washington expresses its disappointment as iraqi lawmakers pass a resolution calling for the removal of foreign troops from the country including the u.s. led coalition. for both allows america's assassination of iran's most powerful general in an airstrike on baghdad international airport on friday. hundreds of thousands have lined the streets as the body of general money is returned home. and in the stories that shape the week wiki leaks founder julian assange claims he is slowly dying in a u.k. prison saying. he is being given set of and the subjected to 23 hours

a day of solitary confinement made the allegations to a friend in a christmas phone call. rang me because he spent christmas with me and my family in 2010 was. all he said to me but i'm slowly dying in. broadcasting live direct from our studios in moscow this is our t.v. international i'm sean thomas glad to have you with us as we recap the week's top stories with our weekly program. let's 1st go to iraq where 3 people have been reportedly wounded after several rockets hit an area near the u.s. embassy in baghdad heavily fortified green zone which houses government buildings and foreign missions as well the developments follow the united states assassination of iran's most powerful general in an air raid at baghdad international airport on friday president trump has tweeted that if iran strikes

u.s. military personnel or bases the response could come in a disproportionate manner. these media posts will serve as notification to the united states congress that should iran strike any u.s. person or target the united states would quickly and fully strike back and perhaps in a disproportionate manner such legal notice is not required but is given nevertheless . meanwhile the u.s. state department says it is disappointed with a resolution passed by iraq's parliament calling for the us to end its presence in the country the new resolution urges the iraqi government to expel all foreign troops withdraw its request for support from the anti eisel coalition and limit the use of arms and to national security forces r.t.c. was done off spoke to my colleague you know neal on the main points earlier. iran has just had a major victory over the united states on the geopolitical field this is it this is

the bottom line of this whole thing so right now the rest of the whole resolution looks as such a iraq will be filing a complaint with the united nations to they will be withdrawing a request for help from to that which they had sent to the international coalition this is referring to the anti eisel coalition what's the ramifications here for iraq and indeed the middle east as a whole well again this is a victory for iran and another interesting development that we have seen today is that the iraqi prime minister has filled the beings as to why general salim army was on was in baghdad in the 1st place apparently according according to the iraqi prime minister he was on a mission and he will he had an appointment with him have a listen will it. i was about to meet silly money at 830 on friday morning on the day of his death he was carrying a message to me from the iranian side in reply to

a saudi message that we sent to the arena earlier to reach an agreement regarding the did escalation of tensions in iraq and in the region we have heard donald trump calling. the american boys and girls to come back home he's been very adamant on the fact that he wants that apparently he wants u.s. troops back home wasn't it 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 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 so this vote seems like a perfect opportunity for donald trump to bring back some 5000 of american boys and girls back to their homeland from some 12 bases where they station right now in iraq this is tongue in cheek of course but still this shows the potential fallout the united states could see from this whole vote but again we shouldn't forget that this vote was not just about the united states but mostly about iraqi the iraqi

people because as the m.p.'s were debating this resolution that eventually passed today some people they took to the streets to have their voices heard they were centuries saying that they are sick and tired of ending up between a rock and a hard place and that are 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. the conflict between america and iran should be solved side iraq so essentially the message from the rockies is clear as 2 countries to foreign countries are juking it out between each other for instance like right now the united states and iran it's the iraqi people the iraqi people who should have nothing to do with the with the fight of 2 other nations

they receive a lot of the punches and a lot of the blows land on their heads and they are sick and tired of this whole thing. ok these are pictures from iran where the monies body has arrived crowds of people are there to receive the general who will be buried on tuesday there has been a huge outpouring of grief in the country with hundreds of thousands of mourners paying tribute to the slain commander iran has responded with fury to friday's deadly u.s. air raid value to avenge so many as deaf but i've got to have comments now on how the killings have 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 was the president you remember when we killed baghdad yes the eyes the sky yes the media did love it how how would you like to do it again

oh yeah. iraqi television is just confirm that cosine sula monny 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. the sort of the us at our allies on alert at the petrol radek attack iran's top military commanders here and. around the community. 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. command of iran's quds force we took action last night just stop

a war. we did not. take action to start a war that you probably shouldn't have killed him general sunni money was considered an icon in iran and iraq a man who helped prevent isis takeover of iraq and syria who inspired and move allies tens of thousands of people multiple countries to fight the blight that is isis while qaida you know nuffin americans are not aware and was reading this to the committee they will freeze the consequences of this criminal act not only today but also in the coming years there is no doubt that the united states has no more hate in among the ranges and iraqis hundreds of thousands have joined a 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 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 from 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 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. president trump is one theory of appreciation for acting decisively with frank and swiftly and i want to for size again that israel stands completely by the united states in its battle for security peace and self-defense because of

the 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 u.s. football team has canceled 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 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 amid the rapid escalation tehran says it will not abide by the enrichment limits set in the 2015 nuclear deal but is still ready to reverse that if washington lifts sanctions u.s. pulled out of the agreement when president trying to power the leaders of germany france and the u.k. have just issued a joint statement calling on iran to avoid measures contravening of nuclear deal we have spoken to several middle east experts on the crisis gripping the region. probably iran is now pushing europe towards the edge in terms of having either to rescue the deal the nuclear deal and part tweezer sort of with america or probably ditch the deal altogether but it won't be any iranian call it would be probably a european court we've heard news earlier is will that iran would be ready to

deescalate if the sanctions were lifted so there are messages that are being sent either way telling still despite all the hoo ha and despite all the threats and counter threats and whatever we're still hearing voices coming out from tehran saying the guys were happy to deescalate and call it off should you do if the sanctions and that would put international community so to speak or least the europeans in a very uncertain situation that they have to act now and not give her any more i hope that iran will not take a hard decision that they will lose the europeans because we all know that the reappearance at something different from the americans so it's a balanced it's supposed to be a balanced political process that iran should do. i'm not iranian to say things that it's supposed to be known everything in iran but at least outside the box and seeing is that iran also just like the united states both of

them are on the edge both of them have capabilities and both of them can hurt each other but what are the consequences it seems now that hate the united states and the whole of the middle east is kelly people really you me you well the american. man me the 2nd strongest man in the at our so i think middle east actually is facing. a limit now. is not just of the u.s. and iran at the brink of turkish troops are said to intervene in libya's long running civil war that story much more after a short break this is our international. seemed wrong. to me. to see. this day as

a kid and engagement equals betrayal. find themselves worlds apart. choose to look for common ground. you know world of big partisan movies. and conspiracies it's time to wake up to dig deeper to hit the stories that made history media refuses to tell more than ever we need to be smarter we need to stop slamming the door on the bath 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 for watching closely watching the hawks.

quarterback this is the week we are to international and we can make founder julian assange claims he is slowly dying in the british jail he is incarcerated in and alleges he is kept tranquilized and in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day he made the disturbing claims in a phone call to his friend vaughan smith on christmas eve smith spoke to us. be sounded all full and it was very upsetting to head and 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 in 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 of our 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 holy terms and yet it's claims very recently in november that the british government of completely ignored his request to see julian probably his health properly assess. will join us ours was arrested in april and a since then medics and un 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 prison sentence. there has been a response from london the british home office refuses assad is claims of torture calling them unfounded and false. turkish soldiers are on their way to libya according to an announcement by president the turkish parliament voted on thursday to back of un recognized government in tripoli giving a green light to a troop deployment libya's rival administration based in the east of the country voted against the deal with ankara even to you'll them it was decided to cut ties between the turkish regime and the states of libya and also in today's session a unanimous vote was passed in the general command authorizing beyond forces to

disable all airports ports ports under the militias control due to the danger they pose to the country's national security by bringing the colonists to our country libya has been in a state of war since protests in 2011 and to be ousting of the country's leader moammar gadhafi in recent months the un backed government has been losing ground to the rival administration of general khalifa haftar who leaves the libyan national army the government of national accord formally requested military aid from last month the general have terrorist forces currently control most of libya's territory including crucial oil and gas resources iow johnson a founder of viewpoint africa believes that even with turkey's support it will be hard for the un backed government to deal with general have ties forces. i'm afraid libya has been a bit of a mess since gadhafi went many people are saying that is very much like syria number 2 is to have to look and shows a large swathes of the country or protect

a period of time. the swing of the pendulum but on the other hand when you have a government which has been supported by the united nations a government that's supported by the united states i'm think. has a faction know an awful ciccio of winning what is going to be very difficult concept physically how which is why he's been propped up and supported by the turks who are who've already expressed to send their military might to support him. staying in africa and al-qaeda affiliate has struck in kenya and u.s. service member and 2 civilian contractors have been killed in the african country after al-shabaab the members attacked a military base shared by the usa and local troops. the terrorists also destroyed several u.s. aircraft and vehicles before they were repelled washington has been using the base

in kenya as a county since 2004 to train in the country's able units. and that doesn't from back with more than weekly at the top of the hour this is our 2 international. what politicians do something to. put themselves on the line to get accepted or rejected. so when you want to be president or injury. or somehow want to be rich. that you'd like to be close as it was before 3 in the morning can't be good that

i'm interested always in the waters of the house just. passed the signal. so what we've got to do is identify the threats that we have it's crazy on sunday shouldn't let it be an arms race is on all fronts very dramatic development only personally i'm going to resist i don't see how that strategy will be successful very critical guy time to sit down and talk. medical use downs good leaks last leak out to. me.

and we knew the. truth doesn't that it would look at that is to close most of the book new to this a but. from. it's going strong still it's about seeing new yorkers. just sure will. but if she warned you i do would be sure that the was more than those genes knew speech and she me we didn't you.

know when you guys e.q.'s. in the news i mean guys are that infants involved. a lot of you will see sawing your info as if parts of the 2 kids each other both are the most called. it as in the atoms to me as if. these. god knows what they were days doing needs to. be a thing people who simply. include in. their.

own a while come to worlds apart today we're coming to you from barcelona where thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate international day without yet having and nation state so here is off to wash the independence referendum on their remains both at the. and bargaining chip in spanish politics and that's the thing government in madrid that just an average loan said to do worth a lot since in 4 years but isn't believe the secessionist coffee i'll be putting this question to alfred bosch minister for foreign action institutional relations and transparency of patel on am. all for bush it's good to talk to thank you very

much for your time thanks for inviting me. i introduced you as a minister but the spanish authorities you're more like a counselor with an outsized mandate because the spanish authorities don't believe that colony is supposed to have any foreign the action of foreign policy and then dado independent state why this could tell on a need to have for an action that you are responsible for or we're not going to argue about words we simply translated like that in english so that you understand that i'm part of a government the catalan government is not an independent government belonging to recognise state but still we do have a minister like lenders and germany or other governments also have. yes we've been seeing how the spanish government especially the ministry of foreign affairs is a brady has been trying to stop us from making any foreign action we think we're entitled to that because. in 21st century you go to be

competitive and have a place in the world otherwise you won't prosper i'm sure would agree that the lonnie's know it's like any other city in spain this dispute has been plaguing this country for 3 centuries and if you look at the recent polls it's not evident that the majority of cut the line support independence i wonder how do you frame this issue right there is it still about full if independence or do you stop way outsell determination and the right to hold to regardless of which way the vote goes from a pro independence party. and our idea is that we can have a better country and better welfare for all people with a cow to learn republic so that's what we're pursuing and regarding how many people support that you have all kinds of polls some of them were majority and some of those perhaps not but that's exactly why we want to vote we want to know the real

numbers we want to know who supporting in the pens and who smoke and there is no way the kingdom of spain can agree on such a referendum like the u.k. did it for scotland or the so we don't think we're better than any other nation but we're not less than any other nation and that the e.u. know that the problem with referenda and i think the bracks of station shows that the independence moment it's called supports that as well is that people may change their mind the circumstances may change. are you sure that if you have internationally a recognised referendum and if the majority of catalan say no to independence is that going to put the issue to rest once and for all. not for me or people like me but we will have a result and we will accept it obviously. the same thing if there is a yes we expect the spanish authorities and the international community especially

the spanish government to do what they didn't do on october the 1st 2017 when such a vote was held and they did exactly the opposite which is put people in jail my predecessors in the catalan government we saw columb police troops being sent to hit people in their heads and we seen almost 2 years of preventive chill for people who organize a vote can i ask you specifically about that our friend because. from what i understand neither the current cut on authorities nor the spain authorities consider it illegal or free and fair for you it wasn't free and fair because of the police presence for them it was illegal as far as they resolve the concern and i think over 90 percent of people who came to the polls they supported the independence cost as far as the results are concerned do you consider them legitimate there or it is it more like a legacy or every torkel issue for you it was an enormous wonderful feat bringing

millions of people to the polls enabling them to vote despite police disruption and brutality and it's something the people of catalonia achieved and the government which was in place then helped the people to do to vote freely for the future now that's the way we think things should be done perhaps we didn't have the strength to fulfill the mandate of the people and that's why we need international complicity and support to convince the government of spain that this is the sensible a reasonable way of doing things the democratic way because the use of force is not helping. people in catalonia we believe that the majority of people but it's not a majority let's test it and let's find out the people in catalonia want to vote and that's a certainty for 80 percent according to most polls want to vote for the future and

want to vote on independence such an issue has to be delivered to the.