hiding all started because. it is syria we focused on next says the former british ambassador to the stricken country explains how he sees events in the country unfolding. today i'm talking to basil eastwood's he's a former u.k. ambassador to syria he was serving in damascus between nine hundred ninety 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 believes that asaad deserves at least some credit for trying to instigate some kind of reform do you agree well if he 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 here you don't think there's any way back for us at i think no 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 in. 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 require the same sort of coordination that the opposition has 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 those quite a lot of weaponry around. violence is being used against the people. but so far it has been 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 large in condemnation of the syrian regime's activities how do you think this whole situation is 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 return to earth and secondly when it does happen it may stand a better chance of being relatively peaceful roles 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 views 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 also 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 a western approach to what's going on in the moment do you think that the arab spring in general will result in division between the old and the powerhouse that many of the states in the united nations representation us. feel i'm happy 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 from some of 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. 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. wealthy british science. market. find out what's really happening to the global economy.

for a no holds barred the global financial headlines kaiser report on. the close up team has been to the spitzbergen archipelago. for the world's northernmost presides over a ghost town if r.t. goes to penza. village volunteers. from through its. technological breakthroughs save lives. where people are forced to stay. on the party. it was created to serve public interests to inform and to entertain. these days there's nothing easier than opening

a new media outlet but there is nothing harder than revoking its license in case of corruption. involved in a community you have one large corporation controlling the daily newspapers radio stations television stations the cable outlets that you tell me the. public opinion versus f.c.c. broadcast blues on archie in the united kingdom. dylan. the only way even if. they could. go to some of those countries. the goldman turns to remember the grimly it used to feel the montague who turned the world the ruben's hotel.

party's top stories new york police get heavy handed on crowds of angry protesters were demanding social and economic reform. thousands gathered for the big of a three week long demonstration called occupy wall street. back from the dead the syrian woman reported as the first female government's pro-democracy crackdown turns up alive and well it's forced several media into battle tracking after giving her supposed death saturation. and violence flares up during the twenty four hour nationwide strike in greece with police resorting to tear gas to disperse crowds in athens the latest protest workers grow increasingly angry biting austerity. more news coming up for you in fifteen minutes next it's sport stay with us.

hello there welcome to. two things for joining us and in this building. gearing up russia's football team for a massive tweak of action wins again. will guarantee them a place. on top of the narrow victory. at the summit told the conference. with the league commissioner david stern to try and save the time to eleven times a twelve season. so it's a whole time for russia's for. ballers this week with your return to to a qualification repping up to cover carts men take on slovak in zealand on friday before a home clash with indoor on tuesday what a magical if occasion will be made certain by winning those two games the dutch

manager saying if they achieve that same players can quote drink as much as they want afterwards that's in response to criticism levelled at some of the players reportedly doing just that before a world cup playoffs in slovenia two years ago but the card also saying he will quit his post should russia fail to make next summer's olympic and ukraine finals. staying with football where argentina's fearless us feel defeated chilean side on the first cut in the first leg of the round of sixteen in the course of americana that took the late fourteen minutes in through the front door successful effort inside the penalty box five minutes before half time yvonne bell and that similar go for others to make it to nil the home side failed to level things up after the break that means they will have to travel to burn cyrus for the second leg in two weeks time with two goals behind. on to the us now when the

continental hockey league dinamo more school have gone top of the western conference following a narrow two one home victory of a scot st petersburg the hosts open the great for the first period or to introduce off manager brilliance all ensconced their easily retired friends and found the back of the net straight to the second period now where their muscovites doubled their late through captain alex a to the shop left the keeper no chance to face precise shots from close range three minutes later the visitors had the chance of a massive five one free play which was successfully converted latona more than two one the final score here in the russian capital which soon are on top of the west some conference. in turn is a sizable chunk of what has advanced into the china open court finals. without playing hell third round match that softer today's opponent victoria azarenka had to retire reportedly due to stomach another russian marie electrodes also successful through to the next stage following an easy six one six two victory over

to near a physical threat poland's national guard vasco had no problems on the way to the quarters as she registered as a straight sets win over so if there are that sort of scrutiny. for that to needed all the three sets to sense the barkers of dominica symbol to the packing while current world number one current does not speak for try to overcome this. later today. in the men's game the only russian representative know how usenet is resting today as he's already through to the last eight in the meantime spending it on tahrir square found himself on the right side of a six four six four score against competitor at marseille when all this. also advanced after both scenes are showing off to china in straight sets. playing against the easily and finally in the late clash of the day south african heaven and the sun the world player but not a ton of pain. american sprinter shaun merritt is cleared to defend his four

hundred meter title at the upcoming summer olympics in london that's after the court for arbitration for sport overturned a disputed doping rule which bars an athlete suspended for more in the six months for doping from competing in the next summer or winter games this is deemed the rule invalid and forcible because it amounted to a second sanction and to talk comply with the world anti-doping agency code remember it was suspended for twenty one months fourth ailing a drugs test and. by the time the london games start the four hundred meter lin wood will have completed the span. of america's national basketball association labor disputes between players show. no sides of resolving any time soon the lake canceling the rest of their pre-season games with a proposed event the start now a serious doubt boston celtics up hope is attending those negotiations it was

joined by a nice to do and a host of other styles there are one of the more vocal plays representatives the reporters were all awaiting the arrival of face high profile lakers teammate kobe bryant though rumored to be working extensively to sign with bologna in italy no common ground between those big names and owners as yet that. today world be 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 are. gauged in more. you know into discussions today to see if we close you know where remains to be a very large gap between. you know the n.b.a. and b.p.a. and 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 law consultation the big shaq who retired last season says it's unfair to those who matter most to the sport. locker . room to use to both do it because the moment you would. you know agree. was to run momentum and you know i was a part of the market from being with. mr you know we were free to them but. no. there were more. we would be you know we do a burka. over to the gulf now where tiger woods is going to make another return to the sport still take part in a p.g.a. tournament in california remember what's hasn't played since missing the cart at the twenty eleven p.g.a. championship 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 i've done on bunch of times but i'm implementing in new golf swing. in order to do that you have to get the reps in 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 finally russian professional golf on the return of a taser off at the latest event in south korea and our correspondent there said it but out of has been finding out about her colorful life during tourney here 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 did you do any five year old muscular remains the first and only russian plane full 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 it i got on tour and i was the only russian player and i was there all the girls were 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 fifth way since being and boss of the korea little round of sixty six in dubai as a result finished fifty fifth in the games in two thousand and eight still have based policing so far and despite having some injury problems she's still in bushes 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 low my blood will give me a chance to play golf but there we set a goal of winning and hopefully get to win down there with

a major that i can go. professional golfer who spend most of their time travelling from one tournament to another which can be the hardest part of the job however well in search of success some ladies european tour and many funny stories have a reason they're said to like area i don't mind to say if you hear there's a cheap hotel and i put my pajamas on i want. to throw came back and laura was completely. locked away inside so he had to go because it was going a way out so i went outside and all the guys are like oh of course we go straight to this now. despite bringing mourners 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 ways but obviously also because of her appearance i'm not trying to attract my attention i'm trying to bring something more in girl that the girls who are low play female thirdly here

and is again better and better now solely as attractive girls beautiful girls getting into girl their chawner 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 on the work become true couldn't ask for a better ambassador to lead the way. today no more enticed time here not with you and i all think so much ask by. you the latest in science and technology from the right. we don't you jerry.

the how would close be sure to tell if the hotel hotel will show his the groom's photo the show would have turned. over to the slim hotel

evergreens the rules for totally the victoria hotel. photo springs resort and spa tie to a hotel royal she plans most of the town. the evergreen close in time to eat lunch time to time the. point. in time with her telly touch your group the photo a good go how would. every.

new york police get heavy handed on thousands of angry protesters who are demanding social and economic reform in the united states. 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 several media backtracking. shutdown showdown police round on an angry public whose leaders are struggling to stave off a catastrophic default. fall same. this is all about investment end the russian economy as business and government had a way it's come together in moscow will have all the details for you in business in twenty minutes.