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arab league mission to syria win knows by the day. six gulf states are pulling monitors because syria has failed to honor any agreement. >> welcome to bbc world news. as the race for the republican until nation moves to florida mitt romney bows to pressure and returns.ome of his tax turkey responds to a french bill denialll criminalize the of general any side. the turkish prime minister calls it racist. it is midday in london, 7:00 a.m. in new york and 3:00 p.m. in the persian gulf. more states are pulling out of the monitoring mission in syria following in the footsteps saudi

arabia which recalled its monitors sunday. saying damascus is defying the peace plan they are calling on the u.n. to bring pressure on sir why. the sir i don't know tprpb minister accuses them of blatant interference in syria's internal affairs. >> they came up with a draft resolution, a political one, and now we said in advance that we would not accept because it is a latant resolution that harms syria's sovereignty and it is an interference in syria's internal affairs. this means that they haven't discussed the report in detail

despite the work on the ground for one month and satisfying the mission on syrian bans and all syrian provinces. >> let's talk to our correspondent who is following the story from beirut. jim, let's take a closer look. there's been an outright rejection of the demands quite a defiant reaction. >> that's right, yes. the syrians basically are objecting to -- what he said is certain arab states and he was talking about the gulf states, saudi arabia, qatar especially singled out for blame, that they ignored the report of the observer mission on the ground in syria, which syria suspected they would do. they have again around it he said and are trying to refer to the u.n. security kuhn justifying -- council by

bringing out a so-called peace plan that they knew in advance the syrian would be bound to reject because it was a blatant intrusion as far as damascus was concerned on its own domestic political affairs and that with justify referring it to the u.n. security council. what we are seeing is basically the justification for syria's position in reject being the new -- rejecting the new paes -- peace approaches that were designed knowing syria with reject it. >> looking at the divisions in the region now, it becomes very difficult to determine how much pressure can effectively be put on syria at this amendment -- moment it time. >> both on the regional and internationally there are big slips that are prevent being the onion or world acting as one the syrian case. in the region the arab league is

are not osom states happy about referring to the u.n. security council. they are aware of syria's position in the front line against israel and so on. and at the security council that is not simple either because russia and china have been staunch in support of sir why -- syria as the russians have any red lien for condemnation on them for human rights as far human rights. no clear way forward because of all of the divisions. >> jim, thank you. felling the events in syria. let's look at other stories making headlines. the republican nomination for the u.s. presidential election mitt romney has released his tax records after pressure showing

that he received $45 million in income the last two years and paid $6.2 million in tax, a rate of 13.2%. that of most elow americans who pay up to 35% of their income in tax. this is because much of his income is derived from capital gains on investment. the records show that he give dau $7 million to charity, about half to the mormon church. a spanish judge that indicted augusto pinochet is going on trial. baltazar garzon is accused of breaking an amnesty law when he tried to investigate alleged human rights abuses during the spanish civil war. he could be suspended as a judge for 20 years effectively ending his career if found guilt.

what is the impact of this? >> it is a big case because judge baltazar garzon, in his second trial in as many weeks is cutsed of looking into spain's history and alleged human rights abuses under general francisco franco and during the civil war. spain has struggled to grapple with whether it should investigate its past. it has only been a democracy just over 30 years. when franco died in 1975 they brought in an amnesty for all the crimes that could have been committed on both sides by the dictatorship and republic forces. but you only had to see the crowds in support of the judge to see what a big moment this is for the relatives of thousands of people who disappeared under the regime of frank can he. other side there are people had think it would be

terrible to look into the dictatorship and what happened back then. so it is a big issue and one that is being followed by international human rights lawyers. amnesty international and human rights at a press conference they held here, they believe this is the first time in a consolidated democracy, a well established democracy a judge is going on trial for investigating alleged human rights abuses. >> it sounds fascinating. tom, thank you. at least 10 were killed and 30 wounded when two car bombs exploded in sadr city. one bomb went off near a gruba of laborers. the increased tension between the shiite government and main sunni backed political group has increase in violence. italian authorities say they are getting ready to pump fuel some of it might again it leak. the bodies of two women have been recovered from the wreck

bringing the total number of dead to 15. at least 17 are missing. researchers working on a treatment say only results suggest the method is safe. they say two american women registered blind noticed some improvement in vision. still experts warn years of testing lie ahead it prove this is safe and effective. it has been proposed to revive the army that was suspended in 1995 saying time haiti took responsibility for its own security. critics in and outside the country are asking whether bringing back an entity associated with haiti's violent past should be for the earthquake ravaged nation. we have this report from port-au-prince. >> haiti's volunteer army on

parade. one her is in the army. doesn't have one but they want to be. they bought their own uniforms and they are learn being the drills -- learn being the drills hoping to serve their country. if the army is restored will it bring jobs i asked the would -- be recruiter. >> the young need work and the army will give it to them this man tells me. nited nations peacekeepers patrolling a camp where survivors from the earthquake live. instead of relying on the u.n. for security haiti's president wants to bring back the army. >> why have the foreign army and not have our own? >> u.n. peacekeepers? >> that's right. they can be haitians. we are looking for jobs for our youth, for haitians.

why do we offer so many jobs to foreigners? >> despite the enthusiasm of these would-be recruits the proposal to revive the army is controversial because of the violent past. previous rulers have used them to cement their own leadership and silence their opponents. haiti's army became an of the duvali everyone r presidency. >> the army we used was involved in a lot of crime, coup etat and human rights violations. i think if they create the new army it would work to support the democratic movement in haiti. >> as the army hopefuls train with their imaginary guns

critics ask if restoerbg the military should be a priority in this nation where half a million still live in camps. the new army won't be like the old, insists their president. > many are scared of the name the army because it revives the past. but the thing is to have reformation. that is why we want our allies to help us in putting together the raoeight army. >> haiti has endured so much, for those longing to be recruited the army would be a source of national pride. >> we look at international efforts being made to break the cycle of food crises and sal investigation in niger. there is anger over plans it limit the use of subsidized fuel

to motorcycles and public transport vehicles. some say they can't afford to pay double for the petrol. we have this report. >> drivers in jakarta are used it paying cheap prices for fuel because it is subsidized. the government says it is a problem and a burden on the budget. what it has a real issue with is wealthy customers using the cheap fuel. take this mercedes. it is an example of what the government says is a flagrant violation of using subsidized fuel here. it should be going to people that need cheaper prices for their petrol. the government is trying to urge citizens to be more environmentally friendly and use gas instead of petrol but meritists say this is a dangerous option for them and many have complained about there is no public transport in place to use if they have to stop driving cars because of the higher prices.

>> if the government wants more for petrol we have no choice but i'm concerned about using gas. there have been some exploding after using gas. >> if the government can provide a better transportation, either a bus or train and they can provide it from, you know, for our area to jakarta. >> indonesia is a net importer of oil and buying oil on the international market mix it a very costly burden for the government. but the government has a very delicate balance on its hands. indonesia's economy is fueled by domestic consumption and the consumers are spending more for petrol at these pumps and they are unlikely to want to spend their cash elsewhere.

>> here are the headlines. gulf states join saudi arabia in withdrawing their monitors from the arab league mission to syria. multi- milli mitt romney ire releases tax returns. it is time to catch up on what is going on in business with aaron. i think of you i think of a ray of sunshine. bring me some good news. you often do. >> don't shoot the messenger. the international labor known as the i.l.o. eleased its latest global jobs report and it is great reading calling it an urgent challenge. bottom line, three years of economic malaise has resulted in nearly 13 million less workers today than at the start of the

crisis in 2009. here is the problem. several months ago the end of last year it warned governments around the world to start doing more to create jobs. the problem is despite the strenuous efforts by governments this crisis continues unabated. 1.1 billion people today are either jobless or living in poverty. that is one in three workers without a job. how do you fix it? i.l.o. says 600 million jobs need to be created the next decade. that is a tough task. here is what they have to say. >> the first thing i would say it is not the governments that will have to create the jobs. it has to come from the private sector. we need public support to make sure the funds are being invested but in is a tremendous amount of cash held by companies around the world in the u.s. and europe because of the high level uncertainty. we need to see that money being invested in building plants and equipment and hiring workers. -- bright spt the

jobs creation in latin america and east asia. >> you brought me some sunshine. under lots of pressure. it continues. the greek tragedy goes on. we know the eurozone finance ministers have been meeting. they continue tad -- today and they reject the greek private creditors offer. all these bond debt holders of greek debt are saying hang on you want us to write off 50% of what greece owes us but the remaining 60% we want athens to pay a 4% interest rate. they say no we will only allow 3.5%. so it rumbles on. the eurozone finance ministers have given them a handful of days to get a deal on the table. i have experts telling me that deal or no deal it won't change

the eurozone picture. >> whichever way it unfolds decision time is looming so hopefully we would not have to talk about this for months and months come. one way or the other it will get resolved. i think that between the two options having a proper warranty or even an ad hoc unstructured restructuring of growing debt, between them this is not going to have a very major impact on the euro crisis. that is primarily because the bigger problems lie in spain and italy. >> he went on to say greece has become a side show at the moment so we will be talking about italy and spain soon. thanks very much. other news, international efforts are being set up to tackle the threat of a new crisis in west africa. nearly seven million are at risk of severe food shortages due to

insufficient rain, poor crops. the concern is more will flock in urban areas if insufficient countryside.he >> they are struggling harder than usual at the moment. drought hit their village in niger two manages they are trying to make a living hear on the outskirts of the capital and keep hunger at bay. he and his son carry cement and other materials for people building houses in the area. some days they make some money, other days none. he and his wife have two children to provide for. they have lost eight. this year like so many other families they have had only a fraction of the normal harvest. a lot of people leaving their village, people who are going to search for

gold. there are people that would gather in niger because of the difficult harvest. in this village efforts are under way it curb the hunger migration and risks that go with it. some of the poorest and most vulnerable are staying for now, constructing a basic irrigation system which would help the village in further doubroughts. they are paid in grain to help them through this crisis. given uld like to be something that would last longer than food to help me raise a business.tart but she says the work is good. milletgets a share of the and beans being distributed by the world food program. the u.n. agency provides a nutritious lunch for the children of this school to help prevent them from being pulled out of school.

this is the aid that helps the efforts to tack many the crisis with reducing malnutrition and helping families withstand future crisis. education will play a big part. if we let them drop out of school during this crisis in , 2012 we won't get them become. they need to be educated. that will make the difference in the further of this country. >> in the lifetime of these children niger has seen a devastating famine. can the cycle be broken? the question is nowhere more acute than here in a region with a million people and deep poverty. in this rural hospital a child suffering from malaria and malnutrition is being treated in a special hot room. ms. children who do have access to places like this do survive. but this will be one of the

tough years. >> turkey's prime minister has called a french bill on general any side denial race ills. the bill makes it a crime to deny ottoman turks committed genocide against armenians in the first world war. it threatens to cause a rift between france and turkey. many feel strong about the new french law. this is the french cons lit in istanb istanbul. what happened to their ar moonian population is an emotional issue. few turks will accept it was genocide. no surprise their hostility to a law that could jail them for denying it. for the country's normally outspoken prime minister was surprisingly restrained in his first comments. >> this law has no validity he

told m.p.'s from his party. it goes against european values and takes them back to medieval times. his government has promised retaliatory measures if sarkozy signs the law. few people believe these will substantially affect the flourishing trade relationship 2010 the two countries -- between the two countries. >> it is not easy to go beyond this tough rhetoric with the exception of few very symbolic measures like competing the french army to use the turkish air space or waters. >> all the anger over the law is a calmer country than it used to be and more accustomed to the debate over its history. the french foreign minister hopes this will limit the damage to their relationship. >> i would argue for restraint

he said. turkey needs us and we need them. but the terrible events of 1915 to hang over this country. more states are bound to recognize them as genocide and there will be disputes until the day perhaps it can confront its own history. >> we put together a selection of questions and answers looking into whether the killing were systematic and what is the political impact. go to bbc.com/news. if you are one of those people who are frightened of creepy crawlies the next item may give you a different view. the largest textile created from silken thread from spiders is being unveiled. it has taken three years to make and is going on display in

london. >> it is probably not what you would wear to the shops or drop the children at school. but this cape is unique. it is made from the threads of more than a million golden spiders in mad go madagascar. >> the color is natural. we have done nothing to it. this is like the web. if we had not fixed it, they would have been dispersed in the wind. >> to make it the spiders are pried from their webs and put in speci special harnesses. it has been extracted by hand the thread. after about 20 minutes the spiders are released unharmed back into nature. the thread is then woven on looms to produce the dazzling fabric. >> it is incredibly lit, sticky, strong. you don't feel it when you touch

it at all. might feel wafrplt but otherwise you feel nothing. >> it has tape three careers to make the cape, a labor of love for those involved. even after that time nick hasn't conquered his fear of spiders. >> i think it looks absolutely fabulous. let me remind you of our top story. more countries have announced they are withdrawing their monitors from the arab league observer mission to syria. in a statement the gulf corporation council said it was following the lead of saudi arabia. they pulled out sunday claiming that syria was failing to respect any agreements. .hat is all for the moment there is more to come on bbc world news.

>> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. the newman's own foundation. and union bank. >> at union bank our relationship managers work hard to know your business. solutions pecialized and capital to help you meet growth objectiveless. we offer expertise and tailored solutions for small businesses and major corporations. what can we do for you?

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