Season's First Tropical Depression; Zarqawi Hideout Obliterated; President Bush Vowing To Keep Pressure On Insurgents In Iraq
FREDRICK WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Nothing but rubble, that's all that is left of the hideout used by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as seen in these latest pictures. The two 500-pound bombs that obliterated the dwelling Wednesday also cut a wide swath of destruction in the immediate area. The leader of al Qaeda in Iraq died moments after the U.S. attack. In Pakistan, security forces backed by artillery and helicopter gunships destroy a military training site near the Afghan border today. An Army spokesman says 15 to 20 suspected militants and local supporters were killed. Carrying out a vow of revenge, Hamas militants fire a barrage of rockets at Israeli targets today, Israel says there are no casualties reported. The attack came hours after Hamas called off a cease-fire in response to an Israeli artillery strike in Gaza that killed seven civilians on the beach. A nuclear plan counteroffer in the works from Iran, the foreign minister says it's in response to a Western incentives package aimed at persuading Iran to suspend enrichment and restart talks over its nuclear program. No word on what might be included in that proposal. We update the top stories every 15 minutes on CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Your next update is coming up at 12:15 Eastern. Straight ahead this hour, a warning for web surfer, we'll talk to the man behind Craigslist about what he says could be a slowdown on the internet. Also dollars and deal, we're got money saving ideas and tips to survive the summer travel season. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Fredericka Whitfield, welcome to</s>CNN LIVE SATURDAY. ANNOUNCER: You're watching CNN, your severe weather headquarters.</s>WHITFIELD: We're watching the first tropical depression at the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. Our Reynolds Wolf is in the weather center with a close watch on it --Reynolds.</s>WHITFIELD: All right, Cuba, one of the first places that are being threatened by this tropical depression. Our Havana bureau chief, Morgan Neill, is on the line with us right now. And Morgan what are you seeing, experiencing, anticipating?</s>MORGAN NEILL, CNN HAVANA BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Fredericka, here in Havana, what we've seen the skies have gotten steadily darker throughout the day, steady rains have began last night, and picked up a lot of momentum and for the last couple of hours it's really been coming down. I've just spoken to someone in the western city of Pinar Del Rio and says the streets have already flooded there. Now, we've talked to the head of Cuba's forecast center says he's expecting intense rains to continue, both in the capital and Western Cuba, but there have been no emergency measures announced. While authorities say that could change at any point, so far, none of those evacuations ordered.</s>WHITFIELD: And Morgan, tropical depressions, big heavy rains, something that Cubans are very much accustomed, but why is this one different in terms of heightening any kind of nerves?</s>NEILL: Well, I tell you, the main reason this one is different here, at least, is that it's the first real test of the season. This is something Cubans have been preparing for months. You see drills in various towns throughout the country, they drill medical emergencies, evacuations, neighborhood leaders, make sure they know where everyone is, so while the storm may not be different in and of itself, it is the first, so it's the first test of the season -- Fredericka.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. Havana bureau chief, Morgan Neill, thanks so much. Now to Iraq, a roadside bomb exploded in Baghdad today killing at least three people. The attack underscores warnings that the death of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi would not end widespread violence. Right now, officials are awaiting results of DNA analysis that would definitively confirm that the man killed in a U.S. air strike on Wednesday was that of the al Qaeda leader in Iraq. Matched fingerprints and other evidence already indicate it was al-Zarqawi. Since the attack, U.S. forces have carried out dozens of raids against insurgents in an effort to take advantage of the vacuum left by al-Zarqawi's death. The two 500-pound bombs dropped on al-Zarqawi's hideout, obliterated the dwelling and immediate area. CNN's John Vause is at the scene.</s>JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is all that's left of Zarqawi's safe house, a house made of concrete and steel. All of this destruction caused by two 500 pound bombs. The impact from the blast was so powerful, we're told by the U.S. military, that initially this hole in the ground, about 35, maybe 40 feet deep. Now after the air strike the rubble around the area was mostly cleared and bulldozed into that crater, it's still more than 10 feet deep, as well. It was an incredibly powerful blast. Rubble is strewn around this area, 600 feet maybe even 1,000 feet away and signs of the people who once lived in this house. Over here is a towel left behind, thrown clear as part of the debris. Just over here as well, we can see a pillow and just next to it, a blanket as well. They say this was a safe house in an isolated area and indeed it was very isolated. Take a look at the trees, the palm trees and the date trees, which surround this area. At the time of the air strike, a top level al Qaeda meeting was underway. Zarqawi and five others including this spiritual advisor, the man who was traced to this house and ultimately led to Zarqawi's downfall. And after this powerful blast, we're told somehow, Zarqawi managed to survive if only for a few moments. John Vause, CNN near the city of Baqubah.</s>WHITFIELD: President Bush is vowing to keep the pressure on insurgents in Iraq. The tough talk came during his weekly radio address. Elaine Quijano is at the White House with the latest in... Why, Elaine, did the president feel this was so important to do this?</s>ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, good afternoon to you, Fredricka. President Bush, first of all, saying this has been a good week in the cause for freedom, but once again temper his comments warning of more difficult days ahead. Now, the president is at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, where yesterday he hosted Denmark's prime minister, but in this weekly radio address this morning, the president called the killing of terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq, an important victory in the war on terror. At the same time, though, he also cautioned that the fighting is expected to continue.</s>GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In the weeks ahead, violence in Iraq may escalate. The terrorists and insurgents will seek to prove they can carry on without Zarqawi. And coalition and Iraqi forces are seizing this moment to strike the enemies of freedom in Iraq at this time for uncertain for their cause. The work ahead will require more sacrifice, and the continued patience of the American people.</s>QUIJANO: Yet, Senate democratic leader, Harry Reid says that President Bush must find the political solutions necessary so U.S. forces can start returning home.</s>SEN. HARRY REID (D), NEVADA: Our troops and the American people have been exceedingly patient as previous mile posts in the lack have passed without progress. The president is asking too much if he expects to us did it again. With Zarqawi gone and the cabinet filled, we need more than platitudes next week when the president convenes a conference with Iraq's leader and his war cabinet. He must present a concrete plan, a plan for Iraqis to take control of their own security.</s>QUIJANO: Now, as for those meetings Monday at Camp David, the president will huddle with his national security team as well as key members of his cabinet and then on Tuesday they will be joined via video conference by their Iraqi counterparts. The president says that the focus will be on the way forward in Iraq and also how best to deploy America's resources there. A senior administration official says that it is not expected they will discuss U.S. troop drawdowns, but rather looking at the way U.S. forces are configured in Iraq. Back to you, Fredricka.</s>WHITFIELD: All right, Elaine Quijano at the White House thanks so much. Well, tonight at 7:00 CNN's correspondents from around the world bring you the only in-depth look at major events in the war on terror, including the strike on al-Zarqawi in Iraq. Wolf Blitzer hosts "Iraq a Week at War" beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, 4:00 Pacific only right here on CNN. Now to the Middle East and revenge attacks against Israel. Hamas called off its year long cease-fire by firing rockets at Israeli targets. Israel reports no casualties. The action was in retaliation for an Israeli artillery attack yesterday that killed at least seven Palestinian civilians having a picnic on a Gaza beach. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack as a genocidal crime and called for international intervention. Israel apologized and said an investigation is underway. A father speaks out to CNN about the treatment of his son, who is being investigated for his actions in Iraq. Also, if you bought, sold, or perhaps even shopped for anything on-line, you probably heard of Craigslist. Well coming up you'll meet the real life Craig. He's joining us to talk about a major issue for anyone who uses the internet. And could your old teddy bear really be a cash cow?