BBC news 2011-11-20 加文本

BBC news 2011-11-20

BBC News with Jonathan Wheatley

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of Libya's former leader, has been arrested in a desert town in the southwest of the country. He was captured by fighters from Zintan, in the northwest where he's been taken. The National Transitional Council said he'd been trying to reach neighbouring Niger. Rana Jawad reports from Tripoli.

Saif al-Islam was captured by fighters in the early hours of the morning. He was found in the southern oasis town of Obari along with some of his aides. Saif al-Islam was later flown to Zintan, in the western mountains of Libya. Pictures of him have emerged showing an apparent hand injury which he claims was sustained in a Nato air strike last month. It's not clear where Saif al-Islam will be taken to next, but for now celebrations of his capture are likely to continue well into the night across the country.

While Saif al-Islam Gaddafi is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, the ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo says he'll travel to Libya next week for talks on where the trial should take place.

"I'm going to Libya to discuss the issue, how we manage this issue. Saif will face justice. Where and how, (that) we'll discuss it. I know the case we present at the ICC, I have to learn about what they're having, what they have there, and we'll discuss it. But we'll be in harmony to be sure (of) that Libyan people have to know Saif will face justice."

The European Union urged Libya's interim authorities to cooperate with the ICC while the British government said it was important that Saif al-Islam was tried in line with international standards.

Egyptian officials say at least 500 people have been injured in Cairo in clashes between riot police and protesters demanding the ruling military council returns power to a civilian government. The police pulled down the tents of protesters who'd camped there overnight. From Cairo, Yolande Knell reports.

A large crowd has again returned to Tahrir Square after riot police pulled back. They had been using rubber bullets and tear gas to try to drive people away. In return, some protesters threw stones, and a police vehicle was set on fire. Dozens have been injured. The violence started after a small tent camp was dismantled earlier in the day. About 200 demonstrators had camped out for the night following the rally that took place after Friday prayers.

Reports from Syria say security forces are continuing to attack protesters across the country just before tonight's deadline set by the Arab League for the government to halt its violent suppression of dissent. Activists say at least nine people have been killed, including three in the northwestern town of Kafr Takharim and two in Qusayr, near the border with Lebanon where there have been clashes between the army and deserters. The violence comes a day after Damascus agreed to allow observers to oversee the implementation of the Arab League's peace initiative.

Reports from Somalia say Ethiopian troops have crossed the border in significant numbers. If confirmed, it will mark the first such deployment in over two years. Here's our East Africa correspondent Will Ross.

Eyewitnesses inside Somalia confirmed the presence of at least 20 vehicles carrying Ethiopian troops. A few hundred soldiers were seen in Guriel town in Galguduud region, and there were other sightings around Beledweyne. If confirmed, this appears to be the largest Ethiopian deployment since the withdrawal in 2009 after a three-year invasion that was very unpopular with ordinary Somalis. The Ethiopian government has, however, denied sending in soldiers.

The President of Burma, Thein Sein, says his government is trying to achieve democratic changes but it cannot be the same as democracy in Western countries. He was speaking in a rare news conference in Indonesia. Charles Scanlon reports.

The Burmese president is a former general who assumed the leadership of the new nominally civilian government this year, and he's increasingly seen as a genuine force for change. His government has released some political prisoners, eased censorship and cancelled a lucrative dam project with China because of public opposition. But he cautioned that Burma was not aiming for Western-style democracy, and he said the country would need peace and stability to make real progress. He cited cooperation with Aung San Suu Kyi as a sign of that progress, but refused to be drawn on when more political detainees would be freed.

The Colombian army says it has shut down the main radio station operated by the Farc left-wing rebel group after 15 years on air. Troops captured transmitters and other broadcast equipment when they overran a guerrilla camp. The rebel station, known as the voice of Resistance, broadcast across large areas of eastern and central Colombia. The army also disrupted its transmissions last year, but the rebels got the station back on air.

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