two, that the uprising is a peripheral uprising that's taking place only on the periphery. i think this is the argument also put forward by bassam, which i will differ with to some extent. and the uprising is rural. again, i would differ with that. it seems to me, and there is much emphasis on the sectarian dimension. the sunni uprising against the allawi rule and this expresses a kind of sectarian conflict. i would disagree with that. i would say on the surface it appears and if we look into, into other dynamics, if we focus on the urban setting. by virtue of patterns of population movement, the rural, urban migration and the problems of settlement in syrian cities, there's a question of why is damascus quiet. i would say damascus is not quiet at all. there are three types of urban areas that where we see protest and mobilization in damascus, one in the traditional quarters. in the historical kurdish quarter. one of the oldest quarters of damascus outside the old city. so the extra area and another area as well. we find a great is called, on the edge of the city, particula

policy responses to the syrian uprising. focusing on where we might be and where we might be headed. as depressing as where it might be as a starting point. there's the case that the only reasonable way to frame a discussion of u.s. policy in response to the syrian uprising is simply to acknowledge that the u.s. along with many of the other governments that support a process of political transition in syria, find themselves today in an exceptionally difficult position. they're really struggling, all of them, to find way forward with no clear sense of what that path way might be. and this meeting of friends of syria group that will begin later this week in tunis, is i think a reflection of both the challenges confronting the united states and it's allies in thinking about what the next kind of frameworks might be for sustaining diplomatic and economic pressure on syria at a moment in which the u.n. pathway seems to be closed. but of course we have no real guarantee or no real detailed information about how or whether the frie

and they crushed the uprising. but eric out he has also provided us with some insight on the current crisis in syria a special interview with him is on here in about twenty five minutes but before that here's what's coming up in the program turkey to keep our economic war on iran decided to protect its national interests by continuing to pour to rein in oil. activists in syria claim that government troops have sent tanks to attack western szell areas in the country's fourth largest city of hama that says the fighting shows no sign of abating the epicenter of the uprising the city of homs but with reports hard to very fine there are concerns that someone turning the regime painted in the bad light and not the opposition. since the beginning of the uprising in syria last march the regime of bashar al assad has been accused of oppression torture and killing but with abad much of holmes blame has since focused on assad's forces attacking civilians and shell in residential areas. that the little yard calls himself a mem

engagement in the crushing of the uprisings is more n-- is more detailed than you stated it. the decision to step out was done with reluctance by american diplomats who were not at all pleased by the pressures from saudi arabia. there's differences of opinion and interpretation there. we can get into that later. for the opposition and so on. three key questions you posed. is it a viable counter part? do we need to wait until the free syrian army is unified before we provide arms and support to the free syrian army and third, what is the impact of militarization on the political dynamics of the uprising and if militarization spreads is it likely to change the communities that have been essential to the support of if regime? i think we read over and over again in the media and we see examples of it on facebook and other locations of the depth and intensity of conflicts within the opposition. we have to be very careful how we read it and we have to be careful not to exaggerate, the extent to which increasingly coherent structures and protest activities are in fact taking hold an

rather it is to mark the anniversary of a pro-democracy uprising in bahrain are put down with tactics and weapons from the u.k. sparking claims of western governments hypocrisy of a different votes in the region. one sided reports from syria blaming only the regime for atrocities seen by some as an attempt to hide the truth of the conflict by sweeping rebel crimes under the carpet. and sizing up the rivals u.s. leaders could joe china's visiting vice president and leader in waiting she jinping as of today sions fight for the upper hand in a turbulent relationship. plus more deals are being made there. picks up we'll tell you which sectors that most popular and business in twenty minutes. costing live from the heart of the russian capital this is. the pictures all familiar regime forces cracking down on protesters but this time they're emanating from bahrain just hours ago activists trying to mark the one year anniversary of a pro-democracy uprising were dispersed by heavily armed police. reports the weapons as well as the tactics may have been imported from the u.k. . tear gas and stu

rallies to mark the anniversary of a pro-democracy uprising in bahrain are put down of tactics and weapons from the u.k. sparking claims of western governments hypocrisy of a different revolts in the region. one sided reports from syria blaming the regime for atrocities seem by some to hide the truth of the conflict by sweeping rebel cry under the carpet. and sizing up their rivals u.s. leaders could china's vice president leader great to see jinping two nations ripe for the upper hand turbulent relationship. and online twenty four hours a day this is r.t. the pictures are familiar regime forces cracking down on protesters but this time they're emanating from bahrain just hours ago activists trying to mark the one year anniversary of a proto moxy uprising were dispersed by heavily armed police. reports the weapons as well as the tactics may have been imported from the u.k. . tear gas and stun grenades supposedly the work of a reformed police force but one year on since the first anti-government protests were crushed in bahrain it seems not much has changed the only difference now the crack

she has a new article out called "siri's uprising -- syria's uprising." she has more coming out in the months to come. finally, stephen heydemann. he previously directed and taught at columbia university. he is the author of the book "authoritarianism in syria at." kias recently the author of a policy brief from the brooklyn institutions -- kias recently the author of a policy brief from the brooklyn institution. this is the best short resource and understanding are regimes have responded to challenges which they faced from below. i have asked each of the speaker to speak for 10 minutes. -- each of the speakers to speak for 10 minutes. i will then ask questions and we will have dialogue for a while. i might have a few remarks. i usually do. then we open it up to questions from the audience. for now, the floor is yours bassam. can you come to the podium? it is easier for the camera. >> thank you for coming. thank you for putting this together into inviting us to this discussion. i am hoping that the best part will be actually the discussion afterwards. the

what happens with this uprising when the government shuts down this access to social media? >> they started shutting down the access to social media, and then they ended up shutting down the internet and i think that was one of their mistakes. we were fortunate to have a regime that was basically helping us achieve our goal. that was the very good message that we needed. why? if you are scared, if people took to the street and were still scared and had this fear about the regime, and then they see the regime react by blocking access, that was the best message. it made us feel that we are stronger than we thought we were, and a lot of egyptians, they are thinking, ok, they are going over the limit, and we have to participate. many egyptians, knows some, who went to the street on january 28 because the internet and telephones were cut off. tavis: dr. king always said that the time is always ripe, r-i-p- e, to do what is right, r-i-g-h- t. what made this known ripe? -- this so ripe? >> there was a lot going on. when it comes to politics and the economy, people are very frustrat

and they crush the uprising. what erica has also spoken to us about the current crisis in syria that's in a special interview next hour but before that has what else is coming up in the program. turkey wants to keep out the economic war on iran decided to protect its national interests by continuing to watch and wait while. activists in syria claim government troops have sent tanks to attack residential areas in the country's fourth largest city of hama that sounds the fighting shows no sign of abating in the epicenter of the uprising the city of homs but it reports hard to verify there are concerns that some want and the regime painted in the bad light and the opposition since the beginning of the uprising in syria last march the regime of bashar al assad has been accused of refreshen torture and killing but with abad much of homes while the main strongholds of the opposition in its second week blame has to focus on assad's forces attacking civilians and shelling residential areas. the beautiful yard calls himse

pro-democracy uprising were dispersed by heavily armed police. reports the weapons as well as the tactics they have been imported from the u.k. . tear gas and stun grenades supposedly the work of a reformed police force but one year on since the first anti-government protests were crushed in bahrain it seems not much has changed the only difference now the crackdown has been planned by one of britain's former top cops jon the eights used to be assistant commissioner of london's metropolitan police he now works for bahrain's monarchy which says he's there to oversee police reforms the police have borrowed or behaving despicably their latest trick is to throw cancer tear gas into homes of people they don't like shut the doors and people have died choking to death tear gas or use out of doors and i think for any british police officer mr yates is retired to be associated in any way with that is his role yes resigned from scotland yard last year and early fix him of the phone hacking scandal he popped up in bahrain in december as part of the regime's

there's a reason for this uprising is that people downtown voltaire's and their voice was. told people i've been humiliated and dave wants their voices heard on. this movement as a non y. that's the civil rights movement. i talk about symbolism off the mind but activism of the middle if your mind should look at the darkness but you bill your actions should be driven to work chance. latest news in the week's top stories here on r.t. the syrian government feels the squeeze internationally and from within as it struggles across what it calls a foreign funded insurgency promising to atia revoke radical reform. fueling and tehran iran is really uses these lawmakers state of targeting its diplomats and bomb attacks across the globe and demands more sanctions against iran over its nuclear program. accusing the e.u. greek m.p.'s past use dirty measures causing more protests in athens from angry workers worried about further cuts to wages and pensions. and candidates scored the cameras and conversely to woo voters just two weeks before russia goes to the polls to elect a new preside

and they crushed the uprising. but erica has also provided the so with some insight on the current crisis in syria an interview with him is only in the next hour about for that here's what else is coming up in the program. turkey wants to keep out of the economic war on iran choosing to protect its national interests by continuing to import iranian oil. a blast has ripped through an oil pipeline in the syrian city of homs where clashes between regime troops and opposition fighters have continued for over a week thick smoke can be seen hanging over the city activists say the explosion was caused by government airstrike reports also suggest the army has sent tanks which are attacking west densher there is in the country's largest city. and the capital damascus troops said to be raiding houses not compromise with the free syrian army but information out of very fine concerns that someone turned the regime painting a bad light on the opposition. since the beginning of the uprising in syria last march the regime of bash

to mark the anniversary of a pro-democracy uprising in bahrain put down the tactics and weapons from the u.k. sparking claims of western hypocrisy over different revolts in the region. one sided reports from syria bending and the regime for atrocities seen by some as an attempt to hide the truth of the conflict by sweeping rebel crimes under the carpet . and sizing up their rivals u.s. leaders control china's visiting vice president and leader in waiting she didn't think the two nations are vying for the upper hand over information chip. watching out here very warm welcome to you well the pictures are familiar the regime forces cracking down on protesters but this time they emanate from bahrain activists trying to mark the one year anniversary of a pro-democracy uprising were dispersed why heavily armed police and other bennett reports their weapons as well as the tactics they have been imported from the u.k. . tear gas and stun grenades supposedly the work of a reformed police force but one year on since the first anti-government protests were crushed in bahrain it seems not much ha

rallies some are not averse to a pro-democracy uprising in bahrain are down with tactics and weapons from the u.k. sparking claims of western democracy over different revolts in the region. and sizing up the rivals u.s. leaders stomp on smile for china's visiting vice president and leader and waiting as the two nations find for the upper hand in a turbulent relationship. it's three pm here in moscow this is r.t. coming to you live with our top story this hour syrian state t.v. house announced that a referendum on a new constitution will take place in eleven days that's as reports of new outbreak of violence continue to pour out of the country with tanks being deployed to the fourth largest city of hama and an oil pipeline blown up in homes. correspondent in syria roof an ocean has more. there is a goal the national referendum on the country's new constitution has been announced in every day that are expected to be held. in government and probably confirms a document that has been drafted to end the monopoly of the ruling party people who govern people according to the. initial levels

and it was days of move forward pass or is in bahrain as the anniversary of the country's uprising was met with a brutal crackdown by police. iran is stepping up its nuclear program at an underground side near the city of qom by installing sounds of new generation centrifuges according to reports and israel is stepping up its anti ron rhetoric and urging the international community to increase sanctions against iran israel accuses iran of being behind bomb attacks targeting its diplomats in india georgia and thailand earlier this week to iraq already under enormous international pressure over its nuclear program denies any involvement of islamic state insists nuclear work is peaceful and accuses israel waging psychological war that some theories paving the way for military action middle east expert ali risks as israel's rhetoric will only provoke a tit for tat response. here iran is trying to send a message that it cannot be you cannot deal with iran in such oyo iran has its own weapons while the west for example believes that it has weapons and ammunition represented by sanctions iran

activism are a new word targeted was here gas as they mark the first anniversary of a shiite uprising on tuesday despite promises of police reform last year just as before officers responded with force although this time many of the tactics and weapons came not from the rain but from the u.k. badly for its. tear gas and stun grenades supposedly the work of a reformed police force but one year on since the first anti-government protests will crushed in bahrain it seems not much has changed the only difference now the crackdown has been planned by one of britain's former top cops john yates used to be assistant commissioner of london's metropolitan police and he now works for bahrain's monarchy says he's there to oversee police reform the police have borrowed or behaving despicably their latest trick is to throw cans of tear gas into homes of people they don't like shut the doors and people have died choking to death tear gas or use out of doors and i think for any british police officer or overstimulate is retired to be associated in any way with that is is wrong yes resign from scotla

and rallies marking one year since the pro-democracy uprising in bahrain protesters face yet another harsh crackdown with police using tactics and weapons from the u.k. . eleven pm in moscow. good to have you with us here on r t our top story iran has reportedly war in six e.u. countries it may stop supplying them with oil in response to a series of sanctions including an embargo on terrans key export an iranian official added the only reason they're not stopping the crude sales immediately is europe's extremely cold current temperatures are he's jacob greaves reports from greece one of the countries believed to be subject to the oil cut by tehran. the latest reports here what we hear is the arabian foreign ministry has cooled up these are bastards of the six nations concerned and told them that cuts will happen but not right away or they will face a ban on exports to their nations but they'll be given some leeway and that's what they termed humanitarian reasons the cold snap that's been sweeping across europe that will go down if implemented preempt somewhat those sanctions imposed

and they crushed the uprising. but our economy has also provided us with some insight on the current crisis in syria especially to be with him is on our next hour but before that here's what's coming up in the program. that he wants to out of the economic war on iran decided to protect its national interests continuing to import iranian oil. a blast has ripped through an oil pipeline in the syrian city of homs where clashes between regime troops and opposition fighters have continued for over a week. seeing pictures of thick smoke hanging over the city activists say the explosion was caused by government strike reports suggest the army has sent hanks' extension areas in the country's fourth largest city. commission hard to verify concerns that some want painted in a bad light on the opposition. since the beginning you know the uprising in syria last march the regime of bashar al assad has been accused of refreshen torture. and killing but with a bad lot of homes blame has since focused on assad forces attacking civ

engagement in the crushing of the uprisings is a bit more nuanced. there is a room for debate, but we do not time to have it here. i would argue the decision was taken with extraordinary or the decision to takesteps out was taken by diplomats that were not at all pleased with the pressures they were subjected to by saudi arabia who identified them as a red line and not to cross. there are interpretations we can get into later. on opposition and so on, three key questions. is it a viable counterpart? do we need to wait until the free syrian army is unified before imagining a makes sense to try and provide arms or even some other support of the free syrian army, and what is the impact of militarization of the impacts of the syrian army? if it spreads come is a likely to strain -- change the strategic calculus to the military campaigns. i think we read over and over again in the media and see ample evidence in facebook and other locations of the debt and intensity of conflicts with an opposition, but i think we have to be careful how we read that. i agr

now was a move for testers in bahrain as a universe of other countries uprising was met with a brutal crackdown by police. iran is stepping up its nuclear program at an underground site near the city of qom by installing thousands of new generation centrifuges according to reports and israel is stepping up its on tehran rhetoric and urging the international community to increase sanctions against iran israel accuses iran of being behind bomb attacks targeting its diplomats in india georgia and taiwan earlier this week to rile ready under enormous international pressure over its nuclear program denies any involvement the slimy state insists its nuclear war. it's peaceful and accuse israel of waging a psychological war that some fear is paving the way for military action political analyst chris bambery explains what he thinks israel is up to. and i think what they're really trying to do is trying to up the ante so the americans will do something they aren't capable of taking out around nuclear program they don't have the means to do it best they could memorize a hit and run and run atta

there's a reason for this uprising is that people vent on voltaire's and their voice was. told people i've been ill you want their voices heard i'm this movement as nonviolence civil rights. i talk about the symbolism of activism of the mill your mind should look at the darkness but the real action should be driven work chance. and mission free could you take three months for charges free. range month free risk free studio time free. download free broadcast quality video for your media projects a free media party dot com. that's. syria's president has announced a vote on a new constitution which would effectively end their than fifty years of single party rule in the contrary amid escalating turmoil. had rallies marking one year since the pro-democracy uprising in bahrain protesters face yet another harsh climbed out of police using tactics and weapons from the u.k. . was iran reportedly stopped oil exports to six european states in retaliation to e.u. sanctions as international rhetoric is ramped up to further a family of flames of friction with the islamic state. live fr

- the sunni royal family. >> tear gas, rubber bullets, and grenades market be anniversary of the uprising. thousands of mostly shi'ite protesters have been trying to converge on landmark sites, bulldozed by the government and ruling by security forces. they have had several villages under lockdown, determined to stop these demonstrators from stopping traffic. it is relief that these are not more violent but it is a reminder that the shiites have deep rooted grievances that need addressing. >> this is not democracy to have the prime minister appointed for 40 years. people should be represented in the parliament and the government. >> frustration among shiite of villagers is obvious and they say that this is a failure of negotiation. >> this has been falling apart for years and they have rejected every reform initiative. -- bahrain's king commissioned a report on human rights abuses. experts have been brought in from outside, cameras installed in police stations. these demonstrators say that despite earlier promises, some of them fired during the protests have not been reinstated. the gover

since the beginning of the uprising in syria last march the regime of bashar al assad has been accused of refreshen torture and killing but with a bad month of homes blame has since focused on assad's forces attacking civilians and shell in residential areas. in a beautiful yard called himself a member of the opposition and intellectual not marry one his stress is from a social democratic group originally from holmes he blames assad for mistakes which allowed bloodshed at the start but he just defies what the regime is doing in his native city now he is the two i am he is touring to two to. protect civilians i think that in homs there are many gangs you know there is a title and everyone can claim that he belongs with this title and no one can ban him the danger posed by the armed forces was seen in the killing of a french journalist last month and b. says when he went to homes he put in his mind that the syrian opposition is very peaceful in the trying to frame them so he he was like a pioneer in the call and he was killed by the some gang attacks on government targets have become inc

helped to the ruling elite keep a lid on the island state's only political uprising. greece's prime minister lucas papademos has flown to brussels for last minute talks to secure a vital one hundred thirty billion bailout for his country this comes as frustrated greeks have once again taken davits streets of central athens to express their anger over fresh austerity measures protestors have stayed outside the parliament throughout the day with some scuffles with police reported there greece's cabinet has passed a final set of massive cuts called for by your creditors in return for a one hundred thirty billion euro bailout the deal could now be cleared as soon as monday with euro zone finance ministers meeting in brussels to discuss the future of greece investment advisor patrick young says securing the next bailout means a total loss of sovereignty for the country. what we have here is basically that great scene in the hollywood adventure movie where someone has tripped and fallen over the edge of the cliff and he's being held on to by one arm by the person who we're

and rallies marking a year since the pro-democracy uprising in bahrain protesters face yet another harsh clampdown with police using tactics and weapons a. midnight in moscow tries a good to have you with us here on r t our top story iran has reportedly war in six states it may stop supplying them with oil in response to a series of sanctions including an embargo on terror on this key export iranian official also added that only reason they're not stopping crude sales immediately zero six stream lee cold current temperatures are he's jacob greaves has more from greece. the latest reports here what we hear is the iranian foreign ministry has cooled up these embassadors of these six nations concerns and told them that cuts will happen but not right away or they will face a ban on exports to their nations but they'll be given some leeway in that so into what they term humanitarian reasons the cold snap that's been sweeping across europe it will no doubt if implemented preempt somewhat those sanctions imposed by the e.u. back in january and due to be implemented in july six nations in questi

and the rallies marking one year since the pro-democracy uprising in bahrain protesters face yet another harsh clampdown with police using tactics and weapons from the u.k. . and from all business desk the russian markets close in the black lips and by high prices and for them isaacs and an almost event we'll have more on that and other stories in our business bulletin in twenty minutes. here with r t why from moscow. where at seven pm good to have you with us on the nice now with our top story this evening iraq has reportedly warned six e.u. countries they might stop supplying them with oil in response to a series of sanctions which included embargo on tehran's export the ban was not supposed to come into full effect until the summer but the islamic republic has repeatedly threatened to bring them to an immediate halt jacob greaves now joins us greece one of the countries allegedly subject to this possible caught by tehran jacob so if and when a cut in oil supply is actually happens how would it affect the debt stricken e.u. . well it. is quite fast now of course the latest reports here

there's a reason for this uprising is that people then time voltage and their voice was. told people even though you want their voices heard. i use movement as. civil rights. i talk about the symbolism of activism of bill with your mind should look at the darkness but the real action should be driven work to chance. well to the. science technology innovation and all the least developed from around russia we've got the future covered. latest news on the week's top stories on our team of the year one wraps up the pressure on the syrian regime as violence escalates but russia calls for talks to break the stalemate while damascus promises reforms. iran's oil ministry says tax problem is stopping oil exports to france and britain made pressure and sanctions over its nuclear program. and greek anger spills out onto the streets once again as lawmakers clear more cuts to secure vital rescue cash the wake of days of violent protests. thanks for being with us on karen with the latest the u.n. general assembly has adopted a non-binding resolution this week calling on syria's preside

in the case of the arab uprising, it seems that some are also slow and bloody. it has been a year since the beginning of the arab spring with many of its protest movement still unfinished business. how have things changed in the past 12 months? we begin in libya where there is frustration at instability and the pace of change. armed militias have been accused of reprisals against get off the lists with the government unable or unwilling to stop them. -- armed militias are accused of reprisals against gaddafi loyalists and the government is unable or unwilling to stop them. >> it is a time of celration. the other night, the people took to the streets in an exuberant show of force. >> the 17th of february, 2011. this is the day that no libyan will ever forget. this is the date where everyone is born. >> we never thought this revolution was going to succeed. >> this is tripoli street in misrata penh to the city was attacked by gaddafi's forces last spring, and fighting raged for months. more than 1500 people from misrata died in the struggle and the city a merged w

people here are afraid the çregime intends a final push to crush the uprising.es are mounting. undoubtedly most civilians. they had put their hopes in the un resolution. it was vetoed by russia and china. they are better. -- bitter about that. >> this was three years old. is this wha thçt the un waited, until they kill all the children come kill all the women? >> homs is shuddered and terrified after many punishing days of this. hundreds of shells and mortar bombs have been fired at this place. >> god,, go. >> the one thing you hear over and over is they feel abandoned by the outside world. they have not been out to play since the of rising -- uprising began. their mothers in despair. the outside world will not help us, she says. god'sç vengeance will come down on the syrian president. the kalashnikovs can do little against tanks. their hope their regime's forces will crumble from the inside. army's moral has collapsed. they know they're killing civilians and they want this bloodbath to stop. as the bodies pile up, the prevailing mood here is one of despair.

and rallies marking one year since the pro-democracy uprising in bahrain protesters face yet another harsh clampdown with police using tactics and weapons from the u.k. . does iran stops oil exports to six european states in retaliation to the sanctions as international rhetoric is ramped up to further family claims of friction with the islamic state. and business world watching oil prices the jump nearly two dollars a barrel we've seen one hundred nineteen dollars thirty five cents shortly after the iran announcement join me for more on that at all but. it's five pm here in moscow this is archie coming to you live from nice now with our top story this hour syria's president bashar assad has ordered a referendum on a new constitution to be held in eleven days according to the country's state run news agency it could put an end to the one party rule of the president's baath party in shrines in the current constitution the announcement came amid reported violence in the cities of homes that hamas some of the fiercest in the months long rest are just maria financial reports from syria.