18/01/2013 BBC News at Ten

Still no end to the hostage crisis in Algeria. While at least four

Britons are known to be safe, ten are believed unaccounted for. Some

of the hundreds of workers being held by Islamist militants have

been freed but it's unclear exactly how many remain in danger. As much

as we are glad to be out, our thoughts are with colleagues who

are still there at the moment. The Prime Minister is in regular

contact with his Algerian counterpart who explains why the

rescue operation was launched without any warning. He said the

tourists tried to flee, and that they judged an immediate threat to

the lives of hostages and felt obliged to respond. -- terrorists.

As the crisis heads towards its fourth day, we'll bring you the

latest on the mission to release those still held captive.

Also tonight: A day of heavy snowfall across the

UK brings disruption to roads. Rail services are severely affected and

hundreds of flights are cancelled. South Wales was issued with a red

warning from the Met Office. The snow left thousands of homes

without power. How China's former powerhouse

economy is faltering, growing at its slowest rate for a decade.

Through all seven of your tour de France victories, did you ever take

banned substances? Yes. In Sportsday:

Mauricio Pochettini faces an uncertain welcome at Southampton as

the new manager, after Saints Good evening.

Around ten Britons are still unaccounted for as the hostage

crisis at a remote gas plant in Algeria continues. There is little

hard and fast information emerging from what is a complex and

confusing situation, but this is what we do know tonight. Three days

since Islamist militants stormed the plant, hundreds of Algerian and

foreign workers have now been freed. Four Britons are thought to be safe

but one Briton is understood to have been killed. David Cameron has

told MPs that Britain will do everything it can to hunt down

those behind what he called the "brutal and savage" incident. James

One of the survivors one of the survivors of the attack. Algerian

state TV has been showing pictures of some who escaped the gas complex,

including several from Britain, starting their journey home. They

are still confused about details of first the hostage taking and then

the Algerian military response. Very, very relieved to be out,

obviously. We still don't know what has happened back on site. So as

much as we are glad to be out, our thoughts are with colleagues that

are still there at the moment. feel safe at the moment but I will

not feel 100% happy until I am back in the UK and I see my family. My

heart goes out to the guys that are still there. Hopefully they will

come home safe. David Cameron briefed MPs this morning, saying

Algeria's Prime Minister told him troops were still pursuing

terrorists and the remaining hostages. He said the terrorists

had tried to flee, and that they judge there to be an immediate

threat to the lives of hostages and felt obliged to respond. Last night,

the number of British citizens at risk was less than 30. Thankfully,

we now know that number has been significantly reduced. What do we

know about this hostage crisis, one of the most complex in recent

years? The gas installation is located in remote desert in the

east of the country, close to the Libyan border. It was attacked

under cover of darkness in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The first targets were two buses on route to an airfield. Two workers

were killed, including one Briton. Then the residential compound was

seized and many hostages taken. The militants moved on to the nearby

gas processing plant, seizing more of the workforce. On Thursday,

Algerian security forces went in hard, apparently convinced the

militants were planning to flee into the desert, taking their

hostages with them. There is still great uncertainty, but Mark Grant

is known to be among a number of Scots who have survived. So did

Stephen McFaul from Belfast. He told his wife he had had explosives

tied around his neck. She described the experience that he had as truly

horrific. And it is clear from what she told me that, unfortunately,

there are a number of the kidnapped victims who have not been as

fortunate as Stephen. This is the man accused by Algeria of

masterminding the attack. Mokhtar Belmokhtar was a senior Al-Qaeda

commander and too much -- last year, but also specialises in kidnap for

ransom and cigarette smuggling to finance operations. Both Japan and

the United States are victims of this attack, Japan sharply critical

of the Algerian military response. Hillary Clinton says utmost care

must be taken to preserve life, but she is also talking tough. We will

not rest until we do as much as we can, alone and in concert with our

partners, to restore security to this vital region and to bring

those who would terrorise and kill innocent people to justice. Amid a

joyful reunions for some, the ordeal for others goes on. With

militants threatening more attacks on energy facilities, security

across North Africa is being urgently refused.

We can speak to Nick Robinson in Downing Street. With this crisis

heading towards its 4th day, this is going to be a tense night in

Downing Street, waiting for news. Another night for the hostages,

their families and friends, and another night for Downing Street

where, unusually in a crisis of this sort, they feel almost as

powerless as the families. There are no British forces in the area

and, I am told, no plans to send British forces into the area. They

are entirely dependent on the Algerian government and its

military to release the remaining hostages. Not just that, but

entirely dependent on the Algerian government for any news about the

fate of the hostages. Except, that is, if anyone emerges and

telephones. The reason the numbers are smaller than they were when I

was speaking last night is because in the early hours of the morning

and during today, one or two people emerged to call family and friends

and to say, I am safe. Or else there were people who said, I have

seen your son or husband. That is how this news is currently getting

out, which is why the Prime Minister, although looking strained,

I think, was a little relieved at that news. But what was most

striking about today's statement in the House of Commons by the Prime

Minister was not what he said about this crisis but what he said about

North Africa as a whole. Bear in mind that for many people, and I

include myself, we are talking about countries we barely know and

cannot 0.2 on the map. And yet David Cameron today talked about

Al-Qaeda, extremist terrorism, his words, in North Africa, in terms

last used by Tony Blair about Iraq or Afghanistan, in other words, as

a location for terrorist bases, as a potential source of real danger

to Britain and to Europe. Long after this particular crisis is

over, it is clear to me that we will still be talking about these

countries. We will still be talking about North Africa. And we will be

talking about possible British long-term military involvement.

Heavy snow has caused severe disruption across the UK with the

closure of roads, runways and thousands of schools. The Highways

Agency warned drivers to avoid travelling tonight, while the RAC

says reaching stranded motorists has been a "real challenge".

Hundreds of flights at airports, including at Heathrow, have been

cancelled and some rail services delayed, as Luisa Baldini reports.

It was forecast, it did arrive, and it has lived up to its expectations.

The first major UK-a wide snowfall of the winter swept up the Bristol

Channel, over the Welsh mountains, Commuters who tuned to local radio

found little to encourage them. Those who did venture out, whether

on foot or on four wheels, must have wished they had not. This is

the worst I have known it for quite a few years, to be honest.

roads have been bad in places where the salt is not working. Through

the day, the snowy tightened its grip on many airports. Over 400

flights were cancelled at Heathrow, where runaways had to be

temporarily closed. Overlooking Heathrow, we have been able to see

snowploughs working continuously throughout the day. Heathrow

Airport has invested �36 million in their snow contingency plans over

the last three years, including more than doubling their fleet of

snow clearing vehicles, so they can do as much as they can to keep the

airfield running. But they have less control over the visibility.

Visibility was so bad, air traffic control had to reduce the number of

flights landing and taking off, which led to many cancellations. In

Birmingham, travellers packed into departures and revise their plans.

In Southampton, they had to wait until this afternoon to see flights

resume. Safety is paramount and we have to make sure the runway is

without any slush for ice on it, and the actual duration of the

Synod today has been 11 hours and the best part of 10 centimetres. -

Rail operators reported difficulties across England and

Wales, delays and cancellations which extended into the Friday rush

hour. There has been disruption and there is likely to be continued

disruption for the rest of the evening, although we are keeping

trains moving. For many, the weekend will offer some respite

from travel worries, but then further snow is forecast, just as

we turn our thoughts to a fresh working week.

The worst affected area today has been South Wales, where the Met

Office issued a red warning for snow for the first time in two

years, meaning the snow presents a risk to life. Up to 12 inches of

snow has fallen and thousands of homes are without electricity.

Hywel Griffith is in Merthyr Tydfil for us tonight, How bad is it

there? Well, it has finally stopped snowing but the winds mean there is

still a risk of smoke drifting. The red warning from the Met Office

finally expired about an hour ago, but several parts of the UK are

under Amber and yellow warnings, meaning people still need to take

care if they head out, particularly on the roads. Altogether, it has

been a day to test people's resolve. Buried in a blizzard. Across the

West Country and Wales, a blanket of snow faced those trying to start

their day. In Bristol, commuting must have felt what an uphill

struggle. With over 3000 schools closed in England, Scotland and

Wales, including this one in Portishead, many parents were

forced to change their plans at the last minute. Pupils with A-level

and GCSE exams were encouraged to attend where possible. The severe

weather added to the stress for these teenagers in Stroud. Lots of

our friends will not be able to make it in, and they will have to

resit in the summer, which is annoying. One family face them

equally anxious morning, having woken to find that these cars had

landed with the snow. We heard this almighty crash. My husband was

outside looking to see if there was any further damage. And her vehicle

had come right the way through and my husband had to rescue the driver

out of the back passenger door. With sub-zero temperatures, losing

the power supply was the last thing homeowners in Pembrokeshire wanted.

Tonight, 1000 people are still without electricity. And in the

hills of west Wales, concern for the livestock ahead of the lambing

season. The Met Office's red alert for South Wales successfully

convinced many people to stay at home and avoid unnecessary journeys.

This road goes through the Red Zone, the main dual-carriageway that

connects the heads of the South Wales valleys. Normally, this would

be busy with commuters, but today there are just a few hardy souls

venturing out. In Merthyr Tydfil, it took the grit and a fair bit of

determination to help to get people to work. The few shops that manage

to open were soon raided for supplies of milk and bread. Others

closed early so that staff could try to find a way home. But in many

parts of the country, that journey was a miserable one. Snowed turned

to ice, and the road home became an obstacle course. There are a few

who relish days like this. But most will hope the weekend will see

The biggest risk now comes from some of the snow turning to ice,

particularly as temperatures will drop below zero, and I am sorry but

the forecast for this weekend is for yet more cold weather.

A BBC team has found evidence of a massacre that took place this week

in central Syria. Local people said at least 100 people were killed and

burned in their homes. Some blamed government militia, others rebel

forces. Lyse Doucet has just returned from the village of

Haswiya, near the city of Homs, and sent this report. I should warn you

it contains some very distressing images.

The army took us in. The village of Haswiya is just around the corner

from their base. As we enter the village, there is a powerful sense

of shock. Police stormed into my house, this woman says, they

slapped my face, I fell on the floor, they beat and stripped me

and my daughters. Most of the killings took place in

houses down this hills. The army tells us they have clear the area,

taken away the bodies. But they say it is not safe for us to go further.

We persuade them to let us take another route. And the horror

There is blood on the cement and a body... Is straddling the doorway.

One is brought in the yard. Impositions which suggest they were

trying to flee. -- in positions. These people had been shot and

burned. The bottle of fuel is still there. Further inside this compound,

another grim discovery. A trail of blood from the kitchen. At least

two people seem to have been killed here. Their bodies dragged away.

The floor is still littered with bullet casings. And around the back,

even more bodies. A woman, completely chart... In her

bed. The soldier with a says hundreds of men came across these

fields. He says they were from the Nusra Front, an Islamist group the

BBC interviewed this week. They denied killing civilians. All sides

do. Others in the village gave us the same account in front of the

soldiers to surround us. One person manage to speak to us of camera,

out of their earshot. She told us the army was there that day, that

some had apologised, saying others were acting without orders.

Activists say this was the work of pro-government militia known as

shibiha. Some day we will know who did this. A war crime happened here.

Coming up on tonight's programme: Could vicious rivalry be why

Moscow's star of the Bolshoi Ballet is now in hospital, the victim of

China's leaders have revealed that the country's economy is growing at

its slowest rate for more than a decade. From more than 11% six

years ago, annual growth has fallen below 8%. That is still a figure to

be envied by most nations. But China is struggling to modernise

its economy and develop new, high- tech industries.

Through the grime, the sun barely shines, the tower blocks, shadows.

This is industrial Wuhan on the banks of the Yangtze. Chairman Mao

built its giant iron and steel works, one of the biggest in the

world, which employs 80,000 people. As China boom, so did this business

but now China is slowing and Wuhan is struggling to make a profit. The

slowdown in the economy means there is too much steel and iron being

produced. As a giant state-owned enterprise, Wuhan has been told to

cut production but is not allowed to cut large numbers of jobs to

save money. It is China's dilemma. Giant state firms still dominate

parts of the economy. Many are inefficient but where will new jobs

come from? TRANSLATION: It is light deep

winter for the whole of the steel industry. It may last another five

years. To get through, we need to reform and diversify. Despite the

problems at its biggest employer, Wuhan is one of the fastest-growing

parts of China. Construction, everywhere you turn. China's new

leaders know the building spree cannot last for ever. The whole

economy needs reform. So to replace the grimy old ways, they are

encouraging spotless new industries. Innovation and high technology are

what Wuhan now craves. Here they make screens for mobile phones.

Hire skilled, higher-paying jobs, what China wants its future to look

like -- high skilled. In the past, China is succeeded by producing on

a massive scale. Low-quality but low cost. We are losing that

advantage. In the coming tenure is, we have got to change. -- in the

coming ten years. That means China's new consumers becoming a

mainstay of the economy. Imports, not exports. That should be good

news for Western brands looking for new markets. We are expecting

Chinese imports of goods from the rest of the world will be two

trillion dollars. Rising income should mean rising spending as

China grows his middle classes. The Prime Minister is set to warn

that the UK risks leaving the European Union unless there is

reform in the EU. David Cameron was due to give a long-awaited speech

on the UK's relationship with Europe today, setting out a

positive vision for the future of the EU, but had to postpone it to

respond to the Algerian hostage crisis. Vicki Young is in

Westminster. The speech has been postponed but some extracts of what

David Cameron was going to say have been released.

Yes, and his argument was going to be that he wants the UK to play an

active role in the EU but only if it changes its ways. He would look

at prosperity, say the EU needs less regulation, but also the issue

of unpopularity, not just in Britain. He think citizens feel

that EU institutions are too remote, too expensive and not

democratically accountable. His warning is that the danger is that

Europe will fail and British people will drift towards the exit. No

details on the referendum. Many Tories are pleased he is addressing

the threat from UKIP but Labour are warning that these years of

uncertainty are bad for Britain. The artistic director of the

Bolshoi Ballet in Russia has suffered severe burns after a man

threw acid in his face. Sergei Filin was attacked outside his home

in Moscow late last night. His colleagues say there is little

doubt the incident is linked to vicious rivalries within the ballet

community, as Steven Rosenberg reports from Moscow.

He was a big start at the Bolshoi Ballet. Sergei Filin graced the

famous stage but 20 years, eventually becoming the Bolshoi

Ballet's artistic director. Now he has become the target of horrific

attack. Today, a Russian TV showed Sergei Filin in hospital. A man

came up to me, he says. He threw something into my face. It was an

acid attack. Doctors are fighting to save his eyesight. The incident

happened late last night, as Sergei Filin was arriving home. Police

have recovered the job that contains the acid. They are now

hunting for the attacker. At the Bolshoi Ballet today, a deep sense

of shock. It is impossible. I cannot believe. I don't understand

how it is possible. It is...! why was he targeted? One theory put

forward by the Bolshoi is that Sergei Filin had made enemies in

his role as artistic director. puts this person to play this role.

That means that some other girl cannot play this role. Every day he

takes a decision which are not pleasant to everybody. It is normal

in theatre world. But it is not normal that the reaction is light

that. Today the Bolshoi Ballet revealed that Sergei Filin had

recently expressed concern over growing intimidation. His car tyres

had been slashed. He suffered a cyber attack. Now he has suffered a

physical attack, which are sent shockwaves through the world of

Russian culture. -- which have sent shockwaves.

Archaeologists hunting for World War II Spitfires in Burma say they

now believe there are no planes buried at the sites where they have

been digging. The team says the evidence does not support the

original claim that as many as 124 Spitfires were buried there at the

end of the war. But the project leader insists they are looking in

the wrong place and he remains convinced Spitfires are buried in

Burma. Senior figures in the world of

cycling have criticised Lance Armstrong's appearance on the Oprah

Winfrey Show last night, where he confessed to using performance

enhancing drugs after years of angry denials. In the interview he

claimed that using drugs was part of the job, like having air in his

tyres. Lance Armstrong, champion, icon,

campaigner and now, in a confession televised around the world, liar.

For more than a decade, he denied using banned drugs. Finally today,

he told Oprah Winfrey the truth. This is too late. It is too late

for probably most people. And that is my fault. You know, I view this

situation as one big lie. That I repeated a lot of times. Armstrong

turned the Tour de France into a one-man show, winning seven

consecutive titles. We now know every one of them was achieved with

the help of EPO, testosterone and blood doping. This is my body. And

I can do whatever I want to it. Even as suspicions grew, he went on

the attack, a bracingly denying and bullying those who doubted the

Armstrong fairy-tales. Everybody wants to know what I am on. What am

I on? I am on my bike. It is a major flaw. It is a guy who

expected to get whatever he wanted and to control every outcome. And

it is inexcusable. When I say there are people that will hear this that

will never forgive me, I understand that. As ever with Lance Armstrong,

this interview was a carefully calculated strategy, the first step

on a personal journey to redemption, but while he finally admitted his

guilt, he showed few genuine signs of remorse, refused to name names

and left a lot of important questions unanswered. He has

already been stripped of these, his prized yellow jerseys. But his

confession now leaves him vulnerable to perjury charges and

multi-million-dollar lawsuits. And what of cycling's governing body?

They stand accused of failing to tackle the culture of doping and

bungling the ongoing review into the Armstrong affair. Some BO

believe that France should look beyond the crisis. -- some though.

Every big expected him to tell the truth but we have to remember that

is one man, it is not the whole sport -- everybody expected him.

The huge majority of cyclists are clean. Thanks to Armstrong, many

will find that hard to believe and until cycling shows it is prepared

to tackle its toxic past, there will still be doubts about its