the meeting is being held by baghdad. the list of the delegates attending tells a very different story. only one of the gulf states has sent a head of government. behind the scenes, a failure to take a stand over the syrian crisis. >> mortar shells crashing into homs. verifiable footage that shows a town being blasted. the commentator on the video appeals to syria's arab neighbors for help. in their absence, he then calls to god. >> [speaking foreign language] >> syrian president bashar al- assad is reported to have accepted an international plan to stop the bloodshed. these images show protesters coming under fire. they say the regime is not interested in dialogue until its opponents have been rousted. if anything, the situation in syria is getting worse. 9000 people have been killed. the army continues its offensive. in baghdad at the arab league summit, regional leaders say they will not attack -- there shackled -- they are shackled. many are not even here. direct neighbors, iraq and lebanon, are urging caution. the en

i think the arab league summit is scheduled for baghdad. so that will certainly be one measure of how closely aligned iraq is with sort of the regional politics and the region nol diplomacy and u.s. interests in the region. give us your sense on the current view from baghdad as far as syria goes. >> let me first start with something that you said. i mentioned but i think it's very important the arab league summit is scheduled to take place in baghdad. that's a remarkable development. march 29th. it's a summit that baghdad was up next in the rotation, it had been put off for a couple of years. this, assuming it goes forward, is a profound sign, a symbol as well as practical manifestcation of iraq in the region. they have government fears that they could see sectarian spillover, that this could agitate the sunni population in iraq and create sectarian tension in iraq so they are very concerned about it. as we've said on numerous occasions to iraqi leaders, the cause of the instability in syria and twhaus creates the greatest potential for the

there is still a huge security presence on the streets of baghdad. it costs a small fortune to stage this summit. iraq has declared the whole thing a big success. even though there has been little, if any, progress on syria. >> for more on the arab league summit, i am joined by michael hudson. thank you for joining us. a serious situation in syria. it is currently ongoing. not a lot of interest from the arab league summit with just half of the leaders in attendance in baghdad. >> it is not that they are not interested in the problem of syria, but there are a lot of problems with iraq itself. the regime now has concentrated power in himself and most of these leaders who are sunni feel like he is treating the suny community badly and is too much under the influence of iran. he is not an honest broker of their opinion and they're making their point by not sending their top leaders. >> a lot of regional gamesmanship taking place right now in this terribly the summit. what about -- in this arab league summit. the developments in syria have gone from bad t

teams on the streets of baghdad where there's also been a day-long curfew. iraq's relations with arab neighbors are still tense so it wasn't surprising that the leaders of many gulf sunni states stayed away. others may have been deterred by the country's precarious security situation. two mortars landing not far from theconference center as summit began won't calm any nerves. but the main topic on the agenda, the crisis in syria. delegates formerly supported a u.n. plan to end the fighting. >> the syrian government has reason to join special envoy, mr. kofi annan, accepting his six-point plan, which was endorsed by the united nations security council. the world is waiting for commitments to be translated into action. >> but even as they spoke and footage emerged of mortar shells smashing into homs, a town being blasted into submission. the commentators on the video appealed to syria's arab neighbors for help. in their absence, he then called to god. these images show protestors coming under fire. they say the regime is not interested in dialogue until its po

he is known by some as the dog whisperer of baghdad. >>> first today, are you sure that you're getting every penny's worth when you fill up your gas tank in the numbers on the pump display may not always tell the full story. the i-team's tisha thompson explains what to look for. >> reporter: think you are watching every penny at the pump these days? >> many, many. probably thousands. >> reporter: you've got nothing on elizabeth conky. every day, she's on the road inspecting gas stations in maryland. >> all inspections are unannounced. >> reporter: for the state department of agriculture. and boy, can she stop the meter on a dime, or in this case, a penny. >> my greatest job skill is being able to stop exactly at five gallons. >> reporter: to make sure customers aren't getting shortchan shortchanged, she uses these specially calibrated containers, they look a lot like milk jugs. first, she makes each pump starts and stays on zero for 30 seconds. >> i pump until this says five gallons and then i read how much was actually dispensed. >> reporter: there is a toll perhaps. if the pump dispe

this is a live shot out of baghdad there as various presidents and prime ministers gather. the syrian membership was suspended a few months ago. it was not ejected. it was merely suspended. washington in the past few hours or so calling on the arab league countries to exert pressure on syria. syria is not there. how do they do it? >> well, there is another question of whether they want to do it. syria is not there. syria has said it will not deal with any decisions from the arab league. izz hat only bilateral relations because it has been suspended. so far what we know is it will probably reject foreign intervention in syria saying -- there will be language against president assad's crackdown on protests in syria. there will be support through the syrian people's right to choose their own leaders and their right to freedom. but at the same time, from what we hear so far in the iraqi press, there has been agreements yesterday in the arab foreign minister's meeting on the draft, the declaration which will oppose foreign intervention. not confirmed from any source yet except t

this is normally one of the busiest markets in baghdad. today the shopkeepers have plenty of time to talk. >> how is business? he tells me no one has come to his electronic shop in a week because of all the security. and this man says that he would not mind if the checkpoint made things safer, but they only bring suffering. instead of 30 minutes, it takes him in three hours to get to work. as the shopkeepers prepare for their long trip home, we find optimists. he is a local poet writing about everything from love to democracy. have you written anything about the arab league? >> no. >> he has a poem about everything. in summary, this arab summit is a shot to iraq as enemies and a blessing to iraq's friends and will mark the beginning of the arab consensus. arum leaders will seek consensus in the heavily fortified greene's own. they will not visit the rest of the country, which still faces continuous violence. they will not see places like solder city, -- sadr city, where they might not receive a warm welcome. some people in the crowd tell m

ever since saddam hussein invaded kuwait in 1990 baghdad was a pariah state and now baghdad officialsiraqi officials are saying no, that time is over, we're back in the arab world and we're here to stay. >> warner: kelly mcevers of npr, thanks so much. >> you're welcome. >> woodruff: finally tonight, we remember two american artists, beginning with poet adrienne rich in her own words. rich was one of the most widely- read and influential poets of her time. a leading feminist, known especially for her politically- engaged verse. her best-known volume, "diving into the wreck," won the national book award in 1973. she died tuesday at her home in santa cruz, california. here she is at the dodge poetry festival in 1998 reading her poem, "what kind of times are these." >> there's a place between two stands of trees where the grass grows uphill and the old revolutionary road bleaks off into shadows near a meeting house abandoned by the persecuted who disappeared into those shadows. i've walked there picking mushrooms at the edge of dread, but don't be fooled. this isn't a russian poem, this

what's the baghdad. the rebels bastion seems to be awakening the day after an earthquake. eight years after the war its inhabitants are still living among the real ones. the hospital doctors are fighting another war today as every day the maternity unit is on alert a deformed baby has just been aboard the fifth this week this newborn is suffering from a serious malformations the doctors think they will survive but he may never be able to walk. one of them says. he needs an operation at the moment he's much too weak for us to move forward with surgery so we have him on observation we have seen many other types of deformities he's not alone some are more severe than others we have something he is born without skulls without ordeals and sometimes with their legs totally twisted hard to look at this little lax the mother of this baby is in shock this woman has had three children before this one all born without any health problems and this deformed baby is the first such case in her family but there's a dramatic rise in such phenomena in fallujah one birth in five dogs and it'

. >> on march 5th, 2007, a car bomb was exploded on mutanabbi street in baghdad. mutanabbi street is a mixed shia-suni area. more than 30 people were killed and more than 100 were wounded. this locale is the historic center of baghdad book selling, a winding street filled with bookstores and outdoor book stalls. named after the famous 10th century classic poet, al-mutanabbi, this is an old and established street for book selling and has been for hundreds of years. mutanabbi street also holds cafes, stationary shops, and even tea and tobacco shops. it has been the heart and soul of the baghdad literary and intellectual community. this tragedy is part of a wider and continuing tragedy, but one that we want to isolate and address, not only for the loss of lives but also for the implications underlying the destruction of a street where books were sold. book selling on mutanabbi street is no different from book selling here. we traffic in memory, ideas and dreams. in that sense, we feel that mutanabbi street starts at the front door of all of our book shops. mutanabbi

for the first time in more than two decades, today, the arab league held at their summit in baghdad. despite the security risks, the symbolism was plain to see. as for substance, only a handful of arab leaders showed up and the turmoil in syria, where the one says that a million people need humanitarian assistance, overshadowed everything. >> it has cost a fortune, but at this stage at the summit, thousands of police and heavily armed swat teams on the streets of baghdad. there has also been a day long curfew. relations are still tense. it is not surprising that the leaders of many gulf sunni states stayed away. many have been deterred by the sectarian the situation. two blasts not far from the conference center and began just as the conference did. delegates, formally supported a u.n. plan to end the fighting. >> the syrian has met with kofi annan, excepting his plan which was endorsed by the united nations security council. the world is waiting for commitments to be translated into action. >> even as they spoke, and there but -- unverifiable footage emerged of mortar shells being l

two blasts hit baghdad just as the conference began. iraqi officials hosted the event to prove the country can maintain security. after u.s. troops left in december. only ten of 22 arab league members are taking part. media leaders disagree on how far arab countries should go to stop the violence in neighboring syria. >> there's no time to waste. >> reporter: secretary general moon says syrian president bashar al-assad must act quickly on the u. n.-backed peace plan he has agreed to. the deal demands the cease fire but dropped the call for assad to step down. the sunni power of saudi arabia is pushing to stop the violent one year crackdown. but iraq's shiite prime minister is urging caution. saying forcing assad out could spark sectarian violence. similar to what happened in iraq after saddam hussein was toppled. tina krause, cbs news. >> u. n. officials say that more than 9,000 people have died in syria's year long battle. >>> coming up next, howard has the forecast. >> j. c., bright sunshine right now. but we've got some chilly weathe

arab league leaders held their summit in baghdad. the meeting was meant to show the world the region is united. but divisions still remain. nhk world yujiro futori reports. >> arab league leaders arrived at the presidential palace. however, former summit regulars such as egyptian presidents hosni mubarak and libyan leader moammar gadhafi were conspicuously absent. in their place, new leaders attended the summit who inherited the reins of government as a result of democratic movements during the past year. topping the agenda was how to deal with the syria where the government continues to crack down on opposition forces. a wide rift has emerged between nations pushing for democracy and those fearing protest movements. >> translator: the arab league should take a firm response to the government clamp down on ordinary syrians. >> translator: the arab league should explore ways to resolve the syrian situation without foreign intervention. >> reporter: after seven hours of debate, the leaders expressed their commitment to help settle the

hello, baghdad bob, have you moved to syria? the united states is weighing in on assad's commitment to stopping the slaughter. labored breathing ]

. >> on march 5th, 2007, a car bomb was exploded on mutanabbi street in baghdad. mutanabbi street is a mixed shia-suni area. more than 30 people were killed and more than 100 were wounded. this locale is the historic center of baghdad book selling, a winding street filled with bookstores and outdoor book stalls. named after the famous 10th century classic poet, al-mutanabbi, this is an old and established street for book selling and has been for hundreds of years.

well i mean the arab league summit in baghdad today hasn't been particularly well timed out it's less than half of the twenty leaders have actually participated in the number of the countries sending that and i think envoys instead say a lot of people saying that that's possibly much more a political stunt than a security issue baghdad just had reports of two explosions in the area no confirmation about exactly. a lot of the details of that but i think that the lack of participation from a number of the countries thought to be much more political iraq's foreign minister had said that the country i rejected calls the foreign military intervention as a means of resolving the crisis in syria of course a series that city talk of the agenda at this arab league summit iraq's position in a number of the other arab countries of course differing quite widely from what we see some of the other especially gulf countries. many of those countries calling indeed for owning the syrian opposition and to sending in arab states the arab league really a very hand at it again at the moment as we have see

randy michaels was released in baghdad on saturday.els had been in iraq as a civilian before that, he was working in a military capacity. after nine months captivity, michaels appeared at a press conference today wearing a u.s. military uniform. >> i was taken inside baghdad and had been kept in and around different locations within the city. it was explained to me that my release has been more for humanitarian reasons and there was no exchange involved. >> so far, neither the u.s. embassy nor military officials here in washington could be reached for comment. >>> tonight, we're learning more about the u.s. soldier accused of killing 16 afghan civilians, including women and children. staff sergeant robert bales was flown to the u.s. military prison in fort leavenworth, kansas, yesterday. neighbors in his home of washington state describe bales as a kindhearted father who was seen playing with his two children in their yard. they say he was guarded, though, when talking about the three tours of duty and war. >> i'm shocked. i'm complete

constitutional battle i mean this is a cultural battle and we've seen the results in kabul and in baghdad we're seeing the results in egypt and in libya that the united states can't just control every single human endeavor on the planet we don't have the power we don't have the knowledge we don't even have the moral fiber and i mean you see presidents can't even manage to produce a budget that makes any sense in this country and yet they want to talk about it even traffic was in baghdad that the whole idea is absurd and one calls call people out and that's why he is leading and this campaign has been a huge exercise in building a movement within the republican party that follows these ideas of personal freedom of peace and liberty ok marcie in washington and mark in sacramento you both were nodding your head there mark in washington when you go to you very theory you guys agree with him on polls positions but then when i ask you about you know when we're listening to michael then you know i go to you and say but but but but i mean it sometimes it is kind of simple isn't it go ahead mark i

was inside baghdad and was around different .ocations within the city it was explained to me that my release was more for humanitarian reasons and there was no exchange involved. they claim that the man was by anti-american militia leaders. identified him as randy hope. tonight, he is in the american baghdad where they out whatg to figure .is store was all about aboute new information american soldier accused of rampage oneurderous ago tonight. he allegedly killed 16 afghans, armyding nine children isff sergeant robert bales being held at leavenworth, kansas. withar he was frustrated some aspects of his military had money trouble, and brushes with full wall. but many who knew him say that was an outstanding person and soldier. military officials say that, drinking at the southern afghanistan days, he went to two nearby villages overnight last sunday, shooting his victims and setting many on fire. his former platoon leader say are totallyegations out of character. home, there were financial pressures, too. two very different pictures of robert bayless. many saw a family man, and fathe

iraq is preparing to host an arab summit later this month in baghdad. government officials are tightening security throughout the country. they hope to impress arab leader with their progress in security and reconstruction. >>> next we go to bangkok to find out what's making headlines in the region. >> has asked them to issue an arrest warrant for pervez musharraf. the one-time military leader is living in self-imposed exile. pakistan's current leaders want to prevent him from returning to politics. >> reporter: pakistani law enforcement officials told nhk they have taken steps under international law to arrest pervez musharraf. the former president is already wanted in pakistan over the assassination of 2007 of ex-premier benazir bhutto. equate sy ug awe of plans f fo mudon andba it' up point out t rertg rhemeda the generio mala iacofth i silelar t nio ftbl t g io bhise pl nnithc r iiar: maya hese alaseese . , 's y g. inssowh end 'sngoein o. edhs8 s, icisnge dhe . , agale isllhsng ohf eys n. hoveheounds lleoee dehorsn swnkao will continueo anil o low p

embassy in baghdad. yesterday a shiite militia said it was releasing a u.s. soldier, but embassy officials say holtz was actually in baghdad on private business. they say he is not a soldier nor a contractor. >>> in yemen, an american teacher is shot and killed, that's according to two yemeni defense ministry officials. the u.s. embassy hasn't independently confirmed story but they're investigating. an al qaeda affiliate says it is behind the attack. >>> in new york, protesters marked the six month anniversary of the occupy wall street movement by getting arrested. police apprehended dozens of protesters yesterday as they cleared zhu caughty park. officers are clearing the park today making sure no more demonstrations happen. >>> and this will be a significant week for the army staff sergeant accused of killing 16 afghan civilians. robert bales is expected to meet with his legal defense team for the first time. and he may be formally charged in the deaths of those men, women and children in kandahar, afghanistan. sergeant bales is in military prison in solita

nhk world, baghdad. >>> japan has called on china to put additional pressure on north korea to cancel its planned rocket launch in april. japan's bureau chief suzuki met in beijing. woo is trying a special envoy of the nuclear program. during the meeting, they shared concern using long-range missile technology. wu said china is doing all it can to promote a nuclear-free peninsula and establish stability in the region. >> translator: if north korea goes ahead with the launch, it will be a clear violation of u.n. security resolutions, banning all testing of ballistic missiles. so we have been strongly urging the north not to make such a violation. >> he said the diplomatic efforts declined to comment on whether the chinese counterpart acknowledged it would violate the u.n. security council resolutions. >>> philippine president aquino has urged north korea to cancel the planned rocket launch. he expressed grave concern that debris could land on his kournlt free. north korea has said the second stage of the rocket will fall into the ocean northeast of luison islands in the philippines. >>

army uniform took part in a media briefing in baghdad, claiming he had been held by iraqi militia for nine months. >> it explain to me my release was for more humanitarian reasons and no exchange involved. >> the man did not identify himself but iraqi lawmakers showed u.s. issued military and contractor i.d. cards that identify him as randy michael holt. he said he deployed to iraq early in the war but left the military after 150 months and worked as a civilian in iraq. he is now at the u.n. compound in baghdad. >> this man has not ben seen since authorities discovered the bodies of her 11 year daughter and son. today, family and friends went out looking for the missing mom. investigators believe martha may have been killed or hurt in the apparent murder suicide wednesday night. relatives say specialist gutierrez was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. >> why did they have guns? why permitted to have guns. came out of a psychiatric ward, and the army should be out here having a search party, helping. >> specialist gutierrez had been transitioning into the california nationa

confirm the american embassy in baghdad is assisting him.oldier accused of killing 16 people in kansas maximum security. gop candidates are getting ready for the next contest, puerto rico is the primary and followed by illinois on tuesday. the president and the gop talking gasoline prices today. right now triple a reported that a gallon of unloaded is up 29 sevens from last year at this time . president obama laying out his policy saying he wants to end subbed sidies for the oil companies . a republican from colorado blaming the president for the pain at the pump. it is well known factors beyond the president's control can cause price to rise. and presidents take a hit when gasoline prices rise . president obama is no exception . he made his energy policy the focus was campaign-like stops. he took aim at republican rivals for promising cheaper gasoline. >> it is easy to promise a quick fx with gas prices. but there is not one. any career politician who promises two dollar gas they are not looking for solution, but they are looking for your v