29/06/2011 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today with me, Kirsty Lang.

Riots in Athens as the Greek parliament approves another

austerity plan. But how will they implement it in the teeth of such

opposition? But Greece's prime minister says

the only other option is bankruptcy. Without the austerity plan there

will be no EU bail-out. They're protesting and that is

their democratic right. But the crucial thing is that no-one, not

one of us, lives through the consequences of collapse.

Austerity unrest is set to hit the UK. Hundreds of thousands of

teachers and civil servants are threatening to strike tomorrow

against pension reforms. A warning to the Burmese democracy

leader to keep quiet, just a day after the BBC broadcasts her views

And a classical repertoire with pop star showmanship. We hear how Lang

Lang strikes the right note between Hello and welcome.

It wasn't unexpected, but there has been huge anger, nonetheless, over

the Greek parliament's approval of a controversial austerity plan to

save the country from bankruptcy. It includes pay cuts of up to 30%

for some public sector workers and tax hikes for everyone. 155 MPs out

of 300 voted for the plan which aims to slash 28 billion Euros from

the country's budget. But, outside, protestors made their feelings

known, as our Europe editor, Gavin Hewitt, reports.

Greek MPs debated and voted behind shattered windows well outside

there were fierce clashes on the streets. In Parliament Square,

protesters had arrived early, hoping to interrupt a vote which

would bring in a hard line austerity measures. Clashes with

police quickly broke out as thousands of protesters lined up

outside parliament. Even before the vote has started, there are volleys

of tear gas been aimed at the crowd and the crowd here certainly has a

sense of tension, knowing that within an hour, the MPs are so

close to vote. The violence was far more serious than yesterday. Dozens

of police and protesters were injured. There were running battles

with the protesters charging police lines. The police used tear gas and

stun grenades. Some of the protesters flu blast bombs and the

fighting spread to nearby neighbourhoods. Inside, the Prime

Minister said it was time to face up to a challenge. He said that

they did not want their government to fail, because if the measures

fail, Greece will fail. In the event, the austerity measures

passed by just a handful of votes. The way is now clear for �10

billion of emergency loans. The response on the streets was one of

fury. This woman said, "Let the Prime Minister come down here and

see if he can live on it 300 euros a month.". These budget cuts have

very little popular support and there is real but and this here.

Tonight, crowds were herded into a Metro station. Yes, the government

won, but there are serious doubts were that the austerity measures

can be fully implemented. We can speak on the phone now from

the centre of Athens to the Greek journalist, Matina Stevis.

What has the atmosphere been like? It has been so tense. I was born

and raised in the city, I was here for the 2008 riots and I have never

felt so at peril. I have never seen this kind of intensity on the

streets and the violence erupting what right and centre.

I understand that there was even an MP attacked outside the parliament.

The EU know anything about that? am afraid I do not know what about

that. I had been in transit all day. I have only been informed by

Twitter and what I have seen on the ground. How representative D think

these people are of the Greek public? The peaceful demonstrators,

not the small agitated and groups - - agitating groups, they had been

protesting for weeks now and they are quite a representative of the

majority of the Greek population. 70 to 80% of Greeks reject the

austerity measures. What is their response when the Prime Minister

says that bankruptcy would be a lot worse? I am not saying that these

people are accusing in favour of bankruptcy, what I am saying is

that these cuts are hitting the working and middle classes hardest

in a way that is unsustainable. They are not convinced and nobody

has bothered to convince them that this is the mid- way forward.

you think these demonstrations will carry on? To be honest, I have been

shocked and I believe they protests will carry on. I think there will

all in all this will see these picking up again. -- I think in

August, this poppycock again. -- this will pick up again.

Joining me now is Vicky Pryce, senior managing director and chief

macro-economic commentator at FTI Consulting.

Isn't this austerity programme going to be hard to implement when

the Greek people are not behind it? Yes, I think there has been a real

problem in terms of explaining, or rather not explaining to the

population what it is all about. There were only really a handful of

anarchists involved and the vast majority of the protests have been

peaceful. I think where someone to explain why the situation was, they

would look at it slightly differently. There has been a huge

gap in the political development over the last few months. Greeks

are basically do not know why they have to suffer. We'd just heard

that something like 70% of them opposed the austerity plan. One of

the reasons is that they have already had 18 months of austerity

and things have only got worse. The economy has shrunk and there is a

fear that - going to depression, they will be even less able to pay

off their debts. I think what Greece needs is something of a path

to growth. We need to have the vault of today and the vote --

tomorrow's College at lot of the vault to release the funds. -- like

it was lit -- legislative of fault. The need to make sure they can get

the next package, the bail-out package which has been set at 100

billion euros. That is absolutely essential, so they can look at what

has to be done to get back to some kind of sustainable growth path.

The need the money to do that and with a bit of luck, the banks will

agree to roll over some of the debt. Some kind of debt repayment will

make the situation easier. They might start to see light at the end

of the tunnel, but it will need to be explained to the population,

which has already suffered quite a lot. The needs to be explained to

them that the alternative is much worse. The pain that Greece would

have to go through if it left the D Udal, or if it was a lot to default,

probably has not been contemplated by anybody or understood by their

population. In fairness to the Prime Minister, I think he has been

tried to lay out what the alternative would be. When you look

at the austerity plan, the range of tax hikes, combined with cuts in

pay of up to 30%, people are feeling the pain and it is

difficult to see how there can be any growth in that situation,

because people are not going to spend. If income tax is not paid,

taxes need to be collected in a certain way. The tea or property

taxes might be the best way of doing it. - -- V A T. The real

problem is that if you tax people and cut spending is, any you might

get in a visual -- a vicious cycle of not being able to tax properly.

Basically, you would be in a worse situation. That is why it think

that there needs to be a voluntary restructuring that takes place. If

it is not done, down this government will fall.

Greek public sector workers are not the only ones on strike. Travellers

arriving at British ports and airports tomorrow have been warned

to expect delays as immigration and customs officers take industrial

action. They will join about 600,000 teachers and civil servants

due to walk out, over planned pension changes. Prime Minister

David Cameron has said the changes are fair and appealed for the

strike to be called off. Our business correspondent, John Moylan,

reports. Thousands of schools will be closed

and many Jobcentres will be shut. Air travellers will face long

queues at airports. That is to some of the likely impact tomorrow as

hundreds of thousands of public sector workers go on strike over

changes to their pensions. On the eve of the biggest industrial

action to be seen in years, the Prime Minister at again attacked

the planned walkout. I do not believe there is any case for

industrial action tomorrow, not least because talks are still

ongoing. It is only a minority of unions that have taken the decision

to goal lead and strike, but what I want to see tomorrow is as many

parents as possible being able to take their children to school.

the same time in London and elsewhere, unions were rallying the

troops. The reject the government claimed that the changes are affair.

We are striking because the government has been made it clear

that the intent to make or members work eight years longer and get

have the pension be sued. It is unfair and we're treating to try

and stop it. -- striking. There is a �9.7 billion funding black hole.

It wants walkers to contribute around 3% more, to work longer,

taking their pension at 66, and to move to less generous career

average schemes. It means that millions of public sector workers,

including these three in Birmingham, will have to rethink their

retirement plans. I am going on strike tomorrow because I care

about education and my pension and I feel it is the only way that we

will get her voices heard. Been to take a stand and say it is not

acceptable to keep on living in fear and wondering if you will keep

your job or be able to pay your mortgage. How much so that the is

there for the strike? Business groups warned that tomorrow's

action could damage hour already fragile recovery. It could have an

enormous destructive effect on our businesses. The fact that thousands

of schools will be closed means that parents will have to take time

off work to look after their children. It will hit businesses

and their pockets as well. In the coming hours, the walkouts will

begin. In a dispute that has so far been played out behind the scenes

France has confirmed its military has been dropping weapons to the

rebels fighting in Libya. The Defence Ministry says light arms

and ammunition were airdropped to the Berber, who are fighting in the

Western Mountains. France says food and medicine was also sent to the

rebels to help them resist Colonel Gaddafi's forces.

Egyptian authorities have ordered a probe into clashes between police

and protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

Running battles raged overnight between riot police and

demonstrators who pelted officers with stones and firebombs. Hundreds

of people were injured. The riots are the most serious violence in

Egypt in weeks. A BBC reporter being held in

Tajikistan is both physically and psychologically frail, according to

a colleague who was allowed to visit him in prison.

The Tajik authorities have charged Urunboy Usmonov with association

with the banned Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir. The BBC says the

allegations against him are unfounded.

It took a five-hour gun fight and some help from NATO helicopters,

but Afghan security forces are now back in control at the

Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul. The hotel was the target of a

surprise raid by militants, which began with a suicide bombing at the

main entrance. At least 21 people are now reported to have been

killed, including nine militants and two policemen. Bilal Sarwary

reports from Kabul.The authorities in Burma have warned the pro-

democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi to stop all political activities.

Almost five ours after Afghan security forces fault and a vicious

attack launched by a group of suicide attackers, smoke was still

billowing from the 4th and 5th floors of the hotel. Thick attack

on the hotel took place throughout the 9th as several Afghan governors

and politicians had gathered in the hotel. There are enough Afghan

security forces on the scene, fighting the attackers floor by

floor. Support from the NATO forces blues decisive. Among those killed

where musicians playing at the hotel and waiters. The Kabul police

chief concern - - confirmed this morning the one attacker was still

under hotel after it had supposed to be cleared. He killed two police

officers and the Spanish civilian. The question people are asking now

is how did the insurgent managed to get themselves and their weapons

into one of the most heavily guarded international hotels.

believe there was a little and the security. The insurgents are using

every means to infiltrate into tight security areas. This attack

will draw attention to the capability of Afghan forces to

handle security once their international allies had over to

them. Afghan officials said that attacks can happen at any time and

they have shown that they can deal with them.

The Burmese government has warned the pro-democracy leader Aung San

Suu Kyi to stop all political activities. The military-backed

government has said her National League for Democracy party is

breaking the law and has no right to maintain offices or issue

statements. This report from our Southeast Asia correspondent,

Rachel Harvey. This was the moment hope return to

Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi, free at last. Still a symbol of the

struggle for democracy, still a powerful voice of challenge to the

leaders in Burma. At first she was given the way, seen here shortly

after her release a dressing adoring crowds outside the

headquarters of her party, the National League for Democracy. That

Hardy, officially banned after failing to register for last year's

elections, and now told firmly to stop all political activity. Burma

is no longer under military rule. There is a new parliament and a new

civilian led government, a chance perhaps, some say, for tentative

steps towards change, but the old reflexes of suppression have not

been lost. Aung San Suu Kyi has been issued an official warning.

This may be partly to blame. The pro democracy leader is this year

delivering it that Reith lectures for the BBC, recorded secretly

inside Burma. The parallels she draws between her homeland and the

recent a people's in Egypt and Tunisia are perhaps uncomfortable

for the Burmese a parties. similarities between Tunisia and

Burma are the same as those all over the world who long for freedom.

There would be similarities, too, and it is because of these that the

outcome of the two revolutions have been so different. The first

dissimilarity is what the Tunisian army did not fire on their people,

the Burmese army did. Aung San Suu Kyi has said she plans to travel so

into the countryside to meet supporters outside her Rangoon home,

those close to her feel for her safety issue tries. The Burmese ad

authorities, it seems, have decided to clip Aung San Suu Kyi's wings.

Now to Spain, which hasn't had a lot of good news on the economic

front recently. However, the Spanish film industry is doing well,

particularly overseas. In fact, last year Spanish films performed

better outside Spain than inside. One example is Daniel Monzon's

prison thriller Cell 211. This is about a guard who on his first day

of work finds himself caught up in a prison riot and on the wrong side

The Spanish film CELL 211. I'm now joined in the studio by its

director, Daniel Monzon. Do you think... what do you think

it is about your film that has made a successful outside Spain as well?

This movie talks about human beings. When I was in a theatre with an

audience in Italy, Canada, America, here in England, the audience react

in the same way. Somehow the movie grabs the audience by the neck and

it doesn't let them free until the end. It is talking about human

beings. So what is a universal theme? Somehow. When I wrote it I

never thought it was going to be such a success. In Spain it was a

huge success, but now it has been released in the whole world's. On

15th July it is coming out in the UK. I love England and British

cinema, so to be here for me is a good, good, good prize. Why do you

think we're seeing this resurgence of Spanish cinema and the export of

Spanish films abroad? Where does that come from? Now in Spain we

have a lot of different visions. There is not I unique genre of

Spanish cinema. There are a lot of options and books. Spain has a

strong young generation doing new things, but working at the same

time as old people who are proposing interesting things.

American cinema is giving up a lot of directors as well. Your film

might be remade by Hollywood. Does that upset you? It is a compliment.

I really admire the director who is going to do it. He loved the film.

He is probably in his room now writing his adaptation! I will go

to the cinema, buy a ticket and see his version. Thank you very much.

Classical music can be a pretty conservative world where it's not

easy to attract young audiences. But 29-year-old Chinese pianist

Lang Lang has broken that mould with his pop-star showmanship. The

Chinese prodigy trained in the US as a teenager and now lives in New

York, but maintains close ties with his home country. He has been

telling BBC World News about the role music can play in connecting

people from different backgrounds MUSIC.

As a pianist, I really don't feel nervous or feel that there are so

much intensity. For me it is a great thing to do and I love to do

it, it is natural. The important thing is that I want to be bomb

macro to keep doing the things I always wanted to do, making music.

I want to connect as many people as possible. I think the music should

help to smooth things. It should build bridges between cultures.

Sometimes people don't understand cultures, but through music they

could find a beautiful connection. One of my mentors, Daniel Beragh

Bohm, so bomb macro took orchestras from Arabic countries and then at

least they got them to play together. Music should have the

ability to do that. I really don't think music should be used to

destroy world peace or separate I grew up there, and then went to

America. Coming back I can see that China is already much closer to the

Western world than it was before. Of course, China will never become

the United States or United Kingdom. It will not happen because the

culture is quite different in the end. But the globalisation will

help that to bomb macro will help to open us more and more. When I

A reminder of our main news: There have been violent clashes on the

streets of the Greek capital, Athens, after the parliament voted

in favour of a drastic package of austerity measures. The measures