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what can we do for you? >> and now, "bbc world news." >> hello and welcome to newsday on the bbc. i am in singapore. >> and i am in london the headlines this hour, 6000 and counting, the exodus from syria continues. if former officer in colonel gaddafi's army talks exclusively to the bbc. >> the wait continues for thousands of passengers whose flights have been cancelled due to an act -- a volcanic ash cloud. $4.3 billion to vaccinate the world's poorest children from bill gates. >> in recent years, there has been some concern about the rise of extremist islam here.

>> it is 9:00 a.m. in singapore. the >> it is 2:00 a.m. in london. we are broadcasting in america and around the world. the exodus from syria continues. almost 6000 people have crossed into the -- into turkey. the area has been recaptured by the military following a revolt a week ago there. >> syrian troops entering the town of jisr al-shughour. these pictures were filmed by the bbc arabic service, which was taken into the town by the syrian army.

the government said this is a mass grave of some of the 120 security personnel killed over a week ago. some have been be headed. others were shot. there are other versions -- there are different versions of how the city was taken. the syrian state says it had to fight its way in, but then found grateful residents, delighted that order had been restored. >> but many refugees who have fled tell a different story. they say the army is killing civilians indiscriminately, burning crops, and killing livestock. the refugees are finding shelter in camps in turkey. as well as worrying about the future, they face one of the biggest problems experienced by refugees the world over, boredom.

and they could be away from home for quite some time. the turkish government hopes these camps do not become semi permanent. but everyone knows that is a possibility. >> our houses, crops, and everything we have, our homes have been destroyed and all of our possessions, too. >> this border village in turkey is filling with more and more refugees every day, and they bring consistent accounts. they say the syrian army is using overwhelming force and many of their homes have been destroyed, their crops burned, and their cattle killed. >> the reports from serious to just the fighting is still going on. bbc news on the turkish-syrian border. >> joining us from washington is and you from the washington institute. the -- angie from the -- andrew from the washington institute.

thank you for your time. >> you are welcome. >> how do you judge the events that are unfolding in jisr al- shughour at the moment? >> it is going to be -- i mean, the account between the government and the protesters, the government says they are being welcomed with open arms. why is the population of jisr al-shughour and the surrounding area continuing to pour into turkey? that is probably because the regime has moved in with overwhelming force. there are reports of military defections in the area where the army was ordered to fire on civilians. they've refused. it is obviously a situation that the regime is actively trying to cover up. and because it is a traditional area of instability for the regime, they're worried it could spread to neighboring areas. >> being the expert on the

country as you are, do you acknowledge that any rhetorical statements of condemnation of for violence by the regime are perhaps for this by the west? >> i think that to make these statements after 14 weeks of protests without any kind of action and not witnessing any kind of major change in the regime's behavior begs the question of whether that policy is working. >> having said that, there are those who argue that the collapse of the asada regime could see syria fall into sectarianism like it did in iraq. do you find that argument has any basis? >> it is possible. there is a sectarian dimension to it. but already, the assad regime is the minority dominated regime and they're killing protesters, by and large, more peaceful. it already has that dimension to

it. how much bloodier will it get? >> thank you very much for your time. in libya, rebels trying to bring an account of what is happening in misrata tell what has been happening in the past week. rockets have appeared to hit the power generators. it is not clear who fired them. >> in a graveyard of gaddafi's tanks destroyed by nato, i met a man who until a week ago was an officer in gaddafi's army. he said anyone in a uniform to send to the front line now, traffic police, the tourist police, and many newly recruited young men. we disguise his appearance and revoiced his answers to protect

his family still living in the gaddafi territory. >> we found out we were fighting against our brothers in misrata. there were no crusaders. or al qaeda extremists, as we had been told. the fight for the defense is against gaddafi and against fellow libyans. >> we are hearing reports that there was systematic rape carried out by gaddafi's forces and that they were given viagra. >> they were given so many tablets and of call and hallucinogenic drugs. i never saw any rates, but several posted of carrying them out. >> driving forward from geva online, we cite growing strength in the rebel force -- from the front line, we sought a growing strength in the rebel forces. rebel troops have been consolidating their positions in the last few days. the front line is now controlling the strategic

hilltop. and as we say, as we crossed the farmland there, that is the road to tripoli. >> but these moves forward are with not -- are not without cost. we came upon a rubble vehicle destroyed by a tank shell in a major gaddafi counteroffensive on friday. omar was one of those injured. he said, prisoners they took have been told they had to retake this hill and if they went back, they would be shot. it is not surprising that some defect to the other side. >> what is it like being in gaddafi's army? how does he get people to fight for him the way he does? >> they force you to fight and if you do not fight, they will call you a traitor and kill you. >> defections are one thing, but the fighting goes on. bbc news, misrata.

>> and a short list of candidates to take over as director of the imf. khristine lasard, among others will fight it out. reports from washington say the senate authorities are investigating a group of hikers who manage to access its computer system. lulz securities said they broke into the u.s. senate on monday. >> the situation has not improved in a beat-up. you have air passengers across south america facing huge disruptions because of ongoing eruptions from the volcano in chile. hundreds of flights have been canceled because of the huge cloud of volcanic ash.

for more, we are joined on the line by bhatti have of research -- by the head of research for the pacific region aviation sector. how much of an impact is this having in that area? >> it is having a big impact in australia. just to give you an idea of how many people are impacted, over the past two days since monday and sunday, of around 65,000 passengers have been impacted. they have been on domestic australia as well as trans- atlantic services. many flights have been cancelled. flights were suspended this morning has volcanic ash moved

over the city. -- as of volcanic ash moved over the city. some domestic services continue to be affected. there is a massive backlog of 65,000 passengers that they need to accommodate into the network. >> planes are grounded. passengers are stranded. how much is being lost by these major carriers, such as qantas, virgin, and tiger? >> it is difficult to put a monetary about you on in now because who knows what will happen for the rest of the way? what is certain is that it is costing these airlines money. australian airlines have been impacted by other natural disasters this year. we have had the queensland floods and the cyclones in january and february. and there was the christ church

earthquake in february and also the tsunami. these external factors have an impact of around $140 million on qantas. and about $165 million on the verge in australia group. all of this comes out on top of the or impact of the things we have seen just a few months ago. >> thank you for joining us. meanwhile, donors have pledged almost $4.5 billion for children's vaccination programs in poor countries. the money was announced at a conference in london and comes from government and individuals. among them, a software billionaire bill gates. he said children would no longer be denied vaccines because of a lack of funds. >> if you buy a car, buy a

house, you are exercising -- you are taking your success and expressing your values. and my values are that all the wealth i have to go back to society, and it should help the very poorest. i looked at all of the ways to help out the poorest and vaccinations rose to the top of the list. the kids who live, if they do not get sick, their brains fully develop and they can achieve their potential. this is a pretty clear win. yes, malaria research is being done now and vaccines are being delivered. that is a great thing. >> you are watching newsday on the bbc, live from singapore and london. still to come, live in jakarta for the latest in our power asia season. can it just tried as a modern democracy? >> and the pentagon papers will

finally be revealed to the american public in full. the venezuelan president hugo chavez says he is recovering well after surgery on his pelvis. he did not give a date for his return home, but said he is managing government from his hospital bed. he underwent an operation on friday. he told venezuelan tv he had met with former and current cuban leaders, fidel and raul castro, over the weekend. >> surgery on a knee injury kept him sidelined for some weeks. now he has undergone an emergency operation in cuba for something more serious. an abscess on his pelvis. amid speculation is that his condition is worse than the government has revealed, he called from havana to quash the rumors.

>> i am in full control of my faculties. believe me, if i was feeling at all like i had diminished faculties to lead the government, i would be the first person to take a decision. but this is absolutely, absolutely not the case. >> despite his claims that the surgery was a success, his critics have seized on his health as a potential weakness in his armor. he has been in office for almost 13 years. it comes as a series of the electricity blackouts have affected parts of the country, sparking protests in some areas. the government accuses its opponents of trying to sabotage the natural -- national grid. but opposition fighters say it is just one area that chavez is unable to leave -- is unable to leave well. back in venezuela, his supporters wish him a speedy recovery. but his opponents hope his health might have a bearing on

next year's presidential election. >> this is newsday on the bbc. i am in singapore. >> and i am in london. the exodus of refugees fleeing the violence in this area is continuing. the latest report suggests more than 6000 people have crossed from syria into turkey. >> and cross -- and across south america, huge disruptions because of ongoing eruptions from a volcano in chile. and we are focusing on the power of asia, looking at the impact of the continents of galloping economic growth. today, we are looking at how they have posted the world's economic forum. it is a sign of how far they have come from the crisis 13 years ago. >.re live in jakarta

the next economic challenges are over, but now security->> economic challenges are over, but now secured the questions are at the top of the agenda. >> as you can see behind me, traffic is getting under way. i want to take the time to show the audience where we are. down the main boulevard about 13 years ago, there were students standing there shouting for democracy and shot at by the soldiers of the previous regime, president siddhartha's regime. but this was not without some pain that they have grown. at one point, the country thought it was going to be split apart. today, there are new concerns, challenging the democratic face

of indonesia. >> wednesday night in downtown jakarta. it's the time to kick back and take a break from the stresses of the work week. it's a majority muslim nation, but it is not illegal to drink out of here. muhammed has been a bartender cure for two years. he is a muslim, but he does not see a contradiction between his faith and his job. >> i do not see any problem with being a bartender because this is how i support my family. i still play, even though i do not do it that often. whether my prayers are accepted it is up to god. >> the way islam as practiced in the energy yet -- in indonesia is quite different from other countries. it has a distinctive indonesian feel to it and it has been assimilated into the culture

here. but in recent years, there has been a noticeable trend toward our displays of islamic identity. at a trendy restaurant in jakarta, this man to down for lunch with his family. their way of life is an exception here. most indonesian muslims are not so strict. brian runs a successful technology firm with his wife in indonesia modern economy. but he thinks the country would be in a better place if the government implemented islam as law. >> islamic law, if implemented correctly, is a benefit for everyone. if a muslim is to drink all, he should get punished. -- drink alcohol, he should get punished. it is free for people to

practice what they want. >> it is already in place in one part of indonesia. this video shows the punishment one woman received for allegedly committing adultery. she was publicly caned. this man says the number of indonesians who want islamic law to implement a year has increased in the last few years. -- implemented here has increased in the last few years. >> radical groups are promoting an islamic state, which holds a certain appeal. if this is a big threat to indonesia's's future stability. -- this is a big threat to indonesia as a future stability. >> as an example of what a modern democracy can and should be, indonesia has been held up. but there are concerns because of a rise in radical islam.

how indonesia manages the challenge could determine its place in the world. >> in your report, you talk about the rights of conservative islam and it is, indeed, becoming an issue among modern indonesian's. what is the government doing about it? >> if you ask the government what they are doing about it, they say they are trying to handle it the best they can. but the issue, of course, is that pet -- that indonesia is now a democracy. they have many voices here that are allowed to be heard and express. there is concern that some islamic groups are exploiting the opportunity to have their voices heard and they are beginning to appeal to some moderate indonesian muslims today. but this is the challenge for the democracy as it tries to grow in the future. how to remain modern and muslim at the same time. >> thank you so much for joining us from jakarta.

we have this news update from indonesia regarding a strong earthquake, which has shaken parts of the country. a tsunami is not expected. the 6.2 magnitude quake struck off the island beneath the sea surface. it was relatively shallow. no damage has been reported yet. indonesia said on the ring of fire were there is a seismic activity and is frequently hit by earthquakes. we will have more of daetz in the newsday program. let's go to london -- more updates in the new state program. let's go to london. >> the top secret history of the vietnam war has finally been made public four years after part of it was leaked to the "new york times." the pentagon papers, as they became known, meant a legal victory for anyone in the u.s.

now anyone with an internet connection will be able to read them. >> the vietnam war may have gone on even longer if the pentagon papers had not been released. it was one of the most sensational acts of whistleblowing in u.s. history. but unlike wiki-leaks, the man responsible did not have the internet. just an old photocopier. >> 7000 pages of photocopies on very slow machines at that time. i wish i had the ones that spit them out very fast in color. but i did not have that. it was night after night for a very long time. >> the secret government report showed that presidents kennedy and johnson had escalated the conflict by bombing cambodia and laos and manipulating south vietnam into asking for u.s. combat troops and responding to phantom provocations with north vietnam with increased force, while misleading the american

congress and public. eldersburg was one of a team of foreign policy analysts who wrote the report, which also concluded that the war was probably unwinnable. it was the attempted cover-up that made things worse, as it so often has been. president nixon has -- tried and failed to stop the "new york times" from publishing the pentagon papers. his willingness to use the legal means to do so helped put him on the path to watergate, which destroyed his presidency. >> looking back, we were doing the right thing. i did act well. >> but as all 7000 pages of the pentagon papers were released from any surprise revelations a look and like to -- look unlikely. daniel says he picked out the best it's one he originally linked them. >> -- he picked out the best

parts when he originally leak to them. >> it was the wiki-leaks of 40 years ago, only bigger. the man who leaked to them says anyone in a similar position today should do so, only sooner, before the bombs start falling. >> you have been watching newsday from the bbc. >> a reminder of the main news again this hour, the exodus of refugees fleeing the violence and unrest in syria is continuing. almost 6000 people have crossed into turkey. people crossing the border said the syrian military had been arresting hundreds of people in the villages near the town of jisr al-shughour. if you are watching bbc. your watching bbc. we will be back in five minutes with the business reports.

stay with us. >> hello and welcome. >> see the news unfold, get the top stories from around the globe and click-to-play videogo to bbc.com/news to experience the in-depth, expert reporting of "bbc world news" online. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. and union bank. ♪

>> union bank has put its financial strength to work for a wide range of companies, from what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet los angeles.