the breaking news this hour iraqi lawmakers pass a resolution calling for the removal of foreign troops from the countries just coming in this including the u.s. led. coalition while that vote follows america's assassination of course of iran's most powerful general in that airstrike on baghdad international airport on friday that more details that come about that we're going to tell you about hundreds of thousands of lined the streets as the body of general solar money was returned home earlier. by the other news we're covering tonight we're going to roll a full hour at least with this wiki leaks founder julian science claims he's slowly dying he says in the u.k. prison saying he's being plied with sedatives and subjected to 23 hours a day of solitary confinement he made the allegations to

a friend apparently that christmas phone call christmassy. rang me because he spent christmas with me and my family in 2010. 1 time ago. he said to me but i'm slowly dying. well over again even just turned 7 o'clock welcome to the weekly with me kevin owen here now to international live from our main studios here in moscow it's a roundup of the stories that have made and are making the headlines of the last week and one big one happening right now as you see on the screens and read the the breaking news the iraqi parliament has passed a resolution in the last hour or so calling on the government there to expel all foreign forces and to formally terminated initial request for assistance from the u.s. led and i still coalition the vote follows the united states. a nation of iran's

most powerful general in the air raid on baghdad international airport of friday as mentioned iraqi officials described that strike as a violation of their country's sovereignty and now we're starting to see the revocations coming through tonight he goes to correspondent across this one yet so as we've said before this is a normal binding. state but at the moment but either which way it's huge political news and it's a huge backing of rock for but for viewers just joining us rewind it all what's happened over the last hour or so well long story short iran's just one this is this is the bottom line of this because this is a huge victory for iran the expulsion of u.s. troops and all for and coalition troops from iraq this creates a perfect void for iran to fill in now this vote it has been a difficult one it has been a very close school because there were barely enough people barely enough members of parliament showing up for the vote to reach a quorum do reach the minimum amount of members of parliament to vote for the vote

to be legitimately to be seen as successful and that is because some factions like the kurds for instance in iraq they have been under tremendous pressure from the united states to boycott the vote so literally almost half of the parliament did. and in general i have to say that this world it wasn't only about the united states and its troops it was indicative of how the iraqi people how a lot of iraqi people feel and it's not necessarily just about u.s. troops or iranian troops or anything they're just sick of being between a walk and a hard place and there is sick of the fact then of a situation when 2 countries are getting it out between themselves but they are getting all the punches the rockier getting all the punches so as the vote as the as the parliament trees or as the m.p.'s were debating this bill this this resolution here is some chance here are some chance here's what's been going on

outside the parliament. one of the conflict taking place between america and iran inside iraq is unacceptable we will not be the fuel for your wars your problems must be solved away from iraq. we are opposed to recent events we reject them and there is fear in iraqi society because of this conflict we are against any regional conflicts but harm our country's interests. with the conflict between america and iran should be solved outside iraq and if they also have a military conflict it must be resolved outside iraq this is what we hope for from this struggling government so as was said whether this gets through the government we think it will anyway although of course as a caretaker pm there at the moment things are in political flux as they've been for so many years there in iraq but when it all goes through even it doesn't the vote is there that they want to kick americans out what's it going to mean internally for iraq for the political side of it for the security side of it and even of

course even at the end of the day if the americans do go ok we're out and that's going to be another thing how easy is that going to be to do oh absolutely well 1st and foremost just a quick remark yes indeed it is a non-binding vote but the approval the i mean the fact that the government has to sign it into action this is largely viewed as a formality it is i mean pretty much everyone that i've seen that i've read all analysts that i've paid attention to they all agree that this is this sounds like a done deal but this is side indeed it's a very it's very significant because internally for iraq it bears a massive split in the society there's a lot of people who want the united states to be present on the iraqi soil and there's equally as many people who do not want that who again who are sick of ending up between and between a hammer and a nail what's that going to bode for the future of the place there could be i mean there could be some are some are saying that this this could be the beginning of an end the beginning of a civil war in iraq and you know how bad those are and again about the. taishan

again it's a big question how is iraq going to force us out because again the kurds probably troops we're talking about some 5000 some 5012 bases a lot of people yeah that's a lot of personnel exactly that's a big logistical operation and i mean and it's you it could be a huge political defeat as well which is i think is more important here but for instance again the kurds control a large portion of the iraqi territory there of largely autonomous they didn't vote they are an american ally so the united states they could just move the troops over there some portion of it so there's a lot of ifs and buts and so on influence on so forth in this whole situation whole the u.s. be viewing this i mean surely donald trump really went into this the pentagon. must have known to be huge ramifications if there's more you can tell us again the more ramifications or more thoughts about why the general was there at that time on

friday morning that fated morning for him he was there of all official diplomatic purpose this is very interesting what you're bringing up because according to the iraqi prime minister i mean we have to take his word for it but apparently money was there with an appointment he had an appointment with the iraqi prime minister and that's because the united states are asked baghdad to mediate to mediate the conflict between washington and tehran and iraq agreed and for one reason or another they invited silly money on a diplomatic mission of sorts to check if they're on the same page to check how the how what how the how to run feels about the united states and what can be done to mediate going through to. fill the americas to fulfill america's promise america's request excuse me and that's when the united states apparently decided to bomb him not only is it sounds sneaky but also defectively means that the united states bombed a person who was at least acting in the capacity of

a diplomatic envoy. this could have huge ramifications because ramifications because from the standpoint of international law this is a big big no no and so again we have we'll have to see we'll have to again the iran has been abstaining from any common sense to why their top general was in iraq but i mean this would at least this would be at least in some explanation doesn't provide some explanation as to why for instance this top general was traveling and was feeling so safe traveling on a regular line and not taking any extra security they would have no sense of. pm in iraq they also said that they were only given literally a couple of minutes warning from washington that this drone strike was going to happen and he went on to stress there that is government denied the u.s. permission to carry these drone strikes now lets it happen that there was probably very little to be to be done don't think when you when you're giving a warning a few minutes before doing something it's pretty much a dead cert you know it's

a telltale sign that you are dead set on service the way it's being put together this is going to be we need to hear what america's got to say about this but it sounds like a kind of an ambush doesn't it well it does sound like kind of an ambush but what is america's going to do now and this is a good question because well it is tongue in cheek but donald trump has been has been very adamant on calling on american boys and bringing american boys and girls home. we want to bring our troops back home it's been many many years it's been decades in many cases we want to bring our troops back home and i got elected on that if you go back and look at our speeches i would say we want to bring our troops back home from these endless wars. this could be a good opportunity for donald trump to bring some 5000 american boys and girls home for all men and less war in iraq but i mean again this is just the start of it is a bit tongue in cheek and america is still to this there has been no reaction as of

yet coming out of the united states so they are waking up to this news on this sunday night and we'll see how they will respond it'll be interesting to see what all the other regional players are going to say as well about it as well turkey closely to the return of the saudi arabians want. to get us more info from a certain date as a book or follow with us i'm sure will the next hour as well egos don't offer correspondent thanks so much let's get more thoughts now nicholas davis on the line author and political analyst at the necklace thanks government short notice much appreciate it live on air so as you see it we've seen the big headline how significant is it still to be ratified if you like by the government or or put into force by the governments one thing to tell 5000 troops in 12 bases get out we don't want you here anymore is america just going to go yeah we're out ok no worries or is it going to be much more protracted than that. well it's hard to tell this is this is now a confrontation between the iraqi government and the us government.

you know the us already attacked iraq forces that's that's what how this began a week ago. and. it's. it's hard to know how this is going to play and i get what you think the ground forces here really do think friday morning what was the pentagon what was donald trump thinking would be the reaction of this killing the 2nd in command if you like in iran. well i think the u.s. is is really just behaving as a rogue state at this point you know all of this is is is just in flagrant violation of international law and since so many ways. you know that the u.s. has violated its agreements with iraq the u.s. forces are in iraq at the quote invitation and request this was this was

the iraqi government this was this was the strategic framework agreement between the u.s. and iraq in 2008 that led to in fact the withdrawal of the u.s. from iraq in 2011 they had to get the last troops out of there by the end of 2011 people there. and it's 2014 to expire year there is on an admin backup purpose at the moment although they're not there officially is fighting forces that help if you like these 5000 troops at least 12 bases correct. well world they've been using those bases to conduct strikes against islamic state and they are yes they are there supposedly in support. the iraqi government fighting islamic state and you know they've just in the past week attacked the

forces that they are supposed to be there to support which is you know the. popular mobilization forces and the you know hezbollah is one of those militias but there they are part of the iraqi armed forces they're not independent to raney and backed militia so the u.s. is now attacking the forces and the government that is hosting it and. the iraqi government has every right to ask them to leave and if the u.s. resists that request then we have a huge confrontation i mean maybe there are some parallels here looking back in the recent issue street books and look about the u.s. pulled into libya following the killing of moammar gadhafi it pulled out of the syrian conflict after it hits on the could this be donald trump's long awaited tick box out of iraq now that yes it was planned this response probably would turn out

this way and it would be good news because it's donald trump seeing 5000 servicemen in a foreign country coming back home again as you said he wanted to do. well. but while trump has made these promises trump has an amazing way of getting and the american media allow him to talk out of both sides of his mouth and say one thing one day and the and the opposite the next in the middle of the controversy over him moving those troops in syria and we still don't have any confirmation they have actually have left syria. the pentagon announced that well actually you know we have in the past since may we have actually deployed another 14000 u.s. troops to. they're middling of course whatever the friday trump and it is i'm just

senate begin to wrap their sleeve or say what happened on friday of course sold under the banner of we're doing this to prevent going to war we want to rip with iran and then the 2nd in command in iran is killed by a drone it's difficult to work out the logic is never author and political analyst nicholas davis thank you for coming on art international at short notice much appreciated let you get on with the night thank you. well meantime in iran lawmakers have also fiercely condemned the assassination of general sort of money as would be expected chanting death to america the ticker seems somalis body has been repatriated to iran where he will be buried on choose day there's been a huge outpouring of grief in the country over the last few days with hundreds of thousands of mourners paying tribute to the slain commander crowds also from the streets of iraqi capital saturday as well we brought you the pictures for the funeral procession lot of people out today to iran has responded it has to be said

with fury to friday's deadly u.s. air raid valen to avenge sala moneys death what that's going to mean in the coming hours days weeks months we don't know donald trump in turn threatened to target dozens of cultural heritage sites in iran which would amount to a war crime. there this serves as a warning that if iran strikes any americans or american acids we have targeted 52 iranian sides summers are very high level and important to iran and the iranian culture and those targets and iran itself will be hit very fast and very hard the use a wants no more threats. well aransas fall into that warning saying the u.s. doesn't have the courage for a full blown military confrontation the latest exchange of threats comes after several rocket attacks took place in iraq on saturday evening close to both the american embassy in baghdad and an air base the north of the capital iraqi security

forces say again we've got nothing more to add to this one so the last hours no it was hurt they say no one's come forward to say they're behind it so we're just barely into her january jenna the 5th of this brand new decade here's a look at how 22 in the open with a turbulent and terrifying 1st week. or

. so after what happened friday morning starting now to see the ramifications solar mani's assassination has polarized opinion worldwide including within the u.s. next our senior correspondent regarded takes a closer look at the consequences. you can imagine how trump agreed to it then he was playing golf and up comes an agent smith holding a folder he says mr president you remember when we killed baghdad yes the eyes the sky yes the media did love it so how how would you like to do it again oh yeah. the rocky television has just confirmed that cosine sula mani former general in iran's

revolutionary guard or the commander of the could force has been killed in a rocket attack apparently initiated by the united states. this is for the us at our allies on alert after the tragic attack iran's top military commander here and . salim 80 has been perpetrating acts of terror to destabilize the middle east for the last 20 years one gets the impression that the agent that came up to trump didn't exactly brief the president and potential consequences of killing the 2nd most powerful man in iran general seems silly monica monda of iran's quds force we took action last night to stop a war. we did not. take action to start a war then you probably shouldn't have killed him general sulaimani was considered

an icon in iran and iraq a man who helped prevent isis take over of iraq and syria who inspired and mobilized tens of thousands of people multiple countries to fight the blight that is isis while qaida you know enough the americans are not aware what a great mistake they've committed they will face the consequences of discriminant not only today but also in coming years there is no doubt that us is now more hated among iranians iraqis hundreds of thousands have joined funeral processions and protests condemning his murder rage is in the air iran has promised revenge american civilians are being evacuated from the entire region u.s. embassies and bases in this slew of countries are knocked out troops have been put in combat readiness and now now middle east in the red lert they claim that they

only want peace that was the time to take this action so that we could disrupt the spot deter further aggression from qassam salami in the iranian regime as well as to attempt to deescalate the situation trump asked no one europe woke up to a world that was a heck of a lot more dangerous than when they went to sleep germany claimed tensions that only god up stating the obvious the british called for everyone to come down from doesn't last for permission frankly the europeans haven't been as helpful as i wish that they could be the brits the french the germans all need to understand that what we did what the americans did saved lives in europe as well at best he's right chances are he's wrong and at worst what america did is going to kill a heck of a lot more. people than would have died otherwise which they may have thought of the us to anyone but they didn't trump told no one not even his own federal

government not the house of representatives and not the senate this action may well have brought our nation closer to another endless war exactly the kind of endless war the president promised he would not drag us into or rather he did tell someone apparently what trump kept from his own nation from his own people he told the israelis our assessment is that the united states informed israel about this operation in iraq apparently a few days ago the murder of a mani was an act of war by any measure by any book on law social media world war 3 was the top trend people are genuinely afraid the u.s. football team is council plans to train and counter head of the world cup out of security concerns and judging by means being spread appropriate or otherwise no one

in particular is enthusiastic to go to war all black humor aside any escalation would be disastrous for all of us human lives 1st and economy 2nd a 5th of the world's oil passes by iran every day in the event of war that would stop. we don't yet know how much of a blunder sulaimani is mudda was what we do know is that the world now is a more dangerous place millions will hate america for this and that hate will last for generations just remarkable isn't it how many people more and more keep having to die so trump and the pentagon can feel safe. live from russia pro cussing around the world bringing up to speed with all the headlines that matter this weekend this is r t international with me kevin oh and this is ahead new year new protests against hong kong we'll tell you what's been happening there and the rest of the stories

making headlines after this break. 6 this is nothing but the harmony you can create on vibrating strings but it's chemistry chemistry is the melody the melodies you can play on strings what is the universe the universe is a symphony of strains. in a world big part of the lot and conspiracy it's time to wake up to dig deeper to hit the stories that made stream media refuses to tell more than ever we need to be smarter we need to stop slamming the door on the shouting past each other it's time for critical thinking it's time to fight for the middle for the

truth the time is now we're watching closely watching the hawks. it's $25.00 per 7 in the evening here in moscow this sunday we're going to go because the breaking news been talking about just catching up on the red tape for the barmy screen other stories we're covering tonight wiki leaks founder julian assange claims he's slowly dying in the british jail incarcerated in an alleges he's been trying and kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day he made the disturbing claims then it seems in a phone call to his friend called von smith on christmas eve. he sounded awful

and it was very upsetting to head him the idea of him being sedated has come from several people who visited him who clearly being told and the british government have been asked about it and they refuse to address that matter what they say is they're not mistreating him but clearly he's being kept in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day he sounded awful and he said to me that i'm slowly dying you know please remember he served that time all the bail charge and he served his time too that he's now on remand it's highly unusual to put a man prisoner in belmarsh when they're not a threat of physical violence threat to society i think we need some answers from from the british government why are they treating him like this why can't we have some independent assessment 100 international got to those and asked to arrange a visit at least to send some representatives to check on him but that hasn't been allowed nils meltzer the un rocketeer on torture has been very clear about asylum

just mistreatment and describes it in the most of all human terms and yet it is claims very recently in november that the british government of completely ignored his request to see julian properly his health properly assess. their mind their son's arrested in fact there are exclusive pictures there were cameras a roll of the time so the embassy was arrested in april and since there medics in the un observers of all that is physical or mental health were in decline hearing in february is set to decide whether or not he'll be extradited to the united states he's accused there of publishing classified military documents and could face a 175 year jail sentence over it all footnote the british home office has refuted this claims of torture calling them unfounded and folse course nonetheless is still spurred some politicians activists and celebrities to. further draw attention to his plight we'll continue to follow that story through 2020 and

this one to what's happening in china and hong kong and the ramifications the ongoing protests there there's more to tell you china now says it's sacked its top official who dealt with relations with hong kong state media say it wing jimmy has been replaced as beijing's chiefly azan but months of violent antigovernment protests in hong kong which took on a renewed energy over the new year. was . was. one particular aspect of the unrest you don't see it covered in many places violence and brutality when perpetrated by the hong kong protesters is largely gone without comment from the west

a correspondent asks why that. hong kong has gone from being the economic power of the orient to the face of the fight for democracy and boy does that fight fire. an amendment to a preexisting north that would allow the extradition of criminal suspects from hong kong to mainland china has brought the financial haven to its knees as a protest accent into the 7th month violence on both sides has escalated but all the wild oats are politicians and. continue to hail the peaceful aspirations of those fighting to rights themselves from beijing all the while coming down hard on those aggressive does spots in china it's disgusting what they're doing in hong kong they're taking away basic rights trying to seem trampling the most basic human

rights beijing is increased its interventions in hong kong and engaged in actions to curtail the rights. and liberties. of its people but it seems so many incidents have managed to escape the scrutiny of western media but it was. it was. i think. scenes like that combined with the discovery of 10000 petrol bombs packed with high explosives and shrapnel make it harder to see is peaceful what appears to be a slippery slope into the territory of terrorists methods you can all fight for free.