Theresa May Defying Calls to Step Down; Armed Men Kill 134 in Mali
HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. In the United Kingdom, it is shaping up to be another crucial work for the British prime minister, Theresa May, and for the issue of Brexit. We will be watching to see if ministers try to oust the prime minister. Senior Conservative Party members were seen arriving at the prime minister's country estate on Sunday. "The Times" reports she is clinging on one and defying calls to exit -- to set her exit date. That's despite 11 -- reports that 11 cabinet ministers were planning to threaten a mass resignation if she doesn't step down. We're also looking to see if Ms. May tries to put her deal for another vote. If she does, there has been no indication that it will pass.</s>ALLEN: We also want to see if Parliament votes for a second referendum. It would be nonbinding, but it's among several alternative options lawmakers could decide on this week. With the Brexit process in chaos, they have to come up with something. Calls are growing to hold a new referendum and send Brexit back to the people. This was the scene Saturday. A huge rally in London calling for another public vote.</s>HOWELL: Let's talk more about this now with CNN's European affairs commentator, Dominic Thomas. Dominic joining us this hour in London. Good to have you.</s>DOMINIC THOMAS, CNN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: Hi, George.</s>HOWELL: Dominic, so it seems to be not only a decision for the United Kingdom and Brexit but also for the prime minister. Her leadership on the line now. Does it appear that there's enough support among her cabinet to oust this prime minister?</s>THOMAS: Well, George, this is a really key question. You know, in many ways you could argue that Theresa May never fundamentally had full support from the moment she called that snap election back in 2017 and lost the majority. Since that time, she's been unable to legislate. Her withdrawal agreement has failed to past twice in the House. She's already faced a vote of no confidence, one tabled by her party members, the other by the Labour Party. She has also faced all sorts of defiance from people within her party. The big question that people will have to ask at this particular juncture would be whether or not replacing Theresa May at this particular moment would do anything to advance the Brexit process, considering just how many divisions there are within both sides of the political spectrum. But I do think that this week, we will have some greater clarity on that issue.</s>HOWELL: Because something has to happen at this point, Dominic. Look, for the prime minister, for her deal, do you believe that she will try to put that deal before Parliament for a third vote? And even more importantly here, due to the speaker's rules preventing her from doing so, can she still put it out for a vote?</s>THOMAS: Well, this is interesting, of course. I think that it would be, obviously, in terms of the speaker, he was very clear last week in terms of outlining where we were to go, that this is the one thing that is bridging taking us to the next step of the Brexit process. It is clear that there's going to be a range of administrative procedures that are going to be invoked in order to get to that point. The bigger question is the impact and the consequences of this for Theresa May. It seems, as things stand currently right now, that she will not get the support of the far-right Brexiteers, who simply do not like her deal. They want to be fully out of the European Union and not to maintain the kinds of obligations and arrangements that Theresa May is proposing. And clearly, on the other side of the political spectrum, the priority for the Labour Party is to get a general election and try to take over at 10 Downing Street. But Theresa May, essentially, last week was a very big moment, because the European Union essentially put around a red line. Either she must pass this bill, or should she not put it to a vote, she has to come back in less than 20 days to the European Union with a concrete plan. Either to let them know that they are going to go for a no deal, and that seems unlikely to pass in Parliament. It's the one thing that they agree on at this particular juncture. Or to invoke, or to revoke Article 50 and essentially cancel Brexit, or the most likely outcome is to go back to the European Union with a set of indications as to where Parliament stands. And perhaps rather than putting her withdrawal agreement to a third vote and losing, she might prefer to go down that road and to kind of test the pulse of Parliament to see where they stand, including on the issue, of course, the all-important issue right now of going back to the people, either through a general election or through a people's vote.</s>HOWELL: Is there enough support in Parliament for that to happen? Do you believe?</s>THOMAS: It's interesting, because thus far, of course, the vote went against that particular option. That we've seen increasingly this petition, very large-scale demonstration that took place over the weekend in London. And ultimately, Theresa May herself was unable to deliver Brexit on March 29, and the Parliamentarians who we should not forget represent the people, have been unable to do this. And I think that many of these politicians and MPs, as they listen to their constituents and to the frustration they are feeling around the country, it may simply come to the moment where it's going to be almost impossible for them to not go back to the people. And ultimately, what could there be that is more democratic than going back to the people and asking them to weigh in on this particular issue once and for all?</s>HOWELL: Dominic Thomas, joining us not in London, joining us there in California, but we do appreciate your insight today. We'll stay in touch with you and see where the Brexit ball bounces this week.</s>THOMAS: Absolutely. Thank you, George.</s>HOWELL: Thank you</s>ALLEN: Other news now, armed men have killed 134 people during an attack on a rural village in central Mali.</s>HOWELL: The United Nations says the victims are members of the Fulani ethnic group, which is frequently targeted and accused of having ties with Jihadist organizations in that area. Our David McKenzie has the story.</s>DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The French ambassador to the United Nations is calling it an unspeakable act. On early Saturday, in Central Mali in West Africa, ethnic militia attacked the village, say the United Nations, killing at least 134 people, including mothers, women, young children, even. They were able to evacuate some of those casualties in what can only be described as a massacre and the worst killing of its kind in recent times. A spokesman for the United Nations secretary general saying, "The secretary general condemns this act and calls on Malian authorities to swiftly investigate it and bring the perpetrators to justice." Mali's president on Sunday dissolved the so-called self-defense unit that has been accused of similar attacks in the past. Human Rights Watch says that these attacks are increasing, and they've been exploited by jihadi groups linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda. The U.S. Has significant boots on the ground in Mali and the region; and there is a U.N. peacekeeping force in Mali, but it's one of its deadliest on the globe. The difficulty here is, say experts, with ISIS losing its territory in the Middle East that future battlegrounds against groups linked to it will be fought, potentially, in West Africa. David McKenzie, CNN, Johannesburg.</s>ALLEN: A cruise ship that was stranded in rough waters for 20 hours has made it safely to port. When we come back you'll hear some of the passengers' stories about their ordeal.