17/02/2013 Reporters

is required. -- that a culture of openness.

That is the latest news. Now it is Welcome to Reporters. I'm in the

newsroom where we send out correspondence to review the best

stories from across the globe. In this week's programme: What

happened to the people of Homs, the cradle of the Syrian revolution?

One year on, Paul Wood tracks down the rebels who took on Syria's army.

Kate MacGowan goes on patrol in the southern Philippines where the

Philippines and American troops a winning the war against rebels.

Nigeria are -- Nigeria is reviving the railway. Cannich reconnect

divided communities in the north and south of the country? -- can it

reconnect. We begin in Syria where the

conflict has claimed a heavy death toll. The number of people killed

is now approaching 70,000 according to the UN. A key turning point in

the conflict came with the fall of Baba Amr in the central city of

homes to the opponents of President Assad first. Paul Wood met some of

the Syrians whose lives are changed dramatically. Many are living in

exile in London on. Deserted and destroyed. It is hard

to imagine that Baba Amr once symbolised the hopes of Syria's

revolution. These streets will once declared a free Syria and then they

redeem the crushed Baba Amr. It was the changing point of the

revolution. It made people think more and more. This man was a media

activist at the centre in Baba Amr. It made people realise that the

district -- the regime would never It was a one-sided battle. We

watched a bombardment that the rebels were powerless to stop. Most

of the victims were civilians. The defence of Baba Amr was led by this

captain. TRANSLATION: They are killing civilians because they

cannot get to last. He was later killed by a shell. His parents are

now refugees. They spoke to me about the day that their son

decided to join the rebels. tried to delay it, hoping that

things might be resolved. He could just not take it anymore, what was

being done to our people. We have paid a high price for freedom. But

freedom does not come cheap. Hundreds of thousands of refugees

are living in neighbouring countries in miserable conditions.

Some wonder if it has been worth it. When the shelling began in Baba Amr

one year ago, everyone there was absolutely convinced that they

would be helped from the outside world. Nobody thinks that now. The

early hopes have been replaced by bitter resignation and anger.

TRANSLATION: The whole world watched while we were butchered. We

do not expect much from the international community any longer.

Now we put our faith in God and in the Free Syrian Army. They had it

to steal out at night to bury their dead in Baba Amr. No Western

intervention followed as they had hoped. Instead, Baba Amr became a

rallying cry. Thousands joined the armed uprising and Syria were urged

deeper into today's civil war. -- lurched.

The withdrawal of 30,000 US troops in Afghanistan by the end of this

year was one of president Obama's key announcements in his State of

the Union speech. On the ground in Afghanistan, there are concerned

about what the future holds for a group of Afghans who have worked as

interpreters for the British. They are now campaigning for the same

asylum rights given to interpreters during the Iraq war. From Kumble,

our defence correspondents -- defence correspondent Jonathan deal

reports. I Ahmed run shows me the death

threats that he has received from that Taliban. This was the call

that I received last night and I have translated. It calls UN

infidel spy and says that you'll receive punishment. Asking working

for the British military in Hulman, he's now in hiding waiting to be

granted asylum in the UK. So far, his pleas have been in vain. What

kind of proof should they show to the British military or government

that can convince them that my life is in danger? He is not alone. We

were approached by a group of interpreters are still serving with

British forces. The fact that we cannot show their faces only

highlights the dangers that they face. The withdrawal of the British

will lend me in deep trouble. will definitely target me to tell

me. To the local people, I'm an infidels, so I am an infidel.

have put the lives on the line, joining troops on patrol. More than

20 interpreters working for the British have already lost their

lives. Those who did the same job in Iraq were offered asylum. That

adds to their sense of injustice. We want exactly the same. What

happened with the other interpreters. They would have been

a target. They should think about us. The Ministry of Defence has

issued a statement saying that will not abandon its interpreters but so

far the UK government has said that it will only consider individual

claims based on merit. The senior US general here on the

right who has just handed over command of NATO forces are believed

that the Afghan interpreters are owed a debt. I think we have an

obligation to look at. Each country, in its own way, based on

immigration regulations will have to comes to grips about. In other

conflicts such as this, I think that the nations involved have made

special efforts. They have taken sides in this war but their last

hope is now in a legal challenge, demanding that they are given the

same rights as those who served with the British in Iraq.

As American troops pull out of Afghanistan, US forces up playing a

much less publicised role in combating Islamist saying elsewhere

in Asia, in the Philippines. Rebels in the southern island of Sulu had

been fighting to establish an old - - and Islamic state for four

decades. They are being pushed back but Sulu remains a haven for

international extremism. Kate MacGowan was given access to a city.

Down in this jungle, and a remote tropical island, some of Asia's

Most Wanted rebels. Philippine troops have been fighting here for

more than 40 years. Against militants who wish to establish

their own Islamic state. The US military arrive after they

discovered that these rebels had sheltered the architect of the 911

attacks. All the attacks that occurred between 1994 and 2001 at

least it touched in some part in the southern Philippines. They were

used as either a safe haven or used to conduct planning or used it to

give training to the individuals down here. That is why American

forces came here. To advise the Philippine counterpart. And make

sure that these islands are no longer a breeding ground for

international terrorism. It seems to be working. They have taken 66%

of rebel territory. The main opponent is a group which is

currently holding at least six foreign hostages. Other militants

have moved here from Indonesia. Some with links to Afghanistan and

Al-Qaeda. These isolated islands are an ideal place for the rebels

to hide. They find support in the local Muslim community. This is the

largest city in these islands and yet it is still very underdeveloped.

The literacy rates alone any infant mortality rates are higher. The

violence is holed in the region back. It is fertile recruiting

ground for the militants. Many in the population here both the US and

Philippine security forces with since -- suspicion. We want to

build trust again. We have only one country. We have only one race. We

may as well start acting that way. The focus is shifting from military

strategy to winning over the locals. US forces are letting the

Philippine forces take centre-stage. Stop such as in Afghanistan, the

Afghan Asante -- the Americans are reducing their numbers here. One

day they had to leave completely. Not yet. The threat is still very

real. These islands remain as The Israeli Prime Minister,

Benjamin Netanyahu, has spoken out after two Muslim players were

subjected to racist abuse from the football team Beitar Jerusalem. He

said there in the light of the troubles that the Jews have faced,

such racist abuse is unacceptable. The day after the two players from

Chechnya out joined, there was an arson attack on the offices of the

football team. Anger and hatred on the terraces.

1,000 gave and Gabriel caregivers was signed up to help Beitar

Jerusalem qualifies for the end of season play-offs. The reception

that the new players got from some fans was hostile and openly racist.

They've had arisen as a long tradition are not signing Arab or

Muslim the players. When it news came out at that bit too were

signed up, a banner was unfurled that read that Beitar Jerusalem

should be forever pure. Rifaat 'Jimmy' Turk was a footballing

legend here. An Arab who played more than 30 times for Israel. He

also suffered racist abuse on and off the pitch. He says that most

clubs have changed except for Beitar Jerusalem. TRANSLATION: For

most clubs, it is a pure football thing. Whether to have an Arab

player if he is good enough or not. Beitar Jerusalem that seems to take

pride in their reputation as the most racist in Israel. Races among

the terrorists -- terraces is a blight affecting Israel. Beitar

Jerusalem acknowledges that they have a long-standing problem but

they are determined to stamp it out. Fans angry with the Muslim signings

are suspected of setting fire to the club's offices last weekend,

distrain trophies and football memorabilia. We will not give up

because of what happens in the past few days. With a loud minority. We

will support our new players. We will still be a football club that

uses plays because they're football players and not because of their

religion. Some fans had been banned for racist behaviour but there are

still strong views on the ground. We will not allow Muslims, this is

a Jewish Club, says of this fan. Others disagree. Most of their

support as they are here to see supper. They did not care about the

religion of the player and a not racist and just want to enjoy the

game. Beitar Jerusalem admits that potential investors and sponsors

have been at put off by the club's potential repetition four races. A

reputation that the majority of Train travel in Nigeria is

improving, thanks to Chinese Investment. There is hope a realist

-- every established a link connecting committees between the

north and the south can help defuse the religious tension. The rare

where in the Christian south and the mostly Muslim north has

reopened. -- Railroad. Slowly but surely, the train is making a

comeback here. Decades of neglect saw the network grind to a cot. It

is now being modernise. Although tickets are similar to the ones

used in colonial days. Debris open line to Kano is popular, it is

cheaper bendy by us. We travelled by on time with several armed

policemen to keep everyone up say. The train sliced its way it did the

hustle and bustle of a two life. At a steady for the fivekph, we kept

up with the traffic. Six in the city was gone and we were

surrounded by green vegetation in the countryside. Passengers say

they want modern carriages, but many are just grateful to be

offered the roads where there is a higher risk of accidents and even

armed robbery. I had been travelling on the train but over

three decades. I was happy when it came back onboard. But there is

still room boy improvement. course, one of the great end of --

great benefits of this railway is that here you get all sorts of

Trade going on. At the moment, a train any runs twice a week so

shops on ever these platforms, these ball boy shops, are only

operating for about ten minutes each week. 24 hours into the

journey, we had a close-up meeting with the markets. The train is

heading deep into the territory where Islamist militants had been

carrying out frequent deadly attacks. On wheat, UCD stark

contrast between the relatively fertile south and his environment.

Travel to the north and there is extremely dry savannah landscape.

Not a lot of development compared to the other parts of the country.

There is a higher amount of poverty. It is the poverty, but some say is

the major can she be dead to the problems facing the north,

including the violence. -- consume bigger. Some passages think this

train can help unite Nigeria. Muslims, Christians, everybody. We

are one. The train could be faster. It took 31 hours to get to Kano. It

could be more comfortable. But at least Nigeria's trains are moving

Politicians campaigning for the Italian general election had been

trying to convince voters that they can lift the country out of

recession and create jobs for the unemployed. But the lack of jobs is

also at the heart of a musical that has just opened. It is packing a

political punch in Rome. It is the Italian version of the Full Monty.

That is the story of a group of unemployed men who made a new

He is living The Full Monty dream. He was a carpenter, unemployed and

desperate for work. By Peter great chance, auditioned for the share,

and now this is his job. He does it every night. And he knows how lucky

he has been. TRANSLATION: I was at the right place at the right time.

The message for other young people is to keep believing. They have

taken a lot from us, but they cannot take away our dreams. When

you strip away demerit -- music and fun of the show, you are left with

the story that is rooted in the degrading misery of unemployment.

That his daily life for too many young Italians. Over one third of

them are unemployed. The share's director hopes that the story of

the Full Monty might serve as an inspiration. This show is a strong

push to the people to say find an idea, tried to react, think of

yourself in another way. Live your life in a much more positive way

and react. This is what is happening. An unemployed factory

worker auditions to join the team of strippers. All those jobless

young Italians know exactly how it feels to go looking for work. If

they can find the money for the ticket price, they might enjoyed

the musical and its message. But they will be well aware bed this is

showbusiness. And that for most people, in real life, happy endings

They maybe a symbol of all that is shiny and new, but high-rise office

blocks and apartment buildings around the world are beginning to

show their age. Large numbers of them will soon need to be pulled

down. Until now, it has been done with a wrecking ball or explosives.

But in some densely packed cities, that is not possible. A company in

Japan has come up with an Tokyo, the biggest city in the

world. Home to 30 million people, a jumble of concrete and glass,

buildings crammed together so tightly, berries often barely room

to squeeze between them. -- affair is. At street level, the problem is

even clearer. If I stretch my arms out, I can almost touch the

buildings. That is not a problem when you are putting them up. It is

more at a problem when you want to bring them down. This is the normal

way of building down of high risers. It is tricky, it said to, and it

does not always good quite as it should. In Japan, they have come up

with something better. That building behind me is Tokyo's

famous Grand Prince Hotel. It looks pretty much like any other 1980s

glass skyscraper, except when you see what has happened sit in the

last few months. The once swanky hotel is finding new fame as

Tokyo's amazing shrinking building. From inside, it is even more

dramatic as the building is lowered. From street level, many do not even

notice. Really, says this woman, I did not realise. Yes, says his

former, I had a photo of what it used to look like. It was much

taller. -- says this woman. The government says it is cleaner,

safer, and more environmentally. -- the company had developed this.

TRANSLATION: In Japan, and many big cities, there are many towers over

100 metres. That would need to come down. This way, we can do safe and

cleanly. For 100 years, we got used to sink skyscrapers going higher