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small businesses to major corporations. >> and now, "bbc world news." >> there is a wind of change in burma. there is concern that the government will be the next test of the southeast asian nation in 2014. and she believes her party will stand in the next elections. >> on the whole, the majority are going for a registration. -- re-registration. >> welcome to gmt. the steering government has been told to end the bloodshed by saturday or face economic sanctions. in greece, have a security is in

place for the march of the 1973 -- for the march of the anniversary of the 1973 student uprising. it is 6:30 p.m. in rangoon, and that is where aung san suu kyi has told the bbc that she believes her national democracy party will stand in upcoming elections with her as a candidate. they have been excluded from recent elections because of conditions imposed by the government, conditions that have now been lifted. the country has been awarded the chairmanship of the 2014 meeting of the association of southeast asian nations. it was back in 1988 when aung san suu kyi returndd to burma and had her political awakening. she addressed 500,000 people in the capital, calling for a democratic government. the following year she was put

under house arrest and was offered freedom if she left the country. but she refused. she would spend 15 of the next 21 years under house arrest. she was released last year after a widely criticized general election. david matt aung san suu kyi in rangoon earlier today. he asked if the time was right to end the boycott of parliament. >> actually, i am not entirely sure of the reasons people think it is not get the right time to read register. -- to re-register. i think the majority will go in for a re-registration. >> would that mean standing in the system as it is? >> this is a matter that will be decided tomorrow. as to when we think it is the right time to enter parliament and why we think that is the right time and place or later.

we would have to discuss why that time might be the right time. >> you have offered an end to the negotiations -- to the conflict. >> i think that conflict can best be resolved through negotiation. it is not a matter of trying to say what you want to say. it is a matter of trying to find out what they want to say. >> pressure on syria to end the violence against anti-government protesters. turkey has been fiercely critical of the syrian government, and it is considering imposing more sanctions against it. the arab league gave syria three days to stop the bloody repression of its people and to accept arab league of observers

into the country. jogging, good to see you. >> the pace of international diplomacy is picking after an arab league meeting where they talked about sanctions, confirmed sanctions for syria, sanctions that would have been unthinkable a few months ago. we have turkey and france coming together, perhaps the two countries with the most vocal opposition, trying to define what their next position will be. the problem is, there are not many good options. they will talk about sanctions, undoubtedly, and other possible moves they could take within the united nations. but neither of them are under any illusions that it is likely to change the course of the syrian regime. at the same time, they increased in attacks by syrian -- syrian

army defectors who have called themselves the syrian revolution army. >> how much longer can it go on? anti- government protestors like these have been bracing gunfire -- braving a gun fire for months. and still, they come out. it is not yet a full civil war, but soon could be. these men say they are defectors who joined the free syrian army they claimed to have killed 10 government soldiers to days ago. there are increasing numbers of similar result -- reports. the uprisinisin start ag to become an armed one. >> the only language that that tyrants like bashar assad and gaddafi no is violence because they are tyrant. it is the only language they

understand. >> what can the international community do? even syria's arab neighbors have given up hope that bashar assad and transition to a more acceptable political system. they have given him an ultimatum of just three days to stop the violence. but there is not get a consensus. -- not yet a consensus. russia put blame on both sides. >> all countries who are worried about the events in syria call on all sides, not only the government, but the opposition groups as well, to stop the violence. today, i saw television reports that say some new force, the so- called free syrian army, i believe, organize an attack on government buildings, on a building belonging to the syrian government. this is already completely similar to real civil war. >> but no one expects sanctions

immediate effect. when the foreign minister of turkey speaks later today, there will have to discuss other options. abann enpridesto bashar al-assad in favor of a new era. the thousayrianf o snia refugees that have been shelteringe might only be a preview h huge tide if the conflict expo its. -- if the conflict escalates. >> when they come together, they have a lot they need to agree on. the terms they are discussing are simply not clear. they're talking to the opposition about how we transition will go.

there were about how fragmented is. but they also realize they might be dealing with a slide into civi war inside syria itself and they ought to make contingency plans for that. there are no clear path ahead to take in dealing with syria. >> it is interesting that turkey is planning such a key role. one cannot help making the comparison to the key role did insist on playing when it comes to libya. >> and remember internees' yeah, it was accused of cozying up to -- in tunisia, it was accused of cozying up to the old government for far too long. now they are transitioning to more democracy in the arab world. turkey has very good relationships with all of its autocratic neighbors up until this year. it realizes now its interests lie in encouraging a transition to governments that it hopes are more stable and more responsive.

but getting there is the problem. libya has been more less a success, although we have no idea how things will pan out there. in syria, things are too volatile and it is to strategic to know the outcome of these countries. >> thank you. let's return to one of our main stories today. there are winds of change in burma. the government has confirmed there will be elections in 2014. the pro-democracy leader aung san suu kyi believes her party will be in the elections as well. i suppose the question is, is burma ready for such a role, the

chair of the southeast asian nations? >> that has been the question leading up to this decision. i am in the convention center where journalists have been listening to decisions made by leaders all day. you might hear some of their screen in the background. -- screaming in the background. the focus today has been berman getting the chair of the asean in 2014. remember, whoever chairs the asean chair ends up getting the asia summitt, the asean summit, a great deal of tourism, and even the president of the united states will be expected to attend. many have come out saying they

believe burma is on a process of irreversible reform. critics have pointed out there needs to be much more to be seen from burma before it is believed that the countries on a genuine path of reform. -- the country is on aging went out of reform. >> thank you for speaking with us. in the afghan capital, kabul, two rockets have been fired, apparently aimed at the meeting of tribal elders and political leaders. at least one civilian is reported to have been wounded. president karzai called this meeting to discuss reconciliation with insurgents and a strategic partnership between afghanistan and the u.s. japan has banned shipments of rice near the nuclear plant after radiation levels exceeded safety limits. the japanese government says none of the rise had been sold.

-- rice hundreds of people, including opposition mps, have been protesting weekly outside parliament. there has been a big rise in jewish settler violence against palestinians in the west bank. the number of attacks by settlers against palestinians resulting in injury or property damage has gone up roughly threefold in the last two years. meanwhile, gaza is still subject to an egyptian blockade on goods and people. phillippe grundy is the commissioner general of the united nations relief work

agency. it is good to have you with me now. i am very interested in the challenges now. andre has been an -- observed a truce between israel and palestine, but how much has this affected your work? >> since last year, we have been able to bring in materials and restart some of our construction projects. however, first, the procedures are far too cumbersome. we can only do a fraction of what we should be doing, and there's only room -- only one crossing point between gaza and israel left open. second, it is great that materials have been brought in to rebuild the actress, but private industry will never start -- to rebuild factories, but private industry will never start again under these conditions.

the blockade should be lifted, which is what we and the united nations as a whole have been calling for. >> described the situation that many palestinian refugees are facing and what you can do to help them. >> refugees in the region, the region that is crossed by currents of freedom, freedom to the speech, human rights claims and so forth. and they are particularly frustrated as palestinians because of the stagnation of the peace process and because they are so marginalized. it is important to support them because we are the agency that provides them with services while waiting for a resolution to their plight. >> we are hearing about the plight of many syrians now. but we see people fleeing the country for surrounding areas. how's that impacted your

situation? >> palestinian refugees have always been treated well in syria. >> i'm talking about syrian refugees as well. >> yes, what i'm saying is that they have always been treated well in syria. part of the general population is suffering from the violence and repression. i can only join the appeals made by the u.n. secretary general and by the arab league for the violence to end. they affect everybody, including refugees. refugees get caught in the middle of this violence. when violence occurs, we cannot bring children to school, patients to the clinic and so forth. the important thing is that this violence has to stop. >> you talked about the idea of that settlements being against international law. how much communication do you have with israelis as well?

>> we communicate with israel on a daily basis to try to lift some of the restrictions on the palestinians. but of course, the problems -- i spoke about the blockade in gaza. on the west bank, the expansion of settlements, which is generally seen as a political issue, has a very he had the human cost. -- a very heavy human cost. it is not conducive to creating an atmosphere for peace. >> ok, thank you very much. still to come, one president is in hot water over remarks about racism. president barack obama has said that the top 44 the u.s. foreign policy now lies in the asia- pacific region. this will be backed up with expanded military presence. he was addressing the australian

parliament on his first official visit. >> president obama opened his visit with -- open his day with a visit to the tomb of the fallen war hero. it is a symbol of every major conflict in the past century. but it was to the unfolding century, the asian century as he called it, that he turn his attention to in a speech to the parliament. he said the asia-pacific region is now his top foreign-policy priority. america, he said, is here tuesday. >> with most of the world's nuclear power and some half of humanity, asia will largely define whether the century ahead will be marked by conflict or cooperation. needless suffering or human progress. >> throughout the speech, references to china. and extra encouragement for its

economic growth to trade, which everyone can share in. but also a message of caution to beijing about the need for responsibility and restraint the president said the u.s. will increase its military presence in australia, just as its allies are doing in the region. as america withdraws from afghanistan and iraq, this has been taking place over the past year. just this week, the chinese have said they have concerns about increased military presence in the region and said they felt and circled. these are the words of two very powerful nations. each has much to lose and each will go far to pursue their interests. bbc news, sidney. >> you are watching gmt. here are the headlines.

aung san suu kyi tells the bbc that she is considering standing for elections in burma. syria has until saturday to halt its crackdown on anti- government protesters or face sanctions. here is the latest business of the banking industry, particularly in the uk. >> it was the first banking casualty here in the u.k. in 2008. let me explain. i know you have been talking about the eurozone and italy. we go from present crises to crisis of the past. up to $1 billion in losses on the sale of northern rock. these are major and -- amazing images that we had of customers queuing up to withdraw their savings in 2008. it will pay $1.2 billion for the

bank's branches, virgin money. the risky parts will remain in state hands. the u.k. government has been under pressure to raise money for its own debt. the finance minister says this is a good deal for everyone. >> i think this will be a good thing for british consumers. we have a powerful new presence on the street, offering better deals to families and a real choice competition. it is also good for taxpayers, getting some of the money back that we put into the banking system under the last government. it is also good for northeast england because we are protecting jobs there and we will make sure that the headquarters for virgin money is in new castle. >> four of the biggest airlines in the u.k. and the irish republic have put their rivalry aside. they are demanding that the british government scraps one of their passengers duties, what of the highest in the world. it is a tax on every ticket on

every flight originating in the uk. and has risen sharply since its introduction in 1994. the two biggest carriers say the tax is hurting businesses and families. >> we believe very strongly that it is net-to the u.k. in the economy -- and the gone -- it is to the u.k. and the economy. this is a tax that is turning towards the way at a time when we need to be encouraging people to visit the uk. this is a tax that is discouraging investment in the uk. the best thing to do is to scrap it altogether. >> of it makes on the board here with some of the markets, but generally, the markets are down

with all eyes on italy and mario monti with his technocrat government he put in place yesterday. what will they start with with the monumental task in front of them? italy is facing $1.6 trillion in debt. >> thousands of police have been deployed in happens to avoid violence. the annual rally marked the uprising of the students in 1973 that helped bring down the country's military dictatorship. of course, takes place against the box -- the backdrop of austerity measures. >> students here at athens polytechnic who rose up against the dictatorship in greece in

1973, several people were killed. it ushered in the end of the military dictatorship. today is march will be joined by several thousand people who will spend their anchor at the austerity measures that -- of their anger at the austerity measures the increase will push through. greece is in a terrible economic crisis. surely, it has to enact crisis measures. >> these are measures against the working class and the working people. we think those measures have to be taken to the multinationals and the elite in greece. >> do you think the social unrest will continue, or does

the new government give you hope? >> the new government's taking new measures and they are against the working class. there will be an answer from the working people and demonstrations will continue. >> discontent at home. what will happen as the march continues from here to the u.s. embassy? 7000 police officers are deployed to keep peace on the streets. >> the head of the governing body of fifa has said there is no racism between players and anything seen as such on the field should be dealt with by shaking hands after the game. critics have said his comments are laughable. we are joined by the chief executive of the professional footballers' association. time is limited, mr. taylor.

give us your views on his comments. he does appear to have played down his comments. >> there were two interviews and is -- it is really hard to misunderstand when he talks in such a condescending manner and makes a trivial this issue. when he says that the players should just shake hands is totally unacceptable. we have spent decades in football to show an example, to the rest of the world. we have a case even our a man was killed because of his color. we have the riots where people were killed just per -- just try to protect their family and property. there have been so many other issues that have been unacceptable for the head of the gang.

>> gordon, time is tight. thank you for joining me today. that is all today. there's plenty more to come on bbc news. news at bbc.com/news. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. union bank. and shell. ♪ >> this is kim - about to feel one of his favorite sensations. at shell, we're developing more efficient fuels in countries like malaysia that can help us get the most from our energy resources. let's use energy more efficiently. let's go. ♪

>> union bank has put its financial strength to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations. corporations.