03/05/2012 BBC News at Ten

Tonight at Ten: The plot to kill the US President, in Osama Bin

Laden's own words. Documents seized from the compound in Pakistan after

his death are selectively published by the Americans.

One year after the operation to track him down, Washington claims

he was active to the end. As a professional intelligence

officer, there is nothing you want more than to read the other guy's

mail if you can get ten years' worth to read at once, that is a

treasure-trove. There are more details of the

documents and we are asking about the timing of the release.

Heathrow: A bad April, every target was missed in dealing with targets.

And the Bank of England, signs of recovery ahead.

The pioneering surgery that gave two blind British men that gave

some of their sight back. And the record auction price for

one of the world's most recognisable paintings.

Coming up on Sportsday: The latest from the battle for the Premier

League spot next season, the chip play-offs are underway.

-- the championship play-offs are Good evening.

Osama Bin Laden, who was shot dead by US forces last year had been

working on a plot to assassinate President Obama. The evidence

emerges from documents seized from his compound dem Pakistan and

selectively published by the US government. The papers suggest that

Osama Bin Laden was frustrated by the activity of some of his

followers and was worried about losing support among Muslims.

Frank Gardner has the details for The last days of Osama Bin Laden.

Hold up in the would compound in Pakistan, before he was kimed by US

Navy commandos last year. -- killed. Now we are getting a glimpse of the

so-called treasure-trove of the 6,000 documents seized from the

compound. One year on from President Obama authorising the

raid, the US is reminding the world in election year that they finally

got their man. The Osama Bin Laden feels -- files veal that he tasked

two groups, with the mission to spotting visits to Barack Obama, or

General Petraeus to target the aircraft of either one of them, but

Vice-President, Joe Biden, was not to be targeted. Osama Bin Laden

wanted him to be the President as he thought him incompetent. The

thought on the Al-Qaeda network are vealed rveeld. This man they

thought was out of control. He was on the run, in a sense, but

he was still very much in touch with his global terror empire. He

was frustrated, frustrated that it was under more pressure than it had

been before and frustrated with his subordinates who did not seem able

to learn lessons from the previous mistakes.

One of the declassified documents refers to British targets in

Afghanistan, notably convoys going What merges here is that by the

time he was killed a year ago, Osama Bin Laden was struggling to

remain in control of Al-Qaeda. The organisation had fragmented, so

today its off shv shoots have sprung up independently, in

Pakistan, Yemen, in Iraq, in Somalia. There is no longer a firm

control of the top. The group is struggling to be

relevant. There are new outfits to have eemerged from the Al-Qaeda

shadow, to resource, to desire, to plot and to plan.

Intelligence reports locating Osama Bin Laden were promising...

decision to release the documents is significant. While President

Bush mentioned Osama Bin Laden less and less, Obama wants to remind

people that this is part of his legacy.

Osama Bin Laden too has a legacy, but it is fading. The infamous

bogey man who backed 9/11 and once terrified America is no more, his

organisation a shadow of what it once was.

Well, lots of the reaction to today's focus is not just on the

content of documents but on the timing of their release. Let's talk

to Mark Mardell in Washington. Mark, let's talk about the timing and

what you make of it. It is a reminder that Osama Bin

Laden was killed year ago. It is something that the White House are

keen to put their stamp on. Remember when it happened,

Americans gathered outside of the White House waving the stars and

the stripes. It was the one thing in the Obama administration that

brought just about all Americans together to celebrate. Now they are

portraying it not as something that happened as part of a bureaucratic

military grind, but as a specific decision by the President to go

after Osama Bin Laden, as a hard, tough risky decision to approve the

raids and so that they are saying against those who times --

sometimes portray the President as a whimp, that he does take hard

decisions. Even more politicised, suggesting that Mitt Romney would

not have done the same thing, that really annoyed the Republicans.

Thank you very much. Every terminal at Heathrow Airport

missed its targets, almost daily last month for dealing with non-

European passengers. The data gathered by BAA that operates the

airport, indicates that some passengers queued for twice as long

at passport control. Border forces have been in talks with the

airlines to discuss plans for the hectic Olympic period.

Heathrow handles more international passengers than any airport on the

planet. In recent weeks, at times,

thousands have been queuing for hours at immigration. Figures from

the company that own the airport today show that travellers from

outside of the EU are suffering most.

The target waiting time is 45 minutes, but people have been

waiting as long as three hours. The queues have exceeded time limits at

four of Heathrow's terminals. With the worth being the newest,

Terminal 5. Where the target was missed on 23 occasions out of 30.

Queues of travellers are not the images that the Government wants to

project to the world in Olympic year. Passengers are not impressed.

Including one who arrived at Heathrow yesterday and worked on

another Olympics a decade ago. I find it troubling that my first

encounter coming to London so close to the Games was no help in

immigration. I hope it can be corrected. It is needless at this

point in time. The good news is that for the

British passengers they were not waiting anything longer than the 25

minute target time, but that is no consolation for the foreign

visitors from outside of the European economic area. The roots

of the problem lie over immigration checks, the head of the Border

Agency, Brodie Clarke, here on the right with the Home Secretary,

resigned after relaxing passport inspections to cut the queues. The

checks were reinstated and the queues returned, forcing the

Government to act. The queues at Heathrow in April

were unacceptable. That is why we have taken action already. We have

80 people available at peak times that were in the there before. We

have mobile time teams that were before unable to move around. We

have a central controlroom so that we can tell where the problems are

looming. Tonight, the head of one of the

unions representing Border Agency staff represented a problem.

The airports are exposed. Everyone knows that they have cut too far.

Britain is looking embarrassed and frankly, the Olympics is a disaster

waiting to happen. By then another 400 immigration

officers will be in place, says the Government, but beyond that,

further budget cuts lie ahead. There are signs that the economy

will see a steady slow recovery this year, that prediction coming

from Sir Mervyn King. He made it despite figures that show that the

British economy is in recession. We look at the latest evidence at the

state of the economy. It is a bumpy ride for the UK

economy. One leading policy maker has a big say in how it is running.

That is Sir Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England. He

gave a rare broadcast interview. With inflation high and the UK

technically back in recession, he has faced criticism, but he

believes that growth is not far off. It is a patchy picture, but there

are signs of a recovery coming. We see that in the business surfaways

and also in the employment data. So a reasonable view would be that we

would start to see steady, slow recovery coming to you in the

course of the year. So do the small businessesly is a sign of recovery?

We spoke to two bosses in Nuneaton. Roy Hawkins knows all about the

housing market, he's an es teat agent. Susi Little is a floorest --

he's an estate agent. Susi Little is a florist.

We have seen it flat. It is on the level. We have noticed no

significant ups or downs. It will drag on, I think, for about five

years, before we see some benefits. We have to hang in there and try to

make the best of what we can. I just feel that there is no quick

recovery. Some leaders of bigger businesses

are more optimistic and will probably share the Government's

assessment on growth, but few would disagree that there is still a

threat to the prosperity of Britain's High Streets, households

and businesses if there is a turn for the worse outside of the UK.

Yopbz pressures are mounting. Students faced with youth

unemployment, demonstrating in Barcelona. The security was tight

as the European Central Bank held a meeting of top policy makers in the

Spanish city. The worries are coming back in the

market, because of what is happening in Spain. So we are not

out of the woods in the eurozone. The central estimate is a positive

one. If we are knocked off target, I suspect it would be the eurozone.

A flair-up of the eurozone crisis would present a problem for the

markets. That is a worry for the governor of the Bank of England. He

will have to persuade the critics that it is up to the task in these

uncertain times. More than half of the share holders

at Britain's biggest insurers, Aviva, have opposed plans to award

big pay rises to senior management. The vote of the company's annual

meeting is not binding. There is still no decision on

whether British officials are to aten the European football

championships in the Ukraine. William Hague says he is disturbed

by recent events there and the allegedly brutal treatment of a

Night to get Kiev's brand-new Olympic stadium ready in time for

the tournament. The key work is done, but Ukraine, where England

place all its group matches, wants to look at its best for Euro 2012.

Glossy promo videos welcome the world. It's a proud moment in this

young nation's history, but now several countries are wondering

whether their Ministers should stay away. Today Britain joined them.

The row is over the treatment of Yulia Tymoshenko, the face of the

Orange Revolution, famous for her plated blonde hair. She became

Prime Minister and narrowly lost the presidential election two years

ago, but is now in prison after a suspiciously political prosecution.

She appeared to have bruising on her arm and torso in these pictures

released last month. Her daughter told me she had been punched into

submission when she refused to leave her cell. Now she's on hunger

strike. She feels that it is the only way in her power now to

protest. It is the only way she can show the world that this has gone

too far. Now there's a serious risk of a political boycott of Euro 2012.

The leaders of several European countries have said they won't be

coming for the football unless the treatment of Yulia Tymoshenko

improves. The Foreign Secretary, William Hague, said Britain found

her trial disturbing. There's a political problem in the Ukraine.

One that I raised with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine. We're

disturbed about some of the trials that have taken place. In light of

that I asked the Foreign Minister what concessions they might make.

He just said Ukraine was listening but pleaded with his European

colleagues not to mix football with politics. The Championship is not

for politicians' benefit, and not for making statements or a stance.

It is here to enjoy a good play. They're here to support their teams.

At one point this week there was even talk of moving the

Championships. What should have been a month of celebration for

Ukraine now threatens to be a month of controversy.

Coming up on tonight's programme: Why fine art is increasingly the

investment of choice for many wealthy collectors. Art is a

brilliant alternative to money. Cash is trash. So long as it's

paying zero at the bank,. Two British men who have been blind

for many years have had their sight partially restored after pioneering

surgery. The men have had light- sensitive microchips fitted behind

the retina, and they're now able to make out light and shapes. It's the

first time that British patients who have been totally blind have

regained some of their sight, as Fergus Walsh reports. Do take a

seat in this chair for me, please. Just six weeks ago Chris James was

totally blind. Now he can perceive light. This box powers his implant

but it's what's under his scalp which is amazing. This X-ray shows

the computer processor above his ear, linked bay cable to the

implant behind his retina. The wairf thin -- wafer thin chip is

just 3mm square. Compare this sight test before the implant was fitted

when he had no vision. No, there is nothing I can make out. Nothing at

all? No. With this one, after, now he can perceive light... It seems

to have a curve. And even the outlines of shapes. I find it very

exciting really. We know the optic nerve is working, which is the most

important thing, or this trial wouldn't be able to go ahead. It is

now a question of teaching the brain to wake up and interpret what

the flashes of light are telling me. Chris is one of thousands of people

in the UK with retinitis pigmentosa, the light-processing cells in his

eye no longer function. The 1,500 pixel retinal chip sends electronic

signals direct to the optic nerve and from there to the brain.

Getting the implant in place required a steady hand at the

Oxford Eye Hospital. The operation lasting several hours. This surgery

is the culmination of years of research here and in Germany, where

the implant is made. Up to 12 British patients will have the chip

fitted as part of a major trial of this truly innovative technology.

think this is an amazing development. Here we are talking

about a patient who was completely blind able to see. We are talking

about something that's here or now, not what might be achievable in

five other ten years but is happening now. Switch the machine

on. It comes on instantly. The flashing is starting now...

second patient showed me how the implant enables limb to perceive

light. And there's been another unusual benefit. The biggest upside

for me is that I'm dreaming in colour for the first time for 25

years. Intense, bright colour. It is an extraordinary thing. Retinal

implants have been compared to early grainy photography but with

the hope of restoring clear vision for future generations of patients.

The Chinese human rights activist at the centre of a diplomatic

stand-off between Beijing and Washington appears to be under a

form of detention in hospital tonight in Beijing. Chen Guangcheng

says the Chinese authorities have broken the terms of a deal under

which he agreed to leave the US embassy, where he'd sought

sanctuary after escaping from house arrest.

In the Nuba mountains of Sudan, violence between Government troops

and opposition fighters have forced more than 70,000 people from their

homes in the past few weeks, greatly increasing the pressure on

aid organisations to provide food, water and shelter and save lives.

Most of the refugees are in camps across the border in south Sudan.

From there the BBC's Andrew Harding sent this report. On a dirt track a

weary family, driven on by fear and desperation. They've been walking

for days. And thousands more are coming, fleeing for their lives.

Why did you come here? Hunger, she says, too tired to elaborate. This

is what she's escaping from. Danger overhead. GUNFIRE

In the Nuba mountains the bombs are falling every day. Get down! He

says. The Sudanese Government is not only trying to crush an armed

rebellion but bringing an entire population to its knees. Hiding in

caves from the circling planes, tens of thousands now live like

this. It's too dangerous to go out to farm, so they can't feed

themselves, and foreign aid is not allowed in. And so whole

communities are trying to leave, crossing the border into south

Sudan, in growing numbers. There is another family just arriving now,

joining the other exhausted people here. It's pretty clear these

people are being targeted by a military campaign that's designed

to terrorise and displace civilians. Long queues to register at this

refugee camp. All have their scars from the bombings. Halima tells me

she had to leave behind two of her children, who were too young to

make the journey. A bomb killed her husband. With each passing week,

the condition of those arriving gets worse. There is help for them

here, but growing fear for those left behind in Nuba. What were you

eating? She said we were just eating things from the trees. Is

this getting worse? Yes. Every day we receive them, a lot of them.

more and more? Yes, more and more, and others are dying on the way

coming here. A dangerous journey here, then, but the camp is filling

up fast, as terror and hunger make their deliberate way through the

Nuba mountains. The polls closed some 20 minutes

ago in today's local and mayoral elections. There are 5,000 seats

being contested in local authorities in England, Scotland

and Wales, while London, Liverpool and Salford are electing a mayor.

Ten cities in England are holding referendums on whether they too

should have elected mayors in future. Our political editor, Nick

Robinson, is with me. I am wondering do we have any early

signals of any kind? And what's at stake for the leaders? What's at

stake is just the huge number of people voting. It is easy to forget

everybody in Scotland has a vote. Almost everybody in Wales, except

those in Langle see, everyone in London, four in ten in England.

What do we know so far? The Tories are hoping that a pretty miserable

night will be made slightly better tomorrow when Boris Johnson gets

re-elected as Mayor of London. Nobody's prepared to quite call it

but that is their expectation. The Luton Airport are prepared for that

as being a bit of bad news for them. Maybe a bit of bad news against the

no-one in Scotland too, but they'll be able to hail many, many hundreds

of new Labour councillors and want to point to the Birminghams and the

Harrows and Readings, places where they'll get councils gained. The

Liberal Democrats to be honest are simply saying, "I hope the pain is

a bit less than it was a year ago." The winner of the election we

already know. It's the people who don't believe that politics makes a

lot of difference. It is those who are angry or apathetic or don't

want to vote. There'll be a poor turnout on a pretty wet day. Ruft

results of that is many of the ref ruments on a future Mayor will be

lost. Indeed those campaigning that Britain's second biggest city

should have a Mayor, they don't expect to win.

And you can see all the results as they come in on "Vote 2012" with

David Dimbleby, starting at 11.35pm on BBC One.

One of the world's most recognisable works of art, The

Scream by Edvard Munch, has been sold at auction for �74 million,

setting a new world record. The rapid bidding was driven by a

number of international collectors, but the identity of the buyer is

not known. Our arts editor, Will Gompertz, takes a look at the

changing nature of the art market. Edvard Munch made four versions of

his famous The Scream. These three are in Norwegian museums. This one

from 1895, the only version to be in private ownership, went on sale

last night in New York. Now to a major moment... After 12 minutes of

entertaining theatre... $99 million, I have all the time in the world...

It was... Sold! The record-breaking sum of �74 million. That is a lot

of money for a picture in pastel on a piece of board. According to

experts at Sotheby's in London, once an artwork's authenticity are

established five things determine its value. The first is the rarity

of the piece. The second is the reputation of the artist, the third

is the condition. Fourthly is confidence in the marketplace, and

fifth, the amount of people who want to buy the artwork. That's the

element that's changed the most. Never has there been so many people

in the market for high-quality modern art. I think 15 years ago we

had a much smaller audience ians. Maybe would have had a French

collector underneath that. But now it is far more global. We are more

likely to see buyers from as many as 50 countries, underbought by the

Chinese and outbid by a Middle Eastern buyer. It provides the

superrich with a sound investment. Art is a brilliant alternative to

money. Cash is trash. So long as its paying zero at the bank, UK-US,

around the world. Wall Street is a pit, a danger that goes up and then

down. Art masterpieces, they are bankers, like great diamonds. You

can't fail. The buyer of this work isn't yet known, but should he or