♪ >> the fears the ukraine ceasefire will collapse with shelling in the east. live with the latest from eastern ukraine. watching al jazeera live from london. also coming up: a new assault on the islamic state in iraq. u.s. and government forces mount fresh airstrikes. this time to protect them. the pal stipian accuses hamas of undermining efforts to get support for a palestinian state plus.

>> in la paz where modern technology being used to do more than just improve the quality of life of the citizens of this country. ♪ >> legal 0. welcome to the program. the 10 would you say truce in ukraine is being tested on two key fronts. there have been explosions near the airport in donetsk and heavy shelling is continuing in and around the port city of mariupol. live in donetsk a little later. from mariupol, harry faucet sent is this report. >> reporter: this is what the current cease-fire looks like in eastern ukraine: shelling the area around donetsk's international airport with mariupol to the south. >> i don't know. i don't know why this is happening, but there is no ceasefire and probably will never be. >> standing out from mariupol's eastern check point on sunday morning for the first time that

we have seep, tarpingsz were taking up defensive positions right on the city border. they are preparing for more of this. overnight in this spot came the first major breach of a cease-fire that took effect on friday. a sustained pounding of the city limits. nonetheless n kiev, the government insists that the ceasefire is still in force. >> the firing and shelling is a violation of ceasefire conditions. the situation is under control now. over the last two 4 hours, we didn't have any information about civilian casualties. at the moment, we are not talking about a scancellation o the ceasefire agreement. >> for residents of mariupol inspecting the overnight damming, faith in this ceasefire is understandably diminished. >> it's terrifying not just for the people here but for the whole city. >> a few minutes later, the sound of a more distant artat area had people pushing back. >> there was a loud thud in the distance and the atmosphere

changed. solids started running around. we are not clear exactly what has happened but obviously, every way here is very much on edge. >> officials from the organization for security and cooperation in europe are charged with monitoring the ceasefire. this is a reminder if needed of the magnitude of that task. a reminder for everyone in this contested country that this conflict isn't over yet, harry faucet, al jazeera, mariupol. >> more now from paul brennan in donetsk. tell us: what have you witnessed over the past few hours? >> reporter: well, effectively, reinforcements of the events which happened on saturday night in mariupol. we have been up today to dondon international airport. >> airport has been occupied by ukraine republican forces for two or three months now. and surrounded, essentially by pro-russian militia. what we have seen is exchanges of fire pretty much throughout the day, rockets being fired

into the airport, mortar rounds coming out. one of the mortar rounds in general correction small arms fire and heavy machinegun being fired as well. it's clear that the fighting on the ground has not been stopped as a result of the agreement which was signed in minsk. it raises the question as to why that has happened: is that just indiscipline on the ground or is it because the commanders, themselves, are actually allowing their soldiers to get on with it? it begs the question what kind of control the political masters have over their military commanders. >> i guess paul, considering those points then, the ceasefire is nothing more than a fig leaf because the fighting seems to be continuing. >> that's right. i mean basically the kiev government is insisting that although there have been violations, there are

putting a shape on it and saying looking general actually across the broad territory that's been holding up pretty well and they believe that the seats fire deals as signed in minsk is valid and has not effectively been thrown in the waste bin. >> said, what we need is substantive negotiations because otherwise, i don't think the ceasefire will take flight at all. what we have interestingly heard tonight from zakach i & o is that the next talks of the mince supreme court group will happen in seven or or eight days. they are working out the format, the personnel. but in about a week, there will be another meeting. one more point to make, though is that what he said was that they will try to insert a new paragraph into that talking about the independence for eastern ukraine. it's almost as though they are going back and trying to rewrite it before the ink is dry on the

original. it doesn't bode well frankly politically or militarily. >> paul, thank you. the u.s. has started a fresh offensive in iraq, expanding its bombing campaign against fighters from the is lallic state group. u.s. and iraqi forces have bombed sites near haditha in western anbar province. that's where the tribes are trying to protect the haditha dam. the first time in the conflict the u.s. has hit targets in the sunni-dominated area of ambar. u.s. president barack obama is expected to outline his plans for the offensive against i s. fighters later this week. his defense secretary, chuck hagel says the latest strikes were vital because there will be significant consequences if the dam fell into the fighters' hands. first, the iraqi government asked us for their support in those strikes.

second, it was the iraqi security forces on the ground who con received of the operation. they, too, the iraqi security force air force is conducting strikes. haditha dam is an important facility for iraq. >> chuck hagle speaking there. a spokesman for iraq's interior ministry sent outside help against the islamic state group. welcome. >> a remedy for this council. of course, there may be a help from the global system and there is a real help from the american side. we will take he will it in a shorter time. >> let's go straight to al jazeerats john hendren in erbil. what's the latest on the airstrikes near the haditha dam? >> the iraqi army says it's not just the haditha dam they have captured. they say they have the

neighboring city under siege, something like 15 islamic state fighters have been killed as of last count. eight captures, there are improvised explosives all around that area and that's why the governor of that region was injured a little earlier, apparently his convoy struck and improvised explosive and then there was a mortar strike injured by happennell but apparently okay. had i thinka is crucial. the reason the iraqi army called for the u.s. air strikes for two reasons: oil and water. it is right between where the oil comes out of the ground in kirkuk and where it's processed t the islamic state was trying to go after the oil inf infrastruction tour. the dam is the second largests contributor to the power grid in iraqi airaq. the white house issued a statement saying it wasn't just a danger to iraqis. it was a danger to u.s. citizens

as well. if that dam were blown up t would flood a large area that could have affected thousands of iraqis but could affect as far away as baghdad international airport. there are a number of americans living there. it was a threat to them as well. >> john, what about the peshmerga fighters? they have made a key strategic gain. haven't they? >> that's right. i spoke to a spokesman today. he said they are closing in on mosul in the east and the west. mosul is the strong point of the islamic state in iraq, the biggest city close to syria and they have a strong hold on that region but the peshmerga says they are throwing in. in the past 24 hours or so, they have gained about 10 kilometers from the east including the gaza region and the strategic high point of mount zartek because they can look down into the

valley between there and mosul and there is a christian town cart bartella now being held by the islamic state. i think we can expect that place to be attacked in the coming days. we are told most of the christians left before the islamic state came in. it is mosul where likely the biggest battle is 'til still to come. >> live for us in erbil. thank you. member cust trees of the arab league have agreed to coordinate and work with international efforts to confront the islamic state group saying it's guilt of war crimes. the statement was made in a draft resolution put forward by iraq at a meeting cairo, members endorsed the u.s. resolution to try to cut off support to the fighters. the league's secretary general has called for military and political con frontation on the i.s. >> group. palestinian president mac mood abbas attended that meeting cairo.

he is trying to win support for a palestinian state within three years. he says efforts about rig undermined by hamas and he has threatened to break off a unity deal as mike hanna now explains. president mac mood abbas's comments were made during a visit to cairo where he has held talks with his egyptian counterpart. the remarks follow statements by hamas that a number of its members have been arrested in the west bank in a clamp down bine the palestinan extra authority. >> there is very little hope things will move forward. most probably, would remain within the current status quo of division between the two side. the respondents from hammats, though, was muted. a spokesman for the organization saying that we better be be -- it would be better for hamas forming a shadow government talks in direct negotiations rather than in the media. these tension-filled statements are no reward for the defiant people who stood up to israeli

beligrents. we agreed to continues dialogue on all contentious points in order to ensure the implementation of reconciliation. >> the issue of palestinian unity was brought up in the meeting of arab league foreign ministers in cairo. speakers insisting a unity government was essential if any progress was to be made for a viable pal finishian state. >> it would appear it's in the interest of all to maintain unity moves. the political reality in this post gaza war that is that fattah and hamas need to prop each other up rather than move further apart. mike hannhanna, al jazeera, ramallah. 7 men paca anybody hanging for a gang rape of four women. a devastating flood that has killed more than 140 people.

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unity government mac mood a abbas trying to win support but he says hamas is under mining his efforts. there has been renewed fighting in qunatirea. here is more. >> fierce battles in the countryside after controlling the only border crossing in the area. opposition fighters want to seize more military posts which belongs to the syrian army's 90th brigade. >> our aim is to control a number of posts. we liberated three posts already. >> the fighters want to cut off the government supply route between the western country side of damascus but they want to secure a new lifeline for rebel forces under siege for months in the area. rebels also aim to bolster control on the western countrysi

countryside. there is not an easy fight. government troops are still holding on their positions and that means the back could drag on for days or weeks. but the rebel gains made recently is providing the fighters with a feeling of momentum. the is he goal of these battle is to open a route to the western side and from there to the capitol, god willing. >> other parts of syria, it is the government forces gaining the upper hand. the government has routed runnels from the so-called capitol defendant revolution. it is making gains in the countryside. syrian jets are bombing and in areas in and around the capitol, damascus, the syrian army has struck reconciliation deals with local rebels ending months of siege, destruction and starvation. d damascus as to be more secure

than three years ago when syria's war started. syria's main opposition, the syrian national coalition seems largely week and divided, unable to convince western powers to provide much needed weapons to turn the tides against government forces. plans are clear. he has started a new 7-year term in office with a promise to end the war and defeat what he calls the terror campaign against his country. al jazeera. . >> security officials in yemen are clashing with shia houthis blocking the main road leading to the international airport in the capitol. a houthi says one has been killed and five injured. tens of thousands of houthis in the last few weeks. they want the government to resign and fuel prices to be cut. fighter jets have also carried out airstrikes against houthi

residents. more than sent people have been killed in fighting in northern yemen over the past three days. >> riot police in the turkish city of istanbul have fired tear gas and water canon at people protesting over workplace safety. it follows the best of 10 construction -- death of 10 construction workers when the lift they were in crashed from the 32nd floor. the international labor organization says turkey has the world's third highest rate of deadly workplace accidents. >> 7 men are facing a public hanging in afghanistan after being found guilty of a gang rape. the attack from a wedding two weeks ago shocked and angered many. as jennifer glasse reports from kabul, tlven concerned about the speed of the verdict? >> the death sentence came after only few hours in court. seven men convicted of a series

of crimes. it was the abductor, robbery and gang rape of three women on the outskirts of kabul that brought the case to national attention. the trial was broadcast live with a packed courtroom. outside, demonstrators demanded harsh punishment. >> we want the supreme court and the justice system and the afghan government to punish those people as soon as possible so that this kind of thing does not repeat again and again. these demonstrators say an attack against women an attack against the nation. they want justits in the most public rape case this country has seen in recent history. >> afghan president hamid karzi was calling for the death penalty even before the men went to trial. one of the defense lawyers says the police violated basic rules of law and physically abused his clients who he says are illiterate and poor. >> the security forces and the investigative teams didn't

respect my client's basic right to remain silent. they didn't explain their right to have a lawyer, which is against the constitution. >> he also criticized the police decision to use t.v. and social media to update the public on the case, making the identities of the men public before they went to trial. kabul's police chief posted photographs of the women as they pointed out the men they say attacked them. the men have the right to appeal their sentences. jennifer glasse, al jazeera, kabul. >> al jazeera is demanding the release of its three journalists who have been detained in egypt for 253 days. they received long sentences after a trial seen by many observers as politically motivated. they are appealing their convictions. the u.n. secretary banki moon has raised the case with the egyptian president. use the hash tag freeajstaff on

twitter. find a lot more out by going to the special page on our website at aljazeera.com. somalia's government told al jazeera it's committed to fighting after threats of ring attacks. the former leader was killed in a u.s. air striking on mondaye it's been announced, his replacement. at report. >> reporter: al shabaab fighters have warned of revenge attacks and mogadishu is on high alert. their leader was killed in a u.s. air strike on tuesday. he has been replaced by another shadowy commander. the group announced the change of command in a statement on the internet. the government put the military on high alert in preparation for possible attacks on hospitals, schools and other targets. it says more threats won't deter the state to go after the rebels.

>> the current operations led by the government of somalia national forces and african union forces are he have committed and the aim is actually to work together to defeat this enemies who are attacking somalia and also attacking any. >> the previous leader was killed in a u.s. air strike in 2008. he raised the group's profile with bombing and suicide attacks inside somal i can't and neighboring kenya and uganda. his death is seen as a major setback for the group. it killing represents a blow to the movement. i believe it will cause a rift among ranks. some leaders who are not pleased with his actions may come to surface. this will serve the interests of the somali government if it sum

acts wisely. the. >> help of african union soldiers. but fighters say it was a tactical retreat and they have continued bombing and suicide attacks t in receipt moves, peacekeepers have tried to furth vm sgooit governments advances against al shabaab, devastated by civil unrest are not confident these wins will bring lasting peace lasting. heavy flooding continues to hit large areas of pakistan. 142 people are now confirmed to have been killed by the rising waters which have reached the highest level in 20 years in some areas. rescuers are helping thousands more trapped by the floods. >> this is monsoon season in pakistan. days of rain turn roads into

rivers. in the region of punjab, this country's bread basket, crops have been destroyed. people stranded. last evening, as the flood waters entered the area, we climbed on to the tree to see save our lives. 5 of us were stranded for 20 hours. we had lost hope and weren't aware that someone would come to our rescue. the government has set up dozens of relief camps for the wickvic. it has sent search and rescue teams to the most badly affected areas. >> we have rescued five persons hanging over the trees, rescued them after 20 hours and they were lucky to have survived. we have evacuated them. >> that's a great success by the rescue teams. >> many areas have been hit by the worst flooding in 20 years and people in villages like these are suffering the most. their lousz typically built with mud brick making them vulnerable

to collapse. cities are affected. flooding in the largest city, lhor has forced some businesses to shut. the prime minister is coming under criticism for not doing enough. he has been facing weeks of an opposition movement calling for his resignation. sharif is trying to focus attention on the disaster. he said the government will do everything it can to help people in distress. ays, islamabad. >> u.s. president barack obama said immigration reform will take place. the president has been under fire for delaying immigration reforms until after a mid-term election in november but he said it will give him more time to produce sus tapeable legislation. >> we have bi-partisan support for that. we have a senate bill that would accomplish that. the house republicans refuse to do it. what i said to them was: if you

do not act on something that's so common sense that you have got labor, business, evangelica evangelicals, law enforcement, folks crosses the board supporting it, i am going to look for all of the legal authorities i have to act. i want to make sure we get it right. >> bolivia's former capitol is one of the highest major cities in the world and one of the most traditional. large areas have remained relatively unchanged through the centuries. there is a new you sight on the skyline. harris whitbeck reports on the cable car bringing communities together. at first glass, la paz looks far from the cutting edge of public transport. most parts of the mountain city have remained unchanged for centuries. narrow cobblestone streets are jammed with people and traffic. the dramatic andean mountains crisscrossed by foot paths. a cable car system has changed

that. >> time is a precious and hard to come by commodity. we expect to help our customers save 12 million hours of their time a year. >> but the cable car is about much more than just beating traffic. it is about integrating two very distink sectors of la paz society. the poor and the wealthier who live downtown. >> the part of the city that sits atop the mountains is home to more than a million people. most are ethnic indians. many live below the poverty line. but the arrival of the cable car has brought about an economic bon answersa. julio wanka set aup stand to sell fresh orange juice outside the cable car station. >>, she said, changed her life. >> i was thinking of immigranting to brazil to look for work. now, i don't have to. i can support my sick husband

and my children, pay my utilities and pay off my debts. >> that is the purpose of the cable car, to integrate the city's neighborhoods making its economy flow more freely. jamie bol said she saves two hours a day in her commute to the small book stand she maintains downtown. >> and she no longer has to pay for day care as she can take her baby'strolly in the cable car. even though they cost more than $200 million to build, the three lines are already delivering benefits. harris witbeck, al jazeera, bolivia. >> in sport, lewis hamilton is keeping up the pressure in the formula one driver's championship with victory in the italian grand '. hamilton came from behind to beat mercedes teammate and championship leader rossberg at the circuit. the british driver's 5th win of

the season leaves him 22 points behind rossbergberg. >> we're just going to have to do it, right? i could've chosen better underwear. are you prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice? >> you can do anything except for politics. >> when you kind of imagine what a nuclear disaster would look like, it's something like this. so how long have you been coming and getting pedicures for? >> you gotta take care of these bad boys.