>> this is bbc "world news." funding for the presentation is made possible by -- [bbc world news is presented by kcet. funding for this presentation was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu, the newman's own foundation, and the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation.] >> and union bank. ♪ >> union bank has put its financial strength to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesss to major corporations. what can we do for you.

>> now bbc "world news." >> tune fishia's president flees to saudi arabia following the worst violence this decades. the caretaker president promises widespread reform, including democratic elections. >> president obama praises the tunisian people and urges all sides to end the violence. welcome to the broadcast for our viewers on pbs america and also around the globe, coming up later. >> exploiting the arctic oil and gas reserve, b.p. agrees a massive deal with a russian energy giant. the rains return to brazil and hampering rescue efforts and fueling fierce of further mudslides. fueling fears of further mudslides.

>> hello, and welcome. the tunisian prime minister has urged the security forces to maintain order following street protests. he said he instructed the army to end looting and attacks on people in the country. mr. ghannouchi assumes power after ben ali fled the protests against him. mr. ben ali was flown to saudi arabia. dozens of people have died in recent weeks as protests have swept the area. british tour companies have set up emergency evacuation plans. adam minute reports. -- ads am minot reports. >> young people in tunisia

decided today was the day to overthrow a corrupt government. after weeks of sickening violence by police, the protests reached a crescendo. the day had started with a mass peaceful demonstration in front of the revialed ministry of interior building. they had been promised concessions by president ben ali allowing greater freedom of speech. they used their new rights not to support him but to demand that he go. >> we should not let this last chance go. we have to make it happen. >> people want change. and i guess -- change is happening. >> security forces were ordered to show restraint. the gamble by the government to loosen its vice like grip was back firing. >> this is a very public demonstration of what the tunisian people think of what their president said last night. president ben ali said he was going to open up the democratic

space. it is being tested here. thousands of people have gathered outside the home ministry. they're protesting -- >> in four weeks of protest that is could not be halted, dozens have been killed. the government says 21 human -- human rights say more were killed. tunisia's hospitals have treated many more for gunshot wounds and broken bones. events then started unfolding at an alarming rate. the rally in the capital was broken up by volleys of tear gas. the government was then dissolved and a state of emergency declared. then the prime minister ghannouchi announced on state television that president ben ali was no longer head of state.

he had gone after 23 years in office. there's reports he fled the country with his family. he's left behind a nation in turmoil. violence has hit tourist beach resorts in the past 48 hours. hundreds of halladay makers are being flown home. some witnessed the violence that devastated tunisia first hand. >> we saw how it was set on fire. people were shot yesterday. >> and we could hear the shots in the evening. and -- in bed. and we -- the shooting -- and the shouting outside. >> under the state of emergency, a nationwide nighttime curfew is in place. the army has extra powers to use force and no public gathering of more than three people is allowed. >> until a few days ago, tunisia was one of the most stable nations and resilient economies in north africa. chaos can be contagious.

neighboring countries will look on nervously. adam minot, bbc news. >> president obama praised the tunisian people and called for elections. ban ki-moon has urged all parties to avoid violence. events have dominated news bulletins across the region as jacky reports. >> these are not the holiday snaps of tourists in tunisia were planning to take home. they welcomed 7 million visitors a year and tourism is a mainstay of the economy, such scenes will do untold damage to tunisia's reputation as a safe holiday destination. >> the situation in tunisia is very serious and it is clear that the deadlock has made people very restless. we will closely monitor the situation and take care of the

germans who are still in tunisia. >> while the evening curfew returned some calm to the streets of tunis, a state of emergency remains in place. president obama has praised the tunisian people's courage but other observers fear this could be more unrest to come. >> i have been following the situation in tunisia with concern. now i'm saddened by the loss of life and call again for restraint in the use of force and full respect for freedom of expression and also -- and association. >> a day after tunisian people power drove an thor tayrn president from office, other regional leaders may look anxiously over their shoulders too. look familiar. these protests against rising food and fuel prices were in the

jordanian capital on friday. the factors that came together to unseat ben ali are present elsewhere in north africa too. >> the official political process is in all of these countries has got a very bad reputation, parliaments are mostly there not to filter the views of the population but to reflect those of the regime in place and act on their behalf. >> as momentous as the events were for tunisia, there's no suggestion that they could be contagious. >> i talked to an activist and specialist in human rights in tunisia, i started by asking her if she ever thought this would happen there. >> this is really extraordinary events. this is unprecedented across the

region. anybody that knows tunisia, this is a country that has been ruled with an iron fist for 60 years. this is building for a long time. it has one of the worst human rights records. it ranks behind china and russia and simm bab way. so people who know the situation, know this is -- this corruption, economic problems that occurred are really the last straw that breaks the cam mels back really. >> what do you think happens next in terms of a possible interim government and democratic elections. how do you take this forward? >> i think the -- the people here and the interim government have no credibility in the country. people's demands were not just that ben ali would leave but the entire corruption, which had its strong fist on it leave. and they have had extensive

corruption and bribery and brought the country to what it is today. it is a country that is peaceful. large middle class. one of the most educated pop layings in the arab world but what happened as noted by the ambassador himself, that the president's family has greedly taken over the entire economy and -- and -- that the president's son if law for example and -- the support for ali, people have enough. >> ali has left, is there not a chance that what we had, the political elite, they'll be able to reform and kind of keep the status quo but without ben ali? >> this is clearly what they're trying to do, but as human rights pointed out, this is out of line with the constitution. i'm afraid, this -- they don't have the right to do this under the constitution. what he must do is hand over the power to an interim government

which has a right to remain in power for maximum of 60 days. there's those that fat for democracy for a long time. -- fought for democracy for a long time. i don't think people will accept the situation. >> you spoke to em this, you don't think they're going to accept the situation. how do they feel? >> they sacrificed greatly, not only -- possibly around 100 deaths that happened around the last month but decades of corruption, of repression that they put up with. this is a country where youtube is banned and facebook restricted. people are not enjoying the fruits of the economic growth that -- that the u.s. and europe have been touting. tunisia has not been able to reach people across the country. the people feel the wall of silence is broken and they aren't willing to resurrect that. >> i also spoke to chin, a

24-year-old who is under president ben ali. >> we should actually free for the first time. i say actually free for the first time in 23 years. >> it come at a cost though, many people have died for this. >> yes. yes. many people died for this. we did this actually -- we did this for them. a lot of them died because -- because a lot of them -- i mean, very awful things to them. did very awful things to tunisian people, to people that they were supposed to -- to be -- >> what is happening right now? >> i'm aware there is a curfew but are you aware of any activities on the streets at the moment? >> there are some looters trying to make this huge event something bad. but army is trying to control

things, trying to get things better and trying to get things right. they are heading to that. things are -- are now -- i mean very calm now. it is -- it is going the right direction now. >> with the army maintaining peace and ghannouchi taking this interim role, would you be happy for that kind of establish, for that to continue? >> no. we -- we don't like the army to control everything. but this -- this is -- this is temporary. we want -- we want -- we waint our situation back and then we're going to -- we're going to try to have another government, try to run -- run -- run the things the way -- the way that we want. and -- to have our words to say. to have something to do with it -- with this new tunisia to change things and do things better. >> do you have people in place, do you think, opposition leaders that could step in? it doesn't seem tunisia is there

in terms of opposition? >> i couldn't agree more. it is vague. we don't have people that could really take the position. we are in -- in -- in a transition phase. we're looking for new leaders. we -- there's going to be a -- a huge debate about it. the most thing that we're happy about because this time we are -- we get to decide who is row who it is going to be, the president who is going to be our government. this is what we're happy about. >> chu chin. and there's more on the website and how likely the country is to change. do check that out. >> this is bbc news. still ahead, and a new generation, the same bitter legacy. the young palestinians preparing for war with israel.

>> prosecutors are investigating italy's prime minister berlusconi that he paid to have sex with a teenage dancer. the girl said she attended parties when she was 17 and denied they had sex. mr. berlusconi admitted to having her released after she was arrested for theft but denies doing anything wrong. >> he's the prime minister that can't shake off his judicial jinx. sylvia berlusconi arrested over the connection with a teenage belly dancer. they want to question him over allegations of underage prostitution and claims that he improperly called police to get them to release the woman from custody. and this is her. real name car oirks ma and stage

-- kareem that and stage name ruby. she claims on one occasion she received $9,000 or $6,000 pounds. mr. berlusconi said he knew her and asked the police to let her go but denies having sex with her. the allegations compound a bad week for the italian leader, coming less than a day after the country's highest court, he removed his immunity from prosecution. he has yet to hear if he's going back to trial on three corruption cases. berlusconi's lawyer says the claims are groundless and absurd. they come at a bad time. berlusconi wants to strengthen his government and not have it distracted by more allegations. so far, it isal -- scandal and not success that followed him in too 2011.

>> this is bbc news. the headlines now. weeks of violence and protests in tunisia forced president ben ali out of office. he went to saudi arabia. the caretaker president has promised widespread realm and urged tunisians to unite. >> b.p. signed an agreement to exploit oil and gas in the russian shelf. the agreement will see the firm's expertise in exploring the region. it is the first deal since the deep water horizon spill in the gulf last year. and from there daniel sanford reports. >> even if you're a chief executive of b.p., one of the biggest oil companies, people keep you waiting. but this is worth waiting for.

vast reserves of oil and gas under the seas of the arctic. >> the russian prime minister of -- vladimir putin said the work would require 10s of billions of investments and the latest technology. >> the arctic shelf of russia has great potential. it is in the very early days. you're right about the need to develop technology -- technology centers for both -- technology developing in the arctic but the great care that this work will need. >> some of the world's biggest oil and gas reserves are believed to be under the hostile seas. b.p. says it has the know how to get at them. russia's largest known reserves are in siberia. they're running out. today focuses on the kara sea to the north of that. estimates suggest there could be 500 billion tons of trial and 10

trillion meters of arctic gas. >> it is considered to be a major undeveloped oil province. b.p. got a very prime position in the early stages of developing that region and if -- if the jeel gists and others correct, this could be one of the deals of the century. >> last year, b.p. had a year to forget. the horizon disaster in the gulf has left it with billions of liabilities, a reputation of all time low and doors closing it in its face right across america. b.p. has had its problems in russia too. in 2008, the company experienced what it called a campaign of harassment after it fell out with the business partnerships. now russian state controlled ross november will take a share. b.p. gets a share of ross

november in return. b.p. has been investing here for decades. two decades it appeared to be turning sour but this confirms that the company's vital relationship with russia is back on track. daniel, bbc news moscow. >> practicesalians started burying victims of the flood that claimed 500 lives. it is the worst natural disaster the country has seen. thousands homeless and rescuers are struggle to access the more remote areas. one particularly badly affected location is the mountainous area inland of rio. david shipman reports. >> the torrents of muddy brown water is still flowing. the hillsides gounled out by the highly destructive rains. the rescuers, a massive struggle to reach the victims. so many areas -- areas are cut

off. the floods so powerful, a car was dumped flee flors up. families destroyed. >> i lost my mother, my daughter and grand daughter. i don't know what to do from now on. yesterday we reported on the incredible rescue of this woman. she clung on but lost her daughter. later she spoke to reporters, still traumatized. >> i really don't know how i'm alive, she said. or how i'll replace what i lost. the rain was more damaging because of where it fell, on an area recently seen a rush of development. as the giant city of rio has grown, many people built homes inland, generally with cheap construction. teresopolis is the worst hit town.

>> the rain has now lost intensity here this teresopolis, it comes and goes but the situation remains dangerous because the soil is wet and slippy. now land slides could happen at any moment. >> paolo reporting. >> the president has viewed the damage. she took office two weeks ago and now faces the worst natural disaster for decades. she promised aid and stronger buildings. >> we work with the state government on the rescue and rebuilding efforts. we're here to guarantee that the rebuilding will help prevent future disasters. >> under rainy skies, a child is buried. the final death toll still isn't known. but long lines of graves have been dug in these dark days for

brazil. david shipman, bbc news. >> at least 27 people have died and more are missing in the floods and land slides that have hit eastern and central sri lanka government and aid agencies are struggling to get supplies to about a million people in need. >> residents in australia's third largest city is starting to clear up as the flood waters begin to reseed. thousands of homes and businesses vik swamped. many areas remain without power. at least 25 people somewhere been killed in queensland over the last month. at least 100 pilgrims have been killed in a stampede at a religious festival in the southern state of kerala. they were returning from a shrine when a jeep lost control and crashed into worshippers. dozens were wounded. >> tension along the border between israel and gaza have

been at the highest since the end of the war almost two years ago. israel warned the hamas leadership that it won't tolerate rocket attacks which have increased in recent months. >> in gaza, an olive grove, a new generation of palestinian fighters is training for war with israel. these men are from the popular resistance, a militant group affiliated to hamas. israel accuses them of firing mortars and rockets at israeli towns. they don't deny it. in a gaza safe house, i have been brought to meet one of the fighters. it is our right, he says, to resist israeli occupation with any means we choose. on the israeli side of the fence, things look different. the rocket fire from gaza is draining israeli patience. >> recently we seen an increase in the number of shooting events

launching rockets toward israeli homes, israeli towns, israeli citizens. the goal was clear to target as many israelis as possible. we in the -- we won't tall rate the situation like this. >> january 2009, israeli's air force is pounding gaza city. operation cost led left 1 1/2 thousand gazans dead. this is what the israeli air force left behind the last time they were here two years ago. this used to be the interior ministry, the heart of the hamas government in gaza. another war here now would be a disaster for hamas and its top leadership has told us that they're doing everything they can to stop the rocket fire against israel and to prevent another conflict. >> if the israeli is going to stop the aggression -- or all sort of military activities on

the border, including this, all of the palestinian sections are -- will stop resistance, stop sending rockets. >> this is -- my house. >> most gazans are exhausted by the endless conflict. he shows me where his family once owned six harnl houses. they were blown -- large houses. they were blown up two years ago. >> my dream is black, my future is black. nothing. i don't see any future. for me, maybe -- maybe for me it is okay, but my kids nothing zero. >> unable to find work and unable to escape, rihad and his eight children exist in this shack. at night they listen to jets flying overhead and wonder how soon war will return. bbc news, gaza city. >> you're watching bbc news.

[bbc world news is presented by kcet. funding for this presentation was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu, the newman's own foundation, and the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation.] >> and union bank. ♪ >> union bank put its financial

strength to work for a wide range of companies, small businesses and major corporations. what can we do for you? >> bbc "world news" was presented by kcet los angeles.