as the former british ambassador to the country explains how he sees events unfolding there stay with us. today i'm talking to basil eastwood's he's a former u.k. ambassador to syria he was serving in damascus between one thousand nine hundred six and two thousand the situation's changed a lot since then and we're going to talk about what the situation on the ground is like now mr eastwood thank you very much for talking to us today now russia have been these that assets deserves at least some credit for trying to instigate some kind of reform do you agree well if you was seriously trying he tried to little too late and his efforts have been totally undermined by the. violence that has been used on the peaceful demonstrators so that for every. death it becomes that much more difficult to conceive of any solution which leaves him and his coterie in power so from hey you don't think there's any way back for us that i think frankly

. the best one can hope for is some sort of negotiated transition. might give him a way out. but it's very difficult to see how he can stay in power in the long run in the short run yes by increasing repression he can stay there. but in the longer run it's not viable transition to him that i mean if assad does go is that a genuine opposition that could feasibly take control in any kind of facts of way that is the major problem the nature of the opposition is or the demonstrations is that they have been so largely spontaneous that there is no very coherent leadership and the various attempts to bring together a leadership behind a unified proposal for a return of three have so far failed but it's becoming clearer and clearer i think

to the man in the street him. syria that they've got to have a good alternative proposition if regime change is to be. not only credible but to happen without massive bloodshed and destruction so that the pressure is on the various. aspects of the opposition to come together and form an alternative proposition so you think that the opposition in syria is less organized and cohesive than it is in libya it's much more complicated certainly. because whereas in libya you have an opposition that is has come together to fight a military campaign in syria you have an opposition version has come together behind calls for peaceful demonstrations with the sole aim of now of removing the regime but that has not

required the same sort of coordination that the opposition has had to acquire in in libya and what you think of me down from the outside sanctions specifically we've already seen a u.n. paste oil embargo case on syria with threats of further action if the situation doesn't praise what form do you think they sanctions could take and who do you think that affect amazed depends what the sanctions are i would hope that the sanctions will be rather carefully targeted at particular individuals. and that's the course that has been followed so far except for the oil sanctions basically as the net is expanded to capture more of the the big businessmen who have worked alongside the regime and who have probably tacitly supported it in the past. so the tendency will be will be increasing pressure on

them. to ditch the regime and find some other way of securing their interests and what about the ordinary man in the streets is there a way to avoid sanctions affecting hair the problem for the ordinary person is that the whole syrian economy is going to be more and more affected by the disruption and the insecurity and the total collapse of the tourism industry for example which is increasingly important in syria. so it is those things that are going to harm the ordinary man in the street rather than targeted sanctions how likely do you think it is that syria could tell into another libya type situation i sincerely hope that it won't what is remarkable so far is the extent to which the opposition has remained nonviolent there have been episodes of

violence. which is understandable in a country where there's quite a lot of weaponry around. and violence is being used against the people. but so far it is green largely nonviolent there are increasing calls amongst the opponents of the regime saying you know we've got to use violence i sincerely hope they will those calls will be resisted so i don't think it's going to turn into that sort of . civil war type confrontation i also think it's inconceivable that any outside powers would want to intervene militarily in a situation which is so complicated on the ground it's very difficult to see how any sort of outside intervention would help indeed it would probably hinder because it's the one thing that might bring all the syrians together in opposition to outside intervention so i just don't see that happening i think that's well realized amongst those who are most loved in condemnation of the syrian regime's

activities how do you think it's healthy to ations going. payout for what kind of timeframe for example very good question and i have to say i don't know the answer . the short term i think the regime will probably survive. through increased repression and shown itself willing to do whatever it takes and so far there are no signs of the the core of the regime crumbling. but as the economy deteriorates as the big business which has supported the regime sees that its future cannot live that way i think you're going to see more. defections from the regime and there will come a point i would think within months rather than years. when

things quite rapidly fall apart. if the opposition can get its act together. then. firstly it may happen slightly more rapidly as people see that there is no twenty years and secondly when it does happen it may stand a better chance of being relatively peaceful rolls and bloody chaos when we talk about opposition in syria what kind of people are we talking about what sorts of groups are involved it's very difficult because the the activists who have. led if that is the word the demonstrations on the streets are largely unknown people. with. tremendous courage. and determination but their political views more positively as to what should happen to syria a largely unknown. but i think you can assume that it

will not be. sectarian it will. have a. a role in it for the muslim brotherhood. but the syrian muslim brotherhood are relatively modern minded and will be i think prepared to play along with coalition politics. it will i think. be a regime which. is how shall i put it. mainly concerned with its internal problems it is not going to be a regime which indulges in adventurism these of the israel or anyone else. but it will be a regime that is finding its way under very difficult circumstances and you talked

about big business supporting the regime in syria but we all say see support coming from the outside particularly from iran how do you think that will play out in such an unstable region well it's one of the things that i think has been spelt inspired e.g. the saudis to come out in criticism of the regime that. they many of the governments in the middle east are profoundly worried about iran and don't like the extent to which what is happening in syria might increase iranian influence but i have to say that. the iranian government itself does not like to be seen as being the principal supporter of a secular regime that is using violence in this way and there have been signs of a ring in embarrassment so. i don't know quite how this one's going to play out but

i don't think it's a clear cut situation then leading emerging market economy personnel russia india china and south africa they all oppose they western approach to what's going on in terror the moment do you think that the arab spring in general will result in division between the old and the new economic powerhouse that many of the states in the united nations representation us. feel unhappy about the way in which. the resolution of the security council which authorized all necessary measures in relation to libya. was used by nato particularly france and you. with american support as justification for. activity and support which has in fact led to regime change and i think a number of other governments feel that this is

a worrying. precedent. but it does not mean to say that they in any way favor. either could offer this regime in libya or what. it is doing in syria. thank you very much not at all pleasure. even the books of fiction slam the sacred. magic is the essence of life. whether it is a buddhist prayer. or a shamanistic which. crossroads of two religions. say feel strong spirit is hard.

the list. is. just simply is.

new york police get heavy handed with crowds of angry protesters demanding social and economic reforms in the u.s. thousands gathered for the biggest rally of a three week long demonstration dubbed occupy wall street. back from the dead the syrian woman reported as the first female victim of the government's pro-democracy crackdown turns up alive and well as for several media outlets into backtracking after giving heard suppose death saturation coverage. violence flares up during a twenty four hour nationwide strike in greece with police resorting to tear gas to disperse crowds in athens the latest protests come as workers grow increasingly angry with biting austerity cuts. more news in less than a quarter hour first though the sports update with dmitri stay with us.

hello there this is update on our teachings for joining us this hour first let's take a quick look at what's making the sporting headlines around the globe. gearing up russia's football team prepare for a massive way perfection wins against and under will guarantee them a place that you are trying to twelve. on top of the west and narrow home victory for an arm up. at the summit of the conference. and. the end based top dance including called the bryant meets with the league commissioner david stern to try and save it trying to live and trying to twelve season. so it's a hard time for russia's footballers this week with euro twenty two a qualification wrapping up to the courts men take. on friday before a home clash with indoor on tuesday or to magical if occasion will be made certain by winning those two games the dutch manager saying they achieve that same the

players can quote drink as much as they want after wards that's in response to criticism levelled at some of the players reportedly doing just that before world cup in slovenia two years ago and were caught also saying he will quit his post should russia fail to make next some most poland and ukraine finals. staying with football. still defeated chilean side university in the first leg of their round of sixteen in the costs of americana. it took the lead for ten minutes through glare of frank a successful effort inside the penalty box five minutes before half time of on not a similar goals but as to make it to nail the home side failed to level things up after the break that mainstay will have to travel to bernard cyrus for the second leg in two weeks time with two goals behind. home to the ice no way in the continental hockey league to now more school have gone top of the western

conference following a narrow two one home victory over st petersburg the host opened midway through the first period of marriage a brilliant area easily beat that defense and found the back of the net straight to the second period now where the muscovites doubled their lead through captain alex a could a shelf left the keeper no chance with pace precised shot from close range three minutes later the visitors had a chance of a message five on three powerplay which was successfully converted by tony mortensen to one the final score here in the russian capital which puts on top of the western conference. in tennis as a simple chunk of it has advanced into the china open court finals without playing third round match that today's opponent victories are a girl had to retire reportedly due to bad stomach another russian lanka is also successfully through to the next stage following and there's a six one six two win over

a mere passage of austria poland. had no problems on the way to the court as she registered a straight sets victory over six percent of sweden for that matter is now playing dominik it's a book of slovakia one to score in the first set and current world number one turnovers nowitzki will try to overcome is two and. on the way to the last eight. in the men's game the only russian representative macare youzhny is resting today as he is already through to the last. hate spending vera found himself on the right side of a six four six four scoreline against compared to a mass of granollers and there are some place yet to qualify for the quarterfinals top seed joe were. testing. of china and the french one is a setup piece for three in the second set as well trish takes a father for an innovator and finally in the late clash of the day south african kevin anderson will play

a montage of spain. america's national basketball association labor dispute between us and players shows no signs of resolving anytime soon the leak canceling the rest of their personal games with a proposed november start now a serious doubt boston celtics star paul pease attending those negotiations who was joined by atomized and a host of other stars. one of the more vocal players representatives but the reporters were all awaiting the arrival of face high profile lakers teammate kobe bryant rumored to be working extensively to sign with bologna in italy no common ground between those big names and owners as yet. today world you know announcing the. cancellation of the rest of the exhibition season by monday we will have no choice but the chance of the first two weeks of the season. that's where we are we're very engaged in more. discussions today to see if we

close you know we're and remains to be a very large gap between. you know the n.b.a. and b.p.a. . today was not today. in the meantime former n.b.a. star shaquille o'neal who spent nineteen seasons in the best basketball league in the world expressed his regret concerning current lockout situation the big shaq who retired last season says it's unfair to those guys to the sport. we used to both. girls. you know grew. to remember you know i was part of the market. where we. know. there were more so.

we would be you know we'd do a bird. to formula one now where with sebastian fatso all but securing this season scrounge the man who sits second in the standings has guaranteed his long term future with current team mcclaren thirty one year old junction box and one formula one in two thousand and nine committing his driving future by signing what the team called a multi-year contract drivers' current agreement was set to expire at the end of the season but some isn't really battling for this year's crown who would have to win all five remaining races and with red bulls not scoring a single point so it's really not all about ten to twelve and beyond for the. over to go off now where tiger woods is going to make another return to the sport he'll take part in at p.g.a. tournament in california remember which hasn't played since missing the cut at the twenty p.g.a. championship earlier this year but the former world number one says he had a lot of time to practice during his absence it's always easy to come back from

a layoff when you're you know what to do that's very simple. i've done it before and on bunch of times but i'm implementing in new golf swing. in order to do that you have to get the reps and i haven't got the reps in. thousands of balls to do that and work feels natural. but of done that now which is good. and fun russian professional golf from wherever to taze off at the latest events in south korea the swick and correspondent consented to top of has been finding out about her colorful life during training in moscow. might even is arguably one of the biggest commercial attractions in women's golf since you turned professional in two thousand and six if you want to five year old muscular it remains the first and only russian playing free time on the ladies' european tour following an impressive amateur career that included victories in the russian

austrian lithium and slovenian championships my fair share was tough because i got to go on tour and i was the only russian player and i was the all the girls half of them were english british and australian and it was quite kind of tough to get myself like good mates and you know in the end of the day they're playing the germans showed great improvement in her second year on the tour with her career best finished tied for fifty since being and boss a degree a little round of sixty six in dubai as a result of finish fifty fifth in the door rankings in two thousand and eight still have based policing so far and despite having some injury problems she's doing dishes and has lots of goals to achieve with her new coach definitely i'll play for another five years because of my back i don't know how well my back will give me a chance to play golf but there we set out some goals when it went to the eighty and hopefully get to help if you win down there with

a major that i can go. professional golfer who spend most of their time travelling from one tournament to not it was going to be the hardest part of the job however well in search of success some of the ladies european tour's many funny stories have a reason. to make area i don't mind to say that here is a cheap hotel and i put my pajamas on i want. to throw came back and laura was completely locked throwing inside so he had to go because it was going a way out so i went outside and all the guys were like oh uncle we go through this now who. despite bringing mortars to results over the last two years. the chairman stays optimistic and focused on golf however the one meter seventy six told brunette directs a lot of attention not only with her performances on the freeways but obviously also because of her appearance i'm not trying to attract more attention i'm trying to bring something more in go. girls who are low play females that live here and

is again better and better now so we go as attractive girls beautiful girls get into girl there john though it isn't by any sport which is widely considered to be a hobby for wealthy people in her homeland and there is still a long way to go before being accepted as a mainstream sport in russia but with the likes of virtue and work the country couldn't ask for a better ambassador to lead the way i'm talking about our party. ok that's all from me for the moment more is your. pay an article by. bringing you the latest in science and technology from around. the future.

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. and russian markets edged higher following gains in asia and wall street but europe's debt troubles and declining u.s. growth remain unresolved we'll be discussing the issue in our business bulletin randi.