03/09/2011 BBC Weekend News

Good afternoon. It's emerged that three British banks are among 17

financial institutions being sued by the US government, as it seeks

to recover billions of dollars lost in the sub-prime mortgage scandal.

Barclays, HSBC and the Royal Bank of Scotland are accused of

misrepresenting the quality of their mortgage products.

Greater Manchester police say they still have hundreds of witnesses to

interview about the deaths of seven There are some of the seminal

images of the financial crisis, when almost 5 million American

households lost their homes in 2008-9. Many have long believed

that banks have offered mortgages to people they knew could ill

afford to repay. So now the Government backed watchdog for the

American property agencies Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are suing 17 of

the world's largest banks. The American government believes these

banks missold specialised products worth billions of dollars, and

contributed to the financial crisis and the ensuing recession. Of the

three British banks being sued, This is quite a significant lawsuit,

because regardless of the validity or otherwise of these allegations,

a lot of these banks are likely to pay billions of dollars in

compensation to the US government. It will be a costly settlement at

best for these firms, and it comes at a difficult time for the banking

industry, which has seen its profits declining and is being

buffeted by global economic problems. The banks are also rich -

- bracing themselves for the imminent publication of the

Independent Commission on Banking report, which may force them to

make dramatic changes to how they are run in Britain. On top of that,

many chavs are now forming over a very weak economy, pointing to a

possible double dip recession. Greater Manchester police say they

still have hundreds of witnesses to interview about the deaths of seven

patients at a hospital in Stockport. Last night, they revealed that up

to 40 people may have had their saline drips tampered with while

they were being treated at Stepping Hill hospital. Rebecca Leighton, a

nurse who spent six weeks in custody, charged with contaminating

the saline, was released yesterday after proceedings against her were

dropped. Rebecca Leighton has spent more

than six weeks in jail, accused of contaminating supplies of Saleem

solution and endangering the lives of patients. Her parents looked on

as she expressed her relief at being freed from jail in a

statement read by her solicitor. It's so frustrating for me, knowing

that the person who carried out these terrible acts is out there.

My life has been turned upside down. All I wanted to do was to pursue a

profession in nursing and care for my patients. It is unbelievable

that anyone in the medical profession would ever put their

patients' lives at risk. Police believe that seven patients died at

Stepping Hill and up to 40 in total were affected after Saleem drips

were contaminated. So far, they have spoken to 200 people and have

500 more to interview in what they say is one of the most complex

investigations ever carried out by the force. Like any investigation,

this is a search for the truth. While we wish to prosecute those

responsible and bring them to justice, we have to discount and

eliminate from the inquiry those who are not responsible and are

dedicated medical professionals. though freed from jail, Rebecca

Leighton is still suspended from working as a nurse and an interim

order from the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

In Libya, opposition fighters are continuing their advance on Colonel

Gaddafi's birthplace, the city of Sirte. Negotiations are continuing

to try to persuade regime loyalists to surrender. Meanwhile, Libya's

acting leaders say they will move their headquarters to the capital,

Tripoli, next week. Ben Brown is there for us now. How big a

challenge will the new administration face in Tripoli?

some ways, this seems to be a city returning to normal. Traffic is

flowing. They are clearing the streets of rubbish and have taken

down barricades. They are still celebrating. We have seen people

out on the streets, a lot of women out in what used to be Queens

Square in the Gaddafi days, now Martyr Square, chanting their

delight at the demise of Colonel Gaddafi and looking to the National

Transitional Council to bring democracy to this country. People

here have huge hopes. When the transitional council arrive next

week, they will have enormous tasks. There are severe shortages of

things like water and fuel. There is still a war going on. Sirte is

still in the hands of Gaddafi loyalists. Colonel Gaddafi himself

is still in hiding. Nobody is sure exactly where, maybe the town Bani

Walid, south east of here. But he is still able to put out messages,

calling on loyalists to resist the National Transitional Council and

fight a long guerrilla war of resistance. So there are plenty of

problems for the transitional council. But it will be hugely

symbolic when they arrive. The Government is putting pressure

on all MPs to reject a proposal to change the way that abortion

providers deal with women seeking to end their pregnancies. A

backbench Conservative MP wants to stop such organisations giving

counselling, saying independent advice should be given.

The Government has offered to hold talks with opponents of their

planning reforms following widespread criticism from the

National Trust and the Campaign to Protect Rural England. The planning

minister Greg Clark has denied that he is considering a U-turn, though,

over controversial proposals to change the law to encourage more

housebuilding. Two of Britain's favourite takeaway

dishes can contain illegally high levels of colourings, a snapshot

study has found. The Local Government Group analysed food from

more than 200 Indian and Chinese takeaway restaurants across England

and Wales, and also found very high levels of saturated fat, salt and