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>> and now, "bbc world news." >> president obama says that opposition fighters is on the agenda for colonel gaddafi to leave power. >> if we wanted to get weapons in the libya, we probably could. we are looking at all of our options at this point. >> they are deciding libya's political future. the forces launched a ferocious counterattack on the rebels. >> sustained artillery fire, the rebels themselves are just ahead. >> and the level of radioactive iodine in the nuclear plant is

found to be at least 3000 times behalf legal limit. coming up, a much-anticipated world cup semifinal between india and pakistan will see both prime ministers sitting side by side. welcome. as fierce fighting continues in libya, president obama has not ruled out supplying u.s. weapons to opposition figures in the country. he believed he was losing control of libya and would ultimately step down. a series of interviews with the american news network, president obama called on the leadership

around the colonel to make it clear he had to go. >> people don't want him rolling anymore. they will have made a determination to what the most appropriate way to facilitate him stepping down will be. >> what would you make any calls to say, take him? >> we have not gotten to that stage yet. it is fair to say that if we wanted to get weapons into libya, we probably could. we're looking at all of our options at this point. keep in mind what we have accomplished. we have instituted a no-fly zone because it is an international

effort. >> could we have it there in a day or two days? >> i will not talk about operations at that level. >> they explained why the president obama would wait and see before making a decision on army and rebel forces. >> as things stand, can the rebels defeat the forces? the answer might be dealt. what happens next? how will he be defeated? barack obama categorically does not want to put american ground troops into libya. it would be politically suicidal for him one year before he launches his reelection bid. americans might kill the next best option would be to arm the rebels. the field it is legal under the second un resolution passed through security council a few weeks ago.

the allies within the coalition disagree. the military forces in europe say there are possibly how cunha -- al qaeda elements and it would be hugely controversial to on those people. he will wait -- to arm those people. it will help fill libyan people in the hour of need.

>> u.s. jets returning to their base. the decision to use air power against libya was taken very quickly. so quickly that it is sorting out the politics behind it. that was one reason for the london conflict. the islamic conference and the african union will back the u.n. resolutions. their enthusiasm for military action varies. the un mandate to protect civilians also means taking sides in the civil war. >> how they will draw a line in the desert sand to halt the forces. the closest the rebels have to a political leadership, they would

like your help on the ground, too. >> american said that they would consider arming the rebels. is that something you would like? >> they are fighting with machine guns. when asked for political support. more than we are asking for arms, but if we get the support, that would be great. >> they are talking about harming the rebels. -- arming the rebels. they try to avoid comparisons with iraq. it does not guarantee a regime will fall. it allows arms deliveries. >> is our interpretation that 1973, amended or overrode the

prohibition of arms to anyone in libya so that there could be a legitimate transfer of arms. >> some rivals talked-about democracy. >> we have seen little bit of intelligence. >> they were authorized to protect the civilians not change the libyan regime. even though the bonds have done severe damage. there have been a lot of contradictions for anybody

involved. they are starting a contact group. lancaster house. >> the foreign ministers claimed in an interview that rebel forces are losing ground every day. the fighters have government troops clashing. fighting has been concentrated. some of the heaviest clashes has been around the town. the fight, for the rebels, this was a rematch. they were driven from the town last night.

today, they were on the offensive again. disorganized but determined. at the front line, we found them firing their heavy guns. pounding colonel gaddafi's forces with anti-tank rounds and rockets. they aim to take the fight to his home town. the fighting here has really intensified. the rebels are trying to push forward. they are meeting heavy resistance from the other side. the rebels themselves have fired from to positions just ahead. fighters came rushing back from the front for fresh supplies of ammunition. among them, a defector from the army that says he is fighting for just one thing. freedom, he says.

he just wants to live help others live. some pause for prayer while the fight raged around them. soon, the rebels were streaming ford, retaking the town. the enemy tanks had fallen silent. just in case they started going house to house, hunting for any that might have stayed behind. the rebels were jumpy. it was tense and short-lived. in less than an hour, they were racing away after heavy artillery fire from supporters. the advance has turned into this chaotic, disorganized, and hasty retreat. they have been pushed back from territory they have captured.

the rebels have been relying on air strikes to pay their way. -- pave their way. how long will the international community be willing to fight their battles? >> we have more on libya coming up about 5 minutes. let's turn our attention to japan or the nuclear and industrial safety agency has announced that the level of radioactive iodine in the sea of japan's fukushima nuclear plant is 3355 times above the legal limit. a state of maximum alert was declared after highly radioactive uranium was found near the plant. we speak to our correspondent in tokyo. levels in the sea are now causing grave concern?

>> this is the strongest indication that highly radioactive water that has been discovered within the buildings and outside the buildings he is somehow leaking into the sea. a level of radioactive iodine was detected and considerably higher than any we have been told about so far. almost twice as high. we were told that the measurements taken during the course of yesterday, it was a steadily increasing. it must be said that the nuclear safety agency had stressed that it is a very localized reading taken off the shore of the fukushima plant. they say it will have dissipated and deteriorated considerably by the time that it reaches populated areas. readings taken further down the coast have detected much lower but still elevated levels of iodine.

1,600 kilometers away, they found levels that were higher than they want from emissions coming from a nuclear power plant. definite worry is growing about the radiation in the sea water. >> the japanese prime minister has been speaking with president obama. >> they have been speaking with nicolas sarkozy of france. it has taken a more international dimension by the day. the latest, the very small amount of radioactive iodine would have been detected in the arab of glasgow. -- air above glasgow.

this is taking on an increasingly international dimension. >> you are watching bbc news. still ahead, and the world cup semifinals. we have a special report ahead of wednesday's epic clash. more now on the foreign intervention in libya. the british prime minister has been speaking from the arabic television service. he was asked if the air strikes were helping the rebel forces. >> what we are helping to do is to stop him from terrorizing and murdering his own people. this is now a time where people can return and live peacefully. they were being slaughtered by forces.

what we are doing is absolutely in the terms of the nuclear security council resolution, britain, france, america, we have no selfish interests. this is not about libyan oil. we want to stop this decatur murdering his people at the invitation of the arab league. this is not iraq or what has happened in the past. this is a about a much more multilateral and fair future where the arab states are asking us to do with them what we are currently engaged in. >> there is a clear vision that you want to see. >> here in london, the council is polishing their plan for a democratic libya. >> is there any guarantee that libya will not disintegrate like

afghanistan or eventually iraq. what i see in the interim transitional matter is an organizational matter that wants to only be there. it wants to transition to a democratic libya. none of us want to see libya divided. >> a reminder of the headlines this hour, president obama has said the libyan leader is greatly weakened and will ultimately step down. he did not rule out providing military help to the libyan rebels. the level of radioactive iodine in the fukushima nuclear plant is 3000 times the legal limit. let's turn to the situation in

libya. have been appointed by the libyan transitional council. i asked him about his recent trip to libya. >> it was a grueling trip through egypt. i traveled by car. there was a very good trip for me, a learning experience with the opportunity to view firsthand the devastation that has taken place in various parts of libya. and also, most importantly, i had the opportunity to spend some quality time with members of the council. i must say that they got it together. it is a war zone, but they have foreign relations committees, a relief committees, i was quite impressed. hopefully, it will give the a advantage to the administration here.

that we do have the making of a democratic change in libya. and the words the president obama said earlier today, gaddafi will eventually be topple. -- toppled. it is only a matter of time. i don't believe the world is going to sit by. they are not going to stand by b receiveen -- and see benghazi devastated. >> the question is when the time dafie willb e that gad might step down. and the un resolution as it stands with the limitation of the no-fly zone. is there the prospect of military intervention on the ground? >> i don't think it will be

required, perhaps in a limited way. i am not a military strategist, but there has to be political pressure. there has to definitely be political pressure. the regime doesn't have any way to keep going. they don't have fuel coming in. they don't have support from anybody. >> forgive me for interrupting, but in the country itself, they have these strongholds in tripoli, and we have seen very heavy clashes. for those areas to fall, not only do we need a political mind-set, but surely, there might be an argument for more military intervention. >> nobody has their hand exactly. the man himself will get killed. would you resign himself to say

that we are going to give up? perhaps the africans will make him a deal. nobody has a specific magical way. >> it has risen to 150 in yemen. they blame al qaeda for the explosion. >> they came in the tens of thousands. protesters on the streets calling for the president to go. leave, leave, leave. a young mother of three, she has that the protests almost daily.

>> that this is impossible. [inaudible] >> his opponent is still on the streets. no one knows what will happen next. they are asking the same question here. this is the headquarters of one of the main opposition leaders. he is a key power broker in yemen. with no solution in sight, he wants the west to increase pressure on the president. >> in the united states and the europeans [unintelligible] they wish to have changed, especially for the crimes of the current regime. adoption of a cms ally against -- they see yemen as an ally

against al qaeda. yemen's crisis is far from over. >> in the u.k., an investigation has begun to figure out how i say, is transported from britain to turkey without being detected. >> it was two weeks ago that this package was sent from london to istanbul. they opened what appeared to be a box containing a wedding cake and found inside a detonator, some wires, a timer. on suspicion of carrying out a bomb hoax, they arrested him. they don't believe it is terrorism related. it does cause serious concerns about airport security and aviation security.

the government is taking it very seriously, we will look at all aspects of this. the company says it is cooperating with the investigation. >> how they are expected to come to a standstill on wednesday. it is much more than just a matter given the political background and tensions between the two countries. >> a warm embrace between archrivals, a role in what has been described as an epic clash. >> i am the ambassador of pakistan, so i should be. >> the build up for the game has been intense. the head of light hearted game of football to shake up the stress. after all, they will be performing not just in front of their fans, but also their prime

minister. this is where the leaders of india and pakistan will witness the exciting semifinal clash between the two countries. while the focus is on the players out in the middle, there is a lot of attention being paid to events of the field. this is about politics and international diplomacy. to unable pakistan fans to come watch the game as long as they have a confirmed ticket. for the lucky few that made it through, expectations are high. tempered with a note of optimism. >> i think and i hope it will be a friendly match more than anything else. >> is a chance to turn the clock back. relations have never quite recovered a mu for thembai atta -- after the mumbai attack. hours after the cricket clash,

an apparent breakthrough to allow investigators to travel to pakistan. on the ground, security is intense. ahead of the high-profile visitors. the cricket stadium is crawling with police and special forces. everyone scrambling for a ticket and welcoming those from across the border. >> are you going to welcome them? >> very happy. >> the politics and the people. >> it is exactly the sentiment that the governments are hoping to exploit to generate good will after years of tension. >> a reminder of our main news, president obama said the libyan leader will ultimately settle

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