hello and welcome to our team for the latest headlines on the week's top stories part of syria's rebels fight to retake control of aleppo and with the help of further western backing while the arab league puts its emergency get together on a home it has been due to discuss a new envoy to syria to replace peace envoy kofi annan on. members of the russian female punk group mostly riot always there for. the stunt and the country's main role in a trial that divided the nation prosecutors are demanding three years jail time for

the women but the prodigal verdict expected on friday. egypt killed seven suspected militants in amounts of operation launched after an attack and its increasingly violent sunanda region sixteen border guards dead. extra troops tanks and weaponry into the area while destroying many smuggling tunnels into the gulf. and it's a year since riots raged across england with looting and a cop at all major cities police were all unable to regain control for almost a week and locals fear the riots could return. next american world affairs expert phyllis bennis explains why arming both sides in the syrian conflict only serves outside interests.

thank you for joining us on r.t. red cross and many other experts are saying that the situation in syria has descended into a civil war a full scale civil war. how does that how does that affect the positions of the positions of the west versus the position of other countries so far we have seen no indication that either the us or any of the outside actors are taking seriously the consequences of the determination by the international committee of the red cross that this is a full scale civil war what it means among other things is that the international laws of war what's known as international humanitarian law apply throughout the region and it applies to the opposition as well as to the regime they are obligated under the conditions of international law not to use certain kinds of weapons not to attack civilians not to hold prisoners without some kind of process all of those things are part of international humanitarian law and we have seen no evidence yet

that any of the outside actors are taking any of that seriously what does that mean to the syrian conflict what it means for the syrian people is that the militarization of this conflict is escalating that can only be in my view dangerous more dangerous the notion that there can be a transition a regime that would not have the same kind of repression that we have seen from assad all these years is still possible the fact that hillary clinton is now reduced to acknowledging that that if assad himself arranges a transition safe haven whether it's in moscow whether it's and saudi arabia or somewhere else that's still possible then the question becomes who is going to be in control if the escalation continues if the militarization continues what we will then see is that the post. government will be led by the men with guns just like what we saw in libya just like what was so in somalia and many other i don't want

to make comparisons libya is a very different country than syria somalia is a very different country but the notion that the victors of a political struggle because this is still a political struggle in syria when the victors are those with the guns that always bodes ill for women for children for civilians syria is not libya syria has a long history of of civil society mobilization and organizations they have many things that was not possible in libya it's not the same i don't want to equate them but the danger is that you will have certain parallels certain similarities such as unaccountable militias who will not put themselves under the accountability of a new government that is a very dangerous reality and as diplomats have already acknowledged if there is another bigger explosion in syria if the entire syrian body politic explodes it

will be an explosion not an implosion as libya was there is the danger because it is becoming sectarian because of that sectarian character that is only now becoming dominant in syria in a country that was not traditionally a sectarian divided religiously divided country despite the use by the regime of the religious and sectarian divisions to maintain its power this was not a population that identified primarily by their religious affiliation as sunni or shia or alawite or whatever it was a possibility that if you were alawite you had a better shot at power but it wasn't the way people define themselves the danger of course is that with that growing the sectarianism growing there is the danger that it will spill over the borders and. some congress. senators calls to arm the rebels for the u.s. to intervene don't you think that's just going to make it worse any further

intervention by further militarization is going to make things worse the original militarization has made things far more difficult further militarization is going to kill more civilians the choice of the syrian opposition to take up arms was contested from the beginning by other parts of the syrian resistance who said that we have a better chance of changing our government of overthrowing the government by nonviolent methods so certainly more escalation whether it's by the u.s. or any other outside power is going to be very very dangerous experts now say that the rebels in syria are very much dominated by there is an interest in the united states for instance of downplaying the role of the islamists but it's become more apparent that there are islamist forces whether they are al qaeda i think there is certainly not much evidence yet i think that it is a very dangerous for outside actors who are not on the ground who don't necessarily

have good sources on the ground to assume that any islamist forces for instance are part of al qaeda that's a word that's designed to sow terror in the minds of anybody in the west anyone in europe in the united states it cetera i don't think we know yet what we do know is that the opposition in syria is very diverse there is a part of it that has an islamist framework the same is true of all of the the rebellions that have led to the arab spring we see the muslim brotherhood in power now in egypt that's not al-qaeda there were people claiming it then it was not true we don't know if it's true in syria diplomatically the efforts where do you think that's had given that the escalate the situation on the ground is escalating the fact that the u.n. has. allowed the the monitoring mission to remain on the ground for at least another thirty days is the one bit of hope that i see right now kofi annan team led

by general mood the norwegian general has begun a political process in which they have been able to use in one town another town in small areas from the ground up to make possible a kind of diplomatic process of local commanders of the military and local commanders of the opposition forces of the resistance to create small scale ceasefires in three or four towns the town of dare sore is one town in syria where it's apparently working if that could be expanded if that mandate could be shifted from simply monitoring a non-existent national ceasefire to facilitating small scale local ceasefires that could then spread and move up from the bottom bringing people with it rather than trying impose something from outside from the top down which certainly has not worked that might be the one hope for

a diplomatic and less militarized solution susan rice and other foreign diplomats at the u.n. said that they're willing or they will withdraw at the through the monitors if this insulation on the ground is does not improve and so far it's not improving so is that is that is that them saying that this is the last time where expanding this pressure they are saying this is the last time they said that the last time they will change based on political realities not based on the realities on the ground the realities on the ground are not what is determining u.s. positions russian positions qatar's positions saudi positions anybody's positions except for the people of syria what the outside powers are doing has virtually nothing to do with what actually is going on on the ground so what we're seeing play out of the united nations. is a power struggle between the united states and russia between nato and the gulf

states on the one hand and other arab states on the other we're seeing a bunch of different battles playing out diplomatically almost none of which are taking into account the interests of the people of syria where do you think that's had do you think there will be since. clinton and other diplomats have talked about intervention on site they want to think that's going to happen do you think that's a possibility that the west is looking at there is already intervention underway the western countries have provided the military of saudi arabia the military of culture that's where they buy their weapons from they buy american weapons so it is already western weapons that are going in it's not coming directly from the us but it is weapons of the west the danger of that escalating is very serious the danger of further escalation involving other outside actors is very serious i don't think the us right now in an election cycle i don't think the obama administration wants

to engage in a direct involvement in an air campaign for instance against syria of the kind they engaged in libya i don't think they want to whether what is known in the us as the c.n.n. factor the political pressure on a president in this case on a candidate in the election based on what people are seeing on their television sets becomes very important it's not impossible that even when the regime in power in any country and in this country when the obama administration doesn't want to engage directly if there is enough political pressure they may give in to that pressure that's happened before it could happen again mccain is trying to exercise that kind of pressure on their congress and other senators if there's a number of senators there's a number of members of congress there's calls from the punditry in the mainstream media it's. there's a lot of pressure on the obama administration not because any of them have a proposal of what would actually work but simply because they're using this as

a stick to hit candidate obama in the context of the elections that's very dangerous for the rest of the world what are the solutions that you think are best for syria and he's saying there is still time for dialogue but when the government and the opposition i think there is still time i think the time is diminishing i think that the level of repression from the government has been so horrific and in response the opposition which i support as a principle of the right of people to rise up against a repressive regime the fact that they are using stronger and stronger military. strategies and military tactics makes that kind of discourse that kind of discussion that kind of negotiation more difficult but there is still time i think the question remains will the international community help to make that possible for example by small scale community by community village by village city by

city negotiating processes at the grassroots bringing together local commanders with local officials of the of the military to work out a cease fire and then a political process the best thing the international community could do would be to allow the u.n. to play that role rather than as a fig leaf of international involvement a fig leaf of multilateralism to cover the unilateral decisions of several different governments.

well the british. market. really happening to the global economy with much stronger no holds barred look the global financial headlines kaiser reports.

on the week's top stories syria's rebels. discussing the long. haul. the russian. see right away. for the final verdict try. egypt killed seven suspected militants in a massive operation during

a time and it's increasingly violence in our region on sixteen border guards dead deploying extra troops and tanks and weaponry to be area while destroying many smuggling tunnels to call something. and it's a year since riots raged across england with the looting rampant in the south and all in most major cities police were unable to regain control for almost a week and locals who fear the riots could return. up next the latest from the world of sports with paul. thank you very much karen welcome along to the sports headlines will be coming up. still counting saturday is russia's most successful day so far at the london olympics but there are plenty of medals still at stake on the final day of the

games. unstoppable reigning russian football champions and meets in pictures bug claimed that the biggest win over title rivals spartak moscow in one of the hof a century crushing the rather whites five nailed. on the tied up the top the rain stopped play germany poulter at round of the goal season's final major with rory mcilroy and v.j. saying leading the way at the p.g.a. championship. but first it is the final day of competition at the london olympics and russia have already added to their medal tally he came in the men's basketball competition where they narrowly beat argentina eighty one seventy seven in the bronze medal match and secured third place russia's back showing in the olympic games minnesota's signing alexei schrag was the top scorer with twenty five points. meanwhile as we speak the volleyball counterparts are trying to win the gold medal

in the gold medal match against brazil you can see those are the south americans have taken the first set they currently lead one mail. now despite the numerous debates before the games it looks now like london two thousand and twelve has been a major success for britain along with the financial pluses the olympics have made britain feel great again as rob about danny and found out we can secure. a transport housing infrastructure just supports the cultural and social legacy from london full on for these days and these games to go for decades to come the words of london mayor boris johnson inspire but only time will show if they're true with the games coming to an end we took to the streets of london to find out if the olympics have really changed the country for good personally oversee is an opportunity for everybody. that i know i in the u.k.

to come down to watch the olympics games and. players and nation is inspired a lot of people as it is get involved in sport although for those who do sports and just watch how one great thing in common the unique feeling of being part of the british sporting event on the planet i think it's a emotional impact that it's had on the whole of the country is galvanized by scotland wales and england has been really fantastic it's quite a nice atmosphere and yeah it's really fun but i think it's been amazing has been in london so my home city just being able to come up to london enjoy the atmosphere . with everybody around from all over the well it's just been fantastic the huge investments in the london twelve summer olympics are definitely expected to materialize in term benefits for the whole country but on top of all that is simply

the way the games just made people feel i. i was. i. i was. to the great britain oh and with those who came here through building good. coverage for the new artsy one. now only a few hours to go then until the closing ceremony let's take a look at the medal table it's almost complete the usa as you can see are firmly on top with forty four gold medals to their name china in second with thirty eight hosts great britain and northern ireland feeling good there in third place ten gold

medals behind china russia have lost any hope of the third place they had targeted back carney sat in the fourth. well leaving the olympics to one side and talking football now where russian premier league continues on sunday with four more fixtures the one between our car and more diverse things are just heading towards the final whistle it's still the goal is seen in that world later on struggling sas car take on angie out kiki stadium elsewhere rubin will host rock bottom struggling to lambaste looking for their first points of the season really a soft go head to head with the rust belt. on saturday's any vs spartak a massive game at any time but even more so this time out considering both sides were perfect after three games sharing the summit on nine points but it turned out to be far from an even part a lot north maxime can you know of me cough bloody nearby straw fans and into my

head after fifty two minutes before didn't really again of missed the chance to pull of gold back from the penalty spot romana should a call for immediately make it three male visitors worries deepening when aiden mcgeady saw straight red card for what seemed pretty innocuous or not curious challenge picked all five ulan showing no sympathy for four nil just minutes later before she recalled rap. up his brace right at the death five mil then the final score as an inker three point clear at the summit. also on saturday lokomotiv moscow missed the chance to push up to joint second alongside city rival spots at the railway men held to a two two draw at home to the very calcutta outfit twice coming from behind to earn a point in the capital for the scoring done by the thirty seventh minute with the form thomas prisk in the last minute to get his name on the scoresheet.

on the team who are new white washed five no last week got back to winning ways telegraph me taking care of. home in chechnya to go lebanon co not your brace with a strike in charge of terror now up to face to face a tough week ahead the number. will be and then eat their upcoming challenges. in the meantime on british soil two of the premier league's top sides are going head to head chelsea against manchester city in action right now in the community shield that currently midway through the first half and it is our goal is. so with all the excitement going on it seems in london one could be forgiven for forgetting that there's a massive go for events happening across the atlantic remarked lauren veejay singh the leaders at the final major of the season as the p.g.a. championship with round three suspended on saturday because of bad weather there were three men at the top heading into the weekend cold patterson and tiger words are no longer at the summit words with

a dressing start to the day now sitting at three over through seven holes saying though is still one of the players to catch the big six under after another solid outing though he too had to return to the clubhouse after seven holes through to school in conditions northern irishman mark where is also the top last year's u.s. open winner but in five of the nine holes he managed to play for the weather who. interesting to us. in the way i'm looking at it you know i'm going into the final final day of the final major of the season tied for the lead so i mean i can't ask for much more so you know i don't care if it's going to be twenty seven holes eighteen holes thirty six holes you know i'm just happy to be going in there were and a good position. meanwhile in tennis rashad gask a will have to overcome novak djokovic in the final of the rogers cup if he is to claim his seventh career singles title the frenchman big big american john isner in straight sets in the semi seven six

six three it's the second time in twenty six year old has reached the final in toronto having lost to roger federer in two thousand and six world number one federer olympic champion andy murray and spaniard rafael nadal pulled out of the tournament kaskade now faces defending champion jockey which in the final he had a kind compassionate young six four six four in the days second set. up a nonzero serving very well so that when i was at a break i felt very confident just out of this again certainly not for sure i played well and i return all the time so it was a coup of the match for my return so i'm very happy with the way. meanwhile over in montreal poland's agnus got advance go would have to wait a little longer to become the world's number one a victory in the rogers cup would have seen her catapult to the top of the rankings for the first time in her career however she went down six two six one to china's lean are in the quarterfinals is now looking to reach her final of the year having

lost in sydney and in the run. like he said today you know both those top ten. here are also playing many times before so they know it should be allowed here today if you just claim a tennis tray make him think much like to sing. well that is all from the world of sport for now but i'll be back with plenty more in just under two hours time here on r.t. do join me that. you know sometimes you see a story and it seems so you think you understand it and then you glimpse something else and you hear or see some other part of it and realize that everything you thought you knew you don't know i'm tom harpur welcome to the big picture.

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