25/09/2012 BBC News at Ten

Tonight at Ten - wealthy pensioners are warned they could lose some of

their benefits. Nick Clegg says that in a time of austerity,

benefits such as free bus passes and the winter fuel payment should

be looked at again. I think we need to ask people who have far more

considerable means to make an additional contribution.

coalition also announced it is looking for billions more in

spending cuts from 2015. Also tonight... A special report on the

Syrian conflict and the widespread use of sexual violence, including

rape. They were raping me one by one. I started to say, please don't

do that. Please don't do that. track down the man who ran a

detention centre where the attacks took place.

Concerns about Abu Hamza expressed by the Queen but the BBC apologises

for revealing details of a private conversation.

Homes evacuated and travel disrupted, as heavy rain causes

problems across northern parts of Britain. And new images of the

missing schoolgirl who travelled to Good evening. The wealthiest

pensioners could find themselves without universal benefits such as

free bus passes or the winter fuel allowance if the Lib Dems are still

in power after the next election. Nick Clegg says the payments should

be looked at in the current economic climate. The coalition is

now drawing up plans for billions of pounds in savings for the year

2015 and beyond. Mr Clegg spoke to our political editor, Nick Robinson.

If you thought the cuts were bad, be prepared. Here in Brighton,

there have been cut to school buildings, bus roots and council

services, and so much more that we do not see. Now, the council is

beginning negotiations about finding another �16 billion worth

of savings per year to start in three years' time. No wonder Nick

Clegg has warned his party of scars to come. It is a huge number, but

it should be put in the context of the overall amount of money. It has

to be done, but it has to be done fairly. Do you accept that you will

have to cut the welfare budget, in part, to meet those savings? Yes, I

don't think it will be possible to set the welfare budget completely

aside. It constitutes a third of public spending. Being discussed by

ministers behind closed doors is whether to stop things like

Jobseeker's Allowance rising with inflation. There is a perfectly

understandable case which some people say, that my earnings have

only gone up by a certain amount, why shouldn't the people who get

support from me, from taxpayers, be on a similar footing? We can look

at that. I am not prepared to introduce a huge cut across the

piece for many of the people who rely on benefits. Would it be more

fair to stop better-off pensioners getting free bus passes and TV

licences and a winter fuel allowance? 1 Lib Dem minister, with

a bus pass, thinks so. I think somebody like me, on an MP's salary,

should not be receiving a �200 winter fuel allowance. That money

could be saved out of the welfare bill, which would avoid as having

to take more off the least well-off in society. The coalition will not

do that, says the Lib Dem leader, but as for the future... There is a

question mark about whether it is white that Peter Stringfellow or

Alan Sugar has a free bus pass, subsidised by normal workers.

Lib Dems say what they really want to do is to introduce a tax on

mentions, if only the Tories would let them. If, as seems unlikely,

the Conservatives agreed to your mention tax, how many more billions

of savings, cuts or tax rises, would you still have to find?

Considerably more billions, of course. A mention tax of itself is

not going to fill the black hole. Is it not the honest thing to say

to the country, it will not come from mansions, oligarchs and

millionaires, ladies and gentlemen, it will come from you? You're

missing the point. In politics, as in life, your values are reflected

in where you start. When you have to tighten your belt, who do you

first ask to make a sacrifice? Nick Clegg came to London Derry having

said sorry. He knows very well there could be many more difficult

things to say in the next few months. And we can speak to Nick in

Brighton now. Nick - what can we expect from Nick Clegg tomorrow?

think I can say with absolute and total confidence that there is not

the slightest chance of Nick Clegg mentioning pension or benefits when

he speaks to his conference tomorrow. That's because the whole

idea, frankly, was a bit of a mess today. He was trying to reassure

pensioners that he was not coming for their benefits, when he said to

me, it would only be millionaires that he was really looking at, and

only then, after the next general election. And yet one of his

closest advisers, David Laws, then appeared on BBC radio and said,

actually, if you only to benefits away from millionaires, you would

raise so little, it would be virtually not worth doing. It shows,

if you like, the real problem of high lighting, yes, that you want

to make further cuts, and that the country needs that, but that you do

not want to take them away from ordinary people, simply from the

very rich. The numbers simply do not add up. In part, that will be

the underlying message, though, of what is in the speech. He will say

to his party that they are on a journey, away from the easy

promises of opposition, as he sees it, towards the tough choices of

government. He will say to them, I know many of you in the audience

may be wishing to turn back, but it is right to press on, and he will

claim that the Liberal Democrats are now one of three parties of

As the conflict in Syria continues to intensify, the BBC has heard

allegations of sexual violence, including rape, taking place within

government detention centres. The British government is asking the UN

to address the issue, insisting that those responsible must be held

to account. The BBC's Fergal Keane travelled to the Middle East and

spoke to some of the victims. His special report contains graphic

accounts of the attacks taking The BBC says it deeply regrets that

one of its journalists revealed details of a private conversation

with the Queen about the radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza. These are

among the 250,000 refugees of the war in Syria. They bring with them

stories of the crimes which haunt the survivors. This woman says she

was arrested at a checkpoint and later repeatedly break, along with

three other women. TRANSLATION: The Daily rape took

place in front of the other girls. That was the time they would remove

the blindfold, so that they could see what was happening, and they

would not know when their turn would come, whether it would be

tomorrow, after one hour, they did not know. It was done in rotation.

The witness says it happened in the most glorious Palestine branch of

military intelligence, a building in Damascus which was later bombed

by rebels. -- the most notorious of Palestine branch.

TRANSLATION: She was screaming. Afterwards, we saw blood on the

floor. He told her, is this good enough for you? They were mocking

her. It was obvious that she was in agony. After that, she no longer

moved. The witness says that after two monks in the nightmare world of

detention, she was helped to escape and to flee Syria. Human Rights

Watch says sexual violence is used to humiliate and to degrade.

Neither they nor the UN have so far made accusations of rape against

the rebel side. We have spoken with victims of rape and with the people

who have given the medical help, and what is clear is that sexual

violence is taking place across Syria, and has been directed at

women and men. These young men were arrested in

Damascus after taking part in demonstrations against the regime.

They did it to me one by one. I start to say, please don't do that.

Please don't do that. Nobody listened to me. And they said, this

is for freedom. You want freedom? This is freedom. And the other

officers, the other security, they were just laughing. I was alone.

followed this allegation of abuse across the region, here to Istanbul.

Because the general who commanded the centre where the young man says

he was raped recently defected to the opposition. He says that there

was great in other centres, but he always protected prisoners. Let me

quote to you what a former detainee at your facility said. He said,

they were raping me, they were like animals. That's from a detainee at

the centre you ran. TRANSLATION: That is not true, when

it comes to the time that I was done so. That is absolutely untrue.

And if it were true, let him confront me, because I am

responsible, and can be questioned before any authority, whether

national or international. international community gives aid

to refugees, but it is too divided over Syria to order a war crimes

investigation. We asked the Syrian government to respond to the

allegations, but received no answer. It recently dismissed UN reports of

torture, including sexual violence, as neither accurate nor objective.

In the absence of other witnesses, and with UN investigators being

refused access to Syria, it is impossible to corroborate the

allegations. But some survivors are determined to speak out.

TRANSLATION: Nobody visits you, nobody has your voice. It seemed

this was our destiny, to be tortured for days, and then to die.

In this society, there is a huge degree of shame about speaking

about a subject like this - why have you decided to speak to me?

am still afraid for the girls who remain inside. Every few days, they

would bring a new girl. I have been out for six or seven months - how

many goals have that brought in during this time? That, as the war

escalates, is the most haunting of The BBC says it deeply regrets that

one of its journalists revealed details of a private conversation

with the Queen about the radical Muslim cleric, Abu Hamza. The

Corporation said it was a wholly inappropriate breach of confidence.

Yesterday, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Abu Hamza

and four other men could be extradited to the United States on

terrorism charges. Our home editor, Mark Easton, has more details. Abu

Hamza, a hugely controversial figure, who for years appeared for

making a mockery of the British justice system. There was public an

press fury at the apparent inability at the police at the Home

Secretary office to arrest the man regarded as a threat to public

order. After a police raid on the finsary park mosque in 2003, where

he had previously been the I am man, he caused out rage when he preached

in the streets. It's now emerged the Queen herself shared the sense

of frustration. The Queen was pretty upset. This morning the

BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, revealed what the Queen

had said to him about the affair over a private lunch. She spoke to

the Home Secretary at the time and said, surely this man must have

broken some laws, why can't this - why is he still at large? However,

the revelations have led the BBC to make an apology to the Queen,

because they related to a private conversation held in 2008. Frank

Gardner has written personally to the Queen saying he's extremely

sorry for the embarrassment caused. The Queen is known to express her

views to journalists at private meetings, but strict protocol

dictates her comments should not be reported. However, constitutional

experts say there's nothing surprising about the monarch asking

questions on matters of public concern of ministers. The Queen can

discuss whatever they likes with the prom and the Home Secretary or

whatever, and the great thing is that's completely private and no

record is ever kept. There are no others present and that's all for

the good. Meanwhile, the Home Office today said they were hopeful

after an eight-year battle against extradition to the United States

Abu Hamza would be on a plane within weeks. Once there, he faced

multiple charges, including allegations he was involved in a

1998 kidnapping of western tourists in Yemen. Three Britons and an

Australian died during an attempted rescue. My main concern is that I

want him tried to see exactly what his involvement in the Yemen was. I

feel there is so much evidence. Today has been p another

embarrassing reminder of the frustration that Abu Hamza seems to

have been able to inflict on the British establishment for well over

a decade. For a second day heavy rain and high winds have caused

disruption in many parts of northern Britain. Hundreds of homes

have been flooded, rail lines and roads have been closed and pupils

sent home from many schools. Some 80 areas in England and Wales are

being warned to expect more problems, as our correspondent,

Danny Savage, reports. As the heavy rain continued to fall, the

inevitable happened. Rivers across northern England burst their banks

and chaos ensued. In Morpeth, the river wans Beth washed out about

100 homes -- the river wapbs Beck washed out about 100 homes. There's

not as much water as last time. owner of it riverside B&B is

angered that flood defences haven't been significantly improved since

last time. I just think four years of chitchat. It's stuff and

nonsense. The flood defences should have been built two years ago.

Completed. This wouldn't have happened. You are left with a

ruined business? Again. emergency services have been on

hand to help, but it is little consolation to those here left

homeless, wondering just how much insurance will cost them now. In

County Durham and cleaver land, police declared a major incident. -

- Cleveland police declared a major incident. Schools were closed and

30 homes were flooded. In Otley in West Yorkshire the river overflowed

towards the town centre. Heavy rain in the Yorkshire Dales is causing

these sort of problems downstream. But some of today's most

astonishing sight were on the roads. This is the A1 in North Yorkshire.

A 30-mile stretch was closed for much of the day, because it was

under water. The queues built up and many were left stranded for

hours. People struggled to get through on the die versionary

routes as well. It -- diversionary route as well. There were long

delays on the East Coast Main Line. Trains were diverted and passengers

advised not to travel. Although tickets will be valid tomorrow.

East of Edinburgh, the river burst its banks for the second time in

just a few months. Putting flood victims back to square one.

Obviously it's very distressing, particularly when we are here

watching it and there's minimum we can do. Today, with the rapid

response and sandbags we've managed to contain it a bit more than the

last time. Scotland also saw these extraordinary scenes. In Aberdeen,

the waves whipped up a flilty brown foam, which covered buildings --

filthy brown foam, which covered buildings. A messy, but relatively

harmless consequence of today's terrible conditions. But further

south, the coast of north-east England this afternoon really

showed the force of the weather battering so much of the UK. Coming

up on tonight's programme - Europe's golf stars are warned to

expect a lively reception from American fans at the Ryder Cup.

Police searching for the missing teenager, Megan Stammers, have

released new images which they hope will bring more information on her

whereabouts. The 15-year-old, from Eastbourne, travelled to France on

Friday with one of her teachers, Jeremy Forest, who's 30. Her school

has now confirmed that it had been investigating their relationship

before they went missing, as our correspondent, Ben Geoghegan,

reports. Arm in arm, hand in hand, these CCTV pictures show 14-year-

old Megan stamers and her maths teacher on board the ferry that

took them to France last week. Megan was reported missing last

Friday and a huge effort is now being made to find her and Jeremy

Forrest. 30 years old, he's an amateur musician as well as a maths

teacher. Megan had been having extra lessons before they both

disappeared. Today it's been reported that one of her classmates

here at the school raised concerns about her relationship with her

maths teacher several months ago. The two of them were seen holding

hands as they returned from a school trip to the United States.

That's worried some of the parents here. They should have done

something straightaway, not waited seven months before they done

anything. He should have been suspended as soon as they were

aware while investigations went on. Today, the local authority said it

had been looking into Mr Forrest's I'm absolutely certain that when

the report comes out and I gather the local authority will be doing a

report this school will come out with flying colours. Bishop Bell is

that sort of school. But the school has had to deal with issues in the

past. In 2009 Robert Healey was jailed for seven years for grooming

two pupils on the internet. And former chairman of the governors,

Canon Gordon Ridout has been charged with a string of child sex

offences, although the allegations don't relate to this school. For

the moment, the police focus is getting Megan home. It's thought

she may have talked to some of her friends about going away. Police

are still trying to find out exactly what she was planning.

David Cameron has again offered his support for the Government Chief

Whip,,Andrew Mitchell, who was involved in a confrontation with

police in Downing Street last week. But there was more news tonight on

the Number Ten response, as David Cameron arrived in New York, where

he's preparing to address the United Nations. James Landale is

travelling with him. What have you learnt? I think all we have learnt

today is why the Prime Minister is standing so firmly behind Andrew

Mitchell. Despite the fact that the Daily Telegraph have published the

full police notes of the altercation last week, the disputed

allegations that Mr Mitchell swore and despite it emerged a day later,

he had another go at cycling through the main gates and was

again refused and the Mayor of London has waded in and said he was

glad that the police threatened to arrest Mr Mitchell. Despite all of

this, the Prime Minister is supporting Mr Mitchell, because at

a meeting last Thursday, the Prime Minister hauled him into Downing

Street and at that meeting Mr Mitchell looked the Prime Minister

in the eye and said - gave an assurance that the words had been

at bueded he had not said and it's on that basis that he's operating -

- attributed he had not said and it's on that basis that he's

operating. President Obama has urged world leaders at the United

Nations to speak out forcefully against violence and extremism. In

a speech to the General Assembly, he said it was time to address the

tensions between the West and the Arab world. And he warned Iran,

once again, that America will do what it must to stop the country

developing a nuclear weapon. From New York, Jeremy Bowen reports. The

motorcade pulled in just as the UN Secretary-General was sounding the

alarm, about a world he said was in a time of turmoil, transation. For

the Americans that means the fallout from the protests about the

anti-Muslim film that was produced in this country. The US ambassador

to Libya had three colleagues killed in one of the protests. The

President told the General Assembly that no words could excuse the

killing of snpbts in a region where the US has lost a lot of influence.

It speaks for a need for all of us to honestly address the tensions

between the West and Arab world that is moving towards democracy.

Let me be clear, just as we cannot solve every problem in the world,

the United States has not and will not seek to dictate the outcome of

democratic transitions abroad. with strong anti-American feeling

in the new Arab democracies it's not as if they can. The protests

have made the Middle East into an issue in the US election now only

six weeks away, with accusations that President Obama's approach has

been weak. Three years ago, President Obama could still call on

Egypt's former President, Mubarak's and the West's other friends. For

30 years Americans presidents regarded Mubarak as the first Arab

they would ring in a crisis, but now they need a new address book

and new friends to put in it. In his speech the President defended

his response to the uprisings and looking past the elections to the

talk of war over Iran's nuclear installations, warned that time was

running out for a deal. Make no mistake, nuclear-armed Iran is not

a challenge to be contained. It will threaten the elimination of

Israel and the security of Gulf nations and the stability of the

global economy. It risks triggering a nuclear arms race in the region

and the unravelling of the non- proliferation treaty, that's why

the coalition of countries is holding the Government to account

and why the United States will do what we must to prevent Iran from

obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran also here in New York at the UN

says it doesn't want a nuclear weapon. The Americans and their

western allies are still struggling to find a way to deal with the

changes in the Middle East in the Arab world. The truth is it will

probably never again be as straightforward as it was when they

had their old authoritarian friends to rely on. Europe's best golf

players are in Illinois at the Medinah Country Club, preparing to

compete for the Ryder Cup, which they've won in four of the past

five contests. The practice rounds started today and while the

Americans have the advantage of playing at home, the Europeans are

hopeful that their impressive record can be maintained. Our

sports correspondent, Andy Swiss, sent this report. It's where

dazzling golf meets dazzling knitwear. The European team relaxed,

refreshed and resplendent in orange as they gathered hoping once again

to topple their American rifles. They did it two years ago in a

quite spine-tingling finish. The hero of Celtic Manor believes that

will count for nothing. It's going to be an exciting week. Like I said,

we all start from scratch.. It's a lot of fun having the Cup in our

team room and we want to play hard and take it back to Europe. I don't

think there's any advantage from history. And the United States can

certainly pack a punch. They have big names and after last time's

disappointment they have high expectations. The USA will start

this year as slight favourites, mainly because they have home

advantage. Europe are up against not just 12 American golfers, but

thousands of American fans. Today, the mood was traditionally genteel

but come Friday the hosts are hoping it will be anything but.

will be loud. It will be raucous and fun. It's the same as when we

go to Europe. They get into it for their team and our fans will get

into it for our team. And for those out on the course today there was a

sense of calm before the storm. crowd will drown out the Europeans.

I think we can build into a good sense of fury by Saturday or Sunday,