Transcript in the news of
February 6, 2007
>> The video the U.S. Wouldn't show. Now a British newspaper publishes the
evidence. An Iranian diplomat seized by gunmen wearing Iraqi army uniforms.
Palestinians hope for an end to factional violence. Can new talks brokered by
the Saudis succeed? This is bbc world. A warm welcome from me, David
Yields. Also in this programme, not so slick. Profits
fall at B.P. And exiled billionaire says he'll talk to
Russian investigators about the death of Alexander Litvinenko. A newspaper here
in Britain has published a cockpit video recording of the moment that U.S.
Warplanes attacked a British convoy in Iraq, killing a soldier. The American
authorities had refused to allow the tape to be shown at the inquest into the
death of lance corporal Matthew Howell in 2003. The British Ministry
of Defence says the recording couldn't be released
because it was classified a secret by the U.S.
Military. The bbc's defence correspondent Paul Wood.
>> For four years the cockpit video shows the American planes closing in for
the kill. The pilots was tragically unaware
that this was the British troops.
>> Get him, get him. Age 25, this corporal
Cannon, M
the British soldier's location was known to the U.S.
Military, so why didn't these two pilots know? Why didn't they see the orange
panels on the battlefield?
>> There are no bradleys this far north on the ground.
>> Quite frankly British army vehicles look nothing like flatbed trailers.
They have the orange markers on, which are the NATO symbol for friendly forces.
Eventually they were firing smoke and being talked to on the radio because the
controllers are all netted together. So it really is a chain of events which I
think demonstrates that the Americans still haven't got their recognition sorted
out.
>> The pilot did get a radio signal to abort, but seconds too late. They
heard weeping, apparently remorseful and your rid about the consequences. The
MOD has had this tape for three years. This recording
is the property of the U.S. Government said a statement. The
MOD doenssion. Been any intention to deliberately deceive or misleadlands
corporate hull's family. But lance corporal hull's widow, didn't en nc revealed
at the inquest last week. The coroner, Andrew Walker,
has now had the chance to view the cockpit video in private. He adjourned the
case and the footage was crucial evidence and must be seen in open court's,
but the tape is classified and while the pilots may not be prosecuted,
the pentagon says whoever leaked the video will sun" newspaper stands by its
decision to publish that materialment we'll be hearing from the paper's defence
editor later in the bulletin. Do stay with us for that. This is a roadup of
other stories now. Condemned Israeli excavation work on a bridge leading to one
of the holy sites in Jerusalem. Israeli police have been guarding reconstruction
workers near one of the most sensitive Muslim shrines, al-aqsa mosque. It's
built on the compound revered by Jews as the temple mount. The Israelis say
they're fixing a weather-damaged walkway. Palestinian religious leaders
say
the work is threatening the site's foundation. The Indonesian authorities say
severe flooding in the capital Jakarta has caused damage worth at least $430
million. Some 36 people are believed to have died in
the course of these floods. They started again overnight. Health officials are
fearing an outbreak of disease, as well. 200,000 people are still without
shelter. 340,000 were forced to leave their homes. Firefighters in central
Colombia -- the other side of the story -- are battling fires destroying
hundreds of hectares of forest. Hot and windy conditions are being blamed for
this. More than 200 hectares of forest have gone up in flames so far. One fire
is still burning out of control in South of Bogotá. At
least here there have been no reports of injuries. The hopes of ordinary
Palestinians for peace between warring factions and the possible end to a
western aid embargo in the future are all resting on a meeting taking place
later in Saudi Arabia. 90 people have been killed in fighting between the
Islamic Hamas organisation and Fatah
since December. The Palestinian President,
Mahmoud Abbas, will meet
with Prime Minister
Ismail Haniya and
Hamas' leader in the holy city of America camp.
They'll try to work once again towards a new government of national unity. Alan
Johnson is in Gaza. He told me there are one or two optimistic signs before the
talking
starts.
>> The mood music going into this really critical meeting in Mecca has been
good for both camps. There is talk of real progress having been made in the
discussions running up to this meeting. One very senior Fatah
man talking about a deal being likely on the formation of a government of
national unity. Now I have to say we've been here
before a number of times as the positive talk ahead of these meetings in the
past, and each time they've come to nothing, leading to disappointment and a
deepening of the crisis. Perhaps this meeting will be different. The situation
here on the ground really is very grave. Gaza, the streets around me came very
close to something like all-out civil war just a few days ago. There is huge
domestic and international pressure on these parties for a breakthrough. At the
same time, the Saudi Arabians are involved in this. They have real financial and
political muscle and perhaps they can succeed where other mediators have failed
in the past.
>> It's being seen as a setback to critics of President
Bush. Republicans in the U.S. Senate have blocked a
debate on the Iraq war, and the President's strategy
to send thousands more troops. Democrats have said they're not going to give up
trying to force Mr.. Bush into changing direction. Our Washington correspondent
James Westhead
has been watching the debate.
>> In Washington a momentous demand. These books are president bush's budget
request. For a mind-boggling $2.9 trillion. Much of it to continue fighting the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the Senate, the
demand was tiny by comparison, just for a debate on the war in Iraq, and a
symbolic vote criticising the President. But even that
was too much for republicans, who blocked the move despite angry pleading from
democrats.
>> They can stop the debate by getting 41 votes, but they can actually engage
in debate and try to defeat the notion when the message of this resolution is,
Mr. President, stop.
>> The escalation is President bush's plan to send
20,000 more troops to Baghdad. There's fierce opposition from democrats and from
many republicans, but formally voting against their President
is another matter.
>> Everybody is in dangerous waters because it's like that moment in the
Alamo when the line is drawn in the sand. These resolutions are saying, which
side are you on? Let's see your true colours. Politicians often like the
camouflage themselves. They don't have that opportunity anymore.
>> With the debate blocked for now, negotiations continue behind the scenes,
possibly watering down criticism of the President.
This is a setback for the democrats who are furious. They're supposed to be in
charge of the Senate, but they're fast discovering how
hard it can be to ral lay congress so bitterly divided over the president and
the war. James Westhead, bbc news, Washington.
>> They can't get Iraq out of the headlines in the U.S. For the first time a
serving American army officer has been put on trial for refusing to go to Iraq.
The first lieutenant says he's willing to go to fight in Afghanistan, but he
regards the U.S. Military involvement in Iraq as illegal. There's been violent
rioting in Ecuador after residents took over city hall, demanding the
resignation of the mayor. Five people injured after protesters took over and
ransacked government building. They accused the mayor of
corruption.
-- Now, Tony's here with news of B.P. They're making a lot of money in some
people's eye, but it's not good.
>> It's not on the way up. This is the second largest oil company in the
world. The price of oil has been high, so you'd have thought they've been doing
better, but they've had a lot of problems. It had a bad towed last year. Net
profitings in the last three months fell by 12% shortage
of $4 billion. In addition to boosting revenue, B.P. Now has the difficult task
of restoring investor confidence. It suffered a series of high-profile blunders
including a deadly refinery blast in Texas, and a giant oil spill in Alaska. The
company's boss, John Brown,
is to step down in July over a year earlier than originally planned. And the ink
cartridges for your printer that don't cost an arm and leg. That's what the
camera maker Kodak is promising. It's launching a new product. And when it comes
to buying replacement ink cartridge, they'll cost 50% less than rival products.
The aggressive strategy is aimed at taking on more established printer makers
such as Canon. It's lost out on its original business with the increase
in popularity of digital cameras. The head of Kodak's Europe says there is
strong demand for low-cost printing.
>> Customers have been paying too much for ink. 70% of people would print
more if ink was less expensive. We're launching a new line that will deliver
premium inks for basically half the cost.
>> The future for Kodak, very interesting to see how it takes on Hewlett
Packard and Canon.
>> Thanks very much. Stay with us here on world. Still to come in the
programme, exiled Russian billionaire says he's got nothing to hide. He's ready
to talk to Russian investigators about the death of Alexander Litvinenko. There
really should be a time of hope in the democratic public of Congo. A newly
democratically elected government has been appointed, and that's after decades,
of course, of wars and political instability. Amd yet
its first task will be to deal with rioting taking place in the west of the
country. Around 100 people are believed to have died after clashes between
police and supporters of a local religious sect after allegations of election
rigging. The new Interior Minister
has promised an investigation will take place.
>> Security forces have retaken control of the town, but the human cost is
high. Riots have killed ten policemen and soldiers, but the repression was even
worse. More than 75 were killed by the security forces. This is the first time
such violence erupts in the west of the country. Members of a religious and
political organisation, its popular leader accuses the authorities of having
sparked violence. This is an oppostion's stronghold,
but surprisingly a government supported by the ruling party has been recently
elected. The rioters say the authorities have used money to change the outcome
of the vote. In place of the violence, the new Interior
Minister says an investigation will take place.
>> ( Translated ): If this is the result of police misbehaviour, it is very
serious. The authors will be properly punished. If this is political
manipulation by people who give chance to their followers and make them believe
they are immortal and they can destroy official buildings and confront armed
security forces, then it is a real shame.
>> Congo's recent election were supported by the United
Nations, but diplomats and observers here now fear
that a new allegation of corruption of the electoral process might threaten
Congo's ability. Bbc news, the republic of Congo.
>> The exiled Russian billionaire Boris Berovosky
has said he would be happy to talk about the death Alexander Litvinenko. He says
he has nothing to hide. Scotland yard is considering a request by Russian police
for assistance in their investigation.
>> Ever since Alexander Litvinenko died in a London hospital bed, a victim of
radioactive poisoning, there have been obvious questions. Who killed him? How
did they do it? And why? Someone with possible answers, Boris Berozovsky, a
friend and former employer of Alexander Litvinenko, who is now in exile. In an
interview with the bbc, he said he had no doubts who was behind the murder.
>> Russia is in very serious trouble now and particularly
Putin himself because definitely polonium, when they tried to organise
this murder.
>> The Russian government has always denied any involvement. British police
have already visited Moscow as part of the investigation. Now Russian detectives
have asked the home office if they can make the return trip to speak to a number
of people, including Mr. Berovosky.
>> I am absolutely open to meet people from Russia if it helps to investigate
Alexander's case.
>> Last week Scotland yard handed its evidence over
to British prosecutors. They will decide if any charges are to be brought. Tim
Alman, bbc news.
>> A gunman in Iraqi army uniforms have kidnapped an Iranian official in
Baghdad. The diplomat, a second secretary tear at the
Iranian embassy in Baghdad, was snatched on Sunday. I'm joined on the phone from
the Iranian capital, Tehran, by our correspondent Franes
Harrison. Frances, I suppose that is the key, who took him. But what more can
you tell us about this?
>> Well, here in Iran they've confirmed he has been
kidnapped and they've pointed the finger of blame at the United
States saying that these Iraqi military were acting
under the command of the Americans, and we've had the foreign ministry spokesman
strongly condemning the attack saying it's a violation of all international
norms and the Vienna convention and saying that they hold the Americans and the
Iraqis responsible for this man's safety. We've also had Iran's ambassador to
Baghdad talking about how he thinks it's maybe the terrorist act, as he calls
it, may have been committed in the framework of President
Bush's order to kill or capture
Iranian agents inside Iraq, and he says the intention behind this act is
to escalate the confrontation with Iran.
>> A political message out of this. We're looking at pictures of the street
where he was kidnapped. Can you give us more, Franes
Harrison, about how it happened?
>> Well, obviously from Tehran it's difficult to know exactly what happened,
but we understand there were two vehicles and somewhere up to 30 gunmen dressed
reportedly in Iraqi military uniforms who abducted this diplomat. Some reports
say the second vehicle was apprehended by security forces in Iraq, and some of
those people were detained. It's very unclear exactly how this happened, but
certainly it's interesting that this time the Iranian government, the foreign
ministry have released the name of the diplomat and confirmed the name because
remember last month there were five people arrested by the American military in
Irbil and those names have still not been released by
the Iranian government. But the Iranians are insistent those were also
diplomats, and that, of course, raised tensions and another abduction like this,
if the Iranians continue to point the finger at the United
States, that will make things much worse.
>> Clearly. Frances, thanks very much indeed for the latest from Tehran. This
is bbc world. The main news here again: A U.K.
Newspaper has published pictures of a friendly fire attack in Iraq which killed
a British soldier. The United States
had refused to release the video for an inquest in Britain. After months of
in-fighting , the leaders of hamas and fatah are meeting later in the holy city
of Mecca. We're going to get more now on what is our main story, the video of an
American friendly fire incident in Iraq. It killed a British soldier. Well, the
footage has been published by the Sun newspaper, and
the paper's defence editor has been defending their decision to publish in spite
of the Americans insisting it was classified information.
>> Clearly we viewed it thoroughly, spent some considerable time going
through it. We even gave a copy of what we had to the Ministry
of Defence yesterday to make sure that we weren't
breaking any form of secrets, we weren't upsetting any operational security.
They came back to us with a big fat zero. We're 100% classified. There is
nothing secretive at all.
>> Which sounds like the ministry of defence have no problems you putting it
out.
>> Well, they've had knowledge that we were planning to do this for almost 24
hours now. You can see they haven't injunted us, a
clear passage available to them. You have to make your own conclusions from
that.
>> Let me ask you about the mod's position. It's a difficult one in relation
to a key ally, I suppose, but the MOD also says it's
had no intention to deliberately mislead or deceive lance corporal Hull's
family, yet the family said it didn't even know this existed.
>> I honestly think the mod are between a terrible rock and a terrible hard
place on this one. They have the Americans, their major allies on one side, the
entirety of British public opinion, the sun newspaper, the bbc on the other.
Perhaps this is their only way out. Whether or not they misled Matthew
Hull's widow Susan we don't know. She said they did.
They say they didn't. I think it's an appalling muddle. They have found
themselves in this out of their own making.
>> Now, talk about bizarre, an American astronaut has been arrested on
charges that include attempted kidnapping and battery. Florida police say Lisa
Nowak, who flew on a mission to the international space station last year,
confronted another woman she considered to be a rival for the affections of a
male astronaut. Police allege that Mrs. Novak was disguised in a wig when she
attacked the other woman with chemical spray. Stay with us here on bbc world.
Plenty more still to come on the programme, including a London museum honouring
a queen and her consult. Should the v and a really be paying tribute to a
princess of pop? The Italian government has announced tough new proposals to
stamp out violence on football stadiums. The Italian interior minister said that
venues deemed to be unsafe will stay closed to the public and football matches
will be played behind closed doors. Currently only nine of the country's
stadiums were considered safe. He said that crowds would only be allowed into
the other stadiums once improvements had been made. Now, these moves follow the
death of a policemen who was killed during post-match rioting.
>> This was a different sort of crowd in Catania. Thousands of people came to
mourn the police officer. Among them his youngest son. The death of one police
officer shocking a nation and bringing its favourite pastime to a halt. In Rome,
ministers met football officials, trying to work out what to do next. The game
will restart, although still no word as to when. Strict new controls will be
introduced.
>> ( Translated ): Fans will only be allowed in those stadiums that meet
security measures. The other stadiums will be allowed to host football matches
but behind closed doors. I won't send anyone to risk his life again.
>> It was during these riots on Friday that the officer was killed and the
sport shamed. Violence in Italian football has become a growing problem. The
authorities determined to do something about it following an example of other
European countries that have tried to curb hooliganism. Some new security
measures may be introduced before next season, but in the meantime, many grounds
just aren't ready. So across the country, empty stands could become the norm for
some time yet. Richard Forest, bbc news.
>> Now picture this: You fancy yourself as a biker. You have your black
leathers on. You're ready to impress your friends as you roar off into the
distance. The only thing is your motorbike makes about as much noise as a home
computer. Let me introduce you to the green machine.
>> This is the envy, a mission neutral -- an emission-neutral vehicle, the
world's first purpose-built hey degree general motorcycle.
-- Hydrogen motorcycle. 50mph, 100-mile range. Oh, and no gears. What's it
like the ride? Well, in a word, surreal. It's quick off the mark. It's really
smooth, but listen. There's no noise. People don't hear you coming. They
certainly stair once you've gone past. I can hear all you bikers scoffing right
now, but I promise you, it's very easy and it's a lot of fun to ride. Okay. Now
the science bit. The fuel cell works by feeding hydrogen into a chamber about
the size of a briefcase. It reacts with oxygen, producing electricity. That's
what powers the bike. Exhaust fumes, the only by-product is water vapor. The
this is the exhaust pipe. It is switched on. You won't do that with your normal
bike, would you? Toyota, Honda, G.M., Ford all plan to
mass produce hydrogen cars over the next few years. The envy could be in
U.K. Showrooms by Christmas. Richard Westcott, bbc
news.
>> From low octane to higher octane I suppose, hot pants, feathered headdress
and a sequinned corset are some of the items in the wardrobe of a pop princess.
The costumes worn by Kylie Minogue
are going on display at London's Victoria and Albert Museum.
>> The Victoria and Albert Museum, a treasure trove
of artistic masterpieces and today's Kylie's hot
pants, kylie's sequinned corset and the dungarees she work in "neighbours." This
cat suit became famous in the song "can't get you out of my head." Now you can
see it up close. The V&A show says
it's about showing how the modern concert is put together.
>> It's quite real. Being on a tour, I think
everyone feels a little out of their depth in some ways, the
V&A, this is really serious.
>> Here it is, a life in pop told through her outfits and more than 500,000
sequins. They've already sold more than 4,000 tickets. David sill let toe, bbc
news.
>> You're watching bbc world. Stay with us. <
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