comcast business. built for business. welcome to our viewers in the united states and all around the world. i'm rosemary church. >> i'm errol barnett. coming up for you this hour. a chaotic and dangerous helicopter ride inside northern iraq. the dramatic admission over mt. sinjar. robin williams dead at the age of 63. we look back at the life and career of a comedy legend.

a desperate humanitarian crisis is gripping northern iraq. >> and baghdad is bogged down in political uncertainty at the same time. here's the latest information we have for you. iraq's president has nominated a new prime minister. but the current prime minister's not interested in stepping down. our global affairs correspondent has more. >> reporter: iraq's political power struggle finally reached a breaking point. when the president named the deputy speaker of parliament to replace prime minister nuri al maliki. the u.s. welcomed the move as an important first step. >> earlier today, vice president biden and i called dr. abaddi to congratulate him and urge him to form a new cabet as quickly as possible. >> reporter: hider al abaddi is a shia from the same party as maliki, even serving as his aide. can he unite the country and fight off sweeping advances by isis militants?

>> he's someone who's never been involved in personal controversy. he will try to work with people. but at the same time, he's never been someone to push for reform. >> reporter: al abaudi has 30 days to form a government. as of now maliki is refusing to go quietly saying he deserves a third term. he's deploying troops to the streets of baghdad and threatening to contest al abaddi's appointment. >> translator: we assure the iraq people what took place is worthless, null and void. >> reporter: secretary of state john kerry warned the utah would withhold its support if maliki didn't step aside. >> our hope is mr. maliki will not stir those waters there will be little international support of any kind whatsoever for anything that deviates from the legitimate constitutional process that is in place. >> reporter: the u.s. has signaled further military

support once a new iraqi government is in mace. but with another shia at the helm risks pushing sunnis into the arms of it's assess, also sunnis, and that could further divide the country along sectarian lines. >> the shia government is relying heavily on shia militias. so any u.s. military aid needs to be tied to reducing the shia militias and pulling them back and institutionalizing military force. >> reporter: but time is not on hider al abaddi's side. if he can't form a government in the next 30 days the iraqis go back to square one. nuri al maliki can bide his time while trying to divide iraq's politicians to print a new government from being seated. isis fighters continue to make new gains while iraqis sort out their political mess. >> while that political uncertainty continues, in the north of iraq tens of thousands of minorities are trapped on

sinjar mountain, cut off by isis fighters. they are still in dire need of water and supplies. what they really need is escape. cnn's senior international correspondent ivan watson and mark phillips rode along with the iraqi military as they pulled off some of those desperate people on that mountainside. >> reporter: machine gunners release bursts of hot metal. this is the crew aboard an iraqi air force helicopters. cartridges and belts of ammunition. rushing an aircraft full of food, diapers, water, and baby's milk over isis front lines to civilians trapped on sinjar mountain. fighters are opening fire at targets down below. they say they regularly undertake fire.

they're clearly trying to defend the aircraft. we can see the people below trapped on sinjar mountain. they're clustered under olive trees right now waving to us. they seem to have gathered in these shelters down here. a lot of women and children waving. the crew hurls packages out the door. people swarm the chopper. this has been one chaotic aid distribution. i really hope we didn't hurt anybody with the bottles of water we were throwing down from the height of 20, 30 feet. it's chaotic. people were waving, giving thumbs up. there are a couple of people

very relieved to be off the mountain and clearly very, very frightened. then the helicopter lands one last time to pick up more passengers. >> here they come! >> reporter: more desperate people throw themselves at the aircraft. heaving their children on board. it's first come, first served. there were some who couldn't make it.

aboard the aircraft, shock. exhaustion. fear. that eventually gives way to relief. i can't describe to you how relieved people are right now. they're just shocked in the chaos of that moment. but we've got little aziza, she's not happy. she says her father got left behind. the gunners are opening fire on targets below. they're protecting the helicopter. but it's terrifying these little kids. who are traumatized after their week trapped on that mountain. the policemen is we're flying over isis front lines.

this is the only protection we have right now to protect the aircraft and its precious cargo. tensions ease when we cross into kurdish-controlled territory. and for a moment, there are even smiles as these children realize their ordeal on the mountain is finally over. ivan watson, cnn, over sinjar mountain in northern iraq. russian media report that a russian humanitarian convoy of 280 trucks carrying food, medicine and power generators is on its way to eastern ukraine. now, the shipment comes amid a worsening situation in the ukrainian city of donetsk. government forces have closed in on the rebel stronghold in an effort to take it back from

pro-russian separatists. the red cross in kiev says they are not aware of the russian convoy. there's concern about how to get the supplies to people who need it and what could happen if the convoy comes under fire. for more, cnn's will ripley joins us now live from ukraine's capital kiev. and will, this is a real concern, isn't it, when you're seeing the red cross doesn't know anything about 20080 trucks in this convoy. a lot of fears about this. talk to us about reaction because we understand the french foreign minister has responded. >> the response is already coming in. this convoy, while nobody disagrees that people in eastern ukraine, especially luhansk, need this type of help, what's concerning is about how russia appears to be going about it. you mentioned the french for minister. i want to read a tweet he just sent out within the last hour or so. he says, "sending a humanitarian

convoy to ukraine from russia, this is not possible except with the agreement of the red cross, could be a cover-up." the reason he's saying this isn't possible without agreement with the red cross, the way this works is the roik said yesterday they have gone a document to ukraine and russia that would spell out how a red cross convoy, unarmed convoy, would enter into eastern ukraine. donetsk, luhansk, the cities at the center of this fighting. this unarmed convoy under the supervision the red cross would then deliver aid to those areas. no agreement how that convoy would get there, if there would be a cease-fire to guarantee that convoy's safety. no agreement has been reached. so if these russian media reports are true and russia is going at it alone, essentially, sending 280 trucks with humanitarian aid across the border into eastern ukraine, it would be doing so without an agreement with the red cross or ukraine or the eu or the united states.

why is this significant? russia media reporting this convoy is unarmed, but if you have an unarmed convoy heading into a battle zone where there's been near-continuous fighting for days, one action you put unarmed volunteers in that convoy in danger. two, another question a lot of people are asking, if this convoy were to come under fire in any way, would that then be enough motivation for russia to justify to itself and other nations sending in the estimated up to 45,000 troops that are stationed along the border with ukraine right now? that number coming from the ukrainian military just yesterday. that is much larger than the 20,000 troops that nato is estimating. rosemary, nato has said for days they believe there's a high probability russia could use a humanitarian mission as a cover to possibly invade, to assist the rebels who right now appear to be in a losing battle with ukrainian forces that are closing in on their two key strongholds. >> this was the exact worry and

concern that u.s. secretary of state john kerry had a couple of days ago. we'll keep a close eye on this, will ripley, many thanks to you. much to bring you this hour on cnn, including the ebola outbreak. the death toll has just reached a grim milestone as the u.s. prepares to send an experimental ebola drug overseas. and a life filled with laughter ends tragically. accolades and condolences pour in for robin williams as the world mourns the loss of a favorite funny man.

good morning vietnam! hey, this is in the a test. this is rock 'n' roll. time to rock it from the delta to the dmz. is that me or does that sound like an elvis presley movie?

>> remember that? the world is mourning the loss of actor and comedian robin williams. >> he was found dead monday in his california home just north of san francisco. law enforcement officials say he apparently took his own life. investigators suspect the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia. williams was 63 years old. >> he took on a diverse amount of roles across his career. among them an alien, an android, a therapist, a genie, and the world's greatest dad. cnn's michelle turner looks back at his remarkable career. >> reporter: his high-octane brand of comedy was his trademark public persona. robin williams proved himself an oscar winner with a strong philanthropic side. born in 1921, in his 20s williams was unleashed first as an american tv star. >> mindy! the emotions are coming! >> reporter: as mork from the

planet ork in "mork and mindy," williams became a household name. when the series ended after a four-year run in 1982 he showed he could do more than make people laugh. >> my name's t.s. garp. >> what's t.s. stand for. >> terribly sexy. >> reporter: 1982 "the world according to garp." >> trained as an actor, it's not like they have to medicate me. >> reporter: the serious side earned him oscar nominations for "the fisher king." >> good morning vietnam! >> reporter: "good morning vote yaum," "dead poets society." he finally won his oscar in 1998 for "good will hunting." >> this one, yes. the other ones were foreplay. it's extraordinary. >> reporter: williams never stopped being funny even when the topic seemed serious. he helped launch and co-hosted eight telethons over 20 years to help the homeless.

>> men who sleep with chickens and the women who love them. >> reporter: comic relief earned more than $50 million. and even when he talked about his battles with drugs and alcohol, he talked about it with humor. >> we were drunk. >> that's nice of you to say that. >> reporter: he tack three trips to rehab, most recently this summer. he talked about the process on "larry king live" in 2007. >> what happens to people, basically start the process of just saying no and being among others, you know. learning that you're not alone and working on giving up. >> do you lose your sense of humor in it? >> no, you find it. you're with people who have a great sense of humor. >> so you're funny there too? >> oh, yeah, you've got to be. >> reporter: 2009 williams was rushed to the hospital with heart problems. forced to temporarily cancel his one-man show to undergo surgery. he talked about his recovery on "the ellen show." >> you heart surgery, they open you up, they crack the box.

you get really vulnerable. you'd be like a kitten, oh god. it's a kitten, oh! you get very emotional about everything. i think that's in a way a wonderful thing. it opens you up to everything. >> reporter: with a new lease on life williams sprang back into action. 2011, he made his broadway acting debut starring in "bengal tiger at the baghdad zoo." that same year he would marry his third wife, graphic designer susan schneider. in 2013, williams would return to the small screen starring in the cbs sitcom "the crazy ones" where he would reunite with his old friend pam dawber, mindy. >> you look like an alien. >> reporter: from standup to sitcoms and beyond, williams wuld delight audiences for decades with his wacky humor and joyful energy. he was the definition of full of life. and even now his comic legend is destined to endure.

>> it's enduring at this moment in los angeles. it's just past midnight there on the hollywood walk of fame. but take a look, people still gathered around robin williams' star. we've seen tears, all these displays of flowers and disbelief. everyone trying to pay tribute to robin williams. >> people are just shocked. no one expected this at all. and the grief over his death monday was especially evident at the actor comedian's star on the hollywood walk of fame in los angeles, looking at that those live pictures now. >> he was a very talented man. it's really sad knowing that he has passed. especially by suicide. it's very shocking to everyone right now. >> i love that he used his craft to make people happy, you know? that he pursued comedy. he acted in some of the great movies of our time. >> he's got to be the king of improv. watching the guy in the early

days with "mork and mindy," before that with "happy days." i understand much of what came out of the man was unscripted. he did it right there. just -- his mind just worked nonstop, just amazing. genius. comic genius. >> i think that fan hit the nail on the head. a lot of what his famous roles are, ad libbed, things he came up with. you're seeing another event in los angeles. these are stars turning out for the premiere of "the expendables 3." of course talk on the red carpet turned to the impact and influence of robin williams. >> mourning. mourning the loss of such a great man. and he was also a friend and i admired him. and what's a legend. unbelievable. >> shocking. sad. yesterday we had a superstar, today unfortunately we have a legend. >> he's gone way too soon. he was very talented. we're all going to miss him. from the white house to

social media, condolences and remembrances are pouring in. comedian steve martin tweeted this, "i could not be more stunned by the loss of robin williams. mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul." >> former cnn host larry king said he would remember williams as "a genuine, caring guy, not just a funny man but a guy who cared about people." >> u.s. president barack obama summed it up. this is what he said. "he was one of a kind. he arrived in our lives as an alien but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. we will write you mo-- bring yo reaction to the death later on cnn. >> we'll be jouned by an entertainment journalist and talk about this virtuoso actor's long and illustrious career. >> the latin term for that sentiment is carpe diem.

who knows what that means? carpe diem, seize the day. >> very good, mr.? >> meeks. >> another unusual name. seize the day. gather ye roses while ye may.

welcome back, everyone. the outbreak of ebola continues to grow in western africa. raising concerns all around the world. >> in the past few years, the world health organization has issued some new numbers. they now say the total confirmed probable and suspected number of deaths from the virus is 1,013. in guinea, sierra leone, liberia, algeria. the total number of cases is approaching 2,000.

>> the u.s. government has approved sample doses of that experimental ebola drug zmapp to be sent to liberia. mapp pharmaceutical which makes the drug says its supply is now exhausted. >> an important thing to note is ebola can only be spread through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. but there are many fears surrounding this virus. cnn's chief medical correspondent dr. sanjay gupta looks at some of the possible reasons why. >> it's airborne. >> reporter: could this -- or this -- be the roots of our fear of the ebola virus? >> what's wrong with these people? >> i don't know, i don't know! >> ebola is the most feared in part because it had a movie made about it. >> you could do a whole film festival on virus movies.

the way it's been portrayed in some of these movies is strangers in hazmat suits walking through villages of poor, mystified african people. children looking out at the camera, african children, with scared, confused faces. >> reporter: and of course an infected animal. >> all of these things have this element of the strange, the alien. very, very fearful imams. >> reporter: it's been called the outbreak narrative. it tends to play out the same way. a mysterious deadly virus in a developing country stirs fear among people in developed countries. >> the first thing they seem to ask themselves is, is it going to come and get me, spread across america? >> reporter: another problem, the outbreak narrative that unfolds in movies looks a lot like the one that unfolds on the

news. >> an ebola emergency -- >> the first patient with ebola to be treated -- >> reporter: the drama can become intertwined. it confuses, for some, the facts about ebola. >> we can stop ebola. we know how to do it. >> reporter: why do we seem more afraid of ebola than sars? or the flu? because, he says, ebola is more dramatic. >> this virus kills 90% of the people it infects. the idea that it's extraordinarily bloody, the idea that causes people to bleed out, the idea that it dissolves bodies. those images were so lurid and so riveting that people fixated on ebola. ah, it's the world's most dangerous and most scary virus! >> reporter: scary but not yet a threat here, not yet a cause for concern. >> worry about the african people who are dying of this disease, be concerned about them. their misery and their jeopardy.

>> reporter: dr. sanjay gupta, cnn,. thing. reporting. still to come this hour on cnn, we're nearly halfway through a three-day cease-fire in the middle east. >> straight ahead, the rush is on to make repairs so gaza can have some of the desperately needed basics.

you are watching cnn special coverage. >> thanks for staying with us on cnn. here are our top stories. actor robin williams is dead at the aim of 63. he was found in his northern california home monday. the local sheriff's office says coroners believe his death was a suicide due to asphyxia. a