Hostages Freed; American Tourists Killed; Missing Boys
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome, everybody. I'm Soledad O'Brien.</s>JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm John Roberts in this week for Miles O'Brien. Good Thursday morning to you.</s>O'BRIEN: Twelve American tourists killed in South America after their tour bus swerved off a highway and then over a cliff. We've got the very latest from the U.S. Embassy this morning in Chile.</s>NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Nic Robertson in Baghdad. Three Western aide workers released from four months of captivity. More on that coming up shortly.</s>O'BRIEN: A massive search is under way right now in Wisconsin for two young boys. A big reward is being offered in the case. We've got a live report ahead this morning.</s>ROBERTS: A big decision for tens of thousands of GM workers, take the automaker's buyout offer or stay on the job. We're following that story. And how much sleep do your children really need? We'll answer that in our continuing series, "Sleepless in America."</s>O'BRIEN: We begin this morning with the three Western hostages who have been set free by multinational forces in Iraq this morning. One British and two Canadian Christian aide workers had been held since November. American Tom Fox, who had been with them, was found dead two weeks ago just days after this videotape was released of the group. CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson live for us in Baghdad this morning. Nic, good morning.</s>ROBERTSON: Good morning, Soledad. British Embassy officials say that all three men are well, that they are in the British Embassy compound in the secure Green Zone, the international zone at the center of Baghdad. They say that no one was hurt in this operation. They describe it as a combined multinational force operation. They say, as well, that it had been in the planning stages for several weeks. The planning had involved both military and civilian people involved in that. They say that this was a product of work between the British Embassy, Canadian Embassy and Iraqi officials in Baghdad. Now police in Baghdad say that this operation occurred fairly early in the morning today in the west of Baghdad, a predominately Sunni neighborhood -- Soledad.</s>O'BRIEN: Nic, has there been any update on Jill Carroll's situation?</s>ROBERTSON: So far, no. This is the 76th day of her captivity. The British Embassy here has not linked her kidnapping to the three people released today -- Soledad.</s>O'BRIEN: Can you update us on what we're hearing about car bombings in the capital this morning -- Nic?</s>ROBERTSON: A lot of car bombings here today, four so far. More than 24 people killed; 40 or so wounded in those multiple attacks. The most deadly at a police headquarters, a suicide car bomber killing 15, wounding 32 there -- Soledad.</s>O'BRIEN: Our Nic Robertson with an update for us from Baghdad this morning. Nic, thanks -- John.</s>ROBERTS: Thanks, Soledad. Now to that terrible bus accident in Chile involving American tourists. At least 12 people are dead. Their bus fell down this 260- foot mountainside. Four people, including two more tourists, survived the crash and are hospitalized this morning. The accident happened while the group was away from their cruise ship, the Celebrity Cruise Line ship, the Millennium, which is docked in Arica, Chile. The day trip took them to Lauca National Park. They were very close to the top of the mountain and switchback roads that have no guardrails. The driver of the bus, who survived the accident, said that he swerved to get out of the way of a truck, which was coming into his lane. The Millennium is going to stay docked in the port of Arica at least for the foreseeable future. Joining us on the phone right now from the U.S. Embassy in Santiago is John Vance. He is the press attache. And, John, what can you tell us about the two surviving Americans who were on board this minibus?</s>JOHN VANCE, U.S. EMBASSY SPOKESMAN IN CHILE: Well, at this stage what we know is that they are in a hospital in Arica and are in stable condition.</s>ROBERTS: Are they getting good care up there? Are there good hospitals in Arica?</s>VANCE: I would characterize the medical care there as pretty good. And additionally, the doctor and the nurse from the cruise line have also gone to see to their care. And the embassy is in touch with the folks up there as well. And we've got consular officers en route to ascertain their condition and give them any help that they need.</s>ROBERTS: Right. John, we've seen pictures of this accident. It looked like a pretty barren mountain, switchback roads with no guardrails. The driver of the bus says that he swerved to avoid an oncoming truck. What else might you be able to add to the circumstances surrounding this crash? What have you heard?</s>VANCE: I don't think there's really anything, at this point, that I can add to that. That's essentially what I've heard as well. And we're continuing to be in contact with Chilean authorities to try to come up with more complete answers.</s>ROBERTS: What do you know about this tour operator? Celebrity Cruises is saying that it's not connected directly, at least to their organization. Is this just a local outfit? What do you know about that?</s>VANCE: Very little. I only know what Celebrity has stated that they apparently were not directly responsible for booking or managing the tour. And beyond that, I can't say I know anything about the particulars of the local company, if that's indeed what it was.</s>ROBERTS: I take it, though, this is one of many local companies that would swarm up to the docks when the cruise ship pulls up offering people day tours to various places?</s>VANCE: I really don't know on that score.</s>ROBERTS: Right. OK. What else are you doing besides sending representatives to Arica to look after the -- to look into, at least, the survivors? What are you doing for relatives of the victims, relatives of the survivors who might be concerned about loved ones?</s>VANCE: Obviously we recognize that this is a very, very difficult time for the families that are involved and we're doing everything we can to smooth the operation for those family members who are surviving. We're trying to do everything we can to insure that if they want to come to Chile that they can do so in a simple and straight forward manner and trying to make all the procedures as painless as possible. As well as doing everything we can still for the surviving members of the group, of whom, obviously, we have a great deal of concern both for the Americans and the Chileans who were injured. But we're doing everything we can to insure that the Americans get the medical care they need and then whatever the next steps that prove to be appropriate are.</s>ROBERTS: A terrible crash. John Vance from the American Embassy in Santiago, Chile, we'll get back to you a little bit later on this morning. As we said, the cruise ship, the Millennium, is going to stay docked in Arica for the foreseeable future. If you are looking for information about somebody who was on board that ship and you haven't been able to get in touch with them, here's a hotline that's been set up. It's 888-829-4050. 888-829-4050 -- Soledad.</s>O'BRIEN: Here in this country, police are stepping up the search for two missing Milwaukee boys. Twelve-year-old Quadrevion Henning, known as Dre, and 11-year-old Purvis Parker have not been seen since Sunday afternoon. Police and volunteers are now turning their suburban Milwaukee neighborhood upside down. Let's get to Melanie Stout of affiliate WTMJ. She's live for us in Milwaukee this morning. Melanie, good morning.</s>MELANIE STOUT, WTMJ-TV REPORTER: Good morning. You know the first 24 hours are the most critical when a child goes missing. It's been four days now and still nothing. No new leads. Now the search for these boys has intensified. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are helping the Milwaukee Police Department in this case. Some officers are volunteering their time. Dive teams have gone into the sewers to see if the boys fell in while playing. One manhole was found open, but again, no sign of 12-year-old Quadrevion Henning and 11-year-old Purvis Virginia Parker. Also on Wednesday, police scoured a state park north of where the boys disappeared. They searched through trees and thick brush but found nothing. Family and friends have also been out in force handing out flyers. They don't believe these boys would just wander away. The boys' families remain hopeful and desperate.</s>ANGELA VIRGINIA PARKER, PURVIS' MOTHER: If you see something, if you know something, please check your homes, let our boys come home. I miss my son so much.</s>STOUT: Now police have told us that the families of both of the boys have been very cooperative in this case. Back to you.</s>O'BRIEN: Melanie, let me ask you a couple of quick questions.</s>STOUT: Sure.</s>O'BRIEN: First, I mean I cannot imagine how frustrating it is to have no clues, no leads, no information about these two boys. Give me a sense of what the neighborhood is like and what these boys are like? Could they have just run off?</s>STOUT: The family doesn't believe these boys are the type to just run off. They don't have any history of running off. There is no evidence they were upset. And this neighborhood is a relatively safe, very comfortable neighborhood, a lot of families and children here. There are also registered sex offenders in the area. Police have questioned those sex offenders and even searched their homes and again they have found no evidence that a crime has been committed here.</s>O'BRIEN: Gosh, what a brutal story for those families. Melanie Stout of our affiliate WTMJ. Melanie, thanks a lot.</s>ROBERTS: Time for our first check of the weather forecast on this Thursday morning. Chad Myers is off. Reynolds Wolf is at the CNN Center in Atlanta.</s>REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning.</s>ROBERTS: Am I looking at a motorcycle weekend in Washington this weekend or what?</s>WOLF: It's going to look beautiful. It's going to be great in Washington. It's going to be great for many places around the country. You notice Chad happens to leave and then conditions get really tranquil. I'm not saying anything, I'm -- just an observation, if you will.</s>O'BRIEN: So you're highlighting that when Chad leaves and you come in the weather suddenly improves, like a mystery?</s>WOLF: No, no, no, no, see, that's the last thing I wanted to do. Don't you misinterpret what I'm saying. I'm just -- it's just kind of an observation.</s>ROBERTS: Yes, well it's good for us, but it's bad business for meteorologists, because you guys thrive on bad weather, correct?</s>WOLF: Absolutely. Absolutely.</s>O'BRIEN: That's true, it could be bad for you.</s>ROBERTS: Could be bad.</s>WOLF: Yes, very true. I'm going to keep it zipped, man.</s>ROBERTS: You know what, and also when you're filling in, you don't want things to go too well...</s>WOLF: There you go. Yes, I'm -- being the new guy, you don't want...</s>ROBERTS: Try to screw up a little bit, if you would.</s>WOLF: We'll do all that we can here. I'm fully capable of doing that, trust me. All right.</s>ROBERTS: Thanks, Reynolds.</s>O'BRIEN: Thanks, -- Reynolds.</s>WOLF: You bet.</s>ROBERTS: Coming up, another book detailing Barry Bonds' alleged steroid use, but this time there's new information on another star slugger's alleged cheating.</s>O'BRIEN: We're also going to take a look and crunch some numbers at GM's huge buyout plan to see if it's really going to help the troubled automaker.</s>ROBERTS: And later, our special series, "Sleepless in America." Today, children and sleep and why America's kids may be on the verge of a health crisis. Stay with us.