fresh battles erupt in libya's colonel moammar gadhafi pushes ahead to regain power in parts of the country locals fear foreign forces may intervene but with a sinister hidden agenda. dozens of reports have killed at the opposition struggles to find tool security forces join me point to c.n.n. for the latest on the struggle for power when. i. was in egypt as people refused to leave the streets of the poll their demands are met or their ongoing fight is hurting businesses and costing the country millions of dollars and. fifty eight years since the death of joseph stalin five decades on

his legacy still divides opinion in russia r.t. speaks to a man who went from war hero to labor prisoner on the order of the soviet leader. six pm in moscow i naturally good to have you with us here on r t our top story more market off he has launched widespread offenses with reports of live ammunition air strikes used to regain control over the eastern part of libya and with the country locked in a bloody battles the british government has confirmed it is troops are on standby for deployment to the violence through an area and u.s. is also gathering its naval forces in the mediterranean close to libya adding if years of a possible intervention are he's paullus leader has more. well we certainly hearing that there's a lot of serious fighting predominantly in eastern libya the cities where there's fighting is concentrated our which is some fifty kilometers from the capital

tripoli and rest in the north which is an oil rich port having said that though it's very difficult to ascertain exactly who is in control in each of these destinations it really depends on which media you access according to western media most of the east of the country is firmly in the hands of rebels but we're hearing a very different cheering from the government spokespeople and from official libyan s.k.t. media so on the one hand while the fighting is happening on the ground is a very different fight happening in the media almost an information kind of war it seems as if each side is trying to make its impression if we look at so we're the rebels were fighting there the smalling we're hearing from gadhafi forces where they seem to be reinforcements but we have no indication at this stage as to who exactly is in control there now it's what is clear is there colonel gadhafi is really going to all extremes to push back to make his presence felt in an interview he gave an interview his son gave today saturday both of them denied reports that

the east was in the hands of the rebels they said that they were in control when there any kind of reporting that the government was killing its own people was simply untrue they blamed the western media for what they have termed propaganda we do understand that dozens of people have been injured and dozens of people have been killed but it certainly will be some time before we have any kind of independent verification on those numbers i've been speaking to libyans on this side of the border and here to express what we're hearing coming up on the other side people here simply do not want the foreign community to get involved they believe that any kind of humanitarian assistance very often is an excuse for military aid and military intervention it is very doubtful say people here that i've been talking to that the international community will respond purely on humanitarian reasons we also know that american planes have landed in tunisia the poor. to be they carrying humanitarian packages in the form of food items and medical supplies for refugees for the games people have been speaking to here on

the border top of course of the day raising concerns as to what else might be on those planes this is the road out of libya but it's also the road that lines the pockets of hundreds of libyans who make their living selling fuel in tunisia fourteen times the price they paid back home. libyan good half year one. and libya long live gadhafi let him stay in power for life. and as much as some may support duffy other libyans despise the united states although my mother called the u.s. wal-mart and to revere what rights they have they don't have a good the government is libyan for days he's been trying to get to the canadian side of the border to check up on his family who are on the other side you know some of them have been injured the answer he says is not with foreign intervention . libyan people they don't. like barry i mean like so much in libya the foreign nations seem to be giving

a little concerned to what libyans themselves actually want a debate for a no fly zone is continuing and u.s. warships are sailing not far from the libyan coast they're ready to come help libya not be a base for help libya for the road was told this is a problem. if the u.s. russia and other countries get involved with enough this time it seems like this used just. mention the people here are against foreign involvement they know well the price is often paid for so-called humanitarian assistance. history has shown that many children aid in any war zone is more often than not family disguised military aid during the war in bosnia it was discovered that u.n. trucks delivering aid were in fact transport. military equipment in afghanistan the very weapons and he caved to the ton of money in the early eighty's came back to haunt the u.s. on the filing it's two thousand and one that's kind invasion so it's no wonder the

libyans we did they support could not feel not the united states on one issue they went to the world and to meet in particular to state something with is to see on t.v. . on the chin is the libyan border. bummer of the u.s. house of representatives dennis kasay tells r.t. if washington steps into libya the people would not get off me they'd be the ones who suffer all over the middle east north africa you see people rising up and challenging their governments the right of self-determination is an inherent right because it doesn't become self-determination or become something else or any nation intervenes on one side or the other so the fact of the matter is there are times that intervention is not called for no matter how we much we'd like to do it because if we intervene then what we're going to be doing is let's say we intervene on those who were challenging mr gadhafi then who could point to that and say this is just the united states trying to knock me off and try to then create more intrenchments which would cause at least half of libya to be lost you know

oppression. meanwhile in the egyptian capital cairo crowds are calling for the death penalty be that penalty could be heading to the former interior minister as he stands trial for corruption the country one of the first to erupt in popular protest is still reeling from the uprising after toppling president hosni mubarak in february as archie's excited boyko reports there are fears that life will be even harder than before. loading on freedom after decades of protest abstinence egyptians are tasting their newly found liberties still unable to get enough of with. even the resignation of hosni mubarak's close associate as prime minister one of the key demands of the opposition didn't take the steam out of their three squares rally in fact the number of town city residents seems to be getting even higher now as he has been camping on the square for three weeks formerly

a special needs educator to quit her job to be here and so far has no intention of looking for a new one we're going to stay here until all the demands are going met the demands are being met one by one but it's still the process is taking longer than expected the revolution is not yet over but it's already becoming a brand street vendors who paddled mubarak's portraits just two months ago have now switched to the revolution in more a billionaire. a lot of people love revolution everyone wants to be a part of the largest selling world means liberation in arabic i think the need for a square has become a focal point in anding mubarak's autocratic rule you have a few profiteering renders notwithstanding the egyptian revolution comes at a high cost tucker squares packed with protesters again only now instead of resignation demands they're chanting celebrator slogans the piece of revolutionary intoxication about totally natural is costing egypt millions of dollars every day

branded as a symbol of free egypt the crew square stands in a stark contrast to another egyptian attraction the slave build pyramids the rhine crowds have scary their way visitors with lost revenues already exceeding one billion dollars usually a speech on military pay before is a problem is good business after. probably. many people here don't believe that cairo protests will significantly alter their life prospects for them freedom comes for their ability to feed their families but for now remains far from certain the business is growing very slow at the moment we haven't missed like five forty seven percent of the clients and most of them are coming from middle east none coming from europe it's not that they don't support their revolution they're just the first to discover it's bittersweet taste and to

realize that revolutionary intoxication is almost always followed by a headache. artsy cairo as the wave of anti-government revolt rocks the arab world it's unclear how and when the uprisings will end across the ocean our own resident in new york laurie harford s got a snapshot of opinion on the ongoing protests. tell the insurrections revolutions and uprisings in the middle east catch you off guard this week let's talk about that are you surprised i'm not surprised. i'm going to ramallah i was seven weeks ago on my route. i reported. that the political situation in the middle east was very very unstable. one week after the whole seeing color in tunisia and egypt change was coming we all knew

change was going to. be you this guy it was just a matter of time before these dictators were you know things change people want change people were hurt people hurt we moved to action and people were avery moved to action do you think that the world leaders are caught off guard by this. i think they're caught off guard in knowing what how to react because they i believe they know the world is going to be more unstable but they have to support the idea of freedom so it's a mix a mixed blessing do you think all these are going to lead to more i'm raster more instability yes i believe it's more about power and the unfair distribution of power than it is about real democracy oh i think it's you know does the time make the leader does the leader make the times though that's always like an ongoing question when it comes to stuff like this and i think we have to wait and see if

this is going to be a good test for everyone in power right now to see how they come out yes but what do you think the effect is going to be around the world what i think it's really not going to make much difference. when different people come into power. start treating their people right and everybody in this world we will have the united states will have to be a police country anymore all the social networking that's going on they can no longer hold their people and feed them the propaganda that they used to do you think this is something that could happen here or in europe or in other places definitely. scary you. know. because you're prepared for it but i think. it's a little scary to know that anyone can have so much influence now i don't want a leader giving me proud again but it's a little unnerving to know that anyone with a computer can have that kind of. power it's there you have to respond enough to

know what to listen to and what to ignore whether or not you think anyone has any idea of what's to come next the bottom line is that there's no denying that the time of staves. fifty years after his death soviet leader joseph stalin remains one of the most controversial political figures in history in russia he's adored and idolized by some despised and scorned by others he led the country to victory in war but through heroes who helped him do it into labor caps artie's korinos our reports on stalin's legacy and of hitler. and mussolini joseph stalin some of history's most notorious dictators and for years were adored by the people of their countries the cult of personality phenomenon has intrigued historians and psychologists alike but the simple sounding question of how one

person exact such influence over millions still does not have a simple answer and is something that remind me of the stockholm syndrome in a way were after you have been killing the processes by some but person you start loving. the law he's not a cruel lot but it's a way to save yourself. to keep your balance ok the so-called people's father ruled the country with an iron fist and despite the tears persecutions and executions he was almost worshipped. by the time the soviet union entered the second world war stalin's personality cult was at an all time high men and women all across the country are willing to lay down their lives for only believing that bravery and ultimately victory guarantee them stalin's approval

. it was twenty three when he returned home from the battlefields having survived dozens of attacks partisan missions and months in captivity he was proud to be coming back alive proud to accomplished what comrade stalin had asked of him. i remember being marched for a small lottery into the local women were all standing on the street throwing things that are spinning and show themes of stalin's bandits that's what they called for thousands and i remember feeling then a sort of pride because being all leaders bend it somehow it was close to him and we all wanted what i had been feeling for a long time until why set things straight. in one hundred forty eight if there was accused of being a traitor and sentenced to twenty five years in a labor camp the charge was simple he survived captivity which to stan's mind meant he had sold out his country for his life and now proof was necessary after three months of torture there was ready to sign any document whatsoever. with if they

refused to sign a so-called confessions even after all the torture they were being true but then they said if you don't sign will bring your parents here and i can let them go for this so i agree a few months later i was on my way to the polar region in the real labor camp. eight years later the effort turned home and the new secretary general of the soviet union denounced alan's personality called the man who had twice been named time magazine's person of the year had all his carefully sculpted glory taken away . to this day stay out of oakes mixed emotions with his actions still being debated ensuring in some respect his personality cult still survives. catchin as our r.t. moscow. a little later in the program our close up team shows you a different side of one of russia's oldest cities find out how people place things

up in the air and how sports put yarrow solve all on the map as one of the top tourist destinations in the country all details from the way a few moments. for the our world news wrap up with other stories making headlines across the globe israeli soldiers have used tear gas and smoke or needs against palestinian female protesters and it had to disperse them dozens of women along with international activists demonstrated northern jerusalem party for an end to the israeli occupation of the west bank palestinian people say they were inspired by calls for democracy that toppled out of credit leaders in egypt and tunisia. italy's prime minister back in court facing alleged corruption charges prosecutors plain silvio berlusconi's media empire purchased television rights using offshore companies as part of a way to dodge taxes is one of four trials that the type of media is currently linked to including one paying an underage prostitute for sex and abusing his powers all of these allegations he denies. this suspect in

a shooting spree in arizona has been indicted on forty nine counts including the murder of a federal judge and a congressional aide jared lee last an aries due to appear in court next week in the city of tucson to be officially officially charged he could face the death penalty if convicted six people were killed thirteen wounded including the u.s. congresswoman who was shot through the head at remains an os but. shocking video has emerged showing the brutality of the continuing political standoff in ivory coast pro-government forces opened fire at a rally against the incumbent president laurent gbagbo who's refused to step down after the november elections seven women were shot dead many others wounded in the incident on thursday the u.n. says at least three hundred sixty five people have died in violence there since november. it's the final test a first six space minute. russia's caused center in star city near moscow the international cruise of made and back out flights to assess it hoping to be cleared

for the next orbital mission with all goes well they could blast off in the bike on the launch pad in kazakhstan at the end of the month mission will be devoted to the fiftieth anniversary of the first man in space yuri gagarin the crew will spend one hundred seventy days on the international space station and meet two u.s. shuttles and three russian cargo ships a spacewalk is also planned during their mission. time now for the latest in our special series of travels across russia coming your way this time focusing on the historic city of yarra sagal. jaroslav it was some three hundred kilometers north east of moscow it's a millennium old it's day three of our exploration there we have already seen its historic architecture and culture about one thing we haven't looked at yet is its fascination with sports or lindsey france want to check out how the region's landscapes are not just great to look at but also great to compete on as well.

i everyone's going crazy for sports in the jaroslava region of russia just ask the roster of professional athletes speeding through the international ski federation's cross country world cup at terminal a century of winter sport and leisure situated on the prestigious banks of the volga river poland's olympic gold medalist just smoked past the other women the first day of the races well this is a good race. conditionals the full force of the classic but if you spoke with next it was the men's race where valentino ten ishq over herself the first female cosmonaut was welcoming the finishers. in the third year it's a great event of course i wanted women steam to be even better than a ts but they did perform well we have a very glad for russia with over four hundred children in the world here terminal operators the average middle class russian a chance to realize their dreams as a sportsman and offers the foreigner

a chance to see this place what it really is. locals wanted to be the new winter destination one that will fill the surrounding restaurants and hotels is what you most would have this is a front desk of the city thousands of people come and spend their time here every year and we're sure to expand opportunities because this will inevitably affect the number of people who go in for sports in general and to be in for winter sports and particular. not far away in the historic merchant's city of new pledge festivities are just getting underway to celebrate the winter during a season when most cities are pretty quiet these people are making the party of it most divine yet as they're all you know i've been i swimming for thirty years i love it there is no need for any of the home feel how it is that are widespread nowadays. of acid down on the volga river powered moscow with like tricity throughout world war two

a collection of churches greek tourist spots on their first stop from moscow from the church of john the baptist to the church of prince dimitri on lodge built in commemoration of young prince dimitris gruesome death in fifty ninety one the place is steeped in tradition but it has a way of breaking out of that shell back in time and now between the skiing and the snowmobiling which they were kind enough to teach me there waiting for a good burn at the end of the world cup races a frightful wind storm the summer of two thousand and ten knocked down ninety percent of the surrounding forest locals retaliated by stacking the fallen wood twenty two meters high and then registering it in the guinness book of world records they'll burn it into a massive bonfire after the final race now that is competitive sportsmanship in the outer soggy region lindsey france our team.

that wraps our wraps up our main news this hour coming your way later martin anders explores russia's jewels in the latest episode of moscow out but first dimitri medvedev go joins us with a business update. thanks very much matt hello and welcome to business this week the russian business community anticipated a resolution on the issue of participation in arctic exploration together with p.p.m. draws near but if you shareholders are decided to postpone their decision so their next meeting in paris on march twelfth meanwhile prime minister putin said he was quote unaware that b.p. could lay claim to participating in the project this is the first time the russian prime minister has commented on this widely discussed conflict between the russian british joint venture and me he but he added that he had every right to join such projects. but of the ones we have

a lot according to which all shelf exploration has been intrusted to rosneft and gazprom if chuen g.d.p. suitable conditions of corporation to either of these two companies why not use them using the rubble. was given to others and costly from north capital good flex its muscles during the upcoming eating. he has to pay some dividends and part of this is the evidence. and they truly do believe because part of the reflecting pool . may use the giver the new. tool to push b.p. to make a decision in conjunction with arctic exploration project i don't think it's necessarily going to happen but that's probably be the most powerful tool in the hands of. shareholders to press b p l a bridge decision on this the

ruble has steadily strengthened over the past two weeks largely due to rising oil prices but nicollette was a from b. to b. capital predicts the russian currency to retreat towards the end of the year when the looming elections weigh in on investor confidence. our forecast for the end of the year is doing to nine point three so very close to sortie but we think that. i would for. the second half of the year one of the all these. political. elections. and on the stock markets it's another working day in russia out of a long weekend due to a public holiday in the country in the final minutes of trading the r.c.a.'s a nice legs are positive but they haven't been much movement also long as volumes remain low due to lack triggers and the fact that the global investors were on the

weekend now the outstanding performance of the session is mining company match so it's up to three point four percent and so out of the session that's several investment banks gave it a positive outlook energy shares were positive too as west texas crude rose another two and a half dollars by the end of friday's session on tensions and libya meanwhile telecoms were looking weaker than the market overall of the week was pretty strong . there's been a high correlation to the market activity relative to the escalating price of oil right now as well as increased correlation clue to the overall futures which have been rather if i would or would as well we've seen some rather pronounced movements especially in the blue chips as a result of these these widespread price with some of the more liquid names the second. overall turnover has been a understandably decimated and we do expect for this this trend with a month or more of liquid names to be rather pronounced going forward into next week world's largest television producer roussel rejected novels nichols offered to

buy twenty percent of its shares for twelve point eight billion dollars but even as you covered no more a bank says resell c.e.o. tycoon i get a pass cap is not about to see his stake while metal prices are enjoying high levels. since we believe the prime reason for remaining a shareholder of neural snicko is that due process is highly bullish on the current commodity cycle so therefore we believe for as long as the middle prices will have been stronger so is likely to be the shareholders of the world however because we also believe that the rules will be generating the world's excess cash this year and next year or so before they'll have to. buying back the shares from the solves one of very few opportunities which would actually create variance are therefore i believe that there is a good chance the near abuse of the cogs and while the. russian investment holding system is and talks to sell twenty five percent of oil giant bash nafta india's oil and natural gas corp the deal estimated at around two point three billion dollars

could already be sealed by the end of march but it was reported that n.g.c. had long been considering a stake and with an eye on participating in the arctic more oil fields of the russian company acquired the rights for last year the indian state company already has a stake in russia's far east second one or the gas project. that's open that will be back in one hour's time the headlines are next on. the.

clock. luke. the book more news.