covering nelson mandela for more than three decades. of course, nelson mandela, the father of south africa's democracy and one of the legitimate global superstars. we will, of course, continue to watch his condition and update you as it warrants. >>> right now, what to expect the major cutbacks at the post office. we'll talk about that. this is "weekends with alex witt." erything - everything. but why energy? we've got over 100 years worth. is it safe to get it? but what, so we should go broke with imports? look, i'm just saying. well, energy creates jobs. [announcer:] at conocophillips, we're helping power america's economy with cleaner, affordable natural gas. more jobs, less emissions. a good answer for everyone. we gotta be careful. it's cleaner. it's affordable. look, if it's safe, i'm there. [announcer:] conocophillips. there's another way litter box dust:e purina tidy cats. tidy cats premium line of litters now works harder on dust. and our improved formulas neutralize odors better than ever in multiple-cat homes. so it's easier

nelson mandela is in the hospital. we'll have a live report for you. this is three syrian armies made up of civilians going up against government tanks and troops. we are going to show you more of that very dramatic video. >>> presidential candidate mitt romney addressing an empty stadium. more to the picture than meets the eye. we are going to explain. >>> ever want to hand pick the person sitting next to you on a flight? good news. there's an app for that. >>> from cnns world headquarters bringing you news and analysis from across the nation and around the globe. live from studio 7, this is "cnn saturday morning." >>> good morning, everyone. we start with a developing story out of south africa. former president, nelson mandela has been hospitalized with an abdominal complaint. his health declined in recent years and p has been living quietly with few appearances. what are you hearing? what's going on there? >> well, deb, as you can imagine, the african nation and many people who love and adore nelson mandela are holding their breath. he was admitted

>>vicki: and nelson mandela is recovering from surgery. he is a national hero in his home country and well- wishers are concerned about his recovery. here is a closer look at their recent years in mandela's life. >> this is the most recent film of mandela looking confused and bewildered as an official explained to him how to vote in last year's local elections. those close to him like his wife are seen helping him here and say that he has founded the indignities of old age difficult to indore. >> when he realized that he cannot walk as hall and firm as he's to be, he doesn't like it. >> she also says his memory is not what it used to be and it is difficult to watch him age. >> to see him aging is painful. you understand it and you know that it has to happen, tsks them love to watch mandelas sparkle fade it's even more difficult because he was always physically robust and energetic. >> he has had a number of health scares over the years. he has had a prostate surgery, eyes of dree and the surgery. he has had tuberculosis air to pneumonia. t

a month after that, she visited nelson mandela in johannesburg. they had a real relationship. >> yeah, obviously, they did. and he remembered that and never forgot it. he's always that eveninged those who stood up for him to be free, and whitney was one of those people. and we don't talk about it as much. i, too, agree with the governor and the half-staff for the flag. and we all really appreciate all those great accomplishments, including her voice. >>> mark thompson, thank you very much for joining us tonight. we leave you tonight with whitney houston, singing for nelson mandela at the clinton white house. ♪ ♪

nelson mandela is in the hospital. we'll have the latest on his condition with a live report from joe haas hahnsburg. >>> the free syrian army and its fight for freedom against government tanks and troops, it ends and michael holmes joins us from the region with a live report. and did gas prices go up overnight? we'll look at pump prices around the nation and see who is paying the most and why it's going up, up, up. >> from cnn's world headquarters, bringing you news and analysis from around the globe. live from studio 7, this is cnn saturday morning. >>> former president nelson mandela is in the hospital right now. officials are calling it an abdominal complaint. the 93-year-old's health has declined in recent years and he was largely kept out of sight, shunning public appearances. first of all, what are you hearing? what is going on? >> well, deborah, the presidency and the international public congress has been very, very adamant that mr. mandela is okay, that there is no need to panic. they're trying to reassure a

the word is that nelson mandela is resting comfortably after being admitted to hospital this morning with stomach pains, abdominal pains. and there's a bit of question about just what was the nature of those abdominal pains because the government, unlike in his previous admission to hospital, has seized the opportunity to take control of the word that's going out exactly about what's happening with former president mandela. so they have said simply there was a procedure, they haven't said whether it was surgical or just what it was exactly. but they are saying now that he is resting comfortably and possibly may go home either sunday or monday. right now, the rest of the country is sort of holding their breath because nelson mandela is really the heart of this nation. so some hearts are palpitating because of his condition. but everybody is hoping that he pulls through this as he has in the past. >> all right, thank you for the update. >>> now to the increasingly desperate situation in syria. another deadly day. activists say dozens more were killed as government forces continued thei

this he released a statement after where they said that nothing was seriously wrong with nelson mandela. >>> in syria, violence continued today in the city of homs. opposition activists say at least 55 people were killed across the country today, including 25 in that city alone, which has been under bombardment for more than three weeks. despite the ongoing violence, syria held a vote on changes to that country's constitution, a vote the syrian government says is a move toward reform. nbc's richard engel has more. >> this referendum is essentially a yes/no vote on new clauses and amendments to the syrian constitution which in principle sound very good, they set presidential term limits, president bashar al assad would have to step down in 2014. they allow for multiparty democracy and remove the syrian ba'ath party from its central role in syrian politics much the syrian government is presenting the referendum as the centerpiece of its reform process, a process that the syrian opposition has been demanding. the problem is there are plenty of good clauses in the old syrian constitution wh

. >>> former south african president nelson mandela is in the hospital. he had a hernia operation today and resting pretty comfortably. . he's 93 years old. the government official reassured everyone that the surgery was not an emergency. mandela will likely be released in the mebs two days. >>> and a prosecutor said a former rutgers university student acted purposely. ravi faces charges that include hate crimes. the roommate killed himself just days later. ravi faces up to ten years in prison. >>> a judge has dismissed the corruption case against silvio berlusconi. he was charged with bribery, but the judge rule that had the statute of limitations expired in the case. he survived a series of political corruption and sex scandals over his many years in power. >>> let's get right to our top story out of afghanistan where the taliban will claiming she shot and killed two american officers. now, these killings come as rage grips afghanistan for the fifth day, people are angry about the burning of korans at a nato base. this is new video of afghan forces firi

. >>> nelson mandela is said to be recovering after undergoing hernia surgery. he was hospitalized earlier today. the news sparked fears that the 93-year-old icon was seriously ill. but a family member insists the surgery was planned and nelson mandela will likely will released by monday. he's beloved by his nation and around the world. he gained notoriety after enduring 27 years in prison for battling apartheid. in 1994, he went on to become south africa's first black president, serving one year as promised. he retired from public life eight years ago and sense then has remained in virtual seclusion. >>> the compound in pakistan where u.s. special forces killed osama bin laden last may is now being demolished. the work is being done at night using flood lights. if you look close here, you can see heavy machinery knocking down the walls and the building where bin laden had been hiding. a pakistani said they didn't want to turn it into a shrine for would be follows of osama bin laden. >>> what happened between the son of robert kennedy and two nurses at a new yor

take care. >>> former south african president nelson mandela is in the hospital. we'll have the latest on his surgery as well as a closer look at his health through the years. oh, there's a prize, all right. [ male announcer ] inside every box of cheerios are those great-tasting little o's made from carefully selected oats that can help lower cholesterol. is it a superhero? kinda. ♪ [ female announcer ] improve the health of your skin with aveeno daily moisturizing lotion. the natural oatmeal formula improves skin's health in one day, with significant improvement in 2 weeks. i found a moisturizer for life. [ female announcer ] only from aveeno. >>> former south african president nelson mandela is in the hospital. family members say he successfully underwent hernia surgery. he's 93 years old. he's expected to leave the hospital within the next two days, let's hope so. robin takes a closer look at mandela's health. >> reporter: the former south african president has seemed frail and unsteady on his legs for the past few years. public appearances have become increa

and she developed an extraordinary rapport with nelson mandela, beautiful pictures. look at this one. there he is. he called her my daughter. that picture was taken in 2001. they had the most wonderful relationship and i spoke to nelson mandela's grandchildren this morning and they were having a lunch and was very interesting because they were playing the music of whitney houston, and david manoway, the grandson-in-law, said we are bereft. she was an exception of the family and our hearts go out to bob bobbi kristina. >> people loved her music but they loved something about her image as well, her poise. >> she transcended everything, didn't she, race, color, age, she was so extraordinary. in fact, even in dubai, there are fountains synchro thenized the music of whitney houston. >> this in tribute to -- >> in tribute to but just a celebration of this incredible talent. in china today, front page news talking about u.s. singer who dies and at the bbc telegraph speaks about terrible trajectory of modern fame, the guardian in south africa, whitney houston, brilliant and

. >>> nelson mandela is out of the hospital. he was discharged today after being treated for an abdominal ailme ailment. a family member said it was hernia surgery. he was awarded the nobel peace prize three years later. >>> 22 carnival cruise line passengers were robbed during a guided excursion in mexico. it happened thursday on a trail in puerto vallarta. carnival says no one was hurt and that it suspended the excursion until further notice. two weeks ago, the state department issued a nonessential travel warning to 14 mexican states. the warning included puerto vallarta. >>> the deep water horizon oil spill won't begin tomorrow after all. it is scheduled to start next monday, that's march 5th. bp, the plaintiffs involved say that they have been involved in settlement talks all weekend. if a settlement is not reached, a judge will have to decide civil liability for that disaster. >>> the muslim american community in new york is angry over newly released nypd documents and a controversial cartoon. susan candiotti joins us from

she developed an extraordinary rapport with nelson mandela. the beautiful pictures. he called her my daughter. and that picture was actually taken in 2001, but they had the most wonderful relationship and i spoke to nelson mandela's grandchildren this morning and they were actually having a lunch and it was very interesting because there they were playing the music of whitney houston. >> oh. >> and david manway, who is mandela's grandson-in-law said we are berevved. whitney was an extext of our family and our hearts go out to bobbi kristina. >> they loved something about her image as well. her poise. >> they transcended everything, race, color, age. she was so extraordinary. in fact, even in dubai, there are fountains synchronized to the music of whitney houston. >> this in tribute to her post-death. >> but just a celebration of this incredible talent. in china, today, front page news, talking about u.s. singer who dies, at the bbc telegraph, speaks about terrible trajectory of modern fame, the guardian in south africa, whitney houston, brilliant and tragic, life and

. >>> this weekend, another scare for nelson mandela. >> what doctors are saying about the health of the apartheid leader this weekend. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ time out. sweet. [ female announcer ] with charmin ultra soft, you can get that cushiony feeling you love while still using less. charmin ultra soft is designed with extra cushions that are soft and more absorbent and you can use four times less versus the leading value brand. ♪ ah. [ female announcer ] we all go. why not enjoy the go with charmin ultra soft. >>> news around the world, 67.0 magnitude earthquake hit taiwan. two tremors followed the quake minutes later. this is video as the quake hit. there were no reports of damage, training were delayed a little bit. the overall quake didn't cause too many problems. >>> new information this morning in a train derailment that happened in canada, the three people killed yesterday were railroad employees, riding in the front of the train. 75 people were on board the train. no passengers killed. 45 people were injured when the train was derailed, heading to niagara falls. >>> south

we'll explain after this. >>> former south african president nelson mandela is hospitalized this weekend for treatment of stomach pain. the 93-year-old leader was admitted to a hospital in johannesburg this morning. government officials appeared on television there, saying mandela's hospital admissions was not an emergency and surgery would not be involved. he has been in poor health since a week in the hospitalized over a year ago with respiratory problems. he has not appeared in public since. >>> some d.c. residents got help in filing their tax returns today. congresswoman eleanor holmes norton hosted her 12th annual tax fair today at the washington convention center. tax professionals were on hand from the i.r.s. and the d.c. office of tax and revenue to help residents prepare their basic tax returns. the free event also featured representatives from a variety of financial service institutions, to provide information on low cost credit union, banking and loans, college tuition planning and assistance, mortage help, and credit counseling. >>> coming up, a breezy and cool saturday night

. >>> and when we >>> tonight nelson mandela is out of the hospital. he was admitted yesterday for ab nominal pains. ron allen has the latest from south africa. >> reporter: the word here tonight is that nelson mandela is at home resting comfortably. he was discharged from the hospital after 36 hours. he had a minimally invasive because of a long standing stomach illness. a year ago, he was in the hospital for about a week for a respiratory condition. doctors are saying it was not an emergency or life threatening. it was a scheduled visit. because he's so old x there's a lot of concern overall about his health. >> as we know, the age it plays its part as well. >> i hope he lasts forever. >> reporter: mandela has not made a public appearance in about two years, which leads to more speculation about his health. there are rumors and reports he's frail and tires easily and does not have a strong appetite. but the word tonight that he is resting at home comfortably recooperating from a minor surgery over the weekend. now back to you. >> thanks to ron for th

nelson mandela hospitalized over night. now under a doctor's care. how serious is this. >>> kennedy controversy. the youngest of robert f. kennedy's sons accused of attacking nurses. kicking one and twisting another's arm. all the while, holding his newborn son in his arms. now the tv reporter is charged with a crime. what is behind this mayhem? >>> and count you to os sar. two of hollywood's leading men and good friends with about to square off. what about the comedian who demanded to walk the red carpet in character? >>> have you heard about this hype, about sacha baron cohen's new movie? he plays a dictator. oscars are saying maybe he'll be back on the red carpet. you never know what you're going to get with this guy. we'll show you a funny video he put out when he first heard they were not going to let him do it. >> will the oscar producers cave? >>> gas prices setting another unfortunate record is setting off something of a crime spree. somebody turned that minivan into gas-stealing machine. >>> what happened to this missing firefight person the

nelson mandela is 93 years old now and could leave the hospital in a couple of days. a huge explosion rips through a neighborhood at the syrian city of homs. people there have been trapped by shelling and sniper fire three weeks now. syrian officials agree to a cease-fire to let wounded people and women and children get out. at least 75 people have been reported killed today. a voluntary recall is under way for about 40,000 goodyear tires. the wrangler solid armor tires made in 2009. the company is offering free replacements. >>> peyton walsh has more on the shooting deaths of two american officers shot dead in kabul. >> reporter: what we do know is there are two dead americans killed inside the afghan interior ministry. we understand from a source that the gunman is not thought to be a westerner and is currently at-large, which would suggest he is perhaps an afghan citizen if not a member of the afghan security forces. the taliban have leapt forward to claim responsibility for this saying he was acting in revenge for the american burning of a koran entirely by mistak

. >>> former south african president nelson mandela is in the hospital tonight. the pain that sent him there that actually has been plaguing him for a while. >>> the security scare at sacramento international airport. this morning's problem that got two tsa agents removed from screening duties. >>> well, so much for our temperatures in the 70s. it was quite a bit cooler today. what does your seven-day forecast hold? we'll tell you, coming up. ,,,,,,,,,,,, hospitalized tonight with a persistent stomach ailment.e exact nature of the ailments not known. doc . >>> nelson mandela is hospitalized tonight with a persistent stomach ailment. doctors say they are satisfied with the results of a diagnostic test performed today and that mandela is expected to be okay. the 93-year-old should be out of the hospital within the next day or two. >>> the tsa is investigating why a metal detector was left unattended at sacramento international airport. the check point at terminal b was closed around 9:00 this morning after five people were suspected of going through, unscreened. th

the name of the hospital where mandela is being treated was not released. >>> now nelson mandela is beloved by his nation, as you know, and around the world he gained notoriety after enduring 27 years in prison for battling apartheid. after his release in 1990 mandela was awarded the nobel peace prize. in 1994 he went on to become south africa's first black president serving one year as promised. retired from public life eight years ago and since then has remained in seclusion. >>> now to new york where fresh details are emerging in a bizarre hospital incident involving the youngest sochbt late-senator robert kennedy. we're still getting details in here. douglas kennedy and facing misdemeanor charges after he claims to some sort of altercation with two nurses as he tried to leave with his newborn son. cnn's susan candiotti is following this story and the fallout from new york. susan, what have you learned? >> reporter: well, susan, the question is, was he defending his rights as a parent and protecting his child, or refusing to follow a nurse's order? douglas kennedy was visiting his wife m

we were there when nelson mandela walked out of prison. we saw some terrible wars in africa and somalia and mozambique and angola and we went to pakistan and spend a lot of time and afghanistan. we moved to cyprus and traveled through the arab world. we went to moscow for three years and got to jerusalem. there had been a pattern covering conflict. we got to jerusalem thinking that might continue on. is important to remember in 1999 it was different in jerusalem. it was quiet. for three years there had been no major violence. after the cold war ended in 91 the israelis and palestinians began talking to each other. they were meeting on a daily basis. as we walked around one of the first day as i was there i went to the temple mount. the place where the ancient jewish temples were and where the golden dome of the rockabilly dismal the iconic dome of the rock has been built on top of the ancient temples. the church where jesus was crucified and buried is half a mile -- all within yards of each other. this muslim -- palestinian muslims at pray

. >>> former south african president nelson mandela is recovering from a hernia operation. we'll go live to johannsburg in a few moments. >>> primaries in michigan and arizona are three days away. >>> gas price mot just imagination have jumped 30 cents in the last month. we'll go inside the numbers. >>> we begin with breaking news out of afghanistan, at least two u.s. officers were and killed in the interior ministry in cable. nick paton walsh, nick, how did it happen inside? >> reporter: that is the big question. people i think are struggling, isaf, nobody can pin it down. we do know the americans were inside a secure part of the ministry, perhaps their own separate compound, we do know that the gunman according to isaf is not a westerner, probably are afghan, that has not been confirmed by any afghan officials. and we know the taliban claimed responsibility. it's not to say they necessarily did it, they have a track record of previously claiming responsibility for things. sometimes it turns out to be true, other times not, they are saying in this case, one of their brave

nelson mandela hospitalized over night. the 93-year-old former leader of south africa now under a doctor's care. how serious is this? >>> kennedy controversy. the youngest of robert f. kennedy's sons accused of attacking nurses. kicking one and twisting another's arm. all the while, holding his newborn son in his arms. now the tv reporter is charged with a crime. what is behind this mayhem? in the maternity ward? >>> and countdown to oscar. with the big night just a day away, two of hollywood's leading men and good friends are about to square off. what about the comedian who demanded to walk the red carpet in character? >>> and, of course, everyone in hollywood is talking about this. will sacha baron cohen, of "borat" fame be allowed to walk the red carpet in character? he put out a video. >> it's hilarious. will the academy brink? that's coming up. >>> gas prices with another unfortunate record. somebody turned this minivan into a mobile gas-stealing machine. >>> and the mystery unfolding from florida to maine. what happen

. >>> last night right here on world news we told you nelson mandela in the hospital. well, tonight, he is now home and in that country there is huge relief that mandela, now 393, is okay. abc's fawzi kinani in johannesburg. >> reporter: nelson mandela is said to be resting comfortably and everyone is resting easier knowing he is out of the hospital. we now know the 93-year-old former president had a minor laproscopic surgery. doctors us 00ed a small camera to look around his abdomen and hope to find was's been causing the pain he's been suffering for some time. they did not find the cause but doctors said he was well enough to return home. although mandela's health has been declining in recent years his doctors say he is in good condition for a man of his age. david. >> bazi, thanks for the update. >>> still ahead on "world news" this sunday evening, the critical shortage of life-saving drugs and the hero doctor who demanded and then got action. but why does this keep happening? >>> what's a politician singing? our correspondent asks who would win in a different match

of course, as you know, nelson mandela is 93 years old but a strong warrior. he's been through other issues, medical issues before and survived, so i think the country once they get the news will all be on their knees or however they pray, hoping that he gets past this in good health. >> a strong warrior. that's a great description. charlene hunter-gault thanks so much for being with us this morning. we'll check back with you if there are any developments. >>> now to the crisis in syria. the red cross has begun a second day of evacuations there as world leaders urged an end to the violence. nbc's richard engle is on the border of syria and turkey. richard, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. efforts are continuing to try and evacuate more people from the besieged city of holm this evacuation being carried out by the red cross and syrian red crescent. it is, however, a very limited operation only in this city and on a very small scale. red cross officials say yesterday they were only able to take out about 30 people, starting with women and children. criti

former president nelson mandela is out of the hospital. the nobel laureate was released today. he had been receiving treatment for a stomach ailment. the 93-year-old mandela underwent a minor procedure but is said to be doing just fine. >>> well, tonight, the oscars celebrate the best in film, but what about the other end of the spectrum? adam sandler is the winner, or loser, depending on how you look at it. he snagged a record 11 razzie nominations, including two worst movie of the year nominations, "ja "jack & jill" and "just go with it" and even has a worst actor and actress nomination for "jack & jill." normally, the razzies are announced the night before the oscars, but this year they will appropriately be named on april fools' day. >>> ben & jerry's ice cream is succumbing to linsanity, but some feel the company has gone a little too far. the ice cream company is preparing a new frozen yogurt called taste the linsanity. they wanted to use fortune cookie pieces in the flavor, but some called that move racist. ben&jerry's apologized on its facebook page and said they're usi