Return to Transcripts main page

NEWS STREAM

Gadhafi Arrest Warrant; Khmer Rouge Trial; China Targeting Artists and Intellectuals

Aired June 27, 2011 - 08:00:00   ET

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


ANNA COREN, HOST: Welcome to NEWS STREAM, where news and technology meet.

Hello. I'm Anna Coren, in Hong Kong.

Well, the dark days of the Khmer Rouge have left deep wounds in Cambodia. Now a U.N.-backed court once again seeks justice for survivors.

China releases human rights activist Hu Jia from prison, but dissidents tell CNN the intimidation isn't over yet.

And as the Syrian military continues its crackdown on pro-democracy campaigners, the state sponsors talks by activists and intellectuals. Well, is it all for show?

We begin with the latest on Libya. The International Criminal Court has just issued arrest warrants for Moammar Gadhafi and two relatives -- his son, Saif al-Islam and brother-in-law Abdullah al-Sanousi. Well, the men are accused of crimes against humanity, their role in leading violent attacks against civilians since uprisings began five months ago. This is the first time the court has sought arrest warrants in an ongoing conflict.

Our Atika Shubert has been following the story, and she joins us now from London.

Atika, I guess this decision doesn't really come as a surprise, but please put it into context, the significance of it.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is significant. As you point out, the first time that these arrest warrants have been issued as the conflict is still ongoing. Clearly, judges have reviewed the evidence from the prosecutor and decided to issue these arrest warrants.

Now, just to remind you of what some of those allegations are, according to the prosecutor, he said that Colonel Gadhafi personally ordered attacks on unarmed civilians in Libya. This is one of the chief allegations by the prosecutor. He also cited allegations of torture and also forced detention.

So these are things that the prosecutor presented to the judges as evidence. And clearly, they think there's enough there to go ahead with the case.

The real question, of course, is, does it really matter that an arrest warrant has been issued? It doesn't mean that the International Criminal Court has a police force that can go in and arrest Gadhafi. It means that they'll be relying on rebel forces to arrest him if they come -- if they're able to actually arrest him. Otherwise, there really isn't a whole lot they can do to bring Gadhafi in.

And, of course, the Libyan government has said that they're choosing to ignore this arrest warrant. So it really may not matter in terms of physically bringing him to the criminal court. However, politically, it certainly shows that Gadhafi has become increasingly isolated.

COREN: Atika, let's talk a little bit more about the practical terms of this arrest warrant, because I think this is the second time in the history of the ICC that they've actually indicted a head of state, the first being Omar al-Bashir, Sudan's president. And he's been allowed to travel unhindered since that arrest warrant was set down in 2009.

So, I guess practically speaking, what does this mean for Gadhafi?

SHUBERT: Well, practically speaking, it doesn't mean a lot. It's not like we're going to see him hauled into the criminal court. But, politically speaking, it could mean a lot, because, essentially, by the ICC issuing this arrest warrant, it sort of closes off the options for a graceful exit, if you will, trying to find him exiled perhaps in another country. Because, of course, any other country now has to consider that the ICC has issued these arrest warrants. And so, if they're party to this, they would then have to hand him over, according to the ICC.

So it does limit those options to find a way out for Gadhafi. On the other hand, as you point out, al-Bashir, for example, has an arrest warrant on him, and he has still been able to go to friendly countries. So it does make it a little bit more politically difficult for Gadhafi, but again, we don't expect him to be hauled into the criminal court anytime soon.

COREN: And Atika, this decision also coincides with 100 days for NATO in Libya, their campaign in Libya. Do you think this will change NATO's campaign at all?

SHUBERT: It's not like it's changed NATO's immediate campaign, but again, it does -- it perhaps impacts NATO's options on finding a way out, because again, all of this hinges on bringing a way -- finding a way out for Gadhafi, finding a way to bring him out of power. And with this criminal court, with this arrest warrant, it means that's perhaps tightening really the options. And so he may not be able to find as many options as he had before.

COREN: All right. Atika Shubert, in London.

As always, good to see you. Thank you for that.

Well, our Ben Wedeman is in the Libyan capital, and he's been talking with the people of Tripoli about the court's decision.

Ben, what have people been telling you?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Just to clarify, Anna, actually I'm in rebel-held Misrata, where I'm seeing in front of me well over a thousand people in what is now called Freedom Square. In the Gadhafi era, it was known as Tati (ph) Square, where these people are celebrating the decision by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Of course, the feeling here is they're not really interested so much in seeing Moammar Gadhafi put on trial. I think they want to go straight to the execution. There are signs here showing Gadhafi with a noose around his neck. This is a city that has been under siege for four months now, and there's very little in the way of willingness to consider an easy way out for Moammar Gadhafi in this city.

I'm also hearing occasional gunfire. This is not gunfire in battle. This is, however, local residents shooting in the air to express their happiness. There are also cars driving by honking their horns, so a real feeling of celebration here in Misrata.

COREN: Ben, as we just heard from Atika, it's not as if the ICC has a police force so they can just march on into Libya and arrest Moammar Gadhafi. It will be up to rebel forces.

I mean, how likely is that considering the people that you've spoken to? As you say, they want to put a noose around his neck.

WEDEMAN: And really, that gets down to the military equation. And at the moment, it seems to be somewhat stalemated, certainly around Misrata itself. The front lines have been holding steady.

There really isn't much in the way of an advance on Tripoli, which is about 210 kilometers to the west of here, although there are reports that the rebels who are approaching from the western side of the Libyan capital are as close as 80 kilometers away. But certainly the International Criminal Court has no means of implementing these arrest warrants. There's no chance that they're going to be able to get into Tripoli and arrest Moammar Gadhafi, Saif al-Islam, or Abdullah The International Criminal Court has just issued arrest warrants for Moammar Gadhafi, Saif al-Islam, or Abdullah al-Sanousi.

And the expectation is that if there's an uprising in Tripoli, if the rebels actually get their hands on Moammar Gadhafi, they may just conduct a bit of street justice and do away or simply ignore the ruling of the International Criminal Court.

COREN: Ben Wedeman, in Misrata.

Thank you for that update.

Well, meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council is meeting today to discuss the crisis in Libya as part of its monthly briefing on the turmoil there. And leaders on the African Union's five-member Libya panel met in South Africa for talks on Sunday. Well, for months, the group has been working with Moammar Gadhafi to try and reach a peaceful resolution to Libya's civil war. But in a statement on Sunday, it said Gadhafi will no longer participate in that process.

Well, more loud explosions were heard in Tripoli just a few hours ago. Our producer there said the blast felt closer to the capital than others in recent days. Fighting has also been escalating for two days about 100 kilometers southwest of Tripoli. A witness describes heavy shelling near the town of Bi'r al-Ghanam on Sunday and said a NATO warplane bombed a government rocket launcher system there.

Well, Cambodia's horrific history is being revisited. Four senior leaders of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime are standing trial. Well, they appeared before a U.N.-backed war crimes court in Phnom Penh. For survivors, the atrocities of the 1970s, it's clearly in their memories.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "The soldiers were shooting, and the people on the truck had nothing. When the people got off the truck, they tied their hands. They walked the people to the hole they dug, then they killed all those people. And then a second truck came."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN: Well, this trial could go on for years. Our Sara Sidner watched today's hearing in Phnom Penh and joins us now.

Sara, why is it that this trial could in fact go on for years?

SIDNER: There is so much evidence. And there are four people who are believed to be the top leadership, the remaining leadership of the Khmer Rouge, that are going to be a part of this trial. And for the first time today, it really was historic.

For the first time, you saw these four people in (INAUDIBLE). And some of the charges have not been read. Really, they were going through the pretrial motions, but historic in the fact that it is very rare that a court of this kind will be able to see several members of the leadership and go forward with proceedings against them.

What we saw in court today was quite interesting in that the defendants are quite elderly. All of them are more than 75 years old. They looked quite frail.

But when Nuon Chea, who is brother number two, basically one of the top leaders, the second most powerful remaining leader of the Khmer Rouge, decided to speak to the court, the court allowed it. And I'd like you to listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NUON CHEA, FMR. KHMER ROUGE LEADER (through translator): I am not happy with this hearing. And I would like to make -- to allow my co-counsel to actually explain the reasons behind it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: His co-counsel did explain, saying he was trying to tell the court exactly why Nuon Chea did not think this trial should go forward in his case, saying that he objected to the way that the court investigated the case, objected to the fact that the court did not allow more than 300 witnesses, defense witnesses for Nuon Chea, to be heard, and said that this entire case of Nuon Chea should be thrown out. The court said it would take it into consideration, any evidence brought forward, and look into that.

But it is highly unlikely that after all this time, the court, who has been going through all different kinds of motions up until this day, would throw out one of these defendant's cases at this particular time. However, there have been some issues that have happened during this trial where people were quite concerned about how the court operated and quite concerned about what is going to happen going forward, because there are other people who one of the prosecutors, an international prosecutor, believes should put on trial as well in cases number three and four, while the government has been very clear that they would like this to be the final case in the Khmer Rouge trial sequence. It's case number 002.

We were able to talk to the American ambassador-at-large and to talk a little bit about -- when he arrived at court -- talk a little bit about what he thought as to whether or not this has been a fair process.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN RAPP, U.S. AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE, WAR CRIMES ISSUES: It's in the nature of this sort of civil law process that they go through an investigative phase, they go through a pretrial phase, they go through a trial phase, they go through an appeals phase. Each phase, they can continue to argue and to press their issues, and I think that that indicates that they're bending over backwards to decide this thing right. I expect justice to be done in this case.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: And as to your question, basically there is so much evidence. There are 450,000 documents that these judges are going to go through. There are 1,000 witnesses combined between the prosecution and defense. And so we have quite a bit of information for the court to go through to try to figure out what really happened and who was responsible -- Anna.

COREN: And this initial hearing will go on for a few more days.

Sara Sidner, in Phnom Penh.

Thank you so much for that.

Well, these are the four former Khmer Rouge members standing trial, the top surviving leaders.

Well, Pol Pot, also known as "brother number one," died back in 1998. Well, this picture was taken in January of that year. It was his vision of a communist utopia that plunged Cambodia into a living hell.

His ultra-Maoist group captured the capital in 1975. And during its short reign, the Khmer Rouge is said to be responsible for the deaths of 1.7 million people. Well, that was about one-quarter of Cambodia's population at the time. Many were executed or died from malnutrition and overwork.

Well, these are the scenes -- are the images, I should say -- seen by Vietnamese soldiers who invaded in 1979. They discovered the regime's secret torture camp called S-21. Well, few people brought there made it out alive.

Well, the man who ran that prison was convicted last year, known as Comrade Duch. He was the first Khmer Rouge henchman sentenced by an international court. Well, those proceedings included emotional testimony from survivors.

Let's take a listen to one man who was just a child during those days of terror.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NORNG CHAN PHAL, S-21 SURVIVOR (through translator): I ran to one of the buildings. I ran from room to room, calling, "Mom? Mom?" But there was no answer.

I was shocked when I saw the bodies. I was wondering if my mother (INAUDIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN: Emotional testimony indeed.

Well, this man says he only survived because he was an artist. He painted Pol Pot's portrait, but that did not spare him from routine beatings. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOU MENG, FMR. PRISONER (through translator): The most painful thing was when I was already wounded and they took a bamboo stick and stabbed me repeated in the wound.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN: Well, this picture from a genocide memorial reads, "Rest in peace," and that is, of course, the goal of these trials, justice for the regime's many victims and healing for a country still bearing scars from the Khmer Rouge.

Well, we are also keeping tabs on Syria, where dissidents and intellectuals are holding government-sponsored talks in Damascus right now. President Bashar al-Assad's government says the meeting is a positive step toward national dialogue, although neither he nor other top politicians were invited. Opposition figures say the conference is just for show.

We'll have a little more on that later in the program.

Well, a dissident returns home in China, but critics say the government harassment may not be over. We'll talk to one artist trying to avoid the crackdown.

And the latest U.S. report on human trafficking comes out in just a few hours. We'll go inside the State Department for the stories behind the numbers.

That's still ahead on NEWS STREAM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COREN: Well, China has unveiled its latest high-speed rail service. This is the train that will whisk people from Beijing to Shanghai. When service begins on Thursday, passengers can make the 1,300-kilometer journey in less than five hours. The train will travel at a top speed of 300 kilometers per hour.

Well, let's show you how that compares to high-speed rail around the world. And bear in mind that these are scheduled commercial services.

Over here in Japan, the fastest bullet train, or Shinkansen, goes the same speed as China's trains, 300 kilometers per hour. Over in France, the TGV is even faster. It runs at over 320 kilometers per hour. But in the U.S., high-speed rail lags far behind other countries. The Acela line linking Boston, New York and Washington hits a top speed of just 240 kilometers an hour.

Well, China and the U.K. signed new trade deals worth $2.2 billion on Monday. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is in London for a summit with British Prime Minister David Cameron. Well, Mr. Cameron says the deals struck Monday show that both parties gain from freer markets.

At Monday's news conference, the Chinese premier also fielded questions about human rights.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WEN JIABAO, CHINESE PREMIER (through translator): We exchanged feelings on human rights. On human rights, China and the United Kingdom should respect each other, respect the facts, treat each other as equals, engage in more cooperation than finger-pointing, and resolve properly our differences through dialogue, enhance neutral understanding.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN: Within the past week, two high-profile Chinese dissidents have been released from prison, but artist Ai Weiwei and human rights activist Hu Jia are keeping low profiles amid concerns about reprisals.

Well, CNN's Eunice Yoon investigates the crackdown.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EUNICE YOON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is a piece of art Chinese authorities don't want their citizens to see. Tiananmen Square, a symbol of power here, razed to the ground. Since artist Guo Jian started working on the diorama a half a year ago, the 20-year veteran of China's art scene has been regularly pressured by local officials, even minutes, he says, before we arrived at his studio.

GUO JIAN, ARTIST: I can't really show my works. I can't really show my works. They got someone to come up and tell me, "Don't show your works." I've never had this before.

YOON: China is in the midst of a widespread crackdown on dissent on activists, lawyers and bloggers, many say the worst in over a decade.

(on camera): In the past couple of years, China has been opening up, allowing art villages like this one to flourish. But the recent crackdown has been a reminder to many artists here that no one is immune to the government's iron grip.

(voice-over): Even if you're one of China's most famous contemporary artists, Ai Weiwei. Nearly three months ago, the co-designer of the Olympic stadium, an outspoken critic of the government, was detained and charged with economic crime like tax evasion. He was let out on bail last week after allegedly admitting his crimes. But as part of his parole, is barred from speaking to the public or leaving Beijing without permission for at least a year.

Human rights activist Hu Jia was also just released after three-and-a-half years in prison, though his wife told CNN last winter she feared their movement would be heavily restricted. "I'm prepared," she said. "But as long as China doesn't have the rule of law or democracy, our situation will not change at all."

Worried about potential uprisings inspired by the Arab Spring, the government here has been tightening its controls. And some China watchers believe the intimidation won't let up anytime soon despite the release of the two prominent activists.

Artists like Guo remain uneasy.

GUO: Even when we get (ph) someone back, but the fear is still there. Still there.

YOON: Eunice Yoon, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COREN: Well, just days before activist Hu Jia's release, his wife told CNN that authorities were watching here 24 hours a day. Well, on Sunday, police guarded their home and patrolled the streets around it. Hu tells a CNN affiliate that his parents have asked him not to clash with the system. He says he will be "careful."

Well, still ahead on NEWS STREAM, the U.S. tackles human trafficking. Will Washington's annual evaluation go far enough?

And Syrian refugees in Turkey are telling horrific stories of what they left back home. Find out why some say they fled and what's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COREN: Well, in just a few hours the U.S. releases its annual report on human trafficking. It looks at modern-day slavery in more than 150 nations.

Our Jill Dougherty goes inside the State Department and reveals some of the tragic stories behind the numbers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sexual exploitation, forced labor, modern-day slavery -- this is the most comprehensive reports on those horrors, the State Department's annual "Trafficking in Persons Report" covering 175 countries.

(on camera): The staff have been collecting data on trafficking for the past four months. This is their last editing session before the report goes to the printers, and they could be here for a long time.

(voice-over): Christine Chan-Downer studies trafficking in Southeast Asia.

CHRISTINE CHAN-DOWNER, U.S. STATE DEPT.: So, when our staff travels out to the field, we're actually meeting with victims on the ground. We're not just in capitals. We're going to rural areas, visiting shelters, visiting rehabilitative centers, border checkpoints to see how immigrations officers are working to screen victims.

DOUGHERTY: State Department officers, she tells me, work with U.S. embassies, with foreign governments, and with nongovernmental organizations that help rescue victims so they can start new lives. The report looks at how traffickers operate, what kinds of victims are exploited, what governments are and are not doing to protect vulnerable people.

(on camera): You showed me one victim over here. I think it was this little girl.

CHAN-DOWNER: Yes.

DOUGHERTY: Tell me about her story. What happened here?

CHAN-DOWNER: This actually is from a trip that Secretary Clinton took in October to a shelter, a nongovernmental shelter in Cambodia that is working with and rehabilitating survivors of sex trafficking. They're young girls and women. And this particular girl actually was a victim of sex trafficking when she was just 7 years old.

DOUGHERTY: Seven years old?

CHAN-DOWNER: Yes. Her case is particularly heart-wrenching, because at one instance when she was hired by a client to be raped, that individual gouged out her eye. And it obviously is going to be something that's with her for the rest of her life.

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: We have sex slavery, we have wage slavery, and it is primarily a slavery of girls and women.

DOUGHERTY (voice-over): Taking the job of secretary of state, Hillary Clinton pledged to focus the efforts of her department on fighting trafficking, which, according to some estimates, holds up to 30 million people in bondage.

(on camera): Does it get to you after a while to hear these stories, to meet people who have gone through such horrific things?

CHAN-DOWNER: Yes, it definitely does. And I think that's something that we get asked a lot, is, isn't this such depressing work? But there's really good work being done.

This is the 11th year of the report. We've seen a lot of progress being made. We've seen many countries around the world who have passed comprehensive anti-trafficking laws and are starting to actually go after the perpetrators who are committing these heinous crimes.

DOUGHERTY (voice-over): Jill Dougherty, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COREN: We'll bring you the findings of that "Trafficking in Persons Report" as soon as it comes out.

Well, as part of the CNN Freedom Project, Jim Clancy will be live from Washington ahead of its release. You can hear from him first in the next hour on "WORLD BUSINESS TODAY." And later today, he'll be gauging reaction to the report from the U.S. State Department and around the world.

Well, that's later this Monday, right here on CNN.

Well, coming up on NEWS STREAM, Syrians are now looking to Lebanon as they try to escape violence at home. Many are already seeking safety in Turkey. We'll hear from some of them. That's straight ahead.

And promises, promises. Yemen's president is now due to make an address by Tuesday, but will it happen?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COREN: Welcome back I'm Anna Coren in Hong Kong. You're watching NEWS STREAM. And these are your world headlines.

Well, Cambodians are closely watching the trial of four former Khmer Rouge leaders. They appeared together at proceedings in Phnom Penh earlier today. Well, they are facing a UN backed court charged with genocide and crimes against humanity in the deaths of almost 2 million Cambodians in the 1970s.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Moammar Gadhafi and two relatives, his son Saif al Islam and brother-in-law Abdullah al-Senussi. Well, the men are accused of crimes against humanity for their role in leading violent attacks against civilians since uprisings began five months ago. Well, this the first time the court has sought arrest warrants in an ongoing conflict.

The American convicted of killing her British roommate while abroad maintains her innocence. Amanada Knox was convicted of murdering Meredith Kercher in Italy four years ago. Well, at her appeal hearing on Monday, Knox said she doesn't know what happened that night.

While the Syrian military continued its crackdown on pro-democracy campaigners a meeting of so-called independent minds is taking place in the capital Damascus. The government-sponsored talks will hearing from activists and intellectuals.

Well, Syrian opposition figures say the conference is just for show and not a sincere government effort to open national dialogue. For more, Hala Gorani joins us now from the capital Damascus. Hala, is this sincere or just for show?

HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the intellectuals gathered today in a hotel and say they are taking a risk. They realize that by meeting they may give the impression that this is legitimizing the regime, but they say look, we've been given this space, we need to use this space and hopefully usher the country in toward a peaceful transition to democracy.

Now this is not government sponsored as some have said. The opposition activists and intellectuals say that they informed the government that the meeting would take place today and that up until 1:00 am yesterday they were waiting for a letter of approval to be faxed to the hotel and it was.

Now those who took part, about 200 intellectuals including Michelle Kilo (ph) who spent several years in prison, including (inaudible) in prison as well are well known political dissidents. However, critics say that they do not represent the younger generation of political activists, that they have not taken part in these demonstrations and so as a result they do not speak for those who have been out onto the street.

Now as one of the organizers of this conference, and I asked him just about an hour ago, what he hopes to achieve with this gathering. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAAN ABDUL SALAM, CIVIL ACTIVIST: We should not in a way or another repeat what the authority has been doing with us all the time, to say this is wrong, we can't do this because you are participating in supporting the authority. We are not supporting anyone. We are not traitors. We are not treating the street. We are not treating anyone outside or inside, we need to say our statement. We need to express ourselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: Well, one of the things (inaudible) was as I mentioned (inaudible) several years in prison told me during (inaudible) understands that this is risky, that he has spent time in jail, and that there is a possibility he might get picked up again and arrested again.

But what this highlights, Anna, is that opposition to this regime is divided to say the least. You have on the one hand the thinkers, the intellectuals, those who are willing, at least for now, to work within the framework of what this government is offering them, the limited range of motion they have. And then you have the opponents, many of whom are outside of the country, who say they will accept nothing less than the fall of this regime and to start politically anew in this country -- Anna.

COREN: Hala Gorani in Damascus, Syria. Thank you for that.

While Syria's government continues to deny any wrongdoing, there are increasing reports of violent crackdowns across the country. Well, our Matthew Chance spoke with two Syrian refugees now living in Turkey who say the atrocities may actually be worse than we, I should say, realize.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Streaming from Syria, more evidence of the chaos gripping the country. Syrian officials say there is no crackdown, but this recent video, recorded in a Damascus suburb, tells a different story. Anti-government protesters battle on the streets amid gunshots and tear gas.

And the clashes are nationwide. This a scene from the city of Homs, showing protesters carrying away a man with a shot to the head. Human rights groups estimate more than 1,300 protesters have been killed since the unrest began.

But Syrian activists like Jamel we met across the border in Turkey say the real figure may be much higher.

"The Syrian security forces are killing people then hiding the bodies," he tells us. "They're throwing corpses in lakes, even putting bodies in containers and throwing them in the sea," he says.

We can't independently verify any of the activists claims, but video evidence from Syria over several weeks paints a grim picture of human rights abuses inside.

What's also clear is the fear of the security forces is driving out refugees who until recently were camped just over there on the Syrian side of this border with Turkey. There are now more than 11,000 in camps across this volatile zone. Some people who simply took part in anti-government protests , but who now fear for their lives.

People like Sadeq, a taxi driver back in Syria, now a refugee in Turkey with his family.

SADEQ, TAXI DRIVE (through translator): The most important thing was to make my family safe, then I can protest again. I'm not afraid of the security forces. I started from the beginning with other Syrians in a peaceful protest for the regime to fall. And we will continue to the end.

CHANCE: But with protesters and security forces continuing to battle like this across Syria, it's still unclear when the end will come.

Matthew Chance, CNN, on the Turkey-Syria border.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COREN: Well, Yemen's president is expected to make a public appearance by Tuesday, but his advisers won't say if President Ali Abdullah Saleh will make that appearance in Yemen or in Saudi Arabia. Well, that's where he's being treated for injuries sustained when his palace was attacked earlier this month.

Well, CNN is the only U.S. television network on the ground in Yemen now. And our Nic Robertson is in the capital Sanaa. And he joins us on the phone. Nic, any idea as to where the president will make this speech and what he's expected to say?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anna, it seems perhaps unlikely at the moment that the president is going to make a speech. What's interesting here is that a close adviser to him has said that he'll make the speech within 48 hours. He said that on Saturday. But yet today Monday we are hearing he in fact will not making a speech, this according to his principle spokesman.

So it appears that this -- there's some disconnects or lack of communication, if you will, along the president's principles advisers who remain here in the capital in Sanaa, perhaps because of the (inaudible) communications between here and the hospital where the Yemeni president is receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia.

It's not clear, but it's interesting as well (inaudible) this same adviser he said to expect a speech from the president and said in the middle of last week that the president will be coming back by the end of the week. That hasn't happened either. And what they seem to indicate is as we've heard from president spokesmen over the past few weeks is he plans to come back to the capital of Sanaa despite the fact that many diplomats in the region, the United States as well, would rather see President Saleh takes this opportunity to step down.

And to perhaps we'll be hearing from the presidential palace, although it's a mixed message, is more of the sort of drum beat that President Saleh intends to come back here. He remains powerful influential and it seems that they want people to remember that he is and he intends to come back -- Anna.

COREN: So Nic, despite the fact that he's been injured, despite the fact that he initially agreed to step down and to sign that Gulf brokered accord which he didn't continue on with, he still refuses to let go? He maintains that he should be holding on to power? Is this what we may hear in his speech when he finally does address the people?

ROBERTSON: It's really not clear what to expect or even to anticipate in the short-term a speech. If he was to give one, the likely (inaudible) would be at this time, because this is all that we've heard is that he would be planning to come back, that until now he's shown no inclination to step down. There are members of his family who like to see him come back. His sons remain in charge of the principle security organs in the country, and his nephew as well. So he has a strong military power base here. The vice president is deputizing (inaudible) is filling in the anticipation that he's coming back.

And what has changed since he's left, the violence on the streets here and around the country has diminished since he left, particularly in the capital of Sanaa because the vice president seems to be influencing the situation enough that he -- since he (inaudible) is holding.

But that doesn't mean the situation here is stable. People are very concerned about the future. There are long lines at gas stations here. People park their cars for days outside fuel stations hoping to fill up their cars. All street prices (ph) have increased. The price of a bus ticket has in some cases gone up three or four times. So people are very uncertain about their future and that -- a lot of that depends on what the president is going to do and say, Anna.

COREN: Nic Robertson in Sanaa, Yemen. We certainly appreciate that update. And just to remind our viewers that CNN, of course, is the only U.S. network on the ground in Yemen.

Well, it has been a tough week for New Zealand's newest celebrity far from home with a belly full of sand, but that's not all zoo vets found in this penguin's stomach. We'll bring you the latest on his (inaudible). That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COREN: Well did they go too far or were they just doing their job? Well, airport security agents in the U.S. are being criticized for what many people are calling an overly invasive search of an elderly cancer patient. Well, the 95-year-old woman and her daughter were flying out of Florida on Sunday.

They were going through security when they say a TSA agents felt something suspicious on the woman's leg. Well, her daughter explains what happened next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEAN WEBER, ELDERLY MOM SEARCHED BY TSA: And they came out and told me that it had something to do with her Depends, that it was wet and it was firm and they couldn't check it thoroughly. She would have to remove it. And I was -- I said I don't have an extra one with me. Normally this isn't a problem. And she said that she could not complete the security check without the Depends off.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN: Well here is the TSA's response. We have reviewed the circumstances involving the screening and determine that our officers acted professionally and according to proper procedure.

Well, one of Argentina's most famous football clubs has been relegated for the first time ever. Our Don Riddell has the latest for us from London. Hello, Don.

DON RIDDELL, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hi there. Thanks very much.

Let's start in Argentina where the country's most successful football team, River Plate, has been relegated for the second division. It's the first time in the 110 year history of the Buenes Aires team that they've been demoted. And it was marred by violent scenes both inside and outside the stadium.

Despite winning 33 league titles, River Plate have been in decline for several years. And nothing went right for them against Belgrano in the two-legged relegation playoff. That strike gave Belgrano a 3-1 aggregate lead. And when River Plate's Mariano Pavone had that penalty saved it was clear that one of the giants of South American football were headed for the drop.

The referee was forced to blow the whistle a minute early, because some of the fans were throwing missiles onto the pitch and trying to invade the playing surface. And as the security forces tried to keep everything under control the players were left to contemplate an epic failure for a once great team.

The trouble continued on the streets outside the stadium as some of the supporters clashed with the police. Rocks were thrown at the security forces who responded with tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets. These supporters have watched their team struggle over the last few years and the club is estimated to be some $20 million in debt. Relegation means they'll probably have to sell some of their top stars, meaning it could be a long road back to the top flight.

Now one week after Rory McIlroy burst onto the scene by romping to victory in the U.S. Open, another 22 year old golfer has demonstrated record breaking greatness. The Taiwanese player Yeni Tseng has become the youngest player ever to win four major titles thanks to her 10 stroke victory at the LPGA championship on Sunday.

Tseng was simply untouchable at the Locust Hill Country Club, leading from start to finish, and shooting a final round score of 66 for a winning score of 19 under par. It was her 8th career victory on the tour, her third of the season. And she's now won three of the last six majors.

Tseng only needs to win the U.S. Open to complete the career slam. She'll get her chance in Colorado in two weeks' time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YANI TSENG, GOLFER: Yeah, I feel very excited. I've been very patient all day. I had a bogey on first hole, but I just told myself it was only the first hole I can get more birdie, get it back. And then, you know, I'm feeling very appreciate all the fans here. I work on 18 hole. I'm almost quiet, because I'm all emotional. And I know the fans was crying so big, especially I'm from Taiwan and we just -- it was a country and a people here are very, very supporting me. It's very -- I feel really good about that.

I just try to focus on every shot. I don't think about too much. And I still try to go win another next major.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIDDELL: The action at the start of the second week at Wimbledon, the 4th seed Victoria Azarenka has booked her place in the quarterfinals. The Belarusian beat Nadia Petrova in straight sets a short time ago. Germany's Sabine Lisicki is all through to the last eight as is Maria Sharapova who beat Shuai Peng in straight sets.

Two of the biggest names of the tournament are in action right now. The home hero Andy Murray is playing Richard Gasquet. As we speak, Andy Murray is serving to try and stay in the first set. While Serena Williams is playing Marion Bartoli and she is really struggling in the first set against the French woman. She is currently down by 5-2.

Later today, Roger Federer, Raphael Nadal and Novak Djokavic will be in action. So it's a really big day for the big seeds at Wimbledon -- Anna.

COREN: Certainly. Do you think Andy Murray can do it? All that pressure he must be feeling.

RIDDELL: He always feels the pressure, doesn't he? And he always gives the fans a bit of a wobbly moment. Now looking good at the moment, but it is only the first set. Plenty of time.

COREN: Exactly. Exactly. Fingers crossed. All right, Don, good to see you. Thank you for that.

Well, New Zealand Zoo officials say the emperor penguin discovered on the coast is recovering after an operation to remove a belly full of sand. Well, the penguin who has been nicknamed Happy Feet also had rocks, sticks and stones in his stomach.

Well, penguins usually eat snow to cool down. And authorities say its' possible the penguin mistook the sand for snow.

Well, the emperor penguin showed up to 3,000 kilometers from its Antarctic home last week. Well, residence dubbed the penguin, as I mentioned, Happy Feet after the 2006 animated movie.

Let's hope he's OK.

Well, in about four hours from now the Earth is set to have a close encounter with an asteroid. We'll have those details very shortly.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COREN: Well folks, consider this your heads up, a small asteroid is set to whiz past the Earth on Monday. Asteroid 2011 MD, which is less than 20 meters in diameter will swing past the Earth in about four hours' time. At its closest point, the asteroid will be just over 12,000 kilometers away from the Earth off the coast of Antarctica.

So how far is that? Well, let's use my handy model of the Earth as a guide. It'll be roughly here, that's right, another Earth away. Well, that might seem like a long way, but it will be closer to the Earth than the satellites that operate the GPS locating system.

But you can breathe easy enough, NASA says there is no chance at all it will hit the Earth. That is certainly a relief.

Well, storms are brewing across Asia. And although they are showing some signs of subsiding, our Marie Ramos joins us from the world weather center. Hello, Marie.

MARIS RAMOS, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Anna. That was a good explanation, 1 Earth away. Shoo, that was close. OK.

Let's go ahead and talk about those storms in Asia. You know what? What a weekend, huh, with -- what a week, really. All of last week talking about those two tropical cyclones that were affecting east Asia. Well, we're starting to see now the last of these weather systems, the remnants of (inaudible) have moved on and are now moving over Japan. And the remnants of the other storm that was here in south Pacific Hainan, excuse me, the South China Sea, Hainan, that was is also beginning to lose its punch (ph).

Let's go ahead and start with the pictures from the Korean peninsula. Now these are images from Seoul. And the rain has been very, very heavy over this area. There are reports of roofs that collapse under the weight. You can see crops that have been damaged. This is going to take a little bit of time to recover from all of this. There you see the roofs that were blown off.

Now there's also reports of some people that are missing, at least seven possibly dead. Here you see some divers trying to find people that were in a car that was swept away by torrents of water. Downed trees, downed power lines, traffic that came to a standstill. You guys know the routine, right?

The rain was very heavy in South Korea. North Korea also reported extremely heavy rainfall with many areas reporting over 100 millimeters of rain as the storm was moving through. Very concerned, of course, about the situation in North Korea. The information from that area slowly trickle in.

Let's go ahead and roll the next piece of video. This one is from Thailand. And here the remnants of what was Tropical Storm Hainan are still causing some problems over this area.

Now here's been reports of significant flooding and also mud slides. There are -- have been evacuations, especially in some of the risky areas. And in these pictures, you don't see a lot of people walking around. You see some people, still, that are left in these flooded situations. But it is also an area worth monitoring the risk for flooding and mud slides remains over this region, especially as remnants of the storm still bring us some heavy downpour.

Come back over to the weather map over here. This is -- here you see Southeast Asia, there is, the areas that we still are going to see the heavy rain popping up.

There's also some heavy rain expected in South Korea still. So that's still going to be a concern over the next couple of days.

Let's go ahead and head to Australia. We do have a big storm system coming in here across the west. For you guys in Perth, you could get winds gusting over 100 kilometers per hour. We need the rain, and we might get some significant rainfall with this, but I don't think it's going to be enough to break that drought, but definitely another big weather system.

We'll see how it behaves as it continues to move across Australia throughout the rest of the week.

With my last 30 seconds, Anna, I want to tell you about the heat wave going on in Europe. Look at this picture, it almost looks like a painting. This is in Barro, Spain. This is because of the wildfires that are burning across the area. They were using not only, of course, firefighters battling these flames, but also aircraft.

The temperatures continue to be very hot across southwestern Europe. And look at northern Europe, 33 right now in Paris. Madrid will still be very hot as we head through the day tomorrow. It is 27 degrees in London.

The temperatures cool down tomorrow, at least here in the north.

Back to you.

COREN: Good -- Marie, you did predict the heat wave. So right on the money.

RAMOS: There you go.

COREN: Girl who knows her stuff.

All right. Good to see you. Thank you.

Well, Cars 2 raced to the top of the U.S. box office, but it's taken a critical battering. Now bringing an incredible streak by Pixar to a shuttering halt. Well, all of Pixar's previous 11 films have been a huge hit with reviewers, review site Rotten Tomatoes combines reviews from multiple outlets for an overall score.

Well, according to Rotten Tomatoes, on average 95 percent of reviewers gave Pixar's first 11 films a positive review. But what about Cars 2? Just 33 percent. That is what it got as far as positive reviews, making it the first rotten film Pixar has ever released.

But whether that matters is another story. Cars 2 made around $68 million in its first weekend, the fourth highest June opening ever. I wonder what the critics say about that?

Well, that is NEWS STREAM, but the news certainly continues here at CNN. Thank you for your company. "WORLD BUSINESS TODAY" is coming up next.

END