>> showdown in northern iraq. peshmerga fighters launch a massive assault to retake control of their town. perp in doha with the world news from al jazeera. also on the show, villages on fire and another plane shot down. government troops in ukraine continue to battle separatists. a curfew in the u.s. town of ferguson doesn't stop the proceedtests over the killing of a black teenager. a final fair well, brazil pays

respects to a candidate killed in a plane crash. kurdish forces from islamic straight group fighters in the north of iraq. the kurdish peshmerga want to take back towns. the iraqi army and the united states are trying to drive out fighters. u.s. has been carrying out airstrikes against the armed group. let's look at the areas where there has been fighting. you will see that so far, there we go, forces have retain three towns, some of those troops have pushed on to the town of telkef, certain by the rebel fighters a few days ago and there has been fierce wipeding going on there now. a major battle going on for the strategic mosul dam, too.

zeina chodr. >> there is al military operation. the peshmergaa forces are going to the west, trying to recapture vision villages to my east. the mosul damn is still in the hands of the islamic state group. the peshmerga forces have managed to recapture three christian towns. we are in one of them, sharkia. the town of telskaf, we weren't able to enter because there are explosive devices, booby-trapped devices on the side of the roams, in homes, the peshmerga are quite worried. there is a cleaning up operation while they are fighting the front line now is on the outskirts of telkar 30 miles to the center city of mosul, the stronghold of the islamic state. there has been fighting on the ground. we saw signs of battle, ourselves, a vehicle belonging to the islamic state group

damaged on the side of the road. fes feshmerga fighters, we have to point out that the peshmerga forces are i will-equipped. without the help of the u.s., they wouldn't have been able to make these advances. the military is in the sky, air force fighter jets. we have heard them throughout the day. so this, it's not an easy fight, and the obama administration has said that the objective of the military operation is to defend kurdish territory. it's to protect the people on the ground. but what we are seeing in an expanded operation, now the kurds are on the offensive. it's not clear where they want to reach. we asked commanders on the ground. they didn't divulge details because as you can understand, it's a sensitive situation on the ground. >> jane araf joins us live from erbil. what is the u.s. saying about those airstrikes r jane? >> reporter: the u.s. has launched 14 airstrikes and it

appears to have widened it's mish somewhat. it's now referring to protecting critical infrastructure which clearly the mosul dam falls under as well as furthering humanitarian goals and protecting u.s. interests. now, in addition to the fighting that zeina referred to near the mosul dam, we spoke to peshmerga officials and they say there is fierce fighting to the east of the dam. we are told the u.s. is launching airstrikes near there to try to drive out islamic state group fighters. peshmerga are waiting to go in there to try to retake that town. >> what has been the humanitarian fallout in terms of displacement and strain on hospitals and so on? >> reporter: absolutely. it's a huge strain on a region that was already struggling with a wave of syrian refugees and arab refugees from other parts of iraq. on top of that now, it has close to a million displaced iraqis

coming from the north. and you can see the strain in the people and on the public facilities, particularly on the hospitals. public hospitals in the kurdish region were already struggling. as a region of iraq, they are supposed to get drugs and other supplies from the ministry of health in baghdad. but because of the dispute over oil revenue between baghdad and erbil, officials say neither supplies nor salaries have come for months. >> the last few months, we have shortage in the drugs and medical supplies because of economic crisis in baghdad and they are interrupted, small amount of the drugs. >> this maternity hospital is trying to cope both with displaced iraqis and its regular case load of expect ant mothers. it's a difficult time for

everyone. it's the same story in hospitals across the region. this is one of three trauma centers in the kurdish capitol. it has fewer than 200 beds, and they are usually filled with patients who are hurt in accidents. but, now, on top of that, the hospital was filled with a flood of peshmerga fighters wounded on the front. the hospital directliar says on one day alone, last week, they treated 40 wounded kurdish peshmerga fighters. >> in this unit, this is critical. this is only seven beds. a hospital like that, or a city like this, in a situation, we are in a war situation. we need more than seven beds. >> reporter: this fighter was wounded in the battle to take back makmour from the islamic state group last week. surgeons removed schrapnel from his brain. his prognosis isn't clear. upstairs, another kurdish

fighter is being treated for burns and eye injuries caused when the armored vehicle he was in hit a land mine. in the room next door is a kurdish turkish fighter from the pkk which fought for decades for an independent kurdistan. he was wounded defending makmour camp where thousands of fighters lived more than 20 years. staff here try to cope with the wounded fighters and the every day trauma of an emergency ward. >> this is the mother of a 2-year-old boy who fell from a second story. she has just been told that he has died behind the doors, hospital staff prepare his body to be taken to the morgue. this one tragedy amid the giant saga of war. >> you can see the toll that this conflict is taking on people here one of the things that's remarkable is the way that kurds in the kurdish region

have rallied, students cutting short their vacation to come and help feed displaced people. a lot of former peshmerga who normally return busy suits, going to the front. >> thank you, jane arraf from erbil. staying with iraqi government forces have been shelling the city of fallujah, at least five people wounded in residential neighborhoods reportedly suffered the most damage. the iraqi government says its targeting fighters from the islamic state group and other sunni rebels. across the border in syria, the government there is also fighting the sys islamic state gruel. government war groups near the city of rafah, activists say six people were killed and several others wounded. >> angry protests are continuing in the u.s. city of ferguson despite the curfew being put in place. it follows the shooting death of

an unarmed black teenager by police a week ago. it was hoped the curfew would help calm the situation and the violence is continued with protesters throwing bottles and malatov cocktails. natasha gnoeme reports. >> it was the first night of a curfew in ferguson. about 1 to 200 people remained on the streets between midnight despite a curfew. one man was shot. several arrested. police say they were forced to fire smoke canisters to clear the street to receiach the man n he was shot. protesters had taken him to the hospital. he is in critical condition. police say people also broke into a barbecue restaurant and their heavy response was to protect po testers and officers. >> we have a shooting victim that's in critical condition that may lose their life. we had a subject standing in the middle of the road with a handgun. we had a police car shot at tonight, and yeah, i think that was a proper response tonight to

maintain officer safety and public safety. >> on saturday, a week after 18-year-old michael brown was shot, missouri governor jay nixon imposed the midnight to 5:00 a.m. curfew in the hopes that it would bring calm to ferguson's tense streets. >> if we are going to achieve justice, we must first have and maintain peace. this is a test. >> the governor was heckled by protesters during this news conference. >> excuse me, governor. you need to charge that police with murder. [simultaneous speakers.]. >> earlier in the day, protesters were peaceful but when the curfew began, there were shots fired and more tear gas. the ferguson natives and captain tasked with ensuring the security of people and businesses says he is

disappointed. >> make sure our citizens are safe and our businesses remain healthy. our businesses have to remain healthy. you know, i talk to many citizens out there that said they have no where to go and get the things that they need. they have to remain health. >> a public memorial is being held in brazil for campos, the presidential candidate killed in a plane crash. the president attended the ceremony along with thousands 6 ours. campos and seven passengers died in wednesday in the city of santos. the politician was due to stand in presidential elections in october. more from there. >> outside the governor's palace in the home state of campos and this is a somber scene out here as you can probably tell. thousands of people lining up here all to pay their final respects to the governor that was wildly popular here he resigned from the governorship

here earlier this year with more than 80% approval rating. he was re-elected in 2010 with 82%. people have come from all over this state and really, this region of brazil, to pay their final respects to him. this line wraps several blocks, more than two kilometers long. people waiting in line for hours. this is also presidentvillemarusiv and decivil a. everyone paying final respects to this up and coming political star really. most people here in brazil said died way too soon. >> still to come on argues, a new role for zimbabwe's president robert mugabe sparks anger. 100 years after the opening of the panama canal, we will assess the plan to open a r i have a l

waterway in nicaragua.

♪ ♪. >> welcome back. let's recap the headlines here kurdish peshmerga troops have been retaking towns in iraq. forces are battling to seize the strategically important mosul dam. the ukrainian army says its taken the suburb in the rebel held city of luhansk but said one of the fighter jets was short down shortly after the advance. brazilians are paying their last respects to presidential

candidate campos killed in a plane crash on wednesday. he script brokered talks have resumed in cairo a day before a 5-day cease-fire is set to expire. israel says it won't agree to a long-term tries truce with hamas unless security needs are met. >> kimberly halcatcat has more from west jer uses let me. >> reporter: israel primary minister benjamin netanyahu made comments and instructed the delegation he told his cabinet, in fact, to make sure that the security needs of israel are met in these negotiations saying that the priority and the focus would be on stopping the rockets from gaza and making sure that the border communities in southern israel along the gaza border are safe. in fact, saying that if there is not a cease in the rockets being fired from gaza, in fact, israel will deal hamas heavy blows.

>> translator: hamas thinks it can compensate for military defeat with diplomatic gains. it is mistake. if halas thinks through continued intermittent firing it will cause us to make con sections, it is mistaken. as long as quiet doesn't return, hamas will sustain harsh strikes. if hamas things we will not be able to tensioned for an extended period, it is mistaken. >> reporter: there are deep divisions among the cabinet on whether or not to support a long-term cease-fire agreement. many are very opposed to any discussion of a development of a seaport in gaza. this is something that had been a very important demand. pal stipian delegation. there is some feeling among some of the hard liners that there should be no stopping of the campaign until there is a complete demilitarization of hamas. this is something that hamas has said is a red line and isn't negotiab negotiable. tough challenges politically for prime minister benjamin

netanyahu. i can tell you the israeli media reporting the chances of there being an agreement on this e job description proposal right now are very slim. >> meanwhile, the pal stipian national short said it won't accept a ceasefire without a complete elimination of the siege on gaza. >> the malstenian side still demands a lifting of the siege. what is proposed is not enough yet. what we need is a complete elimination of the siege and this can only be achieved if there is an independent port and an independent package internationally guaranteed that israel cannot interfere with. >> at least four suspected al-qaeda operatives and a soldier have been killed in yemen. it happened when government forces raided an al-qaeda hideout. government forces have been targeting members of al-qaeda in the arabian peninsula.

in libya, fresh fighting between rival groups around tripoli's airport. the united nations social security condemning the violence saying it undermines the political process. the u.n. is urging the groups to lay down their arms and observe a ceasefire. as carolyn ramon reports, they say they don't want foreign intervention. groups fight in tripoli. these well-armed men want to take control of the capitol. libya has no national army since dictor gadaffi was kicked out and killed. former rebels like these have stepped into the security gap working in a semi official company capacity paid by the state. there represent cities that are loyal to different political groups. this is the result of the battles and what is left of the malitias of the brigade. >> violence has been getting worse in libya in recent months.

putting the lives of foreigners in danger. filipinos returning home after being evacuated. many embassies have closed. >> new civil society initiatives are springing up to encourage peaceful solutions. this gathering in benghazi brought key leaders and elders together. they created a mediation council which will try to push for an end to the fighting. >> we condemn all kind of violence and the use of arms. we stress the importance of the civil transition of power within a democratic framework and reject all oppression and military coups. . >> libya's parliament requested assistance from the united nations. a new special envoy is due to arrive next week to try to help negotiate a ceasefire between the rebel groups. on friday, thousands of people protested against that decision, what they see as international

intervention. they think the fighters should be given a chance to sit down and talk on their own. within vhours, violence returne to the capitol once again. carolyn malone, al jazeera. al jazeera is demanding the release of its three journalists who have now been imprisoned in egypt for 232 days. the three were accused of helping the outlawed muslim brotherhood, a charge al jazeera denies. in june, two were given seven years sentences. mohammed got an extra three years because he had a spent bullet with him, which he picked up at a protest site. >> two u.n. peacekeepers have been killed in a suicide attack in northern mali. it happened when a car packed with explosives blew up close to the u.n. base in the village near timbuktu. it's the third time this week u.n. troops have been targeted in the country. zimbabwets president is taking over as chairman of the southern

african development community. he has been in power since 1980. the leaders. 14 other members states are meeting victor i can't falls. critics say the regional bloc failed to secure elections and they are questioning whether he is fit to lead. danielle page reports. >> selling shoes on the streets since he left school, it's the only job he can find. so he is unimpressed his president is taking over the reins of the southern african development community. so far, nothing is tangible, available. >> in south africa, the president once compromised to create 5 million jobs.

>> hasn't happened either. but the family still came here from zimbabwe five years ago, they fled from political and comic hardship and think the regional bloc should be doing more to help. >> they did nothing. he they allow us to be in south africa but they are not fighting for us to talk to the president so that we can go back home or they should our country. >> they survive on very little. the region is relatively peaceful compared to other parts of africa. so this year at the summit, there is a renewed focus on the member state economies trade and development. there are 277 million people that could have a better life. in zimbabwe after the last elections were won, investors remain we're. some believe mugabe's politics may not influence too. >> it's certainly not, you know,

a shining light of how to do things, if you like, which is what you would hope for in a leader of a regional bloc. so, i think it will in some ways stall some of the discussions but the truth is that most of these issues around the integration agenda, can you be driven by the rest of the incidents. >> victoria falls will thunder in the background as they meet at the premier tourist resort. the millions of people they represent will be hoping their concerns aren't drowned out by the noise. tania page, south africa. >> the john boehner i can't believe army said it mated a major breakthrough in the 4-month fight against separatists in the east. it says it has retaken the suburb near the border with russia but it's reported one of the fighter jets was shot down after the advance. the military says it is now ready to push even deeper into

luhansk after weeks of fighting on the outskirts. there has been heavy shelling in the city overnight. >> russian aid convoy has moved closer to the border with ukraine. 280 trucks have been held up for days. the first group is now ready to be inspected. the red cross says it will distribute the aid inside ukraine provided it gets security guarantees from all sides. the ukraine crisis is the focus of talks in berlin attended by foreign ministers from sgraerm, ukraine, russia and france. sue terten is in berlin. how much of an appetite is there for a diplomatic solution given how fast things are moving on the ground? >> reporter: that's a very good question. we don't know really until the three visiting foreign ministers turn up. they are due in about 3 minutes time. sergei lavrov is not likely to get much of a welcome from the

german foreign minister, steinmeyer because he has been commenting saying they want an explanation as to why some of the russian separatists in the east of ukraine are saying that they have been getting fighters and ammunition and arms brought across into the region. he is asking -- going to be asking why this particular separatist fighter is saying they have had as many as 1200 fighters who have been trained in russia. the message really from the german foreign ministry here is very much: we have to sit around the table and find some sort of political solution. it's not going to sort itself out with the fighting on the ground. he is looking toward nato, looking toward the member countries and the visiting foreign ministers to come up with a new initiative, a new way of pushing forward some sort of agreement that can stop the fighting. he is saying he wants to stop going backwards because he says in the face of what could be an escalation of fighting, that can only lead to disaster. and he is also looking for a

sustainable ceasefire and some way of affecting border controls. as we know, we are hearing all sorts of stories of convoys going in to ukraine with armament on them. so, i am not sure it's going to be a friendly roundtable with the foreign ministers here but they have certainly got a lot of talkingto. >> they have indeed. thank you so much. live from berlin. nicaragua is planning to build a canal set to rival that of its southern neighborhood, panama. it's hoped the chinese-backed project will boost the economy. critics are warning for disastrous sequences for the environment. part of our 100-year anniversary coverage of the panama canal. >> with eyes on the future, these young nicaraguans are learning mandarin chinese. the classes are free, a government initiave ahead of the construction of a chinese-backed canal. these university students and recent graduates, there are high

expectations. >> when we heard the news of the canal, the first thing the young people thought was, i am going to find a job. now, we are preparing ourselves for work. for something that's projected to be really big. >> at around 280 kilometers, the nicaragua canal would be three times longer than the pan malcanal. the plan also includes deep water ports, free trade zones and an international airport at a cost of $50,000,000,000, the inegmatic businessman behind the canal has called it the biggest building project in the history of humanity. the government says the canal will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and help transform the country. >> nicaragua is the poorest nation in the americas with the lowest per capita income. in recent years, there have been big efforts to change this. for this development to happen, we need projects that create economic growth. >> but some locals worry about the impact of tremminging a

channel up to 27 meters deep through central america's largest lake and an important source of fresh water. every day, dozens of ferriesries carry tourists across lake nicaragua. many of those who depend upon these tourist dollars are afraid if the canal is built, this vital source of income could disappear. environmentalists warn the canalal's construction could have a devastating impact on the lake, rivers, rain forest and coastal areas. >> this project puts the country's environment and natural resources at risk the next hundreds years. it's concession has been approved in a record of time of just 15 working days. there hasn't been a sufficient consultation, and there has been a lack of transparency. >> while construction is due to start in december, some nicaraguans question whether the canal will actually be built. with nearly half the population living under the poverty line, many here are happy to dream.

david mercer, al jazeera, nicaragua. >> if you want to keep up-to-date with all of the news we are following, you know where to go. aljazeera.com. see the front page there with our lead story, the situation in iraq iraq. >> i am lease a fletcher. you are in the stream. what a difference a day makes from tear gas tanks and rubber bullets to highway patrol cars, a changing of the guard. from st. louis police to the highway patrol. we speak with georgia representative hank johnson to hear about a bill he plans to propose that would limit a pentagon program that provides local police with tanks and arrivals. >> as racial tensions have