'Civilians killed' by Aleppo rockets

22 February 2013 Last updated at 18:12 ET

Three missiles have crashed into residential areas of Syria's northern city of Aleppo, killing at least 12 civilians, activists say.

Video footage posted online claims to show the aftermath, with people carrying away the wounded and a wide area reduced to rubble.

Activists say families are buried under the rubble in one neighbourhood.

Meanwhile, opposition politicians say they have agreed to form a government for rebel-held areas.

Umbrella group the Syrian National Coalition, meeting in Cairo, said it would meet again in Istanbul on 2 March to name a prime minister.

The UN estimates that about 70,000 people have died since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's regime began in March 2011.

'Horrible sight'

The reasons for the latest attack are unclear, and it is also not clear who launched the missiles.

Earlier this week, activists accused the government forces of targeting other areas of Aleppo with Russian-made Scud-type missiles.

Video footage allegedly of the latest incident shows chaotic scenes, but the darkness of the images makes it difficult to identify the type or size of the rockets.

An activist called Baraa al-Youssef told Reuters news agency that 30 homes had been destroyed by one of the rockets.

"Nothing can describe it, it's a horrible sight," he said.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 12 bodies had been recovered and more than 50 people had been wounded.

Risky proposition

In the early months of the uprising Aleppo, Syria's commercial capital, was largely spared the violence.

But the course of the conflict dramatically shifted in summer 2012, and the northern city become an intense battleground.

Many thousands have fled the violence, and in recent months the rebels and government forces appear to have reached stalemate, neither side being able to gain the upper hand.

Much of Syria is in a similar situation, and even areas controlled by the rebels are subject to intense bombardment from the air.

The political opponents of Mr Assad mostly live in exile.

They have floated the idea of a transitional government ever since their opposition coalition was formed in Qatar last November.

The BBC's Jim Muir in Cairo says it is a risky and complicated proposition, and that is why it is taking so long.

If the transitional government fails to attract sufficient financial and diplomatic support, and if it cannot operate inside rebel-held areas of Syria, the coalition may lose its already shaky credibility, our correpondent adds.

But if the coalition does not try, it risks leaving those areas to slide further into the hands of the radical Islamist factions that are making the running on the ground, he says.

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'Many die' in Mali mountain clashes

23 February 2013 Last updated at 02:51 ET

Thirteen Chadian soldiers and 65 Islamist insurgents have been killed in heavy fighting in a remote part of northern Mali, Chad's military says.

It says Friday's clashes occurred in the Ifoghas mountains, where many militants are believed to be hiding.

Last month France led an operation to help oust Islamists who seized the vast northern region of Mali in 2012.

The US military says it has deployed surveillance drones in Niger to gather information on the Islamist militants.

The intelligence collected by a 100-strong contingent of US personnel from across the border is being shared with French troops in Mali, who are assisting thousands of troops from African states.

US drones

Islamist rebels are believed to have retreated to the Ifoghas mountains - a desert area in the Kidal region near the border with Algeria - after being forced from northern population centres in recent weeks.

In a statement issued late on Friday, the Chadian army said it had "destroyed five vehicles and killed 65 jihadists", adding that 13 of its soldiers had been killed and another five wounded.

Earlier this month, some 1,800 Chadian soldiers began patrolling the city of Kidal.

Chad has pledged to send 2,000 troops to Mali as part of the African-led mission.

Fighting between Islamist insurgents and Malian troops - backed by French soldiers - also continued in the central city of Gao.

On Thursday, the coalition said it had recaptured the city hall, which had been seized by militants a day earlier.

France intervened in January in its former colony, fearing that al-Qaeda-linked militants who had controlled Mali's north since April 2012 were about to advance on the capital Bamako.

The French have said they are planning to start withdrawing their 4,000 soldiers next month, and would like the African-led contingent to become a UN peacekeeping operation.

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Spanish royal questioned by judge

23 February 2013 Last updated at 04:50 ET

The King of Spain's son-in-law is being questioned by a judge in Mallorca over a growing corruption scandal that has embarrassed the royal family.

Inaki Urdangarin, the Duke of Palma, is suspected of misusing millions of euros in public funds that were given to a charitable foundation he ran.

The duke has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crime. It is the second time he has been questioned.

A crowd of protesters jeered as he arrived at the court in Palma.

Inaki Urdangarin, 45, and his former business partner Diego Torres are suspected of siphoning off money given by regional governments to the non-profit Noos Institute to organise sporting events.

It is alleged that some of the money ended up in companies controlled by the duke and in offshore bank accounts.

The events allegedly happened between 2004 and 2006, when the duke stepped down as head of the institute.

Mr Torres - who was questioned by the judge last week - has also denied any wrongdoing.

Emails

The duke, a former Olympic handball player, is married to King Juan Carlos's second child, Princess Cristina. He was suspended from official royal engagements in December last year.

Anti-corruption campaigners have urged the judge to formally name Princess Cristina as a suspect, alleging that she may also have been involved.

The Spanish monarchy has tried to distance itself from the scandal.

But emails published by Spanish newspapers last week appear to show that King Juan Carlos took a close interest in his son-in-law's business affairs.

Support for the royal family has diminished in recent years, amid criticism that is out of touch with ordinary Spaniards as they struggle with a severe economic crisis.

Last week Pere Navarro of the Catalan Socialist Party became the first prominent politician to call on King Juan Carlos to abdicate in favour of his son, Crown Prince Felipe.

Juan Carlos is credited with guiding Spain's transition to democracy after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.

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Vatican attacks resignation 'gossip'

23 February 2013 Last updated at 05:39 ET

The Vatican's chief spokesperson has criticised the media for reporting "misinformation" about the Church.

Father Federico Lombardi said some were trying to profit from a time of disorientation in the Catholic Church to spread "gossip" and "slander".

Father Lombardi made the comments in an editorial on the Vatican radio website.

Pope Benedict XVI's resignation, the first by a pope in nearly 600 years, takes effect on Thursday. His decision surprised many within the Church.

There have been recent articles in the Italian and international media suggesting intrigue and corruption in the Church.

'Unacceptable pressure'

An unconfirmed report in one of Italy's biggest newspapers, La Repubblica, suggested that the Pope had resigned shortly after being presented with a dossier detailing a network of Vatican priests, "united by sexual orientation" who were being blackmailed.

Continue reading the main story

Whoever has money, sex and power at the forefront of their mind sees the world through these parameters"

End Quote Father Federico Lombardi Vatican spokesperson

Without giving credence to such allegations or addressing the report specifically, the Vatican spokesman said those putting themselves in positions of judgement had no authority to do so.

"Whoever has money, sex and power at the forefront of their mind sees the world through these parameters and cannot see beyond, even when looking at the Church," he said.

"Their view cannot look to the heights or go in-depth to understand the spiritual dimensions and motivations of existence," he added.

Last year, the Pope appointed three retired cardinals to conduct an investigation into a scandal that became known as Vatileaks. The Pope's former butler Paolo Gabriele was convicted and later pardoned for stealing documents from his office.

Referring to the upcoming conclave, during which the next leader of the Catholic Church will be chosen, Father Lombardi also suggested that the media was exerting "unacceptable pressure to condition the vote of one or other member of the college of cardinals".

The BBC's Vatican correspondent, David Willey, says that this is probably directed towards attempts by the American media to dissuade US cardinals alleged to have covered up clerical sexual abuse scandals from travelling to take part in the vote.

Later on Saturday, the Pope is due to hold a farewell meeting with the Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.

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Chavez 'breathing problems persist'

21 February 2013 Last updated at 21:14 ET

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is still suffering breathing problems following his return from Cuba where he was treated for cancer, officials say.

Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said Mr Chavez was continuing to receive treatment at a military hospital in Caracas.

It was the first official communique on the president's health since he returned to Venezuela on Monday.

Mr Chavez went to Havana for surgery on 11 December.

It was his fourth operation in an 18-month period for cancer, which was first diagnosed in mid-2011.

He is said to have suffered a severe respiratory infection following the latest surgery.

"The breathing insufficiency that emerged post-operation persists, and the tendency has not been favourable, so it is still being treated," Mr Villegas said in a televised statement.

President Chavez, in office for 14 years, was re-elected for another six-year term in October 2012, but his swearing-in was delayed because of his illness.

Doubts remain about whether his health will allow him to return to active politics.

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India minister visits blast sites

22 February 2013 Last updated at 04:40 ET

India's Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has visited the sites of two blasts in the city of Hyderabad in which 16 people were killed.

Mr Shinde said Thursday's bombs had been planted on bicycles 150m (500ft) apart near a crowded fruit market.

No group has yet said it carried out the attack.

Major Indian cities have been put on alert as police investigate the blasts, which Mr Shinde said also left 117 people injured.

On Friday, he visited the sites of the blast in the Dilsukhnagar area, a busy commercial and education hub, as well as visiting some of the injured in hospital.

Asked who he thought could be behind the blasts, Mr Shinde said: "At this moment we cannot say anything. The matter is under investigation."

Mumbai alert

On Thursday Mr Shinde told reporters in Delhi that authorities had received intelligence about possible attacks in the country but no specific information as to where or when they might occur.

The explosions hit the busy Dilsukhnagar neighbourhood, which is crowded with cinemas, shops, restaurants and one of India's largest fruit and vegetable markets.

Senior police officer V Dinesh Reddy told the Associated Press news agency that improvised explosive devices had been used.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called the explosions a "dastardly attack" and said the "guilty will not go unpunished".

Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra state have been put on high alert following the blasts, with measures such as increased police presence on the streets and random vehicle searches.

Meanwhile, Australia's cricket team says it has held talks with Indian authorities about its players' safety in the wake of the bombings. The second Test of the India-Australia series is due to start in Hyderabad on 2 March.

The blast is the first major attack in India since a September 2011 bombing outside Delhi's High Court killed 13 people.

There have been at least nine attacks on the city since 1992, including twin explosions in 2007 that killed more than 40 people.

The city has a sizeable Muslim minority, is a stronghold of the Muslim political party, MIM, and has a long history of religious tension, says the BBC's Soutik Biswas in Delhi.

He says religious tensions grew from the 1980s and 1990s with Hindus and Muslims moving out of mixed areas into community ghettos.

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Eurozone economy to contract in 2013

22 February 2013 Last updated at 05:40 ET

The European Commission says the eurozone economy will shrink in 2013, after previously predicting that it would grow slightly.

Delivering its winter forecast, vice-president Olli Rehn said the 17 economies in the eurozone would collectively shrink by 0.3% this year.

The Commission had previously predicted overall GDP growth of 0.1%.

But it is also predicting that the eurozone will see 0.7% growth in the fourth quarter.

The Commission is concerned about a "surprise" fall in Portugal's economy, which fell 3.2% in 2012 and is forecast to contract by another 1.9% in 2013.

Most economic forecasters have been revising down their European growth estimates, after the global economic recovery showed signs of faltering in the final quarter of 2012.

For example, in January the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it expected the eurozone to fall into "mild recession" in 2013, having previously predicted growth.

It also predicted that the UK would grow 1% in 2013, compared with the 1.1% previously forecast.

The World Bank also revised down its global growth forecasts earlier in January.

But European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi believes the eurozone will begin recovering in the second half of this year.

And this week, Germany's Bundesbank said Europe's biggest economy would avoid recession and return to growth in the first quarter of 2013, after shrinking 0.6% in the last three months of 2012.

It expects Germany to continue growing throughout 2013.

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Oscar Pistorius bail decision due

22 February 2013 Last updated at 05:52 ET

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The BBC's Peter Biles says Mr Pistorius has looked "very much like a broken man"

A South African magistrate is set to rule on whether Oscar Pistorius, accused of murdering his girlfriend, should be freed on bail.

The Paralympic sprinter denies murder, saying he shot Reeva Steenkamp thinking she was an intruder at his home.

The prosecution argues there is a risk Mr Pistorius may abscond and bail should be refused.

After the final arguments, magistrate Desmond Nair said he would announce his decision at about 2:30pm (12:30GMT).

Continue reading the main story

It's been the quiet, rather overlooked subtext to the drama and detail emerging from Courtroom C: the shambolic state of South Africa's police force.

Given that this is perhaps the most high-profile murder investigation that South Africa has seen in years, it makes you wonder what happens in other, more ordinary, cases, and to begin to understand why, for instance, the conviction rate for alleged rapists is pitifully low, and why so many police dockets are reported to "disappear" from the files, allowing suspects to walk free.

Intent?

In his closing argument, lead prosecutor Gerrie Nel said that Oscar Pistorius's version of events was "improbable" and there was a clear risk he would flee if granted bail.

He said the athlete's statement to the court suggested he thought "I've done nothing wrong" as there was no admission of culpable homicide.

Oscar Pistorius knows he is "almost guaranteed" to serve a long term in prison, and he should not be treated differently because he is famous or because he has a disability, the prosecutor added.

"He fired four shots, not one shot," Mr Nel said.

"The only reason you fire four shots is to kill. On his own version, he is bound to be convicted."

In response, lead defence lawyer Barry Roux reiterated that Mr Pistorius had no intent to kill Ms Steenkamp: he fired at what he thought was a burglar.

"He did not want to kill Reeva. He had no intent to kill Reeva," Mr Roux said

If anything, his client should be charged with culpable homicide, not premeditated murder, the lawyer argued.

"All the factors are present to show that he is not a flight risk," Mr Roux said, adding that the athlete's prosthetic limbs meant he could not go unnoticed through airport security.

Oscar Pistorius hopes to resume training next week if he is granted bail, his coach Ampie Louw said as he arrived at court.

If denied bail, he could face months in prison before a full trial begins later this year.

Prosecutors say Mr Pistorius fired four shots through a locked toilet door as Ms Steenkamp cowered on the other side. She was hit in the head, arm and hip.

Mr Pistorius admits firing the shots, but says he was acting in self-defence against what he thought was an intruder.

Flight risk?

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel said Mr Pistorius had the "money, means and motive," to abscond abroad if he was given bail.

But defence lawyer Barry Roux said Mr Pistorius's prosthetic limbs would make it difficult to escape the country, as they could not go through airport security unnoticed and required regular maintenance.

``Let me tell you how difficult it is for this man to disappear from this world,'' Mr Roux said.

Because of the seriousness of the charges, Mr Pistorius's defence team have to prove there is an "exceptional" reason for him to be freed on bail.

Detective replaced

On Thursday, police replaced their lead detective in the case, Hilton Botha, after it emerged he faced attempted murder charges.

South Africa's most senior detective, Lt Gen Vineshkumar Moonoo, will now take charge of the investigation.

Det Botha is expected to appear in court in May in connection with a 2009 incident in which he and other officers opened fire on a minibus taxi whose driver apparently disobeyed an order to stop.

He has not been suspended and could remain a potential witness in any trial of Mr Pistorius.

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French blast 'ignorant' US tyre boss

21 February 2013 Last updated at 04:39 ET

A French minister has responded angrily to the boss of US tyremaker Titan who said he would have to be "stupid" to invest in the country.

Maurice Taylor made the claims in a letter to France's minister for industrial recovery, Arnaud Montebourg.

On Thursday, Mr Montebourg replied that Mr Taylor's "extreme" comments showed a "perfect ignorance of what our country is".

He added that 20,000 foreign firms are in France, employing 2 million people.

Mr Taylor - a former candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 1996 - was replying to a request for Titan to consider investing in a loss-making Goodyear plant in Amiens, north France.

"I have visited that factory a couple of times. The French workforce gets paid high wages but only works three hours," Mr Taylor said in the letter, dated 8 February, and published by French business daily Les Echos on Wednesday.

"They get one hour for breaks and lunch, talk for three and work for three. I told this to the French union workers to their faces. They told me that's the French way!"

He is nicknamed "the Grizz" for his bear-like no-nonsense style. He added: "How stupid do you think we are?"

French unions had blasted the content of his letter.

In his response, Mr Montebourg said: "May I point out that Titan, the company you lead, is 20 times smaller than Michelin, our French leader of international influence, and 35 times less profitable?"

The minister added that 4,200 subsidiaries of US firms employed more than 500,000 people in France and that some firms had been around since 1842.

He went on to praise the efforts of young US soldiers in World War II and the current efforts of President Barack Obama to stop deindustrialisation in the US.

This is not the first row that Mr Montebourg has been involved in since the Socialists took charge of the presidency last summer.

He accused steelmaker Arcelor Mittal of "lying" and "disrespecting" the country and said it was no longer welcome during a spat over the closure of two furnaces at its steel plant in Florange.

France has a 35-hour statutory working week, brought in by the Socialist Party in 2000, but critics say it is now stifling economic growth.

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Pistorius officer on criminal charge

21 February 2013 Last updated at 06:19 ET

The South African detective leading the Oscar Pistorius inquiry is facing seven charges of attempted murder, police have confirmed.

Detective Hilton Botha, who has faced fierce questioning at Mr Pistorius's bail hearing, was allegedly involved in a shooting two years ago.

Mr Pistorius, a Paralympic champion, denies the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, 29.

His bail hearing is now under way for a third day in Pretoria.

The defence has said there is no evidence of premeditated murder.

Separately, sports giant Nike has confirmed it has suspended its contract with Oscar Pistorius.

Reinstated charges

Police spokesman Neville Malila said that Det Botha and two other officers were due to appear in court in May.

Mr Malila said it was alleged that while driving a state-owned vehicle the three had opened fire on a minibus taxi loaded with passengers.

The three were arrested in 2011, Eyewitness News says, citing police.

Mr Malila said the charges against Det Botha had originally been dropped but were reinstated.

It is unclear when this took place or whether Det Botha will continue working on the case in the long run.

Continue reading the main story

The news Hilton Botha is facing reinstated charges of attempted murder has stunned everyone. The immediate question is what impact, if any, the news may have on the prosecution argument that Mr Pistorius should not be allowed bail pending trial.

The timing of the reinstatement of the charges is still unclear and the National Prosecuting Authority says they are in no way connected to the athlete's murder case. It is curious, though, that the information about Det Botha was not provided to the Pistorius defence team or, apparently, to the prosecution.

Some might argue that Det Botha, who wilted under strenuous cross-examination by the defence, eventually conceding that he had not yet seen any evidence to contradict the athlete's version of events, has already done enough damage to the prosecution's call for Mr Pistorius to be denied bail and that the new revelations may not affect the magistrate's decision significantly.

Medupe Simasiku, a spokesman for the Pistorius prosecutors, told Associated Press they were unaware of the charges and would now investigate whether the detective should remain.

The BBC's Peter Biles in Pretoria says the police statement concerning Det Botha is an extraordinary turn of events.

Mr Pistorius says he shot Ms Steenkamp in the bathroom of his home after mistaking her for an intruder.

If denied bail, Mr Pistorius could face months in prison before a full trial begins.

'Extremely concerning'

Thursday's proceedings began with prosecutor Gerrie Nel confirming to the court that Det Botha was facing seven attempted murder charges.

Det Botha was not initially in court and Magistrate Desmond Nair had to ask for him to be found.

After a short break, Det Botha was brought in and was questioned about telephone records from the night of the shooting, evidence of violence in Mr Pistorius's past and the extent of the flight risk.

Lead defence counsel Barry Roux then addressed the court and called for the charge to be listed as "schedule 5", not the current "schedule 6", which is one of premeditated murder.

The defence team would have to prove extenuating circumstances to justify granting bail if schedule 6 remains.

The defence said the poor quality of Det Botha's evidence exposed disastrous shortcomings in the prosecution.

The court is in brief recess. It will then hear more defence arguments and then the prosecution case.

Mr Roux told the BBC's Andrew Harding, who is in the courtroom, that a bail decision might not come until Friday.

Correspondents say Det Botha's evidence on Wednesday appeared first to boost the prosecution's case and then offer the defence a hope of winning the argument.

Det Botha told the court that the trajectory of gunshots through the bathroom door indicated that Mr Pistorius, a double amputee, was wearing his prosthetic legs and shot downwards through the door.

This contradicted an earlier account given by Mr Pistorius, who said he was walking on his stumps and grabbed his gun because he felt vulnerable when he thought an intruder had entered.

The detective then said a witness had said he heard fighting at Mr Pistorius's home on the night Ms Steenkamp was shot.

Det Botha initially said the witness was some 600m (1,800ft) away, but later amended his answer to 300m after a break for lunch.

Mr Pistorius's family said the changes were "extremely concerning".

Det Botha said police had lost track of ammunition found inside the house.

The detective was also accused of not wearing protective clothing at the crime scene.

The defence also countered police suggestions that testosterone and needles had been found in Mr Pistorius's bedroom, arguing instead that the substance was a herbal remedy, called Testocompasutium co-enzyme.

The magistrate appeared to question Det Botha's assertion that Mr Pistorius could be a flight risk who should be denied bail.

The Pistorius family issued a statement saying they were "satisfied with the outcome" of Wednesday's proceedings.

Oscar Pistorius won gold medals at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.

In London he made history by becoming the first double-amputee to run in the Olympics, making the semi-final of the 400m.

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