>> this is "bbc world news." funding for this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its global expertise to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you? >> and now, "bbc world news." >> gaddafi a's grip on the

power slowly strips away, while a court prevents a bloodbath. as violence rages between pro and anti-government supporters, some tried to escape by land, sea, and air. and police say that there is little hope of finding anyone else alive in the new zealander earthquake. welcome to "bbc world news america. ed coming up later for you -- clashes against recent government cuts. plus, why are scientists and drilling at 2 kilometer hole in the center of a british city?

colonel gaddafi is battling to retain control of tripoli as protesters continue to make gains elsewhere. there have been chaotic scenes on at the borders of the country, with thousands fleeing in fear. hundreds of people are believed to have died so far in the uprising in the last few hours. european union has called for an independent u.n.-led the investigation, saying there may be crimes against humanity. >> the intoxication of freedom. being able to say what you think for the first time in your life. this is an now-liberated east. even army officers have joined the rebellion. >> gaddafi, no way. we do not want you periods even though -- we do not want you.

even though you have your family by your side. >> it is hard to believe that a couple weeks ago doing just this would mean jail or worse. this is what scares and drives the measure. hundreds are thought to have died. many more are wounded. gaddafi has unleashed a ferocious assault against his own people. some of the evidence from inside this hospital is simply too horrific to show. getting the full picture of what is happening is still impossible. yet this is a city east of tripoli. the protesters are in charge here. yet the pressure on the world's longest-ruling leader is overwhelming. but gaddafi is still has support, money, and firepower and is prepared to use all three

to cling to power. those who can escape, our. thousands came to the border ought to any jet today. -- of tunisia today. >> is the government in control? >> the picture is one of complete chaos. of course, many of the families leaving were relieved to be out of the country and they also know many thousands are left behind, desperate, but afraid to lead. thousands have descended on the airport in tripoli, but many -- including some british citizens -- cannot get out. they are angry and afraid. >> we are in fear for our lives. we are living a nightmare. we have asked the british government to intervene in four

days now and they have totally ignored us. >> but britain and others are scrambling to get their people out. the violence and bloodshed want. "bbc world news." >> fear of a possible mass exodus of libyans has appealed -- many of called for a special solidarity fund to deal with the influx of migrants. as many as 300,000 migrants could lead libya if the chaos continues. dunton kennedy has this report -- duncan kennedy has this report. >> it is this -- migrants coming ashore -- that has governments across europe nervous. veterans of the revolution, these are tunisians.

the veterans are getting a welcome as chilly as the mediterranean they just crossed the red they have their needs, we have ours, says this resident. many will have to leave. in rome, european interior ministers convened this emergency summit. libyans also are heading for boats in large numbers. >> we're talking about an extraordinary situation. this means we need extraordinary tools to be in a situation to help countries to be able to manage, to be able to take on these difficulties, which poses a challenge. >> this meeting of front-line europeans show how alarmed they are about the potential of

mass, and jet migration out of libya. they say could overwhelm humanitarian resources and become an acceptable to the rahm population. the united nations refugee agency has pled with countries to show tolerance to any migrants to do escape. italy's foreign minister says it the potential to billion people -- believes foreign minister says there is a potential of 2 million people. >> if only 10% of the 2 million people living in libya would think of moving west, we're talking about 350,000 people. their only hope would be reaching, icy, the european union port. >> libyans like these outside their embassy in rome call on colonel gaddafi to end his by with hold on power.

they are worried about the consequences if he does not. bbc news, in rome. >> foreign journalists are being refused entry into libya, but our correspondent across the border from egypt. he has described how the opposition to control of the area. >> in this area is firmly in opposition control. the militia is directing traffic in the streets. ed how -- that opposition control was a very hard fought. there was an air raid control here. yet when local people heard about orders to fire on protesters, they took on those elite troops. they looted weapons later. we have pictures that seem clearly to show a helicopter gunships being used on protesters. yet despite that, local

villagers managed to defeat the libyan military in a matter of days and the whole area is safely in opposition control. >> remember, for more, it had to our website. there you will find an interactive map, including facts on the levels of policy, corruption, and political unrest across the region. just go to bbc.com/news. there are reports of up to 300 missing after the christchurch earthquake. rescuers have been working through the night to reach survivors may be trapped in rubble. at the instability of damaged buildings are hampering efforts. it is now clear the earthquake was new zealand's worst natural disaster for 80 years. we have this now from christchurch.

>> the focus today is on rescuing survivors trapped beneath the rubble beneath this office building. this footage shows firemen bravely venturing inside. even though many floors collapsed above them, this man somehow withstood -- this part of the building somehow withstood the collapse of the floors above them. this trapped woman summoned the strength to climb the ladder herself. physically at least, she emerged unscathed. this is what it looks like from the outside. a short while ago, the heard the

voice of a woman coming from the rubble, and as you can see, they have a ladder right into the heart of the building, and they are working with very delicate hand tools to try to extract her. every now and then, they call for a hush around the site so they can hear her. they know that one false move, when hasty move, and that entire building could come down on top of her and them. her husband looked on it, a hopeless, at this concrete house of cards. >> [unintelligible] there is very slight progress. she is in good health. >> after 25 hours trapped in rubble, the woman was brought out wrapped in a brown blanket,

very much alive. it a rare moment of muted celebration and in the midst of so much tragedy. this is the site where rescuers have given up hope. the canterbury tv building. such is its ruined it state that it is being described as an survivable. yet cameras and heat-seeking devices at the debt no life. it is feared that dozens could be buried here. the center of christ church has been totally -- christ church has been totally cordoned off. the reason we have been moved back from here is because of fears for that building in the near distance. it is one of the main hotels in christchurch. it is a modern building. it is listing very badly. even now, after another aftershock, there is a fear that

building could come tumbling down. this is a city of renewed danger and mounting debt. bbc news, christchurch. >> a former police chief is in jail for his part in the debts of more than 700 ethnic albanians in kosovo and in 1999. he was serving as the deputy interior minister and convicted by the international tribunal in the hague for crimes against humanity. the prosecution said he tried to cover-up killings by transporting the dead to serbia for burial in mass graves. the president has stepped down in the ivory coast. one neighborhood that the man you is internationally recognized as having won the

election last year. you are watching "bbc world news." still to come -- austerity measures cause violent response. to our top story. events in libya. several european union countries are considering sanctions against the country, including calls from the french president nicolas sarkozy. >> the french president, nicolas sarkozy, has called on europe to hold economic relations with libya while gaddafi stays in charge. it has been backed by senator john kerry in the u.s., the chair of the senate foreign leash -- foreign relations committee. silvio berlusconi has rushed to establish his relation with colonel gaddafi.

investors are from bp, and other oil companies to commit to exploration deals with the regime. those contracts may not be at risk. severing ties with still have the biggest impact on a leash. >> italy can no longer count on libya for oil and natural gas deliveries. in addition, the libyan central bank, which holds a significant share of italy's largest bank has pretty much gone missing. >> mr. sarkozy is also keen for sanctions on the gaddafi family. his football playing son is involved in major construction projects. his brother is alleged to have financial interests in oil. leaders of granny -- r -- leaders elsewhere in the region are rushing to secure their positions.

investors will be watching carefully for any sign measures are failing. bbc news. >> welcome to "bbc world news." here are the headlines. hillary clinton has stressed those responsible for the violence against civilians in libya must be held to account. yet rescue teams and in new zealand say they and found no more survivors overnight in the earthquake-hit city of christchurch. at least 71 have been killed. there have been a violent clashes between protesters and police and the greek capital of athens and the latest row over austerity measures. police fired grenades and protesters responded.

we have this report. >> it did not take long for violence erupt, marking the first nationwide strike of the year. yet the protesters prepared an arsenal of petrol bombs, and through volley after volley at the riot police. skirmishes broke out in several regular battlegrounds in the city center, especially in the center where the police were taunted and the constitution square outside parliament. several were not fast enough to escape the petrol bombs. they suffered minor burns. 5000 officers were on the streets. they flooded the area with tear gas and stun grenades. one banner proclaimed that the protesters were dying, being killed off by the austerity measures. shopkeepers joined in, pulling down shutters to complain about

rising taxes, falling consumer spending, and the number of businesses going bust. this sign says "we are closed for the day, but we will not be shut forever." >> i feel the same. it is not good for things like this to happen. since they do, people need to react somehow, even if nothing comes of it. >> the problem for the protesters is that no matter how many times they take to the streets, the government ignores them. they believe there is no alternative but to implement the cuts demanded of greece and's international creditors. -- greece's international creditors. the greeks have been protesting against austerity for more than a year now, but although there is a deep seam of discontent across the country, and the dutch government demonstrations have always petered out.

bbc news, patents. >> friday is election day in ireland, and from the look of things, it will not be pretty for the ruling party. it is suggested they will produce two-thirds of their majority. they believe that the country's best and brightest are leaving for greener pastures. >> this is the generation that complete missed the killed it tighter, the time when ireland's economy -- celtic tiger, the time when ireland's economy was booming. >> this generation here, they are wondering what options they are going to have. you know, what is their choice? you know?

i mean, these are our hopes for the future. >> this city sits at the edge of the atlantic. the next stop is north america. it is a journey many irish men and women have taken in the past looking for work. currently, there are 10,000 people leaving ireland every week, and that's a fact that is being quoted a lot in this election. it is seen by many as an embarrassment. at the national university of ireland, there are still in its thinking of heading overseas as a way of improving their job prospects. >> i have a brother, and going back to university is not really an option for him pewee yet it is hard for everyone. especially my mom, you know. things are pretty bleak out there. there is not much opportunity.

>> people have been studying the foundation of the country's economic problems, and opinion polls show the government is getting the blame. how many people are angry at politicians? >> pretty much everybody. >> i do not trust any of the parties. >> those in government are more concerned with staying in power. >> there is a resignation that most of the young people will be lost from irish cities. >> we are working so hard, and when we finish, we are going to come out and we will have very little to show for it in ireland. there is going to be no jobs. that is really tough. >> with campaigning in its final days, the politicians continue to clashed over how to get the economy moving again. but with cuts likely, the competition for employment is

going to be fierce. bbc news. >> pakistan made a winning start to its world cup campaign, crushing kenya by 205 runs today. it is unmatched that was scheduled to take place in pakistan, but was instead play in sri lanka. it is a country where the ball can be one of the few sources of national pot -- pride. >> it is not the match they wanted to see here, played at pakistan's home of cricket, but indeed, there is not a single paying spectator. it should have been so different. pakistan was supposed to be one of the hosts of the current world cup. one terrible day two years ago in law for -- in lahore put a

tragic into that. yet it was a sign of pakistan's rapidly-deteriorating security climate. >> this is the scene where 12 ambushed a the sri lankan team. it was an attack that shocked pakistan and the cricket in world. -- cricketing world. it is a nation that loves the game. it is played by millions, whenever they get the change -- chance. >> there are some major problems for pakistan. the situation is so bad, and we have difficult security problems. >> the international security

council's found three of pakistan's best players guilty of cheating and the have been given lengthy playing bands. -- bans. >> i think there is a political side of it. the young people know exactly what can happen to them. that is the positive side of that as well. >> the love of credit will continue -- the love of cricket will continue. yet the game that is so important for the morale of this nation continues to go through its most difficult times. bbc news. >> and a search to find greener sources of energy, scientists found another solution for how to seats -- how to keep the center of the city of newcastle. water would be pumped to the surface to keep businesses and homes and in the area.

>> it is a journey down into the earth's crust it is further than anyone has gone before and the center of the city. these rocks are 350 million years old. >> it is challenging, but the main challenge is going to be in the surface 300 meters where we are drilling through mine workings which castile and railway girders in there. >> they are digging deep into the earth once again. this looks to be an everlasting source of carbon energy. how will it work? it will be drilling deep into the ground below newcastle. the borehole will hit the water out 80 degrees celsius. this water will be sent back to the surface. it could be enough geothermal

energy from one borehole to keep up to 10,000 homes. >> it is available 24/7. it just depends on the natural occurrence of hot water, the death of the earth's crust. with lots of reasons to believe -- and in other parts of this area of northern england. >> it will be early summer before water starts coming to the surface, but if successful, more boreholes could be dug. it could dig deep into the earth's natural underground heat. bbc news, newcastle. >> our top story once again -- colonel gaddafi is battling to retain control of tripoli and western parts of libya as protestors make gains elsewhere. in much more on that story on our website -- bbc.com. >> hello and welcome.

>> see the news unfold, get the top stories from around the globe and click-to-play video reports. go to bbc.com/news to experience the in-depth, expert reporting of "bbc world news" online. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its global financial strength to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet los angeles.