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>> and now, "bbc world news." >> libya and anti-government forces in defeating units loyal to colonel gaddafi. the u.n. declares the situation on the border a humanitarian emergency. welcome to bbc news. coming up later for you, questions why the minorities minister had no police protection despite threats made against him. anti-government rebels and libya have been celebrating after

forces loyal were forced to retreat following the battle in the eastern border. the army with a vastly superior weaponry have the upper hand. for the first time since the region fell the protesters a couple weeks ago. report.pson's has this >> it was an extraordinary day when defeat became an extraordinary day. the last phase took place here as they escaped back to their own territory. the big turnaround for them, because a lot of people this morning thought that his men were going to go to the coastal towns of one after the other.

40 miles are so way, who reached the early morning. they started preparing for the possibility that colonel gaddafi's forces would try to capture this place. [gun fire] they were excited and nervous. defenders have a few ancient russian tanks. many of these men were not untrained volunteers. until a few days ago, they were soldiers themselves. the mood was defiant. he is shouting, there is only one way for us to go.

that is the right way, for word. an air force jet, probably a russian bilhah -- built. the pilot misses the ammunition stores, thbut this is the fourth attempt in 12 days to blow it up. colonel gaddafi's troops are supposed to be of dancing. people are very excitable. the forces were still slugging it out where they had captured the airfield. >> a another bomb. >> at that moment, it came around for another pass.

the tension was immense. everyone expected it would be his next target. but rebel reinforcements made for large numbers. the difference did not lie in equipment. they were less well-armed. this prisoner isn't just scared, he is a demoralized. this might not be the final victory, but it is an important achievement. >> gaddafi has once again blamed al qaeda. jeremy bowen was there. >> his supporters were ready

long before he arrived. to fight back against foreign pressure and domestic rebellion. it did not need much revving up. they heard the motorcade was close. he was driving himself. his strategy is clear. pushing back with armed forces into rebel areas. and telling his foreign critics that without him, the country would face chaos a. there is tremendous passion here, people cheering and saying how much they love colonel gaddafi. supporters here are also

expressing bewilderment at what is happening. saying libya is a friend of britain. saying.y are the colonel said that libya's troubles was a foreign conspiracy. >> of the plot is to control libyan oil and territory. we will fight until the last man and the last one in from south and north -- and the last one from south to north. >> there were hints of reconciliation, too. he offered an amnesty or a

dialogue, an invitation to a mission and talk of a free press. for his hard-core supporters, it was a family day out. four libyans that don't like things the way they are, they wonder whether the risks of taking on the regime are worth it. his leadership style is eccentric. he is hitting back card and a slowing of the rebellion. that is something they couldn't do in egypt or tunisia. >> an operation has begun to repatriate thousands of foreign workers, most of whom are egyptian. britain and france are sending several airplanes. the second largest french warship is also heading towards the coastal waters.

he has sent this report. >> the struggle for liberation int he ar -- in the arab world has led to this. men fighting for a seat on the bus, desperate to escape from libya. leading to simply be allowed to go home. 85,000 people have struggled through this whole border post in less than a week. the exodus from the country seems without and. most here are migrant workers. they have gone to libya for a chance to earn a few hundred pounds a month. in search of a better life for their jargon -- children. they are caught in a whirlwind.

most are left with just a few possessions on their backs. britain and france are hoping to fly people out. there is little doubt when they call this a humanitarian crisis. [siren] just a few meters away, a reminder of the struggle for power. there is no doubt in who they support. gaddafi insists he is not a leader of the country, but his supporters call him the hero of the revolution. apparently, there have been no demonstrations. it is all just a lie. tell that to zachary and his family. they have fled the fighting.

swearing to never go back. tonight, the situation at the border is pretty much had a pinpoint. they have managed to grab a few blankets and are trying to keep warm. even though they have lost everything, some will tell you it has been worth it. the answer is clear. he would not only give his job for his freedom, but his life. they may be cold and exhausted, but they really can be better and it burns brighter than ever. >> let's go to the other side of libya and to the egyptian border on the eastern side.

he is waiting to go into libya, and the egyptian border town. thousands of migrants have passed through there in the last week. what is it like over there? >> nothing like the chaos on the western side. 77,000 people have passed through. 55,000 of them were egyptians. once we get to the border there, we go straight to egypt. there are 7000 people at the border, most of them migrant workers just like on the western side. they don't have to pay for work. they are mostly from the subcontinent. and sudan, nigeria or ghana. >> who is helping them and what sort of help are they getting?

>> the world health organization and iom for migration. but i get the feeling that they've probably underestimated the number of people that are still coming to the border. one of the officials for migration admitted that russians were given out to people just a few days ago, but they weren't enough. they thought everyone had got out, or they completely underestimated its. you get the feeling that the international organizations are concentrating on the western side rather than this particular border. they are going straight to libya, by passing these migrants that are stranded,

hungry, and cold. >> have they told you anything about what they have seen? most ofseem very calm, them sleeping on the ground. the anchor really boils out not just from one particular nationality, but they are blinded by this year. -- fear. some of them are very angry at the way they were treated by libyans that mistook them for mercenaries. a man was complaining to us about libyans dressing up like a black africans in military forms taking pictures of them before sending them to news

organizations saying that these people are mercenaries. there is a fear of libyans using these black africans as scapegoats to combat mercenaries. there is the fear of sectarian divide between arabs and africans and black africans. -- arab africans and black africans. >> thank you for that information. there is plenty of libya coverage on line. do have a look. other news now, the fashion designer has apologized unreservedly ha about accusations that he made racist insults.

he was sacked by christian dior after declaring "i love hitler." >> today, he was force into an embarrassing apology after french prosecutors decided to put him on trial for anti- semitic views. and then unreservedly apologized for his behavior. >> you will say to the court that is not racist or anti- semetitic. he is very tired and will cite his demons with alcohol. when you are vulnerable, you can say anything and everything.

>> they have seen enough and have sacked him. natalie portman has said she wants nothing more to do with him. his job or his reputation has convinced him -- up to six months in prison. >> a massive mudslide has destroyed thousands of homes. the city's worst disaster could block the river and flood the surrounding area. and also on sports fields. the headlines. anti-government forces and took

up fighting. he himself hasn't been -- has again blamed al qaeda as a plot to control the country and its oil resources. let's get more on libya. this is near the egyptian border. thank you for your time. what is it like this early thursday morning? >> be city is quiet. this early morning, it is quiet. the city is about five days, it is running out by

[unintelligible] >> i understand you work at the central hospital. have you been fighting in previous days? >> from the 16th, they start receiving injured. this lasts four days. after that, there is no uninjured person anymore. that is a lot of injured persons. and some of them are in hospitals, others are hom.e -- home. >> what do you think the immediate future for libya is?

they seem to be at least partially in control of anti- government forces. >> this is not possible. the country, people are here. it will split the country to two countries. [unintelligible] even in the small, local stations, [unintelligible] >> thank you very much, indeed. in pakistan, the only -- and the minorities minister predicted in

the assassination four months ago. he recorded a tape that was sent to bbc if he was killed. they had been in the spotlight since november when they sentenced a mother of four to death. >> a hail of bullets hit the minister on the way to a cabinet meeting. he asked for a bulletproof car but did not get one. when the taliban came, and there was no one to stop them. >> there was no one to protect him? >> no one. >> the gunman struck her as the car was coming down the road.

he refused to go into hiding, but he knew his life was at risk. he was concerned about security. he complained that he had not been given extra protection and despite the obvious threat that he faced. last december, he recorded this message and ask that it be sent to the bbc in case of his death. >> i will die to defend their rights. >> another prominent level. he is challenging pakistan's blasphemy laws. the minister shared his cause and knew he might share his fate. he won't about to the extremists. -- bow to the extremists.

>> they cannot frighten me or divert my attention. >> you won't be silenced? but not at all. -- >> not at all. >> this was a hero worhipped. are afraidor's family that the extremists might have been emboldened. >> it is start of -- it is part of a systematic plan that is working, it is very effective. it takes a few people that are willing to instill fear in the society. it takes the silence of people that should not be speaking out. >> and who will speak out when they might be next?

the fear is that they are winning. >> he ministry has brought new charges against american soldiers passing materials to wikileaks. prosecutors have said that they will not be recommending the death penalty. the washington correspondent has more. >> essentially, together, they paint a picture of a 23-year-old army driver and intelligence officer introducing the unauthorized software into government computers to access, download, and ultimately transmit to the public be alleging classified documents which military prosecutors say

would aid the enemy. that is something that potentially could be a capital charge. prosecutors here are saying that they won't seek the death penalty in this particular case have the case does go to court martial. they will seek life imprisonment. >> i was wondering how any potential case might be affected by what is happening to bradley manning right now. >> it could be affected by a couple of ways. wikileaks isn't mentioned at all. some people draw from that that a conspiracy has not been established between bradley manhattan and the founder of -- manning and the founder of wikileaks. there is no evidence that the men were directly in contact.

they also influence things. were he in a situation where the u.s. was trying to extradite him, they would be facing a death penalty case. these lawyers will probably argue that even though they are not seeking the death penalty, capital punishment is clearly an issue in this case. >> have they said anything yet? >> they have asked for his mental health to be assessed to see if it will proceed to a full trial. >> and the united states supreme court is in favor of a church anti-gay protests. the right to free speech -- and the church believes such deaths are god's punishment for homosexuality.

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