BBC news with Marion Marshall.

Barack Obama has become the first American president to back (same sex marriage). In a television interview with ABC news, Mr. Obama said he had always been (adamant) that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally. But he had been going through what he called an “evolution” on the issue which still divides America.

Barack Obama: “Over the course of several years as I’ve talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are incredibly committed in (monogamous relationships), same sex relationships who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet fell constrained even now that the Don’t ask and Don’t tell is gone. At a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for to me to (go ahead) and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.’

Mr. Obama’s announcement comes one day after the state of North Carolina approved a constitutional amendment to defining marriages as union only between a man and a woman. His likely opponent in this year’s presidential election, Mitt Romney, has said he remained opposed to gay marriage.

The director of the FBI Robert Mueller says the al-Qaeda group based in Yemen, AQAP, poses the most serious (terrorist threat) facing the United States. Mr. Mueller said the recent foiled plot to blow up a U.S.-bound plane with a bomb planted in the attacker’s underwear show the need for wide ranging (surveillance policy) be renewed by the U.S. Congress.

Robert Mueller: “Al-Qaeda is decentralized but the group is committed to (high-profile attacks) against the West as we confirmed from the document seized from Osama bin Laden a year ago. AQAP has attempted several attacks on the United States, including the failed Christmas Day airline bombing in 2009 and the attempted bombing of the U.S.-bound cargo plane in 2010. And of course, we in the bureau are currently exploiting an improvised explosive device, seized overseas which is similar to the devices used by AQAP in the past.”

The Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik is hearing for the first time from survivors of the (massacre) on the island near Oslo. The organizer of the Labor Party Youth Camp on Utoya Island was the first to speak. From the court Steve Rosenberg reports.

Steve Rosenberg: “Tonje Brenna had taken shelter in rocks by the lake. She could hear gunshot she said on the sound of bullets (crashing into) the rocks and cries of joy made by the killer. Bjorn Ihler recalled how calm Breivik had approached him claiming to be a police officer than raised his gun. Bjorn jumped into the water and tried to swim away, a shot was fired. And while the survivor told their terrifying stories, the full court psychiatrists watched Breivik closely to note his reaction. Breivik listened to the witnesses without a (hint) of emotion.”

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