which in turn threatens to become all-out war. >> and arwa's joining us now from beirut. indications the week that already a civil war is under way. what are you seeing or hearing as far as this notion that an all-out civil war has already begun? >> well, wolf, it's becoming something that we're increasingly hearing, just about anyone who has anything to do with syria, speaking about from united nations officials, some of whom have declared it an all-out civil war, to opposition activists themselves. and this is not a scenario that anyone would have wanted. it is going to be an incredibly ugly, bloody, brutal, horrifying, and unconventional battlefield, and it is invariably, because of the dynamics that exist, suck in regional if not global players as well. so it's not a good prognosis for syria, tragically, but it is one that seems to be utterly unavoidable. >> and this notion of russia providing attack helicopters to the bashar al assad regime, attack helicopters, they could slaughter a lot of civilians. what's the latest on that front? >> reporter: well, the russians a

thank you very much, arwa.out syria is dominating the united nations general assembly session today. cnn's foreign affairs correspondent is jill daugherty and he's watching all that for us. jill, despite all we're seeing in syria, is the security council still standing by that so-called six-point peace plan? >> reporter: they are. and arwa was mentioning kofi an an. when we listen to him, we listened with great interest expecting to hear some sort of plan "b," something, a contact group that might take this forward, but he said actually very little other than saying the world community has to work together. the most interesting stuff that came out of the united nations this morning was ban ki-moon, and he warned, number one, that he said assad has lost legitimacy. that's very important when you have a secretary-general saying something like that. he referred to barberity and he said both sides can't work together. here is how he put this terrible dilemma. >> syria is at the pivotal moment and so are we. syriaen

joining me now from beirut, lebanon, is cnn's arwa damon. i know you've been to the area. tell us what we're seeing. >> reporter: yeah. it's some pretty intense video. this is a neighborhood that was under the control of the opposition of the free syrian party for quite some time now, and it is right up against a front line, one of many front lines in the city where on the other side of one of the major roads you have government forces. we were recently broadcasting some pretty intense images of the battles that took place along ta front line and it is an aarea that frequently comes under intense violence, but what you're seeing today is more. it certainly seems, if we look at the violence throughout the country, the government is renewing its effort to try to regain control over these areas that are in the hands of the free syrian army and opposition activists. there was some pretty intense fighting, bombardment. also fighting. some of the most widespread fighting we've seen since this uprising began, and this most certainly is going to be very worrisome for the governmen

arwa damon for us in beirut, lebanon. thank you very much. >>> secretary of state hillary clinton has been front and center calling for action on syria. she met with kofi annan yesterday to discuss annan's peace plan. check out what the american people think of the problem. only 33% of america think the government should intervene. a rise over what it was in february, but still not a big number who think the u.s. has any responsibility in syria. joining me now, mark katz, a professor of government and politics at george mason university. professor, good morning to you. let's talk about syria here. i mean, we have seen the horrors. so why isn't the united states pushing for military intervention as they have in many areas before? >> i think because the american public and the american government are tired of intervention that didn't work out so well in iraq or afghanistan, and i think that the u.s. fears that intervention in syria could be a years' long effort which is going to be inconclusive. >> when you look at the syri

amazing video, arwa. pictures reminded me of what we used to see, still see to a certain degree in both iraq and afghanistan, al qaeda-related suicide bombings, if you will. what are you hearing from your vantage point? who is responsible for the suicide attacks? >> well, clearly, wolf, as you saw in the video there, at least one attack that was targeting that check point was carried out by this brigade itself. it is however important to note that the conventional members of the free syrian army including this brigade say that they only target syrian government security forces. that they are not targeting civilians. but what we have also been seeing increasingly in damascus and aleppo are attacks being carried out using car bombs, suicide bombs. and what we're seeing overall is this very frightening to a certain degree shift in the battlefield in syria. most certainly is not conventional. and there are great concerns that if the situation continues as it does, these extremist fringe elements could gain mo

arwa, thanks very much.continue the conversation with a mideast scholar, a senior fellow at the hoover institution and author of the important new book, the "syrian rebellion." fouad, any chance the russians and the chinese will join the rest of the u.n. security council, would authorize a resolution to take a serious action in syria to stop the slaughter? >> you know, wolf, the very short answer is none whatsoever. the idea that we would lie on the sweet% of v lad nir putin is laughable, and the chinese and russians have declared it themselves and they have vetoed one resolution one after another and they're committed to the bashar regime, and i think we go to them and we go to the russians and the chinese to simply run out the clock. >> why did they agree to allow the u.n. security council resolution to be passed as far as libya and moammar gadhafi is concerned and bashar al assad is concerned. wolf, there you have it, and in fact, the security council resolution passed over libya became an ally for the ru

or wa dame arwa damon is on the phone from lebanon. tell us more about russia digging in its heels.china. right? >> reporter: most certainly that's the case, fredricka. trying to get russia and china to blink on positions is one of the main aims of the u.s. administration. it's been a serious -- high profile negotiations, trying to convince russia. russia is saying it is not supporting president bashar assad per se, but it is not believed that military intervention will help resolve the crisis in syria. it's believed that the opposition, the rebels, will only further inflame the situation, and that certainly russia is very concerned about its own interests when it comes to syria. it's very much become something of a battleground, if you implore these equal powers, each concerned about their own power in syria. and meanwhile, the uprisings of civil war. >> meantime, also violence in damascus. tell us more about how that's being played out. >> reporter: well, what opposition activists are telling us is that this is some of the most intense and widespread fighting since this uprising b

arwa arwa damon, thank you so much for brings us that reporting. >>> all right.s country, democrats and republicans working together on capitol hill? the outcome could end up hurting american farmers. >>> don't forget the watch cnn live on your computer. go to cnn.com/tv. 100% real che. but then...it wouldn't be stouffer's mac & cheese. just one of over 70 satisfying recipes for one from stouffer's. in your car. now count the number of buttons on your tablet. isn't it time the automobile advanced? introducing cue in the all-new cadillac xts. the simplicity of a tablet has come to your car. ♪ the all-new cadillac xts has arrived. and it's bringing the future forward. blast of cold feels nice. why don't you use bengay zero degrees? it's the one you store in the freezer. same medicated pain reliever used by physical therapists. that's chilly. [ male announcer ] new bengay zero degrees. freeze and move on. with your photographs. ( younger sister ) where's heaven ? ( older sister ) far. what will you inspire, with the eos rebel t3i and ef lenses, for ron's next projec

. >> arwa damon, thank you. >>> and eric holder, attorney general, assigned attorneys to help in theestigation of security leaks. president obama says his administration has zero tolerance for lyrics. >>> and a manhunt underway for an alabama man suspected of killing 9-year-old twins and their baby-sitter. take a look at this picture. he is considered armed and dangerous. federal marshals now offering a $5,000 reward for information that will lead to his arrest. the body of the twins and their elderly baby-sitter were found on a dirt road in haneville, alabama. investigators have not released a motive. >>> federal health experts are scrambling now to trace the source of a mysterious e. coli outbreak. 14 people in six states have now been sickened by the same deadly strain of e. coli in just the past couple of months. at least one child died in louisiana, several other hospitalized. the cdc is looking at food and non-food as a possible source, but louisiana health officials suspect food is to blame. >>> prince philip was released from a british hospital today after being hospitalized

arwa damon is in beirut to tell us about this the pretty tremendous defection, arwa?er jet pilot defecting during a training mission earlier this morning. he flew his fighter jet into jordan and then asked to be allowed to conduct an emergency landing. he was allowed to do so. and then he asked and received political asylum from the jordanian government. this is, of course, just a single isolated incident at the state, but this particular fighter pilot was a colonel and could potentially be the resource of some pretty valuable information. some insight into the exact size and capability of assad's air force, and potentially, about what he intends or how he intends to use it against members of the opposition, brooke. >> and also, just speaking to the timing here, this defection, arwa, it's interesting timing, because we know that just yesterday, u.s. ambassador robert ford issued a warning of sorts, via facebook, to the syrian armed forces. let me just read some of that. ford says, "members of the syrian military should reconsider their support for a regime that is los

erin. >> thanks to arwa. >>> now to greece where a televised political debate took a very ugly turn whenber of the golden dawn party, that's the right-wing party that's been associated with nazis attacked one of his rivals on the air. he now faces potential legal action. matthew chance watched the debate. i asked him what the heck happened. >> reporter: erin, an arrest warrant has now been issued for the spokesman of that neo-nazi party in greece after this astonishing assault on two female deputies live on greek television. the man from the golden door party on the bottom left, first hurling a glass of water over the desk, apparently offended the mention of his alleged involvement in an armed robbery in 2007. he then turned on a politician from the greek communist party, hitting her repeatedly around the face before the show cut away. incredible, they're all taking part in a live television debate ahead of elections next week. it will be interesting to see how this shocking incident will have an impact on the vote. erin. >> that's very, very -- wow. >>> now our fifth story outfront. we

to say we do not want to support this program because we arwa about fufunding is to say that we expect low income children who are trng to get to school to fillithe gap in ou budget. hat is unacceptable youhave ardrom members of power and community members across the city about t crisis that families arehaving d childr a having, being criminalize on their way to school and work and after-school activities. commissioner campos: thank you very much. next speaker please. >> supervisors, you know, toy, they a going to observe this day in r ofvey milk. i wt al abo a t leader, sees her job as. i want to put this in context. -- ces chavez. you supervisors, when it comes to payi fiveth t dollars to e like nan f you dt y helping our senior and youth linked to the transrtatio of these hurdles. now, those who are oo those who not havehe ability to represent in the courts they come here and humblreof you but the poor have been trying to say something to you for over 1years. emembewhen you cou ride then 25 cents. then 25 cents. then 75 cents. nw whev. it is very ey, with our $6.9 illi, give r free

arwa damon reports. >> reporter: on thursday, activists proudly posted this video to youtube.ntly verify its authenticity, but they said it was the neighborhood right in the heart of the capital. thousands filled the streets, the largest antigovernment demonstration in this particular neighborhood since the unrest began. it is no small feat. we visited the area back in january, the last time we were granted government visas. setting up these demonstrations took activists days of plotting. they would preposition spotters to warn of advancing government forces. at best, their chants would last a few minutes before henchmen would arrive. they are just telling us that we have to go faster. the government is moving in from all sides right now. >> reporter: but how did the dynamics so drastically change in the free syrian army is protecting us now, residents from there told me. the military doesn't dare enter. a free syrian army enclave right in the center of damascus, brazenness the government is determined to extinguish. on friday and into the weekend, fierce clashes broke out in

cnn's arwa damon is there. tell us about those demonstrations that did get violent today. >> reporter: it's pretty incredible, fredricka, when you think about it, for more than 15 months activists have been taking to the streets, getting shot at, dying by the hundreds. thousands, in fact, killed up until now, more than 12,000, and still they continue to go out there. we saw demonstrations in a town where they were carrying a banner that no longer said go to the president, it said quite sarcastically and in a very dark way, no, do stay, because we're coming to get you. in another province masses gathering as well. throughout the entire continue, in fact, but again as has been the cycle since the onset, activists say they came under government fire as they were demonstrating. up to 40 people killed countrywide. also in various acts of shelling and military assaults that were taking place as well. the syrian government is saying that it is being targeted by these terrorist gangs. state tv airing video of the alleg

let's bring in cnn's arwa damon who has been covering this story for us.reaking when you look at these pictures, but tell our viewers here in the united states and around the world what's going on right now. >> reporter: it most certainly is, wolf, and these are images of the aftermath of what activists say was a massacre carried out by assad military forces and these pro-government gangs that effectively act as a hit squad for the assad regime. the images show the youngest and most innocent of the casualties, children, some of them are wrapped in blankets, others shrouded in the white burial cloth. some of them have little bits of paper with their names written on them. they're four children from one family alone at least according to the voice narrating this footage and they're also, you'll be able to see what looked like chunks of ice, bottles that were filled with water, frozen and other makeshift ways to try to keep the bodies from decomposing. these specific children's mother and uncle also said to have been killed in this attack. this village is tin

arwa damon is in beirut, lebanon, since cnn crews are not allowed in syria these days, arwa.se u.n. observers able to see the massacre site finally? >> reporter: well, it seems as if they were able to navigate through the various government checkpoints and, in fact, not get shot at on the route. those who we-- were the two this that happened yesterday that prevented them from accessing the site. some of the other reporters who have been granted visas said they witnessed buildings that were burnt, some had clear indication that is rocket propelled grenades and other artillery had been fired into them, describing scenes where blood was on the floor where it seemed like people were trying to clean things up, pushing all sorts of debris and clumps of brain matter into corners trying to clean up the aftermath of this truly horrific massacre. as you said there, nearly 80 people killed, and more than half of them according to opposition activists, were women and children, fredricka. >> arwa damon, thanks so much, joining us from beirut, lebanon. >>> we want to take you out to counci

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arwa damon, cnn, beirut. >>> i'm suzanne malveaux.n right now. one is a u.s. army helicopter that went down today killing both crew members on board. military officials believe it was shot down from the ground. more details when we get them. >>> also today two separate suicide bombers hit a crowded market in kandahar. at least 22 people were killed. it happened near a nato airfield. >>> and back in the u.s., jury selection has resumed in the child rape trial of jerry sandusky. now, you may recall he's a former penn state assistant football coach accused of sexually abusing te

arwa damon live on the phone for us from beirut, lebanon.s sounds terrible, and now with russia weighing in in this way, how does anyone propose to see a future without this kind of continued violence? >> reporter: well, that's the big question, fredricka, it has been since the onset of the uprising. russia's position has not changed, no matter how extreme the violence inside syria becomes, no matter how horrifying the images eand seeing out of there are, russia and china at this point are not changing their positions. they most certainly do not believe that foreign military intervention is the way forward, nor do they believe in arming the opposition. they're not trying to put any direct pressure on the regime to force them from power. they believe this is an internal syrian issue that needs to be dealt with as such. the problem, of course, is that as long as this uprising remains so polar rising when it comes to the global stage, any sort of resolution requires unity, well that's something of a mission impossible to try to achieve at this

arwa damon live on the phone for us from beirut, lebanon.ds terrible, and now with russia weighing in in

this is stellar reporting from our correspondent on the ground, arwa damon reporting on a group of syrianeporter: a voice says, this is a suicide bombing mission against assad soldiers. god is great, the voice declares, as a van comes into view, apparent approaching a checkpoint. the camera zooms in. outgunned by assad's forces, some rebels have turned to suicide bombs and roadside ieds, iraq-style guerilla warfare. >> so the question becomes, and i know, libya is not at all syria, but i remember, we covered libya and the concern was, you know, who are these -- who is the opposition? if we do get involved, you know, who do we back? these are not necessarily nice folks, the rebels. who do we back, what do we do? >> first of all, you're absolutely right. not all the rebels are nice folks and not many of them have ever read the federalist papers. the key, though, again, is time. so far, according to intelligence sources i've been in touch with, here and abroad, there have only been hundreds of jihadists that have moved from other countries into syria, as opposed to the -- you know, the hundr

arwa damon brings us the story. >> reporter: this man peers out from his makeshift battle position ande me the radio, he calls out, as a hail of bullets from syrian government forces drowns out his orders. movement is spotted to the left. there it is, there it is, someone shouts. as the armored personnel carrier moves back into sight, a voice cries out. look, kofi annan, he shouts, mocking the idea of a cease-fire. these rebels say they are protecting residents of the homs neighborhood from an assault by regime forces. cairo street is now the front line separating the rebel stronghold from the neighborhood held by the government. once a bustling middle class shopping area, the street is now in ruins. the local rebel commander crawls through holes fighters smash between buildings to take up position. there are government forces on a balcony across the road. the 32-year-old peers down the scope. is it where the red and blue towels are, he asks? affirmative. the street seems deserted but the fighters of the free syrian army say it's not just about defending residents still here, but the p

arwa damon, cnn, beirut. >>> i'm suzanne malveaux. two things we are watching in afghanistan right now. one is a u.s. army helicopter that went down today killing both crew members on board. military officials believe it was shot down from the ground. more details when we get them. >>> also today two separate suicide bombers hit a crowded market in kandahar. at least 22 people were killed. it happened near a nato airfield. >>> and back in the u.s., jury selection has resumed in the child rape trial of jerry sandusky. now, you may recall he's a former penn state assistant football coach accused of sexually abusing ten boys for more than a decade. nine jurors have already been chosen. attorneys are asking them about their ties to penn state and the charity for underprivileged children that sandusky founded. >>> republican scott walker keeping his job as governor of wisconsin. >> the only governor elected twice in one term! >> walker defeated milwaukee mayor tom barrett in a recall race that, of course, has implications for the president