Iraqis to Vote Saturday on Constitution; Probe Continues into CIA Leak
FREDICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: There's turmoil in the Middle East today after the death of a prominent political figure in Syria. Government officials say the country's interior minister committed suicide. Ghazi Kanaan's death comes after a United Nations investigator recently questioned him over the assassination of the president Rafik Hariri, a former Lebanese prime minister. His death sparked protests that helped end the Syrian presence in Lebanon. A report from the U.N. probe into Hariri's killing is expected to be released in days. Syria's president tells CNN his country was not involved in the assassination and he could have never ordered that. Well, as we reported earlier this hour, Iraqis will vote on a new constitution Saturday. Joining us now is the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad. Good to see you.</s>ZALMAY KHALILZAD, IRAQI AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: Good to see you.</s>WHITFIELD: Well, how hopeful are you, Mr. Ambassador, about this deal, this compromise that has been struck by the Sunni Arab party and the Shia-Kurd coalition?</s>KHALILZAD: Well, today was a good day for Iraqis. The leaders of various communities and parties made some difficult compromises which resulted in the support of the draft constitution, with some changes by one of the major Sunni political parties. This should improve prospects for Sunni support for the draft and it has also made the draft that existed before into a national compact because the existing draft had support in the Shia and Kurdish communities and now a significant Sunni Arab party has come out in favor of the draft. So it's an important step in the right direction for Iraq.</s>WHITFIELD: How does this strengthen the appeal for the constitution given that President Talabani, as well as President Bush of this country, have both warned that leading up to this vote there would be more violence, so the message has to be conveyed to the Iraqi people that it is worth risking their lives to vote for this constitution?</s>KHALILZAD: Well, there is no doubt that the terrorists do not want the people to vote. They do not want Iraq to succeed. They have declared war on the Iraqi people and their goal is to take this country either back or to make it a base for the terrorists to threaten the people of Iraq and this region and the world. But the constitution offers a way forward for the people of Iraq toward a government of their own that they would elect, with rights for all Iraqis, and for Iraq to achieve greatness again. It'll be risky, certainly, but I think the security institutions of the coalition, Iraqi security forces will do their best to provide an environment in which Iraqis would be able to vote. But no question about it, the terrorists will try to disrupt and to make it as difficult and as risky as possible for Iraqis because, as I said, their goal is not for Iraq to succeed, their goal is for Iraq to fail, and the Iraqis do not want that. So I anticipate that millions of Iraqis will vote. Of course,</s>WHITFIELD: And how much of a potential setback is that if it were to come to that? You said you're hoping that millions of people will vote, but what if you don't have the million of folks to turn out? Might this reverse whatever progress you have made with the national assembly? Might it mean that there would have to be yet another vote of a national assembly if this constitution fails?</s>KHALILZAD: Oh, of course, the people have the choice, those who participate -- and I anticipate the numbers will be in the millions -- can either support, approve the draft or reject it. If they approve it, a permanent government will be established based on the next election and Iraq will have a constitution. If it's rejected, elections will take place as scheduled in December, and the next assembly will have to take up the task of drafting a constitution.</s>WHITFIELD: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad of Iraq joining us from Washington today. Thank you so much. In the Middle East, two journalists kidnapped in Gaza are now free. The American and the Briton were abducted earlier today. There was no claim of responsibility. Several foreigners have been kidnapped in Gaza in recent months. All have been released unharmed, usually within hours. Families of those killed in the attack on the USS Cole joined current crew members this morning at the Norfolk Air Naval Station. The attack on the Cole happened five years ago today. The memorial service is scheduled later this afternoon at Arlington National Cemetery. The Cole was docked in the port of Aden, Yemen, when it was struck by a small boat loaded with explosives. The suicide attack killed 17 U.S. sailors and wounded 39 other crew members. It's been a busy week for the grand jury investigating the leak of a CIA agent's identity. "New York Times" reporter Judith Miller provided new details about the case today. And White House political adviser Karl Rove is expected to testify on Friday. CNN national correspondent Bob Franken joins us now from Washington with details -- Bob?</s>BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, she was brought back for the second time since she got out of jail for refusing to testify. Judith Miller came back before the grand jury, refused to talk to reporters afterwards, but sources say she was here to talk about some notes she found in the "New York Times" news room subsequent to her testimony on September 30th; notes that suggested that she had spoken with the vice president's chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, before the dates covered in her last testimony. No more details about what it is that she told before the grand jury, but Libby is somebody who has been mentioned repeatedly as one of the sources in an investigation into the leaks that identified Valerie Plame as an undercover CIA operative. Scooter Libby is one of the names mentioned. The other, the deputy White House chief of staff Karl Rove, who for so long has been President Bush's chief political adviser. Rove is scheduled to appear before this grand jury for the fourth time on Friday. And many are making quite a bit out of that, although his lawyer says the prosecutor has not indicated whether there even will be prosecutions. The prosecutor is the special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald. He left today with his usual no comment. He is said to be trying to wrap up this investigation. The term of the grand jury expires October 28th, although that could be extended. But this is an investigation that's been going on almost two years now and Fitzgerald is expected to be trying to decide whether there will be indictments and if there are, against who -- Fredricka?</s>WHITFIELD: All right. Bob Franken in Washington, thanks so much. Well, as crews in New Orleans continue to sift through and assess the damage, one discovery is making for a pretty rotten job. Details live from Louisiana next. Plus, the youngest evacuees head back to school. We'll take you inside New Orleans West, where the students aren't the only hurricane victims.