>> "bbc world news" is presented by kcet, los angeles. funding for this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its global expertise to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you? >> and now, "bbc world news." >> embarrassed by a live

microphone. the british prime minister forced to apologize after he described a voter who confronted him as "bigoted." >> she has accepted my apology. >> the head of the imf warns that the crisis in greece could spread across europe, as pressure grows for germany to support a bailout. troops opened fire on anti- government protesters in thailand. welcome to "bbc world news," broadcast to our viewers on pbs in america and elsewhere around the globe. coming up on the program, a place of shame. this is a secret iraqi prison, where inmates were beaten, tortured, and abuse. the world's biggest festival.

well, no matter how much politicians try to control the election campaign, the unexpected always seems to happen. today, the british prime minister gordon brown, already in third place in the opinion polls, called a woman "bigoted." he made the remarks as he got back in his car, unaware that he was still wearing a microphone. he apologized at her home. nick robinson reports. >> hello, how are you? >> they said he wanted to meet more ordinary voters. after all, what on earth could possibly go wrong? >> they voted labour all of

their life. >> it started well enough when the widow was introduced to gordon brown, and she is a widow. >> the deficit reduction plan, cutting the debt. we have the plan set out to do it. >> he seemed happy to talk, so she moved on, to the subject voters worry about and their leaders move cautiously around. immigration. >> all of these eastern europeans are coming in. >> british people have gone into europe. you know that there are a lot of british people staying in europe, as well. >> they were apparently on good terms, the prime minister warm, attentive, and concerned -- on camera, but now, listen to what he said in private when he was

still wearing his television microphone. >> you should never have put me with that woman. ridiculous. >> what did she say? >> everything. a bigoted woman. >> unaware that she had just been called "a bigoted woman," mrs. dufty was telling them how much she enjoyed. but minutes later, watch now when she was told the news about what he really thought of her. >> i cannot believe this. >> as mrs. duffy wondered,

gordon brown was hearing precisely what he had done wrong. >> someone handed me the tape. let's play it. >> you should never have put me with her. it is just ridiculous. >> by now, at mrs. duffy's home, she was understating what it was like to be in the center of a storm and taking a telephone call. he knew there was only one thing to do to face the cameras and, yes, the microphones, too, to apologize in person. for 40 long minutes, the curtains were shut, those outside only able to guess what was happening inside, until a relief to looking gordon brown had emerged, -- until a relieved looking gordon brown

emerged. >> i misunderstood what she said. she has accepted that there was a misunderstanding, and she has accepted my apology. >> to use gordon brown's own words, a disaster, and all because the lady in this house said what she thought to the prime minister, and he was caught saying what he thought about her. nick robinson, bbc news. >> europe's debt crisis got worse today as spain followed portugal and got downgraded by an international credit rating agency. meanwhile, the head of the international monetary fund was in berlin, trying to persuade the germans about their doubts for bailing out agrees -- greece. air europe's editor -- our europe editor, gavin, has more.

>> the concern is this agreed crisis could spiral out of control, he just went companies like britain are starting to emerge -- the concern is that this creek crisis could spiral out of control, just when company -- countries like britain are starting to emerge -- this pre-christmas -- this greek crisis. >> now, it is greece, but there could be a domino effect. they were irresponsible. >> after greece, it could be one country after another that goes under. we are a community, so i think we should stand together. >> the headlines here are a screening, and the largest would prefer greece kicked out rather than bailed out.

>> not stepping out of the european union, which is a different thing, but stepping out of the euro, because it might be better for the euro and for greece itself. >> angela merkel said germany will make a contribution to bail out greece, but only if athens agrees to terms. this is only if they agree to further spending cuts, and all the implications are that the greeks will not take much more austerity. on the streets of the greek capital, there were further protests today, particularly those in the public sector resentful of having endured a two rounds of pay cuts, and there may be more to follow. >> -- endured two rounds.

>> i expect bankruptcy. i think it is inevitable. i think that, unfortunately, there is nothing else besides this. >> the concern is that the greek problem would spread to other countries with large deficits. the credit rating of spain was cut tonight, and if the crisis spreads, it could threaten the european recovery. gavin, bbc news, berlin. >> as we heard, there are fears that portugal could be the second euro zone country to lead a rescue package. -- to need a rescue package. >> there is real concern here in portugal that the crisis in greece might be catching, and, of course, that was the focus when standard and poor's reduced the credit rating of portugal. we have seen them holding crisis talks, emergency talks, here in lisbon to talk about the

situation, and they have come out to present a united front. they have said they will work together to combat the budget deficit, and although the government already has a series of measures in place aimed at addressing that, including, for example, a freeze on public- sector pay, the two parties have said there will be a number of other measures, that, for example, there will be a new 45% tax brought forward this year, and they also brought forward the idea of putting more tolls on the road here in portugal and tighter checks on welfare payments, so very much they want to send the message that they are in control, that they have a plan, and that they will come as plants, cut the deficit in portugal so that they can pay their debt -- that they will, as planned, cut their deficit.

the government's prediction is for growth this year, but many people are already saying that that is too optimistic, and whilst the government here can address the issues of the budget deficit, it will have more difficulty addressing the fundamental problem of economic growth here. >> u.s. senate republicans have nailed a key deal to rein in wall street access is. they are starting debate on the bill. -- wall street excesses. it laid to rest one major concern. changes will be made. there is the notion that some are too big to fail, which is dangerous. warning shots during a confrontation in bangkok. the incident took place in a northern suburb after about 2000 registered protesters drove there from their installment -- 2000 red shirt protesters drove

there from their encampment. we have this report. >> there is a good reason tourists are being told to stay clear of thailand. some fired live rounds. and there were casualties. troops moved in force to break up the violence that isolated anti-government demonstrations in the outskirts of bangkok. the latest clashes, becoming increasingly polarized and divided. the city's center has been held hostage for three weeks now. the government unwilling to disperse them after 25 were left dead and others injured. they shut down shopping centers and blocked roads, insisting they will camp out here until the prime minister resigned and

calls an election. today, they took to the streets, blocking the streets and provoking confrontation -- and to the prime minister resigns -- until the prime minister resigned. -- resigns. it was started by a prime minister now in exile, but it has become their war against the system. it has become pretty clear the demonstrators are not going to give up easily. the military on the other side of this barricade. the question now though, seven weeks after this started, is whether or not the prime minister is prepared to use force to bring law and order back in the streets. tonight, it is. in the capital -- it is eerie. thailand is in crisis.

bbc news, bangkok. >> russia has published on-line documents that were made available to poland in 1990 pertaining to the massacre that occurred k but atatyn. -- occurred at katyn. a severe food crisis affecting nearly 8 million people. the u.s. says iraq could bring total crop failure in some areas, -- says drought could bring total crop failure. there is a major oil slick off the coast of louisiana. they are trying to save environmentally sensitive wetlands. a korea exploded and sank last week. you are watching "bbc world news" -- a rig exploded and sank

last week. when starr has not been home in many years, but he is turning out the hits -- one store -- star. in tears extent, authorities say they have charged -- in tears expand -- in kurdistan region -- in one country, authorities have charged a person. there is no more violence in the streets -- >> there is no more violence in the streets, but the provisional government wants to show it can protect its citizens. in early april, thousands were forced into the streets. the anti-government rally turned violent when security forces opened fire against the protesters. 86 people were killed, and over 1000 were injured.

the president was overthrown from power and soon left the country. following the crisis, the public trust in law enforcement has been running low. many blame them. and police officers themselves did not appear to support the new leaders, but now, they say they are ready to perform their duties. >> we want to reassure the public that we can protect them. we are fully in control of the capital. >> they insist in keeping order. these young patriots formed what is called citizen police units. should there be more violence, they will be ready to act. there is the scene of the clashes from april 7. the relatives of the victims want to know who will answer for their losses. the government is faced with many challenges, but above all,

it has to demonstrate that these people did not die in vain. bbc news. >> this is "bbc world news." the headlines. the prime minister in britain has made an apology to a woman he described as bigoted after she confronted him on the election trail. the head of the imf warns that the debt crisis in greece could spread, and pressure mounts on germany to support a bailout. routine torture, including electric shocks and rape, were conducted in a secret baghdad jail. 42 of those held, including a british man, had been interviewed by a group called human rights watch. he said the accounts are credible and consistent. we have this report. >> the detention facility at the

airbase is now closed, but until earlier this month, over 400 prisoners, including a man with dual british-iraqi citizenship, suffered months of the most excruciating torture inside these cells. the bbc has spoken to a number of detainees who of subsequently been released. this man was too frightened to reveal his identity, but his story is almost identical to those given by human -- given to human rights watch by other inmates. >> they put plastic bags over our heads. then, they tortured us with electric shocks after pouring water on our bodies some of us were sexually abused with sticks or sometimes steel pipes, and then they applied electric shocks to our genitals, and then they said that if we did not say things, they would bring our wives and sisters and rape them. >> their treatment is said to be

much better. access to the present is still being restricted, and we have not been allowed to go in there and check for ourselves -- access to the prison. the iraqi government has strongly denied that it operates a secret detention facilities, or that abuse in the country's prisons is endemic. >> i can assure you that this is not the case. there are individual acts tof cruelty to inmates. this has been reported. this is not a matter we tolerate at any member whatsoever -- at any level whatsoever. >> the prisoners were effectively dealt with outside the law. >> people in the government did not know this existed. family members had no idea where their relatives were, and these detainees did not have access to

any legal resources. >> nearly all the prisoners were arrested late last year in or around the city of mosul in northern iraq. it is a predominantly sunni region, which has at times been a stronghold for al qaeda and other insurgents. human rights watch says that during their interrogation, the detainees were accused of aiding and abetting terrorism, but none were officially charged. brutality in their torture chambers. today, it seems that abuse is continuing seven years after his fall from power. bbc news, baghdad. >> french president nicolas sarkozy is in china on a visit aimed at smoothing bilateral relations. things got rocky after the chinese crackdown in tibet on

march 14 and after president sarkozy 8 met the dalai lama. the last day of the world's biggest religious festival is closing in hours -- after president sarkozy met the dalai lama. our correspondent is there. >> since dawn broke, the first of the faithful, already giving thanks with holy water. the banks of the river were crowded with pilgrims coming here to offer praise to the gods and wash away their sins. they came in the hundreds of thousands. hindu holy man, for whom this is a sacred calling. >> people have come from far and wide. it is like god is blessing us from above. >> it takes place every three years at one of four sacred sites. according to hindu mythology, a

few drops of the nectar of immortality fell to earth during a fight between gods and demons. no one is too young to learn. and this is the last day of an extraordinary event. it is believed that the more than 40 million people have basic right here in the ganges since it began in january -- have bathed. it really is a remarkable display of tradition and religious devotion. among those who have come to pray during the course of the festival, the famous naked ones, covered in ash and sacramental powder. to everyone amid the noise and heat and confusion, there is something to celebrate and something to worship. >> yes, it is amazing, yes. there are so many people all here. yes, it is absolutely fantastic.

not something you would see anywhere else. >> a lot of people, a lot of noise. there is a lot of pushing. there is no structure or order, but, somehow, everyone knows what they are doing. >> another is over, part of a long cycle and a reminder that india remains a deeply traditional country, where religion plays a role in hundreds of millions of lives. bbc news. >> one artist has been producing songs for more than one decade, one of the most popular singers in iran, but he has not been to his country since the revolution in 1979. since then, he has been putting out hits for europe and the u.s.. we met up with him here in london. >> ♪ [singing]

>> he is one of the most loved contemporary iranians in years. his career spans over 40 years. -- one of the most loved contemporary iranian singers. >> i am here, working with my friends, and i started to be a little bit more -- >> he actually trained as an opera singer with the iranian national choir and was offered a chance to continue his classical training in italy, but he turned it down to pursue his passion. pop. >> jim morrison, the doors.

my favorite was the animals, and i was in love with that kind of music. >> he joined one of iran's most famous groups and then launched his solo career shortly after, with four successful albums released in iran, but in 1977, he traveled to america for a series of performances and was never to return home. he has from time to time thought about political issues in iran. there was a decision released. >> i do not believe in this government since the beginning of the regime, and i am going to do whatever i can to help these

movements. i am just singing about freedom for all of the world. when i am singing about freedom, i mean everywhere. >> just enough time for a reminder of our top stories. the british prime minister gordon brown has apologized in person to a woman that he had been caught on microphone calling bigoted. he spent 45 minutes visiting the woman's home and told reporters afterwards that there had been a misunderstanding and that she had accepted his apology. ms. duffy has yet to make a statement after, but earlier,

she had said that he had won her. >> hello, and welcome. >> see the news unfold. get the top stories from around the globe and click to play video reports. go to bbc.com/news to experience the in-depth, expert reporting of "bbc world news" online. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its global expertise to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you?

>> there is one stage that is the met and carnegie hall. >> oh, that this too, too solid flesh -- >> it is the kennedy center. >> check, one, two. >> and a club in austin. [woman vocalizing] >> it is closer than any seat in the house, no matter where you call home. >> the top of the world, and i'm there. i'm home. >> pbs -- the great american stage that fits in every living room. your support of pbs brings the arts home. >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet, los angeles.