30/06/2013 BBC Weekend News

join nationwide protests calling for the resignation of the President.

One year after Mohamed Morsi took office, Cairo's Tahrir Square pills

with his opponents in the biggest protest since the revolution two

years ago. The protesters are outside the presidential palace,

too, demanding that the president steps down immediately. As his

supporters staged their own rival demonstrations, we will be assessing

what the unrest means for Egypt's fledgling democracy.

Also tonight: The European Commission demands an explanation

from the United States over allegations of spying on the EU

offices. I am angry, not only angry, I am

deeply shocked because I think the United States should treat the

European Union not like an enemy. The Government prepares to bring

forward proposals for a transferable tax allows for married couples and

civil partners. And Lewis Hamilton is among four

drivers hit by tyre failure at Silverstone, casting a shadow over

News. Egypt is in the grip of political unrest tonight with

hundreds of thousands of people taking part in demonstrations

against President Mohamed Morsi. The protests come one year on from him

taking office as the first freely elected leader of Egypt, but in

scenes reminiscent of the Egyptian revolution to years ago, protesters

have packed Cairo's Tahrir Square, demanding his immediate

resignation. The President's supporters have also been on the

streets, but the scale of the anger is considerable. Middle East editor

Jeremy Bowen is live in Tahrir Square.

Thanks! It is absolutely deafening here tonight, there are tens of

thousands of people in the square behind me, a great deal of noise,

and tens of thousands more outside the presidential palace as well, and

demonstrations, the opposition say, right across Egypt, all aimed at

trying to topple the government of President Morsi, in office for only

one year, but already reviled by a large number of Egyptians. This is

the most serious crisis that Egypt has faced since President Mubarak

From the River Nile across Cairo and right through Egypt, frustration,

disappointment and anger with the president brought the opposition and

millions onto the streets. It started with a petition whose

organisers, a movement called Rebellion, claimed 22 million

signatures demanding the President's resignation and early

elections. The high hopes that followed the revolution in 2011 were

always unrealistic, given Egypt's economic problems and political

divisions, but those who want the president out say that he made a bad

situation worse. We have got rid of a dictatorship that lasted for 60

years, and now we have to get rid of a new fascism that have lasted for

one year. The Egyptian people are not going to accept this anymore,

Egypt has gone down the drain. you had an election. So what?A

wooden sandal was used to beat a rule of Egypt to death once. A major

cause of this content is Egypt's economic collapse. As well as

accusations that he is ruling for his supporters in the Muslim

Brotherhood and not for all Egyptians, the religious

demonstrated alongside the secular. TRANSLATION: There is nothing in

religion about killing people or destroying your country. Religion is

for God, and the homeland is for everyone. President Morsi, or

whoever is in charge in Egypt, needs time, money and the patience of the

people. At the moment, his country does not have any of those things.

The best bet right now is a prolonged period of political chaos,

the most urgent challenge is keeping supporters of the president are

staging their own sitting. They are occupying another square in Cairo.

They echo their leader's view that he has the legitimacy of an election

victory and that it is anti-democratic. It protests to try

to force him out. Who gets him in his place? The voices of the people,

and he must follow those voices. After three years, he will be kicked

out if he did not go for the voices of the people. Many of the

supporters of the president carried clubs, saying they feared attack.

They believe the majority of Egyptians share the view that a slam

and an Islamist state is the answer. -- Islam. The army is

watching what is happening. They have warned they will intervene if

Egypt becomes ungovernable. The coalition ranges from supporters of

the old regime to the people who risk their lives to bring it down.

They share the desire to overthrow their new president and not much

else. No-one from any side of politics has shown the vision to

channel the extraordinary human energy of Egypt into peace,

some serious violence today, and there has been violence, but not on

these gale that some predicted. The Muslim Brotherhood headquarters here

in Cairo has been attacked, and Molotov cocktails have been thrown

at it. The question for the opposition, though is how they try

to fashion a political strategy that can rival the organisation of the

Muslim Brotherhood. Meanwhile, here in Tahrir Square, they are letting

off fireworks and celebrating, but at the moment it is not clear about

what, other than their achievement in bringing so many people out onto

live in Tahrir Square. European Commission is demanding an

explanation from Washington following claims that American

intelligence by Don EU offices. The allegations in a German news

magazine are based on documents released by fugitive CIA

whistleblower Edward Snowden. There is anger among new leaders gathered

in Zagreb to welcome Croatia as a member. From there, Matthew Price

reports. In Zagreb tonight, they gathered to

welcome Croatia into the EU, a celebration for the 28th member of

the block. But it is overshadowed by today's spying allegations. The

president of the European Parliament arrived here mid-afternoon, still

asking for answers from Washington. If it is true, it is a shock, and I

am angry, not only angry, I am deeply shocked, because I think the

United States should treat the European Union not like an enemy.

The allegations appeared in Der Spiegel. Its journalists have seen

part of some top-secret documents from the US National Security

Agency. It is alleged that the NSA accessed internal computer systems

at EU offices in the US, that conversations, phone calls,

documents and e-mails were monitored. The information is said

to have come from this man, the former NSA contractor Edward

Snowden, who is in hiding after releasing other documents relating

to alleged US surveillance programmes. On American TV, the

founder of WikiLeaks, a target of the US justice system for publishing

classified documents, was asked about Edward Snowden's actions.

Years a hero. He has told the people of the world and the United States

that there is mass, unlawful interception of their

communications. The European Commission today asked Washington to

explain the allegations. There is clear discomfort, even anger, in

Brussels. So while the EU celebrates, the United States has

serious questions to answer. The two are close and powerful allies. Will

this affect their relationship? As one senior Brussels politician put

it to me, you don't spy on your friends.

The government says it will shortly bring forward proposals for a

transferable tax allowance for married couples and civil partners.

It is understood that it will happen some time in the autumn. Let's join

political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue, who is in Downing

Street. What is the thinking on this? Mishal, this was a promise

made by the Conservatives at the last election, and if we have a

couple where one partner is earning �6,000, not using the entirety of

their tax-free allowance, they can transfer part of that to their

husband, wife or partner. At the time, the Tories said it would be

worth �150 for up to 4 million couples. One of those backbenchers

is planning an amendment to the Finance Bill to bring that about,

because the Conservative backbenchers are enormously keen on

this idea, and hugely frustrated that David Cameron has not brought

it about. Lo and behold, he will bring it about in the autumn. The

problem is Labour will not back it, and the Lib Dems have a specific opt

out. Any vote will be very tight. Be well, David Cameron has become

the first serving British Prime Minister to visit Kazakhstan, a

country which critics say has a quirky human rights record. Mr

Cameron said Kazakhstan was a rising economic power and importance to

says there has been real progress towards restarting the Middle East

peace process. He has been involved in intense talks between Israeli and

Palestinian leaders. The Palestinian negotiator agreed that there had

been progress, but he warned that there has been no breakthrough.

Police in Greater Manchester are hunting for the former boyfriend of

a young mother who they say was brutally murdered. The body of

25-year-old Linzi Ashton was discovered at her home in Salford.

Police are advising the public not to approach a former partner,

Michael Cope. In South Africa, President Obama and

his family have been visiting Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent

18 years of his imprisonment. The US president said he was deeply humbled

to be there, while Mr Mandela remains critically ill in hospital.

Southern Africa correspondent Karen Allen reports from Cape Town.

Symbolism does not get much more powerful than this, the prison where

Nelson Mandela, once branded a terrorist, spent a large part of his

27 years in jail. And with it, a heightened sense of poignancy, with

Mr Mandela, now 94, still critically ill in hospital. President Obama

caught a moment alone to take it all in. Nelson Mandela's Starke prison

cell still dank and cold. Then onto the lime quarry, a place of hard

labour. With a fellow inmate of Mr Mandela escorting the first family,

they heard how conditions here had permanently damage to Mr Mandela's

health. Clearly moved by what they had seen, they came with their

daughters to give them a lesson on life. The entry in the guestbook

said it all. The family wrote they had been reminded that no shackles

all cells can match the strength of the human spirit. The visit to

Robben Island is a deeply symbolic part of the President's tour, but

the symbolism continues as he moves on to deliver his keynote address at

the same venue where, more than 40 years ago, US Senator Robert Kennedy

was to give hope to millions in the fight for racial equality. The

University of Cape Town may project a different image of South Africa

now, so the president said of any country could demonstrate that human

beings could affect change, this was it. Like billions all over the

world, I and the American people have drawn strength from the example

of this extraordinary leader and the nation that he changed. The trip may

have been overshadowed by Nelson Mandela's ill-health, but it has

been no less significant for it. Explosives experts have successfully

demolished two tower blocks in Dundee without damaging a small

church located between them. The 25-storey blocks came down just

metres from Saint Martin's Church, which is expected to reopen to

Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes at the BBC Sport Centre.

Thank you very much, Mishal. High drama at the British Grand Prix with

an unusual number of tyre blow outs, four drivers were hit by the

problem, including Lewis Hamilton, who described the situation as

unacceptable. Team-mate Nico Rosberg was the eventual winner.

This year still doesn't seem to have a spring in its step. Unlike 12

months ago, the rain stayed away, and Lewis Hamilton was on pole

position, what could possibly go wrong? Fuelled by the optimism of

bands, Hamilton made the smoothest of starts, but without warning, this

happen. It is Hamilton!After just eight laps, his Grand Prix was in

tatters and Silverstone was in shock. But the drama did not end

there, and three more drivers had the same problem. With Jean-Eric

Vergne barely able to keep his Toro Rosso on the track, the danger was

all too clear. Look at the shrapnel! Sebastian Vettel had taken the

lead, but there would be one last twist. With ten laps to go, his race

ground to a halt. This time the tyres were not to blame. I have lost

the clear box. Amid the chaos, Nico Rosberg powered through to take the

chequered flag. Not the homecoming that Hamilton had hoped for,

finishing in fourth. It could have happened at high speed, and someone

could have crashed. It is only when someone gets hurt that someone will

do something about it. You know, I am massively disappointed, and it is

down to the tyres. So no British winner for the home fans here at

Silverstone, and this is the corner where it all unravelled for Lewis

Hamilton. Tyres have been a controversial issue this season, and

after today's events at Silverstone, manufacturer Pirelli will have even

more questions to answer. Cricket, and England's batsman did

not spend as much time at the crease as they would have hoped in their

final warmup ahead of the Ashes series. Making his international

comeback in the four-day game at Essex, Kevin Pietersen fell just

short of a half-century. His dismissal began a slump of four

wickets for 49 runs. England closed on 328-7.

Double Olympic champion Mo Farah has thrown down the gauntlet to his

rivals ahead of this summer's World Athletics Championships. He beat a

top-class field to win the 5000 metres at the Diamond League meeting

in Birmingham, with a blistering final lap. There were also several

strong performances by Britain's female athletes, including teenager

Jessica Judd, won the 800 metres. And Chris Froome is just behind the

leader of the Tour de France after the second stage in Corsica. Back to

you, Mishal. This year's Glastonbury Festival is

in its final stages, wrapping up in the next hour. Founder Michael Eavis

has already declared last night's concert by the Rolling Stones to be

the high spot in the festival's 43 year history, and there were some

surprises among today's acts, as Lizo Mzimba reports.

For many, this never likely to be repeated appearance by the Rolling

Stones was nothing less than festival's founder, his highlight

was being thanked onstage by Mick Jagger, who has wanted to book the

band for years. The whole thing has been the best, without a shadow of a

doubt. It is the whole razzmatazz of the whole occasion, do you know what

I mean? Another performer of advancing years went down well with

young fans was Sir Bruce Forsyth. He seemed surprised that he had proved

so popular. What the hell I am doing here, I have no idea at all! I am

going to try to rock and I am going to try to roll. At the other end of

the musical spectrum, one of the most talked about act on this final

day was country star Kenny Rogers. He has played all over the world but

says that Glastonbury special. is no question, you have to look at

the people who have been here, look at the people who are here even this

year, and it is a very special place to be, and I am thrilled to be here.

I hope I can pull my weight with the audience. I hope they enjoyed.