05/01/2014 BBC Weekend News

Government -- conflict in South Sudan. A senior general is killed.

In the latest fierce fighting, army vehicles come under attack as they

approach a key town held by the rebels. We have an eyewitness

account. The firing started. There seems to have been that the convoy

was an bushed from the front and back. The Prime Minister promises to

protect the value of the state pension if re-elected. He does

protect the value of the state rule out cuts to other benefits.

More storms sweep into the UK from the Atlantic. Almost 100 flood

warnings are in place. And a shattering end to the Ashes,

as Australia whitewash England, 5-0. Good evening. It is the conflict

which has cost more than 1,000 lives in just three weeks. Today, a BBC

team in South Sudan saw the full extent of the latest fierce

fighting. Government troops and rebels have both been trying to gain

as much ground as possible before direct peace talks get under way in

Ethiopia. Today, a senior general was killed as a Government convoy

came under attack in Bor near Sudan's oilfields. Our correspondent

Alastair Leithhead and his come raman Jack Garland were there. You

may find parts of this report disturbing. These men grew up

fighting for independence. After taking that - they are now fighting

each other. It began as a political crisis which sparked tribal violence

and is a battle between these troops, still loyal to the

Government and the men up the road they are preparing to face, who now

fight under a different banner in. These are Government

re-enforcements. We saw hundreds arrive today. And joined them on the

road north to Bor - the most fiercely contested city in South

Sudan. For days, there have been clashes here. Barracks and village

villages lie empty. Evidence lines the route. The commanding general

was confident the slow, pot-holed road to Bor was clear. He strode

out. His tanks and infantry ahead, unaware he was walking into trouble.

We are just walking up the road with the general, when suddenly the

firing started. There seems to have been that the convoy was ambushed

from the front and from the back. It was a costly setback. And the

chaos the young soldier was shot in the back of the neck. There are no

doctors here. A senior general was among those killed in the ambush.

This battle on the banks of the Nile is escalating.

Until talks agree a ceasefire, each side will fight hard to strengthen

their hand. These are some more of the Government re-enforcers coming

in boats, they have come up the Nile. Others have come by road.

There is a mass of these Government troops. It is not just a rag tag

groop of rebels, it is a -- group of rebels, it is their own army. There

could be many, many troops involved. There are heavy weapons and

thousands of troops on both sides. Any incoming fire creates panic and

retreat. This former guerrilla army lacks discipline.

The Prime Minister has promised to protect the value of state pensions

if the Conservatives win the next election. David Cameron says he is

committed to the triple lock, by which pensions rise in line with

prices, wages or by 2.5%, whichever is the highest. He has insisted it

is fair to prioritise pensions even as benefits for younger people are

slashed. Our political correspondent reports.

Will they be able to keep up if the economy starts to gather pace? David

Cameron's message is designed to reassure more than 11 million people

that their state pensions will be protected for another five years if

he wins the next election. He has promised to keep the so-called

triple lock, which guarantees the state pension will rise in either

line with wages, prices or by 2.5% - whichever is the highest.

I want people, when they reach retirement, to know they can have

dignity and security in their old age. People who have worked hard,

done the right thing, provided for their families. They should know

they will get a decent state pension and don't have to worry about it

lagging behind prices or earnings. David Cameron is the first party

leader to promise to keep the policy until 2020. And it puts pressure on

Labour and the Liberal Democrats to say if they will match his pledge.

Both have stressed their support for the triple lock. They have made no

specific commitments about whether they would keep it in place after

the next election. We will set out our plans in the manifesto for all

of our tax and spending proposals. That is the right time to do it.

Nobody should be in any doubt about my commitment to the triple lock on

pensions. Increasing the state pension will benefit all pensioner,

including some who are enjoying comfortable lifestyles and it will

have to be paid for by those who are working.

Figures show that pensioners have done better than many of those in

work over the past five years. Since 2008, the basic state pension has

risen by 21.4%. Average earnings increased by 8.4%. It seems unfair

on younger people who face terrific high costs and who would be paying

for these higher pensions. And it seems also unaffordable. And given

the squeeze on spending, there is a real debate about whether pensioners

should keep other benefits, such as the winter fuel allowance and free

bus passes pensioners are the most likely age group to vote. Perhaps it

is not surprising that the first plank of the Conservative manifesto

is crafted to appeal to their interests.

And let's join Carol now live at Westminster. Only five days into the

New Year and we are talking about an election next year. That is right.

And the Prime Minister clearly keen to try and seize the agenda at the

start of the New Year, with a positive message, after months when

it was Ed Miliband and his promise of an energy price freeze that

appeared to be calling the shots. Significant too that the Prime

Minister, at a time when there is talk about a threat from UKIP and

the need to talk tough on immigration, on Europe, has chosen

to go on an issue which is a much broader appeal, a real

centre-ground, bread and butter issue, which will appeal across the

party and public. There'll be a warning tomorrow from the

Chancellor, George Osborne, it is not all positive news. The

underlying problems in the economy are still there and the Chancellor

will be warning of yet more cuts to come.

Thank you. The Environment Agency is warning of more heavy rain and

strong winds tonight, with almost 100 flood warnings in place across

the UK. More than 200 homes have been flooded in the recent extreme

conditions. The worst of the weather over south-west England and Wales

and on to the north and east. How much longer can this go on? It

is County Down that's had it worst today.

Coastal roads closed for another tidal surge. Across the UK, it has

been another day of rain, on rain, on rain. In the Wiltshire market

town of Bradford on Avon, the water is rising yet again. The river her

here should be several feet -- -- the river here should be several

feet lower than it is today and those arches should be entirely

visible. Mark Kendall's restaurant has flooded and will not reopen for

months. Some staff has been laid off and he's worried the water could

soon return. How vulnerable do you feel now? Very. Very vulnerable. And

there is nothing I can do. There is nothing my wife and I can do.

There's nothing anyone can do. We are at the liberty to the water. In

Somerset, one woman has got liberty from the water for the first time in

13 days. She had spent the whole of Christmas and New Year trapped in

her isolated home near Taunton. And in Gloucestershire today, fire

crews had to rescue two lorry drivers from their stranded truck.

With more people returning to work and school tomorrow, after the

Christmas break, renewed warnings tonight about the risks of flooding.

Less than 30 cms of water, which is just one ruler, in this sort of

tidal flow, will take people away. Tonight, another reminder of those

dangers. In Oxford, a man has died after apparently falling into this

swollen river while riding his mobility scooter.

As well as rain, tomorrow will bring winds of up to 70 miles per hour.

But then forecasters say things should improve.

The security firm G4S is tackling an on going incident at oak Oakwood

Prison near Wolverhampton. There are November more details but the

situation is being detained. Last year prisoners staged a number of

roof-top protests. An Iraqi Government operation appears to be

underway to retake areas seized in recent days by militants linked to

quad qua. Civilian -- Al-Qaeda. Civilians are #6d leaving Fallujah.

A show of force from the Iraqi army. Tonight Al-Qaeda and its allies

remain in control of the highly symbolic city of Fallujah.

No retreat, declares the Iraqi Prime Minister, not until we eliminate

this gang, referring to Al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda in Iraq, who are

controlling areas of Fallujah are not representative of the

population. They have at best 3,000 members. What they have done is

exploited Government weakness, Government ill legitimacy to set

themselves up as a violent alternative. Air strikes by the

Iraqi Government have so far failed to dislodge the militants. It seems

familiar. A re-run of America's struggles in Iraq.

The Americans fought a bloody battle to rest control of Fallujah from

Al-Qaeda. Almost ten years after this, the Jihadies are back.

Al-Qaeda thrives on chaos. There has been plenty of that in Iraq. Almost

9,000 people died there last year. The worst violence since the

sectarian blood-letting of six years ago.

And Al-Qaeda's black flag flies in towns across northern and eastern

Syria. Now, in Fallujah. The goal, an Islamic emirate, united sunny

areas and Iraq and Syria. -- Sunni areas and Iraq and Syria.

Sectarian hatreds are what made Iraq an intractable problem for the

Americans. This is a fight that belongs to the Iraqis. That is

exactly what the President and the world decided some time ago. When we

left Iraq. So, we are not obviously planning in returning, not putting

boots on the ground. This is their fight.

Al-Qaeda has sensed a power vacuum. In Iraq and in Syria. That in itself

does not guarantee victory for the Jihadies. In both countries there is

turmoil ahead. Now sport.

Hello. Thank you. England's cricketers have suffered an

embarrassing 5-0 whitewash in the Ashes in Australia. They lost the

final Test within three days in one of their worst performances.

The urn returned, the whitewash was complete. Australia had not just

beaten England, they had annihilated them. The tourists put out of their

Ashes mystery. Australia compounded England's mystery. Chris Rogers

helping to get 148. Alastair Cook had gone second ball. Today, he

lasted until the second over. We knew what would happen next. They

may have been tempted to blame their tools, but the senior batsmen know

they have not been good enough here. Bell and Pietersen again failing.

England, 57-3. Then fittingly, another collapse, as four wickets

fell in 11 balls after tea. Like lambs to the slaughter, batsmen came

and went in the blink of an eye. 95-7, the end was nie. The only two

who leave with reputations in tact did go down swinging. These were the

last rights and after their defiance was snuffed out, it was complete.

England, the favourites before this ser r ris, losing by -- series.

Losing 5-0 and losing perhaps like they have lost never before. We have

obviously let the supporters down because we have not played very

well. At the end of the day, the results suggest that. Every person

will feel they let themselves down because we have not performed.

So, I think everyone else will be hurting. This has been arguably

England's worst tour ever. And the team and those in charge of it will

now come under severe scrutiny. The inquest into what went so long out

here will now begin. With another Ashes as soon as next year, answers

are needed fast. There were some surprising results

in the FA Cup third round. Chelsea, Liverpool and Sunderland went

through. Manchester United were beaten 2-1 by Swansea.

West Ham lost to Nottingham Forest. Old Trafford is not as daunting for

away teams as it used to B four home defeats this season are the biggest

cloud over Moyes's rain. Swansea came with purpose.

The tension was lift lifted when there was an equaliser. When Fabio

was sent off for this challenge, Swansea smelled blood.

Moyes despondent as thor meant continues. Sam Allardyce is under

pressure at West Ham too. His day started badly when Djamel Abdoun

dispatched an early penalty. The Hammers got to half time without

further damage. Instead of building they began to crumble. Jamie

Paterson grabbed his first goal for Forest. Having waited six months for

his first, he only had to wait six minutes for his second. It was

painful viewing for some. For Paterson it got better. He completed

his hat trick in some style. Reid capped off a sensational day

for Forest. Allardyce's problems deepen.

Sportscene is on later in Scotland. If you don't want to know the

scores, you know what to do. One of the greatest footballers of

all time, Ouse Ouse has died, 71. Eusebio!

Oh, my word! Have you ever seen anything like

that! The pictures might be dated, the technique can be marvelled at.

1966 might be remembered as the year England won the World Cup. It was

Eusebio who was the star of that tournament. Born in Mozambique under

colonial rule he had no choice but to represent Portugal. Driving the

side forward, often appearing to win matches on his own. In their

quarter-final Portugal trialled North Korea 3-0. Eusebio changed

everything. Four goals to three. All four to

Eusebio. There was a goal for him in the semi-final too. Portugal were

beaten by England. In all Eusebio scored 41 goals in 61 games for

Portugal. He came to prominence has a 20-year-old.

He was to become a prolific goal scorer for the Portuguese club.

Defenders knew they had to stop him... Somehow.

Nobby Stiles here with a robust attempt. That was in the 1968 cup

final. Eusebio found it in him to

congratulate the goalkeeper. That was him. I can accept what he did

because throughout his career that was the way he always performed and

what he did. He gave so much respect to the game.

Like I said, it was a privilege to play against him. That engaging

demeanour was well used by Portugal. He worked as an ambassador for the

national federation once his playing days were done. Eusebio da Silva

Ferreira - an African and Portuguese icon, one of the greatest players

not just of the 1960s, but of any era. And that is the sport.

Thank you. And that's it from us. Stay with us

though, on