>> "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. 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 say is again under the

spotlight on prisoner abuse -- the cia is again under the spotlight on a prisoner abuse. at the scottish secretary defend his decision to release the libyan man convicted of the lockerbie bombing. >> i could only base my decision on the medical evidence i had before me. >> and duran and suspicion in greece as many blame the authorities for the wildfires that have ravaged forests. very warm welcome to "bbc world news," broadcast here on pbs in america and around the globe. my name is mike embley. coming up later for you -- the changing landscape of china i joined energy needs. why the country faces a challenge on climate change. and the family way -- house success in japanese politics means having the right relatives. -- how successful in japanese politics means having the right relatives.

hello to you. the obama administration announced a new units you interrogate high level terror suspects, supervised by the white house itself. this as new details emerge in the abuse of prisoners in the first years of the so-called war on terror. prosecutions of the cia and now look possible, but this brings on a new dilemmas. our correspondent is in washington. >> is renewed focus on the cia tactics is -- this renewed focus on cia tactics is creating headlines. leon panetta has said he is standing up for officers that it did what his country asked of them. some in the intelligence community feel that they are being made scapegoats for what

they did in a time of national crisis. >> after 9/11, and erica's spies went to war. in it -- america's spies went to war. the bush and administration always denied use of torture. >> no american will be allowed to torture and other human being anywhere in the world. >> but the bush administration did tell the cia to use "enhance in terror nation -- enhanced interrogation techniques." , a report found that some cia officers had broken even the bush administration's rules on torture. but every detail was blacked out. this report can now be reissued. take the case of the bombing of the uss cole in 2000. al-qaeda opera, rahim al- nashiri, was arrested in 2002

and interrogated. he was reportedly threatened with an electric drill and a mock execution. both techniques may have been illegal, even under the rules of the bush administration. >> officials should have known it these techniques were illegal. it is absolutely essential that individuals who authorized to and implemented these techniques be held accountable. >> president obama, on holiday with his family, now faces an acute dilemma. should he prosecute cia officers or not? today, the white house announced that interrogation would no longer be supervised by the cia, but by a special group. >> the president, after the consensus recommendation of his intra-agency task force, did put in place a new group, the high- value detainee interrogation group, which will be housed at

the fbi. >> but attorney general eric holder may believe torture was committed and be willing to open new investigations. this could be the start of another long, bitter row about activity at the cia -- when that president obama does not need or want. >> this long, bitter row is underway, fuelled by the details we are getting in the newly declassified cia report. one interrogator reportedly threatened khalid sheikh mohammed that the united states was going to kill his children. >> it now looks like there will be a prosecutor looking into the treatment of terror suspects. what do you make of that? >> in a sense, this is what the obama administration did not seem to want, but is a decision by the attorney general. he says it is in the interest of

justice. the name is john durham, a career prosecutor at the department of justice. what we have to look at is if there is enough evidence for full prosecutions of cia agents over those techniques. think of the challenges. you have to think -- who are the witness is going to be? we're talking about interrogations' that happened before 2004. potentially, very difficult prosecutions. the image of the cia is at the forefront of the news, if you like. also think about the impact on the cia and current officers and how they carry out their duties now. some say it will make agents more reluctant to take risks. whether that is a good thing or not depends on where you stand politically. others feel that this is politically motivated, not just about justice, but being seen to make a break with the policies

of the bush administration. >> we are bound to be back to you and all this. for the moment, thank you. let's round up some of the other main news for you. one of the youngest detainees held in guantanamo bay has been released. mohammed jawad has been sent back to his family in afghanistan and to meet president karzai. he was accused of throwing a grenade at american soldiers seven years ago. an afghan journalist has been shot dead, thought by taliban militants. this was in northwest pakistan. he was forced off a bus and then killed. he worked in pakistan for an afghan television station. he was returning from afghanistan. seven members of an outlawed group linked to al-qaeda have been arrested in karachi. they had suicide vests and heroin. they are blamed for a string of

attacks, including the killing of an american journalist. >> scotland's justice secretary was unrepentant in edinburgh, defending his position to free the man convicted of the lockerbie bombing. kenny macaskill said his decision had nothing to do with politics, economics, or diplomacy -- only scottish law and scottish values. >> an act of justice. or one of nine years of falling. the scottish justice secretary has found himself at the center of a political storm. the scottish parliament was called for an emergency session to defend his session. the liberal democrat leader was scathing. >> he has decided to split scotland, split our country within itself. >> he remained an really

defined. >> i repeat what i said a beginning -- it was my decision. i stand by it and i will deal with the consequences. >> earlier, and he accepted that some would never come to terms with his decision. >> those who have been agreed cannot be expected to forget or forget. as i said, mr. al-megrahi now faces a sentence imposed by a higher power. >> his hero's return for the man convicted of the uk's worst terrorist atrocity praise on the minds of many. this brings up questions of the libyan sensitivity, but it appears colonel gaddafi was not listening. what does he understand how much the decision has angered the majority in scotland -- >> does he understand how much the decision has anchor the majority in scotland? does he seem to be aware of the issues in releasing a convicted bomber?

>> questions were also raised about the role of the british government in the release. gordon brown met gaddafi last month, in so far he has not commented on the controversy. >> this is an extraordinary silence on the part of the prime minister, gordon brown. this decision has significant implications for foreign policy and trade. what joint efforts are now being undertaken by gordon brown to limit the damage? >> mr. macaskill repeated that he had fallen due process. he suggested that -- he said that suggestions that al-megrahi could have spent his final days in hospital work the crest. bbc news. >> at least 20 people have been killed in bombast -- bomb blasts on the buses. this happened in the south east

of iraq. our correspondent from baghdad has the details. >> there were two separate attacks carried out on many buses carrying travelers on any road. but attacks were believed to have been carried out with several sticky bombs, magnetic devices attached to the underside of these buses and then detonated. at least 20 people were killed. 10 others were wounded. many of them were women and children. there have been many attacks on civilians in the past in this area. this is mainly a shiite area, but at the moment we do not know the exact details of the people who were hit. this attack has been carried out -- this is still less than a week since this massive series of bombings in baghdad in which almost 100 people were killed.

many of them just outside the foreign ministry in the center of baghdad when a massive truck bomb was detonated right in the center of the city. and then there was the finance ministry. that's seriously shook public confidence in iraq's security forces. the prime minister made many claims he would get on top of the situation. now, at the moment, iraqi security forces and the government are having to show that they can get on top of the situation, but many iraqis at the moment do not believe that. they have got a lot to prove. >> andrew north there in iraq. bringing you news just coming in. the pop star michael jackson's death was confirmed being caused by the los angeles coroner -- it was caused by lethal levels of a power anesthetic.

this is coming from be l.a. chief medical examiner, from unseal documents from houston on monday. if true, this confirms speculation from the time -- this is the most serious, heavy- duty anesthetic? >> that is right. in this country, in the u.s. it has a different name and it is most commonly used in hospitals to give patients before surgery. it is not readily available for people at home. it should not be available according to many. there are serious questions about michael jackson's use of this drug. he was using it for insomnia. also serious questions about the roles of doctors around and, not least his personal physician, conrad murray. this latest report comes from an affidavit that forms part of a

search warrant. it has been unsealed in houston. it shows that lethal weapons -- lethal levels of this chemical work in his bloodstream when he died. this doctor, dr. conrad murray, had told detectives in los angeles that he had been treating michael jackson for insomnia for six weeks. the treatment had involved the use of this drug. he is also reported to have told detectives in the days leading up to michael jackson's death, he started to worry that he was developing an addiction and was weaning him off of it using different drugs. however, the report does go want to show that the day that michael jackson died, he was given different drugs, none of which seems to have worked. on the morning he died, he had lethal levels of this drug. if that stands up, these are

questions about the role played by dr. murray. >> quite a development. thank you for that. good to have you with us on at "bbc world news." coming up -- keeping it in the family. how politics in japan passed through the generations. first though, humid trafficking is a problem largely hidden but affecting much of the world, including the uk. few are ever convicted. we have more on a woman brought to britain and forced to work as a prostitute. >> the uk seems a country full of opportunity. many try to take advantage of that, but are they themselves take advantage of. >> it was difficult to know what to say, where to go. i was really, really lost. >> she looked left eastern

europe to open a shop in london. instead, she was taken to manchester where she was held by human traffickers and forced into prostitution. >> manchester was the first place she was exploited. she was later sold to other criminals. she was taken to will. this can make tens of thousands of pounds for gangs and serious organized crime agencies. it is believe this is happening throughout the u.k. >> it generates an income for their abuser. so if you have an asset that is worth 93,000 pounds, you are not likely to let it go. the use of physical violence. >> is believed that there are more victims of sex trafficking in the u.k. in the actual figures are unknown. this summer, evidence was given

by this woman, and the people who traffic her were prosecuted for their crime. victims often feel prosecuted and alone. criminals or lie on the confusion to keep the hidden in the shower -- in the shadows. bbc news, manchester. >> see the news unfold. go to bbc.com/news to experience the expert reporting of "bbc world news" online. collector's cd 1-minute video summary. you can read the latest headlines and click to play video reports. discover more about the subjects that really interest you and find out what issues the world is talking about right now. go to bbc.com/news and watch the news unfold.

>> the latest headlines for you on at "bbc world news." cia interrogators threatened to kill the children of khalid sheikh mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. pop star michael jackson was killed by a lethal dose of an anesthetic. firefighters in greece are beginning to contain wildfires that threaten the suburbs of athens for three days. thousands of people have had to flee their homes and large parts of the countryside have been destroyed. fire crews and trying to push the flames away from the outskirts. our correspondent spent the day in one of the area's worst affected. >> in the sky and on the ground, the fight to contain wildfires continues. these huge aircraft, when the most effective weapons against

the flames. such is the spread of these fires that summit this out. help came too late here. one building lost, but the name house saved. >> there is everywhere fire. we cannot do anything. only god can help us. >> alarm bells tolled at the monastery, east of the capital. nuns and locals resorted to desperate measures to fight the flames. the biggest danger is the speed with which these fires can spread. an hour or so ago, this whole area was in airplanes, but water bombing aircraft douse the fires. the problem is the smaller fires can quickly spread to become much larger, driven by the strong winds.

the people who live here are in constant fear of their homes may fall victim to the flames. just over the hill is the home of a family who fought the flames back with water and had an incredibly narrow escape. quite the wrong moments -- you know, you couldn't -- >> and there were moments, you know, you couldn't breathe. >> and must've been a terrifying for all of you. >> of course it was. if there was anything i could do, i wanted to do it. to the last minute. >> deadly fires like this are not unusual in greece. two years ago, a series of fires killed more than 70 people. some believe the government has failed to learn the lesson of those fires. >> if this fire had been stopped, stopped 60 kilometers away from here, then the

disaster would not have happened. >> the recognition, too, that fire fighting across a huge area is an almost impossible task. at the moment, damage litigation is the priority. bbc news, athens. >> at the summit on climate change at the end of the year -- we will be exploring how different parts of the globe have been affected. clearly, chinese the dissipation is key for an effective international framework. but there's a balance between curbing emissions and allowing the development of industries. our correspondent travels to inner mongolia to see how the landscape is changing. >> the sunlight is taking care of her homework. there is no electricity here. she has one of the tiniest carbon black plants. she lives slap in the middle of

the region's biggest when far. here on the grasslands, there is no ignoring china's appetite for energy. she tells me when she grows up she wants a television and an apartment. the world's energy plants it is being transformed because of china. she is part of a new generation of hungry consumers. millions of people across this country are buying their first refrigerators, cars, motorcycles. that means by the time they are in the 39th, china's energy needs will have doubled. -- they are in their 30's, china's energy needs will have doubled. there is the wish for an unstoppable rushed for a better life. bbc news, and mongolia. >> 200 people are going on trial

in china for the recent riots. state media said they are likely to appear in court this week on charges including murder, arson, vandalism. more than 2000 people died in the riots. authorities say they were attacks of muslim uighurs. just a few days now until japan's general election and it still looks as though the opposition democratic party could defeat the liberal democrats. they have ruled japan for the last few decades. whatever the result, the names and faces will stay the same as our japan correspondent reports. it in japanese politics, the family name can be a valuable asset. >> katsuhito is trying to make a virtue of his humble origins.

the lorry-driver's son has to struggle to become as well-known as his opponent. >> also running for office is shinjiro koizumi. in this town, he is a favorite son. his father is one of the most popular prime ministers in japan in recent times. as his seat is being passed down, he gets plenty of support. america has the kennedys and the bushes. but in few countries is it politics such a family affair as japan. the politicians go right to the top.

[unintelligible] there seems to be some concern in japan about hereditary pot -- hereditary politicians. >> i went to overcome the criticism about hereditary politicians and overcome it to win. >> add this institute, they are trying to develop a new breed of leaders with plenty of old- fashioned japanese of virtues. students are given a taste of humble tasks. some in japan blame what is perceived as ineffectual government on a large number of family dynasties in parliament. >> they have money. they have supporters. they have name value. that is passed down from their parents.

the dynamism of the political power is not strong as other countries. >> katsuhito is still hoping he will win, but he likens his campaign to in and taking on an elephant. come election day, it will be up to the voters to decide. >> just briefly to a league where there is unbearable excitement. europe's biggest lottery prize has been one and the winning ticket was bought in one of their shops. the prize is $210 million. briefly -- the main headline. alleged cia -- it is alleged cia interrogators threatened to kill the children of colleague -- kalid sheik mohammed. more on bbc.com. >> 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

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