible.
WHITFIELD: So what kind of bargaining chips does the U.S. really have in this situation, if, indeed it turns out to be the case that the Socialist Party carries out its promise of pulling out its troops in Iraq, along with coalition forces?
NOVAK: Well, I think we don't know all of the tools in the toolbox here. But there are always issues of trade and immigration and financial assistance in various ways. You know, Spain has not been a particularly needy country on our list of people who want U.S. help, countries that want U.S. help, but there are obvious situations that could be improved, and will be -- we'll be looking at those very carefully.
WHITFIELD: Do you see beyond the governments of Spain and the U.S., perhaps the relations between the Spaniards and Americans would be strained as a result of the events that have taken place in the last three days?
NOVAK: Well I think the Spanish people are not going to be very happy with Americans and the United States in general not for the immediate future, anyway. You know, like much of Western Europe, we haven't had a problem with relations in general there, but I do think that the invasion of Iraq changed the picture with so many countries in so many ways, and a number of people, lots of the population there, has reacted in a way much different than they have in recent decades.
WHITFIELD: Viveca Novak of "TIME" magazine, thanks very much for joining us.
NOVAK: Good to be with you.
WHITFIELD: Well, this Sunday proves to be a difficult day of worship for one church congregation in particular. But after a deadly fire, members of the historic church promised to rise up above the ashes.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Miguel Marquez, live in Fresno, California, the memorial grows to a family of nine killed. The investigation continues. I'll have a live report.
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WHITFIELD: Police in Fresno, California are trying to unravel the bizarre details of a mass murder case. Officials have been looking into reports of incest and polygamy. 57 year-old Marcus Wesson is accused of killing nine family members yesterday, more specifically, police belive Wesson was both father and grandfather to some of the victims. Miguel Marquez has the latest from Fresno.
MARQUEZ: Hello, Fredericka. As we get into this case, we find those bizarre twists as well, but there are some things that aren't so bizarre, we see it happen in these cases across the country. The memorial that started with just a few flowers and some stuffed teddy bears has grown into an enormous memorial in front of the house.
The house is being occupied now by the family again, a few members of the family back and forth today. The bus there at the house was the bus the father was apparently going to take his family on a long road trip on across country. The house is up for sale now.
We are also learning more about Marcus Wesson a senior, 57 years old. Two of his sons talking to reporters say that their father was not in a cult. He was a Seventh Day Adventist. It's difficult to confirm that, though, through the churches here in town. One son also saying he did believe in polygamy, as does the son, but did not say that he was married to more than one woman.
Another son seemed to verify what the police are saying. That this was a custody dispute that happened between Mr. Wesson and two women who came to pick up their children on Friday. That son saying he felt that Mr. Wesson was going to handle all of this in court, and couldn't believe that he handled this way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERAFINO WESSON, SUSPECT'S SON: He didn't return to the family because of the way -- the way my other members of the family were just raised. Like, all of them most likely ran away from home, all into drugs. Raised the way no kid should be raised. Whether -- left the house gave the house to my kids. My dad, there's no way you're going back there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: That young man's point, those women weren't worthy to take care of his kids, and decided to take action and felt that -- hoped his father would take action in court rather than this way. Also says his father served about two months in jail at one point, but did not specify exactly for what.
Two of the dead here, police, with the difficulty police have in determining who everybody is, two of the dead are both the grandchildren of -- are the grandchildren of Mr. Wesson, children he fathered by his daughters. So, there's an incestuous relationships here. Police believe. So, a DNA test will be conducted before they have exact identification on everything, on everybody.
The other thing police are saying, everyone died in a unique and consistent manner. So they're trying to figure what exactly that means and how exact it was that they died. Arraignment is still expected in early this week -- Fredericka.
WHITFIELD: Miguel Marquez, thanks for the report from Fresno.
In Pittsburgh today, nine firefighters remain hospitalized after battling Saturday's four-alarm blaze at a downtown church. Two firefighters were killed when a bell tower of the Ebenezer Baptist Church collapsed.
Today, parishioners gathered to pray at another church just blocks away from the rubble. Despite the devastation, the church's pastor says his congregation will return to the scene.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. J.V.A. WINSETT, EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH: We're going to make plans starting tomorrow to rebuild, because we want to rebuild. We own that property there. The property next door.
QUESTION: Want to rebuild right here?
WINSETT: Right there. .
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: A quick look now at some other stories across America. A Tennessee youth minister says the teenager police say killed a Loudon County sheriff Friday had problems and slit his wrists last fall. The "Knoxville News Sentinel" says the 16-year-old also spent time in a mental health facility. The teen was found dead yesterday following a 28-hour standoff with police. Officials say the boy shot himself.
A Utah mother charged with murder for allegedly refusing a cesarean section was previously convicted of child endangerment. The "Pittsburgh Tribune Review" says Melissa Rowlands go 5 years probation for punching her toddler daughter in the face at a supermarket 4 years ago.
And seeing green prematurely? Because March 17 falls on a Wednesday this year, many cities are celebrating St. Patrick's day a little early. Street parades filled with shamrock laden floats, marching bands and Irish dancers, mark the day when everybody's a little bit of Irish. Today and every day this week just about!
Well, scared to kick the smoking habit in fear of putting on the pounds? Not to the worry. Coming up next, a new super two-in-one pill. Can it help with both concerns?
And later, it's a new era, but the old laws still exist. Be careful where you park your giraffe and watch what you carry on a train, it could land you in jail. We'll explain when CNN LIVE SUNDAY when it returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Well, welcome back to big health problems plaguing the country: smoking and obesity. Sometimes it's hard to control the urges that lead people to light up or fill up. The researchers say one pill, not on the market yet, may curb the cravings. Is it too good to be true? It certainly sounds like it. Let's ask Dr. Randy Martin, a cardiologist at Emery University here in Atlanta. Good to see you.
DR. RANDY MARTIN, EMERY UNIVERSITY: How are you. Good to see you.
WHITFIELD: I'm doing great.
All right, it's not on the market yet, but it's promising to do incredible things: take care of the No. 1 and No. 2 health problems in this country. How does it work?
MARTIN: You know, when you ask, is it too good to be true? It's maybe yes and maybe no. Don't you like when a doctor does that? It basically, what's exciting about it it blocks a pathway in our brain that leads to some of the addiction of smoking and some of the urges to overeat. So, that looks very, very exciting.
In fact, it's a brand new class of drug. And it came out interestingly, the marijuana research of why people that smoke marijuana got the munchies, got hungry all the time. So, it's a very exciting drug, in the way it works. We've done good studies.
WHITFIELD: Great promises.
MARTIN: Great promises, but you know, the Americans are addicted to the magic pill concept. So, know, I think for some people this may be very helpful. For the vast majority of Americans who are overweight, you know, again, diet, exercise, calories, calories, calories will count. But exciting studies on how it was done.
WHITFIELD: So, for the sliver of candidates who might find this pill appealing, who would they be?
MARTIN: Well, I think the interesting thing is, the studies that looked at people overweight, and it did look at people who were very obese, about 1,000 people, and they lost about 20 pounds, but the dramatic thing is they stayed on the pill and their risk factors for heart disease, their abnormal cholesterol, their abnormal glucose levels improved and they lost the weight where it's the worst: around the waist.
So, I would think that for the morbidly obese, people who have trouble losing weight, very good as a start. The people 10, 20 pounds overweight, they've got to exercise and watch the calories. And you know, we have a big problem with childhood obesity. I don't think it will be recommended for children.
WHITFIELD: We've heard the label magic pill placed on a lot of things. Even the more controversial, more recently, controversial ephedra. And then there are caffeine pills and a lot of dieters say these of the answers. How is this one different? You say it really does attack the cravings and able to have that one-two punch.
MARTIN: What's exciting it comes into little receptors in our brain cells that sort of trigger the urge, when they're turned on, it's sort of like a lock and key, when they're turned on, it triggers that urge and concept. So, this pill looks effective in cutting off that urge to smoke. When smokers took about twice as many stopped smokes as those on a placebo pill. And it cuts off the urge to eat.
And if you talk to people who are really overweight, they don't eat because they're hungry, they eat because they have an uncontrollable urge to eat.
So, I think it looks very effective, but again, I think the bottom line for most Americans are, there are lots of things are out there to help you stop smoking and get a little calorie restriction and exercise, instead of three jobs (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for most of us to lose weigt.
WHITFIELD: The clinical name being ribonobant (ph), right? But it's far from being on the market. How far are we talking?
MARTIN: Well, I think realistically, 2006. There's this old adage that if you eat 100 less caolories every day and burn 100 more colories, you can be 30 pounds lighter by the time this comes out. But interestingly, I think this is going to offer a lot of hope for cigarette smokers.
You know, one of the biggest reason people don't stop smoking they say, because they're afraid of gaining weight. But when the real reason is, they ought to stop because it's going to kill them. But this pill appears to help people stop smoke and also lose weight or not gain weight.
WHITFIELD: Huge promises.
MARTIN: Absolutely.
WHITFIELD: All right, Dr. Randy Martin of Emery University. Good to see you. Thanks.
MARTIN: Thank you, Fredericka. Good to see you.
WHITFIELD: Well, One year later and still the bombings, the deaths and the search for weapons of mass destruction. What has the U.S. learned from its invasion of Iraq?
Plus...
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPODNENT: I'm Elaine Quijano, live outside the gates of Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Hundreds voiced their opposition to the war in Iraq today. That story, when we return.
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Suspect Also Suspect Of Polygamy, Incest; Socialists Win Elections In Spain>
