>> for the first time in our history, truly it's delivered. >> a trillion dollar deal. the world trade organization reaches a global agreement for the first time in its 18-year history. >> i'm david foster and you are watching al jazeera live from doha. also: france sends more troops to central africa republic. >> 21 egyptian women gaoled for

taking part in a demonstration begin their appeal. >> flowers for the father of a face - the latest from south africa as people celebrate the life of nelson mandela. >> it has been almost 20 years trying to bring about a global trade deal. the world trade organization has come up with an agreement said to be worth $18 trillion for the international economy. >> it is so agreed. >> the deal was made in bali and indonesia, aimed at increasing global commerce and making it easier for poorer countries to do trade. >> for the first time in our history we have truly delivered. we have achieved something significant. people all around the world will benefit from the package

delivered here today. >> here is what is it could mean. it's claimed it will create 21 million jobs, 18 million in developing countries and cut red removing the need for many taxes and bribes. the w.t.o. is trying to remove all subsidies. the deal means that some developing countries can keep them in they are needed to feed the poor. the results are yet to be seen. india is happy it can keep its subsidy. >> i view this as a victory for the farmers of india, for the farmers, for subsistence farmers of the entire developing country. there has also been a coalition of developing countries that along with its partners, with

withstood all pressures. demonstrated solidarity and achieve this. >> the background to this our nt from jakarta. >> a moment of victory after the establishment of the w.t.o., they have managed to make a worldwide trade deal, a deal with trade facilitation, removing barriers and customs regulations. it will bring $1 trillion to the global market. negotiations were tough and it took them four days to seal the deal. there was a huge debate about india who want to keep subsidies in place for the poor farmers because we need to be able to feed the poor people. after a long debate with the united states european countries decided to accept the food security plan.

they were worried it would distort prices. in the end latin american countries made objections. they walked out in the early morning of saturday. after a few hours, finally sealed this historical deal. not everyone is happy because many poor farmers here in indonesia say the world trade deal will not benefit the poor farmers here. they hope it's the beginning of more negotiations to come, that will create more free trade around the world. >> red cross is saying at least 300 people have been killed in two days after violence between rival militias in the central african republic. thousands have been trying to get refuge at the airport where french troops are standing guard. they are sending soldiers to improve security, we'll talk to

jackie row and what then to bangui. >> the people here spent a terrified night in the city. some in their homes, waiting for attacks from seleka, anti-balaka. they are moving from house to house. as you saw there thousands of people camped out in a field with nothing - food and water, very little, close to the airport. we have heard as well that last night there were people hiding in a church and about to be attacked by seleka. and the french intervened. we are seeing french taking a more active role on the brand in bangui. it comes as good news. they are intervening with sport and they are protecting people

which is their mandate under the united nations resolution. >> do take us into that in more detail. it is an increase, doubling francis hollande of french reinforcements being sent. it's not a large force by any means. >> well, they are not here yet. we are hearing that a column of possibly 100 french vehicles have crossed from cameroon and heading into the republic, passing by buah and stay or come down to bangui. there's 600 french soldiers. they are stretched, protecting the airport and the civilians there. let's not forget the african forces. there are reports from our colleagues up in bossangoa that

african forces rescued thousands of displaced people and helping the u.n. they are under the protection of african forces there. they are running out of supplies. they need reinforcements desperately, and need the french to head up to those parts of the country to protect people. >> live for us in bangui. jackie row land live in paris. >> the car merritting a lot of discussion but not the only discussion in paris. it's continent wide, isn't it, this discussion. >> it is, and the way that francis hollande sums up the equation in his opening remarks on friday with security and development, he sees the two as being inextricably linked and the economic development of the continent being vital for

improving the security situation. he read out of list of countries gripped by terrorism, and mentioned mali, libya, since the revolution, kenya, where there was the attack on the shopping mall and somali where there's ongoing violence. what francis hollande was aiming for as a new partnership whereby africa would be responsible for its security with help, support and training from europe, in order to set up an african rapid force. speeding up the reaction. there has been u.n., french troops coming in to bat ad hoc african sources as if they were a dedicated african source able

to deal with this problem more quickly. >> thank you. jackie rowland in paris. >> north korea has released an american war veteran it had arrested when he was on holiday. >> 85-year-old merrill newman fought in the korean war and he was visiting as a tourism. pyongyang claimed he was a war criminal that killed civilians. united states. >> i'm very glad to be on my way home. i appreciate the power the dprk has given for me to be on my way >> reporter: how do you feel now? >> i feel good >> reporter: what would i like to do first thing? >> go home and see my wife. >> vice president joe biden welcomed his relief but mentions that north korea is still holding another u.s. citizens.

>> they have mr bay, who has no reason for being held in the north and should be released immediately. we are demanding his release as well. mr newman will return today and be reunited with his family. >> more from rob mcbride in beijing. >> merrill newman's release has come from delicate behind-the-scenes negotiations. he arrived in one flight from pyongyang, and is on his way to the west coast of america. he said little. he said he's pleased to be free and is looking forward to seeing his wife, obviously, and the american embassy here said that he received consular assistance, and the state department welcomed the release. it seems to have been arrived at on account of his apology that he gave last week. he'd been held for a month for

alleged hostile acts against north korea. what they were we still don't know. it could have been connected with his war service. we know that he was working with american special forces, training and operating with partisan unit behind enemy lines during the korean war. was he held personally responsible or did they get the wrong merrill newman. another theory is they could have mistaken merrill newman for a more celebrated veteran of the same now. his family said there was a misunderstanding between newman and his minders. the government, tall -- tour group operators. >> still ahead - many faces of thailand's politics. the return of once banned politicians, could it boost the

ruling party. hundreds of syrians taking a dangerous journey on foot to seek refuge in no man's land.

>> this is al jazeera. the w.t.o. agreed on a commerce deal making it easier for poorer countries to trade. it could add a $18 trillion to

the world economy. >> 200 have been killed after violentliens in the central african republic. thousands have tried to seek safety at the airport. >> the release of a war veteran being held by north korea on crimes relating to the korean war. merrill newman has been released. >> south africans celebrating the life of antiapartheid nelson mandela. it's after 10:30 in the morning in johannesburg. this is the scene outside nelson mandela's former home. mourners brought flowers, many singing and dancing. nelson mandela brought so much more than an end to segregation, but gave south ans the

right to both. a first-time visit to south africa's parliament. these youths have no memory of that day in 1994 when nelson mandela delivered an address as president of south africa. an opportunity for them to learn of democracy born that day. >> the first step on this side. i am sure we can see it. that is where the president is. the president is there. this is where he has his own place. >> from the tour guide an anecdote demonstrating that the greats can get it wrong. >> the former president was making a speech in this house, and he noticed something he found out what was going on. they said, "mr president, you

don't have a worry no one is in da danger. but the reason the button is on is that you should have have finished a long time ago." underlining the last you are is the sacrifices nelson mandela made to make a better life for all. >> i have a better life. it's a big thing for me that nobody would have done for me. >> i think he played a positive role, especially for the young people of today. he made a sacrifices for where we are today and there's a lot of opportunities that came from the decisions that he had made in the past. >> nelson mandela - he's a hero. he fought for the freedom we are living in. >> nelson mandela i think he is

not only for south africa now, he's for the whole world. he's recognised as somebody who has done a lot for his people. not only for black people, but the whole nation and the nations of the globe. >> it's not only the lives of the youths that nelson mandela changed. >> i remember in the '80s, when we were a student. we were marching and we were stopped. we used to have petrol bombs that we were coming to destroy the place. down the line i found myself working in an unbelievable experience. people that lived in the nelson mandela magic. believe for some people who go for the first time in 1994, they would not be there but for nelson mandela.

>> a veteran for the struggle and youths that have never known anything but a free south africa, have the greatest thing that nelson mandela left behind - the right to vote. >> as told to sean johnson, joining us. nelson mandela asked him to set up the nelson mandela rhodes focus and he's been a director for the last 10 years. you knew nelson mandela 23 years, coinciding with the moment he came out of prison. tell us the story of your first meeting. >> yes, thank you very much for letting me share my memories. everyone is finding it kath arctic. everyone is talking on the radios there. mine is that i was working with colleagues on a small antiapartheid newspaper called the weekly male. it was smuggled on to robin island and into the prison where the a.n.c. leadership were

reading it. when he came out of prison a message came to me and my colleague at the "weekly mail", that he wanted us to interview him - every journalist's dream, especially a young and shallow one like myself. we did so. he expressed surprise the newspaper he was taking so seriously was run by children, but the relationship developed from there. i was a political writer, political editor and editor of the various newspapers, and i enjoyed an incredible relationship, a life-changing relationship. i would never be presum tuesday enough to say i was an associate or friend. i had proximity and been in the room when things happened. i got a real insight into what i think is one of his underplayed qualities which was an

incredible understanding of global politics and - so i worked -- >> then he asked you to set up the mandela rhodes foundation, designed to encourage exceptional leadership in the young of africa. how do you go about teaching leadership. what example did he give that you have taken to the foundation? >> well, i think it was very notable that of his three charitable legacy this is one, and i was fortunate he asked me to set it up. the reason he asked me i straddled the two circles, one his leadership circle and the we put it into a program. we have scholars from 18 different african countries, hundreds. we put them through to do honours or masters, an intensive

leadership development program, bringing them together from all over the continent three times a year and immers them in the principles that drove nelson mandela's leadership. he has written about it. that's the material and these are youngsters. 23 years old. he was not president when they were growing up. that is a sign of his vision, i think, is that 10 years ago he was saying, "i'm worried about the quality of leadership in africa. we can't live in hope that a brilliant generation will emerge. so he's given myself and my colleagues a job of finding the next nelson mandelas. >> it's hard to imagine that this is a real human being, but he was, and every human being has flaws. what do you teach them about nelson mandela's flaws? >> plenty.

he rarely meant it when he says the only sense in which i'm a saint is if you understand a saint to be a sinner who keeps on trying. nelson mandela's famous maya cull peas is that he was not a great father for reasons we understood and you'll see in the film made "long walk to freedom." secondly, he has great regret in life that he didn't understand the h.i.v. aids issue early enough. and then all the absolutely ordinary mortal things that those of us that are privileged to be with him in the room almost every day. he has a heck of a temper and you don't want to get on the wrong side of that temper. it's a very normal human being in those ways. his empathy is so strong people tend to canonize and sankitify. there was not a single day before his death that i didn't

stand up straight in his presence even though i have been so close to him for so long. >> there you are. sean johnson talking the nelson mandela in the presence tense. i doubt that will go for a long time. we appreciate it. >> thank you very much. 21 egyptian women have been send to 11 years in prison for protesting. the group include seven girls. they were arrested in the city in october. supporters of the muslim brotherhood have been demonstrating in giza, near cairo, demanding their release. politicians in thailand adds ruling political party are on the scene after serving bans for electoral fraud. the arrival coinciding with demand for the deposit to step down. wayne hay has more. >> after five long years they

are walking back into politics. this former prime minister was among 37 members of the people party. thailand's ruling party. >> translation: to be back as a member of the party makes me feel i have my political rights back. i haven't planned my future. >> this is the brother-in-law of former prime minister thaksin shinawatra ousted in a coup seven years ago and convicted of abusing his power. parts of bangkok bear the scars. they claim the government led thi thaksin shinawatra's sister, yingluck shinawatra, wants to whitewash his crimes. his close allies believe the attempt to push through an amnesty bill that could have cleared him was a bad move.

>> if you ask if it was a mistake - i believe so. that was over. now, the bill was not passed by the upper house. >> that has not been enough to top the protestors, who are vowing to eradicate the regime. >> the party comes complete with its library in the devoted to thaksin shinawatra. >> despite the opposition, his party and family are not givenigiving up on getting him home >> translation: we faced so many obstacles. the door has not been closed. there's a way, but i cannot mention the details. >> thaksin shinawatra's party

won the last five members. his return will boost ranks but rile opponents. >> the united nations is asking if an inquiry into allegations of trafficking of myanmar rev anies. reuters report that thai workers were handing over rohingyas saying the stateless muslims were taken across southern thailand and held hostage in camps near the border. >> a british royal marine has been convicted in a court martial for murdering a fighter in afghanistan. alexander blackman will spend two years in prison. two others were acquitted from the 2011 clear. blackman was recorded by a helmet camera. the video shows him shooting the afghan and admitting to breaking the geneva convention.

>>. fewer syrian refugees are able to cross into jordan because of heavy fighting between the army and syrian rebels. they have a new route. we have this report on the frontier between jordan and syria. >> trickling down on foot from no man's land to jordanian territory. hundreds of refugees escape fighting and destruction in their country. they have walked several kilometres in the cold and rain to get this far. 80-year-old outside damascus arrived with her mentally challenged son, saying hunger and starveation brought her here. >> food supplies have been cut off. food and bakeries have been destroyed. if someone sees someone with a

bag of bread they bid like at an auction. >> the refugees arrive with nothing more than identification documents and the clothes on their back. for most they have experienced the longest and dangerous journey to safety. three months ago this couple were turned away at the boarder, because they didn't have all their documents. >> i am sure that is better than living under air strikes. we lost a lot of family members. any life here is better than living in syria. sir yaps used to cross into jordan. heavy fighting prevented thousands crossing through. the safer, alternative route is crossing to jordan through the homs desert. >> this is why the number of daily arrivals has significantly dropped from thousands to hundreds in recent months. jordan has been accused of

turning refugees away but it insists borders are open. >> translation: why did the numbers drop? i think it's due to the security situation in syria, not the situation at the jordanian boarder. the u.n. refugee agency agrees.