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Arab League Countries Criticize U.N. Draft Resolution; Israeli Troops Engage With Hezbollah Fighters; President Bush Addresses Lebanon Conflict

Aired August 07, 2006 - 12:00   ET

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

HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Lebanon's prime minister pleads passionately for an end to the fighting in his country even as the attacks continue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The loss of life on both sides of the Lebanese-Israeli border has been a great tragedy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Time for the violence to stop. U.S. President George W. Bush says his government is pushing hard for a resolution in Lebanon.

GORANI: And the global oil company BP says it has temporary shut down production in its Alaska oilfields.

Hello. I'm Hala Gorani live in Beirut.

These are just some of the stories we're following for you in our broadcast seen around the world.

SWEENEY: And I'm Fionnuala Sweeney in Haifa, Israel.

From Washington and Beirut, to the North Slope in the Alaskan Arctic, this is YOUR WORLD TODAY.

GORANI: Now, we begin in Beirut, where there have been raids and more rhetoric and an emotional plea from Lebanon's prime minister to end the fighting as Arab League countries criticize a U.N. draft resolution.

All right. We go live to our Beirut bureau chief, Brent Sadler, for more.

Brent, let's start with that Arab League conference here in the Lebanese capital. What came out of it?

BRENT SADLER, CNN BEIRUT BUREAU CHIEF: Well, the Arab League members came here, foreign ministers, to offer support and solidarity to Lebanon. They came to the capital several hours after airstrikes again targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Now, these ministers heard a passionately plea for help from Lebanese prime minister Fouad Siniora. There were times where Siniora was outlining the losses of the country, particularly deaths of children. About a third of casualties as a result of this Israeli onslaught are reported to be children here.

And Siniora broke down at least once, having to wipe his face, tears rolling down his cheeks as he asked the Arab foreign ministers to help at the United Nations with having a draft resolution altered in a way that it will be less favorable to Israel, he says, and more acceptable to the Lebanese government that wants to see Israeli troops withdrawn from Lebanon as part of the deal, as well Israel returning back Lebanese prisoners in exchange for the two Israeli captives held by Hezbollah.

So this was a direct appeal to the capitals of the Arab League to use their weight at this 11th hour to try to force changes, pressure for changes in New York with that draft resolution.

GORANI: Talk us to about some of those Israeli airstrikes, one particularly in the Lebanese town of Houla. There's some confusion about the casualty figures there.

SADLER: Yes, that's right, Hala. Prime Minister Siniora, at the start of the meeting, the session of foreign ministers, said that there have been "another massacre," he said, in the south. This time, as you say, at Houla.

He said that there were at least 40 civilians who had been sheltering in a building during vicious fighting between Hezbollah and the Israeli Defense Forces, and that as a result of an Israeli airstrike, the building had collapsed, trapping people inside. We're having no specific confirmation of the numbers of dead, and perhaps some are alive, perhaps, and maybe trapped in the rubble. Still very unclear because fighting is still going on here. But certainly, there was part of the impassioned speech that Siniora gave those Arab foreign ministers -- Hala.

GORANI: And finally, Brent, on the ground, people on edge as shortages continue to make life here very difficulty. Tell us particularly about some of the fuel shortages we're seeing in Beirut.

SADLER: Yes, we're seeing really for the first time the effects of Israel's land and air blockade, sea blockade, really having an effect at street level. I watched some pretty ferocious scenes at gas stations earlier this day, when people were trying to get fuel. It's now rationed down to just a couple of gallons a day, and to get that couple of gallons, Hala, you have to wait for hours in lines which are not very well controlled by the authorities. There's been some fistfights, and really a sense of desperation setting in now as Lebanese are very confused about whether or not this draft resolution will lead to peace or whether it's a prelude for continuation of the conflict -- Hala.

GORANI: All right. Brent Sadler, our Beirut bureau chief, reporting live from the Lebanese capital.

Fionnuala, in Haifa, back to you. SWEENEY: Well, Hala, Israeli troops are still meeting tough resistance from Hezbollah militants in the southern Lebanese village of Bint Jbeil and other sites along the border. The Israeli defense minister, Amir Peretz, says he's told the military to proceed with the offensive as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continue.

Our senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance, is at the Israeli-Lebanon border with the very latest.

Matthew, how's the day been there?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Thanks very much, Fionnuala.

Well, as you say, fierce fighting continuing. Some of the areas that Israel had said over the course of last week or so that it was in control of, it seems that the Hezbollah guerrillas -- they've been battling in very close combat -- are proving very stubborn to dislodge, indeed.

As you mentioned there, in Bint Jbeil, a town where there's bee a great deal of fighting, described as Hezbollah stronghold by the Israeli Defense Forces over the past several weeks, another Israeli soldier was killed there today. Another four were injured in those battles with Hezbollah fighters. At least five Hezbollah fighters were killed in those clashes, according to the Israeli Defense Officials.

All the time as well, Israel being struck from the air by Hezbollah rockets that are pounding towns and villages across northern Israel still. It really does seem like despite the military offensive that's been going on for the past several weeks, Hezbollah's ability to strike at Israel is still very much intact.

I think that's why we've been having these remarks coming over the past few hours from the Israeli defense minister, Amir Peretz, saying that we're at a pivotal moment in this conflict, that there are two ways of ending the rocket strikes. The first way is through the diplomatic process, talking there about the efforts under way at the United Nations to try and bring a cessation of hostilities. But also, there is a military track as well, and unless the diplomatic process bears fruit, then the defense minister says the troops have been ordered to prepare to expand their operations in southern Lebanon -- Fionnuala.

SWEENEY: Matthew, of course we know about two weeks ago the Israeli military said they had captured that village of Bint Jbeil. Only 24, 48 hours later, to take serious casualties.

What is the difficulty for the Israeli military? Why is Hezbollah proving so tough on the ground?

CHANCE: Well, first of all, I mean, Hezbollah have been training hard just for this moment. They have had six years since the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 to prepare for this, to arm, to dig themselves in, in concrete bunkers, and to practice battlefield tactics as well.

The reports we're getting from soldiers coming from fighting with the Hezbollah guerrillas is that they're very well equipped and they're very well trained, increasingly sophisticated in the kinds of tactics they use. And that is proving a real challenge.

Now, Israel, of course, has the biggest, most powerful military in this region. And so, in theory, in terms of classic warfare, it can advance there, it can take that territory. But what it's confronted with is a very tough guerrilla force, and that will not be easy to fight -- Fionnuala.

SWEENEY: All right. Matthew Chance reporting there along the Israeli-Lebanese border.

We will have much more on this conflict after the break, including a look at the diplomatic efforts being undertaken by the United States. A live report from our correspondent Suzanne Malveaux.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: Hello. And welcome back to YOUR WORLD TODAY, as we continue to broadcast from both sides of this conflict. But also, across the ocean, in the U.S., there are diplomatic efforts to try to end this conflict. A draft U.N. Security Council resolution co- sponsored by France and the United States was met with skepticism, to say the least, here in Lebanon.

Well, the U.S. president and the U.S. secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, took questions on their diplomatic efforts to end this war.

Suzanne Malveaux joins us now live from Crawford, Texas, with more on that.

Hi, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, hi, Hala.

It really was a unique moment to see President Bush kind of in this formal setting, this press conference at the Crawford ranch. Even rare, if you will, to see him at all during his vacation time, but it's meant to show, to convey a sense of seriousness, that they are on top of this Middle East conflict.

The president offering not one, but two kind of draft resolutions. Here is where they're taking this.

He says that the first one, of course, is to stop the hostilities. Not a formal cease-fire which has legal meaning, but to stop the hostilities. It actually allows for Israel to launch attacks in self-defense.

And then secondly, he says there's going to be another resolution following that would set up the conditions for a sustainable cease- fire and a multinational force that would come in and try to enforce that. This two-step process that the president and the administration aggressively now trying to push forward the next 24 hours to get a vote.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Under its terms, Hezbollah will be required to immediately stop all attacks. Israel will be required to immediately stop all offensive military operations. And, in addition, the resolution calls for an embargo on the shipment of any arms into Lebanon except as authorized by the Lebanese government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, already, Hala, there are many objections to this initial resolution. The first resolution, we had heard from representatives from Hezbollah, from the Lebanese government, and some key Arab allies all looking at the first resolution, saying, this is not acceptable, not good enough, it is not an immediate cease-fire which many are calling for, particularly Lebanon. And it also, of course, does not call for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice addressed that issue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: We believe that the extant draft resolution is a firm foundation, is the right basis, but, of course we're going to listen to the concerns of the parties and see how they might be addressed. And that's really what's going to be going on today, particularly after the Arab League meets and Prime Minister Siniora emerges from there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: So really, Hala, a tough job ahead here. I mean, that is the rub, the U.S. fears that there's going to be some sort of power vacuum if you have the withdrawal of Israeli troops before that multinational force comes in, and, of course, allowing Hezbollah to gain a stronghold again in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah and the Lebanese government saying, look, we just cannot agree with this deal unless Israeli forces get out immediately. So what the U.S. officials are doing behind the scenes here in their negotiations is simply trying to buy time to hold off and tell the Lebanese, look, hang tight here, we are trying to get that multinational force as quickly as possible through a second resolution. In the meantime, just stand down when it comes to these attacks -- Hala.

GORANI: Suzanne, speaking to cabinet officials here, one of the main sticking points is a question that was put there to the U.S. secretary of state, language in this draft resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon. From the sources you have been speaking to at the White House, are you getting a sense that this type of language might be included in any new draft resolution of the U.N. Security Council?

MALVEAUX: Well, I asked Secretary Rice that question, as well as the president. And what they are saying essentially is that this language, which is very specific here, they want this in two parts. And the reason why is because essentially they want to show the world, look, we're trying to do something to stop the violence, but at the same time, we are not ready to get this multinational force in place. So we're going to split this up into two different parts, but we're going to make sure we do it in such a way that there is not a power vacuum that gives Hezbollah the advantage here.

So, the language very carefully crafted and very, very sensitive, and that is the challenge, whether or not the Lebanese government is going to be able to sign off on something like this after it goes through the U.N. Security Council process.

GORANI: All right. Suzanne Malveaux -- a lot still to be achieved there on the diplomatic front -- reporting live from Crawford, Texas -- Fionnuala.

SWEENEY: Well, we're going to return to the very latest in the war in just a few minutes, but first, let's take a look at some other stories making news this hour.

Combat stress is cited in a case of alleged rape and murder in Iraq involving U.S. soldiers. More graphic testimony about the case came out on day two of a military hearing in Baghdad.

Four U.S. soldiers are accused of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and killing her and her family. And investigator said that according to one of the accused, the girl was shot and set alight after the rape.

The battalion's commander said some of those accused had previously sought help for stress. The soldiers could face the death penalty if it's decided they should be court-martialed.

GORANI: Well, also in other news headlines, with oil prices sky high these days, this is the last thing oil markets wanted. The oil giant BP says it is shutting down one of its biggest production facilities in Alaska, and that one that accounts for 8 percent of total U.S. oil production. The shutdown at Prudhoe Bay in Alaska occurs after BP found severe corrosion in a pipeline.

As our Mallika Kapur reports, the shutdown could mean bad news -- further bad news for the oil market and for BP's reputation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALLIKA KAPUR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This is BP's biggest oilfield in the United States. It accounts for 8 percent of the country's domestic oil production.

On Friday, BP discovered a corroded pipeline and a small leak at its Prudhoe Bay facility, prompting it to take drastic action, shutting the huge facility down.

STEVE MARSHALL, BP SPOKESMAN: Our employees focus 100 percent on the safe shutdown of the facilities.

KAPUR: Shutting it down means taking 400,000 barrels of oil a day off the already-stretched global oil market. Already, oil prices are shooting higher, up nearly 2 percent early Monday. Thanks largely to instability in the Middle East, prices are already near record highs.

KEVIN NORRISH, BARCLAYS CAPITAL: The key issue here is that there's a lot of uncertainty involved. Not all of the pipeline has yet been examined, so the extent of the damage is unknown. But if it does turn out that there's going to -- needs to be extensive work done on the pipeline, and that 400,000 barrels a day of crude oil is off line for a long period of time, then of course it is going to have a very significant impact. And we'd expect to see crude oil futures prices moving up to test fresh all-time highs as a result, I think.

KAPUR: Damaging for the oil market and for BP. The company is already under investigation into a much larger spill at Prudhoe Bay in March this year. It's also facing a probe into an explosion at a Texas refinery last year which killed 15 people.

AXEL BUSCH, ENERGY INTELLIGENCE: It is damaging, not the least because it's part of a series of incidents. It's not a stand-alone -- a stand-alone accident.

Accidents will happen. So a stand-alone accident would not seriously erode any confidence. When you have a number of them, people will start asking questions. And in that sense, BP will have a problem.

KAPUR: Just last month, BP pledged to add an extra billion dollars to the $6 billion it has already earmarked to improve safety at its U.S. operations.

Mallika Kapur, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: Well, that brings us to our "Question of the Day."

How are higher oil prices affecting you? And this really is a question that can be of concern to many people around the world.

Let us know by sending us an e-mail, ywt@cnn.com. We'll read some of your responses on the air.

SWEENEY: Coming up, caught in the crossfire. Fifteen foreign aid workers shot dead.

GORANI: Victims of a new wave of violence between rebels and government soldiers in Sri Lanka.

Details after the break. You're with YOUR WORLD TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan at CNN Center in Atlanta.

More of YOUR WORLD TODAY in a few minutes. First, let's take a look at the latest headlines, starting with what we know right now in the Middle East crisis.

A big push is under way by the Bush administration for approval of a U.N. resolution aimed at ending the fighting. The draft is now before the Security Council.

A short time ago, President Bush talked about the proposed resolution calling -- calling it a basis for peace.

Meanwhile, no letup in the fighting today. Israeli warplanes have launched heavy airstrikes on several Lebanese cities and towns. And dozens more Hezbollah rockets have slammed into northern Israel.

President Bush's comments on the Middle East came this morning during a news conference at his Texas ranch. Mr. Bush has been meeting there with some of his key aides, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He says everyone wants the violence to stop.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: The loss of life on both sides of the Lebanese-Israeli border has been a great tragedy. Millions of Lebanese civilians have been caught in the crossfire of military operations because of the unprovoked attack and kidnappings by Hezbollah.

The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon is of deep concern to all Americans. And alleviating it will remain a priority of my government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The president also talked about Cuba. He said he hopes the island nation takes a turn toward democracy, but he says the decision is up to Cubans living on the island. Mr. Bush also says he has no special knowledge about the health of the Cuban president, Fidel Castro, beyond what's been reported. The government says the Cuban leader underwent surgery last week.

Higher gas prices may be just down the road. BP is shutting down its Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, oil operation indefinitely. The company says that's due to corrosion on a transit line. Prudhoe Bay oilfield is one of the nation's largest.

There are concerns a shutdown could cause already high gas prices to go up even more. The Energy Department says it's ready to provide emergency oil supplies if needed. Two suspects turning on each other. After their arrests in a string of shootings in Phoenix, suspect Dale Hausner tells a reporter he wasn't involved. He says the other guy, Samuel Dieteman, might have used his car and guns in the crimes. But Dieteman told police he took Hausner and that he and Hausner took turns targeting victims.

Six people were killed and 17 were wounded in the serial shootings.

A testing time definitely for embattled Tour de France champ Floyd Landis. Booted from his team for failing a second doping test, the cyclist says he will fight to hold on to his title. He tells CNN he believes he has been treated unfairly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FLOYD LANDIS, CYCLIST: There's a myriad of reasons of why these tests could have made a mistake, including, which appears to be the case at this moment, some other agenda by the people doing the tests. They have broken their own rules in making this public from the beginning and forced me to make these -- these statements as to why this may have happened.

Well, this isn't the first time that this same French lab has tried to bring down an American athlete. They did the same thing with Lance Armstrong last year. He proved that they had problems with their testing procedure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: And now on to Martha Stewart. She's moving beyond insider trader allegations at a cost. The domestic diva will pay about $195,000. That's the amount of losses the government says she avoided by selling stock before it tanked. The deal with the Securities and Exchange Commission also bars her from serving as director of a public company for five years.

Stewart served time in prison for lying to investigator about her sell of ImClone stock.

Let's check in with Jacqui Jeras, what the weather is looking like today.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Ahead on CNN on "LIVE FROM," rebuilding almost a year after Katrina. A marathon effort to raise awareness that there still is a lot of work to do.

YOUR WORLD TODAY continues after a quick break.

I'm Daryn Kagan.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SWEENEY: Hello and welcome back to our special coverage of the crisis in the Middle East. I'm Fionnuala Sweeney in Haifa, Israel.

GORANI: I'm Hala Gorani in Beirut, as we continue to bring you coverage on both sides of this conflict on both sides of the Israel/Lebanon border.

Let's bring you up-to-date with the latest. Now, Lebanon's prime minister Fouad Siniora says one person was killed in a raid on Houla. Fouad Siniora had said 40 people were killed in an Israeli air raid. Authorities now say some 65 people were rescued from the rubble of that attack.

Israel also staged a pre-dawn raid on Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold. And Lebanon reports at least seven civilians killed in an air raid at Sidon. Also, more raids have further isolated the southern port city of Tyre. Tyre has been an active launch site, according to the Israel military, for Hezbollah rockets. More than 80 rockets were launched into northern Israel today, Monday -- Fionnuala.

SWEENEY: U.S. President George W. Bush says he supports twin U.N. resolutions that call for a cease-fire and the deployment of a peace-keeping force. Both Israel and Lebanon have voiced serious objections to the U.N. draft.

Meanwhile, the Arab League plans to request changes to the U.N. draft resolutions. Arab League secretary-general Amr Moussa will lead a delegation to the United Nations.

SWEENEY: Well, the U.N. is treading on eggshells right now, as it tries to finalize language in a draft U.N. Security Council resolution.

For more on that story, we go on our senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth. We're also joined by our chief national correspondent John King.

Richard, I'd like to start with you. There seems to be a lot more work ahead for the negotiators at the U.N. Security Council. Is that the sense you're getting from U.N. headquarters?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: I don't know how much work they're going to put into it but -- in terms of changing the resolution significantly. But there will not be a vote, it appears, before Wednesday, New York time in the morning. The Security Council has heard and is aware of amendments offered by the Lebanese government and the Arab community. There will be a delegation coming from the Arab League meeting. That will be here, speaking, New York time, Tuesday afternoon. And all ambassadors have made it clear they're not ready to vote on a resolution before their grievances, their views, get an airing.

The Arab League U.N. ambassador told reporters what Lebanon and the Arab group objects to regarding the proposed resolution and the timing and sequencing of troops from Israel and southern Lebanon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) YAHYA MAHMASSANI, ARAB LEAGUE AMB. TO U.N.: Well, I think we would like to make sure that the first resolution is clear. And we want to make sure that there are no Israeli soldier or any troops, any Israeli presence, on the Lebanese soil with the present resolution. You know, this -- the presence of Israeli soldiers on the Lebanese soil means this is an army of occupation. And therefore we are back to square one. To resolve this issue, Israelis must withdraw behind the Blue Line.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: The other objection deals with Shaba Farms, long disputed but defined by the U.N. But there are objections to the timing and sequencing of that location. The United States ambassador John Bolton, very low-key manner after the Security Council session, saying that he's ready to listen. But at the moment, he gave no indication he wants to significantly change the wording in the resolution.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BOLTON, U.S. AMB. TO U.N.: We've heard the requests, and I said in the Council meeting, I thought if the foreign minister of Qatar, a council member, and other representatives of the Arab League wanted to address the Council, it was perfectly appropriate to have them do that.

And, obviously, we want to listen to everyone's views. And if they think it's important enough to come to New York, then it's important enough for us to listen to. So, certainly that's -- that's something that will be scheduled and we'll consider those views very carefully. But I don't know how I can react to them until I hear what they actually have to say.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: The U.S. ambassador saying the effort is not going to lead to a perfect agreement, but the idea is to get on the road to a lasting solution -- Hala.

GORANI: All right. Let's go to John King now. And you heard there from John Bolton that he's willing to listen somewhat to the concerns of the Arab nations. What we're hearing from Lebanese cabinet officials here, John, is they want to know whether if the U.S. will push to get some of that language in the resolution. Significantly, what they're concerned about is language that calls for a withdrawal of Israeli troops. What are your sources telling you about that possibility?

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Hala, U.S. officials are saying that they don't view an immediate Israeli withdrawal as helpful to the situation. Sources are saying that privately, the president of the United States said it publicly today, appearing in Crawford, Texas with his secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice.

Ms. Rice trying to emphasize the things that the parties agree on, including the deployment of the Lebanese army throughout the south of Lebanon. But the president said he did not want to create a vacuum, that he thinks there will be a vacuum that would allow Hezbollah to be rearmed if the Israeli troops withdrew immediately. So that is one of the sequencing issues. Sequencing, a word the diplomats like to use and need to work out in this resolution. The Bush team saying they're open to compromise. Obviously, the immediate goal is a cessation of hostilities.

But one interesting question. While the president was speaking in Crawford, Texas, he was pressed yet again as to why the United States won't sit down at a high level with Syria. The administration has said this resolution must include an embargo on any arms sales, must include a commitment from Iran and Syria to not ship any more missiles, any more rocket launchers into Hezbollah.

So why won't the United States sit down with Syria and try to work this out despite disagreements over other issues, like Iraq? And past behavior -- the president of the United States making clear yet again today, no high-level contacts between the United States and Syria until he sees first a change in Syria's behavior.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Syria knows what we think. The problem is in us telling Syria what's on our mind, which is to stop harboring terror and to, you know, help the Iraqi democracy evolve. They know exactly our position is. The problem is is that their response hasn't been very positive. As a matter of fact, it hasn't been positive at all.

In terms of Iran, we made it clear to Iranians that if they would honor previously obligations and verifiably stop enrichment of nuclear materials, we would sit at a table. And so, there's a way forward for both countries. The choice is theirs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: A way forward, the president of the United States says, for both Iran and Syria, in terms of conversations at a high-level with the United States. But Mr. Bush also making clear, in his view, that is a question that is down the road a bit. As to the immediate issue of getting a cessation of hostilities, the president again saying he was open to some compromise.

But Hala, on that point of an immediate Israel withdrawal, the president was very clear that he thought that was a bad idea. And he also was emphatic in saying that as they debate this resolution, and as people put proposals and compromises and changes on the table, in his view, they should remember -- and again, this has been one of the sticking points -- but the president of the United States quite emphatically saying again today that Hezbollah started this and that that should be the defining context, if you will, as any changes are debated -- Hala.

GORANI: Let me ask you this, John King. Are you getting the sense that the U.S. will push for a vote on resolution that Lebanon is unhappy with, or delay a vote until some compromise is found? KING: They are certainly willing to delay a vote today into tomorrow. U.S. officials are saying you have to get a vote if not Tuesday, by Wednesday at the very latest. Because the bigger question is the international force, the long-term international force that would go into Lebanon. There's still a lot of hesitation among countries that have tentatively volunteered troops as to what the mandate would be.

They cannot get into those discussions in a serious nature until you get the first resolution plan for a cessation of hostilities. The administration wants to move as quickly as possible. So they are so saying, let's say talk today, Monday. Let's talk perhaps some Tuesday about any changes. But they need to get to a vote, the administration says, hopefully by Tuesday, no later than Wednesday.

GORANI: All right, John King, thanks very much.

Richard Roth at the U.N., a quick last question to you. And it's a technical one, Richard. What happens if the U.N. Council resolution -- Security Council resolution -- is passed with the objection of Lebanon, then? That would be binding regardless of who agrees or disagrees with it?

ROTH: That's correct. I asked the current president of the Security Council, the ambassador from Ghana, whose birthday it is today, who said, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, when I asked him that very question -- Hala.

GORANI: All right. Richard Roth at the U.N. John King in Washington, D.C. Thanks to you both. All right.

All right. We're going to take a short break. I apologize for that slight delay.

Coming up on YOUR WORLD TODAY, well, they're called militants and terrorists by detractors, but many in Lebanon don't see it that way. Nic Robertson will introduce you to Hezbollah as provider for Lebanon's poor.

SWEENEY: And later, we'll talk to a Lebanese journalists to get his take on how the current conflict is being perceived on the north side of the border. That and more still ahead. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: You're with YOUR WORLD TODAY.

Since this Middle East conflict began, we learned much about Hezbollah, not only as military militia group, but also an entity with growing social clout.

Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson went to Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a strong following.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Where are we going now?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, we are moving to where Israeli jet fighters, bombed what it calls Hezbollah headquarters.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): These are Beirut's southern suburbs, predominantly Shiite, and a Hezbollah stronghold. These days, it's a dangerous place, and this Hezbollah spokesman is clearly rattled by the prospect of more Israeli bombs.

(on camera): How dangerous is it in this area at the moment?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is very, very dangerous. We are now the most dangerous place in the most dangerous moment.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Israeli warplanes have hit this area hard, because it's the political capital of Hezbollah. A state within a state. Its influence is everywhere. Before the bombing began, you could find Hezbollah hospitals, schools and charities, supporting Lebanon's traditionally poor and dispossessed Shiite community.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I said to Hezbollah, God bless you.

ROBERTSON: For Malika Saror (ph) and her family, Hezbollah provides water when no one else can or will. Even now, when so many are displaced.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My sister, we heard her, go to bring water from there, there is very big cans. They put water in it, in all Lebanon. ROBERTSON: In her old neighborhood near Beirut's airport, the one she fled after Israel began bombing, and the one she hopes to return to, Hezbollah picked up the garbage, paid for medical care, and helped run the schools. Stepping in, and overshadowing the Lebanese government.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hezbollah is doing all the things for the people.

ROBERTSON: On a practical level, Hezbollah paid half the cost for her daughter Zeneb's (ph) school and Zeneb says that was just the beginning of the help.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If something is broken in my school, Hezbollah helps them to make it, and to correct it again.

ROBERTSON: Now, Zeneb is on her way to becoming the next generation of Hezbollah.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hope that, to when I be big and adult, I want to be a doctor for Hezbollah. If someone has a hurt in his arms, I will help him.

ROBERTSON: Both mother and daughter say they appreciate all that Hezbollah does for them, but the most important thing to them is still the resistance.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like them more when they kill the Israelis from our land, because this land is our, us only.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All my life, all my life to family, to-my family and to my husband, to my sisters, to all the world.

ROBERTSON: And in return for all that it's given her, Hezbollah's won Malika's (ph) unconditional support. When the family is finally able to return to their home, they believe that Hezbollah will help them rebuild.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They promised that they will help the people to continue, yes, their life again.

ROBERTSON: Hezbollah has a track record of doing just that. In 1996, after an Israeli military assault destroyed numerous buildings in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah was quick to help its supporters rebuild.

TIMUR GOKSEL, FORMER UN PEACEKEEPER: Hezbollah has a very interesting outfit called the Jihad Construction company. They load their trucks with windows and all kinds of construction equipment. And all of these young guys with their t-shirts saying "jihad," they will go from house to house and offer the people, do you want us to fix the windows, do you want us to fix your doors?

ROBERTSON: Even now, as its buildings are being destroyed, Hezbollah is organizing refugees and relief services, proof, its ability to provide social service, has survived.

(on camera): There's a lot of damage here.

(voice-over): The rebuilding of south Beirut won't come until the bombs stop falling, but when it does, Hezbollah will be there for its followers, as it has so many times before. For now, it's more about surviving.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our action is always reaction. It's never an action.

ROBERTSON (on camera): But they say you're killing civilians.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now there is jet fighters, we have to move.

ROBERTSON: You're really worried about another strike here right now?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course, of course.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: All right. That was our senior international Nic Robertson reporting.

Well, Hezbollah has gained popularity in some parts of Lebanon, but in many Western countries and in Israel, Hezbollah is viewed as a terrorist organization. Let's get more perspective on that, and also what it's been like to live here the last three weeks as a journalist for the Hezbollah-affiliated television Al Manar. I'm joined by Zeinab al Saffar, an anchor on Al Manar TV. Thanks for being with us.

ZEINAB AL SAFFAR, AL MANAR TV: Thank you.

GORANI: You hear in reports on Western TV, Hezbollah are terrorists, yet in some parts of this country they're not viewed that way at all. Explain the paradox to the rest of the world.

AL SAFFAR: Well, actually just let me clarify something. In most -- in all Lebanon, we're not viewed as terrorists; we are a resistance movement, and just branding media outlets as terrorists is a very big mistake.

And I believe that when the Israeli offensive and aggression started against outlet, it was like a kind of war between Israel and Al Manar TV channel as a media outlet. So they targeted us on the first day, on the 13th of July.

GORANI: They hit one of your transmission towers.

AL SAFFAR: Transmission, yes. And then on the 16th, they destroyed the whole building, trying to silence us, because they know that we have an aim and a target, which is to tell the people the truth of what really lies beneath what is going on the ground here in Lebanon, and also what is going on on the other side.

GORANI: But I'll tell you, Israel and many who watch Al Manar TV say you're a propaganda tool for Hezbollah.

AL SAFFAR: No, actually we are a free media outlet. Now they try to affiliate us, and we have some shareholders, Hezbollah shareholders. We have regular people, regular Lebanese people from the different sects in the Lebanese society. But actually, we are reporting free journalism. And we are telling people and you can say, you can just look about -- if you have a poll now and ask the people, they keep watching.

GORANI: OK, stand by, stand by. OK, we just heard an explosion, a very loud explosion that seems to be coming from behind us. And that's the southern part of Beirut right over there.

Let's plan. Joe Doran (ph), my cameraman, let's pan there to the Beirut skyline. That was pretty loud, reverberated throughout the entire Beirut horizon there. And this is on a day when leaflets. OK, stand by, OK, this was a little bit louder than the first one. Trying to get a sense of exactly where it's coming from.

And this is on a day when the Israeli military warned residents of southern Lebanon, south of the Litani River to evacuate in anticipation, many are saying here, of Israeli air strike activity. All right, this is the view here from our vantage point. Two explosions, one clearly louder than the other. More pinpoints of the second one. The first one more diffused. You're looking here at the skyline. But we don't exactly have the southern vantage point. And it's sometimes difficult for us from this specific location to see plumes of smoke or to see any kind of fireball coming from that location. But our viewers clearly heard it, we were heard it from here as well.

We're going to go back perhaps to our position, Joe, as you can slowly move back to us. OK, we're going to continue the interview for now. Now as we're trying to focus back on this topic. Let me ask you this, we heard two Israeli air strikes, what we suppose are Israeli air strikes, two loud explosions. You mentioned that two of them hit your transmission capability. But what everyone is asking is, what everyone is asking, is how come you're still on the air?

AL SAFFAR: Well, this is our job. And we expected this from the very beginning. So we had a kind of contingency plan. And we decided that -- they won't be able to silence us. Because the people have to know, they have to know what is really going on. And whatever the Manar T.V. channel is trying to do is to unveil the Israeli blackout, the Israeli media blackout that was attempting to hide what is really going on and also to show how the Israeli military had a kind of censorship on the media.

GORANI: OK, this is also a media war, you explained it very well, Zeinab Al Saffar of Al-Manar T.V., an anchorwoman there. Thanks so much.

All right. Well we're going to try to determine exactly where those explosions came from, what caused them as well, of course here, as we broadcast live from the Lebanese capital. You heard them alongside us here from our vantage point in Beirut. We will have a lot more for you here after a short break on YOUR WORLD TODAY. Don't go away, as we show you the skyline of the Lebanese capital once again.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: You're with YOUR WORLD TODAY. Let's get back to our question of the day. But before we do, a quick update. We just heard two loud explosions in Beirut, coming it seems like from southern suburbs of Beirut. One a little more diffuse, one definitely a lot louder. We'll bring you more on those as soon as we know where they came from and what exactly caused them.

For now though, our question of the day and we've been asking our viewers, how have higher oil prices impacted you and affected your life?

Well Stephanie in Germany says: "I'm an equestrian and had to miss competitions due to expensive gas. I'm glad I know how to ride a horse, something tells me it might come in handy soon."

David in the United States writes, "We've had a break from oil price inflation for 25 years. My purchasing power is much higher than 25 years ago, so I can afford it, and so can everyone else."

And finally Denise from the U.S. says: "I'm retired on a fixed income. I don't go anywhere if I can't fill up my car with gas."

OK, that's it from me, Hala Gorani in Beirut.

SWEENEY: And from Haifa in Israel, I'm Fionnuala Sweeney, thank you for watching YOUR WORLD TODAY, stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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