>> this is "bbc world news." funding for this presentation is 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 expertise to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you?

>> and now "bbc world news." >> the human cost of libya's war. hundreds of bodies are discovered at an abandonned hospital in the heart of tripoli. evacuate new york. thousands are ordered to leave the city and low-lying areas as hurricane irene races towards america's atlantic coast. >> i cannot stress this highly enough, if you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now. don't wait. don't delay. >> horrific and cowardly, the u.s. condemns the suicide bomb attack on a u.n. building in nigeria's capital. at least 18 people have been killed. welcome to "bbc world news," broadcast to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. coming up later -- three weeks

after a record number of police take to the streets of london. hello and welcome. evidence is emerging from tripoli as hundreds of killings in the days before the fall of the capital. with the center of tripoli mainly quiet, human rights group have been able to gain access to areas previously too dangerous to enter. there are reports of hundreds of decomposing bodies, which some found handcuffed and shackled or riddled with bullets. our world news editor has been to one hospital in tripoli where more than 200 bodies have been found after medical staff fled sniper fire. a warning, john's report contains some very distressing

images. >> what happened here at the abu saleem hospital over the past four days is one of the most terrible incidents of this entire revolution. doctors have come in from across tripoli to help out. we were told that like the doctors, we'd have to wear surgical masks inside for our own safety. the hospital staff here all ran away days ago because of the fighting. but seriously injured people kept being brought in, dozens of them, perhaps a hundred all together. here they died of their injuries, entirely untreated.ñr the stench of death is overpowering. far too strong for the feeble efforts of this volunteer with this air freshener. the floor is thick with blood. the scene which took place here helps you defy imagination.

he warned colonel qaddafi picture smiles down over the horror. we certainly can't show you the pictures in this room because they're too horrible. i have got to wear three of these surgical masks and even so the stench is absolutely nauseating. when you walk along the corridor, have you to be really careful because there's blood everywhere and you can slip over so easily. the doctors are deeply shocked by what they've seen. >> it wasn't the mask. i was told they need some help. i thought they needed medical help. ok. i volunteered to get some medical help to my people. but when i enter the fight, there's nobody in sight. they want help to clean the hospital to bring life back to the hospital. never, ever like this. >> more and more of these things

are starting to come to light now. this is the suburb of cargur, silent and largely deserted. we came with a group of rebels who were taking over the area. some qaddafi loyalists have been living here and green flags of the old regime were still flying. though the inhabants were probably gone. but they had left their mark. they shot down eight ordinary people who had come back to see if their homes were still safe. death and more death and new cases have been discovered all the time. john simpson, "bbc world news," tripoli. >> let's talk to the student who lives near martha's square in tripoli. she joins us on the line now. hidele, as we find out more and more about the atrocities committed by colonel qaddafi's forces, what's your reaction to that, events that took place in tripoli/ >> it's absolutely disgusting.

i don't even know what to say. i saw a couple of these pictures earlier. it's nauseating and really disturbing. at the same time we're not really surprised. we know he's done this. we know he's done worse. in 1996 he's killed over 1,200 people in less than two hours so this is no surprise. >> while this kind of things were happening, how were you keeping safe while all of the fighting was taking place. >> inside our house when's the fighting would come near, around t knock on our doors and whatever tell us to stay safe or >> people they would tell them to go down in their basements underground. we were not allowed to stand next to the windows just in case anything was to happen and windows were to shatter. that's about it. we didn't go anywhere. of course, our families gathered

together. it wasn't just one family in one house. everyone moved closer together. >> the situation now is very different. it is relatively calm on the street but there are still pockets of fighting. >> yeah, that's it. today and yesterday are quiet. we're not used to the quiet here. what about, we were hearing about intense fighting still near tripoli's international airport. can you tell us more about that? >> i live quite far from that since i'm a half mile way from martha's square. but i can tell you that we heard the regime wants the airport as it finds a way ourkts don't know much of what's beyond there other than that's probably the only and most place where there is fighting going on right now. >> ok. just explain to us, is some kind of law and order being maintained, is there some kind

of normalityñi taking place in tripoli? you're still without electricity and some places are still without water. >> yeah. we didn't have electricity today but we're willing to be patient for it because at the end of the day, qaddafi needs to go. he can't take the water or electricity. as long as he's gone, he won't be happen question. it won't be normal for last another month or so. stores did start to open so that's good. as people can zart to purchase groceries and such. there's a checkpoint, rebel checkpoint every 25 meters or so to make sure everything is ok and to ensure safety f there's anything, always there to help, it's amazing. we have never beenxd so united before. >> heather, it's good to talk to you, a student who lives in the center of tripoli. thanks very much. while colonel qaddafi continues to evade the rebels, his birthplace search remains a crucial target. it's home to around 100,000

people including tribes still loyal for him. nato confirmed they fired missiles over large bunkers and destroyed 29 armored vehicles. our correspondent paul worth sent this report. >> though they can't expect more hard fighting yet, rebels are jubilant. thousands of qaddafi groups are expected to make a last stand. the rebels plan to take it with a pointer movement from east and west. all around p. a sign of the advanced. translator: behind the fighters "%(áátj civilians. one man returns to find his home looted by the old regime's soldiers.

>> unfortunately, they bleeded the house. where are my things, nothing. they took also the toys of my children. >> this, he says, is a small price to pay for freedom. he remember when's secret policemen took away a neighbor. they didn't see him 14 years. >> i was afraid any time same situation would happen with me. i would miss my family -- i will miss my children and they will take me. >> loyalist artillery halted the rebel advance. nato is helping with air strikes. the rebels say they are patient. >> he was dictator for 42 years. he kept promising change in six months and changing systems and manipulating the system.

everyone saying give him a chance, he will do it better but he never did. >> what kind of libya would you opportunity see? >> opportunity see better than england and freedom and everybody can do what they like and be like to be a safer country. and nobody be afraid for anything. we can do anything. can he say anything. do not be afraid. nobody can catch him and kill him for nothing. >> ebles are a mixture of people who never really held a gun before. students, shop keepers, businessmen. they are a pretty idealistic bunch and they certainly talk the language of democracy. the question is what will happen if a new government dispints their expectations. there are certainly a lot of guns in libya today. paul wood, "bbc world news," outside russa luf. >> in other reports, 18 people in algeria have been killed in a bomb attack at security

barracks. a military source quoted saying two bombers, one on a motorcycle, blew themselves up at the entrance of the barracks in a town about 100 kilometers west of algeria? let's get on hurricane irene and mare of new york, michael bloomberg, ordered the evacuation of more than 250,000 people opinion prepare to shut down the city's entire mass transit system. irene has left the bahamas and is expected to hit the coast of north carolina on saturday, before heading to virginia and new york city a day later. >> this teaming metropolis doesn't do hurricanes but tomorrow lunch time, the city that never sleeps will see its entire transit system grind to a halt. while more than a quarter of a million new yorkers are being ordered to abandon homes at risk of flooding. at coney island, unprecedented ee vac had already begun. as the sick shuffled to

hospitals on higher ground. up the road we found residents of a nursing homeñi waiting for transport. and buses loading up passengers from sheltered housing to adults with learning difficulties. >> we're told the power may go off if the hurricane hits with full force. so i do -- it's a wise decision to evacuate people. >> some in this beach side community are unmoved. if irene does take a bite out of the big apple, the low-income housing blocks which have seen better days will be on the front line. >> so many things have been happen in new york lakely with the earthquake tuesday and now this. i don't know what's going on. forecasters say it's still too early to be precise about where irene might make landfall. all along east coast, authorities are erring on the side of caution because they've already seen what this hurricane is capable of. in the dominican republic, irene

claimed two lives, barreling through the bms destroying homes. in florida, glancing blow as title surge swept holiday makers off a peer. north carolina is next. its outer banks braced for direct impact tomorrow morning. if you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now. don't wait. don't delay. whope for the best but we have to be prepared for the worst. >> from space, irene is immense, 600 miles wide with winds of 100 miles an hour. slightly slower than before but that's of little comfort to those who wait. steve kingston, "bbc world news," new york. >> we have an update on hurricane irene because we're being told by forecasters it is slowing down. only ever so slightly but it is slowing down as it heads towards

north carolina. the national hurricane center said it is slowing down to is 30 miles per hour. that's down from 14 miles per hour, but it is slowing down slightly. we can see live pictures from north carolina where the manhattan expected to hit first. it looks like the bad weather is there. and that is live pictures from north carolina. we did hear from someone from the national hurricane center early who said it would possibly be downgraded to a category 1 storm and it seemed it was slowing down at the moment. but only ever so slightly. east coast bracing itself because hurricane irene is still due to hit land shortly, in a few hours' time beginning with north carolina. the next day in new york, of course.

also an update on new york area airports. we are being told by the port authority, according to the reuters news agency, new york area airports will remain open to departing flights but will close to arriving flights at noon saturday, new york time. just an update from the port authority. new york area will remain open for departing flights will will remain closed for arriving flights.ñi an update for you on hurricane irene. you are watching "bbc world news." still ahead -- carnival countdown. london prepares to play host to europe's biggest street party. the son of the former pakistani governor was killed earlier this

year has been abducted in la hoshe. he drove in daylight through the city and was abducted. he was killed by his bodyguard in january for controversial blass famie lies. >> assad had been driving through an affluent area when police say he was confronted by gunmen and kidnapped. he and his family were known to be at risk after receiving threats for months of the security forces deny they could have done more to prevent the abduction. >> he had four soldiers with him around the clock. and he said he didn't understand it. >> we interviewed him earlier last year after his father had been shot dead by his own

bodyguard.çó the governor of panjab and one of the most liberal voices was killed after supporting croatian woman sentenced to death for blass famie. -- blass famie. blass fomy. they appeared in court and were speaking out against the murder and against extremism were threatened. this is the very spot where shabazz's father was gunned down. no confirmation that is linked to the kidnapping. after all, there are frequently abductions for money here but what it is is another indication of the levels of lawlessness that have now started to invade this society. "bbc world news," islamabad. >> you're watching "bbc world

news." other main headline this hour, hundreds of bodies have been discovered at an abandonned hospital in the heart of tripoli. libyan rebels say they're on the verge of controlling the city. thousands have been ordered to leave new york and other low-lying areas as hurricane irene races towards america's atlantic coast. at least 18 people were killed in nigeria on friday when a car bomb ripped through the united nations' headquarters in the capital. the u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon condemned the attack on an assault on those who devote their lives to helping others. they told the bbc itçó carried t the bombing. our correspondent frank gardner reports. >> stunned, bleeding and in shock, survivors of the bomb blast brought out one by one. they drove a car packed with explosives through two ineffective barriers before

detonating it. going two stories and many those within. >> i counted five dead bodies and then security forces came around. i saw the whole window shattered.ñi the other portion actually collapsed. and no casualties. >> it's the worst attack on a u.n. building in over three years. suspicion immediately followed the local extremist group. soon after a group claimed sponts. today's bomb marks añi major escalation. up until now they targeted nigerian officials. so who are they? they are radical nigerian islammists. their name means western education. founded in 2002, seeking a ban throughout nigeria.

human right group says they killed 250 people in the last year after a failed government attempt to crush them. the u.n. secretary-general was quick to condemn the blast. >> it's an assault on those who devote their lives to helping others. we condemn this terrible act utterly. we do not have criticize casualties heroes but they are likely to be considerable. >> an investigation is being led by the near gearian authorities but the u.n.'s own investigators will want to know how security was badly breached and why the united nations was singled out for this devastating tack. frank gardner, bbc news. >> let's go back to the situation in the united states, as hurricane irene approaches. we can talk to a resident of brooklyn. hani, hon on earth are new yorkers bracing be themselves for this hurricane? >> well, mine new yorkers are

divided into two main camps really. kind of more lezzy fair, blase people who are winthed to organizing hurricane parties and then these people who are a bit more nure ratic and bombarding stores, buying batteries, duct tape, gallons of water. and canned foods. i'm more in the kind of kind of wait and see what happens and hopefully things will turn out for the best. >> what about evacuation orders, are you taking them seriously? are people listening to what the mayor is saying, to what the president is saying? >> i am lucky because i'm actually in a part of brooklyn above the water line. if flooding occurs, my property won't be damaged that much. some of my friends are pretty worried actually. not necessarily evacuation zones but seeking higher ground. i have friends in peripheral

areas around battery park and wall street area, what they're doing is going up to the bronxes, where the safety is better and staying with friends and relatives, as opposed to anonymous evacuation spots. >> hani, resident of brooklyn, stay safe. >> thank you very much. >> some more news, mexico's president phillippi cauldron has declared three days of mourning after more than 50 people died in an arson attack on a ca seen quo in the northern city of monterey. armed men brock into the building and drenched it with fuel before setting it on fire. a teenage boy has died after violent clashes with police officers on the final day of a general strike in the capital city of san diego in chile. tens of thousands took to the police calling for far reaching reforms. the boy, identified as 16-year-old manuel, was shot thursday night.

police launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. in the u.k., hundreds of thousand are expected to teaped the notting hill carnival in west london this weekend. the biggest event of its kind in europe. but it will start and finish earlier this year. following riots in london nearly three weeks ago. and there will also be a record number of police on the streets for current last-minute carnival preparations. >> we acknowledge the responsibility in our time. >> traditional toast set the scenes, unveiling of two plaques in notting hill, celebrating the roles claudia jones and running played in starting the carnival. >> we thought it would be nice to express the symbiotic relationship shared.

>> a lot has changed since carnival. this weekend much will be boarded up. that's not unusual but in the wake of the riots, more than ever will be protected. >> if you want to see the board, they will find them this year rather than last year. >> highest number of police ever will be at carnival. eileen scott will be among them w a difference fourth year running she will be in a masked band in full costume. >> i hope we don't have any trouble. it's very minor the trouble that does normally happen during carnival. hopefully it will be peaceful, peaceful on the streets and peaceful parades. >> still, bands are a key part of carnival. the part of the regulars won't be playing this year, not because of the riots but because they can't afford to. >> they have toñi make a decisi whether or not they will come

here or whether or not they might be here has the edge. >> some other familiar names will be missing too. the sound stage pulled out when their insurance doubled while nottinghill veteran norman jay is take ago year off. decision he made before the riots he says he will be back next year. >> i'm leaving carnival this year in really good hands. there's so much to see. so many great sound systems to enjoy. so much good food. around the world to enjoy. and it will be a fantastic weekend for everybody. >> certainly the vibe among carnival supporters will be summed up in song.çó ♪ >> much more,çó of course, on o website. can you also follow me on twitter.

>> 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? bns been was presented