very warm welcome to you this is r.t. live from moscow britain has sentenced to young men to four years behind bars after their facebook posts they said they were a joke called on others or to cause trouble in their home towns well now human rights groups is sounding the alarm saying the courts are overreacting by dishing out penalties which a funk too harsh but as always i have a better reports it's part of the political drive for tough justice in the wake of the loosing a disorder across england. four years behind bars for the riot that didn't even happen jordan black sure and perry sutcliffe kenan were banged up for inciting disorder on facebook no one turned up after their invitation to riot which they later said was a drunken joke but now they face sentences even tougher than most looters and our worry is that it is an imbalance and a four year sentence for example would normally be given to somebody for

a previous bodily harm for holding someone up with a knife or even for. some form of sexual assault so it seems to me that that there is a danger that the courts are moving into disproportionate territory and that actually devalues our response to more serious crimes that governments encourage courts to dish out harsh sentences by using the public disturbance as an aggravating factor it's meant this man anderson fernandez could even be sent to jail for theft of just two scoops of ice cream because like this one denying bail to most offenders and ignoring any claims of previous good character of the one thousand two hundred seventy seven people charged so far two thirds have been remanded in custody that's way up on last year's rate for serious crimes chris just ten percent some offenders even being made homeless is their punishment with local governments taking away their houses but many say it's all simply cause more harm

than good i think this is very unwise the move to remove people from housing interim move benefits because actually if we are seeing that some of the crime that we saw on the streets was an expression of people not feeling part of society not feeling part of our communities then these measures are actually going to push people further away from society further away from our communities and far more likely to commit crime the facebook case is the first sign of the government's desire to crack down on social media sites like twitter were applauded by the west for mobilizing the masses in the arab world but they were also instrumental in the u.k. riots so now the prime minister wants it to stop. we are working with the police the intelligence services and industry to look at whether it would be right to stop people communicating via these websites or services when we know they are plotting violence disorder and criminality when social media fueled revolutions in egypt and tunisia britain called it democracy but now the shoe's on the other foot when

troubles closer to home i'm very conscious that there be news you know the. poor or. movements only would be the force to. the authorities in those countries who are trying to walk. the prime minister says this is where britain fights back but it's feared this fighting fire with fire could only fan the flames of civil disorder after bennett r.t. london. the british prime minister david cameron has defended the sentence in saying they're sending a tough message but free lance investigative journalist you can chandan says the half response will only bring more violence across england. i think it's quite clear that the government want to send a very draconian message out to young people out there who had any sympathy even with the uprising or the right away if you want to call it that took place but

never again really can the british government legitimately criticize any other regime in the world for any human rights abuses when people are facing jail time for scoops of ice cream for mineral water one child stealing a dustbin for his mother listen these young people have been ignored and they've been exploited and oppressed and they just had no voice now through in a very traumatic experience through the rioting but they have a voice what is the response again of people is to further criminalize them so if you're going to further criminalize and we're going to get more angry and i'm very regretful to report that the message is going around the street gangs in london and other parts of england is a competition as to who is going to kill the first policeman so this is the this is what we're facing in england now it's a civil war situation which is going to make the writing previously look like child's play nothing's going to stop these young people they're very shocked they've learnt from the student protests that they're not going to be cut all that they're going to hit and run essentially and they'll find other ways of communicating these are young people who live in communities with each other so you

can stop these social networks or that you like it's not going to have a really fundamental adverse impact on the writing which will come again quite soon now the u.s. the major european countries have serious president bashar to step down and impose a fresh set of economic sanctions if it comes in response to the regime's violent crackdown against protesters well statements have been sent to the special u.n. security council meeting on syria which is taking place in new york ny has more. not only has the u.s. president called for the syrian president to step down he has backed up his words with action and that action includes issuing an executive order thursday morning with fresh sanctions against syria and now according to the new sanctions that have been signed by obama all americans and u.s. corporations are now prohibited from investing operating or having any business dealings with the syrian government this includes

a ban on imports and exports including cereal syrian oil and petroleum products additionally all the syrian assets under u.s. jurisdiction will be frozen so clearly this is some more mounting pressure coming from the u.s. government in terms of financial you trying to corner syria shortly after president obama issued his statement and his executive order we did see germany france britain and the european union all are rapidly issuing statements calling for the syrian president to step down and this all coming just one day after president assad did speak with the un secretary-general ban ki moon are shoring him that all military and police operations in his country have halted but clearly this is not stopped or the u.s. and its western allies from putting more pressure on the syrian government the u.n. security council is meeting today to risk discuss findings of

a report that was released by the u.n. human rights panel this twenty two page report accuses the syrian government of carrying out of human rights violations since mid march when the anti government protesters began taking to the streets but one of our teams correspondents marie if the notion is inside syria did speak to some people on the ground there are some people who believe that the government security forces are actually helping their lives here's a bit of what she found out. the city of there is sort of maybe liberated but in the last few days it suffered a brutal occupation i mean my place bandits blocked the rates put up barricades it became a gay city we were hiding we were just like hostages for more than a week military claim the army fought against armed groups that had taken control of the city and had been terrorizing its residents. soldiers of the syrian army i live in the city of there as though near the iraqi border measure officials are

saying operation is now over that the city has been freed from armed groups as you can see people are welcome in the soldiers as the waiter's but in other parts of the country the troops lead in assad's vicious crackdown are far less welcome in a similar offensive against so-called terrorists and the coastal city of latakia the opposition claims government troops killed almost four to civilians while human rights groups report the number of deaths in the country could be almost as high as two thousand some say assad is simply using his army to silence peaceful demonstrators across the country. the syrian army hasn't met a resistance in the cities across the country work and maybe there was some so-called bandits among protestors and maybe they use the momentum to spread cares but if so where have they been when the army period armed groups is just

a theory invented by the state to have an excuse to enter the cities. in new liberated there is or life seems get back to normal the markets reopened and roads bridges days ago were empty are again filled with cars but reminders of the recent troubles arms to hard to find and the most obvious one is fear reflash now r t syria. well next we cross live to washington where joel rubin director of fund joins me live to his competitive on the latest developments in syria and many things that being with us on the now as we were just hearing from our reporter who's in syria at the moment it's a complicated situation on the ground there how many factions do you think actually involved in this uprising well. selves

will be nothing more than a demonstration of american resolve to see a change on the ground sanctions will not remove assad sanctions will certainly not the violence in the street but it does say to assad and his regime that they are now out of the circle of recognized countries as a normal country and they're being perceived as an international pariah by the u.s. and others and they need to change their behavior and assad needs to step down what has come back to sanctions in just a moment but i was just wanting to also. how many different factions do you think are actually involved in what's happening on the ground in syria at the moment. on the ground situation is very dynamic there are multiple levels of factions there is the old opposition that has convened from time to time in the past several months even in turkey there's the new facebook generation of activists that are attempting to organize in the or denies in through the internet and they're popping

up in different cities it's very curious when the syrian army goes to one town represses the population kills the civilians and then they find that there's a protest elsewhere so there are differences but in terms of factions in distinction it's very hard to fully assess that but certainly this is a very broad based protest movement and it's always seeing similar tactics being utilized to social network sites etc as we witnessed in the arab spring uprisings. we are indeed and what we're seeing in syria is a new case it's not the same as egypt which was very rapid where the army decided that it would not massacre its civilians and we're not seeing what we have in libya which is a very brutal in the sense civil war this is broad based repression very similar it's what happened in iran two years ago and it's no surprise considering that

syria and iran are so close they are neighbors it's quite likely that iran is advise ing in his repressive tactics well let's talk about the reaction that's just come out from the west and all this now taking tough action against president assad as you mentioned calling him on him to go with these sanctions but why now when just yesterday assad promised a course of reform. the process is one that takes time to evolve the united states does not want to act alone sanctions can't be effective if they're purely unilateral so what we've seen is a follow on a set of sanctions announced by many countries across the globe the u.n. process is underway and that really gives three teeth to this ancient so that's really the reason now now in terms of syria itself assad's calls for reform he's

been making calls for reform since he came to power in one thousand nine hundred nine he has multiple times during these recent protests called for reform nobody really believes him and his citizens certainly aren't taking it seriously. and talking about the sanctions that have been economic sanctions specifically targeting syria's and. do you think that will be enough to help crank up the pressure on president assad to go i would say you think further measures will have to be implemented. it's very hard to tell but certainly sanctions in and of themself are just one tool they really cannot make or break the final decision they're a long term strategy in many respects the strategy though is one of as you say ramping up the pressure looking for ways to isolate assad the hope of course is that same genes and political pressure will make those inside the regime look at assad as a liability i do not believe however that that is

a clear and game that we can expect considering that the closest members of his ruling clique are within his tribe within his family but they're not certain to throw him out just because of outside sanctions now just looking at american reaction to will what's the seps in all of the arab spring in the us his role in it among washington among americans we're at a very opaque phase right now and the beginning americans were very in thrall by we saw hope and opportunity as the summer has worn on americans are beginning to question what does this really mean for our relationships in the region look at egypt it's not exactly turning out as well as people had hoped but people are willing to be patient people are willing to see what does evolve there is a general optimism in this country for democracy and

a hope that democracies will begin to flourish in the region and a real hope that we can turn a new page with the arab world or even director of policy and government affairs that process fun many things feel full. now the israeli military has launched an air strike on gaza killing at least six including the leaders of a group is playing for thursday's bus attack which claimed seven lives meanwhile shots were heard on the egyptian border as government forces are locked in a firefight with insurgents who infiltrated the country well a further seven palestinians were killed in southern israel other gyptian forces are believed to have killed at least two government policy is in tel aviv with more . well the twenty minute you come from one strike over the southern part of gaza and at the same time there are israeli drones flying over the that he of which is on the egyptian gaza border not none of those things was a surprise earlier the i.d.f.

the israeli defense forces issued a statement in which it said it would bring to book one of those responsible if you see them at any cost the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu is meeting the seizing these days with defense officials they are messing up the way fluid that early and he did say that this was an attack on a sovereign state and that is well with attenuate and subordinate now the jordanians it has transpired not so long ago did inform the israeli intelligence that they had picked up that there was a cell operating in the south of the country that there was planning an attack this was in line with his main intelligence for some time not now israeli security officials have been warning that the sinai peninsula is chaotic and it is and not key there that range and they've been warning that shipments of weapons have been making their way to gaza the israelis are convinced that this operation and did originate in gaza that there is still a massive manhunt in the manhunt in the south of the country the israeli air force is deployed as well as army foot soldiers and just a short time ago they was

a shootout between some of those shoulders soldiers and militants we're being told that one israeli has been critically injured and the number of gunmen so far killed totals seven point eight the gazans deny having any involvement in math and in fact issued a statement saying that not only is it not involved but it has warned israel not to attack it having said that though the math interior minister has given a directive for his security headquarters to be evacuated for fear that the israelis will retaliate and strike it as one of a target to quote hamas in one of the states and they say that israel was trying to expose the crisis and transfer it to gaza now the template on the border crossing which is the border crossing between israel and gaza that announced the goods to be transported has been closed down. turning to the skies now which have been particularly noisy in the moscow region the maxon sound base has to all sorts of

magnificent men and their flying machines. the shows that day saw a multi-billion dollar deal sealed on the ground while the raid military and civilian aircraft showed what they can do overhead biannual monks musing about private investors to see leading edge aircraft in action and then put in their orders soonest throughout the show crowds were in thrall by death defying stunts from some of the world's leading air about sixty dollars and told bassett plying the cockpit of one of their planes and lived to tell the tale. engines. the instruments. runway checked and then it's taken up with a russian and robotic display team. andre is training to join the team he thinks he's nearly good enough now but still remembers his first flight as

a solo pilot because there's very without any warning they told me i was going to do the next flight on my own i had no time to be scared there was no longer an instructor my back it was unforgettable takeoff you're on your own controlling the plane then when you land you've done it i think you're a real pilot at that point. the as moves are always trying to hone their maneuvers they practice most weekends thinking of new tricks and practicing old ones look at the form of the temple or whatever but we come up with stone and then research them but it often turns out that the been done before nested of our russian came up with the loop and all the other stunts are based on the loop the loop is the basis for all aerial acrobatics. however it always comes down to time in the air even with years of flying and training experience between them it never becomes easy work or difficult just smoke when you leave the cockpit you can squeeze

a gallon of sweat from your suit what your knees are shaking because it's extremely difficult and stressful and anyone would feel that way. so with that gut wrenching fare ringing in my ears i was told it was mine. we did the loop the loop all the planes just meters apart. but when it came to the fountain i nearly blacked out. white faced but not defeated i returned to. it. is. but i

could also see some of the streams they go through. so next time you look up at those speeding planes spirit thought to the pilot inside. tom bottom antti will stay with r.t. throughout the day as we bring you more updates and live coverage from the max twenty eleven international as in the mosque a region now the republic of up hard in the caucuses is preparing for an early election of following the death of its president and the future leader will take on a region still recovering from conflict with neighboring torture next we saw to the acting president about the challenges facing his country. we are in the republic of a cause here we're preparations are underway for the august presidential election oleksandr and is the country's acting president and also one of the candidates and he's here with us today the upcoming election will be the second presidential

election since the cause a gain recognition just how hard it is for a cause here to live as an independent state to hear from of course there are many difficulties with the company a lot already but there's still an enormous amount of work to be done but we're optimistic about our future the most important thing is that following our country's recognition we've had its security ensured now all we need to do is get down to work as there are a lot of things to be done for the country and the people many of causey as currently reside the brought there are also georgian refugees who would like to return to their homes in a positive will the upcoming election take into consideration the needs of those who consider this republic their home in europe with us and i don't see any relation between the abkhazians who reside abroad in russia or in more remote places and the refugees who became ones because of the war and as for the election it's only citizens of a republic or eligible to vote there's nothing i can add to this will international

observers be present at the election who's been invited already and who agreed to come up with i think it wouldn't hurt him and there will be very many observers if one hundred is the last stand there it is because that is approximately the number of observers that will be monitoring our election we have already sent the invitations are palm and source and that by the way observers were present in significant numbers at the previous election when sergey bank apps got reelected i can tell you honestly that their evaluations were mostly positive for abkhazia service considered our election to be fairly democratic and transparent and maintain that it causes should serve as an example for many countries and i think the upcoming election will go exactly like. that is well since a pause here remains unrecognized by many countries what are the chances that the current election will be considered legitimate abroad then we have with them the new whom we don't even focus on that what matters to us is that we must administer the election in accordance with their concious legislation how others may react to

it is another matter what is truly important is that we do everything right those who are unbiased will come up with an impartial assessment of the election as for the issue of recognition of our election let me speak plainly even if it sounds a bit too blunt for this interview we don't really can the political battles of two thousand and four place the pause there on the brink of civil war what should be done to avoid such a scenario today. there's nothing of the kind not by a long shot in two thousand and four the situation was absolutely different so i can tell you honestly and i believe it's very important that your viewers should be made aware of this back in two thousand and four it was through some very serious efforts by sergei baggage and rule has imber that the situation was stabilized i would even say that it was thanks to the wisdom in full sight of these two politicians to the situation was resolved successfully and appropriately in society was very grateful to both of them for that if anyone feels that the events of two

thousand and four may recur i believe such an assessment is premature we i mean the cause in society do not share the opinion of those who believe this election should end up with some kind of confrontation we have entirely different plans the result because in treaty on military cooperation the playground work for stationing russian troops in the country was signed one half years ago but it has been submitted for it if occasion by the russian parliament only recently why is the process getting a fresh start today is the fear of new georgian aggression and was named after was of the most members with us we know that for us georgia. it is not a very friendly state because he is present legal standing allows us to say that any aggression will be repelled besides the presence of russian servicemen feeds our optimism about the future a safety and that of our country is security protected and we intend to strengthen this kind of cooperation with the russian federation we've also been collaborating

with russia in other areas everything is just getting started and it all looks promising a mutually rewarding we intend to meticulously implement the comprehensive agreement signed by our two presidents the state dimitri medvedev and missed assegais back ups we strongly support the case for strengthening our relations with russia what kind of methods can we expect from georgia and its attempts of restoring what official dilling see calls the country's territorial integrity when the us over the past years we've lost a lot of people to violence at the border including over one hundred russian peacekeepers as well as zero border guards customs offices reservists and civilians and it's certainly georgian politicians that is to blame even today regretfully the georgians often engage in assaults and sabotage operations you probably remember when there was a russian border troop and a young lieutenant colonel who was killed in action a few months ago it was in the news reports but despite that russian border troops

keep settling down in abkhazia i believe that in the year or so our border will be sufficiently fortified and the situation will change drastically if we're really looking forward to that there's a whole generation of people in a positive who survived two wars with georgia during the past twenty years as a possible at all for these people to live peaceful lives through the model of if you refer to our young people aged eighteen to twenty they ready cherish the events of the recent past and honor the memory of those who defended that country's independence and its the telescope the government to keep strengthening this memory the way i see it all people don't live in constant expectation of things to come and. they consciously think back to the events of the past from my point of view because these present domestic situation is very tranquil you've survived five us nation attempts during the past six years why has no one been charged you probably know who is behind them and is your life in danger now but if you could live in the

past a politician should always be aware of danger as for me personally these assassination attempts being investigated the relevant security agencies have made considerable progress in this aspect but this is an issue for a separate discussion and it's on the run up thank you for your time with us today . when the t.v. news follow my valet. while the streets of the. country running point in russia. was the justified move. since the battle for democracy. on our key.

a very warm welcome to you this is our t.v. live from moscow british courts are cracking down rises with some stiff sentences human rights groups accused of overreacting by dishing out severe penalties indiscriminately to young men have been given for years sentences for placing a message on facebook calling for people to leave. european leaders in the u.s. mission strong statement calling on syria's president assad to step down. as the home to all military operations in the country and the un is preparing to pull on the international criminal court to investigate the regime's nice profit on pretense to us. and israel launches their strike in gaza killing at least seven in retaliation for a string of deadly shootout in the south of the country.