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>> and now, "bbc world news." >> hello and welcome to "newsday." london.abita sharma in libya rejects the international arrest warrants issued for colonel gaddafi and his son. syrian rebels condemn the violence used by the government. >> wen tells of the united kingdom, do not point fingers over human rights records. >> broadcasting to tears on pbs and america and around the world, this is "newsday."

colonel gaddafi's regime has rejected the warrant issued by the international criminal court for crimes against humanity. they described the move as cover for nato's bombing campaign, but the presiding judge in the hague said that the warrants were necessary because she said there were reasonable grounds to believe gaddafi and his son were responsible for the murder and persecution of civilians. the icc's decision was greeted by celebrations in the port city of madrasa. the rebels accused nato of reacting too slowly. >> this was his very first day on the front lines. already the 19 year old is

wheeled into surgery. a rocket has torn into his leg, get another casualty in the besieged city were defiance is curdling into frustration. >> i do not think nato is helping as much as they should be part there is a lot of delay. last friday, they started to shoot. >> his brother has just been told that amputation is the only option. >> a 19 year old boy, student in college. they are going to amputate his leg. for what? because he is fighting for what? he is fighting for freedom, that is all. that is all we want pe. defendersy's weary pause for prayer, during all loll on the front lines -- a lull on the front lines.

and for weeks they have held their ground, despite daily bombardments. ahead of them, their road to tripoli remained blocked. >> we do not understand why nato does not destroy gaddafi's forces. they need to hunt down the ones he hides. [gunfire] >> when a rebel general arrived to inspect the ragtag army, the men complained that they let bullets and guns. -- they lack bullets and guns. yet, the general's message is not encouraging. without far greater nato air support, this war is still going nowhere. is nato doing enough here? >> no. we need more from nato to do th

e best. they did the best in the last days, but we need more and more and more. >> as for his former boss, colonel gaddafi, stepping down. >> he will not do it. if we do not kill him, he will not do anything. >> the gloom of another evening, a ruined, isolated city. yet, miles from here in neighboring towns, nato is starting to make a bigger impact. >> we hear the sound of helicopters and we hear the sounds of bombs from ships. >> a sudden increase. nato is attracting more now . >> yes. it is continual, for three or

four days. the forces of gaddafi will leave. >> so time may yet be on the rebels' side, but while the city waits with shrines to the fallen, new faces are being added every day. >> richard -- who is director of the international justice program at human rights watch says that libya's reaction to the icc warwick is no surprise. >> gaddafi has been an opponent of discord and of accountability under law for years. i think what is more significant is that 116 governments, all of those that are part of the icc have an obligation to arrest him should he appear on their territory. the un security council, by a

15-0 vote required libya to cooperate with the icc. i believe one day, sooner or later, one way or another, colonel gaddafi and the two others will be in the dock. >> in syria, a meeting of dissidents has ended with a call for ending violence. the government invited the opposition for a national dialogue. we report from damascus. >> a gathering of this kind. for the first time in decades, opposition groups meet in public with no fear of arrest. this comes -- been they have come to announce their support for a democratic system. they are also calling for an end to violence and a crackdown by

security forces the government wants a national ballot. but the opposition refuses to talk. more than 1300 civilians killed and thousands arrested. today, where the opposition demanded their right to demonstrate peacefully. this scene is unprecedented in syria. tens of thousands gathered in the main square on friday, calling on the regime to stop. thousands of others gathered across the country. and pro-democracy forces continue every day across the country, even in a stronghold like this city. >> in singapore, you have an update on how the chinese premier's european visit is progressing. >> the german chancellor angela

merkel hasn't welcome to wen jiabao at the former bell lot of max lieberman. a dinner was held in the premier's honor on monday night. it is back to business on tuesday. they will hold talks on political and economic matters. earlier, at a summit in london, deals worth more than $2.3 billion were signed between china and british companies occurred despite the commercial agreements, the premier is meeting with david cameron magnified their differences on human rights. our deputy political editor reports. >> marching bands, soldiers on parade, and a man and a feathered hat. at the foreign office, the chinese premier was given all of this ceremony that britain could lay on for a visiting foreign leaders. after a welcome, some hard diplomacy inside. a warning to david cameron that china must do more to ensure

human rights. >> we are different countries. different stages of development. we should show each other respect, but we are very clear that political and economic development should go hand in hand, that one supports the other. >> downing street said that mr. cameron raised specific cases of human rights concerns over lunch, but wen jiabao was equally robust, saying states should not lecture one another. >> our human rights, china and the united kingdom, should respect each other, respect the fact, three each other as equal, engage in more cooperation that finger-pointing and resolve our differences to dialogue. sometimes diplomacy needs to be decoded but not today. diplomats said dead wen's stern words reflected a genuine

irritation. the question is whether the trade deals were affected. for now it appears not. all around the table, they agreed on 1.2 billion pounds of new business and they signed a swath of new trade agreements. premier wen promised a couple nuedinburghor a zoo too. the chinese leader cannot escape concerns about the chinese record on human rights. his firm response today suggests he has got the message. >> in other news, there has been fighting along the border of north and south in sudan, which

is due to become independent in two weeks. the government carried out air attacks, killing 16 people. 70,000 have been displaced in three weeks of attacks. the government is attacking militias that supported the south. for the first time since the chinese civil war, residents of men and china can travel to taiwan as tourists. 500 solo travelers will be allowed to stay for 15 days. up until now, they could only go in tightly controlled court first. lagarde could be confirmed as the new head of dithe imf on tuesday. they called for a non-european to be given the top job appears to have faded. still to come on the program, the glamorous and controversial

politicians who is not sarah palin. could michele bachmann become the next president of the united states? >> as great trade unions start at today national strike, the prime minister says parliament should back austerity measures. speculation around the health of venezuela's president chavez. he is recuperating from an operation on the pelvic abscess. they believe that his condition is more serious. >> hugo chavez is constantly traveling to cuba. when his mentor castro quote underwent a series of operations, he was one of the few regular bedside visitors. chavez complained of abdominal

pains on june 10. he was roused to surgery to treat a public assets. these photographs of the fidel and his brother visiting chávez in a hospital is all anybody has seen aof the venezuelan leader. apart from a breeze son called today's after the operation to said he was recovering, and if your recent tweets, and the leader has become unusually quiet. >> the lack of news has put their rumor mills into overdrive. were there complications following the operation? have his doctors ordered him to take a complete rest? one miami newspaper is citing unnamed u.s. intelligence sources and alleges that he is in critical condition. the truth is no one knows. cuba it is a place where you can have medical treatment with absolute privacy. opposition groups are questioning the secrecy surrounding his prolonged absence and the legality of his

governing from cuba . on major regional summit is due to be held in venezuela on july 5. president chávez has not returned by then, it could precipitate a major crisis. michael voss, bbc news, havana. >> this is "newsday." >> i'm babita sharma. the libyan justice ministry says it does not recognize the international arrest warrants issued for colonel gaddafi and his son. >> in syria, a government sanctioned a meeting of dissidents ended with a call for a peaceful transition to democracy. condemnation of violence used by the government. the united states senate has unanimously passed a resolution condemning what it called the use of force by chinese ships in the south china sea.

the vote which is largely symbolic calls for multilateral negotiations to solve the territorial disputes. the resolution was passed as the u.s. begins major military exercises with the philippines in the area. this was one of the many issues on the to do list of the philippine president durit. our correspondent in manila went to be tempered >> the philippine president aquino has been in power for a year now. he came into office on a wave of optimism, but right now with an increasingly dominant china next door and a growing row with the church, he faces many serious challenges. at the moment, there are tensions over this island on the south chinese seat. if china decided to take ownership of those islands, what

realistically could a country like the philippines do about it? >> they are -- international law is applicable. if anybody looks at the map, it's about 18 miles from -- it's not part of the philippines. the closest that the chinese hold is 500 miles away. >> many economists would say one of the key problems here is the rise of corruption. when you first came to office, you said one of your priorities would be to tackle corruption. how well do you think you're doing? >> the environment we found ourselves in -- we have 15 members of the supreme court. it's -- [unintelligible] the equivalent of 2/3.

the ability of appointed all of the supreme court justices would not normally fall under one president. once we did manage to find more of the -- purposely hidden from the opposition, the new mar vel at the breadth of the problems left to us to tackle terry >> one of the biggest issues is a bill going to parliament, the reproductive health bill. how far are you prepared to push it, given that the church is powerful here? >> it is not a fight against the institution or face. -- or faith. it is the state's obligation to uphold the family but to remind parents that they do have certain responsibilities. so we believe the best decision

it has to be, left to the couple. our main hope is that they would be educated, exercising their will of choice, and the state of their conscience and the beliefs they profess to follow. and there will be given the opportunity to exercise their ability to plan families. >> do you think there will be peace with communists in a year's time? >> with a little bit of luck. there will be a segment that does not want it. there is a proposal i am not at liberty to discuss, but it marks a very significant change. >> i was talking to the philippine president, who is one year into a six year term. he has a lot to live up to. his father was an independent hero, his mother a popular former president. right now the future of the philippines is in his hands.

date, as are power of asia continues on line. on their, you will find plenty of updated information as well as how google is trying to pander to a diverse asian nation. that is the power of asia season on the bbc news website. republican michele bachmann has formerly started her campaign for the 2012 presidential election. kicking off her campaign in iowa, the tea party favorite is moving up the polls, but what are her chances of taking on president obama? our north america editor has more. >> you might have thought sarah palin was the real deal, queen of the american right. now there is competition. meet michele bachmann.

christianity is central server politics. she is anti abortion and gay marriage. she did not give up her political career to become a tv star. she stresses her pride in being a mother, five children and 23 foster children. unlike palin, she made her money as a tax lawyer. but she is a critic of mainstream politicians. most important, unlike sarah palin, she is a candidate. >> barack obama will be a one- term president. to announcewaterloo their plans for a battle. it is the small town where she was seductive for conservatives in such places to return to america as it used to be paired >> we made our own way. we depended on our neighbors and ourselves. it was not our government we depended on for our health, because we trust in god and our neighbors and not in government.

>> even fox news questioned whether this spirit it too free with facts. >> are you a flake? >> i think that would be insulting to say something like that, because i am a serious person. >> what did he mean? she said president obama is anti-american, turning usa into a third world country entresol politician should be investigated for their anti- americanism. >> i wish the american media would take a look at their views of people in congress and find out if they are pro-american or anti-american. and as part of the american movement that reveres history, saying that the revolution started in new hampshire was not impressive. >> you are in the state where the shot was heard around the world turn >> republicans feel thield does not sparkle. that is frustrating for a party

that thinks it can win and for the american media that need to store. has she got what it takes to win the nomination? >> it is not impossible. michele bachmann is a standout candidate for the right, everything the tea party adores. their influence is huge. she will have to show up some love to those who like less passion and more substance. >> speaking from the u.s., he says he has been prevented from holding a proper investigation into the collapse of a privately owned kabul bank. he alleges that associates of karzai may be involved. the former governor of the state of illinois, blagojevich, has been convicted of 17 of the 20 charges against him, including it the intent to sell barack natea's vacated seant

seat. he will be sentenced later. the sudanese president has arrived in beijing for talks with the chinese president jintao. china shouldt p not play host because he is wanted by the court for genocide and alleged war crimes. what is happening in greece? unions are on strike there . >> airports will close and trains and buses will stop running and protest over the austerity plan. george papandreou has burst political parties to back the cuts, saying the only chance for greece to get back on. its feet >> anger at the austerity plan is clear even at some of greece's most famous landmarks. the acropolis is draped in anti-

government slogans. they brace themselves for a big protest. inside, the prime minister was urging lawmakers to back the plan. listen to your soles, he told them, and your internal patriotic conscience. opposition politicians were unimpressed. groups planning to strike over the next 48 hours also condemned the government's position, warning it would lead to deep social division. >> the measures will create repeated social explosions that unfortunately will be uncontrollable. we will all experienced a social clash. it will be out of control. we do not want that to happen, but if the government insists, that is what will happen. >> the eu is clear: greece must pass a stringent austerity and tax program to obtain bailout funds needed to service its

debt. the tax increases will affect everything from soft drinks to rooftops crinkles, spiking concern about the faltering industry. some positive news for athens from the french leader, sarkozy, who said french banks would be prepared to offer greece new loans to prevent defaults. some polls suggest 75% of greeks are opposed to the plan, even if george papandreou does give it to parliament, she faces a much harder time trying to sell it to the greek people. >> you have been watching "newsday." >> let's remind you of our main news this hour. the libyan justice ministry says it does not recognize the international arrest warrant issued for colonel gaddafi and his son. that is all from us in london and singapore. you have been watching "newsday" on the bbc.

>> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> 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 global

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