ukraine's crisis deepens. the u.s. tells russia to pull back its forces a crimea. ♪ ♪ also ahead china blames separatists for a knife attack at a train station that killed 33 people. holding on for life chaotic scenes as muslims in central african republic try to escape attacks by christians, crumbling and overcrowded the prison building in nepal that was originally built for animals. ♪

♪ we begin then in ukraine where reports suggest that armed men are increasing their activities in crimea. the russian news agency says gunmen have tried to cut of a road links the russian ring town the city of kharkiv and crimea. tim friend is there. but first robin is in crimea's capital. so just over 24 horse 24 hours e armed men in military fatigued appeared on the streets, what's the latest? >> reporter: still here for adrian, we were at the council of ministers building that's the regional government center here and i can confirm that the -- what appeared to be russian armed heavily armed soldiers appeared tour russian armed soldier still in control of the

counselor's building meeting. across crimea, we are still hearing reports of a lot of military activity. difficult to tell exactly who these men are. paramilitaries it seems, and what may well be regular russian armed forces. in the north of cremia there is a land bridge connecting it to ukraine proper there and block posts under pro russian armed men. even, we understand, the former members of the feared fill terry interior ministry military men who were accused of brutalities carried out in kiev during the crisis over the last few months. they were disbanded now we are hearing that they are turning up again describing themselves manning the checkpoints that provide entry in to crimea. so rapidly developing situation on the ground here. we are also hearing that russian

military units have asked ukrainian military units to disarm at least two facilities. and just recently reports that one of those facilities had requested the assistance of journalists because they had been given an ultimatum to disarm or be over run. at this stage, though, one has to be careful about what we say -- state as fact and what is actually still being reported but it's a very rapidly developing situation on the ground, adrian. >> given what's going on, how would you describe the mood there in the regional capital? >> relatively quiet. it is a sunday morning. we were walking past the parliament earlier and they are still playing rousing mutes i go, in fact some quite amusing anti-western music using very colorful russian language to describe the interference of the west, very much down here this

is considered almost as if russia has come to liberate crimea and save it from the threat of some kind of nazi or fascist attack from the pro european forces that have taken control of the rest of ukraine. this is all the sort of noises and the mood coming out of here to rachet up this tension to create this sense of fear and a threat. that as we can see is really as yet not manifested itself at all. but that is certainly the feeling down here, that the russian forces or the pro russian forces are here to protect crimea, protect the russian people in crimea from this perceived threat. , adrian. >> robin, thanks. let's go live now for the capital and al jazerra's tim friend. tim, all of this piling on the pressure on that new relatively inexperienced administration

there in kiev. >> reporter: they are very flesh us, parliament is meeting as we talk. a national security meeting late last night on saturday and they said after that that is the prime minister, the acting president, the defense minister, that ukrainian troops are now in full combat readiness. they are desperate to seek a political solution but they said that any further intervention by moscow in crimea, about 800-kilometers south of the capital here in kiev, risked eventual war. the prime minister, the ukrainian prime minister spoke to his opposite number in moscow and he said that he had been told that there was no decision to bring troops in to ukraine just the possibility of military action on ukrainian territory. that's the way the ukrainians are interpreting, not reassuring

one would think to the leadership here in key every. as you say, they are relatively inexperienced, but i think what they are hoping most is that a diplomatic political solution can be found because we saw on saturday some violent scenes in town on his the east of ukraine where, of course, there is also pro moscow sympathy. and they attacked pro european demonstrators, dragged them from the building they had been occupying and perhaps one of kiev's worst fears is that the mood, the pro moscow mood could spread and manifest itself in violence elsewhere in ukraine. >> tim, for the most many thanks, testimony friend live in kiev. china's news agency says separatist carried out a coordinated knife attack at a train station in the southwest of the country.

it is a mainly muslim area in china's far west home to the ethnic group that wants independence from beijing, 33 people killed, more than within hundred injured when up to 10 mena taxed commuters at random. al jazerra's rob mcbride has more. >> reporter: as police continue looking for anyone else connected with at tack, people in china have been coming to terms with the scale and horror of the assault. according to eyewitnesses the dang started attacking passengers at random with knives, sending crowds fleeing in panic. >> translator: when i came here i felt that something was wrong i followed everyone and ran to that side. the attackers were stabbing whomever they saw. >> reporter: thousands of internet users have been expressing their outrage on social media and up loading images of security around the station in the aftermath of the attack. the authorities have promised a swift response with the country's president saying those

responsible will be brought to justice. the attack comes at a sensitive time in china, in the run up to the country's national people's congress gathering in beijing. the authorities have been quick to control information about the attack, restricting reporting of the event to the official version issued by the country's state-run news agency. rob mcbride, al jazerra, central china. myanmar is allowing doctors without borders to reopen some of its clinics in the country. the aid group said saturday it can start work again in a number of states but not where many muslims live. the group says it's extremely concerned about people living there. there have been chaotic scenes in the central african republic after muslim refugees tried to join a convoy of trucks heading to cameroon they are trying to escape up from christians who have been attacking muslims. the u.n. estimates that 150,000 muslims have now left the country. al jazerra's tanya paige

reports. some 90-kilometers of the capitol. >> reporter: they are cooking the last of the food from the last delivery of aid three weeks ago. this church is a refuge for hundreds of muslims. they are tire identified of the christian militia who want revenge after the mostly muslims were toppled. living in fear and without enough to eat, they listen to for news of away out. a convoy is spotted destine forked cameroon. no one knows when the next one will come so she decides to grab what she can and take her chances she isn't welcome here. no more muslims here, get out he says. within moments in a town where muslims and christians use today live happily together, the sport begins. but this is not a game for people who are now running for their lives.

no one wants to be left behind. it may all come down to this. so they surge at the truck in desperation. once it's gone a boy has been separated from his parents. anguish and fear are evened on hietched onhis face, strangers m find his way back. another child, another wave of humanity. it is absolute chaos here as desperate families literally throw themselves, their children and whatever belongings they can hold onto on the back of these trucks. stripped of his home and dignity a man refuses to relinquish his belongings it's all he has left and he won't leave it behind. african union peacekeepers try to restore some order. they spot an fight never the crowd. and take their anger out on him at their inability to stop what's happening. >> translator: don't touch them.

it's their wish. they want to leave. they were your brothers before you were with them. you have to let them go in pea peace. >> reporter: the old man is the last one. clinging to his meager possessions as a woman lasts at his humiliation. when the convoy is gone the priest who had sheltered the muslims is shellshocked. >> translator: i don't know what is going to ham to them now. but i pray the lord to protect them and accompany them to their final destination. if i have a message it is that the pima long the road must help them. help them to get out. >> reporter: there are no more muslims the which are door churd and the town purposed of people because of that i beliefs. still to come here on al jazerra, a power play in washington. can israel's prime minister change america's mind off

sanctions against iran. plus. competition is tough in brazil as samba schools battle it out to be crowned the best at rio's carnival. ♪ ♪ balloo take a closer look at the ongoing conflict alex, a liberal artist from new york and randy, a conservative vet from illinois... >> are you telling me that it's ok to just let them all run into the united states? >> you don't have a right to make judgements about it... >> they re-trace the steps of myra, a woman desparately trying to reunite with her family. >> to discover, and one of their children perish in the process, i don't know how to deal with that. >> will they come together in the face of tradgedy?

>> why her? it's insane. >> experience illegal immigration up close, and personal. >> the only way to find out is to see it yourselves... >> on... borderland only on al jazeera america >> this is the real deal man...

♪ ♪ hello again, top stories here on al jazerra, gunmen have reportedly tried to block roads linking russia to ukraine's eastern region. kiev has order the army to be on high alert after moscow approved troops to crimea. the number of people killed in a

knife attack in a train station in china has riz inning to 33. the state news agency in china says the attack was carried out by a member of a separatist group. myanmar is allowing medical group doctors without borders to remain clinics after shutting them down on thursday. the group said it will resume work in several states but nowhere many muslims live. more on ukraine, russia's decision to deploy troops in the region is being strongly condemned by the international community. the u.s. is calling on russia to pull back it's a forces and return them to their bases in crimea. james bays is following develops at the u.n. >> reporter: ambassador how concerned are you at this saying situation? >> very deeply, we need deescalation. >> reporter: ambassadors are requiring for the second meeting. is your country invading crimea. the russian ambassador not answer pie questions but aware

he would face strong criticism from other security council members particularly western nations. cameras were finally allowed to film the meeting, despite initial russian opposition. ukraine's ambassador appealed to the international community. >> we call upon the security council to do everything possible now to stop aggression by the russian federation against ukraine, there is still a chance. >> this is as dangerous as it is destabilizing, we are deeply disturbinged reports this morning of russian ill terry intervention in crimea and violate's crusviolates. >> reporter: russia's ambassador puts the blame squarely on the even u for causing the crisis. >> translator: why did this problem need to result in demonstrations? why is it that

these street demonstrations need to be encouraged from abroad. encouraged by people from the eveevening u.? while the security council met, president obama called president putin, a call we are told lasted 90 minutes. what is the message from the u.s. to president putin right now? >> the press i think is pull back your forces and let us engage in political dialogue. engage in the ukrainian government which is rink out to you for that dialogue. the occupation, the military presence in crimea is a violation of international law. >> reporter: the security council is deadlocked. this is a crisis in which russia is accused by other security council members of hostility and yet russia has a veto and could block any action. the focus the diplomatic activity will now move brussels where nato and then the u.e. will be meeting.

james bays al jazerra the united nations. much of the international focus ukraine has been sent ore crimea. by there are signs of unrest in other parts of the country. thousands of pro russian protesters gathered in the eastern city of kharkiv on saturday. they di denounced the new government in kiev and called for reunification with russia. and there have been more pro russian protests in other parts of eastern and southern ukraine. the self proclaimed governor asked russia to set up a local consolate and give people russian passports. the protesters put up russian flags on city buildings. an associate prefess or at kiev academy, he says that russia's pred vladimir putin is getting involved in ukraine's politics to send a message to his own country. >> i see this as being an issue that that putin wants to show that revolutions do not lead to anything good, because he's very

afraid i've domino effect. he's very afraid of the fact that the ukrainian revolution will end up turning in to a new russian revolution and that will topple him. so he needs to show that revolutions don't show give you good results and as a result that have what he's trying to do is create a destabilized situation not in just in crimea account but the very big fear right now is that we are going to city russian boots on the ground in other areas of ukraine, in fact, what we are seeing is a full-scale invasion it's not being called that at the moment yet, but that's what we are looking for. in venezuela hundreds of people have been protesterred against the detention of the opposition leader leopoldo lopez. the group who are riding motorcycle bikes gathered outside his prison to demands his freedom they say he's been wrongly jailed by press nicholas maduro he's been charged with inciting violence. people living in a mexican drug lord strong hold have been marching for piece, the state of

sinaloa was the base for el chapo guzman who was captured last week, david mercer reports. we are here, now this is the home base of el chapo guzman, one of the world's most wanted men up until his arrest a week ago. and people are saying here that they want peace, they want life, they don't want to have anymore of the vie license, anymore the corruption, anymore of the impunity that they have seen for so long this march is in protest to a march a identify days ago when thaws of people came in to show their port for el chapo. but there were also accusations that those thousands of people who showed up were paid to show up. that they were bused in, they were given food, and this. shirts in order to show support. and one of the things that really frightens people is how many young people were at that pro el chapo rally. and how people look up to him as a figure who rose from rags toishes but up through illegal

means through drug trafficking that's what people are saying today there mutt be an alternative for people here. egypt has worn? sworn in its latest government. nicole johnston reports. >> reporter: egypt's president has sworn in a new government. prime minute officer was the first to take the oath. he used to be the housing minister. however, many egyptians are waiting to see what field marshall al sisi will do. there was speculation that he would resign permanently as defense minister and then run for president. turns out he's staying on as both minutester of defense and leader of the armed forces, for now at least. the position of interior minister also hasn't changed, despite pressure by some political parties to remove muhammad eastbound eastboun.

>> reporter: it's not only the political scene that's shaky, security is unstable. this was obvious on friday. in cairo one person was killed and more than a dozen injured when police cracked down on protests. >> translator: we are not going to stop even one day. this is for the sake of our brothers who have been under torture. >> reporter: there was trouble in alexandria as well. a 17-year-old boy was shot dead. others were wounded in violence between security forces and demonstrators. >> translator: he lost his life for the sake of his country and for the sake of his religion. the current rulers inky just a e to be blamed. >> reporter: this have been strikes and pro frost protests s who went to be paid more.

the cabinet doesn't have time to do much of anything. in the a knew months president elects are due again. there will be yet another another government in egypt. al jazerra continues to demand the reese lees of its staff being held in egypt. they have now spent 64 days in prison, they are accused of having links with a terrorist organization and spreading false news, al jazerra rejects the charges. another journalist from the network's arabic channel has been held since august. he's been on hunger strike for more than a month now to protest against his imprison think. president obama is set to host israel's mime pinster benjamin netanyahu, two issues expected to top the a general dark negotiation with his iran and peace talks with the palestinians, netanyahu has another job while he's in town, to reassure his support base in

the u.s. to back his stance on iran. al jazerra's white house correspondent pally culhane reports. >> reporter: when the american-israel public affairs committee hosts their annual meeting in washington they want to get a al jazerra tension, with slick sets and a huge convention hall there to welcome 14,000 supporters. it is a must-attend event for most u.s. politicians, their power feared by many. >> last year in 2013 they spent $3 million that's not everyone including grassroots lobbying efforts that take place at the state level or involve, you know, mail drives and stuff like that. so that's just directly trying to influence members of congress and the executive branch. >> reporter: against this year the members will fan out over the capital to directly lobby congress they are expected to try to accomplish what their lobby failed to do. get enough support for a bill to increase economic sanction on his iran and set the terms for any final agreement over its

nuclear program. the more liberals leaning israeli lobby j streit street believes that exposed i weakness which is largely seen as aligned with the current israeli government. >> they win their battles when the american people, when american jews agree with them but when they go out against the views of the people, they lose and a perfect example was what happened with sea syria. >> reporter: they pushed hard to try to get congress to approve military strikes on syria. and failed. and now, again, failure on iran. in a recent op ed its hrao*ep leadership stressed theleadersh. dismanual their nuclear program so they have nicker : so in prd with a big public display, netanyahu will try to chango bomb a's mind, while reassuring his american base that they are still a force to be reckoned

with. patty culhane, al jazerra, washington. prisons in napal are overcrowded and falling apart. many inmates are incarcerateed in old makeshift facilities originally built for animals that simply can't cope and prisoners say that upgrades promised by the authorities are tangintaking door too long. more now from ofoegbu prison life in rural western napal. >> reporter: this night look like a holiday spot but those that live here never see this view. this is a district prison. the warden has a tough job. besides managing the prison, he also has to make sure that the building doesn't fall apart. this is his office. >> translator: this building was built as a stable. it was later turned in to a prison. this building is over 100 years old. >> reporter: most prisons were built between 1846 and 1951. and today maintenance is offense

ignored. >> translator: look, the wood here is rotting. >> reporter: and like many other prisons in napal this houses more people than it can manage. this is capacity is 20 people but it houses more than 70 inmates, authorities fear that should the number of prisoners increase they might have to pitch tents outside to accommodate them. inmates have to share the narrow areas outside the building for warmth in the winter sun. recreation is limited to a board game. the only way to make money is knitting. hardcore criminals to petty thieves all share the space, as the dry season starts there is a new crisis the drinking water has dried up. >> we have to buy tankers the water and manage the government. >> reporter: last year they had to imagine with only two cubs of water a day. >> we have written to the headquarters requesting this em to rebuild the prison. the government is building

prisons in stages across the countries rif. >> reporter: prisons needed to be upgraded prison operators and say the police say it's happening, but for most of these inmates it's taking much too long. al jazerra, western nepal. thousands of people in rio de janeiro has been enjoying one of the world's biggest street parties. ♪ ♪ >> in a blast of color and sound knew since asks dancers made their way in to the carnival. it's brazil's last big bash before it hosts the world cup football later this year. al jazerra's gabe is there. >> reporter: i just want to give you a sense here of how colorful the rio carnival is. here here in the stadium that seats sieve 5,000 people, this is the first night of the carnival here in this famous stadium and one of the first samba schools of the night has take towtaken to the runway to e

parade. you can get a sense of the costumes, there are hundreds of different dancers and performers in each of the samba schools. there is also floats as well. and they are judged a team of judges decides how well they did and assigns them points and if they do well enough, then next year they are assigned to the special group which is the really big carnival and that kicks off sunday night and monday night as well. but people here in brazil like to say the rio carnival is the biggest party on earth and you can kind of see why. around 300,000 people have taken over the streets of australian city of sydney to celebrate gay rights. there were some serious under toned at this year's practice paid. russian president vladimir putin was criticize forked his law against what russia calls gay prop began at that, many of those taking part urged the

australian government to legal eye gay marriage, organizers say more than 400-kilos of glitter were used during the celebrations. the latest on all stories we have covered in nba this news along with analysis and opinion at our website a aljazerra.com. ♪ ♪ crumbling bridges, substandard airports and outdated rail roads. they are some of america's most pressing problems, crumbling bridges, substandard airports and outdated railroads we'll tell you how to fix it and more importantly how to pay for it. and we are taking the pulse of the housing market's recovery ahead of the spring selling season plus conventions of a middle class cab driver trying to get back on the road of prosperity i am david shuster in for al see vanvleet and this is "real money." ♪ ♪