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CNN NEWSROOM

Dozens of Passengers Dead in Southern Russia After Plane Makes Fatal Landing Attempt; European Union and Turkish Officials Reached an Agreement; Paris Terrorism Suspect Shot in the Leg but Captured Alive Friday; U.S. Authorities Seeking Return of American Man who Joined ISIS; Protesters Show Up to Donald Trump Rally in Utah. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired March 19, 2016 - 04:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


[04:00:00]

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GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Dozens of passengers dead in Southern Russia after a plane makes a fatal landing attempt during bad weather. We'll have the investigation there.

Plus, four months on the run but now in custody. What authorities want to find out now after capturing this man? A key suspect in last year's Paris attacks.

And Donald Trump takes swipe at former U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney who is urging Republicans to now vote for Ted Cruz.

From CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to our viewers around the world, I'm George Howell, NEWSROOM starts.

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And a good day to you, we begin this hour with the breaking news that we're following, a plane crashed in Southern Russia FlyDubai flight 981, all of the 62 people onboard that plane are dead. And in the video that you see here, what -- maybe disturbing as many watched it. It appears to show the moment that that plane hit the ground. And Now Russia state media report that one of the two flight recorders has been found, the Boeing crash while landing after flying from Dubai to Rostov-on-Don.

CNN is covering the story from all angles this hour, Matthew Chance is following developments live in Moscow and CNN producer Jon Jensen is live in Dubai with us. We start in Moscow where it is just after 11:00 a.m. Matthew, what more have learned about this investigation?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CCN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, a key step will be the recovery of the flight data recorders. One of them has been recovered at least now according to state media as you mentioned -- the cockpit voice recorder or the flight data recorder. But retrieving those components George is going to crucial in establishing for certain what it was that brought down this FlyDubai Boeing 737-800, a very modern jet belonging to an airline that has proven safety record.

And, there are already some theories obviously, in fact strong suspicions as to what it was that caused this. The governor of the region of Rostov-on-Don, Rostov region has essentially ruled out terrorism, that's always a consideration of course when an airplane comes down these days, of course. They're focusing now on the weather conditions, they were very severe in the region, there were storms, there were snow storms, rain, visibility was low, very high gust of wind. Pilot error associated with those weather conditions or some kind of technical failure as well is being considered.

And so, those are the factors. And it seems that the weather was a major factor though, at least because the plane tried twice to land, on its first attempt it aborted that landing, and then it circled around the airport for about two hours according to flight radar records of what took place before attempting a second fatal landing where it crashed into the runway or just short of the runway in fact, about 250 meters away from it, with a loss of 62 lives, everybody on board.

And so, you know, with the recovery of these components, we'll hopefully get a bit more clarity about what happened.

HOWELL: Matthew Chance, live for us in Moscow, Matthew, thank you so much for your reporting there. Now let's move to Dubai where it is just afternoon and Jon Jensen joins us now. Jon, we understand that FlyDubai has now released the nationalities of those people that were onboard, what more can you tell us?

JON JENSEN, CNN PRODUCER: That's right, they released a statement within the past hour, not just the nationalities but also specifying women, men, and children; there were 33 women onboard, 18 men and 4 children. The nationalities of the deceased are 44 Russians, 8 Ukrainians, 2 Indians and 1 person from -- who's Pakistan. Now words yet n the crew, but the airline has set up an emergency response team both here and they also have a team en route to Rostov-on-Don, to learn more about just what happened to this aircraft.

Now, clearly this is a shocking moment for a young airline like this, the CEO of FlyDubai took to social media earlier to express some of their shock and their grief, take a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GHAITH AL GHAITH, CEO, FLYDUBAI: It is with deep sadness that our flight from Dubai to Rostov in Russia has crashed on landing and this morning our thoughts and prayers are with those on board and their loved ones and families. We are doing everything that we can to help those who have been affected.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JENSEN: Now that was CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith of FlyDubai.

[04:05:04] Earlier on Facebook, clearly a shocking moment -- this is a very relatively new airline, they started flying in 2009, they have an excellent safety record, no major incidents. This was setup as sort of a low-cost carrier in Dubai, it's one of the biggest in the region, they've got 50 aircraft in their livery, in their fleet and all of them are the same aircraft that went down in Russia, it's the Boeing 737.

Now, this is route they started flying in 2013, they do it twice a week. So, clearly the pilot and crew would have been experienced in weather conditions like this. George.

HOWELL: The CEO of FlyDubai pointing out though that they will do everything that they can, that their thoughts and prayers are with the families of these victims onboard. Jon Jensen live for us in Dubai and Matthew Chance live in Moscow, we appreciate the reporting from both of you, thank you.

As mentioned, weather may have played factor in this crash, and our Meteorologist Derek Van Dam has been digging into that angle and joins us in the International Weather Center. Derek.

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: George, meteorologist and airplane pilots look at what is called METAR codes for the weather information at the time of the crash or as they prepare for their long-haul flights. These METAR codes actually help decipher what type of weather was taking place at that exact moment. And, looking at the METAR codes myself, we saw that we have roughly 90 kilometer per hour wind gust in and around the Rostov-on-Don region at the time that the plane actually crushed.

So weather is becoming increasingly more of a suspicious factor here in the downing of this particular airplane. What was also interesting is that this particular airplane circled the airport after its first attempt for about two hours. And during that two-hour time period, there were other planes who attempted to land, in fact three times and they were ultimately diverted to other airports. So, the questions is, still, why didn't that doomed flight eventually get diverted to a different airport once they realize that the winds and the weather conditions were not ideal for landing a plane?

What you're looking at behind me is the map of the track of flight FZ981. Again, starting in Dubai, moving toward the Rostov-on-Don region, you can see the chaotic flight path around this area, but as we zoom into the region, this is more of a three-dimensional perspective, I'll move to the other side. And you can see both of the attempts of the plane to land before ultimately had failed, the first attempt is this particular flight trajector that continued on and then it circled the airport for two hours, the second attempt saw the attempted landing and then it accelerated and gained altitude and then dropped about 4,000 feet at the last moment. So, right before the plane crashed.

So, there are a lot of factors at play here, not only the potential of pilot error but also weather factors being a consideration as well. I mean a crosswind is present, for instance pilots will approach, the wings (ph) and nose of the plane facing into the winds, this is to help slow the decent rate of the airplane, but at the last moment the pilot will try to bring the plane's nose in line with the runway, and unfortunately if that maneuver is performed a little bit too early the airplane may not land in the center of the runway. In fact it can land several hundred meters away from the runway, and unfortunately that's exactly what happened.

One last thing I want to show you George, here's a vertical profile of the altitude and how quickly that plane dropped, really it was the last 10 seconds that it dropped roughly 4,000 feet, here's the weather conditions across Rostov-on-Don region, cold front moving through and extremely strong winds indicated with that sharing of red during the time of the plane crash. George.

HOWELL: Weather may have played factor and Derek looking at that graphic that you shared with our viewers, to see that the plane started to go down and then gained altitude to go back down, very abruptly. You can only imagine how terrifying it must have been from the last moments for that flight. Derek Ban Dam, thank you so much and we'll stay in touch.

VAN DAM: OK.

HOWELL: And reports indicate that FlyDubai, this jet had enough fuel to keep flying for another two hours and that raises many questions even as Derek has pointed out. Let's bring in Geoffrey Thomas. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Managing Director at airlineratings.com. Geoffrey, it is good to have you this hour.

So, you published ...

GEOFFREY THOMAS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, AIRLINERATINGS.COM: Sure (ph).

HOWELL: Yes, thank you. You published this report that indicates that the plane had two hours of fuel left. That it could have diverted, a previous plane did just that. Any thoughts on why this plane did not do the same?

THOMAS: Well ended this is going to be a focus on the investigators as to why the crew didn't divert, an air flight just ahead of him diverted, only 30 minutes flying time away and successfully landed. They had two more hours of fuel onboard, it seems very strange they didn't divert because the winds gusting as just being suggested, up to 97 kilometers an hour, they are very, very strong winds to attempt to landing in.

[04:10:13] And - as well as, yowing (ph) the aircraft in the direction of the wind to counteract the effect of the wind, the pilot also dipped their wing in the direction of the wind as well. An earlier report tells us that in fact the first pilot, a plane that impacted the runway or the terrain was in fact the wind, which then precipitated the brake (ph) of the aircraft. So, it appears as though they were battling these very strong crosswinds and - it appears to be the major factor in this terrible disaster.

HOWELL: So, wind played a factor, as our Derek Van Dam even eluded to possibility a pilot error may have been to blame as well. What are your thoughts? Because obviously takeoff and landing, the two most critical points for any flight? THOMAS: Well given the information we have now, and of course, you know, it's very early and we have to - we do have to get the cockpit voice recorders to really understand what was going on. But the absence of that, given the wind conditions and gusting conditions and the fact that other aircraft had diverted, then a pilot error would have to be a major contributing cause of this crash.

I mean the wind is obviously a factor but then there's the decision making process, is whether it's too bad for us to land, we have to divert and not press on. And tragically, (inaudible) as often is the term used in aviation, is the cause of many, many of these tragedies where pilots feel as though they can land the aircraft, including the conditions are not conducive for a safe landing.

HOWELL: Geoffrey, I don't know if you saw this a moment ago, but just before you -- and I mentioned Derek Van Dam, he had this graphic that showed the decent, but then it showed the plane gaining altitude just a bit and then going down abruptly. What do you make of that?

THOMAS: Well, that could be associated with the cargo, the front that was going through, wind shear maybe affected here, which is the abrupt change in direction of wind at an altitude. This has caused tragedies in past, and so this might also be affected, might have been a valid (ph) downdraft associated with this front. So, again that was -- and that would be outside the pilot's control completely. Although one might argue that even the weather conditions you shouldn't even attempted a landing, particular in such violent winds come into play.

HOWELL: Geoffrey Thomas, thank you so much for your insight and we will stay in touch as this investigation continues and hopefully we will learn more about what lead to this crash.

THOMAS: Thank you George.

HOWELL: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. And still ahead this hour, one of the world's most wanted terror suspects shot and captured alive. What investigators learn from Salah Abdeslam? What will they learn about the terror attacks in Paris last year? And, are there more plots in the works? We dig into that question as CNN Newsroom continues.

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ELENI GIOKOS, CNN BUSINESS NOW: I'm Eleni Giokos, these are the top business headlines. European Union and Turkish officials have reached an agreement on how to deal with a flood of Syrian refugee. The E.U. says that from Sunday, all unauthorized migrants who reached Greece from Turkey will be sent back there, in return the E.U. will provide more financial aide and reopen talks on letting Turkey join the European Union.

[04:15:17] Starwood Hotels says it's walking away from a $12 billion merger deal with Marriott internal after a different group of investors made a higher bid. A group led by the Chinese insurers and banks is offering almost $13 billion to Starwood which owns brands include St. Regis and W Hotels. Starwood says Marriott has five days to raise its offer.

The Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group has singed up as a FIFA sponsor, it's the first Chinese company to become a partner with football's world governing body. It will have rights to all FIFA competitions through the World Cup in 2030.

On Wall Street, U.S. stock continue a winning streak. The Dow posted its second straight day of triple digit gains to hit a new high point for the year. It's been up everyday this week, finishing the week more than 2 percent higher. Those are the top business headlines. I'm Eleni Giokos in New York.

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HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM, I'm George Howell. There has been a stunning and dramatic development in the investigation into the Paris terror attacks. The chief suspect in the attacks, Salah Abdeslam was shot in the leg but captured alive in a raid in Brussels on Friday. He's now left the Brussels hospital where he was initially taken and how remains in custody.

Abdeslam has been a fugitive, in fact Europe's most wanted fugitive. Ever since the November attack killed 130 people in the French capital. Four other people were also detained in Friday's raid. Investigators believe three of them had been helping Abdeslam hide out.

For more on this let's go to our Senior International Correspondent Frederik Pleitgen live in Brussels this hour. Fred good to have you. He has been on the run now for four months with fears that he might have managed to get to Syria and possibly orchestrate more attacks. How significant is this get for investigators?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's very significant George. On the one hand of course the culmination point of about four months of police work not just by the Belgium police but really by police from all over Europe. Remember there were German authorities involved. Of course French authorities were involved as well because that is where the initial attacks took place. One of the things that we've been hearing over the past couple of months is that, they all (ph) but lost the trail of Salah Abdeslam.

As we said, there were people who believed that he might have escaped all the way to Syria, there were people who believed he might be in hiding in some other European country but now it turns out that he was actually right here in this Brussels district which actually isn't very far from where he grew up, and also from where he had a lot of associates, a lot of friends. Which is also one of the things that the police said is that they believe that at least three of the people were arrested in the apartment were associated of the same family of who were sheltering him here.

So it's a very significant find, and the European authorities have said that this was Europe's most wanted man. And of course, now that he's in custody, they hope to get more information as to how exactly the Paris attacks were planned, who was behind it. One of the things that was interesting that Francois Hollande, the French President said yesterday that, it's becoming more and more clear that the web that was behind the Paris attack, the people who were involved in it, who helped, who gave logistical support, maybe other support as well, that it was a lot more than the authorities had actually believed.

There have been a lot of raids that were carried out over the past couple of months especially here in this part of Belgium, many houses were raided, and many people who believed to have aided the attackers or in some other way provided logistical support were taken into custody. And so certainly this is something that could bring police work as far as combating extremism in Europe forward, a great deal, George.

[04:20:08] HOWELL: And, you know, important to point out, four other people also detained in these raids, three of whom are believed to have helped Abdeslam hide out, but what about the concerns Fred, about other possible operatives, who might have been associated with Abdeslam who may still be in Europe and possibly plotting more attacks?

PLEITGEN: Yeah. I mean if you look at some of the things that were uncovered just this past week, there was a raid that took place here in Brussels on Tuesday where there was another associate who was gunned down by the police, who actually shot at police first, who's also believed to have been one of the main logistical mastermind of the Paris attack, someone who, as the Paris attacks were going on made phone calls to the Paris attackers who were only a few days after the Paris attacks wired money to the cousins of one of the attackers possibly to plot another attack.

So certainly there is a great deal of concern here in Europe that maybe even coming from the original cell of people who were involved in the Paris attack, that there could be people plotting other attacks as well. There were some people who even insinuated that possibly Abdeslam might have been -- one of the ones who might have been plotting further attacks here in Europe. So there is definitely a great deal of concerns especially if you look at the way that many of these people had been going to Syria, have then been coming to Syria.

A lot of the thing that were uncovered in the past four months, the police work, surrounding not just the Paris attacks but also the operations that were going on here in Europe indicate that there is a big problem, and certainly big security concern here for Europe that there could be people plotting further attacks. George.

HOWELL: Fred Pleitgen, live for us in Brussels this hour. Fred, thank you so much for your reporting.

Salah Abdeslam spent months on the run as the object of one of the most intense manhunts in Europe. CNN's Erin McLaughlin reminds us of what we know about him and how we got to this point.

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ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's been four months since a group of gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people on the streets of Paris, targeting bars, restaurant, a concert hall and a football stadium outside the city. Most of the terrorist involved were French and Belgian citizens, several known to have spent time in Syria. Most died in the attacks or were killed by police.

But this man got away. Salah Abdeslam has been the subject of an international manhunt since November. A French citizen known to have been living in Brussels, investigators think he may have been the driver of the Renault Clio that dropped three suicide bombers at the Stade de France. His brother Ibrahim Abdeslam is believed to be one of those who blew himself up that night.

Just hours after the Paris attack, Salah Abdeslam was stopped by a police driving with friends towards the Belgian border, and he's questioned but not arrested. A day after Abdeslam met a friend in Brussels, and then he was caught on surveillance video at a gas station, again, near the Belgian border.

Questions remained over Abdeslam's role in the November 13th attack, investigators say his DNA was on a suicide belt that was found discarded in Paris suburb 10 days after the attack, a day he was also spotted buying detonators from a firework shop in Paris.

Authorities have been working under the theory he was supposed to blow himself up but backed out at the last minute. After the initial sightings following the attack, the trail for Abdeslam had apparently gone cold, some officials assumed he fled to Syria, he did, now we know he didn't stay long.

Erin McLaughlin, CNN, London.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: A young American may also provide some valuable insight about the terror group ISIS, he says that he, "wasn't thinking straight," when he want to allegedly join ISIS in Iraq after meeting a young woman in Turkey. U.S. authorities are seeking his return to the United States to place possible charges.

CNN's Brian Todd has more on this mysterious case.

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BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The moment of capture. Interrogated by Kurdish forces, the man says he is American. That his father is Palestinian and his mother is from Iraq.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where you from?

MOHAMAD JAMAL KHWEIS, ISIS FIGHTER: The United States.

TODD: Kurdish officials say he is 26-year-old Mohamad Jamal Khweis. They say they captured him trying to leave ISIS territory in Iraq and flee home. Kurdish T.V. aired an edited interview with Khweis while he was in captivity. He said he traveled through Europe late last year to Syria then to Mosul, Iraq. Khweis said he was put in a house just for foreign fighters, that life was hard and that the people who command ISIS aren't good Muslims.

KHWEIS: I didn't really support their ideology. And that's -- at that point, that's when I decided I needed to escape.

TODD: Analysts say he could be a gold mine for U.S. intelligence on the inner workings of the terror group.

SEAMUS HUGHES, PROGRAM ON EXTREMISM AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: What I think is most interesting about this case is how he traveled, what routes did he take and that will give us insight of how other Americans are trying to travel in Syria and Iraq.

TODD: CNN went to see his father.

[04:25:04] JAMAL KHWEIS, FATHER OF MOHAMAD JAMAL KHWEIS: This is wrong information. You are talking to the wrong person.

TODD: But the man clearly seemed upset and later told reporters this.

KHWEI: He is old enough. I cannot ask him where he is going, where he's coming from. He is in Iraq -- he is not. I know he is -- he will never go there.

TODD: Khweis graduated from Edison High School in Alexandria, Virginia in 2007.

Harrison Weinhold, a friend from high school recognizes Khweis from the driver's license. Weinhold says Mohamad Khweis was a normal teenager who made fun of people who were religious.

What do you make of this news about your friend?

HARRISON WEINHOLD, HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND OF MOHAMAD JAMAL KHWEIS: It's really -- it's upsetting. It really sucks. It's something you feel for his family. It's just not something that you would ever think would happen. He definitely wasn't the type of person. He wasn't an angry person. He wasn't a, you know, an outcast by any means. He was just a normal guy. We did normal stuff in high school.

TODD: Another friend who didn't want to be on camera told CNN, Khweis was a friendly and goofy kid who often joked around. If Khweis was with ISIS why would he have abandoned them on the battlefield and walked into the arms of the enemy?

HUGHES: The main reason was, you know, it wasn't what they told him it was going to be. They thought it would be this great so-called caliphate, and it's just not. And they saw the infighting, and the killing of other Muslims.

TODD: A primary task for U.S. law enforcement now might be to find out whether Mohamad Khweis acted alone in moving toward ISIS, who might have recruited him? Another big question, will be he charged with materiel support of terrorism? Right now the FBI is not commenting on any of that.

Brian Todd, CNN, Alexandria, Virginia. (END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: The Republican movement to stop Donald Trump, it's picking up steam as a party leader now announces his vote is going to another candidate but the question, is it too late?

And, see how Cuba is preparing for a historic visit from U.S. President Barack Obama. CNN Newsroom continues right after the break.

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[04:30:00]

HOWELL: Welcome back to our viewers around the world, you are watching CNN NEWSROOM. It is good to have you with us. I'm George Howell.

The headlines we're following this hour. A place crashed in southern Russia, all of the 63 people onboard the FlyDubai flight 981 are dead. In this video that you see here, it appears to show the moment of that crash. High winds may have played factor as this Boeing tried to land. Russia state media report that one of the two flight recorders has been found.

Paris terror attack suspect Salah Abdeslam is now out of a hospital in Belgium. He was taken there with a gunshot wound after being captured Friday and remains in custody. Four other people were also detained in Friday's raid in suburban Brussels. Abdeslam had been on the run since November after the Paris attacks which killed 130 people.

A Supreme Court judge in Brazil has filled an injunction blocking former President Lula da Silva from becoming the current president's chief of stuff. This comes after more protest broke out over the appointment which critics feared could give Lula immunity in a federal investigation.

America's Choice 2016 and the race for the White House, protesters turned out in force where Donald Trump's rally in Salt Lake City Utah.

(CROSSTALK)

The crowd you see here outside, tried to breach the entrance before the doors were abruptly closed by secret service agents. It comes just a week after the threat of clashes forced the Republican frontrunner to cancel a rally in Chicago.

Inside that event Donald Trump went after 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney. That attack comes after Romney announced that he will be voting for rival Ted Cruz. Romney is calling for other Republicans to do the same, hoping to prevent Donald Trump from getting the delegates that he needs to win outright and force a Brokered Convention.

CNN's Sunlen Serfaty has the very latest for us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY, (R) FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hi there, how are you?

SUNLEN SERFATY, CCN CORRESPONDENT: Mitt Romney announcing he's voting for Ted Cruz and endorsing an open convention, writing on Facebook that, "... a vote for Governor Kasich in future contest makes it extremely likely that Trumpism would prevail."

Ted Cruz is also stressing the urgency of the moment framing the race at a pivotal crossroads.

TED CRUZ, (R) U.S.PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is primary I think is a critical moment where Donald Trump obviously has a lot of momentum, he is in the lead right now and I think the only way to beat him is for us to come together and unite as one.

SERFATY: But as the anti-Trump movement intensifies so does the pushback from the Trump forces.

SAM CLOVIS, TRUMP CAMPAIGN ADVISOR: If that's the path they want to go down, there will be consequences for that kind of thinking.

SERFATY: The Trump campaign ratcheting up it's warnings of an all-out revolt if Trump opponents block him from becoming the nominee at the convention.

CLOVIS: If the Republican Party comes into that convention and jimmies with the rules and takes away the will of the people, the will of the Republicans and the Democrats and the independents who voted for Mr. Trump, I will take off my credentials, I will leave the floor of that convention and I will leave the Republican Party forever.

SERFATY: As the race turns to Utah and Arizona next week, Cruz is making the case that a vote for John Kasich is a vote for Trump.

CRUZ: And if Kasich manages to pull enough votes in Utah to pull me below 50 percent, they effect of John Kasich will be giving Donald Trump 20 more delegates which I think would be a big, big mistake.

SERFATY: All this comes as Trump issues ominous warnings about a contested convention.

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't think you can say that we don't get it automatically, I think there would -- I think you'd have riots. I'm representing a tremendous -- many, many millions of people.

SERFATY: And his rivals are scolding him for it.

JOHN KASICH, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We might have a riot if I can't get the delegates at the convention. You know, frankly, I don't think that's the way we ought t be conducting a campaign for president.

CRUZ: No one should be surprised that Donald Trump is trying to stir up riots, I wish we has a presidential candidate that was bringing us together instead of encouraging such things.

SERFATY: Trump is not only facing political attack, the hacking group anonymous also taking aim.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Donald Trump has set his ambitions on the White House in order to promote an agenda of fascism and xenophobia.

SERFATY: The hackers declaring total war on Trump, releasing online, what they alleged to be Trump's number and social security number.

[04:35: 08] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We do not forgive, we not forget, Donald Trump you should have expected us.

SERFATY: The Trump campaign says officials are seeking the arrest of people behind it. While in a separate incident, one of Trump's son Eric received a threatening note at his Manhattan apartment that contained a suspicious powder. The contents appear to have been lemonade mix but authorities are investigating.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: That was CNN's Sunlen Serfaty reporting for us there. And with the Arizona primary just a few a days away, Donald Trump will be -- stopping there, I should say, to campaign in Saturday before then heading to Florida on Sunday.

Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton is slamming the Congressional Republicans for not acting swiftly on a funding request made by the current President Barack Obama. On Friday she knocked them for taking a scheduled two-week break without approving the President's $1.8 billion request to combat the Zika virus. Zika has been linked to birth defects and Clinton says how is not the time to lower the country's defenses against this public treat.

While Hillary Clinton takes aim at Republicans, U.S. President Barack Obama appears to be taking more shot at Donald Trump.

CNN Jeff Zeleny shows us why the President is on the attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He's not on the ballot, but his legacy is on the line.

BARACK OBAMA, U.S. PRESIDENT: Hello Austin.

ZELENY: And President Obama is gearing up for a campaign of his own against Donald Trump. Feeling a little sympathy for the plight of the GOP.

OBAMA: This is the guy, remember, who was sure that I was born in Kenya.

Who just won't let it go. And all the same Republican establishment, they weren't saying nothing. As long as it was directed at me they were fine with it.

ZELENY: The President is still officially on the sidelines of the Democratic primary fight, even though his preference for Hillary Clinton is one of the worst kept secrets in Washington. But he's all in to stop Trump.

OBAMA: I continue to believe Mr. Trump will not be president.

ZELENY: His tone is shifting for dismissive ...

OBAMA: I think they recognize that being president is a serious job. It's not hosting a talk show or a reality show.

ZELENY: ... to dead serious.

OBAMA: And so I know that I'm not the only one in this room who maybe more than a little dismayed about what's happening on the campaign trail lately. We have heard vulgar and divisive rhetoric aimed at women and minorities and Americans who don't look like us or pray like us or vote like we do.

ZELENY: In five years Trump has gone from presidential punch line ...

OBAMA: Say what you will about Mr. Trump, he certainly would bring some change to the White House. See what we got up there?

ZELENY: To now within reach of the presidency. Which Obama is increasingly working against.

OBAMA: During primaries, people vent and they express themselves. And it seems like entertainment but, as you get closer, reality has a way of intruding.

ZELENY: The President is gradually expressing himself.

OBAMA: I think I will have Democratic successor and I will campaign very hard to make that happen.

ZELENY: The question is whether voters are looking for change just as they were eight years ago when he swept into office.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: That was CNN's Jeff Zeleny reporting for us.

Cuba is getting ready for a historic visit from the U.S. President this weekend. The trip comes after a breakthrough in relations between Havana and Washington, including the easing of travel restrictions. We get more now from CNN's Patrick Oppmann in Havana.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's been a long wait but Cuba is getting ready to welcome a U.S. president. After 50 years of isolation from America, Cubans are elated that relations with the U.S. have improved to a point that an American President is visiting for the first time in 88 years.

Alejandro (ph) ended his studies to drive tourist in 1950 Chevrolet, earning more in an hour than he would have pulled down as an engineer in a month. He says he hopes to soon drive more Americans. (FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

OPPMANN: I'm only 21-years-old he said. I never thought a U.S. president would visit Cuba. I hope that relations improve between the U.S. and Cuba that the economic situation gets better. That's what Cuba really needs.

While the U.S. economic embargo which only Congress can lift is still in place, Obama has dulled some of the sanction's sharpest teeth. It's not clear how much Cuba's communist leaders will open the economy in return.

Already the opening with the U.S. has changed some people's lives.

(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

OPPMANN: She's seeing family sing happy birthday to her grandfather Esrael (ph) who is turning 83, he lives in Florida. She's grateful for new areas with public Wi-Fi that the government has recently opened.

[04:40:06] Internet in Cuba is some of the most restricted in the world. President Obama has vowed to push for more access.

(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

OPPMANN: I'm hoping for a little more flexibility now she says, maybe to visit our family. It's been 16 years since we've been able to see them. Now at least thanks to this we can see them on the tablet or on our cellphones. The separation has been too long.

Some Cubans are looking to mark the historic occasion by engaging in a little capitalism. Crafts maker Bobi Taniosa (ph) is selling Obama souvenirs.

(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

OPPMANN: I think it's a gesture, something historic she says. His visit is historic and so people will take this keepsake with them, Obama in Cuba. Obama's visit is just one step in building trust between two countries that for decades were on opposite sides of the Cold War. Many here say they have waited their whole life for this moment.

"Ya era hora" (ph) is what many Cubans we spoke to told us about the new beginning with America, it was time.

Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.

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HOWELL: Coming up, riot police pushback in Brazil. As protesters cries foul over a court ruling that they fear will block the prosecution of a former president.

Plus, we'll tell you why Amnesty International is calling a migration deal between the E.U. and Turkey a "historic blow to human rights." Stay with us.

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HOWELL: Welcome back. We want to update you on the breaking news that we are following this hour, one of the two flight recorders from the FlyDubai jet that crushed in Southern Russia has been found. State media say that the video you see here shows the crush, though CNN cannot confirm that. All 62 onboard that plane were killed.

The Boeing jet was traveling from Dubai to Rostov-on-Don. The region's governor says weather is the main focus of that investigation. We will continue to follow that story of course.

[04:45:05] So, there are reports that, obviously there was another plane, another plane that tried to land around the same time but instead this plane went to a different airport.

We spoke earlier to a former U.S. air accident investigator Alan Diehl about that and asked him about how pilots typically decide when to divert to nearly airports.

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ALAN DIEHL, FRM. U.S. AIR ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR: Pilots have to do is carry enough fuel to fly to their destination and to go to other airport that has better weather and have an additional 45 minutes of fuel. Well if the reports are right about that orbiting for almost two hours. That could mean that they would really be pressed to go to their other -- at that point. Now the other aircraft apparently did -- do what's called a missed approached and went (inaudible) but these pilots may have realized that they were running out of options and that of course again can increase stress levels which we know often leads to pilot error unfortunately.

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HOWELL: Alan Diehl for us there. We move on now to Brazil where a Supreme Court judge has filled an injunction blocking former President Lula da Silva from becoming the current president's chief of staff. It comes after more protest broke out over the appointment which critics fear could give Lula immunity in a federal investigation.

Our Shasta Darlington has -- was a pro-government demonstration and has this for us.

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SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was the Brazilian government starting to flex its political muscle on Friday with dozens of demonstrations across the country. Tens of thousands turned out right here in Sao Paulo...

(CROSSTALK)

(SINGING) DARLINGTON: So everyone here is out to show their support for President Dilma Rousseff, the Worker's Party, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva turned out in person to speak to the crowd, to get them exited about showing their support for a government that frankly is facing a lot of problems. Listen to what he has to say today.

LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, BRAZIL FORMER PRESIDENT (through translation): On Tuesday, as we overcome any obstacles I will be there, proudly serving my President Dilma Rousseff and serving the Brazilian people, the Brazilian workers. If I did not believe I would not have accepted.

DARLINGTON: The demonstrations on Friday however comes after days of anti-government protest with hundreds of thousands also taking to the street. These are days of tension and real political strive with both side trying to show that they're not going to step down. What will be important moving forward is the impeachment proceedings in Congress which are moving at an even faster speed. These are crucial days and weeks that determine how this all ends.

Shasta Darlington, CNN, Rio de Janeiro.

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HOWELL: The European Union and Turkey have agreed on measures to curb the migrant flow into Europe. Turkey has been criticized before for its human rights records and that is why Amnesty International and condemning the deal. Here's our Senior International Correspondent Arwa Damon.

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ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: E.U. and Turkey have reached a deal on how to cope with so-called migrant and refugee crisis. Although the exact details at this stage and the mechanisms of implementation are not necessarily clear as of March 28th. Anyone who arrived illegally to Greece from Turkey will be returned to Turkey. Additionally there is something of a one for one trade that will be taking place.

Any Syrian that is returned to Turkey will then result in a European nation accepting a Syrian refugee from Turkey. In return Turkey will be seeing the acceleration of a delivery of a previously agreed upon $3 billion Euro to help it cope with the sheer numbers of refugees that are here. And also there will be some acceleration and talks when it comes to Turkey's accession into the E.U. and other perks potentially for Turkish citizens.

And for Europe they will be able to -- at least in their view try to stem the tide of refugees who are disparately trying to reach their shore. Now, this deal has come under much criticism especially from human rights organizations with Amnesty International previously calling it basically the affect of bartering of human lives, and Oxfam coming out with a statement calling into question the legality of this deal under both international and E.U. laws, legality that has been questions by the United Nations as well.

[04:50:06] Oxfam also very forcefully saying that this basically boils down to bartering with human lives for political gain.

Arwa Damon, CNN, Istanbul.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Still ahead here on CNN Newsroom, this site probably stopped a lot of people in their track. A racehorse all dressed up in custom- made three-piece designer suit. The secret behind this fashion stunt next.

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PATRIC SNELL, CNN SPORTS NOW: Hi there, thanks for joining us. I'm Patric Snell with your CNN world sport headlines, starting with Friday's big European Champions League draw for a place in the semifinals, we're going to show you the last day (ph), conquering Barcelona's quest to become the first team to win back to back titles, remember since 1990. Well Barcelona have been drawn against Atletico in the quarters who actually beat then en route to the 2014 final, the other standout march up between the French champions Paris Saint Germain, Manchester City who have reached the quarters for the first time ever.

Also Friday the Europa League quarterfinal draw, would you believe it, Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool will face his former club Borussia Dortmund. The reds will travel for our first leg at the -- oh that's -- spend seven seasons at Dortmund to help win two Bundesliga titles in the process and the German cup.

The sixth edition of Crickets 2020 World Cup is in full swing in India with Friday witnessing an incredible clash between South Africa and the 2010 champs England, set a target of more than 229 to win. England digging deep and recorded the highest successful run chase ever at a world T20 tournament to beat the frontier (ph). Joe Root smashing a superb 83 to see his country home. England did lose two wickets in the very last over, but the scores leveled before Moeen Ali finally secured the win with just two balls to spare, really fantastic achievement. I'm Patric Snell.

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HOWELL: So, a veteran race horse is putting other horses to shame. He is all decked out in a custom-tailored three-piece tweed suit a dapper cap and a pedigree to boot. Jeanne Moos has more now on the fashion's newest four-legged star.

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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is the story of a horse that didn't win by a nose, he's a winner for his clothes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think Morestead is a bit like Naomi Campbell of modeling world. [04:55:00] MOOS: It took a month for costume designer Emma Sandham- King to make Morestead's tweed suit. The former apprentice to Alexander McQueen did three fittings.

EMMA SANDHAM-KING, HORSE SUIT DESIGNER: Morestead is a very patient, very friendly horse. And I think he really just liked the attention.

MOOS: Sure, it was a P.R. stunt to publicize England's Cheltenham horse racing festival. But who can resist a horse sporting a white shirt and tie, wearing a tweed suit with pockets?

What does Morestead carry in those pockets?

SANDHAM-KING: Oh, horsey treats, carrots.

MOOS: Are they real pockets?

SANDHAM-KING: No, we didn't think he needed to put his hooves in there.

MOOS: The horse suit required 21 and a half square yards of fine Harris Tweed from Scotland. We haven't seen anything this snazzy on a horse since the time Scotland's tourist agency commissioned cardigans for a pair of Shetland ponies. I myself once dressed in plaid to match an outfit worn by a horse but this takes horse dressing to another level.

My only quibble is with the ear holes on the cap. Not quite up to snuff, a last minute alteration.

SANDHAM-KING: We were debating, should the hat go in between his ears or around his ears. And we decided that the ears should go through the hat.

MOOS: The whole outfit makes Morestead resemble a certain private detective.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will you tell her Mr. Sherlock Holmes would like a word with her?

MOOS: And if we could have a word with a talking horse.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh what a fool, what a fool I've been.

MOOS: You're not a fool, Morestead, you're a clothes horse.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: That horse fit a better tie than needed. Anyway, we thank you for joining us this hour of CNN Newsroom. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta. More news from around the world right after the break. You're watching CNN, the world's news leader.

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