Transcripts For BBCNEWS Our World 20170402

Our world. Mosul, iraqs second city, home to over a Million People and the scene of the greatest victory of the so called Islamic State. Allahu akbar. In just four days, is fighters managed to seize this entire city. It was a National Disaster for iraq and declared the start of the self styled Islamic State. Almost three years later and mosul has once again become a battleground. The iraqi forces have regrouped and are now fighting back. Street by street, they are moving closer to capturing the city, but the threat of is remains. I am bbcjournalist bashir al zaidi, born and raised in mosul. Today, iam returning home. I want to find out what life is like in the city and how people have coped with the past two and a half years. For the past two and a half years. And the question, whether the Iraqi Military that collapsed only a few years ago, can really bring lasting security to the city. It has been over ten years since my last visit. I grew up on these streets with my 11 brothers and sisters. Its a weird feeling to come back here after all these years. My hometown is now effectively split into two. I am in the east, which was recaptured a few months ago, butjust across the river in the west, fighting continues. Its quite different. Its quite difficult. Theres no house. Thats my primary school. Its like. I couldnt sleep last night, really. I was just feeling this moment. It looks quite strange. Most of the buildings in the centre of the city are damaged. It is clear that anybody who still lives here doesnt feel safe enough to come out. This is me on the left with my oldest friend karim. Growing up, we were inseparable, but staying in touch whilst he lived under is was nigh on impossible. I am here to pay him a surprise visit. He sobs. I have no hair, i lost my hair. Hello. For the first time, i meet his kids and it soon becomes clear this family didnt escape the violence. And karim also tells me everything that has happened. To hear my best friend tell me he initially welcomed the idea of overthrowing the government is a real shock, but his support was short lived. For the past two years, karim has been living in fear. His own life has been in danger. Walking home one evening, he was stopped here at the checkpoint. Like so many people here, karims experience of living under is has changed his life for ever. This man and his son say anyone who had the choice has already fled. Hearing how desperate Living Conditions became under is, i wonder what has happened to my childhood home. 0h. So the house is occupied by a university teacher. They feel nervous talking to the camera, but they told me what happened in this street in the past couple of years. Actually, i was also surprised to hear what they told me. There were many is families here on this street. Its an eerie feeling to know many of the houses in my old street were occupied by is militants. Ali is the only person i recognise here. In this city of over a Million People, it seems everyones lives has been altered by is. Have been altered by is. The mosul i remember is very different. Every spring would bring coachloads of tourists. The city was full of life. But now, mosul is effectively divided in two. The eastern half has been recaptured, with been recaptured, with a fierce battle raging for control of the west. Thousands on both sides are queueing to leave. This is the outskirts of the east. These men are waiting in line to obtain Security Clearances that give them the freedom of movement. The government says it is important that everyone clears their name. Sitting on the side of the road is 18 year old salah and his only child. He hasjust arrived here with some other families. They are tired and hungry. Salah says they have used all their savings and life has become unbearable. Security is a top priority, but the task of Stabilising Mosul after is wont be easy. There was deep anger aimed at the government before is arrived. Protesters came out onto the streets and the army and police force were accused of corruption, sectarianism and abuse. The mostly sunni city had come to hate the practices of a shia dominated army. By the time is entered mosul, the anger had reached its peak. The big challenge now is to restore security without reigniting sectarian tensions. Today we have joined these agents from the Iraqi National security service. They are about to raid addresses all across mosul. Their aim is to root out is Sleeper Cells that have launched attacks across the city. The plan is to arrest nine suspects in multiple locations. As we enter the first neighbourhood, everything looks very familiar. Incredibly, we have arrived on another street i grew up in as a child. My friends house was here. And we were sitting there when we played. And this was our football pitch. We had to seek shelter on the pavement whenever there was a car coming. Now i hearfrom children they do not go out that much, because of the drones from is. I suddenly recognise one of the families. Farah says the christian families living on the street fled when is arrived. His family also had to move for their own safety. Is have been using small drones to drop grenades on both Security Forces and civilians. Although the damage is usually quite small, there is a lasting psychological impact. It is not long before the iraqi intelligence agents track down their first suspect. Shouting. The agents learn there are more men in the house. Three suspects are rounded up at this address, including a teenager. A warning shot. It seems in this area, everyone is treated with suspicion. In total, the agents arrest six men. They wouldnt provide us with details of their crimes but told us it took months to build enough evidence to justify a raid. It is difficult for me to see the people of mosul become used to violence on their doorsteps. It seems like every street in my hometown has its own story of brutality. Has its own story of is brutality. But restoring safety wont be easy. Today the army is all too aware of its past reputation. I am taking a tour of the city with a Field Marshal in charge of recaptured areas in mosul. The recapture of mosul has helped to restore some of the armys reputation. The Field Marshal says he is relying on this goodwill for the future of the citys security. A lot is riding on this new found goodwill towards the army and police, but i wonder how long it will last. Many people across the city are too scared to talk openly about their experiences and views. One family who want to speak out are friends from my time at university. Omar and his mother aliya have invited me for breakfast. Omar might be concerned about the future, but there is one thing that brings him hope. We are on our way to pick up his two daughters from school. Like so many parents, he refused to allow is to educate his children, so this is the girls first week back in school and they are pretty excited about it. This is overwhelming, it is really overwhelming to see. The kids are smiling, it is the end of the school day for the girls and the boys. Hello. So they seem jubilant. It could be a special moment for the kids here because normal life maybe is back again for them. A kind of quietness, it is something new for them, it is a new start. The whole neighbourhood seems energised by the schools reopening. I finally meet malak, omars ten year old daughter. For the past week, i have come to understand the relief of being free from is and the new challenges my hometown faces. My friends omar and karim might be uncertain about what is ahead, but seeing these young girls back in school, i know there is at least some hope for the future. It was mixed fortunes this weekend with low pressure in charge of the weather on saturday that brought sunshine but also a scattering of showers. This is a view in the highlands of scotland. High pressure took over on sunday, which brought a pleasa nt took over on sunday, which brought a pleasant day to most parts of the uk with sunshine, patchy cloud. A lovely view captured by one of our weather watchers in cornwall. Very little rain to speak of for the week ahead. Overall fine and settled with highs in the daytime between 12 and 14 degrees. We start monday on a colder note. Overall, england and wales are looking at a pleasant day, with sunshine, breeze from the south, feeling warm for some bit different in the north and west with clouds, a breeze and outbreaks of rain into Northern Ireland and eastern scotland. Western scotland. Further west, cloudy breezy. Clouding over head of the rain. In the midlands and much of Eastern England we will hang gone to decent spells of sunshine in the afternoon. The rain moving east into tuesday. Very little left by Tuesday Morning in the south east and behind it bright and breezy. Theyd be some showers coming in on the breeze in the north and west of the uk. Tuesday night into wednesday, a big area of High Pressure becomes established. Isobars across the north of the uk reading it will be breezy through the middle of the week. We have dry and bright weather and light winds further south and west you go. A lot of dry weather, a shower or two coming in to the north of the uk. Overnight into thursday, High Pressure in charge. The north of the uk still breezy. Most of the rain is to the north of the uk and most rain is to the north of the uk and m ost pla ces rain is to the north of the uk and most places will have a decent day. A colder start. By the afternoon, up to 14 degrees in the london area. We end the week on a similar note. A lot of dry and bright weather. Heading into the following weekend, High Pressure will be just about in charge, slipping away towards the south. Lower pressure getting close to the north of uk which means you might see Rain And Cloud in the door. But in the southern half of the uk it should be settled and relatively warm. Changes are afoot as we look to the following week because it looks like a change is on the way with low pressure taking over, introducing a colder wind. Temperatures might start average but early into the following week we will see things turning colder and it will be more unsettled. A lot of showers around. And some wintry weather in the dwarf. In the north. To its people and its economy. Theresa may says the government will work with the territory to get the best possible brexit outcome gibraltars Chief Minister says the key point is trade. Gibraltars Chief Minister says when we get the deal in brexit, it must be a deal for the when we get the deal in brexit, it must be a dealfor the United Kingdom in terms of q2 must be a dealfor the United Kingdom in terms of 02 trade, and it should only be fair that it applies to gibraltar. A race to find survivors in colombia after the mudslides that have killed at least 200 people. After the mudslides that have killed a teenage Asylum Seeker remains seriously ill in hospital after being attacked at a london bus stop. In iraq the bbc sees evidence of so called Islamic State fighters