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>> and now, "bbc world news." >> arab leaders prepare for new moves against syria. we reveal more soldiers defecting to the opposition. rule to give it a chance. shopping in the united states, millions look for bargains after thanksgiving day. welcome to bbc news broadcasting to viewers and pbs in america and around the globe. that -- airport warns she won a silver medal in cycling using her hands and she is going for the olympics after getting the use of her legs back.

hello, again. the arab league is going to consider the economic sanctions against syria this saturday after a deadline passed and the violence against its own people. it could include commercial flights and dealings with syria. the bbc had evidence that the struggle for democracy is becoming an armed insurgency against the forces. opposing them on their former colleagues defecting to the free syrian army. there the first journalist to spend time with the free syrian army in and around the area. >> syria oppose the border with lebanon. traveling with men taking in

guns to a growing insurgency. they enter syria. the area is heavily mined. a man was captured here just hours earlier. the syrian army is all around. they will probably shoot if they spot us. the suburb. the people are hemmed in by the security forces. the fear is suffocating. but the fire power is no longer all on one side. these are the men of the free

syria army. they don't exactly hold this area, just hoping to slow the security forces. >> almost from the beginning, it was a syrian government propaganda the armed groups were supporting the opposition. after months of protesters being shot down in the streets, that myth of an armed insurgency has become reality. more join every day. a gun battle signals another defection. soldiers are running. they are fired on by their former comrades. five made it out. a sixth did not. one of the soldiers explained

that they fled after being ordered to shoot an armed -- the armed protesters. we are all one people, one blood. we can't just kill them, he says. the nightly demonstration, they are calling for a no-fly zone. with international protection, they say, millions will take to the streets to sweep away the regime of. but help is not on the way. the conflict is escalating. the free syria army is starting to go on the offensive. a sniper prepares to fire on a soldier guarding an army post. he is aiming to wound, not to kill, he says. [shot] rebels still held that most of the army is prepared to change sides.

she lost her son, grandson, and a brother in law, all shot dead. they had to demonstrate, she says. we had 40 years of injustice while they lived. so much bitterness is being stored up against the ruling minority. the 6-year-old boy and died as we left, shot by a sniper, they said. they were quietly angry. and the longer this goes on, the more chance that the struggle for democracy will and with sectarian bloodletting. >> to egypt or the man chosen by the country's ruling minister council to be the prime minister has addressed the nation. he spoke as huge crowds gathered to continue their calls for an end to military rule.

>> the wire is to help the truce to hold. the road where protesters and riot police fought is being sealed off by the army. a soldiers kept their distance. inside was a day for candy floss, not clashes. the square was much more relaxed. this is not a place for every egyptian. the muslim brotherhood leaders say that they are supporting the people, but they stay away. many believe the brotherhood and the generals are conspiring over a flawed election. >> the leaders are not clear. >> there with the army? >> yes. even if they say they are not. >> it was the biggest turnout of this week. the message that the army should

give up politics is a powerful one. but it wasn't among the chance. this was the alternative protest supported by the muslim brotherhood and egypt was the biggest political movement appear in here, the chance was all about palestine, israel, and jerusalem. they had nothing to say about the square, didn't even mention the name. the brotherhood was the first to go home. they don't want anything to disrupt the progress of elections on monday. some brotherhoods supporters went on to the square. but the leaders calculate they are far enough ahead to play it safe by cooperating with the generals. >> leave if we had the rare -- if we had the election results

in our mind, we would have gone to the square, but honestly, we are waiting to sacrifice some of our support to make sure that this is the most important thing that we are having in mind right now. >> a third rally was going on in cairo. in support of the armed forces and against the protests. >> elections, he says. and >> we support the army and the police. >> if the different egyptian democracy emerges, it will be tested from birth by the dictatorship legacy. over and tolerance and a bitter division. >> violence has marred the

american shopping season. but friday, retailers cut prices to get customers to come to their shops. in one incident in california, a man has been left in critical but stable condition after he was shot for refusing to give up his sale item. >> is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year in the united states. in some cases, the run for a bargain turns very ugly. in this wal-mart store near los angeles, up to 20 people were injured after a woman apparently used pepper spray on other shoppers in the melee for xbox consoles. >> everybody started in hailing it. she sprayed it in the air. >> elsewhere in california, a gun was pulled and shots fired

all in the name of shopping. >> during the struggle, we believe one of the suspect pulled out a gun and shot one of the victims. at that point, they started to flee. a couple of victims grabbed one of the suspects and were able to detain him until the police arrived. >> there were instances of violence in the other parts of the country including north carolina and texas. the violence and a stampede to " provoke questions about the wisdom and the policing of these shopping days. but friday will be under particular scrutiny with a national sales performances. some of the big stores tried to entice customers by opening their doors as early as 9:00 p.m. on thanksgiving. with almost half the u.s. population expected to make purchases this weekend, many shopowners and politicians will be hoping to see signs of a kick

start to the economy. but it has been a tough year economically and one day of crazed shopping is unlikely to reverse the trend. >> one of the world's busiest airports has warned of gridlock on wednesday when immigration officers will be walking out on strike. passengers can expect an extremely long delay. the airlines will be flying into dastardly -- it drastically reduce the number of passengers that day. >> more international passengers flying to heathrow than anywhere else. next wednesday, they may face gridlock. industrial actions caused problems here before these planes are grounded during a dispute in march last year. they're asking airlines could fly planes half full during the strike. arriving passengers could face

delays of up to 12 hours, so long that they could not be a safely, dated and would need to be held on arriving aircraft. sarah is flying to colorado on wednesday. that one person that she may face delays and have offered to change your flight. >> we have worked hard all year to pay for the holiday, and to go and enjoy our snowboarding dress. to spend 12 hours in heathrow is not the way we wanted to start it. >> she is up against striking unions representing 1800 border controls staff. not a single member will turn up for work on wednesday. immigration staffing levels are expected to be less than 50%. almost 100 long-haul flights and 22,000 passengers will already have landed. the problem is that it operates

a 98% capacity, which gives it almost no room for maneuver. even a modest destruction can be something much worse. >> of the border agency said there were robust contingency plans to replace striking immigration officers. they suggested those plans were still a work in progress. >> if you're having people banka's for $12 in claims, if you're doing that to indian investors or american business people, you will turn britain into a laughingstock internationally. >> other u.k. airports are not expected to be as badly hit. they are desperate to avoid the kind of gridlock caused by last winter posies know. >> still to come, thousands of candidates are preparing for elections in war-torn democratic republic of congo.

there have been violent clashes between police and indigenous groups in july trying to stop the construction of an airport on what they claim as their land. it is the latest in a series of confrontations that the indians believe has been stolen from them. >> teargas. and water cannons. the police response after shots were fired by demonstrators. the action began with burning barricades set up across a major highway, protestors targeting police cars and buses. >> obviously, these incidents can get out of hand and affect people that have nothing to do with the issue. >> the objective to halt plans for an airport on what they consider ancestral territory in

their homeland, a hundred kilometers south of santiago. they claim they were never consulted by the local or central government. it is the latest flashpoint in a series of clashes involving the indigenous. more than a million, they say they've faced racial discrimination. thursday, a police officers was sentenced for killing a 24-year- old in 2009. only minor injuries have been reported in the latest confrontation. in their widely spoken language, it means people of the land. some indigenous groups are demanding the restitution of all their ancestral territory, the clash could escalate.

>> arab leaders prepare for new moves against syria as the bbc uncovers evidence of more soldiers defecting to the opposition. thousands have continued protesting against egypt was a military rulers despite the plea from the prime minister to give him a chance. let's get more on the unrest in egypt. they have been demonstrating over the past few days. let's start, why won't you give them a chance? in libya? former loyalists were part of the national transitional council. >> the guy is turning 79 in january, and he was the prime minister from 1996 to 1999 and it is really a joke.

can you guys find any qualified young people to head of the government for some time? it is a joke and all people are against it. >> is this a young person's protest? it is not universally popular. >> that is right, but there are a lot of other names that are even in their 50's or 60's that our quarrel -- that are more qualified than this guy. it is another trek that the military's supreme council is just trying to apply on us. it is kind of a silly joke, as i said. >> and those of you that have gathered, the have a central leadership that can negotiate with the military council? or is it just through protest?

>> is basically just being in the square, but there are a lot of other suggestions like we can be satisfied with any civilian council the can gather the candidates for the presidential election for next year, three or four people that didn't work with the old regime can fit. but the military are getting people, keeping them from their own. >> can you tell me any specific points with which you are unhappy about the start of the elections on monday? the parliamentary elections rather than the presidential elections? what is it about them that you're not happy with? >> of the way that the elections are being put as the priority, and they are done under the supervision of the military council, the whole procedure is not cry.

we need to be ruled by a civilian council and elections can come later. that is not the first priority. if you get a parliament that is full of the old regime are people who are still in power or people that just have the money, they will not be able to represent the country. >> thank you very much. he was speaking to us from cairo. the democratic republic of congo will hold elections on monday in what could be a turning point for a nation that suffered decades of war and seen millions killed. at least 19,000 candidates are contesting the elections. the votes in the past have been marred by violence. they're still living with the legacy of the country. >> excitement and more than a whiff of trouble. it is election time and one of

africa's must chaotic countries. no one is expecting a smooth ride. on the throne here, one of the presidential hopefuls. loyalties are dangerously ferocious and so is the desire for change. >> of they don't care about the population. there are no jobs. >> and not much peace either in the eastern, though. a port town where the bicycles are wooden, the peacekeepers can't be everywhere, and rival arms groups battle for power in the mineral wells. the incumbent president has all the usual authorities and may seek another victory. but it will be close and intense.

>> in these elections could be a step forward for a country that has potential for decades. there is real danger for more instability in a region that is plagued by violence and impunity. >> my fear is that all this will lead to serious violence and maybe to breaking up this country. who knows. >> out of sight, the clearest proof of the enduring lawlessness. music of the epidemic of sexual violence still ignites the countryside. 15-year-old mary says that she was raped this week by two unknown men. then they beat me, she says. she does not expect justice. but the hope for progress remains strong here. one of 19,000 candidates running

for a seat in parliament. >> i think this is a step forward. it is not a miracle, but i think this is a step forward to what stronger institutions -- [inaudible] >> miracles are not on the cards, but the economy is growing in the fate matters to africa. it is the wounded child at the center of the continent. >> the singer george michael has canceled the remainder of his european tour because of health. the was admitted to the hospital on monday. the remaining 14 concert will be rescheduled and the spokesman has denied reports he was suffering from serious heart

problems. the to a -- now to a remarkable story that has astonished the medical field. she won a silver medal using her hands, last year she crashed during training and the feeling gradually began returning to her legs. she hopes to compete in the olympics as an able-bodied athlete. >> as she once was, a world beater, paralyzed in both her legs. from the age of 13, her left leg -- she had another terrible training accidents that put her back and hospital she began to

get feeling in her legs and regained the use of both of them. >> i just did it and i just walked over and over again until i fall down on the ground. >> many people can't believe it. can you explain that? >> i don't know. >> you could not use your legs for three years of your life, and now your cycling again. >> i don't know why, but i do. >> her living room is full of trophies and medals from her long career as a disabled athlete. a nationalist and twice a silver medalist at the beijing pair olympics -- parolympics. >> i am very lucky and also very happy. also besides the sport, life is

easier walking. it feels like a big challenge to see where i can get. >> she lived one olympic dream. she hopes to power her way to another. let's take you to the united states, the christmas season has begun in the white house because the official 3 has arrived, a 6 meter tall fur. and the carriage with the first lady and her daughters as well as the family dog to have a look at the tree and decorate it. it will be the blue room of the white house. a tradition since 1966.

don't forget the website for more on all the stories. thank you for coming. >> 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 strength to work for a wide

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