24/11/2011 World News Today

Egypt's military says sorry for the deaths of protestors in the past

week's unrest and insists that Monday's parliamentary elections

will go ahead. But some protestors are not convinced and are are

refusing to leave Cairo's Tahrir More talks at the EU's top table,

but beneath the apparent unity, big differences exist between France

and Germany on how to stabilise the euro. The Harry Potter author JK

Rowling tells the inquiry into UK media ethics that press intrusion

hounded her out of her home. Also coming up in the programme... We

have a special report from the Syrian/ Turkish border. How safe

are Syrian anti-government protestors who've crossed into

Turkey? The assumption is that agents of Syrian intelligence were

waiting for him, grabbed him and perhaps took him back over the

Syrian border. Most people round here think that he's been killed

already. And the first novel of beat generation writer Jack Kerouac

is finally published more than 40 Hello and welcome. After six days

of violence in which nearly 40 people have died, Egypt's ruling

military has insisted that parliamentary elections will go

ahead as planned on Monday. But protestors in Cairo's Tahrir Square,

the symbolic heart of the Egyptian revolution, are not placated.

Although a truce has been brokered by Muslim clerics, there are still

large crowds in the square demanding the military leadership

step down immediately. Jon Leyne reports from Cairo. The state of

Egypt four days before what should be a triumphant celebration of

democracy. The troops on the streets, barbed-wire surrounds the

Interior Ministry. Overnight there was the latest in a series of

truces between police and protesters. But nobody is

optimistic it will hold. On state TV two generals appeared. For the

first time they offered an apology for the deaths of protesters. They

insisted they were not like the former regime, they did not want to

hold on to power. But in the city of Ismailiyah, they sent tanks out

during the night as demonstrations continued across Egypt. The

opposition claimed live fire is now being used against them, the army

firmly deny they had shot any protesters. After last night's

apology, two more generals appear today to insist elections on Monday

will go ahead. TRANSLATION: We will not relinquish power because of a

slogan chanting crowd. Being in power is not a blessing, it is a

curse. Meanwhile, parliamentary elections are still scheduled for

Monday. There is almost no campaigning going on, but the bosom

but there had are among the parties who do want them to happen -- of

the Muslim Brotherhood. -- the Muslim Brotherhood. We need can't,

we need to bring the quietness back to Egypt because we are losing

money every day. In Tahrir Square there are mixed opinions about the

election but determination that they won the generals to go and

hand over power to a civilian government. The generals have

apologised but they also made it clear they are not about to give up

power. The crowds here have not been pacified by anything they have

heard, they made it clear they are not going anywhere either. We could

be in for a long stalemate. Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, which expects

to do well in the election, says next Monday's poll must go ahead.

The group is the largest to be represented in the election. It's

also Egypt's oldest and largest Islamist organisation and has

influenced similar movements across the Arab world. In previous

elections, the group ran candidates as independents to get round a ban

on religious parties. In 2005, its candidates won 88 seats, a fifth of

the total, and far outstripping the legal opposition, which won only 14

seats. After the fall of President Mubarak, the group was legalised.

And standing as the Freedom and Justice Party, it's said it will

contest up to half the seats in next week's elections. Joining us

now from Cairo is Kamal Al Helbawy, spokesperson for the Muslim

Brotherhood. Is it fair to say the Muslim brothers have done a deal

with the military? I do believe that the Muslim Brotherhood played

the role the area efficiently with the military and with the people of

Egypt. Now they are coming to elections, the people understand

they are the most organised group in Egypt and they are heading to

get there with other is a must so at least 50 per cent of the vote.

Nobody disputes you will have a strong showing but the specific

question is the protesters out in Tahrir Square now, many of them

secularists, say they are concerned a new transitional government may

have to answer to the military in some way. What is your view on the

role of the military now in Egypt? Should it be enshrined in any new

constitution? I believe the military role should be shrinking

in the future and the more participation from the

revolutionary and civilian powers in growing the future and shaping

the future of Egypt, not only in implementation. I wrote and spoke

on Arabic Television about the role in the future and the co-operation

between the revolutionary and the army. And at least 19 people from

the revolutionary should be collected who was quite genuine and

trusted by the people to participate in working for the

future and resolutions with the military council and not to leave

all the burden on the shoulders of the Military Council as happened

during the last 10 months since the fall of Mubarak. The military have

said they will hand over to win national salvation government. Who,

in your view, would be right to lead that government? We've heard

different names. Who would be acceptable to you? For me every one

of them is acceptable because it is a transition period and it will not

continue more than a few months and it will be very busy but I do

believe any potential candidate, if they accepted to play the role of

the transitional period to lead this government, they will have no

role to play in the future of Egypt, or participate in elections as

candidates. And remove so can lead but will have no right to

participate in the presidential elections. Another name was

mentioned but I think he did not approve that and they wanted to

stay behind until the presidential The leaders of France and Germany

are proposing changes to the European Union treaties to tighten

control over the eurozone. President Sarkozy and the German

Chancellor Angela Merkel also expressed their strong support for

Italy's interim prime minister, Mario Monti, after the three met in

Strasbourg today. France and Germany are keen to present a

united front, however, they disagree on the role of the

European Central Bank in helping stabilise the eurozone. From

Or on the Franco-German border in a city synonymous with the idea of

European unity -- unity, they want to send a message to the markets

that Italy is in safe hands and has the support of its allies. But what

is this new triumvirate going to do to try to present the eurozone

crisis spinning out of control? TRANSLATION: Faced with the gravity

of the situation we have told Mario Monti that France and Germany will

propose changes to the treaty over the next few days to improve

eurozone confidence. We hope Italy will join us. The idea of a treaty

change will not be welcomed by everyone. Many are focusing on

trying to persuade Germany to ease its opposition to allow the

European Central Bank to use it unlimited firepower to protect

countries which are struggling to service their debts. No sign yet of

Mrs Merkel budging. TRANSLATION: Were modifying the

treaty we are talking about fiscal union, political co-operation, it

is a different story, we have proposals, which have nothing to do

with the ECB. Plenty for Mario Monti to ponder as he embarks on

the enormous task of trying to turn the Italian economy around. His

country is too big to fail but too big to bail. The eurozone needs him

to deliver. TRANSLATION: We have shared our

thoughts on this and we agree the health of the eurozone his priority.

It is fundamental duras days, that the eurozone integrate. -- the euro

stays. They will meet again in Rome and then there is another Euro-

summit in a couple of weeks amid a feeling that time is beginning to

run out. Now a look at some of the days other news... -- day's. The

Yemeni president may have signed a deal to step down, but the violence

continues in the capital Sanaa. At least five people were killed and

several wounded when gunmen loyal to the president opened fire on

thousands of protesters objecting to his being given immunity from

prosecution. President Saleh has condemned the attacks and ordered

an investigation into the violence. Large international supermarket

chains like Tesco and Walmart can now set up shop in India following

a ruling by the government. Supporters of the move say it will

increase competition and quality while reducing prices. Opponents

believe it will squeeze out India's smaller and poorer traders. The

leaders of Hamas and Fatah say they have narrowed their differences

after talks in Cairo. The work in session between Mahmoud Abbas and

the political leader of Hamas was the first since Hamas took control

of Gaza in 2007, leaving Fatah with just the West Bank to control.

American Samoa's football team have won their first international match

after 30 consecutive defeat. They beat Tonga in their first

qualifying match for the 2014 World Cup. In his previous 13 matches

they conceded 229 goals, scored just 12 and suffered a world record

31-0 defeat to Australia in a World Cup qualifier 10 years ago. They

have done well now. A succession of the rich and famous, like the actor

Hugh Grant, have been appearing before the Leveson Inquiry into

media ethics here in London this week. Today the Harry Potter author,

JK Rowling, was the main witness at the inquiry. She told the committee

that press intrusion into her personal life was so great that she

felt she was hounded out of her first home. The government

appointed Lord Leveson to carry out the inquiry into media practices

after a phone and e mail hacking standard engulfed newspapers here,

especially in the Rupert Murdoch news empire. Nicholas Witchell has

more. She has written books which have captivated millions, yet for

JK Rowling there is an absolute rule, that heroin children are

entitled to complete privacy. Unfortunately as she told the

inquiry... A significant section of press in my view have seen it

almost as a challenge. Many times she said she felt trapped at home

by photographers. She recalled an incident after the birth of her

son... We were besieged for one week, then I believe the

photographers had gone. For the first time in a week I was able to

get out of the house with my daughter and the baby. We were

long-nosed, on this occasion I saw the photographer taking the picture

from across the street, I pulled my daughter behind me because it

ignored. I rather absurdly gave chase, how I thought I could out

run a twentysomething a paparazzo while pushing a buggy... My

daughter was saying calm down, don't be silly, it does not matter.

But it mattered hugely to meet. Much of the media did excellent

work, she said, but there was a section which seemed to have few

scruples. The attitude seems to be utterly Cavalier. In difference.

What does it matter? You are famous. You're asking for it. JK Rowling

said if you fought back again some papers you could expect retribution.

In the case of the actress Sienna Miller, the risk could amount to

physical danger. She told the inquiry how, for years, she had

faced almost daily pursued by photographers. She said at times it

I would find myself at 21 running down the street at midnight with

ten big men chasing me and the fact they had cameras in their hands

meant that was legal, but if you take them away, you have a pack of

men chasing a woman and that's a very intimidating situation to be

in. Photographers seemed to know her movements and reporters her

secrets. They accused her family of leaking information. Her phone was

being hacked, in fact. When she finally saw the notes kept by Glenn

Mulcaire, this is what she found. Dates referring to very personal

things within my life. All my telephone numbers, the three I had

changed in three months and my access numbers, PIN numbers and

password for my e-mail that was later used to hack it. The whole

experience, she said, had created distrust and anxiety and left her

feeling violated. The Arab League has given Syria one day to agree to

allow an observer mission into the country or face sanctions. The

country's been suspended from the Arab League because of a violent

crackdown against anti-Government protesters. The leader of the

opposition Free Syrian Army has told the BBC that the President's

regime will fall soon. The colonel has given a rare interview to our

editor John Simpson, who is in south-east turkey. -- Turkey. The

border between Turkey on this side and Syria, a closed country on the

brink of civil war. It looks quiet enough, but refugees slip across

all the time, among them soldiers who have rebelled against the

Syrian Government. But even though they are under Turkish protection

now, they are not necessarily safe. There are seven refugee camps in

this area. Many of the people who now live in them have been here for

several months. A senior Syrian officer, who defected, lived here

until late September. Then he went out by bus to do some shopping in

the nearby town. Somewhere round here the colonel disappeared. The

assumption is that agents of Syrian intelligence were waiting for him,

grabbed hum, and perhaps took him back over the Syrian border. Most

people around here think that he's been killed already. Syrian

refugees still come here to shop, but they tend to be more wary now.

Some don't want to show their faces on camera. They all seem to know

about the disappearance of the colonel. The Turkishing police keep

an eye on us. Though, in the end, they let us go on filming. And the

Turkish army makes it hard to contact the leader the the Syrian

rebels, who has come across the border. He and all the defecting

soldiers are held in this one camp. While we were filming the pictures

of the soldiers, the Turkish army came and arrested us and a judge

had to get us freed. The only way we could interview the colonel was

via the internet. It was all done very much at the last minute and it

was pretty bizarre. We set up in a nearby farmyard and the chief of

the Free Syrian Army appeared. The first time he's been interviewed on

camera. TRANSLATION: We assure everyone that the President of

Syria is finished. The Syrian nation is determined to bring this

dictator down. Will it happen? TRANSLATION: God willing, God

willing, very soon. The system is rotten to the core. It may look

strong on the outside, but at the heart it's weak. Inside Syria, the

Free Syrian km army will be more and -- Army, will be more and more

important as the situation gets worse. It's not civil war there yet,

but it seems to be heading that way. The Rory Peck Awards pay tribute to

the freelance camera operators who risk their lives literally, to

bring you pictures from difficult and dangerous places. This year's

Sony Professional Impact Award went to a disturbing undercover

documentary about the lives of impoverished children in Zimbabwe.

Fill maker, Jezza Neumann said it was the toughest shoot he had ever

been on. This school in Zimbabwe has 1,000 pupils. 350 of them are

orphans. They are keen to learn, but the vast majority of their

families can't afford the school fees, so one day they are forced to

Jezza Neumann isn't supposed to be filming this. He has permission to

make a documentary about the childhood of a South African

colleague. What they are actually doing could get them deported or

thrown in jail. To get these shots, the camera's on the ground and

Jezza Neumann is pretending to tie up his shoelaces. He's interrogated

in total 12 times. But it's the Zimbabweans there filming who Jezza

Neumann worries about most. I did feel our contributors were at

severe risk and they are the ones that the authorities would actually

go after and the ones who are Nineyear-old Esther cares for her

dying mother. Her father has already died of AIDS. HIV positive

herself, she is also looking after The most heart-breaking moment

comes when they return to see Esther and she tells them that her

mother has died. Here's a young child who tells us mat ter of

factly, that her -- matter of factly, that her mother has died.

That is how she delivers it. The other sadness is she actually says

it's a relief, because it means she no longer has to look after her

mother as well as teen know. Tino. This story does have a happy ending.

Viewers were so moved by the plight of Esther and the other children,

that donations poured in. She and Tction ino no longer have to look

after -- and Tino no longer have to look after themselves. The American

writer Jack Kerouac, who died more than 40 years ago, is best known

for his book On The Road. It became the Bible for the Beat Generation

in America, but his very first novel, written while he was at sea

in the Second World War has never been published until now. It's

called The Sea Is My Brother: The Lost Novel in one moment I'll

discuss the book with Stuart Evers, but first we'll hear a little of

Jack Kerouac himself reading from his book On The Road. I was trflg

west one time at the junction of the -- travelling west one time at

the junction of the state line of you tar and I saw -- Utah and I saw

the of God with his forefinger pointing straight at me. Through

halos and gold folds his right hand would say "Boy, go across the

ground. Go home from man. Go grown alone. Go role your bones alone. Go

there and be little beneath my sight." Also, "And of this world

you report yourself well and truly." That was Jack Kerouac

reading there. Stuart Evers joins me now. This new published novel,

The Sea Is My Brother: The Lost Novel, you have actually read it

and it has just come out today? Yeah. It's an interesting book.

Like with many of his books it's very auto buy graphical and it

talks about him being in the merchant Marines, but what is

interesting for people who know and love him, it is not very polished

or as zipy perhaps as -- wouldn't expect that. Give him a

break, he wrote it when he was 21? There are flashes of the Jack

Kerouac that people have come to love and adore within the book.

There is lots of youthful kind of indiscretions within the text,

which doesn't make it perhaps the kind of literary event that perhaps

we might think it is. It tells you a little about how he was

developing perhaps as a writer. is a very interesting book in terms

of his obsessions that came through, the outsidism and America and the

concept of looking for things outside of a real sense of a place

and looking for something support spiritual. You are in your 30's, so

why do you think his writing has such enduring appeal? What is it?

William S Burroughs said this book sold one million pairs of Levis and

they are the last bastion of cool in as much they are famous for

their lifestyle. Even as much as their actual output. It was about

the Beat era. Why was that so important? It was a precursor to

rock'n'roll and it came around at the time when he wrote On The Road.

You can imagine there is a real sea change in America and you can

imagine anyone trying to get hold of his book and following in his

footsteps. There is something about him that appeals to the rebel in

all of us? Yes, absolutely. He did things that nobody else had ever

done. He wrote about them certainly. It's still as poignant and as

exciting now as it was then. book came out today. You must be a

fast reader? I got it two weeks ago. Are you a bit of a rebel too?

quite too. Thank you very much. That is all from the programme.

Next it's the weather, but for the moment from me, and the rest of the

moment from me, and the rest of the team, goodbye. There are two sides

to autumn weather, the mild and misty, the quiet or the wild and

windy. That's what we have at the moment. This area of deep pressure

is just off the north-west of the United Kingdom, giving strong winds

across northernmost parts. The winds are increasing for us all, so

blustery day for us all. It is pushing cold air across the country.

Another band will work south during the day and gusty winds on these as

well. Tending to weaken though just to a line of showers, as it reaches

further south. That's where it will be sitting at around 3pm. Ahead of

it though, there will be plenty of sun before the thicker cloud and a

few showers get in much later in the day. That band of showers also

stretching right into parts of south-west England and moving

through Wales, with the blustery winds. Brighter conditions follow

on behind. It could be quite a spell of heavy rain across northern

England, but it will brighten in the afternoon. A few showers

following on to the north and west of Northern Ireland. Breezy and

chilly feeling in the afternoon and yes, this is snow. Central

highlands into the crammians. Snow above 150 metres. Settling above