>> "bbc world news" is presented by kcet, los angeles. funding for this presentation is made possible by -- the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu,

the newman's own foundation, the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation, and union bank. >> this is "world news" today. slow progress, but good progress. the u.s. envoy to the middle east gives his view of talks with israelis. police are told to clamp down on

islamic militants after a 100 people are killed in nigeria. u.s. defence secretary robert gates arrives in iraq. was the british government complicity in torture? a spectacular sight and a climate disaster as greenland plays host to the fastest collapsing. also, age before beauty with the dance troupe taking america by storm. >> it is 7:00 a.m. in washington, midday in london. obama's middle east envoy has uttered words of encouragement. george mitchell was speaking

after meeting with israeli prime minister netanyahu. the message was one of progress. no message of the thorny issue of settlement. that is a key demand the u.s. is making of its ally. it wants israel to stop making them. the palestinians say they will not sit down at the negotiation table. our correspondent joins us from jerusalem. no one was expecting grand statements. what more did mr mitchell have to say? not enough for the israelis or palestinians. it seemed more of a sign of encouragement to the closer region and the wider arab world. everybody wants to know what the

steps are. as for george mitchell, he remains positive. he was. in brokering the peace deal in northern ireland as well. he is known as a patient man. he knows it will not be quick or easy. he says the obama administration continues to a higim high. president obama's vision is peace in the leasmiddle east. also, the full normalization of relations between israel and all of its neighbors in the region. that's our objective. it is that which we have committed ourselves fully. >> george mitchell is someone who knows about patience. it takes a long time to achieve results. did anything emerge from mr

netanyahu to suggest the issue of settlements is getting any closer to resolve? >> not exactly from him, but the israeli media are full of speculation that some kind of deal is in the offing where israel does not completely freeze all settlement building, where it is able to continue with around 2500 housing units that are already being built. that's not good enough for the palestinians. we have not heard any of this officially. we did hear from mr netanyahu today that yes, progress is being made. he insisted that israel is doing whatever they can to take those important steps toward peace. >> we're making progress toward achieving an understanding what would enable us to continue and complete the peace process

established between us and our palestinian neighbors and the entire region. >> a quick question about george mitchell. do you get an impression that both sides recognize he is the real deal? that he is a man that can bring them together? >> george mitchell is taken seriously in the region. he was a key figure in brokering a peace still in northern ireland. for so many years, people talk peace was in possible. they retain a glimmer of hope and there is a belief that george mitchell can be a very useful person in this process. >> thank you for the latest assessment on what is slow going in israel and the talks with the palestinians. in northern nigeria, radical islamists have said to have

barricaded themselves around the home of their leader. at least 100 people have been killed during the clashes that have been reported. using machetes and guns, killing police officers and civilians at random. >> the attacks on police buildings and government offices began on sunday. the tension had been rising for some time. northern nigeria has a long history of ethnic and religious differences. local people said young men with machetes and guns have killed police officers and civilians at random. security has been stepped up with roadblocks and overnight curfews. the affected areas -- but some of the worst sectarian violence has been in this area. rumors of possible attacks have been circulating for some time. >> the fact that this was under

control and it did not really spread -- it shows that the initial support has waned. >> the nigerian security forces are on full alert. they are said to be looking for mohammed yusef. in this climate of tension, local people are filled with suspicion and alarm. >> our correspondent joins us now. what is the situation surrounding his compound? what have you heard? >> they're going straight to this area of the town. this is an area close to the railway station. is a very large district.

the radical cleric is known to have his family home. there are also a lot of local people in that area. it is full of schools, farms, shops, and mosques. local people have been told to leave. a bbc reporter approached and was told by the police to leave now because armed men are inside shooting of civilians. >> we heard words attempting to reassure from the nigerian government about how much support or lack of it there is for this group. some of the eyewitness accounts of the violence they have carried out is pretty grim. >> it is. this group has aroused a lot of suspicion and hostility from a lot of people for some time.

local muslims refused to allow this group the use of lmosques. this is a group that has rejected the ways of local muslims and has recruited young men, sometimes from universities and taught them that education is wrong. people are very suspicious and hostile of them. it is not how islam is practiced in northern nigeria. >> thank you. the trial of the burmese opposition leader aung san suu kyi is expected to end on friday. the nobel peace prize winner faces five years in jail if convicted of violating the terms of her house arrest. in american man swam to her lakeside home uninvited. more than 100 migrants from

haiti have been recovered. 113 survivors have been found. the swedish government has asked venezuela to explain how swedish made rocket launchers ended up in the hands of marxist rebels in colombia. the officials say the anti-tank weapons were sold to venezuela in the 1980's. as george mitchell visits israel, the u.s. defense secretary robert gates has moved on to iraq. he is said to discuss security and arms sales. the two nations look for the full withdrawal of all u.s. forces by the end of 2011. meanwhile, a stark reminder if ever one was needed of the continuing dangers of life in iraq. we have pictures here of a bank heist carried out overnight in the center of baghdad. iraqi police say gunman killed eight security guards during a break in at a bank.

iraqi security officials say this has to do with the armed insurgency. that is the scene in which robert gates, defense secretary of the united states, is moving into. he will be holding talks with mary maliki -- nouri maliki. he will be meeting u.s. forces during the course of the visit. our correspondent is with us. this overlaps in so many areas. we're talking about a possible armed sales playing a role. and of course, assessing his own troops. >> the three different scenes of the visit coincided with a three different places robert gates is

going to. he started on the american military base trying to shore up the impression that both baghdad and washington want to give as the americans pull back into the secondary role, very much in support of the iraqi security forces. then on to speak to the prime minister, where he will be talking about arms sales and the possibility of the americamericg f-16s. and then up to kurdistan. the americans are very worried that the kurds and the arabs, who are at odds over the oil wealth, might start fighting as soon as they leave. the americans are urging them to come to some kind of agreement that will allow them to share and will allow iraq to remain whole. >> they have to adopt a hands-

off now. >> yes, that is very much the public face they are putting on. i think behind the scenes, some iraqis, possibly including the prime minister, that they're focusing on the afghanistan and they're trying to get out as soon as possible. behind the scenes, al maliki will be urging gates to stay engaged. this country has been through six very heavy years of military conflict. to a certain extent, it is continuing. the economy has suffered. that is one thing they will have to focus on. >> thank you. market and financial analysis coming up in 25 minutes. a brief look at the profits at bp. >> they're certainly making money.

we're looking at the second quarter. the top five western oil companies are due to post results. shell is posting these weeks. bp's numbers closely assess what happened in the second quarter. they had a 53% drop in their numbers. they made $3 billion. at the same time last year, they'd made just under $7 billion. let's get the context. crude oil hit the astonishing levels of hundred $40 per barrel last summer. against that backdrop, these figures are not too bad. we saw a 4% increase in the production rise in gas. >> thank you. you are watching "world news" today. stay with us. coming up, the u.k. said they were not conclusive in the torture program.

also, what is the future for the for read driver as he recovers from a serious school facture [inaudible] -- skull fracture. >> seven people in the state of north carolina have been charged with plotting terror attacks. prosecutors say the alleged ringleader, daniel boyd, trained in afghanistan. they say he even recruited his own two sons. remember the octuplets born earlier this year in california? they're about to have their own reality tv show. their mother has hired a contract to make a reality tv series. they were born in january.

a judge in california also appointed a guardian to look after their financial interest. >> a day in court for the mother of the world's longest surviving said of octuplets. they haven't signed up for big money to appear in a reality tv show with her other six children. lawyers representing a group that protects the interests of performing children are concerned about her babies. >> somebody has to protect the interests. we're looking at how are their financial interests protected. she has an inherent conflict of interest. >> ever since the babies were born, she courted publicity. her lawyer argued a court appointed guardian would invade the family's privacy. the judge says is necessary to make sure the children are not exploited by reality tv or photo

spreads. >> cameras are due to start rolling in september. she is destined to stay in the spotlight for many years to come. >> this is "world news" today from bbc world news. obama's middle east envoy george mitchell has held talks with the israeli prime minister. the issue of settlement is on the agenda. the president of nigeria orders police and troops to use all necessary means to control the violence. the far right made sums in the beginning gains in last month's european elections, not the least in hungary, where the party with a hard-line approach returned three for the first time.

where is the right wing support coming from? >> they say they just want to see proper law enforcement and the end to corruption. others believe their right wing extremists, unfairly targeting the gypsy minority. >> this is not true. we're not against any ethnic minority. we want order and general. the hungarian cards much more than that. it means we are involved in almost all areas of life. it is making political progress in the european parliament. three members of the party closely associated with the hungarian guard were elected. the spokesman believes the international media are upset with the party, but still alleged crime is a big plank in the platform.

>> gang killings, the merger of [inaudible] during a robbery of their own house. we have seen the level of violence has been increasing. the police have been unable to put an end to this. >> at a rundown housing estate, is viewed with a growing concern. >> conditions are desperately gramm. people are already on the march in this society. a series of unsolved murders and arson attacks have left communities across the country nervous about what will happen next. >> yes, there is an atmosphere of fear and it is not just a little. everyone is scared for their lives. we have organized guards to keep

watch so there will not be any trouble. >> the economic collapse has hit a hungry heart. the message from the hon. guards is also proving popular. >> the far right has tried to modify its image. other members of the hungarian guard just concerned citizens who want to see lott enforce, or are they members of a far-right paramilitary? >> for this government is sued over its alleged role in the cia's program known as extraordinary rendition. he says he was tortured in egypt after he was taken there on a plane which refueled on british territory. british authorities say this does not mean the u.k. was implicit in torture. an investigative journalist who

has written a book looking at the rendition program joins us. thank you for joining us. we have had the british government and the american government gradually admitting that the extraordinary rendition has taken place. haulage of it is out now? >> very little. there has been no entry into details. there's a lot of secrecy that still surrounds this. in any individual case, is very rare that there is a bed mission by the u.s. government or any other government -- is very rare that there is an admission. >> how big do you think this is. you're aware that there's something going on. how much of this was going on? >> there are dozens of people

after 9/11 who went to other countries. we're talking about egypt, morocco, syria, and even libya. those are the countries of people were said to end interrogated on behalf of the united states. we have seen legal actions to try to force the evidence. people are able to get compensation for the torture the clinton of suffered. >> -- get compensation for the tortured the people claimed to suffer. admittedly, to people like you pushing and pushing, the thing we will ever get to know the full extent? >> i do not think we will ever get to know the full extent. there are secrets which will

forever be covered up. the torture will never give his side of the story. you have to look people in the eye and say, do we believe what they say? some of what they said has seemed very credible, but we will never know for sure. >> if we go back to 9/11 and think of the impact on the western world, is it really so shocking for the government to carry l secret efforts to try to deal with people who they think maybe guilty or a suspect when it issues against their government's? >> what is striking is the internal debate.

very senior members of the cia, for example, right after 9/11 said, why are we going down this route? this will literally be counterproductive. yes, things were done which were extreme. there was a wise counsel at that time that said this was a mistake. >> thank you. you can listen and read more about that legal challenge. it is on our web site, bbc.com/ news. he is in trouble with furry. you may have some news. >> the company is wondering who will try for them. -- who will drive for them.

he said at the weekend, get michael back in the ferrari. today there's news that michael's spokesman said that if the chance came, he would consider replacing the driver. everybody is most concerned about the brazilian, who is still in the hospital. he is expected to remain there for the next 10 days. he is improving. there's a thought that the damage to his eye could end his formulas one career. that's not confirmed, but it is a concern. let's hear from the doctor. >> it is too early to say anything regarding his future. >> and the season, free of about eight? >-- and about the season, forget about it? >> because of the nature of

this. >> he has the capability to react. all the ferrari people are waiting for him. of course, we are close to him. >> michael vick has been reinstated by the national football league. he missed two seasons of the nfl because of the trial and the sentence. he still needs a team to by him and secure its future, but he is eligible now. that is it. >> funding for this presentation was made possible by -- the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu, the newman's own foundation, the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation, and union bank.