Co-Operative Members Back Radical Reform

Members of the struggling Co-op have unanimously backed a major overhaul of the group.

It paves the way for radical reforms proposed by former city minister Lord Myners to go-ahead.

A timetable for carrying out the changes will be agreed at a board meeting later this month, says the Co-op as it warned tough times lay ahead.

Lord Myners has said the Co-op is "not fit for purpose"

Some reforms will need rules to be altered, and so require further votes.

Co-op Group chair Ursula Lidbetter, who announced she will step down after a transitional period, said the mood at the annual general meeting was "thoughtful and sober".

She hailed the vote as "a highly significant moment" for the group.

Speaking ahead of the vote, Ms Lidbetter told delegates "catastrophic failure of governance" had taken place at the Co-operative Group but it was in its own hands to "make this business work again".

She also said 2013 had been "a disaster waiting to happen".

Sky's City Editor Mark Kleinman said no-one had been expecting a unanimous vote, and Co-op executives were "breathing a sigh of relief" at the result.

After the vote, Lord Myners said: "My job, when I was asked by the board, was to do a thorough review of governance and I have done that.

"Quite forthright, that upset some people, but I think it was necessary to be frank and straight forward and people have obviously listened with care."

He has proposed a major shake-up of the 150-year-old business which reported losses of £2.5bn for 2013.

The plans include sweeping away the existing 20-strong board of representatives from the Co-operative Group, who currently include an engineer, a plasterer and a retired deputy head teacher.

He wants to replace this with a slimmed-down "plc and beyond" structure staffed by professionally-trained directors.

The former Marks & Spencer chairman was appointed a director of the Co-operative Group in December but has announced he is to leave following this weekend's vote.

He has said it was apparent to him from the first time he attended a board meeting that not one of its members had the ability to address the complex issues faced by a group burdened with £1.4bn of debt.

Lord Myners believes that the Co-op will survive but faces the prospect of having to sell assets such as its £1bn funeral care business, in order to meet the demands of its lending banks, if it does not adopt reform.

Resistance to the changes saw chief executive Euan Sutherland leave the group earlier this year saying it was ungovernable.

The decision on the reforms was taken by representatives of its independent societies and affiliated organisations - who hold 22% of the vote - and others voting on behalf of its regional membership boards making up the remaining 78%.

Ms Lidbetter said: "There is a huge task ahead of us if we are to deliver the reforms necessary to restore the Group's reputation and return it to health but the board will work hand-in-hand with our members to ensure that we seize this opportunity.

"It is vital that the right changes are put in place as soon as possible to build a more effective organisation for our members, customers and colleagues."

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Nigeria: Police Not Equipped To Fight Boko Haram

Police in Chibok have said they are not equipped to deal with another Islamist attack like the one which resulted in the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls.

Sky's Special Correspondent Alex Crawford, who is in Chibok, said that despite an increased security presence, police felt under-equipped to serve as any sort of meaningful deterrent against further attacks.

One officer told her he felt unable to enter into a combat situation with the militants, many of whom are armed with heavy machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades. 

It has been over a month since more than 200 girls were seized by the militants.

Residents in Chibok, in Nigeria's northern Borno state, say they are in constant fear of further attacks, with abductions and killings taking place in the region on a regular basis.

The girls appeared in a video released by Boko Haram last week

Nigerian authorities are accused of being powerless in the face of the Islamist threat and too slow to respond to the schoolgirls' abduction. 

Speaking to Sky News, Nigerian presidential aid Dr Doyin Okupe denied the security forces were under equipped saying: "It is not correct at all."

He said there had been significant improvements in the kit provided to the police and army over the last three years and added that "slowly but surely we are equipping" them.

Frustration with the government rose further on Friday when President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have cancelled a visit to the region.

Parents have criticised the government's handling of the abduction

It was reported that his security team had advised him against a visit to Chibok on the basis that it was too dangerous. 

However, on Saturday morning, Dr Okupe denied that Mr Jonathan had cancelled the visit and said it was a "misconception". The president would be visiting Chibok, he said.

Crawford said the families of the missing girls were "very upset and very angry" at the president's apparent last-minute decision to pull out. 

She said: "As one father of an abducted girl told me: 'If it's not safe enough for the president of Nigeria to come to Chibok, how on earth does he feel about us residents of Chibok living here?'."

The Nigerian president is seeking a regional strategy to tackle Boko Haram

And added the community was still upset that the president had not yet visited, after the April 14 kidnapping.

The president instead flew directly from the capital Abuja to Paris, where he is due to take part in a summit with the leaders of Nigeria's neighbouring states later today.

Representatives from Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin will all take part in the half-day meeting aimed at forging a joint strategy to overcome the militants. 

Ahead of the summit, one French diplomat said: "Boko Haram represents a risk to the stability of every state in the region, and the leaders of these countries have to be aware of that."

British Foreign Secretary William Hague and US Secretary of State John Kerry are also scheduled to attend the meeting hosted by French President Francois Hollande.

Britain, the US and France are all taking part in the search for the missing schoolgirls.

Nothing was seen of the girls until last week when Boko Haram released a video appearing to show a group of about 100 of them who the group said had converted to Islam.

Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau said the girls would not be released until detained militants of the group were freed from prison.

The Nigerian government has reportedly ruled out negotiations on a prisoner swap.

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Last Two Bodies Recovered From Turkish Mine

The bodies of the lastl two miners killed in Turkey's worst industrial disaster have been recovered, bringing the final number of dead to 301.

The country's energy minister said the rescue operation at the mine would now be brought to a close as there were no further reports of missing people.

Families dispute the number of dead and have accused the Government of a cover-up to hide the true scale of the disaster.

Energy minister Taner Yildiz said there would be one final search through the mine at Soma, 300 miles south west of Istanbul, before the rescue effort was officially ended.

Vacant plots in a Soma cemetery

The tragedy has triggered a number of protests across the country over poor industry safety procedures with claims mining bosses are putting profit ahead of workers.

Turkey has one of the worst records for industrial accidents.

On Friday in Soma riot police used tear gas and water cannon on protesters as several thousands gathered amid intensifying anger with the Government.

Police use water cannon on protesters

There were further clashes in Istanbul and in the western city of Izmir, where scores of demonstrators were detained.

It follows footage which appeared to show Prime Minister Recep Erdogan slapping a man and his bodyguards then beating him during a visit to Soma.

Bosses at the mining company on Friday blamed a build-up of heat for causing the disaster, saying it caused a part of the mine to collapse which made a blaze spread rapidly under the surface.

Miners carry out the crime task of searching for their missing colleagues

Many claim the problem with the mining industry stems from Mr Erdogan's decision to privatise leases at the state-controlled mines.

They say businessmen, many with political connections, moved in determined to maximise profits at the expense of workers.

The Prime Minister's aide is seen to attack a demonstrator

The Government has said there had been 11 inspections at the mine in the past five years and denied there were loopholes in mining safety regulations.

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Nigeria Kidnap: Group Is 'Al Qaeda Operation'

Nigeria's president has said he was "totally committed" to finding the 223 kidnapped girls who were taken by Boko Haram from a school last month.

Goodluck Jonathan was speaking at an international summit in Paris where Nigeria and its neighbours agreed an action plan to fight the Islamist militant group.

French president Francois Hollande said this will involve sharing intelligence, protecting borders, and a quick response in a crisis.

Mr Jonathan said Boko Haram was no longer a local threat but has become West Africa's al Qaeda.

Francois Hollande greets Goodluck Jonathan

He told reporters the insurgent group was "acting clearly as an al Qaeda operation".

He added: "We have shown our commitment for a regional approach. Without West African countries coming together we will not be able to crush these terrorists."

Chad's president said countries neighbouring Nigeria were ready to wage war against the militants as fears mount the group will spread beyond its borders and destabilise the wider region.

"There is determination to tackle this situation head on ...to launch a war, a total war on Boko Haram," Idriss Deby said.

Nigerian security forces say they are not equipped to tackle Boko Haram

Earlier, Mr Jonathan's aide Dr Doyin Okupe told Sky News the president would visit the town where the girls were snatched and said the disclosure he had cancelled a trip because of safety fears was a "misconception".

"We are committed to ensuring we get these girls released," he said.

The announcement by his office on Friday had prompted outrage among relatives of the girls, in a community already angry that is has taken the president so long to visit the town.

Mr Jonathan was on Saturday put under pressure from the international community to deal effectively with the problem of Boko Haram at the Paris summit.

He was urged by Foreign Secretary William Hague to improve significantly the security forces, who Mr Hague described as "not well-structured". Nigeria had to provide a "more effective response", Mr Hague said.

Michelle Obama joined the #Bring Back Our Girls campaign

Mr Hague said Nigeria needed to work more closely with the neighbouring states of Cameroon, Niger and Chad, to create an "intelligence cell" to combat the insurgents.

President Hollande said Boko Haram was linked to al Qaeda and was now a direct threat to the West. He said the coordinated plan of action against the group was needed immediately.

It comes as Nigerian police told Sky News they lacked the equipment to prevent another attack by Boko Haram. There has also been mounting anger over missed opportunities to rescue the girls in the immediate aftermath of the school attack.

Leaders from Nigeria's neighbours were present at the summit along with Mr Hague, Mr Hollande and a senior official at the US State Department.

There have been long-running hostilities between Nigeria and Cameroon, which has significantly damaged the potential for joint action against Boko Haram.

However, with Mr Jonathan's attempt to drive the Islamist movement out, many have fled to the Cameroon border and the rebels have recently carried out several attacks in the country.

On Saturday, rebels attacked a Chinese plant in the north of Cameroon, killing one worker and abducting a further 10, according to reports.

On Friday Barack Obama telephoned Mr Hollande to discuss the summit and the White House said the safe release of all 223 girls was now one of the US's main priorities.

The international community has galvanised efforts to find the girls, who were kidnapped on April 14, with Britain, France and US sending specialist teams and equipment.

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Actor 'Asks Google To Pull Teen Affair Results'

By Tom Cheshire, Technology Correspondent

An actor has asked Google to remove all search results about his affair with a teenager, according to Sky sources.

The unnamed star has contacted the search giant following a European court ruling earlier this week, which said people had the right to ask for information to be removed.

Sky News understands that more than 1,000 people have asked for details of past misdemeanours and offences to be deleted from Google's indexes.

They include a man convicted of possessing child pornography, a university lecturer who was suspended, someone who tried to kill his family, and a convicted cyberstalker.

A former politician has also contacted Google to ask for links to an article about his time in office is removed, because he wants to stand again.

And it is believed that a celebrity's child has asked for news articles referring to a criminal conviction to be purged from Google search results.

Sky News understands that half of the takedown requests received in the UK are from people with criminal convictions.

The EU ruling on Tuesday said search engines should remove links to information that is irrelevant or incorrect, and prejudicial to a person.

However, Sky News has spoken to some people who feel they have legitimate reasons to request links be removed.

One person who committed fraud on a technicality - although he says he rightly takes the blame - says the right to be forgotten would help him and his business move on.

Another person spoke of how a negative - and unfounded - review nearly ruined her business, and caused a huge amount of personal distress.

In another instance, a teacher was stalked online by a student and falsely accused of improper behaviour.

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Kenya Blasts As Britons Warned To Leave

Two bombs have exploded in a busy market in the Kenyan capital as hundreds of British tourists prepare to return to the UK amid warnings of a "high threat" of terrorism.

At least 13 people were killed and more than 70 others wounded in the blasts on a minibus and in Nairobi's Gikomba Market.

Kenya's National Disaster Operation Centre said the explosions, condemned by Foreign Secretary William Hague as "appalling acts of violence", were caused by homemade bombs and that one person had been arrested.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has warned Britons of a "high threat" of terrorism.

The scene of one of two explosions in Nairobi

Similar advice has been issued by the governments of France, Australia and the US, prompting travel company Thomson to begin evacuating its 400 customers from the country.

Holidaymakers are being advised to leave unless there is "an essential reason to remain".

A Sky News source said the threat was not specific to British people and no precise plot had been uncovered.

"The advice to consider leaving is due to a general worsening of the security situation over time," the source said.

Thomson is said to be flying all of its 400 customers back to the UK

Another source claimed there was "an increased threat to Western nationals since Westgate" - a reference to the attack on the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi last September by the Somali militant group al Shabaab in which at least 67 people died.

The FCO website has a map of Kenya marking the areas of concern. These include anywhere within 60km of the Kenya-Somali border, the Eastleigh area of Nairobi and Mombasa Island.

The advisory does not cover tourist areas of Diani or Moi international airport which serves the city of Mombasa.

The areas of concern, according to the FCO website

Explaining the threat, the advice reads: "There is a high threat from terrorism, including kidnapping. The main threat comes from extremists linked to al Shabaab, a militant group that has carried out attacks in Kenya in response to Kenya's military intervention in Somalia.

"There has been a spate of small-scale grenade, bomb and armed attacks in Nairobi (especially the area of Eastleigh), Mombasa, and North Eastern Province."

The US cited hotels, nightclubs and shopping centres in Mombasa as possible targets.

The Foreign Office has warned against all but essential travel

One flight carrying returning holidaymakers arrived in Gatwick airport on Friday morning and another was due in late on Friday. They had been scheduled to fly on May 20 and 27.

Kenyan authorities have pledged to beef up security but insisted visitors were safe.

Karanja Kibicho, principal secretary at Kenya's foreign affairs department, said the advisories were "obviously unfriendly acts".

An attack on a market area in Mombasa on May 4 killed seven people

Interior ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka added: "The threats are perpetual, we are at war. But we have not received any specific threat on the hotels."

The latest bombings follow explosions in Nairobi and Mombasa on May 3 and 4, which Kenya blames on al Shabaab. Seven people were killed.

Thomson and First Choice have announced they are suspending all flights to Mombasa for six months. 

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Stuart Hall Not Guilty Of All But One Charge

Former broadcaster Stuart Hall has been found guilty of indecent assault - but cleared on 19 other child sex charges he faced.

The 84-year-old was cleared of raping two young girls following allegations dating back to the 1970s.

Hall is currently serving a 30-month jail term after he admitted indecently assaulting 13 other young girls, one as young as nine, over a period of nearly 20 years.

He pleaded guilty at the start of his trial last week to indecently assaulting one of two new complainants when she was aged 13.

Hall gave no reaction as a jury at Preston Crown Court cleared him of 15 counts of rape and four of indecent assault, convicting him of just one count of indecent assault.

But the former BBC presenter mouthed "thank you" to the jury as he was led away to the cells to continue serving his sentence for earlier offences.

Detectives and Crown Prosecution Service lawyers looked ashen faced after the innocent verdicts were read out to the court.

Stuart Hall's OBE was "cancelled and annulled" by the Queen last year

Hall had maintained throughout his trial that the two women who later came forward to claim they were raped had agreed to consensual sex.

A CPS spokesperson said they respected the jury's verdict but defended the decision to prosecute Hall on the extra charges.

"At the beginning of this trial he pleaded guilty to an indecent assault against one of the girls when she was intoxicated and at home in bed and today he has been found guilty by a jury of a further indecent assault in relation to the same victim," they said.

"We take all allegations of rape and sexual assault very seriously and victims should know that we will prosecute such cases where it is right to do so."

A statement issued by Lancashire Police said decision charge Hall was taken "in the belief that there was a realistic prospect of conviction".

It can now be revealed that Hall complained about his "routine" being disrupted when he was moved to a different prison during his trial.

On the first day of the trial, Mr Aylett QC, told the judge: "Since the end of July the defendant has been in Leyland prison where he has something approaching a routine. He has a cell, his library, he has his clothes there.

"Yesterday he was told he may be moved to Preston for the duration of the trial."

The judge, Mr Justice Turner, said he had no power to intervene.

As the trial progressed, Mr Aylett brought up the subject again in open court - not before the jury - as he referred to the "extraordinary amount of dismay" it had caused to his client.

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Turkish Police Clash With Mine Protesters

Turkish police have fired tear gas and water cannon at thousands of protesters in Soma near the site of a deadly mining disaster.

A crowd, reported to be around 10,000 strong, were chanting anti-government slogans as they demonstrated in the town following the deaths of at least 284 coal miners.

The country's worst ever mining accident has lead to protests in several Turkish cities from the capital Ankara to the western city of Izmir.

Anger grew as the extent of Tuesday's fire and explosion became clear.

Protests were partly directed at mine owners accused of prioritising profit over safety, and partly at Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's government, seen as too close to big business and too lax in enforcing regulations.

Relatives of a miner mourn beside his grave

Mr Erdogan has also been accused of punching a demonstrator, as fresh images sparked new claims of violence against protesters angry over the government's handling of the disaster.

In Soma, people scattered into side streets as the police intervened on a commercial street lined with shops and banks, as well as the offices of the local government and labour union.

One hand-written sign among the crowd read: "No coal can warm the children of fathers who died in the mine".

The protesters had been trying to get to a statue honouring miners in the centre of the town when the route was blocked by the police.

An adviser to Turkey's PM was seen kicking a protester in Soma on Thursday

Fire sent carbon monoxide rushing through the mine within minutes on Tuesday but the exact cause remains unclear, the mine operator said on Friday.

Most of the 787 workers inside had oxygen masks but smoke and gas spread so quickly that many were unable to escape, with 284 confirmed dead and 18 believed still to be trapped.

More follows...

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Missing MH370: Passengers Shun Malaysia Carrier

The scale of the backlash against Malaysian Airlines over the disappearance of flight MH370 has been laid bare by the carrier.

The company reported its biggest quarterly loss in over two years of £82.3m ($138m) on Thursday.

It said in its statement: "The tragic MH370 incident had a dramatic impact on the traditionally weak first quarter performance."

The flight had 239 people aboard - the majority of them Chinese - when it disappeared from radar screens on March 8.

It is believed to have crashed into the Indian Ocean off Australia's west coast but there has been no confirmed sighting of either the aircraft or debris, despite a frantic international search.

Malaysia, China and Australia have now agreed to re-examine all data relating to the flight to better pinpoint the search area, Malaysia's acting transport minister Hishammuddin Hussein said on Thursday.

Handling of the search for MH370 sparked protests in China

They will also undertake a survey to map the ocean floor and get more deep-sea search vehicles and other equipment to search it.

Officials have said that it could take a year to search the 23,000 sq mile (60,000 sq km) area where the plane is believed to have crashed.

The company's response to the mystery resulted in scathing criticism from relatives of those missing and now presumed dead.

It said it suffered high numbers of cancellations and a decline in long-haul travel, with sales in China slumping 60% in March alone.

The hunt for the aircraft in the Indian Ocean has so far proved fruitless

Even before MH370 went missing, the airline had lost a combined £770m ($1.3bn) over the past three years, partly due to intense competition.

The company had previously announced a "thorough review" of its business plan as it sought to shore up its finances.

This may include the partial sale of its engineering unit and an upgrade of its ageing fleet, Reuters reported last week.

Shares in the company have dropped 14 percent since MH370 went missing.

Meanwhile, one of the airline's planes was grounded on Thursday after a service vehicle struck its belly.

Malaysia Airlines said passengers on the Myanmar-bound plane were put on a later flight while a "thorough check" was being conducted on the Boeing 737-800.

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9/11 Memorial Museum Opens In New York

Survivors, rescuers and victims' relatives have gathered at Ground Zero in New York to commemorate the opening of the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

President Barack Obama took part in the dedication ceremony, saying the museum was "a sacred place of healing and of hope". 

He said: "Here at this memorial, this museum, we come together to stand in the footprints of two mighty towers graced by the touch of eternal waters.

"We look into the face of nearly 3,000 souls. We can touch their names and hear their voices.

"Here, we tell their stories so that generations yet to be born never forget."

Mr Obama toured the museum with former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg

The president recounted how one man, 24-year-old Welles Crowther, sacrificed his life so that others could escape the burning World Trade Center.

He said: "In those awful moments after the South Tower was hit some of the injured huddled in the wreckage of the 78th floor.

The museum at Ground Zero opens to the public on May 21

"The fire was spreading, the air was filled with smoke, it was dark and they could barely see, and it seemed as if there was no way out.

"Then came a voice, clear and calm, saying he had found the stairs."

It was Mr Crowther, known only to those he helped save by the red bandana he wore that day.

A replica of that red bandana is now one of more than 10,000 artefacts on display at the museum, which is located 70ft underground and traces the foundations of the fallen twin towers.

The 110,000 sq ft exhibition also includes 23,000 still images, 500 hours of video and film, and nearly 2,000 oral histories on the events of that day.

Prior to ceremony, Mr Obama toured the expansive hall with former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

First lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also toured the museum.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was also on-hand for Thursday's dedication, along with current Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

More follows...

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Rolf Harris 'Barked Before Groping Teenager'

By Nick Pisa, Sky News Reporter

Rolf Harris crouched on all fours and barked like a dog before groping a teenage waitress, a court has heard.

A woman who says she was molested by the entertainer when she was 13 or 14 years old told a jury she was working as a waitress at It's A Celebrity Knockout when she was asked to investigate a "barking dog noise".

The woman, who is 52 and cannot be named, said she went outside at the event - held in Cambridge in 1975 - and saw Harris on all fours barking at a dog.

She said she was "slightly awestruck" to see Harris and he came up to her and put "his left hand on my left shoulder".

The witness said: "I couldn't believe what was going on, this famous person was putting his arm around me.

"I was nervous then he moved and went up and down my back, over my bottom. It happened quite a few times. It was uncomfortable.

"I was too young to understand. It was like groping. Very firm. He squeezed it a few times."

The woman added: "I was completely frozen. I knew it was wrong. I didn't move. I was extremely embarrassed. He was not the slightest embarrassed."

She added she went to the police after the Savile revelations and after Harris' name emerged because "it happened to me and it would help back up someone else."

Rolf Harris' wife Alwen was not in court to hear the latest witnesses

Earlier, a woman told the court how she threw away a Rolf Harris autograph in disgust after he allegedly indecently assaulted her when she was a young girl.

Harris, 84, is said to have touched the seven or eight-year-old girl's back, before running his "big, hairy" hand down her bottom and between her legs.

The woman, now 52, was among dozens of children who had queued to get his autograph after he performed his hit song Two Little Boys.

But she was left so shocked and scared after he touched her the she threw the piece of paper away after the incident at a community centre in Portsmouth, which she said happened in around 1969.

Speaking from behind a screen, the woman told jurors at Southwark Crown Court: "It was so quick, I thought 'what's just happened?' More or less instantly his hand was back again.

"Straight up between my legs, aggressively, forcefully, as if it didn't matter if it was going to hurt me, I knew then it wasn't an accident."

The woman went on: "I understood it was wrong. I wanted to get away. I wanted to scream out 'what are you doing?' but it wouldn't come out."

"He scared me. His eyes were fixed. He was carrying on as if nothing had happened," she said.

The woman said even now, years later, she still cried when she heard the song Two Little Boys.

She said she later told her husband and children that Harris was a ''dirty old man'' who had ''touched her up as a child".

Under cross-examination from Ms Sonia Woodley QC, she denied suggestions that Harris had not been to the community centre and that she had not been indecently assaulted by him.

Harris, of Bray, Berkshire, is accused of indecently assaulting four girls and women between 1968 and 1986 and denies the 12 charges.

The trial continues.

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Turkey Mine Still Ablaze As Protests Flare

Fire continues to rage inside a Turkish mine following an underground explosion, hampering rescue efforts to find survivors and bring out bodies.

Emergency workers have also had to contend with toxic fumes in their frantic search at the scene of the disaster in Soma, some 300 miles (480km) southwest of Istanbul.

And trouble has flared on the streets in Turkey as grief turned to anger in the wake of the accident which killed at least 282 workers.

The first funerals have been held for those killed in the underground blast

Police used water cannon against protesters amid growing fury directed against the government over poor underground safety standards.

The death toll is expected to rise as families lose hope of finding any of the estimated 150 miners still feared trapped.

The last survivor was brought out more than 24 hours ago.

A protester is kicked by an adviser to Turkey's PM during trouble in Soma

Rows of graves have been dug to bury those killed what has become Turkey's worst mining disaster.

In the meantime, security was tightened at the site for a visit of the country's President Abdullah Gul, with officials anxious to avoid a repeat of the anger which greeted Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, when his car was mobbed by protesters.

Pictures have emerged of that visit which show Yusuf Yerkel, an adviser to the prime minister, kicking a demonstrator as he is held on the ground by police officers.

There have been fresh clashes in Turkey following the disaster

Miners have been staging a strike in protest at the tragedy.

The accident has become a focal point of wider dissent against the ruling administration, which has been in power for 11 years, with violent clashes in Istanbul and the capital Ankara.

The government said 787 people were inside the coal mine at the time of the explosion, and 363 have been rescued, including many who were injured.

Scores of graves have been dug close to the mine to bury the dead

But some families have cast doubt on the official figures.

Those still trapped are thought to be some 1.2 miles (2km) below the surface and 2.5 miles (4km) from the mine entrance.

As thousands of anxious relatives waited for news, Mr Erdogan was accused of ignoring warnings over safety at the coal pit.

A convoy containing his car was attacked by crowds and he was forced to seek refuge in a supermarket, surrounded by police.

With tensions running high, protesters shouted for him to resign and said he was a "murderer" and a "thief".

The visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul took place amid tight security

And Mr Erdogan's attempt to downplay the disaster at a news conference did little to quell the anger.

While he declared three days of national mourning and ordered flags to be lowered to half-mast, the Turkish leader said such accidents were not uncommon and happened in other countries, even highlighting cases in 19th century Britain.

Mr Erdogan said: "These types of things in mines happen all the time.

"It's in its nature. It's not possible for there to be no accidents in mines. Of course we were deeply pained by the extent here."

The public backlash over the disaster could threaten Mr Erdogan's presidential ambitions ahead of the August election.

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Kate And William Hacked 190 Times By NOTW

The News Of The World's former royal editor has admitted hacking the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's phones nearly 200 times.

Clive Goodman told the Old Bailey he accessed the voicemail on Prince William's phone 35 times and Kate Middleton's on a total of 155 occasions.

It is the first time Goodman, who was jailed in 2007 for illegally accessing the voicemails on the mobiles of royal aides, has admitted he hacked the royal couple while working at the now-defunct tabloid.

But having returned to the witness box after weeks of ill health, he was accused of being more heavily involved in phone hacking with private detective Glenn Mulcaire in 2005 and 2006 than was previously heard.

Jurors were told Kate was even hacked on Christmas Day 2005.

The details emerged as Goodman was being cross examined by ex-NotW editor Andy Coulson's lawyer Timothy Langdale QC.

Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire

He asked: "I'm going to suggest you had direct contact with Glenn Mulcaire significantly before the time you have told us - that you yourself had been hacking on a much wider scale than you have told this court about."

Goodman said he had not been asked a direct question.

The witness said he had been assured by the Crown Prosecution Service he would not be charged with any more hacking but no-one had asked him.

When presented with a list of hacking victims, he said: "I'm not on trial for hacking," adding: "There has been no intention to deceive you or anybody else in relation to phone hacking."

On his arrest in 2006, Mr Langdale said: "It's the one thing you must have been more worried about than anything else that it would become clear you yourself had been hacking members of the royal family."

Goodman replied: "I was terrified of the whole thing. I was mortified."

Mr Langdale said Kate Middleton, who was to become the Duchess of Cambridge, was first hacked on October 21 2005.

Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson

Mr Langdale asked the witness why she had been targeted and if he had tasked Mulcaire to do it.

He replied: "She was a figure of increasing importance around the royal family. There were discussions about her and Prince William marrying, moving in, settling down. She started to receive semi royal status and things were moving on."

Mr Langdale said: "You are telling us Glenn Mulcaire hacked her without any instruction from you? Did you task him to do that?"

He replied: "I do not remember tasking him to do that. It's possible but I do not recall.

"I have been as open and honest about hacking as I can be but nobody has asked me any questions about this before."

While giving evidence about extra payments made to Mulcaire for hacking the royal household, Goodman said: "Let's face it, at this time, Andy Coulson was no stranger to hacking."

He is on trial along with with former NOTW editor Coulson, later Prime Minister David Cameron's media chief, of authorising illegal payments to public officials

Coulson and Rebekah Brooks, another former editor and later chief executive of Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper arm, are also on trial accused of phone-hacking offences.

All seven defendants on trial deny the charges.

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Charity Fundraiser Stephen Sutton Dies

Teenager Stephen Sutton, who raised more than £3m for charity after his bucket list went viral on the internet, has died after losing his cancer battle.

His mother wrote on his Facebook page: "My heart is bursting with pride but breaking with pain for my courageous, selfless, inspirational son who passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of this morning, Wednesday 14th May.

"The ongoing support and outpouring of love for Stephen will help greatly at this difficult time, in the same way as it helped Stephen throughout his journey.

"We all know he will never be forgotten, his spirit will live on, in all that he achieved and shared with so many."

Stephen raised more than £3m for charity and the total continues to rise

Within 30 minutes of the posting, more than 60,000 messages of condolence had been left on his Facebook page.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who met Stephen, told Sky News: "He was really inspiring. I feel deeply sorry for Stephen's family, for everyone that knew him.

"He was determined not to waste a minute, not to waste an hour, or a day. I can hardly think of anyone I have met with such a zest for life, with such a belief that you can get things done, and who wanted to live every minute.

"He did extraordinary things for charity and meeting him was a huge privilege. A very bright light has gone out."

The Teenage Cancer Trust, who Stephen raised money for, said in a statement: "We are humbled and hugely grateful for what Stephen achieved, and continues to achieve, for young people with cancer."

News of Stephen's death came shortly after his family said the 19-year-old had become too sick to communicate as his condition deteriorated.

David Cameron visited the teenager and said he was "an inspiration"

He was readmitted to hospital on Sunday after having previously been discharged when it appeared he had made a "miraculous recovery" by coughing up a tumour.

At the time he revealed that he was suffering from breathlessness and said doctors thought there was something blocking his airway.

He wrote on Facebook: "The doctors think there may be something restricting my airway again, they're not sure exactly what yet though (tumour regrowth, infection, inflammation, are all potential reasons mentioned), but are currently discussing the possibilities and my scan results to decide what to do next."

Stephen, from Burntwood in Staffordshire, was diagnosed with bowel cancer when he was 15.

Despite treatment the tumours spread, with doctors telling him the disease was terminal in 2012.

Hundreds of thousands of people have supported his fundraising efforts for the Teenage Cancer Trust since he posted a picture of himself in hospital in April with a goodbye message as he thought he was nearing death.

The amount collected totals £3.3m and continues to rise by tens of thousands of pounds as donations poured in following news of Stephen's death.

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Turkey: Oxygen Pumped To Trapped Miners

Rescuers are pumping oxygen into a coal mine in western Turkey as they battle to save more than 100 miners trapped underground following a blast which left at least 238 dead.

Hundreds of frantic relatives have crowded around the surface of the mine, in Soma, some 155 miles (250km) south of Istanbul, anxiously waiting for news, more than 24 hours after the disaster.

Relatives wailed as victims were pulled one by one from the mine on stretchers. Blankets were pulled away from the faces of the dead to give the jostling crowd a chance to identify their loved ones.

Police had to hold back distraught friends and relatives

Several people had to be restrained as they desperately tried to climb into ambulances with the bodies.

There are reports that one of the victims was just 15 years old. 

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has visited the scene, said the latest figures suggest 120 miners are still trapped. 

Those still underground are thought to be some 1.2 miles (2km) below the surface and 2.5 miles (4km) from the mine entrance.

Miners have been searching for their co-workers for over 24 hours

Despite efforts to help any survivors who may be struggling to breathe, the country's energy minister Taner Yildiz said "hopes are diminishing" among rescuers. 

The last miner to be rescued alive emerged from the mine in the early hours of the morning.

A fire was said to have been burning inside the mine long into the day and high levels of carbon monoxide have forced rescue teams to halt the operation on a number of occasions.

The father of one of the dozens of rescued miners embraces his son

The poisonous gas is considered responsible for the majority of fatalities.

TV pictures earlier showed survivors coughing and spluttering as they were pulled out alive, their faces coated with black dust.

The disaster struck around 3pm local time on Tuesday during a change of shifts, meaning more than the usual number of workers were underground.

Turkey's energy minister previously said 787 workers were in the mine at the time of the blast, although there is now a degree of uncertainty about that figure.

Protesters in Ankara and Istanbul blame the government for the disaster

According to Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency just 93 people were pulled out alive, a significantly smaller number than previously reported.

Authorities say the disaster was caused by an electrical fault which triggered an explosion and a fire.

For many who have lost loved ones fear has now turned into anger as reports suggest poor safety standards could have contributed to the disaster.

Dozens have taken to the streets of Istanbul to protest the deaths. In Ankara police fired tear gas and water cannon at demonstrators shouting anti-government slogans.

Prime Minister Erdogan has announced three days of mourning

According to Turkey's main opposition party Mr Erdogan's government voted down a proposal to launch an inquiry into a number of previous accidents at mines around Soma just two weeks ago.

Journalist Dorian Jones told Sky News one Soma miner had told him he felt like a "lamb to the slaughter" every time he went to work.

In a statement, mine operator Soma Komur Isletmeleri described the explosion as a "tragic accident" which happened "despite maximum safety measures and inspections".

Soma, in Turkey's western Manisa province, is known for its mining industry

According to Turkey's ministry of labour, the pit was last inspected on March 17 and was found to be compliant with safety regulations.

Turkey's mines have one of the worst safety records in the developed world. 

The country's worst mining disaster was in 1992, when a gas explosion killed 263 workers near the Black Sea port of Zonguldak.

Turkey has declared three days of national mourning.

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Claudia Lawrence: Man To Be Bailed By Police

A man arrested on suspicion of murdering missing chef Claudia Lawrence is to be released on bail, it is understood.

Sky sources say the man, named locally as 59-year-old Michael Snelling, is due to leave police custody shortly.

More follows...

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Claudia Lawrence Disappearance: Man Arrested

Missing Claudia: Timeline Of Events

Updated: 4:51pm UK, Tuesday 13 May 2014

Here is Claudia Lawrence's last known movements and the investigation since her disappearance:

2009

March 18

:: 5.57am - Miss Lawrence is seen on CCTV arriving for work at the University of York's Goodricke College.

:: 2.31pm - The chef leaves work to walk the three miles to her home on Heworth Road.

A female colleague sees her as she drives past in her car and gives her a lift, dropping her off outside her house.

A short time later, Miss Lawrence leaves her house and walks past the Nags Head pub. She has a brief conversation with a woman with a pram.

:: 3.05pm - The last sighting of Miss Lawrence as she walks back to her house.

:: 8.10pm - Miss Lawrence has a telephone conversation with her father, Peter, and then another with her mother, Joan.

:: 8.23pm - She sends a text message to a friend.

:: 9.12pm - Miss Lawrence receives a text on her mobile phone but it is not known if she read the message.

March 19

:: 6am - Miss Lawrence fails to arrive for her shift at work.

:: Later in the evening, Miss Lawrence fails to keep an arrangement to meet her friend, Suzy Cooper, at the Nags Head pub.

Ms Cooper discovers her friend did not attend work and rings Mr Lawrence, who contacts North Yorkshire Police.

March 23

:: Mr Lawrence, a solicitor from Slingsby, North Yorkshire, makes an emotional appeal for information about his daughter at a news conference in York. He describes Miss Lawrence's disappearance as a "living nightmare".

:: Police say they cannot rule out the possibility that the chef has been abducted.

March 25

:: Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway, leading the investigation, says he believes Miss Lawrence may have come to harm after meeting someone she knew.

He confirms around 100 police officers are involved in the search and says North Yorks Police are bringing in officers from other forces to help.

:: CCTV footage of the chef's last known movements is released.

March 30

:: Mr Galloway makes an appeal for information on BBC1's Crimewatch programme.

April 7

:: Mr Lawrence holds his first weekly press conference at his home and appeals for anyone protecting his daughter's possible abductor to come forward.

April 16

:: Police say they are investigating "significant" new lines of inquiry, including a couple seen arguing near a car on Miss Lawrence's route to work the day after she was last seen and two men apparently trying the front door to her house in the week before she disappeared.

April 24

:: Detectives say they are treating Miss Lawrence's disappearance as a suspected murder investigation and Crimestoppers offers a £10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible.

Mr Galloway also reveals new information received from members of the public. He says one witness reported seeing a man and a woman walking near the University of York between 6am and 6.30am on March 17 and March 19.

Another witness saw a man and a woman, possibly matching Miss Lawrence's description, at 5.35am on March 19 on Melrosegate on the chef's route to work.

April 29

:: Mrs Lawrence releases her first statement through police describing her daughter's disappearance as "every parent's worst nightmare"

May 6

Police reveal they have received more than 1,000 calls about Miss Lawrence's disappearance since March 22 and have taken 1,096 statements and reports.

Officers involved in the investigation have visually searched around 1,270 properties, including gardens and outbuildings and student halls of residence at the University of York.

May 15

:: Police release CCTV footage of a man seen near Miss Lawrence's home in the early hours of March 19.

Mr Galloway says the number of searching officers has been scaled-down and police are now only carrying out intelligence-led searches.

June 2

:: A reconstruction of Miss Lawrence's last known movements and possible witness sightings is screened on BBC1's Crimewatch programme.

Mr Galloway tells the show that Miss Lawrence was involved in relationships of "complexity and mystery" and appeals to anyone who had ever been in a relationship with the chef to come forward.

August 19

:: Police say an external review of the investigation by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) is "extremely positive" and the force are acting upon a list recommendations.

September 18

:: Detectives reveal they have extended their investigation to Cyprus.

2010

March 18

:: Police reveal Ms Lawrence spent the night with a mystery boyfriend just two days before she went missing. It was "critical" they spoke to the man, a detective adds.

March 24

:: Detectives search an area near York University following new information.

May 25

:: Police confirm they have spent two days searching a house about 10 miles from Claudia's home as a result of a "recent development".

July 29

:: Police confirm they are scaling back the number of officers dedicated to the inquiry.

:: Assistant Chief Constable Tim Madgwick says 100 officers were dedicated to the investigation at its height.

:: A year after Miss Lawrence disappeared, this figure had dropped to about 20 to 30 and there were now 16 detectives involved. Mr Madgwick says they will be cut cut to seven officers the following month.

August 8

:: A man arrested on suspicion of burglary has been spoken to about the case, North Yorks police say.

:: But he is described as  "one of many people spoken to during the course of the investigation" and there still have been no formal suspects identified by the inquiry team.

September 20

:: Mr Lawrence speaks of his "devastation" after it is revealed that a cash reward for information was being dropped.

:: The decision means the North Yorks Police will remove their appeal posters from fleet vehicles because they refer to the reward.

2011

March 18

:: On the second anniversary of Miss Lawrence's disappearance, Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway reveals that he could have "potentially" spoken to her killer.

December 13

:: Detectives say they are pursuing a new lead which could be "significant".

2012

March 16

:: Peter Lawrence speaks of his daily pain over his daughter's disappearance and makes a plea for anyone who may still harbour a sense of "misguided loyalty" to come forward and help with the police investigation.

July 10

:: Martin Dales, spokesman for Mr Lawrence, says a former private detective has contacted him to say he spotted someone with a striking resemblance to Claudia a week earlier in Amsterdam.

2013

February 27

:: Family and friends of Miss Lawrence make an emotional appeal for help to find her on what would have been her 39th birthday.

October 29

:: Police announce a new forensic search of Miss Lawrence's home is to begin as they launch a fresh review of the case.

2014

March 17

:: Mr Lawrence, speaking ahead of the fifth anniversary of his daughter's disappearance, says not knowing what happened to his daughter five years after she disappeared is like a "cancer" eating away at him.

March 19

:: Police say a new forensic examination of Claudia's house has uncovered the fingerprints of people who still have not come forward five years after she disappeared. They say they are seeking to trace two men and two vehicles seen near her home.

April 17

:: North Yorks Police say 121 people have come forward to help their inquiry since a national appeal was made to coincide with the fifth anniversary of her disappearance. They say taxi drivers may have important information about the case.

May 13

:: A 59-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder by detectives investigating the disappearance.

:: A police spokeswoman says Miss Lawrence has not been found and they cannot rule out the possibility of further arrests in the future.

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British Troops Face Iraq Abuse Claims Probe

The prosecutor at the International Criminal Court is to hold a "preliminary examination" into claims of abuse by British forces in Iraq.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve, who announced the move, said the Government "completely rejects" allegations of "systematic abuse".

"British troops are some of the best in the world and we expect them to operate to the highest standards, in line with both domestic and international law," he said.

"In my experience, the vast majority of our armed forces meet those expectations.

Dominic Grieve: Britain's inquiry teams 'meticulous'

"Where allegations have been made that individuals may have broken those laws, they are being comprehensively investigated."

The preliminary examination Fatou Bensouda will carry out is not an investigation.

Instead, it will look at the systems the Government has in place to investigate allegations of abuse and to prosecute any soldiers found to have acted inappropriately.

Mr Grieve described Britain's inquiry teams as "independent, robust and meticulous".

They include the Iraq Historic Allegations Team, which was set up to investigate alleged offences ranging from murder to low-level violence in Iraq from 2003-2009.

It is led by retired senior police detective Mark Warwick and comprises 145 staff, including Royal Navy Police, civilian investigators and civil servants.

Mr Grieve said: "The Government has been, and remains, a strong supporter of the ICC and I will provide the office of the prosecutor with whatever is necessary to demonstrate that British justice is following its proper course."

The International Criminal Court, based at The Hague in the Netherlands, deals with the most serious crimes of global concern including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

The prosecutor's office is currently investigating allegations of crime in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, the Central African Republic, Kenya, Libya, the Ivory Coast and Mali.

As well as the alleged abuse in Iraq, it is also conducting preliminary examinations of crimes said to have occurred in Afghanistan, Colombia, North Korea, Georgia, Guinea, Honduras, Nigeria and Palestine.

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Cornwall Coach Crash: Two Dead And 13 Injured

Two people have been killed and seven others seriously injured after a coach smashed into a wall in Cornwall.

Police were called at around 1pm to the A387 at Morval, around three miles from Looe, after reports that a coach had hit a wall.

Four air ambulances from Devon and Cornwall, ambulances, fire crews, doctors and paramedics were sent to the scene as police declared a "major incident" and the road was closed.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said 54 "mostly elderly" passengers were on the coach at the time of the smash. 

The scene of the crash on the A387. Photo: Sam Blackledge/Plymouth Herald

Neil Chevalier from SWASFT told Sky News the coach had been travelling down a steep hill when it crashed.

Eight people were seriously injured and were taken to Plymouth's Derriford Hospital, two of them by air ambulance while four were classed as walking wounded after checks by paramedics.

A number of people who were trapped after the impact have since been freed from the vehicle.

The coach had been travelling from the Plymouth direction towards Looe between Sandplace and Widegates when the crash happened.

One local resident told the Cornish Guardian the vehicle appeared to "lose its brakes" at the top of a hill.

The coach was heading towards Looe on the A387

She said: "It is dreadful. The coach lost his brakes on the top of the hill at the Snooty Fox and careered down the hill.

"As it did so it turned on its side and all the windows blew out and it lost all the glass.

"All the neighbours have been rushing around making tea for them. We spoke to a few of the people who were coming out of the wreckage. It was a bus full of older people.

"The passengers from the other side of the coach were deeply shocked by it all."

A 69-year-old resident told the paper: "People use the road too fast. Although there are 'slow' signs, people just don't follow them.

"The road is quite bendy, and can be tricky, particularly for big vehicles."

Local MP Sheryll Murray said the crash was "absolutely tragic".

She told Sky News: "I send my deepest sympathies to the family of the person that's died and all those people that are very worried because they have relatives that have travelled to Looe."

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Cop Suspended Over 'Inappropriate Behaviour'

The chief constable of Avon and Somerset police has been suspended following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards female officers and staff.

Nick Gargan has been taken off duty while an investigation is carried out by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), according to the force's crime commissioner Sue Mountstevens.

She said a number of serious allegations have been made against the police chief.

Ms Mountstevens added she had decided to suspend Mr Gargan, whom she appointed as chief constable in March last year, to "protect the integrity of the investigation".

She said: "I have decided to refer the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), who will now conduct an independent investigation."

The deputy chief constable John Long will act as temporary chief constable and all officers and staff have been informed of the decision.

Mr Gargan gave evidence at inquest into death of Diana, Princess of Wales

Ms Mountstevens went on: "I would like to assure the communities of Avon and Somerset that the constabulary remains a high-performing force.

"Both police officers and staff are committed to ensuring the area remains a safe place to live, work and visit."

Mr Gargan was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in the New Year's Honours List 2012.

He started his career with Leicestershire Constabulary in 1988 after a degree in French and politics at the University of Leicester.

He worked on the investigation into the fatal crash involving Diana, Princess of Wales, and gave evidence at the inquest into her and Dodi Fayed's deaths.

More follows...

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Three Kayakers Found Dead From Same Family

Three kayakers found dead in a Northumberland river following a major search and rescue operation were all from the same family, police have revealed.

The RAF, Coastguard and the police Marine Unit joined other emergency services in the hunt for the trio on the River Tyne near Riding Mill after they failed to return home last night.

Two were brothers, aged 41 and 40, and the third was their cousin, aged 36, all from South Shields, South Tyneside.

The alarm was raised at 11pm on Sunday night when the three failed to return home.

The area of the Tyne around Riding Mill, about 15 miles (23km) west of Newcastle upon Tyne, was being searched

Riding Mill pumping station on the River Tyne

Police said the first body was recovered from the river by an RAF helicopter just after 5am and a second body just over an hour later in the Corbridge area.

Two vehicles driven by the missing men were located by searchers overnight.

One was found at Tyne Green, near to Hexham Rowing Club just after 1am and the other, a few hours later, at Wylam railway station car park.

Two kayaks have also been recovered from the group, who were from the South Shields area of South Tyneside.

A kayak was seen near the weir at Riding Mill, Northumberland

Another green kayak has been seen close to a weir at Riding Mill.

Chief Superintendent Gordon Milward said the conditions on the Tyne yesterday were "challenging" after heavy rain over the weekend.

"The weather was unpredictable, in terms of some very heavy showers and the river was higher than usual and fast-flowing," he said.

"They would be challenging conditions for anybody who decided to go into the water."

He added: "There is a considerable length of the river we need to search. We need to do so speedily, properly and thoroughly and make sure no nook and cranny is missed.

"It's about that balance between speed and thoroughness."

Police said if anyone saw anything they believe would help with their search, they should get in touch.

Formal identification of the two bodes is yet to take place and searches are continuing.

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Boko Haram Video Claims To Show Missing Girls

A new video issued by Boko Haram claims to show some of the nearly 300 schoolgirls missing in Nigeria, who the Islamist group's leader says have converted to Islam.

Abubakar Shekau reportedly said the girls would not be released until his fighters being held in prison are freed.

More than 300 youngsters were abducted from a school on April 14 from the northeastern town of Chibok, in Borno state. Fifty-three managed to escape but 276 are still missing.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau speaks on the video for 17 minutes

In the video, the militant chief speaks for 17 minutes before showing what he says are about 130 of the girls, wearing full-length hijabs, reciting the first chapter of the Koran and praying in an undisclosed rural location.

One of the girls talks directly to the camera.

The girls were shown wearing Hijabs and praying

None of the youngsters appears to be visibly distressed, but it appears as if they are under duress.

Holding a pad of paper in his hand, Shekau tells the camera: "These girls, these girls you occupy yourselves with their affair we have indeed 'liberated' them. We have indeed 'liberated' them.

Two of them hold a flag in the background

"Do you know 'we have liberated them'? These girls have become Muslims. They are Muslims."

He continues: "It is now four years or five years that you arrested our brethren and they are still in your prison.

One of the girls comes forward and talks to the camera

"You are doing many things (to them). And now you are talking about these girls. We will never release them until after you release our brethren."

Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "The video from Boko Harem will only add to the agony of the families involved. It is a reminder of the heartlessness and cruelty of these people."

He said British and US teams were working with the Nigerian authorities and security forces which are trying to find and rescue the captives.

Doctor Reuben Abati told Sky News Nigeria will not pay a ransom

Sky's Special Correspondent Alex Crawford who has spoken to a father of one of the kidnapped girls says he does not want the government to release Boko Haram prisoners in exchange for his daughter.

He told her: "It's not right. They'll do it again."

A special adviser to the country's president Doctor Reuben Abati told Alex Crawford there were lines the government would not cross in the hunt for the girls.

Speaking after it was revealed authorities had made indirect contact with Boko Haram, Dr Abati said: "The government of Nigeria has no intention to pay a ransom or to buy the girls, because the sale of human beings is a crime against humanity.

"The determination of the government is to get the girls and to ensure that the impunity that has brought this about is checked and punished."

Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau has threatened to sell the girls "at the market" and some are believed to have already been taken out of the country.

The search for the girls remains centred on the huge Sambisa forest, which is three times the size of Wales.

France said that Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan had agreed to attend a summit in Paris on Saturday to discuss what to do about Boko Haram.

Britain has been invited, as has the EU, the United States and the four countries bordering Nigeria: Benin, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Several of the countries in the region affected by the consequences of Boko Haram violence are French speaking.

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