03/01/2012 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today. The fight for justice that became a

defining moment in British race relations.

18 years after the black teenager, Stephen Lawrence, was killed in a

racist attack - Gary Dobson and David Norris are found guilty of

his murder. At the police done their job

properly, I would have spent the last 18 years grieving for my son,

rather than fighting to get his killers to court.

D-Day for Republican voters in the American state of Iowa as they

prepare to choose their candidate for the 2012 Presidential race.

Singer, percussionist, UNICEF ambassador and President? Youssou

N'Dour confirms he will stand in Senegal's Presidential elections

next month. Also coming up in the programme:

The lurking menace found in the office of Hong Kong's Chief

Executive. His brand new, multi- million dollar government building

is found to be contaminated with And St Trinian's creator and

internationally acclaimed cartoonist, Ronald Searle, dies at

Hello and welcome. There were tears and shouting at

the Old Bailey this afternoon as two men were found guilty of the

murder, 18 years ago, of the black teenager, Stephen Lawrence. Gary

Dobson and David Norris were convicted after a six-week trial

that hinged on new scientific evidence, in a landmark case that

exposed racism in the Metropolitan Police, and led to a change in the

law that allowed suspects to be tried twice for the same crime.

Both will be sentenced tomorrow, as Tom Symonds reports.

An unprovoked, a racist attack near a London bus stop. A young black

man fatally stabbed. A notorious unsolved murder. As the police

watched their suspects and public anger boiled over. A bereaved

family fought for justice. Today, after 18 years, they got it. His

mother, Doreen worked as a silent court heard the verdicts. She spoke

afterwards of her relief, but also her anger. How can I celebrate when

I know that this day could have come 18 years ago, if the police,

who were meant to find my son's killers, failed so miserably to do

so. This is not a reason to celebrate. We paid tribute to Mr &

Mrs Laurence's courage and dignity. They have contributed to major

changes in policing, the law and within society as a whole. Gary

Dobson is convicted of murder following the scrapping of the so-

called double jeopardy law. He had been acquitted in the 1990s. David

Norris had never been charged. Forensic scientists at this company

began what is called a Cold Case Review. Clothes are taken from

Stephen Laurence and the defendants were subjected to months of modern

forensic tests. Using this taping technique, clothing fibres were

collected from the garments and the bags they were in. On this

colourful jacket taken from Dobson's house and this cardigan,

fibres which matched Stephen's clothes. On these genes from

Maurice's House, a single her. significant finding was based small

stain on the back of a collar. Microscopic blood stain that

wouldn't have been apparent to the naked eye. That staying is on Gary

Dobson's jacket collar, whose blood is it? It indicated it came from

Stephen Laurence. Blood, fibres and her linked the two suspects to the

scene, to the victim, to the killing. Dobson denied knowing

David Norris, but despite these surveillance pictures, all the

suspects had to be released. Detectives tried fitting a covert

camera in Dobson's flat. They watched a group of friends and

Months turned into years. In 1995, Stephen's desperate parents tried

to prosecute three of the suspects themselves - the case collapsed.

The men refused to answer questions at the 1999 inquiry which run --

produced a report critical of the police. Even this latest

prosecution has taken four years. But the case remains open. Nine

people are still of interest. From the original five, two are guilty.

What of those that remain? Stephen Laurence is buried in Jamaica, his

mother still turns his grave. always a very sad time. As his

picture is beginning to wear out, I will have to get another one done.

It has been 18 years. But for him, the British justice system has now

finally delivered. Joining me now is the writer and

broadcaster, Darcus Howe. A long road to justice for the family.

What was your reaction? More importantly, when I heard he was

killed, I thought, there but for the grace of God go I. I have boys,

a couple of years younger and older than he was. That was the first

thing. To be concerned your son would be playing football all be

dead. It went through the black community. That was in 1983, 18

years later how has that changed attitudes? So much has altered in

the last 18 years hasn't it? and No 4 stock in the sense we

carried through enormous trouble to get these guys before the court. It

seemed to be over. His parents, they are my age, my generation and

they did it. That is important. you think the elements of racism

that existed in British society in 1983 has been changed for ever, as

a result of this murder? And the inquiries that followed? I would

like to say that, but it goes backwards and forwards. A few hours

ago a young students was walking near student when my daughter works

in the BBC and lost his head, for no apparent reason. Whether things

are improving or changing, then something like that happens.

Metropolitan Police, the inquiry deemed to be institutional racist.

These are issues being discussed across the Establishment? Yes it is.

Even in football? It goes back and forward all the time. In that sense,

sometimes you think, we are moving nicely along. Then something

enormous happens, like this the police being institutionally racist

in the Mac fierce an inquiry. That is accepted and we are working on

it. Then they say they are not institutional racist any more, and

we go backwards. The consequences that happen that produces change,

you don't begin to shake and tremble when these moments happen,

that one not happen again. Is that the legacy of his murder? It is the

legacy of his execution. I am very careful with my words. It was his

execution. It is for young people, young blacks, it is one thing. But

for us, his parents have lost a son. Their relationship crashed. She is

stuck with it. Only a couple of years ago she started a school in

his name and the most horrible racist graffiti was there. Coming

out of that school, some students have graduated and had started

working as architects, which is what Stephen Laurence wanted to do,

so some good has come out of that? It is fine by me, but to have the

graffiti, the abuse of the institution.

There are six candidates thought of the Iowa election. The BBC's Steve

Kingston is in Iowa. On the island eyes, a slow and

arduous struggle to move in the right direction. An image for many

here, sums up President Obama's America. I feel like he made a lot

of promises prior to the election that hasn't necessarily come to

fruition. We need a change in direction. We need somebody who

will get the economy moving and get some confidence built back up in

the people. This is a country where the mood of hope and change of four

years ago has given way to disappointment, even

disillusionment with Barack Obama. Which gives the Republicans a real

shot at the White House in 2012, if they can unite around a credible

candidate. The polls suggest this man, Mitt Romney as the broadest

appeal, the best chance of beating Barack Obama. And in a polling day

rally, he was already looking ahead to November. The President said he

wants to transform America. I don't want to transform America. I want

to restore the principles that made America. I want to make sure we

take those principles to the White House and get America working again.

More conservative Republicans are suspicious of Mitt Romney, they

think he is not one of them. Which explains the late surge in support

for Rick Santos Oram, a social conservative backed by evangelical

Christians. The other main challenger is Ron Paul, a plain-

speaking champion of small Government. For weeks, the

Republican rivals have been tearing each other apart. The attack and

its of brutal as they seek the tiniest advantage in a small state

that punches above its weight. is not first because it is

important. It is first. So this offers the first chance to see what

real life members of a particular political party think about their

candidates. The man whose job they covert, arrived at the White House

today after a Christmas break with family in Hawaii. He might not

admit it, but Barack Obama will have a close eye on Iowa.

Let's speak to someone from a think-tank. The polling for Rick

Santos Oram has jumped, but Iowa has a mixed record in picking

eventual winners? It is batting less than 500. In the last five

contested caucuses, only twice has the winner in Iowa gone on to be

the nominee. It is not a great percentage. It does not mean the

race is not important. It can exclude people and a poor showing

tonight means they don't have much longer on the trail. What is the

problem with Mitt Romney, it seems to be him against everyone else?

lot of the conservative wing of the Republican Party is not sold on

Mitt Romney. He was the governor of Massachusetts and has changed his

position on difference core principles. Voters are more

religious than in general, so that is why I think we are seeing this.

Mitt Romney gets about 25% a cannot seem to get more. Is his biggest

assets is that potentially he might be able to reach out to voters

outside the Republican Guard? is what he is arguing is his

biggest strength. If it comes down to electability, that is his

strongest argument. Even though the Republicans say they will break the

turnout record to nine, the turnout record is only 119,000 people. --

tonight. This is a small amount of dedicated individuals, who are more

concerned about Conservative values than necessarily political

considerations. It is a huge media focus on this, but this is nothing

more than a non-binding straw poll is it? No delegates will be sworn

up having to vote for candidates later on? That is correct. This

cannot Crown a winner but it can tell you who the losers are going

to beat. It mitt Romney comes in a distant third and suddenly

collapses, that electability argument takes a hit. If he

outperforms expectations, he's a La Paz or -- solidify has himself as

the prominent favourite. It is a quest for momentum. If the

Conservative Christian cannot win in Iowa, where can she win?

Now a look at some of the day's other news.

The authorities in Southern Sudan say more than 150 people have been

killed in the past few days in clashes in Jonglei State. Tens of

thousands more have fled into the countryside, due to the violence

between members of the Lou Nuer and Murle tribes.

Thousands of Nigerians are demonstrating against the removal

of fuel subsidies which has caused the price of petrol to soar. In

Lagos, protesters lit bonfires, blocked main roads and forced

petrol stations in the city to stop selling fuel. There were reports of

one person being killed in the west of the country.

The Taliban in Afghanistan say they have a preliminary agreement to

open a political office in Qatar or another Islamic country. They said

the move would help communication with the international community.

Last week, President Karzai said he would support the idea of a Qatar

office to strengthen a peace process.

The renowned musician and political activist Youssou N'dour has

announced that he will stand for President of Senegal in elections

next month. The singer said he was responding to requests to run

against the incumbent, Abdoulaye Wade, who intends to seek a third

term. Youssou N'dour has long been involved in humanitarian issues,

being a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund.

He is probably the best known Senegalese in the world, and he

could be about to get even more famous. International musical star

and UNICEF ambassador Youssou N'dour has confirmed he will stand

in Senegal's presidential election next month. He made the

announcement on his own television station, saying Senegalese people

had urged him to contest the election. TRANSLATION: For a long

time, we have demonstrated the optimism, other news sensible.

People have called for me in many ways to stand in the February

presidential race. I have heard and I am responding positively to their

request. Youssou N'dour will be facing veteran leader Abdoulaye

Wade, who caused controversy last year when he proposed

constitutional changes to pave the way for him to seek a third term in

office. The proposed changes, which sparked violent street protests,

also include provisions for the creation of the post of vice-

president for his son. Youssou N'dour has been a vocal critic of

the President, accusing him of wasteful spending in a country with

a low income and high unemployment. During his announcement, he

answered his critics who claim he is not qualified to be President.

TRANSLATION: It is true that I don't have a university education,

but the presidency is a function and not a profession. I proved my

competent, commitment, rigour and efficiency on numerous occasions

and I learned a lot at the School of the world. Travelling also

educate, in the same way that books do. -- educates. Youssou N'dour

announced in November that he was cancelling concert dates to focus

on politics. And while he enjoys huge popularity in Senegal, it

remains to be seen if he will be able to translate his fame into

votes. The authorities in Hong Kong are

disinfecting a brand new multi- million dollar Government building

after finding that it was widely contaminated with the bacteria that

causes Legionnaire's disease. Tests were carried out after the

Education Secretary became ill with the potentially fatal disease last

month. Traces of the bacteria were found to be 14 times above

acceptable levels. Peter Biles reports.

The new government building in Hong Kong was officially opened last

August. But when the Education Secretary was diagnosed with

Legionnaire's disease last month, checks were ordered and water

samples collected. Nine out of 31 samples were found to be

contaminated and the authorities began disinfecting the building.

Positive samples were found in private washrooms, kitchen water

taps and a tap at the food counter. If the water entering a water

supply system of a building is not fully treated, not fully

disinfected, the bacteria can persist in the water tank and in

the pipes. Legionnaire's disease stems from bacteria that can cause

a lung infection or pneumonia. It is often founded heating or air-

conditioning systems and it is contracted by inhaling water

droplets containing bacteria. The investigations are continuing as

the final Laboratory results are still pending. Experts say it would

be surprising if more tests samples prove positive. Either way, it is a

deep embarrassment for Hong Kong. He created St Trinian's, a world of

misbehaving girls in a comic and chaotic school, and he drew

cartoons for a string of publications including Punch and

the Sunday Express. Ronald Searle has died at the age of 91 and has

been hailed today as one of Britain's most influential

cartoonists. Our Arts Correspondent David Sillito looks back at his

These drawings of pigtailed anarchy, the hockey stick-wielding girls of

St Trinian's, made Ronald Searle famous. It was only a small part of

his life's work. What people don't remember is that there were so few

drawings, it was only a small part of my work. There were no more than

60 drawings, probably. To me, it was a series of drawings of no

consequence. Born in Cambridge, he sold his first cartoon as a

teenager, but the war intervened. His grim experiences as a prisoner

of the Japanese led to drawings of a very different sort. In the 1950s,

along with the Molesworth books, his images were everywhere. Term

has begun. When St Trinian's was turned into a film, the characters

took on a new life. This very British mix of slightly saucy

mayhem was loved. Even when he tried to blow St Trinian's up, the

public wanted more. He created St Trinian's, which we all loved. He

despised it. He couldn't get away from it. Everybody called him St

Trinian's. He did many other things. He worked in France, in America, in

Germany. He is known throughout these countries, yet we know him

through St Trinian's. He moved to France, he produced books, graphic

art. His dark wit and intelligence won acclaim. There was far more to

Ronald Searle than just hockey sticks.

Ronald Searle, who has died at the age of 91.

Anita O'Brien is curator at the Cartoon Museum in London, which has

recently held two exhibitions of Ronald Searle's work. Thank you for

coming in. There was something very different about his work. I wonder

if it is possible in a few sentences to describe what that was.

You have brought in several books of his work. Let's look at this one,

maybe, first of all. This is the obsolete generation. This is one

that Ronald very kindly dedicated to the cartoon grim collection. In

a way, it sums up their humanity and the tragic comic quality that

he was able to bring out. Hugely talented in terms of his

observation and the details of say, an older couple, but also the

pathos. And also the tumour. -- but the humour. And you can see what is

not far away. The thing that came from his experiences as a prisoner

of war -- do you think? When he came back, he was six stone and he

had witnessed so much slaughter. the people died from dysentery and

cholera and he said that he went in as an art student and he came out

as an artist, because he had a reason for drawing. He felt that a

drawing was going to be a testament to the people who didn't come back,

the people who lost their lives. He didn't even know that he would

survive. I remember this, Down With the School. That cartoon is

brilliant. Also, Mrs Moore. -- Mal. He was internationally recognised.

Last year, he got a special order of merit from the Government of

Saxony. When we did the exhibition, we had a Mexican cartoonist who

came all the way just to see the exhibition and ended his car to the

following Saturday about Ronald Searle. You met him when he was 90.

Someone was quoted today as saying he had a ferocious bark and

actually the bite was as ferocious but it was always done with a

twinkle in his eye. He also said he thought his longevity was down to

drinking copious amounts of champagne. That was what Ronald

would say himself, his favourite thing was champagne. He had

incredible focus, you can see it in his work, is up -- in his

observation. Another thing that makes him so exceptional is the

versatility and the breadth of his work. He was influential in

animation. I spoke to Mike Leigh today, a film-maker who was usually

inspired by the observation and the detail of the characterisation. In

some ways, it is not dissimilar to Charles Dickens, where you have the

tragic and the comic. Has he created a school of people who have

come through his tradition and are now a sort of taking his style and

taking it further? Gerald Scarfe, for example? It is hard to imagine

how the satire boom would have happened without Ronald Searle. He

was such a huge influence on them. If you look at people like Steve

Bell, so many artists and cartoonists, and not just in the

world of cartooning, so many people have been influenced by him and

sometimes they are not even aware of it. What was so wonderful was

when we did the exhibition, so many young students, illustrators, came

in and went away saying they were inspired. We will leave it there,

but thank you very much. Ronald Searle, who has died at the age of

A reminder of our main news: a court in London has found two men

guilty of killing a black teenager, Stephen Lawrence, nearly two

decades ago. That is it from me and the team

here in London. Stay with us, more on BBC World News, but back again

Hello, there. And after an exceptionally stormy day across the

country, things stay windy through the night and for tomorrow, but the

wind is not as strong as we have been seen. It is also going to be

quite cloudy. If we have a look at the overall picture, the area of

low pressure that brought the strong winds through Tuesday has

cleared to Scandinavia. The isobars are still very tightly packed,

there will be some early brightness across the south-east corner but it

will cloud over for the afternoon and we have some rain in the north

and the West. The rain could be heavy at times across parts of

Cumbria and Lancashire but to the east of the Pennines, a little bit

more patchy and light. Grey skies for the afternoon across much of

the Midlands and the south coast. We will see some outbreaks of

patchy light rain at times. The breeze is quite strong, coming in

from the West, temperatures of nine degrees across Devon and Cornwall.

For Wales, the wettest of the weather across parts of Cardigan

Bay and the mountains in the north. A little bit drier further south. A

blustery day for Northern Ireland where it will be cloudy and wet for

much of the afternoon, the north- west corner seeing the heaviest

rain. Some hill snow across parts of Scotland, to the north-east, a

touch drier but cloudy and the damp. Wednesday night, weather fronts