Snowden 'leaves Moscow airport'

1 August 2013 Last updated at 08:13 ET

US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has left the Moscow airport where he has been staying since June, his lawyer told the BBC.

Anatoly Kucherena said Mr Snowden had received the necessary papers to enter Russian territory from the transit zone at Sheremetyevo Airport.

Russia is currently considering his request for asylum.

The US has charged Mr Snowden with leaking details of its electronic surveillance programmes.

He arrived in Moscow on 23 June from Hong Kong, after making his revelations.

The Snowden affair has caused diplomatic ructions around the world, upsetting America's close allies and traditional enemies.

The US Attorney General, Eric Holder, has given Moscow an assurance that he will not face the death penalty if extradited to America, but the Russians say they do not intend to hand him over.

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Japan minister retracts Nazi remarks

1 August 2013 Last updated at 04:17 ET

Japan's Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso has retracted remarks suggesting that the country could learn from Nazi Germany's constitutional reform.

Mr Aso said on Monday Japan could "learn the technique" Nazi Germany used to change the Weimar constitution.

The remarks come amid debate in Japan over its pacifist constitution, which restricts the military to a self-defence role.

Mr Aso's comments drew criticism from neighbouring China and South Korea.

"I retract my remarks in which I cited the Nazis as an example, as it has ended up leading to misunderstanding," Mr Aso, who is also finance minister and a former prime minister, told reporters on Thursday.

"It is clear from all my remarks that I have an extremely negative view of the events involving the Nazis and the Weimar constitution."

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters: "I want to make it clear that the [Prime Minister Shinzo] Abe cabinet will never view the Nazi government positively".

'Nazi tactics'

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

Such remarks definitely hurt many people"

End Quote Cho Tai-young South Korean foreign ministry spokesman

On Monday, Mr Aso had said in a speech that: "The German Weimar constitution changed, without being noticed, to the Nazi German constitution. Why don't we learn from their tactics?"

In 1933 after a fire burned down the German parliament, Adolf Hitler, who was chancellor at the time, and President Paul von Hindenburg enforced a state of emergency, suspending civic freedoms guaranteed by the constitution.

Hitler then successfully passed the Enabling Act, which meant he could pass laws without consulting parliament - a move viewed as crucial to consolidating his grip on power.

Retracting the remarks on Thursday, Mr Aso said he highlighted the case as "as a bad example of changes made without a substantial debate or understanding by the citizens".

In response to Mr Aso's Monday speech, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that Mr Aso's comments had alarmed Japan's neighbours, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

"We demand the Japanese side reflect on its history, fulfil its commitments on historical issues and win the trust of Asian neighbours and the international community through concrete actions," Mr Hong said.

South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young said the "remarks definitely hurt many people".

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

The Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes... land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained"

End Quote Article 9, Japanese constitution

"It is clear what such comments on the [Nazi] regime mean to people of the time and to those who [suffered] from Japan's imperialistic invasion", he said.

'Expand and deepen'

Constitutional reform is a delicate issue in Japan. Under Article 9 of its post-war constitution, Japan is blocked from the use of force to resolve conflicts except in the case of self-defence.

But Mr Abe - who now controls both houses of parliament after a win in last month's upper house polls - has indicated he wants to re-examine the role of Japan's military to meet the changing security environment in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr Abe has said he wants to "expand and deepen" debate over the constitution in order to ease tight restrictions on the armed forces - something China and South Korea, which were invaded by Japan during WWII, are opposed to.

Mr Aso, his deputy, has made verbal gaffes in the past. During his term as prime minister, he accused doctors of lacking common sense and called the elderly a "feeble" group - despite his party relying heavily on older voters to keep it in power.

In May, Osaka's Mayor Toru Hashimoto came under fire after he said that "comfort women", women who were forced to become prostitutes for Japan's WWII troops, were "necessary".

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Syria's Assad 'sure of victory'

1 August 2013 Last updated at 05:31 ET

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he is "sure of victory" over rebels fighting to topple him, in a message to the army.

"If we in Syria were not sure of victory, we would not have had the will to resist nor been able to persevere in the face of more than two years of aggression," he said in his message.

It comes after troops recaptured a key district of the city of Homs on Monday.

A month ago, troops launched an offensive to oust rebels from the city.

The army has also been on the offensive in the eastern suburbs of the capital and west of the main northern city of Aleppo.

"I have great faith in you and confidence in your ability to... fulfil the national mission that has been assigned to you," Mr Assad told Syrian troops in the message, which was carried by state media.

"You have shown rare courage in the battle against terrorism and you have impressed the whole world with your resistance... in one of the most brutal and ferocious wars of modern history," he said.

Homs has been a focus of unrest in the two-year uprising against President Assad, in which the UN says more than 100,000 people have died.

On Wednesday, Syria agreed to allow UN investigators to visit three sites where chemical weapons have allegedly been used, the UN said.

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Uruguay MPs back marijuana bill

1 August 2013 Last updated at 05:58 ET

Members of Uruguay's House of Representatives have passed a bill to legalise marijuana.

If it goes on to be approved by the Senate, Uruguay will become the first country to regulate the production, distribution and sale of marijuana.

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The measure is backed by the government of President Jose Mujica, who says it will remove profits from drug dealers and divert users from harder drugs.

Under the bill, only the government would be allowed to sell marijuana.

The state would assume "the control and regulation of the importation, exportation, plantation, cultivation, the harvest, the production, the acquisition, the storage, the commercialisation and the distribution of cannabis and its by-products".

Buyers would have to be registered on a database and be over the age of 18. They would be able to buy up to 40g (1.4oz) per month in specially licensed pharmacies or grow up to six plants at home.

Foreigners would be excluded from the measure.

Political tussle

The bill was approved by 50 of the 96 MPs in the lower house following a fierce 13-hour debate in the capital, Montevideo.

The supporters of the measure argued that the fight against drugs and drug trafficking had failed, and the country needed "new alternatives".

"The regulation is not to promote consumption; consumption already exists," said Sebastian Sabini of the governing centre-left Frente Amplio (Broad Front) coalition, which has a majority of one in the lower house.

Continue reading the main story

If approved by the Senate as expected, this will become a groundbreaking law, but not only for Uruguay. For decades, drug trafficking has caused thousands of deaths throughout Latin America in countries like Mexico or Colombia.

Legalisation has long been taboo for governments who aligned with the US anti drug policy, heavily dependent on law enforcement and prohibition.

This is still considered the orthodox approach and it is supported by conservatives and the Catholic Church.

But more and more leaders, like Guatemalan president Otto Perez Molina and former Mexican president Vicente Fox, are asking to discuss decriminalising some drugs in an attempt to undermine the cartels.

Marijuana use has reportedly doubled in Uruguay over the past year. An estimated 22 tonnes of marijuana are being sold in the country annually, according to Uruguay's National Drugs Committee.

But Gerardo Amarilla of the opposition National Party said the government was "playing with fire" given the health risks he said were linked to marijuana use.

All eyes were on Dario Perez, a member of the governing coalition but a strong opponent of the bill, whose vote could have scuppered the bill.

During his 20-minute speech, Mr Perez reiterated his belief that the issue should be put to a referendum and not have been "imposed" by the government.

But to applause by supporters of the bill in the public gallery, he finally concluded that as long as he was a member of the coalition, he would vote with it, despite his personal misgivings.

The bill is now expected to be approved by the Senate, where the left-wing government has a bigger majority.

But opposition politicians said that even if the law made it through the senate, they would launch a petition to have it overturned.

A survey carried out before the vote by polling organisation Cifra suggested 63% of Uruguayans opposed the bill.

Papal opposition

The progress of the bill is being watched closely across the region, says BBC regional analyst Ignacio de los Reyes.

For decades, drug trafficking has caused tens of thousands of deaths throughout Latin America.

Uruguay may have not experienced the bloodshed caused by drug trafficking, but the proposal could be seen as a test for violence-torn nations looking for an end to their drug wars, our analyst adds.

The vote also comes just days after Pope Francis criticised drug legalisation plans during a visit to neighbouring Brazil.

The pontiff said it was "necessary to tackle the problems which are at the root of drug abuse, promoting more justice, educating the youth with the values that live in society, standing by those who face hardship and giving them hope for the future".

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US and Pakistan to resume key talks

1 August 2013 Last updated at 06:35 ET

US Secretary of State John Kerry has agreed to resume high-level talks over security issues with Pakistan.

The agreement was made after Mr Kerry met senior Pakistani politicians, including new PM Nawaz Sharif.

The talks were stalled after 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed in US air strikes on a Pakistani post on the Afghan border in 2011.

Relations were also strained by the US killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in May of that year.

Speaking after the talks on Thursday, Mr Kerry said they were "constructive" and "positive".

He said the two sides were serious about overcoming past irritants and that he had invited the new prime minister to Washington to meet US President Barack Obama.

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

Mr Kerry's visit to Islamabad is essentially to renew what he calls a "full partnership" with Pakistan.

The aim is apparently to offer crucial financial inputs to revive Pakistan's economy, and to obtain greater Pakistani co-operation in counter-terrorism before the Nato drawdown of troops in Afghanistan.

Both sides agree that there are difficulties. Pakistani concerns over drone strikes are not likely to be addressed by the US, and the Pakistanis may continue to go slow on American demands of wiping out militant safe havens on its territory.

But both sides feel they will need to make some progress over the next six months when a fully fledged strategic dialogue, broken off in October 2010, will resume between the two countries.

They expect further progress in the wake of the Afghan presidential election next spring, and the public message from the Americans that they intend to retain troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014 for counter-terrorism operations and to train and equip the Afghan army.

The secretary of state said the common interests of Pakistan and the US outweighed any differences they had.

"The Pakistan-US relationship is not defined by threats we face and is not just about counter-terrorism, but about the economic revival of Pakistan," he said.

He emphasised their relationship was strong enough to withstand threats from the extremists.

The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says the resumption of the "strategic dialogue'' indicates that their relationship has improved since the low points of 2011 and is now on course to normalisation after nearly three years of bad blood.

The closed-door talks between Mr Kerry and Mr Sharif focused on the economy, Pakistan's energy shortages and security ahead of Nato's withdrawal from Afghanistan next year, officials said.

Mr Kerry insisted the US was "drawing down, not withdrawing" from Afghanistan and that he was confident Washington would reach agreement on future troop levels with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Mr Kerry also strove to ease tension over controversial US drone strikes against suspected militants.

CIA strikes killed up to 3,460 people in Pakistan between 2004 and 2013.

The troubled border region of North Waziristan is considered an al-Qaeda and Taliban stronghold and US drones regularly target the area.

Mr Sharif, who won elections in May, has demanded an end to such attacks, saying they violate his country's sovereignty.

Parts of the Pakistani government and military have often been accused of criticising the use of drones in public, but co-operating in private.

Earlier this year, Mr Obama said the strikes were part of a legitimate campaign against terrorism, but he also pledged more transparency and stricter targeting rules.

'Historic transition'

The US secretary of state also held talks with Pakistani army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani and President Ali Asif Zardari in Islamabad on Thursday.

Continue reading the main story

US drone strikes in Pakistan

• Bureau of Investigative Journalism has recorded 368 drone strikes in Pakistan
• Every strike has to be approved by US president
• Vast majority carried out under Barack Obama
• Four US citizens killed in strikes since 2009

It is Mr Kerry's first trip to Pakistan as secretary of state, although he has a long history of dealing with Pakistan as former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Before the pair began their talks, Mr Sharif described him as "a wonderful friend", while Mr Kerry replied that he "had the pleasure of visiting Mr Sharif's home and having a number of meals with him''.

The secretary of state paid tribute to Mr Sharif's victory at the polls. It marked the first time that an elected civilian Pakistani government completed a full term in office and handed over to another.

"This is a historic transition that just took place. Nobody should diminish it," he told US embassy staff.

US officials travelling with Mr Kerry said Pakistan - although still formulating its counter-terrorism strategy following a spate of militant attacks - is likely to continue clampdowns on militants, but also engage them in talks.

The last visit by a US secretary of state was in 2011, after Osama Bin Laden was killed.

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Bangladesh court restricts Islamists

1 August 2013 Last updated at 06:41 ET

Bangladesh's main Islamist party has broken election rules, jeopardising its involvement in next year's poll, the high court has said.

Jamaat-e-Islami must amend its charter and re-apply for registration if it is to contest the polls, a lawyer for the election commission said.

Senior Jamaat leaders who opposed the country's 1971 separation from Pakistan are being tried on war crimes charges.

A series of rulings against Jamaat have led to violent protests in Bangladesh.

A panel of judges had been considering a petition which complained that Jamaat-e-Islami, as a religion-based party, did not believe in the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh.

Lawyers argued that provisions of Jamaat's charter were against Bangladesh's constitution. The high court ruled in favour of the petition.

Party remains legal

Responding to Thursday's verdict, the Bangladeshi election commission, which is in charge of preparations for the poll due to take place next January, confirmed that Jamaat would be able to continue its political activities.

Shahdeen Malik, a lawyer for the commission, told AFP news agency: "If it amends its charter to bring it in conformity with the constitution and reapplies for registration, it can be re-registered," he added.

Four party leaders have this year been sentenced to death for murder, mass murder, rape and religious persecution.

In a report released on Thursday, Human Rights Watch said violent unrest sparked by a series of controversial court rulings since February had left at least 150 people dead.

Most of the victims were protesters, HRW said. But at least 12 members of the security forces were among those killed, the rights group added.

"With... more war crimes verdicts ahead, the risk of further violence is high," said HRW spokesman Brad Adams.

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Embattled Rajoy admits to 'mistake'

1 August 2013 Last updated at 07:23 ET

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Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy: "I am sorry... I was wrong in maintaining trust in someone who today we know didn't deserve it"

Embattled Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has admitted to MPs that he made a "mistake" in trusting a disgraced former colleague.

But he told MPs claims he was corrupt were "lies and manipulations", and again defied calls for his resignation.

Mr Rajoy is appearing in parliament to answer claims over illegal payments from a slush fund run by the Popular Party's ex-treasurer, Luis Barcenas.

The claims sparked widespread anger and anti-government protests.

Revelations of apparent corruption have touched a nerve in Spain, hit by a double-dip recession and high unemployment.

Clashes erupted between anti-government protesters and police in mid-July after more than 1,000 people gathered outside the Partido Popular (Popular Party, PP) headquarters calling on the government to quit.

'Lies and manipulations'

Mr Rajoy appeared before MPs after threats of a no-confidence vote.

In opening remarks, he said he was appearing to rebuff the "lies, manipulations and malicious insinuations encouraged by certain political leaders" over the scandal.

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

Guy Hedgecoe BBC News, Madrid

---

The prime minister was in combative mood as he addressed the members of parliament. He flatly denied any wrongdoing and accused the political opposition of treating parliament "like a courthouse".

But to the surprise of many, he did discuss the Barcenas scandal in some detail and in telling the chamber "I made a mistake", he presented himself as the victim of gross deceit by his party's former treasurer.

Mr Rajoy was frequently applauded by his own party as he spoke, but during a tense and sometimes rowdy debate, the opposition barracked many of his declarations.

It was an unusually forthright performance by the prime minister, who is not known for his abilities as a public speaker. His Popular Party's congressional majority means that for the moment, at least, he should be able to survive this political crisis.

But with most Spaniards doubting his version of events prior to the congressional appearance, it may not be enough to win over public opinion.

He suggested that the Spanish economy was beginning to recover from years of crisis, and expressed concern that a continued focus on the scandal was damaging Spain's image.

For the first time, he admitted making a mistake by putting trust "in someone who we now know did not deserve it". But he denied "committing the criminal offence of covering up for someone who is alleged to be guilty".

Mr Barcenas is in custody while being investigated over other corruption allegations.

Mr Rajoy repeated that he would not resign, and said Spaniards should await the outcome of judicial investigations into the affair.

"Justice will show there was nothing illegal in my own behaviour or that of my party," he said.

In response, the leader of the country's main opposition Socialist Party, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, said Mr Rajoy was not in the chamber to debate the state of the Spanish economy.

He said it was Mr Rajoy's "resistance" to answering parliament that was causing damage to Spain, and said the PP had won elections over 20 years on the back of a system of illegal financing.

He refused to withdraw a motion of censure against Mr Rajoy.

Even if Mr Rajoy did not respect parliament, he said, "he should respect the intelligence of Spaniards".

"You must go, Mr Rajoy," he said.

Representatives of other parties later denounced the president's claims that he knew nothing of wrongdoing by Mr Barcenas, saying their relationship was too close to make such a claim credible.

Text messages

The scandal originated in a 2009 judicial investigation into corrupt payments involving PP members.

In January this year, El Pais newspaper published an alleged list of illegal payments within the party.

The list was signed off by Mr Barcenas, who is currently in custody on corruption and tax fraud charges, with his role in the scandal still being investigated.

He originally denied allegations that he wrote documents, but later admitted they were in his handwriting.

Continue reading the main story

Scandal timeline

• 31 January: El Pais newspaper publishes handwritten ledgers attributed to two former Popular Party treasurers
• 27 June: Ex-treasurer Luis Barcenas placed in custody, charged with tax evasion
• 15 July: El Mundo newspaper publishes friendly text messages from PM Mariano Rajoy to Barcenas
• 1 August: Rajoy tells parliament he made a mistake in trusting Barcenas

The former party treasurer now says he made numerous bonus payments - in cash - to Mr Rajoy and other senior party members, out of the party slush fund of donations by businesses.

Mr Rajoy and other PP members have repeatedly denied that they received illegal payments and have accused Mr Barcenas of trying to blackmail them.

The PP's deputy leader, Maria Dolores de Cospedal, has been summoned to appear before investigating judge Pablo Ruz on 14 August.

Calls for Mr Rajoy to resign intensified after private text messages published by El Mundo newspaper suggested that he had friendly ties to Mr Barcenas from May 2011 to March 2013.

Mr Rajoy admitted sending messages of support to Mr Barcenas.

However, throughout the scandal, Mr Rajoy has at no point given any indication he would resign, says the BBC's Tom Burridge in Madrid.

The PP was handed a clear mandate by Spanish voters at the end of 2011 and as a result Mr Rajoy and his party enjoy a clear majority in parliament.

The corruption allegations coincide with Spain's worst economic crisis for decades, and have threatened to destabilise government attempts to shore up public finances and bring the recession to an end.

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Zimbabwe election was 'huge farce'

1 August 2013 Last updated at 08:07 ET

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Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai dismisses Wednesday's election

Zimbabwe's presidential election was a "huge farce", PM Morgan Tsvangirai has said, alleging vote-rigging by rival President Robert Mugabe's camp.

At a news conference, Mr Tsvangirai said that Wednesday's poll was "null and void".

The largest observer group earlier said up to a million people were prevented from voting.

Mr Mugabe's party - which is claiming a victory - denied the accusations, saying the voting went smoothly.

The head of the African Union observer mission, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, said his initial assessment was that the vote was free and fair.

Other regional observers praised the peaceful nature of the election.

Vote counting started overnight, and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has five days to declare who won the poll.

Police have warned they would take action against anyone trying to leak early results. It is illegal to publish unofficial results.

Extra units - some in riot gear - have now been deployed in the capital, Harare.

Continue reading the main story

ZESN election findings

• Pre-election roll in June:

- 99.7% of rural voters registered

- 67.94% of urban voters registered

- more than 750,000 urban voters missing compared to rural voters

- 82% of urban polling stations turned away many potential voters

- 38% of rural polling stations turned away many potential voters

- poll "seriously compromised" by effort to disenfranchise about one million voters

Legal challengers are now likely to follow, the BBC's Andrew Harding in Johannesburg reports.

But much will depend on whether Zimbabwe's neighbours endorse the poll, our correspondent adds.

'Seriously compromised'

Speaking at his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) headquarters in Harare, Mr Tsvangirai said: "Our conclusion is that this has been a huge farce.

"The credibility of this election has been marred by administrative and legal violations which affected the legitimacy of its outcome.

"It's a sham election that does not reflect the will of the people."

Mr Tsvangirai spoke shortly after the monitors from the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) said the poll was "seriously compromised".

In a statement, the ZESN said that potential voters were turned away from 82% of polling stations in urban areas, where support for Mr Tsvangirai is strong.

In rural areas - seen as strongholds of President Mugabe - the percentage was 38%, the group added.

It said that a result about one million of the country's about 6.4 million eligible voters were prevented from casting their ballots.

On Wednesday, villagers, MDC polling agents and the ZESN said there had been voting irregularities in rural parts of Masvingo province.

They said local traditional leaders and village heads had lined up people, forcibly marched them to the polling stations and given them voting numbers as if to cross-check who they had voted for.

They also allege that in these areas some literate people were forced to pretend they could not read or write and were assisted to cast their vote in favour of Zanu-PF.

Zanu-PF spokesman Psychology Maziwisa denied that many voters had been deliberately prevented from registering.

He admitted that there were some irregularities, but stressed that both main parties had been affected.

Continue reading the main story

Zimbabwe election: Key facts

• About 6.4 million registered voters
• Vote for president and parliament
• Zanu-PF's Robert Mugabe and MDC's Morgan Tsvangirai are the main presidential contenders
• Mr Mugabe, 89, is seeking to extend his 33-year rule
• Mr Tsvangirai, 61, hopes to become president after three failed attempts
• The poll ends the fractious coalition between Zanu-PF and MDC, which was brokered by regional mediators after disputed elections in 2008 that were marred by violence
• First election under new constitution

"You've got to bear in mind that that was partly due to the fact that resources were not being made available by the finance minister who is Tendai Biti, who comes from the Movement for Democratic Change party," Mr Maziwisa said told the BBC.

"If you look at the Zimbabwean situation you can only come to one conclusion. And that is that over the last four years we've made a lot of effort to make this environment in Zimbabwe as conducive as it possibly can [be] for an election that is free and fair."

He was speaking as Zanu-PF's senior members were already celebrating their victory.

"We have romped [to victory] in a very emphatic manner," one member - who asked not to be named - told the AFP news agency.

'Dead' voters

Mr Mugabe, 89, has pledged to step down after 33 years in power if he and his party lost.

President Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and and Mr Tsvangirai's MDC have shared an uneasy coalition government since 2009 under a deal brokered to end the deadly violence that erupted after a disputed presidential poll the previous year.

The first round of the 2008 poll was also praised for being peaceful - trouble broke out after the results were announced, with Mr Tsvangirai gaining more votes than Mr Mugabe.

On Tuesday, the MDC accused Zanu-PF of doctoring the roll of registered voters, which was released by the ZEC only on the eve of the polls after weeks of delay.

The MDC claimed the roll dated back to 1985 and was full of anomalies.

A BBC correspondent has seen the document and says it features the names of thousands of dead people.

MDC Secretary-General Tendai Biti said there were as many as two million such names, while some genuine voters were not on the rolls.

The MDC has already handed its evidence to observers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

But a senior Zanu-PF member has denied the allegations, saying that that appointees from both parties were in the electoral commission.

In addition to Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, there are three other candidates standing for the presidency: Welshman Ncube, leader of the breakaway MDC-Mutambara; Dumiso Dabengwa of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (Zapu), and Kisinoti Munodei Mukwazhe, who represents the small Zimbabwe Development Party (ZDP).

To be declared a winner, a presidential candidate must win more than 50% of the vote. If no candidate reaches this mark, a run-off will be held on 11 September.

The elections were the first to be held under the new constitution approved in a referendum in March this year.

On Wednesday, voters were also electing the country's new parliament.

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US man 'forgotten' in jail gets $4m

31 July 2013 Last updated at 03:15 ET

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Daniel Chong: "I didn't sit there quietly, I was kicking the door and yelling"

A university student in the US city of San Diego has received $4.1m (£2.7m) from the US government after he was abandoned for more than four days in a prison cell, his lawyer said.

Daniel Chong said he drank his urine to stay alive, tried to carve a message to his mother on his arm and hallucinated.

He was held in a drug raid in 2012, but told he would not be charged. Nobody returned to his cell for four days.

The justice department's inspector is now investigating what happened.

Mr Chong, now 25, said he slid a shoelace under the door and screamed to get attention before five or six people found him covered in his faeces in the cell at the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) San Diego headquarters.

Continue reading the main story

I didn't just sit there quietly. I was kicking the door yelling"

End Quote Daniel Chong

After Mr Chong was rescued, he spent five days in hospital recovering from dehydration, kidney failure, cramps and a perforated oesophagus. He also lost 15lb (7kg).

'Horrible accident'

Mr Chong was one of nine people detained in the raid in April 2012. Authorities determined that they would not pursue charges after questioning him.

One of Mr Chong's lawyers said a police officer then put him in the holding cell and told him: "We'll come get you in a minute."

Mr Chong said he thought he was forgotten by mistake.

"It sounded like it was an accident - a really, really bad, horrible accident," he said.

The 5ft by 10 ft (1.5m by 3m) cell had no windows and Mr Chong had no food or water while he was trapped inside for four-and-a-half days.

Mr Chong said he started hallucinating on the third day.

He urinated on a metal bench so he could have something to drink. He also unsuccessfully tried to set off a fire sprinkler to draw attention of the DEA authorities.

"I didn't just sit there quietly. I was kicking the door yelling," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

"I even put some shoestrings, shoelaces through the crack of the door for visual signs. I didn't stay still, no, I was screaming."

At one point, Mr Chong admitted, he thought he was going to die. He broke his eyeglasses by biting into them and tried to carve a "Sorry Mom" farewell message. He managed to finish an "S".

DEA spokeswoman Allison Price confirmed that the $4.1m settlement had been reached, without providing further details, according to the AP.

The incident prompted the head of the DEA to issue a public apology last May, saying he was "deeply troubled" by the incident.

Mr Chong's lawyer said that as a result, the DEA had introduced new policies for detention, including checking cells daily and installing cameras inside them.

Mr Chong, now an economics student at the University of California, says he plans to buy his parents a house.

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China issues alert for Shanghai heat

31 July 2013 Last updated at 03:46 ET

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The BBC's Martin Patience: "In Shanghai it's absolutely sweltering"

Temperatures in parts of China have hit record highs, prompting an emergency level-two nationwide heat alert for the first time.

In Shanghai, at least 10 people have died from heatstroke, as the city experiences its hottest July in 140 years, reports say.

Local journalists have demonstrated the heat by frying meat on the pavement.

The national heat alert covers nine provinces, including Anhui, Jiangsu, Hunan, Hubei, Shanghai and Chongqing.

According to figures from the Shanghai Meteorological bureau, Shanghai has seen 24 days with temperatures at or above 35C in July.

"It should be a new record since Shanghai had its own weather recording," said chief service officer Wu Rui.

"Also, in July of this year Shanghai reached 40.6 degrees Celsius, its highest ever temperature. So the highest temperature in July also broke a record."

Continue reading the main story

More than 10 people in Shanghai have died after suffering from heatstroke, state-run news agency Xinhua said, citing health officials.

In a TV report, journalists from Shanghai TV said they successfully fried a pork chop on a marble slab outdoors in just 10 minutes.

The practice appears to have become popular, with photos of slices of bacon and fish being barbecued outdoors by the heat appearing online.

'Impossible'

The China Meteorological Administration issued the level two emergency heat alert on Tuesday.

"Anhui, Jiangsu, Hunan, Hubei, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Chongqing and Shanghai meteorological bureaus should enter into emergency response on the basis of actual weather conditions," it said on its website.

It added that weather forecasts suggested that some areas south of the Yangtze river, including Chongqing, could experience temperatures of over 35C until 8 August.

It urged members of the public to avoid outdoor activities and to take protective measures against the heat.

"It's impossible for people to live without an air-conditioner," a resident was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.

"Just going outside in this kind of temperate can roast people."

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