>> and now, "bbc world news." >> a warning for colonel gaddafi. comply with the u.n. resolution or face military action against libya. >> if gaddafi does not comply with the resolution, the international community will impose consequences. the resolution will be enforced through military action. >> a state of emergency is declared in yemen after least 40 people are shot dead during an anti-government rally. welcome to "bbc world news." coming up later, japan's nuclear safety agency raises the accident alert levels at the fukushima nuclear plant saying the situation is serious. a nation remembers. japan holds a minute of silence for those who died in the earthquake and tsunami a week ago. ♪

the u.s. president barack obama has said the libyan leader colonel gaddafi must obey the u.n. demands or face military action. earlier, the libyan government announced an immediate ceasefire and promised to follow the u.n. resolution passed on thursday. he said colonel gaddafi had to stop all attacks on civilians, pull back his troops, and allow in humanitarian aid. >> now once more, muammar gaddafi has a choice. the resolution that passed lays out very clear conditions that must be met. the united states, the united kingdom, france, and arab states agree that a cease-fire must be implemented immediately. that means all attacks against

civilians must stop. gaddafi must stop his troops from advancing on benghazi. he must pull them back from misurata and established water, gas, and electricity supplies to all areas. humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach the people of libya. let me be clear. these terms are not negotiable. >> in the libyan capital of tripoli, there is dismay and anger at the u.n. decision. many see the rebellion as a criminal enterprise supported by foreign powers that aim to ponder libya's oil. >>. two libya's now -- mirror opposites. in benghazi, the vote was a moment of joy. they felt rescued from the coming onslaught. they celebrated with their signature emblem, the flag of the old libyan kingdom.

the other libya is that of colonel gaddafi. they want the world to think this is not a popular uprising of the criminal enterprise by gangsters who have tricked and enslaved the people of the east. he told benghazi that they were coming, prepare yourselves. to those who resist, we will show no mercy. benghazi ignored it and placed its trust instead in foreign intervention. from tripoli, the world look very different. within minutes of the u.n. vote, gaddafi loyalists showed up a hotel that is home to most foreign journalists in the city. in this libya, an attack on colonel gaddafi is an attack on the nation itself. the rebels in the east are traders. they are agents of foreign powers who want to ponder libya's oil. today, tripoli is calm. you can sense the trepidation. there are air bases near here. no one knows will be targeted. the only public voice you hear now is that of loyalty.

the chimes with colonel gaddafi 's defiance. >> we support muammar gaddafi. you cannot take the oil without taking the blood. >> today, colonel gaddafi's libya is more isolated and alone in the world than it has been for years. the aerospace and seaports are closed to traffic. the land borders are sealed. libya waits for the first attack. the world waits for libya's response. bbc news in tripoli. >> in eastern libya, government troops battled rebel forces on the coast between benghazi and another area. they claimed they captured around 20 government soldiers. ian panel travelled to the front line. he is now back in the rebel stronghold of benghazi. from there, he sent this report. >> what began as a rebellion now

sounds more like a war. in the distance is a town attacked from the land and sea. hours after the u.n. resolution passed, a fighter jet was still bombing the residents and rebels of this small town. over the last hour or so, we've been listening to the sounds of what appeared to be a brutal battle between the two sides. we cannot go any further down the road. you could hear the sound of rockets and artillery lending. it is simply too unsafe. we believe the frontline has now edged slightly closer to benghazi. it is difficult to know what the tactics of colonel gaddafi are, but they seem to be applying as much pressure as they can upon the rebels before the no-fly zone is put into action. we were shown the bodies of two fighters killed this morning. this conflict has turned ordinary civilians into warriors.

we know how to fight ♪ >> he is a musician by night and now a fighter by day. with a gun and a guitar, he sings a song of freedom for libya. >> a lot of people are dying for human rights. we only have guns. he has ships and tanks and heavy weapons. >> back in benghazi, they have been celebrating the news from the wind. the people here do not believe colonel gaddafi when he says there is now a cease-fire. there were unconfirmed reports that fighting is continuing. the struggle for freedom in libya has for -- received a huge boost. everyone here knows the victory could still be a very long way off. ian panel for bbc news in

benghazi. >> france and u.k. are keeping up the pressure on colonel gaddafi in spite of the announcement of a cease-fire. how will the u.n. resolution be carried out and will britain's role be? here is our defense correspondent. >> the aim is to offer protection from the air for libyan civilians. the mission as a host of risks. there's the danger of civilian cat -- casualties if something goes wrong. it may not be quick or easy. for the u.k., is a new and open ended military mission during a time of cutbacks. britain's contribution is likely to include ground attack aircraft. the tanker planes are for. refueling. the other aircraft in the vital

information about what is happening on the ground. the tornados were lined up and ready to travel to a foreign base to prepare for their task. it is far from clear just how long policing the no-fly zone may take. >> a month, six months, a year, 10 years? can we afford that? do we have the resources? >> what are the names of the force is being brought together for the mission? above all, they want to protect civilians, especially in the stronghold of benghazi. they may want to disable his differences with bombing raids and target the ground forces if need be. rhode strikes could also be an option to disable communication. there could be a naval blockade to ensure the arms embargo. fire makes what- happens next more uncertain. >> the arab league and others think it looks as though he has

stopped everything is difficult to say that we will take out some of his aircraft. >> what is the endgame for britain and her allies? colonel gaddafi has staged here strikes before. his defiant speech was staged outside the barracks bombed by the united states in 1986. there is little doubt that the west and others want him out. regime changes not with you and resolution says. >> at face value, the resolution talks about protecting civilians. that is absolutely right and proper. i do not think anyone is fooling anybody else. the implied objective is the removal of colonel gaddafi. >> france and the u.k. will want their arab allies to step up at an early stage. for the coalition, all this remains a calculated gamble. >> i spoke with our political editor, nick robinson.

i asked him why david cameron police action is warranted in libya but not in egypt or tunisia. >> i put a question similar to that to the prime minister earlier today. the example i gave was bahrain. i said some might think he was making cozy calls for the king of bahrain at the same time he was planning to prepare to bomb libya. he said he believed that the kingdom of rain was a reformer and that there would be a referendum on change there. these questions can be applied to a number of countries. there is a crackdown in yemen now. some point to what is happening in saudi arabia. the prime minister and only has one simple answer to that. two, forgive me. one is that just because you cannot do everything does not mean that you should not do something. he says it is in the british national interest to deal with

libya. libya has been a rogue regime and sponsor of terrorism on british shores. the danger now would be if libya was left alone, it would turn into what the prime minister has described as a rogue terrorist date and threat to britain. >> how do we avoid mission creep when it kicks off? there have been so many budget cuts with the military since the new conservative government went into office. >> how they sustain it is a good question. we're in an entirely different world from just a few hours ago given the cease-fire offer. i am told that president obama will speak on behalf of the coalition countries willing to take military action, partly to ratchet up the pressure and make it clear that those countries are still prepared to take military action seriously. it could be within hours or days. discussion is going on behind

the scenes about whether to give colonel gaddafi a specific list of demands about what to do next or whether to simply leave him guessing, unaware of what he needs to do to avoid a military response. the hope is that it will not be a protracted campaign. the hope on this street and around the world is that there will be people with in the libyan regime who will say to colonel gaddafi that enough is enough or will defect to the other side. >> a state of emergency has been introduced in yemen after snipers opened fire on an to- government protesters in the capital city. these images were captured of the protest. more than 40 people were killed. another 400 were rounded -- wounded. >> at this makeshift field hospital, there has been a steady flow of dead and wounded protesters. most appear to have gunshot wounds. this man says he has four a

gunshot wounds to his legs and that there are many more like him. according to eyewitnesses, gunfire broke out when security forces tried to stop thousands of anti-government protestors marching off to friday prayers. some reports say the large crowd was fired upon by snipers on rooftops and that some of the gunman had been captured by the protesters. it is the bloodiest clash yet during the month of protests against the president. in recent days, hundreds of protestors clashed with government supporters leaving about 20 people injured. there are reports of more widespread demonstrations taking place. the president has declared a state of emergency. >> the national defense council has decided to announce a state of emergency today in human. we are imposing a curfew on armed men in all cities.

the security forces will take responsibility for maintaining public security. >> the protest followed similar uprisings that ousted leaders in egypt and tunisia. in yemen, there appears to be a more hard-line response to the demonstrations, perhaps inspired by recent events in libya. >> you are watching "bbc world news" from london. one week after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in japan, we visit one of the worst affected towns to see how the locals are coping. 10 years ago, argentina was in the midst of one of the biggest financial crises ever to hit south america. now it is one of the world's fastest-growing economies alongside china and india. figures out today show the economy grew at 9% last year. we have this report from one cyrus -- buenos aires.

>> this is one of the busiest ports here. exports are rising. argentina is exporting more commodities to china and brazil. growth has not meant happiness for all. argentina has the second-highest rate of inflation in the americas after venezuela. some small businesses suffer because of it. >> everything goes up in price. we try not to put it in our final prices. that is a problem because our rent -- every day, it is less what we gain. >> inflation means higher wage demands and therefore higher costs. the official rate of inflation is about 10%. many economists say in reality, it is double this figure. that casts a cloud over the credibility of the growth. >> if you are underestimating the inflation rate, you will be overestimating the growth rate. it is quite likely that argentina's growth rate is not as high as the government data

says. >> this is one of the busiest shopping streets in buenos aires. despite the rising cost of living, people remain positive. argentinian are more optimistic about their economy this year than last year. many economists believe that growth will cool in 2011. but in an election year, this is difficult to predict. slowing growth is never popular with voters. do not rule out more government spending to fuel growth and inflation. ♪ >> you are watching "bbc world news. " the u.s. has warned colonel gaddafi the failure to comply with the u.n. resolution will result in military action against libya. warplanes from several nations have been deployed to the mediterranean to prepare for possible air strikes on libya.

it is exactly one week since the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated much of the northeast of japan. one of the places hardest hit was the coastal port in eastern japan. bbc returned to the town to see how the residents are coping now that the flood waters have subsided. >> it is hard to believe it now, the way the waters rose. they devoured all before them. a week ago, a giant wave was racing towards the shore. its want the town's defenses. -- its won't -- it overpower the town's defenses. >> he was standing on the fourth

floor of the city hall watching. he says the tsunami arrive exactly half an hour after the earthquake struck. >> all of the water was sucked out just before the tsunami hit. half of the river was taken away. i could see the sand on the bottom of the riverbed. >> that vote you saw carried away lies crushed. it is believed at least 1000 died here. that is adding to the nation's mounting loss. this is one neighborhood of the city. many of the homes were built of wood. there were wiped out. it is the buildings of concrete and steel that have survived. he saw the wave command just back there. high street is this way. many people are coming to pick up what is left of their lives.

when she heard the sirens, she ran home to save her father. they lost each other in the waves. >> everything was being swept towards me. i knew i had to get higher. i kept climbing, trying to get higher and higher. i got separated from my dad outside our house. when i saw the wave, i thought it was impossible that he could have survived. >> three days later, she found him in hospital alive. scattered along the shoreline of the shattered pieces of many lives. they were taken by the sea that is silent now. >> japan's atomic safety agency has raised the accident level of the fukushima nuclear plant

from 4 to 5 on an international scale that goes up to seven. the workers continue the struggle to make the plant say today. the country paused to remember those killed in the disaster. we have this report from tokyo. >> a week on from the moment the earthquake struck. the whole of japan came to a halt today. they remember the thousands killed and thousands more still missing. >> i jumped into the covered -- in to that covered and stayed there. >> there were of teaching near sunday when the earthquake hit. the three friends are now leading, evacuated by the british embassy tonight on a flight to hong kong. alex's town to the direct hit. he does not want to read. >> you feel like you are

abandoning the people have known for more than two years. you learn to care about the people. you get so attached to them. you feel like you are abandoning them by getting out. >> alex is not the only one reluctant to leave japan. of the 7000 britons who live in tokyo, here than 100 turned out tonight for the first evacuation flight organized by the british embassy. 150 miles north of the fukushima plant, these are the new heroes of the hour. >> we expect a lot of difficulties with the mission. it is a really dangerous assignment. the reputation of japan and the lives of many people rest on your actions. >> these tokyo fire men have all volunteered for the biggest and most dangerous mission of their lives. the crisis of the fukushima plant has been upgraded to a level 5 emergency. this spring operation is perhaps the last chance to head off a

major radiation leak. on tv tonight, japan's prime minister is sounding increasingly gloomy. >> i must tell you that the situation of the new -- fukushima nuclear power plant is not allow optimism. >> it is not surprising that concern here in tokyo and around the world is focused on the potential disaster of the fukushima nuclear plant. the huge concern for what might happen there is now in danger of over shattering the bigger human tragedy still unfolding along japan's ravaged northeast coast. >> five weeks after a mass protest managed to unseat president hosni mubarak, egyptians are being asked to vote in a referendum on saturday on nine amendments to the old constitution. it is being billed by the interim government as the first free vote in egypt's history. jonathan has a report from cairo

on how the people you the choice is being put to them. >> outside his modest workshop, he finishes welding and iron grill for a window. crime rates have soared in cairo since the revolution. his is one service that ought be prospering. >> not so. my orders are half of what they used to be. >> on the other side of the road, a mechanic waits for customers who no longer come. car maintenance is a luxury many people for go and hard times. >> business has been bad since the revolution. the revolution is a very good thing. we need to see changes. we need security. we need the government back on the streets. >> the strong desire to see their lives return to normal will probably persuade many people to vote yes to the constitutional changes.

many of those who led the january revolution feel the army is pushing the return to normality much too quickly. a chat with customers at this shop reveals divided opinions. >> yes, a thousand times yes, say the elderly men. it is only a transitional phase. we can make more changes later. >> this man said no. >> everything was being done in too much of a hurry. >> then no campaign has been fighting eye-catching places for its message. the constitutional changes do not go far enough and the referendum is too soon. >> people should vote no. this is what we have the revolution for. we need to change it and not just add some elements -- amendments.

we need at least a year to organize ourselves and to enter into a fair competition for parliamentary elections. >> hundreds of no vote videos have been posted on the same websites that played a big role in the january uprising. the movement is now split over the referendum. the muslim brotherhood is advocating a yes vote. >> we advise people to say yes. it is the first step in a long road toward democracy. the people are now divided. this is democracy. >> it is all a bit of a comedown from the unity and euphoria at tahrir square. building the new egypt is turning out to be a laborious and sometimes confusing task for its people. bbc news in cairo. >> to confine that story along

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