text:
Editor's note: Taresh Moore is a student at Winston Salem State University in North Carolina. The 21-year-old senior traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the inauguration.

Alfred Bouey is a World War II veteran and a grandson of slaves.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Alfred Bouey, an 84-year-old African-American, still remembers the stories from his grandfather about the scars on his body from the beatings he took as a slave in the South.

Bouey, of Oak Park, Illinois, attended Tuesday's inauguration of President Obama. Words can't express his excitement and happiness about witnessing history.

A World War II veteran, he never thought he would live to see a black president in America.

Bouey grew up in Arkansas and saw racism firsthand. He witnessed his mother being mistreated by whites in the South, but he never saw her give up. He eventually left Arkansas for Chicago.

Bouey attended the inauguration after winning Brookdale Senior Living's Experiences of a Lifetime contest. Residents at various Brookdale Senior Living communities nationwide shared their experiences and submitted their wishes as part of the contest.

Bouey shared his story and said he'd like to be there when Obama was sworn in. "My grandfather and grandmother were whipped and beaten, and had the scars to prove it," he said.

With CNN.com's help, Taresh Moore spoke with Bouey about the inauguration ceremony. Below is a transcript of their interview.

Moore: How are you today?

Bouey: I'm great. I couldn't feel any better right now.

Moore: How did it feel to take part in this historic inauguration?

Bouey: It felt very great. I can't find any words to express my happiness. I am speechless and full of joy.

Moore: What will you remember most about the inauguration?

Bouey: I will remember that I was actually there. I lived to see this historic event. I'm 84, and I had the chance to witness this. Not too many people had that opportunity, and I am honored.

Moore: How did you feel when you found out that you and your family were going to Washington, D.C., to take part in the inauguration?

Bouey: I was happy. At first when I was asked to take part in the survey, I didn't mind sharing my story because I had many stories to share. When I found out I had the opportunity to go, I was very grateful. I couldn't wait to get here.

Moore: Did you ever believe you would live to see an African-American president in your lifetime?

Bouey: No. I never thought I would live to see one. Growing up, my mother wanted me and my brother and sister to get an education. And we all did. An education will take you far, and we see that it did for our new president and for me. But I'm glad I lived to see this. It's a wonderful experience, and I am very proud of it!

Moore: How was it growing up in the South?

Bouey: I was born in Philadelphia and moved to Arkansas at the age of 1. Growing up, everything was segregated -- in the schools, restaurants and just everywhere. Blacks couldn't do this and we couldn't do that. I came to the point where I got tired of it all in the South and just moved away. I moved to Chicago on June 2, 1946.

Moore: Was it better in Chicago?

Bouey: Yes, a lot better. Better opportunities for blacks.

Moore: You have lived a life that has seen the scars on the body of a former slave, who was your grandfather, to seeing America's first African-American president all in one lifetime. How does that make you feel?

Bouey: I feel that America has come a long way. And I mean a very long way. My grandfather had scars from slavery. My mother wasn't a slave, but she still was beaten in the cotton fields. Beatings didn't stop for some years after slavery. But there are no slaves now. It shows the great progress this country has made.

Moore: How do you think your grandparents and mother would feel to see the first African-American president?

Bouey: I believe it would mean more to them than it means to me because of how they were treated and the hard work they put in. This would be like their reward for all of the work and suffering they endured. Others, like Martin Luther King, who I marched with, would be very happy as well.

Moore: How did you feel when President Obama was first elected?

Bouey: Well, I had tears of joy on Election Night. I cried. They almost had to mop up the floor due to all of the tears that came out of my eyes. It was just a great feeling.

Moore: How do you feel about President Obama and the future of America?

Bouey: I feel that America is headed in the right direction. The youth are our future, and the youth in the African-American community has a great example of a role model to look up to. Any youth from any race can look to President Obama. They don't have to sell drugs or other bad things. Be like Obama, get an education and succeed in life.

Moore: Millions of people of all races filled Washington this weekend to witness history. Of those people, many white Americans filled the city to see a black man being sworn in as president. How does that make you feel?

Bouey: I feel happy. It shows change. It's good to see the white Americans appreciate and show love to the new president. And it's good to see everyone come together for a special occasion. We're all equal, no matter what color your skin is.

Moore: If you could say anything to President Obama, what would it be?

Bouey: I would say job well done. Our prayers are with you. Keep your faith in God, and he'll keep you.

text: Editor

text: 's

text: note

text: Taresh

text: Moore

text: is

text: a

text: student

text: at

text: Winston

text: Salem

text: State

text: University

text: in

text: North

text: Carolina

text: The

text: old

text: senior

text: traveled

text: to

text: Washington

text: D.C.

text: to

text: attend

text: the

text: inauguration

text: Alfred

text: Bouey

text: is

text: a

text: World

text: War

text: II

text: veteran

text: and

text: a

text: grandson

text: of

text: slaves

text: WASHINGTON

text: CNN

text: Alfred

text: Bouey

text: an

text: old

text: African

text: American

text: still

text: remembers

text: the

text: stories

text: from

text: his

text: grandfather

text: about

text: the

text: scars

text: on

text: his

text: body

text: from

text: the

text: beatings

text: he

text: took

text: as

text: a

text: slave

text: in

text: the

text: South

text: Bouey

text: of

text: Oak

text: Park

text: Illinois

text: attended

text: Tuesday

text: 's

text: inauguration

text: of

text: President

text: Obama

text: Words

text: ca

text: n't

text: express

text: his

text: excitement

text: and

text: happiness

text: about

text: witnessing

text: history

text: A

text: World

text: War

text: II

text: veteran

text: he

text: never

text: thought

text: he

text: would

text: live

text: to

text: see

text: a

text: black

text: president

text: in

text: America

text: Bouey

text: grew

text: up

text: in

text: Arkansas

text: and

text: saw

text: racism

text: firsthand

text: He

text: witnessed

text: his

text: mother

text: being

text: mistreated

text: by

text: whites

text: in

text: the

text: South

text: but

text: he

text: never

text: saw

text: her

text: give

text: up

text: He

text: eventually

text: left

text: Arkansas

text: for

text: Chicago

text: Bouey

text: attended

text: the

text: inauguration

text: after

text: winning

text: Brookdale

text: Senior

text: Living

text: 's

text: Experiences

text: of

text: a

text: Lifetime

text: contest

text: Residents

text: at

text: various

text: Brookdale

text: Senior

text: Living

text: communities

text: nationwide

text: shared

text: their

text: experiences

text: and

text: submitted

text: their

text: wishes

text: as

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: contest

text: Bouey

text: shared

text: his

text: story

text: and

text: said

text: he

text: 'd

text: like

text: to

text: be

text: there

text: when

text: Obama

text: was

text: sworn

text: in

text: My

text: grandfather

text: and

text: grandmother

text: were

text: whipped

text: and

text: beaten

text: and

text: had

text: the

text: scars

text: to

text: prove

text: it

text: he

text: said

text: With

text: CNN.com

text: 's

text: help

text: Taresh

text: Moore

text: spoke

text: with

text: Bouey

text: about

text: the

text: inauguration

text: ceremony

text: Below

text: is

text: a

text: transcript

text: of

text: their

text: interview

text: Moore

text: How

text: are

text: you

text: today

text: Bouey

text: I

text: 'm

text: great

text: I

text: could

text: n't

text: feel

text: any

text: better

text: right

text: now

text: Moore

text: How

text: did

text: it

text: feel

text: to

text: take

text: part

text: in

text: this

text: historic

text: inauguration

text: Bouey

text: It

text: felt

text: very

text: great

text: I

text: ca

text: n't

text: find

text: any

text: words

text: to

text: express

text: my

text: happiness

text: I

text: am

text: speechless

text: and

text: full

text: of

text: joy

text: Moore

text: What

text: will

text: you

text: remember

text: most

text: about

text: the

text: inauguration

text: Bouey

text: I

text: will

text: remember

text: that

text: I

text: was

text: actually

text: there

text: I

text: lived

text: to

text: see

text: this

text: historic

text: event

text: I

text: 'm

text: and

text: I

text: had

text: the

text: chance

text: to

text: witness

text: this

text: Not

text: too

text: many

text: people

text: had

text: that

text: opportunity

text: and

text: I

text: am

text: honored

text: Moore

text: How

text: did

text: you

text: feel

text: when

text: you

text: found

text: out

text: that

text: you

text: and

text: your

text: family

text: were

text: going

text: to

text: Washington

text: D.C.

text: to

text: take

text: part

text: in

text: the

text: inauguration

text: Bouey

text: I

text: was

text: happy

text: At

text: first

text: when

text: I

text: was

text: asked

text: to

text: take

text: part

text: in

text: the

text: survey

text: I

text: did

text: n't

text: mind

text: sharing

text: my

text: story

text: because

text: I

text: had

text: many

text: stories

text: to

text: share

text: When

text: I

text: found

text: out

text: I

text: had

text: the

text: opportunity

text: to

text: go

text: I

text: was

text: very

text: grateful

text: I

text: could

text: n't

text: wait

text: to

text: get

text: here

text: Moore

text: Did

text: you

text: ever

text: believe

text: you

text: would

text: live

text: to

text: see

text: an

text: African

text: American

text: president

text: in

text: your

text: lifetime

text: Bouey

text: No

text: I

text: never

text: thought

text: I

text: would

text: live

text: to

text: see

text: one

text: Growing

text: up

text: my

text: mother

text: wanted

text: me

text: and

text: my

text: brother

text: and

text: sister

text: to

text: get

text: an

text: education

text: And

text: we

text: all

text: did

text: An

text: education

text: will

text: take

text: you

text: far

text: and

text: we

text: see

text: that

text: it

text: did

text: for

text: our

text: new

text: president

text: and

text: for

text: me

text: But

text: I

text: 'm

text: glad

text: I

text: lived

text: to

text: see

text: this

text: It

text: 's

text: a

text: wonderful

text: experience

text: and

text: I

text: am

text: very

text: proud

text: of

text: it

text: Moore

text: How

text: was

text: it

text: growing

text: up

text: in

text: the

text: South

text: Bouey

text: I

text: was

text: born

text: in

text: Philadelphia

text: and

text: moved

text: to

text: Arkansas

text: at

text: the

text: age

text: of

text: Growing

text: up

text: everything

text: was

text: segregated

text: in

text: the

text: schools

text: restaurants

text: and

text: just

text: everywhere

text: Blacks

text: could

text: n't

text: do

text: this

text: and

text: we

text: could

text: n't

text: do

text: that

text: I

text: came

text: to

text: the

text: point

text: where

text: I

text: got

text: tired

text: of

text: it

text: all

text: in

text: the

text: South

text: and

text: just

text: moved

text: away

text: I

text: moved

text: to

text: Chicago

text: on

text: June

text: Moore

text: Was

text: it

text: better

text: in

text: Chicago

text: Bouey

text: Yes

text: a

text: lot

text: better

text: Better

text: opportunities

text: for

text: blacks

text: Moore

text: You

text: have

text: lived

text: a

text: life

text: that

text: has

text: seen

text: the

text: scars

text: on

text: the

text: body

text: of

text: a

text: former

text: slave

text: who

text: was

text: your

text: grandfather

text: to

text: seeing

text: America

text: 's

text: first

text: African

text: American

text: president

text: all

text: in

text: one

text: lifetime

text: How

text: does

text: that

text: make

text: you

text: feel

text: Bouey

text: I

text: feel

text: that

text: America

text: has

text: come

text: a

text: long

text: way

text: And

text: I

text: mean

text: a

text: very

text: long

text: way

text: My

text: grandfather

text: had

text: scars

text: from

text: slavery

text: My

text: mother

text: was

text: n't

text: a

text: slave

text: but

text: she

text: still

text: was

text: beaten

text: in

text: the

text: cotton

text: fields

text: Beatings

text: did

text: n't

text: stop

text: for

text: some

text: years

text: after

text: slavery

text: But

text: there

text: are

text: no

text: slaves

text: now

text: It

text: shows

text: the

text: great

text: progress

text: this

text: country

text: has

text: made

text: Moore

text: How

text: do

text: you

text: think

text: your

text: grandparents

text: and

text: mother

text: would

text: feel

text: to

text: see

text: the

text: first

text: African

text: American

text: president

text: Bouey

text: I

text: believe

text: it

text: would

text: mean

text: more

text: to

text: them

text: than

text: it

text: means

text: to

text: me

text: because

text: of

text: how

text: they

text: were

text: treated

text: and

text: the

text: hard

text: work

text: they

text: put

text: in

text: This

text: would

text: be

text: like

text: their

text: reward

text: for

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: work

text: and

text: suffering

text: they

text: endured

text: Others

text: like

text: Martin

text: Luther

text: King

text: who

text: I

text: marched

text: with

text: would

text: be

text: very

text: happy

text: as

text: well

text: Moore

text: How

text: did

text: you

text: feel

text: when

text: President

text: Obama

text: was

text: first

text: elected

text: Bouey

text: Well

text: I

text: had

text: tears

text: of

text: joy

text: on

text: Election

text: Night

text: I

text: cried

text: They

text: almost

text: had

text: to

text: mop

text: up

text: the

text: floor

text: due

text: to

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: tears

text: that

text: came

text: out

text: of

text: my

text: eyes

text: It

text: was

text: just

text: a

text: great

text: feeling

text: Moore

text: How

text: do

text: you

text: feel

text: about

text: President

text: Obama

text: and

text: the

text: future

text: of

text: America

text: Bouey

text: I

text: feel

text: that

text: America

text: is

text: headed

text: in

text: the

text: right

text: direction

text: The

text: youth

text: are

text: our

text: future

text: and

text: the

text: youth

text: in

text: the

text: African

text: American

text: community

text: has

text: a

text: great

text: example

text: of

text: a

text: role

text: model

text: to

text: look

text: up

text: to

text: Any

text: youth

text: from

text: any

text: race

text: can

text: look

text: to

text: President

text: Obama

text: They

text: do

text: n't

text: have

text: to

text: sell

text: drugs

text: or

text: other

text: bad

text: things

text: Be

text: like

text: Obama

text: get

text: an

text: education

text: and

text: succeed

text: in

text: life

text: Moore

text: Millions

text: of

text: people

text: of

text: all

text: races

text: filled

text: Washington

text: this

text: weekend

text: to

text: witness

text: history

text: Of

text: those

text: people

text: many

text: white

text: Americans

text: filled

text: the

text: city

text: to

text: see

text: a

text: black

text: man

text: being

text: sworn

text: in

text: as

text: president

text: How

text: does

text: that

text: make

text: you

text: feel

text: Bouey

text: I

text: feel

text: happy

text: It

text: shows

text: change

text: It

text: 's

text: good

text: to

text: see

text: the

text: white

text: Americans

text: appreciate

text: and

text: show

text: love

text: to

text: the

text: new

text: president

text: And

text: it

text: 's

text: good

text: to

text: see

text: everyone

text: come

text: together

text: for

text: a

text: special

text: occasion

text: We

text: 're

text: all

text: equal

text: no

text: matter

text: what

text: color

text: your

text: skin

text: is

text: Moore

text: If

text: you

text: could

text: say

text: anything

text: to

text: President

text: Obama

text: what

text: would

text: it

text: be

text: Bouey

text: I

text: would

text: say

text: job

text: well

text: done

text: Our

text: prayers

text: are

text: with

text: you

text: Keep

text: your

text: faith

text: in

text: God

text: and

text: he

text: 'll

text: keep

text: you

question: who is alfred bouey

answer: World War II veteran and a grandson of slaves.

text: World War II veteran and a grandson of slaves.

question: what happened to his mother

answer: beaten in the cotton fields.

text: beaten in the cotton fields.

question: What is the age of Alfred Bouey?

answer: 84-year-old

question: Where did Alfred Bouey grow up?

answer: Arkansas

text: Arkansas

question: Alfred Bouey's mother was mistreated by who?

answer: whites in the South,

text: whites in the South,

question: who attended obama's inauguration?

answer: Taresh Moore

text: Taresh Moore

question: what did bouey see in his childhood?

answer: saw racism

text: saw racism


text:
(CNN) -- A former foreign minister claimed to be in control of an interim government in Kyrgyzstan early Thursday after a wave of protests that left at least 40 dead and appeared to have driven President Kurmanbek Bakiev from office.

"We must restore a lot of things that have been wrongly ruled," said Roza Otunbayeva, who called herself the country's interim leader.

No independent confirmation of the claim was immediately available. The U.S. State Department said earlier that it believed Bakiev remained in power, but Otunbayeva said he had fled Bishkek, the capital, and his government had resigned after a day of clashes between anti-government protesters and police.

Are you there? Share your story, photos and video

A senior State Department official told CNN late Wednesday that the situation in Kyrgyzstan remains "very fluid and fast moving," and declined to comment on reports that the government had collapsed or that the president had left the country.

The official, who insisted on anonymity because of the quickly changing situation, said the United States had been in contact with both members of the government and the opposition. The United States is encouraging all sides to work toward resolution according to the rule of law, the official said.

Otunbayeva's announcement came after hours of clashes between anti-government demonstrators and police, who responded with water cannon, tear gas and eventually with live ammunition. Kyrgyzstan's Health Ministry told CNN that 40 people had been killed and 400 wounded in the clashes, and that the toll was expected to rise.

The former Soviet republic is home to an air base that forms an important link in the supply line for U.S. and NATO forces in nearby Afghanistan. In Washington, a senior Pentagon official said that the turmoil has interrupted flights into and out of that facility, and it was unclear when those flights would resume. But the U.S. military has contingency plans to deal with the situation, the official said.

Otunbayeva is the head of Kyrgyzstan's Social Democratic Party and a member of its parliament. She was a leader of the protests that brought Bakiev to power in 2005, and she served as his foreign minister for about two years before quitting to protest his appointment of one of the president's brothers to an ambassadorship, said Mirsulzhan Namazaliev, executive director of the Central Asian Free Market Institute in Bishkek.

Opposition leaders have accused Bakiev of consolidating power by keeping key economic and security posts in the hands of relatives or close associates. Protests began Tuesday in the northern city of Talas, Kyrgyzstan, over increases in electric and fuel rates, which had been jacked up at the first of the year as Bakiev's government sold the country's public utilities to companies controlled by his friends, Namazaliev said.

The demonstrations spread to the capital on Wednesday after the government responded by arresting opposition leaders in Talas. Namazaliev said that demonstrators were already gathered outside Bishkek's main square when he was headed to his office Wednesday morning, and the crowd had grown to about 5,000 people by noon (2 a.m. ET).

About that time, police began to open fire on them, he said.

"I was running together with them while the police was shooting," Namazaliev said. Other protesters remained and battled with police, and some took weapons from officers they overpowered, he said.

Machine-gun fire could be heard in the streets into the evening. Opposition leaders took control of the state television network Wednesday evening, airing images of riot police turning water cannons on demonstrators and asking people to donate blood.

Though the opposition called for calm, clashes with police continued into Wednesday night, Bishkek resident Munarbek Kuldanbaev said. And Namazaliev said some protesters turned to looting after the proclamation of a new government, and police began trying to crack down on the looting only after negotiations with the interim government.

iReporter describes protests, discusses grievances

Bakiev came to power in 2005 after a similar upheaval led to the ouster of then-President Askar Akayev. He won a new term in July 2009 in a vote the United States said "was marred by significant obstacles for opposition parties, intimidation, voting irregularities, and the use of government resources to benefit specific political interests."

There have been reports of restrictions on the freedom of expression and the media in the country, including the recent closure of an opposition newspaper and other media outlets, the United Nations said.

Outside Bishkek, opposition leaders had taken control of Talas and several other towns before claiming power in the capital, the Russian independent news agency Interfax reported. Russia called on Kyrgyz authorities and the opposition to settle all disputes without force and with a democratic process. It also stepped up security at its air base in Kant, Kyrgyzstan.

"On the assumption of our interests to secure political stability in a country that is friendly to ours, we believe it is important that all issues in the given situation be resolved within the legal framework. At the same time, we would like to strongly appeal to the opposing forces to refrain from the use of force to avoid bloodshed in any case," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who had visited Kyrgyzstan on Saturday, said Wednesday that he was "shocked" by the reports of violence and urged all sides to show restraint, engage in dialogue and promote calm.

"While freedom of assembly is an essential element of any democratic society, the rule of law must be respected," he said.

CNN's Ben Brumfield, Matthew Chance, Talia Kayali and Matt Smith contributed to this report.

text: CNN

text: A

text: former

text: foreign

text: minister

text: claimed

text: to

text: be

text: in

text: control

text: of

text: an

text: interim

text: government

text: in

text: Kyrgyzstan

text: early

text: Thursday

text: after

text: a

text: wave

text: of

text: protests

text: that

text: left

text: at

text: least

text: dead

text: and

text: appeared

text: to

text: have

text: driven

text: President

text: Kurmanbek

text: Bakiev

text: from

text: office

text: We

text: must

text: restore

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: things

text: that

text: have

text: been

text: wrongly

text: ruled

text: said

text: Roza

text: Otunbayeva

text: who

text: called

text: herself

text: the

text: country

text: 's

text: interim

text: leader

text: No

text: independent

text: confirmation

text: of

text: the

text: claim

text: was

text: immediately

text: available

text: The

text: U.S.

text: State

text: Department

text: said

text: earlier

text: that

text: it

text: believed

text: Bakiev

text: remained

text: in

text: power

text: but

text: Otunbayeva

text: said

text: he

text: had

text: fled

text: Bishkek

text: the

text: capital

text: and

text: his

text: government

text: had

text: resigned

text: after

text: a

text: day

text: of

text: clashes

text: between

text: anti

text: government

text: protesters

text: and

text: police

text: Are

text: you

text: there

text: Share

text: your

text: story

text: photos

text: and

text: video

text: A

text: senior

text: State

text: Department

text: official

text: told

text: CNN

text: late

text: Wednesday

text: that

text: the

text: situation

text: in

text: Kyrgyzstan

text: remains

text: very

text: fluid

text: and

text: fast

text: moving

text: and

text: declined

text: to

text: comment

text: on

text: reports

text: that

text: the

text: government

text: had

text: collapsed

text: or

text: that

text: the

text: president

text: had

text: left

text: the

text: country

text: The

text: official

text: who

text: insisted

text: on

text: anonymity

text: because

text: of

text: the

text: quickly

text: changing

text: situation

text: said

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: had

text: been

text: in

text: contact

text: with

text: both

text: members

text: of

text: the

text: government

text: and

text: the

text: opposition

text: The

text: United

text: States

text: is

text: encouraging

text: all

text: sides

text: to

text: work

text: toward

text: resolution

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: rule

text: of

text: law

text: the

text: official

text: said

text: Otunbayeva

text: 's

text: announcement

text: came

text: after

text: hours

text: of

text: clashes

text: between

text: anti

text: government

text: demonstrators

text: and

text: police

text: who

text: responded

text: with

text: water

text: cannon

text: tear

text: gas

text: and

text: eventually

text: with

text: live

text: ammunition

text: Kyrgyzstan

text: 's

text: Health

text: Ministry

text: told

text: CNN

text: that

text: people

text: had

text: been

text: killed

text: and

text: wounded

text: in

text: the

text: clashes

text: and

text: that

text: the

text: toll

text: was

text: expected

text: to

text: rise

text: The

text: former

text: Soviet

text: republic

text: is

text: home

text: to

text: an

text: air

text: base

text: that

text: forms

text: an

text: important

text: link

text: in

text: the

text: supply

text: line

text: for

text: U.S.

text: and

text: NATO

text: forces

text: in

text: nearby

text: Afghanistan

text: In

text: Washington

text: a

text: senior

text: Pentagon

text: official

text: said

text: that

text: the

text: turmoil

text: has

text: interrupted

text: flights

text: into

text: and

text: out

text: of

text: that

text: facility

text: and

text: it

text: was

text: unclear

text: when

text: those

text: flights

text: would

text: resume

text: But

text: the

text: U.S.

text: military

text: has

text: contingency

text: plans

text: to

text: deal

text: with

text: the

text: situation

text: the

text: official

text: said

text: Otunbayeva

text: is

text: the

text: head

text: of

text: Kyrgyzstan

text: 's

text: Social

text: Democratic

text: Party

text: and

text: a

text: member

text: of

text: its

text: parliament

text: She

text: was

text: a

text: leader

text: of

text: the

text: protests

text: that

text: brought

text: Bakiev

text: to

text: power

text: in

text: and

text: she

text: served

text: as

text: his

text: foreign

text: minister

text: for

text: about

text: two

text: years

text: before

text: quitting

text: to

text: protest

text: his

text: appointment

text: of

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: president

text: 's

text: brothers

text: to

text: an

text: ambassadorship

text: said

text: Mirsulzhan

text: Namazaliev

text: executive

text: director

text: of

text: the

text: Central

text: Asian

text: Free

text: Market

text: Institute

text: in

text: Bishkek

text: Opposition

text: leaders

text: have

text: accused

text: Bakiev

text: of

text: consolidating

text: power

text: by

text: keeping

text: key

text: economic

text: and

text: security

text: posts

text: in

text: the

text: hands

text: of

text: relatives

text: or

text: close

text: associates

text: Protests

text: began

text: Tuesday

text: in

text: the

text: northern

text: city

text: of

text: Talas

text: Kyrgyzstan

text: over

text: increases

text: in

text: electric

text: and

text: fuel

text: rates

text: which

text: had

text: been

text: jacked

text: up

text: at

text: the

text: first

text: of

text: the

text: year

text: as

text: Bakiev

text: 's

text: government

text: sold

text: the

text: country

text: 's

text: public

text: utilities

text: to

text: companies

text: controlled

text: by

text: his

text: friends

text: Namazaliev

text: said

text: The

text: demonstrations

text: spread

text: to

text: the

text: capital

text: on

text: Wednesday

text: after

text: the

text: government

text: responded

text: by

text: arresting

text: opposition

text: leaders

text: in

text: Talas

text: Namazaliev

text: said

text: that

text: demonstrators

text: were

text: already

text: gathered

text: outside

text: Bishkek

text: 's

text: main

text: square

text: when

text: he

text: was

text: headed

text: to

text: his

text: office

text: Wednesday

text: morning

text: and

text: the

text: crowd

text: had

text: grown

text: to

text: about

text: people

text: by

text: noon

text: a.m.

text: ET

text: About

text: that

text: time

text: police

text: began

text: to

text: open

text: fire

text: on

text: them

text: he

text: said

text: I

text: was

text: running

text: together

text: with

text: them

text: while

text: the

text: police

text: was

text: shooting

text: Namazaliev

text: said

text: Other

text: protesters

text: remained

text: and

text: battled

text: with

text: police

text: and

text: some

text: took

text: weapons

text: from

text: officers

text: they

text: overpowered

text: he

text: said

text: Machine

text: gun

text: fire

text: could

text: be

text: heard

text: in

text: the

text: streets

text: into

text: the

text: evening

text: Opposition

text: leaders

text: took

text: control

text: of

text: the

text: state

text: television

text: network

text: Wednesday

text: evening

text: airing

text: images

text: of

text: riot

text: police

text: turning

text: water

text: cannons

text: on

text: demonstrators

text: and

text: asking

text: people

text: to

text: donate

text: blood

text: Though

text: the

text: opposition

text: called

text: for

text: calm

text: clashes

text: with

text: police

text: continued

text: into

text: Wednesday

text: night

text: Bishkek

text: resident

text: Munarbek

text: Kuldanbaev

text: said

text: And

text: Namazaliev

text: said

text: some

text: protesters

text: turned

text: to

text: looting

text: after

text: the

text: proclamation

text: of

text: a

text: new

text: government

text: and

text: police

text: began

text: trying

text: to

text: crack

text: down

text: on

text: the

text: looting

text: only

text: after

text: negotiations

text: with

text: the

text: interim

text: government

text: iReporter

text: describes

text: protests

text: discusses

text: grievances

text: Bakiev

text: came

text: to

text: power

text: in

text: after

text: a

text: similar

text: upheaval

text: led

text: to

text: the

text: ouster

text: of

text: then

text: President

text: Askar

text: Akayev

text: He

text: won

text: a

text: new

text: term

text: in

text: July

text: in

text: a

text: vote

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: said

text: was

text: marred

text: by

text: significant

text: obstacles

text: for

text: opposition

text: parties

text: intimidation

text: voting

text: irregularities

text: and

text: the

text: use

text: of

text: government

text: resources

text: to

text: benefit

text: specific

text: political

text: interests

text: There

text: have

text: been

text: reports

text: of

text: restrictions

text: on

text: the

text: freedom

text: of

text: expression

text: and

text: the

text: media

text: in

text: the

text: country

text: including

text: the

text: recent

text: closure

text: of

text: an

text: opposition

text: newspaper

text: and

text: other

text: media

text: outlets

text: the

text: United

text: Nations

text: said

text: Outside

text: Bishkek

text: opposition

text: leaders

text: had

text: taken

text: control

text: of

text: Talas

text: and

text: several

text: other

text: towns

text: before

text: claiming

text: power

text: in

text: the

text: capital

text: the

text: Russian

text: independent

text: news

text: agency

text: Interfax

text: reported

text: Russia

text: called

text: on

text: Kyrgyz

text: authorities

text: and

text: the

text: opposition

text: to

text: settle

text: all

text: disputes

text: without

text: force

text: and

text: with

text: a

text: democratic

text: process

text: It

text: also

text: stepped

text: up

text: security

text: at

text: its

text: air

text: base

text: in

text: Kant

text: Kyrgyzstan

text: On

text: the

text: assumption

text: of

text: our

text: interests

text: to

text: secure

text: political

text: stability

text: in

text: a

text: country

text: that

text: is

text: friendly

text: to

text: ours

text: we

text: believe

text: it

text: is

text: important

text: that

text: all

text: issues

text: in

text: the

text: given

text: situation

text: be

text: resolved

text: within

text: the

text: legal

text: framework

text: At

text: the

text: same

text: time

text: we

text: would

text: like

text: to

text: strongly

text: appeal

text: to

text: the

text: opposing

text: forces

text: to

text: refrain

text: from

text: the

text: use

text: of

text: force

text: to

text: avoid

text: bloodshed

text: in

text: any

text: case

text: the

text: Russian

text: Foreign

text: Ministry

text: said

text: U.N.

text: Secretary

text: General

text: Ban

text: Ki

text: moon

text: who

text: had

text: visited

text: Kyrgyzstan

text: on

text: Saturday

text: said

text: Wednesday

text: that

text: he

text: was

text: shocked

text: by

text: the

text: reports

text: of

text: violence

text: and

text: urged

text: all

text: sides

text: to

text: show

text: restraint

text: engage

text: in

text: dialogue

text: and

text: promote

text: calm

text: While

text: freedom

text: of

text: assembly

text: is

text: an

text: essential

text: element

text: of

text: any

text: democratic

text: society

text: the

text: rule

text: of

text: law

text: must

text: be

text: respected

text: he

text: said

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Ben

text: Brumfield

text: Matthew

text: Chance

text: Talia

text: Kayali

text: and

text: Matt

text: Smith

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: How many died?

answer: 40

question: Who has been driven from office?

answer: President Kurmanbek Bakiev

text: President Kurmanbek Bakiev

question: Who says he is in charge of interim government?

answer: A

text: A


text:
(CNN) -- The diabetes drug Avandia is linked with tens of thousands of heart attacks, and drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline knew of the risks for years but worked to keep them from the public, according to a Senate committee report released Saturday.

The 334-page report by the Senate Finance Committee also criticized the Food and Drug Administration, saying that the federal agency that regulates food, tobacco and medications overlooked or overrode safety concerns found by its staff.

"Americans have a right to know there are serious health risks associated with Avandia and GlaxoSmithKline had a responsibility to tell them," said U.S. Senator Max Baucus, a Democrat and committee chairman. "Patients trust drug companies with their health and their lives and GlaxoSmithKline abused that trust."

The bipartisan report also was signed by Sen. Chuck Grassley, the top-ranking Republican on the committee.

GlaxoSmithKline rejected any assertions Saturday that the drug is not safe.

"We disagree with the conclusions in the report," company spokeswoman Nancy Pekarek told CNN. "The FDA had reviewed the data and concluded that the drug should be on the market."

Seven clinical trials on the drug prove that it is not linked to heart attacks, Pekarek said.

"None of that data shows a statistically significant correlation between Avandia and myocardial ischemia or myocardial infarction [heart attack]," she said.

Ischemia is a condition in which blood flow and oxygen are blocked from going to certain parts of the body.

The Senate committee investigation stems from concerns that Avandia and other high-profile drugs put "public safety at risk because the FDA has been too cozy with drug makers and has been regularly outmaneuvered by companies that have a financial interest in downplaying or under-exploring potential safety risks," the report states.

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said she is waiting for the recommendations of an advisory committee that will hear reports on the drug this summer.

"Meanwhile," Hamburg said in a statement, "I am reviewing the inquiry made by Senators Baucus and Grassley and I am reaching out to ensure that I have a complete understanding and awareness of all of the data and issues involved."

The Senate report was developed over the past two years by committee investigators who reviewed more than 250,000 pages of documents provided by GlaxoSmithKline, the FDA and several research institutes. Committee investigators also conducted numerous interviews and phone calls with GlaxoSmithKline, the FDA and anonymous whistleblowers.

According to the Senate report:

â¢ FDA scientists estimated in July 2007 that Avandia was associated with approximately 83,000 heart attacks since the drug came to market.

"Had GSK considered Avandia's potential increased cardiovascular risk more seriously when the issue was first raised in 1999 ... some of these heart attacks may have been avoided," the report states.

â¢ GlaxoSmithKline undertook attempts to undermine information critical of Avandia.

"GSK executives attempted to intimidate independent physicians, focused on strategies to minimize or misrepresent findings that Avandia may increase cardiovascular risk and sought ways to downplay findings that a competing drug might reduce cardiovascular risk," the report says.

As an example, committee investigators say they found that GlaxoSmithKline experts verified an outside study showing the cardiac problem, but the company publicly attacked the findings as incorrect.

â¢ Two FDA safety officials sounded a clear alarm in October 2008 writing, "There is strong evidence that rosiglitazone [Avandia] confers an increased risk of [heart attacks] and heart failure compared to pioglitazone [rival drug on market]." They concluded and trials comparing the two would be "unethical and exploitive." Yet, the trial is still under way, the senators say.

GlaxoSmithKline counters that the Senate report relies on outdated information.

"In essence, the report is a compilation of information and events that took place years ago," spokeswoman Pekarek said. "There's no new data there."

The FDA has evaluated at the drug, Pekarek said, and updated product labeling in 2007 to say information on Avandia's relationship to myocardial ischemia is inconclusive.

"The FDA exists to ensure patient safety," she said. "That is their purpose."

Avandia has been under scrutiny for years. The New England Journal of Medicine called the drug's safety into question in 2007. The Journal of the American Medical Association also questioned whether Avandia was safe in 2007.

"Among patients with impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes, rosiglitazone use for at least 12 months is associated with a significantly increased risk of myocardial infarction and heart failure, without a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular mortality," the AMA journal wrote, adding that the "findings have potential regulatory and clinical implications."

"Regulatory agencies ought to re-evaluate whether rosiglitazone should be allowed to remain on the market," the report said. "Health plans and physicians should not wait for regulatory actions. They should avoid using rosiglitazone in patients with diabetes who are at risk of cardiovascular events, especially since safer treatment alternatives are available."

Read the report

In 2007, an FDA panel recommended by a vote of 22-1 that Avandia should remain on the market despite an analysis showing links to increased risk of heart attack. The vote was not binding, but a suggestion to FDA regulators.

The panel also voted 20-3 at the same meeting in support of data that showed Avandia increased the risk of cardiac ischemia in patients with the most common type of diabetes.

The Senate report does not address the issue of whether Avandia should be removed from the market.

CNN's Lisa Desjardins, Saundra Young, Miriam Falco and Arthur Brice contributed to this report.

text: CNN

text: The

text: diabetes

text: drug

text: Avandia

text: is

text: linked

text: with

text: tens

text: of

text: thousands

text: of

text: heart

text: attacks

text: and

text: drugmaker

text: GlaxoSmithKline

text: knew

text: of

text: the

text: risks

text: for

text: years

text: but

text: worked

text: to

text: keep

text: them

text: from

text: the

text: public

text: according

text: to

text: a

text: Senate

text: committee

text: report

text: released

text: Saturday

text: The

text: report

text: by

text: the

text: Senate

text: Finance

text: Committee

text: also

text: criticized

text: the

text: Food

text: and

text: Drug

text: Administration

text: saying

text: that

text: the

text: federal

text: agency

text: that

text: regulates

text: food

text: tobacco

text: and

text: medications

text: overlooked

text: or

text: overrode

text: safety

text: concerns

text: found

text: by

text: its

text: staff

text: Americans

text: have

text: a

text: right

text: to

text: know

text: there

text: are

text: serious

text: health

text: risks

text: associated

text: with

text: Avandia

text: and

text: GlaxoSmithKline

text: had

text: a

text: responsibility

text: to

text: tell

text: them

text: said

text: U.S.

text: Senator

text: Max

text: Baucus

text: a

text: Democrat

text: and

text: committee

text: chairman

text: Patients

text: trust

text: drug

text: companies

text: with

text: their

text: health

text: and

text: their

text: lives

text: and

text: GlaxoSmithKline

text: abused

text: that

text: trust

text: The

text: bipartisan

text: report

text: also

text: was

text: signed

text: by

text: Sen.

text: Chuck

text: Grassley

text: the

text: top

text: ranking

text: Republican

text: on

text: the

text: committee

text: GlaxoSmithKline

text: rejected

text: any

text: assertions

text: Saturday

text: that

text: the

text: drug

text: is

text: not

text: safe

text: We

text: disagree

text: with

text: the

text: conclusions

text: in

text: the

text: report

text: company

text: spokeswoman

text: Nancy

text: Pekarek

text: told

text: CNN

text: The

text: FDA

text: had

text: reviewed

text: the

text: data

text: and

text: concluded

text: that

text: the

text: drug

text: should

text: be

text: on

text: the

text: market

text: Seven

text: clinical

text: trials

text: on

text: the

text: drug

text: prove

text: that

text: it

text: is

text: not

text: linked

text: to

text: heart

text: attacks

text: Pekarek

text: said

text: of

text: that

text: data

text: shows

text: a

text: statistically

text: significant

text: correlation

text: between

text: Avandia

text: and

text: myocardial

text: ischemia

text: or

text: myocardial

text: infarction

text: heart

text: attack

text: she

text: said

text: Ischemia

text: is

text: a

text: condition

text: in

text: which

text: blood

text: flow

text: and

text: oxygen

text: are

text: blocked

text: from

text: going

text: to

text: certain

text: parts

text: of

text: the

text: body

text: The

text: Senate

text: committee

text: investigation

text: stems

text: from

text: concerns

text: that

text: Avandia

text: and

text: other

text: high

text: profile

text: drugs

text: put

text: public

text: safety

text: at

text: risk

text: because

text: the

text: FDA

text: has

text: been

text: too

text: cozy

text: with

text: drug

text: makers

text: and

text: has

text: been

text: regularly

text: outmaneuvered

text: by

text: companies

text: that

text: have

text: a

text: financial

text: interest

text: in

text: downplaying

text: or

text: under

text: exploring

text: potential

text: safety

text: risks

text: the

text: report

text: states

text: FDA

text: Commissioner

text: Margaret

text: Hamburg

text: said

text: she

text: is

text: waiting

text: for

text: the

text: recommendations

text: of

text: an

text: advisory

text: committee

text: that

text: will

text: hear

text: reports

text: on

text: the

text: drug

text: this

text: summer

text: Meanwhile

text: Hamburg

text: said

text: in

text: a

text: statement

text: I

text: am

text: reviewing

text: the

text: inquiry

text: made

text: by

text: Senators

text: Baucus

text: and

text: Grassley

text: and

text: I

text: am

text: reaching

text: out

text: to

text: ensure

text: that

text: I

text: have

text: a

text: complete

text: understanding

text: and

text: awareness

text: of

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: data

text: and

text: issues

text: involved

text: The

text: Senate

text: report

text: was

text: developed

text: over

text: the

text: past

text: two

text: years

text: by

text: committee

text: investigators

text: who

text: reviewed

text: more

text: than

text: pages

text: of

text: documents

text: provided

text: by

text: GlaxoSmithKline

text: the

text: FDA

text: and

text: several

text: research

text: institutes

text: Committee

text: investigators

text: also

text: conducted

text: numerous

text: interviews

text: and

text: phone

text: calls

text: with

text: GlaxoSmithKline

text: the

text: FDA

text: and

text: anonymous

text: whistleblowers

text: According

text: to

text: the

text: Senate

text: report

text: â¢

text: FDA

text: scientists

text: estimated

text: in

text: July

text: that

text: Avandia

text: was

text: associated

text: with

text: approximately

text: heart

text: attacks

text: since

text: the

text: drug

text: came

text: to

text: market

text: Had

text: GSK

text: considered

text: Avandia

text: 's

text: potential

text: increased

text: cardiovascular

text: risk

text: more

text: seriously

text: when

text: the

text: issue

text: was

text: first

text: raised

text: in

text: some

text: of

text: these

text: heart

text: attacks

text: may

text: have

text: been

text: avoided

text: the

text: report

text: states

text: â¢

text: GlaxoSmithKline

text: undertook

text: attempts

text: to

text: undermine

text: information

text: critical

text: of

text: Avandia

text: GSK

text: executives

text: attempted

text: to

text: intimidate

text: independent

text: physicians

text: focused

text: on

text: strategies

text: to

text: minimize

text: or

text: misrepresent

text: findings

text: that

text: Avandia

text: may

text: increase

text: cardiovascular

text: risk

text: and

text: sought

text: ways

text: to

text: downplay

text: findings

text: that

text: a

text: competing

text: drug

text: might

text: reduce

text: cardiovascular

text: risk

text: the

text: report

text: says

text: As

text: an

text: example

text: committee

text: investigators

text: say

text: they

text: found

text: that

text: GlaxoSmithKline

text: experts

text: verified

text: an

text: outside

text: study

text: showing

text: the

text: cardiac

text: problem

text: but

text: the

text: company

text: publicly

text: attacked

text: the

text: findings

text: as

text: incorrect

text: â¢

text: Two

text: FDA

text: safety

text: officials

text: sounded

text: a

text: clear

text: alarm

text: in

text: October

text: writing

text: There

text: is

text: strong

text: evidence

text: that

text: rosiglitazone

text: Avandia

text: confers

text: an

text: increased

text: risk

text: of

text: heart

text: attacks

text: and

text: heart

text: failure

text: compared

text: to

text: pioglitazone

text: rival

text: drug

text: on

text: market

text: They

text: concluded

text: and

text: trials

text: comparing

text: the

text: two

text: would

text: be

text: unethical

text: and

text: exploitive

text: Yet

text: the

text: trial

text: is

text: still

text: under

text: way

text: the

text: senators

text: say

text: GlaxoSmithKline

text: counters

text: that

text: the

text: Senate

text: report

text: relies

text: on

text: outdated

text: information

text: In

text: essence

text: the

text: report

text: is

text: a

text: compilation

text: of

text: information

text: and

text: events

text: that

text: took

text: place

text: years

text: ago

text: spokeswoman

text: Pekarek

text: said

text: There

text: 's

text: no

text: new

text: data

text: there

text: The

text: FDA

text: has

text: evaluated

text: at

text: the

text: drug

text: Pekarek

text: said

text: and

text: updated

text: product

text: labeling

text: in

text: to

text: say

text: information

text: on

text: Avandia

text: 's

text: relationship

text: to

text: myocardial

text: ischemia

text: is

text: inconclusive

text: The

text: FDA

text: exists

text: to

text: ensure

text: patient

text: safety

text: she

text: said

text: That

text: is

text: their

text: purpose

text: Avandia

text: has

text: been

text: under

text: scrutiny

text: for

text: years

text: The

text: New

text: England

text: Journal

text: of

text: Medicine

text: called

text: the

text: drug

text: 's

text: safety

text: into

text: question

text: in

text: The

text: Journal

text: of

text: the

text: American

text: Medical

text: Association

text: also

text: questioned

text: whether

text: Avandia

text: was

text: safe

text: in

text: Among

text: patients

text: with

text: impaired

text: glucose

text: tolerance

text: or

text: type

text: diabetes

text: rosiglitazone

text: use

text: for

text: at

text: least

text: months

text: is

text: associated

text: with

text: a

text: significantly

text: increased

text: risk

text: of

text: myocardial

text: infarction

text: and

text: heart

text: failure

text: without

text: a

text: significantly

text: increased

text: risk

text: of

text: cardiovascular

text: mortality

text: the

text: AMA

text: journal

text: wrote

text: adding

text: that

text: the

text: findings

text: have

text: potential

text: regulatory

text: and

text: clinical

text: implications

text: Regulatory

text: agencies

text: ought

text: to

text: re

text: evaluate

text: whether

text: rosiglitazone

text: should

text: be

text: allowed

text: to

text: remain

text: on

text: the

text: market

text: the

text: report

text: said

text: Health

text: plans

text: and

text: physicians

text: should

text: not

text: wait

text: for

text: regulatory

text: actions

text: They

text: should

text: avoid

text: using

text: rosiglitazone

text: in

text: patients

text: with

text: diabetes

text: who

text: are

text: at

text: risk

text: of

text: cardiovascular

text: events

text: especially

text: since

text: safer

text: treatment

text: alternatives

text: are

text: available

text: Read

text: the

text: report

text: In

text: an

text: FDA

text: panel

text: recommended

text: by

text: a

text: vote

text: of

text: that

text: Avandia

text: should

text: remain

text: on

text: the

text: market

text: despite

text: an

text: analysis

text: showing

text: links

text: to

text: increased

text: risk

text: of

text: heart

text: attack

text: The

text: vote

text: was

text: not

text: binding

text: but

text: a

text: suggestion

text: to

text: FDA

text: regulators

text: The

text: panel

text: also

text: voted

text: at

text: the

text: same

text: meeting

text: in

text: support

text: of

text: data

text: that

text: showed

text: Avandia

text: increased

text: the

text: risk

text: of

text: cardiac

text: ischemia

text: in

text: patients

text: with

text: the

text: most

text: common

text: type

text: of

text: diabetes

text: The

text: Senate

text: report

text: does

text: not

text: address

text: the

text: issue

text: of

text: whether

text: Avandia

text: should

text: be

text: removed

text: from

text: the

text: market

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Lisa

text: Desjardins

text: Saundra

text: Young

text: Miriam

text: Falco

text: and

text: Arthur

text: Brice

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: what says senate?

answer: "Americans have a right to know there are serious health risks associated with Avandia and GlaxoSmithKline had a responsibility to tell them,"

text: "Americans have a right to know there are serious health risks associated with Avandia and GlaxoSmithKline had a responsibility to tell them,"

question: What did report say about FDA?

answer: has been too cozy with drug makers and has been regularly outmaneuvered by companies that have a financial interest in downplaying or under-exploring potential safety risks,"

text: has been too cozy with drug makers and has been regularly outmaneuvered by companies that have a financial interest in downplaying or under-exploring potential safety risks,"

question: What has been linked to heart disease?

answer: diabetes drug Avandia

text: diabetes drug Avandia

question: Who tried to hide risk?

answer: GlaxoSmithKline

text: GlaxoSmithKline

question: Who has tired to hide risks?

answer: GlaxoSmithKline

text: GlaxoSmithKline

question: What is Aviandia linked to?

answer: tens of thousands of heart attacks,

text: tens of thousands of heart attacks,

question: What does the company reject?

answer: any assertions Saturday that the drug is not safe.

text: any assertions Saturday that the drug is not safe.


text:
(CNN) -- A total of seven cases of a previously undetected strain of swine flu have been confirmed in humans in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. None of the patients has had direct contact with pigs.

Swine flu is usually diagnosed only in pigs or people in regular contact with them.

Five of the cases have been found in California, and two have been found in Texas, near San Antonio, said Dr. Anne Schuchat, the CDC's Interim Deputy Director for Science and Public Health Program.

The CDC reported Tuesday that two children in the San Diego, California, area, infected with a virus called swine influenza A H1N1, whose combination of genes has not been seen in flu viruses in either human or pigs before.

The patients range from age 9 to 54, Schuchat said. They include two 16-year-old boys who attend the same Texas school, and a father and daughter in California.

"The good news is that all seven of these patients have recovered," Schuchat said.

The first two cases were picked up through a special influenza monitoring program, with stations in San Diego and El Paso, Texas. The program aims to get a better sense of what strains exist and to detect new strains before they become widespread, the CDC said. Other cases emerged through routine and expanded surveillance.

At this point, the ability for the human influenza vaccine to protect against this new swine flu strain is unknown, and studies are ongoing, she said.

There is no danger from contracting the virus from eating pork products, Schuchat said.

The new virus has genes from North American swine and avian influenza, human influenza and swine influenza normally found in Asia and Europe, said Nancy Cox, chief of the CDC's Influenza Division.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza, according to the CDC. It does not normally inflect humans, but cases have occurred among people, especially those who have had direct exposure to pigs. There have also been cases in the past of one person spreading swine flu to other people, the CDC said.

In 1988, in an apparent swine flu infection in pigs in Wisconsin, there was antibody evidence of virus transmission from the patient to health care workers who had contact with the patient, the CDC said.

Person-to-person transmission is believed to occur in a manner similar to the spread of the influenza virus: through infected people coughing and sneezing, the CDC said. People may contract swine flu by touching something with viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

From December 2005 to February 2009, 12 cases of human infection with swine flu were documented.

Symptoms of swine flu in humans are expected to resemble regular human seasonal influenza symptoms, including fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, and coughing, the CDC said. Other reported symptoms include runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The new strain of swine flu has been resistant to the antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine, but has responded to the other licensed options: oseltamivir and zanamivir.

The CDC is working closely with health officials in California and Texas to learn more about the virus. The agency expects to find more cases, Schuchat said.

If swine flu can mutate to spread between humans, what does this mean for avian flu? Because of the virus subtype, it is less likely that avian flu would become transmissible from person to person, but still possible, said Dr. William Short at the division of infectious diseases at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The news is not cause for widespread panic, but people at risk -- those who live in or have traveled to the areas where patients live, or have been in contact with pigs -- should watch out for symptoms and get tested if they occur, Short said.

The three criteria for a pandemic are a new virus to which everybody is susceptible, the ability to spread from person to person readily, and wide geographic spread, said Dr. Jay Steinberg, infectious disease specialist at Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia. The new strain of swine flu only meets one of these criteria: its novelty.

On the other hand, bird flu meets two of the criteria: novelty and geographic spread.  If history is any indication, flu pandemics tend to occur once every 20 years or so, meaning we're actually due for one, he said. However, it is not likely to be the swine flu, he said.

"I can say with 100 percent confidence that a pandemic of a new flu strain will spread in humans," Steinberg said. "What I can't say is when it will occur."

text: CNN

text: A

text: total

text: of

text: seven

text: cases

text: of

text: a

text: previously

text: undetected

text: strain

text: of

text: swine

text: flu

text: have

text: been

text: confirmed

text: in

text: humans

text: in

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: the

text: Centers

text: for

text: Disease

text: Control

text: and

text: Prevention

text: said

text: of

text: the

text: patients

text: has

text: had

text: direct

text: contact

text: with

text: pigs

text: Swine

text: flu

text: is

text: usually

text: diagnosed

text: only

text: in

text: pigs

text: or

text: people

text: in

text: regular

text: contact

text: with

text: them

text: Five

text: of

text: the

text: cases

text: have

text: been

text: found

text: in

text: California

text: and

text: two

text: have

text: been

text: found

text: in

text: Texas

text: near

text: San

text: Antonio

text: said

text: Dr.

text: Anne

text: Schuchat

text: the

text: CDC

text: 's

text: Interim

text: Deputy

text: Director

text: for

text: Science

text: and

text: Public

text: Health

text: Program

text: The

text: CDC

text: reported

text: Tuesday

text: that

text: two

text: children

text: in

text: the

text: San

text: Diego

text: California

text: area

text: infected

text: with

text: a

text: virus

text: called

text: swine

text: influenza

text: A

text: whose

text: combination

text: of

text: genes

text: has

text: not

text: been

text: seen

text: in

text: flu

text: viruses

text: in

text: either

text: human

text: or

text: pigs

text: before

text: The

text: patients

text: range

text: from

text: age

text: to

text: Schuchat

text: said

text: They

text: include

text: two

text: old

text: boys

text: who

text: attend

text: the

text: same

text: Texas

text: school

text: and

text: a

text: father

text: and

text: daughter

text: in

text: California

text: The

text: good

text: news

text: is

text: that

text: all

text: seven

text: of

text: these

text: patients

text: have

text: recovered

text: Schuchat

text: said

text: The

text: first

text: two

text: cases

text: were

text: picked

text: up

text: through

text: a

text: special

text: influenza

text: monitoring

text: program

text: with

text: stations

text: in

text: San

text: Diego

text: and

text: El

text: Paso

text: Texas

text: The

text: program

text: aims

text: to

text: get

text: a

text: better

text: sense

text: of

text: what

text: strains

text: exist

text: and

text: to

text: detect

text: new

text: strains

text: before

text: they

text: become

text: widespread

text: the

text: CDC

text: said

text: Other

text: cases

text: emerged

text: through

text: routine

text: and

text: expanded

text: surveillance

text: At

text: this

text: point

text: the

text: ability

text: for

text: the

text: human

text: influenza

text: vaccine

text: to

text: protect

text: against

text: this

text: new

text: swine

text: flu

text: strain

text: is

text: unknown

text: and

text: studies

text: are

text: ongoing

text: she

text: said

text: There

text: is

text: no

text: danger

text: from

text: contracting

text: the

text: virus

text: from

text: eating

text: pork

text: products

text: Schuchat

text: said

text: The

text: new

text: virus

text: has

text: genes

text: from

text: North

text: American

text: swine

text: and

text: avian

text: influenza

text: human

text: influenza

text: and

text: swine

text: influenza

text: normally

text: found

text: in

text: Asia

text: and

text: Europe

text: said

text: Nancy

text: Cox

text: chief

text: of

text: the

text: CDC

text: 's

text: Influenza

text: Division

text: Swine

text: flu

text: is

text: a

text: respiratory

text: disease

text: of

text: pigs

text: caused

text: by

text: type

text: A

text: influenza

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: CDC

text: It

text: does

text: not

text: normally

text: inflect

text: humans

text: but

text: cases

text: have

text: occurred

text: among

text: people

text: especially

text: those

text: who

text: have

text: had

text: direct

text: exposure

text: to

text: pigs

text: There

text: have

text: also

text: been

text: cases

text: in

text: the

text: past

text: of

text: one

text: person

text: spreading

text: swine

text: flu

text: to

text: other

text: people

text: the

text: CDC

text: said

text: In

text: in

text: an

text: apparent

text: swine

text: flu

text: infection

text: in

text: pigs

text: in

text: Wisconsin

text: there

text: was

text: antibody

text: evidence

text: of

text: virus

text: transmission

text: from

text: the

text: patient

text: to

text: health

text: care

text: workers

text: who

text: had

text: contact

text: with

text: the

text: patient

text: the

text: CDC

text: said

text: Person

text: to

text: person

text: transmission

text: is

text: believed

text: to

text: occur

text: in

text: a

text: manner

text: similar

text: to

text: the

text: spread

text: of

text: the

text: influenza

text: virus

text: through

text: infected

text: people

text: coughing

text: and

text: sneezing

text: the

text: CDC

text: said

text: People

text: may

text: contract

text: swine

text: flu

text: by

text: touching

text: something

text: with

text: viruses

text: on

text: it

text: and

text: then

text: touching

text: their

text: mouth

text: or

text: nose

text: From

text: December

text: to

text: February

text: cases

text: of

text: human

text: infection

text: with

text: swine

text: flu

text: were

text: documented

text: Symptoms

text: of

text: swine

text: flu

text: in

text: humans

text: are

text: expected

text: to

text: resemble

text: regular

text: human

text: seasonal

text: influenza

text: symptoms

text: including

text: fever

text: lethargy

text: lack

text: of

text: appetite

text: and

text: coughing

text: the

text: CDC

text: said

text: Other

text: reported

text: symptoms

text: include

text: runny

text: nose

text: sore

text: throat

text: nausea

text: vomiting

text: and

text: diarrhea

text: The

text: new

text: strain

text: of

text: swine

text: flu

text: has

text: been

text: resistant

text: to

text: the

text: antiviral

text: drugs

text: amantadine

text: and

text: rimantadine

text: but

text: has

text: responded

text: to

text: the

text: other

text: licensed

text: options

text: oseltamivir

text: and

text: zanamivir

text: The

text: CDC

text: is

text: working

text: closely

text: with

text: health

text: officials

text: in

text: California

text: and

text: Texas

text: to

text: learn

text: more

text: about

text: the

text: virus

text: The

text: agency

text: expects

text: to

text: find

text: more

text: cases

text: Schuchat

text: said

text: If

text: swine

text: flu

text: can

text: mutate

text: to

text: spread

text: between

text: humans

text: what

text: does

text: this

text: mean

text: for

text: avian

text: flu

text: Because

text: of

text: the

text: virus

text: subtype

text: it

text: is

text: less

text: likely

text: that

text: avian

text: flu

text: would

text: become

text: transmissible

text: from

text: person

text: to

text: person

text: but

text: still

text: possible

text: said

text: Dr.

text: William

text: Short

text: at

text: the

text: division

text: of

text: infectious

text: diseases

text: at

text: Thomas

text: Jefferson

text: University

text: Hospital

text: in

text: Philadelphia

text: Pennsylvania

text: The

text: news

text: is

text: not

text: cause

text: for

text: widespread

text: panic

text: but

text: people

text: at

text: risk

text: those

text: who

text: live

text: in

text: or

text: have

text: traveled

text: to

text: the

text: areas

text: where

text: patients

text: live

text: or

text: have

text: been

text: in

text: contact

text: with

text: pigs

text: should

text: watch

text: out

text: for

text: symptoms

text: and

text: get

text: tested

text: if

text: they

text: occur

text: Short

text: said

text: The

text: three

text: criteria

text: for

text: a

text: pandemic

text: are

text: a

text: new

text: virus

text: to

text: which

text: everybody

text: is

text: susceptible

text: the

text: ability

text: to

text: spread

text: from

text: person

text: to

text: person

text: readily

text: and

text: wide

text: geographic

text: spread

text: said

text: Dr.

text: Jay

text: Steinberg

text: infectious

text: disease

text: specialist

text: at

text: Emory

text: University

text: Hospital

text: Midtown

text: in

text: Atlanta

text: Georgia

text: The

text: new

text: strain

text: of

text: swine

text: flu

text: only

text: meets

text: one

text: of

text: these

text: criteria

text: its

text: novelty

text: On

text: the

text: other

text: hand

text: bird

text: flu

text: meets

text: two

text: of

text: the

text: criteria

text: novelty

text: and

text: geographic

text: spread

text: If

text: history

text: is

text: any

text: indication

text: flu

text: pandemics

text: tend

text: to

text: occur

text: once

text: every

text: years

text: or

text: so

text: meaning

text: we

text: 're

text: actually

text: due

text: for

text: one

text: he

text: said

text: However

text: it

text: is

text: not

text: likely

text: to

text: be

text: the

text: swine

text: flu

text: he

text: said

text: I

text: can

text: say

text: with

text: percent

text: confidence

text: that

text: a

text: pandemic

text: of

text: a

text: new

text: flu

text: strain

text: will

text: spread

text: in

text: humans

text: Steinberg

text: said

text: What

text: I

text: ca

text: n't

text: say

text: is

text: when

text: it

text: will

text: occur

question: How many cases of swine flu have there been in the U.S.?

answer: seven

text: seven

question: Swine flu symptoms in humans resemble which other ailment?

answer: seasonal influenza

text: seasonal influenza

question: Where have cases of swine flu been found?

answer: United States,

text: United States,

question: CDC states how many cases were found in Texas?

answer: Five

text: Five

question: What are the symptoms expected to resemble?

answer: regular human seasonal influenza

text: regular human seasonal influenza

question: How many patients are said to have recovered?

answer: all seven

text: all seven

question: How many cases were found in California?

answer: Five

text: Five

question: Who has recovered?

answer: patients

text: patients


text:
(CNN) -- Whoever came up with the phrase "location is everything" when it comes to real estate must have had Malta in mind.

This tiny island nation sits in the middle of the Mediterranean, about 60 miles south of Sicily and 180 miles east of the African coast at Tunisia. The result is that anyone who was anyone visited, settled, invaded or conquered this prime piece of land. And with each leaving their mark, a visit to Malta is truly a journey through the region's history.

The Republic of Malta is actually three islands. The country's name comes from the largest of the three; to the northwest of that is Gozo, and in between them is Comino. And tiny really means tiny. At only 122 square miles (316 square kilometers), the total area of the country is about one-tenth the size of Rhode Island, by far the smallest of the United States.

London, New York, Tokyo -- each of these metropolitan areas is bigger than Malta. That compactness, coupled with an extensive bus system, lets you see the best of what it has to offer with ease.

Begin your journey through the millennia with the stone temples at Ä¦aÄ¡ar Qim and Mnajdra, on the southern coast. Construction on these sites started around 3600 BC, making them centuries older than the best guesses we have for England's Stonehenge.

And the temples are every bit as mysterious, since it is not clear how or why they were built. The structures aren't as massive as their English counterpart, and they lack the graceful symmetry. Yet walk among the exposed chambers -- with the sea just beyond the cliffs -- and you know that the generations who built these temples believed they were constructing something for the ages.

It is here that you start to get a sense of what sets a journey to Malta apart from Europe's more visited travel destinations. Ä¦aÄ¡ar Qim and Mnajdra are just two of seven ancient temples that make up a UNESCO World Heritage site described by a leading prehistorian as "the oldest free-standing monuments in the world." These sites represent just one epoch of many you will find on your trip.

Travel seven miles (11 kilometers) to the east -- and skip forward more than 2,000 years from the time the stones for those temples were laid -- and you will be standing where the first seafaring Phoenicians arrived on Malta from the eastern end of the Mediterranean.

To this day the village of Marsaxlokk is a key port for the country's fishing industry, seen in the market held every Sunday and in the seafood restaurants lining the harbor. But look closely at the colorfully painted traditional fishing boats known as luzzu bobbing gently on the water, and you can't help but notice how they are still painted with the Eye of Osiris, a custom said to have been handed down by the Phoenicians to ward off evil.

From Marsaxlokk head northwest 10 miles (16 kilometers) inland toward the walled city of Mdina, which sits on one of the highest plateaus on the island. Just outside the main gate of this walled city is the Domus Romana, or "Roman house." Here we have moved forward another thousand years to when Malta was part of the Roman Republic.

The Roman House is a museum built on the excavated ruins of a nobleman's home, dating back to sometime shortly after 100 B.C. While the museum on the main floor houses a respectable collection of artifacts, it is the excavated floors of the villa -- among the finest mosaics uncovered anywhere in the former empire -- that will astonish you.

As for Mdina itself, the city's name comes from the Arabic word simply meaning "the city," which belies its status as the former capital of Malta. A millennium after our Roman nobleman walked across his tiled floors Malta was part of the Fatimid Caliphate -- a form of government based on the tenets of Islam -- that stretched across northern Africa and into the Arabian Peninsula.

It was during this period that the moat and walls that surround Mdina were first constructed. With few vehicles permitted today inside its gates, a walk through the narrow stone alleys of Mdina makes it clear why it is known locally as "the silent city." For one of the best views anywhere on Malta, make your way to the upper terrace of the Fontanella Tea Garden restaurant. On a clear day over a cup of coffee you can see practically the entire island.

While the island nation has changed hands countless times over the ages, the influence that is most widely felt in Malta today didn't come from an invading empire, but from a group known as the Knights Hospitallers, later the Knights of Malta.

This order was first set up to run a hospital in Jerusalem for pilgrims who traveled there and eventually developed into a religious and military order. When Islamic forces pushed them out in 1291, the Knights re-established themselves first in Cyprus and then in Rhodes before arriving on Malta in the 16th century.

It was in those first decades on the island that the Knights of Malta built the current capital, Valletta, following an unsuccessful siege by Ottoman forces. With its impenetrable stone walls and regular battle towers surrounding a regular grid of streets, the entire city stands as tribute to the order's military and engineering prowess. Within the battlements, the interiors of churches such as St John's Co-Cathedral, completed in 1577, are among the most ornate that you will find anywhere.

These monuments, like those reaching back into prehistory, outlasted both their creators and those who followed to lay their own claim to Malta. The Knights were forced out by the French, when Napoleon invaded in 1798, who were expelled a couple years later by the British. World War II saw a failed attempt by Axis powers to bomb the country into submission.

Independence came in 1964. Today Malta, still as staunchly Catholic as it was under the Knights, is content to take its place as part of the European Union.

A trip to Malta is not merely a walk through a living history book. Along the way are stunning natural formations, like the Blue Grotto on the southern coast near the village of Å»urrieq. When the weather permits and seas are not too choppy, boats take visitors to the 140-foot-high natural stone arch and surrounding caves. Of course, on an island this small you are never far from the coast, though sun seekers often head to the beaches of the northern resort of MellieÄ§a to soak in the rays.

The cafÃ©s and wine bars of modern-day Valletta make you feel like you're in southern Italy, as will much of the cuisine. The nightlife at the clubs in St. Julian's, just north of Valletta, can hold its own against just about anything the rest of Europe has to offer.

Prices for hotels and restaurants overall are less than on mainland Europe, especially in the off-season, and the bus system on Malta makes getting around simple and affordable. Full-day tickets are only â¬1.50 (about $2.) You can get pretty much anywhere from the main terminal just outside the Valletta city gate.

No matter where you go and what you see, Malta's unique spot -- in the Mediterranean and in history -- is felt everywhere.

text: CNN

text: Whoever

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text: Malta

text: in

text: mind

text: This

text: tiny

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text: middle

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text: Begin

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text: millennia

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text: Ä

text: aÄ¡ar

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text: the

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text: Construction

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text: started

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text: Ä

text: aÄ¡ar

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text: Mnajdra

text: are

text: just

text: two

text: of

text: seven

text: ancient

text: temples

text: that

text: make

text: up

text: a

text: UNESCO

text: World

text: Heritage

text: site

text: described

text: by

text: a

text: leading

text: prehistorian

text: as

text: the

text: oldest

text: free

text: standing

text: monuments

text: in

text: the

text: world

text: These

text: sites

text: represent

text: just

text: one

text: epoch

text: of

text: many

text: you

text: will

text: find

text: on

text: your

text: trip

text: Travel

text: seven

text: miles

text: kilometers

text: to

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text: east

text: and

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text: than

text: years

text: from

text: the

text: time

text: the

text: stones

text: for

text: those

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text: were

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text: and

text: you

text: will

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text: where

text: the

text: first

text: seafaring

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text: from

text: the

text: eastern

text: end

text: of

text: the

text: Mediterranean

text: To

text: this

text: day

text: the

text: village

text: of

text: Marsaxlokk

text: is

text: a

text: key

text: port

text: for

text: the

text: country

text: 's

text: fishing

text: industry

text: seen

text: in

text: the

text: market

text: held

text: every

text: Sunday

text: and

text: in

text: the

text: seafood

text: restaurants

text: lining

text: the

text: harbor

text: But

text: look

text: closely

text: at

text: the

text: colorfully

text: painted

text: traditional

text: fishing

text: boats

text: known

text: as

text: luzzu

text: bobbing

text: gently

text: on

text: the

text: water

text: and

text: you

text: ca

text: n't

text: help

text: but

text: notice

text: how

text: they

text: are

text: still

text: painted

text: with

text: the

text: Eye

text: of

text: Osiris

text: a

text: custom

text: said

text: to

text: have

text: been

text: handed

text: down

text: by

text: the

text: Phoenicians

text: to

text: ward

text: off

text: evil

text: From

text: Marsaxlokk

text: head

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text: walled

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text: Mdina

text: which

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text: one

text: of

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text: highest

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text: on

text: the

text: island

text: Just

text: outside

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text: this

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text: city

text: is

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text: Domus

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text: or

text: Roman

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text: Here

text: we

text: have

text: moved

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text: to

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text: Malta

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text: the

text: Roman

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text: The

text: Roman

text: House

text: is

text: a

text: museum

text: built

text: on

text: the

text: excavated

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text: of

text: a

text: nobleman

text: 's

text: home

text: dating

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text: to

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text: B.C.

text: While

text: the

text: museum

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text: houses

text: a

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text: of

text: artifacts

text: it

text: is

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text: excavated

text: floors

text: of

text: the

text: villa

text: among

text: the

text: finest

text: mosaics

text: uncovered

text: anywhere

text: in

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text: former

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text: that

text: will

text: astonish

text: you

text: As

text: for

text: Mdina

text: itself

text: the

text: city

text: 's

text: name

text: comes

text: from

text: the

text: Arabic

text: word

text: simply

text: meaning

text: the

text: city

text: which

text: belies

text: its

text: status

text: as

text: the

text: former

text: capital

text: of

text: Malta

text: A

text: millennium

text: after

text: our

text: Roman

text: nobleman

text: walked

text: across

text: his

text: tiled

text: floors

text: Malta

text: was

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: Fatimid

text: Caliphate

text: a

text: form

text: of

text: government

text: based

text: on

text: the

text: tenets

text: of

text: Islam

text: that

text: stretched

text: across

text: northern

text: Africa

text: and

text: into

text: the

text: Arabian

text: Peninsula

text: It

text: was

text: during

text: this

text: period

text: that

text: the

text: moat

text: and

text: walls

text: that

text: surround

text: Mdina

text: were

text: first

text: constructed

text: With

text: few

text: vehicles

text: permitted

text: today

text: inside

text: its

text: gates

text: a

text: walk

text: through

text: the

text: narrow

text: stone

text: alleys

text: of

text: Mdina

text: makes

text: it

text: clear

text: why

text: it

text: is

text: known

text: locally

text: as

text: the

text: silent

text: city

text: For

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: best

text: views

text: anywhere

text: on

text: Malta

text: make

text: your

text: way

text: to

text: the

text: upper

text: terrace

text: of

text: the

text: Fontanella

text: Tea

text: Garden

text: restaurant

text: On

text: a

text: clear

text: day

text: over

text: a

text: cup

text: of

text: coffee

text: you

text: can

text: see

text: practically

text: the

text: entire

text: island

text: While

text: the

text: island

text: nation

text: has

text: changed

text: hands

text: countless

text: times

text: over

text: the

text: ages

text: the

text: influence

text: that

text: is

text: most

text: widely

text: felt

text: in

text: Malta

text: today

text: did

text: n't

text: come

text: from

text: an

text: invading

text: empire

text: but

text: from

text: a

text: group

text: known

text: as

text: the

text: Knights

text: Hospitallers

text: later

text: the

text: Knights

text: of

text: Malta

text: This

text: order

text: was

text: first

text: set

text: up

text: to

text: run

text: a

text: hospital

text: in

text: Jerusalem

text: for

text: pilgrims

text: who

text: traveled

text: there

text: and

text: eventually

text: developed

text: into

text: a

text: religious

text: and

text: military

text: order

text: When

text: Islamic

text: forces

text: pushed

text: them

text: out

text: in

text: the

text: Knights

text: re

text: established

text: themselves

text: first

text: in

text: Cyprus

text: and

text: then

text: in

text: Rhodes

text: before

text: arriving

text: on

text: Malta

text: in

text: the

text: century

text: It

text: was

text: in

text: those

text: first

text: decades

text: on

text: the

text: island

text: that

text: the

text: Knights

text: of

text: Malta

text: built

text: the

text: current

text: capital

text: Valletta

text: following

text: an

text: unsuccessful

text: siege

text: by

text: Ottoman

text: forces

text: With

text: its

text: impenetrable

text: stone

text: walls

text: and

text: regular

text: battle

text: towers

text: surrounding

text: a

text: regular

text: grid

text: of

text: streets

text: the

text: entire

text: city

text: stands

text: as

text: tribute

text: to

text: the

text: order

text: 's

text: military

text: and

text: engineering

text: prowess

text: Within

text: the

text: battlements

text: the

text: interiors

text: of

text: churches

text: such

text: as

text: St

text: John

text: 's

text: Co

text: Cathedral

text: completed

text: in

text: are

text: among

text: the

text: most

text: ornate

text: that

text: you

text: will

text: find

text: anywhere

text: These

text: monuments

text: like

text: those

text: reaching

text: back

text: into

text: prehistory

text: outlasted

text: both

text: their

text: creators

text: and

text: those

text: who

text: followed

text: to

text: lay

text: their

text: own

text: claim

text: to

text: Malta

text: The

text: Knights

text: were

text: forced

text: out

text: by

text: the

text: French

text: when

text: Napoleon

text: invaded

text: in

text: who

text: were

text: expelled

text: a

text: couple

text: years

text: later

text: by

text: the

text: British

text: World

text: War

text: II

text: saw

text: a

text: failed

text: attempt

text: by

text: Axis

text: powers

text: to

text: bomb

text: the

text: country

text: into

text: submission

text: Independence

text: came

text: in

text: Today

text: Malta

text: still

text: as

text: staunchly

text: Catholic

text: as

text: it

text: was

text: under

text: the

text: Knights

text: is

text: content

text: to

text: take

text: its

text: place

text: as

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: European

text: Union

text: A

text: trip

text: to

text: Malta

text: is

text: not

text: merely

text: a

text: walk

text: through

text: a

text: living

text: history

text: book

text: Along

text: the

text: way

text: are

text: stunning

text: natural

text: formations

text: like

text: the

text: Blue

text: Grotto

text: on

text: the

text: southern

text: coast

text: near

text: the

text: village

text: of

text: Å»urrieq

text: When

text: the

text: weather

text: permits

text: and

text: seas

text: are

text: not

text: too

text: choppy

text: boats

text: take

text: visitors

text: to

text: the

text: high

text: natural

text: stone

text: arch

text: and

text: surrounding

text: caves

text: Of

text: course

text: on

text: an

text: island

text: this

text: small

text: you

text: are

text: never

text: far

text: from

text: the

text: coast

text: though

text: sun

text: seekers

text: often

text: head

text: to

text: the

text: beaches

text: of

text: the

text: northern

text: resort

text: of

text: MellieÄ§a

text: to

text: soak

text: in

text: the

text: rays

text: The

text: cafÃ

text: s

text: and

text: wine

text: bars

text: of

text: modern

text: day

text: Valletta

text: make

text: you

text: feel

text: like

text: you

text: 're

text: in

text: southern

text: Italy

text: as

text: will

text: much

text: of

text: the

text: cuisine

text: The

text: nightlife

text: at

text: the

text: clubs

text: in

text: St.

text: Julian

text: 's

text: just

text: north

text: of

text: Valletta

text: can

text: hold

text: its

text: own

text: against

text: just

text: about

text: anything

text: the

text: rest

text: of

text: Europe

text: has

text: to

text: offer

text: Prices

text: for

text: hotels

text: and

text: restaurants

text: overall

text: are

text: less

text: than

text: on

text: mainland

text: Europe

text: especially

text: in

text: the

text: off

text: season

text: and

text: the

text: bus

text: system

text: on

text: Malta

text: makes

text: getting

text: around

text: simple

text: and

text: affordable

text: Full

text: day

text: tickets

text: are

text: only

text: about

text: You

text: can

text: get

text: pretty

text: much

text: anywhere

text: from

text: the

text: main

text: terminal

text: just

text: outside

text: the

text: Valletta

text: city

text: gate

text: No

text: matter

text: where

text: you

text: go

text: and

text: what

text: you

text: see

text: Malta

text: 's

text: unique

text: spot

text: in

text: the

text: Mediterranean

text: and

text: in

text: history

text: is

text: felt

text: everywhere

question: What is the island nation?

answer: Malta

text: Malta

question: What influences are evident

answer: the Knights Hospitalle

text: the Knights Hospitalle

question: What are some of the ages of Malta's temples?

answer: d around 3600 BC

text: d around 3600 BC

question: What dates back 5000 years

answer: stone temples at Ä¦aÄ¡ar Qim and Mnajdra

text: stone temples at Ä¦aÄ¡ar Qim and Mnajdra

question: Where is Malta located?

answer: middle of the Mediterranean,

text: middle of the Mediterranean,