27/03/2012 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today with me, Tim Willcox. Is Syria's

leadership really ready to talk? As President Assad tours areas in Homs,

until recently the heart of the rebellion, his government says it

accepts the Kofi Annan peace plan. The Syrian government has now

written to the Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan accepting his six point

plan. Mr Annan has written to President Assad urging the Syrian

government to put its commitments into immediate effect.

The disputed oil rich border between South Sudan and its

northern neighbour sees fierce clashes once again.

Biology's new frontier - making DNA from scratch to change the world.

We look at the revolutionary steps taking place in science.

Also coming up in the programme: Following in his predecessor's

footsteps - Pope and president set to meet in Havana, but many

Catholic Cubans question what role the church should be playing in the

And recognising a rock god and pop history in a quiet London side

Hello and welcome. After a year of bloodshed in Syria that the UN

thinks has now claimed as many as 9,000 lives, Kofi Annan's

announcement that Damascus has accepted his peace plan may be

treated with scepticism by many. His comments coincided with

President Assad making a rare foray into Homs, the former heartland of

the rebellion, and a meeting of the The Syrian President a-share our

asset apparently visiting the Baba Amr and area of Homs. This, for the

first time since military forces besieged the area, killing hundreds

and forcing rebel fighters to withdraw. But elsewhere in Homs,

the battle appears far from over. This video, which has not been

independently verified, allegedly showing a neighbourhood still been

shelled by government forces. Here and across many parts of Syria,

people continue to die every day. But now at least beat efforts of

veteran diplomats Kofi Annan seemed to be working. He secured the

support of the Chinese as well as the Russians for his peace plan.

And today he also announced that the Syrian government itself had

agreed to his initiative. I have received a response from the Syrian

government and will be making it public today. This is positive.

end the bloodshed of the past year, At a meeting in Turkey today,

Syrian opposition activists were sceptical about the government

fulfilling their side. We are very cautious when we see that the

regime is accepting anything. We want to see that implemented on the

ground and compliance by the regime is something that we need to see

happen. This, the reason many are so cautious about the deal. Yet

another badly injured child been brought to a field hospital in Homs.

According to the latest figures from the UN, more than 9,000 people

have been killed so far, most of them civilians. Syrian opposition

groups have held two days of talks. Let us join our correspondent there.

There was a walkout from a well known Syrian dissident. How United

are they? It is as desperate as Syria is. When the council was

established six months ago, it was supposed to be an umbrella group.

It has never been as coherent as the transitional government in

Libya. They are disagreeing about everything. There has been a

walkout as well by a Kurdish group. They are a significant part of the

population and one their efforts to be recognised. There are a lot of

people here there. There are delegates from every possible

ideological background. They are talking and at least a green on

their goals. They also agree that they do not believe for one moment

that President Assad can meet the Kofi Annan plan. I asked them if

they were willing to speak to President Assad and they said we

probably won't get there. They do not believe he will take his strips

off the street. For all that, the fact that President Assad has

accepted the plan does cause some difficulties. They are talking

about getting more international support and now they have to shift

diplomacy which will be hard for some of them. Where do we stand now

regarding a potential buffer zone within Syria along the border with

Turkey? It is not going to happen yet. It has been talked about by

Turkish politicians, immensely frustrated by the bloodshed in

Syria. There is nothing they can do. The buffer zone is there as an

option only if there is a massive influx of Syrians. It is not going

to happen yet and the fact is that Kofi Annan's plan shifts the focus.

The Russians and Chinese support it and the international community

cannot agree on any other action. I think people need to give diplomacy

a chance and for the opposition that mean sitting back and

accepting the bloodshed they have gone through. The bitter pill is

joining the diplomatic process that does not guarantee President Assad

it will leave power at the end of Rafik Abdessalem is Tunisia's

Foreign Minister. I asked him how optimistic the world should be

about the pledge from Damascus. Personally, I am pessimistic, but

let us hope things going the right direction. It all depends on the

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He needs to listen to the demands

of his people. If he does listen to the demands for more democracy,

freedom, things might go up in the right direction. To ask for a

system to be changed that has been in place for many years will be

difficult. The Syrian opposition is not united. How much of a factor

will that be? Will they be greeted even sit down to direct talks?

this is one of the difficulties of the Syrian crisis. There is a

political polarisation. If we have a common voice that comes from the

Syrian opposition, the balance of power what will be in favour of the

political change. Let us hope that the Syrian opposition overcome this

internal division. You have been in post for three months. The

international community is welcoming you, but if he were asked

about the situation in Syria, what would your advice be to the

international community about what to do with that situation? I think

to support the legitimate demands of the Syrian people, to have peace

for political change, not to move towards any militarisation of the

conflict. There was a militarisation of the conflict in

Libya and that was the deciding factor. Do you still said that is

the wrong direction to go as far as there is concern? Yes. The main

problem in Syria is the Bashar al- Assad regime. The situation in

Libya was different. In Syria we have a religious and sectarian

division. The Assads had been power for 40 years. Come the end of their

regime, what problems will be encountered? It depends on the

movement of the political parties in Syria. If they can control the

situation, help the country come back to normality of, -- normality,

it would be a good thing. It in the immediate short-term, you are not

optimistic of a quick solution? Unfortunately, I am not.

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

President Nicolas Sarkozy has urged TV networks not to broadcast

violent videos filmed by the Mohamed Merah during his fatal

attacks in Toulouse. A USB stick containing the footage was sent to

Al Jazeera. They have decided not to broadcast the images. The

families of the victims have also called for the footage not to be

shown. World leaders have vowed to take

strong action against nuclear terrorism at the end of a summit in

South Korea. The 53 leaders said the threat was one of the most

challenging facing the world today. The summit comes at a time of

growing international concern over the nuclear programmes of both Iran

and North Korea. The operators of an oil platform

off the coast of Scotland say it could take at least six months for

them to stop a gas leak there. The oil company Total says its looking

at several options to try to stem the leak at the Elgin platform,

including drilling a relief well. There's now a three kilometre

exclusion zone around the rig, with over 300 workers evacuated.

Fighting on the disputed oil-rich border region between South Sudan

and Sudan has continued for a second day. The South says clashes

have taken place on the ground while its northern neighbour has

bombed its positions. The clashes appear to be centred on disputed

towns close to the border. Authorities in Khartoum say a visit

to the South by Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir has been cancelled,

but could be re-scheduled if lower One official from an well company

said a bomb landed within the oilfields near one of his team

sites. That claim has been denied. Secondly, salsa band's military

spokesman says there is fighting going on on the ground there are a

major oil field. I have not been able to confirm that, but it is

clear the situation between these two countries are deteriorating.

Both except there were clashes along the disputed border on Monday.

Sudanese officials Arnaud saying that the President will travel, but

if political and military progress is made the summit could be pushed

back to a later date. At the moment, things are looking pretty bleak.

Gill Lusk is editor of Africa confidential. It looks like the

most serious confrontation since independence. What do mecca the

timing? It does look serious. The timing, this war has been building

up for some time. The fighting did not just been -- begin yesterday

morning, although that is when the Sudan army bombed into the oil

fields in southern Sudan. Do you think there is some power play

going on in Khartoum itself and that the Shia is under pressure?

The it is about power, but more broadly it is about the sudden

government. They are saying they are not going to be pushed around.

This is the feeling you get in southern Sudan and in the north, it

is about the Government trying to hold on to power work because they

are a deeply unpopular government and as well as the war with the

south, there is a war against Northern armed opposition. That is

what most of the fighting has been about recently. Obviously, this is

an area that is oil-rich. But countries depend on each other in

terms of pipe mines, or production and the economy. Is it all about

whale, or are there many other factors? Many other factors. It is

about power. Khartoum is trying to divert attention from its own

problems in the north and it is doing this by having a war with the

South. It has always used to war as a political weapon since it took

power. In the south it is about asserting their sovereignty. Both

countries accuse each other of supporting armed militia. What

evidence is there to support that? There is plenty of evidence that

Khartoum was supporting it militia. They have used proxy forces for

many years. The sudden government is supporting the northern rebels,

yes, but that tends a hide the fact that it is really an internal more

than problem here going on. The Some say it could be the spark that

ignites the next industrial revolution. Others say it is

meddling with nature. Either way, it is one of Britain's research

priorities. It involves producing artificial DNA to make things such

as medicines, fuels and materials. Imagine the power to design new

forms of life, to dream up new versions of the genes inside every

living thing on earth and create organisms that have never before

existed. That is what is happening here in this lab in Imperial

College in London. The researchers are not just studying life, the are

reshaping it. This is synthetic biology's. It is an emerging

science which could transform the industry and medicine and science.

It is clear that these techniques can be applied across a wide range

of different fields, from health care through due energy and

agriculture. What is synthetic biology? The starting point is

something that has been around for years, genetic modification. There

is the bundle of genes inside the cell. The modified them by splicing

in DNA from another organism. What they're doing now goes much further.

It relies on the fact that DNA is a coat for life, made up of just four

basic building-blocks represented here by these four letters. As with

any Engineering progress, these components have to be re- Eddie --

rearranged to design new genes. The scientists take these for building

clock's -- these for building blocks to create their own version

of synthetic, man-made DNA. The final stages the most extraordinary.

They take a cell with all of its own original DNA stripped out and

insert the synthetic DNA, getting the organism to do whatever they

want, taking control of nature. What can this do? The fight against

malaria, carried by mosquitoes, will see a vaccine made with

synthetic biology later this year. Algae with synthetic genes could

make fuel. We could be driving with the stuff in years ahead. New crops

may cope with drought and disease to feed a world of 7 billion. It is

one of countless ideas. We are here today to announce the first

synthetic cell. Two years ago, an American scientist announced the

first living thing with synthetic DNA. Are we ready for such a

fundamental step? These advances are exciting but terrifying. The

offer the possibility of creating new life forms that will deal with

many of the world's greatest problems, but it will create life

forms in the human immune system and the world - or -- in that the

human immune system and the world which we have not experienced.

There are more worried about this new research. Scientists say they

are doing everything safely. It we are working within the design phase

about how we can develop kill switches, little method and --

little mechanisms whereby the organism would kill itself. These

would ensure that the organism will not interfere with the natural

world. We do not one that to happen. A it was only 60 years ago that

scientists discovered how genes work as the court for life. Now,

they're taking charge. We're on the brink of a new Europe and the

public debate about it has only just begun. -- and U E Rush.

Pope Benedict has arrived in the Cuban capital of Havana. He is due

to meet the President later. Earlier, he prayed for detained

Cubans during a visit to them country's most important Catholic

shrine, Our Lady of Charity in the east of Cuba. He urged students to

build anew and open society during a mass in the eastern city of

Santiago de Cuba. Cuba was officially atheist until 1992.

Since then, the Catholic Church has been slowly reviving the state.

Some accuse it of focusing so much and that that it is failing to

speak out on Schumann right. -- on human rights. For four decades, a

vast statue of Christ towered over atheist Cuba. It was not removed

during the revolution, but this is a secular country now. The Catholic

Church is busy reasserting itself. This is a Breakfast Club for

schoolchildren and a poor neighbourhood of Havana. But is one

of dozens of church project in a country where so much is controlled

by the state. We are not trying to compete with the government, Oscar

tells me. We're just here to help. There are other signs of a church

revival. I went to visit a smart new seminary just outside Havana as

the first church building permitted in Cuba since the revolution, when

religious schools were taken over and many priests fled. Now, 52

young men are preparing for the priesthood here. They're trying to

cut Cubas dependence on clergy from abroad. When the seminary was

inaugurated in 2010, President Castro was invited to the ceremony.

It was a powerful symbol of the new relationship between the Catholic

Church and his communist state. There are some who wonder whether

the churches using that relationship as it should. Every

Sunday, after Mass, the ladies in white march in a silent protest for

human rights. It began when their husbands were imprisoned for their

political views. The men were released in 2010, after Cuba's

Cardinal intervened. The women are still marching. Last week, dozens

were detained by police. Tudor says they are paid by America to

undermine the revolution. The women say detention and harassment of

dissidence is a rising. -- is rising. The government told us,

you're not allowed to go to Mass with the Pope. The Catholic Church

has at social doctrine to which protects the marginalised and the

suffering, but the cardinal a silent about the atrocities the --

the adduces the picture the Government is committed against the

people. Quiet diplomacy has brought result in the past and allowed

social work like this to continue. The Church will not be our flag of

justice. No. Our role is a different one. We're not here for

defending human rights, we are here to preach the gospel of Jesus

Christ, that will be clear. right to worship is free, at least.

He can be Catholic and Communist in Cuba. The result is a stronger

church, growing slowly, but after so many years of being barely

tolerated, it is still cautious that it is not entirely secure.

If you know London, you will be familiar with the blue plaques that

tell you about special historical significance of things around you.

A different kind of plaque has been unveiled today, marking the site

for one of Rock's iconic images was taken. 40 years ago, David Bowie

appeared on television looking like this. For some, it really did board

their minds. They are bomb was The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and

the Spiders From Mars, and for one young fan, this image was a turning

point. Today, Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet is back in the place where

that photograph was taken. Where exactly is this? A it is right here.

The sign was up there? I think what made Ziggy Stardust will protest --

supported at the time was that it was coming out of a London much

darker and more impoverished than the recession we are suffering now.

As a working-class child, Ziggy Stardust offered an escape from

their every day which was quite grand an exciting and certainly out

reached my parents. 40 years on, it looks different around here. Very

shrubbery in the way, the rubbish is gone, and that lamp is very

different made a place was a the Stardust -- very definitely the

place was at the Stardust first appeared. Watching on were two

members of the original band. In 1972, Woody, the drummer, looked a

bit different. It took a bit of coaxing to get them into the outfit.

He said, someone has to wear pink. He said, you have to be a man to

wear pink! I went, OK, then. Even the man on the stage is entering

into the spirits. By what may not look like the grim backstreet on

the cover, it is part of rock history. The police were David

Bowie stepped out one wintry January evening, and it -- and

Ziggy Stardust came to earth. You have got to be a man to wear pink!

David Bowie has such power, doesn't he? A spokesman for Kofi Annan says

Syria has accepted his six-point plan for ending violence in the

country. It calls for a un monitored end to the fighting and

improved humanitarian access. The US State Department says it would

be an important step if backed up with action. Here is President

Assad and visiting the former rebel stronghold in in the city. He said

a better city would rise from the destruction. Next, the weather.

It has been another day of record- breaking temperatures across

Scotland, but after all of that warmth, it turns quite chilly

tomorrow morning. Things will warm- up as we see the return of the

sunshine, doing it all over it again tomorrow. It is keeping

things dry. We have high levels of pollen. It will cloud over across

northern Scotland with some hazy sunshine. Elsewhere, no is lit up

with sunny skies. It will be higher temperatures in the south-east

corner. It will be cooler on the coast. We have lost at risk wind.

We could see temperatures rising. In Wales, it will be fine and dry

with more sunshine in the afternoon. It may be cooler in the north coast