South Africa Cops Charged Over Van Man Murder

Eight South African police officers have been charged with murder after a video showed a man being handcuffed to a moving van.

South Africa's police watchdog earlier arrested the men over the death of a Mozambican taxi driver who died in custody after being dragged by the police vehicle.

Police in Pretoria held a press conference to placate a nation outraged by the footage showing Mido Macia being dragged through the streets.

He was later found dead in a police cell with serious head and internal injuries.

National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Riah Phiyega, said the eight officers had been suspended and disarmed. They have since been charged with murder.

Taxi driver Mido Macia with his sister Melida

The station commander in Daveytown, a township east of Johannesburg, has also been removed from his post, she said.

"Any one death is one too many," Ms Phiyega said. "We believe in the principle of police being policed."

The Daily Sun, a South African newspaper, posted footage of the dragging incident, which occurred on Tuesday.

It was apparently filmed by several people on mobile phones.

Witnesses said Mr Macia, 27, drew the attention of police when he parked in a way that blocked traffic, and then got into an row with officers.

"We are going to film this," several onlookers shouted in Zulu as the police subdued Mr Macia.

One bystander can be heard shouting: "What has this guy done?"

President Jacob Zuma condemned the killing of Mr Macia.

Some commentators drew comparisons with the 1977 death of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, who also suffered head injuries in police custody.

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Delhi Rape: Seven-Year-Old 'Attacked In School'

Hundreds of protesters have clashed with police after reports that a seven-year-old girl has been raped at a government school in northwest Delhi.

The Times of India newspaper said the attack had occurred in the Mangolpuri area of the capital.

The girl's parents informed police after the injured child was taken to hospital.

Dr Sanjay Kumar, who helped treat the girl, said she had injuries consistent with rape.

Angry mobs gathered at the hospital and threw stones at a nearby bus, shattering its windows.

Protesters say Delhi police have failed to act decisively in rape cases

Protesters hurled stones at police, who had cordoned off the road and used batons to break up the demonstration.

After several hours the crowd dispersed.

"The protesters were angry over the assault on the little girl and were demanding that police act against the culprit," a police official said.

A Delhi police spokesman said police had registered a rape case and were questioning teachers and security guards at the facility, run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit called the attack "shameful".

"Rape inside a school is a shocking incident. It is shameful that it happened," she said.

A man runs across a street during the protest

India has been gripped in recent months by a national debate over the treatment of women and girls and their safety.

Last month three sisters, aged six, nine and 11 were raped and murdered before their bodies were dropped in a village well.

In December a 23-year-old medical student was gang raped and attacked on a bus in Delhi. She died 13 days later after being flown to a hospital in Singapore.

Six men, including a 17-year-old, have been charged with her murder.

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South Africa: 'Man Dragged Behind Police Van'

A taxi driver in South Africa died after being handcuffed to a police vehicle and dragged hundreds of yards, it has been alleged.

Independent police investigators are looking into the claims after video footage emerged showing a man being dragged along a road behind a police van.

Police in Johannesburg are due to hold a news conference later this morning.

The man, named locally as 27-year-old Mido Macia from Mozambique, was later found dead in a police cell in Daveyton, Johannesburg, on Tuesday. Inmates claim he was beaten to death.

Officers have claimed they put Mr Macia in a police van in order to take him to a police station on the East Rand, and cannot explain how he later died.

Officers are seen restraining the man and handcuffing him to the van

The video, obtained by South Africa's Daily Sun newspaper, shows officers struggling to overpower a man - believed to be the taxi driver - before attaching him to a point at the rear of their vehicle and then driving off leaving him hanging outside.

At one point they attempt to carry his legs while the vehicle is moving forward but have to drop him as the police van speeds up.

The footage then shows the man trying to stay on his feet as he is dragged behind the vehicle for several hundred metres.

The person filming the incident attempts to keep up with the truck dragging the taxi driver, but has to give up as the vehicle is going too fast.

Inmates in the cells he was taken to have claimed he was later beaten by police.

South Africa's Independent Police Investigation Directorate (IPID) said on Wednesday that officers had initially attempted to arrest Mr Macia because he was allegedly obstructing traffic.

At one point they lift his legs but have to let go when the van speeds up

IPID spokesman Moses Dlamini said: "We are investigating an incident involving the death of man, allegedly at the hands of the police. We are shocked by the footage which has been released.

"The circumstances surrounding his death are still allegations ... let's find out what really happened," he said.

He said there were reports Mr Macia had tried to disarm a police officer before the attack.

The taxi driver was then allegedly beaten once inside the police holding cells.

He is understood to have been found dead by another police officer later the same day.

Mr Dlamini told the South African website News 24 that an investigation had begun before Mr Macia's death into allegations he carried out an assault resulting in grievous bodily harm.

Police in South Africa are known for heavy handedness when dealing with the public, and the police watchdog is handling numerous cases of police brutality.

In the 12 months before March 2010, according to Amnesty International, there were 920 complaints of serious assault and 294 deaths in custody.

The police department could not confirm if the officers had been suspended.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Papacy Nears Its End

By Sally Arthy, Senior News Editor, Rome

Pope Benedict XVI's tenure as leader of the world's Catholics will draw to a close later today.

Benedict stands down as Pontiff after nearly eight years and at a time when the Church is mired in controversy.

This morning, more than 100 cardinals will say their farewells to the Pope at a gathering in the Apostolic Palace.

The Pope waves from his papamobile at the end of his last weekly audience

Just before 5pm local time, Benedict will leave his apartments for the last time, give his thanks to the senior staff who have been by his side during his papacy, and then make his way to the Vatican helipad.

From there he will fly to Castel Gandolfo - the Pope's retreat on the outskirts of Rome.

Then, at around 5:30pm, he will make his last brief appearance on a balcony in front of an expected crowd of around 7,000 before withdrawing from public life for good.

At 8pm the doors of the villa will close and the Swiss Guard will stand aside marking the end of Benedict's papacy.

From then on he will be known as Emeritus Pope and devote his days to prayer and meditation.

Once renovations are complete, Benedict will move to a monastery in the grounds of the Vatican.

Edward Pentin, from the Catholic Herald, said Benedict will live a monk's life and not interfere in the work of his successor.

The next Pope will be chosen by secret ballot during the conclave of eligible cardinals who will vote in the Sistine Chapel.

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School Shooting Boy's Dad Calls For Gun Ban

By Sky News US Team, in New York

A father whose six-year-old son was killed in the Connecticut school shooting has pleaded with members of a US Senate panel to ban assault weapons.

Struggling to fight back tears, Neil Heslin, a 50-year-old construction worker, urged lawmakers to come to an agreement on increased gun controls.

"I'm not here for sympathy," said Mr Neil, who said he grew up with guns and had been teaching his son, Jesse Lewis, about them. "I'm here because of my son."

"No person should have to go through what my family and other victims' families have had to endure," he added.

Jesse was among 20 children and six educators killed by 20-year-old Adam Lanza at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14.

Sen Feinstein previously helped create an assault weapons ban in 1994

His father spoke for 11 minutes, his voice barely audible and breaking at times, to the Senate Judiciary Committee that is deeply divided over the issue of gun control.

The panel was holding a hearing on a bill introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein to ban assault weapons and ammunition magazines that carry more than 10 rounds.

Sen Feinstein and her allies said her measure would reduce the deaths such high-powered firearms can cause, but Republicans on the panel said the move would violate the constitutional right to bear arms and take guns away from law-abiding citizens who use them for self-defence.

Although he supports the US Constitution's Second Amendment right for citizens to have firearms, Mr Heslin said the amendment was written centuries before weapons as deadly as assault weapons were invented.

He recalled the morning of the Newtown shooting and said his son had told him "it's all going to be OK" as he dropped him off at the school gate.

20 children and six educators were killed in the Sandy Hook massacre

The shooting revived the national conversation on guns and led to a move by the Obama administration to call for stricter gun laws.

But despite the massacre and other mass shootings, gun control legislation faces a difficult path through Congress.

The struggle was underscored when the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said he opposes universal background checks for gun purchases - a central piece of President Barack Obama's plan.

Representative Bob Goodlatte told reporters that the proposal could lead to creation of a federal gun registry - a claim the Obama administration has said will not happen.

The Senate Judiciary hearing was the committee's third since the Newtown tragedy.

Numerous relatives and neighbours of victims of Newtown, as well as other shootings at Aurora, Colorado, and Virginia Tech University filled the large hearing room.

Familes of people affected by gun violence attend the Senate hearing

Sen Feinstein, who helped create a 1994 assault weapons ban that expired in 2004, and other supporters cite studies showing use of the firearms in crimes diminished while the prohibition lasted.

A 2004 report said the proportion of gun crimes involving assault weapons dropped by up to 72% in five cities studied.

Opponents cite data from the same study showing assault weapons were used in only 2% to 8% of gun crimes, arguing that a ban would have little impact.

The study also estimated there were 1.5 million assault weapons owned privately in the US in 1994, and an estimated 30 million high-capacity magazines as of 1999, which critics say means exempting them would diminish a ban's effect.

Sen Feinstein's latest measure specifically bans 157 firearms but excludes 2,258 others in an effort to avoid barring hunting and sporting weapons.

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Chuck Hagel: Defence Secretary Job Approved

Chuck Hagel has been confirmed by the United States' Senate as President Barack Obama's new secretary of defence, following an unusually acrimonious fight.

The former Republican senator was backed by a margin of 58 to 41 - the closest vote ever to approve a defence secretary.

Only four Republicans - Mike Johanns of Nebraska, who holds Mr Hagel's old Senate seat, Thad Cochran of Mississippi, Richard Shelby of Alabama and Rand Paul of Kentucky - joined the Democrats and independents in support of Mr Hagel's nomination.

Mr Obama said he was pleased there had been bipartisan support for Mr Hagel, a decorated veteran who served during the Vietnam War as an enlisted man before becoming a Republican US senator.

"I am grateful to Chuck for reminding us that when it comes to our national defence, we are not Democrats or Republicans, we are Americans, and our greatest responsibility is the security of the American people," Mr Obama said.

The bruising battle over Mr Hagel was one of many bitter partisan struggles between Democrats and Republicans, amid widespread criticism of Congress for its inability to agree on even the most basic measures to run the country.

The Senate had earlier voted to end debate on Mr Hagel and move forward, almost two weeks after Republicans launched a filibuster to block the nomination.

It was the first ever used to delay consideration of a defence nominee, prompting Democrats to accuse Republicans of jeopardising national security.

Republicans have also challenged Mr Obama's choice to be CIA director, John Brennan, although that nomination appears to be on track, with a vote by the Senate Intelligence Committee expected on Thursday.

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Pope Benedict Farewell: Thousands Expected

By Sally Arthy, Senior News Editor, Rome

More than 50,000 people are expected to gather in St Peter's Square later today for Pope Benedict XVI's final general audience.

The Pope stunned the Catholic Church earlier this month when he announced he no longer had the mental or physical strength to carry on in the role.

He will officially stand aside on Thursday evening, the first pope to do so in 600 years.

He will leave the Vatican and fly by helicopter to the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, until renovations have been completed on a monastery inside the Vatican walls.

Benedict calendars are sold outside his summer residence Castel Gandolfo

The Pope will live out the rest of his days in the new monastery in prayer and meditation.

At precisely 8pm (Rome time) the villa gates at Castel Gandolfo will close and the Swiss Guard will withdraw - a symbol that Pope Benedict XVI's papacy is over.

Benedict will then be known as Emeritus Pope and wear a simple white cassock and brown shoes rather than his trademark red loafers.

The final general audience will take place in St Peter's Square

After the general audience today, the Pope will meet a select group of heads of state and make final preparations for his departure.

On Thursday morning he will bid farewell to his Cardinals who will begin a series of meetings to determine his successor.

The date for the conclave - when eligible cardinals vote in secret in the Sistine Chapel - has yet to be announced.

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Nuclear Talks: Powers To 'Make Offer' To Iran

By Lisa Holland, Foreign Affairs Correspondent

World powers will meet Iranian nuclear negotiators in Kazakhstan this week for the first time in eight months.

It is understood there will be what diplomats are calling a "new offer" to the Iranians to try to make progress in the stalled nuclear stand-off.

A senior diplomat said: "We will take an offer with us. It is substantial and serious and will involve significant new elements."

Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for civilian energy and medical research.

The European Union and members of the UN Security Council including the US suspect Iran has a covert atomic weapons programme.

Washington and Brussels have adopted a dual-track approach to Iran - pursuing nuclear talks while pressing sanctions to try to force Tehran to make a deal.

A US proposal for a one-on-one meeting with Iran on the sidelines of the talks in the Kazak city of Almaty remains on the table.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has defied Western pressure

The diplomat told Sky News: "Iran has a great deal to gain from the talks. It wants sanctions lifted. The talks present an opportunity to re-shape relations.

"The prize is a great one, but the negotiations are difficult and complex. We have a good offer. We hope the Iranians will respond positively."

Negotiators hope the Almaty talks will give them some sense of whether the Iranians have any interest in genuinely pursuing diplomacy.

The diplomat said: "We have to be patient and make sure when the Iranians reach a point when they want to do a deal we are at the table."

Iran has seen elevated levels of inflation. Some suggest it is at 27%, while others think it could be double that.

The UN has passed six Security Council resolutions on Iran, and diplomats hope that the economic impact of sanctions will force the Iranians to re-think their stance against the West.

The Western thinking is that the centrifuges may keep spinning but the sanctions keep biting.

It has been more than half a year since the last round of talks with countries known as the E3 + 3 -   the US, France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia.

There has been anxiety about a possible military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities by Israel.

Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu discusses Iran at the UN in September 2012

Iran is still expanding its nuclear programme with the installation of more advanced centrifuges which will multiply its enrichment capability.

But Iran has also reportedly converted some of its medium-enriched uranium into fuel plates for its medical reactor, making it harder to convert that material into bomb-grade fuel, and is slowing down its accumulation of what is known as 20% enriched uranium.

A new report by the international nuclear watchdog IAEA suggests that Iran has a stockpile of 167kg of 20% enriched uranium.

The 20% enriched uranium is seen as the barometer for proliferation concern as it could relatively quickly be further enriched into weapons-grade fissile material.

At the time of the last IAEA report three months ago, Iran had a stockpile of nearly 135kg of 20% uranium.

According to the watchdog, this means that Iran's 20% stockpile has increased by 32kg in the past three months - a growth rate of under 11kg a month.   

At that rate Iran could  take more than six months to reach a red line laid down by Israel of 240 kg - which is in theory enough to make one nuclear warhead, if further enriched.

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Italy Election: Split Vote Leads To Stalemate

Results in crucial elections in Italy show no clear winner and raise the possibility of a hung parliament.

The uncertainty does not help the nation's efforts to pass the tough reforms it needs to heal its economic woes and prevent a new round of global financial turmoil.

In the lower chamber of parliament, the Democratic Party leader Pier Luigi Bersani and his leftist coalition scraped a razor-thin victory over Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right, winning by 29.55% to 29.18% with 99.9 percent of the ballots counted.

Grillo: His protest group M5S appears the real winner

But in the 305-seat Senate, preliminary results from the interior ministry showed that former prime minister Berlusconi's coalition could win 110 seats to the left's 97 seats, with neither group winning a majority, which is required in both chambers of parliament to form a government.

This leaves Italy in a state of limbo with a hung parliament that is unprecedented in its post-war history.

Bersani: Narrow victory for his leftist coalition in the lower chamber

"It is clear to everyone that this is a very delicate situation for the country," Democratic Party leader Pier Luigi Bersani said.

US stocks closed sharply lower with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 1.55% on the news. Stocks in Tokyo opened 1.83% lower.

The new Five Star Movement (M5S) led by former comedian-turned activist Beppe Grillo, who has stirred anger at politicians and budget cuts, became the country's third political force, creating dozens of new lawmakers.

Comparing single parties without coalitions, the M5S is now the biggest party in the lower house with 25.55% to the Democratic Party's 25.41%, a shock success that analysts predicted would reverberate around an austerity-weary Europe.

"This is fantastic! We will be an extraordinary force!" Mr Grillo said on his website, warning mainstream politicians they would "only last a few more months".

"We'll have 110 people in parliament and we'll be millions outside."

Berlusconi: Doing better in the Senate

European capitals fear the lack of a clear winner could bring fresh instability to the eurozone's third largest economy after Germany and France and plunge it back into the debt crisis storm.

Some Democratic Party officials suggested fresh elections may have to be held within a few months after a reform of Italy's complex electoral laws. Others said some form of agreement could be found with the anti-austerity Five Star Movement.

Political analysts suggested a possible return to the grand coalition agreement between right and left seen over the past 18 months, or even dissolving the Senate alone to hold fresh elections for only one chamber of parliament.

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Topless Protest At Berlusconi As Italy Votes

By Robert Nisbet, Europe Correspondent

Three topless feminists lunged at Silvio Berlusconi as he arrived at a polling station in Milan to vote in Italy's general election.

Polls opened in the country amid concern the outcome could lead to political gridlock in Europe's fourth largest economy.

As voters queued at a polling station at a Milan school, the three half-naked women, who had the slogan "Basta Berlusconi" ("Enough With Berlusconi") scrawled on their backs, broke through a crowd of journalists.

The topless trio then jumped over some tables toward the former leader, but they failed to reach him.

They were quickly detained by police and dragged away screaming.

One of the protesters is led away

Italian news reports said the three were members of the Femen protest group. 

Mr Berlusconi, the former Prime Minister, is leading a centre-right coalition in the election and polls indicate he will come second to the centre-left.

Italy is in its worst recession in two decades. Unemployment is above 11% and rising, while the public debt mountain as a proportion of GDP is second only to Greece in the eurozone.

The current administration, led by the unelected economist Mario Monti, has prescribed a tough medicine of economic reform, budget cuts and tax increases.

The demonstrators were members of the Femen group

While the austerity programme was welcomed by those trying to stabilise the single currency, it has been deeply unpopular among Italian voters.

Support for his small coalition of centrist parties has foundered, while those who have taken an EU-critical, anti-austerity position have seen their popularity increase.

Voter intention surveys are banned in the days leading up to elections in Italy, but pollsters use elaborate ruses to disguise their findings. The most common features the political parties as competitors in fictional horse races.

They suggest the unconventional anti-corruption Five Star Movement, led by the comedian Beppe Grillo, could take up to 20% of the vote, which political analysts believe could throw parliament into chaos.

Franco Pavoncello, the President of Rome's John Cabot University, told Sky News: "Mr Grillo will not even be a member of parliament (because of a conviction for vehicular manslaughter in 1981).

Beppe Grillo at a rally in the run-up to the election

"So the question is what's going to happen when you have 70 young and inexperienced people as MPs without the leader who got them elected?

"I think we might be in for some very interesting phenomena after the election."

Italy's European neighbours, including Britain, don't want interesting phenomena. They want calm in the crisis-wracked eurozone.

Because of the quirks of the Italian electoral system, it seems unlikely the two-day poll will deliver a clear working majority for any single party.

While the centre-left's Pier Luigi Bersani, leader of the Democratic Party, is likely to emerge as Prime Minister - thanks to a bonus of 55 seats awarded to the biggest vote-getter in the lower Chamber of Deputies - he may find it hard to win over the Senate.

A law brought in by Mr Berlusconi apportions extra seats in the upper house to the most populous regions.

Former PM Mario Monti casts his vote

That favours the media magnate's centre-right PdL party, which is polling well in areas such as Sicily and Lombardy.

Mr Berlusconi, who was considered a spent force after his resignation in November 2011, may find he holds the balance of power as any law needs the approval of both houses.

Giovanni Ragusa, an economist from LUISS University in Rome, says a political stalemate could be disastrous for Italy and for Europe.

"When Italian voters realise there's not going to be a strong government able to pass new laws and that the tax increases they have been subjected to for the past few years are not going to be temporary, then the discontent is going to spill over onto the streets," he warned.

Any political problems in Italy could affect the ability of the EU to bring about reforms which would ensure the stability of the euro, which the British Government insists is necessary to help the struggling UK economy.

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Daytona 500 Race To Go Ahead Despite Crash

The Daytona 500 NASCAR race will go ahead despite a crash that injured 28 fans and questions over the track's safety regulations.

The spectators and one driver were injured in a 10-car crash at the Daytona Speedway, which sent debris flying into the crowd.

Workers successfully repaired a section of fence - 54 feet (16.5 metres) wide and 22 feet (6.7 metres) high - that was shredded during the crash on Saturday.

And officials said that fans feeling uncomfortable with their up-close seating during the race would be moved.

"If fans are unhappy with their seating location or if they have any incidents, we would relocate them," track president Joie Chitwood said.

"So we'll treat that area like we do every other area of the grandstand. If a fan is not comfortable where they're sitting, we make every accommodation we can."

On the last lap of the Nationwide Nascar race, competitor Regan Smith was turned sideways and took out several racers behind him, causing a pile-up.

Large chunks of driver Kyle Larson's car landed in the grandstands, and one of his tyres appeared to fly over the fence and into the stands. 

His car went airborne when it hit the pile-up and it was flung into the fence that separates the track from the seats. 

Twenty-eight fans were injured by flying debris

The car itself had its entire front end sheared off, with the burning engine wedged through a gaping hole in the fence.

Larson managed to climb out of the wreckage afterwards unscathed.

Race officials said 14 fans were taken to hospital, with another 14 being treated on the scene at the Florida track.

Driver Michael Annett, of the Richard Petty Motorsports team, was being treated in hospital for bruising on his chest, his team said.

Dan Wetzel, Yahoo Sports national columnist, spoke to fans in the damaged grandstand.

He told Sky News: "They described it as like a war zone, you simply had nothing you could do.

"The car is moving at 200 miles per hour, so you can't really dodge anything. An entire wheel slammed into one person."

Driver Tony Stewart won the race, but skipped the traditional post-race victory celebration because of the dramatic turn of events.

The Nationwide race was a curtain-raiser for American stock car racing's biggest event, the Daytona 500.

Nascar president Mike Helton told cable TV network ESPN: "There was obviously some intrusion into the fence, and fortunately with the way the events are equipped, there was plenty of emergency workers ready to go. They all jumped on it pretty quickly.                

"We've always known since racing started this is a dangerous sport."

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Pistorius: Oscar 'Will Never Be The Same'

Oscar Pistorius says he just wants to "be alone" since his release on bail and is feeling "a lot of remorse" over the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The Olympic athlete is staying at his uncle's home in Pretoria after a court banned him from returning to the luxury home where he shot Ms Steenkamp through a bathroom door.

His spokeswoman in South Africa told Sky News: "He told me, 'I just want this time to be alone'. He is in his room, he's spending time alone and he's feeling a lot of remorse."

Barry Steenkamp, left, at his daughter's funeral

The athlete's family has also released a new statement, saying: "Oscar will never be the same ... having to live with the knowledge that he caused the death of the woman he loved, and that he can never undo the immense pain and loss this has caused Reeva's family and friends".

His uncle Arnold added: "We are acutely aware of the fact that this is only the beginning of a long road to prove that, as we know, Oscar never intended to harm Reeva, let alone cause her death."

Pistorius, 26, is accused of premeditated murder after the Valentine's Day shooting. He denies murder.

Lawyers for the defence and prosecution are starting work on the trial phase of a case that is likely to grip South Africa and the world, with the next hearing set for June 4.

The athlete arrived at his uncle's house on Friday after paying 10% of his one million rand (£73,000) bail at Pretoria's Brooklyn police station, where he had been held for a week.

Ms Steenkamp was killed on Valentine's Day

Meanwhile, Ms Steenkamp's father has told a South African newspaper that Pistorius will "suffer" if he is lying about how she died.

The Beeld newspaper quotes Barry Steenkamp as saying Pistorius will have to "live with his conscience" if his assertion that he accidentally shot the 29-year-old law graduate is false.

He said: "There are only two people who really know what happened and it's Oscar Pistorius and the Lord.

"It does not matter how much money he has and how good his legal team is, he must live with his conscience if he let his lawyers tell lies on his behalf.

"He will have to live with his conscience. But if he speaks the truth, I can perhaps someday forgive him."

Pistorius is staying with his uncle Arnold

Horse trainer Mr Steenkamp said he might be able to forgive Pistorius one day if the double-amputee Olympian is telling the truth.

Her mother said that Pistorius' family had sent a card and flowers offering condolences for the death of her daughter but she added it meant little because: "They are not to blame."

However, her uncle Mike Steenkamp said the timing of the family's actions was poor and that they had not initially tried to contact Reeva's bereaved parents.

Chief magistrate Desmond Nair approved bail for Pistorius on Friday at the end of a two-hour summary in which he found the accused was unlikely to skip bail, be violent or approach any witnesses.

Nair said he had been influenced by Pistorius' decision to submit a detailed affidavit, in which he claimed he accidentally shot Ms Steenkamp through the bathroom door at his home in the east of Pretoria, thinking she was an intruder.

Under his bail conditions Pistorius must surrender any firearms and his passport and can not enter any international departure hall.

He is also is banned from using any prohibited substance or alcohol and must report to police twice a week as part of his bail conditions.

:: It has also emerged that the Twitter account of Pistorius' brother, Carl, was hacked and a false message, purporting to be from the sprinter and thanking supporters, was posted.

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Fears Of Chaos As Italy Goes To The Polls

By Robert Nisbet, Europe Correspondent

Polls open in Italy today amid concern the elections could lead to political gridlock in Europe's fourth largest economy.

The country is in its worst recession for two decades, unemployment is above 11% and rising, while the public debt mountain as a proportion of GDP is second only to Greece in the eurozone.

The current administration, led by the unelected economist Mario Monti, has prescribed a tough medicine of economic reform, budget cuts and tax increases.

While the austerity programme was welcomed by those trying to stabilise the single currency, it has been deeply unpopular among Italian voters.

Support for his small coalition of centrist parties has foundered, while those who have taken an EU-critical, anti-austerity position have seen their popularity increase.

Voter intention surveys are banned in the days leading up to elections in Italy, but pollsters use elaborate ruses to disguise their findings. The most common features the political parties as competitors in fictional horse races.

Beppe Grillo could at a rally in the run-up to the election

They suggest the unconventional anti-corruption Five Star Movement, led by the comedian Beppo Grillo, could take up to 20% of the vote, which political analysts believe could throw parliament into chaos.

Franco Pavoncello, the president of Rome's John Cabot University, told Sky News: "Mr Grillo will not even be a member of parliament (because of a conviction for vehicular  manslaughter in 1981) so the question is: what's going to happen when you have 70 young and inexperienced people as MPs without the leader who got them elected?"

"I think we might be in for some very interesting phenomena after the election," he said.

Italy's European neighbours, including Britain, don't want interesting phenomena. They want calm in the crisis-wracked Eurozone.

Because of the quirks of the Italian electoral system it seems unlikely the two-day poll will deliver a clear working majority for any single party.

While the centre left's Pierluigi Bersani, leader of the Democratic Party, is likely to emerge as Prime Minister with a bonus of 55 seats for becoming the biggest party in the Chamber of Deputies, he may find it hard to win over the Senate.

Can Berlusconi make a comeback? His career had largely been written off

A law brought in by former leader Silvio Berlusconi apportions extra seats in the upper house to the most populous regions. That favours the media magnate's centre right PdL party, which is polling well in areas such as Sicily and Lombardy.

Mr Berlusconi, who was considered a spent force after his resignation in November 2011, may find he holds the balance of power as any law needs the approval of both houses.

Giovanni Ragusa, an economist from LUISS University, says a political stalemate could be disastrous for Italy and for Europe.

"When Italian voters realise there's not going to be a strong government able to pass new laws and that the tax increases they have been subjected to for the past few years are not going to be temporary, then the discontent is going to spill over onto the streets," he warned.

Any political problems in Italy could effect the ability of the EU to bring about reforms which would ensure the stability of the Euro, which the British government insists is necessary to help the struggling UK economy.

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