Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Attackers Kill Four Israelis In A Synagogue; Ferguson Braces For More Protests; One Square Meter: Ocoa Bay, Dominican Republic; Foundation Seeks To Change Syrian Refuge Children's Lives; Iran Nuclear Talks; ISIS Finds Support in Libya; Cape Town's New Family Recreation Centre; Doha to Host 2019 World Athletics Championships; Breaking News: FIFA Pressing for Corruption Charges; Parting Shots: Iran's Mosques Revealed
Aired November 18, 2014 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: A terror attack in a Jerusalem synagogue leaves four worshipers dead. Israel's government vowing to respond with, quote, a
heavy hand.
We'll be live in Jerusalem with details of this morning's assault and the potential repercussions.
Also ahead, (inaudible) is neither in Iraq nor Syria. For many Europeans in the anti-militant coalition I is a lot closer to home. Across
the Mediterranean in Libya.
Plus, the innocent victims of war who dream of return to Syria and how you can help them forge their futures.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson.
ANDERSON: A very good evening from the UAE. It's just after 8:00 in the evening here.
There was a heightened police presence on the streets of Jerusalem amid fears of a copycat attack. Funerals were held for the victims of a
deadly attack inside a synagogue in the west of the city today. Israeli police say four rabbis were killed when two armed Palestinian men stormed a
house of worship.
Now, three of the victims held dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship, the fourth was a British-Israeli citizen.
The police shot and killed the attackers who carried knives, an ax and a handgun. Six others were injured. Both Israeli and Palestinian
officials condemning that attack.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIR BARKAT, JERUSALEM MAYOR: What you saw today it's slaughter of innocent people while they're praying in a synagogue. I -- there's no
doubt in my mind that the -- it's not even murders, because animals don't behave like this. To get into a synagogue with a butcher knife and to
slaughter innocent people while they pray...
MAHMOUD ABBAS, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT (through translator): We strongly condemn this incident and do not accept under any circumstances
attacks on civilians.
At the same time we condemn these actions, we also condemn the attacks on the Al Aqsa Mosque holy place.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And we're waiting for Israel's possible response. Senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman is live in Jerusalem with the very
latest. And Ben, what do we know about this morning's synagogue attack? The details if you will?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We understand that it happened just before 7:00. We're at this synagogue in the Harnoff (ph)
neighborhood to the west of the city. There were around 10 to 12 worshipers inside for morning prayer when these two men from the
Palestinian west -- or rather East Jerusalem neighborhood of Jeber Muqabr (ph) burst in. They were armed with knives, axes, what appears to be a
meat cleaver as well as a 9mm pistol. They killed immediately four of those worshipers.
The Israeli police arrived on the scene just seven minutes after the attack began. They were able to kill the attackers as they left the
synagogue.
And we understand that six people are still in hospital, several of them critically wounded, one of them was one of the policemen who responded
to the cries for help from the synagogue. This is a normally very quiet, very religious neighborhood in Jerusalem.
Now, we're expecting within an hour-and-a-half to hear from the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but he's already indicated some
of the moves he's going to take. He's put out a statement saying that the Israeli security forces are going to demolish the two homes of these East
Jerusalem Palestinians who were involved in this attack.
He's also come out to condemn to condemn what he calls the incitement coming from Hamas and the Palestinian authority leader President Mahmoud
Abbas. Although interestingly enough, we've seen in the Israeli media the head the Shin Bet, which is Israel's equivalent of the FBI, saying that in
his opinion Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority are not inciting violence against Israel.
So somewhat cloudy situation, but tense, very tense nonetheless, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yeah, And we'll of course do more on this as we move through the show.
I do need to pause for a moment. We need to make an apology for a serious error that occurred during our coverage of the Jerusalem terror
attack earlier today. During an interview with the Mayor of Jerusalem, an caption identified the attack as having taken place in a Jerusalem mosque.
Well, obviously this should have said synagogue. CNN, we apologize to both the mayor and to you our viewers.
Getting numbers -- new numbers about the extent of ISIS executions committed by the Islamic militant group ISIS. And the numbers shocking.
more than 1,400 since the group declared its caliphate five months ago, that is according at least to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights who
says most of them were civilians.
Well, among them American captive Peter Kassig who was also known as Abdul-Rahman Kassig. The video released last weekend also showed
beheadings of several men described as Syrian military pilots. There are indications French and British jihadi fighters may have been involved in
the crimes depicted on that video by ISIS.
A French prosecutor says authorities have identified French national Maxime Hauchard as the -- being on that ISIS video.
Well, this is the latest from ISIS. And it's different from the group's earlier execution videos. CNN's Brian Todd takes a look at the
possible reasons behind the changes. We do have to warn you this footage some of you may find disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The video like the others before it is grotesque and disturbing, the beheading by ISIS of American
Peter Kassig is presided over by a militant we've come to know as Jihadi John.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Peter Edward Kassig, a U.S. citizen of your country.
TODD: But there are strong differences taken with this video and those depicting the killings of Americans James Foley and Steve Sotloff, British
citizens Alan Henning and David Haines. This time, no orange jump suit. No build-up to the killing.
AKI PERITZ, FORMER CIA OFFICER: They unfortunately show the head of the victim but they don't have him give a speech, they don't actually show
his execution and they don't let that you know there is another hostage to be murdered.
TODD: But a U.S. intelligence official tells CNN they believe ISIS does have additional hostages.
So, why is this different? Aki Peritz, who analyzed every beheading video during the Iraq war for the CIA, says the depiction of Kassig
suggests this video might have been hastily put together.
PERITZ: Things, chances are, went wrong with this execution. Maybe the victim couldn't actually give a good speech. Therefore, they couldn't use
it. Maybe they accidentally killed him during the production process and they didn't want to show it.
The victim could have resisted prior to actually shooting and they might have murdered him then.
TODD: The video has a horrific feature not seen before. ISIS shows the man intelligence sources believe is Jihadi John and others in details too
graphic to show here, beheading more than a dozen men. The militants claim they're Syrian pilots. It's the first time Jihadi John is seen apparently
killing someone.
HARAS RAFIQ, THE QUILLIAM FOUNDATION: It was a sign of desperation, because ISIL really are suffering. They're a bit like an animal sort of
caged into a corner where they got no response to the air strikes. The air strikes and the coalition-led effort is really hurting them.
TODD: After the beheadings, the faces of the killers are brazenly shown. Analysts say there's a message there, too.
RAFIQ: They were trying to show that this was almost the United Nations of jihadists. This was jihadists that were carrying out these
beheadings from different places around the world.
TODD: And in the portion of the video depicting Peter Kassig's death, another point of difference. Unlike in previously beheading videos, they
don't seem to be trying to hide where they are. They depict specific buildings, roads and fields, and they label the place Dabiq, that is a town
in Syria, very symbolic. It's a place where the Ottoman Empire won a historic battle, opening that region up to Muslim conquests.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, Peter Kassig is the fifth western hostage to be killed by ISIS since the United States and its allies began airstrikes,
you'll remember, back in August. He is one of almost 1,500 people executed by the group, most of them civilians.
Later in the program, we're going to take a look at the widening problems left behind by the ISIS quest to establish a caliphate. Arwa
Damon taking us to the Syrian-Turkish border where children orphaned by war find safety and stability, but are still scarred by what has happened in
their short lives.
CNN International Correspondent Nic Robertson is in Libya as the group attempts to establish a foothold there. We'll speak to Libya's UN envoy
Bernardino Leon on the developing situation there.
Well, a U.S. community near St. Louis, Missouri is stuck in a very tense waiting game this hour. The tow of Ferguson has yet to find out
whether the white police officer who shot an unarmed black teenager back in August will be indicted for that incident.
Now the city's have seen numerous protests since 18-year-old Michael Brown was killed. Governor Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency in
case Officer Darren Wilson is cleared and violence erupts.
Well, the grand jury's decision could come at any time. You'll get that first, of course, here on CNN.
Stephanie Elam joining us now live from Ferguson on the story, Steph.
And Governor Jay Nixon declaring a state of Emergency on Monday, was it purely a precautionary measure?
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, that's what the governor and his officials are saying that it was purely -- just for precaution.
But still some people are saying this is a bigger clue that perhaps we're getting closer to finding out the fate of Officer Darren Wilson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CROWD: Hands up, don't shoot.
ELAM (voice-over): Protesters in St. Louis braved frigid temperatures, taking to the streets, ahead of Missouri's governor declaring a state of
emergency.
Governor Jay Nixon anticipating expanded unrest if the grand jury decides not to indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, who shot and
killed unarmed teen, Michael Brown, on August 9th.
Governor Nixon activating the National Guard to assist the county police with securing Ferguson, bypassing the Ferguson police department.
The mayor of St. Louis agreed with the decision.
FRANCIS SLAY, MAYOR OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI: We don't know what's going to happen or when it's going to happen, or, you know, what the decision is
going to be, or what the reaction is going to be. I think we need to make sure that we are prepared.
BENJAMIN CRUMP, ATTORNEY FOR MICHAEL BROWN'S FAMILY: Michael Brown's parents have asked that everybody who supports them do so in a nonviolent,
peaceful constructive way.
ELAM: For more than three months now, this entire area has been on edge.
(on camera): Are you worried about violence becoming an issue again?
MAX PETERSON, DEMONSTRATOR: I'm not really. By civilians or by police?
ELAM: Whatever concerns you.
PETERSON: I mean, the biggest concern is that something very small will happen, like a water bottle and that will lead to teargas or gunfire.
ELAM (voice-over): Last week, a law enforcement source says the FBI issued a bulletin to police across the nation, warning officers to be
vigilant about possible violence related to Ferguson.
Over the past few months, community leaders have complained that outsiders have instigated much of the violence.
(on camera): So when the grand jury comes out with its decision, what do you think is going to happen?
LARRY FELLOWS III, DEMONSTRATOR: I honestly can't say. I can just speak about what we're going to continue to do as protesters until we get
what we deserve, which is justice.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELAM: And the Missouri National Guard is expected to get to the St. Louis area at some point this week, but they will not be taking over the
helm of law enforcement right away. It is only going to happen in case things escalate between police and protesters, Becky.
ANDERSON: Stephanie Elam there in Ferguson, Missouri for you.
Well, a deadline fast approaching in Vienna. And all those involved know what is at stake. Stay with us here on Connect the World with me
Becky Anderson as we break down what are the critical issues on the table at the Iran nuclear talks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERANTIONAL CORRESPONDENT (through translator): I would see him in my dreams," Maram remembers. "I would see him giving
someone something."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: A little girl who lost her father in Syria finds kindness and comfort across the border. We travel to the orphanage where she and
others like her are starting a new life. You're watching CNN. I'm Becky Anderson. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: This is CNN and Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. Welcome back. It is 16 minutes past 8:00 here in the UAE.
With yet another hostage beheading this week. I'm afraid the brutality of ISIS and its actions in Iraq and Syria are never far from the
world headlines and certainly not far from those headlines from this region.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the group has executed nearly 1,500 people in Syria in the last five months.
Well, the UN estimates that 3.2 million people have been pushed out of the country or those countries in search of safety, fleeing in the
insurgencies and civil wars. Lebanon and Turkey each have more than a million registered refugees and Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, Syrian refugees
number in the hundreds of thousands.
Well, of course many of those fleeing are kids, remember. Arwa Damon joins me from Turkey where some are trying to reestablish a normal life
away from the violence. And Arwa, I often think it's to our shame that we talk about numbers and not names. We talk about you know the statistics
rather than the stories of those whose lives are being so utterly devastated by what is going on.
I know that you certainly have the story of one little girl to share with us.
DAMON: We do, Becky.
And those numbers are just so overwhelming.
Now speaking of numbers, it's not exactly known how many children have lost one or both parents due to the violence in Syria not just violence
caused by ISIS, but also violence brought on by the Assad regime or by clashes between rebel and government forces.
But there is one organization out there that is trying to do what it can to help alleviate a little bit of these children's misery.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With new backpacks almost as big as they are, the children file into the Bato
(ph) orphanage after school. Their faces and behavior betray few of the horrors they have witnessed or their suffering. Their fathers are dead,
lost to illness or war in Syria. Their mothers decided to send them here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's your name?
DAMON (on camera): My name is Arwa. What's your name?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My name is Maram (ph).
DAMON (voice-over): She's eight. Her father killed by a bullet on his way to work. "Daddy used to take me everywhere with him," Maram tells us.
The orphanage opened in September, offering a safe place. Toys replace those they left behind as they fled Syria. Clean water to wash with and
regular hot, healthy meals. The orphanage was established by a Maram Foundation, named after another little girl who was paralyzed by shrapnel.
YAKZAN SHISHAKLY, CO-FOUNDER, MARAM FOUNDATION: Well, we're trying to raise our children like away from all the (inaudible) happening inside
Syria and also to give them the right to have a normal life away from the war because of the regime.
DAMON: And the impact is already being seen. Mayada Abdi, head of the orphanage, says Maram was very solitary, often lost in the memories of her
father.
"I would see him in my dreams," Maram remembers. "I would see him giving someone something." She seems less haunted by his death, dreaming
instead of going home to Syria and teaching Arabic.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DAMON: And, Becky, beyond providing these children with really their basic right to a warm meal and a bed to sleep in, the organization is also
doing something that is very fundamentally crucial as these kids are developing.
A lot of them come to the orphanage very angry and aggressive, especially the little boys. They don't know how to process the trauma that
they witnessed, the emotional turmoil that they're going through, but even during that short time that they've been at the orphanage, the adults
there, the teachers, have been able to help them through that. And you can just imagine how important that is for them as they develop and also how
important it is for their families to be able to see these kids at least beginning ever so slightly to act like children, Becky.
ANDERSON: Arwa Damon reporting for you on what was a heartbreaking story.
It dose not need to end there, though, on a special section of the website you can find information on how you can get involved and donate to
help those Syrian refugees at CNN.com/impact.
Now one man who certainly hoping to impact the world for the better before his tenure comes up in a couple of years' time is U.S. President
Barack Obama. After prioritizing the need to pull troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, he now finds himself at war with ISIS in this region.
This month we are searching for the most influential figure or group in the Middle East in 2014. Does Mr. Obama fit the bill? Well, have a
look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I can announce that America will lead a broad coalition to roll back this terrorist threat.
Our objective is clear, we will degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL.
Because of the unprecedented sanctions that really did have a crippling affect on Iran's economy, they have come to the table and they've
negotiated seriously around providing assurances that they're not developing a nuclear weapon for the first time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Is Obama the influencer in 2014 on the Middle East? Its' your choice. The refugee, I have to say, also part of that survey there.
Our 10 choices, you make your selection. Visit CNN.com -- sorry, let me doing that again, CNNArabic.com/influencer2014. You'll find summaries of
all the candidates, including the millions of refugees who have been displaced by war in the region.
You can select three to take forward for a big debate in our townhall special next month.
Also remember to use the hashtag #influencer2014 if you're joining the conversation on Twitter.
You can always get me @BeckyCNN, of course.
And later in the program, well find out how the arrival of ISIS is impacting a country that has cast a shadow over Mr. Obama's presidency and
could affect the chances of his potential successor Hillary Clinton. We're talking Libya. ISIS militants are taking advantage of the insecurity on
the ground to sow their seeds of hate.
Coming up next, so a home with a difference. Where in the world can you own a beach side villa with its own private vineyard? Find out one
square meter after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN DEFTERIOS, EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Calling itself the Caribbean's first ever vineyard resort and real estate development, this is
the Dominican Republic's take on enotourism only 90 minutes drive from the capital Santa Domingo.
It sits on pristine land of 2 million square meters. (inaudible) Bay's promise, spectacular coastal views, a Mediterranean climate, and if
you want a piece of it you can purchase a spot with an exclusive private vineyard in front of your villa.
The mastermind behind all of this is Dominican architect Gabriel Acevedo who was inspired by history 500 years ago, America's first wines
were produced here at Ocoa Bay (ph).
GABRIEL ACEVEDO, RESORT DEVELOPER (through translator): We were labeled as crazy, probably because I wasn't agronomist, but an architect,
that we even dared to plant 10,000 square meters of grape vines.
DEFTERIOS: Sustainability is a key factor in Ocoa Bay's (ph) business portfolio, one he says is a gamechanger for the Dominican Republic.
ACEVEDEO (through translator): Ocoa Bay (ph) has three pillars. One is the production of high quality wine and fruit cultivation. The others
are the hotels and the real estate sectors.
DEFTERIOS: Villas start off at a price of $135 per square meter. Developers are relying on the land's unique dry climate, which receives on
average of 600 millimeters of rainfall per year to sustain the country's first wine producing vineyard, intriguing buyers and tourists alike.
The construction of the first 30 ecological and vineyard villas are scheduled to begin in December. Out of these, 33 percent of the villas are
pre-sold. While high-end real estate companies like Christies are already adding Ocoa Bay (ph to their exclusive listing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't have anywhere in the world the possibility to live inside a vineyard and to own your own private vineyard.
So you will be able to produce your own wine. You have several options to do what you want to do with the grape that you're going to grow in the
garden.
DEFTERIOS: In just over two years, Ocoa Bay (ph) has had five successful wine harvests, vines produced are low, but quality is high. The
price per bottle starts at $15, but in the bar high for still young wine producing market.
ACEVEDO (through translator): It's the new Napa Valley of the Caribbean, the new Bordeaux or Rioja, a unique and new destination in the
Caribbean.
DEFTERIOS: John Defterios, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: This is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. The top stories for you this hour.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the destruction of the homes of the men who stormed a synagogue in Jerusalem earlier today.
Four rabbis were killed, six other people were injured. Police shot and killed the attackers. Three of the victims were US-Israeli citizens, a
fourth a British-Israeli. US president Barack Obama condemned the terror attack a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We know that two attackers successfully and brutally attacked innocent worshipers in a
synagogue during their morning prayers. Obviously, we condemn in the strongest terms these attacks.
A number of people were wounded, and four people were killed, including three American citizens. So, this deadly for both nations,
Israel as well as the United States, and our hearts to out to the families who, obviously, are undergoing enormous grief right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, US president Barack Obama has ordered a full review of the country's hostage response policy. The evaluation will focus on
intelligence collection and providing information of families of captives. The order was revealed one day after ISIS released a video showing the
aftermath of an American aid worker's beheading.
Japanese prime minister has said that he is dissolving Parliament on Friday and calling for snap elections next month. He also says he plans to
delay a sales tax increase. Now, the moves follow economic data released Monday that showed Japan is back in recession.
And you're looking at live pictures of the Vienna Hotel, where six world powers are holding closed-door talks with Iran. Now, they are trying
to reach a deal on Iran's nuclear program before a self-imposed Monday deadline, November the 24th.
The UN Security Council's five permanent members plus Germany are hoping for an agreement that will keep Iran from developing nuclear
weapons, something Iran says it has no plans to do. Jonathan Mann reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JONATHAN MANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The talks involve seven nations and several issues, but think of it overall as a trade.
What will Iran give it up and what will it get in return?
The West, among other things, wants Iran to limit its capacity to enrich uranium, the process that producers nuclear fuel, but at higher
levels of enrichment can also arm a nuclear weapon as well.
Iran says it isn't trying to build a nuclear weapon and says that international law protects its right to a peaceful nuclear program. And in
fact, its president, Rouhani, says that nuclear weapons, in his words, "contradict our fundamental religious and ethical convictions."
But Tehran also has some history, some history of hiding its nuclear activities and even entire nuclear installations. Among them, the Fordow
enrichment facility, which was discovered by satellites and spies, built underground inside of a mountain.
So, here are the questions. How many centrifuges should Iran be allowed to operate? How far should the enrichment process be allowed to
go? Should Russia take some of the uranium for enrichment to keep it out of Iran? And how far will outside inspectors be allowed to penetrate into
Iran's secretive military and nuclear installations to check for cheating?
Talks on those issues touch on Iran's sovereignty, on its suspicions about the West's intentions, and also on its need to break free of
crippling economic sanctions. It is sanctions that Tehran wants addressed. How quickly and completely will the United Nations, the United States, and
the European Union end almost eight years of punishing economic isolation?
There isn't a lot of trust to push things along, and there are domestic and international pressures holding things back. From Saudi
Arabia to the US Senate, there is enormous skepticism about what any agreement will actually be worth. All of which explains why there hasn't
been an agreement until now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Keep watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Throughout next week, we'll see if negotiations do reach agreement by
deadline Monday. I'll be joined by a host of regional experts as we examine the implications of any deal or a possible extension of those
talks.
And more Iran in about 20 minutes when we explore hidden beauty. We meet the man capturing these stunning scenes inside the country's mosques.
That's today's Parting Shots 20 minutes from now.
It is 36 minutes past 8:00 in the UAE, where we are broadcasting from. And ISIS says its goal is to form a caliphate across Syria and Iraq. We've
heard that before, haven't we? But it's making inroads elsewhere. Senior international correspondent Nic Robertson takes a look a the militant
group's new fertile ground in eastern Libya.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(CAR HORNS HONKING)
(MEN SHOUTING)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Truckloads of gun-toting Islamist militants flying ISIS flags, not in Iraq,
not in Syria, but Libya, in the eastern town of Derna, population about 100,000.
ISIS supporters in control, and they include some 300 Libyans who have returned from fighting for the group in Iraq and Syria.
NORMAN BENOTMAN, QUILLIAM FOUNDATION: Now they have their own education system, they have a judicial system, they have police. They call
it the Islamic Police, yes. So, they control the city from both sides, from a social point of view and from a military point of view as well.
ROBERTSON: Benotman, a Libyan and once a jihadist himself, now a sworn enemy of extremists, sees alarming similarities with ISIS tactics in
Iraq and Syria.
(CROWD SHOUTING)
ROBERTSON: Imposing Sharia Law, setting up courts, beheading offenders in public. This was Derna at the end of last month, hundreds
chanting their allegiance to ISIS and its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Their pledge quickly accepted and celebrated by al-Baghdadi himself in an
audio message.
(ABU BAKR AL-BAGHDADI SPEAKING IN ARABIC)
ROBERTSON: Now, ISIS, and what remains of the Libyan army, are locked in battle, the militants posting these images of men who carried out
suicide bombings against the military in Benghazi.
As more secular groups take on ISIS in eastern Libya, it is gaining support from other radical factions. And Baghdadi is investing in his
Libyan branch, recently sending one of his most-trusted lieutenants, a former prisoner of the US in Iraq, to take command. Like Baghdadi, his
resume includes time spent in American custody.
BENOTMAN: He's Iraq from al-Anbar, and he's known as Abu Nabil Anbari. Again, the same story, all the most important things now in ISIS
CV, ex-prisoner in Bucca Camp.
ROBERTSON: ISIS is making no secret of its ambitions to expand. In the same video announcing its bloody murder of American aid worker Peter
Kassig, it bragged of new outposts in five countries, including Libya. A recent beheading in Benghazi, a now all-too-familiar calling card that
ISIS, or at the very least, its acolytes, have arrived.
BENOTMAN: Beheading of the people, it's part of the process of branding ISIS. That means we are here. That's exactly how they deliver
the message, mainly to the locals, and even to the world.
(CROWD SHOUTING)
(CAR HORNS HONKING)
ROBERTSON: ISIS, now using its merciless tactics to gain a foothold right on the coast of the Mediterranean, just 200 miles from Europe. And
Baghdadi, now closer to launching terror on Western streets.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Bernardino Leon is the UN's special envoy to Libya, and was there as recently as last Tuesday, joining me now, live from Tunisia's
capital. Sir, thank you for being with us tonight. Nic's report reveals this region's greatest fear, that Libya is an operating site for extremist
fighters, specifically ISIS. Is that news to you?
BERNARDINO LEON, UN SPECIAL ENVOY TO LIBYA: Yes, absolutely. As it has been said before, indeed, there are groups in Derna that have pledge
allegiance to ISIS. We don't believe that this is a high number. It's -- the important itself is that ISIS is already arriving to Libya.
It's still something we can manage, but when we insist that Libya is running out of time and that we need to strike a political deal, what we
mean is that this problem may become much more difficult to tackle in the future.
ANDERSON: Right. And sir, with respect, I speak to a lot of Libyans here who have either fled the country or who are still living in the
country and suffering from what is a worsening civil war that the international community has simply failed them on.
You say it's small numbers. You're suggesting, it seems, that those are manageable. I think many people in this region will find your words
difficult to understand and to stomach this evening.
LEON: Well, it's difficult to say when something is possible to deal with or not to deal with. I think the international community needs to
work with the Libyans to tackle this terrorist problem, and I think --
ANDERSON: All right.
LEON: -- I'm not an expert on terrorist issues -- and the United Nations mission is not dealing with terrorism directly, but what I
understand is that still the numbers are not very high, nothing to do with the situation in Iraq or Syria. And still it's possible to have this
political settlement. Although difficult --
ANDERSON: All right.
LEON: -- we all know how difficult it is in Libya, but it still is possible. So, if we manage to do it, I think the international community,
working with the Libyans, might find a solution for this problem.
ANDERSON: Again, I'm afraid there'll be people watching from this region who find it difficult to understand why it is that the international
community still believes that there is a political deal to be done.
How, for example, do you account for the UN secretary-general's visit recently, where he called for dialogue only days before the Supreme Court
ruled that the election of the Western-backed government was illegitimate. It seems now that this dialogue, this political partnership, these talks,
are with Islamist militants. Since when was that the policy of the United Nations?
LEON: Well, the policy of the United Nations is to try to find solutions in an extremely difficult context. The Libyan context is, as you
have just described, very difficult. There is this court decision, it's very ambiguous.
Our legal experts and legal experts of all the international community, are interpreting now what the court said and what is the
institutional landscape we have in the country. The international community --
ANDERSON: All right.
LEON: -- though, has insisted that the problem in Libya is not legal, it's political. So, we need a political solution. We need all Libyan
stakeholders to find a solution. Because if not, the enemy is chaos, as it is in this case, where these terrorist groups will grow and will become
intractable.
ANDERSON: Sure. And you're said that the UN doesn't deal with terrorism as it were, but certainly as the UN special envoy to Libya, that
is, frankly, what you will be dealing with going forward, and unless something is done.
When you talk about, then, dialogue, who is it that you are talking to at present? The Supreme Court, the highest court of the country, has
decided that a Western-backed government was illegitimate. Surely there's no going around that.
In the end, that's the way it's going to be, unless the West decides that it's going to overrule supreme courts in other countries. So, I
guess, it's a very simple question: who are you talking to at this point?
LEON: Well, first of all, the United Nations mission in Libya has a mandate by the Security Council, and our mandate is mainly to work on this
political dialogue and this solution for the Libyan crisis. This is our role.
We have to make it coherent with the international community fort to deal with terrorist threat, which is a terrorist threat for all the
international community, and our work has to be coherent. But this is not our mandate. Our mandate, I insist, is political dialogue.
We are talking to the many stakeholders. There is a very uncertain situation in the country, as you know, after the Supreme Court ruling. And
we are -- we had a process, it was called the Gadamist (ph) process, where both camps represented in the House of Representatives were participating.
And now, we are discussing proposals with both camps to try to recover this political process, respecting its essence, but introducing some
changes so that we can keep working and hopefully find a political solution. It is difficult, but we still believe it's possible.
ANDERSON: Sir, we all hope it's possible. Thank you, sir. Bernardino Leon is the UN special envoy to Libya. Nic's report really
quite a frightening reflection of what is going on there. Thank you.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Coming up, another sporting win for Qatar. It's been chosen to
host another global event. Details on that in about 10 minutes.
First, though, our transformation series this week. Find out how a 60,000-square-meter vacant lot and a hefty investment from the government
are bringing a divided South African community together. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Bishop Lavis. Some 50,000 people live in this suburb of Cape Town in
South Africa. An area plagued by poverty, high unemployment, gang activity, and crime.
One of the ways the government is looking to improve life in this neighborhood is by providing this: a place where the community can come
together through sport and leisure. It's called the Valhalla Park Family Recreation Centre, a first of its kind in Cape Town, the government says.
And with the help urban planners and $2.9 billion in funds from the government, this former 60,000 square-meter vacant lot now has an informal
cricket field, soccer pitches, a water park, a playground, and a clubhouse.
RADE BOSKOVIC, PROJECT MANAGER, SPORT, RECREATION, AND AMENITIES: The facility that we provide tend to be more informal and more similar to use.
This play park was the first government rolled-out initiative in South Africa, also the first play park in recent days. And that is very
successful.
GERRIT STRYDOM, URBAN DESIGNER AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: When we were announcing the (inaudible) and we said rather than having a bunch of small
public open space, let's make one big park, a good quality park that will serve not just the sporting community, but the whole community.
STOUT: The government, though, does not want to stop here. Valhalla Park is a pilot project for a citywide program addressing social imbalances
through constructing sporting facilities in under-privileged areas.
In the year since it opened, on an average day, hundreds of children flood its grounds.
(CHILDREN SHOUTING, PLAYING)
UNIDENTIFIED BOY: Things are much better for us now because we have everything we need.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a family recreation center, whereby the whole families use it. It's made a tremendous -- a very, very, very huge
difference.
STOUT: It may be some time before any uniting effect on the larger Bishop Lavis community is felt, but in the meantime, children appear
oblivious to any divisions in their neighborhoods.
BOSKOVIC: There's a large amount of territorialism in the area, and what has happened is now the children from all the different neighborhoods
actually interact and play together, which is quite a great sign.
STOUT: Despite transforming the lives of children and parents, as Gerrit Strydom says, it will take the community itself to make the park
work for their long-term benefit.
STRYDOM: The community really needs to start owning the space and buying into the space in terms of making it their own. And activities that
need to happen, and once that activities happen, the project will just bloom and grow from there.
(CHILDREN PLAYING)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You're watching CNN, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson, welcome back. The World Athletics Championships heading to
the Middle East for the first time in 2019.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's Doha.
(CROWD CHEERS)
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Front-runner Qatar beat its Spanish and US rivals after assuring the jury that the hot weather won't be a problem for athletes.
The event to be held in October when regional temperatures here, I have to say, are relatively cool. It'll be a test run for Doha ahead of the 2022
FIFA World Cup, preparations for which have been dogged, as you will be well aware, by allegations of corruption and worker exploitation.
Well, some news just coming into CNN as I'm speaking here from the world of football. The sport's governing body, FIFA, is now, I can report,
pressing for criminal corruption charges over the bidding process for 2018 and, indeed, that 2022 World Cup, 2018, of course going to Russia, 2022 to
Qatar.
No word of specific people accused. The football association says that it has lodged the complaint with the Swiss attorney general's office.
It stems from suspicions over -- and I am quoting here -- "international transfers of assets with connections to Switzerland."
The Swiss attorney general's office confirmed to CNN that the complaint has been filed. FIFA released a summary last week of its own
highly-anticipated investigation of the bidding process. We will have a lot more on this story in the hours ahead for you.
In today's Parting Shots, an amateur photographer's persistence pays off and reveals Iran's mosques in all their symmetrical splendor. The
physics student battled bureaucratic bands and red tape for six years, I'm told, to capture what are these stunning images, an achievement all the
more impressive given that he is largely self-taught. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOHAMMAD REZA DOMIRI GANJI, PHOTOGRAPHER: My name is Mohammad Reza Domiri Ganji. I live in Babol, a city in northern Iran. I study physics,
and besides that, I photograph old architectures.
I actually tried to focus on the most popular mosques. I really like the symmetry, colors, and the mosaics. It is not always easy to take
photos inside holy places. Usually, I take my photos in the morning. Sometimes, I sit inside the mosque for a long time and take my photos when
there is no one inside.
Many people told me that these photographs gave them a new vision to see beauties of Iran. I would like people to know about our beautiful
architectures. I hope I can introduce them a new look towards Iran.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Isn't that remarkable stuff? I'm Becky Anderson, that was CONNECT THE WORLD. From the team here in Abu Dhabi, good night.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
