activists in syria holding a day of nationwide protests against the government with reports demonstrators have been fired upon the u.s. is threatening action and slamming syria's alliance with iran. russian security forces killed ten militants in the caucasus region including the leader of a terrorist cell responsible for a series of attacks. and a russian pilot faces prison after new york court finds him guilty of conspiring to smuggle drugs into the u.s. the constantini are shakos defend say he committed no crime against america.

four pm in moscow i met très a good to have you with us here on r t our top story as the syrian government intensifies its crackdown on protesters the opposition has answered with a friday of rage thousands came out on to the streets across the country to remember the killing of demonstrators and the u.s. is accusing the embattled president assad of turning to iran for help or he's a really go look at what those accusations could mean for tehran. some like it hot but this spring things have heated up perhaps too much in the arab world is ips sneezy a libya now syria northern african region and the middle eastern gotten brutal civil wars with the western powers playing an important hand some believe this won't stop anytime soon so who's next in line for the great upheaval in the region

the answer may lie on the surface. president assad is disingenuously blaming outsiders while at the same time seeking a rainy in assistance in repressing syria's citizens this need to be a human being with him and that's where exactly the united states is looking to get involved i think iran has been targeted for some time now and if you watch the propaganda about syria washington is now claiming. iran is helping syria oppress protesters what's different about syria rare about protest music in both cases really know for a fact. the united states government officials who are opposition groups and so huge only those two countries where there's an interest in intervening t.v. and has been a longstanding alliance with syria in this strategically important preachin right

next to iran's arch nemesis israel syria syria isn't the same as libya geopolitically we've always belies that syria is iran springboard in its fight against israel this is why it will eventually make a powerful signature to impact on iran's positions but this brings us back to the question of what country will follow syria if it events in syria progress according to the libyan scenario we will probably see a similar developments in iran unfortunately bateese iran will repeat the syrian scenario iranian ships have dropped anchor in syrian courts. in numerous books and t. to tel aviv the damascus crippled by crisis iran may lose its footing in the region this is again a continuation of the idea that you use the international machinery to achieve your national objectives under the pretext that you are actually trying to protect human

rights should the u.s. and its allies decide to go through with a habit of meddling in aiding revolutionary forces in the region the result may be catastrophic that if there is foreign intervention in syria yes iran's intervention in response that is a definite and very real possibility just as much as it interfered in iraq when the u.s. invaded that country and if suspicions proved true the world may be in for an entirely different ballgame if iran in the u.s. get involved in the real hunt competition. officials are meeting later in brussels to discuss sanctions against the syrian regime russia has warned against any foreign intervention saying there is no grounds for that middle east expert says a western powers to step in the whole region could go up in flames. by far from the piece for example we've seen there's been a strategy of military strength if you think people are going to do you know what

if you can see all this will be and nobody can talk about the success or. the strategy contrary to what prevails in syria at least very sensitive country groups. goes with it and then we also know that the syrian regime has been actions as well as we've just been you know how mad. and that is why acting or pressure in syria. ready to light syria's allies and open and you generalized. situation in the region. yemen is another arab state where a nation right out rising refuses to die down despite a deal with the opposition to step down within a month new killings have led to demands for president saleh immediate resignation interview with our team the later says the leader says the dangers of rushing into change are greater than his opponents of magic. our opponents

reject the idea of holding presidential and parliamentary elections because they're aware they won't be able to gain a majority as a matter of fact what we're having is an unconstitutional coup and they are trying to. and are against a constitutional transfer of power in twenty thirteen we're even ready to grease new plans so as to avoid bloodshed. some countries in the region and some western nations connivance its tendencies currently being seen in the so-called new middle east is this the controlled chaos and are using prepared for it's enough to have a look at what's going on in egypt to museums other countries the scenario cannot be called anything other than a plot against the region i believe. and they would stoop to anything. they with us here on our team coming up russian or road rage. down this road alone the saw three am to gas stations now that's real eline. find out right here by the

world's largest oil producing country have suddenly found themselves running on empty. first though ten militants have been killed in a special operation by security forces in russia's north caucasus authorities say that among the terrorists was the head of an extremist group and others responsible for a deadly attacks in the region for more on this we've all lived north chorus north north caucasus correspondent with the latest along again or so tell us more about the latest operation. well one of the most successful anti terror operation has been carried out by russian special forces as the border between stuff of the region and got as you know about cairo we've probably when a group of militants were cornered in a residential area by special forces and out there they refused to surrender and opened fire on the police fired back and at the end time militants including at least two women were killed. security forces say there were some high profile

figures on mongo was killed what do we know about that. indeed among those militants were some high profile terrorist and russian security forces also saying among those high profile terrorists were some leading figures in the so-called that some gang in cuba do you know about the republic they also add that further d.n.a. tests would probably be required to identify some of the militants that were killed today at the special operation however regional investigation committee points out that this were not regular found it. led you to they were not regular bandits with high profile ones they're responsible for a hundred crimes in the republic of congo you little credit and other regions they were reading a good piece in the house where they were killed. among those militants who was that cause be it just so if he was a believed to be involved in a number of high profile terror attacks in cuba do you know about guy republic

including a terror act at the hydro power of big bucks on hydro power plants in a summer two thousand and time as well as a tirade. a raise scores so i'll defer still from a last chance you know enough to figure out among terrorists was also killed on the celebration but do you know both the militants they leave. with a was the among those militants that were killed so investigators say cuse jump was the game of the talking to restore from moscow in the bruce a district in february two thousand and eleven and also down saying that he was among those militants who shot does knowing hunters in combat you know both i have back in two thousand and seven well of the moment of identification process is underway at the scene of the special operation party's media coach and over according from the north part north caucasus thank you. we can we expect our julian

assange tries vowed to continue revealing the world secrets speaking in an exclusive interview with r t v controversial whistleblower also warned of a political embarrassment any country would face if it helped extradite him to the u.s. if we look at our work. twelve months think about that for all we stories that have come out actually happened in the world before two thousand and ten people going over so what is it that we don't know. there's an enormous hidden world out there and we don't know until much much from. exist right now and i really think. we only released. secret classified confidential material we didn't have any top secret cables the really embarrassing stuff the really serious stuff was in our collection too late but it is still there so what is it that people need to not be

comfortable. what they receive from from the media he's all that is happening inside states he's trying to get up an execution case for me to be nice to the united kingdom wants to keep at the various levels wants to keep it's good management united states. so if the u.k. was to reject and you were six additional data that would pose terrible problems weren't really country which he used to be harboring. and trying to conduct the ones. facing the russians and the united kingdom. does attempts to excite me to the united states. faces a difficult position politically which is the bulk of people who came from support of. the origin of

that interview with julian assad is coming your way monday here are two. russian oil producers wall have to come up with a new plan to make a big profit as authorities are cutting their exports much lower prices on the domestic market had many of them selling abroad and forgetting about global demand as a result petrol stations have been drying out and pump prices have skyrocketed our season is how you know a couple fires are by the world's biggest oil producer is running on empty. russia with no sounds ridiculous yet what it is we want to five different gas stations all of them were closed here would be willing in line for hours when it is this isn't this supposed to be the oil rich country overnight you prices jumped twenty five percent in several russian regions as the battle runs out the prize goes out even more their supplies enough only for two weeks all prices skyrocket at the beginning of the year but russian authorities made an effort to get battle costs at

a consumer friendly level as a result foreign markets begin much more attractive and profitable for russia will producers. we understand that people have the right to demand for oil prices it was further worse today in russia petrol is thirty to forty percent cheaper than in neighboring countries reuss ukraine but to mention the boat experience the outcome of fixing a fair price has had a questionable outcome for buyers and sellers as a result of the oil companies pulling out of the domestic market what's left is becoming more and more expensive as battle becomes a scarce resource that the prices are going up and no one likes it and we're afraid prices will rise even more and then what meanwhile in the russian capital it's all gas retailer stations that are under the threat of being closed down it simply became not profitable for the oil giants to sell feel to them down this road alone we saw three am to gas stations now petrol the lines. in the russian capital during

thousands of other petrol stations to choose from but regional authorities are beginning to find pieces against oil companies and we've. owned companies illegally limited all sorts of long term independent is filling stations in the region we're going to take them to trial prime minister vladimir putin has ordered an increase in expert duties on russian starting from me so that companies can make extra profit selling for higher prices abroad giving them in a no win situation and those in need of fuel have been promised thousands of tons of natural on the way. r.t. . got plenty more stories blogs and video for you all online and r.t.e. dot com here's what's there for you right now. a new partnership promising to be a winner at this year's cannes film festival as russia and china take on the international movie scene. and despite talk of the economic recovery sort of

america's once rich states continue a downward spiral toward property before story authority dot com. jury in new york has declared a russian pilot guilty of drug trafficking constantini our shanker was arrested last year in liberia and extradited to the u.s. he's accused of moving drugs around the world and trying to bribe senior senior liberian officials or he's out of stocks here churkin are reports he insists on his innocence. words not deeds landing foreigners behind bars in the us russian pilot constantine your shango has been found guilty by a manhattan federal court jury of conspiring to smuggle drugs across borders the

man was scooped up by u.s. officials in liberia last year and promptly taken to america along with three other suspects from africa what your shimko faced in the u.s. was a ten month wait for a trial a month long hearing and now a guilty verdict the pilot and his family maintained his innocence. all the facts were fabricated all the tapes were distorted by the prosecution u.s. officials played a leading role in the arrest of the russian citizen posing as drug dealers american secret agents conducted meetings with the four resulting in hours of recordings the prosecution then put forward as proof of the ocean goes intent to conspire to smuggle tons of cocaine to south america and later into the u.s. in liberia he was surrounded by five agents the second he stepped off the plane he was accompanied by guards he spent day and night in his room only during the trial did he find out that all he had around him were agents they introduced him to some

man who transported drugs that's it nothing else happened they wanted to jail him and they did your shackles defense team echoes this the defendant did nothing. other than wishing to be in florida. suggesting that he was with the united states meanwhile your shango has never even set foot on american soil that is until he was handcuffed and brought to america by force in may of last year russian officials were not julie notified of his arrest the man was effectively missing for a month and moscow cited a breach of international law we have. apologized to russia the state department's excuse we pressed the wrong button on the fax machine. to be brutally honest. you know to find romania instead of russia to observers this seemed a joke on the day of the guilty verdict the most important question why this trial is being held on u.s. territory remains unanswered but there still is the issue that was decided before

a trip. related to the concept of manufacture jurisdiction which the judge decided pretrial against. that i believe you stated you should. be patient in appellate court an appeal cannot be filed until after the sentencing but hopes are dim he was appeal courts are generally reluctant to reverse decisions made by jury court sentencing a sense here are some positive steps to the street hot spot on july twenty eighth he will find out his destiny on u.s. soil if you for us in the pilot faces ten years license at sea hindmarsh country where he committed no crime is the citric in our hearts. case is being compared with that of another russian whisked away to the us from a third country victor boot investigative journalist wayne madsen says both cases

highlight the america's ignorance of international regulations. the problem here is the extra territorial imposition of u.s. law. on people who have really no in both a victim bouquet selling even if you believe he was selling weapons to the colombian fark what does that have to do with the united states now that the federal government says well the those weapons would be used to target american citizens that's that's kind of that's a giant leap to that cocaine was coming from the colombian fark and making its way through africa into western europe well where's the connection to the united states and whatever happened to interpol in these matters why is it that the united states is trumping interpol there's many things about this case that are strange first of all we know that the irish apparently was offered a deal by federal prosecutors to if he would testify against victor boot they're actually in the same prison in new york the southern district of new york is

notorious it's one of the places that the cia likes to use the kangaroo courts in addition to the u.s. it's record washington d.c. in the u.s. as you courteney's from virginia there the price cia courts to try these cases and i think we have to look at the impartiality and i don't think the impartiality is there. turnout of some other stories making headlines across the globe the number of people killed by powerful tornadoes sweeping through the southeast united states is rising rapidly really three hundred have now lost their lives most of the victims were in alabama where the storms are described as the worst ever two major cities have been power allies by the deadliest tornado outbreak in nearly forty years state of emergency has been declared in seven states with many people left homeless. interpol says the attack on a cafe in morocco in which sixteen people were killed was most likely that a suicide bombing that happened in the capital's main square with most of the

victims or interests no group has yet claimed responsibility officials. it's too early to lay blame for the explosion although suspicion has fallen on cells linked with al qaida it's the deadliest attack in the country since two thousand and three . border clashes between thai and cambodian troops continue after a cease fire agreed on thursday failed to hold the latest exchange of fire happened happened saw one thai soldier killed while others were wounded tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes in the weeklong fighting got to look at least sixteen people day violence is centered around ancient temples in jungle areas claimed by both countries and. the world's eyes were riveted on london as prince william and kate middleton tie the knot in a lavish ceremony at westminster abbey the guest list for the wedding included a host of v.i.p.'s as well some controversial political figures including representatives from iran bach rain and zimbabwe syria's ambassador was also

invited but eventually withdrawn all when the violent crackdown on demonstrators there the wedding is reported to have cost the british taxpayer millions of pounds a scotland yard prepared to one of its biggest security operations. a little later the moscow team shows you how to keep it in the russian capital coming up in less than ten minutes but first the business update with dmitri. hello and a warm welcome to business see the cost of borrowing is going up and russia's central bank has increased its key interest rate by twenty five basis points to eight point two five percent is the second hide this year after the bank increase the refinance rate by the same amount two months ago to discuss the rate hike and its effect on inflation on the ruble i'm joined by steve you're from the t.v. cafe so i was under thank you so much for being with us so is the second hike what is behind this move and what is the bank worried about well of course inflation and

. central bank explicitly stated today in the statement that they are concerned about very slow inflection particularly credit growth and they are talking about savings rate going down so they worry so this is the primary task apparently for the economics ministry and the finance ministry to curb inflation maintain it in the in the framework that you know putting on to say that some of our present well yes and the government is also committed to push prices low with the control of petrol prices there is inflation right now a global phenomenon can actually the bank do anything to stop it. well russia has its own sources of inflation and the central bank i think is going to raise you know when they're. very very recently placement and google appreciation is also helping. to buy the global global inflation well ruble appreciation i mean it's been strengthening the past work couple of months very significantly versus the

dollar especially we're going to accelerate the strengthening of the ruble again even more well i think there will be more reason for worry kept telling flow say into into the old boy and this will of course in homes will go appreciation but that's cutting into earnings of our exporters i mean couldn't as already said four hundred eight billion rubles lost on just the exchange rate. there's a exporters already complain to the prime minister but they are not comfortable with the ruble but again they think. with a stronger google central bank fight imported inflation which is the global phenomenon and inflow inflation is beneficial for the economy it will buy them a person is very concerned about the exchange rate of the ruble and he says they're going to be discussing the constable exchange what would that be do you think what kind of exchange rate are we looking at. well i seriously hope that the central bank will be able to do their recently flexibility of their currency because you're

happy with the current six percent. ok what is going to be happening with the commodities rally which is kind of been a counterweight in this appreciation of the ruble or the higher oil prices are generating more revenue is it going to stop or is it going to come to me all and said thank you and. of course. well i well i want one for account for this year is hundred so we're expecting that at some point this this rally will go reverse and will actually come down to these levels and finally do you expect the central bank to continue with these rate hikes will we see some more. it looks like the central bank is committed to taking money from paulson probably they will act they will use reserve requirements and rate hikes in terms thank you very much a. senior economist receiving capital thank you so much for being with us. all right let's take a look at the markets now europe is trading flat on the royal day london markets

are closed for the royal wedding a second look at some of my figures other markets weighed by sally and that is trading one of of a percent higher. on the back shedding one point eight percent here in moscow trading actually continues despite the royal wedding we're seeing a mixed session the audience is up just not sure my six is down by half a percent secured that some of the movers on the nice legs a bit closer. gazprom managed to contact they were losing around one percent an hour ago and now they're just putting on just slightly as a spy report seeing from sixty percent increase in its net profit for the first also so not really much of a positive reaction composite financial results also failed to prevent gazprom shares with most of the sessions now by just a notch banking stocks also danby to be shedding around the upset. russia's most popular search engine yandex is hoping to raise up to

a billion dollars in its upcoming i.p.o. in new york and company will start marketing the listing next week number of shares is yet to be the seventh yandex as placements comes six months after the one billion dollars london float of its biggest russian rival male the all you. and russian gas monopoly gazprom has reported results for last year which we mentioned briefly before the program and that profit rose by a quarter to over thirty five billion dollars that's higher than the pre-crisis level gazprom benefited from strong local demand with sales up twenty seven percent sales in europe selective one percent however analysts expect the mound to pick up partially due to supply disruptions from the middle east and africa. teams were better than we expected i should much much better and faster results of the revenues were above or expectations that income was also those protections thanks to lower your interest expense. hi gaze from last sales this year seems to be a very good year attention for forecasts from in terms of sales of the i think is

a fair charge that in terms of revenues gas pump will not suffer from this seasonal slowdown that's normal for the for the second quarter fine thanks to high price agree you are in europe. doesn't saucy we'll be back around thirty five minutes time with an update the matter is next with the headlines they're going from author . of.

the. russian would be so much brighter if you want to bounce some from the funniest impressions. piece from stunts on t.v. dot com. it is easy. to. see.