CNN Student News Transcript: March 3, 2008

(CNN Student News) -- March 3, 2008

Quick Guide

Harry Comes Home - Hear why a member of Britain's royal family is leaving the front lines.

Russian Election - Learn about the controversy surrounding Russia's presidential election.

Saying Sorry - Discover why the U.S. government is apologizing to Native Americans.

Transcript

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

MONICA LLOYD, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: It's Monday, and we're glad to have you with us for the start of a brand new week of CNN Student News. From the CNN Center, I'm Monica Lloyd.

First Up: Harry Comes Home

LLOYD: First up, a homecoming for Prince Harry after a shorter-than-expected tour of duty in Afghanistan. The British royal has been fighting there since late last year, and if you were with us on Friday, you know the media kept it a secret. But the news got out, and the British military decided it was too dangerous for the prince and told him that he needed to come home. Paula Hancocks reports on Harry's reaction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN REPORTER: Prince Harry is back in Britain, but sooner than he expected, stepping off the military plane along with 170 other soldiers fresh from Afghanistan. Among them were two seriously injured soldiers. He calls their bravery humbling.

PRINCE HARRY: Those are the heroes. Those were guys who had been blown up by a mine that they had no idea about, serving their country, doing a normal patrol, doing what they know is best.

HANCOCKS: He chose his words carefully when asked if he was angry about a reporting embargo that was broken, leading to his swift exit from Afghanistan. He said he was disappointed, but seemed resigned to it.

PRINCE HARRY: Whatever has happened, has happened. And as I've said, it doesn't surprise me. There's always someone out there who is willing to ruin the party.

HANCOCKS: While in Afghanistan, Prince Harry talked of the bond between soldiers, saying the anonymity of fighting on the front line was the most normal he had felt. Prince William, Prince Harry and Prince Charles heading away from RAF Brize Norton, and this is when Prince Harry will realize that he has stopped being just one of the lads in Afghanistan. He's now gone back to his other job: being a prince. Harry's father and older brother were there to welcome him home. Prince Charles talked of his relief at having his son back in one piece.

PRINCE CHARLES: It's obviously marvelous to see him back, and I'm enormously proud of what he's done. But, I do so understand, now, what it's like for so many other families.

HANCOCKS: Prince Harry has already said he is keen to go back into a war zone soon. But the more pressing concern here, is he now in more danger in Britain from Islamic extremists who may want to target him, not only for being a member of the royal family, but for being a soldier who has fought against the Taliban. Paula Hancocks, CNN, RAF, Brize Norton, England.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Ahmadinejad Visits Iraq

LLOYD: Heading over to the Middle East now, where Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is making a historic visit to Iraq. He arrived there yesterday for a two-day trip, and it's the first time an Iranian president has ever visited the neighboring country. The two nations actually fought an eight-year war back in the 1980s, but Ahmadinejad said they share a common history and that the visit will help bring peace and security to the region.

ID Me

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS: See if you can I.D. Me! I'm located in the middle of the Russian capital. I was once a symbol of communist power in the Soviet Union, but today, I'm the Russian Federation's headquarters. Known as the citadel of Moscow, the Kremlin has housed the Russian government for centuries.

Russian Election

LLOYD: And that famous building is about to get a new occupant. That's because Russians took to the polls over the weekend to vote for their country's new president. But critics have raised some questions about the role that the nation's current leader will have in the new administration. Matthew Chance has more on the Russian election and the controversy that's surrounding it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN REPORTER: The man poised to be Russia's next president, casting his own vote in an election slammed by critics as a farce. Dmitry Medvedev was hand picked by the current Russian leader, Vladimir Putin. A landslide victory was not in doubt.

DMITRY MEDVEDEV, CANDIDATE: I'm feeling good. Spring has come. Although it's raining, a new time has come and that is nice.

CHANCE: Across Russia's 11 time zones, voters have been casting their ballots after what independent observers called a one-sided campaign, heavily biased towards the Kremlin's choice. There are reports of people being pressured to vote to boost turnout. But Medvedev has genuine appeal, and many Russians are gladly trusting him with their country's future.

PERSON ON THE STREET: He is a wonderful, young, handsome, energetic man who will continue Putin's work and be a shining example for our children.

PERSON ON THE STREET: The new president and the opposition should work together constructively to close the chasm between the rich and the poor.

CHANCE: The big unanswered question, though, is who will really be in charge once the votes have all been counted and Dmitry Medvedev is president. Vladimir Putin says he will take on the job of prime minister, indicating that he intends to exert power even after leaving Russia's highest office. Casting his vote, President Putin must be satisfied at what he's achieved: installing a protégé as his successor in the Kremlin, perhaps guaranteeing his own grip on Russia for years to come. Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Kilauea Eruption

LLOYD: Heading to Hawaii now, where one sub-division has been feeling the heat for 25 years. It might look like a wildfire, but what you're actually watching here is lava, and it's on the move! It's from Kilauea Volcano, and it's destroyed more than 60 homes in the Royal Gardens neighborhood since 1983. Only two homes in the area are still occupied, and one of them is a bed and breakfast called, what else, the Lava House.

Shoutout

AZUZ: Time for the Shoutout! From which Native American tribe was the leader Geronimo? If you think you know it, shout it out! Was it: A) Apache, B) Blackfoot, C) Cherokee or D) Dakota? You've got three seconds -- GO! Geronimo was an Apache leader known for his courage and determination.

Saying Sorry

LLOYD: All of those tribes, along with the rest of the Native American community, are getting an apology from the U.S. government. Now, you guys know that saying "I'm sorry" isn't always an easy thing to do. But it's important, especially when you're apologizing for wrongs that took place over hundreds of years. Kate Bolduan fills us in on the details.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHMN. FRANK ETTAWAGESHIK, OTTAWA INDIAN TRIBE LEADER: There's about 4,300 members in my tribe.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN REPORTER: Tribal leader Frank Ettawageshik says his Ottawa Indian tribe in Michigan fought for a hundred years before finally being recognized by the federal government in the 1990s.

ETTAWAGESHIK: We also had generations of people that were taken away from their families, and they were losing their language, losing their cultural practices.

BOLDUAN: The government-tribal relationship has been marked by a history of broken treaties and forgotten promises, but it's one that may be on the mend after a historic move in Congress.

SENATOR SAM BROWNBACK, (R) KANSAS: An official apology from the United States to the Native American community for the abuses that were done, whether it's broken treaties, whether there were massacres.

BOLDUAN: Senator Sam Brownback sponsored the resolution that apologizes for "the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect" inflicted on Native Americans. It passed the Senate. Similar legislation has been introduced in the House. Brownback says this apology is a giant step forward.

BROWNBACK: If we're going to have a long-term, better relationship, you gotta acknowledge these things that did happen in the past and take ownership of them.

BOLDUAN: Chairman Ettawageshik says the American Indian community has mixed feelings toward the resolution. They applaud the apology.

ETTAWAGESHIK: We're at the same time, realizing that these are just words on paper, and that there are actions we think that could be taken to follow up on this.

BOLDUAN: There are no reparations attached to the apology, but the Senate also passed major funding for Native American healthcare, which the chairman says is crucial.

ETTAWAGESHIK: If you're a prisoner in the federal prison system, you have much, much better healthcare than you do if you're a client of Indian healthcare services of the federal government.

BOLDUAN: The federal government has previously apologized to Japanese-Americans after World War II and to Native Hawaiians for the overthrow of their kingdom. But one high-profile issue not included in this group is an apology for slavery and segregation. Kate Bolduan, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Promo

LLOYD: In 1987, the U.S. Congress designated March as Women's History Month. The observance recognizes and celebrates the achievements of women throughout history, and of course CNN Student News is taking part in the event. We'll have profiles of prominent women on our show throughout the month, and free curriculum materials available on our Web site, CNNStudentNews.com!

Before We Go

LLOYD: And finally, you've probably heard someone say that a great athlete can carry his teammates on his back, but this is a bit ridiculous! It's all part of the thrilling sport of donkey basketball! A Kentucky middle school held a four-team tournament to raise money for its athletic program. School staff, coaches, even the local police saddled up to take their best shot. Of course normal gym rules apply, so even the donkeys wore special shoes to avoid scuffing the floor. What the sport lacks in speed, it sure makes up in entertainment.

Goodbye

LLOYD: And that's where we ride off into the sunset for today. But we'll see you right back here tomorrow for more CNN Student News. Have a great day, everyone. I'm Monica Lloyd. E-mail to a friend