Al-Nusra threat over air strikes

28 September 2014 Last updated at 10:48

Syrian militant group al-Nusra Front has denounced US-led air strikes as "a war against Islam".

In an online statement, the al-Qaeda-linked group called on jihadists around the world to target Western and Arab countries involved.

It comes as the US and other nations widened air strikes against Islamic State (IS) fighters in Iraq and Syria.

A Syrian activist group said overnight strikes hit three local oilfields near the Syrian IS stronghold of Raqqa.

The group, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, also said one civilian was killed in a strike on a plastics factory on the outskirts of Raqqa.

Previously, the Pentagon confirmed that jets hit Raqqa on Saturday as well as IS positions near the Turkish border.

Kurdish fighters have been defending the Kurdish town of Kobane on the Syrian side of the border since an IS advance sent about 140,000 civilians fleeing to Turkey.

The US-led coalition of about 40 countries, including Arab states, has vowed to destroy IS, which controls large parts of north-eastern Syria and northern Iraq.

The group's brutal tactics, including mass killings, beheadings, and abductions of members of religious and ethnic minorities, triggered the international intervention.

Despite sharing radical Islamist beliefs, IS and al-Nusra Front have been rivals, recently clashing with each other in Syria.

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Paul Wood's exclusive report from Kobane: ''The battle is far from over''

But on Saturday al-Nusra spokesman Abu Firas al-Suri threatened the coalition nations.

"These states have committed a horrible act that is going to put them on the list of jihadist targets throughout the world," he said.

"This is not a war against al-Nusra, but a war against Islam."

Both IS and al-Nusra form part of the complex network of rebel forces fighting in Syria. The US has not said al-Nusra is also being targeted but its planes have attacked a new group it terms Khorasan, which some analysts suspect is part of al-Nusra Front.

IS has also called on jihadists to launch attacks on coalition countries.

On Saturday, a spokesman for the moderate opposition Free Syrian Army said it supported air strikes against IS but opposed any action that caused civilian casualties.

Hussam al-Marie told the BBC that Western countries should also carry out strikes against the government in Damascus.

"(The) so-called Islamic State is our enemy as much as (President) Assad's regime is our enemy," he said.

"We want Syria free from dictatorship and from terrorism. We need the support of the free world to continue this battle against the regime and Isis (IS). We are fighting on two fronts."

Meanwhile on the ground, IS shelled Kobane on Saturday and several people were killed, the BBC's Paul Wood reports from the scene.

The US Central Command announced that an IS-occupied building and two armed vehicles were destroyed near the Kobane border crossing.

Several thousand Kurdish refugees, along with their sheep and cattle, are camped out at the railway line which marks the border with Turkey.

Other strikes hit IS targets elsewhere in Syria and in northern Iraq on Saturday.

On Friday the UK became the latest nation to join the air campaign against IS after MPs voted in favour of strikes in Iraq, but not in Syria.

Two of six RAF Tornados based in Cyprus carried out their first combat mission on Saturday but returned without carrying out any strikes.

On Saturday evening, local time, two RAF planes took part in a further flight and later returned safely.

French fighter jets are already taking part in strikes in Iraq with Belgium and the Netherlands each pledging six F-16s planes and Denmark deploying seven.

European countries have so far only agreed to strike targets in Iraq where the government has asked for help.

Who are Islamic State (IS)?

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In 60 seconds: What does Islamic State want?

• Formed out of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) in 2013, IS first captured Raqqa in eastern Syria
• It captured broad swathes of Iraq in June, including Mosul, and declared a "caliphate" in areas it controls in Syria and Iraq
• Pursuing an extreme form of Sunni Islam, IS has persecuted non-Muslims such as Yazidis and Christians, as well as Shia Muslims, whom it regards as heretics
• Known for its brutal tactics, including beheadings of soldiers, Western journalists and aid workers
• The CIA says the group could have as many as 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria

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Japan volcano rescue finds 31 bodies

28 September 2014 Last updated at 13:04

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Survivors described volcanic rock falling "like hailstones", as Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports

The bodies of 31 hikers have been found near the top of Japan's Mount Ontake a day after a sudden volcanic eruption.

The hikers were not breathing and their hearts had stopped. The search for a total of 45 for missing climbers has now been called off for the night.

The volcano, about 200km (125 miles) west of Tokyo, erupted without warning on Saturday, spewing ash and rocks.

About 250 people were trapped on the slopes of the popular beauty spot, but most got down safely.

The eruption forced many of those on the mountain to make emergency descents through clouds of volcanic ash and falling rocks.

"The volcanic rocks fell like hailstones," one man said.

"We couldn't breathe so we covered our mouths with towels. We couldn't open our eyes either."

Another told reporters: "The volcanic ash was hurtling so fast I couldn't run away. I'm worried about people still on the mountain."

Almost 50 people were thought to have stayed on the mountain overnight, reports said.

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Eyewitnesses and helicopters caught dramatic images of the eruption

After an intense search throughout Sunday, forty-five people are still listed as unaccounted for - including those found incapacitated and feared dead near the summit.

There was no official confirmation of death, which in Japan that can only be certified after a formal doctor's examination.

There are fears that the others could be buried under volcanic ash.

At least four people were transported back down the mountain on Sunday, according to reports, but their condition was not yet known.

No warning

Japan is one of the world's most seismically active nations but there have been no fatalities from volcanic eruptions since 1991, when 43 people died at Mount Unzen in the south-west.

The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, in Tokyo, says it's not clear why there was no warning of Saturday's eruption.

Japan monitors its volcanoes closely and any that show signs of activity are immediately closed to hikers - but this time that did not happen.

Japanese scientists say there had been an increase in seismic activity around the volcano recently, our correspondent says, but it was not enough to indicate that an eruption was imminent.

The sudden eruption on Saturday was described as "like thunder" by one woman who runs a lodge near the summit.

Heavy, toxic volcanic ash up to 20cm (8in) thick covered much of the mountain, reports said.

"All of a sudden ash piled up so quickly that we couldn't even open the door," Shuichi Mukai, who worked in a mountain lodge just below the peak, told Reuters.

"We were really packed in here, maybe 150 people. There were some children crying, but most people were calm. We waited there in hard hats until they told us it was safe to come down."

Ordinarily Mount Ontake is a popular place to see autumn foliage.

Its peak is 3,067m (10,120ft) high and the mountain is a popular hiking route, dotted with lodges, cabins and well-marked trails.

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MP's defection senseless, says Cameron

28 September 2014 Last updated at 12:18

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David Cameron called the defection by Tory MP Mark Reckless to UKIP ''counter-productive and rather senseless''

David Cameron has dismissed the defection of Conservative MP Mark Reckless to UKIP as "senseless and counter-productive".

Mr Reckless's move was followed by the resignation of a minister over a newspaper allegation, in a double blow for the PM at the start of the Tory conference.

Mr Cameron told the BBC's Andrew Marr show Mr Reckless's defection was "frustrating".

And only a Tory government could deliver an EU referendum.

In an echo of the statement he made when another of his backbenchers, Douglas Carswell, defected to UKIP earlier this month, Mr Cameron said the choice facing voters at the next election was between a Conservative and Labour government.

"So to act in a way that makes the Conservative government less likely is senseless and counter-productive."

'More defections'

The Conservative leader said he had not been aware of Mr Reckless's plans to quit but suggested the backbencher - who has triggered a by-election in his Rochester and Strood constituency - would not be much of a loss to the party because he "rarely voted with the government".

UKIP leader Nigel Farage told Andrew Marr it "wouldn't surprise" him to see more defections, and that "Labour backbenchers are thinking about this as well".

Meanwhile, former civil society minister Brooks Newmark, who has quit over reports that he sent an explicit image of himself to an undercover reporter, told the BBC he had been a "complete fool"

Immigration

Mr Cameron wants to use his week in Birmingham to unveil a series of eye-catching policies aimed at winning the party an overall majority in May's election.

Chancellor George Osborne has said a Conservative government would cut the maximum level of benefits a household can claim from £26,000 a year to £23,000.

At the same time, unemployed young people aged 18 to 21 would be given six months to find work or training - after which their jobseeker's allowance payments would be withdrawn unless they agreed to take part in "community projects" such as cleaning up local parks.

Most unemployed 18 to 21-year-olds would also be prevented from claiming housing benefit in order to leave home under the Tory proposals.

Mr Cameron also promised help for young people to get on the housing ladder, saying a Tory government would build 100,000 homes exclusively available to under-40s in England at 20% below market rate.

But the Conservative leader has begun his final conference before the general election by defending his position on Europe amid ongoing unease among right wingers.

In his Andrew Marr interview, he promised to focus on tightening immigration rules when he attempted to renegotiate Britain's relationship with Brussels before the referendum promised by the end of 2017.

He stopped short of saying he would recommend Britain leave the EU - and vote no in the referendum - if he failed to get the concessions he wants from the other EU nations - something his Eurosceptic MPs have been demanding.

"If I don't achieve that it will be for the British public to decide whether to stay in or get out," he said.

But he added: "I have said this all my political life: if I thought that it wasn't in Britain's interest to be in the European Union, I wouldn't argue for us to be in it."

On Saturday, Culture Secretary Sajid Javid told the Daily Mail the UK could still prosper if it chose to exit the EU.

"I think it would open up opportunities. I am not afraid of that at all," he added.

Undecided voters

Mr Reckless told rapturous delegates at UKIP's conference in Doncaster on Saturday: "People feel ignored, taken for granted, over-taxed, over-regulated, ripped off and lied to."

Meanwhile, Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft called on the prime minister to do more to win over undecided voters.

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Mark Reckless announces he is joining UKIP

"Starting today in Birmingham, Cameron must help them resolve their quandary in his party's favour," he wrote in the Sunday Times.

"Cameron must show that his purpose is not merely a matter of dry economics but the creation of a country where everyone can share in the prosperity that the Tories are accused of wanting to preserve for the few."

The prime minister is due to deliver his set-piece speech on Wednesday as he closes the conference.

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I have been a fool, says MP Newmark

28 September 2014 Last updated at 11:17

The Conservative MP who stepped down as minister for civil society over a newspaper story about his private life has said he has been "a complete fool".

Brooks Newmark told the BBC: "I have no-one to blame but myself. I have hurt those I care about most."

The MP for Braintree in Essex is reported to have sent an explicit image of himself to an undercover reporter from the Sunday Mirror.

In a resignation statement, he asked for his privacy to be respected.

In his comments to BBC political correspondent Chris Mason, Mr Newmark added: "I am so, so sorry. But I just need time with my family".

The Sunday Mirror said its reporter had been posing as a young female activist.

'Loyal supporter'

Mr Newmark's announcement on Saturday came on the eve of the Conservative party conference and hours after fellow Tory MP Mark Reckless said he was quitting the party to join UKIP.

In his resignation statement, the 56-year-old said: "I have decided to resign as minister for civil society having been notified of a story to be published in a Sunday newspaper.

"I would like to appeal for the privacy of my family to be respected at this time.

"I remain a loyal supporter of this government as its long-term economic plan continues to deliver for the British people."

Mr Newmark, who has been the MP for Braintree since 2005 and became minister for civil society in July, is married and has five children.

Rob Wilson, Conservative MP for Reading East, has been appointed as Mr Newmark's replacement at the Cabinet Office.

Speaking on Sky News, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said Mr Newmark had "done the right thing" in resigning from ministerial office.

Asked whether he thought Mr Newmark had been entrapped, Mr Fallon said he was unable to comment as he "hadn't seen the details".

Another MP, Nadine Dorries, told Sky his resignation was only a "distraction" to the start of the Conservative Party conference.

She said Mr Newmark had been "stupid... he's let himself down and his family down, but I don't think it's that big a deal".

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Kimetto breaks marathon world record

Kenya's Dennis Kimetto has broken the marathon world record in Berlin, winning the race in a time of two hours, two minutes and 57 seconds.

The 30-year-old broke away in a seven-man group that included fellow Kenyans Emmanuel Mutai and Geoffrey Kamworor.

He shook off Mutai with just under three miles remaining to become the first man to run a marathon in less than two hours and three minutes.

"I feel good because I won a very tough race," said Kimetto.

"I felt good from the start and in the last few miles I felt I could do it and break the record."

Year	Time	Athlete	Course
1947	2:25.39	Suh Yun-bok (Korea)	Boston
1958	2:15.17	Sergei Popov (Soviet Union)	Stockholm
1969	2:08.33	Derek Clayton (Australia)	Antwerp
1988	2:06.50	Belayneh Dinsamo (Ethiopia)	Rotterdam
1999	2:05.42	Khalid Khannouchi (Morocco)	Chicago
2008	2:03.59	Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia)	Berlin
2014	2:02.57	Dennis Kimetto (Kenya)	Berlin

The previous world record had been set on the same course 12 months ago by Kimetto's compatriot Wilson Kipsang, who ran 2:03:23.

Kimetto, who won marathons in Tokyo and Boston last year, had promised to attack the record in Berlin if conditions allowed.

And in weather perfect for long-distance running, with temperatures around eight degrees centigrade, Kimetto kept his promise, staying in the lead group throughout and sprinting to victory and a new world's best time.

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Tear gas and clashes at HK protest

28 September 2014 Last updated at 12:48

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Police used pepper spray and tear gas on protesters trying to breach barricades

Hong Kong police have used tear gas to disperse pro-democracy protesters outside the main government building, after a week of escalating tensions.

Demonstrators trying to push through police barricades were earlier repelled by pepper spray.

Protesters want the Chinese government to scrap rules allowing it to vet Hong Kong's top leader in the 2017 poll.

Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung said the demonstration was "illegal" and elections would go ahead as planned.

In his first public statement since the protests began, Mr Leung also added that consultations would continue.

He said he and his government had "been listening attentively to members of [the] public". But, he said, "resolute" action would be taken against the "illegal demonstration".

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Chief Executive CY Leung said the government was "resolute in opposing the unlawful occupation" by protesters

Protesters blocked a busy road on Sunday, clashing with police as they tried to join a mass sit-in outside government headquarters.

Police used hand-held cans of pepper spray to drive back the protesters, who defended themselves with umbrellas and face masks.

As evening fell, the police lobbed tear gas canisters into the crowd, scattering some of the protesters.

Thousands joined a sit-in outside government headquarters this weekend, bolstering a week-old protest, which began as a strike by students calling for democratic reforms.

On Saturday night, the leader of Occupy Central, another protest movement, brought forward a planned action to merge it with the sit-in by the students outside the central government building.

A statement by the movement said Mr Leung had "failed to deliver on political reform".

The protesters had also called for further talks but it is not clear how far - if at all - Mr Leung's mention of further consultations will be seen as recognising their demands.

Faith Kwek, a 19-year-old student protester, said Mr Leung's "words are just words".

"I don't think myself or any of the protesters will give in until we see bigger progress in the form of action from him. We don't want our country to surrender to China."

Occupy Central had originally planned to paralyse the central business district next Wednesday, but organisers advanced the protest and changed the location in an apparent bid to harness momentum from student protests outside the government complex.

Student activists had stormed into a courtyard of the complex late on Friday and scuffled with police using pepper spray.

Police said they made more than 60 arrests including prominent student activist leader Joshua Wong.

The BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong says that thousands had arrived spontaneously to support the demonstration by students.

Those outside the government buildings plan to stay until they are forcibly removed, she says.

However, some students expressed unease that their protest was apparently being taken over by Occupy Central.

"A lot of students left as soon as Occupy made the announcement they were starting their occupation," said university graduate Vito Leung, 24.

"I think they were really forcing it. This was always a separate student movement with similar goals but different directions. I don't think it should be brought together like this."

Unrest began when the Chinese government announced that candidates for the 2017 chief executive election would first have to be approved by a nominating committee.

Activists have argued that this does not amount to true democracy.

At least 34 people have been injured since the protests began, including four police officers and 11 government staff and guards, authorities said.

Hong Kong democracy timeline

• 1984: Britain and China sign an agreement where Hong Kong is guaranteed "a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs" for 50 years following the handover in 1997.
• 2004: China rules that its approval must be sought for changes to Hong Kong's election laws.
• 2008: China says it will consider allowing direct elections by 2017.
• June-July 2014: Pro-democracy activists hold an unofficial referendum on political reform and a large rally. This is followed by protests by pro-Beijing activists.
• 31 August 2014: China says it will allow direct elections in 2017, but voters will only be able to choose from a list of pre-approved candidates. Activists stage protests.
• 22 September 2014: Student groups launch a week-long boycott of classes in protest.

Q&A: Hong Kong's democracy controversy

Are you in Hong Kong? Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Have you taken part in the protests? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.

Read the terms and conditions

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PM defends Iraq air strike strategy

28 September 2014 Last updated at 12:50

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David Cameron: ''Air strikes alone will not defeat IS''

David Cameron has defended efforts to combat Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq using air strikes, saying the UK's military approach is not "simplistic".

The prime minister told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that air strikes were "part of a comprehensive strategy".

Some commentators have suggested ground troops would also be necessary.

RAF jets have begun carrying out combat missions over Iraq after Parliament voted by 524 votes to 43 to take action against IS in Iraq.

The UK's military presence is part of a US-led coalition of about 40 countries, including Arab states, that has vowed to destroy IS, which controls large parts of north-eastern Syria and northern Iraq.

At least two British hostages are thought to be being held by the group - journalist John Cantlie and taxi driver Alan Henning, who had been delivering humanitarian aid to Syria.

A third Briton, aid worker David Haines, was killed earlier this month.

'Psychopathic terrorist killers'

The group's brutal tactics, which have also included mass killings and abductions of members of religious and ethnic minorities, triggered the international intervention.

Mr Cameron said: "When you face a situation with psychopathic terrorist killers in Syria and Iraq, who have already brutally beheaded one of our own citizens, who have already launched and tried to execute plots in our own country to kill and maim innocent people, you have got a choice.

"We can either stand back from all of this... and say 'this is too difficult, it's too complicated, let's let someone else try to keep our country safe'... or we take the correct decision to say 'let's have a full, comprehensive strategy'."

Respect MP George Galloway has warned that the nature of the IS positions mean many civilians may be killed.

And Lord Richards of Herstmonceux - a former head of the UK military who stepped down as chief of the defence staff last year - told the Sunday Times: "We have to view it as a conventional campaign, which means you have to have boots on the ground.

"This doesn't mean they have to be Western, but you do have to have an army to contain, defeat and destroy. You can't do it by air alone."

He also told the paper: "You can't possibly defeat Isis by only attacking them in Iraq.

"How the hell can you win the war when most of your enemy can end up in a country you can't get involved in?"

But, rejecting these criticisms, Mr Cameron said the UK's strategy was "not some simplistic 'drop a bomb from 40,000 feet and think you can solve a problem'" approach.

'Political transition'

He said: "We are not trying to defeat Isil from the air alone. We believe you do need troops on the ground - but they should be Iraqi troops, they should be Kurdish troops."

The prime minister said the use of air strikes was "one part of a comprehensive strategy to build an Iraq that has a democratic, inclusive government for everyone and, in time, Syria needs exactly the same thing".

He added: "We support what the Americans and the five Arab nations have done in Syria. We have a Syria strategy - which is to build up the Free Syrian Army, the Syrian National Coalition, to achieve a political transition in Syria."

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon warned that this was "not a 24-hour or 48-hour campaign".

He said it would take weeks and months to dislodge IS forces from the territory which they have seized.

Mr Fallon, who completely ruled out British boots on the ground, said IS could only be defeated in both Syria and Iraq.

He also welcomed what the US and some Gulf nations were achieving in Syria, but said there was no decision for British military intervention to move onto Syria.

Such a move, he said, would mean a further vote in the House of Commons.

Who are Islamic State (IS)?

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In 60 seconds: What does Islamic State want?

• Formed out of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) in 2013, IS first captured Raqqa in eastern Syria
• It captured broad swathes of Iraq in June, including Mosul, and declared a "caliphate" in areas it controls in Syria and Iraq
• Pursuing an extreme form of Sunni Islam, IS has persecuted non-Muslims such as Yazidis and Christians, as well as Shia Muslims, whom it regards as heretics
• Known for its brutal tactics, including beheadings of soldiers, Western journalists and aid workers
• The CIA says the group could have as many as 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria

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Chelsea Clinton gives birth to girl

27 September 2014 Last updated at 07:31

Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has given birth to a baby girl.

"Marc and I are full of love, awe and gratitude as we celebrate the birth of our daughter, Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky," Ms Clinton tweeted.

Ms Clinton, 34, married Marc Mezvinsky in 2010, and announced her pregnancy in April 2014.

The baby arrives as Hillary Clinton considers a presidential bid in 2016.

She is seen as the leading Democratic contender for nomination to succeed President Barack Obama, and has said that she will make a decision on whether to run from around the beginning of 2015.

Bill Clinton served as the 42nd US president, from January 1993 to January 2001.

The former first daughter has often been tipped to follow her parents into politics.

Chelsea Clinton, educated at Stanford, Columbia and Oxford Universities, runs the Clinton Foundation with her parents. Her husband Marc Mezvinsky is an investment banker.

Ms Clinton stepped down from a $600,000 (£370,000) a year position as NBC special correspondent in August to concentrate on her pregnancy, motherhood and philanthropic work.

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W Africa Ebola deaths 'pass 3,000'

26 September 2014 Last updated at 22:42

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa has passed 3,000, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

The latest figures indicate that more than 6,500 people are believed to have been infected in the region.

Liberia is the worst affected country, having recorded around 1,830 deaths linked to the latest outbreak.

The outbreak is the world's most deadly - US President Barack Obama has called it a "threat to global security".

Some studies have warned that the numbers of infected could rise to more than 20,000 by early November.

The report said two new areas, in Guinea and Liberia, have recorded their first confirmed cases of Ebola in the last seven days.

It also highlights the risk of infection for health workers trying to stem the outbreak.

It says 375 workers are known to have been infected, and that 211 have so far died from the virus.

The deaths and sickness have made it even more difficult for the already weak healthcare systems in the affected countries to cope with the outbreak.

There is a severe shortage of hospital beds, especially in Liberia.

The US is sending some 3,000 troops to help Liberia tackle the disease, and set up emergency medical facilities.

Ebola virus disease (EVD)

• Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage
• Spread by body fluids, such as blood and saliva
• Fatality rate can reach 90% - but current outbreak has mortality rate of about 70%
• Incubation period is two to 21 days
• There is no proven vaccine or cure
• Supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting can help recovery
• Fruit bats, a delicacy for some West Africans, are considered to be virus's natural host

Ebola virus: Busting the myths

Sierra Leone last weekend enforced a three-day curfew in an attempt to quell the outbreak in the country.

During the curfew more than a million households were surveyed and 130 new cases discovered, the authorities say.

On Wednesday, Sierra Leone extended the quarantine area to three new districts, meaning more than a third of the country's six million people cannot move freely.

Some 600 people have died in Sierra Leone and a similar number in Guinea, where the outbreak was first confirmed in March.

Nigeria and Senegal, two other West Africa countries that have also been affected by the outbreak, have not recorded any new cases or deaths in the last few weeks, the latest WHO report says.

At the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, US President Obama called for more urgent action in the response to the outbreak.

"There is still a significant gap between where we are and where we need to be," he said.

A new BBC Ebola programme with the latest news about the outbreak is broadcast at 19.50 GMT each weekday on the BBC World Service.

Have you been affected by the Ebola outbreak? You can send us your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

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'Time running out' for Iran deal

27 September 2014 Last updated at 05:14

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Hassan Rouhani: "Under no conditions can sanctions be thought of as the right path"

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has warned that time is running out for negotiating a permanent agreement on his country's nuclear programme.

He said that talks this week between Iran and six world powers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York had made very slow progress.

A deadline for a permanent deal has been set for 24 November.

However, Mr Rouhani said he believed that relations between Iran and the US did not have to remain hostile forever.

The US, EU and other powers suspect Iran of secretly seeking to develop nuclear weapons, a claim it denies.

Talks are focusing on the lifting of Western sanctions on Iran in exchange for a scaling-back of Iran's uranium enrichment programme.

An interim deal struck in Geneva late last year froze or capped key elements of Iran's nuclear programme in return for limited relief from sanctions.

"There have been steps forward, but they haven't been significant," Mr Rouhani told a news conference.

He said that Iran had shown the necessary flexibility and that it now was up to the six powers - the US, UK, China, France, Russia and Germany - to advance the talks.

"Time is short," he said.

Sanctions 'melted away'

Analysts say the talks remain stuck over uranium enrichment. Iran says it needs a robust enrichment programme to make reactor fuel and for other peaceful purposes but the US and others fear it could also be used to make a nuclear weapon.

President Rouhani said that Iran would never accept any agreement that required it to stop enriching uranium, and that sanctions must "be melted away".

"Iran will never surrender its legal right to the pursuit of civil peaceful nuclear activity," he said.

On a more positive note, he added: "It is not written in stone that the relationship between Iran and the US must be hostile forever.

"One day this will change."

Since the election of President Rouhani last year, Iran has promised to further co-operate with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

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Tories plan under-40s homes discount

27 September 2014 Last updated at 12:24

First-time buyers in England under the age of 40 could buy a house at 20% below the market rate if the Conservatives are re-elected, David Cameron has pledged.

The Conservative leader said a future government led by him would build 100,000 new homes for such people.

They would be built on brownfield land already identified for development and exempt from some taxes, he said.

He was speaking as the party prepares for its annual conference this weekend.

Conservative politicians and activists will gather in Birmingham from Sunday for what is the final conference before next May's general election.

No flipping

Unveiling the pledge - an extension of the Help to Buy mortgage scheme - Mr Cameron said the Conservatives wanted more young people to "achieve the dream" of owning their own home.

"I want young people who work hard, who do the right thing, to be able to buy a home of their own. So these starter homes will be sold at 20% less than the market value.

"They can't be bought by foreigners, they can't be bought by buy-to-let landlords, they can't be flipped round in a quick sale. They can only be bought by hard working people under the age of 40."

The starter homes plan would apply only to England, whereas Help to Buy is UK-wide.

That scheme entails the government offering a 20% equity loan to buyers of new-build properties.

Mixed communities

Shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds said Mr Cameron had presided over the lowest level of house building in peacetime since the 1920s.

"After four and a half years he now tells us that he is going to deliver for first-time buyers but under his government a record one in four young people are living at home with their parents and young people across the country are priced out of home ownership.

"Labour will make the fundamental changes to the market which are urgently needed and will double the number of first-time buyers in the next 10 years."

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Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing Grainia Long explains her concerns about David Cameron's housing pledge

Campbell Robb, of homelessness charity Shelter, welcomed the pledge but said it was "absolutely vital" that the homes built were "genuinely affordable for young couples and families on ordinary incomes".

"There's a real concern that removing the requirement on developers to build affordable housing means this policy may not help those facing the greatest struggle to get a home of their own," he said.

Grainia Long, of the Chartered Institute of Housing, said she welcomed "the focus on supply and affordability" but still had "some serious concerns".

She said: "This smacks of building for one group of people at the expense of another.

"Social housing is critical if we are going to solve the housing crisis - there are always going to be people who can't afford to buy and we must provide decent, affordable homes for them too.

"Equally, we'd like to see more investment in shared ownership to help people on lower incomes. If all the focus is on home ownership, we are never going to build mixed communities."

'Raft of taxes'

Under the new proposals, the homes would be built on brownfield land which was no longer needed for industrial or commercial use.

Savings from using such land would be passed on to the buyers, the Conservatives said.

Public sector land would also be used to deliver the pledge.

The homes would be exempt "from a raft of taxes", Mr Cameron said, such as the community infrastructure levy and a requirement to build social housing as part of any development.

Some building regulations - including the zero carbon homes standard - would also not apply to the new units.

The zero carbon homes standard, which applies from 2016, aims to improve energy efficiency.

It requires house builders to decrease all carbon emissions from energy arising from fixed heating and lighting, hot water and other fixed building services - such as ventilation - in new homes.

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Strikes 'target IS on Syria border'

27 September 2014 Last updated at 13:09

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Paul Wood's exclusive report from Kobane: ''The battle is far from over''

Islamic State fighters besieging the Syrian town of Kobane on the Turkish border have been targeted by air strikes, reports from the area say.

Warplanes circled through Friday night and explosions were heard in the early hours, the BBC's Paul Wood says.

Kurdish fighters have been defending the town from an advance by Islamic State militants.

There has been no word from the US-led coalition on whether it carried out air strikes in the area.

Kobane has become a flashpoint over the past week, as an estimated 140,000 civilians have fled the town and surrounding area.

Those displaced Kurds have crossed the nearby border with Turkey.

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Mark Lowen joined villagers on the Turkey-Syria border watching the fight against IS on Friday

The situation has been tense, with Turkish troops trying to prevent Turkish and Syrian Kurds crossing the border to help defend the town.

Overnight, the head of the US armed forces said air strikes in Syria were damaging the jihadist group, but said air power alone was not enough to defeat the militants.

A UK-based activist group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said air strikes continued on Saturday in Syria, with IS targets in the central province of Homs hit for the first time.

Strikes were also reported in the town of Minbej, east of Aleppo, for the first time, as well as new strikes on the city of Raqqa, which serves as IS headquarters, the activist group said.

The targets were far away from positions held by Syrian government forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, the Observatory's director told the AFP news agency.

At the scene: Paul Wood, Kobane

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The BBC's Paul Wood is one of the first western journalists to gain access to Kobane

The sound of warplanes circling overhead is nearly constant. And in the early hours of the morning people heard what they said were multiple air strikes against Islamic State positions.

Not before time, say the Kurdish forces defending this place. They are in the fight of their lives, with the jihadis now just a 10-minute drive from the town, and threatening to push further.

At the last Kurdish position outside Kobane last night bullets whined overhead and shells fell either side of the main road to the town.

The Kurds are grateful for the air strikes, but the battle for Kobane is far from over.

Coalition growing

On Friday the UK became the latest nation to join the US-led coalition against IS, which controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq after rapid advances in the summer.

MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of air strikes in Iraq, but not in Syria.

Two of six RAF Tornados based in Cyprus took off on Saturday morning, heading for Iraq.

Their mission was unconfirmed but a BBC correspondent said they were loaded with laser-guided bombs and missiles and followed by an RAF refuelling tanker.

The UK also has a Rivet Joint spy plane in the region.

UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said "intensified surveillance" would identify "convoys" of IS fighters.

Speaking to BBC's Newsnight, he warned the campaign would be "long and drawn out".

French fighter jets are already taking part in strikes in Iraq with Belgium and the Netherlands each pledging six F-16s planes and Denmark deploying seven.

About 40 countries, including several from the Middle East, have joined the US-led coalition against IS.

European countries have so far only agreed to strike targets in Iraq where the government has asked for help.

But US aircraft have also attacked IS targets in eastern Syria, including oil installations.

Several US Arab allies - Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE - have "participated in or supported" the strikes.

Who are Islamic State (IS)?

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In 60 seconds: What does Islamic State want?

• Formed out of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) in 2013, IS first captured Raqqa in eastern Syria
• It captured broad swathes of Iraq in June, including Mosul, and declared a "caliphate" in areas it controls in Syria and Iraq
• Pursuing an extreme form of Sunni Islam, IS has persecuted non-Muslims such as Yazidis and Christians, as well as Shia Muslims, whom it regards as heretics
• Known for its brutal tactics, including beheadings of soldiers, Western journalists and aid workers
• The CIA says the group could have as many as 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria

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Catalonia leader decrees referendum

27 September 2014 Last updated at 13:10

The president of the Spanish region of Catalonia has signed a decree calling for a referendum on independence.

Artur Mas wants Catalonia to hold a Scottish-style vote on 9 November, but does not have the backing of the central government in Madrid.

Spain quickly denounced the move, calling the plan unconstitutional.

Catalonia, which includes Barcelona, is one of Spain's richest and most highly industrialised regions, and also one of the most independent-minded.

On 19 September Catalonian lawmakers voted by a margin of 106 to 28 in favour of authorising the referendum, known locally as a "consultation".

Mr Rajoy and the Spanish government believe any vote would be illegal.

Two hours after Mr Mas signed the decree, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz made Madrid's position clear: "This referendum will not be held because it is unconstitutional," she said.

The prime minister is expected to take action at a special cabinet meeting early next week, and is likely to take the dispute to the country's Constitutional Court.

However, Mr Mas says he can use local laws to hold a vote in a matter of weeks.

The decree was signed at a short ceremony and will serve as a message of intent to Spain's central government, says the BBC's Tom Burridge in Madrid.

The question now will be on how far the Spanish government is prepared to go in order to stop a referendum, our correspondent adds.

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The Spanish government has said a referendum on Catalan independence would be unconstitutional, despite protests

Mr Mas has previously insisted that the pro-independence movement would prevail, even if it faces stiff opposition.

"If they think in Madrid that by using legal frameworks they can stop the will of the Catalan people, they are wrong," he said in the wake of the Scottish "No" vote.

Until recently, few Catalans had wanted full independence, but Spain's painful economic crisis has seen a surge in support for separation, correspondents say.

There is resentment over the proportion of Catalan taxes used to support poorer regions.

The pro-independence movement in Catalonia believes that the region can go ahead with the independence vote after the decree is signed.

Earlier this month hundreds of thousands of Catalans formed a "V" for "vote" along two of Barcelona's main roads calling for their right to vote.

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RAF jets sent on Iraqi mission

27 September 2014 Last updated at 13:17

Two RAF armed jets are on their first mission over Iraq since Parliament authorised air strikes targeting Islamic State (IS) militants.

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Tornado jets took off from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

The planes were loaded with laser-guided bombs and missiles. It is not known if they were carrying out strike missions or when they will return.

The action comes after Parliament voted by 524 votes to 43 to take action.

BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said RAF Tornados have been flying reconnaissance missions over Iraq for the past six weeks, but these are the first flights since they have been authorised to launch air strikes.

He said it was possible the planes would return without having used their weapons, but that would be confirmed only when they return later.

The Ministry of Defence said: "We can confirm that, following parliamentary approval given yesterday, RAF Tornados continue to fly over Iraq and are now ready to be used in an attack role as and when appropriate targets are identified.

"For operational security reasons we will not be providing a running commentary on movements; we will provide an update on activity when it is appropriate to do so."

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Energy firms 'too slow' on complaints

26 September 2014 Last updated at 00:28

Customers with complaints about their gas or electricity service typically have to contact their supplier six times before their issue is resolved.

Regulator Ofgem said this was too many and has written to energy company bosses telling them they must improve.

The details come from a report for Ofgem which found that 57% of domestic customers who had complained were not satisfied with the response.

Companies must be speedier, communicate better and be more proactive, it said.

Ofgem's chief executive Dermot Nolan said the results of its research were "frankly awful".

He has written to the companies giving them a three-month deadline to carry out an independent audit of their complaint handling process.

Satisfaction with Npower and Scottish Power was particularly low, the regulator said.

'Welcome feedback'

Scottish Power blamed the installation of a new IT system. It said the transition had been "challenging" and that it had recruited more than 250 extra staff to deal with the problems.

"We are confident that customers will now start to see real long-term service improvements coming through. We now have the longest call centre opening hours in the industry and have also been expanding our online services," the company said in a statement.

Npower said it "welcomed the feedback", adding that it has made progress since February, when the research was carried out.

Earlier this month, Ofgem lifted a threat to ban Npower making telephone sales after the company improved its customer service and cut the number of bills being sent out late.

Ofgem said customers of small suppliers were as critical, and on some aspects more so, of the way their complaint was handled compared with customers of the six largest suppliers.

Energy UK, which represents the industry, said: "Handling complaints well is a must. Suppliers are committed to improving and a programme of change is under way."

The Ofgem warning comes the day after the Financial Conduct Authority told banks that more work needed to be done to reduce customer complaints in that sector.

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Counter-terror police arrest two men

26 September 2014 Last updated at 09:50

Police have arrested two more men on the M6 near Rugby in Warwickshire as part of an investigation into Islamist-related terrorism.

A 33-year-old and a 42-year-old are being held at a police station in London following their arrest in the early hours of Friday morning.

Nine others, including radical Islamic preacher Anjem Choudary, are in custody after being arrested on Thursday.

Searches are continuing at 18 addresses in London and one in Stoke.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said the 33-year-old was arrested on suspicion of being a member of, and supporting, a proscribed organisation contrary to the Terrorism Act, and encouraging terrorism.

The 42-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

The Met said the arrests were part of an ongoing inquiry into Islamist-related terrorism and not in response to any immediate threat to the public.

Police said a number of residential, business and community premises are being searched.

The arrests were carried out by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command (SO15).

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UKIP to promise income tax cuts

26 September 2014 Last updated at 09:52

The UK Independence Party has said it would cut income tax from 40p to 35p for people earning up to £55,000.

At its party conference, which has begun, UKIP will also promise to raise to £13,500 the amount people can earn before paying any income tax.

In a plan to win the "blue-collar vote", Nigel Farage's party will pledge to fund the changes by leaving the EU and cutting UK foreign aid by 85%.

Mr Farage said he expected UKIP to have "real influence" after the election.

He told the BBC it was important that people thinking of voting for UKIP knew what his party would be "fighting for" in the event of a hung Parliament next May.

Mr Farage will address an estimated 2,000 activists at the conference at Doncaster Racecourse - which is near Labour leader Ed Miliband's constituency - at 15:00 BST.

As well as tax, Mr Farage is expected to make a direct appeal to Labour voters, claiming the opposition has failed to stand up for the people it was founded to represent.

Tax cuts

At present the tax-free "personal allowance" applies for income up to £10,000, then a "basic rate" of 20% is paid on earnings up to £41,865.

The 40p rate is payable on income from £41,866 to £150,000, with the "additional rate" of 45% paid on anything over £150,000.

Under UKIP's plans, everyone earning between about £44,000 and £55,000 would pay income tax at 35p. Those earning more will pay 40p, with the additional rate scrapped.

Analysis

by Robin Brant, BBC political correspondent

The spin is "this conference will be blue-collar not blokes in blazers".

A look around the venue at the early arrivers didn't quite live up to that, but attacking Labour and trying to woo voters in its traditional heartland is the major theme of this gathering.

It's no coincidence Nigel Farage has come to Doncaster Racecourse, right next door to Ed Miliband's constituency, a few months after UKIP secured that Euro election win.

It sees a gap in the market where a tough economy combined with a wave of immigration from Europe is testing loyalties.

Rumours of another high-profile defection persist; could it be Labour this time? I'm told UKIP's millionaire donor Paul Sykes is "very satisfied" and likely to give again.

Those at the top sense a breakthrough in Clacton too, where they are throwing everything at the by-election effort. A senior party figure told me they hope to add up to another eight MPs come the general election. The "real horizon" though, they added, "is 2020".

Mr Farage said the tax changes would cost £12bn but it could be paid for by the UK leaving the EU, cutting back the foreign aid budget and not going ahead with the HS2 rail link.

"It is a lot of money, I agree," he said. "But there are a range of measures there that would more than cover these tax cuts. We are not promising the earth because it [the policy] is costed.

"We have argued for many years that people on low salaries shouldn't be paying tax because it is a huge disincentive to come off benefits and because their living standards are going down each year because of the increase in prices.

"By pushing for this hard, I would not be surprised if one or more of these parties adopted this line and we helped to shift the agenda."

However, the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank has suggested the entire package of tax changes could cost up to £19bn.

Parliament recall

Mr Farage has claimed it is not inconceivable that the party could hold the balance of power in the event of an inconclusive election result.

Although it is not represented at Westminster at the moment, UKIP is hoping to get its first MP next month in the Clacton by-election on 9 October.

The Clacton vote was triggered by the defection to UKIP of Conservative MP Douglas Carswell, who resigned his seat to stand for re-election.

Mr Carswell will speak at the conference later, as will John Bickley, who will run for UKIP in the Heywood and Middleton by-election to be held on the same day.

Mr Farage has said the recall of Parliament on Friday to discuss air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq was scheduled to upstage the start of UKIP's two-day conference. He said Prime Minister David Cameron would "do anything he can to try to deflect attention away from UKIP".

Philip Collins, chair of centre-left think tank Demos, said UKIP's stance was "absolutely bizarre".

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Missing Alice police search park

26 September 2014 Last updated at 12:14

Police investigating the disappearance of Alice Gross have searched a park in west London near the canal towpath where she was last seen.

The 14-year-old has been missing since 28 August, when she was filmed on CCTV walking along the Grand Union Canal.

The Met said it searched Elthorne Park, but had "determined this area is not of relevance to the investigation".

Detectives continue to search for convicted murderer Arnis Zalkalns, named as the main suspect in the case.

Earlier, the BBC's Richard Main at Elthorne Park said contractors with strimmers and police divers had attended the park.

Mr Zalkalns, 41, was filmed cycling along the canal 15 minutes after Alice was seen and went missing from his Ealing home on 3 September.

Analysis by Richard Main, BBC London

Elthorne Park is in a few dozen acres of scrubland and football pitches between Hanwell and the River Brent.

The last sighting of Alice was on Trumpers Way which runs parallel to one side of the park and it is here that contractors have been brought in by police to cut back hedgerows and strip out undergrowth.

In the park itself, a series of police cordons are keeping reporters away from a large area of overgrown scrubland, but the wait is occasionally broken by forensics officers in pale blue coveralls travelling back and forth to their vans.

In the distance, a white tent has been set up on one of the tracks down to the river.

The Latvian was convicted of his wife's murder in 1998 and served seven years in jail before moving to the UK in 2007.

On Thursday police staged a reconstruction and released an interactive map showing Alice's last known movements.

Alice's parents urged anyone with information to "please, please help us".

In a statement they said they were "desperately concerned" for her welfare and "every morning brings new agony".

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A police cadet shows Alice's walk, which police described as "distinctive"

Competitors taking part in the Ealing Half Marathon on Sunday have been told they can wear yellow ribbons in support of the search for Alice.

Det Supt Carl Mehta said: "Alice was last seen on CCTV walking along the canal towpath, heading under Trumpers Way bridge towards Hanwell.

"Since 16:26 BST on that Thursday 28 August she has not been seen. Did you see Alice that afternoon? Have you seen her since? We need your help to find her."

He said Alice's walk was "particularly distinctive" and was similar to that of a power walker - moving her arms up and down as she walked.

The hunt for Alice, from Hanwell, west London, is the largest Met Police search operation since the 7/7 terrorist bombings in 2005, with 600 officers from eight forces involved.

Police have also been searching a stretch of the River Brent where her rucksack was found.

Detectives have been in the Latvian capital Riga as part of the investigation, although Scotland Yard said there was no evidence to suggest Mr Zalkalns was there. The officers are due to return later on Friday.

The force stressed Mr Zalkalns was one of many lines of inquiry.

The BBC's correspondent in Latvia, Damien McGuinness said there was not enough evidence to issue a European Arrest Warrant. However, legal experts believe Latvian police would detain Mr Zalkalns because there is reasonable suspicion a crime has been committed.

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"Every day without her causes us new heartache, new anguish," the parents of missing teenager Alice Gross speak about their daughter

A reward of up to £20,000 is being offered for anyone who has information that leads detectives to find Alice.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the incident room on 0208 358 0100 or 101.

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Home Office takes charge of passports

26 September 2014 Last updated at 12:34

The UK's Passport Office is to be brought under Home Office control and made accountable to ministers, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced.

The decision follows a summer which saw thousands of holidaymakers affected by a backlog in applications, which peaked at 537,663 in late June.

The changes mean the Passport Office's chief executive Paul Pugh will be replaced.

He will remain until a successor - working as director general - is named.

Mrs May had been forced to introduce a number of emergency measures to tackle the backlog, which is now around 80,000.

But earlier this month, the Home Affairs Committee said passport applicants who paid more than £30 extra for a "fast-track" service had been "exploited" and should receive a refund.

Announcing the changes, Mrs May said: "As the events of the summer showed, it is essential that HMPO is run as efficiently as possible and is as accountable as possible."

The move to the Home Office will take effect from 1 October.

'No more privatisation'

Speaking to MPs earlier this year, Mr Pugh denied union claims that the closure of 22 passport centres and the loss of 550 jobs - as well as the closure of the overseas units - had caused the crisis.

The PCS union, which represents civil servants, described the news as welcome "if it means the jobs we've called for, equal pay for staff and no more privatisation".

Earlier this month, the Home Affairs Committee said the Passport Office should lose its agency status and be brought under direct ministerial control following an "appalling series of failures".

The Home Office also said it is reviewing the emergency measures introduced at the height of the crisis:

• UK citizens living overseas can continue to apply for a 12-month one-year extension - but this will be kept under review.
• Domestic applicants who need to travel within the next seven days and whose application has been delayed through no fault of their own will be upgraded to the fast-track process for free - again this will be kept under review.
• However, the contingency that allowed those applying for passports overseas on behalf of their children to claim emergency travel documents will be ended and the process will return to normal, with this option available only on urgent and compassionate grounds.

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IS 'threat' to Britain - Cameron

26 September 2014 Last updated at 12:55

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LIVE: House of Commons debate

Islamic State (IS) is a threat to the "streets of Britain" and the UK has a "duty" to confront it, David Cameron has said as MPs debate air strikes.

The prime minister said it was in the UK's national interest to join the fight against IS, which he warned would "take years not months".

Joining air strikes against IS in Iraq would be "clearly lawful", he insisted.

Parliament is due to vote on UK involvement in US-led attacks on IS positions in Iraq at about 17:00 BST.

Downing Street has said a small number of British troops could be sent to Iraq within hours if the Commons backs British military action, but not in a combat role.

The prime minister's official spokesman said they would be used to guide air strikes, in a humanitarian role and, possibly, to train Iraqi and Kurdish peshmerga forces, although this may take place in neighbouring countries.

'Consensus'

The government says it would not extend military action in Syria without a Commons vote unless there is an urgent humanitarian need to do so. Downing Street has pointed out that Mr Cameron has pursued a "very deliberate and measured approach" and had been determined "to keep consensus".

The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour all back action in Iraq, which has been requested by the Iraqi government, with Labour leader Ed Miliband insisting IS "cannot and should not be negotiated with".

The government is expected to win the vote comfortably although some MPs expressed concerns after Mr Cameron said he did not rule out similar action in Syria in the future.

In other developments:

IS has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria in recent months. The group, also known as Isis or Isil, has used tactics that have included beheadings of soldiers, Western journalists and aid workers.

Making the case for British action, Mr Cameron said the killing of a British hostage illustrated that the challenge was not "on the far side of the world" and the "brutal, terrorist organisation" was a "clear and proven" threat to UK lives.

"This is not the stuff of fantasy. It is happening in front of us and we need to face up to it," he said.

'Not fantasy'

Citing attacks by IS on targets in Europe, and the growing number of foiled terror plots, he said the organisation "already declared war on us and there was no walk on-by option".

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David Cameron: Mission against IS in Iraq will take "not just months but years"

Stressing that the UK had "unique assets" to contribute to the military offensive, he added: "It is our duty to take part. It is about protecting people on the streets of Britain."

Addressing concerns from MPs that the UK could be dragged into a long war, Mr Cameron said the use of combat troops would be "wrong" and conceded air strikes would not "roll back" IS alone but must be part of "comprehensive" political and humanitarian plan.

Referring to previous external interventions in Iraq, he added: "This is not 2003 but we should not use past mistakes as an excuse for inaction or indifference."

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Failure to act in Iraq will make the situation even worse than the already "catastrophic consequences" of IS's advance there, Ed Miliband warned

Backing Mr Cameron on Iraq, Labour leader Ed Miliband said IS was a "murderous" organisation intent of "more killing" although he urged the endorsement of the United Nations for military intervention.

"There is no graver decision for our Parliament and our country. But protecting our national interest, security and the values for which we stand is why I will be supporting the motion this afternoon."

On Thursday, about 250 people protested outside the gates of Downing Street against the possibility of military action in Iraq.

Some MPs also questioned the objectives behind the military action.

Conservative backbencher Edward Leigh said airstrikes could be seen as "gesture politics", Labour's Denis Skinner warned of "mission creep" while Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said "killing extremists does not kill their ideas".

The government does not have to seek the approval of MPs to commence military action, but it has become customary to do so since this first happened over the Iraq war in 2003.

Analysis

by Jonathan Beale, defence correspondent

Six RAF Tornados in Cyprus have been ready to carry out air strikes for weeks. Their laser-guided bombs and missiles will be loaded and armed soon after Parliament gives the green light.

The Tornados have already been flying reconnaissance missions over Iraq and will have identified potential targets. But some of the obvious ones, like command and control centres, will have already been hit by US war planes which have been launching strikes for the past month.

The focus of their attacks have now switched to Syria itself. So the RAF will also be looking for targets of opportunity - such as IS fighters and vehicles on the move.

The expected intervention of the UK will not be a game-changer. During military intervention against Libya in 2011, the RAF had three times as many war planes involved. But the fight against IS will be more like a marathon than a sprint.

And the longer it goes on, IS will adapt its tactics, and airstrikes will inevitably become less potent.

Black market

The government's motion specifically rules out any attacks on IS in Syria, following the Commons' rejection of joining in air strikes in that country last year.

Downing Street said UK forces could join the bombing of targets in Iraq after the Iraqi minister of foreign affairs wrote to the United Nations seeking international assistance.

The US began a series of air strikes in Iraq last month, and on Monday it began attacks on targets in Syria.

Jets from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have joined US forces in the attacks, and the US says more than 40 countries have offered to join the anti-IS coalition.

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Footage released by the Pentagon shows a strike on the Jeribe refinery in eastern Syria

IS has threatened to kill British hostage Alan Henning, whose wife pleaded for his release on Tuesday.

The threat was made in a video showing the beheading of British aid worker David Haines earlier this month. Also on Tuesday, IS released a second video showing UK journalist John Cantlie.

Meanwhile, in the US, FBI director James Corney says the bureau has identified the man referred to in the British press as "Jihadi John".

BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said UK security services were frustrated at the FBI comments.

He said UK authorities "may well" have known the suspect's identity for weeks, but they wanted to gather as much intelligence as possible without "tipping their hand as to what they knew".

The suspected militant - whom the FBI is not naming at present - is thought to have appeared in IS beheading videos.

Speaking at the UN in New York on Wednesday evening, Mr Cameron said countries must stop their citizens travelling to join jihadist groups.

These apparently included Ibrahim Kamara, 19, from Brighton, whose mother Khadijah told the BBC her son had been killed in a US air strike in Syria on Monday.

She said her son, who had apparently joined al-Qaeda affiliate group Jabhat al-Nusra, had been "brainwashed".

Are you in Iraq or Syria? What is your reaction to this vote? Email your views to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

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DJ Travis given suspended sentence

26 September 2014 Last updated at 12:49

Former BBC Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis has been given a suspended sentence of three months for indecently assaulting a woman in 1995.

The 69-year-old had been found guilty of attacking a researcher who was working on TV's Mrs Merton Show.

Judge Anthony Leonard told Travis: "It was an intentional and unpleasant sexual assault."

Travis, of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, had been cleared of a 1990 indecent assault and a 2008 sexual assault.

He was being retried for these latter two charges after jurors could not reach a verdict on them at a trial earlier this year, during which he was cleared of 12 indecent assault charges.

Following sentencing, Travis said he was "mortified" and "really disappointed" over his conviction.

'Painful' process

Travis, a former Top Of The Pops presenter, cornered the woman in the corridor of a BBC television studio where she was smoking and commented on her "poor little lungs" before squeezing her breasts for 10 to 15 seconds.

Continue reading the main story

You took advantage of a young woman in a vulnerable position"

End Quote Judge Anthony Leonard

In a victim impact statement, which was read out at London's Southwark Crown Court ahead of his sentencing, the victim said: "I was a naive and trusting 22-year-old when I was subjected to an unprovoked and terrifying physical assault at my place of work.

"I was too paralysed with fear to confront my assailant."

The woman said she felt "lucky" that she was "physically resilient" enough to get on with her life "thanks largely to my colleagues".

She said the process of remembering the incident still took her back to "feeling like a scared, vulnerable young woman".

"Being called a liar and fantasist and being forced to recall the evidence in court has been painful," she said.

The woman, who chose to retain her anonymity, told the court that she would not claim compensation "now or in the future".

"I simply wanted to tell the truth," she said.

'Vulnerable' victim

Judge Leonard - who suspended Travis's sentence for two years - said: "It was an intentional and unpleasant sexual assault.

"You took advantage of a young woman in a vulnerable position whose job it was to look after you that day."

However, the judge said the prosecution's case that Travis had "a propensity to commit indecent assaults" had "not been made out".

The former Top of the Pops presenter and Radio 1 DJ said after leaving court that the case should never have been brought against him.

"With millions of pounds of taxpayers money, thousands of hours of police resources, the judge accepted today that the Crown had failed to prove their case against me - namely that I was a sexual predator," he said.

On Tuesday, the jury at Southwark Crown Court found Travis not guilty of the 1990 indecent assault and could not reach a verdict over the sexual assault charge.

Travis, who was tried under his real name David Griffin, appeared on BBC Radio 1 for more than 25 years until 1993 and was a regular host of Top of the Pops.

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