BBC news 2011-01-10 加文本

BBC news 2011-01-10

BBC News with Jonathan Izard

President Barack Obama has welcomed the successful completion of voting on the first day of southern Sudan's referendum on independence. He said it was a historic step toward implementing the comprehensive peace deal that ended the war between north and south in 2005, and the United States was fully committed to helping the new African state expected to be approved by the vote. A big turnout was reported at polling stations across southern Sudan. Southerners in the north also voted, but the mood there was more subdued. A senior official from President Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party, Ibrahim Ghandour, says separation is an inevitable consequence of the peace deal known as the CPA.

"The separation of the south if it occurs following the referendum, it was a price for an achievement of peace. When we were signing the CPA, we were between a choice of two - we either remain in one united country where its people are fighting, or accept an idea of self-determination at the price of peace."

An Iranian passenger plane has crashed in the northwest of the country with more than 100 people on board. Reports say the site of the crash has been difficult for emergency workers to reach because of heavy snow. Maddy Savage reports.

According to the semi-official news agency Fars, the Iran Air plane took off from the Iranian capital Tehran and was flying near the city of Urumiyeh in the northwest of the country when it crashed. Reports on Iranian state television suggest that the plane departed an hour later than it was supposed to and that it came down during bad weather. Aviation experts say much of Iran's civil fleet is made up of old planes which are in poor condition partly because of their age but also because they are not frequently repaired.

Violent protests because of unemployment in Tunisia have led to the death of at least 14 protesters over the weekend, the largest number of fatalities in such a short period since the troubles began nearly four weeks ago. Here's our North Africa correspondent Chloe Arnold.

Violent clashes broke out in three towns in western and central Tunisia on Sunday as protesters attacked government buildings and police stations. An interior ministry statement said the deaths took place in the towns of Thala, Kasserine and Regueb. The government says police were forced to open fire in the towns in legitimate self-defence. They say the riots have been organised by a small group of extremists intent on destabilising the country. But protesters say the casualty figures are a lot higher than officials say and that they are demonstrating against lack of freedom and high unemployment.

The Saudi Arabian interior ministry says it's issued international arrest warrants for 47 al-Qaeda suspects living abroad. A statement broadcast on Saudi television said some of the wanted men were very senior and dangerous. It said not all of the suspects were Saudis, but their aim was to establish cells inside Saudi Arabia and send others for training abroad.

World News from the BBC

Israeli bulldozers have flattened part of a building in occupied East Jerusalem to make way for new homes for Jewish settlers. The partial demolition of the Shepherd Hotel complex went ahead in spite of international objections including from the United States. A spokesman for the Palestinian president said the demolition had ended any possibility of the Palestinians returning to peace talks with Israel.

The doctors treating the American congresswoman shot in the head on Saturday while meeting constituents say she's able to respond to simple instructions. Dr Peter Rhee said the bullet passed through only one side of Gabrielle Giffords' brain, but she remained in critical condition. Another member of the medical team, Dr Michael Lemole, said he was happy with progress so far.

"Congresswoman Giffords is able to communicate with us this morning through following simple commands, and we are very encouraged by that. We are still, still in critical condition. Brain swelling at any time can take a turn for the worse, but I am cautiously optimistic."

The others wounded in the shooting are now out of danger. Six people were killed. Federal prosecutors have charged a 22-year-old man, Jared Loughner, with attempted assassination and four other offences.

The Vatican has ordered the Roman Catholic Church in Malta to set up a tribunal to deal with allegations of child abuse. Victims have repeatedly urged quicker action, accusing the Church and Maltese authorities of taking too long to deal with the case. Three priests are suspected of abusing boys at an orphanage 20 years ago in the town of Santa Venera.

Motorway toll stations in Greece have been occupied by protesters angered by rising charges. For several hours, barriers were raised and vehicles drove through without drivers paying. Several hundred protesters were reported to have gathered at a toll station near the capital Athens, and many passing drivers sounded their horns in support. Motorway operators say the increases are needed in order to keep pace with inflation.

BBC World Service News