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Labour Party Picks Surprising New Leader; Flavia Pannetta Wins U.S. Open, Then Retires; Arabic Version of Sesame Street Back On Air After 25 Years; Police Clash with Protesters on Temple Mount; Germany to Institute Border Controls; Afghan Interpreters for Britain Find Difficulty Seeking Asylum; Saudi King Visits Mecca After Crane Accident Kills 107. Aired 11a- 12p ET
Aired September 13, 2015 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:11] BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: Dozens are rescued from a smuggler's truck, a reminder of the risks many people are taking to reach Europe. As
one German city says it can't house more arrivals, Hungary prepares to close its southern border. Tonight, we'll draw the strands together for
you with a report from a border town that's seen thousands pass through it.
Also ahead, clashes at one of the holiest sites for both Jews and Muslims on the eve of the Jewish New Year. We're live in Jerusalem for you
momentarily.
Plus, bringing new meaning to open sesame. The childhood classic returns to the Middle East after two decades. A special report for you from the
set is coming up.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson
ANDERSON: A very good evening. And it's just after 7:00 here in the UAE. We begin with Europe's migrant crisis and breaking news across the
continent. 28 people, nearly half of them children, have drowned after their boat capsized off the Greek island of Farmakonezi. Among those
children, three infants.
Elsewhere in Austria, 42 refugees have been found alive in the back of a smuggler's truck near the border with Germany.
And across the border in Munich, officials are saying that the city's housing is now completely full and can't take any more people.
Further south in Macedonia hundreds of migrants have been lining up. The UN says 4,600 people crossed from Greece on Saturday alone.
Well, those are the latest images. What they do not show is the extent of the journey. Some 1,600 kilometers, and that is just from the southern end
of this migration. It doesn't even factor in the trip many of them took from Syria or elsewhere. CNN's Ivan Watson has more from the Macedonian
Greek border for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This transit center has been recently erected on the Greek-Macedonian border, which is just one stop on
this very improvised migrant trail into central Europe that has pretty much sprung up over the course of the last weeks and months.
So, migrants are escorted across an informal crossing point by Greek and Macedonian authorities. They arrive here. And then after receiving some
temporary papers that allow them to stay in Macedonia for a bout 72 hours, the vast majority of them quickly move on. So we've seen them boarding by
the hundreds onto trains here. They're charged 25 euros per person. They also board onto waiting buses and into taxis. And they're paying for this
journey so far very much themselves.
This is a self-financed journey. The bulk of the people who are moving by the tens of thousands through here were told by the United Nations high
commissioner for refugees that they are, in fact, refugees from Syria, some 70 to 80 percent. And many of them have paid large amonts of cash, $1,200,
$1,300 per person to board on rafts from the Turkish coast to Greek islands.
The remaining 20, 30 percent, well they're a hodgepodge. They are Afghans, they're Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, increasingly refugees from Iraq as well.
And we're told in recent days that the first Yemenis have started joining this wave of humanity.
Everybody I've spoken with say they want to get to Germany which has offered to take in hundreds of thousands of these migrants and refugees and
also offers generous social welfare benefits to the new immigrants.
Ivan Watson, CNN, on the Macedonian border with Greece.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And our extensive coverage of the crisis continues online, including this story, looking at the exodus from Syria as half of the
country's people have been forced to run away to escape the country's violence.
On Monday, we'll be dedicating our entire front page to the migrant crisis. Be sure to head online for that. And it's at CNN.com. That is CNN.com.
Well, Palestinians and Israeli police clashed earlier at the al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem just hours before the start of the Jewish new year Rosh
Hashanah. According to Israeli police, demonstrators set up barriers inside the mosque to prevent the police from entering what is this holy
site.
Now police say protesters were throwing rocks and fireworks attempting to contain the demonstrators. Police say they closed the doors to the mosque.
Palestinian witnesses say the police entered the mosque.
The holy site is revered by both Jews and Muslims. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the police for what he called an, quote, attack.
Jordan, which overseas the disputed ground called police action an assault.
CNN's Oren Liebermann is in Jerusalem. He's been following the clashes for you. Joining us now this is a frequent flashpoint for violence. Just how
significant are these latest clashes, Oren?
[11:05:30] OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Very significant, Becky, in that they're part of the ongoing tensions in the old
city of Jerusalem right around the al Aqsa complex.
As you alluded to, it's one of the holiest sites in the world for Muslims, known as Al Haram al Sharif, the Noble Sanctuary, and the holiest site in
the world for Jews, known as the Temple Mount.
Now earlier this morning, it exploded, that tension exploded into hours of clashes. Early this morning before 7:00 local time, police learned that
there were a number of protesters, Arab youths gathered inside, barricading themselves inside the al Aqsa Mosque. Police moved in to clear them out,
and that's where the clashes began.
But they didn't end there. Police say they cleared out the al Aqsa Mosque, or actually closed the doors and kept those protesters inside fairly
quickly. But that's when the clashes spilled out onto the streets of the old city and lasted for hours.
We saw police using a number of different means, whether it's tear gas or what appeared to be stun grenades or batons. And that left tens or perhaps
dozens of Palestinians injured on the streets of the old city and led to this tension, led to this tension that we see in and even around the old
city of Jerusalem that happened early this morning.
As of right now, police say they have not made any arrests, but that that tension, those clashes lasted for hours until right about noon when Muslim
worshippers were allowed into the al Aqsa complex to pray -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Oren, this isn't of course the first time that we've seen clashes on a Jewish holiday. Six weeks ago, at the end of July, it was a
different holiday, but the end result much the same.
Can we expect to see more of the same, do you think?
LIEBERMANN: You're exactly right there, Becky. Six weeks ago, it was Tisha B'Av. And the result was almost exactly the same. Police say they
were Arab youths barricading themselves inside the al Aqsa complex, and the images, the story, the end result was almost exactly the same. And you get
at one of the biggest questions here. Is will this happen again? Will this continue to happen.
Police say there were 650 visitors to the al Aqsa complex, to what Jews call the Temple Mount earlier today. Among them was a right-wing
politician Ore Ariel (ph) who is a pro-settlement politician. He says he went up there, or rather his spokesman says he went there to pray along
with a number of other Jews who went there to pray on this holy day, on the day of the Jewish New Year.
Muslims see that as a provocation at the Temple Mount. And that leads to this tension, that leads to this tension that can escalate so quickly into
what we saw this morning, which is clashes. And Becky, that's an excellent question, perhaps it is likely that we'll see this again maybe even next
week on the next Jewish holiday.
ANDERSON: Oren Liebermann is in Jerusalem for you.
Well, Yemen's government in exile says it will not join peace talks with Shiite rebels unless they withdraw from territory and surrender weapons
they have seized. Those are the conditions.
Yemen's internationally recognized president Mr. Hadi is calling on the Houthis rebels to recognize and implement a UN resolution which would have
them pull back from areas they now control, including the capital.
Well, just yesterday, the Saudi-led coalition targeted a Houthi-led military base in Sanaa. The UN has called repeatedly for a ceasefire in
Yemen, which has been rocked by conflict since March.
CNN's Ian Lee has been following the developments in Yemen, has traveled there many a time himself. Joins me now live from Cairo.
And Ian, the Saudi coalition is building its reinforcements in preparation for what is likely to be an offensive to retake the capital. Now clearly
this is likely to be costly to civilians. What's the likelihood that given the pressure on the ground, the Houthis will concede to Hadi's conditions
for these talks, which were forthcoming possibly within the next 36 hours?
IAN LEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, there has been a different narratives that we're hearing from both camps that at times are
conflicting. What we're hearing from the Houthis right now is that they have agreed to the UN resolution that they will pull back their forces from
territories gained. They'll hand back the weapons that they captured.
They say, though, that they don't want any sanctions on their leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi. They also don't want sanctions on Yemen's former
president and his son. Those are the three conditions, or three people they don't want any sanctions on.
There are also talks that they say they want to make this in an organized manner. So that al Qaeda doesn't get a foothold as they're pulling back
from the territory that they've gained. But we're hearing from the other side, the internationally recognized president Hadi who said that the
Houthis haven't agreed to that. So there has been conflicting reports coming out of Yemen as far as this political -- this dialogue goes forward.
But right now we're hearing that there is movement in the Madib (ph) province. There has been a military build-up there. The Houthis have been
fighting forces loyal to President Hadi, but at this hour we're hearing of increased fighting.
[11:10:34] ANDERSON: Yeah, all right. Any AQAP rhetoric, of course, will frighten the life out of the international community.
Listen, Egypt, sir, where you are playing a supportive role for this Saudi- led coalition at a time of deep challenges at home, not least the resignation of the prime minister just ahead of the country's first
parliamentary elections in a week or so.
What are the consequences, both at home and abroad?
LEE: I talked to someone who is close to the presidency asking about that. Why would the parliament resign so close to parliamentary elections. Egypt
is slated for a new parliament at the end of the year in December.
And what I was told is that when it comes to Egypt every day matters. And this last parliament was -- had a shadow cast of it from the resignation
and then arrest of the former agricultural minister on allegations of corruption. What I was told is that this had been brewing for some time
that this cabinet would resign because of -- in light of those allegations, but also that the Egyptian government, especially el-Sisi, wants to be seen
with a cabinet that is working for the Egyptian people. Now that's what I've been told.
You do have parliamentary elections that started next week go through November. At the end of December, new parliaments and another new cabinet.
ANDERSON: Ian Lee on both Yemen and Egypt for you this evening. Ian, thank you.
Still to come, the Saudi king sees the damage firsthand after 107 people died in a construction accident at Mecca's grand mosque. That's coming up.
First, though, Britain's Labour Party has a new leader. How might this man, Jeremy Corbyn's win impact the UK's future foreign policy. We're
going to speak to one of the men who made that victory possible.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ...declared Jeremy Corbyn elected as leader of the Labour Party.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that was the moment that Jeremy Corbyn became the head of Britain's opposition Labour Party. The veteran left-wing politician won
almost 60 percent of the vote.
A landslide for someone who entered the race as a 100 to 1 outsider, but he says he wants to bring about change.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:15:10] JEREMY CORBYN, LABOUR PARTY LEADER: We don't have to be unequal. It doesn't have be unfair. Poverty isn't inevitable. Things can
and they will change.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, one area where Corbyn wants to see change is British foreign policy. Having opposed key legislation throughout his political
career.
For more, I'm joined now by the Labour MP Frank Field in London. And Frank, you nominated Jeremy Corbyn, but have come out saying that you don't think
he can win an election. Are you disappointed, then, by this result?
FRANK FIELD, LABOUR PARTY MP: I'm disappointed by the whole election process. I nominated Jeremy, as others did, in the hope that we'd get a
really open debate in the Labour Party about our future and how we engage with voters. And what we had was Jeremy very confidently stating views
that I've heard him state since '83, and there's a huge attraction in Jeremy as candidate. He wasn't part of the party machine. He wasn't being
foisted on anybody.
But the other side, the side of the party I'm engaged with, had really no response or engagement with him. And I'm now convinced that neither Jeremy
policy as it currently is, or the (inaudible) gruel that the other candidates were offering could possibly win in 2020.
So, instead of having a debate post-2020, another defeat, we should have it now.
ANDERSON: Right. OK. Well, let's take a look at some of those policies, then. And let's start with a look at a story dominated headlines.
Europe's migrant crisis or refugee crisis, however you want to look at it.
Straight after his win on Saturday, Jeremy Corbyn joined these protesters in central London calling on the government do open its, quote, hearts and
minds and take in more refugees. Do you think he'll be able to have as much impact as he'd like on policy making on this issue, for example?
FIELD: No. And the interesting thing is given that the nature of your broadcast is that while both Britain and America and other countries have
been pretty liberal and into their interfering in overthrowing Middle East countries' governments, the chaos that's followed is no in fact beginning
to have its repercussions and immensely serious repercussions in Europe. And we see that primarily in the movement of people who are clearly
refugees from Syria and so on, but also large numbers of people who are using this opportunity to come not as refugees as they'll pose, but as
economic migrants.
And British politics...
ANDERSON: What do you think? Yeah, go on.
FIELD: ...be changed by this
The...
ANDERSON: What do you think policy should be? We know we've heard from the prime minister who has said we will assume to absorb some 20,000
refugees within the next five years, but he said it's about cause, not affect. We've got to look to the root cause of this problem, that being
Syria.
What should the Labour Party's policy be in opposition to that?
FIELD: Well, I think two-fold. First of all, it's all right looking at causes, but there's the immediate problem of how we man European borders.
And if nothing happens from how theyr are operating at the present time. Then those borders will crumble. And we will see far from a free movement
of labor in Europe. We will find countries very quickly putting up their own borders to try and stop the mass inflow of new arrivals. And I want to
stress that distressing as these photographs are of people pressing their way, trying to press their way into Europe. I don't think this is a
momentary move. I think we're seeing the beginnings of what are already mass movements on a scale that we've not seen since biblical times, that's
going to be the pressure so our foolish policies in the Middle East are now coming well and truly home to roost in Europe. And I don't think most
leaders have any idea at all how to deal with that.
ANDERSON: OK. Well, we're going to see the interior ministers discussing the pressing concerns that are this migrant crisis in Brussels tomorrow, so
let's see whether any of those European interior minister can come up with anything sensible to say.
Let's move on away from that, because I do want to look at another thorny issue, perhaps, in Corbyn's cupboard as it were. On Thursday, the Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited London to meet with the Prime Minister David Cameron. Israel's security in the Middle East was high on
the agenda. Jeremy Corbyn has criticized Israel in the past and even called militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah our friends, and I quote.
Do you think such views will be healthy for debate in British politics going forward? Or are they simply too radical?
FIELD: They're going to make for a healthy debate, and I think we'll see Jeremy coming under now increasing pressure as to what he means by both the
statements and the associations he's made with some of the leadership in the Middle East, which some people here think are actually terrorists. And
it's fine for a back bencher to do that, it's fine to bring people into the House of Commons to foster debate, but he now has a hugely important
position of the leader of her majesty's opposition, and it won't be quite as easy as it has been in the past to duck and weave the questions which
will now follow from his past associations.
[11:21:19] ANDERSON: Frank, it's a pleasure to speak to you. Thank you for joining us.
As we take a look at a man who is now the leader of the opposition in the UK and how his leadership might impact foreign policy going forward. Thank
you.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. Coming up, infidel spies, that's what the Taliban call men like this:
Afghans who helped British soldiers. Still the UK hesitant to help them escape Afghanistan.
Find out why just ahead.
Plus, Flavia Pennetta and her first major tennis title. Why she won't win another. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You're with Connect the World live from Abu Dhabi at 23 minutes past 7:00 this Sunday. Much of the talk at this year's U.S. Open
surrounded Serena Williams who fell short in her bid for what is known as the calendar slam. As it turned out, though, an Italian who made the title
match secured her own bit of history at Flushing Meadows.
And with that triumph, 33-year-old Flavia Pannetta became the oldest first- time winner of a Grand Slam on the women's side. But that major title will also be her last. She announced after the match she is retiring at the end
of the season.
Well, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will play for the men's title in just a few hours time. Let's talk about this. Andy Scholes joining us
from New York.
Let's start with the women's. An All-Italian women's final definitely a surprise anyway, but Andy that wasn't the only surprise was it?
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Becky.
You know, the women's final this year was full of surprises. No one expected 26th franked Flavia Pannetta to be taking on 43rd ranked Roberta
Vinci in the women's final, but it happened. And we got a great match out of it.
You know, the first set went to a tiebreak with Pennetta winning 7-6. And then in the second set Pannetta was able to cruise to victory over Vinci
who said she was just very tired after that three set match against Serena Williams just the day before.
But for Pannetta in her post-match interview, then she surprised everyone at the end of the interview she said that she was retiring from the game of
tennis. And after the match I caught up with her to ask her why she's walking away from the game right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FLAVIA PANNETTA, 2015 U.S. OPEN CHAMPION: I think it's the perfect moment to do something like that. It's what I feel, what I want to do since -- I
mean, it's not something I decide today. It was a long time making this decision. And I mean, I'm really happy to have the chance to make it
something like this today.
SCHOLES: So this time next year, not going to be playing tennis. What are you going to be up to?
PANNETTA: I don't have an idea. We will discover that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: And Becky, today it actually said that she decided to retire before the U.S. Open even started, so just what a clutch performance for
her, able to go out there and win all of these matches and go out on the sport on top.
ANDERSON: That's right. And Andy I think it was wonderful to see so many of the women's players tweeting about just what a great woman she is, and
surprised as they were -- including Serena Williams -- to find out that she was retiring. Really so much praise for her. So fantastic. And
congratulations to her.
Today, no surprises in the men's final. It will be Djokovic versus Federer.
SCHOLES: Yeah, Becky, this is the men's final that everybody wanted. You know, top seeded Novak Djokovic versus the two seed Roger Federer. This is
going to be the 42nd time that these two super stars have gotten together for a match. Federer with a slight edge over Djokovic. He's won 21 of
those matches. But Djokovic got the better of him at Wimbledon earlier this year, winning his third grand slam title of the year. But Federer won
their last match up just a few months ago here in the United States.
So we're expecting a good one today. And the sentimental favorite in this match is definitely Roger Federer, Becky. The fans, they would love to see
him get one more grand slam title, especially since we haven't seen him win one since 2012 at Wimbledon.
ANDERSON: Imagine if he won and then he also announced his retirement? Wouldn't that be a. U.S. Open for you.
SCHOLES: That would be something.
ANDERSON: Thank you, Andy. Enjoy.
The latest world news headlines are just ahead. Plus, U.S. President Obama may not have to fight the Republicans over the Iran nuclear deal, but what
do Americans make of it? We'll have the latest figures from a CNN poll up next.
And the revival of a childhood favorite here in the Gulf. The Arabic version of Sesame Street comes back to life after a 25 year hiatus.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:29] ANDERSON: At half past 7:00 in the UAE, this is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. The top stories for you this hour.
28 people, nearly half of them children, have drowned after their boat capsized off the Greek island of Farmakonizi. Dozens were rescued by the
Greek coast guard while some others managed to swim ashore. A search and rescue operation is now ongoing.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says it is, and I quote, "absurd that the anti-ISIS coalition is reluctant to involve Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad." Speaking on Russian television, he said the Syrian armed forces are the most effective force on the ground.
Demonstrators clashed with Israeli police earlier today at Jerusalem's al- Aqsa Mosque. This only hours before the start of Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Jewish new year. The site is revered by both Jews and
Muslims. Israeli authorities say the protesters are throwing rocks and fireworks.
In the western U.S. two wildfires burning in northern California have exploded in size. Panicked residents west of Sacramento evacuated as fire
raged behind them. Four or five fighters were injured Saturday battling the flames.
To Saudi Arabia for you now where King Salman paid a personal visit to Mecca's grand mosque after Friday's crane collapsed. It killed 107 people
and injured 238. The king offered condolences and vowed to investigate. Tragedy struck as some 2 million pilgrims descended on Mecca for the annual
Hajj which begins, of course, next week.
Well, it seems an unusual appearance for a Saudi king, greeting the injured and promising to make findings of the investigation public. Khalid al-
Maenna is editor-at-large for the Saudi Gazette joining us now on the phone from Jeddah. And Kind Salman's predecessor might have sent a high ranking
official to Mecca. What's the message here?
KHALID AL-MAEENA, SAUDI GAZETTE: Well, I think it's not the first time a Saudi king has gone to a place which has been hit by calamity, which has
happened before. But the announcement by King Salman late at night saying that investigations will be made public is also very important because all
kind of rumors were floating around. And this is also to allay the fears of the pilgrims. (inaudible) hospital also had a lot of positive effect.
As far as the monitors (inaudible) in the afternoon and evening, and I've been watching and talking to people, the mosques were still full. People
are not at all deterred by this accident. But the Saudi authorities are taking all out measures to see and to check on the accident area and to see
that nothing else happens during the (inaudible) which is around the (inaudible) second.
ANDERSON: What do we know of the investigation to date? And how many bodies do we know still need to be removed from the site. Is everybody now
freed who could be?
AL-MAEENA: Well, I just spoke a couple of minutes ago to an Asian consul general who is there at the (inaudible). There are some bodies coming in.
Some are unidentified. Usually the pilgrims have a wristband with a barcode. Some of them did not have it. And also the brute force of the
accident, you know, had people's bodies cut. So he was in dismay and also alarmed at seeing so many of the bodies come and identification process is
(inaudible).
It is confirmed that many of the victims were from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. That I think there will be degree. We will find a couple of
bodies here and there, but by and large most of the bodies have been removed because there was a very swift reaction by the authorities
immediately afterwards.
ANDERSON: With that we'll leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us. Khalid al-Maeena who is of the Saudi Gazette on the phone
for you today from Saudi.
Well, U.S. President Barack Obama was given a major boost this week in his efforts to push through the Iran nuclear deal. Enough Senate Democrats now
on board to prevent Republicans from blocking that deal.
But a new CNN poll shows Americans are divided over the agreement. Almost six in 10 disapprove of the way President Obama is handling the U.S.
relationship with Iran. And 49 percent want the deal rejected with slightly fewer backing it.
But it seems most Iranians welcome the agreement, but that hasn't stopped the harsh rhetoric from their leader. Frederik Pleitgen has more for you
tonight from Tehran.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[11:35:16] FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: As the implementation phase of the nuclear agreement seems to draw closer, the
majority of Iranians are of course thrilled and very optimistic because they believe that sanctions relief could be coming their way very, very
soon.
However, there are also divisions here in this country not only pertaining to the nuclear agreement itself but also on the way forward with their
relations with the United States.
Now of course we know that the supreme leader of this country made some very strong remarks toward the United States saying that yes there is this
nuclear agreement, but that there will be no further negotiations with the Americans on any other issues. He also put up posters here in this city as
well as other cities in Iran saying that there should be no further American cultural influence in Iran either.
And then of course there were those very strong remarks about Israel where he said that he believes that Israel will not exist within the next 25
years.
Now, we put those questions to some Iranians here in Tehran, especially the ones about their relations with the United States. And we really got a
mixed bag of results. The gist of which was that Iranians, he majority of them that we spoke to, want better relations with the United States, but
they also demand respect. They say they're not going to let America impose any of its will on the Iranians, that certainly would be something that
would lead to backlash.
Now, the comments that were made by the supreme leader also, of course, have to be seen in context with the nuclear agreement. It's clear that
many of his staunchest backers, especially the conservative clergy, but also the very powerful military, have major issues with the nuclear
agreement. They feel that Iran has given up too much, made too many compromises, especially with the United States.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Tehran.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I'm going to get you to Washington, then, and CNN's Sunlen Serfaty who is standing by for you.
The latest CNN/ORC Poll that I was alluding to just a couple of minutes ago shows Americans skeptical that Iran will stick to this nuclear deal,
preventing congress from blocking the agreement that may do little to improve Obama's sagging ratings, but these days it's less about him, isn't
it, and more about the 2016 contenders. So how does this rhetoric on Iran stack up from the presidential hopefuls?
SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's absolutely right. It is all about 2016, our big election next year. And the campaign trail is already
heated up, Becky. You know, the Iran deal really does provide a key issue of difference between Democrats and Republicans running for president.
Democrats, all Democrats running for president are in support of this deal. Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state coming out with a big speech
where she cautiously had a -- struck a cautious tone, embracing the deal, saying she defined it as distrust and verify.
Now, among the Republicans, though, there's -- there are unanimous in their opposition to the deal, many of them coming out fiercely in speeches,
really blasting the Obama administration for striking this deal with Iran. And I think we saw just this week a huge splash by Senator Ted Cruz and
Donald Trump who came on Capitol Hill, really a protest to the deal.
But there are some slight differences among the candidates. For instance, Donald Trump, a Republican running for president, he is one of the few that
says he would not rip up the deal on day one if he is elected president. So that's slight differences between the two candidates.
But definitely important ones as these Republican candidates use this really to draw distinctions with President Barack Obama. And as you said
in that poll that's something that a lot of Americans do want to hear -- Becky.
ANDERSON: What is the atmosphere like in Washington these days so far as the rhetoric around this deal is concerned? We've been talking about the
presidential candidates who are all over the country, of course, campaigning and stumping at this point. What's the atmosphere like in
Washington as this is, you know, widely debated?
SERFATY: Widely debated, and I think the atmosphere in Washington right now is very reflective of that. On our television airwaves, there was a
series of ads for and against this deal. This deal has really been I would say the victim of a large lobbying campaign on either side. So I think
Americans, and I think the White House understands this, Americans are somewhat confused about the details of this deal, because it is really
involved in so much politics.
But I do think those poll numbers released today are certainly very interesting. It shows that the White House still has a lot of ground to
make up in convincing Americans on the merits of this deal even though they of course got through a big hurdle on Capitol Hill. The White House really
launched an all-out lobbying campaign to get the support of the Senate Democrats, key to getting this deal through congress.
But I think there probably will be a realization from the White House that they have to do more to convince Americans that this deal is the best for
them -- Becky.
[11:40:23] ANDERSON: All right. We're going to leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us.
And viewers, a programming note for you. Tune in to CNN on Wednesday when the Republican presidential candidates will faceoff. That is in back-to-
back debates. Watch live, September 16 starting 11:00 p.m. London, midnight in Berlin. You can work out what time that will be wherever you
are watching in the world. You can see the whole broadcast again at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday London time, that is 9:00 in Central Europe. And that is
only on CNN.
Republican debate coming up.
And some news just in to CNN, al Qaeda's leader is calling for lone wolf attacks in the U.S. and other western countries. In an audio recording
posted online today, Aymen al-Zawahiri urges young Muslim men not to hesitate carrying out such attacks, saying it's time to move the war to the
heart of the crusader west and specifically America.
Now it is unknown when the statement was recorded.
But it seems the rivalry between al Qeda and ISIS spilling into the open. al-Zawahiri blasted ISIS and its leader in another audio message. CNN's
Brian Todd now takes a look at what were fairly eyeopening comments.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They famously split, are competing for recruits, and now it's personal. For the first time, we hear al-Qaeda
leader Ayman al-Zawahiri openly attack ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi by name.
In an audio message, Zawahiri calls Baghdadi and ISIS illegitimate.
AYMAN AL-ZAWAHIRI, AL QAEDA LEADER (through translator): We do not acknowledge the caliphate. And the Muslims are not obligated to pledge
allegiance to it. And we do not see Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as one worthy of the caliphate.
TODD: This is pure frustration, analysts say, over Baghdadi and ISIS heavily recruiting jihadists and stealing al Qaeda's propaganda thunder.
NICHOLAS PALARINO, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: You can compare it to two drug gangs, or two mafia mobs, and here they are, one is encroaching on the
other's territory.
TODD: A U.S. intelligence official tells CNN this could reflect Zawahiri's bitterness after ISIS rejected his attempts to mend fences. But there's
clearly personal animosity at play.
WILLIAM MCCANTS, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: Zawahiri and Baghdadi hate each other a lot. Zawahiri from his perspective sees Baghdadi as an
undiscplined, disobedient upstart.
Baghdadi for his part sees Zawahiri as too meddlesome in other people's affairs.
TODD: The broadside from one terrorist leader toward the other now brings a strong warning from one of congress's top homeland secuirty leaders, that
al Qaeda and ISIS will now ramp up efforts to out do each other with deadly consequences for America.
REP. MICHAEL MCCAUL, (R) TEXAS: If you see that kind of competition, I worry that they're going to up the ante to try to win -- be the winning
game in town and attack the United States.
TODD: The competition has already started. Take a page from ISIS's playbook, al Qaeda has recently stepped up its calls for lone wolf attacks
in its Inspire magazine pleading for its followers to assassinate American business leaders like Bill Gates, the Koch Brothers, Warren Buffett.
But Zawahiri also indicated they could work together to attack the west, saying if he was in Iraq or Syria, quote, I would cooperate with them in
fighting the crusaders.
PALARINO: He does not want to take all his cards off the table, because if the Islamic State begins to gain more momentum and it becomes even stronger
than it is now over al Qaeda, and it is, then Zawahiri wants to leave his options open.
TODD: A U.S. intelligence official tells CNN they can not rule out some cooperation between ISIS and al Qaeda, but he also says the level of
enmity and distrust between these two leaders might prevent a full reconciliation that could heighten the threat against the U.S.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: You're watching CNN. Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. Coming up, fearful in Afghanistan in limbo
in France. And unwanted by Britain. The story of an Afghan interpreter with nowhere to go. That's next.
And when the first Gulf war halted production in Kuwait, Sesame Street went off the air. Coming up, we get a behind the scenes look as the show raises
its curtain once again, this time here in the UAE.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:46:58] ANDERSON: Some news just coming in to CNN, hall of fame basketball player Moses Malone has died at the age of 60. The former NBA
center won the leagues most valuable player award three times. Malone played for eight different teams over his 20 season career, and led the
Philadlphia 76ers to a title in 1983. He was inducted into the hall of fame in 2001.
You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson out of the UAE. IT is a very warm welcome back.
As you've seen this hour, many refugees have been forced to flee their homes because of widespread unrest, but some of them sense a more direct
threat. An Afghan man now struggling to reach the UK after risking his life to help British forces as an interpreter back home.
Still, the British government has yet to allow him in. Phil Black has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the outskirts of Calais, Khushal is one more lonely figure a long way from his homeland.
Exhausted and desperate, injured and limping because of his failed efforts to jump on trucks crossing the English Channel, after traveling eight
months from Afghanistan, he's now stranded here among the tents and squalor of what's known as the Jungle, a camp for thousands of people who believe
they'll have a better life in the United Kingdom.
Khushal tells me he's different from everyone else in the camp. He's here because of his connection to the U.K. He says his work as an interpreter
for the British army in Afghanistan has made him a Taliban target.
BLACK: Is it safe for you to be anywhere in Afghanistan?
KHUSHAL, FORMER AFGHAN INTERPRETER: No, in Afghanistan, impossible.
BLACK (voice-over): Khushal says he fled after the Taliban came looking for him and killed his older brother.
BLACK: How did they kill him?
KHUSHAL: By (inaudible), they shoot him in the chest.
BLACK (voice-over): These men became friends through war. George Tyldesley is a former British army officer, who served two tours in Afghanistan.
Khushal worked as his translator, joining foot patrols on the front line.
George says Khushal shared the risks and saved British lives.
GEORGE TYLDESLEY, FORMER BRITISH ARMY OFFICER: Probably the most trusted guy we had. He saw himself very much as one of the guys. He's very -- he
loved the British army. He loved the guys in the British army.
BLACK (voice-over): In Afghanistan, Khushal says he applied officially for permission to move to the U.K. because of Taliban threats. He says he was
told he'd have to wait indefinitely while his application was processed.
TYLDESLEY: It shames me, to some extent, I think, that we don't know how to look after the people that support us.
BLACK: The British government says it is grateful for the work of Afghan interpreters like Khushal and it has carried up his safety. It has people
and processes on the ground assessing threats that are made against them. But so far, of the former Afghan interpreters that have claimed
intimidation, reported that to those authorities, not one has been given permission to travel to the United Kingdom for safety.
(voice-over): The British government says its second program for helping Afghan staff, those specifically still working with front line forces in
December 2012, has resulted in hundreds of interpreters and their families moving to the U.K. And the government says it's not aware of any
interpreters being killed for their work.
London lawyer Rosa Curly says she has evidence some have been murdered and she's leading a court challenge against the government's policies.
[11:50:30] ROSA CURLY, ATTORNEY: The scheme available to former Afghan interpreters is much, much less favorable than what was available to the
Iraqi interpreters.
BLACK (voice-over): The British government argues the security situation in both countries is different and says it's being selective about which
Afghans should leave because it doesn't want to take too many of the brightest, causing a further brain drain in a country ravaged by decades of
war.
CURLY: If those brains are going to be killed by the Taliban because of the results of the work they've done for the U.K. government, I find that
argument extremely unconvincing.
BLACK (voice-over): For Khushal, this isn't a legal issue. He just doesn't understand why those he risked his life to help have left him behind.
Phil Black, CNN, Calais, Northern France.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, an update now on what is our top story this hour. Germany will be instituting temporary controls on its borders, now that is
according to Gemany's interior minister Thomas de Maiziere who made the announcement moments ago. He says the focus of these border controls will
be along Germany's border with Austria.
At the beginning of this program, we told you that the city of Munich is literally full as trainload after trainload of refugees disembarked there.
And again news just coming in to us as Germany's interior minister says his country will be instituting temporary controls on its borders.
Not part of the spirit of the EU.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World. Coming up, the Arabic version of Sesame Street, Iftah Ya Simsim, is back on the air. UP next, we
chat with the stars of the show and their puppeteers.
Plus, two different elections and two sets of very different politics, but they do have one thing in common: find out just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, the childhood fan favorite that brings smiles to little kids everywhere is now back on TV screens here in the Gulf. The Arabic
version of Sesame Street is back.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: This was the first Iftar Ya Simsim, the Arabic adaptation of Sesame Street launched in Kuwait in 1979. And it was a big hit here in the
Middle East.
The 1990 Gulf War put pay to it. But now, 25 years on in Abu Dhabi, the doors of Sesame are opening again.
I went to the recent relaunch of the show to meet the people behind this production.
If I just knock on the door -- hello.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Yes. Hello, Becky. Welcome to Sesame neighborhood.
ANDERSON: The clever lady behind this Muppet is no other than Asima. Hello. What a wonderful job.
Tell me about your character?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's a little girl. She's 6-years-old. And she's very fast and very talented. She's clever. She's full of life. She wants
to play with everyone. And she's helpful.
ANDERSON: A lot has changed since Iftar Ya Simsim went off air, though, the first time, including the way young people are engaging with the show.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 30-years-ago we had you know few platforms. Currently, we're talking about a content that should be on different
platforms. So, for us it's the fact as much as the show -- as the live shows, the games, the books, the ebooks, that we need also to develop in
Arabic to help the kids, you know, feel the effectiveness of the show.
ANDERSON: You are too young to have been around during the first series.
ABDULLA RALAAH, ACTOR: Well, yeah. I was born after it was finished. I was born in 1994. I didn't grow up with the show, but my dad used to
videotape it for my older brothers, so I did watch it.
ANDERSON: The crew here are hoping this modern twist on old school puppetry will prove a big hit with today's kids in the Middle East just as
its predecessor once captivated their parents.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, if you want to make it in politics, you've got to use your head. And in tonight's Parting Shots, some politicians are taking that, it
seems, very literally. Britain's new opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, who we were speaking about earlier on in the show is often seen donning this,
his Beckham hat, as it's known, that and his beard are all very a part of his very casual look.
And can you guess which American presidential candidate this hat belongs to? Well, who else but Donald Trump. His caps with Make America Great
Again written on the front have fast become a summer fashion accessory, I'm told.
Elsewhere, it seems, with Russian President Vladimir Putin that when a hat goes on, something else must come off.
But perhaps you'll be relieved to hear that he wears a little more when he has company. Here he is with the former Italian prime minister Silvio
Berlusconi on the right there.
I'm Becky Anderson. This was Connect the World from the team here and those working with us around the world a very good evening.
END
