the arab league also approved a resolution for the syrian opposition to unite, but within the league, there is still disunity. someone the president to step down. others want political reconciliation. in syria, this footage it showed -- said to show the former opposition stronghold. according to reports, more than 20 people were killed across the country. the syrian president has actually accepted an international peace initiative, but there has been little practical effect. and indeed, the arab league appears powerless to control events in syria, even with the united nations chief making an appearance. >> after two days of talks, the bag that some had little to show. the statement urged syria to start a serious national dialogue. arab leaders also fully backed the peace mission of international envoy kofi annan. >> it is important that we immediately and lament the six- point plan. especially the immediate and to the bloodshed and the protection of the syrian people. >> the syrian president now says he is behind the mission, but there has been no letup in the fighting. the united nat

the arab league leaders have started to arrive. tight security is in place after bombings last week threatened to derail the summit. they are focusing on the conflict in syria. we'll have the latest from our correspondent in the iraqi capital. a general strike is underway in spain called by the union owes to oppose the government's labor reforms. we spoke about the timing of the strike. >> coming a day before the budget, is government will announce that new budget tomorrow and although this is a lot about the labor reforms the government brought in trying to cut that huge unemployment, this is also about the austerity measures that we expect tomorrow from the government. they are under huge pressure from brussels to make more cuts. the new government only came in this december. they said our finances are much worse than we were led to believe by the previous government. the target they came up with is not good enough and there is a lot of pressure from brussles to cut even further. do we expect the get any surprises tomorrow when w

the arab league as a body itself faces and indeed this arab league summit is the first it's been held in baghdad t. decades and it hasn't been particularly well attended some of the countries not sending that thought that amounts to get involved in that now iraq's foreign minister said that the country rejected calls for foreign intervention as a means of ending the conflict and he did say that the country is behind the syrian people's bit of freedom but you can see that's quite a difference of opinion to some of the arab the countries that have been seen very much to be pushing for arming the opposition and sending in arab east into the we seen a guitar call for that to happen so there is definitely a difference of opinion whether the arab league is going to be able to bridge those divisions it remains to be see that is certainly still there today of course there is talk of the age range and that they'll be hearing from case and possibly endorsing that six point peace plan six points now very similar see the arab league initiative at the beginning of the year the removal of the force

league has an interest and a leadership role, and when the world allows the arab league to get in a leadership role, it is far more likely to end up with a better outcome because arab people can see their friends and neighbors are supporting them and wanting to get rid of this criminal regime. we want to work in lock step with them. that is where we have said the syrian national council is a legitimate representative of the syrian opposition, so our view is we should work with the arab league. we very much took care plan with them to the united nations and wrote it into the resolution. but was a way to work with them to demonstrate this is the world working with the arab league rather than the rest of the world telling them what to do. >> if they took a more interventionist line we might follow them through? >> we might well do, but like i said, if you are a question what is the best way to end violence, it is transition of the top rather than bloody civil war that would be a better outcome for the people in syria. if those who are supporting assad because they think he brings the ab

of the arab league foreign ministers. and foreign minister is that the way forward there i mean the opposition is so fragmented and seems very are willing to enter into negotiations despite its relatively successful mission. to the opposition where when we started to see acts among the syrian national council recently three prominent leaders actually defected and there were very fears and their criticism of the leader of the syrian national council saying that he is a dictator exactly like. the. so it will be extremely happy with these defections he will be extremely happy with their divisions on the opposition's and their because you know these are positions supposed to present itself as an alternative energy but when you have these sort of factions now and they are working without any coordination between each other so this definitely will give. a chance to breathe again and to consolidate its power more and more on the syrian people. for will do you think that will make it easier for western superpowers to deal with ir

i think the arab league summit is scheduled for baghdad. so that will certainly be one measure of how closely aligned iraq is with sort of the regional politics and the region nol diplomacy and u.s. interests in the region. give us your sense on the current view from baghdad as far as syria goes. >> let me first start with something that you said. i mentioned but i think it's very important the arab league summit is scheduled to take place in baghdad. that's a remarkable development. march 29th. it's a summit that baghdad was up next in the rotation, it had been put off for a couple of years. this, assuming it goes forward, is a profound sign, a symbol as well as practical manifestcation of iraq in the region. they have government fears that they could see sectarian spillover, that this could agitate the sunni population in iraq and create sectarian tension in iraq so they are very concerned about it. as we've said on numerous occasions to iraqi leaders, the cause of the instability in syria and twhaus creates the greatest potential for the

turning to the arab league, the arab league obviously is working to try to develop an approach here, individual nations are looking at different ways to try to provide assistance of one kind or anotr. but the arab league itself doesn't, you know, it doesn't have the capability that nato has to be able to engage militarily if necessary. >> i was in turkey recently, and obviously turkey historically had good relationships with syria but the prime minister has been very strong in calling for assad to step aside and, indeed, has provided sanctuary for the free syrian army within its borders. what advic are we getting from the turks on what approach we should be taking towards syria? are there conversations ongoing with turkey? >> yes, there are. and turkey is actually exercised, you know, very responsible leadership with response to the issue. obviously they have a direct concern because it is a border country but they have called for assad to step down. we have engaged with them on consultaons with regards to the concern over e chemical and biological sites that are located there. and w

. >> let's talk about the arab league. the arab league has changed mightily in the last year, haven't they, given their involvement in the mideast? >> they sure have. >> do you believe arab league was in association with dictorial regimes, that now are betting on the right side of history and they see assad as being on the wrong side of history and that's incredibly encouraging? >> absolutely. >> don't you think in our long-term national security interests, we have the window in time here to marry up with the arab league in terms of military, humanitarian, economic, follow them assistance to the countries have people who are saying, i'm tired of being led by dictators and are we doing enough to seize that moment in history? >> i can assure you that secretary clinton and i are working with our arab league partners trying to do everything we can to develop and maintain the coalition that was establish we'd libya, but to maintain it as a continuing influence over what happens elsewhere in that region. >> and my final thought

secretary pa net, take the arab league proposed a transition plan, has the arab league requested military intervention in syria? >> it has not. >> did they support military intervention in libya? >> they did. >> what explains the difference? >> i think they share some of the same concerns that we do with regard to the situation in syria. and just exactly what kind of military action would have the kind of impact that we all desire and because of the divisions within the opposition, because of the situation that is occurring there and volatile and unpredictable, i think that -- those concerns have impacted on their decision making here. >> general dempsey, you made reference to putting together options for the president should he decide to move in one direction or another. without telling us what you would recommend, can you give us kind of a menu of military options which might be available? >> yeah, i can actually discuss it in greater detail in closed session if you choose to do that. you mentioned the principle options in your opening statement include humanitarian relief, no-fly zone,

the un, the arab league appointed a joint high profile envoy with a mandate from the arab league initiative and un general assembly resolution. just this morning the un human rights council in geneva overwhelmingly passed a strong resolution, the council's fourth, essentially describing the situation in syria as a man-made humanitarian disaster. and we all know the identity of the man responsible for that disaster. these are just some of the examples of regional and international resolve. nevertheless, as both of you have described, we've also seen the assad regime has intensified its vicious attacks against the syrian people. the situation is, frankly, horrific including indiscriminate artillery fire against entire neighborhoods. today's reports from homs are truly alarming. large numbers of syrians are living every day under siege, deprived of basic necessities including food, clean water and medical supplies. women and children are wounded and dieing for lack of treatment. innocent people are detained and tortured and their families left to fear the worst. yet despite the regime's brutal

from the rest of the world what do you think the consequences of that could be but actually the arab league yes they've managed to isolate syria first and the arab world see the region is divided very very isolated now there is a sanction imposed on the syrian regime by governments that most of that country has actually close their embassies in damascus so could be more actually going to be taken in the coming future and the same thing syria is facing a huge resolution on the international community where you can see maybe they have russian they have. to have their chinese on their border but look about beyond that actually you can see that a gene is isolated and sanctions started to bite and you can see the standard of living is there to really think there are a lot of communities are not available for the people. the local currency lost more than fifty percent of its value i think this is very very dangerous situation for the syrian people and also for the syrian government all the signs point to a positive response from assets to kofi annan the u.n. arab league envoy proposals which of c

syrian people's base of freedom but you can see that's quite a difference of opinion to some of the arab league countries that have been seen very much to be pushing for arming the opposition and first sending in arab peace to intervene we've seen a guitar call for that to happen so there is definitely a difference of opinion whether the abbe's case davil to bridge those divisions m.a.c. see that it certainly thought that today of course there is talk of the attention that they'll be hearing from cave and possibly endorsing that six point peace plan the six points now very similar to the arab league initiative. at the beginning of the year the removal of the forces from some of the conflict areas the release of political prisoners all it with its sunni important but of course it doesn't have the alternates and it doesn't cool the president it's not the syrian government already accepted that plan formally that's been met by some of the opposition with a fair amount of understandable skepticism here in istanbul we've had hundreds of the members of the opposition gathering ahead of the friends of

>> the arab league and a saudi arabia have been engaged in talks with the russian foreign minister. we see now some movement in regards to russia perhaps signing on to the arab league plan and i think it is important not for the particular is in the plan, though some of those are useful steps, but the fact we would be seeing the international community talking in one voice. while not decisive with respect to the actions of the regime, i think it would have some impact to actually serve as a more effective broker. >> several people have suggested if he can not pull this off with his stature and image as somebody who is genuinely impartial, then nobody can. yet he has come away from damascus with no deal. >> people talk about baby steps, but it is not quite clear what that is. >> we should not have expected there would be a deal. that was never on the table. that would be very unrealistic. i think in terms of priorities, i think he was speaking with respect to the humanitarian ankle am looking at getting a cease-fire and unfettered humanitarian access as a first of to bring the violen

we see some movement in regards to russia signing on to the five-point arab league plan. it is important not just for the particulars in the plan, but for the fact that we seek international community talking in one voice. 1 not decisive with respect to the actions of the regime -- while not decisive with respect to the actions of the regime, i think it will have impact, to have kofi annan act as a more effective broker. >> several have suggested that if kofi annan cannot pull this off with his stature and his image, then nobody can. and yet he came away from damascus with no deal. people talk about baby steps, getting something, but it is not clear what that something is. >> we should not have expected that would be a deal. that was never on the table or the agenda for his first visit to damascus. that would be very unrealistic. i do think in terms of priorities, i think kofi annan was speaking to the humanitarian angle and looking at getting cease-fires and unfettered humanitarian access as a first step to try to end the -- try to bring the balance under some control an

arab league envoy proposals which of course included an immediate by lateral cease fire safe passage for humanitarian aid those kinds of things what kind of dialogue do you think that is ready for actually. was posted by coffee and mission because coffee and said you know should be only a political solution of the conflict in syria and also he said to reach this political scene. we should be a little between the opposition groups and this is actually what i said would like to see because he was scared of military intervention to say to him there will be a political solution it means it means you know that he will stay here and unpack and i said will be president of syria because the. opposition this is a recognition of. you know the also because of his reforms in the way of other things actually more pressure for modern forms and that's why. coffee and i'm going to the second thing also you know he accepted that these kind of the five points which actually the outcome of the talks between the syrian foreign minister and the arab foreign ministers when they met in cairo it was very ve

the start of the first arab league summit to be held in baghdad in two decades. the government was hoping it would put its census stage in the region. what's happening, as the meeting was just about to get under way, there were a couple of explosions in the center of the city. rockets or mortar rounds are reported to have been fired. one witness said a blast occurred near baghdad's heavily fortified greene's own. another said it was near an embassy. our correspondent said there was some explosions. there are no immediate reports of casualties or any damage. stay with us on "bbc world news." there is plenty more to come. >> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> funding was made possible by -- the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu, newman's own foundation, and union bank. >> at union bank, our relationship managers work hard to understand the industry you operate in, working to nurture new ventures and help provide capital for key strategic decisions. we offer expertise and tailored solutions in a wide range of industries.

i don't expect somehow where taking would track to the arab league. we want to work in lock step with them and that's why we have said the syrian national council is a legitimate representative of syrian operation. when they came up with their plan, we very much took that plan with them to the united nations and rolled it into a resolution. i think that was a way of trying to work with them to demonstrate this is the world working together with the arab league rather than western countries trying to tell syrians what to do. >> so we might follow them through? >> we might well do. but as i say, i think if you ask the question what is the best way to end the violence, it is transition at the top rather than bloody civil war that would be a better fast outcome for people in syria. but the point and i think the arab league feel this too, if those who are supporting assad, they will continue with the civil war causing so much pain and suffering. better transition at the top than revolution at the bottom. >> i think we all agree with that, but so far the me

gulf news highlights the first arab league summit in baghdad in nearly two decades. kofi annan's 6-point plan. and now and arresting photographs in the new york times. it shows a police officer at the barcelona stock exchange during a general strike. and the britain independent warns the government has slipped back into recession. not to fear. the daily telegraph says the european union is preparing to extend part of what it calls a big bazooka bailout fund to boost its firepower to more than $300 billion. >> this is newsday. i am in singapore. >> and i am in london. police have clashed with protesters in spain i head of government plans to slash spending. >> the maverick politician george galloway has claimed a victory in a u.k. by-election, beating labor. the french gunman who killed seven people in the city of toulouse has been buried in a cemetery near the city. just what should happen to his body? there was an intervention by president sarkozy for the burial to go ahead. >> in the muslim quarter of a quiet cemetery, the gunmen responsible for france's worst terr

so the arab league didn't break any new ground here. the u.n. plan is a six-point plan.t's being pushed by former u.n. secretary general kofi annan. that requires the syrian regime to pull its troops from the streets, release political prisoners begin a political dialogue with the opposition and so the syrian regime has said that it's already agreed to this plan so, again, the arab league today coming out in support of this is basically just backing something that's basically already in place. >> warner: and whafsz the scuttlebutt in the corridors? was there any confidence expressed that assad means it when he says he'll follow through on it? >> there's a lot of skepticism about that. we've been down this road before. the arab league already put forward a peace plan asking assad to pull troops from the streets, asking them to release political prisoners, asking him to begin a dialogue with the opposition and the arab league sent monitors in to see that he was going to comply with this and, in fact, he did not comply. in fact it was after that mission that the assad regim

summit iraq's position in a number of the other arab league countries of course differing quite widely from what we see some of the other especially gulf countries stance many of those countries calling indeed for arming the syrian opposition and sending in arab states the arab league really a very hand at it again at the moment as we have seen in the past by their own internal divisions in the rhetoric that you see that it is to try and get all the different sides on the same page be seen ok for you and that six point peace plan and try and act as a mediator between all the different sides to try and get everyone back on track to ending the bloodshed in the country of course the un's latest figures because more than one thousand people having died in that conflict everyone knows the devastating consequences every single day this is able to continue the problem is that people just don't really seem to be able to know exactly how to stop it now the syrian opposition of actually been meeting here in istanbul over the past couple of days ahead of the friends of syria conference at the wee

moscow has reiterated its opposition to any foreign military intervention in syria as the arab league meets to decide how to mediate a solution to the ongoing crisis the groups to give its backing to a u.n. sponsored peace plan calling on the opposition and president assad to both fully comply sarah ferguson follow developments now joins us live on the program sara so does it look like a diplomatic solution will bring peace to syria despite the arab league's lack of unity on the issue. well i mean the arab league summit in baghdad today hasn't been particularly well timed out it's less than half of the twenty leaders have actually participated in the number of the countries sending that and i think envoys instead say a lot of people saying that that's possibly much more a political stunt than a security issue baghdad just had reports of two explosions in the area no confirmation about exactly. a lot of the details of that but i think that the lack of participation from a number of the countries thought to be much more political iraq's foreign minister had said that the country i rejec

special envoy kofi annan can be successful where the arab league failed. well you know his title as the russians pointed out today is a joint he's not only the u.n. envoy he's also now the arab league envoy but it's actually a question yes i think his conduct tail with the russian position on the security council if they pass this non ultimatum resolution i don't think the russians have a problem with that and i think a coffee is a can say it is a qualified person to to play this role so i see no contradiction i think they are now and i don't answer the syrians which i haven't been public made public as you know maybe and they must be made public now and they will be made public on the assistance of the security council before the debate these proposals on how i think i think it can all work together actually i'm moderately modestly optimistic that the anon. i'm going to have program and the russian pushing for the security council resolution might come together and find at least a ceasefire and the beginning as i know you're forecasting some sort of progr

the arab league is back to u.n. sponsored peace plan saying it must be implemented immediately and completely and iraq where the league was holding its meeting was that arming either side of the conflict would trigger a proxy war driven from abroad are the sort of furthest from developments. the arab league managing to overcome some of its own divisions to endorse that announcing its point peace plan and the fact that declaration called for a political solution to the ongoing conflict in syria via national dialogue and crucially that hasn't called the president assad to step down now rucks prime minister warned that arming either side would lead to a proxy war very firmly i guess foreign intervention that stands different quite significantly from some of the other arab league members notably the gulf states who have very much been seen to be pushing for the arming of the opposition and also calling for arab chiefs to be incented to the arab league seen in a very much get behind that and peace plan what the chief of t

and along the lines suggested by the arab league. we believe there is still an opportunity to try to achieve that goal. although we will not rule out any future course of

arab league envoy kofi annan is that the u.n. security council to break the political deadlock on syria he said unity over the crisis will help his peace mission cohen said made securing his brief meeting to the body on his findings following his recent visit to damascus to your correspondent reporting i got the latest. kofi annan on has told the security council members that he plans to send a technical mission to damascus early next week so discussions can begin on a plan for international monitors to go to syria kofi annan the u.n. and arab league envoy to syria has now urged the security council to overcome their differences he said it is very important for there to be unity and consensus among the security council to help his peace plan become actual absolute success as we know for the past year the security council has remained extremely divided on how to approach the situation in syria with the u.s. and western countries calling essentially for regime change and asking for the charlotte side the syrian president to step do

the arab league calls on the syrian regime to fully comply with the u.n. fact peace plan but it's the opposition let's now under pressure to end the violence despite its crippling divisions as we report tonight. also five of the world's fastest growing economies meet to hammer out their own vision of the i.m.f. and the world bank as a future financial fire wall. plus its petrol panic in the u.k. with fuel stations running dry as motorists get in a spin over a potential tanker driver strike. on wall street as u.s. stock markets another day of business news in twenty minutes. hello this is r.t. it's now eleven pm here in moscow my name's kevin know in our top stories tonight for you the arab league is discussing the u.n. sponsored peace plan to end more than a year of fighting in syria calling on president assad to fully comply opposition groups are also now under pressure to unite and accept kofi announce proposal which includes a cease fire and dialogue sisera first following the basic relevance of culture with her life by the sara first off what's expecte

the arab league issued in last february a decision asking for you in and arab peace troops. -- u.n. and arab peace troops. this is -- the arab league's position is much more advanced than the position of the united states and europe. this is creating more questions about the role of the international community helping the syrians and helping the cause of democracy in the region. >> the arab league summit is being held in iraq. the expected to be critical of president assad? >> we are afraid about the role of iraq. hopefully, kofi annan will be successful in convincing the russians and the chinese to change their positions. we need one united voice in the security council. >> ok, we have to leave it there. thank you very much for your time. more pressure on north korea over its planned missile tests. >> that is right. the united states has suspended plans to resume supplying food aid. this is in response to the country's declaration that it will launch a new rocket next month. days ago, president obama and visited the demilitarized zone which separates north and south korea. they had

and suddenly the arab league has essentially suspended syria's membership in the arab league. this is not a north african country like libya that's a little out of the arab mainstream. it's significant what the arabs are doing. now, why is this happening? i think in part this is happening because of the arab spring. if you look at opinion poll after opinion poll, bashar al assad is at the bottom of the list of popularity among arab leaders. he has no credibility among the arab world. i think the arab leaders want to show their own populations that they get it, that they understand, that they need to be in tune with arab popular opinion. without question, part of this has to do with the competition with iran. people know that bashar al assad has made syria a proxy for iran, a subservient partner to iran. part of this is gcc competition with iran. i wouldn't underestimate the impact of the arab spring even on those arab countries that aren't going through transition. i believe arab leaders recognize that they can't be on the complete opposite side of their public opinion, the ku

russia and the arab league are finally in the same boat over how to stop the syrian crisis but there are still those trying to put sticks in the spokes of the fence a lot of analysis from london on these about and show me on r.t. . three days of far more deaths reported in israeli airstrikes in gaza after the assassination of a palestinian resistance leader sense of rockets flying over the border on top stories this hour. of an attack in the past seven days top stories and the latest developments this is the weekly on ati the long haul isn't hard fought race for the kremlin is over when prime minister vladimir putin now set to make a return to the presidency after a landslide election victory but expectations are now greater than any other time when serious national challenges still ahead compounded by a public more politically cute than ever before he's alexey going to ski ripples. it was one and motional night for that approach and yes i did promise you we would win. i. only have one. but you know the prime minister may have justified his cheers by the strong wind but no one would

the arab league has backed a u.n. sponsored peace plan saying it must be implemented immediately and completely and iraq where the league was holding its meeting warned that arming either side of the conflict will trigger a proxy war driven from abroad sara firth reports. the arab league summit in baghdad today hasn't been particularly well turned out as the less than half the twenty leaders have actually participated in the number of the country's standing that it will not succumb voice instead of say a lot of people saying that that's possibly much more a political stunts than a security issue with iraq's foreign minister has said that the country i rejected calls the foreign military intervention as an interview solving the crisis in syria of course a serious absolutely top of the agenda at this arab league summit iraq's physicians in a number of the other arab countries of course differing quite widely from what we see some of the other especially gulf countries. many of those countries calling indeed for arming th

conflict in syria rages despite a un backed peace plan the arab league meeting to decide on how to mediate a solution but not all members committed to diplomacy what some are openly calling for military action damascus says it won't accept anything the league says after the body suspended syria's membership last year r.t. sarah ferguson will. it is the first time that the arab league summit been held in iraq for t. decades and it's expected that the arab league ministers who gathered there are going to see the inducing case here and six point peace plan that of course has already been formally accepted now by the syrian government now that's understandably been met with some criticism from members of the opposition he say that he's made promises before that he's felt that the liberals they certainly have a message coming from the opposition is that they're going to be looking for actions and not just words when it comes to that. meeting in baghdad at the moment say far has not been seen as having started particularly play he said lay son of the country's guitar in egypt haven't sent their

of the arab league mission in that country that they also highlighted really the internalizations that the arab the as a party itself faces and in see this arab league summit the first is being held in baghdad key decades it hasn't been particularly well attended some of the countries not sending their top diplomats to get involved in that now iraq's foreign minister said that the country rejected calls for foreign intervention as a means of ending the conflict a bit he did say to the countries behind by the syrian people's bit of freedom but that's quite a difference of opinion to some of the arab league countries that have been seen very much to be pushing for arming the opposition and sending in arab chiefs into the we see no guitar coup for that to happen say there is definitely a difference of opinion whether the outer he's going to be able to bridge these divisions in a.c.c. this certainly thought that today of course syria is top of the agenda and that they'll be hearing from casey and possibly inducing that six point peace plan it's six points now very similar see the arab leag

school for no foreign military intervention in syria as a divided arab league debates the peace plan for the war torn country. and protest violence in barcelona as a general strike growing in spain to a halt and tens of thousands marched against cuts and labor reforms our top stories this hour. as a national news and comment live from moscow this is r.t. with you twenty four hours a day at this point at the pumps in the u.k. where threatened strike by delivery drivers are seeing stations already running dry and then fizzy even the army will need to be deployed to keep the country moving it comes at a time of. crisis which has got the governments of london paris and washington thinking of flooding the market with. its cause. what we're seeing in the last twenty four hours or so is it panic buying widespread panic buying of fuel up and down the country by motorists queues outside petrol stations and what's really been fueling this panic buying is is the government's handling of this crisis their first piece of advice to motorists was to tell people not to panic which immediately of cou

i mean the arab league. again these terribly go thankfully the people the try to get regime change in libya sorry when they did in libya they're trying now in syria so i don't think the arab league or really the friends of the iraqi people i don't think the arab league or the friends of any arab people or iraqis or iranians or syrians there are no friends of anyone with friends like those nobody needs enemies this is all run from qatar and saudi arabia dictatorships in their own right with really oppressive regimes who would want to take advice from this kind of group. i think what's happening in iraq now is. classed as a green place over the. crumbling message of what we've called in the society and the institutions they're not really they're not fit for purpose so holding a conference there is is just a p.r. stunt it's for the cameras for the western media to say look everything's back to normal but we obviously know nothings back to normal in iraq and nothing is back to normal in afghanistan and it'll be