we're here with you twenty four hours a day this is our life in moscow top stories now president video pledges the opposition will have more of a say in the new duma and says again that all claims of electoral violations will be investigated he made the comments as he met with leaders of the parties who won seats in russia's lower house of parliament after the december the fourth polls. a deadly attack in belgium. in the city of killing at least three people and injuring dozens more officials say the attacker who died in the incident had served time in jail and was on his way for police questioning when he launched the.

sanctions on syria and one sided pressure up won't work russia's foreign minister condemns the west for ignoring atrocities committed by position groups. said the gangs want to create a humanitarian catastrophe and pave the way for a foreign intervention in the country. and supporters of the former ukrainian prime minister have stormed the court building where the conviction was appealed and. was sentenced to seven years behind bars for abuse of power while in office. but i'll be back with more on those stories another update you know for you in about fifteen minutes from now in the meantime despite america's military withdrawal from iraq washington is still preparing plans to control the country's rich oil reserves that's according to iran's. he's india's former ambassador to iraq and that interview with him is next here on r.t. .

president obama has announced the united states will definitively end the war in iraq at the end of this month but as the united states attempts to get the military personnel and contractors out of the country questions still remain about the implications of this decision for security in the region joining me to help discuss this is the former indian ambassador to iraq and the author of the book the ultimate prize ranjeet singh kala thing so much for joining me first of all i want to ask you about the recent terrorist attacks in iraq obviously there have been quite a few in the past few years and they've claimed hundreds of iraqi citizens lives do you think there is still a role for the united states in iraq when the americans walked in this good not to have done anything but to introduce some semblance of democracy otherwise what was that going in and once they. decided to introduce some semblance of

democracy it was going to be a shiite led government. and because it was a shia government it has very strong links with its. religious in iran. and therefore the main aim which i should say was use make sure that the oil the vast oil wealth for iraq remains available would be in jeopardy and i think that is basically the present dilemma if you withdraw from iraq completely you leave this one last. in the hands of a shiite led government which very close links with iran and therefore it upsets the political balance as far as the middle east is concerned so to that extent. to counter this the americans have now thought of withdrawing the troops but at the same time strengthening their position in iraq now the u.s.

embassy in iraq is going to be about almost twenty thousand strong it's going to have numerous what they call some offices like training training of troops etc who will be what they call basically americans who would be basically military men but working for the u.s. embassy similarly there will be a consulate in they will be a consulate in. good cook they will be a consulate or not and each one of these gauntlets is about a thousand strong it will perhaps be the largest u.s. embassy anywhere in the world i mean normal embassies are usually between thirty to forty maybe if it's a very big embassy perhaps one hundred strong but twenty thousand strong it means that they're going to be lots of other people who are going to be still in iraq now the reason why i say this is that big cannot afford to be completely absent from

iraq. and therefore the. what shall i say while agreeing to withdraw troops as per the agreement they are in a way coming back varying civilian clothes and in fact i don't see any lessening of american influence as far as iraq is concerned. and you sort of just spoke about these sectarian issues within iraq when and if the united states technically leaves the country how do you think the iraqi government will be able to stop these sectarian divisions into becoming a full fledged civil war it's going to be extremely difficult because if you see the communities of iraq as they existed most of the military in the u.s. invasion iraq was sunni dominated most of the officers were sunni. the shirts were basically foot soldiers they had more basic military training as such and therefore

because it was a similar government they were able to keep them in check it was basically by force alarms that people were kept would be called in check and of course the strong arm methods of. the who has been there whether it was or even earlier most of them were using very tough methods to keep. the population in check now whether the new government that is the shiite led government will be able to equally dick strong on this. control be what they called situation is a bit doubtful because frankly i don't think they have the experience to be able to run a country like iraq and therefore they're going to be for see sectarian violence perhaps may not be of the scale that it is no but may have little more than what is presently going on and you mentioned the united states troops going to crawl way how do you think the arab gulf countries are going to react to that are they going

to welcome the americans i don't think so because i don't see i don't see this. actually i think it's just the shuffle of the cards so as to speak because the americans are not going very far they're just going to quit which is next door and you can always come. back because the bases will be kept intact and as i mentioned with a twenty thousand strong u.s. embassy most of the staff etc don't always be there and secondly they have made sure that there is no law iraqi air force in fact you find that there is hardly perhaps not even less than they don't even have five planes to fly around so they don't control the airspace the airspace over to be controlled by the americans. which means that you can be in force at will whenever you want however you want and you can also prevent anybody else from coming in perhaps even if the iranians were to decide the american air force would be available to make sure that they don't

cross over so i don't see i don't consider this an american withdrawal i think it's just a reshuffling of the pack and what about iran do you think iran could potentially be ready to fell some sort of void if the united states leaves iraq well that is always a possibility because the iran iraq border is very porous it's very difficult to police the entire border it's a very long border and. in many areas you'll find of course the mountains then there's the bed of the plains and there is the river the shuttle which is the boundary between iran and iraq and then most of the tribesmen living on the iranian side are also arabs. and there are two so there is a lot of to inferring going across the border and it is intermarriage and it is also a lot of. illicit trade which goes on across the border so as far as

the iranians wanting to intervene or to create problems in iraq that is always a possibility and don't forget in the past it was the iranians who used to provide arms to the kurds to create problems for saddam hussein and it won't be the first time and proper probably not the last time either when they would do so obviously you know president obama also has announced that he's going to pull the troops out of afghanistan were about to enter an election year how much of pulling out troops from iraq and afghanistan do you think is part of for domestic consumption by the americans when obviously he has to meet deadlines which have been set by himself i mean be u.s. administration have set the deadlines themselves and as i mentioned in the case of iraq it's basically the shuffling of the pack i mean you give it another name you change it around call them what you like but as far as advanced on is concerned

perhaps a similar kind of started you may be followed where you may be able to withdraw u.s. may be able to withdraw troops from afghanistan but leave a very strong component behind perhaps in the form of civilian advisors military advisers and training teams except who may not be taking part in combat. role but they can certainly act as an advisory role to the new afghan army as in many develops but many cases i think that's a little. let's see because i don't think it's going to be a decision is going to be taken so quickly and the united states has spent so much money in iraq three trillion dollars what do you think the americans can gain from . everything that happened there i've always believed anybody who lived in iraq as i have lived in iraq that. nobody goes there for tourism it's a complete. a country which is hot it's fifty degrees centigrade most of the time

flies that. there's nothing to see except plain does what do you therefore. obviously otherwise why would anybody spend a trillion dollars to go lose about forty five thousand two thousand what for and the reason is the oil in iraq is plenty. and secondly it's very high quality very high grade you don't need to find very much to some for content is very low and just below the surface costs a dollar to think about a dollar and a half to three years or a lot and therefore anybody who has access to the. can be. a game changer as far as the politics of oil is concerned and i think that's precisely why the americans are there and how do you think the united states' pulling out of afghanistan is going to affect india well obviously it's in our

neighborhood you are going to stand is in the neighborhood of course it makes a difference because naturally the people who are indulging in terrorism will be encouraged that they've been able to force an american withdrawal now it all depends on how this explains does it because of a defeat does it take place because the united states gets. byard of. understand does it take place because of very strong domestic compulsions or does it take place as a result of an agreement it really depends on how the withdrawal takes place my guess is that if it takes place as a result of an agreement perhaps it can be done gradually may not be done completely in the sense of a complete withdrawal one day. time and i think that perhaps is the best case scenario all it'll definitely be interesting to see how president obama pulls the troops out of iraq if that happens and what the implications of it are going to be

i want to thank you so much air time thank you. bla mission free could take should free transfer charges free. range missiles free. three. types friesland free blog plug in video for your media projects a free media. tom you. are lucky. lucky.

lucky. lucky. we're selling lucky just.

the stories this hour here on our team president pledges the opposition will have more of a say in the new. claims of electoral violations will be investigated he made the comments as he met with leaders of the parties who won seats in russia's lower house of parliament the december the fourth. the deadly attack in belgium a man throws hand grenades and opens fire on crowds in the city of killing at least three and injuring dozens more officials say the attacker who died in the incident on the jail was on his way for police questioning when he launched the. sanctions on syria and one sided pressure work as foreign minister condemns the west.

opposition groups the significance of the guns to create a humanitarian catastrophe and pave the way for foreign intervention in the country . and a russian convoy carrying humanitarian aid for kosovo is stuck at the border after the police from moving further into moving kosovo the aid includes essential supplies for the locals who remain isolated after several disputed checkpoints were seized by nato backed. off about fifteen minutes from now in the meantime it is next with a major sport. roundup . targeting. both sides aiming to rid. of all. faiths. while gave long.

season leaders manchester city. english. a legend. announces his next life and a new computer champion. the first focal talismanic kept in the reach of us golf has defied injury and travelled with lokomotiv moscow to belgian side for wednesday's battle to decide the group all winners in the europa league while the thirty seven year old midfielder is lottos only daft with a fi injury the russian side now a fortnight after their three month winter break leaders under lights are aiming to finish the group with a perfect record the only team to have won all the matches so far but look coke can win the group if they better be early as two nil to treat a saturday to end the leg in moscow runoff and would then avoid being drawn in the

knockout round against clubs such as manchester city and managed to united will drop into the competition from the champions league for me while i'm too late the last two games. while in spain well madrid manager joe simmering year was in a confident mood despite saturday's three one else plus ago defeat at home to barcelona a suicide prepares to take on the third tier. in the capital right this tuesday night running as team saw their unbeaten start and fifteen gave a winning run ended at the bird about by pep guardiola side he went top on goal difference however rayo have a game in hand and their portuguese coach is determined to get back to winning ways in both the league and its holders of the spanish cup while he's also keen to emulate you chief of one legendary for that rail coach. no more my motivation is that i like the owner of having my name beside go to where you know one of the most successful managers and biggest club in history the last my

motivation is to be the best don't make well me don't want any shows in the renewable the two highest achievement in real madrid history fifteen victories of the champions league record a joint leader of the championship was a good deal but if we get a point on saturday she will be the outright leaders and you're asking me about motivation please come on that was just amazing. well one of rael stars have received a time a boost to start their credit cards and i was there to france's player of the year the twenty three year old has scored eight goals in thirteen that is for rail so far this season and was instrumental in front of you again with a pension plan playing for muttley all forward to three goals in seven games has country as maybe soon a berth in next summer's finals in poland to play his narrow deal with as head of the us here and that's a given. and elsewhere spain manager be fended a basket has been named as the best national coach of the year award comes from the international federation of football history and statistics the sixty year old led

to the red fury to their maiden world cup glory last year and hopes are high back in spain that will help them retain their european title next summer. when i'm going to come up with a muffin we can complain about the results in our competitive game so we are largely accomplished in the show we have had some setbacks and we have faced some very strong rivals but we have managed to cope with the expectations a little time to prepare for the euro two thousand and twelve we have only one more game on the twenty ninth of february because the league and the local competitions are very intense and there is also the champions and we got it on how the players get on and we have a good base the fundamentals are in place and everything will be there when we're going to do your post you know local is well it means i'm all eyes on spike and i must the brazilian and his side some parents like the thief a couple a couple of other daughters holders are up against local champions. once they semifinal nineteen year old says his dream is to play against the man he's often

compared to the us alone has been a mistake in the title this side also will face qatari side in the other semifinal while they will be heavily linked with boss arch rivals well madrid in september has opted to stay in his native country at least for the time being and with a lot of praise on his couch. to watch. i believe it's better for him to prepare for his home world cup by staying in brazil rather than go into europe he'll begin there anyway by the time the world cup is over i think the people managing his career are doing a great job because right now he needs as much experience is possible and now is not the right time for him to go to you. don't want. to have been taking a break from that operation for a worthwhile cause. because other first time stones met youngsters who fled their homes after the devastating earthquake and tsunami but the country lost much the

players also gave the children some boss a football shirts bearing the name when you are. after the photo call it was back to training about guardiola side and to turn. one two years ago. well over in england frank lampard came off the bench and fought home the winning penalty as chelsea won two water time to ten non-league leaders match to city hall monday that if they'd was the first of the season for the birth of mancini's men and it blows the premier league title race wide open for victory the city would have put them five points clear and thirteen ahead of chelsea and they looked on course to do it when mario balotelli often became second but half an hour later the news level three years old now that it's all eight ball sixty when they went down to ten men on the out left back to quick bookings. with eight minutes to go journey in less starts handle a lot of landmarks to convert the penalty to a chelsea victory to run the blues when third seven points behind in the city just

nine points now separate first this place later he started from the bench for a second straight game there's also show why he hasn't been in the starting eleven . now russian m.m.a. legend. will be hoping to end the year with a second straight victory after he announced he'll take on judo expert. on new year's eve in japan this is a five year old ended his three five meaning streak all three to get monsoon a unanimous decision of the twentieth here in moscow county's not preparing for a showdown with a cheese that hasn't a date and then think today in teaching the twenty four year old japanese is only forty six passed with mixed martial arts winning or losing one hundred in the other and whether he's likely to face this talk this task yet against the last obra in good time. for the most anticipated boxing matches once again put on hold as heavyweight champion the college which has chosen to defend the b.c.

valley against delhi jazeera instead of fellow briton david kay if you go overseas kids are a match if shekels to take place in the german city of munich on february the eighteenth at fourteen ukraine he's thirteen years older than his opponent. and the last month to go said he comes to retire after another three flights so possible some a showdown with hate could break this once. we now in england fly half jonny wilkinson has announced his international retirement at the age of thirty two bringing down the curtain on our illustrious thirteen year career the high point of his ninety one caps came in two thousand and three as a drop goal in the last minute of extra time won the world cup for england against australia following that drive came years of injury problems wilkinson managed to return to the highest level and help this country which he woke up fine in two thousand and seven he also wants help the record for most international points and drop goals to set a two year old with a teenager playful his french club chill. basketball now and after months of

uncertainty the new n.b.a. season will finally get underway on december the twenty fifth with the miami heat looking to make up for last year's disappointment of losing the playoff final all despite posting a star studded squad including the likes of the bron james dwyane wade chris bosh he failed to win the n.b.a. championship for the first time since two thousand and six after losing the best of seven fire service forty to the dallas mavericks so with the aim of trying in the new shortened season of miami i think their training camp on monday and their head coach says there's plenty for his team to build on. the regular game there's been so much talk about last year being an absolute epic failure for us now we don't view it that way but that's part of this journey sometimes and sometimes things frankly as much as you don't want to admit sometimes they just don't go your way it doesn't mean we want committed doesn't mean that that wasn't our goal we have

another shot at it this year and that's what we're committed to doing is give ourselves a chance there at the end and to do that we've got to start now i'm only thing we can control that is now. and win this day but it's a different film come into this year honestly you know for me. personally i'm. more live. more being back to myself for who i am and i'm excited i mean to have two months off of you know my work and being used to be a bank and in a season two months ago i'm so excited to have finally came here i could be a former f one world champion but it seems the fin hasn't quite got to grips with driving a slow moving facility two year old who recently joined lead to run i'm staying to my wrist injury the crushing histone of bail to produce a letter she writes in austria however the fan years were turning to for me to want to two years in the world rally championship later said on twitter there's nothing to worry about the main event was won by the ebb events of just six teams ahead of

defending champions unique of racing taken but as a team fast and seven world champion says the main goal was to have some fun. i mean they said first time for me here just a bit fun but everybody thought if i enjoy it. it's very died so i didn't bother. to have fun that's a myth. and that's all the while that is saving for that.