to the periphery where they are on? >> all right. thanks everyone for a great discussion. >> >> polls open in crimea as people decide between a future in russia or greater independence from ukraine. the view if russia where most say it's time crimea came back to the fold. >> this is al jazeera, live from doha. a recruitment drive in nigeria's capital ends in a stampede. >> anger at venezuela's government after an ultimatum from the president.

>> now, polls have opened in crimea's controversial referendum. these are the live pictures coming in from a polling station in the capital simferepol. voters have two option, both of which propose a change of how the region is governed. it has a chance of answering yes or no. are you in favour of reunification of crimea and russia as part of the russian federation or are you in favour of supports crimea independent of ukraine. >> jacky rowland is in simferepol. how is the voting turn out turning out. is everything going smooth?

>> well, the polling station where we are has to say there's a lot of enthusiasm of the the polls are open until eight in the morning. there was a queue of about 20 people outside. that was an hour ago. as you can see behind me, trade is brisk, lots of people coming here, mostly they are older people. older people queueing up and remembering the certainties of the soviet union, who remember when they could be sure of aon, an apartment, a pension. i think when we look at the fact that there's a lot of support in this area, and across crimea as a whole for the idea of joining up with russia, a lot is fuelled by the memories of the good old days. >> now, i know it's early in the voting day, so forgive me for putting you on the spot, but any indications so far which way

this is going? >> well if you look at the whole attos fear in which the referendum is -- atmosphere in which this referendum is taking place, and voting day itself, the atmosphere is almost unadulteredly russian. i don't know if you can here the music, but they are the jolly songs from the soviet union. the music in the background is adding to the mood of the good old days, like a subconscious indication of the way that people should vote, and less subconscious and more in your face of the way people vote, with the big billboards all over town. huge billboards, russia and crimea together. even on saturday, a day when there was meant to be no campaign, there were russian political parties in crimea, and setting up propaganda tents with posters outside showing how much higher pensions were in russia

than crimea, and how much cheaper fuel and petrol was, handing out free cups of tea and sandwiches. there's an all-pervasive mood that seems to be pushing people towards voting for unification with russia. there is a lot of support among ordinary people, particularly if i mention older people. >> let's continue the thought. what happens next if this goes the way that everyone is expecting, and they choose to be part of russia, what is the please after that going forward? that is the unknown, there's a lot of uncertainty about how it would work. we need to see election polling. the smart money, if you like, will be on a vote for reunification with russia, there's that small element of doubt. if the vote goes the way

most expect it too, of course there is then a question of international reputation, and the fact that we saw the vote in the u.n. security council indicates that international recognition would not be easily come buy. when you look at the question of control, physical control of the territory, russia already has the physical control or established that control a few weeks ago, when it moved into the peninsula, and then there's the question about the economy, with all the business removed, and russian roouples brought in. what would happen to natural resources. there's a lot of questions. i'm not sure the whole procedure has been worked out. >> thank you so much. jacky rowland there. >> of course, there has been widespread condemnation of russia's support for the referendum. the e.u. and the united states say they will not recognise the results. the international community tried to have a u.n. resolution passed declaring the referendum

invalid. russia used its veto to prevent it happening. china which normally voted with russia has its own territorial disputes and abstained. others think the president is making is mistake. peter sharp reports. >> the tens of thousands of antiwar demonstrators that took to the streets to show their opposition to vladimir putin's move on crimea, and students to the elderly shared one human emotion - fear. >> of what lies ahead. they don't know where their president is leading their country, and russia's involvement frightens them. >> i don't want more, i'm afraid for the children and for the future. >> the bannons and slogans sent a message to the highest levels of government. it's not in the ukraine, it's in the kremlin.

protesters chanted vladimir putin is a thief. >> this is the last chance for these antiwar protesters to get their message across. what they are saying is that any atventures in crimea, carried out by president putin and the kremlin would leave russia dangerously isolated in the international community. they are in a minority. more than 60%, perhaps higher than that of people in russia support president vladimir putin's moves on crimea. >> among the marches, liberal politician, boris, an outspoken crit crit critic >> translation: people do not want russia isolated. >> this is not the only demonstration. a few blocks away a separate rally held by supporters of vladimir putin attracted a smaller crowd. there was a substantial police

presence deployed to ensure there was no clashes. despite the turn out this is the majority voice, an endorsement for putin's involvement. and support for the russian people living on the black sea peninsula. >> we are for friendship of the russian and ukrainian people's, who want to say no to the junta that came to power, and support our comrades in ukraine. >> voting gets under way on sunday morning. the outcome will delight the people, convinced that the kremlin's move on ukraine is justified and standing ready to welcome crimea back to mother russia. >> and polls have opened in serbia, where people are voting too for a new parliament. the ruling serbian progressive party is widely expected to win. it's promising to drive out corruption. overhauling the ailing economy will be the number one priority.

let's get the latest from our correspondent. >> how is polling going there? >> well, so far there is no problem. nobody expects problems. i think that maybe the major problem will be voters fatigue, because these are second elections in less than two years in the country, and the voters are saying they are tired of promises given by the opposition, and they were not met after the election. according to many in serbia, they do not know if they are going to vote. that may be the biggest problem and issue of today's elections here. >> let's cast a little light on some of those domestic challenges and economic problems that prompted the election and we'll await the next government. >> yes, that will be the challenge for the next government. that was the challenge for the

previous government as well, particularly because people here are demanding reforms to be finally - to be conducted, to start with reforms. after slobodan milosevic was toppled, 14 years ago, high expectations were rising among the people, given promises that the economic situation will get better, that serbia will become a member of the e.u. but it's 2014 and those things didn't happen. people are living in the worst economic environment. it's horrible. budget deficit is huge. people's salaries are among the lowest in the region. serbia was a leader. today it is trailing back in the region, it's the biggest

problem. they'll try to lure in more investors, and to give them opportunities for making profit here in this country, but whether that will be possible is hard to tell at this moment. >> thank you so much from belgrade. >> india is suspending its search for the missing malaysian plane, and is awaiting instructions from the malaysian government. vietnam has also ended its search. the jet carrying 239 people went missing eight days ago. investigators believe it was deliberately dive erted. seven people have been killed and many more injured in a stampede. thousands gathered. gerald tan reports. >> people looking for work crowded into the national stadium. the government was recruiting workers, and the turn out was

overwhelming. >> the number we invited, you ask us, you know, has almost doubled. we expect more than 500. but what you are seeing now is how many vehicles and we'll go out and see. we are afraid if people can be orderly >> instead of order there was chaos. witnesses say one entrance to the stadium was open. people were desperate to get in. there was a stampede. >> victims were taken to hospital. even there some could not be treated, the numbers from too great. >> they didn't open the gate. so people who are at the back were pushing. so the crowd was too much. that pushed the gate down, so people there, who came early, they are on the ground. >> this was one of several

recruitment drives held on saturday across nigeria, where unemployment levels are high. more than a third of people under 25 are jobless, explaining why so many jumped at a rare chance for work. >> still to come on al jazeera, running on empty. fuel in the gaza strip in short supply. plus... >> i'm andrew simmonds reporting from a ski slope in swat valley. can this normality be sustained in a place where the taliban once ruled?

>> welcome back, let's recap the headlines. polls have opened in ukraine. the poll as been condemned by the government in kiev and the western allies of you moscow used its veto to the block the revolution. >> seven people have been killed in a stampede during a government drive to recruit workers in nigia's capital. tens of thousands were trying to get into the nags stadium through one entrance. >> protesters fought with police in venezuela's capital hours

after president nicolas maduro issued an ultimatum. masked protesters threw petrol bombs at police. nicolas maduro spoke at a rally in support of the armed force, telling anti-government demonstrators, if they don't clean out of a share, they could face conviction. >> on the last day of a week-long series of events commemorating the one year anniversary of the death of hugo chavez, this march by the militia meant to send a message do opponents of the government. this is a non-too subtle way of reminding the opponents that nicolas maduro has on his side the national guard and the civilian militia, trained and armed to defend the resolution. they are not shoulders, but in a month of nonstop protesters, the president wants to show that he

has the means with which to confront the biggest challenge since the death of its founder. this gathering was cause to show support for the national guard at a time when it was under fire by human rites advocates. guardsman have been accused of using force and torturing people that were detained. the government says it will not tolerate abuse, but there were no words of reproach, just encouragement for those supposed to defend the government. this, where some are hoping that if the unrest spreads, the armed forces will force the president to step down. >> hundreds of people around latin america expressed frustration at the political situation in venezuela, by joining an international vigil. the event was organised to protest human rights protests.

argentina was one of several that took part. in buenos aires people sat on the steps of the university holding candles to form an sos. >> others chanted "freedom", calling for violence. in venezuela, people gathered in valentia where two civilians were shot dead on wednesday. 25 people have been killed since the anti-government protests began in february. people in the gaza strip are feeling the effects of an energy shortage that left them without power for much of the past 24 hours. >> the situation in gaza is bleak. more than a million people are boxed in, cut off from the rest of the world. on saturday the main power station stopped producing electricity, because it ran out of the fuel. we will only have trusty for six hours out of 24.

if we want to tuesday generators, there's no fuel. if there is, it costs $2 a litre. >> there was a rush to buy petrol on thursday. israel closed the border crossing with gaza after some of the worst fighting. rockets were fired into israel. the israeli military hit back. >> i'm afraid the situation will deteriorate. no one can predict what might happen, i'll keep some fuel for emergencies. >> translation: some stations ran out of fuel. egypt closed the borders, israel as well. the situation doesn't look good. >> the last few months people have been surviving off fuel. qatar has agreed to fund more fuel, but that kapt be delivered while the border is closed.

residents were suffering economically. 51,000 government employees have not been getting full salaries, the government lost two-thirds of its revenue, $500 million since imports stopped. >> it's the worst time for gaza, hamas, for the movement. it will continue. the new egyptian, the main source of income in gaza. the pressure on hamas is rising, with borders closed on both sides. support for the group has dropped, down 29% since late 2012. >> at least 21 people have been killed and dozens more wounded in a series of explosions in baghdad on saturday. five car bombs were detonated in separate locations in the iraqi capital.

this is where four people decide. no one claimed responsibility for the attacks. >> three al jazeera english journalists have been held in an egyptian prison for 78 days. mohamed fadel fahmy, mohammed badr and peter greste are accused of having links with a terror. >> organization and spreading false news. al jazeera rejects all charges against its staff, demanding immediate release. the next court appearance is march the 24th. abdullah al-shami from the al jazeera arabic channel is in custody. the criminal court extended his detention to another 45 days, this week. he's been held for more than six month and has been on hunger strike since january the 23rd. >> in pakistan people have been enjoying a snow festival. the region controlled by taliban fighters. andrew simmonds hoped that the busy ski resort would make a

comeback. >> fun like this would have been unthinkable less than five years ago. this is swat valley, once under the rule of pakistan's taliban. this was the country's only commercial ski resort destroyed by fighters. it's gradually being revived into a symbol of normality, with a rickety chair lift and hopes for a peaceful future. for now it's under army guard. the pakistan military driving the taliban out in a major offense if, beliefs the valley is secure. plans are in place for the army to hand over the organization to civilians next year. while the commanding officer accepts the taliban is a threat, he says it will never return. >> it has the capacity and intention to create trouble and go back into their safe havens

in afghanistan. i can assure you we will never let the threat materialize in the valley. this is a message i want to give across. >> what you are seeing is a glimpse of what it could be like in swat valley. pakistan's military is trying to convince people that the situation with security is good enough for investment in tourism and other industries. for now the numbers coming ear will not ensure the confidence big-time investors will need. but the move is good. >> people will realise that it has been taken over by the army. it's safe. >> there's not many places around the world like this. >> the security forces maintain that they can keep law and ord in the swat valley, with or without a taliban peace deal, a

deal not shared by everyone, and without the shoulders, many would not feel as carefree as this. >> the eastern states of queensland and new south wales are in the grip of the most severe drought ever recorded. some farmers in australia are having to shoot their cattle because they can't afford to feed them. the financial strain is taking its toll on people's mental health. in the second of a three part series on global drought. andrew thomas reports from broken hill, west of sydney. >> this is what charity looks like in rural always. a truck delivering hay harvested an 11 hour drive away. hay shouldn't be needed here, but a drought has dried the ground, killing the grass. farmers drive from far and wide. >> 70% of queensland is in drought. 50% in new south wales is drought declared. today makes a psychological

difference. these guys know others care, and this is a small token of what we can do. >> this farmland would be more green than orange, there would be cows and sheep feeding. now it's hard to find any animals, however far you look. >> in fact, all you see around here are bones. sally and tony bright are receiving seven bales of hay. they haven't yet had to shoot cattle like some farmers had, but only because they are taking preventive measures that will be financially painful. >> we are now selling some of these girls who were potential breeding stock, and now we don't have the choice. we'll be left with less breeding numbers. it's upsetting, something that manifests physically, you walk around with a knot in your guts and look at the sky a lot and hope it will rain. >> the flying doctors are more associated with farming accident

than farmer depression. the service describes treating mental health as a key priority any. referrals may team see as drought related - depression, stress. >> we haven't seen suicides, but it's definitely something people are starting to talk about, that they are feeling thoughts >> demand for into in/fly out mental health clinics has never been higher. australia's government has declared the drought a natural disaster and promised money to help. this is what is really needed. broken hill last week got its first substantial rain in two years, but most farmland has not been touched. for its farmers, the skies are stubbornly blue. >> in sri lanka a lack of rain damaged the main crop, rice. farmers are already struggling to cope. there are fears that the worst

is yet to come. in the third and final part, a look at what the future might hold for food producers in sri lanka. >> now for some, gengi [s] kahn was a ruthless tyrant. 10% of the world's population. some mongolians say their founder was misunderstood. we went to meet them. >> they say followers are praying for the blessings of the universe, believing everything is a part of god, and peace and happiness are the ultimate goal and right. this man, a border guard, is their leader trial judge 29 generation descent anted -- trial judge 29 --. >> translation: 29th generation. >> like all of god's other

profits, his ancess for, gankize kahn was misunderstood. people were not ready for his teachings. >> the followers believe the world is ready now. humanity's thinking revolved and reflects their religious sites like this one. om and without barriers. symbolizing a direct link to heaven and everything on earth. gengi [s] carn as a peaceful man is no necessarily the concept. this museum opened to commemorate him. it's part of a drive by monk owlians to hold on to their identity. >> translation: children must worship their parents, parents worship the heavians. >> being family centered is a mongolian condition. before the followers believe stretched beyond the borders. biggest home is the entire

universe, and families is everyone in it. >> you can get more on gankize and the other stories if you head to the website at it is the inside story. ♪ . >> hello, i'm ray swarez, the man who used to be jorge mario is cardinal arch bishop has shown he is a master of flipping the script. it started from the moment the votes that made him the head of the worldwide catholic church were counted an enormous crowd gathering in st. peters square, the