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Israel is poised for major military operation to free a kidnapped israeli soldier. Palestinian militant groups including hamas say ey're holding the 1-year-old corporal and demanding release of all palestinian women and children held in israeli jails. From jazz a, james reynolds reports. Most agree free their people in exchange for the kidnapped israeli. The fact that the armed group groups want women and children released makes it just many israel is preparing to take drastic action if its missing soldier is killed and said it will not give in to what it called blackmail. The thought of an israeli in the hands of a palestinian armed groups strikes deep. These pictures have been everywhere. The anxiety of the corporal's father increases the pressure on israel's prime minister. Seen as a security novice prepared to a-- assassinate. We promise immunity

>> Last week the two rival palestinian leaders mahmoud abbas of of fata an the the leader of hamas were close to agreeing on a document that would come close to recognizing israel. In as ever in this conflict, two sides have different interpretations. Israel said it has given palestinians many chanceses, even pulling its troops and settlers out of of gaza a year ago but violence still comes out of of there aimed at killing jews. Palestinians see sung day's attack as a legitimate act of resistance against an oppressour that has put them under siege and killing their civilians. If israel sends in the tanks now, palestinians will say it is all part of the same ole pattern israel's tanks are ready. One serious incident could push israel and the palestinians back into old hostilities. If this isn't settled, this could be the one.

>> And now of course that was jeremy bowen and not james reynold. The united states said it will not deal with the new leader of somalia's islamic courts. The hard-line muslim cleric has been named head of the council of islamic courts and has said the new somali government would impose shi'a law but what, he is on a terrorist list. How is the state department dealing with shaikh's appointment?

>> Clearly word somebody on the terrorist list, but there is geine ncern in the state department. They say they will not deal with him but they're still leaving the the door open for the six-alarmic court unions. Islamists who seem to be taking control seem to be taking control of large parts of somalia somalia but this is worrying if this is the direction. This announcement with the islamic courts union possibly but they won't deal with that union's leadership or leader, doesn't it show the limitations of the state department's policy towards somalia?

>> It shows they have been backing the warlords, who they hoped with islamic extremism, terrorism in the country and yet you have some of these figures. But they this do say the picture is far more complex. It is difficult to tell what to tell what the picture is. Speaking to west who are saying we don't want to turn somalia into a taliban style state, they're listening to them, want to hear from them, want to see the they want to work with international community. But they may talk... but i think one of the worrying indicators but already what about stoning to deathdeath, how is the state department this is another indication that would worry the state department that would suggest the country is going away which would worry the U.S. And certainly amid concerns that it had been taken over by islamic extremists.

>> Every minute somewhere in the world a person is killed a small arms fire. Now there's a conference in new york to try to address that statistic. I will have more on that story later in the programme. First let's go to 3450ik in london. Tony blair has made aid for africa part of his leadership. Yet again finding it hard to keep their promises britain's prime minister at the summit you will remember

>> At the concert last summer, everyone was singing from the the same

book one year on, how is the progress?

>> Well, good and bad. Aid was to be boosted by ? 즒illion. Not yet but getting somewhere there and the death debts of the poorest nations were to be written off. They have, somewhat

>> They delivered on what they said they would deliver on aid. There is some delivery aid but again it's patchy, some countries like italy and germany are falling short on their pledges. And on trade, i think picture is quite bleak.

>> And sowetoey blair has set up an africa progress panel of watchdogs to try to get the the richest nations to keep their word. It includes among others, the best form of international policy, africa and climate change are two such issues that cry out for such an approach. We made progress but the hard part of the task is still to be performed. Is

>> There are those trying to battle african poverty who help welcome the appointment of the panel and who look forward to further reform. Others though say will take much more to make the globe's most powerful nations honour their commitment to the poorest.

>> France's president jacques chirac has defended his government despite plunging approval levels. In a prime time television interview, he praised the cabinet for key initiatives on fighting crime. His popularity has plummeted. Increased political stability and modernized the country, at least according to supporters in a plan to rad indicate italy of the constitution. Not earn is convinced. More than 60% of voerts oppose e reforms that would greatly strengthen the power of the italian prime minister. Still to come on bbc word. 20,000 men were killed in just one day. Report on the 90th anniversary of the battle of the sum. P

about iion air investor warren buffett has announced he will give away a market of his wealth giving control of most of it to bill gates and foundation he runs with his wife.

>> We think philanthropy is something that is a choice that people make but we want to show people that it can be a lot of fun and have a lot of impact. So we think whatever country it is, we'd like to encourage more philanthropy.

>> The world's largest steel maker has been forged he had to double his original offer but now he controls 10% of the world's steel output put, pfizer said it is selling its owe the counter to johnson and johnson. It generated nearly $4000000000 in sales last year and went for over $16000000000. Pfizer said it wants to focus on its core business and has announced plans to buy back some of its shares. Sales of single family homes were up 4%. This comes days before federal reserve board considers a further rise in interest rates. At least 20 people have been killed in two separate bomb explosions in iraq. In baqubabaquba, bomb was strapped to a motorcycle and in baghdad, the bomb was detonated in a crowded market, both were mainly shi'a areas. The top commander in iraq hopes a sizable chunk of U.S. Forces will be brought home by the the end of00. It has cautioned such a plan is not engraved in had stone. The timetable will depend on the reconciliation plan. Baghdad correspondent andrew north spoke to the U.N. Special envoy to iraq and began by asking him whether the announcement of that plan meant iraq was now at a turning point

>> I think it could be with formation of the government and with the good fortune it has been received with the elimination of zarqawi. And the announcement of the reconciliation plan. There are differences ever views among iraqis but i think it does represent a possible significant first step towards reconciliation, political dialogue

>> It is a very big hope, isn't it? With the violence continuing, people dying every day particularly the sectarian violence and all the signs of the moment point to iraq, the situation getting worse and civil war is still a real possibility.

>> Well, the situation, as you say is far from normal. The security situation is tremy, ia

matter of big concern. Economic situation, the hultsz situation, the insurgency, violence, criminal violenceviolence. The question is whether now we are hopefully going to see some light at the end of the tum. Something is guaranteed but i thinisth canehe beginning of a more positive face.

>> Reporter: What about the U.N. Role here? Is there any point in you being here when you are so restricted by security? Well, the security imperative is overriding and particularly the had case of united nations and many of the colleagueser issue-- colleagues perish. We have support systems back up is from aman and kuwait. 90 years on still remembers one of the most disastrous events in thhiste y of the british army. The battle the height of first world war killed 20,000 british soldiers on the first day alone. We get the story of 110-year-old veteran

>> From the air, this is landscape that gives little away, only the grave stone hinted what took place here nine decades ago. The only surviving founding member of what is now the royal air force. Henry was born on the sixth of june 1896. He spent his teenage yearsin

east london before joining up in 1915 and being transferred to the fledgling royal rainfall air service. He hadn't seen these flying for almost 90 years. Thsdz this week, defying the years

how the U.N. Hopes to stop the i illegal tradement violence has been on growing in the past four months

iksz that's to restart peace talks have so far come to nothing. There was a sudden noise and we could see fire from the other side of the road. The general was on his way to work the assassins clearly knew his habited. This is the latest in months

of violence. The cease-fire is still in tact on paper but not the reality and as sri lanka continues to slip backwards I, the the truth is it is sliding towards. The devastation caused is huge. Kofi annan's our priorities effective enforcement, better controls and regulations safer stockpiling and weapons collection and destruction. Criminals and others who bring death and mayhem to our communities. U.N. Secretary-general kofi annan said there are very good reasons why the U.N. Wants to clamp down on small arms. Around 640000000 small arms and height weapons in world today. Each your year more are produced. One person every minute is harmed. Could be done.

>> We're working with the united states and other countries, too wye want toth see guidelines totake furer steps to combat this illegal trade. As they bear down on the corrupt officials and unscrupulous arms brokers, selling arms that prevent the poorest people in our world from living safeliment what we need to do separately as well is to create momentum for arms trade treaty including the all smms we are talking about this week, all unconventional arms. We hope the momentum can be maintained. Not often you get to look at someone else's tax bill, not to mention a royal one. Last year was more than ? million his private income came to more than ?4000000.

>> He lives like a future king, financed by funds from the futile class. As heir to the the thrown, prince charles receives the proceeds from the dutchy of cornwall just over $?4000000 this year, an increase of ? ?0000 fm last. For the first time, how much tax has been revealed. The prince ps top rate income tax on the duchess's profit. The tax bill was nearly ?3 million. That left him enough of ?3 million to pay for his staff

>> He works very hard and has staff to support that. There are 16 main charities he set up. That requires a lot of of staff.

>> Reporter: But the prince has too many staff.

>> He seems to, if you add it all up, 11 private secretaries at different levels. Over the road at buckingham palace this,y have very much fewer.

>> Before we go, a quick look at the main story again. The israeli prime minister ehud olmert has refused to release palestinian prisoners in exchange for palestinianpalestinian. It was dependent on all palestinian women and youths being freed from israeli jails. The soldier wasabdued on sunday at a military post near the border.