10/09/2013 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today with Philippa Thomas. Syria says it will

weapons but is that enough to stave Britain and the US want assurances

that Syria will go through with Britain and the US want assurances

plan. They are heading to the UN In Washington, President Obama heads

to Capitol Hill where he is urging Congress to consider military action

weapons we travel inside Syria where it is reported that the Army is

stepping up its bombardment of rebel There has been bitter fighting going

days. This region has been contested Coming up: Accused of crimes against

humanity, Kenya's Deputy President idea only emerged about 24 hours ago

at it has been a day of intense diplomatic activity. All this as

calling for authorisation to launch military strikes. The David Willis

diplomatic story that continues military strikes. The David Willis

It came virtually at the 11th hour. A face-saving solution for a lot and

-- a reluctant commander in chief. As news of a possible diplomatic

breakthrough emerged, the president was asked where Syria to over hand

its chemical weapons, would America happened. We would not have gotten

maintained a credible possibility of a military strike and they do not

think now is a time for us to let up on that. I want to make sure that

chemical weapons is maintained. Maintaining that Norm is fraught

with uncertainty is related to the tackle and separations that lie

behind this plant but also the practicalities of enforcing it.

Putting Syria's chemical weapons under international control all

involved difficult and detailed measures. Measures which could take

months to achieve. First a chemical weapon's inspection team must be

themselves would have to be located secrecy, it could be difficult to

work out if they were all handed over. Then there is the safety of

inspectors. Unlike in Iraq they over. Then there is the safety of

been setting about their task in the midst of a raging civil war. Hence

the administration continues to midst of a raging civil war. Hence

Congress for support for military action and the man who is -- the man

whose script comments open the door concerned that the new plan may

whose script comments open the door be a stalling tactic. It has to

whose script comments open the door real and measurable and tangible and

it is exceedingly difficult. I want everyone to know it is difficult to

waiting for that proposal. We are not waiting for long. Affecting

waiting for that proposal. We are military strike would certainly

waiting for that proposal. We are the wobbly the American public.

waiting for that proposal. We are football season, we found opinion

deeply divided. Everyone wants to see their own country taking care

of. When you are the caretaker of the planet you have to step up when

a situation requires it. President Obama's increasingly lonely journey

for the authorisation for military The UK and France say they will

for the authorisation for military White House is not keen to give

for the authorisation for military on the pressure and the threat of a

military strike. President Obama has just said to Democrats in a meeting

that very thing. He told senators that he was not prepared to take the

Vladimir Putin has called for. If there is going to be something that

leads to a deal between the Russians and Americans and the Syrians, Val

de la Mare Putin -- Vladimir Putin wants the threat of a military

strike to be taken off of the table. All of this comes as President

Obama's speech writers are working be trying to figure out what the

president should say to the American people in his address in seven hours

time in the middle of a story that continues to change. I guess the

fear must be that if we give up continues to change. I guess the

negotiations that last a long time between the UN and Syria, the last

thing the White House wants is to star all of this up again. Yes,

thing the White House wants is to would not like to think themselves

suspect. One day ago I would have said this was very convoluted for

proposal, they were just try to said this was very convoluted for

supporters and the supporters of the president for military action who

are seeing this could be something administration. It puts it back

are seeing this could be something it works, Syria's chemical weapons

are taken out of action, something America has always wanted, and if it

does not work, the president can now say he has international backing for

the use of force against Syria and perhaps he does not need to go back

to Congress. It was clear to me yesterday having talked to senators

and congressmen was that hardly anyone on Capitol Hill wants this to

go to a vote. Perhaps this is the boost that the Obama administration

needed. Mark Fitzpatrick who spent a quarter in the US State Department

non-procrastination and the Salmond programme -- Non-Proliferation and

Disarmament Programme joins me now. What is the feasibility for ape

Disarmament Programme joins me now. -- for a plan to get Syria to give

us its chemical weapons? If this was a straightforward war it would be

similar to the Iraq situation. Where a United Nations team was assembled

similar to the Iraq situation. Where and it had all the resources needed

going to secure the chemical weapons and it had all the resources needed

going to secure the chemical weapons that Syria will be declaring and

insurance is -- it's assurances that Syria will be declaring and

the weapon inspectors will not be forces? Who controls them? There are

with difficulty. Syria's Foreign Minister has said that Damascus

with difficulty. Syria's Foreign ready to become a party to this

weapons conviction -- convention, it seems like we are making the right

noises. Syria up until now had not acknowledged that it had chemical

weapons. Now they are acknowledging that they have them and they are

making an important step when they previously said they would not be

signing up to the chemical weapons Convention unless other things were

met. It sounds good on paper, but the practicalities are immense. We

do not know if this is a delaying tactic or not. This is also relying

on Vladimir Putin's input. Britain and France will have to trust the

Russians also. It is not a bad thing will really depend on them. They

have the best relationship with Syria. They know about the chemical

weapons and supplied some of the intelligence than anyone as to the

location of these chemical weapons. Russia is a member of the chemical

weapons. We want this to 16 and Russia is a member of the chemical

a reason for that. Whether the Syrian rebels want them to succeed

is another matter. Whether the Russian security forces will be

is another matter. Whether the to do a job without getting involved

in a firefight is also up to debate. There are so many things that could

go wrong here. I was going to ask you how long you thought this would

take, but I think we all know it negotiating it will probably take a

long time. Getting the forces into the country will probably take

months. Getting rid of the chemical weapons could take years. Thank

months. Getting rid of the chemical Now more on the diplomatic efforts

to avoid military action against Assad regime. Jeremy Bowen joins me

now from Damascus. What is the reaction at your end where it all

matters so much? I spent a long reaction at your end where it all

today walking around trying to talk to people about what they thought

about developments. No one said frustration that the Americans are

weapons. Most people said it was a frustration that the Americans are

the regime. Many people were anxious this is who are their rivals and the

movement here in the armed uprising. will no longer happen. It was not

certain but now that there seems to be progress and more openness from

the Syrians, the news just a few be progress and more openness from

news agency from Russia is that Syria is going to join the chemical

weapons Convention and these are big Syria is going to join the chemical

weapons Convention and these are big developments as they happen, and I

think that President Obama will certainly say that the threat of

military action forced this to As the International committee

ever-changing diplomatic landscape, the killings continue in Syria.

ever-changing diplomatic landscape, Pannell and cameraman Darren Conway

north-west of the country. This report contains some distressing

Syrians live in fear of many things, but its so-called conventional

weapons, not chemical that have killed so many of them. For the

weapons, not chemical that have two years, Taftanaz has been bombed

and shelled, each at Hack recorded by a local media activist. -- each

attack. Weaving among the rubble and the ruins he graded us through the

destruction that has evolved this village. This is what he filmed

destruction that has evolved this few days ago. Another area of attack

that left 14 people dead and many more injured. The rebels have used

this town as a base but when the government responds it is usually

civilians that are killed. This government responds it is usually

not the worst athat Taftanaz has no one, Rosslyn not even the worst

not the worst athat Taftanaz has no Syria that day. But their attacks

have increased and Britain suspects it is because of the threat of

Before this strike the shelled us with missiles and artillery for

Before this strike the shelled us reason. They are all civilians here.

Over the past few days it has gotten heavier. I think it is because of

statements by America regarding This is where one of the bombs

landed in the latest attack. Many This is where one of the bombs

landed in the latest attack. Many came home thinking it was now safe

as our blood is cheaper than yours? Christian, Jewish? I respect you but

as our blood is cheaper than yours? did anyone do? It is almost as if

you enjoy watching it. Like millions within his own country, his family

on the move, desperate for shelter and safety. But few paths of Syria

offer that comfort. Events on the ground have consistently outpaced

the international debate about what to do and up and the rocky hills of

the North, the struggle between to do and up and the rocky hills of

army and the rebels is undiminished. There has been bitter fighting going

on in this particular area over There has been bitter fighting going

past three or four days. This region itself has been contested heavily

over the last year and a half. Locals are bracing themselves as to

what may come from the international community. There is no sense of

what may come from the international fighting each other as hard as ever.

While one side fears the possibility opportunity. Rebels talk about using

them to push forward. If it does not resentment and marginalise more

moderate groups ready to engage resentment and marginalise more

the West. The struggle to control Syria has left large swathes of

the West. The struggle to control impassable. At night the lights

the West. The struggle to control government controlled cities in

the West. The struggle to control distance seem to taunt rebel-held

Syrians have different views on their future. What they can't agree

on is that the suffering must end. Let's bring you some other news

on is that the suffering must end. The deputy president of Kenya,

William Ruto, has made history The deputy president of Kenya,

unwillingly - at the International Criminal Court in the Hague. William

Ruto was the first ever sitting government official to go on trial

there. He is pleading not guilty to violence in the wake of Kenya's

disputed elections six years ago. Kenyatta is also accused of crimes

against humanity. His trial is due to open in November. With me is

Richard Goldstone. He is a former International Criminal Tribunals,

Rwanda. They presented themselves for trial voluntarily. That is an

found there was a reasonable case. pretty that Kenya have not put

found there was a reasonable case. summons, rather than an arrest

assurance that the defendants would appear voluntarily. It has got to

come to my now whether the ICC is committing war crimes, and they

come to my now whether the ICC is thinking will they be summoning

come to my now whether the ICC is at some point question mark --?

There is a private initiative at a university who has been involved in

previous cases. The idea is to put together a draft statute at some

future democratic government can look at and be proactive and prepare

some sort of recipe for the setup of international... The crimes are

some sort of recipe for the setup of serious. This is something that

government as well? Certainly the US government has indicated it would be

our useful exercise. Your point being all the way through that it is

better to deal with such alleged crimes domestic league? Absolutely.

If it came to it, the ICC troops be calling on Bashar al-Assad. If the

Security Council are able to appeal to the International Criminal Court

of Syria, the International Criminal Court would take on the case. Thank

Let's take a look at the other news A court in India has phoned for

Let's take a look at the other news guilty of the gang raped and murder

of a woman on a bus in Delhi last widespread calls that they should

Three generations of British family have been shot while on holiday

Three generations of British family Turkey, leaving one dead and two

had been celebrating a birthday family, from the north of England,

had been celebrating a birthday party at their luxury villa at

fire. A man has been arrested at the At least 44 people have been killed

fire. A man has been arrested at the in a run when two buses collided.

If it wins, it will be the shortest novel to ever take the prize. A

short time ago I spoke to the writer and broadcaster Natalie Haynes. We

have got authors from all over the Canadian-Japanese. Jhumpa Lahiri is

American and also Indian. Jim Crace, Birmingham, my home town. Colm

Toibin, Irish. Now Violet Balla wheel, -- now Violet Balla wheel,

now lives in the US. How British is this? I think we can safely say

now lives in the US. How British is did not set out to the filling each

one of those boxes, but we did. did not set out to the filling each

is also the case that if Eleanor youngest ever winner. If Jim Crace

wins, he would be one of the oldest, he is 67. You are making waves?

wins, he would be one of the oldest, can feel the buzz about the short

list. It is really lovely. When can feel the buzz about the short

bring out the long list, you do can feel the buzz about the short

with some fear in your art. -- your heart. People were pretty positive.

We thought the short list would heart. People were pretty positive.

generally feel that we have picked a strong short list. Do you think

taste now? Absolutely. I think it has changed publishing a little

taste now? Absolutely. I think it well because they do sell well.

taste now? Absolutely. I think it can get reviews that sold very well

in the UK. There is a definite sense the New York Times or the age in

Australia. Wherever people are the New York Times or the age in

of you. A smaller task than the the New York Times or the age in

here we had to beat 251 books. the New York Times or the age in

was a lot of fun but an awful lot of work. Now I have to be six books and

a month. That is like a normal amount of books that people read.

Last year I did the Orange prize for fiction. In two years I have read a

little bit over 200 books, I think. We're going to leave you with some

extraordinary gem. A diamond the size of a hen's egg. It is expected

to reach an incredible price. This could sell for anything between

to reach an incredible price. This and 35mm $ option. That would make

diamond. -- $28 million and 35mm all Let's remind you know of Armenia 's

on Syria. Syria says it is prepared inspectors to inspect facilities.

There will be a Security Council meeting in a few hours. Russia has

already told France that a binding UN resolution would be unacceptable.

That is all from the programme for now. Next the weather. Goodbye.