BBC news 2011-06-16 加文本

BBC news 2011-06-16

BBC News with David Legge

The Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has decided to form a new government in an attempt to push through an additional package of austerity measures. Mr Papandreou announced that he'll start shaping his new cabinet on Thursday and then seek a vote of confidence. Earlier, there were violent protests outside parliament organised by a group calling themselves "the indignants". From Athens, here's Malcolm Brabant.

The indignant movement, which had been holding peaceful demonstrations for more than two weeks, initially tried to stop the violence, but eventually some protesters stood back as the young rioters did their work. They recognised that this was a tipping point for the Greek government. The daily demonstrations had applied a critical mass of pressure onto wavering Socialist MPs who are queasy about implementing distinctly non-socialist austerity measures. The Prime Minister George Papandreou had always promised that he had the strength to save Greece from economic collapse. But when he went to see the president, it appears he was forced to admit that he had lost the support of the rebels and could no longer govern alone.

The Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has told the BBC that the European members of the alliance need to shoulder more responsibility and spend more on defence. Mr Fogh Rasmussen said Nato was required more than ever, but added that the European countries needed to face their responsibilities.

"I think European countries need to step up to the plate. If Europe is to play a significant role on the world stage in the future and take part in international security management missions, then Europe also needs critical military capabilities and that takes defence investments at a certain level."

Thousands of supporters of the Syrian government have rallied in the streets of the capital Damascus as the security forces continue to battle anti-government protesters elsewhere in the country. In the north, thousands of people are reported to be fleeing the town of Maarat al-Numan as troops gather on the outskirts. Jim Muir has the details.

The people of Maarat al-Numan fear they may be next for the attention of the Syrian army's troops and tanks, which have been gathering on its outskirts over the past few days. According to residents and activists, many of the town's 100,000 or so population have been fleeing in all directions. It's a strategically important location set on the main highway between Syria's two biggest cities, Damascus and Aleppo. There were big anti-regime demonstrations there last Friday. State media said government buildings and police centres were attacked.

The vice president of south Sudan, which is due to declare independence next month, says violence near the border with the north amounts to ethnic cleansing. The Vice President Riek Machar told the BBC that fighting in South Kordofan state, particularly in the Nuba mountains, was a total violation of the peace agreement. President Obama has called for an immediate ceasefire.

World News from the BBC

A congressional report in the United States has criticised a sting operation which allowed US weapons to be smuggled into Mexico, where they were used in numerous killings. Federal agents said they were told to allow the weapons to be sold in the hope of tracking them to major gun traffickers, but the operation failed to secure any significant arrests.

State television in Libya is reporting that a Nato-led air strike on a bus has killed at least 12 people. The bus is said to have been hit near the town of Kikla, around 150km southwest of Tripoli. There's been no word from Nato.

In the rebel-held city of Misrata, there's growing impatience of the level of Nato support they receive against pro-Gaddafi forces. Our correspondent Andrew Harding has been speaking to a rebel who liaises with Nato in Misrata.

There's growing frustration here in Misrata. Nato jets can be heard quite often around the besieged city, but they seem to be having little impact on Colonel Gaddafi's forces. The man who liaises with Nato on behalf of the rebels is Fatih Bashagha. He says Nato jets and helicopters are too slow to react, giving Colonel Gaddafi's troops time to move and hide their heavy weapons.

"I am not satisfied. Nato decision is very slow. They're only attacking during night and for [a] short time."

The rebels here are trying to advance west towards Tripoli, but they are short of equipment and ammunition. They are making slow progress and taking a lot of casualties.

Archaeologists say they've garnered new information about life in the Roman Empire after experts found a huge deposit of excrement in an ancient sewer near modern-day Naples. The sewer was excavated beneath the town of Herculaneum, which was buried by a volcanic eruption nearly 2,000 years ago. One researcher said it was a surprise to discover the diversity of food eaten in Herculaneum, everything from sea urchins and dormice to fish, figs, olives and eggs. Pottery, coins and six gemstones were also uncovered.

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