>> "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.

>> union bank has put its financial strength to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you? >> and now "bbc world news." >> the possible release from jail of the man convicted for the 1988 locker bibombings sparks outrage in the u.s.. >> don't allow someone who has murdered, premeditated murder of 270 innocent people and let them walk away. >> taiwan appeals for help as it battles to rescue thousands still strabbeded by last week's typhoon. -- stranded by last week's typhoon.

france and germany are out of recession pulling ahead of the rest of europe. welcome to "bbc world news" broadcast to our viewers on pbs in america also around the globe. coming up later for you, the force of iran's feared be seeinged you militia. we have an interview with a former member. and it's farewell to a pioneer of rock music, the guitarist les paul has died. hello. the u.s. government is making its view very clear. the man serving a life sentence in a jail of the bombing of a pan am jet should not be released early. he has terminal prostate

cancer. he could be freed next week on compassionate grounds. he served eight years of his sentence. the bbc correspondent allen little reported back on the disaster in 1988. he has returned to lockerbie now. >> the whole sky just lit up and it was like liquid fire started to rain down on the car. >> like an atom bomb going off. it was a terrific mushroom of flames. >> i lost my brother-in-law, my sister-in-law. >> it was mid winter, the longest night of the year. one hour into its flight. the pan am jumbo jet fell out of the cold sky, the biggest mass murder in british history. he was sentenced to life for planting the bomb is now likely to be released as early as next week on compassionate grounds. he has terminal prostate cancer. fate thrust this town into

national notoriety it did not invite. it is a close-knit private page and does not like the intrusion of the world's press. its people carry what happened that night with them. walking through these streets after the crash was unforgettable. there was aviation fuel hanging in the air and it mixed with the black smoke from the fires and coated the back of your throat. you had to step over a chaotic jump be of fire hoses snaking off in every direction. you could only watch as the people of lockerbie moved through the darkness, not speaking, silenced by the shock of it. 259 passengers and crew died. 11 people were killed on the ground here in lockerbie. he has served two weeks in prison for each of the 270 dead. dr. jim swire lost his daughter floora. oven so, he wants him to be released. >> i don't believe he is guilty as charged and very many over

people have doubts about this trial. so i think it would be inhumane, indeed downright cruel to keep a man in prison to die away from his family and his country. >> but in america, there has been no similar accumulation of doubt. there families have reacted very differently. >> why do i have to have compassion for the man who killed my daughter? killed all those people? that doesn't make any sense. we have lost our moral compass. >> pan am 103 was en route from london heathrow to new york in december 1988. the bomb tore it apart five miles above lockerbie. after years of resistance, libya agreed to release two suspects for trial in april 1998. a scottish court was convened in the nevererlands. in 2001, he was found guilty. another was acquitted.

as the allow permanently stands, permanent transfer can't take place while the legal process is ongoing. his appeal is still before the courts. release on compassionate grounds would enable to continue his appeal. the u.s. government also reacted today urging britain to keep him behind bars until he dies. >> we have made our views clear to the u.k. government, to the other authorities that we believe he should spend the rest of his time in jail. >> but it is not a matter for the u.k. government. just is to the scottish parliament. the secretary finished him in jail last week. now a scottish minister must take a decision that will have a lasting impact on british foreign relations. >> clearly i have been listening to representations from the americans, from the families, and indeed all those with a legitimate interest. i'm confident i have to decide

this as speedily as possible. he is terrible ill and there are other factors. i have made no decision as yet. >> lockerbie is synonymous now with an act of terror that was so singularly shocking and at the time unprecedented. it is still on the north atlantic flight path and each sunny day, each clear sky brings its passing reminders. allen little, bbc news, lockerbie. >> you got a sense of it there, even 21 years after this disaster, many questions remain about who exactly was responsible. there has long been concern that the man was in fact a convenient scapegoat, that the real perpetrators are still at large.3 correspondent, front gardener. >> it's the story that won't quite go away, britain's worst ever terrorist attack still has some unanswered questions. the lobber biverdict left an

uncomfortable taste in the mouth, just one convicted of all of those deaths. so the doubters question will more seen yore libyans shouldn't have also stood trial. other suspect that libya may have taken the rap for an atrocity perhaps committed by others. so was justice done in the trial of the lockerbie bombing. the trial in the negligenterlands looked at a vast amount of evidence. pan am flight 103 was painstakingly rebuilt from the wreckage. this was a forensic investigation conducted to extremely high standards. but back in 1981, libya was not the only country with a grudge against america. five months before lockerbie, this u.s. warship shot down an iran airbus over the gulf killing all 290 passengers. the u.s. navy said its radar mistook it for an attacking war plane. iran never accepted this blowing up a u.s. airliner in

revenge would have an obvious symmetry but no iranian complicity has been proven and the court found against the libyan man. >> he is a victim of gross miscarriage of justice. i'm very glass that although the scottish executives have granted or might grant a release on compassionate grounds, his appeal will continue. >> one result of the trial, libya has been largely rehabilitated. after the bombing, libya's president was an international pa ryia offering up the two suspects for trial, swallowing the verdict and paying compensation was the price he had to pay to bring libya in from the cold. britain and america have both re-established relations. >> it's been on both sides. the outside world has been grudging in its acceptance of libya and kadaf tinch and they have been begrudging in giving the outside world what it wants.

>> so what happens next? this was the welcome home given to the other libyan suspect, acquitted eight years ago. when the other comes home, he'll likely get the same. libans will consider that a line has been drawn over lockerbie, others, though, may degree. frank gardener, bbc news. >> more of the main international news for you. at least 20 people have been killed, more than 30 injured in two suicide bomb attacks in northern iraq. the attack has targeted two cafes? sinjar in the province of mosul. the region has been hit by a series of high profile attacks in the past two weeks. north korea has released a south korean engineer. he had been detained since march for allegedly insulting the north common first leadership. there is still no sign of the maltese registered ship the arctic sea. the company that operates the vess sell now does believe it's

been hijacked. it was last sighted off the french coast last month. russia has sent five navy ships to help in the search. at least 300 people are missing, feared dead in just one taiwanese village in the landslides triggered by typhoon morakot. the latest official figure is met by growing public anger and will put more effort into the rescue operation. the military say 4,000 extra troops will now join the search teams. we report now from one of the worst hit areas of southern taiwan. >> it's a battle to keep morale high, but the search goes on. even more soldiers join the rescue efforts across southern taiwan. the water levels are still high and hundreds of people are still stranded. the difficulty to spot from the air. but now troops are out on the ground. more are being found and

airlifted to safety. these from one of the worst hit villages. people are being rescued however possible, ropes and wires bridging canyons. here a newborn baby is brought to safety. the conditions are treacherous, but moving fast is essential. it's incredible the impact of the floodwaters have had on the infrastructure in this area, one of the worst affected in southern taiwan. the road, the bridge has been completely swept away. you can see how high the river still is days later. the weather has improved. the operation has been able to gather steam, but there are still hundreds of people trapped in the mountains. even here it took an hour to bring one man across the treatment. progress is slow and clearly

many have parished. >> the damage is huge with many casualties. a lot entered but even more dead people. >> taiwan has now asked for international help. heavy lifting aircraft and disineffect tant. 1.5,000 body bags have been brought in for the worse case scenario, but many may not be found. >> after a year of negative growth, two of europe's biggest commission have unexpectedly pulled out of recession. figures just release show the output of france and germany grew by .3% in the second quarter of this year despite forecasts they would carry on shrinking. we have this from our chief economic correspondent. >> there are one or two bright spots in the world economy. and surprisingly we learn today two of them are right in the heart of continental europe. france and germany both

recorded growth of .3% in the second quarter of the year. europe's industrial powerhouse was perhaps the biggest surprise. german companies are on the move again. they have had a term time over the last year with the slump in world trade, but in recent months, things have been picking up. this firm which makes plastic components has seen an increase in orders. >> our turnover has increased by more than 15%. we're opening a new factory and developing new products for the all notive industry. >> car scrap ago schemes have helped the german economy, they are offered cash to trade in old vehicles for new ones. france has benefited from government investment aid. consumer spending has picked up. shoppers we spoke to in paris seem confident about their prospects. >> i'm spending a little more.

>> i'm half optimistic. >> i think the economy is stronger than it used to be over the last months. >> and after months of doom and gloom, here for once is a finance minister with reasons to be cheerful. >> i was happily surprised. none of my forecasters or any of the other forecasters, for that matter, were planning positive growth during the second quarter of 2009. >> so with growth returning, france and germany can say that technically they're out of recession. it's not the same story in some other leading consumer commission. us, for example, here in the u.k., there was a decline in output of .8%. so why is britain lagging behind? the fallout from the financial crisis is still hanging over the economy. >> because the u.k. financial sector is such a big hit from the recession, it's taking

longer to recovery than the other countries which didn't have such a meltdown in the financial sector. >> germany and france will hope this isn't a flash in the pan with a temporary boost from government spending followed by another dip, the british government can only hope we catch up with the french and german bandwagon. >> still to come for you on "bbc world news," 18 months after violence tore kenya apart, a new call for peace and justice. >> first, though, the united nations security council has expressed concern at the extension of house arrest for burma's leading opposition figure, aung san suu kyi. they have urged the ruling generals to begin a genuine dialogue with her and other political parties. the prime minister of neighboring thailand, one of burma's key partners is telling the bbc of his deep documents

of the verdict. he was asked if the military leaders in ran go are paying any attention to international concerns? >> it has been difficult and i'm sure that a lot of people have experienced this, but to then jump and conclude that they do not listen at all, i don't think that's the case. i think the fact that they have formulating a road map, it was clear a response to the views of the international community and maybe that we just need to have to work that much harder to make them see that what is happening there is still not enough. >> there have been various scenarios set out for the future of burma and one that i have heard often is that eventually this regime will change. but when it does, perhaps many years in the future, what you'll have against the backdrop of a process rouse and peaceful asia is a desperately

poor country with refugees coming into countries like thailand. >> we are already feeling that problem because of the gap between the stage of development and also we are also feeling the effect of conflict among the minority groups and the government, regular fighting, and most recently over the last couple of months, we have had to look after about 3,000, 4,000 displaced persons. so which is why we want to encourage the process of development. >> latest headlines for you on "bbc world news." the united states is saying it is still opposed to any early release of the bibian man jailed for the 1988 lockerbie bombing. relatives of the victims of the attack are deeply divided about reports of his impending release. authorities in taiwan are saying more than 1,600 people have been rescued since typhoon

morakot caused floods and mudslides. in iran, one of the defeated presidential candidates has claimed some of those arrested since the disputed election have been tortured to death. he has called for an inquirey. ahmadinejad took office last week. now he fares now as president will depend in anyways on the militia sent in to break up demonstrations. this report from our tehran correspondent who was expeled by the iranian authorities. >> opposition demonstrators are on the streets of tehran. suddenly shots ring out from a rooftop. a shadowy figured has opened fire on the crowd. these are the be seeinged, the -- be seegged government

militia, the chief enforcers, often going throughout crowds on fleets of motorcycles. we have obtained rare footage as they were trained or indoctrinated taking the iran-iraq war for inspiration, they're drilled from an early age for service to the regime and to god. they do seem remarkably idealistic. >> our goal is move the whole world toward greater spirituality. we want to change the world, to save the world and its people from tyranny. saving the world from tyranny or crushing dissent as this seems to be doing. one told his old colleagues adopted to their new role with enthusiasm. >> there is no need to tell them what to do.

when they were given guns and batons to go, it's obviously what they are meant to do. it's like letting a bull lose among sheep. >> he showed me a website he set up to identify former colleagues he says are taking part in the crackdown. he says some of them have contacted him to complain about what he has been doing, but also some have expressed doubts about what they are being asked to do themselves. >> some of them have become disillusioned. i can't tell you how many, but i'm sure not many are not happy about what is happening right now. others are standing firm, supporting the revolution by taking up arms and oppressing people. >> i had many, many suspicious commanders, they have problems with their children and their wives and they ask them why did you kill the people? >> there are plenty who show no doubts at all.

watch this plainclothes militia man as he takes out two pistols and takes aim into the crowd. the crowd chases him down. despite the casualties, iranians are losing their fears, perhaps it's time for the government to start running scared. >> well, 18 months after disputed election results led kenya to the brink of civil war, there is concern in a those responsible for the violence there could evade justice. will ross reports. >> call for peace in a community that was torn apart by tribal clashes. they came in tens of thousands for three days of prayers and repen dance. these lidge services have been

backed by the government in an effort to heal the wounds from last year's post-election violence. they were asked to hand over their weapons. some had been used in defense, others to hunt down and kill people from rival ethnic groups. handing over his machete, he says this event is what kenya needs. >> people are forgiving each other, you see. and people are -- >> but what about justice for this? more than 1,000 people were killed and half a million displaced when a commission of ine acquirey says cabinet minute ters were to blame. it's now a year and a half since kenya was torn apart by the post-election violence, but there are plenty of reminders

of what went on. this home was looted and burns because the owner of the property was from one particular ethnic group. there is some reconciliation but do the politicians or businessman who instigated violence will ever get their day in court. joseph has returned to his village where his wife and his son were killed, burnt alive inside a church as they sought refuge from their own neighbors. now he struggles on his own to look after his other children. he blames the political leaders, but wants them to face justice at the international criminal court in the hague. >> this country is country for the rich, but the poor have no justice. so we as kenyans would like these peoples to be taken out of the country so that justice can work and the truth can be

seen. >> the government has ruled out setting up a tribunal in kenya which would have featured international judges. it is chosen instead the local courts, but insists politicians will not escape justice. >> matters of justice like international crime, you cannot mediate, you cannot reconcile. if the offense has been committed, you must face the music. you must dance to it. >> even if you're a minister? >> whether you are. >> if key suspects evade justice locally, the best hope of ending immunity may be at the international criminal court. a last resort to ensure these horrific events are not ignored, will ross, bbc news, kenya. >> finally, les paul, the american musician and guitar pioneer has died in new york. he was 94. he helped develop the instruments and recording techniques that changed the history of amplified music.

we look at his legacy. >> the gibson les paul, the guitar he invented and what he gave his name to became the instrument of choice for so many. across a spectrum guitarist embraced it for the sound from guns and roses slash to neil young. he expermitted with guitar amplification for years first coming up with a basic log shape to the bemusement of gibson. >> everybody thought it was awful and terrible. >> les paul was also a successful musician in his own right, a three-time grammy winner who twice reached the number one spot in the united states in the 1950's. but he never expected the instrument designed for which he'll be remembered to become

so influential. >> in a million years i don't believe that it ever entered my mind that it would be as big as it is. >> he also invented multitrack recording, a technique that led to the modern studio. that together with his musicianship and innovation will ensure you'll always be remembered as one of the architects of rock and roll. >> les paul, dead at the age of 94. thanks for being with us. >> funding 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.

>> union bank has put its financial strength to work for a wide range of companies from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you? >> i'm julia stiles. >> i'm kevin bacon. >> i'm kim cattrall. >> hi, i'm ken burns. >> i'm lili taylor. >> i'm henry louis gates, jr., and public broadcasting is my source for news about the world. >> for intelligent conversation. >> for election coverage you can count on. >> for conversations beyond the sound bites. >> a commitment to journalism. >> for deciding who to vote for. >> i'm kerry washington, and public broadcasting is my source for intelligent connections to my community. >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet, los presented by kcet, los angeles.