iraq in turmoil. kurdish peshmerga forces re take three towns from rebel fighters. hello, you're watching al jazeera live from doha. i'm jane dutton. also - police fire cannisters in ferguson, missouri, dispute a curfew imposed after days of protest. thousands of opposition reporters remain on the streets of pakistan's capital to try to force the prime minister out. plus date day. >> i'm in new york city where a

man in exile is about to go back to his south african homeland. kurdish peshmerga forces in iraq are reported to have taken three towns east of the mosul dam from islamic state fighters. the peshmerga have control of three more towns, and are fighting to retake telkit. the u.s. has been carrying out air strikes around the town and the nowhere city of erbil. several armoured vehicles used by islamic state have been damaged or destroyed. islamic state fighters are targetting several minority groups. people in the yazidi say the u.s. and kurdish forces did not stop them being attacked. 80 people are said to have been killed there. >> translation: they separated women and children from the men.

they put women and children in the hall, and men on another side. they took the ids, cold and property. they took the men group by group, and took them outside the village and killed them, until no men are left. i don't know where they took the women. >> five have been wounded in the city of fallujah. residential neighbourhoods suffered the most damage. the iraqi government says it is covering the state. it seems the peshmerga forces have been successful in retapuring the town? >> jane, they are pushing through. kurdish security officials tell us that they are now at a junction 12km from the mosul dam, and 35km from mosul.

they plan to push through on both directions, according to some officials, but the main target is the mosul dam, taken over from islamic state fighters. the reason they are making slow progress is because the islamic state group has placed explosives all along the roads and in the towns they are in. the explosives are improvised, home made bombs and land mines. it is quite remarkable that they have managed to push through the towns, and fighting now going on for control of a major town, fulling a few days ago to the islamic state group. >> tell us why the u.s. air strikes are having little impact on the humanitarian situation. the justification for the strikes is that they are helping the minority groups in

particular. >> essentially because to get to the people who need the help, including the villages, the vulnerable villages on the base of mt sinjar, they have to do basically what they are doing now around the mosul dam. the air strikes to start. there were nine, the biggest series of strikes since the campaign started. once that was done, it was deemed relatively okay for peshmerga fighters who do not have heavy weapons, and they do not have a lot of backing to go in on the ground. so up until now, the areas where people have been vulnerable, particularly the yaz your villages -- yazidi villagers around sinjar are inactionable. they are not places that you can target with air strikes. the campaign by the peshmerga is a campaign that would extend to some of the more vulnerable areas. a series of air strikes followed by a push on the ground backed by u.s. advisors.

>> jane arraf reporting. islamic state are accused of killing 700 in syria. the syrian observatory for human rights says the victims were all from one sunni tribe. it happened when the armed group captured a town in the province. it's reported to some of the victims were beheaded. protests finance in the u.s. town of ferguson, despite a curfew. it was hoped the curfew would calm days of angry protests that had taken place after a policeman killed an unarmed black teenager. there has been anti-government protests across egypt. in cairo demonstrators blocked the road in the ramsays distribute, following the first anniversary of a crackdown at two protest sites that killed hundreds. supporters of mohamed mursi said the government failed to carry out an investigation into the deaths.

egypt's interior ministry had arrested several accused of bombing electricity generators, and arrested some from a vigilante group. the violence is part of a trend against the government. >> in recent weeks egypt has experienced a new form of discontent. roads cut off, electricity generators burnt down and police vehicles set on fire. in the latest a new resistance group hacked the state-run radio station to broadcast its own message. it's: then this group vowing to target

police installations in southern cairo. >> translation: we are fed up with peaceful marches. blood was shed, women raped, and funny stolen. we are peaceful and do not want to carry weapons. you forced us to carry weapons to defend ourselves, women and egypt. >> reporter: the government accuses the muslim brotherhood of orchestrating the attacks. the vigilantes say they are in no way involved where withthe muslim brotherhood. since being outlawed the group has seen the mass protest movement dwindle to this. interior ministry says it will vet those behind the video and make arrests. >> part of it is to take away remaining legitimacy for the muslim brotherhoods among the population. part of it has to do with the idea of declaring the muslim brotherhoods as a terrorist organization and saying here is the groups that are affiliated

with the brothers, but are using political violence. >> this growing trend of vigilanteism appears to be a new expression of anger against the egyptian government. supporters of deposed president mohamed mursi continued to hold demonstrations since the removal from office last year. with power cuts rampant, the economy stagnant and a lack of security, some people are taking matters into their own hands, and increasingly arming themselves. >> al jazeera is demanding the release of its three journalists who have been imprisoned in egypt for 232 days. peter greste, mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed were falsely accused of helping the autoloud muslim brotherhood. in june mohamed fadel fahmy and peter greste from given 7-year sentences, baher mohamed got an extra three because he had a spent bullet in his possession which he picked up at a protest.

>> over 10,000 israelis have taken to the streets of tel aviv, demanding that the government end an assault on gaza, the demonstrators called for a diplomatic solution. protesters demanded that israelened its occupation of the gaza strip. israel and palestinian groups are observing a ceasefire which is due to expire on monday. >> hamas's military wing threatened to fire rockets at israel if ceasefire negotiations in cairo fail. al jazeera has been given exclusive access to a rocket-making factory in gaza. they are making rockets in case israel continues its offensive in gaza. and the palestinian president mahmoud abbas says he supports israel's role in negotiating a permanent truce between israel and gaza. he was addressing a delegation travelling to cairo for the

indirect talks. >> translation: i want to confirm we are adhering to egypt's role, it is a mediator, not a party. hundreds of thousands of palestinians are sheltering in u.n.-run school. many forced to find refuge have nowhere else to go as the homes have been destroyed. the school year was scheduled to begin in a week. that's now been delayed. >> the gaza girls' prep circle is home to 3,000 desperate people. they ran from their homes during the israeli bombardment, hoping the u.n.-run school would offer protection. over 200,000 palestinians were packed into u.n. schools. a new school year was due to start next week. officials say that has been delayed. many, like this person has no home to return to. >> translation: i have 11 children, six go to school, and

the new school year is coming. we don't know where to go. her children attended the same school they are sheltering in. entire families are crammed together in classrooms. outside they queue for food and supplies in the playground. teachers like this man, volunteered to help them until the children can return to studies. classrooms across gaza are turning in makeshift homes. people have been displaced and a large family live in this room. they created a divider to try to turn it into something of an apartment so people have somewhere to sleep. it's not a permanent solution. the room soon should be hosting classes for children. around a quarter of a mill been children go to the same u.n. schools they are living in. the u.n. says 65,000 people have had their homes destroyed. it says they are trying to find

a solution to the crisis. >> we will not force displaced people to leave our school. we expect to have some thousands of families. we will consolidate them. >> that may mean families will have to share less space, and fewer schools as some classrooms are freed up for teaching. >> around half of gaza's children go to u.n. schools. the other half study in government once. many are damaged in the fighting. some beyond repair. >> some are facing a dilemma, getting children back to school or providing shelter for their families. >> pro-russian separatists shot down a ukranian fighter jet over luhansk in the east. a military spokesman says the plane was targeted overnight and the pilot managed to eject and

has been found. >> in berlin foreign ministers of ukraine, russia, france and germany are leaving later. ukranian forces ed separatists out of large areas in the east surrounding the rebel strong holds of luhansk and donetsk. it controls the road linking the city. a rebel leader from donetsk says they are getting tanks and reinforcements, including 1,000 fighters training in russia and will launch a major attack against ukraine's army. >> italy's interior minister is calling on the e.u. to help with migrants arriving on the shores. their efforts to control the sea can't go on. more than 100,000 tried to reach italy in the past year. most are fleeing from conflict in the middle east and africa. >> pakistani opposition politician imran khan called on grolers to show strength --

followers to show strength as he tries to force the government to resign. imran khan and tahir ul-qadri, cler cleric, led tens of thousands of forces, demanding the resignation of nawaz sharif. over corruption charges. >> reporter: tahir ul-qadri and imran khan have not been able to bring in the kind of supporters that they said they would bring to islamabad. nevertheless, they made a tactical move. they are in the capital, occupying two avenues, and the demands are stronger and stronger. tahir ul-qadri issued an ultimatum of 48 hours, and is saying that the government has to resign, there has to be justice for some protesters and supporters killed in the city of lahore in june. otherwise he says he will not be responsible for the actions of supporters who made -- met in

march on the red zone in islamabad, a sensitive area of a diplomatic enclave and parliament. the government is saying that would be a red line. on the other hand imran khan upped the ante saying his protesters may go into the red zone, after the prime minister's house or parliament. the government, on the other hand, is holding a high level meeting in lahore. the prime minister is chairing that meeting. there is some sort of a policy or a decision likely from the government as to how to deal with this crisis. >> more ahead on al jazeera - including kenya closes its borders to travellers from sierra leone, liberia and guinea in an effort to keep out the ebola virus. and a nice cold shower for one of the world's richest men. why bill gates is passing the bucket for motor neuro-i don't

know disease. @j

the top stories on al jazeera. kurdish peshmerga forces in iraq are reported to have taken three towns east of the mosul dam from the islamic state fighters. the peshmerga have control of the three towns. they are fighting to retake telkif. protests continue in u.s. town of ferguson. demonstrations have taken place since august 9th after an

unarmed teenager was killed by police. nawaz sharif has been askeded to step down, protesters accusing him of fraud a suicide attack in mali caused injuries after a car blew-up near timbuktu. it's the third time that u.n. troops have been targeted. the conflict has been confined to the north. those across the border in niger are not safe. >> reporter: this is a town in niger, isolated and remote. it's home to hundred of people who fled tribal fighting in mali. they say just getting here has involved an arduous journey, and is their ordeal did not end when they arrived. >> we have been here for the past 10 months without help from the unhcr or their partners.

>> what makes getting aid here hard is a combination of the the remoteness from human habitation and closeness to the fighting in mali. what few roads there are, are often impassable. when the trucks can get through, it takes time. >> this man works for a gulf charity trying to help the people here. his is one of the few agencies able to get in. >> translation: today we represent the relief, health and education charity from the gulf. >> reporter: for those that have not fled, life in the barren landscape is hard. a wall between the tribes heightened tensions. not too far away is the threat from armed groups like al qaeda and the islamic maghreb.

the deputy mayor is helping to supervise the allocation of aid. although grateful. it's not enough. >> translation: we are in bad need of aid. we really need more. we need to supply and expand our heath center and need more medicine. to do that would be difficult. >> agencies are wary of visiting the area for fear the staff may be targeted or kidnapped. >> kenya announced a series of emergency measures to stop the spread of the ebola virus. starting on wednesday all travellers from liberia, sierra leone and guinea will be banned from entering the country. the only exception will be kenyan nationals, and they'll be screened. the world health organisation says more than 1,100 people have died in the ebola outbreak.

gregory is spokesman for the who. >> this is the first we have heard of this measure today. we are trying to get more information on this. certain it's been a prevented measure, and who does not recommend trade restrictions. there is already screening in place for countries in guinea, liberia, and sierra leone. those that have symptoms of fever, diarrhoea, vomiting and known contacts of known ebola cases are not allowed to get on flights out of the thrive countries. >> 20 years after apartheid, the body of an exiled is heading home from reburial. nat nakasa was forced from his home 50 years ago and died in 165 in new york. >> reporter: commemorating one

of apartheid's many victim, a church in harlem. matt's country shunned him, stripping him of citizenship. now it's bringing his body back to be buried in his home town near durban. >> do not bury me in egypt, but when i die bury me with my people. >> a six stone has marked nat's grave for 49 years. a crusading journalist he defied the apartheid laws, restriking blacks from mixing socially and professionally with whites. he was forced to leave in 1964. >> he broke all the boundaries and hardships, and managed to be able to be a journalist that was able to actually write about the atrocities that the apartheid government was doing.

>> his only surviving sibling, a sister made the journey to the grave and travel back with his remains to see them safely. >> he believe in letting him down, and you know that they are here. if you didn't bury your loved one you have it open, not closed. >> a hero's welcome awaits as his homeland celebrates 20 years since the first fully democratic election enters apartheid. >> the people at home are waiting for him to come. they are waiting. they are weighing for a fighter. for someone to decide that to take a stand against oppression. [ singing ] >> it's a bittersweet mix of joy and sorrow as a jurpy that began or a south african exiled

decades ago is near its end. the roman catholic pope wants to improve ties with countries which do not have good relations with the vatican. china and other communist nations do not recognise the authorities of the holy seer. these are the latest pictures of him. the pontiff made the remarks in south korea on the fourth day of an asian trip. the catholic church was not coming in as a conquerer but a partner in dialogue. >> former environment minister marina silva has been chosen to replace eduardo campos, who was killed when his private plane crashed into a residential area in the city of santos. his body has been flown home. his funeral will be sunday. we have more from the area, where many have waited for

eduardo campos's body to arrive. >> reporter: sombre's scenes in the governor's mention in this city. people gathered here, holding up signs, newspapers, waiting for the ex-governor of this state, eduardo campos's body to arrive for the wake. he was a presidential candidate, wildly popular in his home state. he was a governor for seven years and stepped down to run for president. when he did, approval ratings were nearly 80%. people of all stripes have deem feelings for eduardo campos, a man who was popular. >> translation: besides being a political man, he was a good man, a family man, a father. he was protect ght the state at the national level. drnchts he did many things for this city. i'm grateful to him. >> reporter: they are expecting 150,000 people to be here on

sunday for the urinal of eduardo campos, including the president dilmar rousseff. there are all sorts of political ramifications from eduardo campos's death. it shakes up the entire presidential campaign, but now, especially here in his home state. no one is worried about that. they are waiting for the funeral on sunday to pay final respects for the young and up and coming political leader, and most people in brazil say lost his life soon. thousands doust themselves with ice-cold water, and posting the video online. john terrett has more on the ice bucket challenge. >> reporter: if you've been online in the last few weeks there's a chance you have seen someone taking the als ice bucket challenge - people dumping ice cold water op their heads, and nominating others to do the same. too cold for you, you can make a

donation. als stands for amyothophic lateral sclerosis, known as lou gurr iing's disease, after a baseball great diagnose with it. it's a degenerative disease killing off the motor neurones. a viral campaign is thrusting it into the spotlight. according to als association, 15 new cases are diagnosed every day. 30,000 americans have the disease at any given times. it effects 20% more men than women. the life expect si of an als patient averages 2-5 years after diagnosis. there's no cure, which is why money for research is so important. ice bucket challenges are not new, but 29-year-old als patient peter fraities who can no longer taurk or walk decided to use it

to bring attention to the disease he and a friend are responsible for launching the campaign. >> before this many did not understand what als was. >> i'm accepting the als ice bucket challenge much. >> reporter: celebrities and politicians alike joined in. it's paying off. als says from july 29th to august 14th the national and state chapters saw nearly 146,000 new donors, and raised 7. 7.6 million, compared to 1.2 million in the same period last year. the only way to do this is quickly i'm told, here we go. [ cheering and applause ] >> reporter:. >> reporter: this is why al jazeera reporters are always totally immersed in their stories. john terrett, thinking that this

my not have been quite a good idea. >> cold but wet. remember, you can keep up to date by logging on to the website. the address is aljazeera.com. we update the website 24 hours a day. thanks for watching. >> for centuries, some west african communities have branded children born deformed or with disabilities as evil spirits. they are seen as a drain on limited resources and so ...