20/11/2011 BBC Weekend News

Fresh clashes erupt in the Egyptian capital of Cairo as security forces

tried to get protesters off the streets. At least two people have

been killed as anger rises about the slow pace of reform. We did not

expect that we would return to the same place we were in January. We

are fighting against the same regime. Nothing changed.

A more protests in Syria, but President Assad flowers to continue

the crackdown on opponents of his regime. -- swears to continue.

The Government warns that there concessions could be withdrawn if

the public sector strike continues. Good evening. Violent clashes have

been continuing in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, as the police and

army try to evict thousands of people from Tahrir Square. At least

two people were killed today as demonstrators protested at what

they see as the slow pace of change since the overthrow of President

Mubarak in February. Our correspondent has spent the day in

and around Tahrir Square and sense in this report.

They are already calling it the second revolution. These Egyptians

have lost patience with the military rulers that took over from

Hosni Mubarak. So it is back to a battle for the streets. Fora day

and a half, the police have been firing volley after volley of tear

gas, sending the protesters scurrying for cover. But time and

again the demonstrators regained their ground. This is the front

line. The police are over there protecting the Interior Ministry

and the protesters are battling it out. The air is thick with tear gas.

We thought we had seen an end of this. But this crowd is as angry as

I have seen them here in Egypt. From the front line, a fleet of

motorcycles rushed the injured straight into a makeshift field

hospital. Amidst the chaos, they are treating suffocation from tear

gas and gunshot wounds. The same doctors in the same space as they

used when they were fighting Hosni Mubarak's fighters. We were so

proud of our revolution. We did not expect we would return to the same

place we were in January. We are fighting against the same regime.

Nothing changed. All the time, the crowds were flooding back into

Tahrir Square. They are re- establishing the old regime and we

don't want the old regime. We don't want Hosni Mubarak. We did the

revolution and we are continuing it. Then late in the day, the army came

to reinforce the police. They moved back into Tahrir Square, taking

control, sometimes brutally. In one corner, protesters and knelt to

pray, gesture of defiance that the soldiers respected. By nightfall,

the square was almost empty. This is a dangerous moment for the army.

In direct conflict, the revolution they vowed to protect. Many

Egyptians still support them, but certainly not the thousands still

fighting tonight for control of the centre of Cairo. How is it looking

now in Tahrir Square? The situation now is that the protesters have

taken control yet again of Tahrir Square, despite the best efforts of

the police and the army to move them out of here. This poses some

big problems for the military rulers. Firstly, can the elections

go ahead on November 28th as planned? Parliamentary elections.

Both opposition rulers and the Muslim brother for a say they want

that to happen but can they allow that to happen? -- Muslim

Brotherhood. Most people support the army, but they have alienated

many members of society here, including the Muslim Brotherhood

and many liberal members. You have to wonder where this will end.

Thank you. In Syria, President al-Assad has

said that he will not bowed to international pressure to end the

crackdown against anti-government protesters there. The Arab League

has been trying to end the violence. They have refused to accept Syrian

changes to proposals to send in monitors.

Damascus yesterday. I unverified video, apparently showing anti-

Government protesters being shot by security forces. But military

action is justified, according to the Syrian President, because he

says they are fighting an armed rebellion. We are not talking about

peaceful demonstrations. They are militants. Whenever you have

militants, you have killing. The role of the Government is to fight

militants in order to restore the stability and to protect this to

billions. -- the civilians. There is an insurgency under way in Syria,

as demonstrated in this amateur video. It claims to show a military

vehicle being destroyed by rebel fighters in the city of Homs last

week. Soldiers running for their lives. Again, we cannot

independently verified this. Very few foreign journalists are allowed

into the country. With the situation deteriorating, Arab

leaders are still trying to persuade the Syrian Government to

pull its military forces out of the main towns and cities, and to allow

in foreign observers. But their latest deadline has again been

ignored by Damascus. TRANSLATION: The situation requires slow and

steady discussion. Not over- reaction and Tahseen us. -- and

being hasty. As anti-government protesters take to the streets,

every day there is more violence. These demonstrators in Homs are

coming under a withering barrage of fire on Friday. Already, according

to the United Nations, at least 3500 people have been killed.

The transitional Government in Libya says that Colonel Gaddafi's

son Saif Al-Islam has been taken to a secure place to begin the process

of interrogation. He was captured on Friday and is thought to be held

in Zintan. Our correspondent is there. What can you tell us? This

is a town in the western mountains. Militia men here captured Saif Al-

Islam. Nobody is saying where he is being held but we are told that he

is here in a private home, being carefully guarded. I have also been

told that Saif Al-Islam has asked for shaving foam so that he can

shave off the beard that he group while he was on the run for so long.

And he has asked for a mobile phone, which has not been granted. The

request for shaving foam has been. The commander of the brigade that

captured her and said that when Saif Al-Islam was taken, he acted

in a manner that implied he was in control. But he did show some fear.

He apparently asked the commander to shoot him dead. The commander

said that he refused. They are well aware here of how they will be

judged in their treatment of Saif Al-Islam Al Gaddafi and we are

hearing that prosecutors should start interrogating and questioning

him tonight. Thank you. The Cabinet Office

minister has suggested that the Government could withdraw its

latest engine offer if millions of public sector workers go on strike

as planned on November 30th. -- latest pension offer. Unions say

that big Government is not negotiating properly and until that

changes, the strikes will go ahead. The country's biggest unions, with

millions of members, have voted to strike, and civil servants,

teachers and NHS workers are set to join the walk out at the end of the

month, in protest against plans to changes to public sector pensions.

The Cabinet Office minister was asked if offers would be withdrawn

if the strike goes ahead. Absolutely. We have made that clear.

This offer is not unconditional and we will have the ability to

withdraw it. We will protect lower- paid people and be fairer.

private the Government has accepted that this strike will go ahead. It

is further industrial action that could derail a deal. Government

sources stressed that a walk out on November 30th will not mean that

the latest engine offer will be taken off the table. Discussions

will continue but not indefinitely. Ministers want an agreement reached

by the end of the year. So what is the offer? A particular sticking

point is that public sector employees would have to pay more

for their pensions. The Government would also contribute more as well.

Those under 50 would have to work longer before they received their

pension. Those within 10 years of retirement would receive the same

pension that they are currently two to get. It is this final part of

the deal that the Government may revise in the first -- in the event

of more strikes. I don't think it is helpful to ratchet up the

rhetoric and threaten to withdraw things. We need to sit down and

resolve the issues. The two side have been sitting down for a year

without a breakthrough. In 10 days' time we are likely to see the

biggest strike for regeneration. -- a generation.

A group of Church of England bishops has called on the

Government to take another look at plans to cap welfare benefits at

�500 a week. In a letter to the Observer 18 Bishops, including the

Bishop of London, warned the reforms could drive more children

into poverty, particularly those in large families. The plans are due

to be debated in the House of Lords tomorrow. The Government says there

are no plans to alter the cap. Three police officers who were

stabbed in north-west London yesterday as they tried to arrest a

man have undergone surgery. The three constables, along with

another officer, were attacked by a man wielding a 12 inch knife

outside a butchers in Kingsbury. A 32-year-old man is being held on

suspicion of attempted murder. Voting's been taking place in Spain

today for national elections that are widely expected to result in

the ruling Socialist party being ousted. The vote comes after a week

that's seen Spain's borrowing costs reach record levels amid growing

concern about the state of its economy. Our Europe Editor Gavin

Hewitt is in Madrid for us this evening. How certain is this result

looking? Well, I am outside the People's Party headquarters. You

can probably hear the microphones being tested. Some people have

already gathered here. Within that centre-right party they expect to

emerge as the winners tonight. The party is led by Mariana rejoice.

They believe that this street will be full of people celebrating for a

party that promised during the election serious and profound

austerity cuts. Spain, in recent days, has become part of the centre

of the eurozone crisis with its borrowing costs nearing 7%. The

markets will be looking very closely at the result here tonight

and whether the new Government really has a convincing plan to

bring down Spanish debt. Thank you. That takes us to the sport.

Mid-evening. We start with the latest news from the Barclays

Premier League. -- good evening. Liverpool have beaten Chelsea at

Stamford Bridge. Liverpool are now level on points with the Londoners.

Liverpool and Chelsea have lofty dreams and deep pockets, but

niggling seasons so far. Chelsea stumbled in the first half. John

Obi Mikel controlled the ball as though we had fallen out of bed.

Maxi Rodriguez finished, child's Play. Early in the second half, the

Liverpool defence were guilty of slumbering on the job. Florent

Malouda crossed to Daniel Sturridge, on as a substitute. He may have

been born in Birmingham, but he thinks he can samba. Liverpool

could have fallen behind one minute later if it had not been for the

brilliance of their goalkeeper, Pepe Reina. Then a former Chelsea

player, Glen Johnson, won the game. First Ashley Cole was not met. Then

the right back finished like a centre forward. John Terry was left

howling. For Chelsea, the unusual pain of back to black Premier

League defeats at home and Liverpool climb to six. -- back to

back. Roger Federer has won the opening

match of the ATP World Tour finals at the O2 Arena in London. The

defending champion is aiming for a record sixth win at the event,

which features the top eight players in the world. Today he beat

Jo Wilfreid Tsonga in three sets. Rafael Nadal plays Mardy Fish later

this evening, while Andy Murray is in action tomorrow.

Rugby union now and the Heineken Cup holders Leinster are top of

their group after an easy win against Glasgow Warriors. Leinster

had already ensured a bonus point win by half time and Isaac Boss

rounded off an impressive performance scoring in injury time.

38-13 the final score. They now face back-to-back games against

Bath in December. And those opponents Bath lie second

in the group after a 16 points to 13 win over Montpellier. David