>> saying farewell to nelson mandela. world leaders and we'll wishers gather for a huge memorial service. >> from al jazeera's headquarters in doha. also - two french soldiers killed in the central african republic. >> riot police scuffle with protesters in ukraine as the president tries to find a solution. >> a water deal truck between three neighbours to breathe new life into the dead sea.

>> good to have you with us. thousands of people started to arrive in johannesburg for a memorial service for nelson mandela. more than 70 world leaders are scheduled to attend the event. these are live pictures from inside the stadium where the service will take place. earlier on we see some world leaders arriving, including some african leaders. the stadium has 95,000 states, there are 80,000 expected. the weather has been poor. it's windy, and they are dancing and joyfully singing to remember nelson mandela. now, the service itself is expected to include tributes by south african president jacob zuma. and u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon. i'm joined by haru mutasa in

soweto. it's a sombre occasion, despite the fact that people are dancing and enjoying themselves. do you think people will use this as an opportunity to look at south africa today, and see how they live? >> yes, exactly. a lot of people are thinking about the future of south africa. even though it's raining and cold, people are filing in. people have come from all over the place. this group, for example, have arrived. >> where did you come from? >> okay. we are from nigeria. we are here to deliver a message from his holiness. he declared that former president nelson mandela is a saint of our time. and from henceforth everybody in

africa, south africa and the world at large should address him as saint nelson mandela. >> what does he mean, nelson mandela, to nigerians, as a hole? >> nelson mandela is a true example of the teachings right out of the cross which has forgiven humility and humanity. nigeria also has forgiven, given that not all practice that forgiveness is the key to brotherly love. that is why on this world he is celebrating his life, his holiness, who is in nigeria sent his representative to send this message to the world. >> that is one group from nig

earia all over the world have come to pay tribe ute to nelson mandela. on 10 december 1996 nelson mandela signed the constitution of south africa. the country has come so far, achieved so much. many people are here to celebrate the great man he was. >> we are seeing live pictures of archbishop desmond tutu, former president jimmy carter, and the unenvoy lakhdar brahimi getting out of a van and moving into the stadium. the stadium is significant in nelson mandela's history, isn't it? >> it is. it is the last time we saw him in public, really. it was during the 2010 world cup. we weren't really sure that he was going to come because he was very old, very sick, it was the middle of winter and it was late at night. he was in a wheelchair , covered

in a blanket. the minute he was brought into the stadium everyone stood up. it shows the impact. how he mobilized so many people. that's why people are here to celebrate, despite the rain and the bad weather. people are coming in numbers to wish him well. >> we are seeing live pictures of kofi annan joining desmond tutu as they enter the stadium there. tell me something, how much of this do you think nelson nelson mandela would have appreciated, in terms of the response that he's getting from the people as opposed to the response he's getting from the leaders. we are just seeing f.w. de klerk emerging from a car and moving into the stadium. how important do you think people are in relation to the leaders of the world that they have relations with? >> everyone who is anyone wanted to be here with nelson mandela.

everyone in south africa tried to get a photo opportunity with him. that was always the case. i mean, we hear stories that nelson mandela didn't like the lim light. he was embarrassed about having a picture taken. at the end of the day he became a man of the world, not just of the president of south africa. he was an icon. people wanted to be near him and see him. how do we feel about this? >> the key thing is that a dream he realised came true - white, black, others. south africans are united. everyone is equal in the eyes of the law - blacks, whites, we live and work together. a lot of work needs to be done. some progress has been made. he'll be happy about that. >> we are seeing pictures of former south african president f.w. de klerk, who early was the leader of the national party before nelson mandela became president for five years.

>> all are making their way into the stadium i head of the ceremonies due to take place in the next few hours. we will bring you rolling coverage of the sir moanies as they happen. >> now, france's defence ministery confirmed two soldiers were killed in the central african republic, as troops began operations to disarm rebels in bangui. they are trying to strip rival groups after days of attacks that left hundreds dead. we are joined on a line from the capital bangui. nazanine moshiri what do we know about the attacks? >> all we know is what the ministry of defense is telling us. that a few french soldiers were killed. there are a number of soldiers in bangui, but there's a contingent in the town north of

the country. it's not clear where the two soldiers died. but things have been heating up between the french soldiers and seleka forces. there was fighting overnight in the city between the french and seleka. of course, the french have been coming in strongly, toughly, trying to disarm seleka forces. sometimes by force, and things have got very difficult for the french forces here. at the same time it seems particularly those in the muslim community, because they are a muslim group, have been saying to us that they feel that french action is one-sided because they have been focused on disarming seleka commanders and col nels. they feel like they've been leaving the muslim community without access.

we have seen the french on patrol. the news have not stopped them going out on the streets. there are french helicopters here and in the air, and we do know that francis hollande, the president of france is going to be heading here at some point after his attendance at memorial to nelson mandela in south africa. he'll be here on the ground at some point soon. obviously this changes the game for the french, because they came in trying to bring order and peace, and now they have lost two of their own soldiers. >> thank you very much indeed. >> riot police clash with protesters in kiev, wearing helmets and holding shields. police surrounded protesters outside the office. demonstrators have been on streets protesting against viktor yanukovych for relevanting a free trade deal with the e.u.

we have a professor of political science at the university of kiev joins us now. thank you for being with us. president viktor yanukovych is having a series of political meetings later today. are any of these likely to make a tirches? >> well, president viktor yanukovych ways of solution, theoretical ways of solution - conducting negotiations and achieving understanding between different sides. another, just suppress the unrest. the second is not a solution, but the country is too fragile. now it's a good chance when representatives from the united states, from europe arrived. when former ukrainian presidents

are ready to meet with the current president. it's logical. the president has to find out a peaceful solution from which we are now >> the fact that you called the country fragile because of the situation it is finding itself in at the moment, what impact will this have on the president's political career, if he moves to the e.u., which he's unlikely to do, he'll alienate russia. at the same time he seems to have alienated thousands in his own country. >> the country is fragile not only because of the situation which is now for a couple of weeks, but because it's a disunited - culturally disunited. half of the people are culturally close to russia, and not only culturally, civilisationary, they do not see

russia as a foreign society, but is an independent country, brotherly. if someone wants to detach ukraine from russia, it makes a trauma inside millions of ukrainian people. and the experiment which was conducted lately, at least half a year or more when the president was saying that our civilisation choice is europe, it's created the possibility of further tension in the society. the president was whole-heartedly a whole european union approximation, that we didn't take into consideration the pressure from russia, and from the people that feel that russia is acting justly and justifiably, the president's team didn't calculate the economic problems which arrived

from the current sets of association with agreement from ukraine. it was lack of discussion in the society, of the possible outcomes if the agreement is signed in the present way. then the president and his team, two weeks before signing read again. they have - to change the agreement, europe is not supporting that. pro-european part of ukrainian society. now we are in an impasse. i think the most important european values are discussing and professional discussing of the sex of the documents and of the outcomes. >> forgive me for interrupting you, thank you very much indeed. that's kiev, the professor. >> thailand's prime minister made an emotional appeal for

anti-government protesters to clear the streets. yingluck shinawatra spoke a day after dissolving parliament and called for early elections. protesters gathered outside government house calling for her to stand down. she is staying on as caretaker. she says demonstrators need to be fair to her. >> i listened to the protesters demonstrates and all that they said about my family. they are wall thai people. i backed off to the point that i don't know how to come back further. please give me. >> lured from the fields to the oil pits - still ahead on the show. >> i'm on the trail of an oil rush in myanmar, where $300 can make anyone a prospector. >> israel and the palestine

authority sign a pact to replenish the rapidly dying read sea.

>> welcome back, you are watching al jazeera. thousands are gathering at the f.n.b. stadium in johannesburg for a memorial service for nelson mandela. dignitaries are flying in to pay their respects. france has confirmed two of its soldiers have been killed while carrying out operations at the

central african republic. french troops are meeting, they are trying to strip rival rebel groups of weapons day days of attacks left hundreds dead. >> security forces in ukraine scuffled with protesters in the main square. demonstrators put up barriers in the independence square after a deal with the e.u. had been rejected. >> events to honour the 95-year-old nelson mandela is expected to be one of the biggest gatherings of dignitaries and heads of states. barack obama is among those attending and speak. he be joined by three previous presidents, including george w. bush, bill clinton and jimmy carter. also ban ki-moon will speak. kofi annan, his predecessor will

be in tansd. iran president hassan rouhani and british prime minister david cameron, joined by gordon browbrown, tony blair and mr major. nicholas sar cosy will join francis hollande. >> can you tell me how much people in south africa will use this as an event to determine how south africa is today? >> i think that will be what today is about. as well as watching on the tv screens at home, i think people will reflect on the way the country changed in the last 20 years. we are about to celebrate 20 years of freedom since the

first democratic election. people will be looking back at the early years thinking about nelson mandela's influence no building the country we see today. it will be a time of celebration and reflection for the south africans who have seen their lives change. >> we have seen graca mandela arriving at the stadium as the proceedings carry on. i'm interested in the speakers chosen to give eulogies as to who is allowed to speak and who has been left out. what is your impression of that. >> i'm too aware of the controversies over who is left out. barack obama could be controversial. he mentioned in a tribute to

nelson mandela that he was a hum fluence, and is obviously one of the high profile statesman, perhaps it is fitting that he speaks. as far as the u.n. secretary-general, obviously that is almost a no-brainer in a way. but, yes, i don't know - i don't know the controversy surrounding others. i think that the selection of speakers is quite a good reflection on nelson mandela's time in office. it would be nice to see more south africans, perhaps, that would be possible my only criticism of the speakers. >> editor of "the south africa." thank you very much indeed. >> now, most people think of oil drilling as a capital-intensive job undertaken by corporations. in myanmar it's luring thousands of poor people from the

countryside. >> it's 19th century technology, combined with 21st century entrepreneursh entrepreneurship. this is a farm ir turned prospector lured to the oil pits by the thought of easy money >> translation: when i heard about it i dreamt of striking a pot of gold. >> he got family and friends to help him by equipment. it's not fancy or high tech. it serves his purpose. on a good day he makes $45, a small portion in this country. it comes at a risk. >> there are some dangerers, like mechanical problems and fire, there's no rules and regulations. >> whatever oil he extracts it sold to small-time buyers who make $2 a bucket. business is brisk in the

midafternoon. the middlemen who sell to oil refineries are looking to cap a deal. >> oil was discovered in myanmar in the 19th century, during the military regime's rule. in a civilian government that took over several years ago, the state oil company returned it to farmers. that led to an oil rush. >> small thriving villages set up by those drawn by the prospect of quick money. restaurant owners, shopkeepers give the place a bustling commercial and enpre prenurial air. >> not everyone that comes here will make a fortune. all the savings of this man has been sunk into this pot. it's an endless grime.

>> many others have exploited the land. there's no complaint. >> yes, the job is tough. at the same time you make easy money. >> he thinks he can recoup his investment in a month. it's a gamble he is willing to take, like many others hoping to be part of a capitalist dream. >> u.s. army veterans say the north korean government forced him to confess to war crimes whilst onholiday. he was detained, an interrogator told him he could serve 15 years in if he, merrill newman, didn't cooperate. >> five people and hundreds have been injured. police are on strike in several

provinces demanding higher wage. violence spread to 19 of argentina's 23 provinces. >> the u.k. has opened its first supermarket aimed at helping the country's purest people. the social supermarket says prices are 75% lower in other shops. we travel to the north of england to find out more of how the scheme works. >> as austerity takes hold, here in the vielage of gold thorpe the poor are getting poorer. >> this new community supermarket hopes to help those most in need. some of whom have been relying on handouts and emergency food banks to survive. 500 locals have been offered exclusive membership together with cards to access the store. >> community shops is a social enterprise. people that benefit the most from that are those on the cusp of food poverty.

all the food and goods come from a large supermarket. for some reason they would have been thrown away or misshapen or mislabelled. this story is about low-cost food. it's been encouraging people back into mainstream society. >> i've been up twice since it opened. >> people around here don't have a lot of money. itself oozier to feed the family. 1,000 similar stores opened in spain and greece. 20 more are planned for the u.k. next i can't remember. >> grenigel green is set to benefit. he manages spiralling prices by growing his own food. >> prices are high. you have to get them.

>> like many this winter, nigel's forced to choose between eating and heating his family home. >> we have probably reached 15 pound a week on electric and gas. we have to make a choice on what you want. >> the uk is the world's sixth largest economy. one in five live on the poverty line. one in five call for other solutions. >> israel, jordan and the palastinian authority signed a water sharing initiative to pump water from the red sea to the deadsea through a pipeline. >> the deadsea, one of nation's peck uly arties. it is so rich in minerals and

salt that people float naturally in it. it is drying up, with water levels dropping bias much as a metre a year. a new deal signed by israel, jordan and the palestine authority aims to slow down the debt ceiling and providing water to the neighbours. >> they are developing an important projects, which i think will be modern not on for our region but for the whole world where we have conflict and off the erties bringing water together and peace to the people of the region. >> the pipeline will connect the northern tip of the red sea with the debt see a project called the red debt conduit a plant to be built at a jordanian port, the drinking water to be shared by the neighbours. the salty by-product, brian, will be channelled 180km north

to replenish the dead sea. water is a contentious issue. the palestinians accused israel of taking control of aquifers. under the pact israel will increase an annual sale of water to the.. environmentalists are concerned that a fragile eco system. red sea will be disrupted. the agreement is seen as a sign of cooperation as a sign and hope to see the deadsea. >> car manufacturer volkswagen will stop producing the campervan. brazil is the only country to produce the vehicle, known as the hippy bus. the the van no longer meets legal requirements and for those wanting to get their hands on a new one before it's too late.

vw says it is building 1,000 last edition models priced at $40,000 each. >> a reminder. you can keep up to date with all the news on the website. that's aljazeera.com. a very big merger monday. tonight marked the official completion of american airlines megamerger with a. sir ways and it comes just as millions of passengers prepare for the normally busy holiday travel season. the new corporate combo keeps the american name, and creates the world's largest airline by market value. plus, there will be 100