13/09/2011 GMT with George Alagiah

Front line Kabul - a major attack by the Taliban is under way in the

Afghan capital. Missile, suicide bombers and gunfire as the US

Welcome to the programme. Also in the programme: Warnings of

a bloody cycle of reprisals in Libya. Amnesty International says

opposition forces may be guilty of war crimes. There is no war crimes.

They are not a military. They are ordinary people. They might be some

mistakes. A threatened, abused and killed because of their sexuality.

A new international organisation joined the fight for gay rights.

It is 12:30pm in London, 7:30am in Washington and mid- afternoon in

Kabul, were at least four people have been killed in an ongoing co-

ordinated attack by Taliban fighters. They have been several

explosions and heavy gunfire in what is supposed to be a high

security part of the city. Rockets have been fired towards both the US

embassy and the NATO headquarters. Our Correspondent in Kabul, who had

to take cover earlier, a few moments ago gave me the latest.

George, one of those rockets you mentioned appeared to be targeted

at the US embassy which is not very far from where we are. It landed

about 100 metres away. When it landed it seemed to hit a school

bus with a great deal of shrapnel. We have heard LE6 explosions,

police that three of them rocket propelled grenades. At least three

suicide attackers are involved in this a salt to target the US

embassy and the International and mission. We are about two hours

into this attack. I have just heard another couple of gunshot very near

where we are at the moment. Quentin, I am assuming responsibility for

dealing with this lies with the Afghan forces? And the attack

itself must call into question itself their ability to secure

Kabul? It might not seem like it, but the

number of Kabul attacks are down. But other insurgent groups have

shown they can strike at even the most secure areas in this city. We

believe that Gamp security forces are on the streets in force. I

could see the US embassy Marines on top of the Embassy securing and

assessing the area. In between explosions and gunshots it is

eerily quiet. Most Afghan people and even many of the guards in this

area are off the streets and have taken cover. I could not quite

understand it, are you saying the US Marines are involved and the

firing back? We did not see them firing back. You would expect, when

an attack takes place, the US Marines and the force protection

soldiers at the ISAF headquarters would be on high alert. They would

take positions and assess the situation and they are prepared for

any attack on those buildings. Let's take a look at some of the

other stories. Libyan rebels fighting to overthrow Colonel

Gaddafi have been accused of unlawful killings and torture.

Amnesty International made the accusations in a report based on

three months of research in Libya. It is urging the new Government to

establish the rule of law. Suspected Gaddafi loyalists in the

hands of International Security Assistance Force. No suggestion of

malpractice here, Boswell's Amnesty International accuses the Colonel

Gaddafi regime of widespread crimes under international law, it says it

has evidence of serious abuses by opposition supporters including

torture and reprisal killings. Amnesty is calling on the new

leadership to show more accountability. In February there

was a rumour about Colonel Gaddafi using black people as mercenaries.

It is wrong, the NCC has not done a lot to curb that room and now there

is a lot of retaliation against sub-Saharan Africans. They are at

real risk of being taken from the work, their home, from the street,

being tortured and killed. Amnesty International suggests some

opposition supporters could be responsible for war crimes,

although on a smaller scale. An allegation rejected by the National

Transitional Council. They are not a military, they are ordinary

people. They might be some mistakes, but we cannot clarify them as war-

crimes. On the ground in Libya, forces of the National Transitional

Council check vehicles leaving that broke Gaddafi stronghold of Bani

Walid, as it continues to hold out despite intensive fighting around

the time -- town and NATO airstrikes. It is full of anxious

civilians, but the NTC are on the lookout for senior members of the

Gaddafi regime, trying to make their escape, too. And in Tripoli,

a new stage for the head of the Endsleigh seat, Mustafa Abdul Jalil

to address the people. From the same as were Colonel Gaddafi used

to rally his supporters, he described his vision for the new

Libya. TRANSLATION: We seek a state of

institutions, law and prosperity. We won't tolerate any extremist

ideology on the right or the left. We are Muslim people for a moderate

Islam and we will stay on this road. You are on our side, you are our

weapons against anybody who tries to sabotage a revolution.

Heady times in Tripoli, managing the expectations and the interests

of the whole population of this nation, one of the major challenges

ahead. Those allegations from Amnesty

International are aimed at both sides in the Libyan conflict. Both

sides are accused of racism and staring of xenophobia which led to

attacks on sub-Saharan Africans. The majority of violations were

committed by could at the forces of fighters loyal to the National

Transitional Council are accused of lynchings and revenge killings. The

NTC have denied the allegations but Amnesty International say they

shouldn't allow this behaviour. Claudio Cordone joins us from

Tripoli. Let ME pick up what the Justice Minister told us in that

report. He said, the opposition forces were not a military and

therefore they could not be guilty of what you have suggested, war

crimes? Libya is still in an ongoing

conflict, although an internal one. There are some members who commit

crimes such as torturing prisoners, would be responsible for war crimes.

The point is not so much the legal definition, the fact is everybody

should condemn and prosecute anybody who is responsible for the

kind of abuses such as killing prisoners, torturing them and so on.

We know the National Transitional Council has said it repeatedly,

they won't tolerate these crimes. We would like to see more direct

appeals for these types of acts them not to be carried out. Also in

particular for the Protection of those who are currently in

detention centres around the country. We visited many in Tripoli

and its surroundings. We are very concerned about the treatment of

detainees in the centre's right now. You must be concerned, it is one

thing for the chairman of the National Transitional Council to be

making speeches in Martyr's Square. Quite another thing for him to

guarantee to people like you that these revenge killings, perhaps

even war crimes, that they won't continue? We are aware of the

difficulties that -- difficulties they are facing. It is being ruled

effectively by a variety of armed groups who may not respond to

instructions from the National Transitional Council. The council

is establishing itself as the governments of the new Olivia. They

should make more direct appeals to deal with some specific crimes. --

Libya. Not just for not taking reprisals, but the situation of

black Libyans who are being assumed automatically of being loyal to

Colonel Gaddafi, who are being detained and roughed up and so on.

At the same time they should remove from active duty, any fighters they

suspect of having committed these crimes. It is something we know

they are aware of, and they have said things that we would like to

see some proper action on the ground. The situation remains dire.

You mention xenophobic attacks on black Africans, as opposed to Arabs.

Have you seen any signs that these people are going to be given the

kind of protection you are calling for? The television reports we see,

see them in difficult and dire circumstances. We have also

witnessed for example, a black Libyan being taken out of hospital

by gunmen who told him a ring no way you off from and we will take

you away from Tripoli because they treat you too well. There are many

examples of that nature affecting Africans from sub-Saharan Africa,

who have no one to turn to. We have seen those actions and that that is

why we think a direct appeal, as others have been made by the

National Transitional Council to all of their fighters to respect

them in particular, would be important as one way to try to

influence the variety of armed groups who at the moment are in

control of much of Libya. Cloudier called Don't Fence the time.

At least five children and a bus driver had been killed during an

ambush on a school bus in north- western Pakistan. The children were

returning to their local village from the shower when the gunmen

attacked. Almost 20 others were also injured. Police are

investigating why the bus was targeted.

Or authorities have stepped up the search for British woman in Kenya

who was abducted after her husband was killed in an attack on Monday.

They were staying at a luxury safari village. It is feared the

woman has been taken to Somalia. The Iranian President, Mahmoud

Ahmadinejad has told the US network, NBC that two hike is detained in

Iran will be released. They were seized in 2009 year the border. A

third hiker was released last year on humanitarian grounds.

Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard has presented her

controversial tax bill to Parliament. It would force 500 of

the country's biggest polluters to pay for every tonne of carbon

dioxide they emit, in a bid to tackle climate change.

Becoming a father could cause a sharp fall in the hormone

testosterone, according to US researchers. A five-year study of

600 men in the Philippines have found the decline was strongest

among men who were most involved in raising their children.

Still to come on the programme: How a new type of lie-detector in test

could boost security at airports. First, let's get the business news

with Aaron. If you have to talk me through this. Italy is in trouble,

but they went marching off to China to try and get some help and what

happened? They did that last week. Italian officials or work in

Beijing with their caps in hand. Joining Spain, Portugal, and

companies like Morgan Stanley. When you are strapped for cash, who were

you turn to? The only one with money is China. It is sitting on

reserves of three trillion dollars. We have not had any confirmation

from Beijing or whether they will buy the Italian debt. But Beijing

has been supportive towards the eurozone. But given the state of

some of these economies, why would they want to buy these debts? This

is a correspondence in Beijing. is trade and it is something

Chinese officials have spoken about in the last few years. They are

interested in seeing happen, that the eurozone countries continued

boosting their economies. Their economies don't falter. If they do,

people could buy fewer Chinese-made goods and that could hit the

economy in China. That has not had in any reassurance. Italy went to

the markets today to raise $9 billion. China has not made up its

mind about Italy, but it made up its mind about Volvo? Absolutely.

Just over a year ago, Volvo was under the Ford umbrella and it was

struggling. It was losing money and Ford wanted rid of it. They sold it

to a company in China for $1.8 billion and the Magic started to

happen. Volvo sales are up this year. In China they are up nearly

40%. It has become the newest luxury brand in the US in terms of

sales. Volvo is the fastest growing premium brand in the first eight

months of this year. We have managed significant turnaround last

year. Volvo is profitable and will remain profitable. We are

generating positive cash flow and that is despite the investments we

are taking into new technology and to our industrial footprint. He was

very optimistic but they are keeping their eye on the markets

and this talk of recession in the US and Europe.

US and Europe. Let's take a quick look at the

We want to hear what do you think. Please get in touch. The best way

to do that is go to our website. There'll also has of wonderful

things including some highlights from the programme. -- there are

all sorts of wonderful things. The headlines: Taliban militants

have launched co-ordinated attacks in the embassy district of the

Afghan capital Kabul. Amnesty International says Libyan

opposition forces may be guilty of war crimes and new authorities in

Tripoli deny this. A dispute over preparations for

Nazi atrocities has said Germany and Italy against each other in the

UN's highest court. Some Italian courts have already received claims

from victims and their families but Germany has rejected suggestions it

should pay up. German soldiers captured by allied

forces and paraded for the cameras as prisoners of war. More than 60

years on and Germany has forced it to lead to appear here at the

International Court of Justice. -- forced Italy. They are trying to

stop victims of the Nazi regime from being allowed to claim

compensation through the Italian court system. In legal terms of

this is all about several community. We request a ruling on the

principle of state immunity, a pillar of present basic standard

international law. Central to the principle is that of jurisdictional

immunity, which of course debars private parties from bringing seats

before the Court of a foreign state against another state for its Act's.

The Germans dared think it is right they should be dragged into another

country's courts. -- don't think. It is not just the Italians seeking

reparations for events that happened during the Second World

War. This is the aftermath of a massacre. More than 200 Greek

villagers were killed in the attack carried out by Hitler's army in the

summer before the end of the war. Lawyers representing Greece will

explain why they believe these victims should be entitled to claim

for reparations. It is not a matter of money. For

those people it is a matter of justice.

If Germany lose, this could be a landmark case opening up

opportunities for victims in other nations to seek compensation for

crimes committed by the Nat seas. - - Nazis.

A new organisation to support gay men and women around the world has

been lodged today. Kaleidoscope will promote diversity and drugs --

was back to. It will name and shame countries where persecution of

homosexuals is widespread. We are joined by a Nigerian gay activist

and a founding member, and the director, land price. Bisi Alim, if

I could start with you. Nigeria is a free-for-all, all sorts of things

of possible, the you have had a particularly nasty experience --

but you have had. I have. It is interesting you say

it is a country where everything is possible, more like the American

dream, I don't know what we will have the Nigerian dream. But there

is so much tension around religion, tripe, and at the court is the

tension around sexuality and sex education. People like me and so

many others, it is interesting for you to know it is just last year

that the law was passed in Nigeria that allowed women to apply for

international passports without the permission of their husband. You

can see the situation. What happened to you personally? You

come out publicly on television. 2004, and before the show we knew

something would happen, we knew there would be a backlash but it

was more than what we were expecting and the bottom line was I

was almost killed. Just like Uganda activist. I was lucky enough to be

able to escape, find my way back to the UK where I have been given

another opportunity to live my life. Lance, that is a graphic example of

what the problem is. Perhaps we are not so convinced about why did

needs a new organisation, there are lots that have been fighting for

gay rights at work in this area. You are right and they have done

some fantastic work. Stonewall, probably the best-known but some

big international gay rights organisations as well. But nobody

has tried to do what we think Kaleidoscope can do which is on two

levels, connecting with people who are in the same situation he was in,

not quite sure how to respond to events in his own country, and if

we can build up the capacity and their ability to engage with their

media, governments and learn from one another about what works and

what doesn't work in terms of trying to level the playing field,

because certainly media coverage, the people who want to preach hate

have an easy ride. Most of the coverage of human sexuality, gay

issues, is very hostile. If we can redress that balance a little bit...

Here you are, a white man sitting in London, director of an

organisation, most of the problem we are talking about is in the

southern states, Africa, Asia. There is a problem there, isn't it

going to sound like white liberals preaching to agents? That is why

all first conversations we had to work with people like Bisi Alim. We

are based in London, we make no apologies for that. The language we

use, the whole way the operate, it will be driven by them, it is about

building up support. You mentioned earlier, you talked

about religion and sex education and so on. You didn't use the word

culture. But actually what you're up against his culture, is it not?

Even in countries like South Africa which earned a well as the most

liberal of constitutions, -- which I know well. You said you have been

to Nigeria, you can see that when people talk about culture they talk

about religion. There is this fluidity between culture, what is

culture, and porters religion? Every time we talk about a culture

in Africa we talk about a Christian God or a Muslim God which is not

our culture. We have forgotten about our tradition. They are

traditional day 80s. Would they have been any more tolerant? There

is history of homosexuality before white man. Even white people came

to Africa recorded history of where men were dressed like women, men

were the third minute, had what you would call husbands, and these

people were living happily within the society, within the framework

of the society. They were not far removed or living in the bush. The

law that criminalised, sexuality is British law.

I noticed in your literature you say you're prepared to name and

shame countries that don't give equal rights. Why don't you start

now. Name a few countries. It doesn't take Kaleidoscope to

name and shame countries. We know about Nigeria. Two or three

examples, Uganda, only... We know that already. 38 of the 50 members

of the Commonwealth criminalise and sexuality. Criminalise, have laws

criminalising homosexuality in some form or another. Most of those laws

were left behind by the British as a result of the colonies. You

mention South Africa where the constitution was changed. India it

has been decriminalised, so it is possible to make a change. It is

not about as coming from outside telling them what to do, the

British have made two mistakes already -- too many mistakes. Why

was India able to make progress? Why is it in a wonder they can have

a sensible discussion about these issues than in Uganda? -- Rwandan.

As efforts continue to rebuild Japan's north-east region

devastated by the earthquake and tsunami six months ago defected

communities have been receiving help and support from around the

world in various forms. The young Greek pianist Panos Karan, the

founder of the charity, Keys Of Change, gave his support to the

displaced playing 11 recitals in eight days for those living in

emergency shelters in Fukushima. He said the trip changed him as an

artist and a person with people teaching him a sense of dignity and

compassion that touched him beyond words.