14/12/2011 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today with me Tim Willcox. What provoked this

man, Nordine Amrani, to carry out his bloody gun and grenade rampaged

in Belgium? We talk to a criminal expert.

The President of the United States, and Mrs Obama! Drawing a line under

the Iraq War. President Obama welcomes US troops home and

remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Today we pause

to say a prayer for all those families who have lost loved ones.

They are part of our broader American family and we agreed with

them. -- agreed with them. UK

unemployment reaches a 17 year high. 2.64 million people are out of work,

including record numbers of young people.

Also coming up in the programme: Egypt goes back to the ballot box

with Islamist parties battling it out for dominance in Parliament.

What will this mean for the country?

And, 100 years to the day since he became the first person to reach

the South Pole. Celebrations there in honour of the Norwegian explorer

Hello and welcome. He was a convicted criminal with convictions

for drugs and arms offences, and today questions are being asked in

Belgium about how 33-year-old Nordine Amrani was able to obtain

more weapons to carry at yesterday's deadly attack in Liege.

Granted early release last year, Amrani attacked a busy square with

grenades and gunfire. Among those killed was an 18 month-old toddler.

More than 120 people were injured. He then turned the gun on himself.

The body of a female cleaner with a bullet wound to the head was later

found in his garage. You are looking at the killer of Liege.

Nordine Amrani. A gun fanatic, now turned mass-murderer. Here, they

will never forget the day he entered their world. The day he

ended several lives and ruined dozens more. John Michell is one of

many school children caught up in the attack. He was shot in the hip.

His friend was killed. TRANSLATION everybody ran. Everybody was

panicking. I heard gunshots. I felt. I had been hit, but I managed to

get onto the bus. These were the scenes moments after one of

Amrani's grenades had exploded. At least one teenager died on the spot.

More than 120 people were injured. This is the vantage point that,

just 24 hours ago, Nordine Amrani chose for himself. He would have

known that he had the potential to kill and injure vast numbers of

people. He threw three grenades do was the bus shelters, and then

started firing upon the crowds below. And then, just up there, the

police say he shot himself. His killing spree had started even

earlier. Today, the police said they had found the body of a

cleaner in Amrani's garage. He had shot her. Up the road, his home,

with a string of weapons, drug and sex offences - the police knew him

well. The bullet scars now are a source of fascination and horror.

The glass will be repaired, the buses are moving again. Life goes

on. But not for 17 month-old Gabriel. His mother heard a bang

saw his eyes rolled back in his head. I wish I had died instead of

him, she said. Joining me now via Skype is

professor of psychology at the University of Huddersfield, David

Canter. A convicted criminal with gun and

drugs convictions. Should the warning signs have been read, or

were they impossible to read? think the warning signs should have

been read. It is very unusual in this sort of killing spree for them

not to be some earlier indications that the individual was building up

for himself some sort of idea or plan, or had some sort of deep

revenge or hatred that he was going to try and act out. It was executed

very methodically, very calmly. There are reports now that he was

frightened about being returned to prison. Is that normally a time

when social services would step in to gauge what sort of risk they

offered? Well, there would be many indicators that various authorities

would have been alert to, but perhaps not acted on. Be details

will emerge over the next few days and weeks of exactly what was going

on in the background. The fact that a body has now been found of

somebody he seems to have shot earlier on is an indication that he

was going out on a path - he was developing some sort of plot for

himself of what he was going to do, and that first killing was the

starting point for him. And this, of course, is different from a

moment of madness were somebody just cracks. Very different. This

individual, as we find in many other cases, had been planning this

for some time. He had amassed an Arsenal with which to carry out

these attacks. Why would anyone keep grenades? Not for any

recreational use - this was a person who had clearly thought a

lot about what he was going to do. Without doubt, people will find

some indication in his personal possessions, on the internet, some

indication that he had been thinking of doing this for some

time. He had been released early on parole. How difficult is it to spot

any of these warning signs? It is difficult to decide which warning

signs need to be taken seriously because there are so many different

sorts of warning signs, and so many individuals who are likely to

exhibit them. And also, any free society, what can you do about it

if a person is, under the law, allowed to be out on parole?

Clearly, it's the sort of weaponry he had amassed was something that

people should have looked at very closely.

Thank you for joining us on the programme. Now a look at some of

the day's other news. The Chinese authorities have sealed off roads

into a village in the southern province of Guangdong where land

rights protests have intensified after the death of a villager in

police custody. Residents of Wukan said most food supplies had been

blocked. Villagers accuse local officials of illegal land grabs.

The Pakistani president, Asif Ali Zardari is to be discharged from

hospital in Dubai in the next 24 hours. He had been admitted last

week because of a heart problem. So far, officials have refused to say

when Mr Zardari will be returning to Pakistan.

At least 48 people have died in the Indian state of West Bengal after

drinking contaminated illegally brewed liquor. More than 100 others

are being treated in hospital in Calcutta, many in a critical

condition. Death from contaminated alcohol is relatively common in

India. President Obama has been welcoming

home of some of the last US troops to a return home from Iraq.

Speaking at Fort Bragg in North Carolina he described it as an

historic moment and praised the soldiers' courage and

professionalism in a war that he said had paid a heavy price in

Death And When Did. Barack Obama never wanted this war.

As a state senator he called it dumb, but as Commander In Chief,

today he paid tribute to his troops. All the fighting and all the dying,

the bleeding and the building and the training, all of it has led to

this moment of success. Iraq is not a perfect place, but we are leaving

the FA -- behind a more stable and self-reliant Iraq. It was almost a

victory lap, if only because as President help Karen --

Presidential candidate he promised to bring all the troops home.

Unlike President Bush, though, he kept it low key and there was no

mission accomplished. What has started with shock and awe and a

quick invasion turned into a long, costly and divisive war with its

defining moments. The brief euphoria, the demise of a dictator,

the scandal of the prison. The war changed Iraq and America. 4,500

American troops killed in nine years of fighting. More than

100,000 Iraqi civilians dead. The violence continues to kill every

day still in Iraq. One trillion dollars later, the last of

America's military hardware is being shipped out. All the troops

will be reunited with their families for Christmas. They leave

behind considerable challenges. Iraqis will be tested without US

troops. Will they rise to the occasion? Will the politicians

operate against a common threat? Iraq's Prime Minister has close

ties with Iran, America's foe. But at the White House this week, he

assured President Obama he did want a post-war partnership with the US.

Pardoning for regional security, just as Iraq has pledged not to

interfere in other nations, other nations must not interfere in Iraq.

Iraq's sovereignty must be respected. The future looks

uncertain, but for a moment, the two leaders reflected on their

country's shed painful past. America's war in Iraq may be ending

in a few days, but soldiers will continue to be buried in this

cemetery. Killed in combat in Afghanistan. It is often referred

to these days as Obama's war, and that, too, is a conflict where

success has been hard to define, and victory remains elusive.

With the euro plummeting on the currency markets, German Chancellor

Angela Merkel is insisting that Europe will not only master the

financial crisis, but will end up stronger and more stable. Meanwhile,

Britain is grappling with a rising unemployment rate. Figures show a

rise of 128,000, making a total number of 2.64 million people out

of work. Of that, the number of young people, those aged 16 to 24,

rose to just over a million - the highest figure since records began

in 1992. I'm joined now by Hugh Pym. Some pretty awful figures. Just

looking at Britain - is this an indication that perhaps we us --

are heading back into the the way it works in the labour market,

generally the figures that you mentioned today, and any other

period, lack behind output. We had a growing jobs market up until

earlier this week, as the UK appeared to be recovering. That was

reflected in activity last year. But slowing activity since the

spring is reflected in these figures. Given that everyone is

expecting a flat economic output situation this quarter, and may be

slightly negative, it could well get worse from here. That is based

on the fact that the Eurozone holds together. If there is a real crisis

in the Eurozone hit in the UK that could make figures even worse.

is striking in the Eurozone is the number of young people out of work.

That is right across the sector, isn't it? Yes, indeed. Youth

unemployment is experienced in most industrialised countries. It is a

big problem in Spain, for example. It is a number of factors -

everyone has had to grapple with the growth challenge. It is not

just the UK. There is a demographic issue of people wanting to work for

longer, and therefore fewer jobs being created for young people. It

is a major international problem, particularly for industrialised

nations. And it does lead to social problems later on, a lost

generation. What about the private sector picking up the slack? It has

been a big debate in the UK, will the private sector create enough

jobs to compensate for cuts in the private sector -- public sector

because of the austerity programme? It is deficit reduction which does

involve numbers and the public sector coming down. Until earlier

this year, the Chancellor of the Exchequer could save the private

sector was doing more than enough to compensate. Not any more. The

latest quarter until September, more than 60,000 job cuts in the

public sector and only 5,000 created in the private sector. It

is the same year on deer as well. - - year on year. So looking at more

job cuts, these figures are probably going to get worse? Yes.

The Government's official forecast at the Office for Budget

Responsibility in the UK is forecasting the unemployment rate

goes up to 8.7%, a couple of 100,000 extra. Almost every

commentator agrees with that. Since the figure moved up from 2.64

million closer to the 3 million figure, which will be politically

very awkward. That is based on some growth in the UK. If the

international picture changes dramatically, it could be worse.

This is not a UK specific problem. UK unemployment is below France and

the UK -- US. It is a major challenge for the British

government, as indeed for every government in industrialised

Egyptians have been voting in the second round of elections to a new

Parliament, the first since President Hosni Mubarak was toppled

in February. It is already clear that is almost

parties have probably won enough support at the ballot box to be the

largest single force in the new Parliament. So a new battle is

developing between the Muslim Brotherhood, who are putting

themselves forward as moderate and pragmatic, and the more hardline

Salafist, who have strict views on banning alcohol and segregating men

and women in some public places. They have stepped up campaigning

after their success in the first round of elections. And now voting

has moved to the Nile delta, fertile territory for their blend

of religion and politics. This area is a classics Islamist stronghold.

They are expecting a clean sweep in the elections. So the real battle

is between two competing versions of Islamism. The old fashioned

Muslim Brotherhood horror that hardline Saleh fists. In their

increasingly slick campaign, the seller fists emphasise their

beliefs. Egypt's liberals might be horrified but not here in the

villages. We found the message is selling well. The candidate tells

us his appeal is less about the implementation of Sharia law, more

about the contrast with years of corruption and cronyism.

TRANSLATION: We are honest. We're not hypocrites. We are not liars.

We just tell people what we believe. And for these women, ideology seems

the least of their concerns. TRANSLATION: We will call for you.

But you must deliver more services to this area. What we really need

is a storehouse for her cooking gas canisters. At their rallies, the

Muslim Brotherhood are putting themselves forward as the moderate,

pragmatic choice. The personal freedom of everybody is the core of

our programme. Our intention is to try and spread the values in

society by pursues thing -- by giving a good moderate line. The

movement feared and demonised by Egyptian liberals could soon be

working with them to keep with more and comprising a Islamists from

power. Joining us is Dr Omar are sure.

Looking at the report and the Salafist movement, how moderate do

they make you Muslim Brotherhood look? They make them look quite

moderate. The Muslim Brothers -- brotherhood are looking at checking

the security services. Morale as looking for a powerful Parliament

and not they are interested in polarising the society by imposing

a Conservative agenda. This is how the Muslim Brothers won the world

to perceive it, as putting a check on the more extreme versions and

interpretations of Islam. Is there some surprise for the support for

the sell-off this movement? Was there to change could that mean for

Egypt in terms of tourism and its relations with its immediate

neighbours? They have quite an elaborate move -- programme. They

said they would support specific types of tourism, like to watch the

monuments and the health tourism. They are not keen on supporting the

beach tourism or there isn't a lot of debate about how they will

enforce an Islamic court first see where. No bikinis and no alcohol?

No bikinis and no alcohol. And what would it mean for religious

tolerance in the country? There is a lot of fears. I think the

critical issue is the balance of power in the street and how this

will work. The Saleh fists of they have full power, they will be able

to put out extreme policies. They do not want to see how mass like

situation between the clash between the east and west like in Gaza. The

junior Liberals and the Muslim Brothers who want to betray itself

as the moderate alternative and tried to avoid it being linked to

the sophists. Is there a pragmatic element with than the sulphurs

movement as well. If they pushed too hard, the backlash could do

them damage. This is a pragmatic group. Pragmatism is engraved in

the ideologist. They supported Mubarak until the last days of his

power. Many of them changed their political views, depending on what

is the balance of power on the streets. So they can say something

now and change it tomorrow. It is not a very... Began his criticise

Al-Qaeda for being too rigid and not changing their ideology. In

terms of pragmatism began says something to date and change it

tomorrow. Thank you very much. Time magazine has named the

protester as its person of the year. The US-based magazine said

protesters around the world did not just voice their complaints, the

change the world. The magazine's latest issue has air Arab woman

demonstrator on its cover. This time it is true. At $10,500,000.

Well, a collection of jewellery owned by the late Dame Elizabeth

Taylor has fetch 74.9 million billion pounds. -- set -- Sunday

$4.9 million.. One of the most outstanding

achievements of mankind - the words of Norman's Prime Minister today

paying tribute to the explorer Roald Amundsen, who led the first

expedition to the South Pole. December 14th, 1920 11 marks the

100th anniversary of that historic achievement as scientists and

explorers have returned to the ball to pay their tribute.

Music to celebrate one of the greatest feats of human endurance

and bravery. An achievement 100 years ago today that still

resonates with modern adventurers and scientists who joined the

Norwegian Prime Minister at the South Pole in honour of the

explorer Roald Amundsen. It was on December 14th, 1911 that Roald

Amundsen became some of the first people to arrive at the

southernmost of the blow. -- of the Paul. He was already well known and

his home country, completing the first ever crossing of the North

West passage five years earlier. And following the success at the

South Pole, he cemented his position as a national icon by

reaching the North Pole on board a ship in 1926. The first journey

there to be verified and uncontested. Today, swapping his

usual suit and tie for clothing more suitable for temperatures of

minus 40, Jens Stoltenberg ski the final few kilometres to the poll,

tracing their role -- the route taken by a Roald Amundsen and his

team 100 years ago. They were the first people to arrive and the

South Pole. But also to pay tribute to Scotland his men. They paid the

ultimate price. -- captain Scotland his men. Today's ceremony was

graced by a crystal blue sky, but earlier icy winds and low

visibility had hampered many who had taught to retrace Roald

Amundsen steps in time for this event. That did not dampen his

sense of celebration for what had happened 100 years earlier.

Let's go to Cambridge and speak to the author Roland Huntford.

Describe how much an achievement this was. We should not

underestimate what he was up against, should be? I think that

their great achievement of Roald Amundsen was that he brought the

age of terrestrial discovery to an end, that age that began in the

reminiscence. I think this is basically what you should be

remembered for. -- in the Renaissance. Why did he succeed and

captain Scott did not? He succeeded because he was technically and

intellectually these appear. By technically I mean his mastery of

travel across snow. One must not forget that Roald Amundsen and his

men regarded the race for the South Pole, not as a great adventure, but

as the race. So their aim was to get there and to get back safely

and with the least possible trouble. For Captain Scott, in terms of food

supplies and other things, was that a classic case of some would say

the British amateur approach to something like this? Absolutely.

Because Roald Amundsen took great care to work with enormous margins

of safety. I have tried working it out and I stopped at around five or

600%. Obviously, captain Scott got further from base but it was never

less than 30%. Captain Scott had no margin of safety at all which is

basically what killed them. Just one quick statistic Das - when

Roald Amundsen set off he had more or fuel per man than Scott did.

terms of the importance for gnaw away, it has only recently become

independent when this happened. When Roald Amundsen got to the

South Pole, nor we had only been independent for six years. Roald

Amundsen's achievement was to cement a feeling of national

identity and also as it were to cement, to finish the movement, the

nationalist movement... Thank you very much. Sorry to cut you short.

We are out of time. From all of us Hello. For today we had some heavy

showers around. As the clear through the night and when studies,

by tomorrow morning we could have some problem with some widespread

ice affecting northern areas of England. This area here will have

the winds and temperatures tumbling away to allow the step up and.

Further south, a squeeze in the isobars which will bring heavy

showers first thing. Gusts of up to 80 mph. For many, the first half of

Thursday is reasonably settled. A lot of dry weather around.

Scattered showers through northern areas of Scotland. Not as heavy and

frequent as today. Eastern areas will have a lot of sunshine. Light

winds for many tomorrow, a lot of sunshine and highs of Six degrees.

But do not let the fight in stark full year. We have the stormy

weather gathering. As we head through the evening, heavy rain

pushes through the south. Gales and the far South East. Some call their