police clamp down there's other bennett has been finding out security forces are being helped by foreign advisors. tear gas and stun grenades supposedly the work of a reformed police force but one year on since the first anti-government protests were crushed in bahrain it seems not much has changed the only difference now the crackdowns been planned by one of britain's former top cops john the aids used to be assistant commissioner of london's metropolitan police he now works for bahrain's monarchy which says he's there to oversee police reforms the police have borrowed or behaving despicably their latest trick is to throw cancer tear gas into homes of people they don't like shut the doors and people have died choking to death tear gas or use out of doors and i think for any british police officer overstimulate is retired to be associated in any way with that is this is his role yes resigned from scotland yard last year in early victim of the phone hacking

scandal he popped up in bahrain in december as part of the regime's p.r. campaign to clean up its image a campaign pushed hard it seems by yeats himself he recently told the daily telegraph his new charges had a well rehearsed plan for the anniversary of the uprising adding the concept of reasonable reaction to provocation has been reinforced. as for the uprising itself he said this isn't organized protests it's just vandalism rioting on the streets claims hotly disputed by london's bahraini community i mean you get thousands and thousands of people protesting demanding their rights. vandalism. you seem to forget. that sixty five people actually died from police brutality activists in bahrain insist their protest was peaceful their aim to reach the iconic pole roundabout in the capital manama they say they were met by tanks toxic gas and

rubber bullets what we were on the as not. the front of. this previously but it's been extended through the. use of poisoning. mr john contributing we should see a positive things at the ground what we're seeing is nothing acceptable it may not just be british tactics bahrain's using 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to bahrain from july to september last year long after blood was spilled that's despite insisting all licenses had been revoked as for yates his contract runs until april by which time he hopes to put in place concrete reforms on this evidence that seems a long way off either bennett r.t. london. website hockey dot com is the place to find all the latest news and

analysis and see what else we've got lined up there for you today right now russian language silence in latvia as the majority of voters in the baltic states reject a proposal to give official status to the language used by. of its population. also it's been a week since pop icon whitney. and passed away but some music companies have already made a fortune from the singer's death you can find out more about that. dot com. some of today's news now making headlines around the world this hour in our world update twenty people have been killed in baghdad after an explosion struck a crowd of recruits outside a police academy no group has yet claimed responsibility for the blast which also sought least twenty eight others wounded iraq's police are considered to be the weakest element of the country's security forces which are the target of bombings and shootings almost daily. has swept through street markets in the

capital of honduras injuring eleven 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 for a century which left three hundred fifty eight people dead many victims were burnt alive in their cells. also in a world update this hour the violence continues in senegal ahead of next week's presidential elections police have clashed with rock throwing protesters firing tear gas and water cannon 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. 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's central roadways hundreds of motorists brandished banners as well as decorating their cars with white ribbons and balloons the color of the movement in

the country for several mass rallies after last december's parliamentary elections which protesters claim were rigged has been obvious been following the rally. here we are again on the gordon ring one of the main transport arteries of moscow which is also recently become a stage for demonstration of support schools of course decorated with colors jenny found on the bourne ring the sun a good deal ribbons of. banners which are muslims white it means this car is taken forward in a drive around the bordering enter cross the city center in support of fear elections a similar drive was organized only jane reasonable thousands of cars gathered for that several thousand supporters of prime minister and presidential candidate why do important to quarter in their drive around the corner ring on saturday but it's fair to say that this 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. kind of standing in the fast approaching russian presidential election a day lol a canter the electorate news channels are airing intense debates in controversial t.v. ad that's done a push covers taking a closer look at the tools contenders are using to win support. we watched this is the video that's caused the most uproar so far in the presidential campaigns underway in russia in it one of the candidates version of famous for his showmanship and occasional fist fights with fellow parliamentarians claims mcgann other times when russia's symbol was

a traditional troika with three daring horses and jingle bells visual mantra donkey has become a symbol of our country the whole country has come to a standstill like the sentiments with less than a month to go the five candidates have plastered the streets with election posters and desolate views with t.v. promos heated discussions on television radio and the internet have become part of everyday life. i don't cause 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 editorial's 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 here 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

a familiar crowd to the voters the unchanging leader of the communist party get ideas you got of presents 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 still game it on the it's 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 and his promos never show his face. on this three politics they're the 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 of whose job as prime minister he is there is the only one let's say the only candidate with so many resources so much media

attention i think that he wants to show that he's the only real candidate precisely by not going there and according to the latest opinion polls the level of putin 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 in official because that stage would not interfere so much i think that the message that people get across russia is that like we should keep 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 putin's 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 the john crow bonhomme of supposedly grint hooka has recently become an online sensation with a some praising the virtues of the prime minister all the v.p. by putting his initials. on. my calendar. 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. r.t. moscow. twenty eight minutes past the hour here in the russian capital in a few moments from american antiwar activist brian becker tells us why preventing iran from getting nuclear weapons isn't the real driving force for the u.s. and its allies will be a special interview in a moment but first i'll be back with a recap of violence.

suit.

and there's news in the week's top stories in. the weekly u.n. ramps up the pressure on the syrian regime as the general assembly adopt a non-binding resolution calling on president assad to step down and russia calls for talks to break the stalemate. reforms. to iran 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 send its crude to new customs. angry into the streets once again. to secure vital rescue cash which could now be cleared. but the range of beleaguered population is still at the forefront of greek society. for some insight into what may be behind the pressure on iran we spoke to back up he's a member of the anti war coalition and as i promised him that interview is next free. thank you for joining us on r.t. thank you but does the united states want from tightening the sanctions i mean. 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 now threatening 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 that 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 thousand nine hundred 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 basically is 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. 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 excess stencil 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 in a pattern and

a practice of invasion and bombing of its neighbors in the middle east it carried out the bombing of iraq's nuclear facility in one nine hundred eighty one even though that was permitted by international law and subject to spectrums 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 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 the 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 and dictating u.s. policy in this geo strategically say or 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 measure. or john bolton of. the former u.s. ambassador to the united nations the sanctions that tightening up the sanctions the . coalition that the u.s. is trying to building in iraq but 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 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 the. 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 does the presidential elections have any say in what's going on in vail and what's going to happen with iran and tens of washington the han 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 that 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. which once. took. over. turtle park is going to think about what to. do we only want to see this on forever.

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to me soon which brightened a few. songs from phones to christians. who threw stones on t.v. don't come. the latest news of the week's top stories now to the u.n. ramps up the pressure on the syrian regime as the general assembly. resolution president assad steps down but russia calls for talks to break the stalemate damascus promises reform. iran says it has stopped exporting oil to france and britain amid growing pressure and sanctions over iran's nuclear program the country's paul ministry says it will still sell its crude to new customers. and spills out on the streets once again as lawmakers clear more cars to secure financial rescue cash which could now be cleared on monday but the rage of

a beleaguered population is still at the forefront of greeks. with more on those stories for you in less than fifteen minutes from now in the meantime demeter is next with all the sports. hello the sportin are to good to have a company again coming up in the program. boxing brawl groups david haye and chisora square are host five press conference as we tally klitschko retains his w.b.c. heavyweight title. put through their paces guus hiddink to start training session since becoming manager of russia's big spending. his first european title twenty five year old golfer from south africa. the last in new

delhi. so let's start with boxing where heavy weight world champion vitaly klitschko points victory over british challenger jarrett zorra has been overshadowed by a brawl at the post for its price conference which goal was celebrating retaining his w.b.c. title with the points over to zorra when the press conference was interrupted by another former heavyweight world champion david haye a war of words that living this stage and confronting the music which call what song claimed he was glossed and then said should his competitor at one stage swung his trainer adam booth was left with a bloody face german police detained at the airport for his part in the instance. sitting has taken the managerial range for the first.