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Egypt Uprising; Assange Extradition Hearing; Lockerbie Bomber Release; Secession in Sudan?
Aired February 07, 2011 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: The people won't go and on day 14 in Egypt neither will the president.
America continues to call for an orderly transition.
Also this hour, one of the former U.S. president is avoiding Europe.
And the record audience for this Super Bowl.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Welcome to CONNECT TO THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson in London. Ahead, the U.S. State Department, P.J. Crowley tells me why Washington fears for an Egypt under the Muslim Brotherhood.
Plus, to Cairo where things are beginning to get back to normal. There's an impasse showing no signs of ending. We'll be live there in a moment.
Let's begin though with this report with Hala Gorani.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HALA GORANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): First, demonstrations. Then, pure clashes between anti-regime protesters and Mubarak supporters, and now this, political talks around the table with a portrait of President Hosni Mubarak still hanging over its participants.
The Muslim Brotherhood and a few representatives of the opposition were there. Leading the negotiations, Egypt's new Vice President Omar Suleiman. He offered concessions, but many question how far the government will really go.
CHRISTOPHER DICKEY, MIDEAST EDITOR, NEWSWEEK: The government is trying to show that it's being very conciliatory and it's making what sound like big gestures. But it's not setting any time frame for them so it says we will lift the emergency law that's been in place for 30 years almost.
Will when are they going to lift it? We're going to discuss changes in the electoral laws of the constitution. Well, discussing is not doing.
GORANI: The Tahrir Square demonstrators say they are not represented. The Square is still full of them, the Brotherhood, the oldest and most organized opposition movement says it doesn't trust the process.
And the regime's promises critics say are too vague. Some of observers say this government is reverting to old tricks, playing for time, waiting for the world's attention to move away from Egypt.
MAMOUN FANDY, INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES: It's very typical of the Mubarak regime and every issue in the world is all about (stolen) countries, about waiting it out. People will forget about this issue and then we move on, from the internal issues, solving internal problems to dealing with international problems.
GORANI: The January 25th Movement, named after the day the protests began does not have a clear leader. Muhammad ElBaradei, a major opposition figure was not at the meeting with Suleiman. There is no figure head and without that, can the democracy movement master the passion that brought it out into the streets of Egypt cities again, if promises of reform are broken.
Those in the Square say yes. They say they won't leave until the government delivers on the pledges its made.
DICKEY: Yes, there's backtracking, major betrayal on the part of the government, which has happened many times before then you fill it up again. Then the people come out by the hundreds of thousands again and I think that that could easily happen.
GORANI: If members of the old guard now in charge, don't prepare for the country for free elections in September. The violence in the streets of Cairo last week could be a small phase of what is to come. Hala Gorani, CNN, Cairo.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Let's go live to Cairo now. A Google executive who disappeared during the protests there is being released with more (inaudible) on the ground. Of course, Frederik Pleitgen joining me from the Egyptian capital. Fred.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, you're absolutely right. He was released earlier today. He was released I would say in the evening hours. He then went back to his apartment and we actually just heard from a couple of minutes ago on an Egyptian private television network for the first time he told the Egyptian public about what happened to him.
And he said that he was abducted by what he called security agents while he was visiting a friend and then trying to catch a taxi. He says that he was blindfolded for 10 days, and the main thing apparently that those who held him captive wanted to know was whether or not, the current uprising was being stirred by, quote, "outside forces."
So whether or not people from outside roughly stirring these young people who are protesting in Tahrir Square. He says he was kept there blindfolded for 10 days without being able to see anything and then was released earlier today obviously, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, despite these stories, people still in Tahrir Square, Fred.
PLEITGEN: They certainly are. I mean, right now, I would say looking back. I would say it's about maybe 2,000 people who are still in Tahrir Square. And the people there tell us that they're still going strong. They say they have no intention of going - going home.
They say they are going to be there in Tahrir Square until Hosni Mubarak stands down. Of course, from the current negotiations between the government here and the opposition groups, we know that that doesn't seem to be a possibility.
But certainly these people here say they're highly motivated. They formed human chains to stop tanks from closing in on the people in Tahrir Square. The military has been still trying to close down the area that the protesters have for themselves, but no, I mean, they say they're absolutely fearless.
They've been here for such a long time and they say they're here for the long run, Becky.
ANDERSON: The latest on the ground there as Day 14 draws to a close. Fred Pleitgen, your reporter tonight. Fred, thanks for that.
Well, the United States is a long time ally of the Egypt, but over the past two weeks, policy has shifted somewhat. Earlier, I spoke to State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley. (Inaudible) by asking him whether after years of supporting Mubarak, how he expect the people of Egypt to think the U.S. had had a change of heart. This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
P.J. CROWLEY, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: We want to see a democratic government submerged in - in key places around the world. Secretary of State Clinton both this weekend in Munich and previously in Doha made a compelling case that the region, the status quo cannot be sustained.
They have to open up political, economic and social opportunity for their people. You know, we will help Egypt along the way, but ultimately how does process unfolds, who participates in it and the government that are actually results from it. These are the decisions to be made inside Egypt.
ANDERSON: The power of the top of the government present is military based in Egypt. Does a country that might be governed by the military going forward like that of Pakistan in the past appeal to the United States?
CROWLEY: I mean, we want to see a real civilian government emerge. One that responds to the will of the people, one that represents the people and one that can fulfill the aspirations of the Egyptian people.
ANDERSON: Can you do business then with the government that is run by or including the Muslim Brotherhood. Would that - would that worry Washington?
CROWLEY: We have our concerns about the Muslim Brotherhood and whether they will commit themselves to a peaceful and democratic process. But again, who participates in this process is up to Egypt. We'll have the opportunity as well as others to test the seriousness of anyone who engages in this early transition.
But what's important is that that the process open up. Anyone who wants to play and wants to commit to a peaceful democratic future for Egypt, we think those decisions can be made by the Egyptian people.
ANDERSON: How does Washington make itself relevant across region when people are protesting against men that it's been doing business with for years?
CROWLEY: Well, again, the secretary of state laid this out in her speech over the weekend in Munich and in Doha. The status quo is unsustainable. These are governments that have a democratic and economic and political challenge.
They've got populations that are very young. They've got populations that are very educated and populations that want a job and can't find one. It's (inaudible) on all of these governments to step up, to reform, to open up broader economic opportunities, social space and political opportunity for their people.
Those that do will succeed and those that don't will fall behind.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, then from Washington for you tonight from P.J. Crowley. Well, of course, he'll be well aware it's just not protesters in Egypt demanding changing.
In Yemen last week, the country's president vowed not to seek re- election in 2013. Also demonstrators, of course, took the streets of Sana'a. The Yemeni prime minister says you can't compare Yemen and Egypt. CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom spoke exclusively to the prime minister.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Your Excellency, there are a growing number of people in Yemen who are calling either for outright revolution or for the president to step down. What's the level of concern here that what's been going on in Tunisia and Egypt could happen here in Yemen?
ALI MOHAMMED MUJAWAR, YEMENI PRIME MINISTER (through translation): Yemen is not Tunisia or Egypt. Yemen has its own different situation. Yemen situation is totally different than the situation in Egypt or Tunisia and every country has its own characteristics.
Yemen is a democratic country. Through all the stages, selections took place and therefore, this is a democratic regime. It's true that many of the blocks, specifically opposition blocks within the joint meeting parties are trying to duplicate what happened in Tunisia and Egypt and act as if it should be imposed on the people here in Yemen.
The situation here is totally different and it's a democratic regime. And there have been numerous parliamentary elections, presidential elections and local government elections and the president's last initiative gives a strong push for the democratic process in the country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Yemeni prime minister speaking exclusively to CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom. Later on CONNECT THE WORLD, Australia's extreme weather continues to cause havoc. Dozens of homes are destroyed as it battled raging bush fires.
And plus, he's got one of the world's toughest jobs. I want to get your questions to our "Connector of the Day."
The U.N. Secretary General, all yours coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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ANDERSON: Well, George W. Bush says he wanted to travel to Switzerland to talk about freedom, but that's exactly what some human rights activists want to take away from him.
Now the former U.S. president's trip has been canceled so was it over fears of protests or fears he'd be arrested. Stay with us to find out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson in London. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Here's a look at the other stories we're following for you this hour.
And the extradition hearing for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange opens today here in London. Assange is not being charge with a crime, but Sweden wants him to move there to face sexual misconduct allegations. Atika Shubert gives us details on Assange's well-publicized defense.
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, like Julian Assange's own request, his lawyers have taken the unusual step of posting his entire legal argument for why he should be not extradited to Sweden online.
You can actually see the entirely blogging is there and the reason for that Julian Assange has said because he wants to increase transparency and through that transparency he said that will show that he is innocent of the allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
He had made a brief statement to the press after the hearing today. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIAN ASSANGE, WIKILEAKS FOUNDER: For the past five and a half months, we had been in a condition where a black box has been applied to my life.
And on the outside of that black box has been written the word right. That box is now - thanks to an open court process being opened and I hope over the next day, we will see that that box is in fact empty.
SHUBERT (voice-over): So there are several key points to a legal argument being made. The first is that the Swedish Prosecutor's Office basically issued an arrest warrant that was invalid. That is in the opinion of Assange's lawyers. That they say it's been abuse of process that he has not been charged with any crime, that he is simply wanted for questioning and as such an arrest warrant should not have been issued.
Now they're also arguing interestingly enough that he should not be extradited to Sweden on humanitarian grounds. The arguments they say is that if he is extradited to Sweden, he could be extradited to the United States if the U.S. chooses to press charges.
And there in the United States, he could face the death penalty or could be even imprisoned in Guantanamo that's what Assange's lawyers say. Now, the lawyers for the Swedish government, however, have said that - that these fears are unfounded and that even if this hypothetical case should arise that the British government would have the right to intervene.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SHUBERT: So that's the overall legal argument that we've heard from Assange's lawyers. We'll have to wait and see until tomorrow how the lawyers for the Swedish prosecution service responds and of course, this is a process that could not only take several days for the initial hearing, but could take several weeks or several months in total if there's an appeal later on down the line. Atika Shubert, CNN, London.
ANDERSON: Well, a new reports says that the U.K. government has never pressured Scotland to release the Lockerbie bomber, but the prime minister says officials should not advised Libya on how to deal with Megrahi freed on medical grounds.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Those who think there were some sort of conspiracy cooked up between BP, the British government and the Scots to release Megrahi that's not right. It was a Scottish decision by the Scottish government. In my view mistaken, but as I say, I do think we've learned something today in terms of what we were told in this House by ministers.
I do think we have and when honorable gentlemen are able to look at what was said in this House, and what we are now have seen in these papers, I think they would agree with me and I've tried to be reason about this is we weren't really given a complete picture.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, an area of western Australia has now been declared a disaster zone after bush fires destroyed at least 59 homes. Firefighters are battling to contain the flames, which has devastated suburbs around the city of Perth.
Seven Networks's Phil Hind has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL HIND, SEVEN NETWORK (voice-over): A same (inaudible) out of hell. The night sky glowing crimson red as bush fires burn out of control on Perth's northeastern and southeastern fringes.
At Count Scott (ph) and Rolling Stone (ph) residents received SMS alert urging them to get out as quickly as possible.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible) in Brisbane and our (inaudible) and she then grabbed the kids and a bag and took off.
HIND: Count Scott has been utterly devastated. Homes built to take advantage of the bushland setting reduced to charred ruins in a matter of minutes.
From the air, a fleet of water bombing helicopters attacked the flames. On the ground, residents tried to beat back spot fires with garden hoses in a desperate, but ultimately losing battle.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was so fast. We just have to grab everything and jump.
HIND: Fire crews are stretched to the limit. Three volunteers lost their homes while trying to save the houses of others. More fire tamed some from as far away as Victoria are on the way to join the battle.
Police have setup roadblocks stopping anyone other than firefighters from entering the disaster zone including desperate and worried homeowners.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's for your own good. Yes, get in there.
HIND: After watching the eastern states batted by biblical floods then Cyclone Yazi, west Australians might have been forgiving to thinking they were well out of harm's way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: After everything - Australia, I think we've been surfing it.
HIND: Phil Hind, Seven News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, Sudan is poised to be splitting two final results of the nation's historic referendum announced earlier today. Merely 99 percent of those casting ballots voted for an independent Southern Sudan.
Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir says he will abide by the results assuming no other obstacles emerge. Southern Sudan will become a new nation in July.
And in your sports news, Spain reigns supreme. Tennis star Rafael Nadal has won sportsman of the year at the Laureus Sports Awards. King of the air went to Spain's world cup winning football sport.
German golfer, Martin Kaymer didn't leave empty handed. He won the U.S. PGA championship and the World Breakthrough year award and the American skiing superstar Lindsey Vonn got a boost ahead of this week World Alpine Skiing championships. She won sportswoman of the year.
Well, its critics (inaudible) authorized the use of torture, but George W. Bush says he did nothing illegal. Up next, why human rights activists believe they have the former U.S. president running scared.
Later in the show, the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon tells us about his mission for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
And we'll look at the events on and off the field that have millions of you talking about the Super Bowl.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're with CONNECT THE WORLD here on CNN. I'm Becky Anderson.
Now, it was supposed to be George W. Bush's first trip to Europe since the publication of his memoirs. The former U.S. president submitted allowing these water boarding. Human rights activists say that amounts to authorizing torture and were attempting to have Mr. Bush arrested once he sets foot in Switzerland. Now the trip is being pulled off. Nema Albager has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NEMA ALBAGER, CNN CONTRIBUTOR (voice-over): It was meant to be an opportunity for the former U.S. president to write his own history. His chance that for once have the last word on the charges he authorized torture.
GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: First of all, you refer to the wrong word. You used the wrong word.
ALBAGER: At issue is the controversial technique called water boarding. George W. Bush in his 2010 autobiography decision points wrote, "We gained valuable information to protect the country and it was the right to do as far as I'm concerned."
But some feel this so called enhance interrogation technique is torture. It's part of the case being brought against him under international law by a network of non-governmental organizations.
Water boarding is an interrogation in which water is poured over the face of a prisoner making them feel like they're drowning. But the president has always maintained it was legal.
BUSH: Now, this administration did not torture. We adhered to the law and it's very important for people to understand.
ALBAGER: Gavin Sullivan is with the European Center of a Constitutional and Human Rights.
GAVIN SULLIVAN, EUROPEAN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: I think it's widely accepted internationally that that opinion, which was produced at the height of the Bush administration was incorrect. It's inconsistent with international law and it's subsequently been overturned by new advise from the Department of Justice.
ALBAGER: He says there is legal present to support the case being brought against President Bush.
SULLIVAN: The most obvious example that people can remember is the case of Pinochet, I think in 1998. We can remember that Pinochet was similarly arrested and his extradition was sought on similar grounds.
ALBAGER: The former president was meant to travel to Geneva, but didn't go. So what is now the likelihood that this case will ever see the inside of a courtroom.
KATHERINE GALLAGHER, CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS: The United States is also a signatory to the convention against torture. We have domestic solitude that allows us to prosecute U.S. citizens who are present in the United States for torture. But unfortunately it's up to the Department of Justice to open that prosecution and so far it's simply been unwilling.
ALBAGER: President Bush's spokesman says the trip was canceled for security reasons unrelated to the torture case and suddenly his old comrade in arms sound unworried on his behalf.
TONY BLAIR, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Well, you know, he was my ally and they saw they say I don't agree with what these people are doing and he's well able to look after himself.
ALBAGER: And equally unconcerned on his own behalf.
BLAIR: Well, I travel so - and do so very frequently.
ALBAGER: But his would be prosecutor sound almost as confident.
SULLIVAN: We will be pursuing Bush everywhere he seeks to travel. I think it's only a matter of time.
ALBAGER: Nema Albager, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, before the trip was canceled, a lawyer representing a human rights group described the visit as a quote, "Pinochet opportunity."
Now he was referring to the arrest of Augusto Pinochet in Britain in 1998 as you were reminded (inaudible) report after a lengthy legal battle over whether Pinochet could claim immunity. The former Chilean dictator was extradited to Spain to face torture charges relating to his time in power.
Will other prominent politicians would also face the prospects of legal action abroad? In 2006, the U.S. faced human rights group filed a criminal complaint in Germany against former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. It was brought on behalf of prisoners allegedly tortured at Guantanamo Bay and in Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison.
In 2009, a British (inaudible) issued an arrest warrant for Tzipi Livni, the leader of Israel's Kadima Party. She was the country's foreign minister during Israel's military offensive in Gaza. Earlier that year, the warrant was reportedly later dropped.
So aren't these legal cases actually helpful? Will they work? We need to discuss in the studio with Matt Pollard who was from Amnesty International and a regular guests on this show. Mr. Mark the executive director for the International Bar Association.
Mark, starting with you from Amnesty, what's the rational for pursuing George Bush in Geneva just briefly.
MARK POLLARD, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: Well, briefly, we've been calling on the U.S. authorities since about 2004 to do this type of criminal investigation not only into Mr. Bush, but into the problems of torture and so on more generally.
And we asked for a criminal investigation capable of reaching no matter how high the office. It was the failure by U.S. authorities overall that time even in the face of Mr. Bush's public admissions in November that really forced us to take that case to Switzerland.
ANDERSON: Mark, do they have a case?
MARK ELLIS, INTERNATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION: Well, I think they have a case from a legal perspective in this way. International law is quite clear. There is no impunity for these types of crimes and torture is one of these crimes that come under this universal jurisdiction concept.
But from a practical matter, from a procedural matter, I think it's very difficult and in many ways, I think it's - I think it's countering what I hope to be is a movement towards embracing international justice. I think this is problematic.
ANDERSON: Matt?
POLLARD: Well, I mean, we're primarily concerned also in - in solutions that work in reality and for the moment and for the most of the history of international justice, it's fallen to national governments to enforce the law against war crimes and other crimes under the international law.
For the perceivable future, international criminal court will have a limited role to play as the court of last resort and in that time, we have to count on states like Switzerland and the other 150 state parties -
ANDERSON: Mark, can you see a time when somebody like George W. Bush traveling to Switzerland or (inaudible) traveling to Germany, can you see a point in time where a group like Amnesty or others might have a case?
ELLIS: I will say they may have a case, but the problem that's happening is that you see a reversal. You see states that are responding to this very aggressive form of universal jurisdiction and they're doing so by creating greater restrictions on this concept.
In the past four years, whether it's the U.K., France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, they've all created and adopted new legislation that actually has put barriers to this concept of universal jurisdiction. Why?
Because this saw this type of aggressive form of just pulling out an individual who might be traveling to a country and they're saying this is unacceptable for political reasons. So I think it's -
ANDERSON: So what do they do?
ELLIS: Well, I think we have to start embracing and moving towards adopting more consistent and a consistent laws and consistent regulations. To me that is the international criminal court. We need to get countries including the United States to - not to be fearful of the ICC. In fact to embrace the ICC because that's where you have rules, you have parameters. Not the universal jurisdiction, which is very chaotic.
ANDERSON: Matt?
POLLARD: Well, all we asked is for authorities to do and the U.S. authorities before that was to live up to the obligations. They voluntarily assume (inaudible) commissioned against torture and I guess, from our perspective, if - if they're aren't going to actually use this system of international justice such in place, it's not really adding any value.
As I said it before, the international criminal court is a good institution, but it's intended to act more as an incentive to force national jurisdictions to take responsibility themselves. They doesn't have the capacity to be a criminal court for the world, for every crime -
ANDERSON: Last question to both of you, will you try to snatch or groups like yours trying to snatch a headline out of the (inaudible) of Bush's?
POLLARD: Absolutely not, we took this very seriously. We saw more than 700 pages of documentations to back up serious submissions.
ANDERSON: And can groups like Amnesty ever expect to nail anybody that millions of people around the world might alleged to have, of course, criminal act or being part of the criminal act. Can they ever expect to nail them eventually?
ELLIS: It is difficult for them to nail an individual certainly at that level, but I applaud them for pushing this. But I'm just saying that there are better channels in order to embrace this issue of accountability and not impunity that's the direction we need to have.
ANDERSON: We leave at that. Thank you very much indeed for joining us. They've been there almost two weeks, when will they leave? Up next, we talk to one of the protesters (inaudible) down in Cairo's Tahrir Square. That and your headlines here on CNN after this very, very short break stay with us.
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ANDERSON: At just after half past nine in London, you're back with CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. Coming up, he disappeared on Day One of the protests, now his family are thinking the worst. Just ahead, living in fear in Egypt.
Plus, 100 million watch the annual Super Bowl in the United States, but not everyone tuned in for the football.
And a man who's lived through civil war, poverty, and hunger, how that has helped shape the career of your Connector of the Day.
Those stories are ahead in the next half hour for you on CONNECT THE WORLD. First, let's get you a very quick check of the headlines this hour.
A Google executive who disappeared during protests in Cairo has been released. The news was confirmed by a company tweet. It's believed he was detained by Egyptian authorities.
Meanwhile, Egypt's new cabinet has met for the first time after -- a week after being sworn in.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appeared in court in London for the opening of his two-day extradition hearing. Sweden wants Assange moved there to face sexual misconduct allegations. Assange's lawyers argue that could open the door for his extradition to the United States, where he could be deemed a terrorist.
British prime minister David Cameron says the country's previous Labor government should not have told Libya how to get the convicted Lockerbie bomber released from prison. Scotland freed Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds in 2009 after he was diagnosed with cancer.
And George W. Bush has canceled a trip to Switzerland because of security concerns. That comes after human rights activists said that they were planning to have the former US president arrested over the treatment of terror suspects.
Merger Monday pushed stocks higher on Wall Street. The Dow Industrial jumping 69-odd points to close at 12,161-odd. Water markets gaining ground, investors welcoming news of mergers, including AOL's acquisition of the news blog The Huffington Post.
We've seen the images, the protests, the occasional violence, and the resolve of the protesters to remain in Cairo's Tahrir Square until President Mubarak leaves. But just how much of what's going on inside the square can be resolved -- or can be used to resolve the crisis? Ben Wedeman examines that very complex question.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(CROWD CLAPPING AND CHANTING)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's unique in Arab history, the center of a capital city occupied by a movement bent on the fall of a decades-old regime. The sights and sounds distinctly revolutionary.
(CROWD SINGING AND CLAPPING)
WEDEMAN (voice-over): "We are a great and civilized people," goes the chant, "And we reject all criminals." They want President Hosni Mubarak to step down. Now. But that's just the beginning.
MOHAMED SHAMA, TAHRIR PROTESTER: How old is Mubarak now? How old is Mubarak?
WEDEMAN (on camera): Eighty-two.
SHAMA: Eighty-two? He's a very old man. He not do what he do. Just he -- live. We want the regime. The demands of this people demands the removal of the regime. Of the bad system.
WEDEMAN (voice-over): Actor Khalid Abdalla, who starred in "The Kite Runner," listed demands.
KHALID ABDALLA, PROTESTER/ACTIVIST: Tahrir Square wants Mubarak to go as soon as possible, but it also wants the dismantling of his regime. It wants the dismantling of the police state. It wants the dismantling of emergency law. It wants the dismantling -- it wants the dissolution of the parliament that was corruptly elected.
WEDEMAN (voice-over): All this and more is being avidly discussed and debated here.
WEDEMAN (on camera): There's a dramatic disconnect going on, here. Here in the People's Republic of Tahrir, democracy in its purest form is the name of the game. But in the halls of power, opposition leaders and other self-appointed representatives of the Egyptian people are talking deals with the government.
WEDEMAN (voice-over): Sunday, Vice President Omar Suleiman met with representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood and other opposition figures. Also present was multi-billionaire business man Naguib Sawiris. I ask him about the calls from Tahrir Square.
WEDEMAN (on camera): The one single demand that one hears time and time again is, Mubarak must go.
NAGUIB SAWIRIS, BUSINESSMAN: OK, we don't agree. I don't agree. Now what? These young people believe in democracy or not? OK. I don't agree. There is many things, they don't -- maybe they don't calculate certain dangers, maybe it's sophisticated businessmen like me has some worries. Maybe I have some information they don't have.
WEDEMAN (voice-over): His worry, that the anti-Mubarak movement will be hijacked by the Muslim Brotherhood. Disagreements could well play into the hands of the regime, warns analyst Issandr Amrani.
ISSANDR AMRANI, ANALYST: The danger, I feel, right now is that this opposition is -- which only a few days ago seemed to unite, is now being divided, and the regime is trying its tried and true tactic of divide and conquer.
WEDEMAN (voice-over): And it's up against a suddenly energized opposition long on idealism but perilously short on experience. Ben Wedeman, CNN, Cairo.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: All right. So, as Day 14 of the uprising draws to a close, the question remains, just how long will protesters keep up the vigil, especially in Cairo's Tahrir Square. One protester discussed that with CNN's Ivan Watson. Have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was raining. It was cold here, last night.
ABDUL HAMID DAOUD, PROTESTER: Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes. And all the people stand, tired, and we will continue forever, until that system removed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, I want to get some more insight to someone very familiar to you, if you've been watching this show. Gigi Ibrahim has been camped out in the square, basically, for the duration of the uprising, and she joins me now by phone.
You heard our last report from Ben, you listened to the Egyptian businessman saying that he didn't agree that Mubarak should be made to go at this point. You don't agree. You say he should still go, do you?
GIGI IBRAHIM, ACTIVIST AND BLOGGER (via telephone): Yes. Everybody here in Tahrir and the millions that marched day in and day out are demanding to -- for Mubarak to step down, now, and not later on.
ANDERSON: OK. How long can this last, Gigi? What if he just doesn't go?
IBRAHIM: People will not leave. We're so determined here. Everybody -- the numbers increase every day. We're gaining momentum.
The prisoners who haven't still been released, Wael Ghonim, the Google executive who was detained for 12 days blindfolded was just released, made a very emotional speech on state television that I was just following on Twitter.
And everybody has been really, really moved by him, and I think tomorrow is going to be a great day in Tahrir. We're expecting a lot of people, because he's coming to Tahrir, and we're going to be celebrating Wael Ghonim and hoping for more of the detainees to be released as well.
ANDERSON: I understand your passion, and I'm sure our viewers do, too, but don't you get the sense that to all intents and purposes, you're losing momentum as the government begins to sit again -- such as it is, and that discussions begin between those still in power and some of the opposition groups?
IBRAHIM: I guess -- the mood here in Tahrir is absolutely the opposite. The more -- the more days people stay in Tahrir, the more momentum and more determination they gain. As well as all these so-called negotiations that are going on, people don't want negotiations.
The feel here and the mood in the square and from all the discussions that have been doing all the day -- all today, really, was the people here. You get the sense that there is no negotiations after all this bloodshed and all these martyrs that have basically given their lives and paid the price for freedom.
So, it will be -- it will seem like we were letting those people down who died fighting for this cause if we let go now. So, we're more determined than ever, and I think it will really go on. It can go on for days and weeks until the regime really, really -- softens and Mubarak steps down.
ANDERSON: The very voice of determination from Tahrir Square for you this evening at 20 minutes to midnight local time at the end of Day 14, Gigi Ibrahim for you.
For two weeks, we've watched developments unfold, haven't we, in Egypt? How is all of this playing out in Jordan, for example? Well, Queen Noor, mother of King Abdullah, joins us with her perspective. That is on Piers Morgan tonight.
Viewers in Europe and the Middle East can see that tomorrow right before this show, CONNECT THE WORLD. And if you can't wait until then, you can catch it just four hours from now here on CNN International.
Well, ahead, our Connector of the Day is Ban Ki-moon from the United Nations, and we look at one of the world's most-watched sporting events. This year's Super Bowl left fans jumping, but it wasn't just the game that had everybody talking. That and Ban Ki-moon coming up after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, it is one of the most exciting days of the year if you are a fan of American football, that is. More than 100 million people tuned in on Sunday for the 45th annual Super Bowl Game. Green Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, taking home the championship trophy for the 4th time.
But for many around the world, the big game is about more than what happens on the field. Phil Han now shows us what people are really buzzing about.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL HAN, CNN DIGITAL PRODUCER (voice-over): For American football fans, the Super Bowl is the ultimate event, and for the millions of fans who watch it on TV, it may at times be more about the spectacle than the sport.
GREG JENNINGS, WIDE RECEIVER, GREEN BAY PACKERS: It's a great day to be great, baby!
HAN (voice-over): Early estimates indicate that more than 100 million people watched the Super Bowl this year, but if chatter on social media is any indication, it seems people watched it for reasons other than the game.
Topics dominating the conversation range from Christina Aguilera's national anthem mess-up --
CHRISTINA AGUILERA, SINGER (singing): Gave proof the night --
HAN (voice-over): And as expected, lots of attention are on those commercials.
ROSEANNE BARR, SNICKERS COMMERCIAL: Hey! My back hurts! Now my front hurts.
HAN (voice-over): The going rate, even in a down economy, was $100,000 a second, and some advertisers forked out more than $3 million for a 30-second hit. Was it worth it? Consider that today, you're more likely to hear about this mini Darth Vader than Green Bay Packer quarterback Aaron Rogers.
(MUSIC - "Star Wars Imperial March")
(CAR ENGINE STARTS)
HAN (voice-over): Incidentally, that Volkswagen ad has more than 15 million hits on YouTube.
Now, TV pundits are already saying this was a record year for Super Bowl viewers, but if you can believe it, it actually isn't the most-watched annual sporting event. The UEFA Champions League Final first took the top spot in 2009 and has been growing every year. These figures don't even take into account events like the World Cup or the Olympics, which happen every few years.
While this year's figures aren't out yet, last year's Super Bowl drew some 103 million viewers, but that still doesn't compare to the most- watched yearly event. According to one TV monitoring company, the annual Chinese New Year program on state television pulls in more than one billion viewers. Phil Han, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Remarkable, isn't it? Well, not everybody got to enjoy the game on Sunday. A stall in construction left about 400 fans without seats despite having $800 tickets in hand.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No seats!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No seats.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They don't even have my row, let alone the section we're supposed to be in.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was terribly mismanaged, and we're just beside ourselves. I don't know how this is going to come out. We can't see the game. They've shuttled us into this area. I -- I can't see a positive outcome.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had security almost kick me out because I don't know where I'm going, so -- I don't know who's all in charge of this, but I'm never going to want to come back to Dallas Stadium.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Oh, dear. Somewhat upset. Well, the league has promised to look into what wrong. It's trying to soften the blow, now, by offering disappointed fans triple the face value of the original ticket. I'm not sure that's going to satisfy them.
Well, for more on the year's game, Patrick Snell joins us from CNN Center in Atlanta. Those viewing numbers for the year skyrocketed, going well above 100 million. Why such a hit this year, do you think?
PATRICK SNELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: I just think it's, Becky, evidence, really, of a growing trend. I think it's a sporting occasion in the United States that's growing bigger and bigger.
I think you had two storied teams, and I think that certainly helped. The Packers and the Steelers both with great pedigree when it comes to this kind of sporting event.
Also, many parts of the country quite simply are thinking there are other factors. It was a very cold night in a lot of the country, and it's become such a -- sort of a social gathering with family and friends, all kinds of parties going on all over the place. Parties I, of course, missed out on because I was hard at work updating our viewers on the actual game.
But when you think of other big stay-at-home occasions, you think of Christmas Day with family, Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve as well. I would imagine this is rapidly becoming one of the most number one in terms of staying at home and actually watching. I think it's growing, growing, and growing.
And I do think it's even going to get bigger and bigger, because a lot of people do want to see, as we heard earlier, that they do want to see the commercials. They do want to see the entertainment. Because, of course, no one does the Super Bowl quite like the Americans in terms of razzmatazz, as well, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, and you just said that you think its appeal is growing. We know that American football hasn't taken off as the Americans would've liked it internationally. Is it, though, beginning to get international attraction now?
SNELL: I think over the last few years there's definitely for those hardcore sort of a niche following. I wouldn't ever say it's going bigger than that. I think it's still essentially very much a US sport for Americans overseas who definitely want to watch the Super Bowl. I think it has its hardcore followers, no doubt about it.
I think the time difference is a big factor against it. So you look at viewers in Europe, it's going to be middle of the night in some cases or very early hours of Monday morning, those preparing for the start of a new work week as well.
But then, you look at the fact that, well, maybe there is evidence of a little bit of a growth in the sport because, for example, the National Football League, Becky, will take a game on the road, they'll play games, exhibition or routine league games, if you like, on the road in London. Then, for those one-off games, it does actually sell out. They can sell out in sort of 15, 20 minutes or so.
So, I think two sides to this story, but as far as I'm concerned, it's still very much a US sport, no doubt about it.
ANDERSON: Yes. It's always exciting. Patrick, thank you for that. Of course, it wouldn't be a Super Bowl without a slip-up. Throughout its history, the game has been riddled with infamous moments, and if you remember, in 2004, Janet Jackson had her unforgettable wardrobe -- let's call it a "malfunction," when co-performer Justin Timberlake accidentally pulled off her top.
That same year, bad boy musician Kid Rock stirred up controversy by cutting up an American flag and wearing it as a poncho.
Well, this year's fumble kicked off the game when singer Christina Aguilera messed up the lyrics to the US national anthem. Here's the clip, with the correct words on the right side of your screen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TEXT: What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming.
AGUILERA (singing): What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming.
TEXT: Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight --
AGUILERA (singing): Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight --
TEXT: O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
AGUILERA (singing): What so proudly we watched at the twilight's last gleaming. And the rocket's red glare --
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, the crowd looked a little puzzled, but continued to sing along as she belted out a verse twice. She explained the error by saying she got so lost in the moment of the song that she lost her place.
In just a few hours, talks start up again between North and South Korea. One man who will be hoping for progress is the United Nations' secretary-general, and he is your Connector of the Day, answering your questions, up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: The village of Panmunjom. In just three hours, representatives of North and South Korea will meet in the demilitarized border zone to resume working-level military talks. Well, it comes three months after the North shelled Yeonpyeong Island in the South. Two marines and two civilians were killed in the November strike, which Pyongyang says was in response to its southern neighbor's navy firing into its waters.
Well, tensions have been rising on the peninsula since the sinking of a South Korean naval ship in March. Seoul blamed the North for the attack, which killed 46 sailors and, in response, Pyongyang cut off all direct contact.
One many who'll be watching those renewed talks particularly closely is tonight's Connector of the Day, Ban Ki-moon. I recently had the opportunity to talk to the United Nations' secretary-general when he was in Davos just a couple of weeks ago. And we spoke about his efforts to bring peace to the region. Let's get you connected.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): It's the organization charged with maintaining peace around the world. The United Nations is made up of 192 member states and boasts an 80,000-strong peacekeeping force. Right now, the UN has peacekeeping missions in 15 countries, troubled spots that range from the Ivory Coast and Sudan to Cypress and Haiti.
And leading the alliance is this man. Ban Ki-moon is the eighth secretary-general of the UN, a position he has now held for three years. Hailing from South Korea, the 66-year-old humanitarian has lived through civil war and survived poverty and hunger. Indeed, those early struggles have helped shape a career spanning four decades.
Ban Ki-moon has been driven by a vision of peace on the Korean peninsula and, as tensions continue to simmer in the region, I asked the secretary-general how the UN would respond if the Koreas went to war.
BAN KI-MOON, SECRETARY-GERERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS: Unfortunately, last year, we have seen very heightened tension on the Korean peninsula. As the secretary-general of the United Nations and also as one of the citizens of Korea, I have been very much concerned and troubled by what had happened.
Now, I'm encouraged that the Republic of Korean government, together with many key allies and partners, are trying to, first of all, maintain peace and stability through dialogue.
I hope that the six party members will be able to, first of all, address North Korean nuclear issues and both South and North Korean authorities should engage in bilateral dialogue and try to expand the confidence level through exchanges and cooperation. And as secretary- general, I will spare no efforts to help facilitate such a process.
ANDERSON (on camera): Do you think, though, that throughout your tenure, you could have done more about what's going on on the Korean peninsula?
BAN: I have been maintaining my channel of communications with the DPRK authorities, and I'll continue to do more.
ANDERSON: Greg asks, "What do you think you're doing to keep the UN relevant?" And it's a good questions, isn't it, in the 21st century?
BAN: United Nations knows that there are some areas for improvement in our performance. As secretary-general, that has been one of the top priorities, to make this organization more effective, more efficient, accountable, and transparent.
As the secretary-general of the United Nations, first of all, I've been trying my best to raise the political awareness to address climate change in a more sustainable way. This is a top priority, and I will continue to do that.
ANDERSON: Mr. Ban, what keeps you awake at night?
BAN: When I see all these challenges, global and regional, and abuse of human rights and many poor people who are suffering and hungry, going to bed hungry, then I cannot but be very humbled.
I start every day, every morning, with a very humble mind, how I can work for those people, how I can contribute myself, how the United Nations can and shall use the capacity to address climate change, which is an issue affecting whole humanity. That really makes me motivated, and I'm doing always with a strong sense of mission and motivation and try to be creative in addressing all these challenges in the 21st century.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Find me a more motivated man. United Nations' secretary- general Ban Ki-moon, your Connector of the Day today.
And tomorrow night, we promise to connect you with one of the biggest stars in India. We've been promising this for a week or so. Hrithik Roshan hails from a Bollywood dynasty, the star of "Kites" and the celluloid superhero movie "Krrish," this acclaimed actor will answer your questions. Do find out, amongst other things, who he'd like to pair up with on the big screen.
That is tomorrow night. Head to cnn.com/connect to find out more about the upcoming Connectors. They're yours, of course, it's your part of the show. Send us your questions and do remember to tell us where you're writing in from.
Well, praying the Year of the Bunny brings good fortune. People around the world are celebrating Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rabbit. In Hong Kong, a worshiper prepares to blow out his flaming joss sticks at temple.
Colorful costumes and music, students in Beijing take part in a reenactment of a procession honoring Confucius, the teachings of China's most famous philosopher.
Waving the Chinese flag, New Yorkers take part in the 12th annual Chinatown parade. Dragon dancers bring bright colors to the city.
There, a woman dons some bunny ears in Paris as she takes part in the parade in the French capital.
An amazing costume in Sydney, as you would expect, as people take part there.
And Chinese boys living in Japan perform a dragon dance to celebrate just outside of Tokyo. Thousands came out to enjoy the annual parade for the start of the lunar new year.
I'm Becky Anderson, that is your world connected. Thank you for watching. The world headlines and "BackStory" will follow after this short break.
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