02/08/2013 BBC World News

News. Our top stories: The African Union says Zimbabwe's election

process has been free, fair and credible; this after local monitors

called it seriously compromised. Silvio Berlusconi condemns Italy's

highest court for upholding his prison sentence for tax fraud.

this the way Italy recognises the sacrifice and commitment of its best

citizens? Is this the Italy we love? Is this the Italy we want?

The United States announces it will close some of its embassies on

Sunday, mainly in Muslim countries, because of a security threat.

And after cars and air conditioning units, the Pakistan TV quiz show

criticised for offering a baby as a Zimbabwe's disputed elections is

deepening. The head of the African Union observer mission, Nigeria's

former president Olusegun Obasanjo, has described the elections as

"free, fair and credible". I have never seen any election which is

perfect. The point has always been, and will always be, how much should

our the infractions, imperfections -- how much have the infractions,

infinite perfection is influenced the will of the people?

I am joined by Lucy Fleming from BBC Africa. There are qualifications

from the African Union at the moment. Yes, they released a

statement this morning and they said the result was wrong, it was not

published in a reasonable time. It notes that there were names missing

and there were duplicate names and it also was very critical about the

fact that polling stations were only announced barely 48 hours before

polling. It says they should have been greater transparency because

this has caused a lot of problems on the day which is why people may have

been turned away on the day. using the phrase, there is former

president Olusegun Obasanjo, and there were also Zimbabwean

observers, the fact that the former president has said this was free,

fair and credible is perhaps a bit rash given what you have just said

and what they are saying in the statement? He is saying on the day

there was no harassment, it was all very useful and calm and everyone

when they think of Zimbabwe remembers the time between the

run-off fate and first round when there was political violence. When

you look at Zimbabwe in that framework it does look as if it was

very peaceful. That is, in their minds, perhaps a step forward.

what about the process? We have had a statement yesterday from

presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai and we heard from this

date Zimbabwean monitoring group. Morgan Tsvangirai, the Prime

Minister, who was in the unity government with Robert Mugabe after

the disputed elections last time, he said it was null and void and it was

a total farce. He said the movement for the change, his party, had made

its concerns known about the voters' role. They said it was done

very quickly. They said the Zimbabwe electoral support network which had

7000 observers across the country, said in its opinion 1 million

Zimbabweans were disenfranchised. You had people not being able to

vote and concerns there were multiple names on the voters' role.

There are also concerns about the fact that there were 6.4 million

registered voters and 8.7 million ballots printed which they sales

also a concern. So enormous differences highlighted from

different statements. Thank you for joining me on BBC World News.

Silvio Berlusconi seems adamant that he will be back despite Italy's top

court upholding his conviction for tax fraud. He says he will return to

public life. The court rulings seem to have upset the Italian stock

market as concerns are raised about whether Italy's economic reforms can

continue. The BBC's Alan Johnston joins us from Rome. Milan is not

happy with this verdict and the way Berlusconi is responding?

markets do not like uncertainty of any kind. The asked the mast of this

conviction of Silvio Berlusconi, there is inevitably a great deal of

uncertainty. He is in a coalition government, an awkward coalition

with centre-left parties. He frames all his troubles as being the result

of left-wing elements in the judiciary targeting him and how deep

him for years. Inevitably, there are political tensions. The markets are

wondering how these tensions will play out and what it will mean for

the government, what it will mean for the government's ability to

tackle the serious economic crisis which continues to unfold here.

could he realistically come back as he appears to be vowing, as it

appears to be said, when he says, I am essentially mid-70s and I am at

the time of my political life when this is unfair to do this to me.

Silvio Berlusconi got where he is for a variety of quite good reasons.

He has a great deal of wealth. He is a formidable political tactician. He

is the best campaigner when it comes to an election here in Italy. He has

some raw strengths that may be slightly diminished as a result of

this court case, but he will feel he can wield those strengths into the

future. If he has been forced perhaps off the front line, by this

verdict, then I imagine he feels he will direct things from the rear, if

you like, as the general of that right-wing bloc which attracted,

let's remember, something like a third of the electorate's vote in

the last election. New intrigue in Italian politics. Thank you for

joining me from Rome. The US State Department says the

number of its embassies and consulates around the world will be

closed on Sunday. The decision has been described as precautionary

because of unspecified security threats. Most of the affected US

embassies are in the Middle East and include Abu Dhabi, Baghdad and

Cairo. The Department of State has instructed certain US embassies and

consulates to remain closed or suspend operations on Sunday August

the 4th. This is out of an abundance of care and caution for our

employees and visitors. The Department when conditions warrant

take steps like this to balance security operations with security

and safety. I asked our security correspondent about the intelligence

the US must have been receiving? They know it is Sunday but they do

not know where it is. They have decided to close all US embassies

which would regularly be opened on a Sunday and what that means is

particularly those which operate in the Muslim world. They have closed

across swathes of North Africa, the Middle East and into South Asia. It

is thought this might relate to and Al-Qaeda affiliate planning

something. Clearly they do feel it is serious enough to take the steps

even though they have said it is only precautionary. Is this the

ghost of Benghazi and what happened there? They do not want a repeat of

that? If you look at the attack on the US Consulate which killed the US

ambassador to Libya, that still has huge fallout politically to

Washington and issues about whether enough had done to protect US

embassies, whether a threat intelligence had been acted upon

properly. That has certainly changed the context in which embassy

security is taken in the US and the way they look at intelligence they

might get in about a possible threat and that feeling that they do need

to act just in case. The phrase here is actionable intelligence and what

action should be taken. Do you suggest a recalibration in the

American mind about what action needs to be taken? Post Benghazi I

think you have seen a post recalibration definitely when it

comes to embassy security and the desire to perhaps be more cautious

than before because of the fear that embassies could be targeted with

huge consequence for loss of life so you do see some changes.

Now, on television quiz shows around the world, you can almost win

anything, holiday of a lifetime, a new car or a washing machine. One

Pakistani game show is giving away babies live on television. The

top-rated show is accused of handing over infants just to increase

audience ratings. In Karachi, Orla Guerin watched the programme.

Rushing to centre stage, the host followed by staff bearing gifts.

Prizes are an audience favourite. This time, an air conditioner. A

controversial show man, he mixes Islam and entertainment. But she was

also one of his giveaways. Baby Fatima, found on a rubbish dump.

Then the moment when she was in the arms of her new parents, who have

been hoping for a child for 14 years. Her adoptive father is

overcome. He says his mother's prayers have been answered. She died

the day before. His wife clutches her new daughter, who she calls a

gift from God. The presenter insists he is saving abandoned babies, not

using them to promote his programme. These children are not a part of

garbage, are not a part of trash. So we took these children from the

garbage, from the trash, and delivered to the needy people, needy

parents. My life is changed. We sat down with the couples who are now

savouring parenthood. They were vetted by a private charity in less

than two weeks. That time frame is typical here where most adoptions

are not regulated by the state. TRANSLATION: When the baby came into

my arms on the show, it felt like another soul had entered my body,

like an angel came. She has brought so much peace. Did any of you think

it was wrong that you were giving the babies on TV? The answer from

all four, was no. This woman said she hoped it would encourage couples

to adopt. But the fear is that other TV shows will copy the baby

giveaway. A child welfare official told us it was degrading and done to

boost ratings. TRANSLATION: The baby was given away the same way as a

gift. Though it was good to find parents, the baby was given like a

car, a laptop, a motorcycle. It is an insult to the baby and the

parents. Fatima's parents are proud of their precious gift and want to

dispel the stigma around adoption here. They hope she will grow up to

be a religious scholar or a civil engineer like her doting father.

Stay with us here on BBC World News, I am Nick Gowing. Still to come: The

brawl is back in Taiwan politics. Here, MPs wrestle on the floor of

Parliament during a debate over the island's nuclear future.

We will have more. And we will have the latest live from the third Ashes

cricket test. Australia try to post a challenging total for England to

chase. More now on Egypt and the Muslim

Brotherhood and its supporters have announced plans to organise new mass

marches on Friday, which they have dubbed it against the coup,

rejecting an appeal from the Interior Ministry to end their

citizens, thousands of supporters of former President Mohamed Morsi

marched to the military intelligence headquarters overnight, despite a

government warning that it would disburse two vigils in Cairo. Jim

Muir visited the place where The government has told the

Interior Ministry to clear the protest camps. The ministry is

urging the protesters to leave. They all have of the same answer.

We will it stay. We will not leave have. Do you have guns or weapons?

No, we do not. We have nothing here. It is impossible to judge how many

protesters there are here. During the long, hot days of fasting, they

are scattered in it street shelters. Many have brought their whole

families. There are many vocal women here. Every bit as defiant

and determined as the men. We are not leaving. Until we are dead.

are prepared to die? Of course. This is the aim of everyone who has

come here to defend the truth. interim government has offered safe

passage for anybody who wants to leave her. But people here are

planning to escalate their protests. Confrontation does seem to be

looming here. The Interior Ministry says these people should leave

immediately. Everyone says that they are determined to lay down

their lives for the cost. -- cause.

The latest headlines. The African union assess -- The

African Union says Zimbabwe's election process reflects the will

of the people. It comes after local monitors called it seriously

compromised. Former Italian prime minister,

Silvio Berlusconi, denounces the Supreme Court ruling upholding his

four-year prison sentence for tax fraud.

There's growing tension between the US and Russia after Moscow granted

Edward Snowden temporary asylum. The White House said it is

extremely disappointed. The BBC's Daniel Sandford has been

speaking to Mr Snowden's lawyer. I asked him about Snowden's options.

He can go wherever he wants him Russia and now. For the time being,

he is staying in a hotel. There are thousands of hotels in the Moscow

region, let alone what is the biggest country in the world. If he

wants to stay well hidden, he will be able to. But his lawyer did say

that he is likely to come out and talk to the media. He is allowed to

stay here for 12 months according to the document de was issued

yesterday. But that is a renewable document. Unless that the Russians

change their mind about whether it is a good idea to have him, that

will be renewable and eventually, he could claim a Russian

citizenship. What about the politics here?

Edwards Oldham's lower -- Edward Snowden lawyer. It has been

suggested that the Russians of options had been blocked off.

Russia did not have much option according to the Russian newspapers.

But they do know it will further antagonise the Americans. The

Americans had been antagonised over the last few years, President Obama

is due to be here ahead of a summit in St Petersburg. But there will

come a point when the Americans will it say enough is enough. The

Russian calculation is at this stage, the Americans are not there.

Fighting in parliament is supposed to be about words and ideas, but

that isn't always so in Taiwan. Not for the first time, the politicians,

as you can see, have resorted to physical violence to try and get

their way. They were supposed to be debating the country's nuclear

power policy and whether or not there should be a nationwide

referendum on the construction of the country's fourth nuclear plant.

The $9 billion project has been hugely controversial.

So, brawling on the floor of Taiwan's parliament. I asked

Raymond Li of the BBC's Chinese Service if this was a normal

occurrence in Taiwanese politics. Certainly, it has happened before.

But it is fair to say that, over the last few years, it has become

relatively peaceful until today. There is a critical issue here.

Nuclear plant, the 4th, almost complete. Why is it so bitterly

contested? The whole issue about nuclear energy is already

controversial. Since the two years ago, there was a disaster in Japan

because of the massive earthquake, obviously, that has caused concern

end up time and over the safety of their own nuclear plant. -- in

Taiwan. What has been the reaction? Entire run, it is very divided on

such an issue. -- In Taiwan. Some people feel there is no need for it.

But others say, how can we deal with the need for energy?

critical issue is not just nuclear, but nuclear on an Ireland that is

prone to earthquakes like Japan? -- island. Yes, but the authorities

say they will try the best to ensure safety. But the authorities

-- at Fukushima. Yes, but there have been rigorous tests. We are

seen protests here. What about the role of social Media, empowering

the arguments on both sides? There is already a very hot debate on

social media platforms. As you can imagine, immediately after this

incident in Parliament, there was again very heated debate on weather

they should be behaving like this. I have seen many comments that it

is shameful. Let's get some support. I'll

Australia heading for the greatest comeback in Ashes history?

It is looking good for Australia. Are really good start. 30 runs

added without any loss of wicket. They are continuing as they

finished off last night, with real authority. Michael Clarke continues.

He is now approaching 150. His batting partner is approaching a

century. This is the highest fourth-wicket partnership by any

team ever in Test history at this ground at Old Trafford. It is quite

a recovery from when Australia lost their third wicket. This is exactly

what Australia needed. They knew that they had to win this game or

the Ashes would be retained by England, or maybe altogether lost.

They have given themselves at their absolute best chance of doing that.

If they can now go on and get the kind of score that they should do

with this partnership, around 550 or 600, that will put a lot of

pressure on England's batsmen. It will be fascinating to see how they

perform. This wicket gives something to the bowlers. It is

tantalisingly poised. Real drama there. But what about

the overhang of that dramatic umpiring decision? Many people

getting involved in that? Yes, concern over the dismissal of

Usman Khawaja. He was given out after England appealed. It went to

the review system. The third umpire looked at the replays. You would

have thought that the original decision would have been overturned.

But instead, the decision was upheld, mysteriously. It seems that

the third umpires are unwilling to overrule their colleagues. But for

most of us looking, there was no evidence that the ball hit the bat.

He was given out and it is testament to how well Australia are

doing that they are recovering so well. England were on the receiving

end of another controversial decision later in the day. This

decision review system is being criticised widely. Australia have