. >> jennifer glasse live in kabul, thank you >>> now, more migrants arrive in palermo. 13,000 have been rescued in the past week by the italian coast guard. police try to catch the traffickers. the italian government says the flood of migrants is unprecedented. most are escaping war and persecution in the middle east and africa paul brennan is our correspondent. >> the flow of migrant continues, there's a new boatload in palermo, bringing 93 people. there was 79 mean women and three children. there's a glimmer of good news. we spoke to the coast guard. they are not aware of ongoing rescue operations that continue as we spoke. it seems there are no boats that are issuing help now. it appears that is likely to be a respite. the weather is good in the mediterranean, and the flow is such and the desperation such that boats are putting to sea. it would have to be a storm out there to deter them from putting to sea in the first place. as far as other issues go, the prosecutor from catania promises to prosecute traffickers, and already is starting to prosecute traffickers on the boats and prom

pablo desde palermo, nos tiene lo reciente.peor accidente de todos los tiempos que se pudo haber cobrado la vida de un nÚmero determinado de inmigrantes que irÍa de 700 a 950, de acuerdo de los primeras reconstrucciones las autoridades hicieron una peticiÓn de ayuda mientras la guardia costera llegaba le pidiÓ a un barco portuguÉs que por favor se acercara rÁpidamente para brindar ayuda. al verlo llegar los inmigrantes presos del pÁnico se habÍan movido a uno de los costados del balanceando la embarcaciÓn y haciÉndola aportar la precaria nave tenÍa 30 m de longitud y cargo mÁs pasajeros en varios puertos desde su salida de egipto. despuÉs de esta tragedia la comisiÓn europea se apresurÓ a convocar a una urgente reuniÓn de todos los ministros del interior y de paÍses europeos para buscar una soluciÓn inmediata a uno de los problemas mÁs graves que han tenido en las Últimas dÉcadas. la presiÓn internacional sobre los lÍderes europeos aumenta. estos naufragios son una constante ante la que ninguna autoridad de momento es tratando

during the brief court proceeding palermo's family sat right behind cook.s were exchanged though cook's lawyer spoke with the family representative later. both parties spoke on the courthouse steps. >> we know this is the first step in a long process. so we're looking forward to having this resolved and to see justice. >> our thoughts and prayers are with the palermo family and miss cook can't say anything right now based upon the legal situation and the advice of counsel, but of course we're all saying our prayers. it's a horrible situation. >> reporter: in a written statement later the palermo family said it hoped cook would plead guilty in the case. asked about the possibility of a plea deal cook's lawyer did not rule it out. >> the plea at the moment is not guilty of all charges, but we're still going through the discovery. we haven't had any meaningful discussions with the state with regard to a resolution of the matter until we go through the initial process. >> reporter: cook has a previous drunk driving arrest from 2010. that would be a major factor

. 450 people were brought into the sicilian city on saturday. 1800 others arrived in the ports of palermo. the italian coast guard said that the number of people trying to cross the medicine mediterranean is unprecedented. >> on saturday a boat pulled into palermo on the northwestern tip of the island and the sentiment of the people of sicily is one of compassion towards the migrants. it's certainly being expressed here. the fishermen hearsay it's a horrible experience for them when they occasionally pull off the corpse of a dead migrant not a pleasant experience at all. it's been described not only as a security concern but also a matter of justice and human dignity. that said there, is a glimmer of hope. in the past 24 hours the coast guard are telling us that they have not had any distress calls or may days, and they're not bringing any migrants in boats, not that they know of, any way. that would be appear to be a brief welcomed respite. will it continue? probably not. there undoesn'tedly will be more people setting for sea in north africa in the coming days, but it is a briefs space

earlier, 90 others arrived in the city of palermo.ost of them are escaping war and persecution in africa and the middle east. they say that the number of people who are crossing are unprecedented and they are call forhelp to catch the traffickers. >> 11,000 have come. that's a lot of people in a very short space of time. but there is one argument to say that before this past week the weather was so bad that they could not make the crossing. it was impossible. it is potentially the case that there was a backlog that backed up on the libyan side of the mediterranean. what we've seen in recent days is that backlog slowly being cleared by the people's traffickers. what may happen now is that it settles down to a steady stream but not quite at the pace we've seen in recent days. we've spoken to the coast guard in the last hour, and they told us that at the moment there are no rescue--active rescue operations ongoing and they've not received any mayday calls at the moment. if the patrols are continuing they haven't got anybody picked up and

. >>> >>> more migrants arrived in the sicilian port of palermo. the italian government said the flood of migrants is unprecedented. 11,000 have been rescued in the last eight days. most are escaping war and per cent cues in the middle east and africa. the pope is calling for more to be done. paul brennan is live in catania, on the italian coast. tell us what is happening. >> this is on the north western tip of sicily among them were 71 men, 19 women, one of whom was pregnant, and three children. we don't know whether the children are unaccompanied minors making the crossing from north africa into europe. it is a desperate situation. and the latest that we have is that the general countries that they are coming from include syria, eritrea, somali ghana mali and senegal as well. you see how widespread the issue is. >> the entire world is paying attention to this and this issue is something that has gotten president obama's attention in washington. what are we hearing out of washington? well it's interesting. the italian prime minister matteo renzi h

on saturday a boat pulled in to palermo on the northwestern tip of the island bringing more than 70 menomen, one pregnant and three young children. i have to say there is a sentiment of the people of siciliy is one of compassion toward the migrants a sentiment not shared on mainland italy or the rest of europe but it's being expressed here the fishermen for example, here, in the port of catania say it's a horrible experience for them when they occasionally pull up the corpse of a dead migrant from the water caught up in their fishing nets. not a pleasant experience at all. >> the italian prime minister has described it not just as a security concern but a migration that's coming from north africa but a matter of justice and human dignity. >> said, though there is a glimmer of hope. in the past 24 hours, the coast guard is telling us that they have not had any distress calls or may days and they are not currently bringing any migrants in on boats. not that they know of anyway. that would appear to be a brief welcome respite. will it could not? probably not. there is undoubtedly going to

they have been brought in to palermo and will be processed, given medical checks. taken to a holding center, a reception center where decisions will be made as to what can be done to help them and process them on further away from the coast to the italian mainland. it's a difficult job, authorities are under pressure because of amounts involved. >> do we know about the backstories of the people that have been processed by the italians? >> not this group. the general gist of the reasons why these refugees the migrants are making the journey and risking death to get to europe are varied. it depends which country they come from, those coming from syria, they sold their belongings gathered what they can, paid people traffickers, and syrians managed to keep a little money. and they are fleeing the war in syria. as far as the african and the people that are coming from the sub-saharan continent of africa. many are economic violence. those from somali are fleeing the violence there, many are fleeing poverty and seeking a new life. what joins them all is the desperate cond

rescued by italy. 450 people were brought in saturday and later many were brought in to the port of palermowe have reports from catania on the east coast of sicily. >> over the past week we've seen as you say 11,000--that's a lot of people in a short space of time. but the weather before this past week has been so bad that they couldn't really make the crossing. it was just impossible. so it's potentially the case there was a backlog and we've seen that backlog slowly being cleared by the people traffickers and now it has settled down to a steady stream but not quite the pace we've seen in recent days. there is a glimmer of hope. we have spoken with the coast guard in the last hour, a and they told us at the moment that there are no rescue--active rescue operations ongoing and they have not received answered mayday calls at the moment. although the parolees are continuing they haven't got anybody to pick up, and they're not actively bringing anybody into port at the moment. that in itself would indicate that perhaps just perhaps it's quieted down in a brief respite at least. >> some new arr

palermo, on the northern coast has received thousands of migrant survivors to the port. will the summit in brussels have an effect at all. >> to be honest. i don't have faith in the summits. i don't think it will change anything. there was a tragedy 1.5 years ago, nothing has changed. actually i think the situation is worse. >> there is a sense that on migration, e.u. leaders are barely tackling the symptoms let alone the causes. >> why can't they stop those trafficking. the immigrants. okay. they'll try to stop the conflict in libya. >> sings inks which people can only read about in newspapers or watch on television here in sicily is experienced up close, making it cynical. the pressure of dealing with migrants in the detention centers, and the dismay and distress caused by having to retrieve and bury the bodies that boept make it cross. >> the maritime community believes many will lose their lives, and warn that there could be 10,000 that die in the attempt. >> it will be the italians that will have to bear the consequences of those numbers. will the brussels plan ligh

=fplt in palermo 1100 people have been rescued in the last eight days as police try to capture their traffickers. >>> in iraq thousands of manuscripts were stolen when isil stormed areas last year. >> winding through the hills in northern iraq. one of christianities most sacred sites comes into view. this is the monsterry monastery. >> this place is from the seventh century. a lot of christian monks are buried here. if isil reaches here they will destroy this historic place. it is so important to christians and all of iraq's history. >> just 12 kilometers away is the front line with isil. the kurds, who in the 18th center ransacked this place and now are protecting it. >> this monastery is made up of a series of caves. this is an important pilgrimage site. very few tourists come here any more because of the threat on the door step. isil has set out to destroy rashty in christianty in iraq. thousands of fresh artifacts have been destroyed. what little has been saved has been closely guarded in secret locations across iraq. >> they came and said you have just five minutes and i take th

. >>> let's go to the live scene now in palermo. obviously a big italian port where the latest number of migrants has just stopped. there are red cross officials there handing out assistance to this latest batch of people who braved that perilous journey across the mediterranean. let's go to zimbabwe because many are in south africa 'em broiled in that situation where a lot of south africans are attacking foreigners. they're there looking for employment because they don't have jobs at home. >>reporter: he's an outspoken critic of the president and he's been missing for 40 day. the government has denied having anything to do with his disappearance. his family is suspicious. >> if someone dies you know they're dead and you bury them. that gives you closure in a way. but in this particular case instance we really reasonably prudent person finding it hard to deal with this predicament. >>reporter: some can't believe people can still disappear seemingly without a trace. >> the abduction is repugnant, it's something that is disgusting. it

a boat pulled in to palermo bricking more than 70 men, 19 women and three children. the sentiment of the people of sicily is one of compassion. perhaps it's not shared on mainland italy or the rest of europe. it's expressed here. the fishermen in the port of catania say it's a horrible experience when they pull up the corpse of a dead migrant caught up in a net. not a pleasant experience. matteo renzi, the italian prime minister scribed it not just as a security concern, the migration from north africa but a matter of justice and human dignity. there's a glimmer of hope. in the past 24 hours, there's not been distress calls or may days and they are not bringing migrants in on boats. not that they know of. that would appear to be a welcome respite. will it continue? probably not. more will set sail setting to see from north africa in the coming address. it's a breathing space a welcome breathing space for the overprecious overstretched authorities in sicily >>> it may sound like science fiction, but custom made human organs are a reality, ears can be artificially made

but they are not the only people who have been charged some 24 people were arrested in palermo that'sterday. and another 14 were arrested here in catania over the last 24 or 48 hours. there is an element of coincidental about it. lo and behold after all the people saying something arrests have been maimed the network that seems to be bringing migrants across or putting the -- funneling the migrant forward through to northern italy and then onto europe. >> paul, migrants or survivors are starting to be brought ashore from the latest disas at thatdisasters, what is happening to them? >> reporter: well, let's find out more about that from a guest who is beside me right now. 27 people as you say were brought on shore. four of them were children and joining me is sarah tyler from save the children who has been very prominent in working with survivors not just off this boat but other boats. talk about the four children that you know b what are their details? >> until the very last few minutes save the children believed there were no child survivors and then a few minutes before we went to a

alex marquardt, abc news, palermo, sicily. >> alex, thank you. >>> and to another headline overseas tonight. a u.s. show of force. the uss theodore roosevelt on its way, close to yemen. concern about iranian ships suspected of delivering weapons to shiite rebels. the aircraft carrier steaming its way through the arabian sea. other american ships already there in the region. >>> back here at home and now to boston tonight. and emotional day at the boston marathon. two years after losing a leg in the bombings that's rebekah gregory crossing the finish line dissolving into tears. they lifted her right back up. boston strong on display across that city today. the youngest victim, martin richard, his father there with the winner of the women's wheelchair race, celebrating her victory. tomorrow, in boston, the penalty phase begins for dzhokhar tsarnaev. and tonight, right here, the argument from some of the victims' families, saying his life should be spared. abc's tom llamas in boston. >> reporter: for many, the boston marathon is a milestone. >> so proud of you. oh, so proud. >> reporter: for r

>>reporter: palermo has also received thousands of migrant survivors to its port. will the summit have any affect at all? >> to be honest, i don't have much faith. i don't think they'll help change anything. there was another tragedy a year and a half ago and nothing has changed. actually, i think the situation has gotten worse. >>reporter: there is the sense here that on migration, eu leaders are barely tackling the symptoms never mind the route causes. >> either those who are trafficking trafficking, stop them. okay. >>reporter: the ship wrecks and sinkings which people elsewhere in europe can only read about here in sicily are being experienced up close and they're very cynical about the efforts of the politicians. the pressure for example, of having to deal with more than 70,000 migrants currently in reception centers here and the dismay and distress caused by having to retrieve and bury the bodies of those who don't make it across. the international maritime agency predicts half a million desperate migrants will risk their lives crossing the mediterranean this

palermo on the northern coast received thousands of migrants. will the summit in brussels have any effect at all. >> translation: to be honest i don't have faith in the summits i don't think it changes anything. there's a tragedy 1.5 years ago nothing would have changed. >> there is a sense hear that on migration, the e.u. leaders are barely tackling the symptoms never mind the root causes. >> they try to stop those trafficking, the immigrants. okay. >> the shipwrecks and sinkings which people can only read about in newspapers. here in sicily are experienced up close, making it cynical. the pressure, for example, are having to deal with 70,000 migrants. and the dismay and distress caused by having to retrieve and bury those that don't make it across. >> the international maritime agency predebts half a million risk their lives. there could be 10,000 poem that die in the attempt. it will be the italians in the main that will bear the consequences. will the plan lighten the burden. no one believes so. . >> south africans rally against a wave of vi

they had a new boat in palermo landing in the last 12 hours, bringing bringing bringing the total of 93 people. 93 men, 71 men, women and three children. there's a glimmer of good news. we spoke to the coast guard. they said they are not aware of ongoing rescue operations that are continuing as we speak. seems no boats are issuing may days. it may be a brief respite because the weather is good and the flow is such and desperation such that boats are putting to sea - it will have to be a storm force to deter being put to see. the the prosecutor of the town of catania promises to prosecute traffickers, and has started to prosecute traffickers that have been arrested by the italian coast guard and is promising more prosecutions will take place. in washington, the italian prime minister matteo renzi met with president obama, and the subject of the migration from north africa came up there. from the american point of view it was to do with security concerns. matteo renzi said it's not just about security, it's just and the dignity of mann kind. >> the wave of migrants seeking safety overw

overboard by people on their boat because they were praying to god. 15 muslim men were arrested in palermohen they made landfall there and we've heard reports from the shores of libya where the boats are taking off, a gas can exploded several, iran cluding a 6-month-old child burned badly, as they were forced to get on the boat and make the voyage anyway. spent two weeks at sea before being rescued. and against the european union border patrol and italian coast guard. the situation we expect to get worse. 11,000 people have arrived in the last week and the italian coast guard and italian navy say there are many more boats on the horizon. brooke? >> barbie nado thank you. >>> coming up a deadly car boem bloft outside the u.s. consulate in iraq. all of this coming as a top lieutenant of saddam hussein's is killed in that country, but how does isis fit into all of this? [ male announcer ] how do you make cancer a thing of the past? well...you use the past. huntsman cancer institute has combined 300 years of family histories with health records to discover inherited genes for melanoma, breast

abc news palermo, sicily. >> no apologies from the mailman who deliberately violated washington's no-flyd landed a gyrocopter on the lawn of the u.s. capitol. dug hughes is back home with his family in florida after what he's calling an act of civil disobedience. he appeared frustrated that the stunt is drawing more attention to gaps in national security. >> you need to be worried not about whether the somebody can fly into d.c. we need to be worried about the piles of money going into congress. >> hughes said he didn't think he would make it to the capitol without being stopped and due back in court next month and could face four years in prison. >> fire officials in southern california say that the smoke generated about i a wildfire that threatened hundreds of homes will take days to clear. it's believed the flames were sparked but an inintended cooking fire that grew to more than 1,000 acres and forced evacuations of 300 homes. bone dry vegetation hasn't been thinned out in decades. no property has been damaged and no one injured. in south florida, hundreds of acres burned. the large

alex marquardt, palermo, sicily. >> six somali american men from minneapolis are in federal custody chargeds overseas. they appeared in court yesterday. the fbi says two of the suspects were arrested in san diego where they planned to cross into mexico and make their way to syria. terror experts will tell you that is a particular worry. >> i think the biggest concern we have is these individuals may come back once they go to syria. >> there's no evidence the suspects planned on terror activities here in the u.s. >>> with another running of the boston marathon in the books, the sentencing phase of dzhokhar tsarnaev's bombing trial begins today. same jury that convicted him must now decide whether he's put to death or sentenced to life in prison. jurors were told to avoid yesterday's race which was won by the same ethiopian runner who won two years ago hours before the bombs went off. one of those who lost her leg in the attack was rebekah gregory who emotionally crossed the finish line yesterday. >> there's life after bad things that happen to you and if i can be someone's hope or inspiratio