13/02/2016 BBC Weekend News

A war of words has broken out between Russia and the West a day

after they agreed a pause in the fighting in Syria.

At a security conference in Germany, Russia's Prime Minister said

the West wass rekindling the Cold War.

Nato responded by accusing Moscow of intimidation,

while the United States said Russia was bombing civilians

in its campaign against so-called Islamic State in Syria.

This report by our chief international correspondent,

Lyse Doucet, starts in the besieged Syrian town of Aleppo.

Russia's jets still in the skies over Aleppo, still bombing targets

in the rebel-held east, in a divided city.

In west Aleppo, President Assad and his best friends are in control

"The Russians are our brothers," this baker says.

"They're honest and stand behind us along with Iran and Hezbollah."

There's praise for President Putin from this taxi driver.

He says, "he changed the balance of power here."

That's the point made here in Munich, too.

The vast majority, in our opinion, of Russia's attacks have been

against legitimate opposition groups and to adhere to the agreement that

has been made, we think it is critical that

TRANSLATION: Nato's policy with regard to Russia remains

One could go as far as to say that we have slid back

to a new Cold War, almost on an every day basis.

Last year at this major forum, the main crisis was Ukraine,

this year it's Syria, but the issue hasn't changed -

the growing power of Russia and how it's calling the shots.

So the big question for world leaders is,

if they can't resolve major crises without Russia,

And they are moving on some issues, trucks are being loaded with aid

If the Munich Agreement holds, more aid will soon be on its way,

but if fighting doesn't stop, an even more terrifying

At the same conference, the US Secretary of State also

raised the issue of Britain's future in the European Union,

saying that America wants a strong UK to stay in the EU.

Mr Kerry's intervention comes ahead of a crucial EU summit on Thursday.

Our political correspondent, Iain Watson, joins us from

What's the reaction been to John Kerry's comments?

Well, to be fair, it's been something of a mixed reaction. Those

who want Britain to stay in the EU welcomed those comments partly

because he didn't simply say Britain would be stronger inside the

European Union. He suggested he would be safer as well, Europe

should be united in the face of global challenges. That could be a

key theme in the referendum campaign. Conservative MPs who want

it leave the European Union are far from happy tonight. One of them said

this was an intrusion into our affairs. Another told the BBC the

Americans were trying to dictate to British voters. Separately the

former Defence Secretary Liam Fox denounce what happened he sees as

scaremongering by the pro-EU camp days before the summit. Which are

catching a glimpse of how hard-fought this referendum will be.

There is a possibility when you wheel out the big guns in favour of

EU membership that may also backfire. One more question this EU

Summit on Thursday, how important is it going to be? Well, it will be

crucial for the Prime Minister. It will decide whether he gets the deal

he wants to see on the table. If he does that fires the starting gun on

the referendum campaign. That allows him to do what he wants to do, to

have an early referendum in June while he believes many of his

opponents are in disarray, if he fails to get the deal that he wants,

and some areas of negotiation still have to be car carried out, there is

a danger it goes longer and it makes it far more difficult for him to

make a convincing case. Iain many thanks, Iain Watson there at

Westminster. Police investigating the murder

of a man during an armed raid at his warehouse in Birmingham have

arrested a 26-year-old man. 56-year-old Akhtar Javeed was shot

in the neck outside the building An 18-year-old man also remains

in custody and a 19-year-old woman has been detained on suspicion

of assisting an offender. Tens of thousands of people have

lined the streets of Mexico City to welcome Pope Francis on the first

full day of a five-day visit In a speech at the Presidential

Palace he delivered a tough message to the country's leaders,

saying a failure to tackle inequality had sown

the seeds of corruption Our Mexico correspondent,

Katy Watson, has been following the day's events

and sent this report. After a day making history in Cuba,

Pope Francis touched down in Mexico City to an

enthusiastic crowd. This morning he

talking to the crowds who gathered outside his residence. Pope Francis

made his way to the national palace, streets lined with Mexicans chanting

his name. This is Pope Francis' first trip to Mexico. As a fellow

Latin American many people see him as one of their own. Big

expectations are being pinned on this trip that what he says and what

he does could have a big impact on the country's politics. There is a

feeling of disillusionment among Mexicans that the government has not

done enough to curb the violence and corruption that has become a problem

here. We Mexicans are fed up with corruption, violence and our ruling

elites. We are being looking for alternatives, the Catholics and the

non-Catholics, the Pope can be an ingredient in the creation of this

huge coalition. In his first public address he pointedly talked of the

dangers of a society driven by greed and selfishness.

TRANSLATION: Sooner or later society becomes fertile terrain for

corruption, drug are trafficking, the exclusion of different cultures,

violence and even human trafficking, kidnap and death. His presence is

being felt on the streets here in Mexico. In a country so often hit by

violence, his visit offers a The Bronze medallist fractured two

vertebrae during rehearsals Surgeons in Austria used a bone

fragment from her hip In Rugby Union, it's been

a dramatic afternoon with two The reigning champions,

Ireland, have lost to France In the last few minutes in Cardiff,

Wales secured their first win of the tournament, scoring 27-

23 against Scotland in a packed Our Sports Correspondent

Olly Foster is there. A nail-biting afternoon? Was

continues just am some of the 74,000 milling around in some of the bars

here at what is now called the Principality Stadium. There has been

a change of name. Not the old Millennium Stadium but not a change

of fortunes for Scotland. They must be sick coming to Cardiff. It's 14

years since they have won here. Wales have now won nine in a row. It

was tight. Scotland led by three points at half time. Led midway

through the second-half, but then two Welsh

it away from the Scots. Jamie it away from the Scots. Jamie

Roberts with the first of thechl. Crashing over for the Welsh. They

didn't lose their lead again it. Was a really important try

didn't lose their lead again it. Was North that followed soon after much

he hadn't scored for Wales since last summer.

he hadn't scored for Wales since to break that drought. Scotland got

a late try the margin of defeat was only four points it was a defeat,

yet again, for the Scots against the Welsh. Yet again they are propping

up the Six Nations table. They will be worrying about the wooden spoon

yet again. In the other Match of the Day in Paris, well Ireland they will

be worrying about losing their title. They led for quite a while

thanks title. They led for quite a while

There was the one try in it at the Stade de France. It came from

Medard. They won by a single point thich beat Italy by two points last

week in the opening weekend am they have made it two out of two, the

French now. They will be hoping now and thinking about the Grand Slam.

England are in Italy tomorrow. They will hope to make it two out of two.

It's shaping up to be a fascinating Championship. The next match here is

on a Friday night in under a fortnight. France play Wales. That

could be a critical match. Olly, many thanks. Olly Foster there.

There's more throughout the evening on the BBC News Channel.