it is malicious. and i will stop there. >> four judges appointed by the germond of sierraç leone and te u.n. are hearing this case. >> the central argument is that ross taylor organize the uprising in sierra leone in order to control the country's diamonds and rich's, diamonds and he claims were delivered to him in empty bottles. >> never did i receive any diamonds from the iuf. it is a lie. it is a diabolical lie. >> charles taylor in the witness box was that of an -- of a competent man. his testimony is expected to last for several weeks.

the international criminal court in the hague. >> how did the former president of liberia and up in the hay? -- end up in the hague? >> charles taylor first came to public prominence as a rebel. in 1989, he invaded liberia, saying he intended to overthrow the military dictator of the west african nation. the civil war he provoked shattered the country into political and ethnic fiefdoms. it also spread unrest among refugees, particularly their neighbor, sierra leone. reports by the u.n. began accusing charles taylor of direct links with the rebels in sierra leone. the u.n. said he was a gun runner and a diamond smuggler in league with the insurgents. his reputation at this time became notorious for widespread

atrocities. they hacked off the limbs of anyone, including children, who accused -- who oppose them and took control of the diamond mines. western nations contend mr. taylor and the international tribunal -- condemned mr. taylor and the international tribunal accused him of war crimes in that country. the problems for the flamboyant politician the charles taylor had become or piling up as a new rebellion against his government in liberia this time around gathered pace. he was forced out of power by a mixture of hostile diplomacy and the rebel guns. mr. taylor headed into what he hoped would be a temporary exile in nigeria. he was a wanted man, but even as he handed power over to a deputy, he remained defiant. >> god willing, i will be accurate -- i will be back. >> by 2006 he was in the custody

of the u.n. he was flown first to sierra leone, but there were fears he might try to escape his west african property. he was transferred to the hague for the rest of his trial. it has already been running for your and may take another year before the judges reached -- for a year and may take another year before the judges reached a verdict. >> the tribunal backed by the united nations has found a man guilty of genocide, murder and rape. prosecutors said he played a key role in the massacres that led -- that left 800,000 stutsi and other -- and to hutus it.

-- tsutsis and hutus dead. by any measure, it is a staggering profit. wall street's goldman sachs blue analyst members out of the water. nearly $6.6 billion has been set aside for compensation and benefits. for most people, compensation and benefits will translate as bonuses. is that fair? >> that figure is the sixth -- of $6.6 billion is not just on a foot -- bonuses, but also the

amount that they paid out in cash salaries and other employee benefits. but certainly, the bonuses will be larger this year, much bigger than people expected. goldman said it is based on performance. it has performed exceedingly well in the second quarter of this year. nonetheless, it was not until çafter the bail out front from the government's -- the bailout funds from the government. >> but they have pointed out that they have paid back with ibarra from the government and they say they are merely being smarter than -- that they borrowed from the government and they said they are merely being smarter than other people. >> the stock market recovered quite strongly during the three months when goldman sachs learned these profits. it has obviously done very well from that. lastly, it has a very strong

reputation in this particular activity. it is the dominant firm in trading securities on the planet, probably, and has great resources at its disposal. having said that, these figures are even better than one would expect. about 25% higher than many analysts had forecast. >> many thanks nato-led forces in afghanistan have begun an investigation into a helicopter crash. it is reported that it has killed six people. it was a civilian aircraft. the european parliament has chosen its first president from a former communist country. the former polish prime minister won support from more than two-thirds of members. many e.u. politicians saw it as a final hearing of europe.

-- a final hughley en of europe. -- final healing of europe. hannah clark is now 16 and that is quite something. she made history at the age of two when a donor heart was grafted onto her own failing heart. the donor heart was removed years ago and doctors say she has now fully recovered. >> throughout much of her childhood, hannah clark has been a very sick little girl. she had a groundbreaking surgery at age two that gave her a new heart and allowed her own hard to strengthen. now at 16, she has made recovery beyond all expectation. >> [unintelligible]

>> as a baby, and underwent an urgent organ transplant because of her severe heart failure. a small donor heart was attached to her own in a so-called piggyback operation, taking over the function and becoming the dominant organ. her own heart was able to rest and did so for more than four years. but then unexpectedly, her own heart recovered so well that the donor organ could be removed. the surgeon who cared for her over the years and pioneered the treatment says it is the first time he has seen a hard fully recover in a child. -- a heart fully recover in a child. >> it is getting better and better. it is really great.

>> it has been a long battle for hannah. her parents say her life has been full of emotion, and some of that came out at the press conference announcing her recovery. >> [unintelligible] >> the family insisted will never forget the generosity of the organ donor who helped give hannah a chance to recover and live as a healthy teenager. >> the conductor edward downe has died, along with his lot -- along with his wife and assisted suicide clinic in switzerland. his wife was dying of cancer and he chose to travel with her to end their lives together. >> a gifted and passionate musician, ted downs was at the

center of britain's musical life. his real life passion was for his wife, joan. they shared a life and love for music, one that friends and family described as passionate. >> i can perfectly well imagine being so rational thinking, it has been great, this is the way to complete our lives together. >>ç when ted downs was performing, or even just rehearsing, joan would always be in the audience. the couple that was completely devoted, they decided to make their last journey together. while joan violence was dying of cancer, her husband was not -- while jones was dying of cancer, her of them was not terminally

ill. the doctor prescribes lethal doses of medication to those seeking assisted suicide. campaigners believe 170 people have traveled to switzerland for assisted suicide. it is thought to cost about 4,000 pounds per person. last year, daniel james made the same journey at the age of 23. the training injury left him almost totally paralyzed. facing lifelong disability, he chose assisted suicide. restrictions here are pushing people abroad. >> what i think it demonstrates is that anyone can go abroad if they can afford to do so. we need to have some kind of safeguards in place.

>> ted downs devoted his life to music. and he shared life and death with a wife he adored, a decision some will understand, but which will appall others. >> still to come, once very stormy seas to seek a better life in the european union. why are african-american immigrants to europe dwindling? a number of displaced people are heading back to their homes in the northwestern swat valley. the army opened roads leading into the valley on monday. 2 million people uprooted by fighting and the army -- by fighting between the army and the taliban have been displaced. >> in the main town, mingora,

people routinely carry white flags to signal they are no threat to security forces everywhere. this man has just returned and says the only problem is that the market has shut down. it is hard to get things to eat and drink. but otherwise, it is peaceful. those returning to find the weather in the hills and familiar after living in tents and planes in recent weeks. tempers were raised as people lined up for food and supplies before leaving. this man said he could not have dreamt that things could be so bad. he blamed the government for the conditions they face. the government has had strong support for its military action against the taliban in swaps and other northern -- northern regions in recent weeks. but that support will be tested, both by the manner of the return, and how they live up to

the promise of securing peace and reconstruction in the long term. >> britain has paid its last respects to soldiers who died in the country's worst day so far in afghanistan. thousands turned out and lined the streets to honor the british soldiers. the bodies of the eight men who were killed last week were flown home and driven through the nearby town in southwest england. this is pbc "world news." -- bbc world news. the first african leader charged with crimes against humanity, charles taylor, but says the charges against him are lies. the track -- the attraction of life in europe may be losing its sheen with migrants. latest figures showed last year, 9000 people tried to enter europe from africa

illegally. compare that to the peak in 2006 when more than 31,000 took the precarious journey by boat. we went to the island to find out more. >> on patrol with the spanish coast guard. behind them, tourist resorts and a brief, ahead commodity atlantic ocean. -- and a briereef, ahead the and then to the ocean. -- the atlantic ocean. >> over the past two years, the number of migrants coming across these waters has fallen by almost three-quarters.  year, not a single boat reached spanish shores.

>> the spanish state is down to the deterrent effect of its improved surveillance. we were given a rare access to renew police control room where incoming boats or monitored in real time by radar and cameras with a range of five nautical miles. >> last year in tenerife, we had 100 boats are writing. this year, we have only had five. -- we had 100 boats are writing. this year we have only had five. >> but better surveillance did not -- is not the only deterrent. so, too, is the recession. in madrid, we found a group of migrants that were allowed tuesday when the government failed to repatriate them, but without papers in a nation with soaring unemployment, some worry

whether it was worth it. >> [unintelligible] >> back in tenerife, this red cross house is packed with food, and clothing kits. >> it is always going to be worse with the economic crisis until there is more development in africa. that is the only thing that will stem this completely. >> with the sea conditions, the spanish authorities are bracing for the summer. advances are been made here, but this is a complex fight that is far but from one. -- it that is far from won. >> emerging from a space

capsule after three months. >> after 105 days, the seal is broken. one german and four frenchmen step out. apparently, none the worse for wear. they had never left the ground. but everything inside was designed to make them feel isolated, as if they were on a real trip to mars. the capsule is cramped to say the least. there are no windows, and radio communication with ground control was deliberately delayed by up to 20 minutes. >> speaking with the media, the russian commander declared its a complete success. >> this was cooperation between many scientists and it was also a cooperation among the crew. mutual assistance and support were evident at all times. >> but even 105 days is not

nearly enough to get to mars and back. next year, another group of volunteers will enter this same cramped capsule and be sealed inside for a daunting 520 days. that is nearly a year and a half. >> the track record of movies themed around the iraq war is next. film industry insiders are predicting a new picture called the herseth locker. -- called the "hurt locer." we have got a problem with tom's report. we will come back to it if we can. >> a plane at a german air show on sunday dropped out of the air

and collided with a family car. inside that car were a couple had taken their daughter to the show. the pilot of the pipeline was doing loops, but the aircraft stalled and went into a sharp dive. it struck the family's car near the air field. amazingly, all three survived with just scratches and the private, can you believe it, walked with minor injuries. -- and the pilot, can you believe it, walked away with minor injuries. and the beat goes on and on, and as they say, on. ♪ >> you might find the sound of one drunk enough to deal with, although some bands use two, even three.

çthese musicians sought to smah the record for the most group of drummers jamming and raise money for multiple sclerosis. >> "the hurt locer" is set in baghdad in 2004. it tells the story of three soldiers who lead a peerless existence trying to diffuse bombs. this man has one locked onto his body. >> i cannot get it off. i'm sorry, ok? >> the central character is played by jeremy renner. >> uri wild man, a risk taker, a man addicted to war.

>> 833. >> i do a lot more with being at the center of something and not really having much else. when your life becomes your job, [unintelligible] >> aso of americans have touched on the war in iraq -- a slew of american filmmakers have touched on the war in iraq. film critics concur this picture is not the same as other iraq films. >> it is not afraid to let the audience bring its own viewpoints to the movie. all of the other films about the war have come at you with their attitudes, be they judgmental or emotional.

>> most of the iraqis in the film are plot devices, not fully drawn characters. >> the film is not about iraqis. it is not even about the iraq war. it is about these three guys journey and the life-and-death situations they live in every day. >> much more any time you wanted on www.bbcworldnews.com. thanks very much for being with us. >> "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, and the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation.] macarthur foundation.]