that led to his resignation from the defense select committee. and mcminnville oregon if you're watching there and six o'clock in the morning here in moscow. i'm john thomas and let's get right to your top stories in athens one of the biggest protests in years turned violent on wednesday as greeks outraged over the latest package of austerity measures vented their anger first as this report. but this is the scene on the streets of athens tonight you can see just off in fact the sleigh one of the main shopping street streaming with the rock of the window a front that a lot of places he's still got a very heavy police presence that has remained up and sometimes no where we saw thousands upon thousands of people gathering you still got

a small presence we saw the riot police pushing them off the streets it's been the largest protest the graces had since the financial crisis began and we still seem ready but i think clashes between the protesters on the police the streets. filled with smoke and take us we saw a number of the buildings on fire and the tensions really remaining this is the first day of the forty eight hour strike moving on. the riot police outside the front of the parliament building you still got a number of protesters know earlier on this thing was filled with fire where fire people started going off protests is running in all directions. today we came here peacefully and the police just started to attack people with tear gas and we've the people of greece no matter what part where from when the government to support the rights of the people both in politics and our legal system we don't want these people to say and do whatever they like anymore. you can still smell the

take in the hair on syntagma square tonight this protest today a protest that included all age. groups because it's a problem that's affected everyone in the country the young and the old turning out to join in the protests we were looking at some of that ban is. saying we haven't let this go we have a stop this fight and they are with and really that's what a lot of this focus is the eurozone leaders and the government here in the parliament building the stuff possible rescue plans for the statements and for all the financial plans that they come up with the people who have had to suffer these measures and they said they felt had enough it was described as a make or break week for greece they have the government on the possible further austerity measures to try and get the next tranche of money leaders meeting in brussels at the weekend to again discuss the debt crisis here on the streets it might have been described as

a make or break week but we store exactly what that meant for the people. here in athens trying to pick up the pieces they say has been measured that it's simply crippled their country. and for up to the minute developments direct from greece twitter pages the protests. summit is scheduled to take place on sunday european leaders will discuss the final details on the second bailout also ways to tackle the eurozone debt crisis but some financial analysts believe pulling out of the single currency is crucial to saving the region's economy. the euro is causing a great deal of tensions between many different european states and different peoples as well they want different things from their governments really that's what happens when you take away people's democracy and you centralize power to the small clique of people and they risk dragging down the whole of the u.p.a.

and union as long as they stick with the euro the euro is a step too far in terms of political integration it's a political measure that doesn't make economic sense we can see that they need to wake up and recognize it as well and later in the program we continue our coverage from the united states which has been overwhelmed by anti wall street protests. i. aggressive police tactics against peaceful demonstrators drive even more discontented protesters onto the streets of america. ethnic serbs in northern kosovo say under no condition will they dismantle their barricades at the border with serbia until albanian customs officials and police are gone from the checkpoints that's as it may go extends the deadline for their earlier alternate i'm insisting protesters to clear the road blocks or face action from the alliance parties maria financial is in the region for us. course yvonne serves leaders and kay for the nato led peacekeeping force here in kosovo paved to unfortunately reach

as solution to then go in border dispute the main message from the course of in-service on wednesday is that ban in customs and police officers currently working at the checkpoints with serbia should leave and only after that will the barricades be lifted and blocked roads throughout northern costa be reopened mixture of living impossible say they reject course it was a two thousand and eight self-proclaimed hands from serbia and say that they don't recognize this is its institutions and its laws and its a forces as well as its borders and of course they are not accepting customs posts and check poised for three months now they've been blocking the main roads throughout northern porcelain trying to prevent this region's or banning ethnical beilin leadership from x. extending its control with nato constantly threatening to move its own forces in and remove the barricades themselves the nato led k.

four has been complaining that they can't reach its own troops in this area due to the barricades but serbs have been accusing them of. assisting in tamms to install establish its institutions in this area moreover blaming them for exceeding its mandate of the un security council resolution number twelve forty four the only actually legal reason for them to be here. cos of an serbs losers did however say on wednesday that they are ready to allow the peacekeepers to travel across the near the northern coast of o. to allow them to reach their own soldiers but k. four says it's not enough asking for freedom of movement for unix says well the european police function in kosovo the serbs rejected that and k. four left the me. and that was the moment when the talks themselves hid their road

roadblocks we have been able to speak to the kosovan serbs leaders and we've asked them whether the what is going to happen next whether they expect that k. for would try to use force to remove themselves the barricades and one of the expected to violence anytime soon at the barricades because last month saw rubber bullets and tear gas used against protesters injuring at least seven civilians but the serbs told us that for the time being they're not able to comment on that they're not able to predict or guarantee anything system though that they've called for the people at the barricades to say calm and peaceful and maria is online at artie's twitter page posting the latest developments from kosovo as they happen find her there and are to underscore calm. british. who has been connected with a russian woman accused of spying in the u.k. has quit his role on the defense committee the announcement came to the viet of

deportation hearing began this week in a london court she has admitted to having an affair with the politician her former employer but denies accusations of being a russian intelligence on a trap for the m.p. party's eye for bennett is following the case. it's been dubbed by the british tabloid press as the spy who loved him and it was really only a matter of time until mike the m.p. cat is the viet i was working for as a researcher in parliament was swallowed up by this after the details emerged of their affair that was going on for four years and we now know today we've heard from hancock he's stepped down from his position on the defense committee and the reason why is because he feels his position is really untenable at least until the trial is over now why the defense committee well that's where the questions are really being asked he denies passing any classified information that wasn't already in the public domain to mr libby yet and nevertheless the government lawyers in

this in this trial they accuse her of acting as a honeytrap. for for the russian intelligence services targeting mr hancock specifically a because of his vulnerability they term it with extramarital affairs and b. because of his position on that defense committee and because of his access to what would have been very highly classified information now catches the yet as she denies acting in this way she says she was not a spy she was never in contact with any intelligence officials never has been and maintains her innocence that's why she's fighting her deportation her lawyers actually said that there was quote a genuine feeling between her and mr hancock and also there actually questioned a witness today who is an m i five agent well the agent merely said that because of secrecy laws they could neither confirm nor deny whether any evidence exists at all . on who is a former m i five agent herself she suggests that there might be an all teary

motive to this case i think any decision made on her to protection will be probably down to some sort of political backroom deal thinking because of course there has been friction between russia and the u.k. i suppose full whatever political. reasons if they deem it to be something they could use to embarrass russia they might well be porter whatever the facts of the case but if they want to switch trying to factor approach more all secure some sort of deal then they might well say no she can stay but i would've thought it's probably more likely given the recent meeting between cameron and medvedev. and the lack of willingness of our prime minister to open up communications between our spy agencies and the russian spy agencies again i think it's probably likely that the continuing coolness will continue. continue in new york as occupy wall street activists accuse the city's police of using excessive force hundreds of people have been arrested during the five week long protests that are sweeping the nation

without interests refusing to back down or cavanagh has been keeping up with events in new york. the occupy wall street movement has taken the united states by storm with countless americans whether in conditions like these to express their frustration or their anger with a system that they say is completely corrupt that does not represent their interests they feel that the washington the government in washington is more beholden to the large corporations many of which are headquartered just blocks away from here in downtown new york city as opposed to representing the needs and interests of the american people now one of the common gripes shared occupy wall street among many others is the growing student debt burden here in the united states where education has become so expensive increasingly inaccessible for more and more average americans new numbers out show that the total amount of outstanding student debt in the united states now exceeds one trillion dollars for the very first time this year as the occupy wall street movement spreads and grows

across the united states it does seem like popular support within this country is also increasing a new poll out shows that a total of fifty nine percent of americans now support the causes of the occupy wall street movement either completely or mostly support of that cause the stands in stark contrast to some of the heavy handed tactics that we've seen by the police forces not just here in new york but all across the country on the heels of hundreds of arrests both in chicago in seattle as well as in arizona nearly one thousand protesters have now been arrested in new york city alone since the movement began more than a month ago many of the protesters display what they say are nonviolent civil disobedience tactics in many instances police corral protesters and members of the media arresting them in many cases without just cause this is not something that people here had expected one of the most commonly heard phrases here in the u.s. and the occupy wall street protest as show me what democracy looks like you'll hear

at this phrase that many chances and demonstrations across the country will with the increasing having. and tactics by the police both against peaceful civilian protesters as well as members of the media many here say that democracy does not look like this for our team i'm lucy kaplan of any york. where you can always get more news analysis and the latest pictures and comments from the us protests on any of our social networking pages. romania's government has approved the placement of u.s. anti-missile defense elements on its soil the country is now just one parliamentary agreement away from becoming the next the link in america's missile shield chain in europe moscow has concerns the system may be directed against russia washington has offered written assurances to the contrary but not legally binding guarantees a senior lawmaker in moscow told r.t. the offer is welcome but is not enough. the written declaration to be

issued and or to be withdrawn in case something changes in the leadership of the united states all the legally binding documents. agreements conventions protocols he's the only instrument which will satisfy the russian concerns the recent reaction of. this program was rather harsh and. because this system is definitely meant not just against iran or north korea it is meant to compensate the new clear strategic potential so i seeing that the american politicians of the people who work with the president of the united states now seek. the warrant to propose something to russia in order to satisfy the russian concerns about them declarations are a good step forward but this is not enough. archivist bruce to gag non-beliefs

russia has reasonable grounds to be suspicious of the defense system the u.s. is out to militarily surround russia today these missile defense systems are part of u.s. first strike strategy there the shield that goes along with the first strike sword these systems are now being deployed not only will they be deployed in romania but the radar is going to be put into turkey the u.s. is now talking to georgia about putting one of these missile defense radars in georgia already the patriot third generation of patriot missile defense systems have been deployed by the u.s. into poland but now they're being put on maybe aegis destroyer ships into the black sea and mediterranean the reset button was always public relations by the obama administration trying to mollify the people around the world specially in europe

the american people as well while at the same time coming forward with this very aggressive program i see a continuation of this aggressive and circumvent both russia and china i don't see any letting up in fact i think both parties the republicans and the democrats in congress continue to appropriate more money for these so-called us all defense systems to get. in the u.s. first strike strategy during her unannounced visit to libya u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton stated that washington hopes to see ousted leader colonel gadhafi captured or killed as comes as the fighting still continues in the town of sierra considered a davi stronghold heavy shelling continued to pound positions in the center of the colonel's hometown. who has recently returned from the besieged town says the humanitarian situation there is dire. there is no water little served there is no. medication even oxygen in the hospital

they don't have. the situation in syria. because i have seen that i can assure you. if you send your nose to the city now it spits it is disaster it is a catastrophe i mean the international law. or the international community came as they said the resolution one nine seven three came to protect civilians but how come. this is not happening at the moment they don't want gadhafi. that's a political issue. which most of the libyans i would say. would rather live peacefully then having to all get after we don't want need to be there if you will that we don't want for example. if the solution was nato that is

better our life was better i could travel to libya any time when gadhafi was in power but now account of a. check on what else is making headlines around the world. sixty students have been arrested in the chilean capital santiago today strike against the country's educational system turned violent hundreds of youngsters wearing masks and stones and bottles at security forces who replied with tear gas and water cannons the demonstrators have been campaigning for months for free public education and government support for students from low income families a general strike was declared when negotiations with the cut trees officials stalled earlier this month. france's first lady carla bruni sarkozy has given birth to a baby girl in a paris clinic president nicolas sarkozy visited his wife. earlier in the day but it was on his way back from a meeting on the euro debt crisis in frankfurt when the baby was born it is their

first child together but the president and the ex supermodel have children from previous marriages forty three year old mrs bernice sarkozy is the only serving french first lady to become a mother. now on to syria where fighting continues and made growing global concerns the country is heading toward a full blown civil war activists say at least seventeen people have been killed in fresh violence while a rally backing president assad has drawn massive support in the north of syria artie's tests are silly of reports of the voices from both sides are calling for dialogue. this is the office of the traitor reads one of the messages on the wall israel and the us are able to buy you with a thousand dollars says another. this is where several opposition leaders work like . he had been a vocal critic and had spent fourteen years in jail a very bad time he recalls like many opposition members he thinks there's really very little room for me conciliation under the current environment. because

troops must be with their backs clear voice is a regime that i know. is listening to people. he insists peaceful protesters were forced to respond to attacks by security forces but he acknowledges that now it's simply not black and white responsibility for the violence goes both ways. and. this killing civilians but some civilians killing. soldiers yes son was one of the first soldiers killed since protests began in the country he was killed in daraa on march twenty three. all foreign media acknowledge that too many of the army and national guards have lost their lives so how can some people say that on groups didn't exist . these civilians are normally members like my son how could all mean members kill

other members this is impossible the media that says it is plain lying. and very analyze the problem the moment. there is confusion about what's really going on information is taken by each side and used to defend their position so if you hear only arguments from one side you would believe them amid this atmosphere of confusion and misinformation the push for reforms continues what's angering very forms this is another question whenever a new legislation is made we see an escalation of the security situation in syria of the killing by the guns but we cannot absolutely put the blame on the government as i mean some circles trying. to propagate all voices from both sides are calling for dialogue to sit down and talk to the syrians themselves agree that if this crisis is to be resolved that foundation of trust should be first laid down but with each threat or death syria respond to rising an already widening political gap

does are still you are to damascus earlier this week israeli soldier gilad schalit was exchanged for more than one thousand palestinian prisoners but thousands still remain in jail next our team talks to the wife of one high profile prisoner considered a terrorist by is real but a hero by the palestinians. he

is regarded by many as the palestinian also mandela while one barghouti who is currently in an israeli prison where he's been for nearly a decade he's serving five life sentences for murdering five israelis and over the years his release has been one of the major stumbling blocks in the gilad shalit prisoner exchange deal with me to discuss this is his wife fired were fired what the israelis always said that they would not release prisoners with blood on their hands but now they are releasing prisoners who have killed israelis but they're not releasing your husband why do you think not. it's a political issue his judgement and sentencing in israeli court was all political the israelis put him in jail because he's a leader of the palestinian people and the israelis don't want there to be palestinian leaders he's a symbol of unity between palestinians the israelis are afraid to release him because he can bring about reconciliation between hamas and fatah many people feel that hamas was almost happy to abandon your husband because he poses serious

political competition to the hamas leadership what do you think. which of course a leader like marwan barghouti is very popular in palestine and the arab world a lot of people have been phoning me to protest that he's not part of this deal i think it's israel who don't want him out of the jail hamas only accepted the deal at the law. last minute why do you think hamas accepted the deal. i don't know the main reason why hamas accepted a deal without marwan no one here in palestine understands it but hamas was under pressure from the israeli side khaled mashal muscles political bureau chief promised you that there would be no deal without marwan do you feel betrayed. right now i'm confused about my feelings because i'm not happy about marwan but i'm very happy for all of the prisoners and their families as a mother i'm thrilled because all these prisoners have mothers and i know how they feel having their sons and fathers in jail in the last ten years since marwan was

imprisoned i have traveled all over the world and advocated for the rights of prisoners so i'm happy and i'm not happy do you think that this was the last chance for marwan to be free. from the moment the israelis kidnapped my husband i never lost hope that one day he would come out of jail and i'll never lose this hope for marwan and for all of the prisoners marwan is a great leader and the palestinians will continue to fight for him to be released president abbas will not negotiate with the israelis and lastly free our leaders and understanding you right that they can never be real peace between israelis and palestinians as long as no one is in jail. which yes that's right and it's what president abbas said at the united nations he said that peace will never be reached between israelis and palestinians until all prisoners are released marwan among the negotiations between israel and palestine start again the fate of the prisoners

will be at the top of the agenda because there can be no peace without releasing all of the presenters you argue that the israelis see him as a great leader and for this reason and don't want to release him but call the opposite also be true that because he is a great leader he has the power to unify palestinians and he would be a great partner for peace for these. ray's. israel is not ready for a real peace they talk about peace but they don't work toward peace because of this they don't want marwan out of jail if he was released there could be a real chance for peace israelis are still building the separation wall there still demolishing houses demolishing olive trees imprisoning people building new settlements if you look at all of this you'll see that israel is not ready for a real peace if while one barghouti was released tomorrow what would he do. with marwan has been struggling for thirty five years he's never taken

a day's holiday if he was released he would not stop struggling for palestinian rights but the first thing he do is be with his family and children who wants to apologize to his children because he wasn't there for them in their teenage years he wants to take care of them and compensate for the years they missed out not having a father around. after that he'd have a lot of duties fighting for freedom for justice and building an independent palestinian state do you think the day will come when you will be the wife of a president. as a wife and mother the most important thing i want is a husband and a father i don't care about being the wife of a president all i want is my husband back. thank you very much for joining us here on r.t. thank you. it's

just a lifelong dream for many. a real loon is not enough to steer the ship. which. genuine love history requires. people who revive the craft are sailing through the centuries. in the russian european space partnership. the future of the european satellite navigation system. on board the world's most reliable space vehicle.

for the first ever from a foreign base. back . from the heart of moscow. a country in crisis furious. over french government cuts. leaves the country. move to the. disputed border checkpoints. a country on the brink thousands. in support of president assad activists say at least seventeen more of been killed and fresh.