26/04/2014 BBC Weekend News

The leaders of the G7 industrialised countries are to impose further

sanctions on Russia over the crisis in Ukraine. Pro-Russian separatists

are continuing to hold eight international monitors in the east

of the country. Sexual abuse allegations against the former MP

Cyril Smith, a senior Liberal Democrat says the party has serious

questions to answer. And the final letter from a passenger on the

Titanic goes on sale. Good afternoon. The leaders of the

G7 group of industrialised countries are to impose further sanctions on

Russia because they say it has failed to defuse the crisis in

Ukraine. The White House said the measures, targeting trade, could be

introduced as early as Monday. Our world affairs correspondent, Rob

Broomby, reports. Russian military manoeuvres on Ukraine 's border

leave little doubt. The message to the Ukrainian government is aware.

Russia is inflaming an already tense situation. They pledged tighter

sanctions as soon as Monday when EU diplomats meet. They expect to

include measures on trade, finance and more. The Ukrainian deputy

Foreign Minister called on Russia to stop threatening. I call upon the

Russian authorities to withdraw troops on the Ukrainian border.

There is not any reason to keep troops near Ukraine. Despite

attempts to regain control, the Ukrainian forces are treading

carefully. They have been praised for their restraint by the West.

Anything that could be construed as provoking Russia could be

catastrophic. In the latest incident, the pro-Russian forces had

shown of the emblems and documentary documents of observers they have

captured. The rebels accused members of the German led mission of

espionage for NATO. Ukrainian Security service quoted by Reuters

says one member of the mission requires urgent medical attention

and they say they could be used as human shields. In another twist,

Russia, itself a member says they should be freed and Moscow is taking

all steps to that end. The G7 says Russia has taken no concrete action

to de-escalate the crisis to date or to rein in Russian separatists they

accuse of destabilising Ukraine. The region remains on a knife edge. The

Liberal Democrat president has said members of his party need to answer

serious questions about what they knew of alleged sexual abuse by the

late Cyril Smith. Police are investigating claims the MP for

Rochdale abused boys at care homes and hospitals in the town. Our

political correspondent reports. Famously outspoken, Sir Cyril Smith

was a big figure in the Liberal Democrat party. He was the MP Anne

Maher of Rochdale for 20 years. For decades, there have been allegations

he sexually abused boys at homes in the hostels -- and hostels in the

town. New claims emerged he had abused boys on the premises of a

school in Rochdale. Nick Clegg has rejected calls for the party to

investigate. The most important in Rochdale. Nick Clegg has rejected

calls for the party to investigate. The most important enquirer Valk is

the only people who can now added his voice. He says there are serious

questions to be answered. The party absolutely, as the Labour Party also

because civil space belong to them -- Cyril Smith belonged to them when

the allegations were taking place, they need to answer serious

questions about who knew what and when. This is about a politician who

abused boys. He did that over many years. Party politics needs to be

set aside. We need to get to the bottom of why he managed to get away

with it. Despite numerous investigations while he was alive,

Cyril Smith was never charged with any offence. An independent review

into the way the school was run is due to report the Rochdale Council.

The NATO-led international force in Afghanistan has said five of its

troops have been killed in a helicopter crash in the southern

province of Kandahar. Local officials said the cause of the

crash was technical failure. The nationalities of those killed have

not been released. Afghanistan is set to announce the results of its

presidential election later this afternoon. The vote was held earlier

this month, when millions of Afghans defied threats of Taliban violence

to take to the polls. But no candidate is likely to have won the

50% of votes they need to win outright, making another runoff

election likely. David Loyn, reports. Three weeks after the polls

closed and all eyes are on the Election Commission as it prepares

to announce the last 18% of results. The former Foreign Minister has been

in the lead so far but hovering around 43 towards -- - 44%. He

remains confident his vote will go up today. He says he could still be

robbed of victory. The votes in Herat, these boats are required. --

votes. His closest rival is ten points behind. Statistically he has

no chance of reaching 50% once the remaining votes are counted. He is

in a weaker position to prevent a second round. Both men want to fight

on. There will be further weeks of discussion while complaints are

investigated. Voters came out in unprecedented numbers. It will be

some time still before they wonder whether there will be the country 's

first peaceful handover of power from one elected president to

another. Manchester United fans have begun arriving at Old Trafford ahead

of Ryan Giggs's first game as interim manager. They'll watch their

team play Norwich City later this afternoon, amid speculation that the

club's new permanent manager may already have been appointed. Joining

us from Old Trafford is our sports correspondent, David Ornstein.

Another big day at Manchester United. It certainly is. That man is

potentially van Gaal, a man with a great track record in European

football, current manager of the Netherlands. He will be taking the

Dutch to Brazil. There is believed to be an offer on the table from

Tottenham Hotspur for his services, that is according to people in the

Dutchman 's camp. United, if they want to appoint him, do not want to

miss out. United and the man himself would want a deal in place certainly

before he takes to the plane for Brazil. That is down the line. Now

the new era begins under interim manager, Ryan Giggs. Not just him

but three of his chums from the class of 92, Paul Scholes, film

apple and Nicky butt. What a team they are bound to make for the visit

of Norwich City. They will get a great reception from the Old

Trafford crowd. They will hope for a victorious end to the season. The

only letter known to have been written onboard the Titanic on the

day it sank is being sold at an auction in Wiltshire today. It was

written by a passenger and her daughter a few hours before the ship

hit an iceberg and sank in April 1912. It only survived because of an

act of kindness, as Duncan Kennedy explains. Esther Hart sat down with

her seven- year-old daughter, Eva, to write the letter, just eight

hours or so before the Titanic hit the iceberg. Addressed to her mother

in London, Mrs Hart wrote that they were enjoying what she called the

wonderful journey. She said they were likely to arrive in New York

early because of the speed the ship was doing. The letter ended up in

the coat pocket of her husband, Benjamin. It only survived because

he gave her the coat to keep warm. He died along with more than 1500

others. The letter could sell for around ?100,000 when it is auctioned

in Wiltshire today. Titanic memorabilia continues to be big

business. A menu on the day of the disaster was sold for ?76,000,

whilst a violin played as the ship sank went for ?900,000.

You can see more on all of today's stories on the BBC News Channel.

There will be more news on BBC One at 6:40pm. But, for now, goodbye.

Hallow. Still mixed through the rest of the weekend. You can see this

cloud wrapped around the low pressure which has