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Connect the World

Dutch Aviation Safety Report On MH17 Released; Sunnis Must Be Part Of Defeating ISIS in Iraq; One Square Meter; British Muslims React to ISIS Threat; Turmoil Grows Over Afghan Election; Shia Protesters Shot in Yemen; Yemeni Forces Battle Houthi Insurgents; Apple Set to Show New Products; Britain's Royal Couple Expecting Again

Aired September 09, 2014 - 11:00   ET

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

MICHAEL HOLMES, HOST: A major milestone, Iraq gets a new unity government in the hopes it will help overturn the threat from ISIS, but

there's a lot more to be done. Key posts are unfilled. We're live in Baghdad.

Also, we're seeing much less unity in Afghanistan where the future of that country's government once again called into question.

Also, is this the iPhone 6? Videos of Apple's new device hit Chinese social media hours before it's meant to be unveiled.

ANNOUNCER: This is the hour we connect the world.

HOLMES: Welcome everyone, let's begin with new developments in the battle against ISIS in Iraq. Britain's defense secretary says the UK will

send more than $2 million in heavy military hardware to the Iraqi government, this coming one day after Iraq's parliament approved a new

unity government led by the Prime Minister Haider al Abadi.

Still, several key positions remain vacant, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the move a major milestone with potential of uniting all

of Iraq's diverse communities. Jomana Karadsheh was standing by in Baghdad with more.

Perhaps a little optimistic by the U.S. secretary of state there, because when we look at this new unity government we see a lot of the same

old faces and a couple of key posts not filled.

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And Michael as you remember, the U.S. did say when they were -- the U.S. military was

withdrawing in 2011 that they were leaving behind the most inclusive government to date, that -- the government of prime minister Nuri al-Maliki

that really has had a disastrous impact on this country, really.

Now if we look at this new government right now, it does look like an inclusive government representing everyone, the Sunnis, the Shias, the

Kurds, different minorities are in this government, saying familiar faces from the past decade, those politicians that we know just moved around in

two different posts.

Now, really key posts here, critical ministries have not been filled yet. There's no minister of interior, no minister of defense yet named

because of disagreements over the candidates, and really a lot of fear here that we're going to see a repeat of what we saw back in 2010 when al Maliki

did not name ministers to these ministries and he pretty much ran those security posts himself over the past few years.

But al Abadi promising that within a week he's going to have candidates who he will present for a vote.

Now, also we are seeing other familiar faces taking up the post of vice presidents. There are three new vice presidents in Iraq, including

Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki proving he's not really out of the political game yet, although this is very much a ceremonial role. And also longtime

political foe Ayad Allawi.

And really if you look at this government, on the surface, Michael, it does look like this so-called unity government, an inclusive government,

but these are the same exact politicians who have not been able to agree, who have not been able to work together in the past and really have gotten

the country to this level where we are right now.

So this is going to be the real challenge. Are they going to be able to work together, set aside their differences and divisions. This is

really going to be the challenge of putting together the government with just one step.

HOLMES: Yeah, it's fascinating seeing Ayad Allawi and Nuri al-Maliki there in that lineup, the two men who squared off in the 2010 election.

And Mr. Allawi of course winning that popular vote, but not getting to be prime minister. That must be going to make for interesting meetings behind

closed doors.

Of course, the big mission for this new government is to try to win over Sunnis on the ground, those who were so disenfranchised by Nuri al-

Maliki. And they are the very people who everyone needs to turn against ISIS.

Is the mistrust likely to go away with this government? One would imagine there seems to be a lot more to do.

KARADSHEH: Absolutely. It's going to be a very, very tough task. Not only, Michael, the Sunnis -- yeah, the Sunnis are going to be key in

the fight against ISIS. You also have the Kurds. There are serious issues, disagreements between the semi-autonomous Kurdish region and

Baghdad that we have seen really flaring over the past few months.

And Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi saying he's going to prioritize trying to resolve these issues with the Kurds, having everyone together in

this fight against ISIS is going to be key. The Kurds are saying they're giving his government three months, a chance to fulfill these promises or

they are walking out.

Now when it comes to the Sunnis, again, very, very difficult to win the trust of the Sunnis. They have had promises in the past. They have

heard this before in 2010. They never got what they really wanted, that true, real power sharing that is not just in the hands of the Shia-led

government. They need to feel like they are part of it. And this needs to reach all the Sunni provinces. They need to feel empowered, Michael, not

just nominal representation with these ministers who we've seen before in these posts.

HOLMES: But also key, Jomana, before we let you go on the security front. There were some whispers about perhaps some reforming along those

lines. One of the big problems in the Sunnis areas -- Anbar in the north as well Mosul, for example, is that it's very much seen as a Shia dominated

military. And that's something that is key to address as well.

What's on the cards there?

KARADSHEH: Well, when really laying out his government's program, this is something that would have been agreed on between the various

(inaudible) during this government formation process. There was talk about more decentralization and talk about restructuring the security forces and

real changes into that military institution here that is really been problematic and caused issues.

It is going to be interesting to see how that is tackled, Michael, because we've heard these promises before. There was talk of change and

reform, but we haven't seen it.

A very sensitive subject that having these forces, the Iraqi security forces who are pretty much seen as Shia dominated with a sectarian agenda

in Sunni areas. And this has been a big part of the problem, like you mentioned in Fallujah, in Mosul, especially that really created issues in

the past. So perhaps this can be a way forward, trying to recruit people from within those cities, from within Sunni areas, have the Kurds

protecting their own areas and the Sunnis working in their own areas, and more decentralized way of dealing with the security threat. Perhaps that

is one solution going forward, Michael.

HOLMES: Great to have you there covering all of this for us, Jomana. Jomana Karadsheh there in Baghdad.

All right, do stay with us on Connect the World. We have much more to come on the crisis in Iraq. Many believe the only way to beat ISIS

militants, as we were just discussing there with Jomana, is winning over the Sunni population in those crucial areas of Iraq where they dominate.

Anna Coren examines what it will take to motivate Sunnis to join the cause.

Also, radical Muslims in London say ISIS is not fighting a religious war. They're calling it a revolution. That, and more later on connect the

world.

All right, a new report on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 appears to backup the suspicions that the plane was indeed shot down over Ukrainian

airspace by a missile. Dutch aviation investigators say the Boeing 777, fell from the skies after, quote, "high energy objects struck the

airliner." Your first thought, of course, is shrapnel. That is the thought of many people who have read that report.

The July 17 crash killed all 298 people on board. One thing today's report did not do is assign blame for the crash. It wasn't their job to do

so.

CNN Aviation correspondent Richard Quest explains how the experts drew the conclusions they made.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What they were able to do is look at the distribution of the wreckage, and that told them that

the plane broke up -- in midair -- and look at those pictures of key parts of the wreckage, namely the front of the fuselage, the cockpit area, and

that showed where the penetration of these high energy objects had come through.

And if you look at the pitting, you look at the distribution, you look at the metal deformation, you start to understand that it was hit by many

pieces of hot molten metal consistent with, of course, what we now know to be a missile.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: EU officials are going to meet Wednesday to decide whether to enforce new sanctions on Russia over its involvement in Eastern Ukraine.

Reports say that leaders have postponed a new round of sanctions for the moment to see if that ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine will hold up.

So far, the truce does seem to be largely holding, but barely. Kiev and pro-Russian rebel leaders signing that deal in Belarus on Friday. But,

by Saturday, they were accusing each other of violating it.

The lay of the land has changed dramatically and rather rapidly over the last few months, of course, in that part of the world. Pro-Russian

rebels doing what they can to assert their independence. As Reza Sayah reports for us now, they're doing far more than creating borders and making

laws.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In a makeshift television studio in eastern Ukraine, camouflage clad militiamen operate

the cameras as a room full of eager young women wait for their shot at local television stardom.

The coveted prize for this audition, a job as a news presenter for Novorosiya (ph) TV, New Russia TV in English, the new network named after

what some are calling the rebel held Russian speaking region in southeastern Ukraine.

No experience necessary here, says the ad, only passion and energy.

The rush television tryout is the rebel's way of telling the central government in Kiev we don't need you.

Ever since February's pro-European revolution toppled Ukraine's former pro-Russian president, separatists in the southeast have demanded

independence by introducing their own flag, establishing a volunteer militia, positioning check posts at their self-proclaimed borders, and

introducing the death penalty against anyone convicted of treason.

Other peculiar moves have followed -- Havel Gobarve (ph) is the self- proclaimed Republic of Donetsk governor, a 31 year old activist who was formerly a Santa Claus for hire. Irina Filatovo was the Luhansk Republic's

first foreign minister, a woman whose foreign policy experience was as scant as her attire in pictures that later surfaced on the internet.

And now news anchor tryouts for pro-Russian rebel TV, all outcomes of a conflict that's divided a nation with often bizarre consequences.

Reza Sayah, CNN, Kiev.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Well, it has been months now since Afghanistan's presidential runoff vote. Still no official winner. We're going to take a closer look

at what is holding up the process.

Also ahead, who killed the American journalist James Foley? U.S. officials they may know the identity of his executioner.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World. I'm Michael Holmes. Thanks for your company today. And welcome back to the program.

Let's update you, first of all, on our top story. Britain saying it's going to send $2.6 million in heavy military equipment to Iraq to help in

the fight against ISIS. That hardware expected to arrive Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Parliament are proving a new government with Haider al Abadi of course as prime minister. The former prime minister

Nuri al-Maliki now one of three vice presidents -- still very much in the mix.

Many Iraqi Sunnis say they were isolated, disenfranchised by the previous government headed by Nuri al-Maliki and that opened the door to

the Sunni militant group ISIS as the two joined forces against a common enemy, that is Nuri al-Maliki.

As Anna Coren reports for us now, it is believed that turning the tide on ISIS depends very much on winning over that Sunni population.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In long armed convoys, they drove in from the west, uninvited but welcomed in some Sunni

communities.

Representing themselves as liberators, ISIS would chase Iraq's Shiite dominated government forces out of one-third of the country.

But their arrival has turned into what many now see as a foreign occupation with an extremist ideology most Sunnis do not believe in.

While the battle against the extremists is currently being led by Iraq's Shiite and Kurdish military with the support of U.S. airstrikes,

everyone knows that to ultimately degrade and destroy ISIS, the Sunni population must oppose them.

This took place back in 2007 when Sunni tribal leaders, backed by the Americans, turned on al Qaeda were the sons of Iraq. But they claim they

were later double-crossed.

YAHYA ISMAIL AL SONBOL, SUNNI TRIBAL LEADER (through translator): We kicked out al Qaeda in 2007. What was the use? We cleaned Iraq to have it

given to Iran. If Iran is kicked out, we'll kick ISIS out.

COREN: Sheikh Yaya, a powerful Sunni tribal leader, believes Iran is behind Iraq's Shia militia at war with the Sunnis. He says the only way to

rebuild trust is for the new Iraqi government to return more power to his people.

SONBOL (through translator): If they don't give rights to Sunnis in Iraq, it is not worth it for us to fight against ISIS.

COREN: But even if the new government in Baghdad provides greater rights, switching allegiances will be a delicate process.

Governor Najaifi who fled his base on Mosul hours before the militants arrived, says it can only be a Sunni force that liberates ISIS strongholds

like his city.

ATHEEL AL-NUJAIFI, NINEVEH GOVERNOR: If that force was accepted upon the people, I think there is no fight. But if that force was refused from

the people and ISIS succeed to say to the people they are -- it will be our (inaudible).

COREN: Pockets of homegrown resistance are appearing. This video, purportedly shows gunmen in Mosul killing two ISIS militants. And the

governor claims there are thousands of men ready to take up arms.

While President Obama and his international coalition are banking on a Sunni uprising to get rid of ISIS, some community leaders here say that

plan is fraught with danger. If it backfires, it could trigger a full- blown sectarian war, which in the words of one tribal leader would be 10 times worse than ISIS.

Anna Coren, CNN, Irbil, Kurdistan, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Meanwhile, U.S. law enforcement officials may have identified that masked man seen in the ISIS video showing the brutal killing of the

American journalist James Foley, but those officials who spoke to CNN have yet to reveal the name of the suspect. Pamela Brown has been following

this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAMELA BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's the man known as Jihadi John.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An attempt by you, Obama, to deny the Muslims their rights will result in the bloodshed of your people.

BROWN: Speaking with what sounds like a British accent and holding a knife to American journalist's James Foley's neck just before he's

beheaded.

Now, sources say U.S. and British authorities are honing in on who they believe is the man behind the mask -- a British citizen, who was

linked to an extremist group based in London. But officials are not yet naming the suspect, citing the ongoing investigation.

GARY BERNTSEN, AUTHOR, "JAWBREAKER: THE ATTACK ON BIN LADEN AND AL QAEDA": If you had possession of that name, you wouldn't make it public.

You would, would you want them to think that no one knew who they were.

BROWN: Investigators have spent weeks using human and technical means to identify Foley's alleged killer. Relying on voice analysis of the

British accent and picking apart meta-data taken from the video. But former CIA official, Gary Berntsen said it's likely the human sources led

investigators to a possible suspect.

BERNTSEN: This is about the human intelligence game. They have thousands of individuals that have gone through terrorist training camps

and they no doubt have developed a network of people, probably able to identify the individual that did the killing.

BROWN: Just two weeks after the James Foley video was released, another masked man with a similar accent appeared in a second gruesome

video, this time in front of freelance journalist, Steven Sotloff.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You, Obama have yet again, for your actions killed just another American citizen. BROWN: But U.S. law enforcement sources say

it's too early to make the connection the masked man in both of these videos is the same person. Now, new anger from the family of Steven

Sotloff claiming that ISIS paid as much as $50,000 to rebels who alerted them to the whereabouts of the journalist, and stating that the White House

did not do enough to rescue Steven.

BARAK BARFI, SOTLOFF FAMILY SPOKESMAN: We know that for most of the beginning of this part of this year they were stationary. We know that the

intelligence community and the White House are enmeshed in a larger game of bureaucratic infighting and Jim and Steven are pawns in that game and

that's not fair.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Well, some analysts say the way ISIS is covered in the American media may be provoking panic in the U.S. about the actual threat

to that country.

Earlier, I spoke with senior media correspondent for CNN and host of Reliable Sources Brian Stelter.

(BEGIN VIDOE CLIP)

BRIANT STELTER, HOST, RELIABLE SOURCES: Sometimes through saturation coverage of something like ISIS, and sometimes through the words we chose

and the guests we book, we can have the inadvertent effect of making people more concerned or more frightening than they ought to be. And I think a

good example of this is guests who come on the television and talk about how scared they are about ISIS terrorists coming across the U.S. -- the

border into the U.S.

There's not really any evidence of that happening. The Department of Homeland Security has said that there's no imminent evidence of a threat

like that. But by saying it on television, if you have a lot of politicians who come on television and say it over and over again, I worry

about what that repetition does to people.

And I think we see it in the polls, actually. The CNN poll released yesterday showing a big, significant increase in people's concern about the

terror threat. I think it's related to that media coverage.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And that was CNN's senior media correspondent, host of CNN's Reliable Sources Brian Stelter. Fascinating discussion to be had on that

issue.

Now live from CNN Center, this is Connect the World. We've got the top stories for you straight ahead. But first the Muslim that (inaudible)

built. And how investment from one of the world's richest men injected life into a Mexico City neighborhood. That's in One Square Meter.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PARKER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Catching the Eye from blocks away. Mexico City's Sumai Museum (ph) looms over traffic and

passersby. Big (inaudible) has some 16,000 hexagonal tiles of different sizes, made from aluminum. The building cost $70 million to build around

three years ago and it's already a local landmark.

Inside the private collection of tycoon Carlos Slim, recently named by Forbes as the world's richest man. His vision when he opened the museum

was to share his art.

CARLOS SLIM, CARLOS SLIM FOUNDATION: You make it possible for big families or low income families and young people that has low income to

visit the museum and get involved and interested in art.

PARKER: Admission is free and visitors are greeted by the iconic Rodin sculpture The Thinker.

SLIM: The building became a destination in the city. And I think that's part of the successful aspects of the building. It's ranked among

the 50 most visited in the world. And I think that's partly achieved by the architecture.

PARKER; Obsessed, great European masters like Monet hang next to leading Mexican artists. Visitors can use a phone app to scan works and

get an instant guide.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And for us, this is like the culmination of all the experience of the museum. You have 70 meters free of columns that is

achieved with that ring of compression where all the beams arrive. And this represents a selection of the most important pieces of the collection.

PARKER : This room contains one of the largest private collections of Rodin sculptures in the world.

Since its opening in 2011, the museum has attracted 3.5 million visitors, but has also helped transform a rundown industrial part of the

city. Slim has built a mall, offices and a theater in the same area.

SLIM: And they wait to give realization to a downgraded area is to take people to live there, to study there, to entertain. We need

(inaudible) industry area where the value of the land would be maybe 20 percent of what it is now.

PARKER: Transforming infrastructure and lives as only a billionaire can.

Nick Parker, CNN, Mexico City.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: This is CONNECT THE WORLD, I'm Michael Holmes in for Becky. Now, the top stories this hour.

Dutch aviation investigators releasing a preliminary report on the deadly crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. It says the jetliner broke up

over Ukrainian airspace after being struck by, quote, "high-energy objects." All 298 people onboard were killed, but the report does not use

the word "missile," nor does it say who might have been responsible for the crash.

The World Health Organization has issued a dire warning for West Africa. It says the transmission of the Ebola virus is accelerating in

Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. More than 2200 people have already died in the outbreak.

Formula 1 racing legend Michael Schumacher has been released from hospital again in Switzerland. More than eight months ago, he suffered a

severe head injury in a skiing accident in the French Alps. His management says Schumacher will continue what they call his "long and difficult

recovery" at home.

Britain says it will send $2.6 million in heavy military equipment to Iraq to help in the fight against ISIS. Meanwhile, the Iraqi parliament

approving a new unity government with Haider al-Abadi as prime minister.

Well, the stress of ISIS is not one that will go away anytime soon. Following the killing of Steven Sotloff, the militant group said that a

British aid worker would suffer the same fate. CNN's Karl Penhaul met with some British Muslims with opposing views to discuss this rising threat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm back, Obama --

KARL PENHAUL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An ISIS knifeman with a British accent. And in one corner of London, an extreme

interpretation.

ABU SAYFULLAH, BRITISH MUSLIM: It's basically Shock and Awe coming back to bite America, you see. So, it should come as no surprise.

PENHAUL: Abu Sayfullah is one of a small group of radical Muslims who attribute their stark views to their bitter opposition to US- and British-

led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The British government considers the man at the center of this group, Anjem Choudary, a hate preacher. He seems unfazed at the manner of James

Foley and Steven Sotloff's deaths.

ANJEM CHOUDARY, MUSLIM CLERIC: Whether they do that from with a Kalashnikov or whether they do it with a bomb or whether they behead them,

there are different ways of dealing with an enemy when you're fighting against each other. And that's basic -- people kill each other in war.

They don't make love.

PENHAUL: His opinions may repulse many, but the British government estimates at least 500 British nationals are fighting in jihadi ranks.

Choudary sees ISIS's campaign not just as a religious struggle, but a revolution.

CHOUDARY: There's no longer a type of physical colonialism, but there is economic colonialism. There's military colonialism. And unless and

until we recognize these things, I don't think that there will be normal relationship.

PENHAUL: A short drive away from that group, Hanif Qadir, also a Muslim. He heads a program partly funded by the government to combat

extremism.

HANIF QADIR, FOUNDER, ACTIVE CHANGE FOUNDATION: We know we've got lunatics within our community. They're all around the world. Not just

within Muslims, but in every kind of denomination, every faith. We know we've got people that are very strange. And we have young men and women in

our community that are strangely attracted to this kind of barbarism.

PENHAUL: He should know. He went to Afghanistan post 9/11 planning to fight for the Taliban. He says he turned back when he realized that

their beliefs were warped.

Qadir believes ISIS's self-styled caliph and a British executioner some media dubbed Jihadi John, are perverting Islam.

QADIR: Because we can go and follow our barbarian John, who claims to be part of the Islamic State, beheading people. Then we follow -- we are

following, young men are following Tom, Dick, and Harry at the moment.

(GUNFIRE)

(EXPLOSIONS)

PENHAUL: Qadir believes his fellow Muslims have simply not done enough to combat extremism.

QADIR: The Muslim community up and down this country have failed to appreciate and respect the value of prevent. They have failed to take

ownership of a problem that clearly exists within our communities.

PENHAUL: Now, with ISIS threatening to kill another hostage, Qadir issues a challenge.

QADIR: Show me your compassion and release this British hostage. Show the world that you are, indeed, Muslims.

PENHAUL: But it's more than a theological debate. It's a plea to stop the madness.

Karl Penhaul, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Now, of course, the international focus is on ISIS and the wider threat the group might pose, not just to the Middle East, but beyond.

But there are, of course, other crises around the world brewing that could throw the region into further chaos.

First, we're going to take you to Afghanistan, which is struggling to find a resolution to its disputed presidential election. And then, we'll

got to Yemen, where tensions between the government and a religious insurgent group are threatening to erupt into all-out conflict.

Afghanistan, first, stuck in a political limbo ever since both presidential candidates declared themselves winner of a run-off vote back

in June. Well, a UN-backed audit of that election was supposed to put the matter to rest this week. Now, though, presidential candidate Abdullah

Abdullah, says he's going to reject the results. It's expected to give the election to his rival, Ashraf Ghani.

So far, any talk of a unity government has been stalled. Earlier today, the outgoing president, Hamid Karzai, appealed to both candidates to

end the political crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAMID KARZAI, OUTGOING PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN (through translator): Afghanistan is in an urgent need for establishing a new government. Time

for our government is over. We want a new government.

Reach an agreement and rescue the country. You both are respectful figures, so establish the new government. We are in a hurry and ready to

hand over the government to you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Let's take a bit of a closer look, now, at what is driving this election crisis. Joining me now from Kabul is Nader Nadery. He is

the founder and chairman of the Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan. What seems to be the problem here? Abdullah Abdullah wanted

a recount, he wanted it all examined. That seems to have happened. It is it a case that he just doesn't like the result?

NADER NADERY, FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS FOUNDATION OF AFGHANISTAN: Well, this entire process of election and the audit that's being requested

by both candidates was prompted by allegations of fraud from both camps against each other.

Now, the technical part of this process, which has happened under supervision of the United Nation, have gone in a very transparent manner,

where there were candidate agents on every table.

There were international observers, and there were UN workers who were actually not only supervising, but also making decisions on the

invalidation based on the invalidation criteria agreed by both candidates. Domestic observers were there.

Now, the technical process is almost at the end of it. There were differing demands by both camps, and those demands were actually taken

onboard and were investigated. Now, the result has to come as soon as possible.

The second portion of this, the second part of this process is the political dispute. Now, there was this political crisis that led to

discussion about a national unity government. Both candidates have met several times, and therefore, they have discussed different options.

Unfortunately, it seems that their positions are far from each other. Demands are different and therefore one camp wants to see a government

formed where the winner of the election will have more say in it. The second camp basically demands more of an equal presidency or authority of

chief executive of the government to have more power.

HOLMES: Where does this leave Afghanistan? It's not as if Afghanistan doesn't have enough problems with the Taliban knocking on the

door in a military and perhaps political sense as well. What seems to be the problem as far as Mr. Abdullah is concerned here? He doesn't seem to

want to accept the results. Was there anything wrong with the process here in reevaluating the vote?

NADERY: Well, at the heart of this entire crisis are those allegations that were made in the first place by both of those candidates.

Now, if those were technical issues, and as we have seen, the audits have gone so long, and there was a large number of international actors were

involved. And if that audit gives a result, I think on the technical part of that, there's no question remains.

Then it comes to the political side of it, and that has to be sorted out. The country is in a very, very difficult situation. Economy is going

down and being affected significantly. Security has been deteriorating. People are increasingly uncertain about the future and living with a lot of

anxiety that gives them that message, that it may bring them back to those times of civil war.

And therefore, a responsible political leadership at this stage is required to accept the result, go forward, and create a path where the

constitutional framework and constitutional order is going to be respected.

HOLMES: Absolutely no doubt that's what's required, but it doesn't seem to be unfolding. Both men have passionate protesters. Mr. Abdullah's

supporters suggesting at one point that he set up a parallel government. Clearly that's not going to work. Do you see from where you stand any kind

of compromise on the horizon? And if there isn't one, one imagines the alternative is not good.

NADERY: Absolutely. There's two pathways forward. One is the technical process, and that requires both the United Nations and the

Independent Election Commission to come out with the result of audit, explain to public and to both candidates in a very clear, transparent way

what they have done and what it took the audit to go through and what is the result of that.

Following that, the political side of it, a winner cannot take all. Both of the candidates have said before in their campaigns that the winner

will not take all and they will share power. And that requires a very pragmatic approach.

But respecting the constitutional order, getting the result accepted, and then whoever wins the election needs to bring onboard the runner-up or

the person who is not made to win the election. And therefore, that will give the country at ease.

HOLMES: Let's hope that they can close that gap. Nader Nadery, the founder and chairman of the Free and Fair Election Foundation of

Afghanistan, thanks so much, joining us there from Kabul.

Let's turn now to Yemen. Gunfire erupting in the capital, Sanaa, in a confrontation between police and Shiite Muslim rebels. At least seven

people were killed and another 45 injured when police fired at the protesters as the crowd tried to storm a government building.

Shiite rebels known as the Houthis have been camping out for weeks, calling on the government to step down. There are separate reports of

clashes between the troops and rebels at the western entrance to Sanaa, that's according to Reuters.

To discuss this further, Hakim Almasmari joins us now on the phone from Sanaa. These are very worrying developments, and it's been coming for

a while. This has been brewing for a while. What is the current situation, and where could this be headed?

HAKIM ALMASMARI, JOURNALIST (via telephone): It's very tense here in Yemen, Michael, and the situation is getting worse by the day because the

Houthis are -- they're a group that follow the sect -- the Zaidi sect of Islam, are very powerful in Sanaa and have influence in many areas around

Sanaa.

So, their demands are very serious and they feel that the government cannot give into their demands, which is causing them to escalate day by

day. And by the escalation, the government in Yemen is being weakened.

Which forced them today to react against protesters and to start using weapons against them, because the Houthis attempted to close down main

roads and also put sieges on ministries and the cabinet of the Yemeni government.

So, it's very tense right now. And after today's clashes, it will only get worse, and we feel that if the international community does not

involve itself in finding a solution for Yemen, then Yemen could be entering a very, very critical time.

HOLMES: The Houthis, of course, waged a multi-year uprising in the north against the former president, Saleh. When it comes to this new

government, the government is -- I think they've dismissed the cabinet, they're looking at some sort of political reform. Are the Houthis going to

buy into any kind of compromise here, or are they fomenting what could turn into more widespread conflict?

ALMASMARI: This is the biggest problem. The Houthis want change. They want to lead the change process, but do not want to be involved in

anything that deals with the government. They do not want any posts, they do not want to be involved in the decision-making when it comes to the

ministries, et cetera.

But they only want to enforce change, because they feel that the current government is not following their demands and is corrupt. So, the

problem is that even if they are offered ministries and posts, they do not want that.

They are playing a very critical game where they are playing the feelings of the people and trying to show that they are not doing this

protest and these uprisings for the sake of personal interest, but rather for real change that -- and building a government that works for the

people.

The current government is very worried, because they know the Houthis have a hidden agenda behind their crowds and are using the people's

willingness to protest for the Houthis to gain interest politically and to also assist regional countries to have more influence in Yemen.

HOLMES: Worrying developments in an already disturbed country. Appreciate you joining us, there. Journalist Hakim Almasmari on the line,

there, from Sanaa. We'll keep an eye on developments there. They're continuing to unfold as we report.

What do you think of what is happening in Yemen and Afghanistan? The team at CONNECT THE WORLD wants to hear from you, facebook.com/connect

(sic), have your say. You can tweet me @HolmesCNN.

Apple is about to finally reveal its latest products, several of them, in fact. Stay with us. We're going to have our best guess at what they

might look like.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, the wait is nearly over, if you were waiting. We're just over an hour away form a hotly-anticipated event by Apple. The

company hasn't officially spilled the beans about what it's going to unveil, but there's plenty of talk.

It is widely expected there's going to be a new iPhone, perhaps even two, as well as other products. CNN's Maggie Lake standing by in our New

York bureau. Might you be wearing a new watch by the end of the day?

MAGGIE LAKE, CNN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I'm going to need help, Michael, because I'm already way out of date with the iPhone,

that's for sure.

(LAUGHTER)

LAKE: We've got new products coming in. Listen, it speaks to the power of Apple's brand that we're all watching that countdown clock, really

tuned into what they have to say. Investors are watching it really closely, because they want to see if Apple can deliver on a couple of

different fronts here.

We're going to be looking at the phone. And remember, this phone is their main source of revenue. This thing is still a juggernaut. A lot of

people buy them. They have very high profit margins, which investors like.

We think it's going to be a bigger screen, finally caving to the masses that do like that sort of fab-lit large screen so they can consume

all their video and play games and do all the multimedia stuff. We think it might have a harder, more scratch-resistant screen, which is good news

for the clumsy among us.

We also think that they're going to unveil an iWatch, and there's a lot of rumors that this watch may have partnerships with some sort of

health care, so that it really locked into that fitness, which has been very big for wearables. That's been the one place that's been getting a

lot of traction. So, people are interested in that.

And then who knows? Maybe mobile wallet, some sort of payment. They have some stuff in that area already, but this could be a real jump and

improvement. Remember, they've got that fingerprint on the phone that's out now, so a lot of people thinking that was a precursor to this.

But they have their work cut out for them to convince us. These aren't like the old launches, where it was mania around it. They've got a

lot of competition from all those Android phones out there. They tend to be cheaper. A lot of consumers are voting for them.

The iPhones are expensive, so they're going to have to convince us it's worth the upgrade now, especially since a lot of people are moving off

of contracts with their mobile carriers, Michael.

And there's another issue about security. We know we've been talking so much about the iCloud, the nude photos that made their way there. If

they're talking about health care information related to the watch, if they're talking about mobile wallet, are we going to feel comfortable about

the security surrounding the iCloud.

So, even though it's something Tim Cook maybe didn't want to or anticipate talking about, he may have to address that today at this

announcement, Michael.

HOLMES: Yes, they need a bit of a win, too. It's going to be interesting to see what comes out of it. Maggie, thanks so much. Maggie

Lake, there in the Big Apple. Get it?

All right, coming up on CONNECT THE WORLD -- that really was terrible, wasn't it? Royal baby number two on the way, if you didn't know. What the

newest British royal might be able to learn from big brother Prince George about what to expect, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting baby number two, if you didn't know already, and how could you not? The couple

revealing Catherine has had some pretty bad morning sickness, as she did, indeed, the first time around. Here's Jeanne Moos, now, channeling her

inner Prince George with what he might say about all the fuss.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Take it from me, little sibling still safe in the womb.

(CROWD CHEERING)

MOOS: You're going to have a heck of a coming out party. Prepare to have people putting words in your mouth, like they put in mind. They're

even reading my thoughts about you. Sure, some folks are happy about a second royal baby.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love babies. I'm a nanny, so I'm actually very excited.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Big deal. Women get pregnant every day.

MOOS: At least those reporting on Kate's extreme morning sickness --

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC HOST, "GOOD MORNING AMERICA": It's hyperemesis gravidarum.

MOOS: -- had time between the first pregnancy --

UNIDENTIFIED CORRESPONDENT: Kate has hyper -- hyperemesis.

MOOS: -- and the second to perfect their pronunciation.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hyperemesis gravidarum.

MOOS: Or not.

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD, NBC HOST, "THE TODAY SHOW": It's called hyperemesis gravidarum. Sounds like something Harry Potter would say.

HODA KOTB, NBC HOST, "THE TODAY SHOW": Yes.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: Invoking analogies worthy of a meteorologist.

LARA SPENCER, ABC HOST, "GOOD MORNING AMERICA": This is like morning sickness, like a hurricane is a little bit of rain. This is morning

sickness like a tornado is a little window

MOOS (on camera): With a name like this, even royal morning sickness has gravitas.

MOOS (voice-over): It's been an eventful 14 months for Prince George. He met his first bilby in Australia, had a public flirtation with a girl

only to drop her just as fast as he dropped his toy. He even had his own lookalike by the age of three months.

But already the press is speculating, will the new royal baby save the union? With Scotland voting soon on whether to separate from the UK, "The

Guardian" ran a poll asking that very question. The vast majority said no, but talk about pressure on a fetus.

A joke made the rounds that it's as if Scotland said "I'm leaving," and England replied, "I'm pregnant, don't go."

New baby puts Prince Harry even further away from becoming king, to which he replied --

(LAUGHTER)

HRH PRINCE HARRY OF BRITAIN: Great!

MOOS: One guy responded to the news of a new royal baby with a two- letter word --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So? So?

MOOS: We asked people to put a number on their level of interest.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's probably an eight.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, probably about a six.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS (on camera): What are you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Zero.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: And you're English!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two.

MOOS (voice-over): How about if you're walking more than a dozen kids tethered to a leash?

MOOS (on camera): How much are you interested in this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Zero.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS (voice-over): At least these kids aren't tethered to a throne.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: The two and the zero were English. That's traitorous. All right, I'm Michael Holmes, that was CONNECT THE WORLD, thanks for watching

today. Appreciate your company.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END