BBC news 2011-12-31 加文本

BBC news 2011-12-31

BBC News with Sue Montgomery

Opposition activists in Syria say security forces have opened fire to try to stop tens of thousands of protesters across the country from demonstrating in front of visiting Arab League observers. Activists said 35 people were killed in flashpoint cities like Hama, Deraa and Homs. Eyewitnesses said security forces clashed with tens of thousands of protesters leaving mosques in the suburbs of Damascus. Our correspondent there, Lina Sinjab, says the number of demonstrators is growing.

People are joining every single day. There are new people that are joining the protests. There are new areas that are joining the protest movement. And when I speak to people who just left prison or have been injured or have been targeted by the security, they seem to be furious, they seem to be determined that this is their course and they are going for it.

The World Health Organisation has expressed its deep concern about recent research into the H5N1, or bird flu virus, which led to the creation of a more easily transmissible form. Last week, scientists in the Netherlands said they discovered how the virus might spread more easily between mammals. Imogen Foulkes reports from Geneva.

There has never been a bird flu pandemic because it is almost impossible for the existing form of the virus to spread between humans. The World Health Organisation is alarmed that researchers have managed to create a new strain which could spread more easily. Any research which can generate more dangerous forms of H5N1 carries risks, the WHO said, and should not proceed unless all necessary measures to protect public health have been taken.

The United Nations has deployed more combat troops to a town in South Sudan to prevent a clash between two rival tribes. But the authorities there have told the BBC that even this increased number of soldiers is insufficient. The governor of Jonglei state said the Vice-President of South Sudan, Riek Machar, is attempting to mediate between the Lou Nuer and the Murle.

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Hundreds of protesters have marched in Bahrain to demand the government's resignation for failing to take action against the security forces for torture and other abuses. Reports say police fired tear gas to disperse crowds in mostly Shia neighbourhoods in a northern district. Last month, a special Bahraini commission accused state security forces of abuses against protesters and using excessive force against detainees.

A senior American official says Egypt has assured the United States that it'll stop raids on the offices of pro-democracy and human rights groups. The official said the US ambassador to Cairo had also been assured that the property seized by Egyptian security forces during the raids would be returned to the organisations, which include two based in the US. The raids have been condemned by Washington, the United Nations and Germany.

The new centre-right government in Spain has announced measures to reduce borrowing. They include temporary tax rises and a continued public sector pay freeze. Here's our economics correspondent Andrew Walker.

The new government says its budget has a deficit this year equivalent to 8% of annual national income. Spain has a total accumulated government debt of over 700bn, and the annual budget deficit means it's continuing to rise rapidly. Stabilising the debt situation is a priority for the government. For financial markets, the two biggest worries in the eurozone crisis are Italy and Spain. A default by either would cause severe damage to Europe's banks and the wider economy.

The authorities in Chile have closed one of the country's most popular national parks in Patagonia as a massive forest fire continues to rage through the area. Hundreds of tourists were evacuated from Torres del Paine National Park on Thursday as firefighters failed to stem the blaze. More than 85 sq km have been destroyed so far.

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