BBC在线收听下载:奥巴马呼吁国会恢复对攻击性武器的禁令

BBC news 2013-01-17

BBC News with Sue Montgomery

Islamist militants have attacked and occupied a gas facility in the east of Algeria seizing foreign hostages. The Algerian state news agency says at least two foreign nationals were killed. There’s been confirmation that British, Norwegian and Japanese nationals are among those involved. Washington believes US citizens are also being held. Here’s the BBC’s Arab Affairs Editor Sebastian Usher.

We’ve heard from an al-Qaeda-linked group. We can’t confirm 100 per cent either if it is from the group or if that group actually has done what it says, but it says that it is holding 41 hostages. It says that its action is in retaliation for Algeria’s support for France’s military intervention across the border in Mali. BP issued a statement making clear that it was very difficult for it to get information from there and it has actually confirmed that a part of the building, at least a part of the facility, is occupied. The Algerian army, the Algerian forces, are involved.

A French catering company said 150 of its Algerian employees were held. But a man claiming to be a spokesman for the group said Algerian workers had been allowed to leave. French troops are engaged in a ground battle against Islamist militants in Mali. Armoured French columns have been massing outside the town of Diabaly along with Malian troops. French officials say the militants are well-organised and highly mobile. After French warplanes bombed the town last night, the militants are reported to have abandoned their positions and mingled with civilians.

In a speech unveiling plans to introduce tighter gun control, President Obama has called on the US Congress to restore a ban on assault weapons. The president’s proposals include a ban on magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition and tougher checks on people who want to buy guns. He urged Americans to hold politicians to account.

“Get them on record. Ask your member of Congress if they support the universal background checks to keep guns out of the wrong hands, ask them if they support renewing a ban on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. And if they say no, ask them why not. Ask them what’s more important: doing whatever it takes to get A-grade from the gun lobby that funds their campaigns or giving parents some peace of mind when they drop their child off for first grade.”

The Liberian Senate has received a letter allegedly written by the former President Charles Taylor, asking for payment of his pension of $25, 000 a year. Mr Taylor is currently serving a 50-year prison sentence for war crimes which he’s appealing against. The BBC correspondent in Liberia says the signature on the letter resembles that of Mr Taylor, but the document contains some basic spelling mistakes.

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The International Monetary Fund has approved the next instalment of its bailout for Greece worth more than $4bn. The decision followed reviews of the country’s economic performance and the passage of further measures by the Greek parliament to satisfy lenders. Here’s our Economics correspondent Andrew Walker.

The money that the IMF is releasing covers two payments, the first of which was originally scheduled for last May. The IMF and the eurozone countries who are also lending money to Greece delayed because of persistent concerns about the government’s implementation of policies intended ultimately to make the economy and the public finances stronger. Those worries have been calmed for now, but there’s every chance they will return. The IMF in particular thinks Greece needs debt relief and that would have to come from eurozone governments.

The Pakistani government has threatened action to end a protest near the parliament building in the capital Islamabad. Followers of the cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri are demanding the resignation of the government. The interior minister said action was on the cards but did not give details. He said the cleric and his followers were at risk for militant attacks.

One of the most successful football managers of recent years, Pep Guardiola, has agreed to become the new coach of Bayern Munich. His previous team Barcelona won 13 trophies in four years under his leadership. Andrew Hawes reports.

Guardiola has agreed a three-year contract with the German club and he’ll take over at the end of the current season from Jupp Heynckes. The amount of success he’d had during his spell in charge of Barcelona meant that he’d become a leading target for clubs all across Europe not only because of the fact that Barcelona would win matches, but also because of their style of intricate passing and retaining possession. The Spaniard’s decision not only represents something of a triumph for Bayern, but also for the German Bundesliga, which has lagged behind the English Premier League in terms of generating revenue.

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