in the. immediate release. the u.n. security council unanimously vote. career. could spend up to twelve years in prison. to look at his involvement but said splashing acid on his. chain. examine the prospects of the political transition.

around the world and screen online international news and comment. the un is demanding the immediate release of a group of its peacekeepers taken hostage by syrian rebels in the golan heights the militants say they are using the observers as human shields and will hold them until syrian government forces pull back from a nearby village middle east correspondent paula has the details. all twenty one you in personnel were unarmed they're all from the philippines and we've heard from the philippines foreign office who has demanded their immediate release the philippines government says that they are being treated well that negotiations are underway to try and secure the release of the militants are admitting that they took these u. n. personnel to try and prevent an attack by assad's loyalists in other words what we're seeing is that the rebel forces are using this you emptying as human shields now the u.n. has of course condemned this at this action we've heard criticism particularly from

moscow at the united nations that there is no reason at all under any circumstances any kind of a sick imagination to try to harm those people so clearly gross disrespect for united nations gross disrespect of international norms of behavior now the united nations is currently also involved in the go shake their immediate release according to the united nations it's teen were on a regular mission in the area we're talking about an area not far from the israeli syrian border that happened earlier on wednesday when they were taken hostage. u.n. teams came under fire ten times from the syrian rebels last year and a group also seized near the jordanian border this general doctor from these at in a university in jordan says he's not remotely surprised this rebel gang is behind such illegal actions. it says something about the shade the united church of these so-called rebels that are being promoted by nato countries and g.c.c.

at the same time human rights watch said that these same rebels the so-called martyrs of yarmouk group are being investigated for the summary execution of armed troops that were captured from a syrian post near by at the same time out of league countries decided that these rebels are to be armed further afield look at this whole picture. you will find easily that the problem is not with those rebels but with those who are supporting them the ones who are arming them quine and sing them and providing them with political support this makes nato countries g.c.c. it will motors accessories to him out of the kidnapping violation of international law what you are dealing with there is start over as i'm pure and simple and the more you give the more they well they mount. well leading up to the hostage crisis

western powers in that arab allies have been stepping up support for the syrian rebels arab league ministers have decided to let member states all government forces but some like germany have surprisingly once again sending weapons to the militant opposition but it is also so far remain hesitant over a training mission britain and france will live no to and he said no joining me in the studio he's it seems that some of the countries of middle started to realize that supporting the rebels could actually have a consequence it does it seems as if we're going through some sort of policy transition here the shift is on the heels of secretary of state john kerry announcing last week that the u.s. would finally provide direct aid to the syrian opposition and help push forward the two year fight to topple president. just here though non lethal aid opposition groups despite not being united are already getting plenty of cash arms and

training from friends in the region especially gulf states like saudi arabia qatar well not only were the rebels disappointed the u.s. isn't being more generous with their weapons they're having a bit of a laugh online check out this video that has emerged on facebook of fighters on the ground trying to survive on so-called non-lethal weapons take a closer look. a chair even what looks like some kind of sanitizing hand jealousy later in the video you can hear what sounds like actual intense shelling at some point really the only defense these silly makeshift weapons certainly many of civilians on the ground won't find this funny especially with the international community finally realizing the fact that sending more arms especially lethal arms could worsen an already dire situation most recently germany's foreign minister warning against sending arms to militants in syria saying that such a measure would broaden the conflict in the country and throughout the region and

bill. i think it's fair to say that this might not be the last of these kind of videos we see coming out of syria and he said thanks very much indeed for that certainly scenary live in our studio here in r.t. the u.n. security council has stepped up sanctions against north korea a response pyongyang is defiant nuclear test last month a resolution for more penalties was unanimously approved by all fifteen member states well the u.s. has threatened even more harsh measures if north korea carries out yet another atomic test what is going to cohen has more. well north korea is definitely paying the price for that nuclear test last month the un security council has unanimously condemned the test and now they also unanimously voted on a resolution to strengthen sanctions on north korea yet again the sanctions will target north korean banks and cash core years who might be funneling money to to the regimes nuclear and missile programs the resolution also outlines the measures to step up scrutiny of suspicious sea shipments and air cargo and expense

restrictions on several institutions and senior officials in north korea's weapons industry as well as a range of materials and technology known to be used in uranium enrichment this is just yet another round of sanctions on north korea you can say the world is united on that although china is north korea's ally to condemned the test together with all other members of the security council north korea carried out a nuclear test in two thousand and six in two thousand and nine which prompted the security council to impose sanctions including a ban on the import of nuclear and missile technology and an arms embargo while two months ago they tightened those sanctions against pyongyang in response to its december rocket launch and now there are some doubts on the effect of those sanctions what's also contributing to the tension are the military drills and right now the u.s. and south korea or in the middle of

a military exercise there both korea has called those annual training exercises an open declaration of war so there is a real concern that further military buildup around north korea could could also contribute to destabilizing the region. anger in egypt for the city of port saïd once again the epicenter of the troubles egyptian army and police struggle to control the city which has been plagued with arrest and violence for a fourth day we report on that later in the program with my expert analysis from egypt. but first the bolshoi ballet dancer suspected of masterminding an attack on his artistic director is facing twelve years in jail together with two others involved in the assault his charge of causing grievous bodily harm and thursday's pretrial hearing in a moscow court. said he did order the attack but didn't mean for his boss to be splashed with. tom barton has been following the scandal. on march the

sixteenth pavel dmitrichenko was due in the bolshoi theater behind me to take part in another great performance there he will not be there he will be staying in detention and least until april the eighteenth a judge has ordered that's when the investigation will wrap up into this case of this acid attack possibly longer that was ordered by a pretrial at a pretrial detention hearing today and that was after mr richard cheney had said that he did admit that he had committed a crime but he had to collude with his two accomplices and pay them about one and a half thousand dollars but he did not plead guilty to ordering them to throw acid in the face of surrogate fill in the direct the artistic director of the bolshoi theater there is a cloud of rumor circling around this case and there will be as long as it as long

as it goes on all of this stuff sort of starts to fall away from the hard facts and it's a lot more based around rumor the police have said that as far as their statement goes that there was a lot of animosity between surrogate filin and pavol demitra cenk over and that the this attack was likely due to tensions at work beyond that though there is widespread rumors that it may have to do with the puzzle to me to change those girlfriend also a famous dancer at the bolshoi who has been turned down by surrogate fill in more than once for lead roles in ballets there and that that may also may have had something to do with this fallout which resulted in this acid being thrown in surrogate felons face the trials will take its time to unravel all of this

attention surrounded around these individuals and the bolshoi is making this theater and everyone connected with it famous for all the wrong reasons. into time correspondent martin andrews told my colleague met transit about the ugliest side to life on the stage there at the bolshoi. in the front of the feet you see a beautiful production but really the drama backstage is i think it's everyday life in a production house and that's what it is it's a factory from from the problems with the understudies from the problems because thing from the problems of of management who were dances they were bitter about their faded career it's not an easy world to be in obviously the rivalries between companies within moscow and with the mets and the skull and they all want to be at the top of their game and tensions are always high and fraud and this is the first time we've had these sort of things happen right well this is certainly

a very severe but there been other kind of scandals what is this it's called drama for a reason if a year ago stravinsky's rite of spring was postponed and in fact one of the dances that. she was actually said that she was threatened by various people and she she actually went over to canada in fear of her life in fear of that it would escalate these tensions between the theatrical ballet world would escalate into violence and obviously as we see with the result. that happened in january it happens and this may reduce it down to a level of a cliche but we have this blockbuster movie black swan that cloud that's absolutely what it's like with the black swan film nothing portman really highlights the you know the extremities and the tensions and especially with the with the management with the hiring in the firing it's everyday life and sometimes it can seem like a wonderful place to work but they reality is somewhat different. well sort of come

here on r t we examine venezuela's upcoming political transition after the death of its charismatic leader who has also had fever breaking with tradition more british voters a shutting of mainstream parties opting instead for turner to take a closer look at the trend shortly after this break. these children. are serving a certain. just like their mother. the ones born in prison. now must be for the crimes committed

by their parents. kill babies on our cheek. download the official application to yourself choose your language stream quality and enjoy your favorites. if you're away from your television just doesn't matter now with your mobile device you can watch ati anytime anywhere. is here naughty in egypt there's no sign of calm after four days of continual outbreaks of violence protestors have started fires in the streets of port side and battle security forces in a challenge to the state's authority demanding the release of prisoners six people

including three policemen have been killed since unrest erupted three days ago ortiz course. has the latest. the battles raged through the night said largely focused around these key buildings these key government buildings in poor signage with protesters hireling mona talks security forces the army again to try to intervene to assist the police force and haven't been able to quell the dissent that is all i had to offer saturday's very contentious and i think in all disasters happened last february basically we're going to see the betting on the final defendants in this trial in points i.e. they're very angry as twenty people were sentenced to death in the first round of this verdict because the second round coming out with a lot of dissent we're going to get hit also in cairo so we wait to see what's going to happen the government to change the head of security in course i eat this

five days of fighting on the streets to replace him with the deputy also president mohamed morsi is reportedly getting money minute taking over for saeed out of a draw at least being very much between protesters and the police themselves the police actually very angry as well by saying that the situation for them is extremely violent and that maybe have good working conditions eight thousand police officers are currently report to be on strike in sinai in suicide they are actually calling for the current minister of interior to to step down which lot of pressure on the current administration. and of course one of the troops also reporting the latest details right now from the scene you can get updated by following her on twitter now let's discuss this more with well escada he's a political blogger joining me live now from the egyptian capital well so the

prospect of death penalties for those twenty one people convicted overby football match massacre if those sentences went ahead how would that be received in egypt. there's there's a big divide right now between the old trusts who are very strong force on the street and probably the rest of egyptians who feel that the trial has been highly politicized so if these twenty one verdicts are ratified by the grand mufti there alicia's a religious figure then i think that would. cause an upheaval and i think even more so in port site where people are still going to get a lot more angry than they are at the moment and if i had a lot of anger venting car if the sentence wasn't. sanctioned yes it seems to me that the political leaders are between a rock and a hard place. if the sentences aren't ratified the old trolls who have vested

a lot of interest in seeing these stuff sentences they will retaliate over here we've seen them torch the houses of two ministers of interior one former and one current minister of interior so i think it's going to be chaos either way not exactly good p.r. would it be for egypt during this time of transition particularly the attitude of those western countries that supported egypt during this revolutionary time well the western countries have largely ignored what the regime has been doing which is cracking down on a lot of freedoms and you know returning to mubarak era style of ruling and i think what what will happen now is that it will come to the forefront and i think there will be a lot of international pressure not to see you know the regime for as a demand democratic force and i would go out there as what it is i mean it's of course a question of balance in the justice system where we have twenty one people who are

supporters of the port city team and yet they want the only ones involved what about the fans of the other team. well the trial is certainly not a fair trial although a lot of the judiciary here is highly politicized and so you can't expect this any justice to come out of a very politicized judiciary but you know one of the more important things to look into as well is that the sentences on the policeman were it was postponed till march ninth so it seems the whole verdict is politicized and it's just just a way to manage the country's political crisis rather than to bring about justice and there isn't already isn't it that we're in effect seeing more see through the justice system targeting people who actually supported the overthrow of hosni mubarak. yes well at the very end he's targeting people who were for the overthrow of hosni mubarak and he's targeting people who supported him during the elections

as well against. so it's there is an irony there course well great to talk to you thank you very much indeed for joining us live well as can death and life in current thank you but as weighed in supplying their respects to the country's late leader hugo chavez he'd had a long battle with cancer but it was reportedly a heart attack which killed the president of fourteen years and his win is now in a week of mourning with elections to be held in a month's time is he feeling the producer praties video agency ruptly has more. caracas today is the streets a very calm but really very somber basically the coffin of hugo chavez was taken through the streets today and was finally taken to the military academy where literally thousands of people have gathered outside of the military academy and there's a queue which seems to know no end of people who are waiting to be able to go and see the body of hugo chavez and pay their final respects people are still very much

in a state of shock obviously hugo chavez has been battling with cancer for a very long time at the moment there's a lot of confusion about what kind of coming days and weeks have to bring all of the projects that chavez accord taken over the last fourteen years that he was in power benefited the most marginalized sections of venezuelan society of course before hugo chavez came into power in one thousand nine hundred nine venezuela was one of the most unequal societies are not and that gap has been reduced because of a number of social programs that were brought in by hugo chavez banks to be immense oil wealth that this country has and prior to. chavez came to power in one thousand nine hundred nine much of that oil wealth was obviously going into the pockets of a very small elite in venezuela. and which the issue of his supporters today say form the backbone essentially of the opposition that if the opposition again took power then essentially the country would robust back to pre-one thousand nine

eleven was a big stream inequality obviously we know that there's going to be elections in the next thirty days and among chavez's supporters who are the people who have been out in the streets today they're very confident that the vice president nicolas maduro is going so comfortably win the next elections but of course you know that remains to be seen. ukase traditional political parties are losing supporters to their non mainstream rivals the conservatives suffered a major blow at the recent by election easily beaten into third place by the u.k. independence party who once described by prime minister david cameron as a bunch of fruitcakes loonies and closet racists are the sort of further looks at the shifting shape of british politics. britain's political landscape is changing the stranglehold of the old three party system appears to be listening and it's opened the door to some colorful alternatives with all the polls and percentages

and opinions from politicians and pundits it can be hard to get a clear picture of exactly what's happening in british politics right now as not looking. last week by election in east lease or not three not four not five but full team different candidates of all shapes sizes and colors and all of them willing to take on the mainstream parties to recast government in britain. and to turn it from. democracy to bottom up genuine democracy where the larger all forces have to obey the will of the people they to disillusionment it seems is an all time high something that's backed up by recent polls and there's certainly a bit of a perception that maybe the traditional parties aren't concentrating on some issues particularly around immigration that we know is

a big issue for many members of the german public puts can certainly be a hard punch to please it used to be that fed up voters would throw their backing behind the liberal democrats but not anymore. possibly for us as a party which is good but it doesn't mean the protest has had to go somewhere else and the name of the above party has the moment as you keep many of the parties using the sea change in public opinion as a blank canvas on which to stamp their mark. a protest vote. that's a lot to. keep beating the conservatives to second place in eastley last week might have come as a shock to some but it's not the. first time a small parties stolen the show in a byelection last year and the respect party had a sensational win when george galloway won the proudfit seat from labor of course

gaining a bit of media coverage is one thing turning that attention into votes in a ballot box and winning seats is quite another something few of the smaller parties have yet been able to day but with a general election not say far off and with some polls putting almost half of the recent support the ukip is coming from former conservative voters well you can perhaps understand why the prime minister's not the picture of happiness right now . r.t. london. just turned twenty five minutes past the hour in the russian capital more news from around the world now starting with italy in our world update former premier silvio berlusconi has been sentenced to one year in jail he was convicted over the illegal publication of a wiretapped phone call and the case related to a two thousand and five banking scandal is already appealing another conviction and he's also facing two other trials connected with tax fraud and paying for sex with underage prostitutes the seventy six year old is expected to appeal against this

latest verdict and remains free for the meantime. protesters outside the philippines embassy in kuala lumpur are demanding the arrest of a separatist leader who is groups attempting to claim an area in malaysia thirty two of these separatists sultans government have been killed in an ongoing crackdown on militant elements in the border region of southern us yesterday an airstrike followed by large scale ground operations were launched in an attempt to flush out the insurgents tension is also melting in the philippines where locals continue to protest against their leader's handling of the situation. police and french coworkers have clashed in front of the goodyear headquarters in paris hundreds of employees protested in an attempt to save their factory from closure the john wants to cut costs by moving production to china one thousand two hundred people are set to lose their jobs if the company goes ahead with the relocation plans.