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David Cameron says the May 5 referendum on changing the UK voting system will not break the coalition.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Large numbers of north African migrants have been landing on Italian shores Authorities in France have blocked trains from Italy in an attempt to stop north African migrants from entering the country.
Trains carrying migrants and political activists have been stopped at the border – prompting Italy to launch an official complaint with its neighbour.
Italy has angered France by giving out temporary resident permits to thousands of Tunisian migrants.
The permits allow them to travel freely in many European countries.
The Italian foreign ministry said the French move was “illegitimate and in clear violation of general European principles”.
Maurizio Furia, a spokesman for the Italian rail company, said that trains were not being allowed to pass into Menton, France, from the Italian border station of Ventimiglia.
France says migrants have to prove they can support themselves financially and has set up patrols on the Italian border.
But Italy says that France’s actions are in violation of the EU’s Schengen passport-free travel zone.
“We have given the migrants travel documents, and we gave everything (else) that is needed, and the European Commission recognised that, it has said that Italy is following the Schengen rules,” Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said in an interview on Italy’s Sky TG24 TV.
Italy and other European countries have been increasingly concerned about migration from north Africa following the political turmoil in the region.
Earlier this month, Italy and France agreed to launch sea and air patrols to try to prevent the influx of thousands of people from Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The Highways Agency said it hoped to reopen the M1 by 0500 BST on Monday Parts of the fire-damaged M1 into London may now not reopen fully until Monday, the Highways Agency has said.
The seven-mile stretch of road between junctions one and four was closed both ways after a scrapyard fire on Friday.
One lane of the northbound motorway was reopened on Saturday evening. Officials said the southbound section would stay shut “until it is safe to be reopened”.
The closure comes as thousands of fans head to the capital for the London Marathon and a FA Cup semi-final.
The fire, at a scrapyard under the M1, also caused some nearby railway lines to be suspended.
A Highways Agency spokesman said urgent repairs were needed before the motorway could be fully reopened.
He said officials hoped to have the road open again by 0500 BST on Monday.
The spokesman added: “The viaduct does need to be reinforced before it can carry the weight of traffic and we are putting in supports so we can reopen the road as soon as possible.
“At the same time we are continuing our investigations to determine what remedial work needs to be carried out.”
On Saturday, the motorway closure led to delays on the A1, A40 and A406 as motorists took alternative routes, AA Roadwatch said.
The closure coincided with one of the biggest weekends in London’s sporting calendar.
About 36,000 runners are expected to take part in the marathon later, with thousands of supporters due to line the route of the race.
Thousands of fans are also expected at the 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup semi-final between Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City.
About 40 firefighters were called to tackle the blaze, which broke out at a scrapyard site close to Scratchwood Services and Ellesmere Avenue in Mill Hill early on Friday.
A number of gas cylinders were involved and a hazard zone was set up in case they exploded.
About 50 people living in properties near the scrapyard were temporarily moved.
Motorists have been advised to check the Highways Agency website for the latest traffic information.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Passengers waiting for delayed trains at Cardiff Central Station on Sunday evening Hundreds of rail passengers have suffered delays after a signalling problem disrupted services between Cardiff and Newport.
Replacement buses were laid on after trains were held up on Sunday.
Train companies said there was a “very limited” service, with journey times expected to be prolonged by up to an hour.
Disruption affected services run between Wales and England by Arriva, CrossCountry and First Great Western.
A BBC Wales journalist who was among those delayed at the station said a tannoy announcement had blamed the delay on cable theft between Cardiff and Newport.
However, First Great Western said later that there was no theft on the line, but that the problems were due to faulty equipment.
The company said delays would continue into Sunday evening, but should be fine by Monday morning.
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A Medecins Sans Frontieres boat took the injured out of Misrata The UK is to hold “urgent talks” at the United Nations about the “dire” humanitarian crisis affecting residents in western Libya.
The rebel-held western town of Misrata has been under attack from Colonel Gaddafi’s forces for over five weeks.
On Sunday, six civilians were reported to have died and more have been injured in a barrage of rocket fire.
Prime Minister David Cameron said the UK would not invade and it was important to adhere to the UN mandate.
Opponents of Libyan leader Col Gaddafi also say at least 47 people were wounded when his forces shelled Misrata, on Sunday morning. Pro-government fighters are also said to have shelled Ajdabiya in the east.
UK International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell will discuss plans to increase aid and medical supplies and ensure better access during a meeting at the UN in New York, on Monday.
The BBC’s Peter Biles, in Benghazi, said hundreds of civilians had left Misrata in recent days and there was “increasing anxiety” among rebel leaders and doctors about the situation in the city where 300,000 people live.
Members of the Transitional National Council have called on Nato to target Col Gaddafi’s long range rocket launchers, our correspondent added.
On Sunday, about 100 wounded people from the city were taken to Tunisia by a boat operated by medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres.
The UK’s Department for International Development said: “Reports from within Libya indicate that the humanitarian situation in certain areas in western Libya, where international agencies have no access, is dire.”
It said approximately 300 civilians had been killed and a further 1,000 injured in Misrata since late February.
Agencies have said there are shortages of critical supplies and attacks targeted against civilians and medical facilities, preventing staff from working.
There is concern medical centres are operating at maximum capacity and some severely injured people cannot leave the city for treatment because of the fighting.
The UN is also said to be worried that there could be outbreaks of water-borne diseases.
“We’re very clear we must stick to the terms of the UN Security Council resolution – and we must keep the support of the Arab world”
David Cameron UK Prime Minister
DfID said the UK had supported a range of international organisations and British-funded relief items had already reached a number of areas, including Misrata.
But it added: “The continued violence and lack of access for humanitarian support is making conditions on the ground for civilians worse.”
Mr Mitchell said the humanitarian situation in Misrata was “of great concern”.
“It is vital that we continue to get help, such as food, water or medical supplies, through to people. Humanitarian agencies must be given free and unfettered access to Misrata and other areas affected by fighting,” he said.
Libya’s government, meanwhile, has denied a suggestion from Human Rights Watch that its forces are using cluster bombs, which are banned by more than 100 countries, in Misrata.
Earlier, speaking to Dermot Murnaghan on Sky News, Mr Cameron said the terms of the UN resolution on Libya are a “restriction” on the coalition powers who have been trying to protect civilians and enforce a no-fly zone.
“We’re not occupying, we’re not invading, that’s not what we’re about. And that is obviously a restriction on us, but I think it is the right restriction.
“It’s because we’ve said we’re not going to invade, we’re not going to occupy, this is more difficult in many ways, because we can’t fully determine the outcome with what we have available.
“But we’re very clear we must stick to the terms of the UN Security Council resolution – and we must keep the support of the Arab world.”
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
The damage caused to Christchurch Cathedral as a result of the earthquake A memorial service will be held on Sunday to remember a Northern Ireland woman who died in the Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand.
Julie Wong, formerly Johnston, who was originally from Lisburn, died when the Pyne Gould Guinness building collapsed on 22 February.
Her former church in NI, Lowe Memorial Presbyterian in Finaghy, will hold a memorial service at 1900 BST.
It will also establish a relief fund in her name.
Julie emigrated to New Zealand five years ago, where she lived with her English-born husband David and four-year-old son Ethan.
She worked in the financial services industry.
Lowe Memorial Presbyterian Church minister, Rev James Burnett, attended Julie’s funeral in Christchurch and said he was shocked at the devastation caused by the earthquake.
He said: “What I saw in Christchurch is the worst thing I think I’ve seen in my whole life.
“I wept for a city gone in a matter of minutes.
“What struck me profoundly was the sight of tens of churches from across all denominations lying in ruins.
“And yet, there remained a deep level of fellowship and support among Christians, as they lived in and out of each other’s houses and pockets.
“I was deeply moved by what I witnessed in New Zealand and feel God wants us, as Christians in Northern Ireland, to stand with the Christians and churches in Christchurch, and so Lowe is setting up this fund in memory of Julie to help and assist them in their time of desperate need.”
The magnitude 6.3 tremor in Christchurch killed more than 160 people and shattered a city already reeling from a previous seismic event in September.
Thousands of people have left the city as a result of the earthquake and Mr Burnett said it was estimated that “rebuilding could take at least five or six years”.
“When I spoke at Julie’s funeral service in Christchurch I said it is our prayer that God will heal your city and bring a blessing of hope and revival like you have never seen before,” he added.
“Maybe, through this fund in Julie’s memory we can be part of their healing and future blessing.”
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
North Carolina becomes the latest state to be hit by severe storms and tornadoes that have swept across the southern US, killing at least 35 people.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Pc David Rathband (second left) will be taking part with friends in the marathon A man running backwards and a woman knitting a world-record scarf will be among the 36,500 entrants in this year’s London Marathon later.
The 26.2-mile event from Blackheath to Buckingham Palace starts at 0900 BST when the leading women runners set off.
Pc David Rathband, who was blinded by gunman Raoul Moat, will take part.
As will Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell, former Manchester United footballer Dwight Yorke, and models Agyness Deyn and Elen Rivas.
Once the elite women have started, the wheelchair race gets under way at 0920 BST followed by the top men and fun runners at 0945 BST.
Pc Rathband will be raising money for his charity which supports emergency services personnel who have been injured by criminals in the line of duty.
Deyn, who is also an actress and singer, is hoping to finish the course inside four hours.
“You can do anything that you put your mind to. I feel that’s the thing I’ve discovered doing this and that can seep into everything in your life,” she said.
Dublin-born Karl Twomey, 37, who will be running backwards, will be among more than 100 people hoping to break marathon records of one kind or another.
He said: “It’s not so much neck ache, it’s more landing on my butt. I’ve had a few falls in training. Obstacles are the problem.
“I was veering in the wrong direction into poles, bins – you name it, I’ve hit it.”
BBC weather forecaster Alex Deakin said there could be fresh conditions for the start of the marathon.
But he said the later finishers in the afternoon might feel the heat, with temperatures of about 19C (66F).
At the head of the field Tsegaye Kebede and Liliya Shobukhova will be back to defend their men’s and women’s titles respectively.
British hopes are likely to rest with Liz Yelling in the women’s and Andrew Lemoncello in the men’s.
Organisers have added seven Japanese athletes after what was supposed to be their final trial for the world championships – the Nagoya Marathon – was cancelled because of the earthquake and tsunami.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Egypt’s former Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and the former interior and finance ministers are to be tried on corruption charges, officials say.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
A World War I soldier’s postcard discovered in a Cambridgeshire village hall is returned to his relatives.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Mr Cameron said he and Nick Clegg were “committed” to a five-year coalition The referendum on changing the UK voting system will not break the coalition, David Cameron has said.
The PM, who backs first-past-the-post, said he and his deputy Nick Clegg, who wants to replace it with AV, were both committed to a five-year government.
Whatever the result on 5 May the losing side would have to “pick themselves up” and get on with governing, he said.
Earlier, ex-Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown accused Chancellor George Osborne and other foes of AV of “throwing mud”.
The latest exchanges come as a survey suggests public opinion has hardened against a switch.
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are coalition partners but are on opposite sides of the campaign on changing the voting system for Westminster elections from first-past the post to the Alternative Vote (AV).
The Conservatives agreed to the referendum on 5 May as part of the coalition deal, which also allows both parties to campaign on opposing sides.
At the moment MPs are elected by the first-past-the-post system, where the candidate getting the most votes in a constituency is elected.
On 5 May all registered UK voters will be able to vote Yes or No on whether to change the way MPs are elected to the Alternative Vote system.
Under the Alternative Vote system, voters rank candidates in their constituency in order of preference.
Anyone getting more than 50% of first-preference votes is elected.
If no-one gets 50% of votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their backers’ second choices allocated to those remaining.
This process continues until one candidate has at least 50% of all votes in that round.
Q&A: alternative vote referendum AV referendum: Where parties stand Ashdown attacks Osborne over AV
There have been suggestions that a “no” vote could spell the end for the coalition – amid some Liberal Democrat unease over coalition policies on university tuition fees and spending cuts.
But Mr Cameron told Sky’s Murnaghan programme: “Whatever the result on May 5, this is a five-year Government, Nick and I are absolutely committed to taking the government and its programme forward.”
“Whoever is on the losing side as it were will just have to pick themselves up and say: well, it was a fair argument, a fair fight, a fair referendum, the country has decided and now we have got to get on with all the things that really matter so much.”
Under the first-past-the-post system, voters put a cross next to their preferred candidate, while under AV voters rank candidates in order of preference.
These preferences could be used to decide the outcome in places where no candidate wins more than 50%.
Mr Cameron told Sky first-past-the-post was a system “that is effective, that is simple, that is fair, that works, that is used by half the world”.
He added: “We shouldn’t swap it for a system that is unfair and used by just a handful of countries and that is much more complicated.”
Last week Chancellor George Osborne said it “stinks” that the main backer of the pro-AV camp was the Electoral Reform Society – whose commercial arm Electoral Reform Services Ltd (ERSL) runs election services.
“It won’t be an easy moment for the Liberal Democrats – but we’ve been through this before”
Lord Ashdown Former Lib Dem leader
He claimed that ERSL stood to benefit financially from a switch. The firm has denied the accusation, saying a switch would have “absolutely no impact” on its revenue.
Writing in the Observer, Lord Ashdown said the no camp’s strategy was clear: “Throw as much mud as you can, don’t let the issue be discussed openly and frighten the public over the next three weeks into voting to preserve the power the present First-Past-the-Post system gives them.”
He said Mr Osborne’s “slurs” were “desperate” and criticised another Tory cabinet minister – Baroness Warsi – for suggesting AV would benefit extremists.
But he told the BBC later that Mr Cameron had been “responsible” in putting forward his arguments against AV – but argued he was wrong to argue the current system was fair and more simple.
“It’s not fair; more than 60% of MPs in this country are elected with more people voting against them than for them – that’s not fair to the electorate, it’s not even a fair democracy,” he said.
And while it was counted differently, AV was “just as simple” for voters, he said.
But he criticised “ridiculous scare tactics” by the no camp – including suggestions that it would benefit the BNP: “Excuse me, the BNP are voting against this because they know it diminishes their chances of getting in.”
Asked if a no vote would cause problems for the Lib Dems, Lord Ashdown said: “Am I going to be happy about that? No. Am I going to throw my toys out of the pram when a British political party that has democracy in its name – the Liberal Democrats – puts a proposition to the British people and the British people in a democratic vote, vote against? Hardly.”
But he acknowledged: “It won’t be an easy moment for the Liberal Democrats – but we’ve been through this before.”
Asked if it would end Nick Clegg’s leadership, Lord Ashdown replied “certainly not”.
Mr Cameron told Sky there “should be a reasonable argument on both sides” but said Mr Osborne’s point about the Electoral Reform Society was “a fact”.
A ComRes survey for the Independent on Sunday and Sunday Mirror – weighted to reflect those certain to vote – found 37% backed AV with 43% against, compared with a 36% to 30% split the other way in January.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Bolton and Stoke meet in the second FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, while Arsenal host Liverpool in a crunch Premier League match.
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There are reports rebels have come under fire on the outskirts of the eastern city of Ajdabiya The UK prime minister has said the terms of the UN resolution on Libya are a “restriction” on the coalition powers who have been trying to protect civilians and enforce a no-fly zone.
David Cameron said because under the resolution there would be no invasion or occupation in Libya the mission was made more difficult.
But he stressed the restrictions were the “right” ones.
It comes amid reports of fresh fighting between pro-Gaddafi forces and rebels.
Opponents of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi say at least six people were killed and 47 wounded when his forces shelled the western town of Misrata on Sunday morning. Pro-government fighters are also said to have shelled Ajdabiya in the east.
Speaking to Dermot Murnaghan on Sky News, Mr Cameron said: “We’re not occupying, we’re not invading, that’s not what we’re about. And that is obviously a restriction on us, but I think it is the right restriction.
“It’s because we’ve said we’re not going to invade, we’re not going to occupy, this is more difficult in many ways, because we can’t fully determine the outcome with what we have available.
“But we’re very clear we must stick to the terms of the UN Security Council resolution – and we must keep the support of the Arab world.”
Mr Cameron went on to say enforcing the resolution meant bombing missions “to actually take out Gaddafi’s tanks and artillery and command and control that are unleashing this hell on people in Misrata in Brega, and other towns up and down the Libyan coast”.
He said it should also mean “things like helping, as we are, the interim transitional national council, assisting the rebels with non-lethal equipment, as we have done”.
“We’ve given them body armour, we’ve given them communications equipment. But of course, clearly we should be doing things to help the protection of civilians,” he said.
The UN resolution authorises “all necessary measures” to protect civilians under threat of attack – short of an occupying force. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s removal is not a specified military objective of the action.
On Saturday, the former head of the UK armed forces Lord Dannatt said the allies should seek United Nations approval to arm and train Libyan rebels
Lord Dannatt told the BBC: “We want to act within the law, within international agreement and therefore we should be arguing the case to not accept a stalemate, not to put our own boots on the ground, but to properly arm those boots that are on the ground.
“They are Libyan boots. Let the Libyan people have the wherewithal to choose a new government for themselves.”
Meanwhile, there were fierce battles on the road between Ajdabiya and the strategic oil town of Brega, which has changed hands several times in recent weeks, on Saturday.
Elsewhere renewed fighting was also reported in Misrata, the embattled rebel holdout in the west of Libya.
Concern over the fate of civilians in the city has been growing in recent days, as evidence has emerged that pro-Gaddafi forces have been shelling and launching rocket attacks.
Human Rights Watch has alleged that the Libyan forces are using cluster bombs in Misrata. Libya’s government has denied that suggestion.
Responding to the denial, Peter Bouckaert from Human Rights Watch told BBC News “extensive physical evidence” of the use of cluster munitions in Misrata had been found.
“We have no doubt that the Libyan army has used cluster bombs in Misrata, and continue to do so, despite their denials,” he said.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Two Palestinian teenagers are arrested on suspicion of carrying out the brutal murder of an Israeli settler family while they slept in their home, officials say.
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Four second-half goals give Celtic victory over 10-man Aberdeen and sets up a Scottish Cup final meeting with Motherwell.
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