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CNN Live Sunday

Three Suicide Attacks Rock City Of Mosul, Iraq; Supreme Court Ends Session With Three Possible Decisions, Speculation Over Retirements

Aired June 26, 2005 - 17:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A smile in Aruba from one of the five suspects held in connection with an Alabama teen's disappearance. Disk jockey Steve Croes is to be released by tomorrow for lack of evidence, according to his attorney. As the search continues for Natalee Holloway, a judge flown in from Curacao has ordered continued detention for the remaining four suspects.
And at this hour, Billy Graham's last crusade is nearing its conclusion. You're looking at live pictures taking place right there at Flushing Meadows. It is expected to be the last such sermon for Billy Graham. He's the 86-year-old evangelist who has preached the gospel around the globe.

And you can check out CNN's most popular video of the day at CNN.com. Just click on the video link at our Web site and watch it all you want, whenever you want. It's a whole new way to experience the power of CNN video. And it's free.

We begin this hour in Iraq, where insurgent attacks have become a daily occurrence. Today, the northern city of Mosul has suffered the worst of the insurgents' wrath.

CNN's Jennifer Eccleston is in Baghdad with the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Three suicide attacks against Iraqi security forces and civilians around the northern city of Mosul and other assaults here in Baghdad have killed at least two dozen people today, this Sunday. This is according to Iraqi police and the U.S. military who both have differing accounts of the number of dead and wounded.

Now the latest attack was at Mosul's General Hospital in its emergency room, where casualties from earlier attacks were being treated. A suicide bomber detonated his explosives and killed between three and five people, including those police that were actually guarding the hospital. Up to a dozen people were wounded.

And earlier at an Iraqi army base outside of Mosul, witnesses say a suicide driver drove into a crowd outside of the base and detonated his explosives. Five to 16 people were killed, and several were wounded. Many of those victims were Iraqi construction workers.

And to another suicide event, a driver aimed his watermelon truck at a police station in Mosul and set off a devastating explosion. Between five and 13 police were killed and also two civilians died.

And here in Baghdad, a mortar round struck a home and killed a woman and two children. And gunmen killed a high-ranking police officer -- and in a separate attack here in the capital. And the U.S. military also announced today that a roadside bomb killed one American soldier and wounded two others.

Jennifer Eccleston, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: There may be a new wrinkle in the strategy to stop the insurgency. The Sunday Times of London reports U.S. officials recently held secret face to face meetings with insurgent leaders. When asked about it earlier today, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld would not confirm that report, but he didn't deny it either.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Well, it's the Iraqi people's country. And the Iraqis are doing that. And we work with the Iraqis. So there's no question but that we talked to -- I don't know if you'd call them insurgents. There are people all across the spectrum. Insurgents and opponents, people kind of leaning that way, people in the middle, people leaning towards the government, and then the government. And the goal is to get everybody moving in the right direction towards the government.

And there's all kinds of talks going on. And that's a good thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Rumsfeld cautioned it may take up to a dozen years to defeat the Iraqi insurgency. General John Abizaid, the head of the U.S. Central Command, added that recent spikes in violence do not mean the insurgency is gaining. He spoke earlier today on CNN's "LATE EDITION" with Wolf Blitzer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. JOHN ABIZAID, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: The insurgency can cause casualties. They can grab headlines. But as long as the politics move forward in a positive direction that is considered to be legitimate by the majority of the Iraqi people, and as long as Iraqi security forces continue to develop at the rate that they're developing, and as long as American forces continue to stay there to provide the strength for those Iraqi forces as they develop, we are, after all, the shield behind which politics takes place. The insurgency won't make it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Abizaid acknowledged that declining public support for the Iraq War remains a concern. Turning now to Aruba and the search for missing teenager Natalee Holloway. CNN has learned that one of the men now in custody will be released from jail by tomorrow. The four other suspects will remain in custody.

Here's CNN's Karl Penhaul, joining us now from Palm Beach - Karl?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, all five suspects were taken to court in downtown Oranjestad this morning. They arrived there about 9:30 local time. And then the judge arrived. He's been flown in from the neighboring island of Curacao to ensure impartiality in this high profile case.

Now he was presiding for about four hours there. We understand that each of the suspects was brought individually before him. And after his deliberations, he ruled that one of the suspects, Steve Croes, he was the deejay on the Tattoo party boat, should be freed because there's not enough evidence to justify continuing holding him.

Now what police and prosecutors have told us is that Steve Croes must technically be released by 1:00 p.m. tomorrow. So just after midday tomorrow. But nevertheless, he could be released overnight sometime, we understand. Not sure of the timing just yet.

It was back to custody, though, back into detention for the other four suspects, the three young men who were last known to have seen Natalee when she disappeared almost exactly four weeks ago. They headed off back to the jail down in the east end of the island. And then the judge, Paul Van der Sloot, he's the father also of 17-year- old Joran Van der Sloot, one of the other suspects, he was taken back to custody in the police station on the north of the island, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Karl, the attorney for Steve Croes, is he privy to the evidence, or any of the circumstances involving the other suspects?

PENHAUL: The attorney for Steve Croes will naturally have received the evidence against his client. And part of that is included in witness statements against him. Everybody, though, in this case, Fredricka, has been playing their cards very close to their chest. And that information hasn't been made public at this stage.

WHITFIELD: All right, Karl Penhaul, thanks so much, from Palm Beach, Aruba.

A private team based in Dickinson, Texas, has officially joined in the search in Aruba. It is a nonprofit group of trained volunteers.

CNN's Alex Quade explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEX QUADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is what it's like to hunt for a missing person with Tim Miller. He and his Texas search team hit Aruba running, mapping out the island, scoping possible sites where Natalee Holloway may be, targeting areas for their resources and volunteers.

All this, on just their first full day in Aruba. Miller's work began a week ago in tiny Dickinson, Texas.

TIM MILLER, EQUUSEARCH: Hello?

QUADE: Miller is usually on two phones at once.

MILLER: You were busy and I'm going to lose this - battery on this phone. And we've got nine phones ringing.

QUADE: The calls won't stop.

MILLER: Because I got a call from Aruba on the other line. Thank - OK, thanks. Bye.

QUADE: Miller quit his job to search full-time for missing people like Natalee Holloway. This call is with the head of the Aruban search team.

MILLER: I don't want, by any means, for anybody to think that we're coming over and taking over anybody's job. Law enforcement is looking forward to us working with them.

QUADE: Miller does this because he shares an unwanted bond with Natalee Holloway's parents.

Your daughter Laura was just about the same age Natalee Holloway?

MILLER: Mm-hmm. Natalee's parents and myself share something - a missing daughter.

QUADE: Tim Miller knows. His daughter Laura was abducted, raped, and murdered 21 years ago.

MILLER: When I'd walk out to the killing fields where Laura's body was found, only miles from here, and I walked - I'd walk up to the cross that I made for her, and I would literally hear a little voice over my left shoulder when I was leaving, saying, "Dad, don't quit. Please don't quit."

QUADE: He doesn't slow down, despite a heart attack in February. Four hours before the flight to Aruba...

MILLER: And get word to him that these dog people...

QUADE: The cadaver dogs still need certificates. The dive boat sonar still needs insurance. Miller and his advance team almost miss the flight to Aruba. On board, still too much planning to sleep. Logistic calls even during layovers.

MILLER: Yes, I want to have both of them, because they've got two boats for us.

QUADE: His team is not getting paid to do this.

MILLER: Laura's giving me the strength and the courage to do what I do.

QUADE: Landing in Aruba, the focus is 100 percent Natalee Holloway.

MILLER: Was already doing recon work, so I know this.

QUADE: Miller gets everyone together in what you might call a secret strategy room. He talks with U.S. consulate members and detectives. He talks with Natalee's parents and their attorney, Vinda Desouza.

Later, they meet with the Aruban police chief and report back to the group.

MILLER: And we've got a green light to do whatever we need to do for one reason. And that's to take Natalee home. I feel very, very optimistic that we are going to take Natalee back to Alabama, where she belongs.

QUADE: Tim Miller, his volunteers and cadaver dogs, are now working literally 24 hours a day until they find her, or until they run out of donated funds to keep searching.

MILLER: (INAUDIBLE) ahead of us. We've got some real emotional days ahead of us. Let's start our plans and let's go to work and let's find our girl. So all we need to do now is go find her.

QUADE: Alex Quade, CNN, Aruba.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Up next, in harm's way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was about 200 yards out just past the second sand bar. And when I heard the screaming...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Rescuers put themselves in the middle of the danger zone to help a 14-year-old girl who was attacked by a shark. We'll hear a firsthand account of yesterday's deadly episode off the Florida panhandle.

In news across America, what goes up, must come down in North Carolina. And on the legal front, what lies ahead for the U.S. Supreme court and its chief justice: A closer look when CNN LIVE SUNDAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: News across America now. Police in Yuma, Arizona, have released this sketch of a man seen running from a home Friday night where six people were killed. Four of the dead are children ranging in age from 6 to 13. An adult man was shot to death in the yard. The other five bodies were found inside. The man who fled the scene is described as 5'7" tall, about 220 pounds, age 27 to 34.

High winds in Utah are working against firefighters battling summer blazes. Wildfires burning in four Western states have consumed in excess of 200,000 acres. And in only a matter of seconds, hundreds of pounds of dynamite eliminates a building in North Carolina that had stood for decades. Charlotte's old convention center was demolished this morning to make way for a new skyscraper.

A stretch of beach in Florida is open again today a day after the deadly attack by a shark that killed a teenage girl. It happened in the waters off the Florida panhandle in Walton County, east of Pensacola. And according to an expert quoted today, it is the only shark attack of any kind in the county's recorded history.

And as you probably know by now, the victim, 14-year-old Jamie Marie Daigle of Gonzales, Louisiana, was far offshore with a friend when the deadly attack occurred. And as we know now, that a surfer tried to come to the rescue. His name is Tim Dicus. And I spoke with him a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TIM DICUS, SURFER: I'd been out surfing for about an hour and a half. And it was getting close to noon. It was about 11:00 a.m. And the two girls in question had paddled out past me just outside the outer bar, the sand bar. And I caught one wave and then went back out.

And I saw a fin go by. And a couple of minutes later, I heard a scream from the general direction of the girls. And when I turned, one of the girls was swimming frantically for the beach. And the other one was gone. And there was a dark stain in the water where she was.

WHITFIELD: And what possessed you to make your way toward that dark stain, which ended up being that pool of blood?

DICUS: Well, I knew that there was one more girl out there. And I couldn't see her. So I knew someone out there needed my help. So I paddled out to see what I could do for her. And...

WHITFIELD: And how frightening was that, being in that dark spot, not knowing where the shark might be, what could have possibly happened next?

DICUS: That -- the worst -- that was the worst part of the whole experience was going into the blood pool, because I knew he knew where I was, but I couldn't tell where the shark was. So it really put me at a disadvantage.

As soon as I got into the blood pool and got to her, she was face-down in the water and unconscious, appeared to be unconscious. As I reached for her, the shark surfaced right next to her. And I could see it was about four, four and a half feet between his dorsal and tail fins probably making him eight feet long.

WHITFIELD: And so you remained on your board as you were trying to pull her on your surf board?

DICUS: Yes, ma'am. She was completely unconscious. So it was kind of difficult to get her up on the board. It was a little bit of a struggle. Took me 10 or 15 seconds to get her up on the board.

WHITFIELD: Wow.

DICUS: And fortunately, the shark was a little confused by the surf board. And he didn't really know how to take the situation right away, so he was kind enough to leave me alone for a few seconds.

WHITFIELD: How fearful were you about trying to paddle on your board, since we hear so many accounts of surfers also being attacked by sharks because oftentimes the sharks may see a surf board and a swimmer, thinking that it looks like a seal from down below looking up?

DICUS: I don't think that was much of my concern as the shark was already feeding. I think that was really the imminent danger was he was already in feed mode. And he decided what he wanted for lunch. And he was going to come after it.

WHITFIELD: And then once you finally got onshore, describe what happened next.

DICUS: A couple of really brave men got into the water with a raft and a boogie board and managed to fend off the shark with the boogie board. And we got her into the raft. And as soon as we got her out of the water and into the raft, the blood trail from her leg stopped. And the shark broke off the attack and turned on me.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And what did you do?

DICUS: He made a real fast, violent attack on me. And so I hit him once more on the nose and he went under my board and disappeared.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Again, that was Tim Dicus. An autopsy is set for tomorrow on the body of the victim. And officials say the wounds should yield a number of clues as to the nature of the shark, specifically, what kind of shark it was.

Well, let's get more on the shark attack story. For that we turn to Dan Thomas from CNN affiliate WEAR in Pensacola. And he's live from Mirimar Beach there in Walton County. And it looks like you've got a lot of folks behind you there, but not necessarily in the water.

DAN THOMAS, WEAR NEWS CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fredricka. Really in many respects, it's a day just about like any other Sunday afternoon out here. Literally thousands of people have lined up and down the shoreline here.

Let's go ahead and take a look at them. As you said, many of them are choosing to stay out of the water. Those that are in the water are not going very far out. Of course, this attack happened past the second sound bar, as locals refer to it. It's the light green area that you see at -- very far out there. There are two different series of sand bars that you see out here.

Officials warn that once you get past that second sound bar, you're in the domain of sharks and you really are taking your life into your own hands.

Of course, sharks can show up anywhere in this water in here. Earlier today, we saw the spotting of a shark within the first sand bar, just a few feet from the shoreline. Of course, all day long people have been very wary. It's been the talk of the area around here. Everyone here seems to be on the lookout for sharks.

The sheriff's department out here has beefed up their presence. They have twice the amount of officers out here on the beach. They don't have lifeguards out here. They have what they call beach patrol. It's sheriff's deputies. Just like any other sheriff's deputies, they carry a gun, they patrol on a ATVs and in pickups. They have been trained in water rescue, but they aren't your standard lifeguard like we have over in Escambia County or even in Santa Rosa County, where they stand in a tower and keep watch on the beach.

They're patrolling. And they also enforce other county ordinances. Their top priority isn't necessarily saving people from drowning in the water - Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: So Dan, then that begs the question for those beach patrols. What kind of visibility do they have since they don't have the vantage point of say a lifeguard?

THOMAS: Well, they basically have the advantage of being on the beach, being right there at ground level. If somebody's crying for help or somebody wants their help, they'll of course break off, get in the water for a rescue. But like you said, they don't have that vantage point to where they can see not only people drowning, but sea life. They have a series of flags here both green, yellow, red, and also a purple flag to notify people when there's a lot of sea life in the water.

There wasn't a purple flag flying yesterday. There's not one flying today. And of course, they don't have the advantage of having lifeguards out here who can make that call when it's time to put up that purple flag.

WHITFIELD: Yes. All right, Dan Thomas, thanks so much. Appreciate it from Mirimar Beach.

Well, he has been the chief justice of the United States Supreme Court since 1986. But with his health ailing, how much longer will William Rehnquist oversee America's high court? We'll take a closer look at what lies ahead for him and the rest of his yellow justices, next.

And a bit later, slowly rebuilding in Sri Lanka six months after the tsunami. You're watching CNN LIVE SUNDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The gavel comes down this week on the current U.S. Supreme Court session. The nation's highest court ends work Monday before taking a three-month break.

Justices have yet to make decisions on several key cases. The court must decide the constitutionality of displaying the ten commandments in public buildings and on government property. Also pending, a decision on an Internet file sharing case. Justices must decide whether the entertainment industry may sue technology manufacturers over consumers who use their products to steal music and movies online.

And the court may rule on a Tennessee death penalty case. It involves the court's flexibility to reopen cases.

Well, perhaps the most highly anticipated decision from the high court could be from the chief justice himself. Washington is speculating whether William Rehnquist will leave the bench at the end of this term.

CNN's Bob Franken reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN ANALYST (voice-over): This is a man who delights in fighting the odds. So there was Chief Justice William Rehnquist on January 20th, swearing in the president, when so many experts said he would be too sick to do so.

WILLIAM REHNQUIST, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: And repeat after me.

FRANKEN: And here he is back on the bench, taking an active role leading the court even while he struggles with his thyroid cancer, surprising many medical experts. And here he was in May, giving a brief videotape message to graduates from an Arizona College.

REHNQUIST: I shall always be honored by having received the degree.

FRANKEN: Still, the expectation he'll resign and trigger a brutal confirmation battle over his replacement has permeated Washington politics.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm obviously going to spend a lot of time reviewing the records of a variety of people.

FRANKEN (on camera): That review has been going on for quite some time now, but the speculation about the chief justice is just that, speculation. And whatever he does will almost certainly be kept secret until he does it.

(voice-over): The man who would chair a confirmation hearing for his successor, a senator fighting cancer himself, says he believes a hearing won't soon be necessary.

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R), PENNSYLVANIA: That thinking about my own situation, it seemed to me that he just might want to stay there, because he's doing some very useful work. And for him, it's the best therapy.

FRANKEN: Many of his former clerks say they were quite pleasantly surprised at how much more robust Rehnquist seemed to be at his recent annual reunion. Still, Washington rattles with the chatter over a possible replacement for the chief justice even before anyone really knows whether he's ready to be replaced.

Bob Franken, CNN, the Supreme Court.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: With more on what a possible retirement by Rehnquist could mean for the high court, we're joined by Kermit Hall. He's a constitutional law scholar and president of the University at Albany in New York.

Good to see you.

KERMIT HALL, PRES., UNIV. AT ALBANY: Good to see you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, well, what's your gut feeling? Do you believe that Chief Rehnquist may be handing in his resignation this week at the earliest?

HALL: Well, I've been writing op-ed pieces for the last four years, predicting change on the court. And none has happened. This year, I didn't write one. And I think it's going to happen. I believe that Chief Justice Rehnquist, who has tremendous fidelity and love of the court, recognizes that in his present condition, he cannot function at a level that will provide the kind of leadership that the court needs. So I think we're going to see change.

WHITFIELD: And the chief has made it very clear, like you said, that he wanted to stick it out through this presidency as much as possible. But dealing with his thyroid cancer and that treatment, it's made it very difficult for him. When you look toward a potential replacement on the high court, do you see the White House getting pressure to perhaps not replace him with another conservative, but perhaps somebody in the middle?

HALL: No, I think the White House, given President Bush's behavior with regard to lower court nominees, is going to move forward with a person who is conservative, who will have strong support from the political right, and who will in the end, I think, put Justice Rehnquist probably a little bit more in the center than some people recognize. Fredricka, what I found very, very interesting is how many of my law school colleagues believe that it would be great if Rehnquist stayed if for no other reason than he would be more liberal or moderate than the person that's likely to replace him.

WHITFIELD: And with that potential vacancy, even before Alberto Gonzales became the attorney general, when there had been speculation before about a possible vacancy on the bench, his name was tossed around as being a favorite attorney for the White House for President Bush. Do you see that his name would still be on a short list, even though he is now attorney general?

HALL: Well, I think his name is on a short list. There are probably a dozen or so people that are on that list. The attorney general offers the opportunity to appoint the first Hispanic to the court, and also in the position of chief justice.

Emilio Garza who in down in Louisiana would offer some of the same opportunities. J. Michael Lutig and J. Harvey Wilkinson are in Virginia, there are Court of Appeals judges are possibilities. Michael O'Connell in Colorado in the Court of Appeals is a possibility as well. I certainly wouldn't rule out Justice Scalia, despite his age. Because politically his appointment would do a tremendous amount of good for the president.

And we all need to understand, in the next five years, Fredricka, this Supreme Court is going to change very dramatically. We've not had a court that's lasted as long as this one has. That is as aged as this one is. It is prime for change and I think we're going to see it. And the first step would be to take care of the chief justiceship.

WHITFIELD: And if not Chief Rehnquist, if he were to step aside, who would you see rising in the ranks? Would it be O'Connor, would it be Scalia next? Who would likely be the chief?

HALL: I think if you look inside the courts, Antonin Scalia is the likely person. He's 69, a major strike against him. President Bush has made very clear he thinks very highly of Justice Scalia. The question the president is going to have to address is how long a legacy does he want to leave, versus a certainty of putting someone in that position who he knows he can count on, on issues such as abortion.

And that's a hard choice. And I would never try to predict what the president is going to do. But my sense is that he'll push hard for a conservative in this role. This is a critical moment in history of the Supreme Court.

WHITFIELD: All right, and still no one knows for certain but these are just the rumblings in and outside the Beltway. Kermit Hall, president of the University of Albany, New York, thanks so much for joining us.

HALL: My pleasure. WHITFIELD: Well, overseas now. Iran has a new president-elect. But will he take the country back to its old ways? His plans on what's next for Iran and its nuclear future coming up.

And helping to put some lives back together. A program that lends a hand to those affected by the tsunami. I'll talk with the founder of Operation Build-a-Boat a bit later.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories now. One of five suspects detained in connection with a missing teen, Natalee Holloway, will be set free. A judge in Aruba ruled that party boat DJ Steve Croes will be released by tomorrow. The four remaining suspects will be detained for at least another eight days.

It's been a deadly day in and around the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Four suicide bombs in more than 18 hours killed at least 19 people and wounded 27. That toll is expected to grow. The U.S. military says as many as 41 people may have died in all.

The BTK serial killings case is expected to go to trial tomorrow. Suspect Dennis Rader is accused of killing 10 people in the Wichita, Kansas area between 1974 and 1991. BTK stands for "bind, torture, kill." A judge entered a not guilty play on Rader's behalf last month.

And you can check out all of CNN's most popular video of the day at cnn.com. Click on the video link at our Web site. Watch it as many times as you want, whenever you want. A whole new way to experience the power of CNN video and it's free.

Iran's new president-elect is already staking out his political turf. At a press conference today in Tehran, he held firm to the pursuit of nuclear technology, saying Iran needs it for electricity. The Bush administration is openly skeptical of that claim, believing Iran is secretly pursuing nuclear weapons. For a closer look at the man who will be Iran's next political leader, here's CNN's Matthew Chance.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An unexpected victory for the hard-liner in Iran's presidential race. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the ultra conservative Tehran mayor, may have started as the outsider. Now he's won in a landslide.

In the bazaars of the Iranian capital, talk is of what the new president will do when he's sworn in. He's promised to redistribute wealth and fight corruption. Campaign pledges, traders like Masoud (ph), who sells herbs and spices voted for. "He's a man of the people," he told us. "Not as hard as his opponents say. And he's done a good job as mayor," he says.

This trader agrees. "Tehran was in shambles before Ahmadinejad came, he says. He's got a good record and he seems honest." It's clear the horde line message of Ahmadinejad has struck a chord with many Iranians.

(on camera): But behind his victory there are also concerns about the future of this country's social confirms. Concerns years of progress, however modest, could now be rolled back.

(voice-over): In the Western style fast food restaurants of the Iranian capital's affluent suburbs, the kind of places Ahmadinejad criticized as decadent when he was mayor. Few talk on camera of their fears. Some say they're willing to give the hardliner a chance as president.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean -- most of the people in Iran -- I think that they had to make a selection and they did make a selection. So that's their choice and there it happens (ph).

CHANCE: From others, concern what the election means for a country already isolated from much of the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I don't think Ahmadinejad is so bad. But I think from the economic point of view, Iran's relations with Europe as well as the resolution of the nuclear issue, I think Rafsanjani would have been better. We would have had more progress.

CHANCE: It's too late now. As Iran ponders its chosen path in this election, the question of where it will lead, to conflict or compromise with the West, is being widely asked. Matthew Chance, CNN, Tehran.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Six months ago today, a massive earthquake rocked the ocean floor near Indonesia, leading to a deadly tsunami. Coming up, a look at how life has changed in some of the areas devastated by the natural disaster.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: It was six months ago today, the day after Christmas, when devastating tsunamis rolled across the Indian Ocean and unleashed floods across thousands of miles of shoreline. Half a year later, the confirmed death toll is more than 178,000, with almost 50,000 people still missing. CNN's Satinder Bindra reports from Sri Lanka.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After taking away from so much from the people Galle, the sea is slowly giving back. It's providing fish once again to nurture of the people of this coastal community.

But compared to what they caught before the tsunami, fishermen say the catch is sparse. But Nulin Kumar (ph) isn't complaining too much. Just being back on these choppy waters again, in a new boat given to him by international donors, he says, is a big blessing. A short distance away, miles and miles of rail track ripped apart by the tsunami have now been repaired. Tourists are slowly returning to southern Sri Lanka.

Still, for all such signs of normalcy, there's almost an unbearable sense of loss in the hearts of residents. Fourteen members of Vidanadurage Kumari's family were killed by the tsunami. Six months on, this mother of four young children still cooks in the open because her house was badly damaged.

VIDANANDURAGE KUMARI, TSUNAMI SURVIVOR (through translator): I wish my entire family had been killed by the tsunami. That would have been better than facing all our problems.

BINDRA: The fear of another tsunami is still very real in these parts. Just outside Galle, workers use heavy machinery to construct a massive embankment to prevent sea water from rushing inland. Vidanadurage Kumari says she'll continue living here. But will keep a wary watch on the sea.

KUMARI (through translator): Sometimes when I see the sea is angry, I don't send my children to school.

BINDRA: Months after the sea rolled into her house, she still hasn't thrown away this clock which stopped ticking at 9:25 a.m. She says it reminds her of all those who are not with her.

Satinder Bindra, CNN, Galle, Sri Lanka.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Joining us now from Baltimore, a U.S. businessman involved in the effort to provide tsunami relief, Steve Phillips is CEO of Phillips Foods, a major provider of seafood. And fittingly enough, he's involved in replacing fishing boats destroyed in the massive flooding. Steve, good to see you.

STEVE PHILLIPS, CEO, PHILLIPS FOODS: Very nice to be on the show.

WHITFIELD: Well, why is it you felt like this was the fitting project for you and your company?

PHILLIPS: Well, our company has seafood processing factories throughout Southeast Asia. And we work daily with the small coastal fishermen that live in a lot of affected areas. And when this tragedy hit, of course all of us were very, very concerned with the tremendous loss of life. And we wanted to try and do everything we could to really help the people that were in such dire straits.

WHITFIELD: So your project is called Build-a-Boat. So many organizations have donated food or money or clothing, etc. And you all decided to go straight to the vocation that so many people rely on there. How does this Build-a-Boat project work?

PHILLIPS: Well, of course, you know when the tsunami hit, I mean, we sent trucks of food and supplies to the affected areas. But we also wanted to do something that was a little more long-term and a little more lasting. And to try to give livelihood back to the fishermen so they could support their families. We felt that building boats and supplying nets and fishing gear for the fishermen was a good way to help with the economic problems encountered by the people.

WHITFIELD: And you've done this with the help of donations, right? What have you received in the form of donations? How much more is needed?

PHILLIPS: It's been tremendous. We've received so far $170,000. $170,000. And we currently have built 30 boats with 80 more boats under construction for the fishermen in affected areas. And our Web site is phillipsfoods.com. We certainly -- anyone who would like to donate money for the Build-a-Boat program, we certainly would love to have your donation and contribution.

WHITFIELD: What do you understand the response to be like there?

PHILLIPS: The response in Southeast Asia and the affected areas has been tremendous. You know, it kind of really makes your heart feel good that you're able to put a smile on people's faces that have gone through such a tragedy.

WHITFIELD: Wow. We're looking at some of the photographs. Still photos. It looks like one says Seacrest, O.C., Maryland. Like Ocean City, Maryland?

PHILLIPS: That's correct. That's a very successful restaurant and nightclub operation there. And they were so generous as to really have a Phillips tsunami day. And they collected a lot of money for the build a boat program. And we certainly want to thank them very much for their contribution.

WHITFIELD: So, ultimately, how many boats will this result in?

PHILLIPS: Well, with $170,000, we feel we can build close to 100 boats. Of course, money is still pouring in. And it's very desperately needed. 100 percent of this money goes towards building the boats. None of it goes towards administration. We're picking up all the administration costs. My grandfather, of course, was a fisherman. And he certainly would want me also to do anything I could to help fishermen in other parts of the world.

WHITFIELD: Wow! It must feel so good to be making this kind of contribution when your business relies so greatly on the work of so many people in that devastated area.

PHILLIPS: Well, we certainly depend on them, on the fishermen. And of course, they depend on us also to provide a market for them for their catch. So they can earn income to provide for their families.

WHITFIELD: Steve Phillips of Phillips Food, phillipsfoods.com - and of course, if folks want to donate, Phillipsfoods.com is the Website where they can get some information. Thanks so much for being with us. And I'm sure the people in Southeast Asia are really appreciative of your efforts.

PHILLIPS: Well, thank you very much for having us on.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much. Always love the crab cakes at Phillips in Baltimore.

PHILLIPS: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: And even on the waterfront in Washington, too. Had to get that in. Thanks a lot, Steve.

PHILLIPS: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Carol Lin is here looking straight ahead for us in the next hour or so of CNN LIVE.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: In 10 minutes.

WHITFIELD: It creeps up like that.

LIN: I know it does. Just like that.

You were just talking about crab cakes. We're going to be busting some diet myths in addition to covering the day's news. So, for example, fish. How many times do I have to eat salmon a week in order for it to be healthy for me? Do I have to drop all my carbs? Or how many carbs in order to lose weight? Do women really need more protein? We're going to be taking the top five diet myths and I'm going to be talking to an expert about that.

WHITFIELD: All right. Looking forward to that.

LIN: All right. Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Carol.

All right. We want to go back to Aruba with some new developments coming out of that area in the Natalee Holloway investigation. Karl Penhaul joins us from Palm Beach. Karl?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, we've just heard from the island's police commissioner, Jan Van der Straten that Judge Paul Van der Sloot, one of five suspects in the disappearance of the Natalee Holloway case, will be released from custody by tonight.

Now, as you know, he was one of the five suspects who appeared in court in the course of today. And when they initially emerged from court, they went back to their places of custody. Initially, we understood that he would be kept in detention for a further eight days. But the police commissioner has now told us that the judge made no public announcement after his court rulings, has in fact decided that Paul Van der Sloot, the father of one of the other suspects, Joran Van der Sloot, will actually be released.

Now, the police commissioner hasn't told us why this has come about. But typically what happens is that the judge decides to release any suspects if he is not convinced that there is enough evidence to continue holding them. That seems to have been the case in this instance with Paul Van der Sloot, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Karl Penhaul from Palm Beach, Aruba, thanks very much for that update.

And we'll be right back after this.

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WHITFIELD: Well, this just in. We want to show you these remarkable pictures. Lake Huron and a twin engine plane went down. You see that plane very quickly sinking now into Lake Huron. All the passengers, miraculously, were rescued. We don't know, however, the circumstances of this plane going down, what happened or why. Only that this twin engine plane did go down in Lake Huron and all the passengers on board were rescued and are safe and sound.

Time now to look ahead for some of the stories you'll be seeing on CNN this week. On Tuesday at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, President Bush will deliver a prime time televised address to the nation. He's expected to rally support for continued military presence in Iraq. Also Tuesday, one week after reaching an agreement between players and owners, the NBA will hold its annual draft. As part of that contract, there are new penalties for players who test positive for steroids. The top draft pick is a toss-up between Chris Paul and Marvin Williams. Saturday, Live 8 will take the stage in eight cities around the world. The concerts are being held to help raise awareness of poverty in Africa. MTV and VH1 will air eight hours of the shows feature top acts like U2, Coldplay, and Madonna.

Well, his voice brought to life one of cartoon's most beloved characters. Paul Winchell, the voice of Tigger in "Winnie the Pooh" has died.

TIGGER, TIGGER (voiced by Paul Winchell): Ooh hoo! The wonderful thing about tiggers is tiggers are wonderful things. Their tops are made out of rubber, their bottoms are made out of springs. They're bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy, fun, fun, fun. But the most wonderful thing about tiggers is I'm the only one.

WHITFIELD: That just makes you laugh. Winchell actually won a Grammy for that recording in 1974. He created Tigger's lispy voice that children grew to love in 1968 and continued to do so through 1999. Winchell also voiced other memorable characters, including Gargamel in the Smurfs. Paul Winchell died Friday at his home in Moorpark, California. He was 82.

WHITFIELD: Well, that's it for us. But CNN LIVE SUNDAY continues. Straight ahead, allegations of rape at the Air Force Academy. Carol Lin takes us inside the military trial. Then at 7:00 Eastern, PEOPLE IN THE NEWS and an hour-long look at the life of renowned evangelist Billy Graham. And at 8:00 Eastern, CNN Presents melting point. Tracking the global warming threat. More CNN LIVE SUNDAY right after this.

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LIN: This is the 14-year-old girl who died when a shark attacked in the Gulf of Mexico. Tonight more on what happened in the water and more from the man who tried so hard to rescue her.

The pictures we will never forget. The lives changed in an instant by the tsunami. It is six months later and CNN's Atika Shubert goes back to Banda Aceh to see how people are trying to put their lives back together.

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