25/09/2014 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today, with me, Philippa Thomas.

The fight against Islamic State militants intensifies.

British politicians prepare to vote on joining air strikes over Iraq.

The latest US-led air strikes have hit 12 oil refineries that

are believed to generate about $2 million a day for the IS network.

Meanwhile, Iraq says it's uncovered an Islamic

State plot to attack the subway systems in Paris and the United

Also coming up, the worst of the war is over in

Ukraine according to its President Petro Poroshenko, who reveals

The American actor takes on many different faces as he recreates some

Hit them where it hurts, at the oil wells giving them cash.

Action against Islamic State fighters is gathering pace.

On the eve of the British Parliament being recalled to debate air strikes

on Iraq, France is openly considering extending

We'll look at the political situation in just a moment.

But first, let's get you right up-to-date on the last 24 hours

This is amateur video claiming to show the aftermath of US air

The Americans, along with jets from Saudi Arabia and the

United Arab Emirates, launched the strikes on 12 small-scale oil

These oil refineries produce roughly 300 to 500 barrels a day

and were targeted in order to damage the group's financial assets.

The US Department of Defence estimates the refineries have been

While in the northern Syria town of Kobane, Kurdish forces have

pushed back an advance by IS forces and are calling for

Also on Thursday, France carried out its first strikes

Now, as David Cameron prepares to ask the

UK Parliament to approve Britain's active military involvement,

our diplomatic correspondent James Robbins assesses what that

It's now seven weeks since the United States launched

its air strikes against IS extremists in Iraq, and almost

Britain has been more cautious after the deep divisions created the last

Now the tide of opinion apparently favours ordering these RAF Tornadoes

They flew from Norfolk to Cyprus back in August.

It only takes a political decision to switch them from

So what will Britain's part in strikes against IS

They will be carried out by those Tornadoes.

Six are based in Cyprus, armed with a variety of weapons to

These include Brimstone missiles used in Afghanistan and Paveway

Supporting them will be an RAF rivet joint, a successor to

Nimrod, providing electronic surveillance of the area.

Britain also has a small arsenal of Tomahawk cruise missiles.

A submarine with these on-board is believed to be in the Gulf already.

It adds up to a British military contribution which is a modest

by American standards, one they're certainly not relying

Obviously it's up to the British Government to decide

and characterise how they will support the coalition but they have

been already a huge supporter and we look forward to working with

Any capacity, any military capability that the British bring to

the fore, bring to the fight, is always welcome and always tangible.

For now, though, Pentagon maps show the main focus of Washington strikes

is in Syria, where neither Britain nor France is willing to attack.

So having Britain target extremists in Iraq could help Washington.

But a veteran British general warns destroying IS as a whole

And that, of course, brings us to the contentious subject

of ground forces - what sort of ground forces, whose ground forces?

And I accept there is great reluctance in this country

and arguably in the United States to go back to where we were.

Iran's President Rouhani used the UN stage today to condemn what he

IS extremism has brought Iran and the United States closer,

sharing an enemy, but still the pressure from Iran is for a regional

Let's bring you more now of those remarks James mentioned by Iran's

President Hassan Rouhani at the UN General Assembly, where he said

that it was blunders by Western governments that had led to the rise

Certain intelligence agencies have put blades in the hands

All those who have played a role in founding and supporting these terror

groups must acknowledge their errors, which have led to extremism.

They need to apologise not only to the past generations,

As British Parliamentarians prepare for that vote on military action

on Friday, with me is Sir Christopher Meyer, former British

Welcome. Good to see you. Do you think it will be a yes row at

Westminster? I do think it will be a yes Grove. All the pundits are

saying so. Apparently all three party leaders are agreed. There will

be some objections, I guess, from the Tory, Labour and Lib Dem

ventures. You will get the votes through and British planes will be

bombing over Iraq. Iraq. What about Syria? To me, it does not make any

sense to bomb ISIS in Iraq and not bomb them in Syria, because

effectively what you're saying to them is, you have a safe haven in

Syria but we will hit you all over Iraq. That is not actually a

sustainable position and would not be surprised if in due course, David

Cameron came back to the House of Commons to revisit this question,

because, as the Americans have or be worked out with some of the Sunni

states, if you are going to cut the head of the snake, you have to go to

Syria rather than Iraq. So what would the solution be? Is it that

being in Syria be part of an invitation from the Iraqi

government? That is what they are saying. This is being planned in

Syria and executed in Iraq, so, please, go after them in Syria as

well. I'm not a lawyer and it is all a bit murky but I do believe if you

construct a good case in international law for doing what we

are doing and going to in Iraq, we can do it also in Syria. Syria was

the big vote in Westminster last year and it was decided not to take

action, so if we are moving towards Westminster moving towards the

previously unthinkable, should we also be thinking about Iran and

involving Iran? President Rouhani seemed to be rebuking the West

there. He would be, wouldn't he? But he seemed to be making a few points

that one of them being if there was a solution, it would need to be a

regional one rather than one imposed by the West. He touches on a very

important point. We can only justify what we intend to do in Iraq and

Syria if we are in coalition with Sunni Arab states and it has to be

said, in a de facto operational kind of way with Iran as well, but this

cannot be done without the involvement of Iran. And the notion

that we can go ahead and deal with ISIS and safely arrange it to stay

in a box over there is ridiculous. They are already in Iraq working

with people there. I was speaking to a commentator yesterday who was

saying, this is an unholy alliance. We are in Syria dealing with

President Assad's enemies and then de facto dealing with Iran. The

Americans won't stomach that. Well, they truly are the heart of

darkness, to use President Obama's words the other day. And the

Iranians are in it. It is a fact of rife. We have to work this with some

skill politically and tactically. What if there are prize is if the UK

gets involved in active military strikes? There is always the danger

of reprisals. That is a constant fear and worry and anxiety, and for

families who have hostages in the region, this is a terrible moment,

but ISIS has to be dealt with. Otherwise there will be more

hostages, more beheadings, more sober she of a kind -- more savagery

of a kind. It does require politicians to hold their nerve when

you hear about plots and threats in the West, for example. It requires a

lot of resilience, resolve and nerve. It will be a tough one and it

will last for quite a while. Thank you for coming in. Thank you.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the UN gathering in New York, Iraq's

Prime Minister has made the dramatic claim that his security services in

Baghdad have uncovered an imminent terrorist plot to attack the subway

Let's get more from our correspondent at the

It sounds very dramatic. What was he saying? He said, well, only this

morning we were getting information from Iraq about an imminent plot

that was targeting the subway in Paris on the transporter -- and the

transportation systems of America. We have been trying to clear this up

and speaking to an Iraqi official in the last hour or so, who's that the

information came from several Islamic State fighters captured in

Iraq. They were interrogated by intelligence officials there and

they have given up this information which they say means there is a plot

being hatched targeting the Paris subway and also transportation

systems in America. And it involves recruits, Islamic State recruits,

who come from America and France. The Americans are saying, well, we

have no evidence of this. They had been threats against transportation

systems in America in the past from various militant groups but we

haven't got any credible recent information that suggests any new

threat. And those are the indications we are getting from the

French as well - that they haven't got any of the mage and they have

heard. Anything that would point towards an imminent threat on their

underground system in Paris. -- any information. How is the news or

allegation being received in the US? Well, the Governor in New York has

put out a statement in the past few minutes and there is no increased

security in response to what the Prime Minister has said this

morning. What he has said is that in the past few weeks, they have

stepped up security on the new -- New York subway system and the buses

because of concern about possible action in New York related to what

has been going on in Iraq and Syria. But, again, no new information that

points to an imminent threat. That was just a precaution that they have

taken. And worth pointing out that the US threat level has not been

changed at all. And the sources we have in the administration and

intelligence community already knocking this down and suggesting we

treat this with great caution. A final thought. We're hearing

something from the FBI about the Islamic State fighter that has been

called jihadi John. Any details on that? And interview has been done

with ABC News here in America and it has indicated they have established

the identity of this Islamic State fighter who has appeared in these

beheading videos as executioner, believed to have a London accent and

believed to be a Briton who they have been trying to identify. He

hasn't released that information yet. And given no indication of when

they will. It is clear is because David Cameron was asked this

question. He was in New York only yesterday and he was asked about

whether they were close to identifying this Islamic State

fighter who goes by the name or has been called by the media jihadi

John, and he said, we are very close, so an indication that the FBI

do believe they have identified that individual. Obviously you will keep

a watch on that. Thank you very much.

A radical Islamist preacher and political activist has been

arrested by counter-terrorism police in London.

Anjem Choudary has been detained along with eight other men

on suspicion of being members of or supporting a banned organisation,

although police say the arrests are not in response to any immediate

Our home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford reports.

It was a move against some of the most outspoken Islamist in Britain.

In all, 19 properties were raided by counterterrorism command officers

early this morning. Here in West London, the focus was on a vehicle.

In the East End, officers were so watching -- searching a halal sweet

shop owned by the brother of one of the arrested men. The only clue to

their presence, this card saying the officers were from the

counterterrorism search team. The police arrived at this restaurant in

West London this morning and spent six hours searching the premises. It

is where Anjem Choudary and a large group of men had dinner last night.

Will And is and has been one of Britain's most controversial Muslims

for more than a decade. -- Anjem Choudary. He was a member of a group

which was banned in 2010. He admitted he knew one of the killers

of Fusilier Lee Rigby and they were seen together on demonstrations.

There was no suggestion that Anjem Choudary was linked to the merger.

His views are on the fringe of the that Muslims in Britain have. They

do not represent anybody other than the few hundred followers he has in

the UK so I would not classify him mainstream Islam. Also arrested,

this man. He famously heckled the then Home Secretary in 2006. All

nine men detained today are being held on suspicion of encouraging

terrorism and belonging to a banned organisation. The police were keen

to stress the arrests were part of a long-running operation and no

immediate risk to the public. Now a look at some

of the days other news. A Mediterranean cruise ship has come

to the aid of 300 migrants - thought to be Syrian refugees -

packed on board a fishing boat Most of the people

on the small fishing boat were Cypriot authorities said they were

alerted after they picked up a radio distress signal as

the boat was caught in rough seas. Rival Palestinian factions Hamas

and Fatah say they've agreed to The two factions made

the breakthrough in talks in Cairo - and the new government will take

immediate control of the Gaza Strip. Hamas and Fatah split in 2007 and

previous reconciliation agreements France is to introduce standardised

cigarette packaging and ban electronic cigarettes

in certain public places including It's the latest European country to

do so, with the aim of reducing the high

smoking rates among under sixteens. The president

of Ukraine says he believes the most dangerous part of the war

against pro-Russia separatists Petro Poroshenko was speaking

in Kiev as part of a wide-ranging address in which

he made it clear he wants Ukraine to Mr Poroshenko said

his priorities include tackling corruption and reforming

the economy and the tax system . Our correspondent David Stern is

in Kiev. TRANSLATION: I have no doubt my

peace plan will work. I have no doubt that the most dangerous part

of the war is in the past, thanks to the heroism of Ukrainian fighters

and soldiers. Moreover, this war is an additional argument in favour of

changes without any delay because with the state which does not

function, we can lose. Our correspondent is in Kiev. I

understand the president has been making great play of today being

momentous. Exactly, he was speaking at a news conference. It lasted for

two and a half hours. He struck a very positive note about the

developments, saying that the most dangerous part of the conflict is

now over. Earlier he had said this was the first 24 hour period, with

no casualties or fatalities and this puts him in a good mood. The

cease-fire which was declared at the beginning of the month is still very

shaky, the fighting continues although at a lower level. We have

heard of more casualties today but this has not been confirmed.

Premised apologetically said the fighting was decreasing. He was

presenting his reform programme and said he needed peace in the country

to open a new front against corruption to introduce reform which

he says is crucial for the Ukraine at the moment. Is there evidence

that Russian forces are pulling back from that eastern region? We have

heard reports from NATO officials saying they are pulling back. The

Ukrainians say there are less numbers but there are still

significant numbers on the ground. When we heard the Russian forces

were pulling back, they are just moving across the border so they

could move in quickly if necessary. But the fact that his troop movement

is adding to the positive note, by President Poroshenko and other

Ukrainian officials. Thank you. The British Prime Minister David

Cameron is to apologise to the Queen in person for his overheard comment

that she "purred" down the phone when he told her that voters in

Scotland had rejected independence. The Queen lays great emphasis

on her political impartiality. Mr Cameron has now said he is

"embarrassed" and "extremely sorry" for his remarks - as our political

correspondent Alex Forsyth reports. The meeting with New York's former

mayor was meant to be a photo opportunity but

the camera caught the Prime Minister recounting a private conversation

in which he told the Queen Scotland Protocol dictates conversations

between the Queen and her ministers David Cameron may not have meant

for his comments to have been made public but his indiscretion

and choice The Queen has 60 years

of experience and part of her role was to pass on her views

to the Prime Minister but it is They probably had some choice words

in private for the Prime Minister. Downing Street has already contacted

Buckingham Palace to offer He is said to be very embarrassed

and extremely sorry and it is thought he will apologise

in person during -- next. At future public

engagements, David Cameron may be more wary about what he says,

especially when he is in front of A US man sentenced to five years

hard labour in North Korea has spoken publicly about his ordeal.

North Korean authorities claimed he tore up his Visa and demanded

asylum. He spoke under close supervision. Prison life is eight

hours per day, mostly it is agriculture, digging around. Other

than that it is isolation, no contact with anyone. But I have been

in good health, no sickness. The American actor John Malkovich

has featured in a series recreating more 40 iconic photographs -

each taken with incredible care and detail - but in an ironic twist, the

project has now gone viral online - even though the photographer

Sandro Miller, started it to fight back against what he sees as social

media's degradation of the art form. Anna Bressanin spoke to Miller

about what he was trying to do This is a Malkovich,

this is not Warhol. The project Malkovich, Malkovich,

Malkovich is about me playing My mind began to think what if I

recreated those images with John is willing to experiment

and has no fear. When he got in front of the camera,

I would see him with the fullest of confidence transform him

self into Marilyn Monroe, Bette Davies, the migrant mother,

Salvador Dali, Picasso. We brought hair in

from all over the country. We had a seamstress make

the clothing. We took every shot,

dissected it and figured out where the photographer was at that time,

what light he was using. My goal was to sustain

as true to what It would be a two-hour time

for hair and make up to get ready I could see he would go to that time

and place and become that person. The one that really amazes me is the

Diane Arbus one - this twins shot. Just to see the difference

in the mind of both of those twins. One accepting the photographer and

enjoying the moment well the other John nailed both

of those expressions In Today's world with the internet,

we are bombarded with images. It is tough to see all this work,

most with no thought behind it. I was hoping maybe I would be able

to recreate a little bit of awareness again

of classic movie imagery. Not just putting images out to put

an image out, Think about what we're capturing

here, let us have an idea. On Wednesday we brought you

celebrations from India, as the country successfully put a

spacecraft into orbit around Mars. is the first picture

of Mars taken by the satellite. Part of its mission is to study

the Martian atmosphere for signs Just to remind you, it's

the first time a maiden voyage to Mars has entered orbit successfully

and it is the cheapest too. Hi there, it's been a cloudy day for

most parts of the British Isles but tomorrow this will change, early

morning sunshine in Scotland and northern Ireland and these sunny

skies will mood so forth. Overnight tonight it will be very windy with a

band of rain pushing southwards across Scotland and