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Armed Robber Pinned Down During Raid Dies

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 26 Januari 2013 | 16.12

An armed man has died after being restrained by customers during an attempted robbery at a bookmakers, police said.

The man, in his 50s, was believed to be wearing a gas mask and holding a gun when he entered a Ladbrokes branch on Crownhill Road in Plymouth shortly before 7pm.

Customers managed to disarm him and held him on the floor while others raised the alarm, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

Police arrested the man, who was already unconscious, but he was declared dead shortly afterwards.

Plymouth map

"It quickly became clear the man was unresponsive and an ambulance was immediately requested by police who carried out CPR until they arrived," a police spokesman said.

"A few minutes later three paramedics arrived at the scene and continued to carry out further CPR. Around 20 minutes later the man was declared dead at the scene by the paramedics."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has been informed of death.

Chief Inspector Ian Drummond-Smith said: "This is a very serious incident. We cannot speculate on what has actually taken place here today.

"A full investigation has now begun and while the IPCC carry out their investigation it is not appropriate to comment further."


16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Peter Stringfellow Threatens Nick Clegg Contest

Stripclub owner Peter Stringfellow has suggested he could stand against Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in the General Election due to be held in 2015.

The 72-year-old has twice been singled out by the Liberal Democrat leader as someone who does not deserve state-funded pensioner benefits.

Sheffield-born Mr Stringfellow said that at his age he had "done everything a guy would probably like to do ... and I might take a serious view of moving into politics".

Asked by LBC radio's James Whale about the chances he might stand in Mr Clegg's Sheffield Hallam constituency, he said: "I think 'why not?'. It has opened my mind to the possibility and the idea of going back to my home city and taking him on would be my first choice.

"Everybody knows my clubs are full of beautiful girls taking their clothes off. I don't want to be Hugh Hefner ... so a bit later on in life I like the idea of going into politics and I think I could contribute the reality."

The millionaire nightclub owner has been angered by the Deputy PM using him to highlight his fight to take the winter fuel payment from wealthy pensioners, a move opposed by Prime Minister David Cameron.

"You cannot ask people to take big cuts in their ... benefits, and say it's ok for Peter Stringfellow and Alan Sugar to be given a whole bunch of free benefits when they don't need it, paid for by other taxpayers," he has said.

Mr Stringfellow is a Tory supporter but acknowledged he would probably have to stand as an independent because of his business interests.

And he added that he would live in the South Yorkshire city, saying: "My God, do you know how cheap those bloody big houses are up there."


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Plastic Surgeons Flying In From Abroad 'Pose Risk'

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

Doctors have warned of the dangers of 'seagull surgeons' who fly into Britain on daytrips to carry out operations, often without insurance.

Sky News has seen details of patients who have suffered complications from botched cosmetic surgery carried out at British clinics. But they have been unable to trace the surgeons abroad and have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) said patients need better protection - and called on the government to get tough.

Kelly Dean went for a lunchtime liposuction with what she thought was an experienced surgeon in a reputable clinic.

But the £4,000 laser procedure was botched, burning tissue inside her legs and leaving her with lumps on her thighs.

She told Sky News: "I just remember the pain, and thinking: 'Oh my God, what have I done?'"

"I kept telling him: 'I'm in pain, you're hurting me'. And I was crying, really crying."

A solicitor tried to track the surgeon down in Italy, without success, and the clinic which had hired out the room denied any responsibility.

"You think you are in safe hands," she said.

"To them it is just money, you are just a number. They don't care about it.

"As soon as they take your money, that's it, bye-bye."

Leeds-based surgeon Muhammad Riaz has had to treat complications in several patients after their original surgeon had returned abroad.

He said all surgeons should be responsible for their patients' after-care.

"That's the time the patient suffers," he warned.

"If they don't get into the same hospital and are not able to see the same surgeon, the NHS ends up picking up the pieces and dealing with those problems."

Rajiv Grover, presidet of BAAPS, which is the professional body for cosmetic surgeons, said the government must regulate the "fly-in, fly-out" surgeons and insist they have proper indemnity insurance.

"They may be working here for a short time and perhaps it's not cost effective for them to do so," he said.

"But for the protection of the patient it is imperative they have insurance of a level that allows them to work here and explicitly states they can work in the United Kingdom."

The Department of Health spokesperson said: "The NHS Medical Director Sir Bruce Keogh is currently carrying out a review into regulation of cosmetic surgery.

"The review will be published in March. Its recommendations will be evidence-based, with the safety of the patient at the forefront."


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Police In 'Muslim Vigilantes' Victim Appeal

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 25 Januari 2013 | 16.12

Officers investigating "Muslim vigilante" attacks are appealing for a victim who was abused by the gang for being "gay" to come forward.

Scotland Yard says the man is crucial to their investigation into a number of incidents where a gang calling itself Muslim Patrol has harassed members of the public.

Videos of the attacks in east London where the self-styled gang appear to have started to operate have been posted on YouTube.

The police are appealing for the man in the footage, titled Muslim vigilantes in London harass and taunt gay male, to contact them.

In the film, the gang can been seen to abuse and intimidate the man using homophobic language, shouting: "Get out of here you f** ... don't stay around here any more."

Investigating officers from the Community Safety Unit on Tower Hamlets borough said they are unsure where and when the video took place.

In a second video, posted online, men from the gang in Whitechapel, east London, tell another man "no drink in this area, it's a Muslim area" before ordering him to pour away his alcohol.

Another video posted on YouTube featured a woman wearing a miniskirt being told not to "expose" herself near a mosque.

Detective Chief Inspector Wendy Morgan from Tower Hamlets borough said: "The Met takes such homophobic behaviour very seriously.

"This man is a crucial witness in the investigation and would encourage him and anyone else with information relating to this incident to make contact in confidence as soon as possible."

Additional police patrols are being mounted across east London to reassure the public.

Four men have been arrested in connection with the investigation.

A 22-year-old man was arrested in Acton, west London on Sunday, and a 19-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday after going to an east London police station.

The pair were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and public order offences and were bailed to return to an east London police station in February and March pending further inquiries.

Two other men, aged 25 and 29, were arrested earlier today and remain in custody.

A police spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service takes these incidents very seriously and is pursuing various lines of inquiry with a view to identifying and prosecuting the individuals concerned."

Islamic leaders in east London condemned the vigilantes.

A spokesman for the East London Mosque said: "These actions are utterly unacceptable and clearly designed to stoke tensions and sow discord. We wholly condemn them.

"The East London Mosque is committed to building co-operation and harmony between all communities in this borough. The actions of this tiny minority have no place in our faith nor on our streets.

"We advise anyone who has been harassed by these individuals to contact the police.

"We will monitor the situation closely and our Imams will be speaking out against such actions."

:: Anyone who feels they may have been a victim or witness is asked to call the incident room on 0207 275 4758, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.


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Elsa Salama: Plea For Abducted Girl's Return

By Gerard Tubb, North of England Correspondent

The mother of a little girl who was snatched by Egyptian relatives while on a family holiday has pleaded for her to be returned.

Naomi Button, 39, has not seen her daughter Elsa Salama since she was abducted in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheikh on December 27, 2011 while visiting relatives.

Elsa's father, Egyptian-born Tamer Salama, 35, is in prison in England for refusing to comply with court orders to return Elsa to her mother.

Standing in her daughter's bedroom in Leeds, which has been kept just as she left it, Ms Button said she finds it difficult to cope.

Egypt Elsa was abducted in December 2011

"The worst times are when I wake up in the middle of the night, sometimes I wonder if that's because she's woken up and she's crying for me," she said.

Elsa will be six on February 2 and her mother has set up a Facebook page hoping that making a public appeal will finally bring her daughter home.

"I don't know what she's been told, I don't know if she thinks I didn't want her and I just left her in Egypt and that's mortifying to me," she said.

Salama was jailed in January 2012, having said Elsa was with his mother, but refusing to say where she was being held.

Abduction Ms Button is making a public appeal for the return of her daughter

Sentencing him, the judge Mr Justice Mitchell said: "It is unspeakably harmful to the emotional welfare of your daughter.

"It shows me that you are a man with a hard heart, determined only to get your own way."

Last week Salama was jailed for a further 12 months for his continuing failure to comply with court orders to return his daughter to her mother.

The couple met in Sharm el Sheikh in 2005 and were married in Egypt the following year, before moving to Leeds in 2007.

They separated in 2009 but agreed that Elsa should continue to see her family in Egypt.

Abduction Elsa's father is in jail for refusing to say where she is being held

Ms Button has a custody order in Egypt and the support of the Child Abduction Section of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Her lawyer, Kate Bannerjee, who heads the children's department at Jones Myers and is a panel member of the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit, warns that parental child abduction is on the increase.

"The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Child Abduction Section is receiving an average of four calls per day," she said.

"Understanding of parental child abduction is alarmingly low and cases can take years to resolve."

Ms Button has kept a pile of unopened Christmas presents in her daughter's room.

"I know that she wants to be back home with Mummy," she told us.

"My mission in life is to find my daughter and, no matter how long that takes, to be here for her.

"I want her to come back and see how her life was, so I do everything I can to find her but also to maintain the life she had, and that's what I get up for every day."


16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nick Clegg Suggests Coalition Cut Too Deeply

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has appeared to admit that the coalition cut spending too deeply when it took power.

Speaking ahead of the release of figures that are expected to show a fresh contraction in the UK economy, he said ministers had "comforted" themselves at the time that the reduction was in line with plans drawn up by the previous Chancellor, Labour's Alistair Darling.

In an interview with The House magazine, he said: "If I'm going to be sort of self-critical, there was this reduction in capital spending when we came into the Coalition Government.

"I think we comforted ourselves at the time that it was actually no more than what Alistair Darling spelt out anyway, so in a sense everybody was predicting a significant drop off in capital investment.

"But I think we've all realised that you actually need, in order to foster a recovery, to try and mobilise as much public and private capital into infrastructure as possible."

Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King speaks at a business conference in London Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King has predicted a weaker quarter

Rachel Reeves, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said: "This is the first admission that this Government has made serious mistakes on the economy."

Some experts believe gross domestic product (GDP) - released later today - will have fallen by 0.1% in the final quarter of 2012.

If the economy then contracts in the current quarter the nation would be officially back in recession.

Hopes of a rebound are fading after a snow-hit start to 2013, which some estimate cost Britain more than £500m-a-day in lost output.

A fourth-quarter downturn would be a sharp reversal of the 0.9% recovery seen in the third quarter, when output was fuelled by one-off factors such as the Olympics and as the economy clawed back activity lost during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee holiday.

Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King has already warned that the quarter would be "considerably weaker", while the IMF believes the UK contracted by 0.2% overall in 2012.

It also expects expansion of just 1% during this year.

Today's figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) represent the initial estimate of GDP and are subject to revision over subsequent months.

But the run of gloomy economic indicators increases the threat to the UK's prized AAA rating, with all three major ratings agencies placing the country on negative outlook.

Construction has so far been the only bright spot, according to recent industry surveys, with activity surging to a 15-month high in December.

But it accounts for only 10% of the economy and the far bigger services sector has not fared so well.

The first official estimate of fourth-quarter GDP will not include overall household consumer spending figures, which will be taken into account in the second estimate.


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Cost Of Raising A Child Soars To £222,000

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 24 Januari 2013 | 16.12

The cost of raising a child from birth until their 21st birthday has rocketed to £222,000, according to a study.

The overall figure is more than £4,000 up on last year and £82,000 more than a decade ago - an increase of 58%.

The most expensive areas to raise children over the past decade remain London (£239,123), the South East (£237,233) and the East of England (£233,363).

Families in the South West have seen the biggest hike in costs, now paying £10,077 more per child than they were 10 years ago.

Education and childcare remain the biggest costs, with 76% of parents forced to make cutbacks to meet the financial demands of raising their offspring, the survey for insurer LV= found.

The cost of education, including uniforms, after-school clubs and university costs has rocketed from £32,593 to £72,832 per child in the last decade - a 124% rise. This does not include private school fees.

Childcare costs alone have risen by 61% from £9,613 in 2003 to £6,738.

From birth to the ages of 21, parents spend an average of £19,270 on food and £16,195 on holidays per child.

Of the 2,013 mums and dads that took part in the poll, some reported feeling under pressure to keep up with the latest technological advances, even for children as young as three years old.

More than a quarter of parents (27%) had bought their child an electronic gadget in the last 12 months, with 16% buying a laptop or tablet computer.

On average, they revealed they spent around £302 on gadgets for their children.

The survey found costs have risen in all areas of expenditure apart from clothing, which has seen a 5% drop since 2003.

LV= spokesman Mark Jones said: "The cost of raising a child continues to soar and is now at a 10-year high. Everyone wants the best for their children but the rising cost of living is pushing parents' finances to the limit.

"There seems to be no sign of this trend reversing. If the costs associated with bringing up children continue to rise at the same pace, parents could face a bill of over £350,000 in 10 years' time."


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Football Fans Demand £20 Cap On Away Tickets

By Poppy Trowbridge, Business and Economics Correspondent

Fans are demanding a £20 limit on the price of away tickets amid fears that the growing costs will hit match attendances, affecting the atmosphere of games.

The country's largest supporters group has launched a campaign to make football more affordable.

The Football Supporters Federation's 'Twenty's Plenty' drive aims to get clubs to peg the cost of away tickets.

It comes after Premier League club Manchester City recently returned over 900 tickets for their trip to Arsenal after fans refused to pay £62 to watch their team.

The FSF described the action a 'watershed moment' and is hoping to bring together rival sets of fans to speak with one voice.

The first in a series of meetings nationwide takes place later in Manchester for fans of all clubs to attend.

The FSF wants clubs throughout England and Wales to agree to charge not more than £20 for away match tickets (£15 concessions).

FSF Chairman Malcolm Clarke said: "Away fans, in particular, are the football industry's best customers.

"When the cost of transport, accommodation, food and drink are added to the bill, the concern is that fewer supporters will be able to afford to follow their teams when they travel. If fans don't attend, the atmosphere suffers.

"That's why the federation supports cutting ticket prices at all levels of the game."

He added: "There's enough money going in at the top of the game to enable a reduction in ticket prices throughout the game."

The action comes as new figures show revenues are up 10% at the game's top clubs.

The world's 20 highest-earning teams in Europe brought in 4.8bn euros (£4.03bn) last year, according to the Football Money League published by Deloitte.

Real Madrid has become the first sports club to generate annual revenues in excess of 500m euros (£420.5m).

Players' salaries eat up nearly half of all revenue earned through match day sales, commercial activity and broadcast rights.

While clubs at the top end of the European football market are all seeing growth in all three of those areas, players' wages are also rising.

Mark Roberts, a consultant in the Deloitte Sports Business Group, said: "For a football club, no matter where they are, probably the biggest cost is the wage bill, both the players and the wider staff costs."


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Hazard Ballboy Kick: Chelsea Star Apologises

Chelsea star Eden Hazard will not face criminal charges for kicking a ballboy during his side's Capital One Cup semi-final against Swansea last night.

South Wales Police said they have spoken to 17-year-old Charlie Morgan - who did not suffer any injuries - and his father, and no complaint has been made.

The youth was kicked by the Belgian player after refusing to give him back the ball.

Hazard was sent off and Chelsea lost 2-0 on aggregate, sending Swansea through to the cup final against Bradford at Wembley.

"South Wales Police can confirm that the Swansea City ball boy has been interviewed in the presence of his father and no complaint has been made," a police spokesman said. "The ball boy did not sustain any injuries."

Hazard later insisted he had kicked the ball - not the ballboy.

He told Chelsea TV: "The boy put his whole body onto the ball and I was just trying to kick the ball and I think I kicked the ball and not the boy. I apologise.

Ball boy The boy lay on the ground grimacing after being kicked

"The ball boy came in the changing room and we had a quick chat and I apologised and the boy apologised as well, and it is over. Sorry."

Next month's Capital One Cup final will be Swansea's first major final in their 100-year history but the achievement was overshadowed by Hazard's kick.

With just over 10 minutes remaining and Chelsea needing to score twice to take the tie to extra-time, he lost patience when Charlie refused to hand over the ball after it had gone out of play for a goal-kick.

The teenager fell to the ground as Hazard attempted to get the ball from him - and the Blues forward then tried to kick it from under him but instead he appeared to make contact with the youngster.

Several Chelsea players went to tend to Charlie, who was left holding his ribs, before referee Chris Foy produced a red card.

Swansea City v Chelsea - Capital One Cup Semi-Final Second Leg Hazard's team-mates reacted angrily to the sending off

Before the game, he tweeted: "The king of all ball boys is back making his final appearance #needed #for #timewasting."

After the game Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez said that Hazard and the ball boy had exchanged apologies in the dressing room after the match.

"They apologised to each other," he said. "They both talked. The boy knows he was wasting time. Hazard was frustrated and trying to get the ball back.

"We can not change the situation. We are disappointed because we lost a player. The best thing for us is to move forward."

A Swansea spokesman confirmed no action would be taken, and that Chelsea had invited Charlie, who has been a ball boy at the Liberty Stadium for six years, into their dressing room.

He said: "The ball boy has been into the Chelsea dressing room after the game and shaken hands with Eden Hazard. The likes of John Terry and Frank Lampard were exemplary in their behaviour in welcoming him into the dressing room.

Swansea City v Chelsea - Capital One Cup Semi-Final Second Leg The boy later received an apology from Hazard

"Chelsea asked if he could come in and our kit lady took him in and they shook hands, he is fine.

"As far as we are concerned the matter is closed. He has been a ball boy here for six years with no incidents here at the stadium."

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup said he expected Hazard would regret the incident when he views it on television.

"I saw it from a very big distance from the bench," he said. "I've since seen it after the game. Hazard is a great player. When he sees the images I think he will regret it."

But he added: "I can understand all the frustrations when you are behind."

There was a storm of reaction on online fans' forums after the match.

At TheShedEnd.com, Chelsea fan Mike Carefree posted: "Ball boy should get an Oscar", while on unofficial Swansea site PlanetSwans.co.uk, forum user Copenhell wrote: "Sign him as a goalkeeper now, that ball boy."


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David Cameron Promises 'In-Out' EU Referendum

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 23 Januari 2013 | 16.12

Cameron And The EU: A Q&A

Updated: 3:46pm UK, Tuesday 22 January 2013

By Nicola Boden, Sky News Online

David Cameron's speech on Britain's position in Europe is significant for his party and for the country. Here is an explainer.

Why is Cameron making a speech?

Mr Cameron's speech on Britain's position in Europe has been a long time coming.

He wants to set out his views on the future role the UK should play in the European Union to try and settle rumblings in his own party and beyond.

The issue has become increasingly significant as the eurozone crisis developed and single currency members started pushing for closer integration in a bid to prevent a repeat of the crippling financial crisis.

This will require a new treaty, which could allow Britain to renegotiate its membership on a looser basis.

Mr Cameron wants to use this as a way of addressing growing calls for a referendum due to fears about the steady loss of sovereignty to Brussels.

Why was it delayed?

The speech was first planned months ago but put off until after Christmas.

It was initially planned for January 22 but then Downing Street were told this clashed with the anniversary of the signing of the Elysee Treaty between France and Germany and the timing would therefore play badly with these two key European allies.

January 21 was not an option because of Barack Obama's inauguration.

It was moved to January 18 and Amsterdam was fixed as the location, only for it to be delayed again because of the hostage crisis in Algeria.

Mr Cameron will now speak in London because it fits best with his schedule.

Why is it significant?

This speech has been billed as the most important foreign policy speech made by Mr Cameron since he first became Tory leader.

Europe is certainly becoming an increasingly pressing issue within the Tory party and nationally.

Senior ministers including Michael Gove have now openly talked about leaving the EU if powers cannot be brought back to Britain.

The Prime Minister wants to settle the question by setting out a clear strategy for the years ahead, with the prospect of a referendum in the next parliament should the Conservatives win in 2015.

Europe has long been a fault line in the Tory party and Mr Cameron hopes he can keep his party united as he increasingly focuses on winning the next general election.

It also represents an opportunity to steal a march on Labour, whose leader Ed Miliband is very woolly about his own position, and the Lib Dems - led by renowned europhile Nick Clegg.

And significantly, it could help stem the flow of support to UKIP, who advocate total withdrawal from the EU and have been surging in recent opinion polls.

What are Tory eurosceptics pushing for?

There are varying degrees of feeling on the Conservative benches but it has been suggested that a document drawn up by the "Fresh Start" group could become party policy.

This called for:

:: the repatriation of all social and employment law, such as the Working Time Directive;

:: an opt-out from all existing policing and criminal justice measures;

:: an emergency brake on any new legislation affecting financial services;

:: stopping the European Parliament moving between Brussels and Strasbourg.

What is David Cameron's position?

The Prime Minister wants to establish a "fresh settlement" with Brussels and then hold a referendum on it in 2018.

His plan would be to negotiate a looser relationship for Britain while allowing the single currency countries to forge stronger links, thus retaining the common market.

The referendum pledge relies on the Tories winning power outright in 2015 and is unlikely to hold if they have to enter another coalition, which would anger Tory MPs.

Downing Street seems confident the public would vote to stay in the EU if significant powers were returned to the UK.

Mr Cameron insists he wants Britain to remain in the EU but accepts that the "status quo" cannot continue.

Is repatriation of powers realistic?

This is the million-pound question.

Other EU members are unlikely to take kindly to British attempts to pick and choose what it wants to sign up to.

There is a risk that they could call Mr Cameron's bluff and say that Britain should just leave if it no longer wants to play a proper part.

What about pro-Europeans?

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Business Secretary Vince Cable have both warned that tabling a referendum will encourage uncertainty and put off investors, costing much-needed jobs at a time of economic fragility.

Business chiefs including Sir Richard Branson also published a letter earlier this month, urging Mr Cameron not to jeopardise relations with Brussels by pushing for a "wholesale renegotiation" of British membership.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration has declared that it wants a "strong British voice in the EU" - a view repeated by Barack Obama on the phone to Mr Cameron last week.

Where do the other parties stand?

Both Labour and the Lib Dems are on tricky territory when it comes to Europe.

Labour leader Ed Miliband was tied in knots last week when asked to outline his position.

He has refused to back a referendum but also suggested he would not overturn the current "referendum lock" which means a vote would have to be held if any more powers are transferred.

He created further confusion by suggesting he too would try to repatriate some powers.

Nick Clegg has called Mr Cameron's plans to bring back powers from Brussels a "false promise wrapped in a Union Jack".

In their manifesto in 2010, the Lib Dems expressed their commitment to an in/out referendum the next time Britain has to sign up to a "fundamental change" in the UK-EU relationship.

But now the Lib Dem leader says holding referendum would be putting "the cart before the horse" because Europe is still reeling from the eurozone crisis.


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Stuart Hall: Rape Charge For BBC Presenter

BBC presenter Stuart Hall has been charged with further sexual offences - including an alleged rape.

The 83-year-old veteran broadcaster was arrested on Tuesday after attending a Cheshire police station.

The Radio 5 Live football presenter was charged with 14 offences of sexual assault involving 10 girls aged between nine and 16 between 1967 and 1986.

He is also accused of raping a 22-year-old woman in 1976.

In December, Hall was charged with three counts of indecent assault against young girls in the 1970s and 80s. He denied these three charges at a court hearing earlier this month.

Following the latest charges he was bailed to appear before magistrates in Preston on February 7.

Hall, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, has worked for more than a half century in British broadcasting and was awarded an OBE in this year's New Years Honours.

He presented the It's A Knockout show in the 1970s.

The BBC has previously said he would not be working at the corporation while he is facing allegations.


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Weather: Boy, 15, Plunges Through Frozen Pool

The fire brigade has warned people to stay off frozen ponds and lakes after a boy plunged through ice in the Midlands.

Emergency services were called to Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield where a boy, believed to be aged 15, had apparently tried to walk on the frozen surface of a large pool of water.

After falling through the ice he managed to escape the icy water and reach an island about 30 metres from the shore, but was suffering from the cold.

Fire crews from Sutton Coldfield, Erdington and Perry Barr were sent to the park, along with the police and ambulance service.

They were able to rescue the boy using an inflatable raft, and he was taken to hospital.

A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "This incident is a very timely reminder about the need for us all to stay safe and sensible in these very cold weather conditions.

"As sturdy as it might look, there is no way of knowing the thickness of ice on pools, lakes and other waterways.

"Please stay off it, and make sure that any children you know are aware of the dangers.

"People who put themselves at risk by venturing on to ice also endanger the lives of anyone who might have to rescue them.

"We're also urging dog owners to keep them on leads, so that they and their pets don't get into difficulties."

Meanwhile, thirty people were forced to abandon their cars and spend the night in a shelter after heavy snow and fallen trees blocked a road.

In the early hours of the morning the A39 between Bridgwater and Wilton became impassable and police had to rescue stranded drivers and transport them to a village hall where they spent the night.

A spokesperon for Avon and Somerset police said: "At 1am we became aware that about 30 people were stuck on a road that was impassable, primarily because of snow but also because of fallen trees.

"Officers from different districts in 4x4s were first on the scene to help and we asked the local fire station to open up and serve hot drinks and spoke with the council and identified a key holder for a nearby village hall.

"It was a group effort by the emergency services and a bit of community spirit."

Snow has continued to fall over parts of south Wales and South West England overnight, but it has been generally light and the end of the cold snap is in sight.

Sky's weather presenter Joanna Robinson, said: "Ice will be the biggest concern today as temperatures struggle to get above zero in many places.

"The amber warning issued by the Met Office expires at 9am this morning and was relating to significant snow yesterday evening and overnight".

Temperatures are expected to become milder at the weekend, however melting snow coupled with rainfall could lead to flooding.


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Ecstasy: Two Deaths Linked To Tainted Pills

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 22 Januari 2013 | 16.12

Two people have died in two days and several others are in hospital after possibly taking contaminated ecstasy tablets.

Greater Manchester Police said it is investigating whether a batch of the illegal drugs circulating in the area could have led to the deaths of the two "apparently fit young men".

Gareth Ashton, 28, died at Wigan Infirmary on Monday, police have confirmed.

A 19-year-old died at Oldham Hospital on Sunday.

Both were admitted to hospital after complaining of feeling unwell and suffered the same symptoms.

Toxicology tests are due to take place to establish their cause of death.

Police have also been made aware of a number of other people who have been admitted to hospital suffering similar symptoms in the last few days.

The contaminated drugs are believed to be heart shaped and coloured purple, green, yellow and blue.

Detective Chief Inspector Howard Millington from Wigan CID said: "We are very concerned at how these deaths of two apparently fit young men have occurred.

"It is believed several other people have been admitted to hospital suffering from similar symptoms.

"It is possible that they are linked and this is something we are exploring as part of the investigation.

"Our main concern is that there may be a contaminated quantity of illegal drugs and if this goes unchecked it could result in further deaths."

Anyone with information can phone police on 0161 856 7149 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ecstasy: Two Deaths Linked To Tainted Pills

Two people have died in two days and several others are in hospital after possibly taking contaminated ecstasy tablets.

Greater Manchester Police said it is investigating whether a batch of the illegal drugs circulating in the area could have led to the deaths of the two "apparently fit young men".

Gareth Ashton, 28, died at Wigan Infirmary on Monday, police have confirmed.

A 19-year-old died at Oldham Hospital on Sunday.

Both were admitted to hospital after complaining of feeling unwell and suffered the same symptoms.

Toxicology tests are due to take place to establish their cause of death.

Police have also been made aware of a number of other people who have been admitted to hospital suffering similar symptoms in the last few days.

The contaminated drugs are believed to be heart shaped and coloured purple, green, yellow and blue.

Detective Chief Inspector Howard Millington from Wigan CID said: "We are very concerned at how these deaths of two apparently fit young men have occurred.

"It is believed several other people have been admitted to hospital suffering from similar symptoms.

"It is possible that they are linked and this is something we are exploring as part of the investigation.

"Our main concern is that there may be a contaminated quantity of illegal drugs and if this goes unchecked it could result in further deaths."

Anyone with information can phone police on 0161 856 7149 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


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Defence Cuts: 5,000 Soldiers Set To Be Axed

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

Around 5,000 soldiers will be made redundant in the latest round of job cuts, the Government will announce today.

The Army will bear the heaviest burden in this third tranche of redundancies, the Navy and RAF having already completed most of their necessary cuts.

Sky News understands that soldiers fitting the redundancy criteria will be informed by their superiors later this morning.

Anyone currently serving in Afghanistan is likely to be exempt from this round of job cuts, so too are soldiers preparing to deploy within the next six months and anyone recovering from a recent operational tour of duty.

No-one will actually be made redundant immediately and the announcement marks the start of the process for the latest round of cuts. Final decisions will be made by June.

In the last round of cuts, 72% of redundancies ended up being voluntary. Military leaders and politicians are hoping for a similar outcome this time round.

Anyone accepted for voluntary redundancy will be expected to work a six-month notice period and those selected for compulsory redundancy will have a full year to find alternative employment before leaving the service.

They will be given resettlement support.

British soldiers work on vehicles which will be re-deployed to the UK at Camp Bastion, outside Lashkar Gah, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan Around 9,000 British personnel are deployed to Afghanistan

By the end of the process the Army will have shrunk to 80,000 soldiers, a reduction of around 20,000, mostly through a redundancy process but also achieved through slower recruitment.

A fourth round of cuts is expected but has not been confirmed. It is likely this would happen at around the same time next year.

The job losses are part of a strategic review driven by budget cuts which aims produce a new look military by 2020.

The biggest commitment by some way is in Afghanistan - 9,000 personnel are deployed in the country - but the withdrawal process is due to start this year and by the end of 2014 most soldiers will have returned home.

Final numbers have not been announced.

In October last year the Defence Secretary announced plans to rename the Territorial Army the 'Reservists' and double its members to 30,000.

There is also a hope that some of those leaving the military because of the redundancy scheme might sign up to the TA so their experience is not lost.

By the end of the redundancy process the number of serving personnel in all three services will be reduced to 150,000 from 180,000.

It will result in the smallest army since the 18th century and plenty of concerns over effectiveness.

It is not just serving military personnel taking the hit - the Ministry of Defence is in the process of cutting around 25% of its staff. The aim is to save £3.8m a year and to make the department less top-heavy with management.

The UK still faces real or potential threats around the globe, demonstrated in the past few weeks by the hostage situation in Algeria and conflict in Mali.

Some, particularly retired service chiefs, question the UK's ability to face these threats with a reduced military and gaps in the equipment locker.

The Government will again need to convince detractors, home and abroad, that the UK military can still earn international respect despite its reduced size.


16.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Defence Cuts: 5,000 Soldiers Set To Be Axed

By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

Around 5,000 soldiers will be made redundant in the latest round of job cuts, the Government will announce today.

The Army will bear the heaviest burden in this third tranche of redundancies, the Navy and RAF having already completed most of their necessary cuts.

Sky News understands that soldiers fitting the redundancy criteria will be informed by their superiors later this morning.

Anyone currently serving in Afghanistan is likely to be exempt from this round of job cuts, so too are soldiers preparing to deploy within the next six months and anyone recovering from a recent operational tour of duty.

No-one will actually be made redundant immediately and the announcement marks the start of the process for the latest round of cuts. Final decisions will be made by June.

In the last round of cuts, 72% of redundancies ended up being voluntary. Military leaders and politicians are hoping for a similar outcome this time round.

Anyone accepted for voluntary redundancy will be expected to work a six-month notice period and those selected for compulsory redundancy will have a full year to find alternative employment before leaving the service.

They will be given resettlement support.

British soldiers work on vehicles which will be re-deployed to the UK at Camp Bastion, outside Lashkar Gah, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan Around 9,000 British personnel are deployed to Afghanistan

By the end of the process the Army will have shrunk to 80,000 soldiers, a reduction of around 20,000, mostly through a redundancy process but also achieved through slower recruitment.

A fourth round of cuts is expected but has not been confirmed. It is likely this would happen at around the same time next year.

The job losses are part of a strategic review driven by budget cuts which aims produce a new look military by 2020.

The biggest commitment by some way is in Afghanistan - 9,000 personnel are deployed in the country - but the withdrawal process is due to start this year and by the end of 2014 most soldiers will have returned home.

Final numbers have not been announced.

In October last year the Defence Secretary announced plans to rename the Territorial Army the 'Reservists' and double its members to 30,000.

There is also a hope that some of those leaving the military because of the redundancy scheme might sign up to the TA so their experience is not lost.

By the end of the redundancy process the number of serving personnel in all three services will be reduced to 150,000 from 180,000.

It will result in the smallest army since the 18th century and plenty of concerns over effectiveness.

It is not just serving military personnel taking the hit - the Ministry of Defence is in the process of cutting around 25% of its staff. The aim is to save £3.8m a year and to make the department less top-heavy with management.

The UK still faces real or potential threats around the globe, demonstrated in the past few weeks by the hostage situation in Algeria and conflict in Mali.

Some, particularly retired service chiefs, question the UK's ability to face these threats with a reduced military and gaps in the equipment locker.

The Government will again need to convince detractors, home and abroad, that the UK military can still earn international respect despite its reduced size.


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London House Fire: Two Die In North Finchley

Two people have died in a fire at a home in North London early this morning, police say.

Six fire engines and around 35 firefighters plus officers attended the blaze in Fallow Court Avenue, North Finchley.

London Fire Brigade said the fire affected around three quarters of the ground floor, half of the first floor, as well as the staircase and roof of the semi-detached house.

Firefighters found the body of woman in the property's kitchen and the body of a man in a first floor bedroom.

The Brigade was called at 6.06am and the fire was under control by 8.09am. Crews from Finchley, Southgate, Barnet and Hornsey fire stations were sent to the scene.

The cause is under investigation by London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police.

More follows...


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London House Fire: Two Die In North Finchley

Two people have died in a fire at a home in North London early this morning, police say.

Six fire engines and around 35 firefighters plus officers attended the blaze in Fallow Court Avenue, North Finchley.

London Fire Brigade said the fire affected around three quarters of the ground floor, half of the first floor, as well as the staircase and roof of the semi-detached house.

Firefighters found the body of woman in the property's kitchen and the body of a man in a first floor bedroom.

The Brigade was called at 6.06am and the fire was under control by 8.09am. Crews from Finchley, Southgate, Barnet and Hornsey fire stations were sent to the scene.

The cause is under investigation by London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police.

More follows...


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Prince Charles In British Industry Warning

Written By Unknown on Senin, 21 Januari 2013 | 16.12

Prince Charles is to warn that Britain is in danger of losing its reputation as the "standard bearer of quality manufacturing and engineering" if more young people are not attracted into the industries.

The Prince of Wales will deliver his speech during a visit to the Jaguar Land Rover production plant at Halewood on Merseyside.

He will say: "As a country, we are rightly proud of our industrial heritage, but we should also celebrate our continued success as the standard bearer of quality manufacturing and engineering throughout the world.

"From car production to quality shoe-making, from precision engineering to traditional craft skills, Britain is truly a global leader."

But he will stress that this reputation is at stake if the country does not attract more young people into manufacturing and engineering in the future.

The Prince is carrying out a series of visits over two days to champion the 'Best of British' engineering and manufacturing in the UK.

He will also launch Industrial Cadets, a national initiative backed by the Department for Communities and Local Government to encourage young people to join manufacturing industries.

The idea stemmed from discussions between the Prince and Tata Steel in 2010 and is being run by the education charity EDT.

Industrial Cadets aims to raise aspirations for students aged 12 to 14 by building awareness of manufacturing industry in their local area.


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British Grandfather Wrestles Shark in Oz

By Jonathan Samuels, Australia Correspondent

An heroic British holidaymaker has wrestled a 2m (6ft) shark off the Australian coast to stop beachgoers being attacked.

Paul Marshallsea, 62, from Wales, was on a month's break with his family when the shark swam right up to swimmers and children paddling on the shore on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

A local TV crew, which was on the beach filming another story, captured the moment when Mr Marshallsea and another man ran into the water and grabbed the shark by its tail in an attempt to get it to swim away.

At one point the shark is seen thrashing about in the water as Mr Marshallsea holds on, trying to stop it lunging at beachgoers. It eventually breaks free, pushing him over.

The grandfather, from Merthyr Tydfil, told Wales Online: "We got hold of his tail and pulled with all our might to get the shark back into deep enough water so that the poor thing could survive.

"While I was pulling the shark by the tail back into deeper water her 2ft-long babies were swimming through my legs. They must have got lost and marooned by the shallow sand banks and got beached.

"But the trouble was when we got the shark to just over knee deep it then turned on us and just missed me with a bite which was a fraction away from my leg.

"A shark that one minute ago was so docile now just nearly took my leg off in a split second - it was that quick."

Holidaymakers and locals watched as the men tried to persuade the distressed dusky whaler shark to head back out to sea. 

Lifeguards on the beach advised the men to stay clear of the shark, but in the end the man helping Mr Marshallsea managed to push it out to deeper waters.

Lifesaver Luke Turner was on duty at the time and told Sky News: "A shark beaching itself means one of two things, it wants to die because it is either really sick or because it's really hungry."

Tourist Tash Kimlin was with her family at Bulcock Beach when the drama happened.

She shouted out to her two young children when the alarm was raised.

"It was pretty scary, yeah, I was just calling out to them and they couldn't really understand what I was saying," she said.

The dusky shark, which reaches 4.2m (14ft) in length and weighs 347 kg (765 lb), is considered dangerous to humans and has been known to attack.

It has a slender, streamlined body and can be identified by its short round snout, long sickle-shaped pectoral fins, the ridge between its first and second dorsal fins, and faintly marked fins.


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Woman Dies After Collapsing In Snow In Kent

A woman has been found dead after collapsing in the snow in Kent as the winter weather takes its toll on the UK.

The woman, believed to be in her 20s, was discovered by a man walking his dog in Church Meadow, Deal, Kent, at 7.30am on Sunday morning, police said.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A police spokesman said: "The woman's death is not being treated as suspicious but it is unexplained. A post-mortem examination will be held later this week."

One person died following a crash in snowy conditions on the A12 near Kelvedon, Essex, and drivers are being warned  to take extra care on journeys.

Also in Kent, a man was taken to hospital with broken bones in his face when he was racially attacked after confronting a group of youngsters throwing snowballs at him.

And a teenager was left fighting for his life after suffering head injuries in a sledging accident in Middlesbrough.

Meanwhile, hundreds of schools have closed and transport struggled to cope as Britain continued to suffer in the grip of winter today. 

Snow warnings

As much as 10 to 20cm (four to eight inches) of snow is expected across Scotland and northern England, prompting the Met Office to issue amber warnings which urge the public to be prepared.

Yellow warnings - which advice people to take extra care - continue for parts of the north, east and southeast England as well as Northern Ireland, where up to five centimetres (around two inches) of snow could fall in those places. 

"Today's snowiest areas will be northeast England and eastern Scotland," said Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang.

"Although sleety on the east coast, it will be snow inland where 10 to 20cm is forecast. Drifting snow, poor visibility and blizzard conditions are likely over higher routes.

"The snow will continue in the northeast tonight and into Tuesday although it should turn drier across northeast England.

"Later tonight and during Tuesday morning the weather is set to deteriorate across the southwest with the potential for some heavy snow across South Wales and parts of southwest England."

The temperatures will not starting rising until the weekend, said Lang.

"Until then there will be further problems with ice and snow and daytimes temperatures will continue to struggle to climb  much above freezing," she said.

"Wednesday and Thursday look largely dry and cold with ice and patchy fog.

"Friday should see a slow change spread eastwards and westerly winds bring a rise in temperature later and a slow thaw."

In South Wales and the south and east England, the Met Office is warning motorists of treacherous icy conditions.

A snow man wearing a Union flag hat is seen in front of Buckingham Palace in central London A snowman outside Buckingham Palace

Heavy snowfall has closed two major roads across the Pennines, the A628 Woodhead Pass and the A66 between Brough and Bowes.

The Highways Agency said both routes would be closed for some hours and advised drivers to find alternative routes across the Pennines.

Heavy falls in the North East made for a tricky morning commute for many. Northumbria Police said the A68 in Northumberland was blocked, with problems at its junction with the A69.

Drivers were advised to avoid the B6341 at Rothbury and reported a four-vehicle collision on the Spine Road at Cramlington, next to the 3 Horse Shoes roundabout.

Officers also said the A1 in the Newcastle area suffered traffic congestion.

There is also another day of snow and ice-related delays and cancellations on the country's rail network.

Virgin Trains warned of some cancellations in its services between London and Birmingham and the North West, while services into London King's Cross were also affected.

Eurostar, First Capital Connect, Southeastern, Southern and South West Trains were all facing disruption.

There were delays on some London Underground lines, mainly because of late finishes to engineering work, while the bad weather caused hold-ups on the London Overground service.

At Heathrow Airport planes are due to be grounded for a fourth day and passengers are advised to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport.

Delays are predicted at Gatwick and Stansted, Birmingham and Edinburgh airports and passengers are advised to check with airlines before setting out. Manchester said a "small number" of flights had been cancelled.

On Sunday passengers were left fuming after 260 flights were cancelled - 20% of the airport's usual business - and on Monday 10% are due to be cancelled because of expected low visibility.


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Murder Probe After Body Of Boy, 2, Discovered

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 20 Januari 2013 | 16.12

Police have begun a murder investigation following the death of a two-year-old boy.

Officers were called to a home in Modbury, Devon, on Saturday morning after the little boy's body was discovered by a member of the public.

Police confirmed they have arrested a woman and she is being questioned by officers on suspicion of murder.

As well as carrying out door-to-door enquiries, police have also begun initial forensic work - although it is believed a post-mortem examination has yet to be carried out.

That process is expected to be carried out in the coming days by a Home Office pathologist or specialist paediatric pathologist.

In the meantime, detectives are continuing to piece together information and urged members of the public able to assist with their enquiries to get in touch.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said on Saturday: "At around 8.20am today, following a report to police, officers attended an address in Champernowne, Modbury, where they found the body of a two-year-old boy.

"A 40-year-old local woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in custody at Charles Cross police station, Plymouth."


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Scotland Avalanche: Prayers For Four Victims

Prayers will be said today for four people who died in an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands.

The Rev Moira Herkes, who will lead a private service at St Munda's Church in Glencoe, said it was "the worst accident to happen here for many years" and that the victims would not be forgotten.

The climbers were among a party of six on Bidean Nam Bian, a mountain near Glencoe.

It is believed they were descending from a peak on the south side of the valley when the snow-covered slope they were crossing broke away, engulfing five of them and sending them hundreds of feet down the mountain.

Four people killed in Glencoe Avalanche Bidean Nam Bian is a mountain with a height in excess of 3,000ft

Emergency services were alerted to the accident at about 2pm yesterday and a major search operation involving two mountain rescue teams and police dogs was launched.

The four people - two men and two women - were found dead beneath the snow.

One male climber, who stayed with the teams to help with the search, is safe and well while a woman is in a serious condition in Belford hospital in Fort William.

John Grieve, leader of Glencoe mountain rescue team, which co-ordinated the search, said the alarm was initially raised by two climbers - who were not part of the group of six - when they discovered one of the casualties lying in the snow.

But, soon after, police were contacted by the male survivor from the climbing party, who told them more people were missing.

Mr Grieve, who is in Spain and was not part of the search, said: "The first call to police was from two other people who had been on the mountain, they found someone lying next to where they were climbing.

Glencoe map in Scotland The avalanche occurred on a slope in Glencoe

"So, the assumption was that it was just one casualty, but it became clear that there were others missing when they heard from the man who is safe."

He said the dead climbers were located using a technique called "probing", where a metal stick is pushed into the snow.

"I'm not sure how deeply buried they were, but using that technique would suggest it was more than a metre," Mr Grieve said.

All of the missing climbers, who are yet to be named, were located within four hours of the alarm being raised.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said: "This is an appalling tragedy and our immediate thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have been lost.

"To lose four people from a party of six is truly devastating."

Bidean Nam Bian is a Munro - a mountain with a height in excess of 3,000ft - with a number of different climbs.

Anyone who is concerned about relatives climbing in the area are advised to contact Northern Constabulary's control room on 01463 715555.


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PM Confirms Deaths Of Three British Hostages

Three Britons have been killed in the Algerian hostage crisis and another three are feared dead.

David Cameron said a UK resident had also been killed in the four day stand-off in the desert which dramatically ended on Saturday.

Speaking at Chequers, he said that the priority now was to get the surviving hostages home from Algeria.

"I know the whole country will want to join with me in sending our sympathy and our condolences to the families who have undergone an absolutely dreadful ordeal," he said.

The Foreign Office said the figures announced by the Prime Minister included the Briton killed on Wednesday in the initial raid by Islamist militants.

Algeria hostage crisis Freed British hostages Peter (left) and Alan (right). No surnames available

Algerian special forces mounted a "final assault" on the last Islamist militants holding out at the remote BP gas plant at In Amenas on Saturday.

The Algerian interior ministry later reported that, in all, 23 hostages and all 32 terrorists had died, and 107 foreign workers and 685 local employees had been released.

Sky News understands that 20 British nationals caught up in the crisis are now back in the UK with another four to return home by lunchtime on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Algerian authorities are working to dismantle explosives left by the terrorists who booby-trapped the sprawling plant before the final shoot-out.

The interior ministry strongly defended the rescue operation, despite criticism of the high death toll.

Algeria hostage crisis Algerian police escort freed Norwegian hostage Oddvar Birkedal

"To avoid a bloody turn of events in response to the extreme danger of the situation, the army's special forces launched an intervention with efficiency and professionalism to neutralise the terrorist groups that were first trying to flee with the hostages and then blow up the gas facilities," it said in a statement.

It said that troops had recovered an arsenal of six machine guns, 21 rifles, two shotguns, two 60mm mortars with shells, six 60mm missiles with launchers, two rocket-propelled grenades with eight rockets and 10 grenades in explosive belts.

The state news agency, APS, reported that the terrorists had killed seven of the hostages they were still holding before they were killed themselves by the special forces.

David Cameron said he had spoken to Algerian prime minister Abdelmalek Sellal, who confirmed that the military operation against the terrorists was "effectively ended".

In a statement, the Prime Minister added: "It is our priority now to get people home as quickly as possible and to look after the survivors. Many are already home or on their way back.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Japan's Prime Minister tells reporters 10 Japanese workers remain missing

"Let me be clear. There is no justification for taking innocent life in this way. Our determination is stronger than ever to work with allies right around the world to root out and defeat this terrorist scourge and those who encourage it."

Foreign Secretary William Hague said that on the basis of the available information they believed five British nationals and a UK resident were either "deceased or unaccounted for" - in addition to the Briton killed on the opening day of the terrorist attack.

It is thought that two of the Britons feared dead are Scottish.

Mr Hague insisted that it was too early to come to any judgement about the Algerian operation.

"I don't want to at this stage enter into criticism or judgement because there will be a lot to be learned yet about this operation," he said.

Algeria hostage crisis An Algerian army truck in a street of In Amenas, near the gas plant

In contrast, French president Francois Hollande gave his immediate backing to Algeria's tough tactics, saying they were "the most adapted response to the crisis".

Several hours after the troops stormed the gas plant, President Barack Obama said the US was seeking from Algerian authorities a fuller understanding of what took place, but added that "the blame for this tragedy rests with the terrorists who carried it out".

Meanwhile, BP chief executive Bob Dudley said the company was "unable to confirm the location or situation" of four employees at In Amenas and had "grave fears" that they are likely to have suffered fatalities.

The situation at the plant remains unclear and Mr Dudley said that it could be some time before they establish exactly what happened. Two BP employees suffered injuries although they are not life-threatening.

"Our focus remains on our colleagues, who we have not yet been able to locate, and on supporting their families through a time of agonising uncertainty," he said.

Algeria hostage crisis Defence Secretary Philip Hammond with US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta

He said 25 of the 56 BP workers in Algeria at the time of the attack have now left in a "staged process" of withdrawing all non-essential staff from the country.

The kidnappers, who call themselves 'Those Who Sign In Blood', had earlier told a Mauritanian news agency they were holding seven foreigners: one British, three Belgians, two Americans and one Japanese.

The drama began on Wednesday when a group of about 30 heavily-armed militants mounted a dawn raid at the plant close to the Libyan border, seizing hostages from among the 700 Algerian and foreign workers at the site. Two workers, including one Briton, died in the initial assault.

The following day, Algerian special forces mounted an operation to take back the plant, to the initial dismay of the British and other governments who were not notified in advance despite offering assistance to the Algerian authorities.

The Algerians, however, insisted that they had to act immediately amid fears that the militants were about to flee into the desert, taking hostages with them.

Algeria hostage crisis Algerian police guard the entrance of a hospital located near the gas plant

By Friday it was reported that about 100 foreigners, from a total of 132, and 573 Algerians were freed, with a "provisional" figure of 12 hostages and 18 militants killed in the fighting, although the kidnappers claimed 35 foreigners died.

But it was also clear that a group of militants, still holding hostages, was continuing to hold out.

The kidnappers, part of the Masked Brigade - a terrorist splinter group led by the veteran jihadist, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, which broke away from al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb - initially claimed the attack was in retaliation for the French military intervention in neighbouring Mali.

It was subsequently reported that they were demanding the release of two terrorists held in the US, including 1993 World Trade Centre bombing mastermind Omar Abdel Rahman, in return for the release of two US captives.

The plant at In Amenas is jointly operated by BP, Norwegian company Statoil and Algerian state oil company Sonatrach.

As freed hostages began to leave the plant, accounts emerged of their horrific treatment at the hands of the kidnappers.

One Algerian worker, who gave his name only as Chabane, described how from his hiding place he heard the militants speaking among themselves with Libyan, Egyptian and Tunisian accents. At one point, he said, they caught a Briton.

"They threatened him until he called out in English to his friends, telling them 'Come out, come out. They're not going to kill you. They're looking for the Americans'," he said.

"A few minutes later they blew him away."

The family of British survivor Darren Matthews, from Saltburn-by-the-Sea in Cleveland, expressed their relief that he had escaped unhurt.


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