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German Chancellor Makes First Official Trip to Washington; Student Shot in Middle School in Florida; Iran Nuclear Standoff; Interview with First Lady Bush

Aired January 13, 2006 - 12:03   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We've been listening in as President Bush and the new chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, hold their first news conference together. This is the new chancellor's first visit as chancellor to the United States. And both leaders talked about how this would be a new chapter in American-German relationships.
That hit kind of a rocky bump under the last leader, the last chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder. But as you heard at the end of that news conference, President Bush extending a hand, a greeting to Gerhard Schroeder, hoping that he is doing well.

They did, both leaders, talk about patching up U.S. and German relations, talked about the new chapter. They agree on some things. Both have concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions. And then there are some severe topics that they don't agree on, such as the future of Guantanamo Bay, the prison camp in Cuba.

Our Suzanne Malveaux there at the news conference. Well, there she is.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Can you see me, Daryn?

KAGAN: Yes, looking much better than those color bars.

Suzanne, you take it from here.

MALVEAUX: Well, sure, Daryn.

It was very interesting. Of course both of the leaders emphasizing that they want to move ahead, and the president complimenting Merkel as well. But there were a couple of things that he did not address.

Of course, when it came to Iran, he was asked about whether or not (INAUDIBLE) consider military action. He didn't directly respond to that, but you could tell by what he was saying that he certainly was emphasizing the diplomacy, that the talks be continued, that there would be strategizing that would go on with Secretary Rice and the other leaders, that were not at that point. That is something the United States, of course, has always said they would keep that military option open, but it is certainly not one that they are emphasizing or even addressing at this time. The other question, of course, and this is something you kind of have to read between the lines here, the role of Russia and China when it comes to those talks. Both of those countries have lucrative oil deals with Iran and very unlikely that they would support economic sanctions of any importance.

So, of course, that leads to the question, what are these European leaders, what are these nations so willing to do to really push Iran into compliance -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Suzanne Malveaux live from the White House.

Suzanne, thank you.

And while we were listening in to that news conference at the White House, we've also been following this developing story out of Longwood, Florida, very close to Orlando, as we continue to look at live pictures from there.

This was a school where there was a shooting incident earlier today. A number of conflicting reports coming out of it. But we knew that one student was shot and that he was barricaded and did not want to give up to police.

So while we were listening to the news conference at the White House, the sheriff of Seminole County came out and gave a news conference of his own.

Let's listen to his explanation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: When was it clear that negotiation wasn't going to work with this young man?

SHERIFF DONALD ESLINGER, SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA: When he raised the firearm, I guess. We, you know, tried to have dialogue. Like I said, I was there, I heard what was being said to him, and the caring and consideration for his well-being is paramount.

QUESTION: And that negotiation that happened in the bathroom. Deputies actually went into the bathroom?

ESLINGER: It was in an alcove. And the bathroom was isolated in that alcove. So there were several different rooms or bathrooms in that alcove. And that alcove was sealed by our folks.

QUESTION: And the status of those involved again, Sheriff?

ESLINGER: As far as the health...

QUESTION: The student shot.

ESLINGER: Yes, we'll talk. I mean, we've covered all that.

QUESTION: And Sheriff, what type of a weapon? Did he have more than just one weapon in his backpack?

ESLINGER: It -- from what I gathered, what has been conveyed to me, it looked like a Beretta automatic type of firearm. But, again, FDLE, the scene has been secured. FDLE is on their way. And that information will be released as soon as possible.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: The negotiators had shown concern for his well-being.

ESLINGER: Oh, of course. I mean...

QUESTION: Did he not show concern for his own well-being?

ESLINGER: No, I mean, it was obvious right from the very beginning. But, again, let us look at all the facts and gather the information. We'll convey it to you as soon as we receive that.

QUESTION: You sound like you are pretty clear that when you present this to the FDLE you are going to present this as just...

ESLINGER: No. I just told you what I know about the case. And that's -- that what I do, I tell you and the public what happened here. And it's up to FDLE and the state attorney's office to make that judgment.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Once again, that's the sheriff of Seminole County in Florida. Let me fill in a few holes for you there that the sheriff didn't.

Apparently, a boy brought a gun to school in a backpack at this Mil Wee Middle School in Longwood, Florida. Some other kids tattled on him, and when that happened, he barricade himself in a bathroom.

When sheriff's deputies confronted him, according to sheriff's deputies, he raised his hand with the gun in his hand and a sheriff's deputy shot the boy. As you heard the sheriff say, they said they did it to protect the deputies, as well as the boy's safety as well.

His condition at this time is not known. The school was evacuated and the students and staff sent home for the rest of the day.

We are going to have more U.S. headlines coming up right here on CNN in just a few minutes. What we're going to do, though, right now, we're going to join CNN International in progress, which is what you are usually watching at this hour here on CNN.

They are talking about the news conference between President Bush and German Chancellor Merkel that we just heard. We'll be back in a moment. Here's CNNI.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... because Iran armed with a nuclear weapon poses a grave threat to the security of the world. And countries such as ours have an obligation to step up, working together, sending a common message to the Iranians that -- that it's their behavior, kind of trying to clandestinely develop a nuclear weapon, or using the guise of a civilian nuclear weapon program to get the know-how to develop a nuclear weapon is unacceptable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: So the United States strategy, clearly to stand with European allies, and also particularly Germany, for which the president also expressing a personal connection as well, saying that he appreciates being able to speak with a leader who has a first-hand understanding essentially of what it is like to live in tyranny.

Angela Merkel growing up, she is the first German chancellor to have grown up under what was the communist East Germany. And the president noting that to have a discussion with her, he understands her love for freedom. And so the two leaders emphasizing they have much common ground and are looking forward to their relationship down the road -- Jim.

JIM CLANCY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Elaine, I want to pause for a second and I want to welcome our viewers in the United States, as well as our viewers that have been with us from around the world. They're watching us here on YOUR WORLD TODAY.

But Elaine, even though we heard President Bush say that I'm going to leave this up to the U.N. Security Council, we'll see how this is going to go, it is exactly, it is precisely Britain, Germany, France and the United States that are going to write any resolution, decide on any sanctions that they think are going to work. And the administration has to have been looking forward to that.

QUIJANO: Well, absolutely an open question, Jim, as you point out, if it gets to the point of sanctions, is will Russia and China sign on to that? Now, the president was asked that, and of course at this point the United States indicating that perhaps there is some room there.

But, of course, China saying that sanctions might possible complicate the matter. And so these are going to be some of the delicate diplomatic issues. Iran supplying almost five percent of the world's oil. And, of course, China and Russia voracious consumers of that.

So there are many political factors to consider. Nevertheless, the United State feels that with Germany, with France, with Britain's support, as well as some of the -- what the United States officials say are outrageous statements, like -- like Iran stating that it wants to wipe Israel off the map, that certainly there is support building for some kind of action to be taken. They feel that they are in good stead, standing side by side with the Germans, with the European leaders, further isolating Iran -- Jim.

CLANCY: Elaine Quijano there at the White House.

Elaine, as always, thank you for that.

We're going to take a short break here. When we come back, if the United Nations Security Council can't decide on what to do, if the Russians and China stand in the way, should football, should sports be called in to play a role in this political confrontation?

Stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Welcome back. I'm Colleen McEdwards, alongside Jim Clancy here on YOUR WORLD TODAY.

In Saudi Arabia, officials are trying to identify a number of victims of that stampede on Thursday during the Hajj pilgrimage. Worried relatives were crowded around a photo display looking for pictures of their missing loved ones. The photos were also broadcast on television to help people find their loved ones.

At least 345 pilgrims were killed in that stampede. It happened during the stoning ritual that goes on in Mena. The Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz says Saudi Arabia does spare no effort -- or does spare no effort to avoid this kind of disaster, but also added it is impossible to stop what god has preordained.

CLANCY: All right. Turning our focus now to Europe, where the EU is pledging to help fight bird flu with the donation of $100 million, EU officials say it's important now to tackle this virus. They realize themselves that it could become a catastrophe.

It is in Turkey. It is on their very doorstep.

The pledge is going to be used to help developing countries fight bird flu. It comes ahead of a conference in Beijing next week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENITA FERRERO-WALDNER, EU COMMISSIONER: Now, never before, ladies and gentlemen, has an animal disease posed a global threat of such a dimension and spread at such a pace. As the disease spreads from the first cases in Asia to the more recent outbreaks in Turkey, it is now ever closer to Europe's doorstep. The disease is not only a threat to health, but where it strikes it jeopardizes economic growth and poverty elevation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CLANCY: Well, officials in Turkey, where the focus has been for the last 10 days as they've had three deaths and more than a dozen infections, Turkey encouraging its neighbors to be vigilant in fighting to contain the disease. Thus far, 18 people have been effected with H5N1 strain. All of the victims, the three who died, were children.

Our own Paula Newton has been there in Turkey examining the situation. A short time ago she gave us the latest from Istanbul.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Turkey has long been considered the gateway between Asia and Europe. And unfortunately for this country, migratory birds have used that gateway to spread the deadly H5N1 virus throughout this country.

People here have, by and large, followed the government's advice. They are not panicking. But by that same token, they are very reluctant to eat chicken and eggs, by all accounts. That kind of consumption is down by as much as 70 percent.

When you speak to people in cafes, when you talk to the owners, you get the real sense that even though people might know rationally that it's safe, they really don't feel like eating it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It's all such an overreaction. During this season when people have flu-like symptoms they automatically think they have caught bird flu.

NEWTON: People here are very concerned, and they know that it could blemish the country's reputation and tourism could even take a hit. They want everyone in the region to pull together, saying that Turkey can't solve this problem alone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I don't believe neighboring countries are showing the same sensitivity. And there's hidden panic there.

NEWTON: While the number of those infected has risen to 18, many are recovering, they're are on the mend. Avan (ph), a girl, an 8- year-old girl who was playing with chickens and became ill, was released. She said she learned her lesson.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I am so happy that I met my sisters and brothers again. And I don't think I will play with chickens again.

NEWTON: What seems to have made the difference for that little girl and many others in recovery here is Tamiflu, that antiviral drug that has proven very, very effective here in turkey. Roche, the maker of Tamiflu, is dispensing more of that medicine throughout the region and making sure that it is stockpiled.

At the same time, the European Union is very vigilant. They are talking to a lot of border countries to make sure that migratory birds are not allowed to reinfect or spread that deadly strain of bird flu. They do believe that more money and more vigilance will be needed to make sure that Europe is not dealing with a full-scale epidemic of H5N1 throughout the continent.

Paula Newton, CNN, Istanbul. (END VIDEOTAPE)

MCEDWARDS: Still ahead here on YOUR WORLD TODAY, big decisions coming up with a chair empty at an important table.

CLANCY: The Israeli cabinet has some important business ahead. Ariel Sharon will not be there. We'll have an update on the situation on Palestinians voting in east Jerusalem.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: ... all the other students and staff have been safely evacuated.

Grass fires again flaring up on the southern plains. In Oklahoma, high winds have pushed the flames across part of the state, destroying at least 20 homes and forcing some evacuations. Just yesterday, about a dozen fires swept across nearly 20,000 acres. There have been no injuries reported.

Firefighters in New Orleans have been battling a blaze through the night. It's a massive pile of stuff, of debris and wreckage left from Hurricane Katrina. That includes stoves, refrigerators and water heaters.

Gulf Coast Correspondent Susan Roesgen is on the phone from New Orleans with an update -- Susan.

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN GULF COAST CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn.

It is a fire in the scrap yard in the Lower Ninth Ward. As you said, it did start last night. And the fire chief told me it was a very difficult and an unsafe situation at first. The fire crews were working in the dark without much water pressure to fight this fire.

Today, the area that's burning is about the size of two football fields. But the EPA is on the scene, and they have warned the fire department not to do anything more to put this fire out. The smoke may be full of chemicals from all those appliances that you mentioned. And the firefighters are here now just to keep the fire contained -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Susan Roesgen, live on the phone from New Orleans.

Thank you.

The weather did help out a little bit because they got a bit of a sprinkling in New Orleans. Let's check out with Chad Myers what else is happening around the rest of the country.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: To Florida once again. Police are seeking the public's help in solving a brutal crime.

Three homeless men were beaten with bats in three separate attacks in Ft. Lauderdale yesterday. This one was caught on tape with a surveillance camera.

The victim is hospitalized with serious injuries, as is a second victim. A third man died of his injuries. Officials are asking anyone who thinks they may recognize the attackers to call police.

Today on Capitol Hill, the Senate Judiciary Committee hears from its final witness on Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. The federal judge finished his own testimony yesterday after facing about 700 questions over a total -- well, we lost that feed -- over a total of 18 hours.

A committee vote was scheduled for Tuesday, but Democrats might seek a delay. Barring any new developments, though, Alito does appear poised for confirmation.

And in Maryland, lawmakers there have approved a bill that forces Wal-Mart to pay more on employee health care or be hit with higher state taxes. Yesterday's vote overrode Governor Robert Ehrlich's veto. Supporters of the bill suggested Wal-Mart was dumping employees into the state's Medicaid system. Opponents say the new law will hurt business.

A question for you. Has the military failed to protect properly American troops in combat? Body armor under fire. An Iraq war veteran and a major general from the Pentagon weighing in on "LIVE FROM" at the top of the hour.

Meanwhile, YOUR WORLD TODAY continues. Zain Verjee has an exclusive interview with Laura Bush after a quick break.

I'm Daryn Kagan.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MCEDWARDS: Welcome back to YOUR WORLD TODAY on CNN International. I'm Colleen McEdwards.

CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy.

These are the stories that are making headlines around the world. The European Union now says the global threat of bird flu is going to take a global response. It's going to want to pledge $100 million to halt the spread. That pledge is going to be made at the next week's bird flu conference in Beijing, all intended to help developing countries themselves battle the virus.

MCEDWARDS: Officials in Saudi Arabia are trying to identify a number of victims who were killed in that stampede during the Hajj pilgrimage on Thursday. Worried relatives crowded around a photo display. They're looking for pictures of their missing loved ones. The photos were also broadcast on television. At least 345 pilgrims were killed, 289 were wounded in that stampede. It happened during the traditional stoning ritual in Mena.

CLANCY: U.S. president George W. Bush says Washington's still pursuing diplomatic measures to try to resolve the dispute with Iran over its nuclear program. Following a White House meeting with Mr. Bush, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized the need for international unity in confronting Iran on suspicions that it is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

MCEDWARDS: Well, we've heard the warnings. We've heard the harsh words. We've even heard threats of sanctions, maybe. Many say those won't work against Iran, though, and if you want to really see action here, you need to turn to the football pitch.

CNN's Jim Boulden reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With military options ruled out for now, the West is looking for other ways to punish Iran for restarting its nuclear program.

Could the arena for those sanctions be sports? After Iran's president dismissed the Holocaust last year, some German politicians called for Iran to be kicked out of this year's soccer World Cup, which will be hosted by Germany.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said no. So did football's governing body, FIFA. And on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice agreed.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I would hope that it would be possible for Iranian athletes to be welcomed in places because this should not be about the Iranian people.

BOULDEN: Still, calls are continuing for the World Cup to be used as a sanction against Iran.

PATRICK CLAWSON, WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY: The next step I'd rather take would be sanctions on international sporting events, rather than turning to more forceful actions like military force. It's a painful step to ban Iran from the World Cup, but it's sure preferable to letting bombs fly.

BOULDEN: History is littered with sport used as a sanction and a boycott. Be it South Africa banned from the Olympics from 1964 to 1992, or to United States and the Soviet Union boycotting each other's Olympics in the early 1980s.

One critic of boycotts and sanctions says the very idea of athletes from unfriendly nations sparring is what makes sports so important. Case in point, Iran beating the United States 2-1 in the 1998 football World Cup.

RICHARD DORFMANN, SPORTS MEDIA CONSULTANT: It was a fantastic story. And had there not been the politics involved, it wouldn't have been as big a story. But the important thing is at the end of that game, the Iranian players and the U.S. players came together. And they, you know, they shared a few beers and they talked.

BOULDEN: FIFA says it never mixes football and politics, but it did ban Yugoslavia from the 1994 World Cup, following United Nations' economic sanctions.

Those calling for Iran's ouster have another six months to change FIFA's mind before the games kick off in Munich on June the 9th.

Jim Boulden, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCEDWARDS: Well, that call to expel Iran from the World Cup inspires our "Question of the Day" today.

CLANCY: We're asking you this. Should sport be used to put pressure on Iran on its nuclear program? Send us an e-mail at ywt@CNN.com. We're going to be trying to read some of those out a little bit later here on YOUR WORLD TODAY.

MCEDWARDS: Well, Liberia is sprucing up ahead of next week's presidential inauguration. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is to become Africa's first democratically-elected female president. She won the election last year. Supporters are flipping for her in the streets of Monrovia, literally. The former World Bank economist will hope to revive an economy that's been ravaged by more than a decade of civil war.

CLANCY: She's got a tremendous task. The first woman ever entrusted with lifting a country out of utter chaos and poverty. And she's going to get some encouragement this week, too.

U.S. First Lady Laura Bush is going be leading a U.S. delegation to the inauguration ceremonies. They take place Monday in the capital, Monrovia.

Zain Verjee spoke with Mrs. Bush at the White House just a short while ago and joins us now from Washington. Hi, Zain.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Jim. How are you?

We were at the White House a couple of hours ago speaking to the first lady and she told us which American woman she would like to see run for president, after having asked her about what she thinks of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's accomplishment.

But I first started by asking her what she makes of her trip to Liberia and what she hopes to achieve.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERJEE: Thank you so much for this interview.

Why is it so important for you to attend the inauguration ceremony of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf?

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I think it's a very, very historical time for Liberia, of course. And really for the whole continent of Africa to have the first women president. Liberia just has had 14 years of civil war, of a lot of problems. And they just ended up with a really good, competitive and fair election. And it's really thrilling that Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson is going to be the new president.

VERJEE: She's a magnificent woman, isn't she?

BUSH: She is.

VERJEE: Very, very powerful.

As an American woman, seeing that Africa has its first elected president who is a woman, what does that make you think? Do you think it's time that America...

BUSH: I think it will happen for sure. I think it will happen probably in the next few terms of the presidency in the United States.

VERJEE: Who would you like to see?

BUSH: Well, of course, a Republican. Maybe Dr. Rice.

VERJEE: Yes?

BUSH: Yes. And she says she definitely is not running.

VERJEE: But you would like to see her run?

BUSH: Sure, I'd love to see her run. She's terrific.

VERJEE: I have grown up in Africa. You know, I've seen sort of the poverty, the HIV/AIDS there that really devastates the continent. The lack of education programs, as you are well aware of.

How do you think you can make a difference, even a small difference, to the lives of African women and Africans in general in the projects that you are trying to do?

BUSH: Well, I think that when -- actually, if we talk about it, if we speak out from all over the world and talk about how important it is for girls to be educated; how if girls are educated, they have much more of a chance to be able to negotiate their own sex life, for instance, to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases. And then to be able to contribute to their economies, to their societies.

As we look around the world and we see countries where women are left out, we usually see an unstable, not very prosperous economy. And we know that for countries to be able to really succeed, everybody needs to be able to be involved.

VERJEE: There was a very dramatic moment a couple of days ago in the Supreme Court confirmation hearings where Mrs. Alito just sort of broke down, cried and left the room on hearing her husband being criticized.

BUSH: Do I ever feel like doing that?

VERJEE: Yes, I mean -- have you...

BUSH: Every once in a while.

VERJEE: Do you ever feel like crying when you hear the president being criticized, called a liar, being abused?

BUSH: Well, no, not really. But I will say I called Martha Alito yesterday to tell her to hang in there. I do think it's really important in the United States for people like Judge Alito, who -- to be treated with respect.

I think it's very important for the Senate to have a very civil and respectful hearing for anyone that has been nominated, for the Supreme Court or for the other jobs that require Senate confirmation.

But on the other hand, my family's been in politics for a long time. And I think you do develop a thick skin. Does it ever not hurt? You know, not really.

VERJEE: So you don't take it personally?

BUSH: Well, you try not to take it personally. But that's what I want to say, is that I think personal attacks are what people don't like and are what are really unwarranted.

VERJEE: Let's talk a little bit about the families that you meet whose sons or daughters have been killed in Iraq. What's it like for you to comfort them, to console them? Especially if these are families who no longer believe in the cause, no longer believe that Iraq is worth it and that it was all in vain. How do you console them?

BUSH: Well, I mean, of course, as you can imagine, it's unbelievably difficult. The -- for them, what they have to suffer, what they'll suffer for the rest of their lives with the loss of somebody they loved best. And then for the president and for me to meet with these families and to know what they've lost and what they've suffered.

VERJEE: What do you say?

BUSH: Amazingly enough, many times they are the ones that comfort us. In a lot of cases, military families have a tradition of being military families. The fathers themselves or the mothers were in the military. And it's a proud tradition of their family. In many, many cases, the grandparents were also in the military.

But, you know, what we say is what we say today, to you, which is, we do think it's worth it, that we know we can really make a huge difference in the world if Iraq, in the middle of the Middle East, can build a stable democracy. That's -- it will be unbelievable, really.

I mean, it will be something that will be so strong for all of the other surrounding countries, for Palestine, for Israel, for this opportunity to build peace there and to build strong and stable countries.

VERJEE:: And finally, I know the president has an iPod; you don't have an iPod.

BUSH: I have an iPod. No, I have an iPod.

VERJEE: But -- so, I'll ask you then, what's on your reading list for 2006? What are you reading now?

BUSH: Well, right now, let's see, I'm reading a really great book about Gertrude Bell. Gertrude Bell was a British woman who was really very ahead of her time. She did a lot of travel in what we would call the Middle East and Arabia, which she would, Persia. And she was very influential in actually the designation of Iraq as we know it at the end of World War I. And it's a book about a very, very fascinating and adventuresome woman, but also a very interesting time.

VERJEE: Do you ever recommend your books to the president to read?

BUSH: Sure. Yes, we share books with each other a lot.

VERJEE: All right, thank you so much, Mrs. Bush.

BUSH: Thank you.

VERJEE: It's been a real pleasure.

BUSH: Thanks a lot.

VERJEE: Thank you very much.

BUSH: Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VERJEE: And, Jim, Mrs. Bush will be leaving for Liberia tomorrow night. She'll be traveling with the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. They'll also be travelling to Ghana for a short period of time.

And on a personal note, Mr. Bush's daughter, Barbara, who is 24 years old, is going to be accompanying her on this trip as part of the official delegation. Barbara's been working in South Africa on a few projects there for a period of time, so Mrs. Bush says she's pretty excited about that.

CLANCY: All right, Zain. We are pretty excited you got that interview. It was a great interview.

VERJEE: Thank you.

CLANCY: And I finally found out where you are, up there in Washington. See you tomorrow.

VERJEE: I'll be back next week. CLANCY: Monday, I guess it will be.

VERJEE: Thanks.

CLANCY: Well, Colleen, I did find out where she is. And we know now she's going to be with the leader of Liberia.

MCEDWARDS: Some people are easier to find than others, something that North Koreans understand. An elusive leader is now much, much more elusive.

CLANCY: That's right, still ahead. We'll have the guessing game over North Korea's dear leader. Just where is he, dear?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MCEDWARDS: Welcome back to our viewers in the United States and around the world. You are watching YOUR WORLD TODAY on CNN International. Diplomats are playing a bit of a new game these days. It's called where is Kim Jong-Il? The secretive North Korean leader is rumored to be in Beijing, Moscow, Southern China, and Pyongyang obviously. Well, even the dear leader can't be in all of those places at the same time. So just where is Mr. Kim?

Stan Grant tries to solve this puzzle.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STAN GRANT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Is this motorcade carrying Kim Jong-Il? It looks official enough, escorted by police, arriving at the White Swan Hotel in the Southern China city of Guangjo, where Kim is rumored to be staying. No confirmation, but it is all part of the world's new guessing game. Where is Kim?

MICHAEL HARRALD, FMR. KIM SPEECH TRANSLATOR: People say he's in China, but whereabouts in China nobody knows. There are report maybe he's gone to Russia, maybe he's gone to the south of China. Maybe he's in Beijing. Maybe he's in Shanghai. Just one of those North Korean situations.

GRANT: Michael Harrald knows all about "those North Korea situations." For seven years he helped translate and draft speeches for Kim Jong-Il and his father, Kim Il-Sung. He saw a man not exactly camera shy when it suited him. Kim Jong-Il, hero of a nation, international statesman, expert marksman, even Kim, the ballroom dancer.

Michael Harrald says, despite his eccentric image, Kim can be low key.

HARRALD: Kim Jong-Il likes to keep a low profile. And this maybe something that tallies with his image. He doesn't like to be seen too often in public, and doesn't like to sort of grab the limelight too much. And he just does things in his own way.

GRANT: Doing things his own way means if Kim is traveling, it is almost certainly by train. He has an aversion to flying. He has traveled before by rail to Russia and China. His last trip to Beijing sparking speculation of an assassination attempt. A massive explosion at a train station near the North Korea-China border soon after Kim had passed; 160 people died. North Korea called it an accident.

(on camera): So no confirmed sighting of what North Korea likes to call "the dear leader" on the streets of Beijing, or anywhere else in China. No state dinners. No handshakes with officials.

But still, the rumors persist. And if indeed Kim Jong-Il is here in China, there would certainly be a lot to talk about. On the top of the agenda, North Korea's nuclear program.

(voice-over): United States envoy Christopher Hill in Beijing this week trying to pin down a date for six-party talks to resume. The man he would really like to talk to may already be in China. Then again, maybe not.

HARRALD: He could be having a jolly good chuckle. I mean, he could be sitting there and we're doing all these interviews. CNN is making these marvelous reports, and he could be sitting in Pyongyang thinking, here I am.

GRANT: Stan Grant, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(WEATHER REPORT)

CLANCY: We've got to take a break. Still to come ...

MCEDWARDS: That's right. Want to buy something, anything, anything? No problem in Iraq's black markets. It may not be the real thing, but it's often a pretty good copy. We'll show you. Stay with us.

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CLANCY: Well back to Iraq now. But from a perspective, it's really a bit different from the headlines.

MCEDWARDS: That's right. Well, the violence certainly provides a constant backdrop to the daily life in Iraq. In one sense, things are very normal.

CLANCY: Well, business is booming in the black market. That's normal. Michael Holmes gives us a tour of the marketplace.

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HOLMES (voice-over): In a city with a dearth of electricity, patchy medical care, and precious little security, you want an Xbox? No problem. In fact, in Baghdad today, just about anything you want you can find. Just don't expect it to be the real thing.

OSAMA KHATAN, SHOPKEEPER: (through translator): We only have black markets here in Iraq. And we are doing good.

HOLMES: Video game stores are indeed doing good. Sales of PlayStation games, Xbox games and the like are brisk at a dollar apiece. Everyone of them, a fake. The real thing could cost an Iraqi half a month's salary.

KHATAN (through translator): Even the copies that we get from Malaysia (ph), they are copies, because the original is so expensive -- too expensive for Iraqis.

HOLMES: Perhaps the biggest black market item, gasoline. Prices through the roof in this oil-rich company, supply low, due partly to the insurgency and so the ubiquitous gas queues.

(on camera): In order to stop queues like this at gas stations, they brought in a system: even numbered license plates one day, odd the next. Seems sensible, but it just started another black market in fake license plates.

(voice-over): Which brings us to Ali Jasim, black market gas seller. Like hundreds of others, he gets his gas often watered down and marked way up and sold to desperate customers who don't want or can't afford to spend six hours at a gas station.

ALI JASIM, BLACK MARKET GAS SELLER (through translator): I don't like doing this, but I have to. I have no other job. And besides, the government doesn't help us. If I go to apply for a job, even the police force, you have to bribe them -- $600, $700. Getting a job is a black market.

HOLMES: It's all over, from guns, the latest movies, to clothing, to out-of-date medicine, to -- no, it's not real Nike, something the store owner, Muhammad (ph), doesn't even hide.

ALI MAJID, CUSTOMER (through translator): We have Nike, fake. We have Puma, fake. It's all fake from China, Syria, Reebok, Adidas.

HOLMES: The customer's not deceived, happy, even.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We know it's all fake. But this is best for us. We got this stuff, and it's cheap.

HOLMES: The bottom line for black marketers, it's just business. And most Iraqis can't afford the real thing anyway, even if they could get it. We ask Osama Khatan what would happen if he decided to go legit.

KHATAN (through translator): There would be no business at all.

HOLMES: Michael Holmes, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CLANCY: Well fake sports gear and sports in the news, we want to check our "Inbox."

We've been asking should sport be used to pressure Iran on its nuclear program? Here's how some of you replied.

MCEDWARDS: Well Pejman from France says, "I believe that politics and sports should not mingle with each other. Iran has the right to take part in the World Cup."

CLANCY: Michael from Israel says, "certainly, yes. This is a small price to pay if it can assist in stopping a future nuclear holocaust."

MCEDWARDS: Mustafa writes from Turkey "sports should not be used to pressure politicians. Punish the decision makers, not the people."

CLANCY: Finally, Bill in Florida saying, "keep your hands off sports. It's one of the few places that America has left to make friends. Let the Iranians play soccer."

That's your opinion. Thank you for writing in. I'm Jim Clancy.

MCEDWARDS: And I'm Colleen McEdwards. Thanks for watching, too.

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