02/02/2013 BBC Weekend News

Good evening. Conservative MPs have criticised David Cameron for ruling

out tax breaks for married couples in the Budget next month. There

were reports that the measure would be brought forward to placate

backbenchers opposed to the introduction of same-sex marriage

in England and Wales. That will be voted on next week. Political

correspondent Carole Walker has more.

The Prime Minister believes marriage helps to bind families and

communities together, but his plan to extend it to gay couples is

proving hugely divisive for his party. Many opponents of the idea

of wanting to do more to support traditional marriages and are

disappointed that a commitment to introduce tax breaks for married

couples will not be delivered in the coming Budget. On Tuesday, when

the vote comes forward for the redefinition of marriage, I would

rather be voting for a tax measure to put extra money in the pockets

of those who need it most, rather than voting for something that was

not in the manifesto, which is a redefinition of marriage. It is not

the priority, the economy is the priority. Edmond Costello resigned

as chairman of Somerset and from Conservatives over the issue last

month and has warned that others will follow suit. What to me is

being proposed is something that the Conservative Party would never

have considered in years gone by. And indeed the feeling within the

party, its grass roots and amongst many MPs and officers, it has not

changed, I think. They are very, very upset. Some in his party

believed David Cameron is being swayed by another relationship,

with his coalition partner. Nick Clegg opposes the idea of tax

breaks for marriage, but sources say the Prime Minister will deliver

that pledge later in this Parliament and believes gay people

should have the same rights as others to get married. If we can

deliver a bill which allows people who love each other are the same

sex to get married whilst protecting the freedoms of

religious organisations, it is a good thing to do and there is room

in the timetable for it. When the legislation to allow gay couples to

marry comes before Parliament on Tuesday, David Cameron is likely to

win the day with the support of most Labour and Liberal Democrat

MPs, but dozens in his own party are poised to vote against the

proposals or abstain. It is a free vote, so technically it will not be

a rebellion, but it could further undermine his authority over his

party. The French President, Francois

Hollande, has received an enthusiastic welcome in Timbuktu.

French troops helped recapture the northern Mali town from Islamist

militants six days ago, but Mr Hollande warned it would be wrong

to assume that the conflict against the militants was over. Africa

correspondent Andrew Harding has Quite a convoy, for the French

president arriving here in Timbuktu this morning. First stop, the

ancient mosque. Local dignitaries lined up to thank the man whose

Army liberated their town from months of brutal occupation. Then

it is the public's turn. Hollande, they shout, President Francois

Hollande is our hero. Just one week ago, no dancing was allowed here,

no music. The Islamist militants forced women to clothe all but

their eyes in black. Look at them now. Aren't I beautiful? This woman

asks. Before, we had to do this. We are free, we are proud of France.

It has been an emotional day in his desert town. Mr Hollande plunged

into the crowds. The war has been good for his ratings back home, but

there are risks ahead here in Mali. The French campaign here has been

quick, successful and wildly popular, but for President Hollande

this could be as good as it gets. He now needs an exit strategy. A

penis handles that, Mali could be plunged back into chaos. -- if he

miss handles that. Today Mr Hollande tried to strike a

balance. He told his troops their job was not yet done, but he also

urged Mali and its neighbours to step up and take a much bigger role.

The Islamist militants have withdrawn for now, but this remains

a dangerously fragile nation. A postmortem examination on a 16-

year-old girl was murdered in Blackpool has found she died as a

result of significant stab wounds. Sasha Marsden was found in an

alleyway in the South Shore area on Thursday. Police are questioning a

22-year-old man, as Ben Ando reports.

The alarm was raised when flames were spotted in an alleyway behind

a row of hotels and guest houses just off Blackpool's well-known

seafront. When residents had put out the fire, they realised they

had found a body and call the police. The victim was identified

as 16-year-old Sasha Marsden, who was studying childcare at a local

college. A specialist crime scene investigators continue their work

at the scene, a postmortem examination has revealed that she

died as a result of serious stab wounds to her head and fees. Police

said today that attempts were made to set the body on fire and this

was after she died. The results have been shared with the family,

and specially trained officers are continuing to support them. Shortly

after the body was found, a man aged 22 and a woman of 20 were

arrested nearby. The woman has now been released without charge, while

detectives have been given more A quarter of a million Twitter

users have had their accounts hacked in the latest high-profile

internet security breach. The social networking site is warning

users that e-mail addresses and other information could have been

accessed. Those affected will be sent an e-mail telling them to

change their password. Now to sport, rugby union's Six

Nations is under way with Wales losing at home to Ireland in a

hard-fought opening match, one at Twickenham there were plenty of

tries as England beat Scotland. Sports correspondent Joe Wilson is

there now. We know the Six Nations is about

commitment and passion, all those lovely traditional rivalries. It

does not always translate into thrilling rugby, but today we got

some great action. At Twickenham, England beat Scotland 38-18, but

even more so in Cardiff where Wales scored 22 points and lost.

From champions in 2012 to wear for Wales? The journey can be rapid

from hero to zero, and all it took four Ireland was to get the ball to

Simon Zebo. Wales were 20 points down at half-time, and it got worse

for them. This may be the last Six Nations for Brian O'Driscoll. He

remains the king of being in the right place at the right time, his

46th Ireland try meant Wales needed something extraordinary. There was

a glimmer when Alex Scott put burst through, nothing for it but to

throw the dice. -- Alex Cuthbert. The touchdown was good, 30-15 was

the score. Then it was all Wales, short range lunch, try given. Wales

took some pride in the fight but and nothing in another defeat. And

so to Twickenham, where Scotland were trying to defy England and

history. Decades passed between Scottish wins here, and in the

current era Scottish reason they lost to Tonga, but there is a new

coach and new talent, like Sean Maitland. -- recently. England kept

their fluency. After 30 minutes, Ashton squeezed over, England ahead

by eight at half-time. And here came an England debutant, a man

named 12 trees, and no crashing to earth. England turned on the style,

a floating pass was perfection, victory and a flying start.

Well, England definitely enhance their reputation here, so are they