do you believe that direct talks between him and the syrian president bashar al assad are are possible and no two is president bashar al assad the terrific element. it is necessary yes sure. i think you know there are more and more people who accept it but there is no military victory for any side and that you need a particular sort your shoe. and that quote if you consider soldiers and meets make assertions. or issues i think can take place between deliberation to presenting the government and the delegation representing the opposition so when you're saying q. may be talking to the government but not the president directly. the problem is only in one man bashar al assad himself or the steamroller is that the opposition is saying every five minutes but they don't want to talk to us and this is the problem six months ago your prep predecessor coffee on resigned saying that there is no way they could be a peaceful resolution in syria no he didn't say that it has anything changed you still believe that a peaceful resolution a serious possible i mean you know first of all kofi never said p

the iranians are assisting bashar al assad's regime, revolutionary guard forces equipment, military hardware, stuff like that, hezbollah is from lebanon is as well. the russians are continuing to sell military equipment to the syrian regime of president bashar al assad. the weapons are coming in and clearly bolstering him. this is a brutal, brutal battle under way right now. and at least as of now, i see no end in sight. one of the problems that the president has had in terms of arming the rebels directly providing military equipment to the rebels is the u.s. and the europeans did that in libya and to a certain degree, they're paying a price for that. some of those weapons wound up in the hands of the wrong guys, if you will. and there's a lot of instability in libya as a result of that, some of the weapons have even gone out of libya. there's a certain reluctance to get involved once again in this kind of arming of the rebels in what is a civil war. >> absolutely, wolf. congress, there really isn't an appetite for members of congress when you talk about the big fight over the budget battle

states iran's most important strategic ally in the arab world is iraq even in syria you know bashar al assad is still there i don't know if these women. and even if you reach a point where he might feel like he needs to abandon damascus or something like this you're going to still have big chunks of syria that are effectively under good control of his government under his security apparatus syria might at that point start to look more and more like a kind of. you know failing state with different regional warlords in different parts of the country but that is not a situation which is good for american interests first of all or a situation in which iran you know is somehow doesn't have influence or or an ability to act in ways to protect its interests in the situation the idea that somehow we can just have these short term marriages of convenience to arm train and fund really in that lane a sunni islamist jihadist groups in syria in syria against the islamic republic of iran that just this time it will work and that somehow secular democrats are going to come to power yeah that liberal secula

do you believe that direct talks between him and the syrian president bashar al assad are possible not with president bashar al assad but with the government. it is necessary yes true. i think you know there are more and more people all accept that there is no military victory for any side and that you need a political solution and that political solution meets make concessions and negotiations i think can take place between deliberation to presenting the government. and the delegation representing the opposition so when you're saying here maybe talking to the government but not the president directly. the problem is only in one man in bashar al assad himself or rumors that the opposition is saying every five minutes but they don't want to talk about it this is the problem six months ago your prep predecessor coffee on resigned saying that there is no way they could be a peaceful resolution in syria no he didn't say it in has anything changed you still believe that a peaceful resolution serious possible i mean you know first of all coffee never said this words allusion is never possibl

do you believe that direct talks between him and the syrian president bashar al assad. are possible no two is president bashar al assad but with the government. it is necessary yes sure. i think you know sort of more and more people accept. but there is no military victory for any side and that you need a political solution and that party to consider solution meets make assertions negotiations i think can take place between deliberation to presenting the government and the delegation representing the opposition so when you're saying q. may be talking to the government but not the president directly. the problem is only in one man in bashar al assad himself or the steamroller is that the opposition to seeing every five minutes but they don't want to talk to us it this is the problem six months ago your prep predecessor coffee on resigned saying that there is no way they could be a peaceful resolution in syria no he didn't say that it has anything changed you still believe that a peaceful resolution a serious possible i mean you know first of all kofi never said this worke

the syrian president bashar al assad says his army is able to confront any aggression aimed against his nation he also says israel is trying to destabilize the country the comments made by the israeli defense minister ehud barak today hinting for the first time that his forces were behind this week's attack on its northern neighbor. as the details. it does come from the israeli defense minister it would be rogue and he has said that it is proof that when israel says something it means that he did stop short of actually affirming israel's involvement now u.s. officials have said that the strike targeted an arms convoy that was carrying anti aircraft weapons from syria to lebanon according to the israeli defense minister ehud barak he said that we do not think and i'm quoting that syria should be allowed to bring advanced weapons systems into lebanon and it is important to make the point that his comments does not constitute acknowledgment of israel's involvement in the strike but it certainly does suggest the possibility that it took place and it was responsible for it but also said that

the essence he said is tired of the worlds in in action against bashar al-assad's government. -- the snc said it is tired of the world's in action against bashar al-assad's government. where the world stands on the conflict is shameful, they say. >> we are too busy gathering the remains of her children in aleppo to attend conferences. >> the snc has announced it a transitional government. >> leaders of the syrian national -- it is been decided that the head of this government will be announced by march the second. >> the international community has long criticized syria's opposition for its failure to unite. fighting back is one of the reasons it could not provide it with more support. the opposition moved to name a transitional government in a weeks time. >> we would like the security council to make a clear condemnation of using those weapons against populated areas. and we would like the world to do something to stop the regime. >> the opposition says the russian government is part of the crisis rather than the solution. agreeing to form a new government will certainly strengthen t

do you believe that direct talks between him and the syrian president bashar al assad are are possible not with president bashar al assad but with the government. it is necessary yes true. i think you know there are more and more people who all accept that there is no military victory for any side and but you need a political solution and that predator considers solution meets make or situations . grosser issues i think can take place between deliberation to presenting the government. and the delegation representing the opposition so when you're saying he may be talking to the government but not the president directly. the problem is only in one man bashar al assad himself or listing problem is that the opposition is saying every five minutes they don't want to talk to us and this is the problem six months ago your prep predecessor coffee on resigned saying that there is no way they could be a peaceful resolution in syria no he didn't say it in has anything changed you still believe that a peaceful resolution serious possible i mean you know first of all coffee never said this words al

there is an argument often made in washington that bashar al assad's fall would be a strategic victory against iran what can you say about an approach like that first of all at this point iran's most important arab ally is no longer syria it's iraq thanks in no small part to the united states iran's most important strategic ally in the arab world is iraq even in syria you know bashar al assad is still there i don't think is going on is imminent and even if you reach a point where he might feel like he needs to abandon damascus or something like this you're going to still have big chunks of syria that are effectively under good control of his government under his security apparatus syria might at that point start to look more and more like a kind of. you know failing state with different regional warlords in different parts of the country but that is not a situation which is good for american interests first of all or a situation in which iran you know is somehow doesn't have influence or or an ability to act in ways to protect its interests in the situation the idea that somehow we can

the syrian president bashar al assad says his army is able to confront any aggression aimed against his nation he also says israel is trying to destabilize the country and softer comments made by the israeli defense minister ehud barak today hinting for the first time that his forces were behind this week's attack on its northern neighbor. as the details. it does come from the israeli defense minister it would be broke and he has said that it is proof that when israel says something it means that he did stop short of actually a third israel's involvement now u.s. officials have said that the strike targeted an arms convoy that was carrying anti aircraft weapons from syria to lebanon according to the israeli defense minister ehud barak he said that we do not think and i'm quoting that syria should be allowed to bring advanced weapons systems into labor it is important to make the point that his comments does not constitute acknowledgement of israel's involvement in the strike but it certainly does suggest the possibility that it took place and it was responsible for it but also said that

he didn't want to reveal his face, still deathly afraid of syrian president bashar al assad. >> ( translated): i came here because bashar al assad was killing us, was killing our women and raping them. they were kidnapping the women and raping them inside their tanks. they destroyed our houses, shops and cars. they didn't leave anything. >> reporter: as harsh as that was, he and others, like maryam al-okla, say life here is also unbearable. >> ( translated ): no one is helping us. look at the water, it flooded yesterday, and my kids, i took them outside since the morning because i don't have diesel to heat the room. what should i say, what should i say, we were dying over there and we're dying here. >> reporter: with her three children, al-okla lives up the road in this modest apartment in majdal anjar, where she pays $100 a month in rent. her daughter-- asked whether she prefers her new life to her old one-- says the broken heater, called a sobia, makes the choice clear. >> ( translated ): there. here the house is small and doesn't fit us. we can't sleep. we are sleeping next to the sobia,

he didn't want to reveal his face, still deathly afraid of syrian president bashar al assad. >> ( translated): i came here because bashar al assad was killing us, was killing our women and raping them. they were kidnapping the women and raping them inside their tanks. they destroyed our houses, shops and cars. they didn't leave anything. >> reporter: as harsh as that was, he and others, like maryam al-okla, say life here is also unbearable. >> ( translated ): no one is helping us. look at the water, it flooded yesterday, and my kids, i took them outside since the morning because i don't have diesel to heat the room. what should i say, what should i say, we were dying over there and we're dying here. >> reporter: with her three children, al-okla lives up the road in this modest apartment in majdal anjar, where she pays $100 a month in rent. her daughter-- asked whether she prefers her new life to her old one-- says the broken heater, called a sobia, makes the choice clear. >> ( translated ): there. here the house is small and doesn't fit us. we can't sleep. we are sleeping next to the sobia,

even in syria you know bashar al assad is still i don't know it is imminent and even if you reach a point where he might feel like he needs to abandon damascus or something like this you're going to still have big chunks of syria that are effectively under good control of his government under his security apparatus syria might at that point start to look more and more like a kind of. you know failing state with different regional warlords in different parts of the country but that is not a situation which is good for american interests first of all or a situation in which iran you know somehow doesn't have influence or or inability to act in ways to protect its interests in this situation the idea that somehow we can just have these short term marriages of convenience to arm train and fund really in that lane a sunni islamist jihadist groups in syria in syria against the islamic republic of iran that just this time it will work and that somehow secular democrats are going to come to power yeah that liberal secular pro-american democrats will come to power it didn't work in afghanistan and

this lends legitimacy to bashar al-assad. from israel's perspective this seems likely. >> is it likely israel consulted washington before it attacked? >> my understanding is israel did not inform washington it was going to do this. the united states check the box and said, we support israel's right to defend itself. this was not israel defending itself. this was a pre-emptive action, and i just have to believe people in washington are quite disturbed by it. it came during hagel hearings and was politically calibrated to get the support of the u.s. senate. what can a president say? he is not going to denounce israel now? i am very suspicious of the motives of the attack. >> israel maintained the lorries they were attacking carried game changing weapons. does that make it all right? is anyone likely to criticize israel for taking this position? >> there is a lot of criticism from the middle east, and that can be expected. we have only israel's word to go on. i have seen no independent evidence to confirm what they claimed. i am

opposition leaders recently agreed to talk with the administration of president bashar al-assad. he said he met syrian national coalition leader and other opposition leaders on monday. >> the chairman of the coalition has offered to enter into a dialogue with the government, not as a whole but of selected people whose hands are not soaked with blood. >> he said opposition leaders are considering the proposal seriously, and he believes it's anmportant step. the arab league chiefs warned that syrians are struggling to secure food and shelter amid the prolonged fighting. he said the international community needs to cooperate to stop the violence. >>> myanmar was a bloody battleground during world war ii. historians and archeologists had little opportunity to explore that wartime history during decades of military rule. but democratic reforms have created a more open attitude. now an effort has begun to search for the remains of japanese soldiers. nhk world has more. >> reporter: the former japanese army invaded india across the border with myanmar in 1944. 137,000 japanese soldiers

the regime of syrian president bashar al assad said it's prepared to hold talks with armed rebels. "the new york times" reports saudi arabia has financed a later pat of infantry weapons in an effort to break the stalemate. >> the wife of roberto goulet charged with trying to kidnap and eat woman. kathryn described how she discovered her husband's alleged canal ballism plans when she looked through his lapstop. >>> dr. c. everett koop has died. he served during the reagan and bush administration. is best money for the work to cut smoking. and to battle aids. >>> michelle obama showed off her bare arms sunday night while giving the oscar for "argo." iran decided to photo shop a new outfit on the physical lady complete with sleeves. >>> a new study finds a diet rich in olive oil, nuts, fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of heart attack and strokes by 30%. >>> stocks dropped on news of turmoil in italy. the dow closed 13,784. the s&p 500 dropped down 27 and the nasdaq 45. neek ke mrument ed 263 points while the hang seng tumbled 300. dead mark elections in italy panicked investo

the syrian rebels will not talk to the syrian government until bashar al assad steps down and the security chiefs are put on trial. the foreign minister told russian diplomat they're ready to meet with the rebels. it will not come through bloodshed but through dialog. nearly 70,000 people died in the ongoing violence in the last two years. >> it is back to work today for members of congress and they have a lot on their plate after a one-week recess. they have four days to reach a deal with the white house to avoid sequestration. billions of dollars in spending cuts will take effect if no agreement is in place by friday. this should give you a sense of how serious this situation is. we're talking about $85 billion in cuts right now. the deadline to avoid them is, of course, march 1st. civilian defense department employees looking at about a 20% pay cut and about 150,000 workers in our rei don't know could be forced to talk a one day a week furlough for several weeks. >> if you're flying out of town, you want to pay close attention to a news conference this morning. a number of lawmakers wil

the president bashar al assad is saying that israel is trying to destabilize his country what do you. well as you say this is the first public comment from an israeli official over the israeli strike into syrian territory last week it does come from the israeli defense minister. and he has said that it is proof that when israel says something it means that he did stop short of actually a third israel's involvement now u.s. officials have said that the strike targeted an arms convoy that was carrying anti aircraft weapons from syria to lebanon according to the israeli defense minister ehud barak he said that we do not think and i'm quoting that syria should be allowed to bring advanced weapons systems into lebanon and it is important to make the point that his comments does not constitute acknowledgment of israel's involvement in the strike but it certainly does suggest the possibility that it took place and it was responsible for it but also said that the syrian president bashar assad's fall is imminent and that it would serve as a major blow to his bella and iran now as you say syria

for these men, mo about fatigue -- more about fatigue -- moaz al-khatib had no right, unless bashar al-assad step down first. >> we have a message to moaz al- khatib. let him come and talk to the mothers of these children. >> we don't recognize anyone apart from the fighters on the ground. our victory will come from god. >> clearly, the rebels have made gains, but they are far from winning. it seems international and regional powers are moving away from the military option. so far, neither side is winning this war. that is clear in aleppo. since the fight for control of the city began, the front lines have not changed much. this has caused a lot of frustration among the population here. many have been internally displaced by the conflict. this used to be one of the largest industrial complexes in syria. it is now a place where people find shelter from the violence here for many here, an end to the war cannot come any sooner -- to the violence -- find shelter from the violence. for many here, an end to the war cannot come any sooner here >> -- sooner. to an extent, khatib's proposal has suppo

if bashar al-assad once our country, let him have it. we came here after running between homes, trying to avoid the fire that rained down on us. if it were not for the free syrian army protecting us, we would have died. god help us. >> in the u.s., georgia is set to put a man did that tonight despite consensus among medical specialists is mentally disabled. warren hill was sentenced to die 1991 for killing a fellow prisoner. all three doctors who originally said hill did not be the legal definition of mental retarded have since reversed their opinion, saying their original evaluation was extremely and unusually rushed and did not allow for an accurate assessment of his condition. his lawyers say his men to capacity peaked at a sixth grade level. while the supreme court bans the execution of mentally disabled people, it allows states leeway to decide who qualifies. georgia is the only state requires a defendant to prove such disabilities beyond a reasonable doubt. it would be the first georgia prisoner to be executed since the killing of

willing to ago she ate with members of the regime, but whether biden is likely to recommend that bashar al-assad is a precondition -- is stepping down as a precondition, is not known. >> that he set out what the obama administration second term foreign-policy would be? xp did not go that far. he had three main parts aside from syria, issuing an offer and a warning to iran, and a warning if the us policy is not containment, but to prevent iran from getting a nuclear weapon and his offer is they are ready to have talks but the supreme leader needs to be serious about negotiations. that was one thing. another theme was a reset with russia and he made it clear there were differences with russian leadership. it clearly sounds like they will work together on and ad hoc transitional basis. with europe, they said the good news and the bad news is we are not going anywhere, reaffirming the commitment to europe. >> that is a reassuring message. melinda, thank you very much. john kerry has been sworn in as us secretary of state, replacing hillary clinton to my taking his at a small ceremony in washington,

we cannot just do whatever we want in these countries, and breaking off relations with bashar al assad is senseless. on the other hand, guiding democracy in the country would be much more successful than what we are currently doing. >> paintings, books, and plays often contain clues as to the artist or writer's state, but what about a cross word? a master of the art of the cryptic cross word has something very important to tell his legions of fans, so he put it where he had made his life's work -- in a crossword puzzle. >> 10 across, chilly pine by a river, roman date base for a song. nine letters. >> to try to describe one of these puzzles, i think it is the wit. they're almost always is a clue or a couple of clues that will make you laugh. they are witty. they make you laugh. that is what people who do not do crosswords think is most peculiar, that the clue will make you laugh with the light. >> if your for with a crossword puzzle is a bit checkered, you may have fallen foul of the ingenious 91-year-old john gramm, a former vicar who has been setting puzzles in a national paper for 5

the defense minister of israel spoke of the imminent fall of bashar al-assad, and gave his response to reports that israeli jets bombed targets inside syria. >> i cannot say anything about what happened in syria several days ago, but they keep telling us that frankly that we said when we face some think we need it, we say we don't think they should be allowed to bring advanced weapons systems into lebanon on. >> the iranian foreign minister said he held face-to-face talks with syrian opposition on saturday. about the number of one-on-one meetings with key players including u.s. vice president, joe biden. the syrian opposition leader also said that with the russian foreign minister and was invited to moscow for four -- for further talks. it's being seen as representing the faintest sign of progress toward easing the civil war. there appears to be progress on the iranian nuclear issue but buried responding to joe biden pasquale to return to negotiation, is run said it had no red line and was willing to talk. >> if we are willing for negotiation, we have to make sure this time, and this i

the uprising against president bashar al assad began in 2011. >>> the u.s. supreme court is expected to make an important decision about the voting rights act by june. the high court heard arguments on a key part of the law that requires states with a history of civil rights discrimination to get permission in advance before changing their voting laws. shelby county, alabama, brought the case saying the law was outdated. outside the court hundreds of protesters from shelby county rallied to support the law as it is. the nine justices are expected to meet in private to discuss the merits of the case. >>> it is time now for weather. bill karens is here with the forecast. good morning. >> a rainy forecast in the northwest. avalanche threat, too, because of the heavy rain. that's how we'll end our february. temperatures are mild and that's why we are not too concerned with a ton of snow in the cascades. they'll do more melting than anything else. snow level above 5,000 feet. we got a plume of the moisture off the pacific, so it will be a good soaking. we have se

bashar al-assad is not in a position to retaliate. his resources are focused toward the domestic rebellion. >> how about iran? >> iran is in no position to retaliate without dragging the whole region into war. they have serious economic problems. they have a crisis in side of the country. they would not be in a position to attack israel. this is bluster. >> how do you read the strikes that the israelis conducted against this target? is israel taking advantage of the unrest to do it needs to do? do they feel nervous about what's happening inside of syria? >> this is not surprising. they have been sending signals for the past few days. they have told the americans in jordan and others that if weapons of mass destruction, chemical weapons fallen to the wrong hands or given to hezbollah, then this would be a game-changer. the other thing is that they know as everybody else knows that hezbollah has stored weapons, probably including sophisticated missiles in syria, in the syrian territory. there is concern within the leadership of hezbolla

president bashar al-assad has also reshuffled some of his cabinet. state tv is reporting that seven new ministers have been appointed. appointed. hurricane force winds

. >>> syrian foreign minister says the president of bashar al assad is ready for dialogue but opposition forces are skeptical. they've been working to form a provisional government. foreign minister met in moscow with his counterpartner saying syrian government will talk with anyone, even those holding weapons. he suggested the foreign minister is trying to buy time so syrian troops can continue their attacks. leaders of the opposition syrian national coalition insist president assad must be removed as a precondition for any talks. >>> the conflict syria has dogged diplomats and governments around the world for nearly two years. the deputy secretary-general of the united nations calls the situation absolutely urgent and extremely critical. ellison is spending the rest of the week in japan after stops in japan and south korea. we spoke before he left u.s. headquarters. >> reporter: the u.n. deputy secretary has servinged many years for the united nations in the field of peace and humanitarian affairs around the world. this is his first visit to japan since he took his post last july. one

are now pushing army units out of a key hydroelectric dam in what's seen as a major setback for bashar al assad although the opposition has now said it's ready for talks with the government. and the french military says it has or regain control of mali's northern city of gal that's after islamist militants attacked one of the country's busiest cities authorities say three civilians were killed and france claims its liberation campaign in the west african state is almost complete with insurgents being pushed out to the desert. now pope benedict says that he will not interfere in choosing his successor after unexpectedly announcing his resignation on monday the eighty five year old is to quit at the end of the month citing old age making him the first head of the catholic church to step down in nearly six centuries and the director of the national secular society keith wood says there must be more than just the official explanation. i think the dark triangle side has been an absolute catastrophe for the church it's actually lost. its authority in many parts of the world when you say that you're g

also pushed all the units out of a key hydroelectric dam in one scene is a major setback for bashar al assad although the opposition has now offered to open talks with the government to end the country's twenty two month old civil war. the french military assisted by local militias say they've regained control of mali's northern city of gal off the islamist militants launched a surprise attack on what is one of the country's most populous cities say three civilians were killed during this fighting from spain's it liberation campaign in the west african state is almost complete with insurgents pushed out of the cities towards the desert area near the algerian border. pope benedict says he will not interfere in choosing his successor after unexpectedly announcing his resignation on monday the eighty five year old is to quit at the end of the month citing old age making him the first head of the catholic church to step down in nearly six centuries and the director of the national secular society keith porteous wood says there must be more to this official explanation. i think the dark trying to

the problem is only in one man in bashar al assad himself the problem is that the opposition is seeing every five minutes but they don't want to talk to the. this is the problem it's his future in his own hands at this point should it be in his own hands i'm talking about assad i don't want to talk about that. you can watch other full exclusive interview with the u.n. and arab league envoy lakhdar brahimi. now that'll be fifteen hundred g.m.t. for now the death of a three year old adopted russian child in america last month has become an emotionally charged international incident moscow is demanding the return of maxime's younger brother with a police investigation still ongoing details on the story now it's what's easy going it's going off. the death of three year old much mean has caused definitely an emotional reaction from russian authorities but first let's look at the facts the boy died over a month ago the exact cause of his that still haven't been established there are reports that american authorities have. received to the polling results of his autopsy but haven't disclosed t