wide range of companies. what can we do for you? >> and now, "bbc world news." >> rebels in libya move on gaddafi's hometown on the hunt for the dictator. and fighting rebels now control most of the city. how to build a shattered nation. south africa. welcome to "bbc world news." also on the program, technology across the world and jobs steps down from applal. and hurricane irene sweeps through a path. the united states is next. hello. the hunt for colonel gaddafi continues with rebel fighters meeting stiff resistance from gaddafi loyalists. the rebels have now started to advance towards gaddafi's hometown of surt. but they are facing clashes there. we have this report. >> it's not over yet. there's -- though the battlefield is shrinking. these rebels are pushing up. reinforcements. they are facing a stubborn enemy. with 60 miles from surt, colonel gaddafi's hometown, his forces have been expected to retreat there to make a last stand, but they have not been falling back. far from it. >> we will engage with the enemy this morning with heavy artillery. >> i think they are coming from surt. >> they are still attacking? >> that's what you can see now. they are attacking us. >> this group of rebels believe they are facing more than a thousand troops. they are battling the resistance. >> apparently it's personal. they must believe in this guy. i don't know. but we got him in the corner now. it's just a matter of time now. >> the rebels still hope that talks with tribal leaders in surt will end this peacefully. if not, they are building up forces on either side of the town. >> military commanders on this side predicted once colonel gaddafi was removed from power, his followers would give up the fight. but some are confounding those expectations and seem determined to fight the last few slivers of territory which belongs to the old regime. >> our correspondent in tripoli. i begin by asking how much of the city is still controlled by pro-government forces now? >> well, there are definitely significant pockets and areas we're being advised not to go and roads we're being advised not to drive because there's believed to be snipers controlling those areas. it's probably 10%-15%. but i don't think anybody really knows. what's clear is that the rebels do control a very, very, very significant amount of the capital because in the absence of any government, there's a local checkpoint. every few hundred meters there's a group of men from the area to make sure nothing goes down that road that looks in any way suspicious. that's how they are controlling the area at the moment. controlled by local people holding check points. >> thank you. sounds like a diplomatic situation. >> the revolution -- the resolution would free $1.5 billion of assets and the united states said it would be used for hu pan taryn needs not military purposes but they have spent weeks seeking approval from the united nations. now it's now south africans who is blocking the move and the south african said they believe if you give funds to the african this might imply recognizing it as the legitimate libyan government and that's something the african union hasn't done. but if the objections persist, then america says lit seek a security county critical vote by the end of the day bypassing the need for consensus and the resolution would probably most likely be passed. but the longer term discussions going on about fully lifting the sanctions are separate. that will probably happen in stages and require a different resolution. >> i think speaking to the former u.n. deputy, i asked about the preeveks of the assets being released. >> well, there are a few issues, south a can's debt of gratitude for their help but then they felt the military approach was not the right way and the president tried to negotiate early in the conflict and there's a concern both they and the a.u. are being steam rolled in this and a conflict on african soil is being broken and solved by fateo without adequate toronto africa. >> but the events are on their side due to the fact that most of tripoli has fallen to the rebels. as far as gaddafi itself, would south africa allow him safe passage there? >> well, this is speculation, but i certainly wouldn't rule it out. president air steed of haiti has had a long exile in africa and they have an old alliance to them. but i think what's important to understand is i don't think for a moment that the south africans are trying to turn the clock back. they recognize gaddafi's gone. this is more about trying to have a role themselves on the international stage in solving this. >> alongside me, the big business story, steve jobs stepping down as chief executive of apple. affects the share price, doesn't it? >> yes. there's always been a jobs premium to the apple share price. during his illnesses. the liver transplant and pancreatic cancer and every time he's announced a short-term medical departure, weave seen a drop in shares. >> but he's got a team of technology inventors. >> well, he fwrauth magic to apple. he's the walt disney of the company. let's take a look. >> for a decade steve, the rock star of the technology world and his trademark t-shirt and jeans carsmatically launching innovation after innovation. this was june presenting the icloud, the next big thing in the computing world. in 2001 the aye pot then in 2007 the iphone then the ipad. it made apple one of the world's richest companies, even steve jobs rival used word like vision narrow and -- but to fight a rare cancer for a liver transplant and most recently an unnamed condition which might be why he decided to step down. tim cook will replace him, already handpicked and trusted. he filled role during his medical leave. everyone in the business knew this day would come but the reaction here in silicon valley is filled with sadness and shock that one of the biggest inknow rate isors has stepped down from one of the most iconic companies. >> those that love the apple products are mourning today. let's bring up the asian board. and the likes of h.t.c. that makes android and sam sung phones. the share prices on those companies are higher. shares in general are up but all the eyes and ears will be on fed chairman ben bernanke tomorrow. many say there's too much or too high expectations that the fed will announce some type of stimulus and they say don't watch the markets on monday. >> because of the latest economic numbers, really showing disappointing signs in the u.s. there's just the expectations they will announce stimulus. ben bernanke may have a -- may not have a choice. the u.s. is growing, though, so he may not announce any particular measures. we'll keep our eye on that. >> forecasts say hurricane irene approaching the united states could grow to category four. it has brought strong winds to the dominican republic and puerto rico. >> this is in the kay course -- kay cose islands. torrential rains caused flooding as hurricane irene moved through the caribbeans. for the islands in its path there's no recess pit. here in the dominican republic, it came so quickly and with such force that thousands of homes were inknow rate ised. >> since 3:00 a.m. we have evacuated more than 3,000. we have 1,200 flooded houses. >> across the country at least 20 communities have been stranded and as many as 11,000 people forced from their homes, often with no time to salvage any possessions. >> there's nothing left. i didn't have time. we were trapped at 2:00 a.m. we don't have anything. >> the power of irene seems to be growing as it moves towards the american coast. this is how it appears seen from the international space station. the eye of the storm surrounded by a mass i have cloud of wind and rain spiraling its way towards the united states. >> the center of the storm may stay close to the coastline during the day on saturday. then it may become a big threat for new england, perhaps long island on sunday. >> people in irene's path are preparing for the worst. tim, "bbc world news." >> you're watching "bbc world news." still to come, pleading with an anti-corruption campaigner to give up his fight. >> there's been violent clashes between police and demonstrators in chile after demonstrators supported the strike to improve the fage's health service. around 350 people have been arrested. our correspondent has this. >> the protests started early. some which i lanes woke up to the site of -- woke up to the sight of burning barricades in their street. this is pat goveneya, the southern most city. this, in the desert. two cities the divided by other 3,000 kilometers, united in discontent. >> what they tried to do today, and luckily the people have reacted really well was not just to protest. they tried paralyze an entire country. >> tensions have been high in chile for months. they have not seen protests like this since the 190's. they have been led by the students who want a complete overhaul of the education. civil serve nts and workers have also joined the cause. they want chile's wealth to be more spread out. the c.u.t. has called for more protests on thursday. all marches are due to converge on the capitol, and they are likely to be every bit as violent as today's. isn't a yeaho. >> an outspoken attack on andrea merkel, criticizing her management of the euro zone debt crisis and authorizing military intervention in libya. she said the government was working to meet contemporary challenges. that was in response. >> you're watching "bbc world news." our headline this is hour. rebels in libya move on colonel gaddafi's hometown of surt on the hunt for the de posed dictator. and split on south africa blocking the release of billions of dollars in assets. well, let's go to the rebel strong hold of benghazi. and our correspondent picks up with the reaction to blocking the assets. what response has there been from the leadership there? >> well we have had no responses. it's ramadan and people are still asleep. i'm sure they will be disappointed but they want a -- it sounds like a temporary stumble but illustrates many problems facing the transitional council obviously the first one gaining full control of the security of libya but also they desperately need money, billions of dollars, they've got about enough to keep the side going but they want to move into tripoli and get pet tral imports going and a whole infrastructure working again. they have potentially enormous amounts of money, billions and hundreds of billions in frozen assets, but they cannot be released being blocked by south africa and they will probably be able to resume all exports but the money is crucial. that's why we've seen key figures from the opposition out touring countries at the moment. it's a crucial time at home. they are going to europe and other countries and one of the first things they do is say please lend us the money. you'll get it back with interest soon, but we need the cash. in chad it announced it is recognizing the transitional council as the leading government. they will have a vote and african union and their role will be important in whether libya's assets can be unfrozen. >> when do we think the n.c.c. will move to tripoli. or is that still dependant on clearing up the pockets of pro god bod forces? >> not yet. they said not yet until next week. although -- it becomes theavet they cannot safely set up space in tripoli where not only is security not guaranteed, they don't know what parts of the city would be secured, so they are waiting until next week, clearly tripoli is their priority. along with -- >> is there also one single command figure that the rebels have sent to tripoli to try to join these various militias together or are they all still operating in a very dis pretty way? >> i haven't heard of any single figure being sent there. all the way along the rebel military has not been a unified army but a series of separate militias. the fighters on this side of the country have stolen the line and you've got the fighters spread out to misratah and the food has been the most -- [inaudible] and there have been separate bands of militia. some almost self-preserving for local areas. i can't see that changing very dramatically even though they did tell us yesterday that that's the move, the very fast move into tripoli was the result of a long-planned operation. i think if that's true, that's certainly a good sign for the future. >> thank you very much. india's prime minister has asked parolment to hold a full debate on an anti-corruption council so annie bergen will end his hunger strike. we have more from delhi. >> well, in the space of about the last anna hazare has been asked to give up his hunger strike. and anna hazare said the time was right for him to end it if the government is moving forward. but the government shifted. a day before they appeared to be going quite fast to meet anna hazare's demands which has been to introduce this new anti-corruption law. but yesterday after meeting with all major political parties, the government shifted its stance a bit, because they've now told him while they are ready to consider his demands he has to recognize it's parliament who has the right to make and frame laws in this country which has not gone down well with ann andy his supporters. >> we can go to tripoli and speak to karen who joins us from the city's medical flor. how are the hospitals coping? >> well, i can only speak for us in my own hospital and what is around us and we have casualties we have been asked to deal with. some of the other hospitals have now got no supplies, no oxygen and it's hard to deal with patients anymore. >> but are you fwul with bed capacity? >> no. we're having more issues with staff trapped here and having to accommodate them. because unfortunately, with this situation, we're trapped. so i've got several members of staff including doctors actually on the wards because they can't get home. >> what size hospital are you? do you have several operating theaters so you can deal with things? >> we can't deal with head trauma and things like that. [inaudible] we can deal with -- [inaudible] >> did you say karen your supplies are ok at the moment, does that mean you could help out with other hospitals that have run snort >> we have done so but we have been held here -- [inaudible] we've been held back, because there's no oxygen even in the central hospital. so -- [inaudible] >> and what is the situation in tripoli today? after all the fighting, the recent 24-48 hours? >> it's quiet this morning, which is a welcomed relief, as you can imagine after the last round of fighting. so this morning it's actually quiet. >> has this been the most difficult time in your career as far as the potential athlete you around working in difficult situations? >> yes. most definitely. >> and what sort of help are you getting from the international community? are people advising you on what to do? >> no. we had one visit from the red cross yesterday. they dropped off supplies in the middle of the gun battle, so they only stayed briefly. >> well, best of luck, karen. thank you very much indeed. karen, a british nurse joining us from the hospital in central tripoli. now to sports. athletics, career. >> yes. athletics taking place in south korea, the main prime event is the is 00 meters, but the news we have is powell is out of the 100 meters. he has a nasty groin strain. he was due to flun london and he pulled out and word is now he can't compete in the is 00 meter, which essentially leaves the space open to usain bolt. he has trun fastest time this year. of course we're looking for this great head-to-head, so it's effect i havely a rather weakened 100 meters race. >> apart from us we saw -- [inaudible] we may show it later. they are selling this u.s. open, as they tend to do. it's a major american event. and the players put themselves about. we can hear from rafael nadal talking about his rivalry from raj -- with roger federer and what it means. >> we have had a lot of battles, but at the same time we have a good relationship and we understand tennis is really a game. >> without him or without a guy like him, would your tennis be as good as it is today? >> probably not. >> so it is necessary to have that guy to work against and work with in a sense? >> yes. well, sometimes, it's better if he's not there. >> [laughter] >> he's a very funny character, raphael. >> it is a great rivalry but now we have novak djokovic who had a wonderful year, but that's going to be in flushing made owes starting next week. nadal of course the defending champion. >> thank you. coming up our headlines online and also news. plenty of information on all our stories on the bbc webpages. and analysis as well. >> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its global financial strength to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet los angeles.