the iconic pole roundabout in the capital manama they say they were met by tanks toxic gas and rubber bullets what we witnessed on the ground as not. the front or from the impact as previously but it's been extended through the. use of poisoning. mr john is contributing we should see a positive things at the ground what we're seeing today is nothing except what it may not just be british tactics bahrain seizing but weapons to government figures show the u.k. sold over one million pounds worth of rifles and artillery equipment to bahrain from july to september last year long after blood was spilled that's despite insisting all licenses had been revoked as for yates his contract runs until april by which time he hopes to put in place concrete reforms on this evidence that seems

a long way off bennett r.t. london. it's not just british help that bahrain is getting a former american policeman has also been hired by the country's authorities to train the nation's security forces and as middle east acts expert eric ali has been telling r.t. he's advising the government on how to strong arm protesters. those countries which are regarded as as the west still stooges of the west basically. criticise regularly very rarely do we have coverage it's not just the gulf states. it is also countries like yemen brutal former president is currently in the united states receiving medical treatment and no reporting that's taking place now we have a situation where the chief advisor to the bahraini police is the former chief of police in philadelphia and in florida. who's recorded those two

parts of the united states wasn't very good he's not giving women rights about right and brutalized the demonstrators and he says they're doing it like should be because these demonstrators create perfect problems the problem in bahrain is sort of traffic problem it is a problem that seventy to eighty percent of the population feels it has no representation whatsoever and yet nothing happens on this front actually. our website r t dot com is the place to find all the latest news and analysis let's see what else we've got lined up for you there right now. russian language silenced a lot of fans the majority of voters in the baltic states reject a proposal to give official status to the language used by its population also. it's been a week since pop icon whitney houston passed away but some music companies have already made a fortune from the singer's death find out more on our t.v. dot com. some of today's news making headlines around the globe this hour

eighteen people have been killed in baghdad after an explosion struck a crowd of recruits outside a police academy over a dozen more wounded in the blast a source at the scene said several nearby cars were set ablaze by the explosion now group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing. fire has swept through street markets in the capital of honduras and during the eleven people and destroying hundreds of stalls several streets were engulfed in flames sending thick plumes of black smoke over the city it comes as funerals were held following one of the worst prison fires first century which left three hundred fifty eight people dead many victims were burnt alive in their cells. violence continues in senegal ahead of next week's presidential elections riot police have clashed with rock throwing protesters firing tear gas and water cannons the demonstrations are against the current president running for a third term as head of state the constitution allows for only two stretches in

office but a court cleared day to run again as he took office before the term limit was put in place. moscow's opposition protesters have taken their calls for fair elections to the capital central roadways hundreds of motorists brandished banners as well as decorating their cars with white ribbons and balloons the color of the movement the country saw several mass rallies after last december's parliamentary elections which protesters claim were raped. has been following a rally. here we are again on the gordon ring one of the main transport audrie's of moscow which was also recently become a stage for demonstration of support schools of course decorated with colors when you found on the bourne ring the sun make a good deal ribbons the banners which are as long as white it means the score is taken forward in a drive around the garden ring and across the city center in support of elections

a similar drawing was organized only jane resembled thousands bars gathered for that several thousand supporters of prime minister and presidential candidate why do important to court in their drive around the corner and ring on saturday but it's fair to say that the jump in public activity really started following the parliamentary election early in december and since then we've been seeing various rallies marches android's taking place across the entire country including rallies which have been gathering tens of thousands of people so the biggest ones which russia has seen since the early ninety's really and with the presidential election now just around the corner it's set to take place on march the fourth it's expected that this activity is only going to increase. candidates standing in the fast approaching russian presidential election are doing all they can to will be like tart news channels are airing intense debates on controversial a t.v. adverts pushkov a has taken

a closer look at the tools contenders are using to win support. we watched this is the video that schools would most uproar so far in the presidential campaigns underway in russia if you are in it one of the candidates version of famously his showmanship and occasional fist fights with hello paul an experience claims mcgann other times when russia symbol was a traditional troika with three day horses and jingle bells these little mantra donkey has become a symbol of our country the whole country has come to a standstill like percent of us with less than a month to go the five candidates have plastered the streets with election posters and dazzled viewers with t.v. promos heated discussions on television radio and the internet have become part of everyday life. i don't course in the race billionaire businessman mikhail prokhorov promises their arrival of a new russia with a new president known for his height riches and playboy past he's the only new face on russia's political scene formally editorials party animal his reputation was

once dented by an international sex scandal which has come back to haunt him on the web we are vegeta help you with all our body and soul as for the elections will win them anyway you can buy anything so you can buy your victory to the remaining candidates are familiar crowd to the go to the unchanging leader of the communist party good ideas are going to present a fresh image with a campaign featuring a mix of faces from the past as well as the present while his rival from the just russia party game it on the streets trying to attract the older generation the only clear favorite in the race prime minister vladimir putin has refrained from getting involved in the campaign directly he has controversially refused to take part in any t.v. debates sending his representatives instead raised and his promises never show his face. on this three politics there are only talk either big meeting.

either prop or tin or against porter so if you when he doesn't go to television when he's part of st politics when he's a part of television coverage oh he's job as prime minister he is there is the only one let's say the only kind that with so many resources so much media attention i think that he wants to show that he's the only real candidate to precisely by not going there and according to the latest opinion polls the level of support keeps on growing across the country despite the wave of opposition protests i think that brought us tend to mobilize his core electorate because when. people like right wing politic politician brought her up are saying that you know the social benefits from the cut that factories that are inefficient because that

stage would not interfere so much i think that the message that people get across russia is that like we should keep putting election day may only be around the corner but this still plenty of time for the other four would be presidents to try and chip away at this current lead and while some voters rely on traditional t.v. campaigning others are turning to the internet for some comic relief. and then call himself believe john paul bonhomme of supposedly. has recently become an online sensation with a song praising the virtues of the prime minister all the heat by putin's initials . by ls and while the jury's out on whether it's propaganda or clever hoax aimed at discrediting putin the electoral campaign rolls on with more surprises likely along the way. over party school. break up of today's news on the week's

top stories in just a few moments. what

. is he.

to. pass the hour thanks for being with our team for the latest news in the week's top stories the u.n. ramps up the pressure on the syrian regime as the general assembly adopts a non-binding resolution calling on president assad to step down but russia calls for talks to break the stalemate wall to mask those promises reforms. great gang spills out onto the streets once again as lawmakers clear more cuts to secure vital rescue count which could now be cleared on monday but the range of a leg or

a population is still at the forefront of greek society. and it has stopped exporting oil to france and britain all made growing pressure and sanctions over iran's nuclear program but the country's oil ministry says it will still sell its crude to new customers. first some insight into what may be behind the pressure heaped on iran we spoke to brian becker a member of the answer anti-war coalition that interview is up next. thank you for joining us on r.t. thank you but does the united states want from tightening the sanctions i mean there is even beyond tightening the sanctions now indeed it is the united states government has created an artificial crisis that's first and foremost it's a manufactured crisis iran is complying with the i.a.e.a.

iran does not have a nuclear weapon iran is not threaten its neighbors iran has not started a war with any of its neighbors israel on the other hand has hundreds of nuclear weapons and unlike iran refuses to sign a nuclear nonproliferation treaty does not allow. inspectors into its country so there's not really a nuclear menace or a nuclear danger from iran and so what is the cause what's the cause of the crisis of the artificial crisis the real goal is the united states government has embarked on a course of extreme economic aggression against iran with the hope that by creating economic suffering economic isolation economic misery that part of the population will rise up or become disenfranchised with the government so that the u.s. can do as it has in history carry out regime change they deny that the us denied that it's trying to carry out there was a change in iran right i mean we have to take it with a very very big grain of salt because we know that since one nine hundred seventy

nine the united states refuses to have relations with the islamic republic of iran why is it because iran is a dictatorship well it's actually a democratic government it has democratic features far beyond some of america's most foremost their allies in the middle east such as saudi arabia for instance since one nine hundred seventy nine iran became an independent government before that between one nine hundred fifty three in one thousand nine hundred seventy nine when the shah was there. the shah acted basically as a proxy or a puppet or a client of the american power and so the u.s. says they're not carrying out regime change but in fact everyone who's watching knows that indeed is the u.s. policy to create pressure on iran carry out overt operate covert operations economic sanctions and now these new sanctions are not really even a like the old saying they are saying to the rest of the world if you dare do business with iran central bank if you buy iranian oil which constitutes half of

iran's g.n.p. if you have any business with iran whatsoever you will not have access to american banks to american corporations to the american market this is in fact a blockade something like an economic blockade of iran and by international law in economic blockade is an act of war and so we should understand it just like that so what do you think iran's response is going to be well iran so far has been very prudent even though they said that they would consider closing the strait of hormuz that six mile stretch of the persian arabian gulf where twenty five percent of the world's oil supply goes through. and even though much was made of that in the western media in fact iran has not done anything to give the u.s. . pretext an excuse a provocation so to speak that would allow the united states or israel to trigger

a set of military actions a run i think is also telling its people that we are not panicked the iranian government are not panicked that they're trying to show that they have a serenity and a calmness and a confidence and that they will weather the storm but in fact economic sanctions are taking a bite on the iranian economy right now there is a lot to see about this israeli possible attack specially israeli. possible attack wall street journal says that the u.s. is planning a plan b. should israel attack i think the israelis try to pretend that iran constitutes an ex a stench a threat to israel i don't think that that in fact is the case even though iran's military has the capability to do great damage to israel in the event of a war even though israel is a nuclear power i think that the israeli government has an a pattern and

a practice of invasion and bombing of its neighbors in the middle east it carried out the bombing of a racks a nuclear facility in one thousand nine hundred one even though that was a permitted by international law and subject to spec sions in other words a nuclear program for civilian energy purposes israel came in bombed it they did the same to syria in the last few years and they would like to carry out military strikes against the iranian government the americans don't want that right now even though they they're happy to be have iran in a state of tension they don't really want israel to become the main protagonist with the iranian government by carrying out an unprovoked military strike i mean i'm talking about the main sectors in the american establishment because that would then present the crisis death struggle between the islamic republic of iran on one side and the israelis regime on the other and in that case iran will be able to

mobilize mass support throughout the middle east for it the united states has a different tact they want to keep israel sort of in the background lou mean danger in threatening iran in one way keeping iran in the state of tension perhaps militarily but have the economic sanctions do the bulk of the work by carrying out economic and financial isolation against the iranian government they think in the long term that's the easier way the better way or the more effective way to carry out regime. change the u.s. has puzzled over israel's intentions so what if israel does decide to strike iran and this is a u.s. official says it's hard to know what's a bluster and what's not with israelis well i think a lot of this is baloney and nonsense the israelis are the recipient the benefactor of three billion dollars a year in u.s. military aid if they do something that's completely contrary to what washington wants they will be on the very short end of the stick the israelis are not

dominating in dictating u.s. policy in this geo strategically they are not they have a big influence in washington they have a strong lobby but when it comes to iran or when it comes to iraq the israelis do not tell the united states what to do it's vice versa if israel strikes no if the conflict is presented that way between the islamic republic and israel the people of the middle east will really to the side of iran the assassination of the iranian scientist which rick santorum called half a mess or. or john bolton of. the former u.s. ambassador to the united nations the sanctions the tightening of the sanctions the . coalition that the u.s. is trying to build against iran what is iran going to do to face all of this pressure well iran has certain allies to iran has russia and it has china

increasingly it has venezuela and cuba another words those governments in the world in addition of course to syria which has its own problems right now but the countries in the world don't want the entire world to be dominated by one power the united states of america they recognize that the existence of iran as an independent government is something that is positive meaning that if the united states were were were to be successful in carrying out regime change in iran they would be emboldened to carry out further destabilizing efforts against other powers including russia and china by the way even though there are great powers. so i think that iran has allies and i think iran is trying to show that they can weather the storm and also that they can rally their population in spite of the fact the divisions that were revealed in two thousand and nine after the elections the presidential elections the iranian people as a whole i don't believe they should be sanctioned the iranian people believe that

they have as they do the right to develop nuclear power for peaceful civilian purposes and i think right now the iranian government is trying to weather the storm they're also making it clear that they don't options that they have they have limited options they have limited options and that's the big issue here i think is that. in america right now in the united states nobody feels this issue they don't feel there's a war looming they don't feel the problem of economic sanctions it's the iranians who are feeling it it's the tension the pressure of the economic problems are all one sided this is like a great power the seven hundred pound gorilla who decides to sit wherever it wants to sit and it can create immense tension and pressure and economic suffering somewhere else without having to endure any political price so that that's the big problem and as a peace activist and as someone who believes in human rights in i think will do

will see this more and more in the united states we are starting to concentrate our efforts to expose the fact that the united states government is carrying out through a different set of tactics the same thing that they did in iraq they carried out regime change in iraq not to make iraq more democratic more human rights oriented but to dominate a wreck and i think they they want to do that in iran and we need to have people outside of iran stand up and say iran should not be alone on this that's not presidential elections have any say in what's going on in vail and what's going to happen with iran and tens of washington. i think the presidential elections in the united states definitely play a role in u.s. policy towards iran that by the way has been the case ever since the iranian revolution iran has factored into american politics in this case the republican candidates are sort of baiting obama and suggesting that if obama is reelected we will have

a nuclear armed iran someday soon well i might do something just to counter their statements because it's an election year i don't think so i think that it's not out of the question that obama could opportunistically up the ante or even escalate tensions or even allow some sort of limited military attack against iran in order to show how tough he is and how why he's not a liberal. or something like them but i don't think so this is a very big project for the pentagon for the cia for the us establishment i think it goes beyond electoral politics and i think the obama administration and the pentagon are having a carefully calibrated approach that won't again with regime change the republicans and democrats share the same objective one is more demagogic lee militant against iran they both share the same objective which is to bring iran back into an americans fear of influence and i think the republicans can't move obama that much

because obama actually has the backing of the pentagon in terms of this particular approach the pentagon is bogged down in afghanistan they really were pushed out of iraq they have a lot of a lot of military problems a major full scale war right now which could happen even if they don't intend it by people climb the escalation ladder. resistance is not a politics but a culture. it's couldn't test. on its own. cultures of resistance on marching.

hearts here with the latest news on the week's top stories of the u.n. ramps up the pressure on the syrian regime as the general assembly adopts a non-binding resolution calling on president assad to step down but russia calls for talks to break the stalemate while damascus promises reform. and says it has stopped exporting oil to france and britain amid growing pressure and sanctions over iran's nuclear program but the country's oil ministry says it will still sell its crude to new pasta mars. and greek anger spilled onto the streets once again as lawmakers clear more cuts to secure vital rescue cats which could now be cleared on

monday but the rage of beleaguered population is still at the forefront of the greek society. time now for sport with dimitri. hello the sports are not too good to have a company again coming up in the bulls a. boxing brawl and. a press conference as we told the klitschko retains his w.b.c. heavyweight title. pulled through their paces sweeping his first training session since becoming manager of russia's big spending punji. and his first european title twenty five year old golfer from south africa. a banker

lost in new delhi. so let's start with boxing where heavyweight world champion with points over british challenge has been overshadowed by a brawl at the post fight press conference klitschko was celebrating retaining his w.b.c. title with a unanimous points victory over when the press conference was interrupted by another former heavyweight world champion david haye a war of words. living this stage and confronting hay while musically watched on claimed he was asked why. should his combated at one stage swung his trainer adam booth was left with a bloodied face. detained at an airport for his part in the incident. hitting has taken.