26/02/2011
Kate Adie hears from correspondents around the world about the crisis in Libya with dispatches from Libya, the United Nations and Washington in the United States.
A journalist - who can't be named - describes life in Tripoli with its empty streets, boarded up shops and burnt out buildings. Communications inside the city are being closely monitored and state security personnel are out in force. There are reports of shootings and people being killed. She also hears from doctors who claim the army is preventing them from treating casualties.
Barbara Plett describes the strange goings on at the United Nations with Libya's diplomats divided over support for Colonel Gaddafi's regime. She witnesses the deputy ambassador of the Libyan Mission denounce the country's leader for waging genocide followed by the actual ambassador who tells correspondents that he is 'with Gaddafi' who is an old friend before changing his mind and denouncing him.
Mark Mardell witnesses the conflicting emotions in Washington over the upheaval in the Middle East and asks why it seems that the United States so often backs the bad guys? Americans glory in the fact that their country was born out of a revolution against tyranny but their foreign policy has been largely dictated by selfish strategic interest.
Jonty Bloom explores the linguistic divide behind the political impasse in Belgium. The Belgian government collapsed last year and there has still been no agreement on a new administration eight months on. The reasons can be found in the very distinct Flemish and French-speaking communities - as well as the 70 thousand German speakers - who have been able to strike a deal.
And Mark Lowen reports on the end of the 大象传媒's Serbian Service after more than seventy years of broadcasting. The World Service programmes in Albanian, Serbian, Macedonian, in Portugese for Africa and in English for the Caribbean are all coming to an end.
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Chapters
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Introduction
Duration: 00:17
'Weird' atmosphere in Tripoli
A journalist (who cannot be named for reasons of safety) returned recently to the Libyan capital to find deserted streets and a feeling of fear.
Duration: 04:42
Split loyalties
Barbara Plett at the United Nations headquarters in New York explains how Libyan diplomats there have been divided over their loyalty to Colonel Gaddafi.
Duration: 05:10
USA 'conflicted'
Mark Mardell finds American attitudes to rebellion around the world can sometimes be at odds with looking after the USA's own strategic interests.
Duration: 06:00
A nation divided by two languages
In Belgium, Jonty Bloom reports on the linguistic divide that is preventing Belgian politicians from forming a government.
Duration: 05:22
Do vidjenja, 大象传媒!
Mark Lowen in Belgrade looks back on the impact and legacy of the 大象传媒's Serbian Service which is closing after more than 70 years of broadcasting.
Duration: 06:10
Broadcast
- Sat 26 Feb 2011 11:30大象传媒 Radio 4 FM