. >> thailand's army imposes marshall law across the country but insists it's not a coup. hello, welcome to al jazeera live from doha. also ahead - beijing summons the u.s. ambassador after five chinese military officers are charged with cyber theft. a country on the edge - the head of libya's special forces switches sides against the government. and it's election day in malawi. we look at who is in the running

to be the country's next president. marshall law has been declared in thailand. the army's intervention follows months of protests and unrest. the military say they want to restore order and not seize power. this is the scene of the thai capital where soldiers are on the street. veronica pedrosa, our correspondent, is in the thai capital, bangkok. army is surrounding the protest camps. what is the atmosphere like? >> i think people are pretty relieved in some way, and in some sections of society, because this is a country that's been in a state of political turmoil since 2006, and most recently in a state of political deadlock. it feels as if the military is

taking control in a kind of big brother kind of way. but it remains to be seen whether that is, indeed, the case. because what they have done is they've asked all the protesters to stay where they are, and to cope calm. they've asked people to go about their business as usual. at the same time they have issued a number of declarations that limit freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, surrounded satellite television stations and shut them down. this is not going to be a popular move among the people who support the democratically elected government of yingluck shinawatra. she is the prime minister, of course, who was ousted last wednesday by the constitutional court. it's not clear whether her replacement remains in power, and what kind of power that would be.

this is what marshall law looks like. tanks are back on the streets in bangkok. soldiers making themselves very visible in strategic areas. the head of the military says the armed forces are in control of all security in the country, but this is not a coup. >> translation: to maintain peace and order and bring back peace into all groups and sides as soon as possible. i used law section 2 and 4 op marshall law 2457 to announce marshall law all over thailand. i ask all sides, all groups to stop any movement in order to start the sustainable solution as soon as possible. >> reporter: this military takeover a the latest development in a slow-burning crisis that engulfed thailand since 2006. demonstrations aimed at driving out the government brought strategic areas of the capital to a standstill in

recent months. 25 have been killed, 800 injured in related violence. finally, last wednesday, the care take are prime minister yingluck shinawatra was forced out of office when the constitutional court judged that she acted illegally by firing an official from his post. since then anti-government demonstrations escalated. the government refused to quit because it was said it would be unconstitutional. the generals are considering the next law. the men in uniform want to stop the violence and shut all tv stations so far, and closed in on mass demonstrations held by both political sides. thailand has been in this position many times before. there has been 18 successful or attempted coups since 1932.

there are a number of groups considering their next move, a number of emergency meetings taking place right now. >> yes, indeed. the government that remains of yingluck shinawatra is meeting itself to figure out what the next step will be. the senate, which is the only legislative body is also considering what the next move is. they wanted to put in place an interim unelected prime minister. and the military itself is also meeting with government agencies to figure out what the next step is. we should be getting a press conference any time now from the military. there was a gaggle of press, a crowd of media outside the headquarters at the thai royal army club and let everywhere know what they are going to do. they have given a new command,

governing body, as it were. it's the peace and order maunting command pomc for short. let's hear what they have to say. we'll lat you know. >> veronica pedrosa joining us from the thai capital bangkok. the international community is keeping an eye on event in thailand. the u.s. expects the thai army not to seize power. japan urges all parties to act in self-restraint and indonesia is calling for reconciliation and unity in thailand. to other news - china summoned the u.s. ambassador - dismissing allegations that five chinese hacked the computers of u.s. companies. >> reporter: it is unpreceden d

unprecedented. america's law office announces that his department were doing aufr five chinese for espionage. in its files it's alleged the officers in shanghai hacked into the computers of companies involved in solar and energy companies. property was stolen, putting u.s. companies, particularly in the steel industry, at a disadvantage. >> these initial tists cost -- initiatives cost billions in capital. the computer intrusions enabled the theft of this technology and blunt the ability to compete. >> the government case is that it helped chinese firms involved in legal disputes with the

chinese government and firms. china denies the allegations, accusing the u.s. of hypocrisy. it's unlikely military officials will answer the charges. the case is srn to in -- certain to inflame diplomatic ties and could be counterproductive to u.s. goals. >> there's a way to get the message across to both sides, to u.s. companies, to potential perpetrators, whether from china or any other country. it will not be tolerated. you can send out messages, you just don't file an indictment. >> prosecuting state workers and the indictment comes on the same day the u.s. announced it arrested 97 people in 16 countries suspected of developing black hads, computer

hacking software, allowing users to gain control of personnel computers. >> the justice department has not said how much companies have suffered, only that it is substantial. the two cases are inest to show there is zero tolerance and how it's stepping up cyber enforcement around the globe. adrian brown has more from shanghai. >> the reaction from china has been swift and furious, accusing washington of fabricating factors, saying there's no prove that chinese companies and individuals have been involved in cyber espionage, and accuse the united states of doing the same thing to china. china retaliated, and retailiated swiftly. they have withdrawn support from a joint body set up between china and the united states to investigate and look at the

issue of cyber espionage discussed twine president xi jinping and president obama last year. as relations deteriorate, they are improving between moscow and beijing, and we see it played out in a conference in shanghai, attended by president vladimir putin. he has called president xi jinping a trusted friend, saying that relations between china and russia have never been better. that will be played out in joint naval exercises taking place in the east china see during the next couple of address. it will symbolize how russia and shipa are moving closer -- china are moving closer toot. acting as a counterglands to united states -- counterbalance to united states growing influence. >> results suggest nouri al-maliki will win a third term in office.

his state of law coalition looks to have the most seats. negotiations over the formation of a new government are expected to take months. there is growing international concern about the security situation in libya. saudi arabia, the united arab emirates and algeria closed embassies in tripoli, and the u.s. increased aircraft in italy ready to evacuate u.s. citizens and embassy staff. there are fears that the company could slide into civil law, the latest for officers to swif sides. we have -- switch sides. we have this report. >> a dramatic twist in libya as the commander of special forces switched sides. speaking in benghazi, he's i don't knowing forces with -- joining forces with retired general khalifa haftar. >> because of terrorist groups

that have kidnapped and destabilized security we'll stand with the will of the people and join the battle of dignity under the leadership of the national army. >> the national army is led by khalifa haftar, and friday it declared open war. khalifa haftar accused the general national congress of supporting extreme groups. former rebel groups in benghazi accused the general of staging a coup. they will find against him. >> translation: they have been trying to destabilize the country. the latest coup from the murderous general, we condemn the killings and bombings, and resist attempts to occupy benghazi. we support the joint military operations and condemn the attack on the penalty by muammar gaddafi loyalists. >> on sunday, forces from the

zinc tan militia attacked the parliament. they said they were acting on general khalifa haftar's orders. >> translation: terrorism exists and sucks to spread under the name of islam. islam doesn't have anything to do with them. the caretaker government which is weak and struggling to rein in the militia proposed an initiative to end the worsening crisis, calling on the general national congress to elect a new prime minister. if it fails, the counter caretaker government remains until new elections. the initiative calls on the g.n.c. to take a break until a new body is elected. >> still to come - it's election time in malawi. can the government shake off a

corruption scandal to pull in the vote? >> i'm phil lavelle at the cannes film festival. there's no shortage of female actors. where are the female directors? it's a bit of a sore point. find out why later in the programme.

us it's good to have you with us. these are the top stories on al jazeera. thai soldiers are on the streets of bangkok as marshall law was declared. the military wants to restore

order and wants to seize power. it follows six months of political unrest. >> china summoned the ambassador after charges were laid. they were accused of hacking into computers to steal trade scrats. saudi arabia, united arab emirates and algeria closed their embassies over security concerns in egypt. the leader of the special forces is the latest officer to turn against the government. . >> polls have opened in malawi. voting has been slow to start. our correspond is live for more on that from the largest city. i understand that there has been big delays to the start of voting where you are. i can see a big crowd behind you there. >> reporter: there's a big problem.

people waiting in line call this a mess. some called it a recipe for disaster. look at the people. this is one of the biggest polling stations. 14,000 registered to vote. there's not enough voting material, no ballot papers, ink, seals for the ballot boxes. some of the youth were protesting. i do apologise, we have lost our connection with our correspondent in malawi. we hope to get her back later. let's move on. boko haram gained international notoriety after kidnapping more than 270 school girls. they have been active for 12 years, killing thousands in that time. we travelled to northern nigeria

with a group. >> reporter: it was here in the capital of borno state that it all began. as long ago as 2001, a charismatic cleric preached a strict version of islam. they were people committed to the teachings of profit and holy war. because they rejected western influences and education they were called boko haram, meaning western education is sinful. >> they said it produced a bad, corrupt government. they tied people to education. >> reporter: by 2009 the rebellion developed into confrontation with the state, sparked by an accident, days of fighting left hundreds killed, including their leader, who was

said to have been executed. the mosque, which was here, was torn down. it's not just the mosque, but other property belonging to boko haram members were demolished or seized and handed to other people. the idea if you wipe out the physical presence, they'd be forgotten. instead, they returned under the leadership of abubakar shekau, the face of brutality, attacks not stirring or sparing christians or muslims, old or young. he was an intelligent student. people who knew him are afraid to be asserted with him. this man who said he was a classmate asked us to conceal his identity. >> translation: when the teacher was away he would take the lead. generally he was an intro vert. >> reporter: they tried to reach out to the group.

a negotiated settlement may have been possible, and the group made dismants. the arrest and prosecution - compensation for the families of dead fighters, and rebuilding schools and mosques. he did not take the talk seriously. today civilian fighters engaged in battling boko haram say the group was well armed. his use of bombers suggest that indicates tactical use of other groups. >> they are using anti-aircraft. >> reporter: boko haram is made up of multiple criminals. people say the government's -- multiple cells. people say the government's level work is chipping away at the cell from within. now, we are going to go back

to malawi where it's election day, our correspondent is standing by in the largest city. not a good start to election day there. >> reporter: things are getting tense. in the background there were two tents. they have been brought down. people are getting angry saying they are waiting to too long, what is going on. it's been more than three hours, the polling station has not opened. there's not yourself ballot papers, and people are concerned. there's allegations of fraud and rigging. people are saying, "what is going on? are votes rigged? what are officials doing?" it's important for president joyce bandre. when she was in charge,

millionses disappeared, stolen by government officials. she's trying to keep her job by telling people that she's troying to fight corruption. people have been waiting in line more than three hours, and want to know what is going on. controversial muslim preacher abu ham czar has been convicted of terrorism charges, relating to attempts to establish an al-qaeda training camp and aiding kidnappers in yemen in 1998. the 56-year-old cleric was extradited from the uk in 2012. he faces a maximum of life imprisonment. one of the billionaire owner of the ferry that sank off south korea has been ordered to appear before prosecutors later on tuesday. so far he has refused to show up for questioning over the ferry sinking that kid nearly 300

people. harry fawcett reports. >> reporter: this is where the next chapter of the complex story of the ferry disaster could play out. organic farmland south of seoul be longing to a group belonging to the ship's owner. members of two sects are manning the gait. the owner may by hiding behind and is refusing to appear for questioning. >> the land belongs to church. >> will you let prosecutors inside? >> no, it's my property. >> reporter: this is how he likes to be seen - hardly at all. he is a reclusive photographer. he is head of the family behind the operations of the ferry. a spokesman said mr yu had no role in the management. a former member of the south

asian sect disagrees. >> he assigns people to different businesses himself. everything is under his control. >> prosecutors believe the ferry sank because it was overloaded, cardio was not secured and it made an usually sharp term and and are seeking to say yu was responsible for lax management. yu's son hold stakes in a separate firm. a sistership was suspected and had multiple safety breaches. we came back to the port and spoke to a crew member, who was too concerned to go on-camera. >> he told us there were links between the church and the running of the marine. he said junior crew members would be hired on the basis of their thinks to the church, and inexperienced staff would not

have been hired in other companies he worked for. >> he spent four years in prison convicted of embezzling church funds. none of that stopped his family amassing a business empire, stretching from hotels in the u.s. to salt production in south korea. president park geun-hye promised to go after the family's wealth as punishment and to compensate victims. authorities could find themselves with a fight on their hands to get through the gates. banking giant credit swiss pleaded guilty to charges of helping u.s. taxpayers file false tax returns. the swes bank will have to.more than $2 -- will have to pay more than $2.5 billion, showing no institution is above the war.

>> the level known film festival, but critics say it's not the most diverse. the jury said the industry is sexist and needs shaking up. the report from cannes. >> reporter: female directors may dominate movies in a galaxy fash, far away. not in this one. men have taken the big prize at the cannes film festival every year with one exception, jane campion, and jory head, a director, has a public point to make. >> time and time again we don't get our share of representation. excuse me, gentlemen, but the guys eat all the cake. >> this is the big talking point in the cannes film festival. it's not just an issue here, it reflects what is happening in the issue in generate. for 86ors the oscars have been

going, only once has a woman been named level director. katherine bigga low. 71 years of golden globes, barbara stris and in 1984. the lack of women competing for the palm d' or. out of 18 films two have female credit. two more than 2012, when there were no women. one featured last year. that woman has a lot of awards but thinks a sea challenge is in order. >> we want a lot of different viewpoint and takes in sin emma. that's what a woman can bring. it's a shame there's not more out there. >> "the monastery" is a documentary. that genre, at least,

appreciates a feminine touch. the director runs a women-only company. >> where i come from there's a strong female voice, and maybe it spills over to the fuction. i see it in denmark with a lot of female directors. >> each night the cannes red carpet comes alive with flashes. all eyes are on the women. those eyes are looking else are. the question is how long will it take for that to change? fog has secured many parts of chinese provinces, disrupting traffic and reduced visibility delayed flights. the ancient city, a unesco world heritage site has been shrouded from view. a hale stone turned a city

white, blanketing it with ice. the main airports were closed. some cars were strappeded. the storm ended a dry spell causing historically low water levels. more news on the website aljazeera.com. >> the united states has taken an usual step in denouncing cyber crime. the chinese under indictment. vipecyber theft is the inside s. >> hello, i'm ray suarez. it only seems logical if you