>> 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 financial strength to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you?

>> and now, "bbc world news." >> command described as al qaeda's most serious threat to the west is killed and in a strike in yemen. the michael jackson trial continues. jurors hear from paramedics tried to revive the singer. welcome to "bbc world news." paying the price in mexico's drug war, a strike over security concerns. why the authorities in paris hope this will bring some vavavoom to the capital.

president obama has described the killing indymac of one of al qaeda's -- in yemen is a major blow to the group. anwar al-awlaki was said to inspire terror plot on both sides of the atlantic. his convoy was attacked by an american drone. >> eloquent, inspirational, and effective. anwar al-awlaki exulted his followers to attack americans and other westerners. he has been killed along with his companions in a u.s. air strike. >> this is further proof that al qaeda will find no safe haven

anywhere in the world. working with yemen and our other allies and partners, we will be determined, we will be relentless, resolute in our commitment to destroy terrorist networks that aimed to kill americans. >> anwar al-awlaki's influence reached far beyond the village where he was hiding. he used the internet and phone calls to inspire others to attack western targets. the british airways worker from new castle, a convicted of plotting to blow up a plane. anwar al-awlaki was a u.s. citizen. here is 10 years ago praying at a washington mosque. he was considered the then a model cleric, even invited to

lunch at the pentagon. >> we are now feeling like things are changing and the of 40's art -- the authorities are putting the muslim community under siege. this is an infringement on civil liberties. the once it will be affected will be the american muslims. >> into a dozen for, anwar al- awlaki -- in 2004, anwar al- awlaki moved to yemen. his group sent bombs described in printer ink cartridges. they were intercepted at airports. the controversial u.s. presidential order had been signed to kill or capture anwar al-awlaki. us drones have been targeting him for months. many have expressed regret that

he was not brought to trial. >> there are legal precedents and a very important ones. you are targeting people and charging the will of not yet committed a crime. >> al qaeda and ems will live on. it has lost its chief recruiter, but its leader and its bomb makers are still at large. >> there have been some criticism of the killing of anwar al-awlaki by human rights campaigns. legal counsel to homeland security and explained the legal basis for his assassination. >> the obama administration has not been clear about its legal

basis, but there are quite a few justifications under the law for the action that was taken today. first of all, the united states is at war without qaeda. as a result of the joint resolution of congress back in september of 2001, the united states and the president are authorized to wage war against al qaeda and anwar al-awlaki was in charge of al qaeda in the arabian peninsula. what is troubling to many of the people you cited was that he was an american citizen. the justification is twofold. he has joined the enemy. just like in world war ii, is an american citizen donned the uniform of not his, american troops would not have to take that person into custody.

the second issue that the aclu and others often cite is that actions like this violate international law. this case today is not that. from the present to the secretary of defense to yemeni officials themselves, they said the cooperation between the yemeni government and the united states was high in this operation. juxtapose that between the united states and pakistan. in the osama bin laden operation. that was nonexistent. >> the jury in the manslaughter trial of michael jackson's doctor has been hearing from paramedics to try to revive the singer. dr. conrad murray denies the charges. >> the evidence focused on the 42 crucial minutes paramedics

battle to save michael jackson's life. he was the first to arrive to the singer's bedroom. he said he saw a patient that the chronically ill. he was wearing a pajama top, a surgical cap, and was underweight. >> when they first moved the patient, his skin was cold to the touch. when i took a first glance at him, his eyes were open. his pupils were dilated. when i hooked up the machine, it was flatlines. the paramedics tried to restart the singers heart. they ask the doctor about his health and drug use. >> i asked again about his underlying health condition. he did not respond. the third time he said, nothing, nothing.

simply that did not add up to me. >> why is that? >> doctors in the house, iv, it did not seem normal. >> he received no information about the drug that was said to of killed the singer. >> did the doctor ever mentioned to you have been administered to to michael jackson? >> no, you did not. >> did conrad murray ever mention the word to you during the time that you were at the location or in his presence? >> no, he did not. >> double-. >> he never mentioned the word. >> the emergency room doctor who tried to save michael jackson's life when he got to the hospital will continue on the witness stand on monday. >> a retirement ceremony has

been held for admiral mike mullen. his recent comments about the network and their alleged link havekistan's intelligence sparked controversy. a charge the government denies. >> the afghan insurgents leader, one of america's deadliest enemies, allegedly supported by its ally, pakistan. the taliban faction branded an agency bykistan's spy america's top military official last week. that claim has been denied again at a gathering of grim-faced pakistani leaders. they called for talks with the militants, not the crackdown washington is demanding.

despite the denials, pakistan's former national security adviser told us that the group is on pakistan the soil and the tribal belt. >> today, it is a hotbed. everybody who is anybody in the terrorist field is there. there is military. yet they have a fair amount of freedom of action. >> the army has hunted down the other militant groups in this remote tribal terrain, but not the network. old friends to could protect is lama died -- islamabad interest in the post-war afghanistan. pakistan insisted they have

sacrificed too much already. and this army hospital, we met some recent casualty is a battle with the militants. every step is a struggle for this capt.. he was ambushed by the taliban. his father, a 30-year army veteran, says pakistan is paying too high a price. >> pakistan is suffering. we are suffering. we are sacrificing. what more can we do? >> americas reply -- drive out the fighters. they do not kill and maim here, said they are not pakistan's priority. officials here and washington are now engaged in damage control. after this latest crisis in its

u.s.-pakistan relations. the row house exposed divisions between these two supposed allies. divisions that could hamper the search for peace in afghanistan. >> final legal arguments have been heard in the appeal trial of amanda knox. the 24-year-old under former boyfriend are appealing against the verdict, which saw each of them jailed for more than 20 years. >> the world's media has had ascended on the courtroom. the roads are absolutely lifted with satellite trucks and crews from all over the world. the closing arguments have now finished. although lawyers for the defense and prosecution have had their say and they have tried to make lasting impressions on the

judges and jury. they went over a lot of the evidence, much of it forensic. that is crucial to this appeal because it is disputed by the defense team. there was also criticism by the prosecution about comment made by the defense that amanda knox had been crucified by the media. the prosecution said that was a bold statement. the defense said, there is a private jet on standby for her man debt -- amanda and her family. their conclusions were that they killed for no reason and for this, they should be given the maximum sentence.

in italy, it is not the death sentence. if she was acquitted, she would flee italy. the defense concluded by saying that they are not scared of the truth. amanda knox, her defense lawyers said, we ask you to judge the truth, not the film that has been written as amanda knox as the main protagonists. >> this is bbc news. more allegations emerged of government violence in syria. we continue our series of reports from inside the country. the wife of the british member of parliament has been found guilty of burglary after she's told -- stole a kitten from the home of her husband's mistress.

>> she is outside the home of her husband's lover. this is the moment the law was brokencctv cameras caught her in the act. after a few moments inside, she emerges with a kitchen tucked under her arm. -- kitten tucked under her arm. today, she left corp., a convicted burglar. >> i would like to thank my family and all the people who have stuck with me. i just want to put the experience behind me. >> the prosecution said this case was about a love triangle and a cat. they married in 1981 and have

three children. for 11 years, the wife had known about the mistress. two days after the cat went missing, the cctv was checked and the police was called. security cameras captured what happened here last september. the fate of her cat remains a mystery. >> you can get more on all of our stories bygone to our website. -- by going to our website. >> president obama has described the killing in yemen of anwar al-awlaki as a major blow to the

group. the jury in the manslaughter trial of michael jackson's doctor has been hearing evidence from the paramedics who tried to revive the singer. to syria, where security forces began reportedly opening fire on protesters falling friday prayers. tens of thousands of people took to the streets across the country. this video is believed to be from the this town. we have gained iraq's access to the country. she visited a mosque in -- we have gained rare access to the country. she visited a mosque in damascus. >> there have been protests here today. the soldiers are out in force. the press have just ended and people are coming out and looking up with curiosity at the presence of a camera. so few foreign journalists are getting into damascus. we have been given permission to

come to see what happens after friday prayers. >> crowd quickly gathered around us. this man lets us know, i am against the regime, please do not show my face. someone else jumps in. what would you like to see in syria? what would you like your president to do? >> i believe, okay, everything takes time. give this regime time. >> there are whispers behind me that he is not from this neighborhood. he is with the government. there is a sense of menace on the ground and cyprus on the roof. >> someone has to come up to us and the crowd and handed us a piece of paper. it is written in english. thank you, but no one can make a meeting with you because the army is in the other street.

all the people are afraid of them. others bravely told us their views without being seen. >> did you see it? >> where? down the street? >> in uniform or not in uniform? >> uniform. what are they trying to do? >> are you scared? >> yes. we saw the car at the end of the street. but then it roars off. a group of young man moves in. >> he is telling me to leave now.

before they go, do let us know their views. another friday prayer is over for this week. >> in mexico, teachers and the resort of acapulco have decided to end a month-long strike after they reached an agreement on new security measures. the police will strengthen security patrols around school buildings and install panic alarms to protect teachers and pupils from organized crime. it comes after drug gangs left five severed heads outside a school in acapulco earlier this week. >> closed until further notice, the sign on the school in acapulco says. drug violence in mexico has claimed thousands of victims in recent years. it is claiming another -- the country's education system. since last month, teachers from more than 100 schools have been

on strike over threats of violence and extortion from the city's criminal gangs. >> it is true that we are scared because we have been under threats. from the first of october, the gangs have demanded 50% of wages. of course, we are worried. it is our constitutional right for security. teachers union said it returned to -- they intend to return to class next week. the move comes after one of the most gruesome acts of drop a ball look -- drug violence in acapulco. on tuesday, a bag containing five severed heads was dumped outside of a primary school with a note attached for in the state governor. as the situation continues to worsen in mexico, pressure is growing on the president to find alternatives to his military response to the drug trade. some have called for the government to negotiate with the

gains while others was to seek drugs legalized in the u.s. many schools and acapulco teach emergency drills for an event such as drive-by shootings. now they are simply looking forward to reopen their doors. >> of thousands of people have protested in egypt calling on military leadership to speed up the transfer of power to civilians. protesters gathered to in cairo, claiming that change has been too slow since the overthrow of president mubarak. hundreds of women gathered near protest thepital to court sentence. the doctors and nurses were found guilty of charges that include inciting the overthrow of the government and provoking

hatred. it is electric, silent, and it will be available in paris from december. a petrol-free car. the authorities are hoping that it will revolutionize the city travel. >> in the city that pioneered the self-service bicycle, the next big experiment. this is a fleet of help yourself electric cars. they will be available for rent at 1100 stations and around paris. designed to introduce commuters to greener technology, investors are hoping it will cut 22,000 privately owned cars in the already congested streets. >> you have 30% of people having a second car.

with this system, it will help to decrease the number of cars and traffic. >> here it is. eventually, there will be 3000 of these vehicles in paris. each one is equipped with a radio, a gps system. each of them have is -- has a top speed of 130 kilometers. under a range of 250 kilometers on a full battery. there is electric patch to recognize is a chip in your subscription cards. >> would you like to rent a car? >> you can buy a subscription with a credit card and driver's license for today. >> i was not aware of it.

>> i think it would be a great idea. it would be a really good idea to be able to drive an electric car. >> candles improved a major problem for the bikes. -- vandalism proved a major problem for the bikes. these do have a security system built in. opponents still foresee problems. >> it is the same price as a taxi on roads there already overcrowded. >> if you cannot afford a car or you do not want a car, this is a pretty fun way to travel. you could have just about any color that you want. as long as it is silver.

>> this is bbc news. >> 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 expertise to work for a wide

range of companies. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet, los angeles.