Top Tories urge gay marriage support

5 February 2013 Last updated at 04:16 ET

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"Good thing to extend marriage to more people" - Maria Miller MP

Three senior Conservative ministers have made a late appeal to party MPs to drop any opposition to plans to allow gay marriage in England and Wales.

It comes ahead of a Commons vote on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.

Chancellor George Osborne, Foreign Secretary William Hague and Home Secretary Theresa May wrote to the Daily Telegraph saying "a substantial majority" of Britons back gay marriage.

But some Tories say the move will harm their 2015 general election prospects.

Reports suggest upwards of 120 Conservative MPs could vote against the government's plans, including some cabinet ministers.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill would enable same-sex couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies, where a religious institution had formally consented, in England and Wales.

'Changing attitudes'

It would also allow couples who had previously entered into civil partnerships to convert their relationship into a marriage.

But concerns have been raised that by changing marriage from being solely between a man and a woman, fundamental parts of marriage, such as the ability to divorce on the grounds of adultery or failure to consummate the marriage, would not apply to same-sex marriages.

This is because current legal definitions of adultery and consummation are based on sexual contact between a man and a woman. Without these legal definitions, critics argue that same-sex marriage will be open to those who do not have a sexual relationship.

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How are MPs expected to vote?

• The Conservative Party is expected to split three ways - more than 120 MPs could vote against the plans, reports suggest, about 50 are undecided or could abstain, the rest are expected to vote in favour
• The vast majority of the 57 Liberal Democrat MPs are expected to back the plans
• The majority of Labour MPs are also expected to vote in favour, although reportedly about 20 could vote against or abstain

MPs will have a free vote on the issue, meaning they will not be ordered to vote for or against by party whips, but the measure is expected to get through the Commons, with most on the Labour and Liberal Democrat benches supporting it.

In Tuesday's joint letter, the chancellor, foreign secretary and home secretary wrote: "Marriage has evolved over time. We believe that opening it up to same-sex couples will strengthen, not weaken, the institution.

"As David Cameron has said, we should support gay marriage not in spite of being Conservatives, but because we are Conservatives."

The letter added: "Attitudes towards gay people have changed. A substantial majority of the public now favour allowing same-sex couples to marry, and support has increased rapidly. This is the right thing to do at the right time.

"We will be among the Conservative MPs voting for this bill today."

Similarly, Culture Secretary Maria Miller told BBC News that same-sex marriage was "the right thing for the country, not just now but for the future".

"This issue is another part of making sure Britain is a good place to live," she added.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

The real reason for the anger directed at David Cameron is that many Conservatives have realised that they and their attitudes are the dragon their leader has decided to slay"

End Quote

But on Sunday, more than 20 current and former Conservative constituency chairmen delivered a letter to 10 Downing Street urging the prime minister to delay any parliamentary decision on gay marriage until after the next election.

It warned of "significant damage to the Conservative Party in the run-up to the 2015 election" if the plans entered law.

The author of another letter published in the Telegraph on Tuesday - the chairman of Witham Constituency Conservative Association in Essex - said he was "astonished by Mr Cameron's determination to proceed with this Bill despite objections from his party - and from the Church".

Tom Foster said it was "reckless" of the prime minister to "divide the party".

He added: "I am confident that gay marriage is viewed with disdain by the sort of Conservatives I respect."

'Division and distrust'

However, 50 senior Tory activists have argued that such opposition risks alienating voters and the plans have been strongly backed by Prime Minister David Cameron.

BBC deputy political editor James Landale says Downing Street hopes the row will have been forgotten by the general election.

However, he says, others in the Conservative Party fear the division and the distrust could cost the party dear.

Downing Street said the prime minister had no plans to speak on the issue before the vote and there were no plans for him meet wavering MPs.

The government believes that the wording of the bill will ensure that the Church of England and the Church in Wales will not face any legal challenges to their strong stated opposition to holding same-sex marriages.

All religious organisations will be able to opt in to holding ceremonies - but the Church of England and the Church in Wales would first need to agree to change canon law.

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'Independence day' plans revealed

5 February 2013 Last updated at 05:36 ET

The Scottish government has drawn up a detailed paper outlining the possible transition to independence, BBC Scotland can reveal.

Under the plans, based on a "yes" vote in a 2014 referendum, independence day for Scotland would be in March 2016.

The first elections to an independent parliament would follow in May.

The paper challenges UK ministers to open talks on the transition now, but the prime minister has said he will not pre-negotiate independence.

The plans - 'Scotland's Future: from the referendum to independence and a written constitution' - have been produced by the Scottish government, with a foreword provided by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

They set out the transition from a "yes" vote in the autumn 2014 referendum to independence day in March 2016.

It is envisaged that Scottish ministers would join with other parties and civic Scotland in negotiating the terms of independence with the UK government.

That would result in a" legal constitutional platform" comprising the division of assets and liabilities, new global connections, including with the EU, and Scotland's retention of the monarchy.

The paper says Scotland should have a written constitution "which reflects the values of the people of Scotland".

Continue reading the main story

Under this plan, independence day for Scotland would be in March 2016 - with the first elections to an independent parliament in May that year.

Scottish ministers insist they can counter claims that the timetable is over-ambitious.

The plan explains the transition from a "Yes" vote in the autumn 2014 referendum to independence day about 18 months later.

It's envisaged Scottish ministers would join with other parties and civic Scotland in negotiating the terms of independence with the UK government.

That would result in a legal constitutional platform comprising the division of assets and liabilities, new global connections including with the EU - and Scotland's retention of the monarchy.

SNP leaders want legislation enacted at Holyrood, by agreement with the UK.

Westminster's legislative role would be to end the Treaty of Union.

The paper challenges UK ministers to open talks now.

Prime Minister David Cameron says he'll share information - but won't pre-negotiate independence.

It says the preparation of that constitution should commence after independence "under the auspices of the independent Scottish Parliament".

It goes on: "When the process of determining the constitution gets under way, the Scottish government will be just one of many voices."

SNP leaders want the legislation which would create an independent Scotland enacted at Holyrood, by agreement with the UK.

Under the plans, Westminster's legislative role would be to end the Treaty of Union.

The paper says: "The Scottish government's intention is that after a 'yes' vote in 2014, arrangements will be made, in the spirit of the Edinburgh Agreement, for the transfer of sovereignty to the people of Scotland in time for the 2016 Scottish Parliamentary elections and for a constitutional platform to be put in place that will provide the basis on which our independent parliament and government will operate."

The Scottish government also uses the paper to repeat calls for the government at Westminster to engage in "preparatory discussions" about the transition to independence in the event of a "yes" vote.

The paper says: "The Electoral Commission has recommended that the Scottish and UK governments should engage in such discussions to agree the process that will follow a 'yes' vote.

"The Scottish government agrees and looks to the UK government to work with it to that end."

UK ministers have said they have already begun setting out views on the post-referendum process.

However, David Cameron has said he would not ''pre-negotiate Scotland's exit from the United Kingdom".

And head of the pro-Union Better Together campaign Alistair Darling said the Scottish government plans lacked credibility.

He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "What they are saying is that in less than a year you can break all the ties of the past and you can fix something entirely new.

Continue reading the main story

What they are saying is that in less than a year you can break all the ties of the past and you can fix something entirely new"

End Quote Alistair Darling Better Together

"When you consider the currency, how you divide pensions, how we allocate debt, defence, let alone Europe, these are all issues in which the Scottish government is not going to tell us their position until the end of this year, less than 10 months before a referendum."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP said: "The SNP have hopelessly underestimated the scale and complexity of this. They would have to negotiate over 14,000 international treaties, a currency, the division of assets, membership of Nato and the host of international organisations.

"To say they will bang all this through in just 16 months is absurd. This will give most people in Scotland the shivers and fuel suspicion that the SNP are just making it up as they go along."

Scottish Greens are welcoming the publication of proposals by the Scottish Government for the transfer of powers and development of a constitution following a Yes vote in the independence referendum.

Patrick Harvie, co-convener of the Scottish Greens, said: "The approach suggested by the Scottish government will help voters and politicians alike to start considering the practical steps to be taken in the event of a Yes vote, and it will become ever clearer that independence will open up new opportunities to improve Scotland from day one."

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Adlington retires from swimming

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington has retired at the age of 23.

The 2010 double Commonwealth Games gold medallist has opted not to defend her titles in Glasgow next year, and will now focus on her campaigning work.

Adlington became Britain's first female Olympic swimming champion in 48 years, with victories in the 400m and 800m freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The story of Adlington's Olympics

"I love swimming but as a competitive element and elite athlete I won't compete any more," she said.

The Mansfield-born swimmer, who also won bronze medals in the women's 400m and 800m freestyle events at London 2012, says she wants to leave the sport at the top.

"I have achieved everything I wanted to," she said.

"Some people want to milk it all they can. I've always said I wanted to finish on a high, despite my love of the sport."

British Olympic Association (BOA) chairman Lord Coe paid tribute to the achievements of the former Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion.

"Becky Adlington's unforgettable success in Beijing inspired a generation to get in the pool and swim," he said.

"Her down-to-earth personality and remarkable career achievements have made her a national treasure."

BOA chief Executive Andy Hunt added: "Through her remarkable talent and tireless work ethic, Becky Adlington has set a standard of excellence that future generations of Team GB athletes will aspire to reach.

"She represents the very best of what British sport, and the Olympic movement, are all about."

Adlington said in September that she would not compete at the Rio Olympics in 2016 , feeling that as a 27-year-old she would be too old to be competitive.

In October, she undertook a 280-mile bike ride in Zambia with Olympic bronze medallist Jo Jackson, former Commonwealth champion Ross Davenport and ex-swimmer Mel Marshall to raise £50,000 for Sport in Action,   a non-governmental organisation that looks to inspire change in impoverished communities through sport.

She says that her work outside the pool has taken on a greater significance, and that she no longer has the same motivation to compete at elite level.

"I had to look at things, take a break and see how I felt when I came back. It didn't feel the same getting back into training and it felt like time," she said.

"I hate the words 'retired' so I don't want to say it because I would never retire from swimming all together, but as an elite athlete I wont be competing any more and I won't be at the World Championships this year."

In retirement, Adlington will head up the "Rebecca Adlington Swim Stars" programme to encourage youngsters to take up swimming. 

"Swimmers retire younger than in other sports and the event she does, the 800m freestyle, is an extremely tough event.

"Your body doesn't recover the way it does when you are younger, as we saw in the summer, when she was beaten by an American (Katie Ledecky) who was only 15 years old.

"And of course every time Rebecca races there is so much more expectation than there was when she came through in Beijing and won her two gold medals."

"I want to launch my own learn to swim programme and I've always said that if I've inspired one kid to get in the pool then it would make my year and hopefully I can continue to do that," she said.

"I want to create a deeper legacy. I want all children when they leave school to be able to swim 25m - that's my ambition in life."

In December, Adlington criticised British Swimming's review into the team's under-performance at the London Games, telling the Times (subscription)  she felt "insulted, disheartened and saddened by the way they have ignored us, the swimmers."

She believes that the appointment of her former coach Bill Furniss as the new head coach at British Swimming will improve the relationship between athletes and the governing body, and hopes to work with Furniss mentoring future elite swimmers.

"He knows enough about the sport and has been on so many teams that he's seen it all first-hand, so if there was anyone suitable for the role it is him," she said.

"Hopefully I'll still have a relationship with him where I can pass on my perspective as a swimmer.

"I'd love to stay involved in all sorts of ways. Hopefully I can help the younger guys coming up because I have been through it all."

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Household water bills up by 3.5%

5 February 2013 Last updated at 06:17 ET

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Regina Finn: "We do recognise that any bill increase is really unwelcome"

The average household water and sewerage bill in England and Wales is to rise by 3.5% over the next year, regulator Ofwat has said.

Households will pay an average of £388 from April 2013 to March 2014.

Ofwat chief executive Regina Finn said that she understood that households were facing financial pressures.

But she said that the increase, half a percentage point higher than the rate of inflation, was not as high as the water companies had wanted.

"Back in 2009, companies wanted bills rises of 10% above inflation. That didn't chime with what customers told us they wanted, so we said they could only increase bills in line with inflation," Ms Finn said.

"We understand that there is huge pressure on household incomes, and any rise is unwelcome. Inflation is driving these increases."

"We will make sure customers get value for money and if companies fall short in delivering their investment promises, we will take action."

Regional differences

The new charges will vary for households depending on their supplier and whether they have a water meter.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

Water companies are making higher profits than expected and they need to give some of this back to their customers"

End Quote Dame Yve Buckland Consumer Council for Water

On average, households will see their water bill rise by about £13 for the year from April.

Thames Water will see the biggest percentage rise in water and sewerage bills with an increase of 5.5%, leaving households with an average bill of £354, according to Ofwat.

Other customers to see larger than average rises include those of Southern Water, with bills rising by 5.3% with an average payment of £449. Households supplied by Wessex Water will face an average bill of £478 - an increase of 4.9%.

The increased bills will contribute to investment programme worth about £25bn between 2010 and 2015, the regulator added.

Those supplied by South West Water will see bills fall by 7.3% after the government pledged contributions to reduce each household's bill by £50. However, water and sewerage bills in the region remain the highest in the country, with households paying an average of £499.

Last year, prices rose by 5.7%, owing to the higher level of inflation.

However, the Consumer Council for Water, a watchdog which represents customers, suggested that this inflation link had allowed companies to make excessive returns.

"Water companies are making higher profits than expected and they need to give some of this back to their customers," said Dame Yve Buckland, who chairs the watchdog.

"They can limit their own prices or invest more money into services. They should not keep it all for shareholders and investors."

Average household bills in 2013/14
Water and sewerage companies	Average bill	Increase
Source: Ofwat
Anglian	£434	2.8%
Dwr Cymru	£434	1.7%
Northumbrian (not Essex & Suffolk)	£359	2.2%
Severn Trent	£335	2.2%
South West	£499	-7.3%
Southern	£449	5.3%
Thames	£354	5.5%
United Utilities	£406	3.4%
Wessex	£478	4.9%
Yorkshire	£368	3.3%
Water only companies	Average bill	Increase
Affinity - central	£174	0.1%
Affinity - east	£171	1.4%
Affinity - south east	£203	3.1%
Bristol	£191	6.3%
Cambridge	£130	2.8%
Cholderton	£204	1.5%
Dee Valley	£150	4.1%
Portsmouth	£96	2.3%
Sembcorp Bournemouth	£154	1.2%
South East	£201	3%
South Staffs	£144	2.3%
Sutton & East Surrey	£186	3.9%

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Pryce 'wanted Huhne affair revenge'

5 February 2013 Last updated at 07:05 ET

Chris Huhne's former wife passed the story about his speeding offence to the press in revenge for his extra-marital affair, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Prosecutors say Vicky Pryce took speeding points for Huhne a decade ago.

The jury was read an email from 2011 - after she found out about Huhne's affair - in which Ms Pryce, 60, of London, said she wanted to "nail him".

She denies perverting the course of justice. Huhne admitted the same charge on Monday and later resigned as an MP.

Ex-Lib Dem cabinet minister Huhne and Ms Pryce, an economist, were charged last year over an incident in March 2003 when Huhne's car was caught by a speed camera on the motorway between Stansted Airport in Essex and London.

It is alleged that between 12 March and 21 May 2003, Ms Pryce, who was still married to Huhne, falsely informed police that she was the driver of the car so he could avoid prosecution.

'Destroy his career'

The speeding offence only came to light in 2011 when Huhne told Ms Pryce he was having an affair.

"She was not only distressed but extremely angry and wanted some revenge and her revenge was to pass the story about the 2003 crime to the newspapers so that it would be published in the hope that would destroy her husband's career," said Andrew Edis, opening the prosecution case against Ms Pryce.

He said it was Ms Pryce's plan that "she would get revenge by 'putting an end to all that'".

The jury heard details of email exchanges between Sunday Times political editor Isabel Oakeshott and Ms Pryce as they discussed how they could bring about a story,

Ms Oakeshott told her a story would inflict "maximum and perhaps fatal damage on Chris", Mr Edis told the court.

Ms Pryce responded in email: "I definitely want to nail him. More than ever, I would love to do it soon."

'Worked together'

Mr Edis said Huhne could not have passed his points to Ms Pryce on his own - they would have worked together.

He said both people had to "play ball", adding: "You can't actually do it on your own."

Mr Edis told the court the speeding ticket system, administered by post, was still a "course of justice" and therefore the charge of perverting the course of justice could be made.

He said a speeding offence "might not seem like a big deal, it might not seem like it really matters but ultimately it does matter". The system, he said, would not work if "everyone fiddles it".

Ms Pryce is claiming she was subject to "marital coercion" which the court heard would only be the case if she had no choice but to agree to Mr Huhne's demand to take the points.

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UK to host Afghan-Pakistani talks

2 February 2013 Last updated at 23:34 ET

British Prime Minister David Cameron will hold key talks with the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan to discuss the Afghan peace process.

The trilateral summit - the third since last summer - is aimed at improving co-operation between both countries to promote regional stability.

For the first time Afghan and Pakistani army and intelligence chiefs will also take part in the discussions.

Nato troops are scheduled to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

In a process initiated by Mr Cameron last year, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari have agreed to work together on a framework of co-operation following the international troops' departure next year.

The steadily approaching deadline for the military exit will inevitably be a key factor in the talks, not least for Pakistan with its concerns about security across the region from then on, the BBC's World Affairs correspondent, Mike Wooldridge, reports.

Overcoming mistrust

Mr Cameron will host a dinner with Mr Karzai and Mr Zardari at his official country residence Chequers north of London on Sunday evening.

He will then hold the in-depth talks with both presidents and their key officials on Monday.

"This trilateral process sends a very clear message to the Taliban: now is the time for everyone to participate in a peaceful political process in Afghanistan," Downing Street said in a statement.

"As the prime minister has set out previously, a stable Afghanistan is not just in the interests of Afghans, but also in the interests of their neighbours and the UK."

Overcoming mistrust between Afghanistan and Pakistan remains a central issue, our correspondent reports.

The Afghan government has made it clear that it views the recent freeing by Pakistan of a number of Taliban prisoners as positive, he says.

But it still wants the release of the former second-in-command of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Baradar, in the hope that a senior figure like him could influence the Taliban to engage in talks with Kabul.

For the first time, the trilateral talks will also include military and intelligence chiefs from both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Officials believe this could help in tackling some of the most sensitive issues to do with reconciliation efforts, our correspondent says.

Meanwhile Mr Karzai told the BBC's Pashto Service that Afghan people should take the initiative for peace into their own hands.

"As neither the communist government, nor the Mujahedeen brought peace and security to the country, if we do not carefully manage our peace process the way we did not in the past, we will not achieve stability or security," Mr Karzai said.

The first two rounds of the trilateral talks were held in Kabul and New York last year.

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Bolshoi director 'knows' attacker

3 February 2013 Last updated at 04:30 ET

The Bolshoi Ballet's artistic director says he is "absolutely certain" he knows who is behind an acid attack that left him badly injured last month.

Sergei Filin told the BBC he would not name names until investigators are ready to make an announcement.

He said he was sure the aim of the attack was to remove him as artistic director and destroy the prestigious Moscow ballet company's reputation.

Mr Filin is due to fly to Germany next week to continue his treatment.

His eyes were badly damaged in the 17 January attack in Moscow, and he said he had already undergone five operations and was under constant monitoring.

The 42-year-old said he knew that some people had disliked the way he was taking the ballet company, which is known for its infighting and rivalries, but believed he had no "obvious enemies".

He also said he wished he had taken more seriously the months of threats and harassment he had suffered, accepting now that it was "leading up to the tragedy to come".

Here is the interview with the BBC's Steve Rosenberg, conducted on Saturday:

How's the treatment going?

The treatment's going well. I'm pleased. But the most important thing is whether the doctors are satisfied. Overall, it's going ok. I feel well. My body is full of strength and energy. The priority now is my eyesight. Because the biggest and most serious problem remains my eyes.

How is your eyesight?

I can't say. I've had four operations already and today I had another small operation which wasn't planned. My eyes are being monitored constantly. One eye was more damaged than the other. The left eye was damaged a little less, the right eye was damaged more. So there's a lot of work going on to treat them. It wouldn't be right for me to comment on my condition, I think it's up to the doctors to do that. But I can say this. Based on what I feel, when the doctors give me the opportunity to sort of open my eyes and try to see something, I think that there's a chance that I will be able to see my children again. I really want to believe that.

Had you been threatened before?

I've said many times that what happened was connected solely with my work in the Bolshoi Theatre. Of course, I had received threats. I think I had brushed them aside too easily. I ignored the advice of my friends to take on a driver and a bodyguard. Because the intimidation I was encountering - the mass attacks on my mobile phones, that kept ringing constantly, the hacking of my email accounts, my messages were totally rewritten in a negative way and posted on Facebook - I see now that all of this was leading up to the tragedy to come. I think that if I'd taken this more seriously and seen it as a sign of an attack, if I'd at least taken on a driver, then this never would have happened.

Were there concrete threats, like "If you don't do this, we'll do that…"?

No, no-one threatened me face-to-face.

What do you think the aim of the attack was?

I think there was a double aim. What's clear here is the psychosis of one or more people who were in a hurry to cause me a lot of pain to fulfil their own personal ambitions. That's the first thing. The second aim was to remove me as the Bolshoi's artistic director for a long period, and to damage the reputation of the Bolshoi Ballet. Because I think we've done a lot, and we're doing a lot, we're moving in the right direction there. And someone really doesn't like what I've been doing there, perhaps they don't like the fact I've been successful.

Why do you think someone wanted to get rid of you from the Bolshoi? Did you make enemies?

When I get on with life and work, I don't have time to think about whether I have enemies. I don't have any obvious enemies. I've had an interesting and a sparkling career. And throughout that there was never a moment when I feared going outside, or when I was looking over my shoulder. I'm a very honest person. I have my opinions on things, I take tough decisions. I was a manager, the manager of a very serious collective, the Bolshoi Ballet. Perhaps there are people who didn't like that, or who thought I shouldn't be, or who consider themselves hard done by. But I can't call them my enemies. Why did they want to get rid of me? I'd like to wait before answering that. I think the investigators will provide the answer to that.

I don't expect you to name any names, but do you have an idea who could have done this?

Yes, I not only have a suspicion about who did this, but I'm absolutely certain I know who did this. But I will only speak about this when investigators are ready to announce this.

What measures have you taken to protect yourself and your family in the future?

I haven't had time for this, because in hospital, every day, I have had to undergo dozens of medical procedures, several operations, first on the skin of my face, then my eyes. Every day, eyes, skin, eyes, face. As for my family's safety, the whole family is now being guarded.

What are your plans now? Will you be going to Germany for further medical treatment?

Yes. If I'll be stable today and tomorrow, without serious problems, then on Monday I will fly to Germany for further treatment.

What message would you send to the people who organised this attack?

You know, I invited a priest to the hospital to talk about this very subject. He took my confession. I told him that I forgive everyone connected to this terrifying crime. And I sincerely want them to understand that I have forgiven them. Because the Lord will judge them.

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'Many die' in Iraq police attack

3 February 2013 Last updated at 05:56 ET

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The attackers were wearing police uniforms

At least 16 people have been killed as suicide bombers and gunmen attacked a police HQ in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, medical sources say.

Officials said militants had tried to seize the compound after a bomb exploded at the gates, but were unsuccessful. A police chief was hurt.

No group has said it carried out the attack.

Kirkuk is ethnically mixed, and at the centre of a dispute between Baghdad and the Kurds over oil and land rights.

Sunni insurgents linked to al-Qaeda have been blamed for much of the recent violence in Iraq.

However, there has been a relative calm in recent days.

'Terrifying' explosion

The attack took place at around 09:15 local time (06:15 GMT) in the centre of Kirkuk.

"I saw a vehicle stop at the checkpoint at the main entrance, and the police started checking it," eyewitness Kosrat Hassan Karim told the AFP news agency.

"Suddenly, a loud explosion happened, it was terrifying."

Two militants reportedly dressed in police uniforms and armed with guns, grenades and suicide vests rushed the main gate of the headquarters after the bomb was detonated.

One was killed immediately by police. They tried to dismantle the other's suicide vest but were unsuccessful, so they shot him dead, reports said.

At least 90 people were injured including local police chief Brigadier Sarhad Qader and the press officer of the police directorate, whose conditions are described as critical. Both have been moved to a hospital in Irbil.

Firefighting chief Brig-Gen Naseh Mohammed put the death toll as high as 30.

The attack caused massive damage to nearby buildings.

Traffic in the city centre was stopped, and offices in the area were evacuated.

With its massive oil reserves, Kirkuk is the most bitterly contested of Iraq's disputed territories.

It houses a mixture of Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen.

The Kurds want to incorporate it into their largely autonomous region, while Arabs and Turkmen oppose any change to its current status, ruled directly from Baghdad.

Correspondents say militants often exploit differences between the Iraqi and Kurdish security forces by launching deadly attacks in the city.

Two weeks ago at least 10 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack on the offices of the Kurdish Democratic Party in the city.

Days later, a suicide bomber killed at least 23 people at a Shia mosque in the nearby village of Tuz Khurmato, mainly populated by ethnic Turkmen.

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Assad: Israel destabilising Syria

3 February 2013 Last updated at 06:57 ET

Syria's embattled President Bashar al-Assad has accused Israel of trying to "destabilise" his country.

It was his first remarks on the reported Israeli air strike in Syria on Wednesday.

In a meeting with an Iranian official in the capital Damascus, he said Syria was able to confront "current threats... and aggression".

Syrian TV has shown images of the raid Damascus says Israeli jets carried out on a scientific research centre.

Israel has made no official comment on the attack, but remarks by Defence Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday hinted that Israel was behind it.

He told a meeting of top international diplomats and defence officials that the strike was "proof that when we say something we mean it".

Syria says Israeli fighter jets bombed a scientific research centre in Jamraya, north-east of Damascus, killing two and wounding five.

US officials say lorries carrying weapons bound for Lebanon were the target.

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Tory chairs urge gay marriage delay

3 February 2013 Last updated at 07:05 ET

Senior local Conservatives are urging the prime minister to delay any parliamentary decision on gay marriage until after the next election.

More than 20 Conservative Association chairmen have signed a letter to be delivered to No 10 on Sunday.

It warns of "significant damage to the Conservative Party in the run-up to the 2015 election" if the plans enter law.

The foreign secretary said MPs would be left to "make their own decision" when they voted on the plans next week.

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill would enable same-sex couples to get married in both civil and religious ceremonies, where a religious institution had formally consented, in England and Wales.

It would also allow couples who have previously entered into civil partnerships to convert their relationship into a marriage.

'No mandate'

Meanwhile, the Sunday Telegraph reports some 180 Conservative MPs, including six whips and up to four members of the Cabinet, are ready to defy the prime minister's plan to legalise gay weddings.

MPs will have a free vote on the issue, meaning they will not be issued orders by party whips.

Continue reading the main story

Same-sex marriage is a divisive one for the Conservatives.

Many big beasts of the party, including London Mayor Boris Johnson, support it. He says they should "just whack it through".

But this haste worries many traditional supporters.

Tory MPs are being given a free vote on the proposals and it's thought three cabinet members, as well as junior ministers and party whips, are among those likely to oppose or abstain.

Grassroots members have also made clear their opposition in the letter signed by chairmen or former chairmen of Conservative Party associations.

Giving same-sex couples the right to marry in a religious setting is something David Cameron hoped would win the party broader support.

But, it seems, the issue risks splitting the party and alienating the party's core support.

Foreign Secretary William Hague told BBC One's Sunday Politics: "It's for them to make their own decision, as it was when there were votes on abortion laws or capital punishment.

"If we weren't debating it now, it would be an issue at the next general election."

Marriage was "a very positive institution", Mr Hague said, arguing there was "sufficient protection" in the bill for religious organisations who did not want to offer it to same-sex couples.

He said he had changed his views on the subject in the "last couple of years" and he now thought it was "right in principle".

The letter is signed by 23 current and recent Conservative constituency chairmen. There are hundreds of chairmen across 650 constituencies.

In the letter they warn about the impact of the plans on party morale and electoral appeal.

Writing "specifically out of our concerns about the growing discord within the Conservative Party over this issue", they also say "resignations from the party are beginning to multiply".

They say the decision for the vote has been made without adequate consultation with the Conservative Party membership or the country at large.

It says there is no mandate for the bill and that it is being pushed through in a way members find "extremely distasteful".

"More time should be afforded to debate an issue of such gravity… and a final decision on the matter should be postponed until after the 2015 general election when the public would have had the chance to vote on a clear manifesto pledge," they write.

Measure supported

Conservative culture minister Ed Vaizey told Sky News he was supporting the government's bill.

He said people in "loving relationships" deserve an "opportunity" to marry, adding: "Equal civil marriage is not distracting the government from a whole range of other important issues."

Also, Education Secretary Michael Gove has offered his support to the proposed legalisation of same-sex marriage but told the Mail on Sunday teachers would not be disciplined for refusing to promote it.

But he faces opposition from within Tory ranks within his constituency of Surrey Heath.

Geoffrey Veero, chairman of the Surrey Heath Conservative Association, told the BBC that "well over 25" local members had already resigned from the Conservative Party over the proposed introduction of gay marriage and that the number was "rising the whole time".

"I think a number of Conservative supporters and voters will sit on their hands on the issue, and that may well affect David's opportunity to get re-elected at 2015, and we think that that is a dangerous risk to take with your core supporters."

However, Conservative former education minister Tim Loughton says it was the "wrong time" to introduce such legislation.

On Saturday, it emerged the government would not introduce a tax break for married couples in next month's Budget after speculation the measure would be brought in to appease Tory backbenchers opposed to gay marriage.

However, legislation is expected to be introduced before 2015 to allow couples to transfer part of their personal tax allowance to their partner.

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