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eight thirty pm in moscow these iraqi headlines iran says it's been considering cutting off oil sales to six e.u. countries but wouldn't do so quote at the moment because of the cold weather hitting europe. syria's president announces a vote on a new constitution that would effectively end barely five decades of single party rule in the country amid rising turmoil there. are rallies marking a year since the pro-democracy uprising in bahrain protesters face yet another harsh crackdown with police using tactics and weapons from the u.k. . up next laura smith speaks with middle east expert terry cowley on the turbulent

situation in syria and the implications it could have for the region stay with us. i'm talking to terry allie who's a historian and author and writes mainly on subjects to do with the middle east of course we're talking about events in syria tariq ali thanks very much for talking to us now president assad seems to be clinging on to power in syria do you think there's any chance of him stepping down in the near future well it looks unlikely as if he'll step. off his own accord i think he has to be pushed out the syrian people who are of course doing their best in the country. what is more dangerous is the pressure being built outside especially in istanbul and by need to try and organize an intervention that i think would be disastrous and enormous bloodshed

much much worse than what's happened in libya. so i think there'd be a disaster i think the best way is for pressure to be put on him from without by a concrete who are not see this hostile to syria which include russia china and others. and the pressure should be kept on home and he should be told in blunt words that he has to go there his father shed a lot of blood in syria he is now doing the same and that this family's on acceptable in syria needs a nonsectarian national government to prepare a new constitution the arab league supposedly calling for a joint arab league u.n. so-called peacekeeping force to be sent into syria president assad has already rejected the idea do you think it's a good idea i don't think it's a good idea to send any so-called peacekeeping forces i mean first we have to say

what is the arab league the arab league has essentially amaury bond organization which is brought to life when the west needs it too it has played no active role for the last twenty five years in any positive sense in the region it failed to stop the war in iraq back the war. libya and it's probably being used as a surrogate to try and push through foreign troops an intervention in syria which i'm totally opposed to i think that is the one thing syria does not need is foreign armies we've seen what's happened in iraq and we've seen what's happened in libya but surely the involvement of the arab league which is kind of a local regional group is better than the involvement of the un or nato as exterior organizations well it's fine having observers from them if they do their reporting accurately but foreign troops i mean you know who will be the foreign troops there

the arab league said saudis said cut through these these sort of big vote crews of democracy in the region i mean that's utterly ridiculous it doesn't make sense at all i think the pressure has to be kept up externally nonviolent pressure that he has to go and i think the chinese and russians are now. in a strong position to be saying we've effectively prevented any foreign intervention in syria but you have to go. and push through. a national government the other people of course who are people who can pressure on most of our be rainy and so on hezbollah in lebanon and i think all these forces should now see that it is impossible for syria to be governed by this family and this sectarian clique that has ruled it and the sooner they go the better for syria in terms of external forces well the our police decided to halt all economic and diplomatic contact with the syrian government will that have any practical effect

do you think probably not because the. other countries are not going to do that the reunions are not going to do that they are a strong creating partner and lebanon i don't think is going to get involved in that on that level so it's not going to have a huge impact i think the only language. the klan and the military around him will understand is very firm language from russia i think they are now in a strong position to push through change without violent action do you see syria is becoming increasingly isolated in the region and what effect will that have on iran in turn do you think well i think they are becoming isolated i think the iranians are such an independent state i mean one of the few sovereign states in the region that they can look after themselves i don't think the fall of us. will affect iran

because it will be in the interests of the syrian government if it is a democratic representative government to maintain good relations with all these countries i mean you know i i have to say that when you look at what the west did in room. we are proud seeing some of the crisis in the yemen where killings still go on and what they're doing in syria it just sort of stands out the former yemeni president is having medical. states. so this double standards that operate make one suspicious of western most. people pushing for the intervention in syria saudi arabia. essentially they would like a syrian version of the muslim brotherhood to to run the country that is the new plot for the arab region and then the united states will do deals with them as it

has done in the past and you say china and russia are in a very strong negotiating position now however. foreign minister lavrov says visits to syria recently seems to have yielded no results whatsoever well i think that you know if it carries on like this. the. family and clan refuse to budge and refuse to relinquish their stranglehold on the country sooner or later something disastrous will happen possibly including some form of foreign intervention and then where will they and do they want to end up like do they want to end up like lynched by mobs backed by western troops that is the future that stares them in the face there is no other breach let's talk about the sheer complexity of the various forces that seem to be at large in syria at the moment we've heard reports that british and cattery forces are operating undercover in

syria do you think that could be true it's perfectly possible british and cut three forces were operating under cover in libya long before it became public now we know this is what they were doing intervening in these conflicts to bend in their own. direction so i have no evidence for this but it wouldn't surprise me at all if they were behaving like this and what about the iranians we've also heard reports although they've denied of fifteen thousand iranian troops going into syria well that i don't know mean i would have thought that given the pressures on iran the moment from the west with the european union imposing sanctions the americans rocket playing the israelis threatening to bomb it it could be ordered to put it mildly if they started sending troops out of the country but we have no real evidence of either the british and the countries or the europeans i'm saying one is

possible the other may be possible both are equally foolish we've now seen violence spread from homs to a second city aleppo and the us say that al-qaeda is involved in that if syria is substantially infiltrated by terrorists what do you think will happen will it give the west essentially an excuse to put up some sort of military operation in the country or on the other hand will they let the terrorists do the dirty work of overthrowing president us out themselves. theme i do that i mean the very weak force at the moment it's used essentially to frighten the children at home it has very little military strength its leader this is why here e has issued a statement saying that he is part and parcel of. crow. is fighting alongside some group or the other but they have very little actual

strength and i don't think one should take. all exaggerated ideas of the threat it poses to seriously i mean the fact is the overwhelming majority of people in syria of want to be outside the family and that is the key thing which we have to understand in which he should understand a lot of commentators have been saying about the arab spring in general that the violence and uncertainty in the aftermath will enable the muslim brotherhood as the only organization that is organized enough to take advantage of it to essentially step into the fray are you worried that that will happen in syria well i don't support them politically and i don't think it will be in the interests of syria to have an islamist government you know moderate or extremist the baton seems to be at the moment of saying that the model a moderate islamist government is the best model for the arab world i disagree very

strongly but i don't think it's a good model for turkey either by the way. but the fact is if it's the only power in the land it will and there are elections that will come to power like it has into its ear like it has in egypt and then one has to deal with it i mean i regard these groups as the roots of christian democracy socially conservative organizations but perfectly happy to follow the latest economic trends. which dominate west. do deals with the united states they've done them before the turks are part and parcel of that the strong member of nato and these countries will probably follow suit whether this is what people really do is a different question altogether but you make the muslim brotherhood sound fairly benign really do you think that christian minorities and other minorities have something to fear from that well i mean there is always within the moderate islamist parties

a current which feeling that they can't really offer people what they want which is a decent standard of living which is a social safety net to work then divert attention by targeting minorities the brotherhood has done it in relation to the copts in egypt and it's not impossible but they're sort of peers in syria will do the same so that is not a good thing at all but you know we have to wait and see if this is what the majority of the people want then unfortunately it will happen soon or late tara kelley thank you very much thank.

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iran says it's considering cutting oil sales to six e.u. countries but wouldn't do so at the moment because of a cold winter strike in europe. syria's president announces a vote on a new constitution that would effectively end nearly fifty years of single party rule in the country amid escalating turmoil. rallies marking one year since the pro-democracy uprising in bahrain protesters there face yet another harsh clamp down with police using tactics and weapons from the u.k. . all the latest sports news coming up next with kate stay with us.

hello welcome to the wednesday night sports round up of the top stories braving the cold injury his n.h.l. getting ready to kick off against benfica in their first ever knockout match in the champions league despite freezing temperatures in some petersburg. while champions league of their own alexis sanchez scores twice as barcelona put one foot in the quarterfinals of a three one win at the final a because in germany. still on the top double alembic champion elena isn't viable except third pole vault victory of the season at the london games now just five months away. but first a football midfielder on should all call for a start as an eight in about a quarter of an hour as russian champions and it has been in their first ever knockout match in the champions league and the first leg of their round of sixteen tie well shock replaces injured danny in midfield after returning from his own injury problems in time to play while the knee is out with torn neil gaiman's while the russian league leaders are also missing defender to medical concede so but star

striker alexander will play in his first competitive match in four months and he thinks how much support will be a big advantage. that we have played in such weather already probably more often than our pullets i don't think that's a major advantage for us because we also want to keep going it's warm we like playing when it's football weather and the current weather isn't exactly that but i think our supporters will come we will fill the stadium and it will be something that will help us. well meanwhile opponents benfica will be looking to exploit the needs we can see the portuguese outfit has plenty of qualities such as forward so and midfielder problem and finished unbeaten at the top of group c. there's been a side are also carry five points clear at the top of their domestically while coach george says the russian winter wage derail his team's hopes of progress. without question both teams will be facing problems of course we have little

experience of playing under such conditions but we're ready for this we perfectly realize what we are facing based on this where building our tactics and the system of play where ready for tomorrow and we'll do all we can so that the cold weather doesn't affect the quality of our team's play and our technique. we have a champions league game on wednesday sees arsenal travel to the sun zero to face syria leaders ac milan the gunners became the first english side to beat the italian team on their home turf at the same stage of the tournament four years ago the score was two nil then and terry henri will be doing his best to score this time around it's the only one such a four year old's last game in his second spell as a last meal before returning to the new york red bulls while manager aston vega is slightly concerned about the play surface. try to play old game and me and is a good side we think we are good side. we really go to work talk. to new readers weren't so it should be an exciting game. i'm

a bit worried about the quality of the pitch. doesn't look exceptional. hope for you want you to be better well milan have struggled against english opposition apart from the defeat to asshole in two thousand and eight they also lost one military to top them on this very day last year all the syria and giants have overcome most of their injuries defenders that is a little less than matter yet as our back in training after a long spells out while kevin prince boateng and former aston would feel that your family could also feature. a virtual he's back after a domestic ban. on me while on tuesday night french joins me all teams they won their hearts for when the time to separate side up well the defending champions barcelona went a long way to reach a record of finals with a three one win at children side violate it is an existential as netting a brace it's not a just it's very happy with the result. developing this but i think by a little coups did not allow many chances for us in the first half but in the

second half we continue pressing and we managed to create a lot of chances and it's good to additional goals finally but i am aware of the skills we must use in this year's champions league season in particular against german teams and speaking in general it does not matter how good or bad it looks like on the pitch when it comes to games against german teams one must simply try and find a way to beat them him well meanwhile over in the europa league coach jersey sero wants his luck amount of moscow's side to win at least one nil but the portuguese specialist knows it will be a tall order to get a clean sheet against in-form athletic bilbao in the first leg of their round of thirty two plash in the russian capital the league team have scored in the last ten games while cold weather deprived lock of their home ground advantage the match was moved from their check is check as of us they did to the artificial pitch of the additional cyrena and is wary that a lack of match fitness could swallow up a lot of chances with the russian leave currently in its winter break. i cheated

chances are fifty fifty local are well prepared physically technically mentally the only thing we lack is rhythm because we haven't played competitively shoes december well bilbo are in top form. a lot of it elsewhere are being manager governor there of the leaves his side can still progress in the europa league despite choose they surprise one of the three to ten one and beyond calls the first leg of their last their stupid lash was held in moscow but the freezing weather didn't affect the greek champions who took the lead after seventy two minutes to david foster vance within minutes rubin had a golden chance to level with n.p.r. cost me about mcgarry was sent off for a foul but substitute goalkeeper probably advance united roy carroll say resulting penalty is bad as an option after his body of promise to take the game to the greeks in next week's second leg while on tuesday's other side last year's final sporting brodeur lost two nil at home to turkish side question. well in the meantime russia has remained thirteenth in the new fever world rankings while

spartak midfielder the really come by our office and his maiden call up for the national side the twenty five year old is set to make you senior debut in a friendly in denmark on february twenty ninth as russia prepare for this summer's european finals andrey goalkeeper of the who's carlo at tesco moscow is also due to make his international come back into open hagen three more friendly as our shared job for russia as part of their euro twenty two hour warm ups including a clash with italy in early june. for me while over in england one of the america's top footballers landon donovan says he's been enjoying his second loan spell as everton the twenty nine year old l.a. galaxy forward is considering joining the toffees on a permanent basis but as a later point in his career. in the future who knows you know i have had. a really good time again i've had time to speak to my family. i've had time to speak to the manager i've spoken to my my coach and. i have two more years left and we'll see

what happens i want to get through this year it's qualifying for our national team it's a big year and then make a decision on what i'm really planning for the future. and moving on to athletics and russian pole vaulter united isn't viable as have another confidence boosting win with five months to go before the start of the london games the double olympic champion sets the third best jump of the season at four point eight one metres to clinch third title of the year in the event in france but mark was ten centimeters ahead of cuba's yeah the sleaze silva who took the silva third place went to france's finesse a bosch like isn't by of a missed out on the medals at last year's world championships but is looking for a third straight crown in the british capital. and finally with two years to go until the winter olympics the host city of sochi held some test events last weekend including the russia in biathlon and the east complex going to prove all the fish oils and little basses konstam but after chords. with just two years to go before they start a little when

a second winter olympics in sochi more and more when years of being put to the test the leaders was led by athlon and ski complex called lower after local mythical hereon and which is one of the most ambitious projects of the games located on the say how to reach across land by anna at a height of one thousand five hundred meters above sea level at this height the lack of oxygen makes the competitors breathe harder increasing their efficiency and boosting their results slower is supposed to. go one of the best in the world while the track with a certain sense lobes is already considered to be one of the toughest in the sport of this is the hardest track in the world with sixty meter ascents and slopes with temperatures varying by as much as four degrees it's absolutely unique this is our country and we have every opportunity to succeed the go on blix includes two stereotypes each with their own story and finish zones shooting area and warm up

zones the designers of the venue try to make the competition interesting for athletes and spectators alike the track is very demanding with numerous turns which make it hard to pause and rest on the slopes and those by athletes taking part in the russian cup became the first competitors to appreciate a lower is facilities. the track is very challenging lots of turns lots of slopes if an athlete has some alpine skiing skills to turn on the slopes they can win back some vital seconds. and average time on the european tracks is around twenty five. minutes here it's over thirty the nature of the course is very hard. the complex is still under construction and will be finished in june twentieth thirteen however the weather in the mountains is unpredictable and while wind is not a problem here for can alter the game plan of any competition. we

have a proverb when the weather is getting worse it's time for biafra one and when it's foggy here to remind us of the famous german venue in over half except for the wind the same situation could arise at the olympics but it's good that we've got different weather conditions here. russia is one of the leading nations in biathlon and the country skiers and biathletes will be bays that lower to prepare for those olympics in sochi with the hope of increasing their medal chances at their home winter games because they are such in. the saving by for. any match once lived. to burn for ever. eternal fire discipline think about what.

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