fragile relations between islamabad and washington, kyra. >> ressa, thanks. >>> in syria, an activist tells cnn the government's crackdown on protesters has left streets littered with dead bodies and wounded. that video posted online supposedly shows troops opening fire on demonstrators in the capital. in recent weeks, hundreds of people have reportedly been killed, and now the united nations is stepping in. zain verjee is following this for us from london. what is going to happen this week? >> well, what we are hearing from opposition groups, first of all, is that they are saying that 64 people were killed in syria just on sunday. there's a huge amount of political pressure from the united nations on syria, as well as the arab league. now the arab league is saying they are leaving. there's too much violence, and they are pulling out their monitoring mission, which was supposed to protect people from more violence. there have been more clashes today in different suburbs

national community at the same time to islamabad must have come up with an idea that look i really think the only way that we can get americans out of afghanistan it would be to talk with them and once you assure we assure the american. this is. everything will be fine and this is the way out. i believe that americans believe and then we can all be back to back to normal that whatever they want to extend imposed on afghanistan. now is take a look at some other stories from around the world while thousands of people have gathered in central pakistan to demand supply routes used by nato forces in afghanistan are kept closed as long as speakers at the rally called for in the panels from u.s. foreign policy invalid to stage further protests if any attempt to open the channels has made border checkpoints stop supplies for nato troops in afghanistan last year a fall we have strike which killed twenty four pakistani troops. tam

bbc news, islamabad. >> a murder in the u.k. is having repercussions in india. >> students are worried about safety after a young man shot in the head while walking last month. a correspondent spoke to young people in his hometown, and found that despite their fears, many still plan to study in britain. >> he is looking forward to going to work in london later this month. after his friend and neighbor was killed, his parents did not want him to go. >> my parents were very worried. they said do not go. after arnolds murder, you cannot go. but and managed to persuade them i could go to school in manchester. eventually, they yielded. >> this city, it is well known in india as a center of academic excellence. despite the quality of the universities here, hundreds go overseas for further education. many of them intend to study abroad, particularly in places like britain and the u.s.. they are upset about what happened to anush, but see it as a tragic exception. >> if you see india, such kind of murders are everywhere. i do not find a

the government in islamabad says the u.s. has resumed its controversial drone strikes on pakistani soil for the first time in almost two months. nhk world has the report on the potential fallout. [ chanting ] >> anti-youth demonstrations in pakistan, scenes like this have become increasingly common over recent months. these people are demanding an end to u.s. drone attacks on pakistani soil. u.s. government agencies, including the cia, have repeatedly used unmanned drone aircraft to attack the suspected terrorist and the islamic extremists. but pakistani said those operations have also caused many civilian deaths. the they became angrier in pakistan when the american held come and fighter jets in afghanistan, attacked border positions in northwest pakistan, killing 24 soldiers. the operations wereuspended in an apparent effort by the obama administration to stop ties with islamabad from worsening further. but on wednesday, pakistani government officials told nhk that the united states carried out its first drone attack in abo

bbc news in an islamabad. >> you are watching "bbc world news america. in syria, even the children are not safe. we have a special report on the young who have been wounded in the brutal attempt to quash dissent. gaddafi is gone. the violence in libya is not over. authorities are gathering to disarm fighters they say are loyalists holding out against the government. >> in the unfinished revolution, this is the new front line. south of the capital, men who once called themselves rebels are back in position with their improvised weapons trained once more on the enemy. this is something we have not seen since october when colonel gaddafi was captured and killed in sirte. the spiders are saying the fighting is not over yet. -- these fighters are saying it is not over yet. they say heavily armed militias are still holding out in support of the old regime. what is the solution to the problem? >> take their weapons. >> how will you take their weapons? >> they give them to us or we take them from them. >> over the weekend, it felt like to return to the height of

let's talk to our correspondent outside the supreme court in islamabad. how significant is this move by the supreme court to reopen this investigation and not wait until the president leaves office? >> it is very significant. if the prime minister is found in contempt of court, he can be forced to step down and this government will collapse. he has been called to the court and he is due to be here in the next half-hour. already, it appears like today is going to be something of a show of strength for the pakistan government. we have already had some cabinet ministers are arrived at the court. we hear that some of his coalition partners will also be arriving later in the day. it is hard to see how he is going to get out of this one without conceding to some of the demands. he has been asked to write a letter to the swiss authority'is to reopen cases against the president. he was asked to do this two years ago and he has refused. that is why the courts -- >> when are they likely to come up with a decision? >> it's very much depends on what happens today and

the last thing they need is this kind of wrangling taking place in islamabad. people are extremely apprehensive. >> thank you very much indeed for joining me. >> thank you. >> for other news -- the huge u.s. military says it has identified the four marines who were seen in video apparently urinating on dead afghans. they have not been named, but they are said to be marine corps snipers who served in afghanistan last year. two have been questioned by the u.s. navy investigation bureau. the nuclear scientist who died in the bomb attack two years ago -- the mourners shouted anti- u.s. and anti-israeli sentiments. apple has halted the sale of all iphone models from stores in china. there were chaotic scenes outside a store in beijing when a crowd gathered ahead of the launch. a substantial step forward for democratic reform is out president obama characterized the release of hundreds of political prisoners in burma today. shortly afterward, the u.s. secretary of state said an ambassador will go to burma for the first time in two decades, restoring diplomatic pripet

you very much syed hamid defense analyst of the prospects of the better think tank joining us live in islamabad really interesting to hear we have to say thank you. political hardliners in kosovo have announced they're to block serbian trucks at border crossings this weekend it comes despite belgrade ongoing steps toward a compromise in the border issues the country strives for e.u. membership and ethnic serbs in kosovo say they're finding themselves under more pressure from the albanian majority. now reports. the checkpoint in northern kosovo may not look like an obvious triumph of peace but here is the same spot just two weeks ago since a summer e.u. backed kosovo albanians tried to take control of the border between serbia and kosovo the serb minority erected barricades in response they don't recognize qassam independence so in the old bailey and dominated province is still part of serbia now both sides have fire new agreed that the border will be jointly policed their calls belonging to anyone can now freely pass through this checkpoint when you're trumpeting there as a happy resolution tha

bbc news, islamabad. >> we are live from singapore and london. three months after gaddafi's death, his loyalists fight on. >> and what lies beneath? a search for life beef under -- deep under an arctic a. -- antarctica. jon huntsman has dropped out of the race for the white house. the former utah government said the campaign has generated-and personal attacks. paul adams reports from washington. >> never a real contender, jon huntsman is bowing out. he told his rebels to stop bickering and concentrate on what happens. >> this race has degenerated into an onslaught of negative and personal attacks not worthy of the american people, and not worthy of this critical time in our nation's history. >> it is a far cry from his fighting call after finishing third in new hampshire a few weeks ago. >> i say third place is a ticket to ride, ladies and gentlemen. >> jon huntsman lacked the resources, organization, and perhaps sheer willpower to stay the course. he was looking at eight contest in carolina where mitt romney plans to notch a third win in a row.

bbc news, islamabad. >> confusion at the top and pakistan. now to libya. gaddafi may be gone, but the violence is far from over. there is a gathering south of tripoli to disarm fighters they say are gaddafi loyalists holding out against the new government. local officials have said that are having trouble holding former rebel forces back from continuing the fight. >> in libya is unfinished revolution, this is the new front line, just 50 miles south of the capital. man who once called themselves troubles are back in position, ready to train once more on the enemy. in october, colonel gaddafi was captured and killed in site. the specters are saying that in this part of libya, the fighting is not over yet. they say sadir still houses militias heavily armed in support of the old regime. >> they will give it to us or we will take it from them. we would get it either way. >> over the weekend, it felt like a return to the fighting before the fall of tripoli, asthmatics struggled to help with casualties. -- as medics struggle to cope with casualties. local command

the government in islamabad says the u.s. resumed its controversial drone strikes on pakistani soil for the first time in almost two months. nhk world reports on the potential fallout. >> reporter: anti-u.s. demonstrations in pakistan. seems like this has become increasingly common over recent months. these people are demanding an end to u.s. drone attacks on pakistani soil. u.s. government agencies, including the cia, have repeatedly used unmanned drone aircraft to target suspected terrorists and islamic extremists. but pakistanis say those operations have also caused many civilian deaths. some people in pakistan became even angrier when jets off afghanistan attacked border positions in northwest pakistan, killing 24 soldiers. drone operations were suspended in an apparent effort by the obama administration to stop ties with islamabad from worsening further. but on wednesday, pakistani government officials told nhk that the united states carried out its first drone attack in about two months. it took place in northwest pakis

let's go now to the capital there, islamabad, aleem maqbool. the civilian government under pressure from the military in the last few days, and now from the court. >> yes, and it was thought that perhaps if this government was going to collapse, it would be the courts that would do it. this is a very serious step forward by the supreme court. they gathered behind me in the supreme court building earlier in the day, and they have now started contempt proceedings against the prime minister. if he is found guilty, he will be disqualified from office. if he doesn't attend that hearing later in the week, he'd also be reprimanded t. is a serious step forward. they did have other options they could have taken, like, for example, handing this case back to parliament. but they have decided toe begin these proceedings on the basis of the fact that the prime minister has not obeyed rulings from a couple of years ago. the supreme court said a couple of years ago that the government had to move to reopen corruption cases against the president. the governmen

. >> rotella: ...growing up outside of islamabad. >> this is dave. >> rotella: david coleman headley. >> mm-hmm. >> rotella: the ranas considered headley family. >> dave was very, very nice. he called me "sister," and he said, "you are my sister." and that was a very good thing. and my kids also started calling him, like, "special uncle." he is the best. he would take them to chuck e. cheese, this and that. he knew what kids like. >> rotella: for years, the ranas had been operating an immigration company. it specialized in getting foreign professionals us worker visas. your husband worked in here then? >> my husband, he... >> rotella: headley used the business as a front when he was plotting the attacks in mumbai. did david coleman headley ever come to this office? >> yes. he was coming, but he was not doing anything. he just came, like, four or five times. because he was not working in this office. he was working at mumbai office. >> rotella: at mumbai. >> yes. >> rotella: he'd used it as a cover for illegal activity as far back as 1997, telling people he worked here when he was real

pakistan are under immense pressure and the last thing they need is this kind of wrangling taking place in islamabad. >> thank you very much for joining me. >> thank you. >> a substantial step forward for democratic reform. that is how president obama described the release of hundreds of political prisoners in burma today. the u.s. secretary of state announced that the u.s. will send an ambassador to burma for the first time in two decades, restoring diplomatic relations. >> snapshots of freedom. a gallery of dissident activists imprisoned for their beliefs. now, hugged close as though they will be taken away again at any moment. they are prominent leaders of the failed student uprising. outside of the prisons, the crowds and the expectations grew. former inmates struggling to make their way. there has been amnesty before but none as far reaching as this. some of those released today spent more than a decade behind bars. among those set free, those who took part in the street demonstrations in 2007 and some of the video journalists who shot the pictures, and a man who once served on the other side.

joining me from islamabad is our correspondent, aleem. you have the judiciary versus the government. this is a constitutional crisis. >> it would appear so. the government says it is on pretty solid ground. it says it has not reopen the cases against president zardari because the president has immunity. nonetheless, a dramatic day. most of the attention was just a short distance to my left at the supreme court. earlier in the day, the court decided -- instead of handing this issue back to parliament, for example, it decided it was not going to let prime minister gilani off the hook. now the focus has shifted to the building behind me, the parliament. mp's are about to vote in what amounts to a confidence motion. >> what is the likely outcome in that case? >> in this case, the government has played it very cleverly. they have not called a confidence motion. prime minister gilani said he was there because of an election, because of the democratic process, so you decide whether you want this democratic process or not. that is what they will

to pakistan now where america has suspended as the political in the two countries deepens islamabad a shutdown as border to nato five weeks ago hampering the alliances war effort in afghanistan artie's military contributor says the u.s. and its allies should rethink their strategy if indeed they want to defeat the taliban. now when the new year has just clicked in let's take a look at what to expect for the united states and there are nato allies of ghana's stand and pakistan the white house has to realize that the only way to improve their relationship would be to minimize its political and military affairs in pakistan and afghanistan and if there is any excuse for the u.s. military presence in afghanistan it has nothing to do we have the terrorist threat it is the threat that is the only justifiable reason for the u.s. military forces to deal directly affected and officially just after twenty past the hour here at moscow just what does it take to become a successful entrepreneur in russia in our new pathfinder series we hear from the foreigners who have explored the vast potential i

our correspondent joins me now from islamabad. to what extent is this something of an ideological kidnap, or is it just plain and simple crime? >> it's hard to say at the moment. we have not heard from any group yet that they have carried out the kidnappings. there are ideological kidnappings in that area. there are two problems in the area. there have been kidnappings in the past. also, the national movement. they have kidnapped many people. sometimes, it is to raise funds for their movement. at the moment, we do not know exactly who kidnapped him and why. police have been named the aid worker who was kidnapped. they say he was taken at gunpoint in the secure area. the international community, the red cross, has confirmed that an expert expatriate has been kidn. >> thank you very much. thank you. four people have been saved of the eastern coast of australia after using an ice box as a flotation device. two men and two boys had to cling to the box. duncan kennedy reports from sydney. >> two men, two boys, and an icebox. it is all

elementary and junior high school in islamabad attended by children from wealthy families having to use chinese classes. students learn conversational chinese and writing from native teachers three times a week. >> i really like chinese. i would like go to china and have a job over there. >> reporter: the frenzy to learn chinese stems from economic ties between the two countries that continue to grow every year. there has been a steady increase in chinese imports since the china-pakistan free trade agreement. pakistan continues to welcome new chinese businesses. in may, one of china's largest banks opened two branchs in pakistan to boost investment in the country. as the two countries strengthen ties, more businessmen are trying to poll ish their chinese language skills. the president is trying to promote a government led program to teach chinese in schools. the president's home province of sindh announced in september that it planned to make chinese in schools from 2013. at present, the schools in sindh province must teach a total of four languages including urduh and english. if chine

thousands protested monday in the capital islamabad. they criticized the government saying they cannot survive the winter without cng. some demonstrators set cars on fire and fought with police. a day earlier pakistan's government raised the price of compressed natural gas in response to a serious shortage. it also banned the use of cng for some public transportation. bus service is suspended in the capital. >>> the compressed natural gas shortage means some people can't heat their homes. it's also creating long lineups in front of cng stations. >> translator: i have been waiting here for half a day. i can't go to work. >> pakistan has faced power shortages recently, so the government recommended people to rely on compressed natural gas to keep their cars and heating systems running, but demand quickly outpaced supply. pakistan plans to develop more cng, but the country's worsening security situation is delaying the work. >>> the number of foreign tourists visiting japan is falling as the nuclear crisis continues and the value of the cu

has started propaganda to persuade the authorities to do the opposite and become closer to washington islamabad has close a border crossing to supplies will need to a troops out of the us bombing of two pakistani check points last november in which twenty four troops died. france plans to be the first european country to introduce a controversial one hour short truly doesn't mean it's time to starting in orbit president nicolas sarkozy said his country wants to provoke shock and settle example for other you member states to do the same types as opposed by the british government which science such a type should be applied globally opponents believe the levee could see financial services and other business relocate from the view to other countries without the tykes to save money. at least ten people have been killed and eighteen injured in a major highway clash crashed in a poor visibility in florida around five cars and six trunks were involved with some bursting into flames visibility from haze that smoke on the dark highway was so poor that rescuers at first located a victims only by hearing t

started probably around to persuade the authorities to do the opposite and become closer to washington islamabad has closed border crossings to suppliers who need to have troops out of the us bombing of two pakistani truck points last november and wish plentiful troops died. last plans to be the first european country to introduce a controversial financial transit transactions tax starting in october in all this while the president nicolas sarkozy says his country wants to provoke to provoke a shock and settle example for other e.u. member states to the say so the tykes is opposed by the british government which says such a type should be applied globally about is relieved the levy would see services and other business relocate from the user other countries that are the time to save money. in election campaigning here in russia it's where weapons that are on the frontline of the battlefield are you can see an aggression one has been looking at the cutting edge tactics being used to win hearts and minds. doesn't want is that you were right is that was that it was gray suits and ties and slogans c

he's been speaking to our correspondent in islamabad. >> i think this is unnecessary. the demand given by the people of pakistan is five years. well, if you're referring to whatever is going on in the country, it will not affect, and democracy, ups and downs will be there. yes, we do have a bumpy flight, but this is a really nice way, so i think it is totally uncalled for. but this is not going to go properly, and we'll have election in time. >> but aren't you having a real crisis now with the army? there's open speculation about -- >> well, i won't say crisis, no. the difference of opinion is always there, but you can't say there's some kind of distress going on. we are on the same page, and, of course, they were subjected to this, and that will happen in due course of time. >> if you're on the same page with the army, why are the statements between and the army so hostile? >> well, i think everybody has a right to explain the position, so let's put it this way, so i don't think it's a situation to the level what you are saying. >> can you say you are happy with gener

has started propaganda to persuade the authorities to do the opposite and become closer to washington islamabad has closed the border crossings to supplies for nato troops out of the u.s. bombing up to pakistan a checkpoint last november in which twenty four troops died. price wants to be the first european country to introduce a controversial financial transactions tax starting in all its present legal articles each as his country wants to provoke sharp and set an example for all the e.u. member states to do the same the tax is opposed by the british government which says such a time should be applied globally opponents believe the levy could see financial services and other business relocate from the lead to other countries without the tax to save money. he sent people have been killed and eighteen injured in a major highway crash in poor visibility in florida five cars and six trunks were involved with some bursting into flames visibility from haze that smoke on the dark highway was so appalled that rescuers at first located victims only by hearing their cries for help the earth or she's are

i really think that slobo has been pressured by the international community is a symptom to islamabad must have come up with an idea that look i really think the only way that we can get americans out of afghanistan it would be to talk with them in once you're sure we assure the american dad disses if you will be fine and this is the way out. i believe that there are americans believe and then we can all be back to back to normal that whatever they want to expand impose on of on afghanistan are before we get to natasha with a business that's check out the r.t. world update for you some other international headlines in brief thousands of people have gathered in central pakistan to demand supply routes used by nato forces in afghanistan kept closed islamist speakers at the rally called independence from us foreign policy and battle stage further protests if any attempt to open the channels may border checkpoints stopped supplies for nato troops in afghanistan late last year following an airstrike which killed twenty four pakistani troops. ten people have been killed and eighteen injured

through its territory to qatar and how they in the reef think tank new world strategies coalition thanks islamabad now realizes that only through negotiation can i get the u.s. to leave the region.

to investigate or to talk more about the video in the possible consequences i'm now joined live from islamabad by our president of the nationalists pakistan's first political lobbying group thank you for coming on the program the afghan president has condemned the incident as quote shame for all that he said he wouldn't do rail peace talks are there many concerning thinking about other concerns that this could cause some type of a militant backlash what are your thoughts. well it's quite obvious that the u.s. military presence in afghanistan has lost legitimacy completely i mean we are we are. we are far ahead from those days when the united states military presence had some sort of an international. legal cover in the shape of a u.n. mandate after the nine eleven attacks what we're seeing right now is that is a fig leaf and and the u.s. military presence in afghanistan has turned into a complete occupation and the result of this we're seeing that there is a complete sort of we're reaching a point where the u.s. military is closer to defeat then to any other time and this is the reason for thi

on the phone from islamabad. new developments? >> reporter: pakistan is saying obviously not a right time for a visit. all is not well between islamabad and washington. marc grossman, a u.s. special envoy to pakistan for a long time. he was in the region and wanted to visit pakistan, and they're saying not now. they're asking marc grossman to hold off on the visit until the government finishes visiting its partnership with the u.s. the partnership has been a rocky one, to say the least. despite u.s. aid, these two countries have butted heads. things really going downhill last year when the u.s. raided the bin laden compound and didn't tell pakistan beforehand. then you had the nato strike in november that killed 25 pakistani soldiers on pakistani soil. there's a lot of anti-american sentiment in pakistan. the government is under pressure to do something about it. they're reviewing their partnership and essentially saying don't come, mr. grossman, until that review is over. and u.s. officials are downplaying this decision. they say

the bbc's aleem maqbool is in islamabad. he sent this report on pakistan's growing political crisis. >> the prime minister appeared here in pakistan's highest court for about an hour and a half this morning. the supreme court had called him because they started contempt proceedings against him because of a ruling they made a couple of years ago. they told him that he had to move to reopen corruption cases against the president, asif ali zardari. he hasn't done that, and that's why he was called here, and they do have the power to sack him and his government if found in contempt of court. there's also a history of animosity between some of the top judges and this government. but the prime minister came here, and his home is very conciliatory. he said he very much respected the court, he was there with his cabinet ministers as well. but, however, he did still say that he was right in not reopening those corruption cases against the president because the advice he was given, he had immunity from prosecution. so he has managed t

woods a senior reporter at the bureau of investigative journalism at city university in london says islamabad's reliance on american aid means it will continue to tolerate drone attacks. i think relations remain fraught between pakistan military and government i think the drone strike issue here is a separate one been significantly. about and washington. is about a new good moment on drone strikes and i think that's what reflects i mean obviously the united states has a very deep financial relationship with pakistan in particular with pakistan's military and we're talking about billions of dollars a year being spent on pakistan's military by the u.s. going back almost a decade now so yes that money is important to pakistan and i think that's an important aspect of leverage for the u.s. drone strikes continues to claim that it hasn't killed a single civilian in pakistan since back in may two thousand and ten euros research on the shows quite the opposite we've got a minimum of fifty three civilians were killed in pakistan where you are still in the last few. years homeless one hundred twenty six

to pakistan to freeze nato supply routes through its territory and shut down an american base there islamabad also promised to shoot down any of its territory but defense analyst is eight hundred told us he that the supply is stuck in pakistan tell a different story of america's intentions in the region. there is a complete political chaos in the slum of the government has got up it is the americans have been bold this regime to achieve the objective of softening up pakistan for the doctrine of our work on this government is now on the verge of collapse which is also called lapsing the us strategic games in the region basically what the americans are trying to do is their boss the responsibility of their freres and of one is found upon pakistan this is also corroborated from the fact that the nato supplies the storm has blocked in pakistan then the military hardware would use them in vision level hardware almost nine armored infantry divisions and their support equipment supplies the stock in pakistan and the concern pakistan army is that if the american the dropping of the drawing from of un

the country's political and military leaders parties military contributor thanks if the policies of islamabad our ally the us which are shaking its internal situation it was the white house strategic mistake. to authorized a unilateral operation in a budget in may last year that has effectively undermined the pakistani civilian government the white house decision to go unilaterally against osama bin laden has triggered a chain of events that has resulted in a total paralysis of the pakistani government the result of that a government right now he's under the cross fire pakistani military on its own supreme court and the pakistani population at large we have no end in sight so the only way to stabilize the situation in pakistan and in their region as a whole. to beat for will pick up and go home that's the best the u.s. can do well fewer foreign wars while battling more answers on the home front appears to be what most americans want from their presidential candidates or harford has now asked voters in new york whether they think the upcoming election will bring any tangible change to u.s. pol