18/12/2011 BBC Weekend News

Tributes to Vaclav Havel, the man who led the revolution against

communism in Czechoslovakia. Following his death, aged 75, David

Cameron says Europe owes him a profound debt.

The biggest reforms of the banking system in a generation get the

Government's seal of approval. The US completes its pull out from

Iraq as the last convoy of troops leaves.

And Manchester United back on top of the Premier League with a win at

Good afternoon. Vaclav Havel, a leading figure in the fall of

communism, has died. A playwright and dissident, he led

Czechoslovakia's so-called Velvet Revolution of 1989, becoming the

country's first post-communist President, overseeing its

transition to democracy and freedom. David Cameron said Europe owed him

a profound debt. Our World Affairs Editor, John Simpson, looks at his

life and achievements. Vaclav Havel didn't like pomp and

ceremony. He didn't even like wearing a suit. But he was head and

shoulders above most political leaders in terms of intellect. He

was small, jolly and mildly subversive. He always seemed amazed

by the company he kept as President. The revolution in Czechoslovakia in

November, 1989, would have happened without him communism simply

collapsed under the vast weight of public disapproval. What Havel

brought to it was a powerful moral force, everything from now on would

have to be done according to the law. He was elected President, a

political prisoner Hawicked into power with scarcely a pause along

the way, he said afterwards. At his inauguration in Prague Cathedral,

he said he never felt so absurd. During the Prague spring of 1967-

68 when liberal communists were allowed far greater freedom, Havel

first became known internationally. The BBC's Joankm bakewell went to

interview him. The inspiration came of course from my experience in our

country -- Joan Bakewell. Soviet tanks smashed the Prague

spring, hoff halve oof's work was banned and he was jailed -- Havel.

The secret police were harassing him when I went to see him in 1983.

He was led off by them and it was impossible to think he'd be

President in six years. It wasn't always to be a happy time.

Under him, the Czechs and Slovaks split and he became President of

the Czech Republic only. He was far more important as a

dissident than a President and we often forget that plays are very

often subversive. Kolskaya -- great man, a mayor torious man,

we'll all miss him. May he rest in peace.

People in Prague have already begun showing their feelings for him.

Czechs had a real affection for their witty, unassuming and

courageous President. Plans to shake-up the City of

London and bring about the biggest reform of Britain's banks in a

generation have been accepted by the Government. The Business

Secretary, Vince Cable, has confirmed new regulations requiring

British banks to separate their risky investment operations from

their retail divisions will go ahead. Here is our business

correspondent, Joe Lynam. The Independent Commission on

Banking was set up to prevent a repeat of these scenes three years

ago, a financial crisis which drove the world into recession. Ahead of

the Government's official response tomorrow, the Business Secretary

said there would be no backslideing on reform. Our big banks were at

the very centre of the financial crisis, what the European calls

Anglo-Saxon financial capitalism. It needs reform. That's why

tomorrow the Government is going to launch this initiative on the banks,

accepting in full the Vickers Commission. Last September's report

recommended far more competition between banks on the high street

and account holders should be able to switch banks easier as well. The

most controversial change is the partial separation or ringfencing

of ordinary banking from riskier investment banking. Labour says the

reforms may not go far enough. have said that the potential

referral to the Competition Commission should be considered in

2013, bringing that forward from the 2015 date that's been suggested

by the commission. Competition is one of the main protection meck

schisms we have to ensure that the potential extra costs imposed on

the banks by the recommendations are not passed on to borrowers --

mechanisms. The banks got plenty of support from London's Mayor today.

The glistening temples you can see behind you in Canary Wharf, they

produce �53 billion quid's worth of tax. What do you want to see on the

banking regulation? Don't kill the goos. A lot of people here have

spent a lot of time and money over summer trying to water down the

impact of the Vickers Report and they have succeeded in delaying at

least the impoliticianation until 2019, but make no mistake,

wholesale and fundamental change to the way banks are set up and

structured is on its way. That change will be painful to everyone

in Britain, including the banks, but will hopefully consign these

scenes to documentarys and the history books.

Nearly nine years since the invasion which toppled Saddam

Hussein, the last US troops to leave Iraq arrived in neighbouring

Kuwait early this morning. It brings to an end a campaign in

which nearly 4,500 US troops and tens of thousands of Iraqis died.

Our Middle East correspondent Jim Muir sent this report from Baghdad.

They rolled down through southern Iraq in the night. The last few

hundred American troops making their way home over land through

Kuwait. Even now on their way out, they couldn't be sure they wouldn't

be attacked. So as they arrived at the border, the main feeling was

one of sheer relief. Feeling good. I'm happy! Oh, yeah, baby, woo!

This was the very end of a campaign that once saw 170,000 American

troops spread all over Iraq. After crossing the border into Kuwait,

they were taken to a big US military base named Camp Virginia,

just starting to come to terms with the fact that it really is all over.

These troops are reposturing from Iraq, signifying the end of

Operation New Dawn and the beginning of the next step in the

future for the country of Iraq. In fact, even as the last soldiers

crossed the border, the Government back in Baghdad was plunging deep

into crisis. The political block representing

most of the Sunnis pulled out of Parliament. The key challenge is to

maintain the political consensus that created the new Iraq, the new

regime after 2003. Especially the relations between the three key

communities that have built this. Back at camp Virginia, Iraqi

political crises and all the bombs and bullets are now a thing of the

past. For most of them, it's back to

America with any luck in time for Christmas with the family.

really truly were the last soldiers in Iraq so it's pretty awesome.

Iraq, a new chapter is already beginning, but for the Americans,

the military adventure in Iraq is over.

The death toll from floods caused by a tropical storm in the

Philippines has risen to over 650. Coastal communities on the island

of Mindanao has been devastated. As the floodwaters recede, the full

extent of the damage is becoming clear. Some of the more fortunate

survivors began returning to what was left of their homes, searching

through whatever mud covered belongings could be saved.

We'll start from scratch, this man says, we thought we were going to

die. Look, this is how we escaped. The corner of that roof. That's how

we got out of the house. In other places, entire villages have been

washed away. The Government's mounted a massive rescue and clear-

up operation, involving some 20,000 members of the Armed Forces, rescue

workers scouring the coastline looking for people who may have

been swept out to sea and survived. We sent all the available Armed

Forces to help. In fact, we charted helicopters yesterday. That's why

we have three helicopters here assisting us. But hundreds of

people are still missing. One official said he suspected that in

some cases, entire families had been swept away. Bodies are

beginning to pile up in the morgues uncollected, increasing the risk of

waterborne diseases spreading through the affected areas.

Tropical storm Washi has now passed over Mindanao island, but leaves

behind it tens of thousands of people dependent on the Government

or aid agencies for food and shelter and struggling to rebuild

their lives. In a third day of violence, protesters have clashed

with Security Forces in Egypt. The skirmishes focused on the

Parliament building in Cairo. At least ten people have been killed

in the unrest. Activists claim most killed were shot by military police.

A man in his 30s has fallen 500 feet to his death whilst walking in

Snowdonia. The incident happened yesterday afternoon when he joined

two other climbers as they headed down from the summit. It's believed

the group mistook a snowy ridge for solid ground when it gave way and

the man was swept away by an avalanche.

Prince Harry has helped police with an investigation after hearing a

friend being mugged while he spoke to him on his mobile phone in South

London. The prince searched for Thomas van Straubenzee in Battersea

after hearing the alleged robbery on 30th November. He found his

friend at the local police station where he was giving a statement. A

man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Dozens of people are missing, feared drowned, after an oil rig

sank in the Russian Far East. It was being toed 125 miles off

Sakhalin Island when it capsized. 14 people have been rescued. Daniel

Sandford is in Moscow for us. What can you tell us? There were 67

people on board the rig, being towed in atrocious weather. There

was force seven gales blowing, the waves reaching six metres, it was

minus 17 and perhaps most importantly of all, the sea

temperature was just one degree above zero. It seems like one of

the huge waves broke through the port holes of the dining room on

the rig and started to fill up with water and imbalance and tip over.

Within 20 minutes it sank, throwing most of the people into the water

or sinking with them inside. There were people waiting for helicopters

to evacuate them when the rig sank and only 14 people have been

rescued so far. Four bodies have been found floating in the water,

but the other 49 people, the worst is feared for them really because

surviving in sea temperatures of just above zero is almost

impossible and the rescue was abandoned overnight. When it starts

before dawn, it will probably be a search for bodies, rather than for

anyone who survived. Let's get a look at the day's sport

now with Sally. Thank you very much. The fight to

be league leaders took another interesting turn at lunch time as

Manchester United returned to the top of the table after an easy 2-0

win over QPR at Loftus Road. Wayne Rooney scored the opener after just

52 seconds. Andy Swiss reports. When you are up against the

champions, what you really need is a calm nerve settling start. Not

this. Queens Park Rangers had never beaten Manchester United in the

Premier League and their hopes today lasted precisely 52 seconds.

Wayne Rooney getting United off to the ultimate flying start. The only

question now seemed how many. Johnny Evans denied by the cross

bar, Phil Jones by the keeper. QPR were scrambling to stay in it and

at the other end, heling son briefly threatened to equalise.

After the break, this, from inside his own half, Carrick picked up the

ball and never looked back. A direct approach and equally direct

finish -- Helguson. It was his first goal for almost

two years and United might have had more. Jones gave the QPR woodwork a

further examination, but for his team and manager, a very satisfying

afternoon's work. Manchester City are playing Arsenal

at the moment and have the chance to return to the top of the Premier

League with just a draw. There have been a number of chances, including

this one but it's currently goalless into the second half.

Liverpool beat Aston Villa 2-0 to go up to sixth, Spurs beat

Sunderland 1-0. There was only one game in the SPL, Celtic were away

to St Johnston and beat them 2-0, both goals coming in the second

half, taking them within four points of the leaders Rangers. Yet

more success for British golfers as Ian Poulter clinched the Australian

Masters and Lee Westwood will end the year on a high, replacing Rory

McIlroy as world number two after victory in the Thailand Open

finished seven shots clear. Carl Froch is devastated after losing

his WBC Super Middleweight title to Andre Ward this morning. He spent

two years getting to the final of the Super Six tournament but was on

the back foot from the off. His opponent took the fight on the

unanimous points decision. Ward, the current WBA champion, has now