[ ♪ music ] >> she got what she wanted. thailand's prime minister and millions of others vote in a general election, but... ..protesters shut down some polling centres. is the vote valid? we're live in bangkok. >> hello, welcome to al jazeera america, live from doha -- al jazeera, live from doha. also ahead - get him out of here. a ukrainian activist who was tortured - friend want him to

leave the country for treatment. >> elections in the shadow of the taliban. and... >> voters are getting ready to go to the polls in el salvador. it's a tight race. there's only one issue - what to do about crime. >> polls closed in thailand where millions voted in an election, despite thousands trying to stop it going ahead. prime minister yingluck shinawatra voted after polls opened, near her home in bangkok. it has been a relatively peaceful poll. let's co to wayne -- cross to wayne hay who is in the capital. voting disrupted at some polls. there's more than 90,000.

where have the trouble spots been. >> very early on, in three districts. there has been a fourth district that had the election cancelled. big problems in the south of thailand. nine provinces were not able to go to the polls. not surprising given there's a lot of support for the opposition party. the democrat party which boycott the election. the reason for the description is because the anti-government protest movement that is on the streets for the past three months. the leaders of the movement said they would not stop people going to the polls to vote. they could, but if they did that they'd be supporting the regime referring to the government led by the prime minister. clearly that was not true. there was disruption in the areas that i mentioned. they did that by filling the streets of those areas, making

it difficult for people to get around, but physically blocking voters in some places and blocking ballot places being distributed from government buildings out to the polling booths. there has been disruption in those areas. >> the opposition is disrupting the vote, because they don't believe it's valid. if there's a question mark over the validity of the elections, where to from here? >> well, we are heading into an unknown period. what we are told is the election commission will not announce results today because there hasn't been an election in those areas that we mentioned so it has to wait until the by-elections are held. we don't know when they'll be held in those seats. there's speculation that it will be towards the end of the month. parliament can't resume because

there aren't enough mps to form a core up. it has to be convened within six months of an election. there's pressure on there. we may not have to concern ourselves with any of that, because the constitution states that a general election has to be held on the same day around the country, apart, of course, from the regular advance voting. clearly that has not happened. the next days, weeks ahead will be interesting and in the next few hours we expect statements from the democrat party and the elect roll commission and from the government led by the prime minister yingluck shinawatra. thank you wayne hayes joining us from bangkok. >> let's turn to ukraine and get the latest from dmytro bulatov, the activist who was badly

beaten. how is he doing? >> he is still in hospital and as been recovering for a couple of days. he has been kidnapped and subjected to torture for a period of eight days. the case garnered attention at home and abroad and condemnation from the united states and the european union. his condition has improved, but he may go abroad for further treatment. this is what he said about his condition. >> translation: he's conscious, he is coming off the medication, he started to fight for himself. his situation worsened. we appealed for european countries for him to be transferred there. >> stay with us. we'll hear from the ukrainian

foreign minister who told al jazeera that the abduction may have been set up to trigger violence. >> it looks like the story that he was kidnapped and tortured is not true. the investigation is going on. physically he's in good condition. the only thing he has is a scratch on a check. >> the foreign minister saying there was a scratch on the cheek. are there any further thoughts. >> the foreign minister detracted the statement, saying that they may well have been a smung about the full extend of the signs of violent against

him. we know that the opposition leader, vitaly klitschko, while in munich met with the ukrainian foreign minister and presented a series of photographs, showing the marks and the signs of attacks on other protesters and journalists and medics that have been involved in versal mons -- months. a sign that they may need to rethink the knee-jerk reaction to strong allegations against them being made. >> what do we expect today after the meeting between the u.s. the government, the e.u. >> sunday is traditionally the biggest protest day.

just sunday there wasn't a major protest because there was a funeral for a protestor that was killed. we may see a renewed effort to gain crowds. we had heard some leaders advised demonstrators to stay away. saying that, people are likely to want to hear what was achieved by leaders. they are expected on stage in the scare behind me -- in the square behind mean. there'll be a renewed effort, no doubt, to keep the protest alive. >> our correspondent joining us from kiev. >> campaigning has begun for afghanistan's presidential election. 11 candidates are competing to

replace hamid karzai. the two aids for abdullah abdullah have been shot dead. the election is seen as a test of whether afghanistan can ensure a stable transition. n.a.t.o. troops are prepared to leave. jane ferguson has this report. >> 11 men in afghanistan are getting ready to sell themselves to the public. soon their faces will be posted across the capital. for those hoping to be the next president posters are crucial. in the past images were produced abroad. the manager of this business said times have changed. translation: one of the reasons we get the contract is the work is done in kabul, and the money is not wasted. the candidates are happy. >> the 13 men who work here are

happy. for small businesses like this in kabul, the presidential election season is the busiest they have experienced. having one candidate as a client means tens of thousands of business, keeping men like this employed. >> posters are one part of the battle. winning over influential tribal elders will be less visible but essential. this candidate's campaign manager says it depends on location. >> if we go to the rural areas people do not watch tv. in the same area there is a local radio station, and it has more ever an effect there. if a farmer is busy, he has a radio turned on beside him. he's listening to it eight hours a day. >> the counter government in afghanistan was ranked in the top three most corrupt in the world. winning the trust of voters here will be tough. >> they have not bothered to ask

the ordinary people. they think of their own benefits. they campaign for themselves. if they win, they have a life of luxury. >> the taliban will target anyone having anything to do with the elections. getting voters to polling stations will be harder than campaigning there. nonetheless, in the coming months the candidates will try to persuade them that they can change that. >> so syria, where the government carried out air raids on aleppo, killing more than 100 people on one day. helicopters have been dropping barrel packed explosives, appearing to target rebel-held areas. >> the al qaeda-linked group al-nusra claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in northern lebanon that killed four people.

it happened in helmand, near the syrian boarder. it's the seventh time the stronghold has been hit since the group sent fighters to support troops in syria. we have this report. >> another car bomb hits the town near the border of syria. because of the explosion, a bomber blew himself up in a car. it happened near a petrol station, a school and the shi'a charity organization. it is a predominantly shi'a town. it is a route used by hezbollah to send fighters to aid the alawite minority. >> this is affecting all the lebanese citizens. today all the lebanese citizens are affected by the interference of hezbollah and syria.

it had an effect on every citizen. that's why we are asking to have hezbollah withdraw from the syrian fire. >> al qaeda-affiliated rebel groups intensified their attacks on hezbollah, for the role it is playing in syria. since the beginning of the year the strong held came under attack, killing and injuring dozens. the time between each bombing is shrinking. hezbollah will not stop assisting hezbollah's government, despite attacks on the areas and the fight it is losing. >> they'll continue to be in syria. this has to do with the region. it doesn't stop at the border. this is a regional war that is taking place, and i think it's going to be more of the same.

>> the lebanese army and police took additional security measures, setting up checkpoints to curb attacks. it seems this is not enough to stop them. >> in a sign that syria's war has been spilling over to lebanon, strongholds have been struck. lebanon is vulnerable to sectarian violence, and its future looking bleak. >> still ahead, plans to restrict access to abortion in spain. and environmental warnings as the wetlands of uganda are drying up.

>> good to have you with us. these are the top stories on al jazeera. voting has ended in thailand. 488 polling stations were closed across the country. anti-government blocked roads, preventing voters from gasting a ballot. 90% of polling stations were open. voter turn outs have not yet been declared. doctors in ukraine say they hope dmytro bulatov will get better in the next two or three days. he is still in hospital after being found badly beaten on friday. fellow activists want him moved to another european country for treatment. >> campaigning in presidential

elections starts on sunday. two aids working for the presidential candidate and former foreign minister abdullah abdullah has been shot dead. >> there's an a protest in spain. opposition to the draft abortion law has been growing. it will only allow in the case of rape or if the mother's health was at risk. fighting for the right to choose. it's the biggest demonstration so far against plans to tighten abortion laws. >> i'm 60 years old. my children and grandchildren need to change. politicians cannot interfere in our private life. >> under a draft bill a woman could only terminate in exception circumstances. in cases of rape or severe

danger. even then they'd need permission from two doctors. >> this law forces us to abort illegally, become criminals and risk our lives. the government can't force me to give birth. >> the protesters delivered a petition to parliament. >> the bill was introduced by the ruling conservative people's party. the prime minister is said to have given in to right wing members, and pressure from the catholic church. the party says it's fulfilling an election promise. it caused division amongst the ranks, saying it's out of step with common opinion. >> translation: it is not normal to step back to 40 years ago. even europe, where we have been an example of freedom and civil rights are asking us, "what are

you going?" rallies have been held in sol darty. >> translation: we have to support the spanish. we fought hard for the right to have abortions. the prime minister signalled he could be open to modifying the proposal. until it's done, the purple side of protest will continue. >> severe weather is affecting many parts of europe, and in serbia at least 1,000 people have been rescued. roads have been blocked and trin services cancelled. the government declared a state of emergency. flights forced hundreds to fully their homes. heavy rains caused the villa to rise to dangerous levels and

parts of rome were flooded. >> uganda's wetlands are under threat. corruption, pollution and destruction is speeding up the demise. sunday is the anniversary of a cann vention signed in 1971 to protect the world's wetlands, a vital part of the environment. malcolm webb reports. >> people in uganda's capital say it was guilt on seven hills. now it covers more than 20. between the hells were wet lands. they can be seen on the outskirts. they host fragile ecosystems, draining water. it's the world's second-largest lake, as the city grows the wet lands are disappearing quast. -- disappear fast.

they have been protected by law. >> when you look at what we are doing, we are the worst. it is a wide range of people devastating the wetlands, raping from the capital investors to the peace ants like me and you. >> people build homes on wetlands when there's no other place. it blocks the natural drainage. rains are heavy, floods are common. it's this man's job to stop the building. he says somebody built a fuel station on a wetland, ignored court orders to stop, and authorities demolished it. >> in some instances even when we stop people, you find another government - a group that are afraid to follow the law. corruption plays a part. >> that is just one of the challenges.

on that site there's so much concrete in the ground. pollution is a problem too. this channel is the main drain running through the city center. >> a few kilometres downstream it runs into the middle of a wetland. before reaching here it passes through an industrial area. at this point the water smells of sewerage and chemicals, it's black in colour and opaque. environmentalists say this pollution is distrag the wetland ecosystems. some action is being taken. authorities marked the j of wetland areas. there's many buildings behind the boundaries. new construction keeps coming up. city officials say they plan to claim what wet lands they can, but they'll have to move fast before they are gone. >> at least 14 have been killed in the latest volcano eruption

in indonesia. clouds of noxious gas were released. the government says many who died were inside the danger zone. the death toll was expected to rise. >> voters are choosing a president in an election campaign dominated by gang violence. the socialist candidates are from different solutions. andy gallagher reports. >> crime is a daily occurrence here in el salvador. it's the rate at which bodies are discovered which is the cause of alarm. >> these labs have not been this busy in years. >> forensic skin tists discovered 31 bodies. two years ago a truce was dlavered. despite that the missing list of

salvadorians grows. this is a politically sensitive issue. investigations have been stopped. the attorney-general's office says it's a matter of resources diverted. but the forensic lab's director says it's not true. >> we are frustrateded. we have had to stop, we are disgusted that this is for statistical reasons, where the aim is to show fewer deaths and fewer missing. >> the truce between the 18th street gang and their rivals is credited with drastically reducing the murder rate. there has been accusations of col use between politicians and gang members to keep the real numbers of murders down. some say the truth is

propaganda. >> they say things about a truce, but it's a lie. listen to the president and you know he's lying. he's making things up. >> there are people trying to make a difference, and this is a priest this works with the youth. who are in danger of being forced to join gangs or deal drugs. >> i want children and young people to have dreams. in this country there are no dreams. i want to live, but all they want is to dive. to live or to kill. >> efforts haven't gone unnoticed by the gang members. he's been told he's a marked man. they are leaving until the elections are over. >> animal season has kicked off in brazil.

>> hundreds of peel joined the parade at the unofficial start of the season. the real party happens on 28 february until the 4th of march. it didn't stop people celebrating early on the streets of rio. >> as the brazilians host the world cup, they are celebrating a win in the african championship. libya defeated ghana 4-3 at the cape town stadium on saturday. fireworks lit the tripoli sky after the victory. >> much delayed monorail system made a debut in the city of mumbai, lef lugsizing the way they travel. >> all aboard mumbai's monorail network. the first in india. the plan is to have as many as

eight lines. it will xost $3.2 million. the fm capital is estimated over 6 million commute in and out. the trains are old and full most of the time. >> while the first phase of a new monorail is complete, the second is under construction. tickets cost as little as five u.s. cents, an affordable price for everyone. >> with affordable carriages. the public seem to like what they have seen. >> i never sat in a monorail, not even the metro daily. this is a nice experience. >> millions used the roads. this is a cop stand problem in a small area. the alternative way to travel is by looking up. >> this 4-car monorail had the

capacity to carry 560 people, which had a distance of 8.6 kilometres, and there are people who are close by that feel it doesn't benefit them. some local residents are critical of the roots and locations. >> i live close to the monorail. but if you see the route, what it is going through, i don't think it is connecting to the commuter, where they live and work. >> authorities say they have made the right choices. >> most of the people in the area. >> the monorail is expected to carry between 150 to 300,000

passengers a day. that is a significant number of over 20 million. the long-term hope is it will change hab ids and perceptions. >> you can find that story and the rest of the day's news on the website. aljazeera.com.