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>> and now, "bbc world news." >> hello, and welcome. >> leaving libya, for close relatives of colonel gaddafi flee to algeria. the buildup to the battle for gaddafi's compound continues. -- hometown continues. >> tropical storm arlene it leaves at least 38 people dead in the u.s.. the flooding is set to continue. it is 11:00 a.m. here in singapore. >> it is 4:00 a.m. here in london.

four close relatives of colonel gaddafi have crossed into neighboring algeria. the algerian government has confirmed that his wife and daughter and two sons are in the country. the white house says there has been no evidence that the libyan leader himself has fled. we are in tripoli. >> these on the only portraits of colonel gaddafi that you will see in tripoli these days. positioned carefully so that everybody visiting the city center has to step on them. his images to be everywhere. in his last -- in his last month in power, and he relied on his family. his daughter made a speech, saying that he would never step down.

the national conditional council saying that they should all be child -- tried as criminals. like his father, he is wanted by the international criminal court. another son has been trying to broker a cease-fire and a deal with the traditional government. according to information. anti-gaddafi factors are pushing closer to the colonel's birthplace. the big prize they want most of all is the colonel himself. >> libyan rebels said they believe that one of colonel gaddafi's son was killed in an armed confrontation. a spokesman for the rebels told the arabic television channel that the former intelligence chief was killed in the same incident on saturday.

both were key figures in colonel gaddafi's structure. carl gaddafi himself is still at large and rebel fighters say they are within 20 miles of the leaders last stronghold. we are with the advancing forces. >> after many days of deadlock on the wrote, the rebels are surging ahead. behind them, towns and people getting their first taste of freedom in a generation. he spent the past 21 years in jail. he remembers the bad food, the beatings, the murders of other prisoners. >> i did not see my kids and my wife for 12 years. can you imagining?

-- imagine it? his son died fighting for the revolution a few days ago. a high price, but necessary, he told me. and officers of metal and uniform discarded by gaddafi loyalists. the revolution has certainly one, but it is not complete. credit gaddafi has -- is still at large. -- gaddafi is still at large. the rebels say they will wait to avoid further bloodshed. the advance was halted for a time because civilians were in the village ahead. >> we take the families out. then we can fight. >> almost euphoric levels of

competence. as you can see, reinforcements are being pushed out. they are charging ahead and cover the next few days, they will be fighting the last big battle of this war. next week, it would have marked 42 years of crawl gaddafi's role. -- of colonel gaddafi possible. once, this would have been a death sentence. libyans know that iraq is at an end. -- that to iraq is at an end. at an end. >> it was apparently written by a special team assigned by the secretary general to draw up recommendations for the un new role in libya. the u.n. has not confirmed its

authenticity. the reports from the united nations. >> the report appears to be an internal planning document that could form the basis for a new u.n. mandate. so, for example, on the security side, it recommends the possible deployment of 200 unarmed military observers. they would monitor a cease-fire. the documents suggest that what could they could be used to do is monitor the process of dealing with the troops that fought for the gaddafi government, what to do with them, how to treat them. it calls for the deployment of up to 190 u.n. police officers to help establish law and order in the country. on the political side, it talks about the transition to democracy, how the u.n. can help to support the establishment of an interim government that would be inclusive, legitimate.

how we can help organize elections for a provisional body that could draw up a constitution. the u.n. has a lot of experience in this. this is a planning document. all of these things will only be implemented if requested by the libyan transitional authorities. >> there are still some problems being caused by irene. >> severe flooding in the northeastern u.s. after a tropical storm irene. bletting could continue for up to three days. at least 38 people have been killed and more than 7 million homes and businesses are without power. the white house and administration officials to see the damage and recovery efforts. we have more. >> irene's alarming aftermath.

firemen in new jersey battle with the rising water levels. stranded teenagers climb onto their overturned boat waiting to be rescued. >> we did not realize the current was as strong as it was. >> as it moved north to vermont, flooding was the worst in 80 years. this bridge is barely standing, at this one was swept away. in upstate new york, rescuers tried to reach those cut off by the floods. >> our town was destroyed. maximum damaged and people are displaced. >> in massachusetts, a floating container reps to the creek. the authorities everywhere were expecting coastal flooding, and

that the worst was inland, were already swollen rivers burst their banks. millions are without power. on the sixth anniversary of hurricane katrina, the president is watching this one closely. " we're going to make sure that folks have all the support that they need. >> new york was. the devastation. from north carolina to vermont, the east coast is counting the cost of carrying costs -- irene's destruction. >> a bipartisan congressional commission says the united states government has wasted at least $30 billion in iraq and afghanistan for the last decade. it blamed fraud, locks accountability for much of the waste. japan's prime minister has

resigned as head of a vote. yoshihiko noda is set to become japan's 6 prime minister in five years. he faces a divided legislator and the daunting prospect of rebuilding areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami. we are in tokyo and we look at whether he has what it takes to overcome these challenges. >> he is a pretty good orator. his biggest challenge is going to be reaching the divide in japanese politics. his own party is split as well between various factions. what we can see of what he has done since he became leader of this party yesterday, significant. he has been talking to the leaders of the opposition, hoping to draw the men. he said they should all work

together. he spent a lot of time working out his cabinet, trying to satisfy all the various factions. the problem is that many of its predecessors have tried to break the stalemate, too. none of them have succeeded. >> we are live from singapore and london. >> five suspected members of the drug cartel in mexico have been arrested in connection with the arson attack on the casino last week. more than 50 people died in the attack. it took place in the city of monterrey in the north of the country. >> these are the faces of the

men that police said were responsible for one of the worst acts of violence in mexico for years. they have apparently confessed to torching the casino royale in monterrey on thursday. footage shows the men allegedly buying gasoline before driving to the casino. money was the motive for the attack. >> it was to obtain -- it was a type of extortion. there was some kind of a disagreement. the attack was carried out in retaliation for that this agreement. either of them refusing to participate or for not being able to make the payment. >> the president declared war on the drug cartel when he took office in 2006. since then, violent battles have escalated.

monterey used to be one of the safest places. many are living in fear. >> president obama has nominated a new economic adviser to help bring down america's unemployment rate. alan krueger is a princeton university expert on unemployment. if you are all mine and you are on twitter, you can keep up-to- date with us. >> good to have you with us. four close relatives of colonel gaddafi have fled libya and

crossed into neighboring algeria. >> rebel fighters said they are now within 20 miles of gaddafi's last stronghold, his hometown. for more on our main story. response to the news that crumb abu dhabi's wife and three of these children have fled to algeria from libya. gaddafi supporters have reason to reconsider their loyalty. we spoke to the locals to find out. >> the green flags of colonel gaddafi wants to prod year. -- once flew probably here. this is a new rebel checkpoint. the supporters put up a fight here. you can see it on the buildings. the fires are still burning

here. you can actually tasted. you can also feel the tensions as well. this was one of the last places in tripoli to fall. look at this market that lies in ruins. they saw some of the fiercest fighting of this war in tripoli. >> i used to support him. >> what changed your mind? >> i saw the truth. i saw the truth of our leader. >> what was the truth? >> he is not the right leader for libya. he said, i am a strong enough to protect you from anything. >> the attacks strength and some loyalty.

>> he wanted to show us the destruction. >> we are all supporters of gaddafi year. no one can say that because we will be taken away here. >> there will be no revenge killings. do you believe them? >> they went house by house, they took away my neighbors. we do not know where they are. we should be able to voice our own opinion. >> it has been a long and bloody battle to create in libya. the rebels now have to confront how much of the old order can be part of the new. >> the united nations special

for human-rights have held talks with parliamentary officials. he believes burma was on the right path to a democracy. he returned from a five-day mission to burma on thursday. he said the human rights situation remains a serious issue. >> every meeting, i want the release of these prisoners. this is a very important human rights issue. there are many others of course. civilians are exposed because of the fighting to serious human rights abuses.

>> what is your sense? when will the government release of political prisoners? >> during my mission, i did not receive any signs that the government will fulfil its obligation by releasing the prisoners. i hope that the government translates into action. immediately. to have the potential. again, the elections, the new parliament, and so on and so forth, has to translate into action. >> briefly, do you think that

burma will ever institute political freedom in the country? but would ever be a reality? >> -- will it ever be a reality? >> this is the first time after decades that there is an opportunity. we need to see if this opportunity is translating into reality. many wish that this opportunity will translate into a real improvement of human rights. imad during my mission. >> in other news, and syria, activists said abbey's to six people have been killed by security forces crack down on protests against the president. heavy gunfire has been heard near the town entrance forcing

many residents to flee. troops are also reporting -- are reported in towns like damascus. the u.n. food and agricultural organization planes migrating birds for bring the virus. it has the ability to resist existing vaccines. a u.s. commission has heard that at least 83 guatemalans died after being deliberately infected by a sexually transmitted diseases by american scientists. they were infected with syphilis and gonorrhea in the 1940's to study the effects. we have news of a major political showdown. >> it is an interesting development. he faces a disciplinary hearing.

he faces charges of bringing the party into disrepute. he has been a thorn in the president's side. his ambitions to lead for a second term relies heavily on the outcome of this hearing. >> he is never far from controversy. he has been accused in the past. the party is now disciplining him. he has been expelled, but this is more. >> what we are seeing now is a series of dynamics that could mean that next year's leadership

contest is almost decided here. he probably will not be contested next year. if it ends badly for him, it could be a different story. >> just last year, there were a series of embarrassing incident. he ordered a bbc journalist at venues conference. he defied the south african government by attacking the reform programs. alec on probation, he has continued to make the news -- out on probation, he has continued to make the news. it was his call for regime change in botswana that was the final straw. they are forced to rein him in. in the township where he was born, some say it is a political witch hunt.

he is part of a camp trying to unseat him. >> there was an aim of building -- >> this local business and says it is about principles, not revenge. >> it is time that we need to get rid of this small clique. people are no longer making constructive decisions. >> he already faces attacks on several fronts. his business dealings have attracted the interest of the independent auditor. it is the possibility of the expulsion that poses the biggest threat to his political career.

do not underestimate the popularity of this man. he may be in the spotlight again, for all been wrong reasons -- for all the wrong reasons, but he commands a huge following that insists that he has done nothing wrong. >> there has been another direction. -- eruption. >> it is the tallest active volcano in europe and one of the most active volcanoes in the world. it is stepping up its levels. it issued in law the into the air. in greek mythology, the doubly monster was trapped under this mountain. on a more practical level, there are a number of villages situated on the slope.

despite the danger, people are attracted to the area. it supports extensive agriculture. italian airlines sometimes have to change their roots. it started spewing out a significant amount of cash -- ash. reminder ofng you a our main news again. the algerian government has confirmed that the wife of colonel gaddafi and three of his children have fled to algeria from libya. the white house has seen no evidence that the libyan leader himself has fled. thank you very much for watching. we will see you again soon.

>> 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.

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