to reach 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 is not. the front or from what in practice 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 are seeing today as nothing acceptable 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to bahrain from july to september last year long after blood was spilled that despite insisting all licenses had been revoked as for yates his contract runs until april by which time he hopes to put in place concrete reforms on this evidence that seems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. and it's not just british help the bahrain is getting a former american policeman has also been hired by the country's authorities to train the nation's security forces middle east expert gurley has been telling r.t. he's advising the government how to strong arm protesters. those countries which i regard it as as the west still stooges of the west basically not criticized regularly very rarely do we have coverage it's not just the gulf states with bahrain to cuba it is also countries like yemen whose brutal former president is currently in the united states receiving medical treatment and no reporting it's taking place now we have a situation where the chief advice to the bahraini police is the former chief of police in philadelphia in florida. who's recorded those two

parts of the united states wasn't very good he's not giving women rights somehow crushed and brutalized to demonstrate this and he says they're doing it like should be because these demonstrators create traffic 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. as the middle east reels from revolutions and fall and regimes we're providing depth analysis for you on our website and. you can see the expert opinion the west is struggling to keep a brave face. in the region also right now. russian language. georgia voters in the baltic states reject a proposal to give official status to the language used by a third of its population. now time to update you on some

of today's news making headlines around the world twenty people have been killed in baghdad after an explosion of recruits outside a police academy no group has yet claimed responsibility for the blast which will 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. a prison nor the mexico's left at least twenty people dead started in the city of dhaka when a group of cell mates took one of the guards hostage the then spread to a second block rest a mexican prison is common with gangs often attempting jailbreaks some thirty one inmates died in general in iraq in the gulf coast city of. with two months to go until the french presidential election nicolas sarkozy has held his first major campaign speech. the president was met by thousands of cheering supporters this is the latest opinion polls. socialist rival and current

front runner. france is now facing an unemployment rate nearly ten percent thanks to spending. taxes. whitney houston is being laid to rest at a private ceremony in new jersey the star was buried next to her father who died in two thousand and three comes a day after an emotional farewell service attended by some of the biggest names in music at the church where bruce and sang in the choir as a child six time grammy award winner was found dead in a bar at a beverly hills hotel last. moscow's opposition protesters have taken their calls for fair elections to the capital central highways hundreds of motorists brandished banners as well as decorating their cars with white ribbons and balloons the color of the movement the country store several mass rallies off the last december's parliamentary elections which protesters claim were rigged. has been following the rowdy. 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 found on the border when the sun make good the arubans bowl. banners which are as long as white it means the score is taken forward in a drive around the garden ring enter across the city center in support of fear elections a similar drawing was organized only jane resembled thousands of cars 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 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. standing in the fast approaching russian presidential election and doing all they can to woo the electorate news channels airing intense debates controversial t.v. ad that's. taking 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 in it one of the candidates version of steve famous for his showmanship and occasional fist fights going hello shaalan experience claims my god other times when russia's symbol was a fishbowl troika with three day horses and jingle bells the siege 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 counties have plastered the streets with election posters

and dazzled viewers with t.v. promos heated discussions on television and radio and the internet has 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 helping you with your 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 to still be in 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 and his promises never show his face. on the street politics there are only talk i have a 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 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 process 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 gather cross 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 current lead and while some voters rely on traditional t.v. campaigning others are turning to the internet for some comic relief thanks and call himself believe john paul bonhomme of supposedly. has recently become an online sensation with some phrasing the virtues of the prime minister all the.

initials. less and while the jury's out on whether it's propaganda or clever aimed at discrediting putin the electoral campaign rolls on with more surprises likely along the way gary showed up party scale. well i'll be back with updates on the latest developments the week's top stories for you in just a few moments stay with us live here this is all to.

move.

and that is news the week's top stories. says it has stopped exporting oil to france and britain amid growing pressure on sanctions over iran's nuclear program the country's oil ministry says it will still sell its crude to new customers. the u.n. ramps up the pressure on the syrian regime as the general assembly. resolution demanding president assad steps but russia calls for talks to break the stalemate damascus

promises reforms. and spills out on the streets once again as lawmakers clear more cards to secure vital rescue cash which could now be cleared on monday but the rage of a beleaguered population the still at the forefront of greek society. i'll be back with more on this story from now in the meantime we explore the pagan traditions of one of the regions here in central russia that's our special report next. this is how people of many ethnic groups prayed to ancient times. today this is the sort of worship that can only be found in this russian region. to worship in soviet times people like us who deeds were put on trial we hope.

will avert floods earthquakes and manmade disasters. services like the a rooted in ancient history these words were first spoken nearly a thousand years ago but the worship is gathering here now are thought to be europe's lost pagans. on mine. often his family are about to set out on a journey one that's been a thousand years in the making. many others living in this republic will do the same just as their ancestors have done over the centuries. yevgeny and his wife

vera live in a small village called if. it's in the public about eight hundred kilometers east of moscow. i. was. the most live in russia and there are a finnish. there are two main groups highlanders and lo and us was i. believe they belong to the same ethnic group they speak different languages and live in different regions of the accompli. these people spend most of their lives behind desks in the city. the monotony is too much and they decide to take a trip to get away from it all and dozens of like minded folk find one another through an internet site calling themselves the rumors that explore their land and

study its history. this eventually will take the traveling local historians to the most mysterious places in the lobby of the republic. historian eric years ago joins the nomads on the freeway as they leave the city he's promised to show them the most fascinating routes on the map. the lol i haven't seen you for ages where did you bring this cold from it was minus one celsius yesterday and now it's minus a team could you please show us our route. we go here and then we will start if you times then we have to go off the roads here because that means there's a fork in. your so extreme coming here in such cold weather. now we're going to try to reach the most interesting places our chief destination is the top most point of marielle where we will look for cousins and cars caves.

the republic's highest point is mount. only a few people have succeeded in reaching its peak it saw that this mountain often leads people astray during this expedition three vehicles lost their way the drivers went missing and the walkie talkies weren't working. people often get lost in this area they just lose their bearings there is something odd going on when we can't establish contact with one another either by phone or walkie talkie. however all the explorers eventually reunite. according to them in marielle is considered a zone of abnormal activity local people often see unidentified flying objects here at the corner of mario is at the altitude of two hundred eighty four meters above sea level is the true apex of the more he wore

a large sum of medicine fuel be surrounding lance to. have a forward movement was only eve of the old mary press service vera and you. visit. the capital of mary l. the convention of some musicians they sing merry folk songs to entertain and residents with their traditional melodies centuries ago. was a fortress now it's an old tell but large scale development has recently begun. a large swamp has been replaced with an embankment buildings looking like castles complete with towers and ramparts sprang up here just a short time ago with us. this is a kind of renai sorts. maryse. this place is

incorporated many aspects of venice. and here we see a northern influence with danish and dutch elements. similar buildings went up in the mary ellen republic quite a long time ago one example is a magnificent old castle standing on the banks of the volga two hundred kilometers from york. it was built amidst a thick forest by russian eristic rats of the share much of that. was that the council was built not only by russian masters but also by foreign ones but are being made to lend these tiles to the castle. here you can see the rock is then time and drama. as well as an altar russian style.

in soviet times the castle was turned into a holiday resort the tourists what apprehensive about the building local people spoke of ghostly inhabitants who they believed to be the castles guardians. today the castle is as imposing as it ever was the message doors leading into hollow rooms still produce a sinister creak. the real ghosts in l. castle. we hear the doors creaking as they move from room to room. but they don't bother us we share a common grounds and get along with them quite well. in the village of where you have jenny and their recommended coffee live everybody is getting ready for the old marie press office. cleans his body and above else

before facing one of the most important events in his life that's daybreak he will take part in one of the most ancient of sacred rights for the marri people. and to morrow i'll take a candle to the sacred grove the mist weeks for such candles are made of him candles bought from shops are no good for this purpose they should be homemade. the candle symbolizes the link between me and god it will take my prayer to him. and your is mighty is your for giving a mother a blessing in her son's life giving god it's interesting when. you should unlike christians who pray in church these worshipers go to a grove where they seek communion with nature but before setting else they say a brief prayer and.

everybody coming to the grove brings domestic waterfowl with them they serve as food for both the gods and the people who have given it to mention the office decided to sacrifice the fattest gives him his household the maori regard geese and ducks as symbols of harmony between three basic elements these creatures walk on earth swim in water and fly through the air. down. here eight hundred animals were sacrificed here including a blue car and a ram as well as nice and ducks. one woman from the romas team has a good knowledge of the area and she provides a running commentary for all that that's said to have an appraiser basis taking place near the five sacred trees each tree is dedicated to

a particular diety. everyone carefully follows the guides words as they take in the sights along the way because it was clear all too ground was on the left hand side people praying the sacred place as soon as we get to the religion for so long that . the special day that the committee of couple has been looking forward to as arrived at last. vera and you have jenny have reached the sacred grove situated a hundred kilometers from. they thought was a fellow to sacrifice birds have also been brought by mary from all over the republic also the two off the press to their gods. at first the grove resonates with goose oaks soon after their only the echoes of priestly prayers and

. these pagan priests know how to communicate with the gods people praying in a grove of lost amidst pines and birches have strong beliefs in the forces of nature they insist their faith is the world's oldest. people come with what we call sacrificial waterfowl. bringing our desires he's in grievances along to cause i discuss their problems with the priest. and communicate by means of this tree of the board with us their requests and wishes on that this table are. enormous pot suspended if a bone finds that the lips side by side with the old sense they're used to make porridge and a ceremonial meat broth. take a look at the ducks and geese a boy then here. they break up the br. it into chunks and tossed the pieces into

the fire the bread and cheese have been brought to by washing peers. this is help people in russia worship before the arrival of christianity the maori have prayed the same way to their gods for several millennia. old these people are offering prayers to many gods which is that five spots have been set aside for bonfires in this group for example. in this one they prayed to the god. social they were asking for his grace in childbirth and happiness. i don't. think these are young men the skin tones on the organs of the birds are criminy to in the bonfire it's it's forbidden to take any leftovers from the sacrificial offerings from the groet.

wealthy british style. is not on the tight. market why not come to. find out what's really happening to the global economy with mike's cars or for a no holds barred look at the global financial headlines tune in to kaiser report on our. lines russia would be soo much brighter if you knew more about song from phones to christians. whose friends don't talk t.v.

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more news today violence is once again flared up for the film these are the images the world has been seeing from the streets of canada. giant corporations today. district in the southwest of madill is full of historic sites and rich and legends but the shortest road then ends on the shore of the volga the great russian river from here a ferry is needed local pigeons have even memorised the boat shed there's a flux of regularly hitches a ride from one shore of the volga to the other. people

here take pride in the fact that nearly all local women learn to play the flute from a young age it's a very ancient enter additional musical instrument in the old days it strings were made from animal entrails or force him locals insist that ghostly music reveals the food character of the maori people on this because the plane has been handed down from generation to generation you know that there are very many music players here we call this place that.