03/06/2013 BBC World News

top stories. Chinese state media says 119 people have been killed in

a fire at a slaughterhouse in the east of the country. Protests

continue in Istanbul for a fourth day, as Turkey's Prime Minister

blames extremists for anti-government demonstrations. In

Moscow, the trial of five men accused of murdering the journalist

Anna Politkovskaya has got under way. And as countries across central

Europe shore up their flood defences, after several days of

torrential rain, we go to Germany to known to have died in a fire at a

poultry processing plant in northeast China. It's feared the

number of dead will rise, as many people are still missing. It's

thought the fire took hold after three explosions in an electrical

system. It then spread rapidly through a complicated lay-out of

buildings. The rescue operation is still going on. Let's speak to the

our correspondent John Sudworth who's in Shanghai. Fire crews have

been trying to bring the situation under control all day. Around midday

today, the blaze were said to have brought under control was still

burning. And, although we have had these continuous updates as the

number of confirmed dead reported by the official Chinese state media

here has been rising, what we don't know yet is much about the cause.

Some suggestion, as you say, there were explosions in an electrical

circuit and other reports also say a leak of ammonia gas may have been

one contributing factor. Apparently, it's often used in the

cooling systems in meat processing plants. And the Chinese authorities

say that, as you would expect, an investigation will be launched into

the cause but what we have been hearing again on official state

Chinese media is harrowing reports from those who managed to escape,

talking of chaos and confusion, the lights going out, and, more

worryingly perhaps, talking of blocked exits. Suggestions at least

one of the factory gates may have been locked and the firefighters

themselves saying that the difficulty of accessing this plant

has hampered their rescue efforts. Already questions being raised about

the whole safety of this building and the company who own it? That's

right. I mean, we don't know yet, of course, what the cause was and we

expect more information to come out about that over the next few days

and weeks. But it certainly raises questions. China is a country in

which industrial accidents are sadly all too common. Some suggestions,

when reporting other incidents, that safety regulations have been lax.

What we can say about this plant is that it's not an old antiquated

facility, at all. It was apparently set up in 2009, employs 1200 people,

and produces 67,000 tonnes of processed chicken a year. So it's by

no means a small or antiquated facility. I think, given the fact so

many people have died in this incident, it will, inevitably, raise

questions about safety standards across the industry. John, thank

you. Nine school children have been killed in a suicide bomb attack in

Afghanistan. A policeman also died. Police say the bomber, who was on a

motorbike, was attempting to blow up a US military patrol at a market in

Paktia province in the east of the country. The children were out from

school on their lunch break. It's believed up to 15 other people were

wounded. The former president of Taiwan has tried to commit suicide

in prison, where he is serving a 19-year sentence for corruption.

Chen Shui-bian is reported to have used a towel in the attempt but was

stopped by guards in a prison bathroom. He is now said to be in a

stable condition. The former president was being treated for

depression at a prison hospital. The Turkish President Abdullah Gul has

just appealed for calm on national TV. It follows three nights of

bloody street battles between the police and protestors angered by the

government's plans to redevelop a park in Istanbul. A short time ago

the Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said the park was no longer

the issue. TRANSLATION: There are people forced

into these protests organised by extremists. This has got nothing to

do with the region because there isn't any region about cutting down

trees there. Our correspondence is in Ankara for us. It's interesting

that we have seen these protests spread. How widespread the

demonstrations? This morning is a completely different scene from what

we saw yesterday in the capital of Turkey. I just came back from the

main square where people were protesting and gathering yesterday

and life has resumed to its normal base this morning. The traffic is

back to normal, and the shops are opening a game. The shop owners also

woke up this morning to assess the damage to their shops that opening

game. Some windows were smashed. -- some shops are opening again. There

is graffiti all over the place and people are trying to clear the

damage and to clean the damage. Now, we saw a pattern in the last couple

of days, demonstrations being calm in the morning and heating up in the

afternoon and evening. Whether this will happen again this evening, we

are not sure. The weekend is over and people are back to work, or to

schools and university. What is your sense of the likely reaction to the

statements we have seen in the last hour or so from the Prime Minister

and the President? Well, people here agree with this vision. They think

that it's not any longer and matter of demolishing the square or cutting

some trees down. It's a question of the protest is being angry over the

policies of this government, the protest is feeling that they don't

have any trust in the government any more and they have lost faith in the

government. And many other people who were here yesterday and

extremely angry, we spoke to them and they said they don't care any

more whether the project is a construction project and it goes

ahead or not. What they want is seen as the government changing its

policies. Some people were even asking for the minister to resign.

Thanks very much indeed. The trial of five men charged with murdering

the prominent Russian journalist, Anna Politkovskaya, has got under

way. She was highly critical of the Russian government and its military

action in Chechnya. In 2006, she was found shot dead in a lift at her

block of flats in Moscow. Our correspondent Steve Rosenberg

explained more. The five suspects have already been brought to the

Moscow city court today for what is a preliminary hearing to discuss

procedural matters ahead at the start of the trial. This is being

held behind closed doors, today's preliminary hearing. Interestingly,

three of the men in the dock have already been tried for Anna

Politkovskaya's murder in 2009 and the men were Rustam, Ibragim and

Dzhabrail Makhmudov. In 2009, they were acquitted of the murder and

walked free but that verdict was later overturned by Russia's Supreme

Court and that's why they are back in the dock today. Along with two

other men, one who pulled the trigger and also the man who

organised the assassination of Anna Politkovskaya. Countries across

central Europe are shoring up their flood defences after several days of

torrential rain. Water is swamping low-lying areas and swollen rivers

are threatening to burst their banks. In Germany alone, at least

four people have died or are missing and hundreds have been moved to

safety. The Czech government has declared a nationwide state of

emergency. Earlier, I asked the BBC's Steve Evans in Berlin, which

areas were worst hit. Write down the river Danube from the south-east of

Germany seems to be particularly bad. Prague, you mentioned, not on

the Danube but high flooding. The problem seems to be the don't quite

know where it's going to stop. The forecasters say the rain is going to

ease. But they then warned that the reign of the previous week, really,

is continuing to go into the rivers. There's all kinds of secondary

implications to this. Shipping on the River Rhine and the River

Danube, two big commercial waterways, have been stopped in part

because the level of the water is too high and too close to the

bridges for ships to get underneath. There have been rail links and road

links across Central Europe are broken and, in the meantime, a

frantic hunt for sandbags, the army is in three countries, involving

themselves to make sure the damage goes no further. There's obviously

been many days of rain. What is the forecast for the days ahead?

forecast is that the rain will ease. But, as I say, the water keeps

coming because in Austria for example, they are basically had two

months rain, what they would expect to get from two months rain at this

time of year in the space of pretty much two days. So there's an awful

lot of water still slurry and often mountains into these rivers, and

even if the rain eases immediately, the waters are still expected to

rise. Stay with us on BBC World News. Still to come: We meet one of

Hollywood's newest acting dynasty's. to the polls to elect a new

president. Eight candidates are running for the job to replace

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has been in power since 2005. It's been a

controversial selection procedure, and all of them have been strictly

vetted by the authorities. But once voted in, just how much power will

the winner actually have? The BBC's Rana Rahimpour explains who does

what in Iran's political system. Welcome to our virtual stateroom in

the Iranian president 's office. Everyone is asking who will be the

next person to sit here in the President's chair? The one man we

know won't be here is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is bowing out after

eight years in office. Whoever replaces him will be the head of

Iran's government. But like Mr Ahmadinejad, he will have a Rand's

supreme leader looking over his shoulder. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is

Iran's most powerful man. And it is here in his office that the new

president will be confirmed. It is the supreme leader, and not the

president, who has the final say on major issues. He is the

commander-in-chief, responsible for the nuclear policy, and he has the

last word on foreign affairs in particular relations with the West.

But it's not just a supreme leader that the new president will have to

reckon with. It's also the Iranian parliament. Members of this

Parliament meet here in this chamber and can call the president to

account. They approve the president 's new laws, his ministers, and his

budget. If he wants to push through his agenda, he needs their backing.

Without it, there is potential for serious political conflict. Despite

these limits on his power, don't think that the man who is going to

sit in this chair doesn't matter. The new president will be

responsible for the everyday business of running the country. It

will be his job to manage the economy at a time when Iran faces

sanctions and soaring inflation. And he is the face of Iran abroad, going

on state visit and addressing the United Nations. Under Mahmoud

Ahmadinejad, Iran has been at odds with the West over its nuclear

programme and inside the country, protests have been silenced. So,

whoever sits in this chair will play an important role in setting up the

path that Iran will follow over the headlines: Chinese state media say

119 people have been killed in a fire at a slaughterhouse in the east

of the country. And protests continually stumble from fourth day

as Turkey's Prime Minister blames extremists for anti-government

demonstrations. 20 years ago, Croatia was in the middle of a

savage war for its independence, fighting to break away from what was

Yugoslavia. In four week's time, it will become the latest member, the

28th, of a different conglomeration of states. The European Union. It's

the first of the main participants from the Balkan Wars to join. Our

Europe correspondent, Chris Morris, reports. Well away from Croatia's

tourist hot spots we are driving into this town - an unremarkable

place, but fum of symbolism. 18 years ago it was the capital of a

break away Serb republic. Boris fought in the war. Two decades

on, he's unemployed and as Croatia prepares to join the EU, feeling

forgotten, hoping for more. Lots of places in Croatia, I think there is

a lot of progress made until now and with the European Union, I believe

it could be even better. A different Croatia - a vineyard on this island.

But here too, joining the EU is seen as an economic choice. They've had

problems with some regulations. There are concerns about cheap

foreign wines flooding into the country. Ease of access to the huge

EU market is a cause for optimism. TRANSLATION: We are looking forward

to better links with Europe and the rest of the world, fewer

administrative barriers and less paperwork. It will bring better

light to the wine makers, to those of us who work hard and a have a

good quality product. The The old town here has seen old towns rise

and fall. Now a new era beckons. EU funds will h re refurbish crumbling

buildings in this World Heritage Site. It will take time. Many Croats

would like change across their society to come more quickly. They

hope to give something back to the EU once they join. There are reason

reasons, but I believe in some way the European Union, it is the

destiny of all the countries. Maybe in Europe, this European Union

should be also reinvented in a way and I think that all the countries

which are not part of the European Union should be part of the process

of reinventing a better European Union. There is a certain irony in

Croatia joining the EU just as the union is facing a crisis of identity

and debate is raging in Britain on whether to leave. Just think where

this place was 20 years ago and how far it has come. They are going into

this with their eyes open, knowing that the streets of the union aren't

Lebanese security sources say several Syrian rebel fighters have

been killed in clashes with Hezbollah inside Lebanon. The

fighting broke out near the border with Syria, east of the Beqaa

Valley. It comes a day after rockets and mortars were fired into the same

area, the Hezbollah stronghold. Counting the cost - a sign that the

civil war in Syria is further destabilising neighbouring Lebanon.

Sunday saw the worst clashes yet between Syrian rebels and Hezbollah

militants, in the north, near the border. Hezbollah is fighting along

alongside pro-Government forces. They are trying to gain control of a

Syrian town. It has born the brunt of heavy fighting in recent week,

with reports from activists of heavy shelling and regime air strikes in

the town. This is why it is strategically important to both

sides. A regime victory would solidity the President's control

over Homs. It would strengthen links from Damascus. If the rebels take

control of the town, they maintain a supply-line to Lebanon, whilst

hampering Assad's control of the area. So far neither side has been

able to deliver a decisive blow. The town is embell mattic of what is

happening in the civil war - recent gains, but not enough to quash the

rebels and inaction by a divided international community on what to

do. The Gulf Arab countries have waded in, announcing action against

Hezbollah for interfering. We need a very clear message to Hezbollah that

if such intervention continues, and if such intervention also - local

affairs continues, then the countries will lock and take in

certain procedures against Hezbollah. This unverified footage

appears to show a senior Free Syrian Army commander visiting Qusair. He

along with senior commanders vow to bring more men and supplies. Neither

side willing to give up. A troubling sign for Lebanon, increasingly being

pulled into Syria's war. A controversial American doctor claims

he can cure cancer. His patients come from around the world. Here in

the UK celebrities have helped send money to send British patients to

his clinic. It has been dismissed by mainstream medicine and authorities

have tried to close him down. Why has he been able to sell an unprove

unproven remedy for 30 years? When Luna was 18 monthses old, her

parents were given the worst possible news. She was diagnosed

with a rare and aggressive brain tumour. She is one-and-a-half.

Babies don't get cancer. It was like a car crash. It was awful. She had

three operations on her brain to try and remove the tumour. They didn't

work. Her parents refused to accept that all they could do was to wait

for her to die. They were desperate for other options, that is when they

found the doctor. It was all about hope. It was all about hope. He said

he hoped to cure my daughter. The plan was to cure Luna. That was his

plan. The doctor claims to have discovered a revolutionary and

nontoxic treatment. He thinks the cure for cancer can be found inside

our bodies, substances in blood and urine, which switch off cancer

cells. Here in the UK stars like Peter Kay and Rufus Hound have

raised cash in good faith. Let's go there now, all put a couple of quid

on it, whatever you can afford - amazing, right! Amazing!

Hello. How are you. But the doctor's experimental treenlt is not

recognised by -- treatment is not recognised by mainstream medicine.

This doctor treats children with cancer and runs one of the biggest

research projects into brain tumours. I understand that draw is

very attractive. Unfortunately the results are not published in any

form that is acceptable to the scientific community. What do you

think about somebody like the doctor who says he has a break through in

terms of a cure for cancer, but he doesn't share it. I think it is

unethical. The doctor says he's not allowed to share his results before

they are formally published later this year. The medical authorities

in America have told us that's not true. Pleased to meet you, doctor.

People say what you do is sell hope. That is what you do - you step in

and you sell hope. What do you make of that? Many foolish people. I am

telling you I am dealing with science. Can you imagine the US

Government, for many years, that they would not allow me to be here

if I only sold hope, without any hard evidence. The treatment did not

work for Luna. She died last August. She does not reject going. If I had

not have gone I would have been here without any daughter, saying, "I

only I had tried it." If he is a fraud he's a bad man. But at the end

of the day, if you are told your child will die, you will try

anything, anything. It is easy to understand the families who look for

every last chance. What is harder to understand is how the doctor has

been allowed to sell an experimental treatment for the past 30 years.

Now, Hollywood has a few acting disthatsties, sons and daughters

following in the foots of their parents. You might think of the

Douglases, kirk and Michael. Now there is another - the Smiths, Will

and his son Jaden. They have made a film together. In the field, you are

emotionally unpredictable. You confuse courage with recklessness.

Will and Jaden Smith, very nice to see you. I am glad you brought a

prop in case you lose interest in the interview. This ru bix cube is

it to keep you occupied because it can get tiring. It is just people

think you are smart when you do it. I like to play with it. I am afraid

I am going to have to challenge you. How quickly can you do it? Not quick

enough before this interview is again. So, what is it like working

with dad? It's fun, because on set he's kind of like a walking

dictionariry. Anything you need to know he'll tell you. Do you find you

sometimes get annoyed with him? mean, sometimes when he trying to

kiss me in public... I'm not do going to do it. He tries to kiss me

all the time. It is important for kids to feel loved. Do you feel

loved when I try and kiss you on your mouth? That is the last thing

that comes across my mind. Temperatures on this planet

fluctuate dangerously. . Everything has evolved to kill humans. What is

your best parenting tip, Will, as somebody who has been very

successful? Well, you know the jury is still out. It seems to be going

well right now. And Jaden, is there something you wish you could do that

your parents won't let you? No! you feel pretty respected. I wanted

to stick my hand in the cake the other day. It was Mother's Day. He

said, daddy, I just want to grab the cake. We said, sure, baby, come on,

let's do it. And in that idea, saying no, that is not how you do

it. The other way, sure, baby, go ahead. Jaden and his friends were

like, cool, we can do that - we can eat the cake like that? And you did?

Willow went first. She went, all right! She had cake all over her

arm. Jaden kind of looked and looked at his friends and everything,

Willow is looking and it was much less fun than she thought, so Jaden

went and grabbed a knife and cut himself a piece of cake. Well, it is

delightful to talk to you and being given the waving arms by everybody,

which you cannot see. It is delightful. Thank you so much. It is

lovely to see you. I will let you get on with the Rubik's Cube. News

coming to us from South Africa, it has been reported by Reuters that a