24/02/2012 World News Today

This is BBC World News today with me, Zeinab Badawi. Crisis talks on

Syria deliver a stern warning to the Government to implement a

ceasefire or face sanctions. Despite the absence of Russia and

China, Britain says progress has been made. A real determination to

tighten a diplomatic and economic stranglehold on the regime. The is

the Syrian government beginning to listen? The Red Cross says it is

negotiating in the City of Homs to evacuate the wounded.

More protests in Afghanistan and Pakistan against the burning of the

Koran at a US military base in Afghanistan. Will the anger

subside? The UN's nuclear watchdog says Iran

is increasing its Iranian -- uranium enrichment programme. Also

coming up, it is that time of year again. Hollywood's big weekend

starts now. We take a look at the foreign films that might be taking

home an Oscar. And how this South African music

legend boosted school attendance by returning at 60 years of age to

finish is studying. -- finish his studying.

Urgent talks aimed at stopping the violence in Syria have been taking

place in Tunisia. The International Conference has called on the Syrian

government forces to introduce a ceasefire immediately and allow aid

in or face a range of new sanctions. A official declaration is expected

shortly. -- an official declaration. In the last half-hour it has been

said that the Red Cross has been associating with the authorities

and opposition to evacuate those of urgent need of assistance in Homs.

There are reports that the evacuation has begun.

Baba Amr in Homs today where Syrians are being shelled by their

own government. On one street, people gather to send a message to

the conference in Tunisia to intervene. "Help us, militarily or

not a tall,'s says one banner. And more footage. Jubilant opposition

fighters with remnants of an armoured vehicle they say they

destroy it. They won the outside world to arm them. At the

conference in Tunis, the array of foreign ministers opposed to

President Assad is impressive yet even powerful countries like the

United States have to admit that they are helpless to stop the

violence. The problem is, who is not in the Conference Room. Russia

and China refused to come, and without any allies of President

Assad, there is no way to getting to agree to a ceasefire. Outside, a

small, noisy protest of pro President Assad demonstrators

briefly disrupted proceedings, a reminder that not everyone is

against the Syrian President. Ever since Russia and China blocked a UN

presence -- UN resolution criticising Syria, the outside

world has been split. Until that changes, giving authority to do

anything in Syria will be very difficult. We have now reached the

point where this is clearly a criminal regime. Yes, of course,

all our efforts so far, but the Security Council, trying to agree a

resolution, based on the Arab League plan, involving a cessation

of violence, those efforts have been frustrated by Russia and China.

To tackle the violence in Syria there are no easy options. Any

ceasefire would need President Assad's consent, calling for

humanitarian corridor as is also tricky. They would need armed

protection. On the opposition could also be dangerous. It might just

make the bloodshed worse. -- arming of the opposition.

Meanwhile, it is a waiting game. As far as humanitarian aid goes, all

the conference can do is prepare for a future when Syria's Borders

will not be closed, by stockpiling a day in neighbouring countries and

keeping up the diplomatic pressure. -- stockpiling aid.

A spokesman for the Syrian National Council joins us now. The SNC chief

has said that the conference does not meet the aspirations of the

serene people. Why? We are looking for military support for the Syrian

people. We are calling for the international community to impose a

safe zone and a humanitarian corridor. There is no action, there

is no implementation, and there is no mechanism to put this idea on

the ground. This is why the Saudi minister of foreign affairs even

was upset by the outcome of the conference. This is the first time

you see that the Arab League is in advance of the international

community, in advance of the United States and Europe. The Arab League

is appealing for the international community to intervene and help us

here. You can see... If I can get some clarification from year, to

intervene and help the Syrian people. What kind of intervention

are you talking about? -- clarification from you. We are very

clear. We need to impose a limited no-fly zone above the designated

safe zone areas. At the same time, if the situation continues, the

international community has the right to create a humanitarian

corridor as and seek assistance for the cities in need. Light in Lech -

- Homs and other areas. We need to prevent civilians by all necessary

means. This is something the international community asked to

respond to. Can I ask you, have you been calling at the conference for

the Syrian National Council, before the opposition forces to be armed?

We are calling on the international community to help and support for

Free Syrian Army. The only forces on the ground to were helping the

Syrians and protecting against them -- against the militia is the Free

Syrian Army. But they have become the heroes of the Syrian people.

This is why we have to help them and support them by arming them and

helping them by communication, to help them to organise themselves to

be in better shape. We see photographs coming from Baba Amr,

and other areas, where we are right side and we cannot help our

brothers. The only force is the Free Syrian Army and this is why we

need to support them and are on them. A thank you for joining us.

We are also joined by Shashank Joshi, an associate fellow at the

Royal United Services Institute. On the matter of the Syrian National

Council, William Hague says that it is time for them to be officially

recognised as one of the main representatives of the Syrian

people. Will that happen soon? think it will. There is immense

fear or that the fragmentation in the opposition groups will sabotage

any chance of a political transition. In a way, it legitimate

its President Assad's claimed that he has done so much to advance that

there is no alternative to the dictatorship. One of the urgent

demands is that the SNC not only solidify is its own internal

divisions but that it also settles once-and-for-all the issue of who

is the legitimate representative of the Syrian people. The SNC has

competitors. Inside Syria, there are those who think that the SNC is

detached from the ground realities and any Western efforts to push the

SNC above other groups as the only legitimate organisation is quite

risky. Within ACAS also described the regime as a criminal one. We

have also seen Hillary Clinton talking about the Syrian National

Council, asking them what they stand for. -- William Hague has

also described. Could you legitimately describe them with

farms? There is more scepticism here. There is more scepticism

about the SNC then there was about the transitional council in Libya

last year. The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood is dormant in the SNC

and it is more or conservative and opaque than its counterpart in

Egypt, for example. There is concern over Sunni fundamentalists

to name be part of the general -- who may be part of the uprising.

Western governments are terrified that weapons provided will end up

in the arms of groups like Al-Qaeda in Iraq. Briefly, humanitarian

corridors. Apparently there are talks between the Red Cross and Red

Crescent, is that a sign that the regime is softening? It is a sign

that it is making tactical concessions to avoid pressure.

That you for talking to us. At least 12 people have been killed as

anti-American protests continue in Afghanistan over the burning of

Korans at a US base. That means that 80 Afghans and two American

soldiers have died in four days of process. There have been anti-US

demonstrations in Lahore, Karachi, the Shala and Islamabad in Pakistan.

Earlier, NATO's top commander appealed for calm and restraint.

As feared, protesters took to the streets after Friday prayers.

Denting their fury for a 4th day in a row. -- venting their fury. In

the city of Herat, religious leaders are accused of fanning the

flames and directing the violence. Police fired above four at

demonstrators who attacked a local Reconstruction Office, and tried to

reach the US consulate. There were protests around the country. In the

south-east, a NATO convoy went up in flames. That will please the

Taliban, who have been exploiting the Koran controversy, urging

Afghans to target NATO forces. General John Allen, NATO's taught

military commander, is trying to limit the fall-out. -- top military

commander. He made an emotional visit to a base where two US

visitors were killed by an Afghan colleague who sided with the

protesters. These other moments when you reach down inside and grip

the discipline that makes you a United States soldier. And you get

through the pain, and you get through the anger and you remember

why we're here. We're here for our friends. We're here for our

partners. We're here for the Afghan people. Among the Afghan people,

and the Afghan security forces, many are demanding tougher action

against the troops who burned their holy book.

I asked this army commander on duty in Kabul what should happen to

those responsible. The TRANSLATION: Hang them.

Trouble flared in the capital, too, with protests in several districts.

Security forces struggled to control their own streets. Then the

police did some burning of their own, taking down a white Taliban

flak and setting it alight. By nightfall, the death toll had risen

to a dozen. Having asked for forgiveness, NATO say they want to

move on. This has been another day of protest and another day of

bloodshed. Tonight, security forces around the country remain on alert.

So far, the angle on the streets has not been cooled by the

apologies from senior American military officials. Or from

President Obama himself. I've been talking to Martine Von

Balart from the Afghanistan analyst network based in Kabul, and she

told us she did not believe that the protests would gain momentum.

Today was probably going to be the worst day of all because it is a

Friday and it is the easiest to mobilise people, to get angry

crowds together. There was violence but there was also a lot of

restraint. The violence was limited to a few areas, and it actually

seems like it is somehow waning. If it continues like this, it will go

on for a few more days but it will probably not get much worse. NATO

is appealing for calm and saying to people, let's see what the

investigation yields. If anybody is found guilty of misconduct, it is

highly unlikely that any punitive action will be taken against them.

That is a problem. At the moment, people are letting themselves be

calmed down. By their leaders, by the Milans and by the Government.

People do expect punishment, because they think that some huge

mistake has been made and an insult has been done. That will strut the

motions, but it will probably not be as he did and will not have the

same spark when it comes together. On the whole, you do not believe

that this incident is really going to have a long lasting impact on

military operations by foreign forces in Afghanistan, it's not

going to intensify opposition to their presence? It will not be like

that directly but it is very much part of a gradual decline in trust.

People are really not sure why they are here and what their intentions

are. People find it difficult to believe that this was unintentional.

Are you surprised that after more than a decade of foreign troops in

Afghanistan, that they are not better attuned to the cultural and

religious sensibilities of the people there? You would have hoped

it would have been better after 10 years but watching how the

international community functions, I can understand how it happened.

The international community has been here for 10 years but they

have not accumulated the knowledge of 10 years. They seem to be

learning things over and over again. Or not learning it at all. It

The United Nations says the number of people displaced by fighting in

Mali has risen by almost 120,000. The fighting started last month

when it Tuareg fighters joined a group of rebels and attacked towns

and army bases. Doctors treating a member of the

Dutch royal family, Prince Johan Friso, say that she may never

regain consciousness following a skiing accident. He suffered

massive brain damage after being trapped in an avalanche last week.

He is the second son of Queen Beatrix.

A retired British businessman, Christopher Tappin, has been

extradited to the United States following a long legal battle. He

is accused of conspiring to sell missile parts to our land. He has

always insisted she was the victim of an American sting operation. --

And Iran has dramatically stepped up its efforts to produce higher

grade uranium enriched -- enriched uranium and has denied

investigators access to facilities. The conclusion will be seen

inevitably by many in the West as a defined move by Tehran and could

also increase alarm surrounding and an's nuclear ambitions. Joining me

now as a former or arms inspector who headed the United States search

for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Charles, this report says

around has boosted its capacity to enrich uranium which will fuel

worries it has a weapons programme in the making. This is bad news and

frankly surprising because they would have thought and Iran would

want to drag out the negotiations progress. What the IAEA is

reporting is that is not only boosting its programme to develop

enriched uranium but it has refused to answer any questions surrounding

alleged Westernisation programmes, that is, activities specifically

designed for weapons. By not allowing the agency access to the

facilities, the greatly add to the suspicion that in fact they have

taken the decision to build a nuclear weapon.

The IAEA report says it has increased the number of centrifuges

and is prepared to expand at uranium enrichment. It will be

harder for and now it to deny that it is trying to develop nuclear

weapons. That is correct. It also contributes to the problem of

timing. The amount of time between when Tehran it takes an unambiguous

action that shows it can build a nuclear weapon to the time where

they can actually build a nuclear weapon is getting very short. It is

called the breakout time. As a result of this, the Israelis and

the Americans are becoming more pressurised to do something before

it is too late. This news from that IAEA, is that likely to intensify

calls for a tougher stand on an? From an Israeli perspective,

certainly. The Israelis believe, and I would not they have

experience in building clandestine nuclear weapons, but they are and

have called for the United Nations to speak on this on 5th March. Are

they going to allow more time to see what happens with sanctions?

Apparently, the Iranians do not seem to be swayed by the sanctions

so far. Thank you for talking to us.

A high school in the South African township of Soweto has seen a 20%

rise in attendance since a famous jazz musician return to school.

Sipho 'Hotstix' Mabuse Plans to set his secondary school Certificate in

the coming months. He hopes to encourage youngsters from deprived

backgrounds not to abandon Among the biggest names in the

music business, Sipho 'Hotstix' Mabuse. One of South Africa's

proudest exports and the international jazz scene. For him

even now, practises a priority, but so too is making up for lost time.

Not everyone gets a welcome like this but still a novelty, he is

returning to the classroom and a country where 50% of youngsters do

about the school before the 18th. Many of the kids here are his

neighbours. There frequently were the way -- he was lured away by

jazz, at a time when education was second at -- segregated along

racial lines. If they were not out of bounds, they were deliberately

ensure that schools only teacher and Afrikaans.

Now back and spared the uniform along with other mature students,

exams are just around the corner. What has inspired this musician to

return? The answer? The sight of barefoot children taking themselves

to school. When I went to families of these children, I found that

they were so impoverished it was It was just one of those

experiences that I could not believe people could live like that.

The children were willing to go to school and that was encouraging.

you think that was an experience that made you think I am going to

do something? Absolutely. This 60- year-old may be an inspiration as

his school has seen a 20% increase in attendance since he arrived, but

there are still 1 million youngsters and South Africa who

have turned their backs and secondary education.

Education is one of the biggest hurdles in the new South Africa.

Despite a second chance for people like this, there is a younger

He is a good skipper at 60! In Los Angeles, preparations are under way

for Sunday night's Oscars ceremony. They principally on the English-

language pictures but one category is reserved for foreign language

films. A Belgian film is in the running.

It is a dark crime drama setting is the backdrop of the illegal animal

growth hormone crate. Israel's entry into the Foreign Language

Film category comes with a Footnote. It is a tale of father and son

scholars. For many foreign-language films, the nomination alone gives a

tremendous publicity boost to films which may have otherwise been

ignored. It creates more awareness and curiosity. It gives these were

the films a chance to stand out. The Holocaust has often been

nominated in the Oscars ceremony. Based on a real-life story, this

film chronicles the plight of a group of Jews in World War II: to

escape the Nazi is by a hiding in the sewers. Canada is up for an

Oscar with the French-language film set in a Montreal classroom, which

tells of an Algerian immigrant teacher whose children have been

nominated -- traumatised by the suicide of his predecessor. Los

Angeles is the home to the largest Iranian population in North America,

more than 600,000 according to one estimate. Oscars night is turning

into a very big event indeed for many in this community because for

the first time in 40 years, an Iranian film is up for an Oscar. It

is called a separation and it may well win. It explores the clash

between social classes and the religious and non-religious -- the

non-religious and conflict resolution in Tehran. An Oscar

trophy would be viewed as a reward that could really help the

country's besieged film-making community. I cannot make any

predictions. Whatever happens to this film will make the cinematic

community very happy. A separation is viewed as the dumb to beat and

is seen as the favourite to win the Academy Award. -- film.

Before we go, while we have been on air, the Red Cross in Syria say at

first Group of seven when the people have been evacuated from

Homs. That is all from us. Next, The last of our very mild air is

holding on across southern areas but it will slowly get squeezed

away as this cold front continues to move southwards. High pressure

builds from the West keeping most of our weather fronts at bay.

Saturday looks mostly nice. Some decent sunshine, particularly for

central and eastern areas. First Saturday morning, cloud comes in

from the south-west but we have the sunshine though it will be if

chilly start to the day. Temperatures recovering in the

sunshine. The winds will be lighter. Here, it is actually still feeling

pretty pleasant. South-eastern areas, highs of 13 Celsius, still

mild for the time of year. South- west England and parts of South

Wales will see the westerly wind continuing to feed in. Misty and

foggy conditions through Bristol and the Channel. Temperatures

slowly climbing into a high single digits. In Northern Ireland, after

a bright start, sky slowly cloud over from the West. Scotland are

still win the although perhaps not this promise today but it will