my view is that we don't have any more sanctions to put on myanmar. i think we need a new approach. >> webb says he plans to meet with secretary of state hillary clinton to talk about his myanmar visit. >> the question came up is the united states and the eu -- should they put more sanctions on myanmar after the situation with aung san suu kyi's conviction, and my view is that we don't have any more sanctions to put on -- on myanmar. i think we need a new approach. >> again, he hopes to be meeting with secretary of state clinton in the coming weeks. >>> now the latest in the political battle over health care reform. is the so-called public option dead? the white house is sending mixed signals today. conservatives are pleased and many democrats are concerned. what does it mean to your health care? steve handelsman has the latest now from capitol hill. >> reporter: president obama did not mention the public option today as he talked health care to veterans. >> no one is going to take away your benefits. that is the plain and simple truth. >> reporter: b

jim web met with leaders in myanmar to get john yettaw free. he was convicted for violating immigration laws for swimming to the home of suu kyi. he's happy but called yettaw's actions regrettable. >> we thought it was hurtful for the person he was trying to help. but at the same time on humanitarian grounds, i feel fortunate that the government honored my request to allow him to come back here to thailand with me. >> senator web met with suu kyi during his visit to myanmar. he's the first member of congress to visit myanmar in more than a decade. >>> nearly a dozen fires are burning in california right now and thousands of firefighters are doing everything they can to get them under control. it is difficult, though. the biggest fire in the santa cruz mountains has burned eight square miles so far. more than 2,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders. a state of emergency has been declared for santa cruz county. now, the fire is proving very difficult to fight because of the terrain there. it is certainly hard to get equipment and peopl

/myanmar relations.ator jim webb made the top general and also was granted rare access to detained pro-democracy leader, something that not even u.n. chief moon received. john yettaw's actions were regrettable, but they stressed that yettaw is ill of and troubled mind. >> they honored my question to come back here to thailand with me. the most parent of this i believe was this was a gesture from the government of myanmar that we should be grateful for and hopefully build upon. >> reporter: until now, myanmar has been isolated and virtually cut off from the world. sanctions were imposed after the army refused to let the opposition party take control when it won the election. they have been consistently asking for tougher sanctions until democracy is restored. they want to help the impoverished people of myanmar. >> what we want is good relations, to work toward good relations as long as certain guarantees are met. the last administration was not of that mind-set, whether it was myanmar or other places. >>

. >>> an american sentenced to hard labor in myanmar is going home seven years early. he was arrested after swimming across the lake to visit a noble prize winning activist who is under house arrest. but virginia senator jim webb flew to myanmar to help with the release. >> clearly getting the release of john yettaw was important. he's an ill man. he had been taken to a hospital before the verdict was delivered with seizures. we understand he's a vietnam veteran and has a troubled mind i think is the best way of putting it. and obviously, one doesn't know why he swam this lake. there were reports at the time that he had a vision she was going to be assassinated. >> earlier today, webb became the first american to meet with myanm myanmar's top leader, but perhaps the biggest achievement came when he was allowed to meet with the opposition leader today. he conveyed his deep respects. >>> the taliban are claiming responsibility for today's suicide attack in kabul, afghanistan. at least seven died in that attack and 91 were wounded. the bomb site is next to the u.n. embass

we have seen myanmar, the folks there do it before. for propaganda reasons, we have others that were there not too long ago. i know y'all have heard this criticism. what do you say to those who are looking at this as finding this -- even though the senator was not there, the official representative of the state department or the u.s., necessarily but still it's a pretty high-ranking u.s. official making this trip. some say it gives some legitimacy to an oppressive regime. >> this was an official visit by a u.s. senator. he didn't goen beha on behalf o state. he said it works towards resolving our differences. he is a strong believer in aggressive diplomas sichlt i think we saw the fruits of that effort today. >> jessica smith, again, senator webb's communication director out of d.c. we appreciate you hopping on the phone with us. pe appreciate it. >> thank you. >>> they are going to be leaving today. the senator will be leaving with the american, john yettaw, leaving and heading to bangkok. jim webb is on a two-week trip. he will conti

webb met with leaders of the myanmar government yesterday. he swam over to the home of opposition leader aung sun suu kyi. >> i feel fortunate that the government honored my request to allow him to come back here to thailand with me. he was on the aircraft with me. he is not a well man. he had a medical incident this morning when they read him his order of deportation. he is now undergoing a thorough medical review here in the hospital and soon will be able to return to his family. >> senator webb also met with suu kyi during his visit. he's the first member of congress to visit myanmar in more than a decade. >>> u.s. envoy richard holbrooke says pakistan has made enough headway against the taliban and that the u.s. can begin to shift focus to other parts of their relationship. cal perry is in islamabad with what holbrooke hopes to accomplish during his visit. >> reporter: barack obama's top man in pakistan and afghanistan arriving late last night in islamabad. now richard holbrooke is really here to discuss security issues with the pakistani

in the country and myanmar tilt away from our national interest. there's got to be a sprent try do this. >> warner: one of the leading pro-democracy in burma groups says the u.s. nould shot offer the benefits of trade and investment to burma, to myanmar, until it takes real steps to open up its political system. otherwise you'd be just selling democracy down the river. what do you say to that? >> i say i share their objectives of moving to a more open system. the question is how you get there. and one of the interesting historical examples in that case is vietnam itself. i was very strongly opposed to lifting sanctions on vietnam after the communists took over and how they treated the people who were with us. but as other countries lifted their sanctions against vietnam, it became more logical for us to do so and, quite frankly, looking back on it, i think that was a key moment in terms of been by thing the process of opening up vietnam. testimony dissident groups that say you should have team zi first really... i understand their frustrations, but

policy towards myanmar. clearly, they are looking at trying to engage, trying to have some sort of dialogue, possibly more trade and relaxing sanctions. i think this was an important visit. although it was unofficial, clearly, he has the ear of secretary of state hillary clinton. he went there with her blessing to try to find out what was possible, what they werie willig to compromise and what could be done to move this forward. >> dan rivers, you and i talked about this yet, whether or not or exactly how this would play in myanmar. how the government would use this visit by senator webb as a propaganda visit. how is this visit playing in the region? >> it's played extensively on the state-run tv, mrtv. they've shown extensive pictures of senator webb, meeting with the seminar general, meeting with aung san suu kyi. i think they want to give the impression, well, look, here's this u.s. senator coming in, he's holding all these high-level talks, we're doing everything we can to engage with the international c

jim webb negotiated his release from myanmar yesterday.sentenced to seven years before that release and webb is the first congressman to visit myanmar in over a decade, so he addressed reporters that morning at the bangkok airport and let's get you to latest on what he had to say. dan rivers joins us live from bangkok. were you able to learn at all through the news conference how he wu able to secure the release of john yettaw? >> reporter: well, senator webb is being a little circumspect, betty, because he says he's going to report back to secretary of state hillary clinton first, but clearly, i think the reason they were so keen to allow him in and allow him such incredible access is he has long been a critic of the bush administration's policy of sanctions against this regime of isolation, of punishment. and what he laid out in his press conference was basically it's time for a change. hillary clinton has already announced there's a review of policy going on. it's time we engaged this regime and traded with them and perhaps improve the

he met with the myanmar president.that maybe he might be able to go, get this man released. the american who was convicted, according to jim webb's office, i have a release in my mand. i am grateful to the myanmar government for honoring these requests. now, he was not, however, it seems able to secure a release for the woman. he did meet with her for about an hour this afternoon. he described the meeting as an opportunity to convey deep respect for her. leave it up to the military there. what will come of her. we are getting word that he will be leaving with webb from myanmar. webb is the first high ranking u.s. official in a decade to meet there with the myanmar government there. again, this is a reclusive administration or government. it's been under military coup for the last several years. she won her election overwhelmingly, but then the military would not allow her to take office. she's been under detention 14 of the last 22 years. he's leaving with jim webb, then taken to bankok. don't know if he will leave wit

>>> myanmar verdict. pro-democracy leader aung san suu kyi accused of violating house arrest by allowing an american to stay at her home. >>> thrill seekers stuck for hours. >>> and trapped pachyderm. a baby elephant in thailand gets in over its head. captioning funded by cbs >>> good morning. thanks for joining us. i'm michelle guillen. >>> this morning the leader of the pro-democracy movement in myanmar aung san suu kyi was accused of violating her house arrest. originally sentenced to three years in prison, her sentence was reduced. barry peterson reports from tokyo. >> reporter: the ruling generals beefed up security before the verdict. when aung san suu kyi was sentenced to three years, they quickly stepped in and reduced it to 1 1/2 years. a sentence to be served under house arrest. she has been in detention for 14 of the last 20 years, mostly held in her home. the case was sparked by an american who broke into that home. the military claimed his uninvited presence violated the terms of her previous

senator webb travelled to myanmar and managed to win yettaw's release. the senator also head talks with thailand's foreign minister today. after that meeting, webb said it may be time for the u.s. to review its policy toward myanmar, especially regarding sanctions. >> the question came up, is the united states and the eu, should they put more sanctionsn myanmar after the situation with aung san suu kyi's conviction? and my view is that we don't have any more sanctions to put on myanmar. and i think we need a new approach. >> webb says he plans to meet with secretary of state hillary clinton to talk about his myanmar visit. >>> there's been speculation for months, but it is official now that u.s. senator kate bailey hutchinson wants to be the next governor of texas. she made this announcement this morning. the senior senator from texas will square off in the republican primary against rick perry. hitchenson says perry has been in office too long. >>> coming up, a massive wildfire continues to burn out in california. we'll update firefighters' progress. >>

an american sentenced to hard labor in myanmar is going home. john yettaw was rasted after swimming across a lake to visit activist aung san suu kyi under house arrest. virginia senator jim webb flew there to help win his release. dan rivers has been following the story. >> clearly getting the release of john yet ta was important. he's an ill man. he has diabetics, epilepsy, taken to hospital before the verdict was delivered with seizures. we understand he's a vietnam veteran and is a troubled mind i think is probably the best way of putting it, and obviously, one doesn't quite know why he swam this lake. there were reports at the time that he had had some sort of vision that she was going to be assassinated and wanted to go and warn her. he's a troubled guy who clearly needs help. >> earlier today, webb became the first american ever to meet with myanmar's top junta leader but his biggest success came when he was allowed to meet with aung san suu kyi for nearly an hour today and he said he conveyed deep respect for the sacrifices she's made on

next tonight: the continuing crackdown in myanmar, the country formally known as burma.ewshour correspondent tom bearden narrates our setup report. >> reporter: aung san suu kyi awoke today in the home that has been her prison for much of the last 20 years. the democracy activist and nobel laureate was convicted yesterday for violating the terms of her home detention. the repressive military regime in myanmar has kept her confined for her political activities. yesterday's decision stems from a bizarre incident in may, involving an american man who swam across a lake to suu kyi's home. john yettaw claimed he was trying to save her from assassination. he stayed at her home for two days. both were arrested and jailed on various charges yesterday, suu kyi was sentenced to three years at hard labor. but the sentence was quickly reduced by the junta's leader to 18 months of home confinement. yettaw was sentence to seven years of hard labor. both verdicts will be appealed, but suu kyi's attorney said it came as no surprise. he spoke yesterday to the associated press by phone. >

relations with the reclusive regime of myanmar.ing on a bizarre vision, yettaw swam across a lake in may to reach the moment of opposition leader aung sun suu kyi, who has been und house arrest for most of the past few decades. both he and her were convicted for violating the terms of her house arrest. senator jim webb was granted extremely rare access to the head of myanmar's ruling military to secure the man's release. webb was allowed a one-hour visit with suu kyi. >> the most important part of this is that it was a gesture we should be grateful for and hopefully build upon. >> reporter: analysts say regardless of yettaw's actions, suu kyi would have been detained through next year's national election. many consider the meeting a step forward for u.s. relations. important because the regime has notoriously kept foreign aid ou even afternoon last year's deadly cyclone. >> you can argue having webb go to myanmar means you get added legitimacy to that government. at the same time, there is an element of possibility of change. how c

the pressive military regime in myanmar has kept her confed for her litical activities. yesterday's decision stems fm a bizarre incident in may, involving an american manho swam across a lake to suu kys home. john yettaw claimed was trying to saveer from assassination. he stay at her home for two days. both were arrested and jaid on various chars yesterday, suu kyi was stenced to three ars at hard labor. but the sentenceas quickly reduc by the junta's leader to 18 months of he confinement. yettaw was sentencto seven yearsf hard labor. both verdicts will appealed, but suu kyi's attorney id it came as no surprise. he spoke yesterday to the associated pre by phone. >> ( translated ): ladsuu has been excting this outcome from e beginning. we didt say it before because it would ha amounted to trying to influence the court. actually, we anticipatedhis ki of outcome from the beginning. that's why we haveeen stocking manyooks and medicines for suu kyi. >> reporter: internional condemnaon was swift. secretary of ste hillary clinton yesterday: >> shshould not have been tried and s

and my view is that we don't have anymore sanctions to put on myanmar. i think we need a new approach. >> and webb will push for a different approach when he returns home. he says he plans to meet with secretary of state hillary clinton. >> parents, listen up. one restaurant will announce today that kids' meals will be free for the next month. >>> and a major commuter route in northern virginia shut do. why you'll need to change your route to work for a while. >> and why one local teenager spent his summers wal walking fo florida to the white house.ki >>> as we look at this view from our city camera, we can see the sunrise. 72 in washington. 60s farther to our west and north. for today it's going to be hot with sunshine, highs reaching the mid-90s. and more of the same tomorrow. not too humid today or tomorrow, but quite humid on wednesday and thursday there's a greater chance of maybe a passing shower or thundershower but only about 30% otherwise. partly sunny both of those days. then friday and saturday looks like an increased chance of showers, maybe

. >>> everywhere at 11, starting in myanmar tonight. virginia senator jim webb won the release of an american prisoner. myanmar's ruling generals agreed to hang over -- hand over the 53-year-old mormon who was sentenced to seven years hard labor for -- [ indiscernible ] the democracy leader who chi who is urn house arrest and not allowed visitors. he will leave myanmar tomorrow and the senator asked for fu chi's release. >>> a sore ankle won't keep michael phelps from training. the swimmer sd heas fine and expressed concern for a woman who ran a red light and hit his suv. this happened thursday night in baltimore. phelps was driving with an invalid out-of-state license and was not fined but will have to appear in court. >>> a big scare for boaters in the potammyak river. their 21-foot boat got stuck on rocks and the rose cue crews say they misjudged the shallowness of the water and got wet between some -- wedged between under water rocks. no one was hurt. >>> president obama continuing his healthcare battle and it's getting personal. he

more ahead. >>> virginia senator, jimwebb, is in myanmar right now. however you'd like to pronounce it, we're going with myanmar this morning, attempting to open a line of communication with that country. and his visit is the first in more than a decade by a senior u.s. official. the trip is getting a lot of coverage on myanmar's state-run television. washington cooled relations after the ruling junta and military leaders crushed pro democracy protests in 1988. theovernment says just days ago, nobel peace prize laureate, aung san suu kyi, was sntsed to house arrest for allowing an american to stay in her home. senator webb has suggested engagement rather than isolation might bring the most change to myanmar. the obama administration gave its blessing to the trip. >>> eunice kennedy shriver was remembered as a fearless warrior for the voiceless, and an unconventional woman who smoked cuban cigars and played tackle football. a torch-bearing special olympian led a procession past st. francis xavier roman catholic church in massachusetts yesterday as fami

. >>> and in the military, the asian nation of myanmar this morning. an american has been sentenced to seven years in prison, includinitfo wurh hard labor. johnnie ettaw was found guilty of breaching the house arrest of aung san sun chi. he illegally swam to her house on house arrest. suu kyi was sentenced to 18 months on house arrest. she's been in detention of 14 of the last 20 years. >>> in afghanistan, the u.s. military is going after some 50 drug cartel leaders. the strategy is detailed in a senate report we learned about yesterday. and its objective is to cut off the cartel's monitor support for the taliban. brian ross has the details. >> reporter: this operation in may was considered a turning point. as soldiers and d.e.a. agents landed in taliban-controlled poppy fields in the helmand province. what followed was a three-day pitched battle, to cut off the drug lord that provided money and fighters to the taliban. he and 60 of his men were killed. until recently, the u.s. military and the cia had ignored and sometimes worked with such wide-open,

, this is abc 7 news captiod byhe t national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> heyman in myanmarl be on his way home thanks to senator jim webb. we are live at his office. what can you tell us? >> we know that the senator had this scheduled trip and arrived on friday in myanmar hoping to talk to leaders. on a five-nation tour, jim webb got just what he wanted. he had unprecedented talks with leaders and he won the release of an american. on tuesday, johnheyett sentenced toea rs of hard labor for helping a democracy leader violate the terms of her house arrest. in a statement, the senator said, "i'm grateful to the government for honoring these requests and it is my hope that we can take advantage of these gestures as a way to begin laying a foundation of good will and confidence building in the future." >> it is a good thing. it will help raise awareness of the situation. it is getting the u.s. involved. >> webb is the first member of congress in more than a decade to visit the country. some people hope this release will let the u.s. focus more on the controversy in the asian cou

. >>> now, to the successful mission to myanmar for virginia senator jim webb. he secured the release of an american prisoner. he met with the country's top leaders who agreed to hand over missouri native john yettaw. he was sentenced to seven years of hard labor. his crime, swimming to the lakeside house of a pro democracy leader who was on house arrest. senator webb and yettaw arrived in bank coke yesterday. >> the most important part of this i believe is that this was a gesture from the government of myanmar that we should be grateful for and hopefully build upon j after arriving in bangkok, yettaw was taken to the hose pil fotar bsatero iov n. rescue mission closely follows the release of two hostages in north korea secured by president clinton. >>> new this morning, there has been a disturbing discovery in prince george's county. main was found tadeadin upper marlboro. police found his eabody in a wooded area on oak grove road. the victim appears it be a latino man. his identity is still not known. if you have any information about this, you should call pol

. >>> one day after helping to free an american prisoner held in myanmar, virginia senator jim webb is expressing hope for better relations with that country. he flew to bank dock with webb today. he was sentenced to seven years in prison for swimming to the lake side home of oppositio leader aung san suu kyi. >> what he did was regrettable. i believe that it was hurtful to the person that he thought he was trying to help. i don't think he's a mean spirited human being. >> while in myanmar webb also met with suu kyi fighting for democracy in her country. she was nearing the end of her house arrest but will now serve an additional 18 months as a result of the stay. >>> back here district police continue to search for suspects after seven people were shot at a bus stop yesterday. it happened near the minnesota avenue metro station in northeast. investigators say at least one gunman walked up and opened fire on a huge crowd at the bus shelter there. many of the people had just come from a go go party a couple of blocks away. all seven victims are expected to recover. >>> in wisconsin toni

. >>> one day after helping to free an american prisoner held in myanmar, virginia senator jim webb is expressing hope for better relations with that country. america john yettaw flew to bangkok with webb today. >> he's not a well man. he had a medical incident this morning when they read him his orders of deportation. he's now undergoing a thorough medical review here in a hospital. soon he will be able to return to his family. >> while in myanmar, webb also met with suu kyi, fighting for democracy in her country. suu ni swarings the end of her house arrest but will now have to serve an additional 18 months as a result of yettaw's stay. >>> back here tonight, district police continue looking for the person or people who shot seven people at a bus stop yesterday. it happened in the minnesota avenue metro station in northeast. investigators say at least one gunman walked up and opened fire on a huge crowd at the bus shelter. many of the people had just come from a go-go party a couple of blocks away. a nonviolent advocate wept to the neighborhood today to see if he could be of any help.

senator jim webb's office says he has won the release of an american prisoner in myanmar. john yettaw was sentenced to seven years for going to the home of tsao kei. a statement says he will be deported tomorrow when he travels with webb to bangkok who is the first congressman in more than a decade to visit myanmar. baltimore police say michael phelps was driving with an expired out of state license and a report he told police he drank a beer about an hour before the accident but officers say it was not his fault but caused by another driver who ran a red light. back to "cavuto on business." only on the fox news channel. i'm jamie colby. neil: is it any wonder why taxpayers are angry? >> the majority is against this plan. >> i want the insurance i have because i picked it. >> you have awakened a sleeping giant. >> you have set yourselves up on a level that you do not identify with your own constituents any more. neil: protesters turn up the heat so democrats are backing out of the town hall meetings saying they don't want to give these people a stage to perform. charles, t

he said we can't ignore myanmar. and the stability of southeast asia leading to the killing of many people. for yettaw, what would drive a man to flyhalfway around the world to meet with a woman most americans have never heard of. we sat down with him. >>> how does the story begin? how did it happen? >> i was in thailand. i had seen her photograph for the first time. and i instantly had a premonition or a vision that i was -- i saw myself going through a lake and over a fence in the -- and was at the back door of a house. and then googled from there and realized she lived next to the lake. and i got a passport or a visa, rather to get in. and i thought, since this has been presented to me, i'm going to make it happen. >> motivated by vision, the retired bus driver and vietnam vet wanted to do something to bring attention to the plight of the myanmar people. but the plan met with objections from his family. >> what did your wife say? >> i had a premonition. i'm going to free a political prisoner in burma. that's all i

. >> an american prisoner in myanmar is fe thanks to the senator webb. he was sentenced to seven years of hard labor convicted of swimming toomhee he of h aoman separate meeting hoping this will draw more international attention to the country. >> i think it resulted in a release. that's a good thing. again, it's supposed to help raise awaress to the situation and also getting the u.s. involved, showing that their interests is a good thing. >> but not everyone agrees, webb held a meeting with myanmar leader and critics say that value dates the hundred tae of abusing people. >> and thanks to the cash for cluckers program the car maker is going to be making more of the hybrid vehicles. the boost in production will help dealers restock their show room. production is 18% higher than a year ago and sales are up 2.4% over last year. well, if you're planning on taking metro this week you'd better leave earlier. repairs ton lines. red line trains will not serve the fort toin' station. trains will single track between vienna and westphals church and the other tra

. >> this was a gesture from the government of myanmar that we should be grateful for and hopefully build upon. >> the senator was also allowed a rare meeting with the chief. no word on when the soldier will return home to missouri. >> ang show has been in prison for working to make myanmar a democrat nation. she's been kept under house arrest for 14 of the last 20 years. >>> trouble in the tropics tonight. three named storms gaining strength. one of them claudette, just popped up this afternoon and inching closer to land in florida. floridians are used to this. stocking up on generators, batteries and wood to protect property. sue palka keeping an eye o tropical storms. >> when floridan's went to bed last night, claudette was not on the map at all. it strengthened overnight and the pan handle of florida will get it hitting landfall within a few hours. you see the tropical storm warnings and in red we have the tornado warning or watch. check out some of the buoys. we can kind of hover over these to see what kind of information we're getting in terms of wind and rain this. one has winds at

john yettaw was freed from a myanmar jail with the help of virginia senator jim webb. the senator was granted extremely rare access to the head of the ruling military to secure yettaw's release. it could signal the beginning of a new relationship between myanmar and the u.s. >>> in afghanistan, security is even tighter than usual ahead of thursday's presidential election there. the candidates took the airwaves sunday in an american-style debate watched by millions of afghan voters. the taliban is vowing to disrupt the vote attacking polling stations and even threatening the voters themselves. >>> a strike that could have sent northern california commuters scrambling for alternate transportation has been averted. negotiators for bay area rapid transit and its workers announced a tentative contract agreement. hours before a strike deadline. that strike would have begun today. >> when we talk about tropical storm claudette, here is this morning's weather from the rest of the nation. storm ya in pars of the midwest today. large hail, 70-mile-an-hour wind, a chance of torna

. >>> in myanmar, the long trial in noble peace laureate aung san suu kyi is over and the verdict is guilty. we'll tell you the punishment and have reaction. >>> secretary of state clinton says those behind rampant sexual violence in congo must be prosecuted. tonight, our "signature story" that focuses on rape as a weapon of war. >>> and climate change is forcing farmers the world over to consider growing crops they've never grown before. which explains why they're going bananas in nepal. >>> from the world's leading reporters and analysts, here is what's happening from around the world. this is "worldfocus." made possible, in part, by the following funders -- >>> good evening. i'm martin savidge. >>> for several days now parts of asia have been struggling with the devastating effects of a typhoon that swept through over the weekend, leaving again at least 70 people dead and perhaps many more than that. typhoon morakot produced as much as 80 inches of rain in taiwan and also swept through parts of china, where a million and a half people were evacuated and 10,000 homes destroyed. thi

unconditional release, and as clarissa ward reports, an american was sentenceded along with the myanmar's opposition leader. >> reporter: pro-democracy leader, aung san suu kyi, a nobel prize laureate, has spent nearly 14 of the past 20 years in detention. the court said she allowed this man, american john yettaw, to spend two nights in her house, after he swam across a lake, uninvited, claiming he wanted to protect her from assassins. yettaw was also sentenced today, receiving seven years, including four years hard labor. international reaction to the verdict was swift. >> she should not have been tried and not convicted. we continue to call for her release from continuing house arre arrest. >> reporter: critics say the regime wants to prevent her from taking part in elections next year. her party won an overwhelming victory in the last election in 1990, and she is still viewed as a symbol of democracy for millions of burmese, and as a threat by myanmar's government. >> they made their point clear that she will not be part of the 2010 elections, which is totally contradicted to what they

american senator jim webb from virginia, is in the reclusive and repressive country of myanmar wherems he won the release of an emprisoned american. john was convicted of swimming across a pond to the home of lenmar's detainra docemoc erad. webb's office made the announcement after he was granted a rare sitdown with myanmar's ruling militalary jun. >>> tropical storm got a late start. picking up speed and heading toward puerto rico now tropical storm bill brewing further to the east. >>> coming up here this saturday. disgraced quarterback michael vick. two months out of jail for running a vicious dogfighing ring, is he really a changed man or a product of an image makeover? >>> the students who say their college dured them into crushing debt. that's "a closer look" tonight. >>> students said their college lured them into the crushing debt >>> and woodstock. made a start. now one performer missing for 40 years is getting a second act. i'm a little irregular today. don't you eat activia? for my little issues? they')re not that bad. summer' no time to put up with even occasional digesti

1990, and she is still viewed as a symbol of democracy for millns of burmese, and as a threat by myanmar's government. >> they made their point clear that she will not beart of the 2010 elections, which is totally contradicted to what they've been telling to the international community. >> reporter: she was initially sentenced to three years, but the military immediately commuted it to a year and a half. an indication, analysts say, that the regime was actually trying to appear lenient to the rest of the worl charlie? >> clarissa ward, thank you. >>> back in this country, eunice kenne kennedy shriver died this morning. >>> reporter: eunice kennedy shriver was one of nine children. it was the boys who got most of the attention, but eunice was still a force to be reckoned with. >> president kennedy used to say that if eunice had been a man, she would have been president instead of jack. >> reporter: their sister rosemary was developmentally disabled and would leave a lasting impact on eunice. when john kennedy was elected president, it was eunice who pushed him to take action on behalf of th

jim webb seeking release of an american held in myanmar.e is gary neurenberg. >> reporter: lead to go an -- leading to a release of. >> i think it is a very bad deal. >> reporter: critics fear it will use the release for propaganda purposes. >> senator webb gave them a lot of time in the face, he was all over the television and news media in myanmar legit. >> reporter: webb met with su chi who has been in prison for 14 of the last 20 years. he did not convince authorities to release her. >> she will not be able to take part in the election and not able to campaign for her party that won the elections in 1990. so we can't take this as an opportunity to think the government is giving us anything they are not giving us anything. >> reporter: except for this man. gary neurenberg 9news now and wusa9.com. >> senator webb is expected to speak with the reporters about the experience in just a few hours. >>> just one week before afghanistan's presidential election a deadly car bomb attack. it happened outside the main gate of nato's headquarters in

. >> we are following a developing story out of myanmar. u.s. senator, jim webb,has attained the release of american prisoner, john yettaw, is expected to be deported and leave with senator jim webb tomorrow on sunday. he was sentenced to seven years hard labor for violating the house arrest of prodemocracy icon ong sung suu khy. he is considered ill. >> reporter: he is an ill man, he has diabetes and epilepsy, taken to the hospital before the verdict was delivered with seizures. he is a vietnam veteran and has a troubled mind. obviously, one doesn't quite know why he swan this lake. there was reports at the time that he had a vision that she was going to be assassinate and wanted to go warn her. he is a troubled guy and needs help. >> yesterday, he met with leaders at myanmar, the first meeting by a member of congress in more than a decade. however, he is not in the country on behalf of the state department. >>> some are calling it voter intimidation in afghanistan. it is a few days away from the presidential elections expected to happen there.

big reaction this morning to virginia senator jim webb's trip to myanmar.the lathest is three minutes away. >>> here's what is in the news now. over damascus more more you can see a fire that is one set overnight including at a few mail ilmaboxes, no injury but police are looking art arsonist. >>> follows a three-alarm fire in gaithersburg. it gutted a vacant apartment building. it took a half hour to get the blaze under control. >>> this morning, myanmar's state-run media is praising virginia senator jim webb. he made a visit there this weekend to free a jailed american. myanmar says it goes far to improve relations with washington. >>> we are in for a sticky day today. the low 90s and watch out this afternoon a few thunderstorms an. right now 74. angie has a traffic update and i will have the seven day when 9 news now returns. b@ even during times like these, there is a light beginning to shine again. it comes from a restaurant downtown. a shop on main street. a factory around the corner. entrepreneurs like these are the most powerful force in the economy

. >> virginia senator jim webb is in myanmar.ebb is chairman of a subcommittee on east asian pacific affairs. his visit is the first in more than a decade by a u.s. official. the trip is getting a lot of coverage on myanmar's state-run television. washington cooled relation was the ruling group. critics have said webb's visit legitimize as brutal regime especially since it comes just days after nobel peace prize laureate chi was sentenced to additional house arrests. webb suggested engagement rather than isolation might bring the most change to myanmar. the obama administration gave its blessing to the church. >>> still ahead on "news4 at 6:00," a maryland judge who admitted to letting air out of a cleaning woman's tire makes an announcement about his future. >>> fast moving wildfire in northern california forced more 2 thousand people from their homes. additional crews have been deployed and can help the game control across the state. fire t fire started wednesday evening. it has grown to more than six-square miles. so far it on

. >>> an american man held prisoner in myanmar is receiving treatment now. of misery is said to be in poor health after three months in a myanmar prison. he w sense seven years of hard labor. he was freed yesterday through the efforts of jim webb. >> the government pondered my request to allow him to come back here to thailand with me. >> webb is hoping fist gesture lays a foundation of good will. he received the approval of the obama administration. >>> 5:38. >> still ahead, to put on your dancing shoes. here they go would again. we will learn who will be joining the cast of "dancing with the stars." >> we are tracking the tropics and our local keep wave. more on that coming up. >>> hello. i'm here with the ocean city beach patrol. the surf is up. good morning, washington. >>> good morning, washington. we have fairly clear skies. a little patchy fog. .t will be a hot one.umersbe n th they range from the low 70's. our forecast today, a hot one. temperatures in the low to mid mid 90's. a code aren't day. -- a code orange day. he will continue through midweek.

. >>> an american held in myanmar for swimming to the detained democracy leader as a freeman, and both men arrived in bangkok just a short time ago. >>> webb is the firstmember of congress in more than a decade to visit myanmar. he said he asked the rulers to relus the man who has been detained for 14 of the last 24 years. she was sentenced to p23 years n prison. >>> and there was an incident that left five people incident, and one victim just 14 years old. police were called to a new en te, nd ahis time and pern not.esead innorthwest. the fstirnctid ienpeap hned before 6:00 last evening on the 400 block of minnesota avenue. seven young people were shot outside the metro station. the younges victim 16 years old. none of the victims' injuries are believed to be life threatening. they also believe many of the people in the crowd had just attended a go-go. >>> and then a man was shot multiple time in northwest. it was in the 300 block of 1st street. and he was pronounced dead at the scene. no reports of arrests in either case. >>> it's becoming less of a vacation and more of a business tr

myanmar authorities say the woman allowed an american to stay at her home. the court also sentenced that american, john yettau to seven years in prison. many are calling for their release and the release of myanmar's more than oerp 2,000 political prisoners. >>> reducing your alzheimer's risk could be as easy as raiding your pantry. what should be added to your diet coming up. >>> and have you seen this? a rescue of mammoth proportions. that's a baby elephant just in a ditch there. what is supposed to get him out coming up next. >>> tire of nickeling and diming at every turn? here comes some relief, credit cards no longer charging you those crazy fees. >>> the "job shop" is in full force. today's job of the day, stylish, barber and massage therapists positions at the anointed spa in maryland. go to myfoxdc.com for ways to the contact the employer. there you'll find many more postings on jobs across your area. just click on job shops. there's sothing big happening at pizza hut. - woooh,ice! - at's a lot of food! now get big meals like our stuffed pizza rolls,

senator jim webb negotiated for his release with myanmar's rulers.e swam to the home of imprison imprison imprisoned nobel laureate suchie. he was under 18 months house arrest for hosting the unexpected swimmer. >>> now our hero of the week. new york-based chemistry teacher spends his spare time saving disguarded computers from america's landfills and shipping them to kenya, where most schools don't have them. as he sows the seeds for a nation's prosperity, students and interns are planting some of their own. >> i was coming from college at night, and i see these computers thrown out. and i found everything was perfect. so many computers are thrown out. and so much computers are needed where i grew up in kenya. so i said i must do something. my name is jude ndambuki. i get computers and send them to kenya. even a pencil is very hard to get. any part that i can play that makes the life of kids better, it's great. these computers are tested to make sure that they are working. then we label the name of the school on each box, and then we ship it to keny

senator jim webb of virginia has helped to win americans' freedom fr myanmar.ill be taking a military aircraft to thailand. >>> in

. >> warner: for mo than two years,he southeast nation of myanmar formerly burma, has shuits doors to top american officia and journalis. mostmericans' clearest images of myanr filmedictures of the government's repression of dissent. is was its violent crackdown two years ago buddst monks who protested agnst the regime. the u.s. and european union have maintained ecomic sanctions on myanr for more than a decade, but china is investin heavy there. the cntry s been so closed off to the west thatfter last year's devastating cyclo which killed more than 80,000, it took immense internationalressure to get anyoreign aid into t country. yet the burmese junta, which has been rung for more than years, did welcome democratic senatojim webb of virginia ten days a. in quick succession, webb met with w rime's reclusive leer and then withobel peace prize wner and leading semi-ziing a vis kyi. i. aung san suu kyi. kyi wasrrested once again and r house arrest extend. thgovernment imped i test punishment on her after an ameran swam across a lagoon andntered her use. yetaw, a vietnam veteran suffering