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Transcript of BBC
News on Video (In the News of January
2, 2007) >> Hello. Welcome to bbc world. The headlines: Iraq's government
launches an investigation into mobile phone footage of saddam
hussein's execution. The somali government says ethiopian troops
will stay until stability is restored. A plane crash in indonesia
kills at least 90, reports of 12 survivors are unconfirmed.
>> And in business, the london stock exchange sees a record
number of companies going public.
>> There's more fallout from iraq on the execution of saddam
hussein. The office of the prime minister, nouri al maliki, has now
launched an enquiry into who secretly filmed saddam's hanging on a
mobile phone and then distributed the footage. A video showing
saddam exchange taunts with those watching spread on the internet
within hours of his death. Let's get more on this by going to
baghdad and the bbc's correspondent there clive myrie. Clive, the
enquiry is into the two and a half minutes of grisly video footage
oF... Just before saddam's execution.
>> That's right, yes. Frankly, an investigation was inevitable
following the release of this unofficial video. And frankly it's
caused untold damage here to relation between sunni and shia right
across the country because it's clear from the video that saddam
hussein's executioners were members of the shia faith here in iraq.
They taunted him. They abused him in his final moments and they
shouted out the name of the radical shia cleric moqtada al-sadr.
They chanted his name. There are reports now that once he was
pronounced dead that these people danced around the body. This is a
dreadful, dreadful mess that the al maliki government is in now
because of this, and this investigation has to be called to find out
exactly how that footage got out.
>> But the investigation will surround a very small, select
group, hand-picked people, most of whom are indeed shiites and
chosen specifically by the prime minister's office. Frankly, mar
teerng we don't know that. There are some reports that there were as
many as 20 people in what that chamber when saddam hussein went to
the gallows. Clearly from the footage you can see there are four
guards with hoods on their heads actually holding him and walking
him to the gallows. Then there are clearly people around him, as
well. So it's not entirely clear at this stage whether those people
were inside... Who were inside the chamber were actually sanctioned
by the prime minister's office to be there, but you're right, it
could well be it was a senior official who had the right to be in
the chamber who actually took that video footage, in which case that
person could be in deep trouble.
>> Clive myrie there, our correspondent in baghdad. The prime
minister of the transitional government in somalia, ali mohamed
ghedi, has said the ethiopian troops who have led the fight against
islamist militiamen will stay in somalia until the situation there
becomes stable. He's also given thousands of supporters of the
ousted union of the clockic courts militia three days to hand over
their weapons. Dominic hughes has this reporT.
>> North of the somali capital mogadishu, the cinema is open once
again. For six months it was banned by the somali islamic courts
council which controlled the town. The popular narcotic stimulant
kat is also on sale again. After a dramatically quick campaign, the
islamists' rule is over. Ethiopian-backed forces now control jawa as
they do the rest of somalia. Now crowds are turning out the support
a pro government rally. The new provincial order says never support
those who are terrorists. With the islamist forces in retreat, what
will take their place? A power vacuum in the early 1990s allowed the
rise of warlord militias, and the government has called for
international peacekeepers and launched a gun amnesty. The
ethiopians are warning their troops must be withdrawn as soon as
possible, maybe within weeks. And there is the threat, too, that the
islamists defeated in war may launch an iraqi-style insurgency.
Dominic hughs, bbc newS.
>> Rescue workers inin indonesia have reached the wreckage of a
domestic airline that crashed in the mountains of sulawesi on
Monday. The head of the search and rescue team as well as the
airline said 90 bodies have been found and 12 people survived. The
reports of survivors are not confirmed.
>> They found iT. Tucked into a remote corner of sulawesi's
mountain forest, the passenger plane that's been missing since
Monday. But getting to it is another matter. Bad weather has stopped
helicopters going in, so the rescue effort is having to use the
mountain roads. A long and difficult triP. The search has been given
a new urgency by reports from a nearby village that several
passengers survived, but the wait for information is a long and
frustrating one, for none more so than the families of those on
board. Gathered at airports around java and in northern sulawesI,
they've been waiting for news, but there's little to go on.
>> ( Translated ): There is still no information about my family.
My relative was coming from surabaya to manado to celebrate the new
year.
>> Many have complained that airline officials aren't sharing the
latest reports and that they're having to follow every twist and
turn on the television news. More than 100 people were on board the
flighT. Early reports from the crash site suggest most have died.
Adam air has promised to lay on special flights to take relatives to
the area tickets have been handed out but the planes have been
delayed by several hours. No one knows yet what caused the crash,
but questions are already being asked about weather conditions and
also about safety checks on board. Lucy williamson, bbc news,
jakarta.
>> Let's go live now lucy and get an update on the situation.
Lucy, why is there still so much uncertainty as to the possibility
of their being 12 survivors?
>> I think really because communications with the rescue teams in
the field have been almost non-existent. It's been several hours
since anyone here in jakarta or from what we understand the local
head of operations in sulawesi has had contact with them. It's a
very remote area where this plane came down, mountainous, forests,
communications with the area are very difficult. Many people simply
believe now that we'll have to wait and see what the rescue team
comes out with before we make any assumptions.
>> This tragedy comes just days after another tragedy affecting
indonesia, that of a ferry which sank in the java sea on Friday.
>> That's right. The situation for people there is getting worse
and worse. The weather conditions that have hampered the rescue
effort so far continue to deteriorate. People have been stuck out in
the sea clinging to life rafts with life jackets oN. This is the
fourth day dave been there now. Helicopters have dropped food and
water to try and keep them alive, but unless boats can get to them
soon, there is a real danger they're many people out there will die.
>> Lucy, thank you. The sri lankan air force says it's bombed a
tamil tiger naval base in the northwest of the country a spokesman
for the rebels says 15 civilians were killed when a government
attacked a fishing village in the mana village. The tigers say at
least 25 others were wounded in the raid. The united states is to
observe a day of mourning today for the former president gerald ford
who died last week. George bush and his wife laura paid their
respects to mr. Ford. His body is lying in state in washington.
Thousands of americans have been filing past his flag-draped coffin.
>> President bush and the first lady joined thousands of ordinary
americans who lined up to honour the life of Gerald ford. This the
first time george bush had the opportunity to join the public
mourning since returning from his ranch in crawford, texas. Gerald
ford, who was 93, died on boxing day. Other senior figures including
president bush's father have also been paying their respects. The
flag-draped coffin of the 38th president has been lying in state in
the capitol building since saturday. Gerald ford was unexpectedly
thrust into the oval office after richard nixon was forced to resign
in the wake of the watergate bugging scandal. He served for just two
years before losing the election in 1976 to jimmy carter. President
bush, who will today lead the tributes at a funeral service at the
national cathedral, has said ford came along when america needed him
most. The service marks day of mourning with federal buildings
closed and flags flying at half-mast. Later today president ford's
remains been flown to grand rapids michigan for a private burial
service. It will be the final resting place for a president credited
with healing a nation and restoring public trust after the watergate
scandal. Jonathan beale, bbc news, washington.
>> Coming up on this programme, gold, millions of dollars worth
within these chilean mountain ranges. But how much will a new mind
cost the environment? The brazilian president, luiz inacio lula da
silva has been sworn in for a second and final term in office the
left-wing leader secured reelection by an overwhelming popular vote
despite 18 months of continuous corruption scandals.
>> On his way to start his second term in office, the former
union leader who rose to lead latin america's biggest country. The
well-wishers who braved the rain in the capital were far smaller in
number than the euphoric crowds who descended on the city four years
ago, but president lula is clearly relishing this momenT. Lula won
last october's election despite a series of corruption scandals. In
the end his survival was probably ensured by the fact that brazil's
millions of poor voters, the world from which he himself had come,
kept faith with him, fact he acknowledged in his inauguration
speech.
>> ( Translated ): Today I can look into the eyes of each and
every brazilian and say that i have kept and will continue to keep
my promise of caring first for those who most need it, to govern for
all is my path, but defending the interests of the poorest is what
guides us in this journey.
>> After the inauguration ceremony at the congress, lula appeared
back at the presidential palace wearing the ceremonial sash of
offers. It was here that he paid tribute to the ordinary people of
brazil for standing by him when he felt the country's elite and the
media tried to destroy him. President lula has set himself two key
challenges for his second term, mar impressive economic performance
and an end to the corruption which has dogged his first
administratioN. If he fails in either, the brazilian public may not
be so forgiving next time. Bbc news, sao paulo.
>> Now, alan's got news of a very rare development, one in which
london tops new yorK.
>> Not official yet, but very close, absolutely, martine.
Thafntle the london stock exchange has seen a record number of
companies listing in 2006. They raised a total of $5 billion, more
than ever in the history of the stock exchange -- $5 billion. That
means london could beat the new york stock exchange for the first
time eveR. Regulations are less strict in london than in the united
states. Earlier we spoke to our reporter at the london stock
exchange.
>> Having raids around about $55 billion for companies that are
listed here in the united kingdom or indeed in the other 25
countries around that t world that have their companies... have a
listing here at the london stock exchange. The new york stock
exchange by contrast only ran about $35 billion. So some 40% more
money has been raised for L.S.E. Companies than its transatlantic
rival
>> Moving on now, russian gas exports to europe seem to be
running as normal after gazprom and belarus managed to strike a
last-minute deal back on sunday. According to the polish government,
there have been no disruptions. Poland and germany receive gas from
russia through the pipeline belarus had threatened to block as the
conflict over those gas prices escalated. South korea warns that
over 100,000 people may lose their jobs because of free trade
agreements. The government says many local firms will have to trim
their workforce to compete with cheaper foreign imports, however,
seoul stresses that free trade pact lots force local exporters to be
more competitive. South Korea is set to resume negotiations with the
U.S. It also plans to enter talks with japan and china. That's it
with the business news.
>> Aaron, thank you very much indeed. Let's catch up with the
main headlines on bbc world. Iraq's government launches an
investigation into mobile phone footage of saddam hussein's
execution. The somali government says ethiopian troops will stay
until stability is restoreD. It's one of the biggest and most
expensive industrial ventures in the world, a vast gold mine that
will be carved into the mountains of south america. The mine, which
straddles the border between chile and argentina, will cost almost
$2 billion to build. At today's prices, the gold produced will be
worth almost $12 billion. Whilst the mine will bring jobs and
prosperity to the region, there's concern about the risk of
environmental damage. We have a report.
>> High in the andes lies a mountain of hidden gold. Pasqalama in
chile contains so much of the precious metal, it will take 20 years
to extract. Soon it will look like this, a mountain stripped bear as
has happened at this site just over the boarder in argentina for the
canadian company barrick, the lure of gold is great, butwhat cost?
While pasqalama is set deep within the andes, at least 70 kilometres
from the nearest civilisation, the waters that flow down from the
area are crucial to the local community because they supply these
valleys and lowlands, enage crops to be grown in this desert
landscape. Some farmers fear the mine will contaminate the water,
ruining their livelihood. One of them is mario mount. He grows
offcodoes watered bay river in the glaciers of the mountain.
>> ( Translated ): Barrick are attacking our rivers, our glaciers
and our ancestral water rights. That's why i think i should go on
fighting theM.
>> While those opposed to the mine think it will ruin their
lives, others support the project because it will provide
better-paid jobs, and that's partly why the chilean government backs
the scheme. Of course, any project like this is going to bring
changes, the minister told me, but if we don't do it, what's the
alternative? There are jobs in agriculture but often only seasonal.
I really think that pasqualama is sustainable. Chile will receive
tax and royalties but insists there will be vigorous controls. For
their part, barrick claim their modern mining methods are fail-safe,
including the leeching process which uses cyanide.
>> We have made commitments to the community, public commitments
that we will look after the quantity and the quality of the water.
There are measures to safeguard the environment. It is going to be
one of the safest if not the safest mining operation with all of the
technology that we have that we will build to protect the
environment.
>> Gold from pasqualama will begin to flow in 2009, demand
fuelled partly by our desire for the precious met yasm while the
area will benefit from investment, when the mine's exhausted and
barrick have gone, what will the legacy of pasqualama be? Louisa
ball deany, bbc news, chile.
>> Ukraine's capital is experiencing a phenomenal property boom.
Kiev is now thought to be the most expensive city in eastern europe
in which to buy a homE. In the last two months alone prices have
gone up by between 10% and 25%.
>> New apartment blocks are springing up across the capital. Much
of this building has already been sold, but it won't be ready for
months. Inside perspective buyers are being shown around. Most flats
are sold like this, as unfinished concrete shells. Galina, who owns
a chain of shops, is interested in investing in this three-bed
property costing $1 million. Prices in the capital have gone up by
more than 200% in the last few years. Demand for apartments in kiev
is outstripping supply. Many ukrainians don't trust banks and would
rather put their money into bricks and mortar. Last year more than
100,000 new flats were built. The problem is many of them have been
bought as investments, then left unfinished and empty. This estate
agent, the most expensive flat can cost up to $10 million. This is
very much a city on the up. Everywhere you look in the capital, you
can see signs of the property boom. But ukraine is one of the
poorest countries in europe, and many people are being priced out of
the market. 30-year-old tanya still lives with her mum. The cheapest
one-bedroom flat in kiev costs around $100,000. Tanya says buying
her own home is impossible.
>> It's made he feel hopeless and helpless, and no matter how
hard you try and take into account that I make pretty good money,
still i can't afford it. It just makes me angry and it makes me feel
there is no place for me there is no place for young professionals
in this city.
>> As darkness falls, billing work continues on this $4.5 million
penthouse. Many believe the raze denial property -- residential
property market is overheating and there are fears that soon the
bubble may burst.
>> Still to come on this programme, millions of muslim pilgrims
return to jeddah as the hajj draws to a close in saudi arabia. In
germany, the new year has brought a windfall for new mothers. Those
who gave birth after midnight are eligible for benefits worth up to
two-thirds of a parent's salarY. The new benefits, payable
regardless of income, is aimed at combatting a falling birthratE.
The new scheme will make families significantly better off and has
led some pregnant women to try to hang on until the start of 2007.
>> Few years day in germany, traditionally a time for a bit of
naked swimming, but this january 1, there was a new way of
celebrating, giving birth once the clock had struck midnight because
that marked the start of a generous government aid programme for new
mothers. Families with babies born in the first few minutes of 2007
were up to e25,000 better off than those who arrived a few moments
earlier. And that was incentive enough for some mothers to hold oN.
>> I would have pushed earlier, but I did my best to hold back,
she said, and it worked. I can tell you, the last half hour seemed
to last two years. In the run-up to new year, there were reports of
pregnant women trying anything to put off giving birth, from
standing on their heads to taking homeopathic medicines, but health
experts said if the baby was ready, it couldn't be delayed. Jan
arrived two hours before midnight his family would have got more
than e10,000 if he had been a little later, but his mother wasn't
complaining. He was due on the 27th and he came on the 31st she
said. We never tried the drag it out artificially. The most
important thing is that he's healthy. The new benefit is aimed at
reversing germany's falling birthrate amid fears the population
could shrink from around 80 million to 70 million in the next 40
years, but the impact on the rest of the nation will be the last
thing on the minds of these new parents as they get used to their
bundles of joy. Richard forest, bbc news.
>> As millions of people enjoyed new year's celebrations with
friends and families, 14 people in germany saw in 2007 trapped
inside a lift in a shopping mall in Munich. It took engineers nearly
three hours to free the revellers from the three-meter square space
in which they were forced to stand. The security service was unable
to get the lift going again because its hydraulics had collapsed
under the weight of the passengers inside. Millions of muslims are
returning to jeddah as the hajj draws to a close in saudi arabia.
The pilgrimage passed without major incident as new safety and
security measures were introduced. Thousands of saudi police were
deployed for the final stoning of the devil rite at the bridge in
mina. At the last hajj at least 345 pilgrims died in a crush during
the stone-throwing rituaL. And our correspondent in mecca is razia
iqbal.
>> Here in mecca as the pilgrims make their final stage of the
hajj, walking towards the grab grab -- grand mosque and making the
five circles around the black structure in the middle of the mosque,
we're reaching the end of this year's pilgrimage. The saudi
authorities are probably very pleased with themselves this year in
that they have managed to run this pilgrimage without any major
accidents, any major mislaps, which is really quite an achievement.
We're talking about upwards of 2.5 million, 3 million people here
maybe in one spot, all aiming to do exactly the same thing, and this
is also very, very important for the saudis because they need to
show the rest of the world that they can run thiS. They are the
custodians of the most holy places in islam, and they need to be
able to show the world they can run this effectively without
incidents happening every year. They've certainly managed to do that
this year, mainly because they've implemented security measures
inside the jamarat area where the pilgrims throw stones at pillars
representative of the devil. There people are walking in one
direction only and also making sure there aren't huge numbers of
people camping by the pillars. That's created a situation where
there's been a free flow of human traffic really, and that's what
they've been aiming to do. That's not to say there hasn't been some
jostling, some pushing and shovelling, and also there has been a
number of people who have died of natural causes. We are talking
about a huge number of people. It is a dizzying sight to see
millions of people all gatherrering together, communing with god. It
is possibly one of the highlights of every muslim to come here, one
of the things they all have to try and do once in their lifetime. So
in that context, incredibly strong spiritual experience for all of
them, but alongside all of that, the saudi authorities have the
headache of actually looking after them, and this year I think
they're probably smiling today, feeling very pleased with themselves
that they've managed to do it pretty much without any major
incident.
>> Razia iqbal there in america camp now, there's lots more
details about all the stories in the news on the web site,
bbcnews.Com. You'll get the very latest on the controversy which is
surrounding the possibility of there being 12 survivors from that
plane crash in indonesia. So bbcnews.Com. That's where you'll get
the very latest on that plane that went down, and as i say, the
there is possibly 12 survivors. <
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