>> the volcanic ash cloud sweeps across northern europe. 500 flights have been cancelled. now germany closes its air space. ivory coast accused a human rights report says both sides in a recent conflict committed war crimes and crimes against humanitarian. -- humanity. a revolt against the president. welcome to bbc news broadcast to our viewers on pbs in america and also around the world. coming up, standing shoulder to shoulder. president obama and the queen pay tribute to the ties between the u.s. and the u.k. driving out of debt. the american carmaker chrysler pays its government loans six years early.

>> welcome. the volcano is disrupting traffic in continental europe, with dust blowing into the skies above germany. takeoff and landing is now prohibited from hamburg's main airport which is set to close within the hour. the ash cloud has spread eastward from wednesday. british authorities cancelled about 500 flights on tuesday, drawing criticism from airlines who accuse officials of being too cautious. >> it's a spectacular sight, nature at its most powerful. but for thousands of passengers across europe, iceland's col canic eruption means travel chaos. as the ash cloud swept down over the u.k., some people were forced to spend the night in airports. many more were left frustrated by delays and cancellations.

including these newley weds, supposed to heading to marrakesh for their honeymoon. >> it's disappointing, but what do you do? >> and they're not alone. a total of nine u.k. airports face disruption. many other european cities have also been affected. around 500 flights were delayed or cancelled across the continent. now the german authorities say they'll be closing some airports from early wednesday morning. >> braham ann and hamburg airports will be closed. we don't know about berlin. that could also be shut during the day. >> the latest forecast show the ash cloud moving away from the u.k. and across the continent to denmark and northern germany. >> the ash being produced is decreasing quite rapidly, so the plume height is decreasing quite fast.

the disruption maybe won't go on as long as last year. >> that would be welcome news for the many travel lers stranded by iceland's volcano. bbc news. >> hammond from the weather center told me where the cloud was heading next. >> it's likely to affect the air space of northern parts of europe, specifically parts of northern germany and denmark as we go into wednesday. the plume itself is about five kls and that's the level at which it's poss dense. ifñi anything, the con sentrati within the plume is weakening. so that's good news. in the u.k., the worst is over and we're not expecting so much in the way of disruption as we saw in the last 24 hours. the big unknown, if you like, is the nature of what's happening within the volcano itself. after the initial huge eruption

earlier on in the week, things have been settling down to some extent. that's not to say that it won't erupt again later in the week. it's a big tall order, to know what's going to happen for the four or five days ahead. >> everybody is looking at the forecast, particularly here in the u.k., because that seems to be the most important gauge of finding out what's going on with that ash cloud. how much pressure on you to get it right, and can you? >> the point is to stress that, no, we can't in any great detail, because we don't know. the big unknown in the equation is the volcano, and we don't know how that's going to sort of react in the next few days. >> pakistani officials say two police officers have been killed and 19 people have been injured during an explosion in the pakistani city there. the blast occurred at dawn in the university area of the city.

the pakistani taliban said it ordered the attack. troops bat'd for hours against taliban militants who stormed a naval air force base in karachi. nato has launched more strikes on targets in the libyan capital, tripoli. there are reports of a number of large blasts at gaddafi's compound. into the carried out some of the heaviest raids since it began its campaign against gaddafi in march. 19 people were killed in those attacks. with the latest from the capital, tripoli, is our correspondent. >> another night and nato is again bombing the libyan capital of tripoli. the strikes began with two large explosions which shook our hotel. it appears that they were again aimed at the same part of the city as last night, and now a large plume of smoke coming

from that area. nato said yesterday it was a reserve military force. they have reacted with fury to last night's heavy bombardment, questioning how nato could be claiming to be protecting civilians when, in the words of libyans, they are terrorizing the population of tripoli with this massive bombardment. but it appears nato tends to carry on its pressure, and this comes just before president obama and the british prime minister are due to hold talks in london with libya high on the agenda. >> at least four people are reported to have been killed after more tornadoes in the american midwest. this dramatic video from oklahoma shows a tornado tracking across the landscape, sending debris flying through the air. homes have been flattened and cars overturned.

tornadoes struck the state capital, oklahoma city, and its surrounding suburbs during rush hour. three children are said to have sustained critical injury. both sides of the ivory coast's conflict have committed war crimes. all those who committed human rights violations should be prosecuted to end a cycle of impunity. some of the pictures in the report are disturbing. >> western ivory coast saw some of the worst atrocities. the amnesty report has detailed testimony about massacres of civilians carried out by forces loyal to the elected president. the red cross said over 800 people were killed in this area because they belong to the wrong ethnic group. the group said to support him while he was still trying to cling to office after losing last november's elections. the president says the guilty will be brought to trial.

>> we have asked the u.n. human rights commission to make an investigation. and on the basis of those reports we'll make the decisions. if they say that specific persons have committed crimes, they will be judged like anyone. there is no impunity for anyone. >> some of the killings in western ivory coast were carried out by the very men who ultimately brought him to power when he was denied his victory at the polls. he was finally inaugurated president this month and is a banker by profession, not a warlord. he may need the armed men who helped him get this far, and sending some of them for trial could alienate others. while he was still hanging on to office, his troops opened fire on pro democracy demonstrators. here women marched against him in the streets and paid the price. the former president, seen here shortly after his arrest, is

going to pay now. he faces a domestic trial for alleged corruption and another at the international criminal court for alleged war crimes. the fighting on the front lines was dramatic. but amnesty international says it was civilians, not soldiers, who bore the brunt of the violence. it calls for an end to impunity on all sides. mark doyle, bbc news. >> there's been intense fighting in the yemeni capital between the security forces and the country's biggest tribe, which has joined the uprising against the president. gunfire has been heard in the streets throughout the day. at least 38 people have been killed according to reports. >> fierce gunfire has rattled through the streets of the yemeni capital for the last 48 hours. the tribal fighters determined to force the president to step down. he is determined not to. the president has been under pressure to resign for months.

mass protests of anti-government demonstrators have been held nationwide, calling for him to leave office immediately. but they've had little influence on the yemeni leader, who's been in power for 32 years. on sunday he was supposed to sign a deal that would give him immunity from prosecution in exchange for his resignation. but once again, the president refused to sign it. the government has accused shake alomar, the head of yemen's most powerful tribe, of igniting the clashes and government troops reportedly tried to storm his home. on tuesday the sheikh joined the uprising against the president, adding his powerful weight to the anti-government stand. armed militia men have been walking the streets day and night and the tribesmen appear to be tightening their grip on the center of the city. they've sealed off key government buildings, but are being constantly bombarded with more tars and gunfire. the president's troops are

still in control in the south of city where the presidential palace and military council are located, but there are fears that the violence may escalate further. scores of men from both sides have been wounded and are being treated in hospitals for their injuries. many others didn't make it. bbc news. >> president obama has paid tribute to the shared values of the united kingdom and the united states. he was speaking at the start of the state banquet held in his honor at buckingham palace. our royal correspondent, nicholas swisher, reports. ♪ >> for years the americans shied away from this kind of palace pomp and ceremony, which is why remarkably this is only the second state visit by a u.s. president. but this evening the relationship between two nations which have done so much together was celebrated at the palace in style.

>> mr. president, i am delighted to welcome you and mrs. obama to london. >> at a state banquet in the palace ballroom, the queen recalled how the united states came to the aid of europe in two world wars. she said america remained britain's most important ally. >> ladies and gentlemen, we are here to celebrate the tried, tested and, yes, special relationship between our two countries. >> thank you for your -- >> in reply, president obama paid tribute to the united kingdom. >> it is a great honor to join you again in this great country, as we re-affirm the enduring bonds between our two nations and reinforce this special relationship. >> the president recalled the attacks on america on 9/11. >> from that day to this, you have been our closest partner in the struggle to protect our people from terrorism attacks and violent extremism around

the world, despite very heavy sacrifices here. >> president obama had arrived at the palace in the heavy armor of a u.s. presidential motorcade. forget carriage rides. when he's in town, security concerns rule it out. so the full ceremonial welcome of a state visit was assembled within the safety of the palace grounds. ♪ >> after the american national anthem, president obama inspected a guard of honor, scotts guardsmen, who were serving alongside american forces in afghanistan. inside the palace there was a short meeting with prince william and the duchess of cambridge. the first time they've been seen things they went off on their honeymoon. why such a brief encounter? the palace said the couple had prior commitments, more credibly it was to underline this they are not yet full-time

working royals and to avoid any distractions from the guests of honor. after lunch with the queen, a visit to westminster abbey and a reminder of how often the u.k.-u.s. alliance has found sacrifice on the battle field. most recently the abbey was the scene of a joyful royal wedding. this afternoon, though, it was where president obama laid a wreath at the grave of the unknown warrior in memory of all those who lost their lives in the world wars. in downing street, president obama offered the prime minister a lift in the presidential limousine. they went together to a school in south london, where pupils found themselves watching the president and prime minister playing a game of table tennis. shoulder to shoulder, of course, and celebrating success. state visits are all about

marking friendships. speeches tends to be warm and positive. but one sensed in president obama's remarks tonight a new appreciation which perhaps wasn't fully there before of a very old alliance. >> tomorrow the leaders of that alliance will get down to the serious business of addressing world issues which matter to them. bbc news at buckingham palace. >> you're watching bbc news. still ahead -- israel's prime minister, netanyahu makes painful compromises to achieve peace for the palestinians. an appeals court in moscow has upheld the conviction of the former russian billionaire for money laundering and embezzlements and reduced his sentence by one year. he will serve a total of 13 years when he's released. >> when he stepped into the

glass-enclosed dock, he knew it was his last chance to avoid a further lengthy prison sentence. he's already served eight years and his second trial last year that was extended to 14. in an angry statement he told the three judges that the author of that verdict was a fighter and encouraged them to overturn it. >> it is not possible to make corrections to this verdict. the changes will look foolish. so either annul it and stop this disgrace or join the criminals who accepted this law. >> but it took a little over five minutes for the judges to dash any hopes he had. they adjusted some details, but the guilty verdict remains, though they did reduce his sentence by one year. >> although the verdict will be a disappointment, it will hardly come as a surprise, and so russia's most famous serving prisoner returns to jail. >> he once ran russia's giant

oil company that he's been convicted of defrauding. throughout these trials his family had said he was being prosecuted for purely political reasons because he funded the opposition. >> everybody knows that somebody wants it to be this way, so it will be this way. >> despite the small protests outside court, many ordinary people in russia believe he deserves to be in prison. but his mother knows that international community remains deeply concerned about the case and what it says about the rule of law in russia. bbc news, moscow. >> you're watching bbc news. the headlines -- germany has closed its northern air space as the volcanic ash cloud sweeps across northern europe. 500 flights have already been cancelled. both sides in the recent

conflict in ivory coast committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. let's get more now on president obama's state visit to the u.k. the chief operating officer for the center for american progress, i asked her if the relationship is still intact. >> i think it's stronger than ite's been in the past. it remains strong. we have great pictures of the president here at buckingham palace and there are a lot of cultural connections between our two countries and the president seems to be using those cultural connections as much as possible. i think it's been a very successful trip from our perspective. >> let's talk about those pictures, because it is a fantastic photo opportunity for him across europe and particularly here in u.k. the morning papers are full of it. what kind of response is that likely to get, do you think, from americans, particularly when we saw the pomp and

pageantry of him today at buckingham palace, coupled with him drinking a pint of guinness in ireland? >> well, millions of americans watched the royal wedding, millions of americans have been taken up into the lure of british history and the connections to the present moment with the royal family, and i think the fact that the president, just a few weeks after the wedding, was able to go to buckingham palace and have such a great reception and have great pictures really obviously helps the president domestically. any time our president is well respected abroad, it does help him domestically, especially in a country like britain. so i think these pictures, you know -- i'm not saying they will transform the political dynamics of the united states, but it will help the president to look more like a presidential leader, especially when we have the beginning of the republican primaries here in the united states. >> he spent a day talking with the prime minister here, david cameron.

we've seen the reagan fatah years and the bush-blair years. how does the obama-cameron relationship match up to those that have gone before? >> you know in, the united states the president likes to say when he's dealing with anyone that he likes to have an adult conversation, and i think that's really a sign of the kind of relationship he has with prime minister cameron. they have an adult conversation. it may not be the same kind of relationship as blair and clinton, who were etiological soul mates. there are domestic differences when it comes to the two, but i think that the president looks at the international landscape and looks at issues in the middle east, north africa, arab-israeli peace and obviously there's a strong partnership we have with britain, and i think that was a fundamental part of the conversations he's had today and a fundamental reason why we have a strong and, i guess, essential relationship and a strong partnership. >> israeli prime minister

benyamin netanyahu says he's ready to make painful compromises to achieve peace for the palestinians. he told a joint session of the u.s. congress in washington that a future palestinian state would not be returned to the borders that existed before the 1967 middle east war. >> his excellency, benyamin netanyahu, prime minister of israel. >> prime minister network associates coliseum can only dream of getting -- prime minister netanyahu can only dream of getting the reception he had here. >> we have no better friends than america and america has no better friend than israel. [cheers and applause] >> his speech was punctuated by around 30 standing ovations. some of the biggest came when he said the palestinians would have to accept conditions to make a deal with him. >> jerusalem must never again be divided. jerusalem must remain the united capital of israel.

[applause] >> palestinians want a capital in the city's eastern half. he spoke of painful compromises for peace, but he's a long way from offering what would be necessary for a deal. even talk of giving up occupied and illegally settled land was put to fire. >> you have to understand this. in jude ya and samaria, the jewish people are not foreign occupiers. >> it was a big contrast with a public disagreement with president obama before he left for europe over the future of the territory israel captured in the 1967 middle east war. the president wants israel back to the boundaries it had before then, adjusted by land swaps. mr. netanyahu's rejection of that idea today didn't leave much room for a deal. >> i think the direction that we will go is that realities will be driven in the region and in the international community, but not by israel and probably not that much by america either. >> mr. netanyahu feels

comfortable here in washington seeing the sights and playing politics in the president's backyard. his critics, israeli as well as palestinian, will say that he is deepening israel's isolation and putting it on a collision course with the new middle east. the speech shows the gulf between mr. netanyahu's view of an acceptable peace deal and the one the palestinians have. his reception by the u.s. congress shows why he feels politically strong enough to reject president obama's view of the way ahead. with the middle east changing fast, mr. netanyahu is sticking with what he believes has always worked for israel and he's avoiding any new thinking. bbc news, washington. >> the american carmaker, chrysler, has paid back its government bail-out loan six years early and repaid $5.1 billion in outstanding debt and $1.7 billion to the canadian government. with the details from new york,

here's michelle. >> mixed with hope, as the factory saved from closure, they made it official. the carmaker paid off loans from u.s. and canadian taxpayers, money that saved it from collapse two years ago. >> we have received confirmation this morning at 10:13 a.m. from citigroup that chrysler group repaid with interest by wire transfer to the united states treasury and by bank transfer to the canadian government every penny that had been loaned less than three years ago. [cheers and applause] >> chrysler has been here before. in 1979 it was led by lee iaccoca, who helped save the company. >> if you can find a better car, buy it. >> today with the aid of fiat, chrysler is selling more cars, and recently they reported

their first profit since 2006. >> it happens rarely in life that we're given a second chance. >> and for the american government, criticized for its auto industry bailout, it was a moment of satisfaction. >> since g.m. and chrysler emerged from bankruptcy, the auto industry has added 115,000 jobs,s fastest pace of job growth in the auto industry since the 1990's, and last year for the first time in 16 years the detroit three gained market share against their foreign counterparts. >> this is the motor city. this is what we do. >> once considered a long shot to recover, chrysler, helped by italian carmaker, fiat, is working its way back. stay with us. plenty more to come. you're watching bbc news.