24/09/2013 BBC World News

Our top story. The attack on the Nairobi shopping centre. Kenyan

security forces say two or three Nairobi shopping centre. Kenyan

attackers may still be inside the mall. The militant group Al-Shabab

says they are still holding some hostages.

So far I've had one Briton. Iran's new President prepares to address

the United Nations. Will he offer prospects of better relations with

the West? Can the new Pakistan Government hold talks with the

Taliban, after the devastating bombing at a Christian church on

Sunday? Zbll Kenya's military have said

there may be two or three militants still inside. But in a statement

behind the attack, Al-Shabab says it still has fighters answer hostages

at the is Westgate complex. The Red Cross says 61 people are still

unaccounted for and the city'ser morgue is on standby to "Receive a

large number of bodies." The fourth day and the world can

only watch and wait. Security forces are on a constant vigil outside the

Westgate shopping centre. They claim to be in control. But it's clear the

battle isn't over. Another explosion, and more gunfire

ring out. Soldiers can just be seen racing around the building. There

were a couple of fired shots from what looks like weapons. Just now

you have them taking over the first floor and second floor. Unconfirmed

reports on social media say that floor and second floor. Unconfirmed

Al-Shabab claims its militants are holding their ground and that some

hostages are still alive. Al-Shabab are also apparently denying a

statement by Kenya's Foreign Minister. She says British and

Americans are amongst the attackers. From the information that we have,

two or three Americans, and I think so far I've heard of one Brit. The

Brit was a British-born woman? A woman. So far the Government in the

UK hasn't been able to confirm or deny the involvement of a British

woman in the siege? . But they have said that a sixth British national

was killed. This man's wife and daughter are among the British

victims. He had waited outside the shopping centre for days before

hearing the news. His relatives, back in the UK, are

distraught. They are nice, very nice. He loved

his daughter very much. It is very hard to take it. It is hard to

imagine what any remaining hostages and their families must be going

through. For days now the claim has been this crisis is about to end but

it's still not clear how much longer been this crisis is about to end but

it'll drag on. Peter Taylor from the BBC's

investigative Panorama programme has spent two weeks in Kenya looking

into Al-Shabab. He left Nairobi hours before the mall was attacked.

We were in Kenya for two weeks looking at recruitment for

Al-Shabab, how it worked, the pipeline that would take be Western

Jihadis and Kenyan Jihadis up to join Al-Shabab. We left literally a

few hours before the Westgate siege. We talked about people involved in

the pipeline. One young man who allegedly tried to get into Somalia

before he was arrested and critically to one of the key

recruiters and radicalisers and in a critically to one of the key

remarkable interview, he makes no bone abouts what he does. He

believes in jihad. He believes in Sharia law and he would like to see

Sharia law in Kenya and throughout Africa. It is an astonishing

interview. So, we were looking at - you know, radicalisation and

recruitment and the pipeline that takes Western Jihadis and local

Jihadis, Dobb would-be Jihadis into Somalia. -- would-be. You have spent

years looking at terrorism right around the world with so many of the

groups. When you got to Kenya, do you believe that the authorities

there knew about the pipeline that you were examining? And what you had

discovered? They certainly knew about the pipeline. They've done a

lot... When you look at an operation like

this, 10 to 15 officially said to be involved. This takes a lot of

organisation and a lot of probably pre-positioning. What is your

reflection on what happened shortly after you left Nairobi, compared to

what you had unpicked in the previous two weeks about Al-Shabab?

Well, I was surprised, not at the target, because that clearly was a

target. I was surprised at the numbers involved. At the planning

involved. I mean Al-Shabab is a pretty sophisticated organisation.

Peter Taylor there of the BBC. A "pretty sophisticated organisations

"I'm joined by Mohammed Mohammed of the BBC swa heely service.

You and your colleagues have about been in touch directly and

indirectly with Al-Shabab. A been in touch directly and

sophisticated organisation. How are they handling this? A lot of

speculative information is online. -- attributing lists of fighters to

are in the mall. He wanted to verify the information as much as we can.

One twitter is are still in the picture and they are attributed to

Al-Shabab. We had to contact them asking them - earlier in the

morning, you told us, Al-Shabab, that your twitter services were

suspended. So, this is attributed to you. Is it correct, that this is

your new twitter? They said - yes. We asked them many times and we are

100% sure that this new twitter, which came with two still pictures

of their fighteders, in the morgue, in a frozen state, is their claim,

it is theirs. What is your impression of how crude or how

clever Al-Shabab are being about commanding the information space and

rivalling the Kenyan government? First of all in social media they

are very active. They have got their own websites and they disseminate

their own prop Gap began da and information. I should tell you -

these are library pictures, n from anything to do with what is

happening in Nairobi at the moment. The information that is broadcast

throughout the world, it seems Al-Shabab is showing their strength

and is showing, innocent people holed up there.

on social media and the circus of the situation. The other thing is,

their sophistication and how they deal with issues, they plan and they

collect intelligence on the places they atwak. The places they have

attacked for the last three months in Somalia alone included UN

offices, the High Court. An attempted attack of the President

himself and attempted attacks on very senior officers of the

government and an NGO on facilities. And they have been surveying and

collecting information. When they attack, they execute it in a very

efficient way. Finally, let me ask you: Where do you think the

information flow is being controlled from? Do you think it is from within

Kenya or somewhere in Somalia, or in a third country? I do not know. But

what I know is the Somali government was not active controlling

country-wide and we know that Al-Shabab control a large swathe of

southern Somalia, much rural areas but the sophistication of the online

information we see, cannot be expected from elsewhere. Somalia has

very little facilities when it comes to international links on the

internet. Thank you very much for joining me.

Are we about to see an historic step towards Iran's rehabilitation with

the West. In a few hours, Iran's new President, roou roou roou will

address the -- nRouhani will address the United Nations General Assembly

in New York. And Iran's Foreign Minister will meet the US Secretary

of State. But the big question is, after the flewy of back channel

diplomatic contacts and positive is signals from Tehran, will President

Obama have an historic chance hand shake with Iran's new President.

The new President will address the US General Assembly. His speech is

expected to be less controversial with that of his predecessor.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's fiery words let to walkouts between the US and

Israeli delegations. Mr Rouhani, a conservative with a pragmatic

political streak was elected in June, promising to ease Iran's

fraction foreign relations and US sanctions, ease them.

In a sign that diplomacy may be aproving, President Obama and Mr

Rouhani have a acknowledged they've exchanged letters.

In an interview with American TV, itself a rarity, Mr Rouhani said

"Iran would never seek weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear

weapons." He seems to have the backing of the Supreme Leader, who

last week declared he believed in her orric fliblingts as he endorsed

rational foreign He appears to be on a charm

offensive against the West. His Foreign Minister, is meeting six

major world powers to discuss Tehran's nuclear programme. He'll

meet US Secretary of State, John Kerry, on Thursday, the highest

level of face-to-face contacts between the two countries for more

than 30 years. A top UN official, who has met him is optimistic that

the tone of diplomacy has changed. I who has met him is optimistic that

had the impression that foreign the rainian Foreign Minister and his

team were very much operating along the lines that we have heard the

president talking about, trying to engage constructively with the

international community. Outside the UN, cynicism on the streets. Some

believe Mr Rouhani... All eyes will be on the new

president this he can would, will he extend an olive branch in his

speech? And could a deal with Washington really be on the cards?

Also, at the United Nations Russia is saying it opens the UN Security

Council will agree on a resolution this week to dismantle Syria's

chemical weapons stock tile. UN weapons the inners are expected

to turn to Syria tomorrow. They left the country after President Obama

said the US was considering "a little itted narrow act against

Syria." Now to Pakistan where vigils have been held for the victims of a

devastating suicide bombing o at a church on Sunday. At least 80 people

are thought to have died in the attack. It has led many to question

the Government's policy of trying to start a dialogue with the Taliban.

In this special report from start a dialogue with the Taliban.

Pakistan, we look at the debate over the best way to bring an end to the

violence. In one violent moment, this family

was torn apart. This Christian lost six relatives in

the attack on the church. There is no substitute for the brothers I

lost - she said, "I'll never get them back."

And there are dozens of other families here, dealing with their

sudden losses. Other 80 people are now known to

have died, and two suicide bombers blew themselves up, amongst the

congregation that had just finished Sunday mass here.

Christian protesters have since taken to the streets. Their anger

directed at the authorities for not giving them protection, but also at

politicians who'd recently been calling for talks with the Pakistani

Taliban. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had been

pursuing a strategy of preparing the ground for dialogue with the

militants, backed by other prominent leaders. If those could be stopped,

and if we could bring peace back into our country, one should prefer

that one instead of using force against one's own people. The

militants may indeed be Pakistanis, but is it really right to give them

concessions when they have killed so many of their countrymen? It hasn't

worked well in the past. In 2005, Baitullah Mehsud signed a peace deal

worked well in the past. In 2005, with the government, but it fell

apart. Many felt the group just used the time to gain ground. Of course,

Pakistanis are exhausted with the bloodshed after years in which

thousands of civilians and soldiers have been killed while talks might

bring some respite from the violence, the real fear is they

could also leave the militants in an even stronger position.

This time, while the militants are saying they are willing to talk,

attacks are still happening. These saying they are willing to talk,

people are mourning the death of a Pakistani Army General. He is seen

here on the right ht in the Swat Valley, where he was commanding

officer. It was close to there that his jeep was blown up. In their

grief, some are sceptical about what dialogue with the Taliban will

achieve. Words will not bring him back. I'm thinking the people that

are making the decisions, they should think about that. Whether it

is Christians at prayer, this country is still grappling hard with

how to stop the killing. Stay with us on BBC World News.

Still to come: Greenpeace campaigners protesting against oil

drilling in the Arctic are treated as pirates when arrested by the

Russian authorities. An expert report on climate change

is published this week. We report from Norway on how household rubbish

is reused to power the nation's capital.

A top UN official has expressed hope there could be diplomatic progress

at the General Assembly of the United Nations this week. The UN

Secretary-General for Political Affairs has told the BBC that after

two years of paralysis, there was clear movement.

I think we are in a different situation now. You have the Syrians

acknowledging that they have a chemical weapons arsenal. Next, you

have the Syrians who have decided to join the Chemical Weapons

Convention, something the Secretary-General has long called

for. And you have the Russians and Americans working together through

this framework agreement and they are forming the core of the Security

Council discussion. This is different than what it was a few

weeks ago. The Assad government are saying the civil war has reached a

stalemate. Does that give you hope that they are willing to negotiate

if and when there is a Geneva 2 Conference? I'm more encouraged now

than I was a few months ago, for a number of reasons. We have heard the

Syrian government talk about stalemate and need for a ceasefire.

We have heard the Syrian opposition coalition. It doesn't represent all

factions, I realise that, but also express a willingness to go to

Geneva when the cameras pan the room at that Conference, on the opening

day, in the Syrians - and the Syrians are at home e hopeful that

something will change the hell they have been going through. Should Iran

be at the table? We have been clear, Kim, it is very hard for us to

imagine a political solution for Syria that works, that doesn't

somehow have Iran as part of the conversation. Iran does exercise

enormous influence inside Syria. The closest ally to the Syrian

government. We have made it clear that we don't agree with

transferring arms, or support for fighters. But to have a political

solution for Syria, it is not enough to just talk to the Syrians, they

are divided by what they have gone through. We have to engage the

region so that everybody is pulling for a political solution. The

Syrians at the table see there is no exit, they see the only way forward

is to go for a political solution. You are with BBC World News. The

headlines: A Kenyan military commander says two or three

militants may remain inside the Nairobi shopping centre. The Somali

group, Al-Shabab, says its fighters are still holding hostages in the

complex. Iran's new President will address

the UN General Assembly later. The speech will be watched carefully for

signs that Iran does want to improve relations with the West.

The Russian Security Services says a group of Greenpeace activists

detained last Thursday are being held on suspicion of piracy. The

campaigners were seized last Thursday. They had tried to climb on

to an offshore platform as a protest against oil drilling in the extreme

conditions of the Arctic Ocean. Their boat, the Arctic Sunrise, was

also seized. The group have carried out operations against rigs in the

Arctic similar to this before, but I put it to the BBC's Moscow

Arctic similar to this before, but I correspondent that Russia detaining

them for piracy had escalated the issues significantly. It is the

first time that Greenpeace have found themselves at the criminal end

of the piracy law. This is an article under Russian law of piracy

by an organised group. That is what the investigative committee, the

Russian equivalent of the FBI, says it is investigating. We have just

seen the first pictures of the Arctic Sunrise moored a bit up the

coast just off the shore there. It's being held there, it seems, and it

seems as if the Greenpeace activists are going to be held on board, at

least for a short while. Some representatives of foreign embassies

are hoping to get access to the activists this afternoon. It is not

clear whether this investigation activists this afternoon. It is not

will end up with the activists being activists this afternoon. It is not

taken to a police station on land or whether it will proceed with the

vessel being held there. These are some of the most extreme conditions

vessel being held there. These are for exploring for oil. What is the

point of principle at stake here being challenged by Greenpeace and

point of principle at stake here upheld by Russia? Well, look, Russia

has almost certainly enormous reserves of oil and gas under its

northern waters, the various seas that make up the Arctic Ocean along

the coast of Russia. Russia believes that is a very important part of its

economic future even if it is not massively economic at this stage to

develop it on a grand scale. From Greenpeace's point of view, and also

from other environmental groups, this is a risky place to explore for

oil and gas. We don't have the technology at the moment to break up

an oil spill were it to happen in this very cold water, or even worse,

were it to spill under the ice. Oil spills have been dealt with in warm

waters, in the Mexican Gulf, for example. When it's happened in cold

waters, it's been much worse. Well, waste not want not, it is a

common expression. It has been put into practice in Norway. Common

household rubbish is being converted into hot water and electricity that

powers the nation's capital. The process is controversial and some

environmentalists are crying foul. The waste from tens of thousands of

households. A disgusting, decaying mass.

The stench sticks in the back of your throat. But, here, this isn't

classed as waste. It's seen as energy. Anything that can be

recycled is before it gets to this stage. And then they pile it up, a

tonne at a time, ready to burn. All that waste is burnt in here. If

you take a look, it is degrees in there. It still doesn't quite burn

everything. - it is 850 degrees in there. What you get at the end of

the process is a load of ash, some metal, which can be recycled, and a

lot of heat. That heat boils water, the steam

drives this turbine producing electricity and the scalding water

is piped off from the plant to houses and public schools across

Oslo. Rubbish from across Europe helping to heat them through the

harsh winter. Energy from waste - an environmentalist's dream. Well, not

completely. The overall goal should be to reduce the amount of waste.

But when you have power plants that require, that we produce more and

more waste, we are not able to reduce the amount. Public

transport's also running on rubbish, fuelled by bio-gas given off by

decaying food and other organic waste. Enough, eventually, to run

over 100 buses each year. Supporters say similar projects across Europe

could revolutionise energy use. If done properly, surely a much more

robust energy platform for all the Europeans. They will be more

self-sufficient. A much better climate policy for the global.

For now, most of our rubbish ends up not here, but in landfill. The

energy locked within wasted forever. Let me update you on what is

happening in Nairobi. We can go to the live picture. It is still not

over, but one source from the police has said it is over and we have seen

police in a rather relaxed fashion moving in front of the building,

that is after what happened on Saturday. The Kenyan military saying

two or three militants remain inside, but Al-Shabab are claiming

hostages are still being held and several of their men are still

alive. That is it from me. Thank you for joining us. Bye-bye.