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what can we do for you? >> and now bbc world news. >> a bbc team is beaten and subjected to mock executions in libya appeared >> i thought there were going to shoot us from behind. it did not happen, but i was thinking that this was the end. >> if they decide to this, i cannot do anything. i just closed my eyes and asked my god to help me. >> gaddafi forces gain the upper hand. keying off madoff morocco offers reforms in his new speech -- picking up bachman -- king ahmed of morocco offers reforms in his new speech.

an historic touchdown for discovery. it ends its remarkable 27-year career. welcome once again. abc team in libya has been jailed and subject of mock executions. while there were in prison, they witnessed firsthand the horrifying levels of violence by colonel gaddafi's security forces with other prisoners. after their release, they spoke with our middle east editor in tripoli. >> 30 miles and many check point

separates zawiya from aaa. tonight, the gaddafi forces seem close to victory, but we cannot confirm that because the libyans will not let for news teams move freely. the bbc team has attempted several times to get through to zawiya without official permission. one crew was stopped at a checkpoint and detained for 21 hours in three different locations. correspondents -- one correspondent was badly beaten. they saw prisoners in a much worse state than they were. >> most of them wear hooded and handcuffed tightly. they had swollen hands and broken ribs. they were in agony. they were screaming. >> there were 10 to 12

prisoners. the majority of them were from zoezawiya. they were accused of being fighters against gaddafi's army. >> they were being tortured? >> yes, sure. >> from the second floor, i heard them screaming. i cannot describe it. it was horrible, the worst thing i have ever seen in my life. and i have seen a lot of bad stuff. >> some of them told me he has to ribs broken. -- has two ribs broken. in six hours, he had not been to drink or pead or been moved from one side to another. -- to drink or pee or had been

moved from one said to another. >> they were put through mock executions. >> when we arrived in this area, this detention center, it was a scary place. as soon as i got out of the car, one of the guards, the soldiers, hit me with his gun on my back. i was down on the ground. then they asked me to put my hands behind my head. i thought -- >> when they were copying the weapon -- cocking the weapon. >> yes. i thought that, in minutes, they would shoot me. >> he was beaten up. he was agony -- he was in agony and suffering. suddenly, the cage door opened and this big guy entered the cage and put hoods on our

heads and handcuffed us. i heard the gun noises. they were getting ready. i thought there would be executions probably. >> if they decided to do that, they would do it. i could not do anything. i just closed my eyes and asked my god to help me. >> they started shouting and i thought they were going to shoot us from behind. it did not happen, but i was thinking this was the end. >> libyan tv has been showing old army parades'. the regime's officials said that the bbc teams express was not right and there would be released. but they say that we should understand that libyan police are at war and that british

spies are coming. >> lillian has issued a statement. the bbc condemns the abusive treatment of our journalists. the vice president of the international center for journalists and washington says that foreign and local journalists are victims of the libyan crackdown. >> it is much more violent than we have seen in other arab countries. but a big part of it is the libyan government's control over media. of course, the libyan government tried to welcome journalists and took them on in a propaganda tour. but the kind of independent reporting we need from libya, now we are seeing when journalist tried to do that. >> there was not really anything that journalists could do.

there's not much device that you can give journalists. they are ordered by the government not to go to certain areas. >> journalists have to do their jobs. each organization has to make these decisions. i certainly cannot say what media organization should do about getting reporting from this conflict situations. they are guinea -- the irony, of course, is that this will be far more embarrassing for the libyan government because we now have reporting from inside a detention center about the conditions of detainees and the beatings and torture that we never would have had otherwise. >> libya appears to be in the grip of a civil war in which colonel gaddafi appears to be gaining the upper hand. they held the opposition fighters from east and west of the capital tripoli. at least 40 people died on wednesday. there has been more fighting in

other towns. our north american editor has been following that story. >> in the mediterranean, there is no shortage of american military might. an aircraft carrier and its strike group are just off libyan waters. now nato has ordered 24-hour surveillance. nato is not looking to intervene in libya. but we have asked our military to contact the -- to conduct the necessary planning for all of the dwellings. >> business and has been to project a new american after iraq, one that is not gung-ho to enforce its will at gunpoint. some opposition groups are just as weary. there's great caution from his spokesman. >> is is not about the united

states. this is not about western powers or european powers. >> but obama knows that doing nothing runs a terrible risk. in bosnia, even a no-fly zone was enough to pay current slaughter. an exclusive metro from the senate offices to the u.s. congress, there are those who worry with the world might witness if america does not give a lead. >> to allow him to slaughter from the air against the popular movement of his people without recourse is a serious question for all of us. >> if we stand by and let it happen, that will be a black mark on our record for a long time. >> but obama is given pause by the military reality. says thatary

stopping all military flights would be a conflict. the government stronghold of tripoli will have to be taken out, risking civilian casualties. enforcing a no-fly zone would need hundreds of fighter jets supported by other larger aircraft with radar and refueling, worships for radar coverage, and helicopters for search and rescue. in iraq, when such a cap -- one operation would cost $100 million per year. >> to impose an offical no-fly zone would take the matter of days. but if the political aim is to support the rebellion, what if the rebellion last two years? are we willing to make the commitment for that amount of time? >> military actions needs to have clarity. >> many in congress may feel that it is america's job to be seen to be leading the world. it showed that, if there is in operation, america will provide much of the brains and brawn behind it. but the president feels it is

important, particularly in the muslim war, that america is not seen a front leading the pack after afghanistan and iraq. >> king mohammed of morocco has offered reforms in his country. in his first speech since last month, he said that individual and collective liberties are to be expected. >> raucous dtv on wednesday night and a rare appearance from the head of state to -- moroccan tv on wednesday night and a rare appearance from the head of state. >> taking into consideration what we have developed in our participation -- our anticipation for reform, we have formed a special committee to review the constitution. >> morocco is a construct -- is a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. executive power is exercised by

the government. more importantly, it is also monarch.d by the marke the king can issue binding degrees which have the force of law. morocco was affected by the broad uprising that began sweeping across the arab world two months ago. although the widespread unrest in neighboring countries did not happen. but five people were killed in violence linked to protests across the country on february 20. the ire of the protesters was directed more at parliament rather than the institution of the monarchy itself could nevertheless, the force of their -- the monarchy itself. nevertheless, the force of their demands seems to be succeeding. >> our initiative for constitutional reform is to enforce our democratic approach.

>> the monarchy in morocco has existed in various forms for hundreds of years. how people react to these proposed reforms could help determine how long it remains that way. >> this is abc news. a un report highlights the alarming number of civilians killed in the war in afghanistan. cigarettes will longer be on display in supermarkets in england from april next year as part of the government's fight to lower the number of smokers. >> blackpool out of season, the sea, the amusement arcade, and the cigarette. 35% of adults here smoke and one in three pregnant women, twice

the national rate. >> on average -- an average baby is about 7 pounds to 8 pounds. >> i actually smoked when i was pregnant. not a lot, but i did. >> people start young here. when did you have your first cigarette? >> when i was about 10 geert >> why are smoking rates so high here? look around. it is a deprived area. unemployment is high and poor communities smoke more. on average, blackpool residents not only die younger than those in more affluent communities, but they have many more years of ill health. it is smoking, not poverty, that is the number-one factor. one into lifelong smokers will die from their habit. it cuts an average of 10 years off life expectancy. >the conservatives were against the ban on shops display

cigarettes. but starting next year, large retailers will have to remove tobacco from shelves. but the tobacco industry will fiercely oppose any further restrictions on what remains a legal product. >> property taxes -- once one and london's ritz is meant was arrested -- once one of london's richest man was arrested. this is bbc news. a bbc team working in libya were suggested to mock executions after being -- were subjected to mock executions and after being detained. the international community ponders how to respond to the violence.

the nato member countries expect to meet on thursday to discuss a no-fly zone over libya. paul volcker told me that the options they may consider. >> i think there are several issues that make it very complicated for nato. first of all, the discussion should not be about intervention. intervention sound like the west is trying to move into an arab country and trying to impose its will. this is not it at all. this is about rebels were trying to throw off a dictator and who are seeking international help. the question is whether or not we can help them and how could a lot of new countries are not willing to take any step on their own. they're looking for some form of authorization. they are looking for a u.s. security council resolution. given the nature -- given the makeup of the u.s. security council, i do not think that is late the -- i do not think that

is likely. are there ways in which we can provide non intrusive but effective support to help the rebels were trying to throw off this dictator? >> things have changed in the past two weeks. i mention that time frame because it was two weeks ago that the italian prime minister was addressing a meeting of interior ministers. he was asked about libya and he said "this is difficult. you have to remember we have relations with these people and they provide us with our energy." how likely is the consensus in nato? >> i think things have changed in the past two weeks and i would not count those statements reflect a vote for the italian government is now even in analyzing that statement, who did we have the relationship with? it was with a regime that was already brutally repressing its people and has now attack its own people with tanks and aircraft and has thoroughly been discredited in the international community. we are facing a very difficult

situation now. two weeks ago, a no-fly zone may have been a good idea and save many lives. but now, i think we actually have an opposition and a rebel military force and we need to liaise with them to see what they need, what it is they feel will be helpful in comparing them to take control of their country away from this dictator. >> does libya have any friends in nato? there has been a report of a flurry of activity, meeting the portuguese foreign minister, a concern by the italian prime minister that a libyan plane had landed in brussels. >> certainly, i would expect that a lot of european nations would be open to dialogue. the want to hear what people have to say. i do not believe that libya has any advocate within a whatsoever. i think that everyone in it can see clearly what is happening on the ground. rather, what i think you see is the caution of a number of

states not wanting to see themselves in the possession of the intervening in a foreign country, an arab country. -- in the position of intervening in a foreign country, an arab country. this is about supporting the people of libya as they're trying to secure their own future. for them, this is a chance of a lifetime. >> the dali lama has announced his plans to retire. the time has come for his replacement by it been elected leader -- by an elected leader. he will seek an amendment allowing him to resign from his responsibilities at the next session of the exiled parliament, which is in march. it is easy to forget a bloody struggle in africa appeared and ivory coast, there is a looming

civil war. the men internationally recognized of last november's presidential election. i should warn you that this report has some graphic images. >> it has become more like a nightmare than a city. this is of the john -- this is abijan. this is what can happen if your luck runs out. beneath the burning tires, two men. there slow deaths are filmed and circulated by a local web site. this is genuine and recent. [chanting] >> location, public outrage. this woman support the man that the world says won the

presidential election. >> women are gathering in crowds like this, calling for peace at a time when ivory coast doesn't seem to be slipping closer and closer toward the resumption of civil war. we are unarmed, she says. our only demand is democracy here, even if it means that our blood must be spilled. this is a similar demonstration last rate which ended badly. -- last week which ended badly. some are loyal to of those two lost the presidency. seven women were killed when he fired into the crowd. to reach the country's internationally recognized government, you have to fly across the front lines of a once prosperous city.

ministers trapped here are protected by the un and backed by the west, but they know that the former president will not step down without a fight. >> we are afraid of losing the power, ready to burn out everything before he leaves. that is our main fear. >> it is starting already. in the city center, we are caught in another fight. it is a skirmish, but the momentum is building fast toward a violent end game. >> the defense lawyer for the former president of liberia has argued that to the war crimes trial is driven by politics. charles taylor, who boycotted earlier hearings in the netherlands, was in court on wednesday and denies 11 charges.

the united nations say the number of civilians killed in the war in afghanistan has increased for the second year in a row. the report finds that more than two thousand 700 civilians were killed in 2010. it blames the taliban and other insurgents for the majority of the deaths. >> there is no escaping the war in afghanistan for the taliban, even a supermarket counts as a legitimate target. this attack was meant to kill foreigners, but it was mostly afghans who died. a couple and their four children were inside. none of them made it out alive. alley was at the register that day. he was shot in the hip. for most of his life, afghanistan has been at war. >> when we leave our house in the morning, we do not know if we will make it back alive in

the evening. it is awful. the taliban needs to stop killing. >> as afghans go about their everyday lives, it gets worse. assassinations increase last year. everyone is now a potential target. it is a change in tactics, says the u.n. the taliban is blamed for three- quarters of all deaths. >> stop attacking civilians. civilians are protected under all kinds of laws. stop attacking them and withdraw all orders to attack them. also, we would say stop attacking schools, mosques, and hospitals because these are also civilian places. >> so too are -- these people

fled if you weeks ago. one man tries to hide his son. a gunman killed 42 of them, including two children. he said he loved to kill. last year, it was the bloodiest year in this decade-long war. the year ahead is expected to be worse. >> the members of our bbc arabic team has given -- have given details about their detainment. they were subject to moccasin's she shins -- mock executions using live ammunition. you can get more information on

the bbc news website. >> hello and welcome. >> see the news unfold. get the top stories from around the globe and click to play video reports. good to bbc.com/news to experience the in-depth reporting of bbc world news online. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vt., 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 for a wide wilworld of companies. what can we do for you? >>