BBC World News on Video

Bookstore BBC Video News BBC video magazine BBC video store Free Music Video

BBC News on Video with Caption
December 29, 2006
Headline News on December 29, 2006
 
Somali government soldiers on their truck in Bur Haqaba
Somali government troops march into parts of Mogadishu, hours after Islamist forces flee the city.

 
US food authorities say food from cloned animals is safe to eat, paving the way for its eventual sale in shops.
Several hundred fans sing one of James Brown's signature tunes as his coffin arrives at Harlem's Apollo theatre.
December 28, 2006
Headline News on December 28, 2006
 
Saddam Hussein
Iraq's former leader Saddam Hussein says his execution will be a "sacrifice" for Iraq, in a letter written from prison.

 
A state funeral is announced for former US President Gerald Ford, with services starting in California on Friday.
The US says it plans to list polar bears as a threatened species because of declining Arctic ice levels.
December 27, 2006
Headline News on December 27, 2006
 
Firefighter tackling the blaze in Lagos, Nigeria
At least 260 people die in an oil pipeline explosion in Nigeria's commercial capital, Nigeria's Red Cross says.

 
An undersea earthquake of magnitude 7.1 hits off Taiwan, followed by a powerful aftershock.
Thousands in Bali, Indonesia, take part in a tsunami drill as the region marks the second anniversary of the disaster.

 

December 25, 2006
Headline News on December 25, 2006
 
Pope Benedict XVI greets worshippers in Rome, 25 Dec 06
Pope Benedict XVI deplores the conflicts in the Middle East and Africa in his Christmas message.

 
Russian forces storm an apartment in the southern town of Cherkessk where gunmen were holed up.
President Saparmurat Niyazov (file image) Uncertain times
Instability fears for Turkmenistan after president's death

 

December 23, 2006
December 22, 2006
Click on the arrow in the center to watch the news.
Transcript of BBC News VOD on December 29, 2006

>> And in this week, somali governments and ethiopian forces entered the capital mogadishu but while the islamists appear for now to have melted away, many fear a return to anarchy and violence in the city. And one islamist leader told bbc world the war was by no means over. They would wage a guerrilla campaign against the government. We get this report. .

>>.

>> Islamist fighters have melted away from mogadishu but most are saying off the street. Has been looting and gunfire. They're about to launch a guerrilla insurgency but many of their fighters have taken off their uniforms and placed themselves in the authority of clan elders

and the ability to take control, especially with the ethiopians withdraw. That's what the african union wants them to do. But the ethiopians have the tacit backing of the americans. They say they will leave somalia but only after they've restored order. .

>> It will be a few weeks. Hopefully a matter of days before we leave. At most a matter of a few weeks but while we're there, we'll help to stabilize mogadishu. We will not let mogadishu burn

>> Reporter: It will be a tough job to stabilize a capital that has known little but anarchy for a generation. I asked the special emissary if the government was now in charge of mogadishu?

>> Precisely. They are now in control and the government leaders have just arrived. The prime minister, the deputy prime minister and interior prime minister. The high level government have come all the way from the government to mogadishu and tonight they'll have the discussion with the elders and political leaders and people of the somali council. .

>> This is an outright victory? The war is over?

>> The war is over. In fact the war was not so severe because islamists have a strong force.

>> Why did they melt away? Did that surprise you that they melted away?

>> They thought they could wage war against the somali elected government. People realized the elements of danger.

>> They say look at iraq and that they'll be back. .

>> In somalia, the people are one nation. The first thing they're going to say is thank you very much, ethiopia. You can all go home now?

>> Yes. .

>> Will they got home just like that? You. They have no hidden agenda. They are one people. Now they have interdependency there, trade, economic, security, all matters are there. Therefore we are very happy with the help from our brothers of ethiopia. And therefore it will be different africa tomorrow. .

>> You said here is the transition transitional government in mogadishu sitting around with the clan elders. Sitting together. It's not going to be that easy, is it? There have been years and years of anarchy and vendetta. Different clans are seizing...

>> The people coming from mogadishu are not different. The prime minister, the elected but the warlordists who used to be in mogadishu have prevented the government, therefore the government was not able to go to mogadishu by using military means and, of course, this government was elected in kenya and it was a democratic allyally elected government.

>> In iraq, saddam hussein has urged the diplomatic community to stop them from handing him over to execution. He is duing to hanged in 30 days. And hundreds of iraqis have volunteered to carry out the death sentence.

>> Now that the execution has been confirmed, there need to be an executioner and there are plenty of volunteers. .

>> I am not the only one who wants to execute.

>> In power saddam was untouchable untouchable, his brutal regime responsible for hundreds of thousands deaths. Few escaped. Now though, he is being seen as a common criminal about to be hanged. And angry iraqis are seeking revenge. Without even advertising it, the prime minister's office said it has been swampeded with hundreds of inquiries from embittered people who want to administer the death sentence. .

>> I'm shocked. I'm talking about on a weekly basis my own office gets over hundreds per week and thousands, you know, per month. .

>> The task isn't complicated. It just needs someone to operate the gallos just to pull the trigger, to pull the handle down ward. .

>> We might never know the identity of saddam's executioner. The authorities are keeping the time, the place and the location of the hanging a closely guarded secret. Last thing they want is a public spectacle. Yesterday saddam's lawyers released a farewell lawyer from prison in which he said he was ready to be martyred and called upon iraqis to abandon hate. Instead there seems to be a long queue of iraqis too keen to exact the ultimate vengeance. .

>> President bush said he is making good progress on a new strategy for iraq after meeting senior members of his administration in crawford, texas. The instructions are paving the way for a new policy in iraq that the president is due to announce sometime early in the new year.

>> We have more consultation to do until i talk to the country about the than plan. Obviously we'll continue to work with the iraqi government the key to success in iraq is being willing to deal with the elements that are keeping iraq from succeeding. We want to help them succeed so we'll continue to consult with the iraqis and I'll talk to congress. Not only will i continue to reach out to congress but members of my team will do so as well. I fully understand it is important to have both republicans and democrats understanding the importance of this mission it's important for the american people to understand. Success in iraq is vital for our own security. If we were to not succeed in iraq, the ebb mi, the extremists, the radicals would have safe haven from which to lauren further atacks, they would be emboldened, in a position threaten the united states of america. This is an important part of the war on terror. We're making good progress on a plan that we hope will help us achieve our objective. .

>> Food from cloned animals could go on sale soon. Meat and milk they say is safe for human consumption

>> The issue of cloning has always sparked controversy and no more so than when dolly the sheep was born ten years ago. She is with a the first to be created using the scientific technique which produces an exact genetic twin of another animal. There was never much demand for the procedure as it couldn't be used in the meat industry. Now, however, that could be about to change. For the first tile, the U.S. Food and drug administration said that meat from cloned animal is as safe as that from ordinary livestock. There has been a mixed reaction from consumers.

>> I won't rule it out. .

>> I would not buy it.

>> I don't know enough about it.

>> From religious and consumer groups particularly opposed to the idea, arguing that scientists don't know enough about the effect of the signing. .

>> It advances technology that many find offensive. .

>> They're also concerned that the food and drug administration says it's unlikely to recommend warning labels for such food. The F.D.A. Stresses that a current moratorium on the food remains in place until a final ruling.

>>> You're with bbc world. Still to come on the programme, a fresh outbreak of gang violence in rio de janeiro. One people are dead and many are injured. .

>> A british serviceman has been killed in afghanistan. .

>> The vehicle destroyed probably hit a mineing the ground to set up a new outpost. It might have been left over from the russian invasion of afghanistan or it might of freshly laid by the taliban. The taliban have been growing stronger in the areas of the north and south of hellmand province where they're determined to take control.

>> There is stability. But as we found out yesterday tragically, it comes with a heavy price. The people really just want peace. The afghan army and police are trying to give them that peace and stability but very regrettably the taliban have a different view. Their view is to destroy the hospitals and the schools. They don't want people educated and they'll try to force this world back into the dark ages. .

>> Fighting has been intense throughout december throughout the towne where the explosion happened, showing no sign of a winter break as it often does in afghanistan. The ministry of defence will not yet name the person killed. The main fighting strength is drawn from royal marines from 42 and 45 commando. David loyn, bbc news.

>> Authorities say around 6,000 african migrants have died oregon missing on the sea journey to spain this year. 31 illegal immigrants reached the canary islands safely. Six times more than last year. Has faltd to stem the flow of people trying to escape poft. From bbc world, our main headlines. Looting in the somali capital as forces enter mogadishu. President bush says there's good progress on his new strategy for iraq. . There has been a fresh wave of gang violence in the brazilian city of rio de janeiro. At least one people killed and 23 others injured in attacks by armed gangs the the attacks last year in san paolo left 100 people dead. We have a report from san paolo.

>> This was the most deadly attack. A gang of 30 men boarded the bus and robbed the passengers and set it alight leaving seven dead. Many of us who survived, spoke of the routine bus error.

>> It was.

>> A man, tee hook everything he took the things and left. We thought it was all over and we were calm but then he said he felt something burning. I don't know how but i gathered my strength, got myself to the I'll of the bus and jumped through the win bow dough. A woman working as a street vendor was fatally shot in the cross fire and a 16-year-old boy was grazed by a bullet and taken to hospital. This was reminiscent of similar attacks in san paolo last may. 200 people died including many in police reprisals against dlang members. Authorities are also linking the latest violence on recent clampdowns on drug traffickers. Following the overnight attack, security is being stepped up as thousands of tourists ariver for the city's world famous beachside celebrations. Rio's mayor said the party won't be spoiled even in a city well used to violence, there will be nervous days ahead. .

>> In mexico, 21 people have died after a freight drain train and a bus collided. Both the driver the bus and the train conductor. The number of educated young iranians trying to leave their country appears to be increasing rapidly. The rise began after president ahmadinejad was elected to office. A year ago the country everyone in this english languages class wants to go abroad. .

>> It is better jobs they're off, the cry for emigration to canada or australia we work from morning to night and we still can't live on the money we take. Over there we can have less hours of work and make lore for young people, unemployment is more than 20%. It's twice that for women. .

>> The temperature who her students dream for a better lifestyle from abroad. They haven't actually been there to experience it. And ifg abroad, it has itsliving abroad has its own difficulties. .

>> Even registering for the xptexam they're studying for, and they spent the long night trying to recommendingster for the exam. The authorities who, there are more twice the amount. More than one 50e,000 of the best young main and after graduation I want to find a job for long time.

>> You don't plan to return to teheran?

>> No, no, never. Are are. The scombrshgs for what they want to see... one estimate put it at nearly 40 billion lost every year. 1400 years after the prophet mohammed, muslims are making the yearly pill grahamage to thegrimage to haaj. And paying their last respects to james brown.

>>> The united states government has decided to list polar bears as protected. Pollution and overhunting threatened the existence of the bears as andrew barrows now reports.

>> 5,000, but there are predictions they could disappear within the next century if arctic ice continues to melt. Ice is environment which especially ables the world's largest land carnivore to lunt. The reduction is cut about two-weeks. The that digsal hunting than. This is a victory for wildlife and we neat sr., And to protect all of us from the acts of global warming. .

>> President bush doesn't accept that it is causing global change but it will lead inrecollectlied of the the it is a big deal for the bush administration to recognize that global warming to do something to stop global warming rat. Recognition of polar bears as a U.S. Especially dangered isys act forces federal agencies to avoid decisions which would yep theirs affect their future. An age old tradition is about to come to an end in romania. The country joins the E.U. On january 1st and has to place chromes on.

>> The romanian country sides one of the poorest parts of the one of the poorest countries in the world. Romania joins the E.U. On the 30 of january. One practice will have to stop. The killing of pigs for sacrifice by holding down. The E.U. Is outlawing, but the poor romanians wonder how they'll survive. They're determined the new E.U. Regulations will shoeld sway. They want to sell live animals or just the meat can sell live animals inside their village. If there are more than 20 animals, they must have professional farms, commercial or microfarms that must fulfill the E.U. Standards. Bbc kr us? For its former president

chanting his name jaims brown james brown over and over again. It will take place on saturday. And we'll have more news and bulletins by logging on to our web site <

* While this transcript can be a help for listening and quotation, one may need to be aware of that there appear minor spelling mistakes on this transcript occasionally.  For example, some initial letters need to be changed into capitals.


Search Amazon.com:    

Documentary DVDs BBC America store BBC News Focus BBC Video-on-Demands International Books