carried out this attack? i don't think we can be100% certain but it looks as if the assad government has done it. and until more material examination takes place, we would wa nt to examination takes place, we would want to stick with that kind of conclusion in large measure because an aerial attack i gather was carried out by syrian aircraft at the time and they are the people who have sarin. it is not clear that the sarin gas is in the hands of the rebels. whatever story the russians have produced, and it seems to be not necessarily a different story to what they have produced in the past with similar attacks, i would suspect it is to be doubted until proven to be absolutely true. how likely is it that the un security council will come up with a resolution on syria and what use is it if it does? highly unlikely, the russians and chinese have already made it clear they are opposed to a

resolution, particularly one that blames president assad and his government. i would suspect that if a resolution could come forward it would be a pretty toothless one. so what is to stop president assad carrying out similar strikes? he has already crossed a red line that president obama said he should never cross, in 2013. clearly if he has conducted these sarin attacks then he did not comply with the commitment he made to get rid of all the gas so that is one thing. secondly there is a clear rule against using this kind of material, both specifically on syria and past security council resolutions and also in the geneva bread gelling of gas warfare of 1925 —— geneva protocol. it has become a general rule of the monarchy if i can call it that and he is guilty of a couple of counts. the question is, absent

of counts. the question is, absent ofa of counts. the question is, absent of a security council resolution, should the us decide it wants to act forcefully in one way or another and does it have that capacity? generally that has been the case in the past, that the us is not dependent on it security council resolution to authorise attacks but it is very useful if it has one because it increases the legitimacy and brings the rest of the world community into harmony with the us and others in moving in that direction. britain also has been somewhat shy of using military force in the absence of a clear security council authority as long as the use of force is not palpably and clearly in self defence. what do president trump's comments about what he has seen and his view now president assad suggest to you that he might be prepared to do? they represent a change. i have learned watching

president trump not to try to predict his actions whatever his comments may be. they could run a range from doing nothing right through to sanctions, some use of military force. i think the latter would be problematic in some ways because the us, despite the horror of this action, has not been i think ready to move into another use of force activity and certainly not without clear goals and a clear sense of what the exit strategy is. in terms of the relationship between donald trump and president putin, how might that be affected by this given that president putin is a close ally of bashar al—assad and donald trump says his view of assad has changed ? donald trump says his view of assad has changed? you are quite right and it is something we all wonder about having heard president trump's comments. the comments indicate he has begun to open some serious

daylight between himself and president putin. i have no idea where it will go but it is something to be carefully watched. in the republican party there is a very significant group of people including many in the senate and house of representatives who have made it clear they distrust president putin and don't feel co mforta ble president putin and don't feel comfortable having risen trump so clearly embracing him at the present time —— president trump. clearly embracing him at the present time -- president trump. what if anything might persuade president assad to leave power? there is a group trying to assemble all sorts of evidence against him if the ever we re of evidence against him if the ever were to face prosecution in the future. i would think that the unanimous view of the international community reflected in the people who support him as well as those who oppose him and perhaps a clear indication that he was losing the conflict and therefore a negotiated solution which would help to support his own objectives, maybe not with

his own objectives, maybe not with his continuation in power but protection for the acolytes of syria who are obviously his community group, would be something that might move him in that direction but i think it would take a long time and a lot of serious, hard diplomatic work to make something like that happen will ambassador thomas pickering, thank you for talking to us. the defence secretary, sir michael palin, has announced that the iraqi historic allegations team will officially closed on the 30th of june this year. the remaining claims against troops that served in iraq, which are expected to number around 20, will then be dealt with by the service police — a combination of royal navy police and royal air force police. the government's s move follows the decision in february to bring ihat to an end by the summer. it was enabled by the striking off of lawyer phil shiner, who'd pursued multiple cases until he and his firm, public interest lawyers, were discredited.

a man spared jailfor beating his wife after telling a court 34—year—old mustafa bashir was given an 18—month suspended sentence at manchester crown court in march for the assault. after the sentencing, judge richard mansell qc was criticised by domestic abuse campaigners after saying the victim was not vulnerable as she was a graduate. mr bashir‘s sentence will be reviewed on friday. a service of hope and reconciliation has been held in westminster abbey, a fortnight after the attack near the houses of parliament. khalid masood drove a car into pedestrians on westminster bridge, killing three people, and fatally stabbing a police officer, before he was shot dead. the duke and duchess of cambridge and prince harryjoined families and the emergency services attending the multi—faith service. our royal correspondent nicholas witchell on today's service. two weeks ago the area around westminster abbey was caught up in the chaos of that afternoon. nearby on westminster bridge there were casualties.

closer still, just inside the gates of the houses of parliament, an unarmed police officer was killed. one of the four innocent people who died that day. two weeks later, a service symbolising hope. leaders of the different faith communities across the uk were joined different faith communities across the uk werejoined by different faith communities across the uk were joined by the different faith communities across the uk werejoined by the duke different faith communities across the uk were joined by the duke and duchess of cambridge and prince harry, together with members of the emergency services, some of the bereaved families and some of those injured. candles were lit to represent the light which can never be extinguished by the darkness of terror. in his address, the dean of

westminster recalled that among those directly affected by the attack were people from britain and 12 other nations will stop he posed the question so many have asked. why. what could possibly motivate a man to take a car and drive it fast that people he had never met, couldn't possibly know, against whom he had no personal grudge, no reason to hate them, and then run at the gates of the palace of westminster to cause another death? we weep for the violence, for the hatred, for the violence, for the hatred, for the loss of life, for all that divides and spoils our world. prayers were offered pledging respect between different communities. that the best of

muslims is the one who utters beautiful words, who does virtuous deeds. two weeks after the westminster attack, from an ancient abbey which has borne witness to so much, a message of hope. a brother and a sister from birmingham have been charged with terrorism offences. ummariyat mirza has been charged with purchasing a knife and other items that would help him carry out an attack in the uk. his sister, zainub mirza, has been charged with distributing isis execution videos. they will appear in court in london tomorrow morning at westminster magistrates court. four british muslim leaders have met pope francis in rome as part of efforts to strengthen relations between christians and muslims. it's the first time a formal delegation of imams from britain has gone to the vatican. from rome, here's our religious affairs correspondent martin bashir. in a city where christians

once feared to tread, four muslim leaders arrived for a meeting that intentionally crossed the borders of their own religion. the four imams that serve communities in leicester, birmingham, glasgow and london, were taken to the vatican's inner sanctum. and then the doors opened. pope francis said such an interfaith gathering brought greatjoy, that it furthered the most important work of humanity, that of listening to one another. and then he greeted each of the imams and even welcomed our bbc team. lovely to meet you, sir. thank you so much for allowing us to be here. islam gets a very bad press as you know because of some muslims who have behaved in an unislamic way. but for the pope, whose beliefs are so different to that of islam, yet for him to acknowledge that islam is a religion of peace,

is a very powerful message and i hope muslims are listening, especially those who are behaving in an unislamic way. the meeting was organised by the leader of catholics in england and wales. what do you say to those who point at the persecution of christians in muslim countries like syria and nigeria and pakistan? the violence in those countries is sometimes, it certainly includes christians, but it's not only directed against christians in some of those countries. clearly innate violence finds a lodging place in aspects of islam. and that is a real challenge for us to face together. this may have been more symbolic than substantive, but in meeting with the pope, these imams have signalled to british muslims that the way forward is one of friendship with other faiths and not enmity. community and not conflict. the pope will travel to egypt

at the end of this month, in his continuing quest to improve catholic—islamic relations. he offered his blessing to each of the imams and asked them to pray for him. martin bashir, bbc news, rome. let's ta ke let's take a look at the weather forecast. it has been a fine spring day, some sunshine, this was the picture earlier. there is more cloud not just in northern ireland but other parts of the uk. rather thinner in the south with clearer skies for awhile, increasing cloud through the night of the best breaks are likely to be in eastern scotland and north east england so a touch chilly but otherwise around 7 degrees. high pressure dominates on thursday, like wins for many, some thin cloud, the

best these injured in eastern scotla nd best these injured in eastern scotland and north—east england and western scotland with lower cloud and maybe some drizzle but otherwise and maybe some drizzle but otherwise a dry date with temperatures 11 to 13. the next few days, quiet, dry, fairly cloudy, more sunshine over the weekend, particularly in england and wales and the temperatures will rocket. this is bbc news, i martine croxall. the headlines... president trump says the syrian gas attack on children had a big impact on him, describing it as an affront to humanity. i will tell you, it's already happened, that my attitude toward syria and assad has changed very much. one of the us president's closest advisers, his chief strategist steve barnett, has been removed from his position on the national security council. labour's ruling body will review ken

livingstone's status in the party following his comments about hitler and zionism and his suspension for another year. a service of hope at westminster abbey to remember those killed in the attack two weeks ago today. members of the royal familyjoint victims, their runner turns on the