Clegg criticises Cameron over AV

24 April 2011 Last updated at 06:33 GMT Nick Clegg said he hoped the No campaign was the death-rattle of a right-wing elite Nick Clegg has launched a harsh attack on David Cameron over his opposition to changing the voting system.

In an interview with the Independent on Sunday, he accused the prime minister of "defending the indefensible".

The deputy prime minister described those pressing for a "No" vote in the referendum on the alternative vote system as a "right-wing clique".

Meanwhile, former Tory leader Lord Howard has said the Yes campaign is getting "desperate".

'Lashing out'

In his most outspoken language yet, Mr Clegg said the No campaign was built on "lies, misinformation and deceit".

"This nasty No campaign, I hope, will prove to be the death rattle of a right-wing elite, a right-wing clique who want to keep things the way they are. That's why they are lashing out."

Asked if he was referring to the prime minister, Mr Clegg responded: "Look, I include all those, and of course it includes the Conservative Party, who like this nice little racket: they get a job for life and they waft into power and they don't even need to bother try to get a majority of people on side."

Mr Clegg contrasted the supporters of AV - including the leaders of the Labour Party, Green Party, Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru and UK Independence Party - with its opponents.

'Reactionary interests'

He said: "The other side, you'd have David Cameron, [British National Party leader] Nick Griffin and whoever leads the Communist Party.

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At the moment MPs are elected by the first-past-the-post system, where the candidate getting the most votes in a constituency is elected.

On 5 May all registered UK voters will be able to vote Yes or No on whether to change the way MPs are elected to the Alternative Vote system.

Under the Alternative Vote system, voters rank candidates in their constituency in order of preference.

Anyone getting more than 50% of first-preference votes is elected.

If no-one gets 50% of votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their backers' second choices allocated to those remaining.

This process continues until one candidate has at least 50% of all votes in that round.

"Now that tells you volumes about the very reactionary interests that are defending the indefensible".

Mr Clegg also referred to Mr Cameron's sharing of a campaign platform with Labour former home secretary Lord Reid.

"When Conservatives team up with a man as reactionary and backward-looking as John Reid, you know that the old establishment, the old elite, are just thrashing around," he said.

Disputed claims

A source close to Mr Clegg said he was not accusing Mr Cameron himself of lying.

But Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has written to George Osborne accusing him of untruths.

Mr Huhne called on the chancellor to withdraw claims that a change to the voting system would make elections more expensive, which he described as a "completely unfounded charge".

"I explicitly warned you the manner of the AV campaign would be as important as the result in the effects on the coalition. Robust debate is normal in British politics. Persistent resort to falsehoods is not," his letter to the chancellor states.

Lord Howard said the Liberal Democrats, arguing for a new system, were "realising they are losing the main arguments".

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, he said: "I do think it is remarkable and disappointing that, as the campaign enters its final stages, the Yes group is spending all its time talking about the internal politics of the campaign.

"They are desperate. I don't take anything for granted and it is important we get our vote out, but every opinion poll now seems to show a bigger margin in favour of No than the last one."

A referendum on 5 May will ask British voters whether they want to switch to the alternative vote, where voters rank candidates in order of preference.

Westminster MPs are currently elected through the first-past-the-post system.

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China criticises US 'preaching'

10 April 2011 Last updated at 03:47 GMT China's crackdown on dissent has sparked outrage in other parts of the world China has told the US to stop preaching on human rights, after the state department's annual report on the issue criticised China.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the US should concentrate on its own rights issues and stop interfering.

Chinese authorities have launched a major crackdown on dissent recently.

Unveiling the report, US officials expressed particular concern over the recent arrest of the artist Ai Weiwei, an outspoken critic of the government.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also highlighted reports of other intellectuals and activists being "arbitrarily detained" in recent weeks.

Mr Hong said China was happy to talk about rights "on the basis of equality and mutual respect", but added that Beijing "resolutely opposes" meddling in other country's affairs.

"We advise the US side to reflect on its own human rights issues and not to position itself as a preacher of human rights," he said.

"[The US should] stop using the issue of human rights reports to interfere in other countries' internal affairs."

The state department's annual report criticising China, followed swiftly by a tough riposte from Beijing, is now a well-established diplomatic ritual.

But analysts say this year's tit-for-tat exchange has been sharpened by Beijing's crackdown on dissent.

The US report accused Beijing of stepping up restrictions on lawyers, activists, bloggers and journalists.

The Communist rulers were also accused of tightening controls on civil society and stepping up efforts to control the press and internet access.

The Beijing authorities also increased the use of forced disappearances, house arrest, and detention in illicit "black jails" to punish activists, petitioners and their families, the US report says.

Other countries accused of perpetrating serious rights violations in the report included Iran, Iraq, Burma, North Korea, the Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe, Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.

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Berlusconi criticises prosecutors

9 February 2011 Last updated at 16:34 GMT Silvio Belusconi: "These are farcical trials"

Italy's prime minister has said a request by prosecutors in Milan to have him put on trial immediately for allegedly paying for sex with an underage girl is "disgusting".

Silvio Berlusconi said the prosecutors' case was a "pretext" to oust him.

He denies paying for sex with Karima El Mahroug when she was 17, and abusing his power to get her released by police after she was detained in another case.

A magistrate will now decide if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.

If convicted, the prime minister could face up to 15 years in prison.

'A farce'

Speaking to reporters in Rome shortly after the request for his indictment was filed, Mr Berlusconi again insisted that the accusations against him were groundless and said the prosecutors were acting subversively.

"I can only say that it's a farce. They are accusations without any basis. The only aim of the inquiry is to defame me in the media," he said.

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These acts are violating the law and go against parliament, because Milan's prosecutors have no jurisdiction”

End Quote Silvio Berlusconi Italian Prime Minister "But I am not worried about myself. I am a rich man who could spend his time building hospitals around the world, as I have always wanted."

"These acts are violating the law and go against parliament, because Milan's prosecutors have no jurisdiction," he added. "It's shameful and disgusting."

"I wonder who's going to pay for these activities that, in my humble view, only have a subversive aim."

"In the end, it will be the state which pay for this. I'll sue the state, of course, because magistrates are not liable. This is something we need to change and will change."

Mr Berlusconi reiterated that Miss Mahroug - a Moroccan nightclub dancer also known as Ruby, who is now 18 - had denied that they had sex. But she has said she received money after one of his parties.

Although frequenting prostitutes is not a crime in Italy, having sex with one under the age of 18 is an offence that commands a prison sentence.

Mr Berlusconi also said he did not abuse his power when he told police to release Miss Mahroug after she was detained on suspicion of theft, explaining that he believed she was the niece of Egypt's president.

Continue reading the main story Duncan Kennedy BBC News, Rome

Could the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, be in the dock by Easter? That's what some are now suggesting.

Prosecutors in the case are sending their dossier to a judge in Milan.

The judge will then take a few days to mull the decision - whether or not to send Silvio Berlusconi for trial.

If she decides there is enough evidence, he could opt for a fast-track trial that might begin in the next few months.

Together, the two offences could carry a sentence of up to 15 years.

Mr Berlusconi effectively lost his prime ministerial immunity from prosecution last month when Italy's top court ruled it was up to individual judges to decide whether to put him on trial.

Mr Berlusconi has taken every opportunity to deny the accusations and is a seasoned, combative defender of his liberty.

Yet the prosecutors seem determined to get the prime minister to answer for his alleged crimes.

"I intervened as prime minister because I was worried and wanted to avoid an international diplomatic incident," he added. "I did nothing wrong and acted out of pity."

"I am sorry if all these things have offended the nation's dignity and soiled its reputation."

Earlier on Wednesday, the prosecutors in Milan announced that they had sent examining magistrate Cristina Di Censo a request for an immediate trial of Mr Berlusconi "on the basis of sufficient evidence".

The fast-track procedure of summary judgement, which skips preliminary hearings, can be requested when there is clear evidence of an offence.

If Ms Di Censo decides there is insufficient proof to warrant a speedy trial, the prosecutors will be forced to bring Mr Berlusconi to trial using the normal, much slower procedure.

She will also have to decide whether a court in Milan is competent to hear the case. Mr Berlusconi's lawyers say the prime minister can only be judged by a special court for members of parliament.

The prosecutors have submitted two sets of documents detailing the evidence against the prime minister. They allegedly include proof that payments were made by his aides to a "significant number" of young women, including Miss Mahroug.

Last month, Italy's Constitutional Court amended a law granting members of the government temporary immunity from prosecution. The court decided that individual judges should be allowed to decide whether ministers should be tried while in office.

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