will never give in. >> plan b is to live and die in libya. clancy is to live and die in libya. -- plan c is to live and die in libya. >> coming up later for you -- more footage of the terrifying moment a massive earthquake hits christchurch, new zealand. 200 people still remain unaccounted for. and back to where they met, britain oppose the royal couple returned to the university where their relationship began. coupleain's royal returned to the root university where their relationship began. the libyan leader muammar gaddafi has come out on the streets of tripoli to tell his supporters to arm themselves to

defend libya and its oil. his speech came shortly after forces loyal to him opened fire against demonstrators in several parts of tripoli. the u.s. has imposed sanctions against libya, but early, colonel quaddafi's son went on tv to say that he and his father would never leave libya alive. we have a reporter in tripoli. >> in the open air, lines of people waiting for a flight home. some in bright visibility jackets seem to be in organized groups. others seem to be waiting a long time. there were some sodden blankets and a lot of people dream of home. the airport is operating, but getting on a plane with so many here is a big challenge. we have been invited here by the authorities, presumably so we can hear more messages of defiance, and also so they can

show was that here in the capital at least, things are normal and they are well in control. those scenes at the airport are not normal. if the libyan economy relies on the neighbor -- the labor of tens of thousands of migrants, and the ones that are left are getting out. >> earlier, there was another defiant message from colonel gaddafi and this time he chose the center of tripoli. he made more threats against the people he regards as lydia's enemies. -- libya's enemies. his son, who seemed to be his heir apparent, was just as defiant. >> we have planned -- plan a, b, and see. plan a is to live and die in libya. plan b is to live and die in libya. plan c is to live and die in libya.

thank you very much. >> the gaddafi family is an amazing to be getting closer to home, closer to their power base here in the capital. the bbc received these pictures showing anti-government protesters in the center of tripoli, marching after the noon prayer. chanting that they would avenge the blood of the murders. -- the martyrs. and the bbc has also received these pictures, which show protesters been fired upon as they leave a mosque in tripoli. [gunfire] a witness in tripoli who wanted to say -- stay anonymous spoke to the bbc about an attack on worshipers. >> as we are just praying, the shooting is starting and as people came out, they were shooting at people.

a lot of my neighbors today died and the situation is horrible here. the sky is raining with bullets. [chanting] >> this was west of tripoli yesterday, in march appears to be a track -- attacked by government forces. to be precise about what is happening town by town in this country, but the trend has been consistent, the uprising is spreading. this couple reached tunisia from zawia. >> it is all over. only tripoli is left now. ever were a house has fallen and gaddafi is finished. >> this is where the balance of power appears to be now.

the libyan leader is believed to be based in his compound in the capital. this seems to be the balance of forces. 70,000 in brigades loyal to colonel gaddafi and elite, special forces that are said to have defected are to make up about 5000. this is a picture of a rally in green square in the center of tripoli. the center of the message is clear, there are problems in the country, blamed by colonel gaddafi on young people. the protesters stand in the middle of the capital on a chilly and damp winter night. >> the head of the united nations, secretary-general ban ki moon, has been talking about the crisis in libya. he condemned the violence there

and called on the u.n. security council to take decisive action. >> it is time for the security council to consider concrete action. the hours and the days ahead will be decisive for libyans and their country with equally important implications for the wider region. the statements and actions of the security council are eagerly awaited and will be closely followed throughout the region. whatever your course, let's be mindful of the urgency of the moment. in this consensus, the loss of time means more loss of life. >> the man once described as one of gaddafi's closest lieutenant with the government in discussed as he believes the libyan leader -- in disgust as he believes the libyan leader is finished. he said that quaddafi will either fight to the death, or kill himself. >> when the demonstrations broke out here a week ago, general

eunice was sent to break down on them. instead, he changed sides and appealed to colonel gaddafi not to use force. immediately afterwards there seems to be an attempt to kill him. now he seems to be hiding here and we were driven to the outskirts of ben ghazi to a secret location where he agreed to speak to us. when i met him he told me that he thought the gadhafi regime could only last -- the gaddafi regime could only last a few more days. >> you know colonel gaddaf welli . will he resisted the end? >> he will either commit suicide or resist until he falls. >> do you think that he is actually crazy? >> only god knows. i am not qualified to make a judgment. he makes very dangerous decisions in a state of anchoan.

it is impossible to think he is completely same. >> i broached the topic of the lockerbie bombing. had curled gaddafi and the orders for its personally. he was unhesitating. >> there is no doubt about it, nothing happens without his involvement. and -- i am certain this was a national decision. >> at the end of the interview the general looked straight into the camera and spoke directly to the man he had served since 1964. >> my dear brother, in ben ghazi you should realize that the and has come. i hope you would leave for venezuela or anywhere else. may god be righteous and stop the annihilation of our people. >> maybe the general has hopes of replacing general -- colonel

gaddafi, but his 47 years as one of his closest aides do not exactly make him popular among those who want an entirely new libya. >> john simpson reporting. some of the bloodiest uprising has taken place in libya's second-biggest city, ben ghazi. they're building a new society and infrastructure. and >> in den ghazi, they are still burning with anger, even though colonel gaddafi's did forces have all fled. huge crowds came out to friday prayers. this is no islamic revolution, but an emotional celebration of what they see as their liberation. and now they are calling for god's help in -- in freeing tripoli as well. along the perimeter of the military base, evidence of the desperate struggle that cost the lives of around 300 opposition

supporters. after protestors were fired upon from inside, they even launched construction vehicles at the wall, some of them loaded with petrol to try to blast their a -- blast their way through. >> this is the side of a bitter battle between protesters and colonel gaddafi'supporterss. now people are in a bit of good days, amazed at what they have achieved. but they're also looking to rebuild their city and their country. >> barricaded against future attacks, this court house is home to the committee of lawyers, judges, and other eminent people now running this city. activists here are already debating this shape of a future libya. >> libyans are young. there blank page ordaz -- they are a blank page and still have no political affiliations. i think we should look for this nation to be democratic in the future. >> there is a heavy -- a heady

resolution. they have recruited the boys get to run the kitchen. they're making placards to address the world. >> we are speaking are mines. and basically we are writing jokes. that is what we are doing. i have never felt better in my life. >> they have prepared a television draft to relate pictures of friday pairs of all -- friday prayers over the internet. >> everybody involved, doctors, engineers, workers, employees, because this man has imprisoned almost every family in liberty. -- in libya. >> there is an optimism, a desperate desire not to let this unique opportunity slip away. >> and you can get all the latest news and analysis on

libya but through our web site. and they look at what the future could hold for the country. bbc.com/news. the ministers for health and housing were apparently dismissed because they caused prices. tens of thousands of mainly bahrainies gathered in the capital for anti-government protests. you are watching bbc news. still to come, a sentimental journey. prince william and his bride to become a kate middleton, returned to the scottish town where they met. hundreds of demonstrators converged on the main square in the iraqi capital today as part of a day of protest against unemployment, corruption, and pour services. protesters also took to the streets in other iraqi towns and

cities. jonathan had reports now from the capital, baghdad. >> the people here have just as many reasons to be angry as their neighbors and the rest of the arab world. how they would like to return to some kind of normality, since the fall of saddam hussein off eight years ago, but it has not. been waiting for electricity. most people only get a few hours every day. and they're waiting for food prices to come down to something like affordable levels, but that has not happened either. people here are living in levels of poverty that are hard to believe for a country that has the second-largest oil reserves. you can understand the frustration.

there are many demonstrating across the country that feel the same. they are also living under a government that is staggeringly corrupt. just a few years ago they took over from the americans, but the numbers here are not that big. and there is a reason for that, because the government has stopped people from coming to the center of baghdad to share their feelings. the bridge behind me is one of the main routes into baghdad and like every other route and the city has been sealed off today. no vehicles getting in, and very few people join the protest. the government insists it is for security reasons, but it raises questions over its commitment to iraq's nearly one democratic freedoms. -- newly won democratic freedoms. >> this is bbc world news. these are the top stories. the u.s. announces sanctions against colonel gaddafi's regime

as the libyan leader tells his supporters to fight to defend the country. in the city of benghazi, friday prayers bring thousands of and the -- out in the streets to celebrate the successful uprising. turning to new zealand now, with a number of people killed by the earthquake on tuesday has now risen to 123. around 200 people are still missing in christchurch and the surrounding area. thousands of survivors are still without water or power and it could take weeks for the supplies to be connected. nick bryant now reports from.com lyttleton, the epicenter. >> it now looks blissfully bertran kolk -- tranquil, but 3 miles under this mountain range was the epicenter of this quake. it sent a massive boulder hurtling down and crashing through this area and eventually coming to a halt 50 meters down the hill. here, one of the miracles of

christ church earthquake. nobody living here was killed. parts of lyttleton are in ruins. many of its businesses will have to be demolished. ratner showed me his wrecked café. the quake hit during lunchtime on tuesday. it was full of customers. ng!this was just ba and there was a lot of carnage and a screaming going on. get the hell out of here. i did not stick around. my children were at school 100 meters away. i do not think i even turned around. i just went straight to the school. as long as i've got my wife and my children within arm's reach of me, that is all i need. >> the epicenter of the earthquake was actually right below my feet.

but for all of the structural damage it has caused what is remarkable is that nobody actually lost their lives in lyttleton itself. two local residents were killed. they were walking in the mountains. the quake opened up new caves in the spot where one of the men died. he was discovered by his daughter and had been felled by falling rocks. just finishedrbert had rebuilding his home from the quake that hit christchurch in september. he was surfing when this one hit. >> all of a sudden, i just got this jerking feeling. i thought the shark was biting my board. i honestly thought i was being attacked by a shark. i turned around and a sharp nearby in the water to started doing this bizarre pattern. a change in air pressure, and down motions, and i looked up and the cliffs were falling down. it was like an avalanche.

>> lyttleton's war memorial was also so badly damaged, but its spirit is about resilience and battle and audits. that is still intact. >> now to today's other top stories. the u.n. secretary-general, ban ki moon, has warned that the ivory coast is on the brink of civil war. fighting in the city of abidjan is reported to be spreading northward. supporters of the president have clashed with supporters of his opponent, internationally recognized as having one in september. crimes that carry the death penalty are all nonviolent. they include tax fraud, a collection of rare precious- metals. campaigners against the death penalty say the revised list will not necessarily lead to a

significant fall in the number of people being executed. john galliano, the british fashion designer has been suspended by the british picador dior, pending an investigation of remarks he is accused of saying. according to one police source, he was hurling insults at -- racist insults at a couple at a restaurant. with unemployment at more than 13% in ireland, is thought that a new government will be floated in. >> the people of ireland are putting their faith in the ballot box. they are deciding which politicians they trust to get the country working again. 3 million people are entitled to vote, but this election will not solve the irish economic crisis overnight.

>> people are undergoing a lot of pain and they are not really in the mood for further pain, but for their pain will be inflicted no matter who gets in. it is just a very difficult time, one of the most of ago times in our history. >> whoever wins the election will be a huge debt. ireland has borrowed the equivalent of nearly 50 billion pounds as part of an international bailout. the irish president has made her choice. a record 566 different candidates are running from a cross-section of parties. >> basically, they all agree as to what are the major issues to be addressed a and there are just some differences in policy in terms of how they would go about doing it. >> off the west coast of ireland, islanders have already finished voting. it is one of the most important elections in irish history.

all of the parties agree on one thing, a country with a weak economy desperately needs a strong government. >> here in the u.k., we are less -- the royal wedding is less than two months away. prince william and kate middleton returned to launch hall university's 600 anniversary appeal. >> they came to the little town which played such a big part in their lives. st. andrews on the coast of 5, where william and kate metts as students, which kept quiet about their romance and today, welcomes them as their own. they returned to st. andrews to launch the university's 600th anniversary appeal. an event which inevitably stirred some memories. >> ladies and gentlemen, undergraduates, and alumni, this is a very special moment for catherine and me.

it feels like coming home. >> it was, indeed come home for both of them for four years. william cherished the privacy of a small community and caked with less constrained. they graduated together in the summer of 2005. today, they returned to some of their old haunts as prospective husband and wife and charmed st. andrews from the undergraduates to the university chancellor. >> between them they are going to make a very good advertisement for the monarchy. >> once again, it was the walkabout that showed how well take appears to be adjusting to the new role. she and william took opposite sides of the street and whether or not it is the novelty of it all, she seemed genuinely to be enjoying it, chatting easily with a person after person. so much so, as a matter of fact, that william was already in the car when it was time -- waiting for her when it was time to depart. >> it seems like the perfect

place for a beginner to learn the ropes. but it must be said that on the strength of the last few days, this particular beginner has seemed to have taken to it very naturally and confidently. >> kate lyttleton, a student royal, shortly to graduate. >>, cuba has long been famous for its big, fat cigars, but the industry is under threat as increasing number of countries introduced tough anti-smoking laws. the number one seller of hand rolled cigars is trying to adapt to smaller ones. >> a vana's annual secours festival is one of the few occasions that communist cuba, -- annual cigar festival is one of the few occasions that common is cuba opened its doors. these are difficult times. between the global recession and the tough anti-smoking laws, cuba is struggling to maintain

this major export earner. >> force cigarette users, it is simple enough to pop out of a bar or restaurant for a quick profit, but if you are going to smoke -- for a quick puff, but if you are going to smoke a big cigar like this, it will take at least two hours. the cigar industry is having to adapt to changing times. now the buzz word is, small is beautiful. >> it's quite small, isn't it? >> yes. >> this is tiny. >> that is why we make it so long. >> under 4 inches. how long does this take his boat? >> under 20 minutes. >> this is going to get around

the law. >> yes. >> sales grew last year, but were still 8% below the peak in 2007. sales continue to nosedive following new anti-smoking laws. china has now become cuba opposing third largest customer. third largest customer. >> a quick reminder of our top stories. libyan leader, colonel gaddafi is fighting against protesters in tripoli. and those are the top stories of this hour. >> 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.

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> lehrer: good evening. i'm jim lehrer. fighting intensified in libya

today. militias loyal to moammar qadaffi opened fire on rebels in tripoli and he called on his supporters to prepare to defend libya. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. on the "newshour" tonight, we get reports from libya's capital where thousands demanded qaddafi's ouster and from benghazi where the revolt began. >> lehrer: and hari sreenivasan ta