13/04/2017 BBC News at Six

Syria's president says the recent chemical attack on a rebel town

was completely made up - and he blames the Americans.

President Assad claimed the attack had been fabricated by the West

so that America could justify an air strike on his forces.

There was no order to make any attack.

We gave up our arsenal three years ago.

Even if we had them, we wouldn't use them and we have

never used our chemical arsenal in our history.

It's his first interview since the chemical attack which left

We'll be talking to our Middle East editor, Jeremy Bowen.

A new generation of grammars in England -

the Education Secretary Justine Greening sets

out her plans for schools for "ordinary working families".

More families who lost babies at birth at an NHS trust

in Shropshire come forward to speak out about the way

A rare glimpse inside North Korea, amid speculation that the secretive

nation is preparing for its sixth nuclear test this weekend.

Saving their bacon - the campaign to protect

the Gloucestershire Old Spots, one of Britain's most famous pig

And coming up in the sport on BBC News:

Chris Latham wins a bronze for Britain in the men's scratch

race at the World Track Cycling Championships,

bringing GB's medal tally to two in two days.

Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

The Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, says claims

that his armed forces were behind a chemical weapons attack on a rebel

town last week are a "100% fabrication".

Instead, he claimed America had worked "hand in glove"

with terrorist groups to stage the attack as a pretext

And he questioned whether TV images of dead children were real.

A warning that our report from James Robbins contains

Nine days ago, these pictures shocked the world. Children and

babies struggling for breath after a suspected chemical weapons attack on

the rebel held town of Khan Sheikhoun. Other pictures, to horror

flick to broadcast, should fire crews hosing down adults and

children, many clearly dead. -- too horrific. But now President Assad

says it was all a fabrication. We don't know whether those dead

children, were they get at all? Who committed that attack, if there was

an attack? -- were they dead at all? You have no information, nothing at

all. President Assad alleged this is all fake video and the white helmet

emergency crews are jihadi extremists in disguise. There is

proof that the videos are fake, the white helmets. They are Al-Qaeda.

They showed their bids, they wore white hats and they appeared as

humanitarian heroes, which is not the case. It's the same people who

are killing civilian soldiers, and you have the proof on the Internet.

But the Americans were in no doubt. They responded with Tomahawk

missiles, targeting the Syrian air base which, the United States say,

their intelligence shows was used to launch the chemical air strike.

There was no order to make any attack. We don't have any chemical

weapons. We gave up our Arsenal three years ago. Even if we had

them, we wouldn't use them, and we have never used our chemical Arsenal

in our history. Which ignores the fact that international

investigators have previously reported Syrian government forces

did use banned gas in 2013. After that, the organisation for the

Prohibition of chemical weapons destroyed President Assad's declared

stocks, but they can't be sure if he kept back secret supplies. He now

insists all the events of the last ten days were the work of Al-Qaeda

leader collaborating with the Americans. Our feeling is that it is

the Americans hand in glove with Al-Qaeda. President Assad is keen to

blame anyone but his own forces for last week's images of suffering

children, even to the extent of claiming that none of this actually

happen. Our Middle East editor,

Jeremy Bowen, is here. You have interviewed President Assad

three times. The last time was two years ago. What do you make of this

interview? I think he looks anxious, he looks under some sort of strain.

When I interviewed him a couple of years ago last, the military

position they were in was really bad but he was much more relaxed. I

thought now there was a difference in his demeanour, and I think there

is good reason for that. Barely a week ago, before the Tomahawk

missile attack, his regime looks pretty much in a stronger position

than it has been for ages, with Russian help, with the fact they

captured the whole of Aleppo just before Christmas. But I think now he

listens to what's coming out of the United States, they've had the

attack, and now Trump has said he is a book shop. The Secretary of State

said that the time of the Assad family running Syria was coming to

an end. I think he's looking at that and, once again, he is feeling under

pressure. The view from the presidential palace in Damascus had

started looking pretty good for him. He started thinking that the

international community would accept his position, that he is the only

alternative to the likes of the jihadists. But now I think he's been

forced to drink again. The Education Secretary,

Justine Greening, has defended plans to introduce new grammar

schools in England. There are already

163 grammar schools. Ms Greening said the new grammars

would "support young people from every background,

not the privileged few" and they'd help what she called

"ordinary working families" - those with two adults,

two children and household But critics say there's

little evidence that academically selective schools

improve social mobility. Here's our Education

editor, Branwen Jeffreys. After-school tutoring for grammar

school exams. Competition for limited places is tough. Just

passing isn't enough, so parents pay for help to get top marks. It's not

the be all and end all, but I believe that if she passes strongly

she'll have a better chance of progressing into later life, if she

has attended grammar school. One of the schools he might like might be a

grammar school and, if he's taken the 11 plus, even if you pass, there

is no guarantee, so it's about keeping as many doors open for him

as possible. So our grammar schools just for the better off? Today the

Education Secretary said that they will not be. I want these new

schools to work for everyone. This will be a new model of grammars,

truly open to all. We will insist on that. And it will reflect the

choices of local parents and communities. When you look at the

family income of pupils, what do the government stats show? In

nonselective comprehensives, the lowest, above-average and below

average income families get a similar share of places. In

selective grammar schools, families on the lowest wages and benefits get

9% of places below average income, 36%. And pupils from families with

above average income, 53% of places, more than half. This grammar school

is an exception. It sets aside some places for boys on free school

meals. The government expects all to follow this example. Ministers hope

to convince MPs to scrap the legal ban on new grammar schools. This

cross-party opposition to the idea of new grammar schools, and that

includes some Conservative MPs and peers. This wasn't in the Tory

manifesto at the last election, and that gives them greater freedom to

oppose it. Behind their armies, there is one fundamental fact. --

behind their disease. However you look at it, grammar schools are for

the few, not the many. If you create a decision at the age of 11, whether

a child is able enough not go to a grammar school, you are saying

possibly two thirds are not good enough. What's the message to them?

People develop at different rates. Children develop at different rates.

Today, no mention of the main challenge, the biggest squeeze on

school budgets in England in 20 years.

Russia failed to protect the hostages in a siege at a school

in 2004 in which more than 300 people died - that's the verdict of

It said officials knew about the attack in Beslan

but failed to act, and that Russian forces used excessive force

Chechen rebels stormed the school in 2004 demanding that Russian

The Russian government says it will appeal the ruling.

A BBC investigation has found that more than 70 schools in Scotland

are suffering from similar defects to those that were closed down

17 schools were shut in Edinburgh after a wall collapsed at a primary

It's feared other public buildings could also be at risk.

The suspect in the Dortmund football bus bombing was a commander

for so-called Islamic State in Iraq, according to German officials.

Police are still questioning the 26-year-old Iraqi,

who is known only as Abdul Beset A, over Tuesday's attack.

Two people were injured after three explosions hit the team bus ahead

of the game against Monaco in the German city.

More families have accused the NHS trust at the centre

of an investigation into its maternity services

for failing to properly investigate the deaths of their babies.

The mother of Jack Burn, who died in April last year,

by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust.

The trust says it has learned lessons from all the deaths

and is aware that it needs to improve its communication

Our social affairs correspondent, Michael Buchanan,

This couple lost their daughter last April but were forced to fight for

justice. Pippa died from an infection just 30 hours after being

born at home. Staff at the Shrewsbury and Telford trust told

the family that the death was unavoidable. Members from the trust

sat here, on this seat, and said that nothing could have been done to

save Pippa. That wasn't true? No. She had called the local hospital

during the night, concerned about her daughter's vomiting. It's got

splodges of dark brown mucus all over it. Nothing was done. Hours

later, Pippa died. The family fought for an investigation. Last week, a

coroner ruled that the death was preventable. They weren't going to

do an investigation, so that was when I said that's not good enough,

there will be an investigation and we will be involved. Pippa Griffith

is one of seven avoidable deaths at this trust in a little over 18

months. As we revealed last night, the Health Secretary has now ordered

an investigation into maternity services. The families of Sofia

Hotchkiss and Jack Burn are keen to take part as they say neither death

was properly investigated. This woman's son died in 2013 from an

infection hours after being born but she says mistakes made during the 36

hour Labour contributed to his death and she can't understand why the

trust haven't answered her questions. Why they left it so long,

why they didn't induce me the night I went in. They were saying there

was an obstruction. The night I went in, wasn't an infection. In the two

days I was in there, infection set in, and they didn't pick up on it,

which cost me my baby. After we raised concerns, the local coroner

is now considering opening an inquest into Jack's death. The trust

meanwhile maintain that they do examine all deaths. I am aware that

each of the cases that have been brought to our attention as part of

this investigation has been investigated. We have done root

cause analysis, which is a more detailed investigation on most of

them. Kayleigh Griffiths will give birth once more next month. Given

what the couple have suffered, they are understandably nervous. This

family, every family here need maternity services to improve.

The Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, has dismissed

claims of a chemical attack by his forces earlier this month

A warning to night that some of our most famous breeds of British pigs,

like these Berkshires, soon be extinct.

Coming up in Sportsday on BBC News...

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says the Europa League

provides one of two open doors to Champions League

qualification, as they prepare for their quarterfinal

There1s speculation that North Korea may be preparing

to conduct its sixth nuclear test on Saturday to mark the 105th

anniversary of the birth of its founding President.

Satellite images show an increased level of activity at the test site

Our correspondent John Sudworth has been allowed into the highly

secretive country with a number of other foreign journalists.

He's sent us this report from the capital Pyongyang -

his movements have been monitored and tightly controlled.

They poured into central Pyongyang in their tens of thousands.

Of citizens and soldiers alike, North Korea has always demanded

And at the front of the crowd, there was Kim Jong Un.

Celebrating not a missile launch or a rocket test

but the construction of Pyongyang's newest street.

The inauguration of a few tower blocks and shops would,

anywhere else, raise barely a murmur.

In Pyongyang, it's met with rapturous applause.

It might seem like an extraordinary celebration to mark the opening

of a street, but it's about so much more than that.

It's about economic survival, resilience, and sending a message

to the outside world of total loyalty to the leader.

The country's Prime Minister, Pak Pong-ju, told the crowd

that the opening of the new street sends a more powerful signal

to the world than any number of nuclear bombs.

But, in reality for North Korea, bombs are vital.

With reports that another nuclear test may be imminent,

we are taken on a tour of the school.

"The Dear Marshall Kim Jong Un clothes and feeds us",

And from an early age, she is told that it's

bombs and missiles that guarantee his regime's survival.

For a poor and isolated country like North Korea,

Might it have gone the way of Iraq or Libya, its leaders ask, if it

So, foreign journalists are brought here to be shown a friendly face.

There are many of them but also the willingness to endure.

"Sanctions don't bother us at all", this man tells me.

"United around our leader, nothing can harm us".

North Korea is marching towards its nuclear future and no

amount of threat or coercion from a US president

A record number of people who went to A Departments in England

this winter had to wait at least four hours to be admitted.

Almost 200,000 people had to wait much longer

than they should for a bed - a big rise on last year's figures.

Spring is here but the NHS won't forget this winter in a hurry.

More patients coming in, problems moving them out,

even if they were medically fit, and intense, relentless pressure.

Hospital managers here like many others say it

The hospital has been functioning most of the time at 100% occupancy.

That has put a huge strain on the services.

I think it is important to note this was a mild winter.

Despite that, it has been very tough.

The latest figures for England show longer waiting times over

135,000 people had to wait longer than four hours to be found

For planned treatment, including routine surgery,

264,000 were waiting more than 18 weeks in February 2016

but it was 367,000 waiting in February this year.

One of those still on the waiting list is John.

He was referred for an operation on his back early last year.

But it still has not happened - he has found

the wait very stressful and, at times, has had to stay off work.

Who knows how much they cost the NHS?

In recent years, hospitals have noted that the pressure never

In the months ahead there could be an extra challenge in the face

the shape of possible industrial action by nurses.

The largest nursing union is consulting members

on whether they're prepared to go on strike over a 1% pay

offer, which is the same in every part of the UK.

Most nurses are unhappy with their income.

So, they're working harder than ever.

There have been years now of absolutely no pay increase.

The whole cap of 1%, when we know the bills are going up.

They are struggling to pay the bills.

The Department of Health says it is going along

with an independent pay review body's recommendation and can only

They argue that with all the pressure on the NHS,

patients will not get the right care from a workforce that is short

Two people arrested by detectives investigating child abuse

allegations against the late former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath have

been released and told they face no further action,

Operation Conifer has been examining the claims since appealing

for alleged victims to come forward in summer 2015.

These were the only two suspects who had been arrested.

A soldier who ran over and killed two teenage athletes after he'd been

drinking with colleagues has been jailed for six years.

Michael Casey, who's 24, went through a red light at a crossing

He killed Stacey Burrows, who was 16 and 17-year-old Lucy Pygott,

The man who was dragged off a United Airlines flight in Chicago

on Sunday has just been released from hospital.

David Dao's lawyer said he suffered concussion,

a broken nose and lost two front teeth during his ordeal.

His daughter said what had happened to her father left the whole family

distressed. What happened to my dad should never have happened to any

human being, regardless of the circumstance. We were horrified and

shocked and sickened to learn what had happened to him and to see what

had happened to him. We hope that, in the future, nothing like this

happens again. The Queen has given money

to pensioners at Leicester Cathedral to mark Maundy Thursday,

in an Easter tradition dating back She handed out purses

to 91 men and 91 women - Today's visit to Leicester means

the Queen has now conducted the service in every Anglican

cathedral in England. Gloucestershire Old Spots -

pedigree pigs - known But this famous breed is facing

a dramatic fall in numbers - amid warnings that they could become

extinct if the decline Our correspondent Jon Kay reports

from Herefordshire on the plight of one of Britain's best known

traditional pig breeds. Making plenty of noise

but for how much longer? The Gloucester Old Spot is one

of our most recognisable breeds but there are only half as many

as there were three years ago. There is less than 500 breeding

females of Gloucester Old Spot at Today, one livestock conservation

group said the situation was critical and that the Old Spot

could become extinct. It is the same as losing,

you know, a wild species If we lose these breeds,

we've lost something we can't And that would just

be so sad, really. It's not just the

Gloucester Old Spot. These Berkshire pigs are also

on the endangered list, as well as other indigenous

species like Tamworths. To reverse the decline,

farmers are being asked to breed more British pedigrees,

but isn't there another solution? If the numbers are so threatened,

why are we eating them? Wouldn't the best thing be

to leave them to breed We can't afford to just have lots

and lots of pigs, really. Yes, what we need is a market,

someone to eat them, them to become commercial in a,

not in a commercial sense, like we talk about ordinary pig

meat, but as a speciality. Here in Gloucestershire,

customers might be prepared to pay But the industry knows

on a national scale, they face falling demand

and cheaper imports. The Gloucester Old Spot was saved

from extinction 30 years ago. Doing so again in the current market

could be more of a challenge. This is Ash Meadow Farm and this is

our buses but these are Berkshire peaks. The conservation groups

giving this warning has said it is not just about preserving these

breeds for historic reasons or sentimental, nostalgic reasons, they

say there are scientific reasons, to try to keep the genes of these very

hardy creatures going into the future. If you are wondering, they

do not smell too bad at all. Thank you. Let's have a look at the

Easter weekend weather. The weather is looking a little

scrambled today. Overall not too bad. This evening cloud with sunny

spells. Pretty cool. That is what many of us will have over the next

few days will stop some places will have clout and spots of rain. This

is the satellite picture in the last few hours. Through this evening not

much has changed will stop a few showers in the North West. Whether

you are in Plymouth or Glasgow, the temperature will be pretty much the

same. In northern areas, in Shetland, it will be a little bit

colder. Whether France are moving across the UK we will get some spots

of rain. A chilly day. Of us. Maybe 15, 16 in London depending on how

much sunshine we will get. The spells of mostly light rain for most

of us will continue across the country, across central areas on

Good Friday. On Saturday a cold air stream from the north. By the time

it reaches our shores, it will be called. A fresh take on Saturday. On

Saturday, out of the weekend, it is probably the best one for the plenty

of bright weather around. Maybe a few showers in the North. A good

sort of day. This is Sunday, East today. Looks as though Southern and

south-western areas will have the best of the weather. More central

and northern parts of the country will have more cloud and rain. Let's

summarise all of that. It is not exhilarating and not that bad.

Rather cool, sunny spells and a little rain from time to time.

Basher al-Assad has dismissed claims of chemical attacks as fabrication

and blames America. We do not have any chemical weapons. We gave up our

arsenal three years ago Bulls if we had then we would not them.