>> 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. >> at union bank, our relationship managers use their expertise in global finance to guide you through the business strategies and opportunities of international commerce. we put our extended global network 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." >> welcome to "newsday" on the bbc. i'm rico hizon in singapore. >> i'm babita sharma in london. the headlines. the biggest manhunt of recent years, french police search for the man who opened fire on jewish school children. shock and outrage across france. thousands march in paris and president sarkozy calls the killings and odious act. >> russia calls on syrian's opposition to agree todayly cease fires as fighting rages on. at a london hospital, a small improvement in fabrice muewam -- mua many, ba's condition. he is said to have spoken a few words. >> welcome to "newsday."

>> there is shock and concern across france that the attack that left four dead outside a jewish school, including three young children. thousands of people have marched in silence in the streets of paris in memory of the victims. the murders were carried out by a masked gunman on a black scooter, also accused of killing three troopers of north african origin in a nearby town last week. the entire region has been put on the highest level of terror alert. christian frazier sent this report. >> police have confirmed that they are hunting a serial killer. they know they have to act quickly to catch him before he strikes again. today's attack on jewish schools in the heart of this jewish community, all the hallmarks of previous attacks, two previous attacks on the region in eight days. a gunman that he's prepared to

shoot his victims at close range, in broad daylight and without any mercy, even for the smallest children. >> the monday morning school run that defended into panic and terror. as parents were dropping children at the gates, a lone gunman pulled up on a scooter and opened fire. he shot everyone in front of him. a man chased the terrified children into the school grounds. among the four dead was a rabbithan sandler and his two sons, age 3 and 6. the fourth victim was also a child, the 8-year-old daughter of the school principal. the 29-year-old told me he just finished chatting to his friend at the school gates. seconds later, the rabbi was dead. first he shot one bullet into the air. he hit the tree. after that, he shot the father in front of him, then the two children.

i didn't even turn around. i ran straight into the school, but he followed us and opened fire again. whean he left, he started shooting again. >> eyewitnesses said one of the gunman's weapon jammed. it may have saved some of those who fled. >> i had just arrived when we heard shooting. we were all very frightened and shocked. >> this evening, the french president nicolas sarkozy returned to speak to the nation from the palace. he has called for a minute's silence tomorrow in all french schools across the country and has placed the southwest under the highest possible terror alert. >> this act is odious and cannot remain unpunished. all measures, absolutely all possible measures will be taken to put this criminal out of action. >> police profilers are now building a detailed picture of their suspect and his movements. there have been two similar attacks in the past week in which three soldiers have been

killed. tonight, they reveal that the gun used in all these attacks is the same. on each occasion, the gunman has escaped on a black scooter. his face hidden by the visor of his helmet. anti-terrorist police from paris have now taken over this investigation and are sifting through hours of film from close circuit television that captured both the attacks and the escape. the gunman's knowledge of the roads say police suggest that he is local. one witness revealed the man has a tattoo on his face. the motive -- well, that's less clear, but all the victims so far have been of jewish, black, or north african decent. the police know they are now working against the clock. surveillance and armed security has been stepped up at all jewish schools and places of worship, while soldiers are being told not to wear uniform outside their base. the identity of the gunman remains a mystery, but local police speculate they are searching for a man or men with links to the far right and with considerable military training.

one possible line of inquiry tonight might focus on three paratroopers recently dismissed from a local base for links to far right extremism. one of those soldiers was said to have an identifying tattoo on his face, which could correspond to that tattoo identified by a key witness. >> christian frazier reporting there. the murders have led to protests on the streets of paris and to condemnation from around the world. wendy alcot has more. >> thousands marched through the streets of paris in silence. appalled at the killing of innocent children and one of their teachers. there's shock too overseas. >> for me, children are sacred. attacking children, this type of sentiment of anti-semitism, grabbing the hair of a little girl and putting a bullet in her brain, that's absolutely, absolutely not to be tolerated.

>> we were shocked and saddened to learn of the horrific attack at a jewish school in france. we stand with the victims of this attack and offer our condolences to their families and their community. we join the government of france in condemning this unprovoked and vicious act of violence. >> more than 100 investigators have been drafted in to hunt down the man responsible for the killings. until then, some 6,000 jewish people who live in france will no doubt be fearful. wendy alcot, bbc "bbc news." >> in other news, gunmen in mexico have killed 12 police officers investigating the beheading of 10 people. the officers were attacked as they searched for the boveeds in a mountainous area in western mexico. messages threatening the drug cartel were found with their heads. the knights temp lar cartel are fighting for controls of the drug trade.

the u.n. nuclear watchdog says it has received an invitation to visit north korea three years after its inspectors were expeled. last month, north korea agreed to suspend long-range missile tests and to allow u.n. nuclear inspectors into the country in return for food aid from the united states. officials are continuing their investigations into the suspicious deaths of several patients at two hospitals in the capital. two male nurses were charged on sunday with 16 murders. they are thought to have acted independently. rico, you've got the latest on the violence and the issue of humanitarian aid and the access for the people in czar. >> -- in syria. >> that's right, babita. russia has called on opposition forces to agree todayly cease fire to allow humanetarian aid into areas affected by violence.

the russian foreign ministry made the request. as our diplomatic correspondent reports, it came on a day even more violent. >> the nighttime firefight seems to be the fiercest during this year-long revolt. opposition fighters say they were targeting the home of a syrian army general, apparently trying to show that they can bring the uprising close to president assad's power base. after weeks in which his forces have driven them out of some key bases, particularly in homs. >> a terrorist group debt indicated the -- >> syrian state tv's english service is reporting what it calls attack by terrorists. >> security forces stormed the hiding place for terrorists. >> it also spoke of massacres earned in response, successful security force operations to seize men and weapons. all this comes after weekend car bombings which each side blames

on the other. what may be most significant about the latest fighting in damascus is that it happened on the regime's doorstep, here in the relatively wealthy district, right next to some security strongholds which help protect president assad's huge presidential palace compound. the president now faces renewed diplomatic pressure from two quarters. the united nations team of five mediators have arrived in damascus and russia's foreign minister now says his country backs red cross pressure for a daily humanetarian cease fire across syria. in moscow, the head of the international red cross got sergei's crucial support. russia's foreign ministry is now caling on both the syrian government and armed groups to observe a daily truce, allowing access to the wounded and all detainees. >> it's one of our biggest

concerns, that the wounded really do have access to medical care. >> the daily procession of funerals continues, as apparent political progress in russia still has to be tested on the ground. james robins, "bbc news." >> the united nations humanitarian chief who recently visited syria is to call for unhindered access for humanitarian aid. the baron ness is currently in singapore and joins me live in our studios. thank you so much for joining us. you were there close to two weeks ago. please share with us what you saw in syria. >> i was particularly concerned about what i saw in a neighborhood of homs. homs itself is a city that's very quiet, very few people out on the street. i was told that about 50% of the population of homs had left. a neighborhood of about 50,000

to 60,000 people, that neighborhood was completely destroyed. there wasn't a building that wasn't affected in some way. and it was diverted, a couple people that came back to playing -- claim some possessions. a few men on a street corner talking about the fact that their neighborhood had faced over a month of fighting and that people had had to go elsewhere. >> you've called for unhindered access for humanetarian aid what. is the potential that this could materialize? >> they told me they needed more time to consider. but in the meantime, what they did agree is that they would lead an assessment mission, which we as u.n. organizations could join. we have joined that. it left damascus on sunday, headed first to homs and will head to other cities. it's a way for us to get some more information about exactly what is going on.

who needs help and where they are. we put a couple of things to the government that we were very clear about. that we needed to be able to get opposition controlled areas, because our job is to help everyone. we do come across areas where people needed help. we would be able to provide it. the team has already had some access to opposition controlled so this mission, i hope, will at least give us some information, but we continue to push the government for the wider access. >> are you still planning to go back to syria to put more pressure on the syrian government? >> when the time is right, i will, of course, go back to syria. there's what we're trying to do on the humanitarian side. we still don't know what has happened to all those thousands of people, for example, that have left. it's really important that ordinary women, children, men who are caught up in this violence who may be hurt are

helped. at the same time, i think we all want to see a political solution to this crisis. peace and stability is ultimately the thing that will make a difference to syrians. >> let's talk about your trip to southeast asia. you are currently on a four-country event, focusing on natural disaster coordination. in your view, are they making progress in managing disasters? >> they're making substantial progress. this region, asia and the pacific, is the most disaster-prone region in the world. we saw it last year with that terrible flooding, for example, in cambodia, in thailand. here in singapore, this country is of course a logistical hub. groups from here participate in the international system. for example, the international search and rescue system. they go in and help countries to find people who may be lost after an earthquake. they're also part of a wider

u.n. system that go in and help once there is a disaster. when we bring in people with different skills. singapore very important. cambodia, of course, sharing this year. >> briefly, many lessons to be learned, especially with what happened in 2011. thailand, cambodia. and of course the philippines being hit by floods and's,. >> many lessons to be learned. we all know that if you fete the preparation right, fewer lives will be lost and of course it also costs less. people are able to help each other. they're able to help each other at a regional level, at a national level. that is much better for us as an international community. >> the united nations humanitarian chief. thank you so much for joining us. >> thank you. >> you're watching "newsday" from the bbc. still to come on the program, we join the hunt for libya's missing. the hundreds, perhaps thousands of victims of gaddafi's crackdown. >> a nervous kate speaks

publicly for the first time. some news from the u.k. now. private companies could take over the running and possibly the construction of major roads in england, and the plans outlined by the prime minister. mr. cameron said he wanted to attract investments to tackle congestion, which he said was costing the economy billions of pounds a year. however, friends said new and bigger votes would only lead to traffic and pollution. the government's plans to reform the n.h.s. have moved a step closer to becoming law. despite a labor attempt to block it. there's to be emergency debates on the legislation in the house of commons later today. at the tails of the chancellor's scheme to boost lending to st. paul businesses. the national loan guarantee scheme will be unveiled later. taxpayer subsidies lending to businesses could be worth 200 million pounds a year.

four of the u.k.'s biggest banks have signed up to the project. >> this is "newsday" on the bbc. i'm rico hizon in singapore. >> i'm babita sharma in london. the headlines for you this hour. one of biggest manhunts seen in france in recent times is under way after authorities link the shootings of four people at a jewish school with the killings of three soldiers of north african decent. >> russia had urged the syrian government and opposition forces to agree immediately to a daily humanitarian cease fire and the fighting across the country, which has killed thousands of people. colonel gaddafi's former head of intelligence is in custody, and we learn more about why he was often described as the most feared man in libya. the bbc has been told that there are still more than 8,000

missing or disappeared people in libya from both sides of the conflict that ended gaddafi's time in power. >> this is why libya wants him back for trial. a mass grave outside tripoli where at least 35 people are thought to be buried. protesters shot at the start of last year's uprising on the direct orders of gaddafi's former intelligence team. no one has lost more than him. he's not seen or heard from his five eldest sons since they were abducted by gaddafi's police last summer. all five boys went missing on the same day? >> yes. at the same time. >> and where are they now, do you know? >> i don't know. i don't know. >> he hopes the same fate hasn't

befallen his brother tariq. last seen at this prison. >> was your brother a political prisoner? >> yeah. i think a political prisoner. >> the cells announced for a gaddafi loyalist. what became of the doctor when he left here? >> dead or alive, i don't know exactly. some other things that i have to know. >> as long as there's a chance his brother may be alive, he will try anything. here giving his d.n.a. to a central data bank. three or 400 people here from across libya? >> across libya, yes. >> there could be as many as 8,000 missing people in libya. proponents of the gaddafi regime and those who served it. the blank spaces identified. with a weak central government and little expertise, tracing the others won't be easy.

>> the process of identification is very complex and it's very time consuming. we are talking about years. and definitely this is something that has to be told clearly to these grief stricken families. >> watching a video showing dozens of dead bodies. anti-gaddafi activists who were brought to this spot, murdered in the woods, and left here to rot in the sun. >> the gunfire we heard from these killing fields last summer now explained. in this broken country, a lonely vigil for an old man who just wants his boys to come home. >> in other news, italian police have arrested dozens of people on suspicion of money laundering and corruption. in an anti-mafia operation. 16 of those being held are

judges, who it is alleged took bribes to take rulings in favor of the crime syndicate. apple has announced plans to give some of its estimated $100 billion cash file back to its shareholders. the company says it will spend $45 billion over the next three years in dividends and buying back some of its own shares on the market. >> doctors treating the english premier league player fabrice muamba say there are signs that his condition is improving and have upgraded his condition from critical to serious. the bolton wanderers midfielder collapsed during a game on

saturday. our sports correspondent james pierce has the latest. >> a remarkable day. a hospital inside which a footballer appeared to be making an extraordinary recovery. tonight, confirmation from one visitor that fabrice muamba has even been speaking. >> is he speaking french and english? >> speaking french and english now, when fabrice muamba arrived at hospital on saturday evening, he still wasn't even breathing. the medical updates from the doctors here have got steadily better as the day has gone on. first this afternoon, we were told that the patient was moving his arms and legs. and this evening came the news that he was breathing without a ventilator and well enough to acknowledge his family and friends. throughout the day, there's been a steady stream of visitors. ashley cole and shawn wright

phillips mongs those who came to give support to their fellow footballer. other players saw the incident at firsthand during saturday's f.a. cup quarterfinal. today the bolton captain spoke for the first time about those agonizing minutes while medical staff struggled to revive fabrice muamba in front of them. >> you're feeling powerless. you can't do anything. he's one of your colleagues, one of your friends. you know, he's a father, a son. you just feel powerless to do anything about it. >> messages of support continue to pour in. this afternoon, the entire team turned up. fabrice muamba's progress is being followed by football lovers around the world. and tonight, the signs are increasingly promising that the eventual outcome could be the one that everybody desires. james pierce, "bbc news" of the london chest hospital. >> director general of the bbc, mark thompson, has announced

that he will step down in the autumn. mr. thompson, who was appointed in 2004, has been in charge of the bbc for eight years. he is serving since the 1970's. it's been a busy week for the british royal family. a busy few weeks in fact, and hot on the heels of the triumphant tour of the west indies, it was time for the duchess of cambridge to take the spotlight. she delivered her first public speech at a u.k. children's hospice and she was a little nervous. hundreds gathered to hear her and the bbc was one of them. >> the duchess seems to be gaining in confidence. there are always smiling faces waiting to greet her. but as the duchess took to the lectern for her maiden speech, the nerves could be heard in her voice. >> thank you for not only accepting me as a patron, but thank you also for inviting me

here today. you have all made me feel so welcome and i feel hugely honored to be here to see this wonderful center. i am only sorry that william can't be here today. [laughter] he would love it here. a view of his that i share is that through team work, so much can be achieved. thank you. >> it was a heartfelt speech, and it was obviously well-rehearsed. but afterwards, the duchess described the experience as nerve racking. it was a speech broadcast and no doubt scrutinized around the world. it was back to doing what the duchess does best, meeting people. in this case, children with severe illnesses or disabilities.

>> a lot of noise out there. >> yeah, it's very noisy. >> she was so nice and so interested in the children, and the work of the hospice, i think she'll be a fantastic patron. it's really lovely. >> although she's been supported by the rest of the team over the past few weeks, the queen, prince phillip, charles, and camilla, the duchess seems perfectly at ease on her own. as one member of the politic said to me, she's rising to the occasion with dignity and composure. with her first speech under her belt and a few busy weeks behind her, the duchess will be eagerly awaiting prince william's return. >> you've been watching "newsday" from the bbc. i'm rico hizon in singapore. >> i'm babita sharma in london. stay with us. headlines on the way next. and of course, all the business news coming up with rico in asia. we'll be right back.

>> 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. >> at union bank, our relationship managers use their expertise in global finance to guide you through the business strategies and opportunities of international commerce. we put our extended global network the work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you?

>> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet los angeles.