police investigating possible terror attacks that killed four servicemen in russia's republic of chechnya now say they may have died in a mine clearance operation. president assad's prime minister is sacked after fleeing to jordan with more defections reported. is set for syria's second city. gulf state seeking closer ties its crackdown on protesters gather for dozens injured and detained by. the year after riots and looting on the streets of london locals in this summer's olympic capital aren't sure the violence won't make a comeback. worldwide

news live from the heart of moscow this is r t with me rule research. police in russia's volatile chechen republic now say four servicemen killed earlier today died in a mine clearance operation and not in terror attacks as initially thought is here giving us the latest now on the developing story at this point now what exactly are police. will to be honest the situation there the moment is a little confusing we've been getting conflicting reports about what may or may not have happened down there the latest that we know is that the interior ministry ses in the assessment it probably was a suicide attack hit the check post. but there was also been in the last

minutes other reports that it could have been a group of soldiers working to clear some mines near the city of grozny the capital of russia's chechen republic. that mind may have exploded killing the soldiers and wounding some others nearby they haven't the authorities haven't given many more details than that so the situation is still uncertain it was originally thought that this may have been a suicide attack on a police or an army checkpoint near the city it's a noted tactic of suicide bombers in the region but they often use more than one bomb to try and catch all four ities in a second explosion. that was that was then said to be a false alarm. the situation is developing now and we'll have to keep you updated on that how this develops and what exactly has caused these deaths absolutely you hear about you will continue to work to get to the bottom of this the blast in.

many things. now damascus says the syrian prime minister who's fled to jordan has been sacked but it's thought he's not the only recent defection from assad's elite on monday several people were injured by a bomb blast inside the headquarters of the state t.v. and radio station in the capital at the explosion caused considerable damage to the building this despite the government saying it's pushed rebels from their last stronghold in damascus meanwhile the syrian army is massing more troops and artillery near the country's city of aleppo as opposition fighters are readying for a major battle with casualties reported on both sides of their reach racing to plug the gaps with new recruits and while some conscripts say they are ready to die for the cause others are trying to dodge the draft as artichokes on a boy reports. a moment of calm between the clashes on the outskirts of damascus pro-government paramilitary also known as should be her camp out in what used to be

. most a local man who say they quit their regular jobs to defend their homeland is twenty nine prior to their prime. he worked as a t.v. technician and his passion for the small screen is still there while watching this i fire blockbuster armageddon scenes of bruce willis saving the planet got him talking these movies always show americans defending ones that don't belong to them even their own land was the property of indians now they are fighting all around the world so how come deny our right to defend our own land the opposition accuses the shabby heard of conducting massacres but these men say they themselves are often targeted by the rebels some even adopted new come of march to avoid being identified the army is reliant on the prior military has a tactical advantage they know the area but it's also out of necessity as the death toll among troops rises more syrians are dodging the draft military service in

syria is a year and a half but those who are over eighteen and are not only sons university students can delay or shorten their terms while those with how they should be exempted on medical grounds in the past job dodgers could also attempt to bribe officials to get the names of the list but the controls got much tighter the base going abroad is the only legal option to avoid getting called out that's what is now considering six young men from his town recently returned home in coffins and he says for the sake of his family he can't risk being the next before the courses in syria. and the rest of the court all me to go boy cutie home. but after the close is. not. to go for me. the syrians love the others so. for me.

the extent of draft dodging is hard to gauge since the syrian government does not comment on its military but in the country's hospitals the reasons for avoiding active duty is all too graphic sammy who is also twenty six was conscripted from hama half a year ago while his would will take at least three months to heal he says he doesn't regret joining the army. it's normal that parents would be worried about sending their sons to the army especially in the times like this some of my friends advised me not to go on the contrary wanted me to join the army at the end my parents said i should do it to have this cleared so that i could go on with my own life the syrian army sometimes pro-trade as a killing machine many of its members are just in their early twenties and if anything they're to are the victims of a war that country has been dragged into the boycott artsy reporting from syria.

now the gulf arab nations are seeking closer ties as the foreign ministers of the six states are set to talk integration next month saudi arabia and bahrain which have seen unpopular uprisings for the past year and a half have been at the forefront of pushing for gulf cooperation a shiite protesters are calling for an end to what they call discrimination by the sunni monarchies which have been stepping up their lives in bahrain meantime dozens of demonstrators were injured and arrested last week after security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades out the activists to also demanding the release of political prisoners earlier my colleague kevin know in talking human rights activists. who asked us not to reveal her location explains the hardships of her fight in the face of hypocrisy the international. my father still recovering from has long hunger strike that he staged a few months ago and he has this ongoing appeal in a sham trial and behind because of course i'm behind we don't have an independent

or a just my sisters or us the two nights ago during these old determination protests you were staging a one person protest inside around the ball just talking about you and your sister i mean how much danger is there no for activists in your country is that a fair representation the place for activists and behind today seems to be prison we have developed a whole agenda to be a legit war both very prominent human rights defender not just in behind but in the region and then also is in a whole region now all in prison and so it does seem like it but he doesn't know how to deal with human rights defenders and does view them as a threat to the regime in the country. julian assange when his interview show was broadcast here on the channel criticize the u.s. for backing the rules in the gulf state i've got a quote i just want to read out to our viewers if you let me he said it's very clear now that the united states democracy and human rights are only applied in countries which they have problems with not with dictatorships that they have good relations with. how do you view that assessment well i think that's very true i

mean we're seeing that in many different examples of the double standards that are being practiced i mean you don't see the same response to the situation in yemen for example the way you do in other countries like for example syria unfortunately it does seem that it's you know supporting human rights comes in the form of interests they support human rights when it's in their interest to do so and then they will not support human rights when it's not in their interests somehow read my words are going to tell you to go over mars and you think well i think it's mostly going to be in a situation where we need to raise awareness amongst people in those countries you know the difference between the worst in a lot of our countries is that the vote actually does have a known fluence in some situations and so if we can get people in the united kingdom in the united states and other countries to actually tell their government that we're not happy that you support a regime that is committing widespread human rights violations you know and we will vote for you again if you continue to do so then maybe we will see a change in ten minutes past the hour moscow time this is r.t.

still ahead for you in the program a storm is brewing in the south china sea that beijing lashes out at washington for criticizing its new military garrison in the disputed waters or more on that shortly also. the trial of female punk group pussy riot enters its second week the trio stand accused of hooliganism and could face up to seven years in prison for and see for protests that took place in russia's main cathedral joining us for the latest in just a few moments. it is the olympic summer spectacle that comes to mind first when london is mentioned this august but a year ago a blazing fires and rampant looting were in place of the banners and olympic rings on the city's streets police were unable to bring the situation under control for almost an entire week laura smith now investigates what lessons the u.k. hopefully has learned. rioting looting

disorder these were the explosive scenes on the streets in towns and cities in england last august shops and warehouses attacked and taught by out of control youths and adults alike a situation the police took days to bring on to control a year on and on the surface so all is well damaged buildings have been rebuilt or boarded up and people are going about their business again but they go a little deeper and areas like here in tottenham where the riots started are still troubled and the underlying issues which caused the riots remain unresolved tottenham's m.p. says his community pulled together in the aftermath but admits trouble could break out again unemployment is up and it's also true to say that business is on the highroad are still struggling a many of them had very poor pavements under the riot damages act that was made to

assist them in a double dip recession that hits the poorest communities hardest so you know it's one of those situations where yes we must be positive and hopeful but it's a fragile a fragile situation for us here in the last year numerous studies have been conducted into why the unrest became so intense and so widespread what began with anger over the fatal shooting by police of tottenham on mark duggan became a spark that ignited a powder keg of disadvantage boredom and a dysfunctional relationship with the police something social justice campaign elite just says has not been addressed but unemployment is going up generally useful employment is going up in the country we're seeing closure after closure of use facilities and services school services are being caught and i think all of that with a more aggressive what is called total please. which we show monsters zero tolerance

policing means that take it's only a matter of time and not so much if but when in the often mouth of the violence communities banded together to clear up their streets but many accuse the government not only of ignoring the root causes but of making problems worse for working class families oxfam says the poorest ten percent of society will suffer thirteen times more from seeing austerity cuts than the richest ten and fifty six percent of young black men in britain on employed people in riots hit hackney like to think it won't happen again but are aware that it could. kill. people. and give something you. keep them busy i think you can make it work i mean how. it will be many children work that way and they kick people off the plane well. i'm back on the porch so i'm going to

happen again quite the same way but i don't think anything's been addressed in this area and for these people the fuse is still a light the fear is when and what will trigger the next explosion in their neighborhoods laura smith r.t. london and you can always follow up on the stories that we're covering here on our website our team talk on also we've got plenty more for you there as well including i reports now surfacing of a top secret u.s. israeli treaty twitter iran find out online whether there are any grounds to these rumors. but you can watch our rainbow flags have been streaming through the streets of vietnam's capital for the first time in the country's history as it hosts an all girl game but. now the trial of the female punk band pussy riot has resumed after a weekend recess three members of the group face prison on. charges for the

antiproton stand that took place in moscow's main cathedral in february from outside the courthouse with this report artie's jacob graves. second week of this trial has now begun and has proven quite lengthy in proceeding so far and that's because we've only just heard from the defense they've only just had the opportunity on friday to cooperstown their eye witnesses this is a trial that's been somewhat dominate his so far by the prosecution from their eye witnesses testimony to be very heartfelt and emotional at times no less the defense has been very active throughout proceedings throughout the course of last week's trial held up some of the proceedings as well they have all six occasions now called for the judge resigning over this trial to be replaced and asked for a number of reasons ranging from allegedly not being able to fully cross-examine the prosecution's eyewitnesses down to the treatment the detention conditions of these three defendants they're being kept in custody those on both sides of the

fence have been very vocal when it comes to this trial and these way before them dating back to when these three defendants who initially taken into custody about five months ago to understand why this is cause such outrage deference and where it took place now there had been demonstrations taking place involving the pussy riot group beforehand this one was located in the russian russia's main off the docks cathedral christ savior cathedral this what outraged many offenders we heard from testimony for the course of last week but equally our a should be in those who have called what's transpired politically motivated trial based think at least people shouldn't be facing time in prison that is just and a ministry of crime if anything and that should be replaced by a fine or something else now when it comes to those we've got here rights organizations international resistance who've been increasingly outspoken on this issue most lately though someone who's spoken out has been in russia's president

and he called for some degree of leniency when it comes to this trial that's indeed in reference past when the most controversial points of this trial. because what we're trying to find out at the moment is whether or not what they did back in february this so-called punk prayer was a criminal offense more than that. charge of hooliganism which could mean they face up to seven years in prison. still to come here on our program forging the path to life on the red planet of the most high tech mars rover ever build. a new place to live. in just a few months. china has hit back at the u.s. for claiming its new navy base in the south china sea is an attempt to occupy the entire region. facility became operational just two weeks ago in beijing claims

it's only to protect its own territories specialist says america which views itself as a stabilizing influence in the asia pacific will do all it can to keep china. the americans have overwhelming no just curiosity especially at sea so i think they chances of china actually engaging in combat with any of the other contesting powers in the south china sea is is is there unlikely in the short and the americans have the strategy of containing china important part of that to building up alliances on the economic trends we have a t.v. and a chance to fix the ship and then drop all these military alliances now that i was in northeast asia a couple weeks ago when their intention. through jand alliance. between shocker in japan so far because of popular opposition in in south korea.

india's not really going their way too much china and so forth to the south china sea and one area where they have all the advantages they have missed real contest. tween game in the countries in the region so it's sort of the heavens and gift if you want to. if you want to build up alliances and if you want to be the chinese. so that's what was safe. ok it's now just turning twenty minutes past the hour here in moscow and while the u.s. may be seeking more influence in the asian pacific region but in afghanistan it's slipping away the country's president has been forced to accept parliament's decision to sack two top ministers both with key links to washington we spoke to u.s. congressman dana rohrabacher who gave us his views on the difficulties that president karzai is facing fanaa a quick preview of that discussion. this was

a stablished after nine eleven and afghanistan does not reflect. the values of the afghan people themselves and so it's a totally different structure it's a centralized system where afghans demand more centralized authority in their village and tribal leaders and karzai corps has no base of support so as i'm pointing those things out and the fact that he's so tied into the pakistanis. cars i don't want me around so he exercised his prerogative. or you can watch on that in an interview in its entirety later this hour here on r.t. for now though straight to the we go some of the global news for you in brief and we'll start with egypt now where israel has reportedly found the bodies of eight gunmen captured in an attack on a security checkpoint on the border with egypt the assault had left at least sixteen in god's killed and eight injured both sides blaming the militants for the

attack since early last year and is the most belonging to jihadist movements attacked police stations while local bedouins kidnapped some foreign tourists the pipeline which transistor to be transported natural gas to israel and jordan was also attacked more than ten times. iranian state television has broadcast the alleged confessions of fourteen suspects in the killing of five nuclear scientists in recent years a cruel cast showed some of the suspects supposedly reenacting the assassinations in the capital tehran pictures from a military garrison in israel were also shown its claim that the suspects were trained at their tehran believes the killings were part of a campaign by israel and the west against its atomic program. for you. know if life on the red planet exists it could well be found rather soon the most sophisticated mars rover is now starting to send its first pictures after

successfully landing on the surface it will spend two years there and try to determine if it's possible to one day colonize the planet and utica ash from the russian academy of cosmetics thinks the achievement is a breakthrough but there's still an awful lot of work to be done. the curiosity is there or the mission which will seek answers for the whole range of questions from whether there are conditions which could support life do or whether various enough water. under the surface of mars and of course one of the major questions is whether the conditions on mars are adequate to hold some day a human mission to the red planet your city is a very complex machines it can see so far a hundred different systems including dozens of for fairly sophisticated instruments and. deal. with

a program manager and are hundred percent certain that all the systems are activated they will more or their curiosity to move an inch from the place where it is now and their overall tastings of systems and instruments big from weeks to several months for do not expect to get anything from can your city anytime soon then we know the next door three weeks. and after katie pilbeam we go beyond to your business hourly op ed good to see you again so as we know a lot of action in london with the impact of course but a retailer has seen for the taking a bit of a punch to the midsection i have absolutely wrong i've every feeling the pressure at the moment lorrie because they too were fright sizes excises about making an extra you know standing all to all of the tourists and locals coming in bustling and getting a quick bite sweep but that hasn't been the case i'm going to be talking later and

seeing some salsa games on your screen for actually in the meantime let's get into the markets and see what's happening this hour because the european markets still be at the center of it all right now because we're a market so they are still extending the gains and they're extending a four month high at the moment a lot of fun. it's off to greece and its creditors they came to an agreement on the need to strengthen the policy to support growth also there's been some more boisterous on the trading floor is that the european central bank is going to take steps to intervene this is a big if at the moment if we look at the european cars they will be able to see that second little bit of a hit at the moment because of recent comments by the italian prime minister he's voiced his concerns saying that he sees the european car as a really at risk right now as us taking a bit of a hit one twenty three hours for the ruble though the russian current is gaining against the u.s. dollar and the euro this hour brings into the to markets here. thanks to all gaining actually managing to mirror what's happening in the european asian session

here on the r.c.s. a new three percent positive territory us for the miser it's ninety two percent up so i hope you guys just lost despite or oil taking a bit of a hit we'll have a look at those prices now and if we may be able to see they all the coining ever so slightly just the lights over ninety one dollars some other thing to stay above ninety in the brant hovering around one hundred eighty two not seeing a direct correlation between the market and the commodity here moscow which is a rarity now let's talk about the olympics now londoners are working from home apparently wide to avoid the traffic now apparently as many as one of the half million of them that is now while it makes traveling of course much easier retail is that because the british capital is apparently turning into a bit of a ghost town. before the olympics began many traders thought that these games would give them

a timely boost in trading but unfortunately many have found themselves lagging behind there has been a dropping custom and there are two main reasons people believe firstly the number of tourists that have come to london is lower than expected and secondly around one and a half million people have decided to work from home because they wanted to avoid any traffic chaos in the middle of london well this is affecting traders like anybody here who runs a sandwich shop he's been running one for the last two years but there's been a distinct lack of custom during lunch time periods what have you noticed during the olympics during the olympics we for we would be really busy but actually it's gone down like twenty five percent not many people around because enough choice around all stay in stratford and a lot of people walking from that's why it really affected us i have to get rid of one of my staff because it's not that busy. really and what about fellow traders are they all saying a similar thing exactly the same all my neighbors i talk to there and they say they

are complaining that it is really quiet at the moment is there anything that can be done i mean i know david cameron now is urging people perhaps to come into the city center to what can be done but. we're just hoping the olympics will finish by the next week so we get back to normal ok well thank you for your time and let's hope things pick up so it has to be said the lympics isn't entirely bad news seven billion pounds worth of business related contracts were generated by these games but just like the lympics in sport itself it appears that winners and losers have been created in the economy. where we are very always loses their life in the great. you know a serious lack of gold medals on that side i'll tell you what the water come next hour thanks very much. i just no more get to the headlines with them as america seems poised to pass the superpower baton to china one u.s. congressman says it's his country that created this new economic monster that will be just a sec. find

him to. agree with them all living here. in forty acres and nineteen ninety three and decided it would be

a great place to find my belle the home and retire. there she is. we call it our new neighbor neighbor seven. we have seventy acres here and i can convince them that they need to drill somewhere besides two hundred feet from. the needs of our growing economy also means expanding our domestic production of oil and natural gas which are vital fuel for transportation electricity and manufacturing this is before any problems with it before we do right and then. you know our flaws are not toxic than we did a lot of it there's a lot of mis understanding of what exactly in the fluids. said you can load here in .