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Your World Today

Bomb Explosion in the Philippines; U.S. and Others Calling on Pakistan to End State of Emergency; DOW Making a Comeback?; Interview with Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif

Aired November 13, 2007 - 12:00   ET

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

ISHA SESAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: More victims (INAUDIBLE) as they wonder just who is in control.
JIM CLANCY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Business as usual. A Chinese factory that made those potentially lethal Aqua Dots is continuing to churn out toys.

SESAY: Air fare deception. A new report says many airline Web sites aren't up front about what it really costs to buy a ticket.

CLANCY: And medical marvel. This Indian girl who once had eight limbs makes her first post-surgical appearance.

It's 10:30 in the evening right now in Bangalore, India, 1:00 in the morning in Beijing, China.

Hello and welcome to reports seen around the globe. I'm Jim Clancy.

SESAY: I'm Isha Sesay from Beijing to Bangalore to Boston, wherever you're watching, this is YOUR WORLD TODAY.

CLANCY: All right, we're going to have all of that coming up in just a matter of moments. But first, a developing story we're following in Manila. The capital of the Philippines on high alert after a bomb exploded outside the parliament building. Two people were killed, including a lawmaker who had been targeted by Muslim extremists in the past.

Police though say they are not ruling out any possible suspects or motives pending a full investigation. Eight people were wounded in the blast. We're going to continue to follow the story and bring you updates as soon as it becomes available.

In fact, I understand that a former Philippine police chief is on the line with us was right now. Geary Barias, the National Capital Regional Police head is on the line from the scene. Sir, what can you tell us is known about this blast? What kind of explosives were used? Where does it point?

VOICE OF CHIEF GEARY BARIAS, NATIONAL CAPITAL REGIONAL POLICE: Yeah, it looks like we have an IED here, which was responsible for the blast. It happened around 8:00 this evening. Hello?

CLANCY: Yes. We're listening to you. BARIAS: Yes. Can you hear me?

CLANCY: Yes.

BARIAS: Yes. So because of this explosion, which happened near here two died on the spot or rather one died on the spot and then one congressman died in the hospital later on.

(CROSSTALK)

BARIAS: He is identified as Congressman Wahab Akbar (ph). We have eight others who were injured, including two members of the House of Congress. We have Congresswoman (INAUDIBLE) Ilagan (ph) and Congressman Teves (ph).

CLANCY: Where was the bomb planted?

BARIAS: Yeah. We believe that the bomb was planted on a motorcycle which was near the vehicle or the -- yeah, the vehicle of Congressman Wahab Akbar (ph).

CLANCY: As you have noted, or has been noted, this lawmaker was the subject of threats and attempts in the past?

BARIAS: Yes. That's what we learned. We are getting more information from our intelligence people on the personality of the congressman especially his role in politics in southern Philippines.

CLANCY: Who was the group that had attempted in the past to target this congressman?

BARIAS: I'm not really very familiar about that.

CLANCY: All right, as we continue to follow this story, our thanks there to the national police chief for the information. We'll keep you updated on this story. A very important one for the Philippines. There may be Islamic militant links to this bomb blast outside the National Congress, a blast that left two people dead, one of them a lawmaker who, as we have heard there, was targeted in the past -- Isha.

SESAY: Jim, well not long ago she said she would work with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to put the country on a path to democracy. But those plans have now been derailed. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is calling on the president to step down. Bhutto ruled out serving under Musharraf and the future government and that it was likely a punt (ph) in the boycott general elections. This is the first time she's called on Musharraf to give up all of his power.

While hundreds of her supporters have been arrested on this, the second week of a state of emergency, Bhutto herself is again under house arrest in Lahore. Planned a five-day protest march from Lahore to Islamabad fizzled when turnout was low.

Now, U.S. and other countries including Britain are calling on Pakistan to end the state of emergency. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte is expected to take that message to Islamabad when he meets with President Musharraf later this week.

Geraint Vincent reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GERAINT VINCENT, ITV NEWS REPORTER (voice-over): Pakistan is supposed to be a few weeks away from free and fair elections. But this is a campaign being fought with violent protests on one side and tear gas on another. The stone throwers are supporters of Benazir Bhutto who arrived in Lahore last night to begin her own protest march against President Musharraf's emergency rule. She was though immediately placed under house arrest and called for the president's resignation from behind police guns.

BENAZIR BHUTTO, FMR. PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER: My party people were ringing up and saying how can we work with a man who beats our sons and tramples their mothers before they take them off in police vans and haul them off for arrest. The manner in which he has done bruit force, people have unleashed bruit force against the people's party, supporters, I think it's very difficult.

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: (INAUDIBLE)

VINCENT: This morning the people who have come to march with her ended up having to voice their support from behind bars.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)

VINCENT: Bhutto's party officials did their best to reassure the party faithful.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Benazir Bhutto, how is she?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, she is fine. She is inside. And I'm trying to go in. Let's see what happens.

VINCENT: But in the early stages of this election campaign, these party members are candidates only for a rest. The president has said that the state of emergency will help to ensure a fair vote. But as the fires spread and the soldiers march, it seems a strange promise.

Geraint Vincent, ITV News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CLANCY: Turning now to France where tensions are high and the stakes as well. The commuters especially in France face major disruption. This, a major test, too, for President Nicolas Sarkozy, a transportation strike just hours away. It is to protest government plans to scrap retirement privileges for some public sector employees.

Only about 90 of the 700 high-speed trains are expected to be running on Wednesday. And only one in every 10 metro trains expected to operate. President Sarkozy says the promise strikes will not derail his reforms. He says he's going to carry them out right to the end.

SESAY: Now, finding out your children's toys could be dangerous can be a nightmare for any parent.

CLANCY: Last week's revelation about another toxic toy made in China was especially troubling. The toy was apparently coated with a chemical that's also known as the date rape drug.

SESAY: Yes, but despite widespread recalls the factory continues to churn out toys. John Vause reports from China.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This factory in southern China is now the focal point of three separate official investigations. Chinese, Australian and U.S. authorities all want to know how a popular toy known as Aqua Dots and Bindeez (ph), which are made here ended up containing the potentially fatal date rape drug GHP.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

VAUSE (on camera): Can we come in? Why not?

(voice-over): When we tried to find out security turned us away. While the Chinese government has suspended the company's export license, work was clearly still going on.

(on camera): We just don't know what toying are still being made at this factory, despite our repeated phone calls over the last two days the management of this company is refusing to answer our questions.

(voice-over): Reaction from the Chinese government though has been unusually swift. Confirming the presence of GHP and asking for U.S. help to identify the toxin and future.

WANG XI, ADMINISTRATION FOR QUALITY (through translator): We'll severely punish illegal behavior, says this government official.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In this lab we perform a series of use and abuse test.

VAUSE: Sue DeRagon with STR, one of America's biggest independent labs, says GHP would not be detected by standard industry tests on toys.

SUE DERAGON, STR CONSUMER TESTING: This is an example of why it's important to have a good prevention program in place rather than just a test program.

VAUSE: This has been the year of the Chinese recall and DeRagon says business here is booing, especially toys. Manufacturers and distributors are scrambling to make sure this year's Christmas gifts won't make kids sick.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it's really open to people's eyes to the importance of making sure that their product complies with the regulatory requirements and is safe.

VAUSE: Chinese factories exported a staggering 22 billion toys last year alone. And with many manufacturers facing increasing pressure to cut costs, another recall may be a question of when, not if.

John Vause, CNN, Shenzhen, China.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CLANCY: We take a short break here, but when YOUR WORLD TODAY returns, we're going to take you to a region covered in oil and it is feared as a wreckage.

SESAY: Yes, it started with a storm, then some huge ships carrying oil sunk, others went aground, a regional disaster with global ecological implications just ahead.

CLANCY: And some new trouble for European airlines, more than a half of them could be forced to shut down their Web sites. Why? We're going to tell you about that.

SESAY: And he's more than 3,000 years old and still drawing huge crowds. An Egyptian king returns to Britain.

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SESAY: Welcome back to CNN International and YOUR WORLD TODAY.

CLANCY: And a special welcome of course to our viewers in the United States joining us this hour.

Now more action along the tense Turkey/Iraq border -- the Turkish military says four soldiers were killed in fighting with Kurdish rebels on Tuesday. This was a clash that took place near the city of Sirnac (ph). Now that is on the Turkish side of the border.

Action on the other side of the border too, Turkish military units continue to conduct exercises along the border. And Iraqi Kurdish officials say Turkish aircraft crossed over that border Tuesday dropping stun grenades apparently in an effort to flush out some Kurdish rebels.

SESAY: OK, turning to news of the U.S. presidential election now. Former Senator Fred Thompson has received a key endorsement from the National Right to Life Committee. Support from the prominent antiabortion group could give Thompson's campaign a boost as his national poll numbers have dropped recently. The director says the group looked at his antiabortion record in backing Thompson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DAVID O'STEEN, NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE EXEC. DIRECTOR: It's not going to happen now, so as far as looking at the next presidency of the United States and protecting unborn children, he's going to do what is necessary to reverse Roe v. Wade to the best of his ability and protect unborn children.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Well, we'll have more analysis on the race for the White House later this hour.

CLANCY: We're getting a closer look now at Wall Street. After four straight days of losses, well the Dow looks like it might be making a bit of a comeback.

SESAY: It might be. Shanon Cook is in New York with the details behind the rally -- hi, Shanon.

SHANON COOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey Jim and Isha. We've got triple digit gains on the Dow as investors now have a few reasons to start buying. Oil prices are falling and are now below $92 a barrel. A key member of OPEC says a production increase could happen as soon as next month. This just days after crude prices topped $98.

Also providing a shot of confidence today, Wal-Mart posted quarterly earnings that beat Wall Street's expectations. Even heavy discounting didn't hurt Wal-Mart's results and that could bode well for the fourth quarter, which include the all-important holiday shopping period, so shares of Wal-Mart are up 7 percent. And overall the Dow Industrials and the S&P 500 are up more than 1 percent each. The NASDAQ there is jumping nearly 2 percent.

Well the holiday shopping season is almost here, but not everyone is out looking for the hottest toy or must have gadget. "Consumer Report" says more than 60 percent of shoppers are planning to buy gift cards this holiday season, but the consumer advocacy group is warning against it. "Consumer Report" is launching a campaign complete with a full-page ad in "The New York Times".

This is from today's paper. Basically what it's doing is informing shoppers that $8 billion in gift cards were not redeemed last year, $8 billion. "Consumer Report" says that's easy money for retailers, lost money for you. People's excuses for failing to use the cards include lack of time, not finding anything they wanted, and many simply forgot they even had them. That's the latest from New York -- Jim and Isha, back to you.

CLANCY: All right, Shanon, did you redeem all of yours?

COOK: Absolutely! Are you kidding me?

CLANCY: All right, just checking, just checking.

SESAY: Thanks, Shanon.

This is YOUR WORLD TODAY. CLANCY: And ahead this hour, nip and tuck, we're going to explore the growing popularity of cosmetic surgery and of course the potential dangers that come along with it.

SESAY: Also ahead, a post-surgery appearance by an amazing little girl. Lakshmi is on the mend. You're watching CNN.

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CLANCY: Warm welcome back to all of our viewers joining us from around the globe including the United States. This is YOUR WORLD TODAY. I'm Jim Clancy.

SESAY: And I'm Isha Sesay and here are some of the top stories we're following for you.

A blast in the Philippines killed a congressman and a driver. The bomb exploded outside of a congressional building as the House finished a session. Eight people were injured.

CLANCY: Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto called on President Pervez Musharraf to step down. Bhutto who is under house arrest says her party will likely boycott upcoming elections and is looking to forge an alliance with other opposition groups.

SESAY: Well former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is welcoming Bhutto's call for Musharraf to step down. He is also calling on the opposition to unite against the president and work together to restore top judges Musharraf ousted.

Joining us now on the line from Saudi Arabia is former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Mr. Sharif, thank you so much for joining us. This day, Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister calling for President Musharraf to give up power. First off, do you think she's sincere in that call and what are your thoughts on the reasoning for her calling only now for him to give up power?

NAWAZ SHARIF, FORMER PRIME MINISTER (via phone): Well that has been our stand over the last eight years and then we signed a (INAUDIBLE) democracy together with Benazir Bhutto last year saying very clearly that Mr. Musharraf must step down. There will be no negotiations with Pervez Musharraf. But she then chose another course and she entered into negotiations with President Musharraf. But now that she has said this very clearly, that she wants him to step down. I think it's a very good sign, a very positive development. And we will be very happy to work along with her to launch a joint struggle.

SESAY: Well, so you clearly think she's being sincere and now you're saying that the opposition will unite, but that's not as straightforward as it sounds because the opposition in Pakistan has always been a fractured desperate group, so how are you going to manage it this time around? SHARIF: Well you see we have to (INAUDIBLE) our petty differences. We have to I think learn to trust each other and rise above our personal interests because the country is at stake. And havoc with the country, he has promulgated not only that but de facto marshal law. He has after packing them off, wants to go ahead with the elections. He has arrested almost all the opposition leaders of the country. The human rights activists and everybody else in the country. So I think he is bent upon destroying this country. I think the issues are much larger than our personal interests.

SESAY: And we know from Benazir Bhutto on the state that she's talking of the PPP, her party, boycotting the elections. Is that your position also for your party?

SHARIF: Well, I think my party will have to consult other parties before we take any decision on boycotting the elections, because I think we also agree with the fact that there can't be any free and fair elections in the country under these circumstances because Mr. Musharraf is setting the rules of the game and he also happens to be the empire.

So, I think we know that the elections will not serve any useful purpose because he will be hijacking the elections for his own party. But we have to take that position together with the opposition parties and also perhaps consult before we finally take that position of boycotting the elections.

SESAY: Just to jump in there I mean the point is, and I suppose this is the key thing, Bhutto tried to call a five-day protest where she would march Islamabad. Around the turnout was practically nonexistent. Can you as a collective opposition bring together the people of Pakistan behind you to stand up against President Pervez Musharraf? Because in the eyes of the ordinary Pakistanis, once again, politicians in Pakistan for the most part have been out for themselves.

SHARIF: Well, when our party hosted an all parties conference in London a few months ago, and the purpose of holding that conference was to bring everybody across the table to evolve a joint strategy, how to deal with dictator Musharraf and how to get the dictatorship. We have been working very actively on that.

And today, if she has come to the conclusion that she also would like to support the agenda that we have set for ourselves, it's a very positive sign. I think we will be very happy to work together. We have sunk our differences in the past. And I have made that announcement a few months ago that I will forget it. Now that she has come back and joined the ranks of the opposition she's most welcome.

SESAY: Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is in Pakistan. You are in Saudi Arabia. We are speaking to you on the lines from there. What are your plans? Are you working on getting back to Pakistan?

SHARIF: Yes, I am talking to my host and I am telling them how important it is for me to get back to my country and play my role and fulfill my obligations as a Pakistani. So they also understand that. And I think very soon you will hear that I will be going back to my country.

SESAY: How soon will that be?

SHARIF: I can't give any definite date but I think it will be fairly soon.

SESAY: Before the elections?

SHARIF: Well, unless the elections are tomorrow.

SESAY: That's a fair point. Nawaz Sharif joining us on the line from Saudi Arabia. Many thanks.

CLANCY: Very important voice, Nawaz Sharif, in Pakistani politics and its future. It's an understatement to say there's a lot of stake at Pakistan. It's one country's chance for democracy and many countries's war on terror. It is stability for nuclear power in a most unsteady region. Interestingly, no one is talking about money. Jonathan Mann has some insight for us on that.

JONATHAN MANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There is a part of the story not well-known. Familiar corruption allegations from Benazir Bhutto from her years of prime minister but the military has run the country for much of its history and found its own ways of making money. It's one of the perks in Pakistan. Pakistan's military of course gets its funding from the government and the U.S. government to buy the things that armies need.

But what's amazing in Pakistan is the money it gets, the money it earns for things that have nothing to do with defense. By one estimate, it's at least a $10 billion business empire. It could be even more. According to a respected new study called Military Incorporated Pakistan's armed forces are in enormous, independent players in the country's economy.

They're conglomerates, foundations and pension funds run tourism companies, fertilizer, pharmaceuticals, trucking, telecommunications, bakeries, gas stations, movie theaters, farms, banks, the list goes on and on. The big money is in lend, military lend sold at sweetheart prices turns generals into millionaires. General Musharraf, for example, according to a study, owns land in seven different parts of the country. Worst at least $10 million.

Now, Musharraf has reportedly only commented in a general way. He said the book was written with an anti-Pakistan agenda and it's wrong. One important point, though, for the most part, Pakistan's brass is getting richer, legally. The land and the other perks are privileges that Pakistan gives its military. Civilian politicians, even when they have been allowed to govern the country, haven't taken on the way the military makes all its money.

Back to you.

CLANCY: Jonathan, thanks.

SESAY: Thank you, Jon. OK, let's take you now to the troubled streets of Gaza. Tense after the worst violence between rival Palestinian factions in months. Funerals were held today for some of the seven people killed when a massive Fatah rally ended in gunfire. Fatah accuses Hamas security forces of a massacre. Hamas says Fatah loyalists fired first. Hours later, under the cover of darkness, Hamas moved against its bitter rivals.

Ben Wedeman has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In a simple house in a Gaza refugee camp, a family mourns. Grieving alone, grieving together. 19-year-old, a Fatah member, was one of at least half a dozen people killed while participating in a rally marking the third anniversary of the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. He went to the rally for Arafat and came back to us dead, says his grandmother. It's a shame.

In the nearby mosque, relatives and neighbors praying next to his body. On Fatah flags were hoisted in front of his home, his father wished only for an end to the violent factional struggle. We want them one day to sit at one table and resume the dialogue, he tells me, for the sake of Palestine, for the sake of Jerusalem.

But as mourners carried the body to the cemetery, angry (INAUDIBLE). Shiites, Shiites, they chant, referring to Hamas which is supported by Shiite, Iran. Hamas, which so decisively defeated Fatah forces in Gaza last June, suddenly looks vulnerable. No single power or group has ever been able to truly control Gaza. Israel failed. Fatah failed. And now Hamas seems to be losing its grip as the economy crumbles in discontent boils over.

Fatah activists in Gaza, many of whom are now in hiding, claim Hamas has arrested more than 400 of their colleagues following Monday's rally. Hamas' interior minister can see arrests have been made but insists the number does not exceed 50. He claims Fatah leaders in the west bank were behind Monday's violence. They did it to sabotage and to cause harm, he says. Their goal was to create anarchy, to create the impression there's chaos in the Gaza and that the Palestinian police are oh prosing and killing people. Wherever the truth may lie, it's scant comfort for the families killed in Monday's rally.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Gaza.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CLANCY: From the Middle East to what must seem like a miracle for a very little girl. Little Lakshmi, that's the 2-year-old Indian girl. She was born with an extra set of limbs. Today, doctors said she's doing very well after last week's marathon operation to remove those arms and legs. Liz Neisloss is at the hospital in Bangalore. She joins us now by broadband. What a story, Liz. LIZ NEISLOSS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jim, it really is an amazing story. One week ago it was 27 hours of surgery, 15 doctors to remove two extra arms, two extra legs, to move a kidney. Massive surgery. And earlier today doctors pronounced that Lakshmi, the 2-year-old girl, is doing very well. They have moved her out of intensive care. At this point they are saying that within two months they think she could return home. Jim?

CLANCY: You know, as we look at her there, you know, as they try to gauge the process, what are they telling you about the risks? We know that she's in casts. That's to help prevent infection and to help her heal. But what are the risks?

NEISLOSS: The largest risk at this point, doctors say, is infection. The surgery was performed in a way that was able to cut off the risk of excessive blood flow, which is what most people would imagine would be the problem when you're severing limbs, when you are cutting basically open the lower half of the torso. So that was something they were able to control. They divided up this team of 15 medical doctors so that they trafficked through each portion of the surgery.

The reason Lakshmi had these extra limbs is because her body was joined with a partially formed twin. It's very hard to imagine. And the pictures are truly amazing. But in order to separate the two bodies, doctors really had to map out carefully ahead of time what they had to separate. But at this point, the greatest risk seems to be infection, a very positive sign when she was brought out for the media to see. She is sitting up. She can reach for objects and she is communicating. Jim?

CLANCY: Liz Neisloss, thank you very much for that update. Liz, coming to us there right from the hospital where Lakshmi is being treated.

SESAY: It is an amazing story.

Conservative groups in the U.S. starting to decide who they will support in the presidential race.

CLANCY: And ahead on YOUR WORLD TODAY we're going to consider that anti-abortion group that made its pick and whether or not it will make a difference in the race.

SESAY: Also, a 3,000-year-old archaeological treasure makes a dramatic return to London.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID O'STEEN, NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: We looked at three factors. And one strong factor was pro-life record. And Fred Thompson's record as a senator from 1994 through 2002 was absolutely solidly pro-life. He's not changed his position. He's been there. (END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Well, the National Right to Life executive director there explains why the group is endorsing republican candidate Fred Thompson for president.

CLANCY: The Thompson camp certainly hopes it boosts his campaign, which has been lagging at the polls recently. Let's get a look at this and other developments and turn now to Chris Cillizza. He is the political reporter for the "Washington Post.com."

Chris, thanks so much for being with us. How much does this endorsement mean? You've got Rudy Giuliani there. He's gotten endorsement of the coalition of Pat Robertson. How does that help Thompson?

CHRIS CILLIZZA, WASHINGTONPOST.COM: You know, I think what we've seen over the past month is a fracturing or splintering of big social conservative groups. As you mentioned, Pat Robertson endorses Rudy Giuliani who I don't think anyone saw that coming. Mitt Romney has got people like Paul Weyrich of the Heritage Foundation. And now this, the National Right to Life endorsing freed Thompson.

The reality is when social conservative groups are not united behind a single candidate it takes away their power in some ways. There is not an obvious choice here in ways that George W. Bush was an obvious choice in 2000. I think each fracturing going with their own candidate and putting their bet on that candidate in hopes that person winds up winning and elevated in the social conservative movement by being a winner early on.

SESAY: Hey Chris, it's Isha Sesay here. You know, we've got Rudy Giuliani at the front of the pack right now. But there are those who say that, you know, it's not really a strong concrete lead because, ultimately, he has a problem with those southern states. Southern conservative states have an issue with his position on, you know, gun control, abortion, and gay marriage.

CILLIZZA: You know what, I think that's a very valid point. The one thing that the Giuliani people would push back and argue, and I would tend to agree with to a point, is they're not running against an ideal social conservative. They're running against the rest of this field. And the reality is that Rudy Giuliani's main opponent is former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Himself, someone who has said things like, I would be better on gay rights than Ted Kennedy. He said that in 1994. He had been publicly pro-choice up until this presidential election.

So, the Rudy Giuliani benefits from the fact that there isn't someone that social conservatives see as their candidate in this field. And so if they're thinking along more practical terms, remember the greater threat here to social conservatives and republicans more generally is Hillary Clinton. So there's a reason that Rudy Giuliani brings up Senator Clinton every chance he can get because he wants to remind people, well, since you don't have an obvious choice, maybe you should go with the most electable person, and that's me.

CLANCY: Chris, you bring up Hillary Clinton. And a lot of people say that, you know, it's really easy to give the answers if you know the questions. Among them, a girl that was involved in this whole flap over staged questions. Let's listen to what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MURIAL GALLO-CHASANOFF, GRINNELL UNIVERSITY STUDENT: It's possible that all campaigns do these tactics. I don't know. But personally, I want to know that I have someone who is honest, representing me. And I think the question and the answer sessions, especially in Iowa are really important. That's where the voters get to be like to have a real genuine conversation with this politician who could be representing them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CLANCY: How much has this hurt Hillary or is she managing to brush it off?

CILLIZZA: You know, I think the problem is for a story like this is it plays into a broader narrative. These stories never happen in a vacuum. The broader narrative is, is Senator Clinton too practiced, too political, is everything too manipulate manipulated? This suggests that it is. Senator Clinton has been in the public eye for a very long time. I think her staff should give her more credit. She is someone who is able to handle most questions asked of her.

The problem when you have an event like this it looks as though she is trying to engineer to rig the process. And especially in Iowa where voters really want to see and touch and hear from you directly, hear your honest opinions, that is not going to help Senator Clinton, because there's a narrative out there that she's too political already. The Clintons are too political, too manipulative of the process. This plays into that and that's why it's dangerous.

CLANCY: All right. Chris Cillizza, I want to thank you very much for taking the time to be with us there from the WashingtonPost.com.

CILLIZZA: Thank you guys for having me.

CLANCY: All right.

Up next in our America Votes 2008 coverage, the CNN Nevada presidential debate Wolf Blitzer hosting this round of political starring among democratic presidential hopefuls.

SESAY: And you can see it right here live from Las Vegas Thursday, November 15th, at 8:00 p.m. eastern time. For international viewers, that's Friday, November 16th at 0100 GMT.

Now, new trouble for European airlines. More than half of them could be forced to close their Web site following an investigation by the European Union's consumer affairs watchdog. Let's explain what the EU group found out and what the consequences may be.

Jim Bolden joins us now from London. Jim, what exactly are we talking about here?

JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Isha, I'm sure we've all been there. We get on a Web site to look at really fantastic prices for a trip somewhere. We get to the very end and then we realize there's extra prices. There's extra charges. It's a lot more expensive than it looks like on the advertised price.

And so, the European Union got together, about 15 European Union countries got together, in September and looked at broad range of Web sites. Some ran by airlines, some by some ticket Web sites, some by travel Web sites. They found half of these web sites actually had problems where they violated the European Union's consumer protection laws. They've told these Web sites they've really got to clean up their act or they're going to be in trouble.

SESAY: All right. Jim Boulden joining us from London. Many thanks.

CLANCY: All right. Coming up, he was a little king a long time ago, but he sure had a lot of treasure.

SESAY: He certainly did. The treasures of King Tut, 3,000 years in the making, an archaeological extravaganza starring Egypt's King Tut is set to break records in London once again.

CLANCY: Stay with us.

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CLANCY: Now, the exhibit of his treasures broke records back in 1972. Organizers now expecting some new riches from the mummies return. The sequel.

SESAY: Indeed. Relics of the world's most famous Pharaoh Tutankhamun go on display Thursday in London.

CLANCY: The boy king's treasures mean big business.

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ALFONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Egyptian treasures that have survived the sands of time are back in London. From when English archaeologist Howard Carter pulled priceless relics from the Egyptian pharaoh's tomb in 1922, the treasures of King Tut have fascinated the world. Last time his artifacts toured London, the lines snaked around the British museum, the wait up to eight hours.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: London is going to shine with gold, the gold of Tutankhamun.

VAN MARSH: Today, objects telling the story of King Tut and relatives are at the Millennium Dome. The British museum already committed to the popular first emperor of China exhibit says it's not losing out on the return of Tut's goods. But with the two sure-fire hit exhibits in town at the same time, the race for antiquity dollars is on.

When the first emperor exhibit opened in September, the British museum said it pre-sold almost 151,000 tickets, each adult admission about $25. The 02 says it sold or reserved some 325,000 tickets ahead of King Tut's opening day. Each adult will pay between $30 and $42. And that's just the beginning.

Both exhibitors are saying they're expecting a holiday rush. And since it's the season to be giving, gift shops at each exhibit have no shortage of merchandising options for the old, the young, and apparently the young at heart. The British museum says it will easily clear $2 million in merchandising sales during the first emperor's six-month tour. The head of King Tut merchandising says he's expecting $10 million in sales during the year-long London exhibition.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fifty-five years ago, we made nothing, no money at all. But now for the first time, Egypt is making $140 million from this exhibit for the conservation of Egyptians.

VAN MARSH: Seeing these relics up close, it's hard to believe they're more than 3,000 years old. Like this winged serpent goddess, one of the many objects found buried with the boy king. But if you want to see one of the best known of King Tut's relics, this mask used in all the promotional materials for the exhibit, well, you'll have to travel to Cairo. Egyptian officials say it's simply too delicate to leave the country.

Alfonso Van Marsh, CNN, London.

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SESAY: Wow.

CLANCY: It's absolutely sold out.

SESAY: It is. Organizers are saying at least 325,000 tickets have already been pre-booked.

CLANCY: That's it for this hour. I'm Jim Clancy.

SESAY: And I'm Isha Sesay and this is CNN.

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