this hour's headlines stories iraqi lawmakers pass a resolution calling for the removal of foreign troops. including the u.s. led. coalition. follows america's. most powerful general and an. international airport on friday. the body of general has seen. its return. to in the story this week wiki leaks founder julian assange claims he's slowly dying in a u.k. prison being. subjected to 23 hours a day. he made the allegations to

a friend. rang me because he christmas with me and my family in 2010. he said to me but i'm slowly dying. with the biggest stories of the past 7 days on right up to the moment developments as well welcome to the weekly on r.t. international i'm going to know. our breaking news this hour at the iraqi parliament house passed a resolution calling on the government to expel all foreign forces to formally terminate its request for assistance from the u.s. led coalition well the vote follows the united states assassination of a runs most powerful general in an early raid on baghdad international airport that was on friday iraqi officials describe the strike as

a violation of their country's sovereignty of the new resolution urges the iraqi government to end the presence of foreign troops in the country withdraw the request for support from the coalition until limit the use of arms to national security forces earlier i heard from our down off who has been following the story today. it is a huge geopolitical victory for you ron this is the bottom line but this vote hasn't been this move sailing this vote has been a very close call because they barely scrape together enough members of the parliament for the vote to be seen as legitimate there's a minimum threshold of about half of the m.p.'s they have to be president about half of them peace have to be present for the world to have a go and that was just about that there was just about half of all the rocky m.p.'s present to vote on the matter and the reason for that is that washington has been

putting various political groups in iraq under tremendous pressure that actually caught. the whole vote for instance the kurds they just officially had said that they were not taking part in today's ballot and interestingly enough the rocky prime minister he put forward 2 options as to what the government could do 1st. one generally just review the conditions under which foreign militaries operate on the rocky soil that was option one option 2 was the option to just expel all 4 and powers and so on and this is what the parliament who's opted for and it is an interesting choice because now the resolution looks like essentially a iraq will be filing a complaint to the united nations to they will be withdrawing a request for assistance from the international coalition that is that means the anti eisel coalition and 3 expelling all foreign forces from its soil and banning them from using iraq's both the land and space so this is big and as the world was

going on as the as the m.p.'s were debating this resolution people swarmed the streets they took to the streets to let the m.p.'s know that they are sick and tired of finding themselves between the rock and the hard place a lot of that are in the conflict taking place between america and iran inside iraq is unacceptable we will not be the fuel for your warm. yes 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. because 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 the struggling government what does this mean for iraq where if you can look a little bit into the future and to the wider region the middle east well the iraqi

prime minister was one angry man during today's session and in fact he spilled the beans about something very interesting as to why general because general because seems only money was in baghdad in the 1st place here's what he said was about to meet the 30 on friday in the morning. he was carrying. me from the iranians. we have 2 of the iranians in the old during sort of agreement regarding. the reserves so the general had an appointment with the iraqi prime minister and he was delivering a message apparently according to the iraqi prime minister outgoing but still a prime minister and he was delivering a message of diplomatic message to him from the saudis and from the rainy and so

effectively this puts general cassim silly money into position he was acting in the capacity of the diplomatic envoy and so the fact that the united states decided to bomb him at that particular moment could mean that essentially the border diplomatic animal which is a big big no no and into now under the international law so this could be is staying the united states won't be wiping off that easily. if it's reputation or perhaps an answer as to why he was targeted then he may have had less security if it was a diplomatic missions traveling he was traveling through a regular civilian airliner so we didn't believe he was feeling pretty safe it was just new cars as well being used what about washington then have they reacted what's what's coming out of the u.n. all so far nothing on the party on this particular decision by the iraqi parliament but well you could say that donald trump has been very vocal about how he wants to bring back american boys and girls home from overseas operations we want to bring our troops back home and i got elected on that if you go back and look at other

speeches i would say we want to bring our troops back home from these endless wars and i will say look i said i want to get out of these endless wars i campaigned on that i want to get out i haven't left the white house except to go to iraq for a version of time where i had a great experience or actually met some great people some great generals we have great ideas having to do was syria let's work 'd it out very well get the hell out of isis. bring it our folks back home well i guess you could say this vote is the perfect opportunity for trump to bring back some 5000 amount of american boys and girls home from iraq from the 12 bases where they are stationed there in that country but well that's of course that's tongue in cheek but still again it is a huge victory for iran because if again this vote is a non-binding one but the fact that it has to be signed by the government into action it is viewed as

a formality mostly i mean iraq is very weak right now politically because the prime minister is outgoing it has like a caretaker government so far but still it is viewed as a formality but comes with a lot of. the house for instance how you rock is going to facilitate and enforce the departure of u.s. forces from its soil not just american forces but international forces as a whole so a lot of. a lot of questions still out there in the end will really iraq stay true to its word meantime in iran itself lawmakers hopping fiercely condemning the assassination of general salim money chanting death to america. odd custom solmonese body has been repatriated to iran where he'll be buried choose there there's been of course a huge outpouring of grief in the country with hundreds of thousands of runners

paying tribute to the slings and crowds also throng the streets of the iraqi capital on saturday for a funeral procession iran has responded with fury to friday's deadly u.s. or raid to avenge solmonese death but. the protests have also taken place across the globe donald trump and the tweeters threaten to target dozens of locations in iran including some quotes important to arena and culture if those were actual cultural heritage sites experts say it would apply to a war crimes. where they serve as a warning that if iran strikes any americans or american assets we have targeted 52 iranian sites some is a 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 you say once no more

threats. will tehran has responded to that warning labeling donald trump a terrorist in a suit while back in iraq where the general was assassinated several rocket attacks hit on saturday evening close to both the american embassy in baghdad and an earth base north of the capital our senior correspondent in iraq as the it takes a closer look now at the killings 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 the commander of the could force has been killed in

a rocket attack apparently initiated by the united states. the sort of the us at our allies on alert at the tragic attack iran's top military commander 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 money commander of iran's quds force we took action last night just stop a war. we did not. take action to start a war then you probably shouldn't have killed him general sunni money was considered an icon in iran in iraq

a man who helped prevent isis takeover 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 this criminal act not only today but also in coming years there is no doubt that the u.s. is now more hated among iranians in iraqis hundreds of thousands have joined the 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 at least in the red lert they claim that they

only want peace but 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 us 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 if they had asked 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 and social media world war 3 was the top trend people are genuinely afraid the us football team has cancel plans to train and count the 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 murder 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. let's cross to london now where palestinian aurthur and journalist abdel bari atwan joins us live on the program good to see you this significance a bell of this non-binding resolution voted on today the government has been tasked with removing the troops do you think it will actually go ahead and do it. yes i

believe big because we are united. by the parliament this is actually the legacy of the american military presence in iraq it means old school the end of or a huge loss to united states which invested more than $6000000.00 in iraq after the invasion of 2003 i believe when the. needs were shouting that america should. receive you shin which is absolutely unique in that country after my he use all 16 years actually ok appreciate it means that americans are not welcome and are and we. got some of that a little actually authority are you surprised me when he said that american embassy

should be closed and the medic and should be humiliated not only kicked out yeah the resolution calls for all foreign trips of course they majority of those being american what's the main consequence of u.s. forces leaving iraq do you foresee. this nazi will be a strange state that it will that american actually more that we and this will be stubborn as the whole of the middle east because we don't know what will happen i don't believe that americans wouldn't it wouldn't exist just kind of i believe that america will try to reassure comply and i can gauge which will be extremely costly primarily you and your men being and also you know soldiers everything so i think the american where casey you know you sit back around the middle east has an answer luk the head of hezbollah and lebanon said that american should actually

create a heavier price should be killed and send. and and no black and black cases to the united states that's likely said plastic back so it seems now that hate the united states on the whole of the middle east is kelly people feeling humiliated me when the american city kasim soloman me the 2nd strongest now and our so i think middle east actually is facing. a limit now we'll let america exist when they actually will. go ahead with his plan to bomb. the middle east and how we'll be that that as a whole lot and i'm sad a lot of young men. and against any american at that i believe you know america will increase that you won't challenge now. but it isn't done i just want to briefly get your thoughts all of us i made right yeah just i'll not think the us

allied forces response to the vote we know that nato tomorrow i believe monday morning will convene an emergency meeting of its churches what do you expect to come from that well i believe later will be divided because european countries we have not beat with this blunder they feel that you know he did not consult with them not consult with anybody except the israelis so it means you know that little vienna will say listen we are not going to but this is peak and you walk in there but if you study we tried and we will have we talk your side in invading iraq in 2003 and look you are spoiling the ability you destroyed everything it is a little green out to a lot of interest and that part of the work which is that is just part of the work actually where all oh and since there we need 2000000 barrel exported to the

international community it mean. prices of oil will jump to $100.00 but maybe. we don't know what will have been made me i don't know the street will be closed will be actually silly me is a disaster not only was that a word but my view on a lot of credit thank you very much for your time this sunday palestinian or 3rd journalist abdel bari atwan talking to us from london. all right let's move all night to more world news and more from the week that was wiki leaks founder julian assange claims he's slowly dying in the british jail he's incarcerated in alleges he's trying is then kept in solitary confinement 23 hours a day he made the stabbing claims in a phone call to his friend von smith on christmas eve vaughn spoke to us. all 4 and it was very upsetting to head the idea of him being sedated has come from

several people who visited him who clearly be on the british government has 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's served that time all the bail charge and he served his time too and he's now on remand is highly unusual to put him on prisoner in belmarsh when they're not a threat of a physical violent 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 probably his health properly assess. julian assange who was arrested in april and since then medics i knew in observers have warned that his physical and mental health are in decline a hearing in february will decide on his extradition to the united states he is accused in the us of publishing classified military documents and could face a 175 year jail sentence for the british home office has refuted the songes claims of torture calling them modified faults but it's still spurred some politicians activists and other high profile figures to further draw attention to his plight. china sees its top official who dealt with hong kong relations state media whining and humans being replaced those beijing's chief lee as old there have been months

of violent government protests in hong kong which took on a renewed energy over the new year. 2 particular aspect of the young wrist violence and brutality one perpetrated by the hong kong protesters well it's largely gone without comment from the west asking why. are. hong kong has gone from being the economic pole of the orient to the face of the fight for democracy and boy does that fight fire.

with an amendment to a preexisting law 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 over politicians and john continue to hail the peaceful aspirations of those fighting to rest themselves from beijing all the while coming down hard on those aggressive dust spots in china it's discussing what they're doing in hong kong they're taking away basic rights trying to seem trampling the most basic human rights 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 only

because i was. glad. i was. 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 freedom of speech by silencing people who disagree with you. you cannot fight for democracy by terrorizing the public to. support you china is treading carefully refusing to send in troops to shut down the protests and local elections were held in which pro democracy candidates won in a landslide hong kong authorities conceded defeat the extradition built has been

withdrawn but still the barricades on signing the flames according to china washington. china urges the us to correct its mistakes and stop interfering in our internal affairs we will take further steps if necessary to uphold hong kong stability and prosperity as well as china's sovereignty some have chalked down beijing's words to paranoia but let's take a look joshua was widely billed as the face of the protest movement was snapped speaking to an official at the u.s. consulate oh and i forgot to mention he's not big on compromise so there's no and again there's the internet to war at home people are willing to engage there's also an organization funded by the u.s. congress which has been distributing money to groups it claims are preserving democratic rights then of course as the in century legislation washington's passed

the human rights and democracy act in clearance i'm going to stay for those arrested at protests and we'll monitor hong kong to ensure that in the eyes of the u.s. of course an appropriate level of autonomy from mainland china is. these 2 bills the noblest intervention of hong kong some turn north necessary and without groans it will also harm the relationship and interests between hong kong and the u.s. all of this on top of the protest as mass waving of the star-spangled banner have sparked concern that the u.s. might be lending more than just a supportive hand leading many to ask the question if the protest as a calling for self-determination is appealing to a foreign power to shape the future the best way to go about it especially when that foreign power might want to contain a rising star they're reaching. for and using methods that have created challenges for the united states and for the world and we collectively all of us need to

confront these challenges from the p.r.c. head on and on each of the many facets the fallout of all this has a little impact on washington of course it's the average hong kong who find his pocket that little bit lighter on his home that little less popular major. is. the. real thing because. nobody is coming to. the. 50 more. drop by 50 percent as far as as fair rises and as prosperity fades it seems this fight for freedom is costing hong kong more dearly than many could have imagined. it taylor now will this be the decade of china next we've assembled

a rough of experts to talk about the very question to stay close. time after time corporations repeat the same mantra sustainability it's very important it's accelerate the transition to sustainable price board sustainability stay number man at a more equitable and sustainable well. they claim their production is completely hama's. because the models and not. companies want us to feel good about buying their products while the damage is being done far away and this is a canal this let's keep going to mean and i mean look. this is the mood in this new me doing to me man i'm stunned seemed to be based on disconnect with who is going

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