>> gaddafi a's grip on power in libya slowly slipped away. >> be suffering and bloodshed is outrageous and unacceptable. >> gunships and planes fire on their own civilians. witnesses say the police and the country are fighting back. 71 dead in new zealand earthquake and police say hopes have faded of finding anyone else alive. welcome to "bbc world news." coming up later for you -- clashes in greece as a protest against austerity measures continue puree head and white are scientists drilling to kilometers in -- and why are

scientists drilling at two kilometers into a british city? welcome to the program. the crisis in libya is increasingly volatile with reports of 600 dead and the army being used against its own people. there have been chaotic scenes on the country's borders, thousands of policing. president obama has described the bloodshed as outrageous and calls for the violence you and. speaking in washington, and he said his administration was looking at a full range of options. >> as i said last week, we strongly condemn the use of violence in libya. the american people extend our deepest condolences to the families of all who have been killed and injured, suffering and bloodshed is outrageous and unacceptable. so are threats and orders to

punish peaceful protesters. these actions violate international norms and every standard of common decency. this violence must stop >> western journalists are banned from libya, but our correspondent has traveled to the east of the country for the scene of fighting between protesters and khaddafi's armed forces -- gaddafi's our forces. >> eastern libya. this area is completely under opposition control. militiamen arrest traffic. shops and businesses are closed. but local people are delighted to be rid of colonel gaddafi's rule. we found evidence of how wars are fought. the space was used to ferry in

special forces and african mercenaries, sent to shoot demonstrators. but this is all that was left behind. until local villagers to gone these illegal troops as one. local people tell us that protesters armed with sticks and stones fought off well-armed government troops. this shows the determination of the people around here. here is how it all happened. young people searching -- surging forward, unarmed at first, eventually finding crude weapons elsewhere. some died here. they did not hesitate to take on the government. >> we must protect our home. we must protect our family. so we have to do something. >> this, he told us, was when the helicopter gunships opened fire on them.

and he also filmed as colonel gaddafi said his air force to bomb his own people. near the airfield, this building was destroyed in the bombing raid. >> few seat aircraft, flames, bombing of protesters. >> yes, yes. they tried to save some people come up relatives of gaddafi, inside of the airport. >> and now the runway is blocked. these old russian fighter jets are going nowhere. it can no longer be used to terrorize protestors. it is a story repeated across libya as the opposition it faces down the military -- as the opposition it faces down the military. bbc news. >> a massive evacuation operation is underway.

yet the united states, china, in many european countries have sent planes and ships to help their citizens escape the situation. the british government has been criticized for not doing enough many more people are making their own way across libyan borders. we have this from the border between libya and tunisia. >> those who can escape are on their way out. hundreds streamed over the border today. they told stories of what is happening inside the country of turmoil. it is the government in control? >> yes. the government is in control. >> thousands have descended on tripoli airport. tonight, britain stands accused of abandoning its citizens.

james coyle, and auto workers stranded in the desert, unable to escape. >> we are living every day in fear of our lives as the local people are at arm's -- arms. we happened pleading to the british government for days now and they have ignored us. >> two aircraft landed in tripoli last night. officials were on hand to help those fleeing. british airlines have canceled all their flights. germany has commercial and military planes to evacuate people from libya to. turkey has used planes and boats to get thousands home to safety. >> hundreds of british people have been leaving successfully from tripoli. many are assisted by the foreign office. what happened this morning is two of the airline's failed to fly planes, so we now have this

additional passenger list for tonight and tomorrow morning. >> those who manage to get out tell stories. this man was beaten by soldiers simply because he could not sing the libyan national anthem. the picture is emerging from people leaving the country is one of complete chaos. they are relieved to be out of the country. but they also know many thousands are still left behind, desperate, afraid to leave. bbc news, on the libyan border. >> there are more signs that colonel gaddafi's ripon power is slipping, but he shows no signs of stepping down. our johnson sent is in egypt -- our correspondent is in egypt. he sent us his views. >> as his power shrinks, colonel

gaddafi gets stranger and stranger. for 41 years, he has created libya and his own weird image and likeness. he is not without his supporters, even now. they appear all the time on state television, chanting his praises. but the obedience and total silence he has imposed on the nation as a whole is coming to an end. and although he -- is an anti- islamist approach and oil will present us been attracted to the west, he could never be relied on as a friend and ally, as i found out during an interview. do you believe britain has intended to assassinate you? >> of course it is true. it is evidence. it has happened of course, and

the ones behind this assassination. >> it has been chronically unstable in libya. a book of short stories he wrote in the late 1990's suggests he suffers from chronic depression. in it he did scans himself as "of poor, benighted better when." -- bedouin." >> at the longer it goes on, the weaker he becomes because his support is ebbing away gradually. his actions will have an effect on the morale of his supporters and enemies. >> but given that colonel gaddafi is so isolated, the endgame here may be pure serb. because he is so unpredictable, colonel gaddafi has never been able to make close relationships with other countries. that means he is -- he has

nowhere to go now. hugo chavez @'s venezuela might find him to be an embarrassment. he might feel it is simply better to stay here and fight to the bitter end. bbc news. >> new zealand has declared a national state of emergency following the devastating earthquake which hit the city of christchurch on wednesday. the number of people known to have died numbers 71. rescue workers say there is little hope of finding anyone else alive. >> relatives of the people still missing in this disaster have reached the point where hope starts of buying with reason. -- vying with reason. the window for saving people from the rubble is starting to close. >> we have to dig down and find

her. >> this is the site where rescue teams have given up hope. the canterbury tv building. such is its ruined state, is described as "and survivable." -- "unsurvivable." this footage shows a rescue operation through the eyes of the firemen bravely going inside. this entrapment summoned the strength declined latter herself. physically at least, she emerges unscathed. this is what looks like from the outside. a short while ago, the heard the voice of a woman coming from the rubble. as you can see, they have all latter right into the heart of that building, and they are

working with hand tools, very delicate hand tools to try and extract her. every now and then, they call for hush around this site said they can see if they can still hear her. they are working slowly and methodically. one faults, hasty move an entire building could come down on top of her and then. -- them. her husband looked on helpless at this concrete house of cards. >> in the bushes? >> it is very slow progress. she is in good health. >> 15 minutes later, after 25 hours trapped in the rubble, the woman was brought out wrapped in a blanket, very much alive. a rare moment of muted celebration at amidst so much grief.

with hundreds still missing, this city is bracing itself for even further loss. nick bryant, bbc news, christchurch. >> you are watching "bbc world news." silda come -- riots against greek austerity measures in athens. let's return to our top story. evince in libya. several european union countries are contemplating sanctions against the country. the french president has called for the eu to suspend commercial and financial ties with libya. >> the french president, nicolas sarkozy, has called on europe to suspend economic relations with libya well gaddafi stays in charge. it is a measure backed by the u.s. senator john kerry.

but the sanctions were fully lifted in 2005. world leaders, including italy and's is silvio berlusconi, rushed to establish relations with colonel gaddafi. many oil companies were joined by investors of bp and other companies that recently committed to exploration deals. those contracts may now be at risk. >> italy can no longer count on libya, at least for the time being, for oil deliveries. and in addition, the libyan central bank which hold a significant share of italy's largest bank is pretty much missing. >> mr. sarkozy is also keen for sanctions on the gaddafi family. the president's son is involved in major construction projects. his brother, an heir apparent,

is alleged to have financial interests in oil. leaders elsewhere in the region are rushing to secure positions. in saudi arabia, king abdullah returned to prevent any protests. investors will be watching carefully for any sign measures are failing. bbc news. >> this is "bbc world news." here are the headlines. president obama contends the bloodshed in libya. he says his administration is preparing a full range of options in response. in christchurch, new zealand, rescue workers say no more survivors have been found overnight. 17 -- 71 people are known to have died. there have been violent clashes between the police and

protesters and the greek capital of athens. police fired tear gas and stun grenades. protesters hurled petrol bombs from athens, we have this. >> it did not take long for violence erupts -- to erupt, marking the first nationwide strike of the year. yet the protesters prepared an arsenal of petrol bombs and hurled volley after volley at riot police. skirmishes broke out in several regular battlegrounds, especially outside the university where police were taunted and an constitution square, outside parliament. several people were not fast enough to escape the pentagon's. they suffered minor burns. -- several people were not fast enough to escape the petrol

bombs. police applauded the air with teargas and stun grenades. that theer reads protestors are dying, being killed off by austerity measures. the sign says "we are closed tomorrow -- we're close today, but we will not be shut forever barbara >> and nothing will, it. it is not good. people need to react somehow. >> the problem for the protesters is that no matter how many times they take to the streets, the government ignores them. it believes there is no alternative to the cuts demanded by kris's international -- greece's international

creditors. the greeks have been protesting against austerity for more than one year now. at although there is a deep seam of discontent across the country, inside-the government's protests have always petered out. so far the greeks of not shown the result necessary for a revolution. bbc news. >> friday's elections in ireland it did not appear to be pretty for the ruling party. it is suggested they will lose to third -- two-thirds of their seats. whoever wins, there are fears that the country's best and brightest are fleeing for greener pastures. >> this is the generation that completely missed the celtic tiger. politician after politician with promises of how they will

rebuild the economy. >> this generation here is going to be turning around and wondering what they're going to have. what is their choice? we cannot give up. dino -- you know, these are our hopes for the future. >> goal late sits at the edge of the atlantic. -- gallway said that the edge of the atlantic. currently there are 1000 people leaving ireland every week, and that is the fact that has been quoted a lot in this election. >> it seems that this is an embarrassment to many. at the national university of ireland, there are students thinking of heading overseas as a way of improving their job prospects. >> i have a brother, in going back to university for him is

not really an option, you know? it is hard for everyone, especially my mom come up because she misses him curious my little brother -- things are pretty bleak out there. >> people have been studying the causes of the country's economic problems, and opinion polls suggest the irish government is firmly getting the blame. how many of you are angry at the politicians? >> that is pretty much everybody. >> i do not trust any of the parties. >> especially the government. there are more concerned with staying in power rather than actually listening to people. >> there's a fear that the most talented people will leave irish cities. >> we are working so hard in college, and to think when we come out we will have very little to show for it in ireland anyways, so there will be no

jobs for us to prove ourselves. that is very tough. >> with campaigning in its final days, the politicians' prepared to clash over how to get the economy moving again. the competition for employment is going to be fierce. bbc news. >> pakistan made a winning start to its world cricket campaign, crushing kenya today. it was played in sri lanka. that was after it was deemed too dangerous for florentines to work. -- foreign teams to to work. -- tour. >> there is not even a single paying spectator. it should have been different. pakistan was supposed to be one of the host of the current world cup. yet one terrible day two years

ago in lahore brought a tragic into that. broad daylight when the sri lankan national side was attacked by militants. yet this was the place where 12 gunmen ambushed the sri lanka andn team -- sri lankan team. it brought an abrupt end to the international teams visiting this country. it is a nation that loves the game. cricket is played by millions whenever they get the chance. >> there are so many frustrations and problems for pakastanis. cricket is one of our few sources of entertainment. >> but the sport has faced

another huge blow. the international cricket council has found three of pakistan's best players guilty of cheating. they have been given a lengthy fleeing bands -- playing bans. >> i think there is a positive side to it. young players know exactly what can happen to them. that is the positive side to that as well. >> their love of cricket will continue, but there are few here who can see the bright side. the game that has become so important for the morale of this nation continues to get through its most difficult time. bbc news. >> in as search to find greener sources of energy, scientists and britain have not found a solution for how to keep the city of newcastle. it involves drilling at a bore hole two kilometers down.

>> is a journey down into the earth's crust, and they are drilling deeper than they have ever gone before and in the center of the city. they are seeking in geothermal energy. >> we are going down to two kilometers deep, which is challenging in itself. we will be drilling through mine workings which could have the steel and railway girders. >> they are digging deep into the earth once again, this time searching for an everlasting source of low carbon energy. how will that work? they will be drilling deep into the ground below newcastle. 2,000 meters after going to stand stunned, and the door holt will hit -- the borehole will hit water. this will then go back up to the

surface. it could be enough geothermal energy and just one borehole to heat up to 10,000 homes. >> it is available 24/7 because it does not depend on whether. it depends on the natural occurrence of hot water beneath the earth's crust, and we a lot of reasons to believe that fresh water is beneath newcastle. yet as well as other areas of northern england. >> it will be early summer before the water starts coming to the surface. it will tap into the earth's natural underground heat. bbc news, newcastle. >> you will find that story and much more online at bbc.com /news. and you can see what we're working on, too, on our facebook page.

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