26/01/2012 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today with me, Zeinab Badawi. Inside Syria

with the Free Army: We have a special report from the suburb of

the capital Damascus that is controlled by anti-Asaad forces who

have defected from the Syrian army. How much of a challenge are they to

the regime? If there is international

intervention, it's good. We are going to win - whether there is

intervention from outside or not. The Frenchman at the centre of the

sub-standard breast implant scandal is under arrest and faces charges

of manslaughter and fraud. We are relieved, even if it's late.

We want a formal inquiry to be opened, and we want him placed on

bail so he can't leave the country. Protecting Pakistani women from

acid attacks and domestic violence - can new laws stop these brutal

attacks? Also coming up in the programme:

Forced to flee the angry crowds during an Australia Day celebration

- the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, is involved in angry protests by

angry Aboriginal activists. And the first museum show in the

world of the Muslim pilgrimage the Hajj - the great spiritual journey

Hello, and welcome. The pressure on Syria looks set to increase now

that the Arab League has announced it is to ask the UN Security

Council to back its plan to try to end the violence. On Sunday, the

League called for the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, to step

down and hand power to his Deputy. Inside Syria itself, defectors who

have formed the Free Syrian Army now control the Damascus suburb of

Douma. Our Middle East editor, Jeremy Bowen, was helped by local

activists to enter the area last night, and has just sent this

report. Look at Central Damascus, and you

might think this city is calm. But when night falls, head for the

suburb of Duma. Getting there is not easy. But at the end of a muddy

lane it is a checkpoint, controlled by the Free Syrian Army. A loose

alliance of army defectors, fighting President Assad's military.

Locals say they have kept at the President's out most of the time. -

- they have kept the President's men. The President says they are on

armed gang. They say they are protecting the people. Pass this on

to the world, our revolution is peaceable. We don't attack the

regime - they attack us. We are in control here. Duma is ours, and

Syria is ours. The army and security forces keep tried to get

into hair, but we defeat them. -- keep trying to get into here. Duma

is forbidding and dark, with power cuts and fuel shortages. The

Knights of very cold. What has changed around here that means we

are able to move then? Some of defectors are preferred --

protecting us. Inside the city, there are perfect as. Fighting for

Duma? Yes. Slowly, people emerged from the Evening Prayer. Too often

for them, nervous shadows, they head to the mosque, when numbers

make them filled strong. -- field We want to kill by shall as sad. He

has to be killed. -- bash out a as sad. He killed our family's. He has

to be killed. The young men were full of bravado. -- we have to kill

the President. Do you want foreign intervention? If there is

international intervention, that is good. We will win. The intervention

will accelerate the step down of the President. Their enemy, the

President, also has strong supporters. But for protesters

across the country, there is no turning back. This is bad news for

President as sad. An important part of his city, in that hands of the

people, and defender by men who They said it was getting dangerous,

and puzzled us out. The security forces were back, arresting more

people. The former head of the French

company PIP - which is at the centre of an international scare

over faulty breast implants - has been arrested in the south of

France. Jean-Claude Mas, 72, is being questioned as part of an

investigation into manslaughter and involuntary injuries. Thousands of

women around the world have been advised to have their PIP implants

removed as they contain cheap, industrial-grade silicone instead

He has been hiding in isolated luxury, on the green coastline of

the French Riviera, and paid for by the victims of the scandal. But

today, Jean-Claude Mas was finally arrested, with the woman he claims

to have left. His lawyer said the man was co-operating with police,

and dismissed the search of the property as a formality. But

investigators allege he has been very clever in far -- hiding his

fortune. This property is in the name of his girlfriend, as is the

sight of his abandoned PIP Warehouse. The company was

liquidated in March, 2010, but today, we found a factory littered

with documents and abandoned stock. The equipment gives an air of

respectability, but the reality was different. Jean-Claude Mas filled

the m plants with an industrial gel. -- implants. Jean-Claude Mas said

his company had thought European inspectors for 13 years. He said

his staff did what they could to hide the gel. He also said that his

victims were "psychologically fragile", and were only after him

on his money. 20 women have been diagnosed with cancer, but no

direct link has been established with the implants. The major

problem is the rate of rupture - 5% higher than a normal cases. Lawyers

and France said that the arrest is "excellent use". TRANSLATION: We

are relieved, even if it is late. We want a formal inquiry to be

opened, and we want him placed on bail. Jean-Claude Mas will be held

in Marseille for 24 hours, before investigators will decide to charge

him. He complains he is not in good health. There is unlikely to be

sympathy with the women he has duped.

According to the company's website, PIP exported to more than 60

countries. At one stage, it was the third biggest supplier of silicone

implants in the world. Concerns were first raised in 2009, but it's

understood that PIP began to use industrial-grade silicone as far

industrial-grade silicone as far back as 2001. Up to 500,000 women

in 65 different countries have had these type of implants fitted since

then. Health officials in Germany, Czech Republic, the Netherlands,

France and several Latin American countries say the implants should

be removed. However, Britain, Italy, Spain and others say removal is not

Our correspondent, Christian Fraser, joins us live from Marseille now,

where police are holding Jean- Claude Mas. He sounds unsympathetic.

It is a very good point. From the transcripts I read, there is no end

of the at all for thousands of women around the world facing a

choice about whether to have these implants removed, not to mention

the cost incurred. In Britain, the government will not pay for these

implants to be taken out, so many women will have to lobby private

clinics. He has been hit today for most of the day, answering

questions about these allegations we have read about. We are told the

prosecutor, who has been poring over the file, has got to a judge

tonight, and we believe he may also be taken to be judged to be read

the charges. Have you managed to talk to local people, or Billy much

information about Jean-Claude Mas? Who is he? -- all glean much

information. There was an arrest warrant for him, part by the police

in Costa Rica. -- filed. They reported he had a drinking and

gambling problem. He has been under arrest a day, but I have been in

the factories. It is obvious he was exporting all over the world. Some

boxers were marked up for France, America, Britain, and, of course,

France. He was exporting it would be cheaper gel, cutting his costs

and cornering the market. There is a lot of frustration hair for

Now a look at some of the day's other news: David Cameron has said

it's time for eurozone countries to make bold moves to solve their

economic crises. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Mr

Cameron said the eurozone had failed to meet the criteria for

successful monetary union. He said Europe's lack of competitiveness

remained its "Achilles Heel". The medical charity Medecins Sans

Frontieres has suspended its operations in detention centres in

the Libyan city of Misrata because of what it says are persistent

cases of torture. MSF says it has treated more that 100 people for

torture-related injuries at the centres.

President good luck Jonathan has challenged the Islamist group. He

said military confrontation would not eliminate terror attacks. He

said what was needed was an urban grid enabling environment for young

people do find jobs ". In Bulgaria, an alert was declared

as villagers were left without power.

Pakistan is set to introduce new laws which will criminalise forced

marriage and acid attacks on women. The laws will also mean tougher

sentences in cases of domestic violence. But, as Aleem Maqbool

Cases of brutality against women are often carried out supposedly in

the name of family honour. She was just 16 when she says her

husband woke her up in the middle Longer than usual to get water from

a well and he thought she was having an affair. Her husband's

been on the run since the attack. Salma says she won't be at peace

Don't want their women to go outside the home. They think if

they decide about their life they will take wrong decision, so they

want them in their homes. This woman is in her 50s. She was in her

home after an argument with her son's wife when she says two men

burst into the yard. She recognised them as relatives of her daughter

in law. She says they forced her into her room, where they beat her

and raped her. She says, "Since what happened to me, I have no life.

It's like I have a disease with no cure. It's difficult for me to eat.

"There are countless women in Pakistan for whom change is coming

far too slowly. Let's talk more in general about

domestic violence against women. Joining us now is Laura Turquet

from UN women, she's author of the UN report progress of the world's

It is estimated that up to 60% of women will face violence in their

lifetime, whether that his crimes lifetime, whether that his crimes

in the name of one or sexual harassment. As a result of the huge

scale of it, the Secretary-General of the UN has described it as a

"great human rights violation". There is a need to accelerate our

efforts in this area. We can see you can introduce laws, but that

doesn't deliver results necessarily, does it? The authorities often turn

a blind eye. Passing laws on violence against women is a very

critical first step, but it is only a first step. One of the things we

highlighted is that the laws must be drafted in such a way as to make

it very clear to the police, for example, that what they must do in

order to week -- meet women's needs. It will also ensure that shelters

can be provided. Regarding the police, it is important to ensure

police are trained specifically on the issues of violence, because

often police themselves reflect attitudes in society at large, and

regard violence against women as a private issue. I think it is very

important to ensure that police are properly trained, so that when

women plumper than, they are dealt with appropriately. How far can UN

women get a universal approach to this? Violence happens in affluent

societies, and more traditional societies. One of the things we are

calling for is a universal set of standard women can expect. That

includes things like sharpers, emergency hotlines, -- shelters.

There is caused further optimism, because countries are taking very

important steps in providing these services, and countries can learn

from one another. They can take the necessary steps to end this scourge.

We had a report from Pakistan, and staying in Pakistan, the death toll

of those killed by contaminated heart medicine has increased to

more than 100 people. Doctors say another 250 are being treated. The

drugs were given for free. Arrests have been made, and at least one

pharmaceutical firm has been closed. The authorities are trying to

contain this health crisis, as the death toll grows. Patients

suffering heart problems, made sicker by a drugs they took.

TRANSLATION: My mouth is saw. I cannot urinate. There is leading

from my mouth and nose. Officials have warned that the drugs may have

been given to newly 40,000 people. They say samples are being tested

in the UK and France. Relatives of the dead and are angry at what they

see as the authorities's slow response. TRANSLATION: My father

died on December 23rd. There was bleeding from his mouth and urinary

tract. 600,000 people receive free medication every year, and it is

taking time to establish how many people have been affected.

TRANSLATION: After looking at their lab tests, we will formalise how

many people come under that bracket. It is a worrying time a heart

patients. Three local drugs companies have been arrested for

supplying contaminated medication. The authorities are being

criticised for having chosen to buy from cheap, rather than reputable,

Rarery do you see images of an international figure looking so

shaken. The Australian Prime Minister had to be dragged to

safety by her bodyguards after being surrounded by an angry group

of indigenous rights protesters. The Prime Minister was giving out

medals at an Australia day ceremony when the protesters started

shouting through the window. Miss Gillard looks around to see where

the noise is coming from. The chants grew louder, the protesters

metres from the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition. By

now around 200 Aboriginal people had gathered and started banging on

the windows. Apparently angered by comments from Mr Abbot calling for

the end to a long standing tented camp set up outside Parliament.

Bodyguards fearing the demonstration could get out of hand,

decided to make a run for it. It was then these chaotic scenes

involving the Prime Minister unfolded. One bodyguard grabbed

Miss Gillard around the shoulder and rushed her towards the car.

There's a look of alarm on the Prime Minister's face as she's

scrambled away. At one point, she appears to trip, almost ending up

on the ground. But the bodyguard still held on. The scram tobl get

the two most important political figures to safety may have cost the

Prime Minister some of her dignity. For the people involved they say

the lack of dignity shown to the indigenous people bylet state is

the reason they were angry in the first place. The police say the

Prime Minister was never in danger, but it's an ugly incident to remind

all Australians that the country's indigenous people continue to claim

rights and respect, they believe, are denied them.

Very dramatic pictures. One story in brief, a commissioner for a body,

monitoring the London 2012 Olympics has resigned over lynchs -- links

with Dow Chemical. The 1984Bopal disaster saw a leak of poisonous

gas which killed 8,000 people in three days and tens of thousands

more in the years that followed. She had resigned because she felt

she had legitimised the claims that Dow had no responsibility for Bopal.

It's the first exhibition in the world dedicated to the personal

journey to Muslim pilgrims to mecca. The British Museum's Hajj opens

today and includes prices, manuscripts, textiles and the rail

tickets for the trip. It's history of a personal journey,

a pilgrimage which could be once in a life time and this exhibition

offers an understanding of an important part of Islamic

consciousness. Part of it like going on a journey. It meean derz

through, until we get to the centre of the exhibition where we have

textiles. This journey is also across time and the exhibition

draws on priceless objects from 40 lenders from 14 countries. The Hajj

attracts three million pilgrims each year. This exhibition is aimed

not only at giving and understanding the religious

significance of the Hajj but also the beauty and cultural

sophistication of the artefacts associated with it.

The organisers hope the exhibition will give a different view of Islam

for non-Muslims and for Muslims a deeper experience. To understand

the beauty of the old and the culture and for the first time be

close to the objects that they can, they do not have an opportunity to

see when they go for their Hajj. The items are not only historic,

but also reflect a contemporary view of the Hajj. This is one of

several artists whose work is on show. The design is made up of

words spoken by the pilgrims. wanted it to be like the mosque in

mecca, so each word represents a foot step coming towards the centre

of this incredible energy. I'm trying to capture that in a drawing.

Now we're coming, we're in the entrance... This is the latest in a

number of recent exhibitions on Islamic culture in London. The

British Museum says that the West has had an interest in Islamic art

for centuries. In the British Museum we have had objects which

relate to the Islamic world right from when the British Museum was

founded, actually in 1753, some of the earliest objects are amulets

which were collected. For visitors, in particular Muslims, they may

have an understanding of the spear chuelt of their belief, but here is

a visual display of it. Let's remind you of the main news -

the Arab League is to ask the United Nationss Security Council to

back the plan to end the violence in Syria. On Sunday the Arab League

called for the President Bashar al- Assad to step down and hand power

to his deputy. And the former head of the French

company PIP, which is at the centre of an international scare over

faulty breast implants, has been arrested in his home in the south

of France. 72-year-old Jean-Claude Mas faces charges of manslaughter

and fraud. Wrong camera, that's all from the

programme. Now it's the weather. Hello. We have a cold night ahead.

More of the wintry showers with snow on the hills across northern

areas. A similar day tomorrow with sunshine and wintry showers. Low

pressure is driving our warge at the moment, sitting to the north of

us. Bands of showers around that. Brisk winds. High pressure coming

in for Friday night and the weekend. For Friday then, tomorrow we start

with these showers, Northern Ireland, south-west Scotland, North

West England, snow on hills. Then they drift south-east wards. Away

from the North West of England, in England and Wales, most start dry

and bright. We will see some of these showers filtering south-east.

So a bit of cloud building in south-east England for example. By

mid-afternoon, you could catch a shower, may come with hail possibly

a rumble of thunder. South-west England and Wales, still some of

the showers around. Out of these you could see sleet and snow to

higher ground. Some snow on the hills from the showers in North

West England. For Northern Ireland and Scotland, after early showers,

they'll die away through the afternoon and it turns drier and

brighter. The wind eases as well. The killing off of those showers,

that process continues into Friday evening. Then for most on Friday

night, it will be dry and there will be a widespread frost. We get