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Iran: New Video of Detainee 'Confessing'; Meeting Deadline for Withdrawing U.S. Troops From Iraq Would Be Monumental Task

Aired March 30, 2007 - 12:00   ET

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

STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Apologies, written and verbal both, but the British prime minister is having none of them. The war of words continues between Iran and Britain.
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Meanwhile, oil prices rise as jittery world markets react to the crisis. We'll tell you how that might actually hurt Iran.

FRAZIER: She once was sick but now is healed. She doesn't call it a miracle, but millions of Roman Catholics do. We'll tell you why that's important for John Paul II.

GORANI: And Lebanon embraces a daughter of Iraq for their version of "American Idol" And the Middle East, the entire Middle East, is watching closely.

FRAZIER: It's 7:30 p.m. in Tehran, 5:00 p.m. now in London.

Hello, everyone, and welcome to our report broadcast around the globe.

I'm Stephen Frazier.

GORANI: I'm Hala Gorani.

From Beirut to Beijing, Rome to Riyadh, wherever you're watching, this is YOUR WORLD TODAY.

FRAZIER: British authorities say Iran's television display of captured marines and sailors is only adding to the world's disgust, while Iran is accusing Britain of mishandling and miscalculating the situation.

GORANI: All right. Here is the latest for you in that crisis over those 15 detained British sailors and marines.

FRAZIER: Iranian television has now aired another video of a purported confession. This one is from seaman Nathan Thomas Summers. On it, he apologizes for entering Iranian waters last week.

GORANI: And Iran has also released what it says is the third letter from Faye Turney, the only female captive, you'll remember. The letter says she's been "sacrificed" by the U.S. and British governments.

FRAZIER: British Prime Minister Tony Blair is accusing Iran, though, of using the captives as propaganda tools. He says no one is fooled. And the European Union is showing solidarity with London. It has not followed its lead, though, in freezing accounts with Iran.

GORANI: Well, meanwhile, Tehran is calling Britain's appeal to third parties "not helpful," saying this is purely a bilateral dispute.

FRAZIER: Let's spend more time now on the second video that we have seen, that of a detainee who is said to be confessing to entering Iranian waters. This is footage of seaman Nathan Thomas Summers that has the British government outraged and his family deeply worried.

Alphonso Van Marsh spoke with Summers' brother, and he joins us now live from Hayle, England.

And Alphonso, you know, usually when you see a video like this, relatives are watching very closely, listening to the grammar. Is it the kind of way he speaks normally?

ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, according to his older brother Nick, who is serving in the Royal Navy, it would be very typical the way Nathan is seen in this video. His brother says that he's always very laid back, very calm, very mature for his age.

As you mentioned, we did just hours ago speak with his older brother here in Hayle. That is the home town of Nathan Summers. As you mentioned, one of those 15 British service members being held in Tehran.

When we sat down with him, his older brother Nick, he did mention that what he saw was very, very typical. Let's listen to a little bit more of what older brother Nick had to say about his brother, Nathan Summers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICHOLAS SUMMERS, BROTHER OF DETAINED SAILOR: Initially, I was shocked, obviously, to see the things that I see on the news, day in and day out. Until it actually, you know, hits home, you know, it's just a big shock, basically. I wouldn't -- well -- it just doesn't feel real. I just don't really know how to put it to words, basically, but, yes, just a big shock, basically.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAN MARSH: Now, again, that's Nick, the older brother, speaking in front of the family home, where, when Nathan is on leave, he would come here to be with his mother and stepfather and sister.

The brother, Nick, is saying that, as we heard him just say on that tape there, this is very typical. He's very, very laid back. He's not surprised that he would be so calm in that video.

Of course, the message, if Nick said he could speak to his brother Nathan, is to stay calm. That officials here are doing everything they can do bring him home soon. Just want to share with you a slightly more upbeat bit to this story. I just came back from the local pub where Nathan spends time when he's on leave. The pub owner talking to us, saying, if you look really carefully at that video out of Tehran, if you see a little smirk on Nathan Summers' face, that's just typical Nathan, a very mature guy, a very laid back guy, but also a person who under the most stressful circumstances still knows how to keep a bit of his personality, keeping everything back in check -- Stephen.

FRAZIER: Tell us, a little more, Alphonso about brother Nick's phrase, though, it doesn't seem real. Did you take that to mean that this whole situation seems to be hard to believe, that it's unreal, or did you take that to mean that the way Nathan was speaking is not authentically his speech?

VAN MARSH: Well, we should point out that while the older brother, Nick, who, keep in mind now, also serves in the Royal Navy, did speak to reporters today, he was very careful not to express any opinion or any comment on what he thought about the situation, about this use of his brother in what many here are calling propaganda video.

What he did mention -- and again, it is keen to note in the video even of Nick -- both of them very, very calm, very mature individuals. What he did say, though, is that his older -- his younger brother, Nathan, currently being held in Tehran, is a very, very laid back kind of person. Even in the most stressful of circumstances, Nick says, always laid back. So, it didn't surprise him that in the video that we are seeing being distributed on Iranian television that -- that Nathan does appear very, very calm and at ease.

Of course, nervous, Nick says, because of those camera and television lights around him. But otherwise, very, very calm, very much at ease -- Stephen.

FRAZIER: Just what's needed, calm, mature and a relaxed demeanor through all of this.

Alphonso Van Marsh, thank you.

GORANI: Well, the British prime minister, Tony Blair, says Tehran's behavior will only keep Iran on the path of international isolation. He's asked the United Nations and the European Union for strong statements against Iran. But what else can Mr. Blair do at this point?

Senior International Correspondent Matthew Chance takes a closer look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NATHAN SUMMERS, BRITISH SEAMAN: Since we've been arrested in Iran, our treatment has been very friendly. We have not been harmed at all.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Another propaganda salvo, another disturbing confession, possibly made under duress, in Britain's escalating standoff with Iran. This is Nathan Thomas Summers, one of the 15 British sailors being held and now being paraded on Iranian television as well.

SUMMERS: I'm grateful no harm has come to us. Just, I'd like to apologize for entering your waters without any permission. I know it happened back in 2004, and our government promised that it wouldn't happen again. And again, I deeply apologize for entering your waters.

CHANCE: But this statement, and the other images broadcast of the captives, has angered the British authorities. Military officials deny the patrol was in Iranian waters when it was intercepted. The British Foreign Office says it's outraged that British detainees are being used by Iran for propaganda. And the British prime minister, furious over the latest developments, says Iran is only damaging itself.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I really don't know why the Iranian regime keep doing this. I mean, all it does is enhances people's sense of disgust at captured personnel being paraded and manipulated in this way. It doesn't fool anyone. And what the Iranians have to realize is that, if they continue in this way, they will face increasing isolation.

CHANCE: But Iran shows little sign of easing the pressure. There's been a third handwritten letter released from the only female captive, Faye Turney, addressed to the British people. It says she's been sacrificed due to the intervening policies of the Bush and Blair governments. "It's now time," the letter goes on, "to ask our government to make a change to its oppressive behavior towards other people."

(on camera): Watching this crisis develop with concern, British officials say neither the letter nor the televised confession will deflect them from trying to find a diplomatic solution. Prime Minister Tony Blair distancing himself from any talk of a military response. The best outcome, he says, is for all British personnel being held by Iran to be released safe and sound.

Matthew Chance, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRAZIER: In the Iranian capital, hundreds of people held a brief demonstration against the British government. Leaving Tehran University after Friday prayers, they chanted, "Death to Britain!" and "We condemn the British invasion!"

A top cleric also had a warning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AHMED KHATAMI, MEMBER OF IRAN'S EXPERTS ASSEMBLY (through translator): Britain must know that if they continue their bullying gestures, they will have an expensive price to pay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRAZIER: The cleric also said that third parties, including the United States and the European Union, should stay out of the dispute, saying that their interference would only complicate matters.

GORANI: Let's turn our attention now to a neighboring country, Iraq. Despite the security crackdown by Iraqi and coalition forces, it's been an extraordinarily violent week across that country.

The Iraqi Interior Ministry is reporting a U.S. air strike in Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood killed at least 16 people on Friday. The U.S. military says it is looking into that report.

Also, two attacks in Iraq on Thursday killed at least 124 people, and almost 200 were wounded. Iraq's Interior Ministry says at least 81 were killed when a suicide bomber wearing an explosives vest attacked a crowded market in a Shia region of Baghdad.

Now, earlier, car bombs exploded in the mainly Shia town of Khalis (ph), killing at least 43 people.

FRAZIER: Many in the U.S. Congress are pushing hard to set a deadline for bringing American troops home from Iraq. Legislation in the works right now would have the military leaving some time next year. But those troops can't simply pack up their duffel bags and leave.

Tom Foreman shows us just how much would be involved in this homecoming.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Meeting a deadline for withdrawing from Iraq would be a monumental task. And the numbers tell the tale; 143,000 U.S. troops are there right now, soon to be 160,000. And they don't travel light.

The military has tens of thousands of airplanes, tanks, helicopters, Strykers, and other vehicles. There are on estimated 14,000 armored Humvees in Iraq alone.

(on camera): And all of these forces, all of this equipment are spread all over the country. True, there are concentrations, for the Army, in Baghdad, for the Marines, out in Anbar Province. But American troops, in some number, are still everywhere.

So, how would the military leave all this territory? Analysts say, in all likelihood, some of the troops would fly directly out of Baghdad's main airport. But most of them would come out the way they went in, traveling south to Kuwait, and then getting on to ships.

(voice-over): The American military, working with Iraqi troops, would establish heavily-guarded areas around the exit routes. But it would be perilous. Just as it happened in Vietnam, some military analysts say, even if withdrawal is desired, a publicly-acknowledged date would permit the enemy to dog the departure and stack up American casualties every step of the way.

MAJOR GENERAL DONALD SHEPPERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: I have seen this movie before. I can't think of anything dumber than announcing ahead of time to the enemy what you're going to do. It provides them with the opportunity to -- to basically control the situation.

FOREMAN: It is not clear what will happen to the bases or the endless tons of equipment that will certainly be left behind, too worn out to be brought back.

Even with the deadline, however, the Pentagon suggests, leaving Iraq would not take not days, or weeks, but months.

Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FRAZIER: All right. Let's check other headlines now.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FRAZIER: Welcome back.

The top stories this hour -- Iran releases new videotape of a British sailor supposedly confessing to entering Iranian waters. All this coming as Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he will reconsider the release of the woman sailor after talks later in the day with the prime minister of Turkey.

And despite a security crackdown, hundreds of Iraqis have been killed this week in bombings and shootings.

GORANI: The late pope, John Paul II, was enormously popular with his following, and now there is a push under way to have him formally declared a saint. Now, the case hinges on whether a nun in southern France was healed of Parkinson's Disease after praying to the late pontiff.

Jim Bittermann joins us now from Paris with the latest on this nun and what she has to say.

Is she saying that essentially this was a miracle, that she was healed because Pope John Paul II's sort of influence was able to heal her of something doctors said she would never recover from?

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, she will not use the word "miracle," nor will any of the people around her. They say that's up to the Vatican to decide whether or not it's a miracle. But, however, they do say, there's no earthly explanation for what happened. Her name was not even known to the press a week ago, but it was leaked, and this morning, the church held a news conference to tell the story of Marie-Simon-Pierre.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BITTERMANN (voice over): After months of secret inquiry by local church authorities, the French nun who believes she was cured by the intercession of the late pope said she'll leave it up to the Vatican to decide if it is a miracle. But for 46-year-old Sister Marie-Simon- Pierre, and those familiar with the case, the way she was suddenly cured of Parkinson's Disease, the same illness that struck Pope John Paul II, has no earthly explanation.

At a news conference, the nun described how her physical abilities slowly declined over four years with the illness, and said that after the pope's death, she was about to give up her work in a maternity hospital because of difficulties writing and walking. Members of her congregation prayed for the late pope's assistance. And two months to the day after his death, things suddenly changed.

SISTER MARIE SIMON-PIERRE, FRENCH NUN: About 9:00 p.m., I felt the need to write, and my writing suddenly was very readable. Then, I woke up in the middle of the night, and I was completely transformed. I was not the same.

BITTERMANN: Five days later, when she went for a doctor's appointment, her doctor was stunned.

SIMON-PIERRE (through translator): He said, "What have you done, taken a double doze of your medication?" And I said, "No, I have stopped taking it all together."

BITTERMANN: The details of Sister Marie-Simon-Pierre's case, along with expert opinions and boxes of documents and X-rays, will now be shipped to the Vatican, where a determination will be made about whether what happened to her will indeed be considered a miracle.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BITTERMANN: Now, if it is declared a miracle, the case can be made for the beatification of Pope John Paul II. That's something that would lead to sainthood. That's -- a miracle is required, as you mentioned earlier, Hala. It could lead to sainthood for the former pope, and that's something that has been hoped for by a number of Catholics, from everyone from Pope Benedict XVI on down -- Hala.

GORANI: All right.

Jim Bittermann, live in Paris.

Thanks very much.

We'll have wait for the decision of the Vatican.

Well, coming up, we're going to have to check on the day's business news for you. A lot going on there.

FRAZIER: And a little bit later, we will have a sneak preview of our brand-new program, "The Screening Room". And this is gong to be terrific. We'll talk with host Myleene Klass about one of Hollywood's biggest surprises, all the special effects spectacle in "300".

(NEWSBREAK)

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STEPHEN FRAZIER, CO-HOST: Welcome back to our viewers joining us from more than 200 countries and territories around the globe, including the United States.

HALA GORANI, CO-HOST: This is YOUR WORLD TODAY, indeed. I'm Holly Gorani.

FRAZIER: I'm Stephen Frazier. Here are some of the top stories we're following at this hour.

Britain says no one is fooled by what it calls Iran's parading and manipulating of detained British sailors and marines. Iran has released more video tape of another sailor purportedly confessing to entering Iranian waters.

Iran has also released what it says is the third letter from the only female captive. The letter says she's been sacrificed by the U.S. and British governments.

GORANI: Well, Iran, as we just mentioned there, with this new video of one of the British sailors detained one week ago in the Persian Gulf. This is Nathan Thomas Summers. He's shown effectively confessing to being in Iranian waters when the troops were detained.

Also, the Iranian embassy released a new letter it said was written by Faye Turney, the only woman detained. That letter going into detail, criticizes British and U.S. governments for their actions in Iraq.

FRAZIER: In Iraq, a U.S. air strike on Baghdad's Sadr City is now being blamed for 16 deaths. An Iraqi Interior Ministry official says the attack killed guards who protect neighborhoods in this largely Shiite area.

The attack follows a day of deadly bombings around Iraq which killed at least 124 people, wounded more than 190.

GORANI: Well, as all of this drags on, it's been a week, as we said. Tensions in the Persian Gulf are rising, and the price of oil is climbing as a result. So, a lot of us, many of us, may end up paying for the impasse every time we go to the pump.

The funny thing is Iran, even though it has a lot of oil, will be paying, too. Jonathan Mann has some insight -- Jonathan.

JONATHAN MANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It may be a matter of principle for Iran. It may just be a way of playing politics. But first, the standoff over Iran's nuclear program, and now the impasse over its prisoners have had their price. It's being paid in oil, which has gone up $5 a barrel in the last week alone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALAN WASTLER, MANAGING EDITOR, CNNMONEY.COM: It's a lot of money in a short period of time, OK? Usually, you see this slow creep in commodities like oil and other commodities where upward pressure slowly building it up. You don't see that quick a spike like this, unless you see a lot of saber rattling, international crisis type stuff. So, this kind of crisis, yes, it does goose the prices very significantly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANN: Long before the action in the Persian Gulf, Iran had a problem. It exports a lot of crude oil, but it's desperately short of refined gasoline. Have a look at the numbers.

Iran can refine 40 million liters of gasoline a day. Iranian consumers, though, use 70 million. The country has to import the very substantial difference. Do the math. It is 30 million liters a day.

You wouldn't guess it, and no one would believe it, but Iran is the second largest gasoline importer in the world, just after the United States.

Not only that: the government loses money on ever liter, because it subsidizes gasoline for its people. Take the dispute over its nuclear program, add a few British prisoners, and watch what happens.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK LEWIS, ENERGY MARKET CONSULTANT: Crude prices go up, international gasoline prices go up, alongside crude. And the Iranian government is having to pay the difference between the international price and the heavily subsidized domestic price. So it's costing them a substantial amount of money.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MANN: Truth is, it may be offset by the money Iran is making selling its crude oil. We've spoken to a few oil analysts and gotten some different answers. It depends on a lot of things like contract prices, the spot market, and the fine print.

But bottom line, as the world feels the pinch of rising oil prices, Iran is watching its own wallet a little, too.

GORANI: Because what many people forget, Jonathan Mann, is that when you have oil reserves, it doesn't mean you have refined gasoline. You still need that oil to be refined.

MANN: And Iran doesn't have enough refineries. Gasoline is an enormous problem, even with all that oil coming in, or rather going out. They are spending billions a year buying gasoline, subsidizing it for their own people. It is a budget buster, and it also is a very, very sensitive point, the Achilles heel. The U.S. government is, in fact, looking to potentially use gasoline imports as leverage in another sanctions regime.

GORANI: Right. Because the current sanctions don't target oil or refined gasoline. They are designed to target the ruling, the government, the revolutionary guard.

MANN: The government and the revolutionary guard.

GORANI: Right.

MANN: If they can hold back some of the gasoline that Iran has, that Iran desperately needs, that's hitting them where they live, as they say.

GORANI: Right. But the question, as always, who will it hurt?

MANN: That is the question. There's also the question about whether anybody would dare...

GORANI: The people or...

MANN: ... would dare going after the oil industry in that way in Iran, because what would it do for world oil prices?

GORANI: Yes.

MANN: So the United States has spoken publicly of this. Nick Burns at the State Department has spoken publicly of this as leverage.

European diplomats are saying they are not considering it, because, really the world needs Iran's oil, and whatever the dispute over the prisoners and the nuclear impasse, the world still needs Iran's cooperation to get that oil.

GORANI: And you nudge the oil industry just a little bit, you never know what happens to prices. You never know what panic does, as well, for oil prices.

MANN: That's exactly right.

GORANI: Usually, you do know.

MANN: We're seeing it this week. We're seeing precisely that this week.

GORANI: Right. It's fascinating stuff. Thank you, another angle to the story with your insight, Jonathan Mann -- Stephen.

FRAZIER: Even more precious than oil and gasoline, Hala, time. And it does fly by. But if you're 6 years old, and you have a sailor dad deployed to Iraq, seven months, his deployment can be an eternity. This week, that young man got the happiest surprise of his life, and, boy, was it a surprise. Alyssa Hahn of CNN affiliate KING-TV takes us along for this sweet reunion.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALYSSA HAHN, KING-TV CORRESPONDENT: For the last seven months, Ensign Bill Hawes has been in Iraq, an eternity for his family, especially his 6-year-old son, who had no idea his dad was coming home and was surprising him in class.

BILL HAWES, U.S. NAVY: I missed you.

JOHN HAWES, SON: I missed you, too, daddy.

HAHN: All year, the Sieber Wooley (ph) 6-year-old had written letters to his dad. And his kindergarten class at Central Elementary joined in, sending the sailor care packages. A tearful John got to introduce his father to all his pen pals.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's his name?

J. HAWES: Bill.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is Bill.

B. HAWES: It's great to be home. Seven months over there, it's nice to see my kids and all again. My wife.

JULIE HAWES, WIFE: I am so ecstatic to have my husband home. I'm so proud of him.

HAHN: The Hawes family was happy to share their joy with the whole class, who all took part in the welcome home party. The sweetest homecoming from a sailor who had been gone too long and for a little boy who dreamed of this day with his dad.

In Sieber Wooley (ph), Alyssa Hahn, KING-5 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: All right, coming up, a rising star from a country that could sure use a break.

FRAZIER: She's got the chops, Iraqi singer Shada Hassoon, the finalist on the Lebanese version of an "American Idol" kind of program. Does she have what it takes, with a whole country hoping she does?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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GORANI: Welcome back, everyone. You're watching YOUR WORLD TODAY on CNN International.

FRAZIER: We're seen live right now in more than 200 countries and territories across the globe.

GORANI: Now, including Lebanon. An Iraqi singer, one of the four finalists in that country's version of "American Idol". Shada Hassoon is hoping that a victory will bring, or at least help bring, harmony to the shattered country.

Our Beirut bureau chief Brent Sadler joins is now with the latest on Lebanon's "Star Academy".

This is getting a lot of people excited, isn't it, Brent?

BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, indeed. In less than four hours from now, Hala, we'll find out whether or not this 25-year-old singing sensation, Shada Hassoon, will, in fact, be crowned as the winner of "Star Academy".

This is a very highly rated Middle Eastern show. It's broadcast from Lebanon. Shada is one of four finalists. And it was really a very emotional rendition of a very famous Middle East song called "Baghdad". You're hearing some of it now on air.

But it touched the heart of many Iraqis, because the song called "Baghdad" was written some 30 years ago, and reminded Iraqis then that they were not in a state of uncontrollable war, as many of them feel they're now in. And many Iraqis shed tears, it was reported, when she sang that song.

And since then, every week, many, many Iraqis in their droves, Hala, have been voting by telephone to make sure she stays in the show.

She's up against a Lebanese, Egyptian and Tunisian singer, as well. But many Iraqis circumventing problems with electricity by using batteries to try to tune in and watch tonight's finale -- Hala.

GORANI: Now it's not often that in the Middle East you have all these nations coming together, and, essentially, presenting a unified sort of picture, not just to the world, but also, to the residents of that region, of how these people can all work together.

Tell me a little bit about the emotional aspect of this show, and how people are responding to it.

SADLER: Well, they're responding to it because of the kind of hype that's been built up for the past several weeks around the show.

But it really has been the singing, not only the talent of this young woman, but also her charisma. She has an Iraqi father and a Moroccan mother, but she takes her father's Iraqi identity, Iraqi nationality.

And it is that Iraqi nationality that's been transcending the sectarian violence in Iraq, the daily bloodshed, and, really, galvanizing many Iraqis to watch this show, and to vote for her.

This kind of phenomenon was repeated, I recall, a couple of years ago when the same show saw a Palestinian finalist making it to the final cut, and we're seeing a repeat of that. But given what's going on in Iraq, this story of this young woman has really been capturing the imagination, particularly of those in her embattled homeland -- Hala.

GORANI: All right, we'll go to Kyra Phillips in a minute. But is she the favorite, Brent? Is she the favorite to win? Shada Hassoon?

SADLER: Well, she's certainly been pulling in the votes. She was being picked as a winner a few days ago. But it's too really close to call. It's going to be nail-biting stuff right up to the final voting in less than four hours from now, Hala.

GORANI: All right, Brent Sadler reporting live in Beirut, thank you, Brent.

FRAZIER: Let's go straight to Baghdad for a sense of how Iraqis have embraced Shada Hassoon as their own, even with her split parentage. This country's been following her appearances on this show, "Star Academy", and as Brent told us, Kyra Phillips, they're now eagerly anticipating the finals.

You have been following the story. Shada mania it's called there. Tell us what people think.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: It's amazing. I mean, just look at these newspapers, OK? I've got a Sunni newspaper. I have a Shia newspaper, and also a Kurdish newspaper.

And on the front page, Stephen, of every one of these newspapers, is her picture, and it says to vote for her, that this is our girl. Her name actually means perfume in Arabic. So they're saying vote for the perfume of the country.

So you've got it all over the press, all over the newspapers, encouraging Iraqis to text message. And all these competitions have started among family members, Stephen. They call each other and they say, "OK, I've texted four times today. How many times have you done it?"

And also, listen to this. In an area where electricity is basically impossible to get, because of the destruction caused by the war and by the violence, families are going out and buying generators so they can just watch the show and root for her.

It's unbelievable how she has rallied all parties, whether you're Sunni, Shia, Kurd, to come together and support her.

And, so, you got family competitions. You have families going out and buying generators. And then, in the Kurdish region, obviously, where it's safe, Stephen, they're going to set up a huge big screen in the center of the region, where they have a lot of festivals and things like that, so everybody can gather and watch the show on the big screen.

FRAZIER: You know, they sure need more of this. Do you remember, Kyra, how the nation united behind its soccer team during the World Cup and had a good run, too?

Now, is this just because she's Iraqi, or also, is she a winning character in her own right?

PHILLIPS: That's a great question. I mean, she's beautiful. She's talented. She's Iraqi. But the one song that I wanted to tell you about, the "Baghdad" song that she sang, I think that's what affected a lot of people, because the lyrics talk about -- she sings about the history in this song, how precious it is, how this country is full of literature and poetry and beautiful landscape.

And that's when people really fell in love with her, when she performed the "Baghdad" song. And it was very passionate. And you just saw the flags waving and the crowd going crazy when she sang that song. So, she's truly becoming a national symbol for Iraq.

And you're right. I remember the soccer game, and I remember when the Iraqi soccer team was doing so well. It was that same fire, that same excitement. And things were -- I even remember during the soccer game that -- I don't remember very much violence within the couple of days where everybody was talking about that.

And today's been a somewhat quiet day. And the talk on the streets and in the papers and in the media is about this Iraqi woman, Shada, who they hope takes home this title.

FRAZIER: You know, this is a subject for historians forever: will culture trump military difficulties?

Let's talk a little bit more about something you just raised, Kyra, the difficulties of a broken infrastructure. This particular show has in the past been plagued by, you know, great diversity in the quality of the phone lines. There was a Palestinian candidate a couple of years ago Hala was mentioning who suffered because people couldn't get through.

But you're saying that their passion for her is driving them to improve their own infrastructure.

PHILLIPS: Yes, you know what's interesting? You mentioned the cell phone, being able to text and use a cell phone.

Something that really struck me when I went to this camp -- the first week that I was here in Baghdad -- of displaced Iraqis, because of the war, people that had nothing. They had to sell everything, and they were living in tents and mud huts. They all had cell phones, because it's really inexpensive.

I couldn't believe it. I even said to my producer, "I can't believe they don't have anything, but they all have cell phones." So that's been fascinating. Even these folks without electricity, going out to scrape all their money together to go out and buy a generator so they can watch this show. They all have cell phones. And they're texting like crazy.

FRAZIER: Well, we know where you will be in four hours time. We're grateful you spent a moment with us. Now Kyra Phillips, thanks and have a great evening.

PHILLIPS: You bet. Thank you.

GORANI: It's always heartwarming to see a positive story come out of that and get people united, the Shia, the Sunni, the Kurd newspapers, all with the picture of this young lady on their front page.

FRAZIER: I can't imagine any other thing that has united both groups...

GORANI: You mentioned the soccer team. That did it, too, as well.

All right, well, good luck to Shada.

FRAZIER: Yes.

GORANI: Shada mania.

FRAZIER: That's a great story.

GORANI: All right, coming -- and to the others, we don't have a favorite. We're just highlighting her story.

Now coming up, 30 versus one million. That's how one movie describes the odds. An ancient army of Persia and Sparta.

FRAZIER: So what are the odds that this film will continue its plunder, surprising success at the box office? Details next.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The finest soldiers the world has ever known.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Threaten my people with slavery and death.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is madness.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madness?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Sparta! We will stand and fight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRAZIER: Some scenes here from "300", the movie that's playing in theaters in most parts of the world already. It's opening in others next month. It is a sensation, this film.

GORANI: Yes. And Iranians aren't happy about it. But that's a whole other story. It's one of the features in the first edition of our new entertainment show, "THE SCREENING ROOM", which premieres here on CNN International about half an hour from now.

Host Myleene Klass joins us now live from London.

Myleene Klass, tell us a little bit about "300" and those special effects. It's pretty amazing.

MYLEENE KLASS, HOST, "THE SCREENING ROOM"; Well, what was so exciting about it, is obviously it's a movie that's used a lot of CGI, which is green screen. So for a lot of the filming, the actors had to imagine that either elephants or characters or entire armies were coming towards them.

I think it's just fascinating, because it just explores CGI as an effect, rather than a necessity, a budget cut, if you like.

FRAZIER: This is what's so cool about THE SCREENING ROOM. It's really not just another review show. You're talking about behind the scenes things like special effects, right?

Like, we want to know how did they manage to put Gerard Butler's face on my body? What kind of technology did that take?

GORANI: Bada bing.

KLASS: That's exactly what we're exploring. You're absolutely right. It's got nothing to do in the sense of other review shows. Because obviously, that's just a matter of opinion.

What we're doing here is we're looking intricately at how movies work. We're talking to the directors, the actors. We're going on the actual sets. We're looking at things from their concepts, all the way through to when they hit the big screen. It's really exciting times. It's great to be a part of it. Really excited.

GORANI: All right, excellent. And what about Africa this year in films? We saw many films exploring African themes and current events in history. At the Oscars, for instance. Tell us about that.

KLASS: Well, there's been so much of a spotlight, I'd say, that's been shone on Africa at the moment. You've seen "Blood Diamond". You've also seen the "The Last King of Scotland".

But I just think it's fascinating to think what's going to happen next. We've had so much put on Africa that are they going to continue churning out these movies? Independently, have they got the strength to do that? And we're going to explore that.

And also if you think of how huge Africa is, if you think that they only produce 10 films a year, and a lot of that is outside help. Again, it's quite fascinating when you break it down. GORANI: All right. And, finally, film festivals. You have Sundance. You have others. How will you be covering those? Will you be traveling to those film festivals and talking to the organizers? Or how is that going to work out?

KLASS: I am literally going where my feet take me, from Tribeca all the way through Sundance.

GORANI: Oh, lucky you.

KLASS: It's going to be very exciting. Very, very lucky, absolutely. Talking to the directors and the actors first-hand. It's not just red carpet stuff. We're going back stage. We're going behind the scenes. We're going to explore every avenue. And if we haven't covered it, then it probably isn't worth covering.

GORANI: Excellent. Everyone does the red carpet. We go behind the scenes. It's a whole lot more interesting.

Myleene Klass, thank you.

KLASS: Thank you.

FRAZIER: It's at the festivals, you know, that you'll see so many international stories, much more so than Hollywood is generating.

GORANI: Absolutely.

FRAZIER: So there is a little quick look there at "THE SCREENING ROOM". It premieres about 30 minutes from now on CNN.

GORANI: All right. For our viewers in Asia, it can be seen on Saturday at 5:30 GMT, again at 1500 GMT. Check your listings for that.

FRAZIER: Meantime, there's a lot more of YOUR WORLD TODAY ahead, including a look at news reports from broadcasters around the world.

GORANI: All right. We'll have that in our preview of this weekend's "WORLD REPORT". Do stay with CNN. I'm Hala Gorani.

FRAZIER: I'm Stephen Frazier. This is CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is where we hold them. This is where we fight. This is where they die.

KLASS: How did you capture that with CGI? How did you actually get the right reactions from the actors? Because it's pretty tough.

ZACK SNYDER, WRITER/DIRECTOR, "300": It is tough. It's tough. Because you're really not working with it a lot. A lot of the time, I would say to Jerry, like, "OK, your guys are that lamp over there. And Xerxes' army is that pipe on the wall."

So, he -- and he would look at me and go, "OK, I'm just going to have to go with you on this."

KLASS: This film has clearly divided critics into two warring camps, with the consequence (ph) either loving or hating it. But there's been no such uncertainty amongst movie goers, with reports of standing ovations at the closing credits and a reported record breaking taking of $70 million at the U.S. box office on its opening weekend. And I can tell you, the excitement is running high at the British premier of "300".

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We Spartans are descended from Hercules himself. Taught never to retreat, never to surrender. Death in the battlefield is the greatest glory to achieve in his life. Spartans, the finest soldiers the world has ever known.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's quiet now. They came from the blackness.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be afraid. Sparta will burn to the ground. A thousand nation of the Persian empire descend upon you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You threaten my people with slavery and death.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is madness!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madness?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Sparta! We will stand and fight!

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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