this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories: russia urges ukrainian forces in mariupol to surrender in order to save their lives — but there's no sign yet that they've laid down their arms. president zelensky warns there will be consequences, if russia takes action against the remaining troops in the city. translation: the elimination of our troops, of our men in mariupol will put an end to any negotiations. the death toll rises in south africa — following heavy flooding — with a warning more rain may be on the way. the archbishop of canterbury — the most senior cleric in the anglican church condemns plans by the uk government to send asylum seekers to rwanda.

the comments come on easter sunday. this is the scene live in st peter's square in vatican city — where pope france has been celebrating easter sunday mass. russia has urged the last ukrainian forces defending the besieged port of mariupol to surrender in order to save their lives — but there's no sign yet that they've laid down their arms. the city has been under siege for weeks. moscow says its troops have cleared resistance from the entire city, apart from a sprawling steelworks. ukraine say its naval units

are preparing for a russian landing operation in the area. in a late—night address, president zelensky accused russia of deliberately trying to destroy mariupol — and everyone in it. zelensky warned that �*eliminating' ukrainian fighters in the city would put an end to peace talks. meanwhile, russia's defence ministry said it struck a military plant near the district of brovary, in the kyiv region. the mayor of the district said that "some infrastructure objects were hit".(biv)this report is from helena wilkinson. forweeks, mariupol has been battered by sustained russian attacks. the kremlin says it's now cleared urban areas of ukrainian forces and it's made this offer to ukrainian soldiers fighting in the port city — lay down your arms by later this morning and your safety

will be guaranteed. earlier, the president of ukraine had this warning for russia. translation: the elimination of our troops, of our men - in mariupol will put an end to any negotiations. there is a humanitarian crisis, there is a lack of food, water, medicine. however the guys are heroically defending themselves. we are grateful to them for that. the president's warning comes as a second british fighter has reportedly been captured by russian forces in mariupol. a video of the man, who gives his name as sean pinner, emerged after aden aslin was detained earlier this week. meanwhile, russia continues to carry out airstrikes elsewhere in ukraine. in the capital, kyiv, one person was killed

and several were wounded. residents have been warned by the mayor not to return over fears of further attacks. explosions were also reported in the western city of lviv overnight, where air defences reportedly destroyed four russian cruise missiles. earlier this week, russia's prize warship sunk in the black sea — ukraine says it struck the vessel, the kremlin denied that, saying an explosion onboard caused it to sink. now the russian defence ministry has published images showing what it says is the ship's crew, the undated video showing sailors on parade being inspected by the commander—in—chief of the russian navy. the focus today will be on what happens next in mariupol. will the remaining ukrainian soldiers there ignore russia's deadline offer to lay down their arms and continue

to defend the city to the end? helena wilkinson, bbc news. and there have been reports of more attacks on the ukrainian capital kyiv. russia's defence ministry said it struck a military plant outside kyiv, to the east of the capital. the mayor of the district of brovary said that "some infrastructure objects were hit" in the early hours of sunday morning. let's cross live to st peter's square in vatican city because pope france has been celebrating easter mass, let's just listen in for a let'sjust listen in for a moment. we struggle to believe thatjesus is truly risen, that he is truly triumphed over death. could it be an illusion? if the event of our

imagination? no, it is not an illusion. today, more than ever, hear the echoing of the easter proclamation is so dear to the question is, christ is risen. he is truly risen. today, more than ever, we need him. at the end of our time that his team and this. we emerge from two years of the pandemic which took a heavy toll. it is time to come out of the tunnel together, hand in hand, pulling our strengths and resources. instead, we are showing that we still have within us the spirit of cain. there is still the spirit of cain. there is still the spirit of cain. there is still

the spirit of cain. whoso abel not as a brother but azariah, as arrival. we need the crucified and risen lord so that we can believe in love and reconciliation. today, more than ever, we need him to stand in our midst and repeat to us, peace be with you. only he can do it. today, he alone has the right to speak to us about peace. jesus alone, for he bears wins, our wounds. us about peace. jesus alone, for he bears wins, ourwounds. his us about peace. jesus alone, for he bears wins, our wounds. his wounds are indeed hours for two reasons. they are ours because we inflicted them on him by our sins, barra had debts of heart, by our hatred. they are also ours because we boy them. he by them for our sake. he chose to

keep them, too bad them forever. , to bear them. they are the indelible sin for us. a perennial act. that to bear them. they are the indelible sin for us. a perennial act.— sin for us. a perennial act. that is over fences _ sin for us. a perennial act. that is over fences at _ sin for us. a perennial act. that is over fences at the _ sin for us. a perennial act. that is over fences at the vatican. - sin for us. a perennial act. that is over fences at the vatican. the i over fences at the vatican. the first time, actually, that he has had a full congregation since the pandemic was declared. there has been a week of mass is taking place and to throughout discussing the violence in ukraine, we have expecting to hear something at this particular mass. we will bring that to you as and when we get it but 1.2 billion roman catholics effectively

part of this easter mass being addressed by vatican city. earlier in the week pope francis had called for an easter ceasefire. what he says today on the matter, and calls for peace we will bring you as and when we get it. those are live scenes coming to you from the vatican city. oleksiy goncharenko is a ukrainian mp, hejoins me from mykolaiv in the country's south. thank you very much forjoining us on bbc news. first off, you are in the south, what is it like where you are and what are you hearing about the current situation in moby paul? first, my congratulations to everybody celebrating easter today. hgppy everybody celebrating easter today. happy easter and i hope there will

be a sign of peace in europe. unfortunately, we don't have it now in europe and in ukraine the war is in europe and in ukraine the war is in progress. here, which has half a million population next to odesa on the black sea shore, around here they are fighting is and you can hear from the city the explosions. people don't have water because russia absolutely consciously attacked water supply systems and now people don't have water understanding and lines to receive some water from the sister owns and things like this. that is again an attack against people. absolutely consciously, russia is doing this. so the war is continuing especially in eastern and south and part of our country. in eastern and south and part of our count . �* .,,

in eastern and south and part of our count . �* , ., country. are those remaining ukrainian _ country. are those remaining ukrainian forces _ country. are those remaining ukrainian forces at _ country. are those remaining ukrainian forces at the - country. are those remaining - ukrainian forces at the steelworks going to stay there going to surrender? d0 going to stay there going to surrender?— going to stay there going to surrender? , ., ., a, _ ., surrender? do you mean in moby paul? yes. i am surrender? do you mean in moby paul? yes- i am sure — surrender? do you mean in moby paul? yes. i am sure they _ surrender? do you mean in moby paul? yes. i am sure they will— surrender? do you mean in moby paul? yes. i am sure they will not _ yes. i am sure they will not surrender. _ yes. i am sure they will not surrender. i— yes. i am sure they will not surrender. i spoke - yes. i am sure they will not surrender. i spoke with - yes. i am sure they will not i surrender. i spoke with them yesterday and i know that they are going to fade. they are going to fight until the end. the situation is very difficult there. russia just destroyed, just flattened a half—million population sit in the middle of europe. that is a real genocide and steel up to 100,000 civilians are in the city. suffering enormously, of what is happening there. is enormously, of what is happening there. , . , enormously, of what is happening there. , ., , , ., there. is there any help our military support _ there. is there any help our military support that - there. is there any help our military support that could | there. is there any help our- military support that could reach them? i military support that could reach them? . ., ., ., , , military support that could reach them? ., ., ., ., , , them? i am not a general myself. so it is hard for— them? i am not a general myself. so it is hard for me _ them? i am not a general myself. so it is hard for me to _ them? i am not a general myself. so it is hard for me to give _ them? i am not a general myself. so it is hard for me to give expertise - it is hard for me to give expertise in this. but i understand that, if,

at the beginning, we would have had more weapons, such events that moby paul may be would not happen. at the beginning the weapons we received red javelins and things like theirs. we were more prepared for a guerrilla fighting is but to defend big cities we need more artillery and air defence, aircraft and are still desperately in need of their so i hope that being provided with these kind of weapons we will be more effective in the operations that, for example, but that is what i can only think once again. i am not an expert in this. we i can only think once again. i am not an expert in this.— not an expert in this. we are heafina not an expert in this. we are hearing about _ not an expert in this. we are hearing about the _ not an expert in this. we are hearing about the remaining | hearing about the remaining ukrainian troops holed up in that steelworks. what have you been hearing about the civilians left in mariupol? hearing about the civilians left in mariu ol? .,

hearing about the civilians left in mariu ol? . , ., ' :: :: :: :: :: mariupol? there are up to 100,000 and the number _ mariupol? there are up to 100,000 and the number of _ mariupol? there are up to 100,000 and the number of victims - mariupol? there are up to 100,000 and the number of victims is - and the number of victims is considered more than 20,000 people killed in mariupol which is an absolute disaster and horror and people are still there. people have moved through by russians and by force from there. russians are taking people to filtration camps. there are real nazis. the do the same things like nazis did. other nazi filtration camps during the second world war so they are taking people to these filtration camps. they are watching for those who were fighting the and taking off from people and after this they are sending part of them to russia, part of them to donetsk which is an

occupied part of ukraine. that is what is happening with civilians there. in what is happening with civilians there. , ., what is happening with civilians there. , . , there. in terms of consequences, we heard president _ there. in terms of consequences, we heard president zelensky _ there. in terms of consequences, we heard president zelensky last - there. in terms of consequences, we heard president zelensky last night l heard president zelensky last night say that should, should russia kill those remaining ukrainian troops, there would be consequences. first off, what do you understand president zelensky meant by that and secondly, would it really be move for peace talks to be called off? we are not for peace talks to be called off? - are not calling off peace talks but where are the results of these peace talks? it is 52 days of war already, the big full—scale war. it is a war against ukraine but it is the third day of it being a full—scale war against our country and all these oh so potent, they gave no result. i think the president was meaning that, certainly, they willjust kill ukrainian soldiers and finish their

destroying of mariupol, that would be much harderfor us to have any peace talks with russia. and certainly we will try to take revenge on them. and we are quite effective in this. the crew of the ship. to show that we are absolutely capable to win over russians. and we can do this. certainly, we want to save the lives of our people. certainly we want peace. we want peace now. on easter, it would be absolutely great but putin does not want peace. absolutely great but putin does not want peace-— want peace. finally, you are in odesa, want peace. finally, you are in odesa. an _ want peace. finally, you are in odesa, an mp. _ want peace. finally, you are in odesa, an mp. we _ want peace. finally, you are in odesa, an mp. we have - want peace. finally, you are in odesa, an mp. we have been| want peace. finally, you are in - odesa, an mp. we have been hearing a lot about the strategic relevance of

president putin's targets when it comes to territory. odesa must be strategically important to president putin for the power save is the city feeling? i putin for the power save is the city feelin: ? ~ ., ., feeling? i think, after the moment that the crew _ feeling? i think, after the moment that the crew became _ feeling? i think, after the moment that the crew became submarines, after this the safety of odesa is much higher. it is a much better situation because we understand that it will be a very big problem for them to make a land operation. they tried to get to odesa by land, so the place where i am staying, just kilometres from the front line, today, ukrainians are holding their ground so i hope that will be save and definitely we should be very sensitive about this because odesa is strategically very important is the biggest city in the black sea and putin is absolutely obsessed with an idea to take odesa. aha, with an idea to take odesa. a ukrainian mp forthe with an idea to take odesa. a ukrainian mp for the city of odesa. thank you very much indeed, speaking

to us. thank you. the archbishop of canterbury has used his easter eucharist service at canterbury cathedral to strongly criticise the government's plan to send asylum seekers arriving in britain to rwanda. during his addressjustin welby said the policy raises "serious ethical questions" and goes against the country's "christian values" and that this is the opposite of the nature of god. in a statement, the uk home office said: "the world is facing a global migration crisis on an unprecedented scale and change is needed to prevent people smugglers putting people's lives at risk and to fix the broken global asylum system." a our political correspondent, ione

wells, is with us in the studio. first off, ijust read the reaction from the home office. is that a direct reaction to whatjustin welby has said the general criticism that has said the general criticism that has followed since his announcement? this is by the specific response. the home office had made to the comments byjustin welby although they do reflect the wider position on this issue from the home office. they have argued that their approach of sending some asylum seekers to rwanda to seek asylum there and said if you're in the uk, is one that will break the business model of smuggling gangs, particularly involving channel migrant crossings. they've also argued that the uk has a proud history of providing sanctuary to people fleeing persecution through what they describe a safe and legal routes to existing resettlement schemes but certainly, this response from the home office has come in light of a pretty scathing attack, as you say, from justin welby the archbishop of canterbury who has said the scheme cannot stand up to the judgment of god but has also criticised it,

saying that it does not carry the weight of our responsibility as a country founded on christian values well. h, country founded on christian values well. ,., , ._ , well. ok, so, tuesday is where we are auoin well. ok, so, tuesday is where we are going to _ well. ok, so, tuesday is where we are going to have _ well. ok, so, tuesday is where we are going to have a _ well. ok, so, tuesday is where we are going to have a debate, - well. ok, so, tuesday is where we are going to have a debate, is - well. ok, so, tuesday is where we are going to have a debate, is that right? in the house of commons. we have also had the peers are saying that they are not happy with this. in terms of legal challenges, you know, what is the lie of the land? how is it looking? you'll could moment the government is pretty gung ho about proceeding with his policy was notjust this morning, we have had letters issued between the home office, home secretary and her top civil servant as well. showing just how willing she is to go ahead with this policy. now, she was directed by her top civil servant that there was not any sufficient evidence to show that these funds would deter migrants from crossing the channel and therefore, that the plans were value for money. in response to that, the home secretary basically said it would be imprudent for her to let a lack of modelling get in

the way of proceeding with this policy so suddenly very keen from the government's perspective to plough ahead, i think. we have got the local elections coming up, how much weight do these words holed from justin welby? i much weight do these words holed from justin welby?— from justin welby? i think from justin welby's _ from justin welby? i think from justin welby's perspective - from justin welby? i think from justin welby's perspective it. from justin welby? i think from justin welby's perspective it is| justin welby's perspective it is pretty significant that he has made this intervention for that the government, though, feel this will get some of their voters back on side have not been particularly happy with the �*s response so far to the asylum seekers, particularly the large cost to the taxpayer as well for the asylum system was that that is something they are hoping will fight un and potentially the reason they have announced this through the election period. they have announced this through the election period-— election period. thank you very much indeed. election period. thank you very much indeed- thank— election period. thank you very much indeed. thank you. _ as nearly 400 people are now known to have died in flooding in kwa—zulu natal, the south african president, cyril ramaphosa, has postponed an official visit to saudi arabia in order to focus on the devastation. specialist rescue teams are searching for dozens more who're still missing. more than 13,000 homes have been damaged in the disaster. vumani mkhize reports.

a deadly flash flood swept through this informal settlement north of durban in the middle of the night on tuesday. people here ran for their lives as the rising floodwaters engulfed everything in its path. the mangled remains of debris are what's left. sombre residents look on as a rescue team searches for the missing. a recovery operation is underway here at the informal settlementjust north of durban. this members here of the rescue team are essentially looking for two people, a youngster aged eight years old and someone who's also aged around 30. and as you can see over here, there are cars and debris that have been strewn all along along the river. and it'sjust an indication of the severity and the violence of the water that was cascading along here. the search and rescue team can't get heavy machinery into the area. they painstakingly use their bare hands. so currently we've got two community

members missing in this area. we brought in canines because, as you can see, it's a very big debris pile. a lot of material to move. a lot of heavy logs, vehicles, household items so we can't exploit the whole area. community members are traumatised by the floods and are finding it difficult to come to terms with what happened. translation: we are in pain. we can't even sleep properly at night. every time i close my eyes, i can just see the rain and water coming. i can't sleep and i can't eat. i ,and i this woman who lost her house tells me she wants the government to help her find shelter because she can't live here any more. up on the hill, this man shows me where the informal settlement used to be. the floodwaters swept through this area first, and there were people that are also found there as well, right

at the top? yeah. wow. there was something like seven people. seven people were found and they were found alive, though, right? yes. the search and rescue operations are continuing throughout the kwazulu—natal province as more remains are being found. virmani mkhize, bbc news, durban. joining me now from lviv where he has been working on the ground christian aid spokesperson thomas colley. thank you forjoining us here on bbc news. i wonder if you can update us with what is taking place on the ground. with what is taking place on the round. ,, , . , ground. sure, yeah, there is obviously — ground. sure, yeah, there is obviously the _ ground. sure, yeah, there is obviously the build-up - ground. sure, yeah, there is obviously the build-up of. ground. sure, yeah, there is- obviously the build-up of russian obviously the build—up of russian forces in the east where we are expecting them to attack the donbas area and i heard the ukrainian parliamentarian that you had on earlier, there is a lot of action also in the south so generally

speaking, humanitarian organisations are trying to supply those areas of greatest need but also pre—positioning items in areas perhaps somewhere like along the river line where we might think that more people would come to because of that build—up and because of that position of the russian forces. what position of the russian forces. what are the most — position of the russian forces. what are the most pressing _ position of the russian forces. what are the most pressing needs in terms of the aid, the medical aid, the equipment?— of the aid, the medical aid, the eu-uiment? ,, , ., ., equipment? sure, yeah, so, what we're seeing _ equipment? sure, yeah, so, what we're seeing on — equipment? sure, yeah, so, what we're seeing on the _ equipment? sure, yeah, so, what we're seeing on the ground - equipment? sure, yeah, so, what we're seeing on the ground is - equipment? sure, yeah, so, what| we're seeing on the ground is very basic needs. we are talking about health facilities requiring equipment and medication, also need of food and the need to survive but also the shelters are in need of certain things such as, you know, water and sanitation put up if

you're inside the shelter in somewhere like kharkiv, these were not designed to house people for long periods of time, the subway in kharkiv, for example, this is not designed to hold people in this way so their needs for the basic such as water and sanitation, toilets, these kind of things are very much vital things we need to supply. it is unfortunate, _ things we need to supply. it is unfortunate, isn't _ things we need to supply. it is unfortunate, isn't it? - things we need to supply. it is unfortunate, isn't it? religion does enter into warfare. we have seen and reported on what has happened to the orthodox church over what has taken place between russia and ukraine. the repercussions have gone around the world within orthodox families. what is the general feeling about how easter celebrations are going to take place? i believe it is next week, is that right?— take place? i believe it is next week, is that right? yes. generally s-ueakin , week, is that right? yes. generally speaking, christian _ week, is that right? yes. generally speaking, christian celebrates - week, is that right? yes. generallyj speaking, christian celebrates next week, sunday will be easter sunday. and, actually, easter, obviously,

depends on what part of the country you are in. if you are in a place that kharkiv you are experiencing something quite different to here in lviv. i believe in places like kharkiv, what people are doing, they are trying to stick to their traditions and making bread so things like we can do as a humanitarian to supply them with the thing is to support that tradition. but here there is actually an initiative by the local municipal government... initiative by the local municipal government. . ._ initiative by the local municipal government... , ., ., government... sorry, we have run out of time but _ government... sorry, we have run out of time but thank _ government... sorry, we have run out of time but thank you _ government... sorry, we have run out of time but thank you for _ government... sorry, we have run out of time but thank you for telling - government... sorry, we have run out of time but thank you for telling us - of time but thank you for telling us what is going to take place next beat particularly under the stress of a war zone. thomas, thank you very much indeed. speaking to us from christian aid. you're watching bbc news. hello there. it looks like the weather

is going to cool down a bit from tomorrow, but today most parts of the country will again be warm with some sunshine. but we've got this change happening, really, across some western most parts of the uk, with those weather fronts actually bringing more cloud and bringing some rain as well. but ahead of that, with the sunshine, pollen levels are remaining high across much of england and wales, but also into some central and southern parts of scotland, where we're seeing the best of the hazy sunshine. there is a bit more cloud across southern parts of scotland, that rain mainly affecting the western isles this afternoon, continuing in northern ireland and some rain pushing late in the day into western fringes of wales and the far southwest of england. that will peg the temperatures back a bit here, but ahead of that in the sunshine, temperatures are widely 18 degrees and could make 20 for the fa cup semifinal at wembley. that band of rain then continues to push its way eastwards overnight. it'll be followed by some showers for northern ireland into scotland and over the irish sea, and the breeze will pick up a little bit as well.

temperatures overnight will be at sixes and sevens, but as you can see, there's little or no rain running through the midlands, much of southern england as well, that weather for much weaker here. it's more active further north, and that's where we've got most of the rain nearer that area of low pressure. and it's around that that we've got the stronger winds overnight and into tomorrow. the winds more of a westerly and that will bring in cooler, fresher air. there's our weather front, that band of cloud there. the rain moves away into the north sea. cloud could linger in the southeast, perhaps, for a while, and then we'll see some sunny spells, a few showers around, most of the showers for northern ireland and particularly western scotland, where we've got these stronger winds for all of us. it will be cooler during tomorrow, but still 16 or 17 degrees with some sunshine towards south eastern parts of england. heading into tuesday, it probably starts off quite chilly. actually, those showers of monday will have cleared away and then we'll see more showers developing, i think, on tuesday. slow—moving, perhaps heavy, showers, some sunshine around as well, but temperatures are continuing to drop away. typically, 13 or 1a celsius in the afternoon and really through the rest

of the week, it remains dry, those showers do tend to fade away, but we'll see easterly winds picking up. that means temperatures are going to be near average and the best of the weather is likely to be in the west.

this is bbc world news. the headlines... russia urges ukrainian forces in mariupol to surrender in order to save their lives — but there's no sign yet that they've laid down their arms. president zelensky warns there will be consequences, if russia takes action against the remaining troops in the city. translation: the elimination of our troops, of amen will put an end to any negotiations. the death toll rises in south africa — following heavy flooding — with a warning more rain may be on the way. the archbishop of canterbury — the most senior cleric in the anglican church condemns plans by the uk government to send now on bbc news, dateline london.