russia's defense ministry says it believes that extremist groups in syria are planning to stage false flag chemical attacks that give the u.s. a pretext for directly striking the government. but news comes as the rebel control of syria's eastern trumbull's over forty eight thousand civilians flee the stricken region through humanitarian corridors. also in today's headlines moscow expels twenty three british diplomats mirroring the steps taken by the u.k. as a response to the kremlin's alleged poisoning of a former spy and his daughter. from

moscow thanks for joining us on our to international life of me. today welcome to the program russia's defense ministry says that rebel groups have been armed with chemical weapons in syria and are preparing to stage false flag attacks as a pretext for the us to carry out air strikes against bashar assad's government or against the if has the details. representatives of the russian armed forces have said they have intimation and reason to believe that the united states it's as talent base in syria has been preparing squads of rebels fighters to stage a chemical provocation a chemical weapons attack in the south of syria in doubt which borders jordan and israel they've been provided allegedly as when years twenty tons of nori this one is dead to date is disguised as disguise this cigarette packs and this attack

is imminent defense officials have said that this attack will be blamed on the syrian government and will be used this excuse by the united states and its allies to strike could push al assad to his government did his military directly then they broke up the provocations mentioned will be used as a pretext the united states and its allies to conduct airstrikes against military and state infrastructure in syria we're seeing that such strikes are being prepared by warships in the mediterranean the red sea and in the persian gulf at the same time speaking in past a nice segue a lover of the russian foreign minister said that the syrian conflict is beginning to look less like a proxy war than a direct confrontation. there are u.s. special forces on the ground they are no longer denying this they are accompanied

by the british french and special forces from other countries it's not a proxy war anymore historical put rather a direct involvement in the war it is a slow we condemn their illegal presence on syria's territory the u.s. led coalition is not legitimate from the u.n. point of view either we are pragmatic people and we understand that we should not engage in armed conflict with them representatives of the russian armed forces also talked about this. situation in east ghouta they say there's a huge operation humanitarian operation underway three called the words of aid of god into ghouta israel and they say the un the un representatives on the ground in the scooter have praised the russian and syrian effort in relieving the situation they're providing food and at the age of fifty billions in need they also see that armed groups in east ghouta as well it's easily missive express their desire to

leave to leave east. other locations once their sponsors give the green light and we have requested comment from the u.s. military on the claims made by the chief of the russian general staff you know the response as soon as we hear back if we do at all now at the briefing russia's military chiefs describe the civilian about curation from eastern guter as an operation unique in its scale over forty eight thousand people have managed to flee from the region so far is the biggest single exodus since fighting escalated there last month russia's defense ministry says the first to make it to safety with children women as well as the injured they were given basic supplies when they reached the government controlled side of the corridor here's how they described life under militant rule. i think it was thanks. that maybe the militants who are living with us next to our hardison inside them

they would open a road in months the houses to be able to move they would not leave and we did not dare to say get out. while you know they fired a dance they didn't want us to escape at all they fired at the cars will so that we couldn't leave. we had no food or water there are ten of us and we could not buy a kilo of flour we were starving we wanted to escape but they wouldn't let us be flat against their will so they fired at us and half of the people were shot. aside if i had that in my case the aid was given only to certain groups so most of the medical aid was sold it was from humanitarian agencies and the un and was distributed didn't do so under the supervision of our government but the militants were selling it thank you. thank you. thank you

thank you thank me when i go on fighting terrorists i was children are dying from hunger. our father got lost while there are now way here we don't know when families were shot and they don't know which way to go live and you didn't have done today to brad that we have to get this consciousness out meals for several days. the u.n. special envoy to the country has welcomed a brief ceasefire in the city of durham or an eastern ghouta stuff under us there also need calls for an end to the hostilities across syria that was echoed by early that either organizations main humanitarian coordinator on the ground in the region . operating well with the russians sent to forty conciliation to organize humanitarian convoys and also to assist people who are. leaving east duma

so we're looking at more than twenty thousand civilians were leaving the east. in desperate conditions and they are housed in different shelters in and around damascus so they need everything they need blankets they need mattresses they need food they need medications they need protection they need to feel comfortable being made to feel secure a lot of teams are working around the clock with them together with. the syrian out of the cross and i.c.r.c. and of course we are cooperating with the government my formula for that is secession of hostilities over the do much to continue. over the east will put the country ability to send convoys and medical assistance into east will talk and people are allowed to leave. without any obstacles and the same applies to our freedom by the way because we have the same situation in freedom with civilians

leaving on the duress and on the threat of of the military and that is totally unacceptable. oh you some dude who was seized by rebels in late twenty twelve twenty thirteen has been under siege as the syrian army tries to recapture the area there so government has now succeeded in driving the militants into three separate small pockets they've regained control of a lot of the region despite the advances though many civilians there are still living in dire conditions. from the red cross told us more about their plight and what exactly aid workers are doing to alleviate the crisis and there was a need and one point. we ended to get you know with this you can act as an un bringing food for twenty six thousand people in the main town of our prison mr malvo lives with that one boy and he spoke to the people there he found exhaustion and the spirit of the families would actually start starving after

a few sentences people hide basements wolf you know of the. three families whom which gave years with with lies people hungry but what we need is indeed to be able to go back as soon as possible which would you then call the police but they'll speak manged said i deceived them as of today to get there we did see it as . we have bringing emergency aid to the people who have fled quite now. to camps close to damascus situation on the ground is catastrophic when you have large numbers of people being all it does seem like. hell and you need decent days with things to fall into place but certainly everybody is now willing and so it's that if you believe that we. are russia is set to expel twenty three british diplomats as relations between the two countries continue to plunge to new lows and this comes in response to an identical move by the u.k. that follows the kremlin's alleged poisoning of

a former spy and his daughter in the south of england and they would shoot or picks up a story we all thought tensions couldn't. get much worse between russia and the u.k. but how wrong to be so hopeful the controversial story that's dominated the international media headlines with endless discussions and debates has of course been the poisoning of father and daughter the scribbles for measures have already been taken by london expelling twenty three russian diplomats from the country and now russia has retaliated the u.k. ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry in moscow and the results of that conversation are as follows twenty three british diplomats same number as russian diplomats being surveilled from the u.k. have just one week to leave russia in addition moscow has revoked permission for britain to operate a consulate general in st petersburg moscow has also stated that the government could take further action if britain takes any more unfriendly moves towards russia

here's how the u.k. ambassador reacted we could be for the opportunity to explain all the material. we asked russia to clear the material that it will keep you up and i think. that what he's noida they'll be able to sit and stick moscow to date is that i doubt any involvement in the attempted murders of thursday and us cripple and russia's representative to the chemical weapons watchdog explains how russia has never run another top program that's the nerve gas allegedly used in the poisoning since the collapse of the soviet union. russia has no connection to what happened in salzburg as far as novacek is concerned the russian federation i stress that the russian federation has never had a research program under such a code name russia spokesperson for the foreign ministry however side of the states had the opportunity to develop similar nerve agents following the breakdown of the soviet union was the scientists who developed various aspects in the sphere left

russia by chance western countries waited for them and they took technological expertise with them after their soviet style. and he's continued to work in some western countries alongside the u.s. the u.k. slovakia sweden and others teats all of these can be seen openly in sources now moscow says that it has made many attempts to cooperate with the u.k. investigators they requested a sample of the nerve agent that was apparently refused moscow says that they made numerous attempts to help with the investigation those requests were also refused and as a consequence russia has just launched its own investigation into the case of yulia scrupulous she is a russian citizen exactly how when and if they will be able to proceed is still unclear as they will have to have some element of cooperation from the british authorities to complete an investigation so diplomacy really is at an all time low with threats and accusations flying from each camp the u.k. foreign secretary boris johnson even went as far as accusing president putin

himself of ordering the murder of so basically powell stating it is overwhelmingly likely that putin was behind the poisoning and moscow responded saying that those comments were shocking and forgivable so as the world watches and endlessly debate who's to blame what we really want to know is how barack this diplomatic spat will get an idea or tutor r.t. . joined live by john pills australian journalist documentary filmmaker great to have you on the program so we've heard the u.k. police make a statement investigation still very much active it's going to take some time suspects named as of yet british politicians they've placed the blame squarely on russia gravel the no questions asked do you think this has been preemptive. it's oh no i mean you have to you have to stand back from all of this this is a carefully constructed drum up and it's part of the propaganda campaign that is

building building now for several years in order to. to to to justify the actions of nato britain be united states towards russia that's a fact russia or is wringing by missiles it has nato right up on its western border this is unprecedented since the second world war most people in britain most people in the united states don't understand these dangers the dangers of this this propaganda now this drama about. whether or not. search script was poisoned by not factual for one thing it's up to the british government to supply evidence that that even the most basic primal face the edge of its primal facie case that russia was in

any way responsible for this rushers nerve gas program it's not a truck active not a child program what was verified as destroyed in september two thousand and thirteen by the united nations watchdog unlike the united states that are still to be destroyed put me down a few miles from where. script polonaise daughter was found has a long and sinestro record with nerve gas and chemical weapons. in two thousand and fifty and the independent didn't disclose that port one pound had what was. behind the the experimentation the government. experimented on produce. with nerve gas stations including including one of the alarm didn't shoot. going back to nine hundred forty two the

the british government had to pay compensation to decontaminate. which should it contaminates a big hole role or has been brought to the cold war at rockets of all of this and i'm only saying i'm going to state it. i'm only stating that is that there is no evidence and this is so dangerous. too with russia being effectively pushed into a corner with these actors age this is part of the propaganda campaign i can tell you that i'm a journalist who spent almost all my career working in the mainstream. and this this is a propaganda campaign promoted specifically in the media and make up if i can just drop with village or to get as many questions as i can and i mean if we can get

back to the sort of question at hand here when prime minister to resign may he said it's highly likely that russia was involved in some way in this certainly some strong circumstantial evidence at least i mean are you ruling that out entirely as a possibility any any russian of all what and this. well there's no evidence that russia is highly thought it's highly likely this number not a truck we don't even know if another top program even exists. and. russia's request for a sample of this is not a patron has has been turned. the british police have made no commentary on this this is extraordinary you so you have an attempted murder. you have a crime scene and you have no evidence but you but you have not and neither do you have a motive why on earth would russia on the eve of the lexer and only staging the

the world the wealth oh come. one to. destroy it if you like its international name with which such a crime it makes sense but there's plenty of motive only outside because as i mentioned at the beginning this is a top of a carefully constructed drama in which the media plays a role the government plays a role both sides of the house of commons play a role unfortunately. and it's a rock if you go back to two thousand and three that carefully constructed drama. i saw. the rock and the dearth of people and we know that was clearly entirely on top of the century and live at the very least at the very least should make because. of. the

troops. in parliament we suppose we have to stop me there will running out of time certainly a very complex case very wide diplomatic revocations as well a lot of questions that are answered to evidence to be considered both sides here john pilger australian journalist documentary filmmaker thanks so much for coming to give your take today on what's quickly deepening diplomatic scandal. well we're going to a short break now our special coverage of russia's presidential election will be coming up in just a few moments you stay with us for. the good and the bad you need capitalism to work both winners and losers you can't bail out every single bank that gets into trouble you can't bail out every. nice free money you got to let the system weed out the losers otherwise you end up with you know a state controlled state maintained price fixing regime by the state that resembles

all failed such experiments in the past why not just let the free market be the free market. for. human rights abuses notion. of yemen. genocide who are gone just who is some poor doing who american them british and a number of european countries are very generous to support. so what kind of human rights is it we should live a million children a woman does not come. welcome back to. the presidential vote here in russia happening already underway in

the far eastern regions at least. in just under seven hours time now people here in moscow as well will be heading to the polls and we've got special coverage of course again today kevin i've been reporting from a studio on red square in the heart of the capital. hi old cheerleader i see in moscow the time just before the big election i welcome to our special coverage of the russian presidential election forthcoming live from the heart of the russian capital here as you can see over my shoulder in the iconic red square to the few people out and about walking around despite this hour russian citizen spending eleven time zones of the casting their votes on sunday as they make their choice for the candidate will take the kremlin's top job because for the next six she is at a moment election silence is being observed to give people twenty four hours to.

think it through think either one of vote for that means campaigning a stop to news coverage of the candidates in a minute festers is north of however close on sunday evening we can't talk about that but we can tell you about who's vying for the russian presidency and we can tell you about the people who are going to go out in the many many many many thousands hundreds of thousands or a vote on russia's future so let's meet some of those voters again.

it was somebody in the old song they put out some of these do you have a script. and i want you. to start up a supposed to be a good record as opposed to people to protect the plot against you or you have sheer force ruthless up of us. almost as early in your perspective as each of your books mr i see you're stuck up for a senior. government submitting we still don't believe you could go to. court and. the list that only is displaying the logo bothering i will tell you could mean. when i'm all for data input of someone in the government took a look at them before to come second so folks who just sold a lutenist little bottle. of water can see up to that. spirit filled with

someone else to double dip anybody when you're trying with your boys to fulfill limits to chimps so when you flood their words with a boost to dispose of them quickly switch in the computer with a collection of question. will chip in to clean my winter food for enough principle but for the you know to talk cross the world for me out through is still. in the good. news and in my so good i will because it is a human system to remove those who put months to the minimum. who would spit on you and you do you feel the putting those who can show solutions to use will put it to could you live that i would put your mother is good to do you. would need just the words. each of those. does it

for the motor but because those could be used because if you choose to. move and put in you might choose to. put a least so it will just get the injured. out cept for myself. with you for next hour or so you see. twenty eight team coverage we've signed one of the greatest. but there was one more question and by the way it's going to be our coach. guys i know you are nervous he's a huge star and the huge amount of pressure to come out you have to be the center of the beach. and do all the great. you are the rock at the back nobody gets to you we need you to get the ball going let's go.

alone. and i'm really happy to join us for the two thousand and thirteen world cup in russia meet the special one. needs to just say the reno team's latest edition to make up a bigger. look at. the far right in britain isn't just on the march it's taking violent my daughter's action my young white paper. i see these organizations which i'm usually split into which we form different names how do you view the. complex web of which passion.

play for many clubs over the years so i know the game and saw. the ball isn't only about what happens on the pitch for the final school it's about the passion from the fans it's the age of the super money kill the narrowness and spending to get to the twenty million. it's an experienced. like nothing else i want to because i want to share what i think of what i know about the beautiful guy a great one more chance for. peace this minute. i'm actually retired so we're going underground on st patrick's day coming up with

a show for the u.k. lords international relations committee tells us to raise a mate as naught but without all the angles on the response to the atrocity and will tour in the southwest of england and his cold war rhetoric freezing diplomacy in britain we speak award winning author and rolling stone journalist maybe about how the russian hysteria would lead us to a nuclear winter plus the consultant for the would rather be a road daily mail that drew paris predicts the fallout from wiltshire will lead to the end of jeremy coleman's political career all this and more coming up in today's going underground but first british labor leader jeremy corbyn didn't even use one of his questions of prime minister's questions to goad minority government leader to raise i'm a into war because of weapons of mass destruction you want to dance is about a financial statement on monday the n.h.s. is clearly in crisis so why wasn't there a penny extra of the n.h.s. in yesterday's statement by the chancellor the prime minister told corbin to look

at the arguably blairite labor party in wales perhaps you might look to see what the labor entering. the lazy sunday will tell you the latest on your data shows when i look at twelve hour waits in any that's three point four percent of patients waiting over twelve hours in wales compared to one point three percent in england he wants to talk about meeting targets he should talk to a neighbor government in wales call been would hear nothing of it any chance england abandoned its ion the targets until april two thousand and nineteen it's a bit rich for the prime minister to be scam army. about whales was she was she something until you hear anything but was it scaremongering it talks about skin on bringing whales i'm just pointing out the facts and i want to thank god i don't know why and that's why we do see why we do see people in whales often trying

actually to get treatment in england rather than in not rather than in wales people the dying said kuhlmann people are dying because of overcrowding and long waits in our hospitals i think the prime minister should get a grip on it and ensure the n.h.s. now has the money that it needs to deal with the patient came on and then corbin referenced everyone's favorite scientist stephen hawking who died this week we started with professor stephen hawking and he said just a few months ago there is. there is overwhelming evidence that any chess funding and the number of doctors and nurses are in out of court and it's getting worse does she agree with professor hawking there was no answer from to resume about one of britain's best known scientists she had science on the mind though or revenge based on science one assumes britain would within hours veto the un.