hello and welcome you watching the weekly with me kevin o. in iran r t it's a round of of the day's main news at the top stories of the last seven days and first polls have opened in france as millions choose between the two candidates in the runoff vote the defending president nicolas sarkozy's already claimed the elections on a knife's edge is he closed in on rival francois hollande in the final polls let's get the latest cross to paris our correspondent test it is there a risk high test we know both candidates of past the ballots now but is it as close as sarkozy is claiming. well it is at this point it's still very neck and that could mean the difference between the two is between four and seven points of word on the street here in paris if you talk to a random french person they do get the feeling that the country will get a socialist president the first in seventeen years that says fossil mitterrand left in one nine hundred ninety five but of course nothing is certain until the french cast their ballots under so

a lot of variables in play here first of all who are the voters who voted for money in the pen who finished third in the first round and those who voted for fossil beirut finished fifth so how many of them are going to be voting for psychosis and this could sway sway the balance a between the two and also you're the french are going to be essentially voting between two kinds of men one who claims to be the want to unite for as a blaming psycho's he for having visited divisive president and then you have sarkozy who claims that he is the man who is going to be able to stop france from going down in the direction that greece and other troubled euro zone nations had gone so there is a slight difference there that a fresh people say it's not possibly that big there's still a question of how many of them are actually not going to vote for either of the two men let's get a bit more analysis from our guests today mr douglas webber he's a political analyst from the in c. at a business school thanks very much for joining us today the question here is a fuss all along and he says he's going to be uniting france but this unity isn't it hinged on the how much he can actually get done so if he doesn't what kind of unity is going to be for france of course if loans were to be elected in

a sick nomic politician were to fail this would be an effective dicked of impact on the degree of unity and cohesion and and french society i think one thing that was clear that is that in terms of engine the crisis then alone would actually place a bigger burden of adjustment to the crisis on higher income earners and a somewhat lower burden pressed on lower income earners and in this sense does present be more likely to sort of. a more cohesive french society then that person so cosy that's talking about inside frazz what about france in the context of. europe asuka's he says he is the one who is going to be able to say france from the safe future that greece is now facing do you agree with that on what basis what this new basis for this kind of analysis of tall and s. in the television debate a. long point adults agree stinney case was ruled by a conservative government in the years preceding the crisis rather than by

a socialist one. referred in this context to the spanish crisis and blame this on the surface government there in fact the says nothing to do with sort of party politics told in terms of their approach to the sort of fiscal policy condition the government deficit to france's role in europe and the european central bank and its policy is not a vast difference between the two the true candidates they both want to cut the french deficit they would both like to see a stronger sort of growth component and the european central bank paying more attention to promoting growth rather than cutting deficits and and at size you kind of austerity policy the difference early is that along really insist that there must be some change in the fiscal tree negotiated between the member states towards the end of last year and signed earlier this year and that's where there could be some initial problems between a person to a long dentist and the other governments in the european union speaking about that in foreign policy or the relationship even beyond europe this is taking

a backseat during much of the campaign it's understandable when jobs is the primary concern in the country however whoever wins what kind of france are we going to be looking at if a lawn does become president are we going to see a friendlier francis some commentators said or is it just going to be the same but i think the most important thing here is that the first front of the election showed that there is a very big strong minority in france people who are unhappy with the current sort of state of the french economy and french society and people who are very afraid about the consequences of the cations of a more open french economy a trade of globalization and free to give an integration. and this was seen in the in the very highest good both for the extreme right in particular and for the extreme left candidates and the first wrong of the of the election but otherwise i would say in terms of foreign policy there isn't really a vast difference from these between these two candidates that won't make a big difference tonight whether or not person so cozy is related to whether becomes of the president any new person will have to try and accommodate and to

great to. worry about the concerns of this very strong minority of very sort of in secure french voters who have turned to the little extremes thank you very much a service or whatever for your analysis there so there you have it the two men still trying to fight here at the last moment as a french go and cast their ballots will be finding out first results at around eight pm local time here in paris absolutely ok we go regularly and thanks ever so much for that just one thing you can stay with us we go regular coverage throughout the course of france's millions they choose their next president. the syrian government granted amnesty to two hundred sixty five rebels ahead of monday's parliamentary vote the first such election in decades meantime a series of blasts rocked syria's capital damascus and the northern city of aleppo on saturday it left these three civilians dead at the sort of first reports now as problems continue to be spilt by both the regime's forces and opposition that hopes

are resting on the growing u.n. observer mission. in the heart of damascus thousands come out the day the funerals of people killed during clashes in the capital once again drew into focus the very precarious situation the country now finds itself before the bodies of the dead they carried through the streets of damascus as the funerals for the people who were killed under the station they just want the story you've got the military the security watching they think that this is at the same time as the u.n. observers are supposed to be here overseeing the peace plan i mean not only in the day we've joined the u.n. observers one of their daily too is to flashpoint areas if service had been traveling to some of the areas where the this is by things being breaking out and you can see on the ground small slow steps are being taken in the observers are really going to be one thing over the coming period to be building on that

observers are all say based full time in some cities like homs and it led many have felt that their presence there has bought some in team and we have little time between stops to speak to the people who live here we did talk to tell us that the last few days have been quiet they don't know how long that will last you know it was situation is much calmer there's not much happening you know about i saw people broadly similar so people shooting and i ran away i don't know exactly what was happening but we're here at the checkpoints on the device that the dean of the u.n. . i have just done. through the area it's been a very very fast trip they've literally driven through stopping some of the military checkpoints around to speak to some of the people but no more than five ten minutes at a time to give you barely enough time to speak to some of the people in the area and get a feel for exactly what's been happening while the observers presence does seem to have made. the situation in the country is unstable tension in the capital of

damascus is palpable explosions here a regular occurrence now and security everywhere tight firefighters rushed to the scene after a demonstration service themselves have admitted a resolution. the night and it will have to come in large parts of the syrian people. but with parliamentary elections next week and with the if the mission under close scrutiny seems like this would do anything to this mission will be a success but they will say show the very real and urgent need for it. so. i just let you know about twenty minutes today we speak with author war correspondent chris hedges you think there's no point in pushing for syria's president to be ousted when there's no organized opposition in the country right now. i don't think anyone in the muslim world thinks that we care much about human

rights or democracy we have since the first gulf war planted military base some the size of small cities i think there is at this point absolutely no credibility i'm talking about within the middle east when the united states claims that it would like to bring liberty or democracy to syria my feeling is that everything should be pushed through to create some kind of a ceasefire rather than pass a resolution that calls for assad removal or resolution. calls for intervention or anything else there's no real formal opposition. you know it's a sort of a mess and they just went through this in libya. egypt saw a sharp surge in violence this last week as must rallies against the military rulers entering deadly clashes tension between the interim authorities and protesters has intensified less than three weeks now before the country's first

post revolution presidential election on wednesday at least nine people were killed when a group of ultra conservative islamist were attacked by saying it was staging a sit in against the confidence in the race most rush to play in the military fear type but some locals not to be said the protesters were provoked the situation on friday the weekly rally that this time was predominantly islamist those results of the deadly clashes and hundreds of arrests police use water cannon tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the protesters who tried to break through the barbed wire of the defense ministry of what the military kept reiterating they'll hand over power after the election many activists that will bring real design with. the military wants to crush this revolution every way possible and they're using every tool they have including the government which is not hearing to any of the demands that have been put forth since the first day of the revolution many believe that even if. this calf transferred power to civilian government it will.

that won't change anything because in the end of the day i believe that staff wants to hand power today before to morrow but the thing is that they want to hand over power without being prosecuted for any of the crimes that they have been committed for that they have that they have committed in the past year and a half any outcome that will come out of this presidential process order that even though any election process will only favor scout. to another country that's been seeing anti-government protests for more than a year a prominent bahrain's human rights activist has been arrested in the capital's airport instead many say could further escalate unrest there had a bahrain's human rights now bill roggio was detained upon returning to the country he come back for sunday a court hearing a way faces charges of for to supporting the protests police haven't given a reason for the arrest but the speculation it could be linked to

a recent interview given to the world's most famous whistleblower julian sands and you can have a chance to see the latest edition indeed of the wiki leaks founder and show choose day right here on r.t. . speak to two leading revolutionaries one from bahrain where the revolution failed was a leadership where the revolution is now in turmoil for makes a revolution and where is the arab spring going to go. he's been held at guantanamo bay now since two thousand and six yet he stood in front of a military tribunal for the first time in three years only yesterday the confessed mastermind of the nine eleven attacks khalid shaikh mohammed is four accomplices refused to answer questions or enter a plea during the seven hour hearing that charged with almost three thousand counts of murder and could be sentenced to death the trial is being held by a military tribunal at guantanamo after an attempt to try the man in the u.s.

failed three years ago because of a public backlash american lawyer eric montell over believes the timing and planning of a trial is questionable but i have to wonder why now you know within twenty four hours of president obama taking office issued an executive order to close guantanamo bay is the most powerful leader in the world and that did not occur for what reason i have no idea most of the three years later on that you've got another election i think what they're trying to do is take their issue off the table and say well we're at least trying to proceed. an orderly fashion but i think it's a fairly thin bill and people will be able to see through it it does a tremendous injustice to the memory of those victims are not a little bit and i think it does a tremendous injustice to the thing that we call the justice system in america they have no plan and it's taken three years to get to this particular point and this is going to be another tremendous and sad waste of us resources on

a matter that can be resolved in a number of different ways and they're just certain not to do so to lead to this hour an r t what russia should expect from putin's return to the top job of the president elects an organizer in inauguration we bring you an expert's opinion from the west about its prospects for third term in office that's coming up but also as u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton praises recent talks with china relations between the two sides are still clouded in doubt. president to be from a vet of just one more day than to enjoy the kremlin before handing over to vladimir putin as russia's leader although credited for his liberal views and push for reforms as well as steering a reset and relations with the u.s. but it's presidency also saw some of the largest protests in modern russian history and his innocence now it takes a look back at his term at the top. but he didn't but i c's gave you get out see the meat of that believe it should be the video of one term in the kremlin was it

too little time to make a dent in mr medvedev is going to be remembered as someone who had genuine reform intentions and who was impeded on achieving all of those reforms through the political process through the structure of the political system. at the dawn of his presidency georgia attacked south has said here the media and much of the world community blamed russia destroy. but he did the actions on the georgian side led to deaths among them a russian peacekeepers children women the elderly a dying in south setting most of them are citizens of the russian federation those responsible for the deaths of our citizens will be punished. them the misconception that russia attacked georgia put serious strain on international ties into an

independent council of europe report up held that georgia launched the attack for months madrid of foreign policy was overshadowed by the war but it wasn't long before a warming in u.s. relations something many argue is his foreign policy legacy the words of the russian president at the time the reset button press and u.s. and russian relations dramatically improved over the next few years by twenty ten medvedev and obama signed a new start and cut both country's nuclear arsenals by a third. with. as a result of hard work we've created a treaty that fully complies with the interests of both russia and the u.s. back home medvedev wants reforms focusing on the justice. system and rule of law. one the people behind bars. this persecute.

business people for justice special justified persecution. corruption and i think that he has managed to start some cases jump start the process. but little changed on high profile cases like me ski cross his former richest man still serving his sentence for economic crimes madrid has pushed for modernization and diversification could have been a highlight of his presidency and he still has a chance to if he presses on as prime minister and we can be sure that without modernization the russian economy has no future it may be based on vast natural resources but we cannot rely only on them the job swap with putin was the last straw for medvedev supporters who hoped he would run for a second term the secrecy and surprise of the swat added to the negative sentiment

prior to the biggest protests russia has seen in years. in december after claims of vote fraud in the parliamentary election medvedev came back on line and laid out changes but his response was too little too late yet but if i propose complex reforms to our political system. i don't discuss that i hear the people who are demanding changes and i understand i can with you. he outlined a series of measures including the easy registration for political parties and direct polls for regional leaders maybe it is administration continues to strasse how much work is left as he prepares to step aside as president and take over as prime minister i have loved. there's a force field that continued on the president bush and all initiatives all the

strategists discussed with him here you proved all the things here the government was key mikal to implement all the initiatives and put forth by the by present need to be different but could exist aren't convinced debates are buzzing over what made the display good will be and how his policies might be implemented with jim back in the family but maybe it's a bit tedious moved as president would have only seen real results during or even after a second term in office you the price should not be a problem was between what they did as president what he might. use now a r t. the day before vladimir putin returns the kremlin antigovernment protesters will take to moscow streets opposition activists initially promised of march of millions but now say they could expect only around five thousand to turn up march macaulay's a russia specialist at the university of london he believes putin will have to prove he has a new strategy as

a teacher to reach out to those who feel neglected. putin challenge is to define himself as a new leader to provide a vision for the future because he's coming in the third term president and many young people would say why a third term why not somebody new we need somebody new in the new challenges and so on and we'd like to see a new vision and a new face so his challenge is really to say to people i've got a new vision and this is the way we're going to go forward and the key to it of course is the economy the distribution of wealth reduction of corruption and he has to look at the established elites in a very powerful economic elites which don't want anything to change they want to keep their wealth and so on but the the new rising middle class the professionals and so on would like to participate and his challenge is really to reach out to the people outside the elites to list a very surprised the infrastructure has to be rebuilt china is racing ahead russia

has to compete with china he's got to be if you like a very dominating but also charismatic leader. and we said bring you live reports from the anti-government rally in central moscow as it said begin at noon in g.m.t. couple of hours from now also monday as well i would join us for special coverage of let him a putin's no gration from seven thirty g.m.t. in the morning.

the relations between china and the united states two nations many see as rivals have been described as quote the most consequential of a century by hillary clinton those remarks came out of the u.s. secretary of states today high stakes talks in beijing in the week but despite the praise the visit was overshadowed by a number of disagreements china accused washington of meddling in its internal affairs by sheltering a chinese dissident activist the late to beijing had agreed to let him go it's also wary over the u.s. military buildup in the asia pacific and what looks like an apparent effort to contain china growing. the con hallinan from the foreign policy in focus think tank told us he believes the u.s. china cooperation is being forced on them. it's very bipolar kind of relationship because in many ways not china is their number one trade partner. and they hold a trillions of dollars in u.s. funds we are all kind of locked into an international market so on one level the

cooperation is kind of forced on us by the fact that we're so interlinked at the same time you get this growing military tension in chinese are also very uncomfortable about the fact that about eighty percent of their energy supplies arrive by sea generally through the yellow sea those true that the energy supplies are basically controlled those waters are controlled by the u.s. fifth fleet and the u.s. seventh fleet and that makes the chinese nervous too in terror attacks russia's republican dagestan on thursday night it killed thirteen and injured more than one hundred two car bombs went off in the capital within twenty minutes of each other national talk to the relatives of some of the victims as they mourn their loved ones. national mourning. under muslim tradition three

days after the funerals family and friends come to the symmetry twice a day to pray and to paris packed to their loved ones over. two massive car bombs hit the capital on thursday claiming more than a dozen lives this freshly dug grave is the final resting place of twenty nine year old police officer. back of his name is hendrik now here. says he feels lost without his brother who'd acted as the head of the family since their dad passed away years ago. when the first blast happened i tried to call him but it vaguely that he called me back saying he was around to go into the sea to help he said all was fine with him but the scene is a mess and he has to stay out to help i could hear cries and sobbing through his phone he said i'm going to call you in five to ten minutes ok. but he never called back the next time she would see his brother would be in

a morgue. a piece of metal that have been places around the body into his chamber it came through. the cemeteries keeper says at least this family had a body many others received only body parts in plastic bags it's a sad fact that the recent attacks on the police and authorities in darkest on a merely the latest incident in a long running history of violence in russia's volatile focuses region but thursday's tragedy has already become the most devastating in months the first explosion took off here when officers from this police post stopped the car for documents apparently the driver was a suicide bomber minutes later as many police cars and i'm real ones teams and emergency crews and fire brigades reach the area the second last occurred it was much more powerful you can. see the crater is huge one some reports say the second last had

a force of one hundred kilos into intake island and it claimed the most victims of the double attack one more monster another is a tactic commonly used by international terrorist organizations such as al qaeda in places like iraq and afghanistan is designed to kill as many people as possible if their right jihadi networks around the region is hosting this dreaming is even funding some of the activities of you know terrorist in russia in an instant lives were snuffed out families left devastated. women again under the rules of islam don't go to cemeteries they grieve at home the mother along with the wife say he never liked cameras and they have to console themselves with a few pictures they have. left in the morning and then came back he forgot something i told him this is a bad luck or will be fine mom he tried to calm me but. i don't know how

long i'm gonna live but i'll live for value it. leaves behind two little girls. stay where you will i'll tell them to be google's their father is watching us and will tell them to be proud of him because he was a brave man he ran to help and died he was the best father in the world i'll tell than. an option r.t. in russia's dagestan. something else from sports come up to fifteen minutes the farmer from to kick off soon a football he promises he's got the coverage for you and away from the sport as well also the discovery of its cash that causes political changes over the world as we speak with war correspondent chris hedges that is how the next stuff shapes up here on our t.v. from moscow.

night fifty two meters. more than eight thousand tons of. skin thickness thirty centimeters the guinness record. commemorating the battle of stalingrad. the motherland costs on our teeth.

this is our team from moscow our top stories france heads to the polls in the runoff vote which were defined by the nicolas sarkozy will be the latest eed leaders swept from his post by the crippling debt crisis. meanwhile the egyptian presidential campaign is mobbed by escalating violence. as protests against the military rulers turn from being peaceful and end in deadly clashes. russia's north caucasus is rocked by twin terror attacks in the republic of dagestan that left thirteen dead and more than one hundred injured. and an anti government rallies expected in moscow today a day before the team of putin takes over from to be to invent of his russia's president. next week split the connection between big bucks in the revolutionary drive across the globe.