>> hello, this is gmt. 42,000 gallons of oil every day leaking into the gulf of mexico. can bp avert an environmental disaster after the explosion of its rig? the government in yemen blames al qaeda. the country agrees runs up against demands from germany as the clock ticks on the country's next known the pain of. president obama close to his pledge of international conference to close business in the arab world and beyond. the british elections -- true african eyes, modern take on democracy. hello, welcome. i am david. their fears of a possible environmental disaster in the gulf of mexico as bp has confirmed 1,000 barrels of oil every day are leaking into the sea after an offshore drilling rig sank last week. 11 people are still missing and there is no suggestion that it could take months to stop the spillage of oil which is spreading fast. the washington correspondent reports. >> the oil slick created is now more than 1500 square kilometers. it is still growing. >> you can feel the heat right now. >> exploded last week and 11 workers are still missing or dead. when it sank two days later a ruptured its pipeline, and shutting off of lease could take days but may take months. >> 45 to 90 days is the initial estimate before the well could be secured. >> more than 30 clean up vessels arrived last week. robotic submersibles are being deployed to shut off the well. at risk is a swatch of coastline. if the oil hits the shore, it would be an environmental disaster. heavy seas and high winds have kept the oil slick offshore so far, but have also brought cleanup efforts to halt. meanwhile, the oil is still leaking. >> i am not joined by peter, the director of oil pollution environmental control. just taking a look at this pictures it is clearly getting significantly worse. are we heading for some type of environmental disaster? >> well, that is conjecture that has to be considered, but it depends as was said by the correspondent, that as long as the offshore winds continue and the weather will create the natural dispersant of the waves with oil, then hopefully the impact on the shore line will be minimized. >> so bp is talking about robotic submersibles to try to plug the leak. is that tried and tested technique? >> yes, and they are contemplating putting the well head itself and remove the oil from a different angle sometime in the future. these are very highly technical and skilled methods of dealing with this sort of situation. they have been well-planned in advance. >> that is fine, but it depends how long it takes, doesn't it? some talks as it could take weeks or months of? >> not necessarily. in defense of companies such as bp, over the last few years they have invested heavily in methods to deal with such disasters. as we have seen of late, they are rarities' rather than more active problems. >> the other feature is the weather -- two days of heavy seas. was that a mixed blessing from your perspective is? >> absolutely. initially the protection of human life and being able to discover any missing persons, which dublin el as a result of the last few days is looking very slim -- which sadly is looking very slim. the weather will naturally disperse oil coming from the well head. so, hopefully, that will minimize the problem. >> let's hope that is the case. thanks for joining us, peter. >> david, many things. the suspected suicide bomber has carried out an attack near the convoy of the british ambassador to yemen in the capital. one person who believed to be the attacker was unharmed. no group has claimed responsibility, but their fears that yemen has become the leading al qaeda haven. >> the ambassador was being driven to work as usual. officials said that the suicide bomber was discussed as a schoolboy and that it is his explosive near the convoy. the young man was apparently killed instantly. this of witness says that windows in nearby houses and offices were shattered, and some cars were damaged. there was no claim of responsibility, but the attack bore the hallmarks of al qaeda. the ambassador would have been used to the dangers and the need for tight security. in a previous posting he was deputy head of mission in baghdad. security was immediately tightened and foreigners were warned to keep a low profile. yemen has become a haven for militants taking advantage of its weak government. concerns have grown since the failed christmas day attempt to bomb an american plane bound for detroit. the person was said to have received training in yemen. several western embassies were shut down earlier the issuthis r after threats. the country is now receiving more foreign aid to help to fight terrorism. >> the price that the country agrees must pay to borrow money on the financial markets has reached a record high in the past few hours. athens is asking for the international rescue plan to be activated. germany and france have said any aid must depend on the country agrees making big cutbacks. here is more on the german reaction. >> well, angela merkel has said that germany is prepared to sign of to rescue package it germany considers that the reno is in danger, and if greece can prove it is serious about austerity measures over the next three years. i think the germans are in a difficult position, because bill in agrees is so unpopular. the germans believe why should they have to build agrees? -- because of bailout for greece's so unpopular. germany also was turned to give back on the road to recovery after the economic recession. >> is really forces have killed a senior militant of hamas. the body was carried out -- there was a badly damaged building. he was wanted for six years in connection of the killing of a border guard. the forces surrounded the house. his nephew ignore the calls to surrender. the ipl chief has been suspended over allegations of corruption. at an emergency meeting the cricket board made the interim decision and said it was searching for the missing ipl documents. mr. lalit modi denied any allegations of wrongdoing. earlier chris in delhi describe the extent of allegations. >> it may well involve more the one person. there have been several people running the ipl over its first five years -- three years, and there seems to be no financial oversight. the cricket authorities are making a series of charges against lalit modi, which he denies. they want answers. why was the facilitation be paid out of $18 million for the handed out of television broadcast rights? there is an entire series that needs answering. it appears no one was really in control of what would become a vast, multimillion-dollar industry in just a few years. >> chris, in delhi, those are the top stories. >> the ladies in white our group of wives of political prisoners. for years they have been staging marches in the capital of havana. yesterday they were finally led away to a police place. [inaudible] >> this was meant to be a day for the cuban government to demonstrate its democratic provincial with a massive turnout to the polls for nationwide municipal actions to. [chanting] instead it turned into a stark reminder of what happens to those who oppose the system. when the ladies and the white -- in what, try to build a protest march they were confronted by an angry mob of pro-government supporters. they now needed permission to march. the women wear physically pushed off the streets into a nearby park. for the next seven hours they were forced to disband, facing revolutionary charges and sexual assault. >> i think the government is desperate. sending some money men against seven defenseless women is against human rights, against all principles. >> very few cubans were aware of this protest and there is still very little sympathy for their cause. this is seriously damaging to cuba's reputation abroad. >> the authorities denied there are political prisoners. the claim is a ploy by the u.s. to undermine their system. fidel castro accused the west of launching a campaign to spread in cuba by provoking such incidents. michael fox for bbc news in havana. >> this is gmt. stay with us. coming up, as a two-day conference gets under way, can president obama amin's the islamic world that the u.s. wants to engage more? >> the newlywed indian tennis star and her husband have held the second reception. this time celebrations were held in the pakistani city. >> two of the world's most sought after newlyweds. the cricket tour and his new bride, the indian tennis star making their way to a lavish reception in the grim some town. ♪ it is their second such party. the first was held across the border for the bride it was brought up. the international nuptials have attracted attention from all over the world. the extreme nationalist from both pakistan and india have condemned the union, citing past tensions between the two countries. but for most it seems the marriage is a perfect match. [speaking for language] >> today with the real power rests with those living in this region as they decide to throw down the walls of hatred. the government's most been before there will. the interaction between people is very important. the positive message has gone up to date. the residents here have welcomed this. >> the bride dressed in a red blouse and a light green sari looked nervous under the glare of the media spotlight. but it did not dampen the festive spirit of the over 1000 relatives and friends from the family who had been invited. the police had a difficult time trying to keep the gate crashers and the waiting media at bay. the couple have not had their fill of parties. another more formal reception is being held at a five-star hotel. >> you are watching gmt from bbc world news. these other amendments. there are fears of a possible environmental disaster in the gulf of mexico after drilling rig it exploded and sank last week. a suspected suicide bomber targets the convoy of the british ambassador to yemen. he escapes and hurt. the middle east peace process may appear tattered and torn, but president obama is highlighting his commitment to peace and prosperity across the muslim world today with the conference in the washington. it will bring together entrepreneurs for more than 50 countries, most of them with large muslim populations. obama pledged the summit and a landmark speech in cairo last year, when he also proposed a new beginning. >> i have come here to cover to seek a new beginning between the u.s. and muslims are around the world. one based on mutual interest and respect. one based upon the truth that america and islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. instead they overlap. and share common principles. principles of justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings. >> that was barack obama in cairo. joining me from washington is the chair of the islamic studies at american university and the u.s. naval academy. first of all, i wonder, we heard the message from cairo, have this this initiative sell in the u.s.? does it play well or badly? >> it is an interesting question because the president has a special and complicated relationship with the muslim well. his father was a muslim. he grew up in indonesia. he has great empathy for muslim culture and society, but at the same time he is a shrewd political realist. in many parts of america, obama's identity, religion, on personal position -- anything that may seem to be too closely allied or sympathetic to muslims could backfire. he must balance his huge capital in the muslim world with the sympathy he enjoys there with his sense of the u.s. fearing, distrusting, and in many cases not understanding. >> also, there must be those who feel -- middle east peace -- that is the real deal, and anything else like a two-day conference for entrepreneurs is really just pussyfooting around the edges of the? >> you are right. the hardest of all is the middle east/israeli/palestinian issue. at the same time, with these conferences do is to keep alive the hope. obama has brought above all a sense of hope and optimism. it is important in this rather gloomy relationship. >> let me ask you a little about the sending of american muslims in their own country. it is obviously a difficult case given 9/11. what is the perception both for american muslims themselves, and indeed other americans today? >> david, i have just finished a major study. i took a sabbatical for one year to write a book. it is precisely on the subject, to ask ordinary americans what they thought of islam. there are many challenges. many americans don't know much about islam. many are informed through the media. many general only -- many genuinely want to know. the muslims have a crisis because they're not a monolithic -- they are divided. then of course the emigrants. the emigrants are the ones often under the spotlight. you constantly hear things about "the homegrown terrorists." >> briefly, do you get any sense of that fear, that is winning at all? 9/11 was about 89 years ago. >> this new phenomena has survived everything. recently we had the nigerian bomber, the five virginians going to pakistan. we have had quite converts, the mills now involved. the fear has not died out at all. it feeds into the fears that emerged after 9/11, so a lot of forecast to be done to close the gap. >> we will have to leave it there. thanks. now it is the final full week of campaigning in the british general election, and the result of next month's poll is still up for grabs. britain has exported its model of parliamentary democracy around the world, but unlike the u.s. the voters did not directly elect the prime minister. joseph has covered the elections in africa for the radio. he gives us his personal take on how the british do elections. >> this is how much of the world is used to seeing a elections play out -- big political rallies, huge bins to try to win votes, but in britain, i have observed something different. the images are focused on specific constituencies. this is the opposition leader's since its creation in 1983 it constituency. has always voted conservative, and that is perhaps the reason why the other big parties, labor and liberal democrats are not bothering much to come here. although this has not stopped smaller parties such as the one from hitting the campaign trail in". in many of the elections such as these countries there are lots of energy and excitement everywhere, but here in britain the campaign is different. it is much more local, smaller. it is less noisy. politicians go into it to win. the screen party candidate has no chance of defeating david cameron. isn't he wasting time? >> of but for him is essentially wasted -- he will get in anyway. people-will use their vote where it is going to count. if the vote to bring into account. it sends a powerful message that the people in with the are not cheap, and will not always vote as they have in the past. they are angry and anxious to express it. >> a short drive from whitney is this area -- the traditional labor party stronghold. but with the liberal democrats getting drunk, there's the real possibility that they could snatch the seed from labor. that is why it is called the swing seat. these are the real battleground. in a country where three out of every five seats are completely safe, the big party is constantly appearing with time and money for areas like these which could save the election. other voters are aware of the difference they could make. >> [unintelligible] here it is quite possible. it could make a huge difference. >> i have got no faith in any of the politicians at the moment, and have decided not to vote. >> with or without the big rallies, by foot or bus, it seems to meet the british politicians will have to work quite hard. joseph for bbc news. >> if the liberal democrats do as well as the polls currently suggest, often referred to as the third party, the will be intense focus on the first post. the electoral reform is emerging as a key issue. jeremy explains why they have been the third party for so long. >> a huge issue in this election as sell difficult liberal democrats find it to convert votes into mp's. here is a map of the u.k. -- this is colored in as it was left from 2005. the conservatives are in blue, and so on. these are 650 individual constituencies. in each seat there is a battle for first place. the party that wins since a mp to westminster. the liberal democrats find a can pile of votes, but not necessarily get the mp's. let's look at the last general election result of the share of the vote. you see tony blair's labour winning with 35%. the conservatives are behind with 32%, and then in third with 22% for liberal democrats. it is just over one fifth of the but for the liberal democrats. look at this. the liberal democrats get only 62 mp's -- less than 10% something up that is what they complain about the system. let's look of why that happens and go back to the mapping ofwhat works with the other parties is concentration. the conservatives concentrate their vote in the south. labor, very strong in the urban heartlands, manchester and liverpool. the liberal democrats are strong in the southwest, but they could search all over. they could get into second place. in our system second place is no where. it does not when you see. the danger is that without concentrating in particular parts of the country -- they do very well in terms of votes, but not well in terms of mp's and house of commons which is where it counts. >> is watching that system is one of the key issues now in the campaign. the top story, fears of a possible environmental disaster in the gulf of mexico. bp as confirmed thousands of barrels of oil are leaking. that is after an offshore drilling rig sank last week. that is all for this edition. >> get top stories from around the globe. go to bbc.com/news to experience the in depth, experts reporting on line. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its global expertise to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you? 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