line welcome to al jazeera america. i am del walters. a prom noontide throb knees politician something dead, killed in a powerful bomb blast in beirut. this move will help his school, a former dallas cowboy. how this move will help his school. we begin in beirut where a car bomb has killed lebanon's former finance minister and at least five others. dozens are also said to be

injured. it happened in an upscale business district. the united states condemning the attack: >> the investigators are not pointing the finger toward anybody. they are trying to look for all of the includes possible that they can find. i am going to step out of the shot, and our cameraman is going to zoom. first to get building under construction. that, under that buildings, where the car bomb was parked, and then the cameraman is going to take you to another car. you see the remain of the metal, the remain of this car, that is the car of the min sistminister the car flew and landed in in this spont. he was a leading figure for the future movement. he was a close aide and close advisor to former prime minister hanini. even to the sense of security for all of the plugs and for lebanese in general.

the march 14th coalition, pointed the finger to iran and hezbollah. he said the same people who killed his father are behind this attack. according to the international investigate orders, the suspect were members or at least a very strong connection to hezbollah. now, the lebanese. driven and very determined that these are the people behind these attacks. the investigators are not saying anything. what we know so far is that this undertook happens at the background of the crisis. this is something all lebanese politicians agree to. what's happening in syria, the civil war raging there is having an aftermath on lebanon and if there is no political solution to the political differences, the security situation will deteriorate further. >> we wanted to go back to rula still at the scene. rula at this point in time, do

we know why he was targeted? >> no. we don't. the investigators are not pointing the finger towards anybody. fellow politicians and people. as well as the leading figures from the march 14th coalition and the future movement did point to syria, iran and hezbollah. they said he was targeted because of his position. he was vocal, out spoken, critical of the syrian presence. he was critical of the involvement and always called ol hezbollah. how do people feel know that this has happened and i hate to use this phrase but: it has happened again >> reporter: people here have been expecting deterioration, have been expecting an

escalation in the violence. still, today's attack was a shock, particularly because of where it happened. central beirut. downtown beirut, the heart of the capital. it's a newly built area, posh, upscale. most of the tourists and ex-pat lebanese spend most of the time here, shopping, going to restaurants and cafes, night clubs around the corner. so for many of them, this is just another bad sign that this country is going to bear the brunt of what's going on syria even further. and they feel their country has turned into a battles ground with the regional powers battling each other inside syria >> reporter: the government resigned over eight months ago.

the designated prime minister has not been able to do so because of the political differences between the different lebanese factions. people feel the major state institutions are crippled and unfit and incapable of handling this situation. it has any kind of resolution to the tension has to come from the different political parties, not from the state. >> rula, one final question. i have heard many analysts say that americans who believe beirut was now calm, different than it was back in the 1990s, were living under a set of false pretenses and >> in fact, beirut has always been bubbling just beneath the surface >> reporter: i didn't hear you well, but if you are saying that this, people feel maybe this country is not on the verge of going into another civil war but through another proxy war where some lebanese factions are fighting each other on behalf of

the region al powers like saudi arabia and iran and to a further extents, iran and the u.s. or iran and israel. the sense here is that it's going through a worse situation. they don't see any kind of hope that the situation will be contained politically unless the political situation and the crisis in syria is contained. >> that's why many lebanese are looking to january to see if this geneva convention on january 22nd, to solve the problems in syria is going to have success because they feel if they manage to contain the crisis in syria, that would reflect positively on the situation here in lebanon. >> rula amin. thank you very much, again. so, who is this person, the man believed to be. the target? mohamad chatah was lebanon's ambassador to the u.s. from 1997 to 1999. he became the finance minister of lebanon back in july of 2008. chatah was a staunch critic of

syrian president of bashar al asaad. and he was a critic of the shiite movement and rafiq haririr, assassinated back in 2005, 5 suspects have been indicted. they will go on trial in three weeks. joseph keshkis is a political analyst from the middle east. he joined us via skype and told us about mohammad chatah and lebanon's challenges. >> well, this man was a very moderate voice in lebanese circles although he was part of the march 14th coalition. he, as a sunni leader from tripoli has been extremely vocal during the past several years, attacking hezbollah specifically, calling it to withdraw from syria and return to lebanon. i suppose one could say that this is packback for his he will

quenc to submit that hezbollah must submit to the will of the government of lebanon which, of course, hezbollah has not done. so perhaps, that might be the reason behind the assassination. lebanon has not really cleansed itself from the 15 years long civil war, the fact that there are two regional forces that are trying to articulate foreign policy. the lebanese are caught in the middle of this. they don't know how to extricate themselves from the kind of troubles that have been imposed on them and, of course, when you are not aware of the problems that you have at home, outsiders will varies easily manipulate those. >> elsewhere, at least two people are dead following fighting between anti-coup protesters and the interim government in egypt. he script please using tear gas. the ministry of the interior says 265 muslim brotherhood members have been arrested nationwide since wednesday.

>> that's when the interim government said they were a terrorist organization. >> iran's nuclear chief saying the country is developing a new group of centrifuges to enrich uranium. iran agreeing not to use them for six months, which was part of the deal reached with world powers but building them is still allowed. iran is trying to create centrifuge that is able to enrich uranium. it can be used to build a bomb. three nato service members have been killed in the capitol of after beganstan, a suicide attack being blamed there. six afghan troops were also wounded. a bomber striking a convoy as it was leaving a military base in kabul, the taliban claiming responsibility. south sudan, it's government there saying it is ready for a cease fire with rebels. news come out of a special summit underway in kenya. leaders calling on rebels to stop the violence as well. that fighting started back on december 15th, after the president accused his vice

president of an attempted coup. the fighting across the country has left more than a thousand people dead, the u.n. now sending in more troops and equipment to protect sudan and to protect civilians. members of the russian punk group pussy riot say they won't be silenced. two members were freed after 21 months behind bars. today, in their self their first public comment, they vowed to speak out against russian president vladimir putin. our story from moscow >> reporter: they looked in pretty good shape for spending two years in a very, very tough harsh regime prison in russia. it's certainly done nothing to lessen their opposition to president putin. they say he should not be president and they called on mihail card could have sky now in germany to stand in an election as president. but their most damaging remarks, as far as president putin will be concerned regard the olympics, which begins in sochi

near the black sea in about 40 days' time. now, what pussi riot said was, basically, think hard before you come to the games. here is what marie alvena said. first of all, to the attention of people living abroad: they should not go to the olympics as if it's some sport or some culture event. come as if it was a political event. make your choice, and if the choice is positive and you decide to come, just remember that there are people here in russia, russian citizens, prisoners who don't have that sort of choice. they are saying that the games -- said this time, too, that the games are a pr stunt to try to improve putin's reputation ahead of the winter olympics. they said, by the way, this will be the end of pussy riot as you quite kreb8ing9 said. they have moved on. they are forming a charity. what they did learn in nearly two years in prison in this tough jail is is that prisoners have little rights and they are dedicating themselves now in oftenzition to try to improve

the rights of prisoners being held in russia's jails. >> peter sharp in moscow. a long dispute between the u.s. and jaman over the island of okinawaw has been settled, the governor moving a marine base to a remote part of the island. some wanted truck driver closed because of crimes that were committed by u.s. service members t could take about 10 years to build a new base. the pentagon says it welcome did the decision. it says the base is an important part of plans to bolt ter america's influence in that region. more a million members are about to lose unemployment benefits. it was not included in the budget deal that the president signed on thursday. senate democrats say they will try to renew the program when congress reconvenes next month. up next on al jazeera america, child brides in kenya still being married off even though the practice is illegal.

(vo) al jazeera america we understand that every news story begins and ends with people. >> the efforts are focused on rescuing stranded residents. (vo) we pursue that story beyond the headline, past the spokesperson, to the streets. >> thousands of riot police deployed across the capitol. (vo) we put all of our global resources behind every story. >> it is a scene of utter devastation. (vo) and follow it no matter where it leads, all the way to you. al jazeera america. take a new look at news.

in france, the pressure is building on the government to help those who can't help themselves. but the private sector also stepping up to help out the poor. simon mcgregor wood has our story from pair's. housing association volunteers inspect their latest project. this apartment will be let for $200 a month, 20% of the market rate. finding affordable housing to rebuild, lives shattered by economic hard times is almost impossible. demand is so high. increasingly, voluntary housing associations are filling the gap. >> everyone should be concerned for their neighbor. we tend to say it's the state's job, but the state is all of us. but at the same time, it's no one. i don't think it's a bad thing that associations offer people a way of helping their neighbors. >> tarrik jelila lost his job

and girlfriend. he spent nine months living in his car until a housing association found him this home. >> having a place to live is everything. losing it makes you lose everything: your work, your social economic balance, your physical and mental health. finding it again gives you the impression of getting it all back. >> as it is housing, so it is today with food as well. this one distribution center in paris now hands out 20,000 meals every week. as the financial constraints on the french welcome state grow, so, too, do the challenges facing france's voluntary sector. the restaurant d' couer has been providing hot meals since 1985 but it has never been busier. twice a week, they come. if they earthen less than $980 a month, they qualify. >> there is less and less money available. so, it's clear that the volunteer needs to do more or

the help we have from the state is the decreasing. so we have to find it. >> lala has been coming for seven years. without this, she could not survive. >> the economic crisis has touched many people who can't manage. they have many children. they have many things. but food is very expensive and they can't afford it with the money they have. >> as others in europe begin to grow, france's economy still hovers near recession. volunteers in what some are calling france's parallel welfare state may be busy for a long time to come. simon mcgregor-wood, al jazeera, paris. >> on awater, at a time holiday rally seems to lose steam. stocks a little lower, down just two points so there is hope.

index on a 6-session winning stream, set 50 new highs this year along. those record highs on wall street are doing little to change the way americans feel about the economy. a cnn-orc poll show 70% who believe the economy is in pour shape. through 2% say it's good. half expect it to remain weak into next year. 2014 could see wild springs, gas buddy.com says will approach $4 a gallon over the summer but the average price could dip below $3 and $0.40. that would be the lowest 11 since 2010. higher domestic crude oil production for that potential decline. in kenya, the practice of sending young girls off to be married is now being challenged. in some rural areas tradition sets december aside when the month when boys and girls are circumcised. after the procedure, many of those young girls are forced to become brides.

katherine soy reports. schools are closed and these girls should be at home for the christmas holidays. but if they go home, they are married off by their parents. rose and elizabeth, both 16 escaped marriage in 2008 and 2009 have hidden their faces for protection. >> i went back home last year, but my father did not want to see me. he was so angry that i had shamed our family by not getting married to the man he had chosen for me. >> if i go back home now, they will marry me off. they still have not returned the cattle they took as dowry for me so i will stay here at least until i finish high school. >> so they have to stay in a rescue center in western kenya. poverty has produces thousands of girls into early marriages. the problem is particularly persistent with patternalist

communities. lailisha was married off at 16 as a second wife. now, with two children, no education or even any skills, she feels hopeless. >> when i got married, i was so young, i did not know how to manage a family. life has been so hard for me. i regret i did not finish school. laz have criminalized under-age marriages in kenya but the communities still practice this culture now do it in is secret, making it difficult for these girls. >> having a framework -- this man, speaking of tspeaker of on the regions believers they must relate to the laws. >> when the proposals for enactment of laws that have different public interest, there should be equally public

mobilization. that this is meant to regulate all communities at the same time. >> so he says they will do things different at the local government level, pass tough laws and make sure they understand those laws and where the tradition must end. in the many time, girls like rose and elizabeth must hide in rescue centers. kilgo kilgorei western kenya. >> a former pro quarterback, helping his team and a class, next on al jazeera america.

>> welcome back to al jazeera america. i am del walters. in turkey, protesters call for the prime minister to step down.

the government struggling to contain a creepily investigation that led to a cap net reshuffling after the resignation of three of the country's ministers. two ministers of pusi riot say they will not be silenced now that they are free. they say they continue to speak out against president vladimir putin. in beirut, a car bomb killed the former finance minister and at least five others. dozens are injured. it happened in an upscale business district. the united states condemning that attack. the death toll from severe flooding in brazil continues to rise. 10 days there after torrential rains and landslides leaving more than 40 people dead. gabrielle allesandra reports a state of emergency >> reporter: this is what torrential rain did, swaths of land submerged by flood water, hills scarred by mud slides. dozens of highways and bridges washed out, hammp hampering res

everetts. it's the human suffering created the most pain. more than 60,000 people have been forced from homes. most taking shelter with friends and family until the flood waters recede. about 5,000 are stuck living in shelters. at a time flooding and mudslides have killed more than 40 people. there are an untold number mo moring >> . /*. >> i think the chance of finding my children alive is doubtful. >> this region has seen the heaviest rains in nearly a decade according to the local government. there was little warning of what was coming. >> when i heard a noise, there was no more time for anything. i was pushing against a wall that got buried. i managed to grab on to wood. i heard my daughter asking for help. when i freed her, i heard another girl. i got her out as well. >> the national government has mobilized the military to help coordinate the rescue and relief efforts. the air force says they have already plucked more than 150

people to safety from floodwaters. the president visited some of the flood damaged areas. >> you have to save people and guarantee them shelter. this is what you do when confronting a disaster. the first and most important priority, that which is most precious is human life. >> that's what we worry about saving first. >> with so much lying in ruins, it's clear when the waters finally, recede, rebuilding will be a difficult task. but for now, it's still survival mode. f forecasters are predicting more rain in the coming days. gabriel alzando, sao paolo. good morning to all of you. a beautiful day across much of the country. high freshes in control from portions of the west coast all the way back towards the east coast. look here. it's quiet all the way from oregon as we travel across the plains and definitely, once you make your way toward our

nation's capitol, quiet now but we have a major rainstorm on the way. an area of low pressure off of the gulf coast up the eastern seaboard as we track into this week. right now, we have a few lake-effect snow showers across buffalo toward cera cues. so, if you are traveling along i-81 or 90, take it easy on the roadways but in the gulf coast we have an area of low pressure that's going to gain strength as we track into tomorrow afternoon and evening. it's going to make its way up i-95. it's all rain because temperatures are actually quite mild for this time of the year. we are ending the year as we head towards january. typically, this would be snow. but with this system out of the southeast, well, and temperatures around the 40s and 50s, tomorrow into sunday, it will be all rain, and it could be a slow go across atlanta, especially saturday afternoon into sunday as that storm climbs up the east coast toward washington, d.c., it will cool things down a little bit between saturday and sunday as it brings the rain in. not a single cloud in the sky across the southwest with red flag warnings in effect.

across los angeles, low relative humidity so be careful if you are traveling thank you very much. some teachers take it easy during the holidays. one is not. he is getting in shape. getting ready to take some snaps in a very big game and then it's back to the black board again mark morgan has this story. >> when former cowboy's quarterback jon kit found out he was returning to dallas this week as a back-up, he decided to put his money where his heart is, in the classroom. kitna will donate his 53,000 dollar game check to lincoln high school in tacoma washington where he has been a math teacher since retiring in 2011. >> i was not surprised. jon is a generous person. >> he has been coaching the football team at lincoln where his son is a quarterback. now, he is making a quick return to the big stage. >> run the high school scout team. yeah. i keep throwing and i am working my son out all the time. so, i

am always throwing it back to him. other than that, i mean i wasn't staying in shape to, you know, think i would give it anothershop shot. >> that's for sure. >> in the classroom, his students are just as appreciative of his talents as the young men he coaches on the grid iron. his generosity is well known. >> it's like no secret that lincoln is, like, low income school and so by him donating to us, it really gives us hope. >> it's not a surprise that he is taking the money and giving it all of it to us. he is always doing stuff for the school. you can tell he is really passionate about what he does here. >> he is a very humble guy. he is very quiet and soft-spoken but when he is teaching, he comes to life. he has a large personality. >> kitna will wear the star on his helmet before thousands of screaming fans on sunday. but shortly thereafter, he will return to his biggest supreme courters mark morgan, al jazeera. >> got to like him. thank you for watching al jazeera america. i am del walters.

"inside story" is next. remember, check us out 24 hours a day at aljazeera.com. today, the inside story. hello, i'm ray swarez. after a brief flirtation and political opening, egypt is again cracking down on dissent, and is the streets of egypt cities again burst into chaos, the new mar