>> welcome to the al jazeera news hour. coming up in the next 60 minutes the battle for kobane. kurdish forces warn isil is stepping up as it takes a key syrian town. and anbar province said that it, too, could fall to isil rebels within days. and funeral of haiti's controversial former leader jean-claude duvalier takes place in the capitol of

port-au-prince. >> we'll catch you up in sports. the football tournament will go on in january despite officials from morocco to postpone it because of the ebola outbreak. well, we begin with the latest on the fight against the armed group isil in both iraq and syria. kurdish fighters trying to defend kobane in northern syria say isil is sending in reinforcements. the armed groups trying to take the strategic town which sits on turkey's border. now kurdish forces have told al jazeera isil continues to push further into kobane from the south and east where there is fierce fighting. stephanie decker is live for us on the turkish-syrian border near kobane. so fierce fighting under way. where is that leaving the town right now? >> that's right. we've been listening to it

relentlessly. it's been non-stop for two hours now. we're being told from sources inside kobane and kurdish fighters the that this is taking place on the edge of the town. you could call it a venue front. we know the battle has been taking place in the east, the south, but this is absolutely relentless. we've been hearing it non-stop. i'm not sure if the microphone can pick up the sounds in the back, but it shows you that this battle is incredibly active regardless of coalition airstrikes that have been taking place here. it might offer some respite, but it's very much an ongoing fight. the ypg does tell us that isil has not managed to make inroads. this is a neighborhood that isil has been holding a couple of neighbors to the east of the town. it's incredible fight the

fighters from the ypg don't have that because they've been surrounded on three fronts from the south, the east, the west, and turkey is to the north. they'll tell you-- >> all right, let's thank stephanie decker there. let's continue to talk about isil in iraq now where local authorities in anbar province are warning, the entire province could fall within days. one person is has been called, and 11 others have been injured in the fighting of fallujah. isil fighters are threatening to capture the regional capitol ramadi. despite efforts to retake t isil has expanded even further into anbar. the seizure of anbar is crucial because it would allow isil to create support through anbar.

people in baghdad must be watching what is going on i in anbar quite nervously? >> undoubtedly. iraqi officials are the ones who are appealing for military assistance like those you mentioned. this is a western province that borders syria. very strategic location because this really gives isil the supply line between its two strongholds between syria and iraq. the province of the borders the iraqi capitol. if isil is trying to take control of anbar they'll make attacks against the iraqi capitol. interest are a lot of installations which means that anbar would be able to get more weapons. iraqi officials appealer for help. we know that u.s.-led coalition airstrikes have been targeting isil in this province, but the

group is making gains on the ground. at the end of the day this is a sunni province. the iraqi army alone and air power will not be enough unless the people on the ground turn against the group. >> thanks so much, in erbil. while much of the world focus has been on the fight against isil libya has dissolved into chaos. the united nations secretary has arrived t, hop to go secure an agreement to unify the country's two rifle parliaments. at the moment the elected parliament has been holed off in a remote city. it's members fled there after the government lost control of the capitol of tripoli to an armed group. it's called libya's dawn, which is an alliance of conservative fighters, who control large parts of the capitol.

they refuse to recognize the house of representatives. instead they reconvened the previous parliament, the general national congress. no single group is in charge of the whole country. a patchwork of militias are engaged in daily battles to wrestle control of different cities. now this was the scene in bengahzi after a car bombing on friday. the armed groups fought together to topple muammar qaddafi, but they have now since disbanded, and are at war with each other. and it's leading to suffering. libya said 280,000 have been forced from their homes. 100,000 of those are fled over the past three weeks were tripoli and surrounding areas. well, for more on this we're joined live from london. a senior lecturer and study of islam and the muslim world in london. good to have you with us. first of all, do you think that ban ki-moon and u.n. officials

will be able to broker some reconciliation, is that looking imminent? >> well, it's very difficult to ascertain when you have a fluid situation. we see at present of course the arrival of the secretary general and special envoy demonstrates how urgent the issue is. but at present with taking control of bengahzi and the islamic youth are taking control of another eastern coastal city, they might actually not be very much interested or motivated in participating in an efforts now that things seem to be going their way. on the other end there are external factors that will bring stability to india because of the developments would have on

both tunisia and egypt. >> talking about the external factors you were alluding to there. how long-term lasting coul could reconciliation be when there is regional involvement going on in libya, at the very least it's clear that egypt sees what's going on as something related to its own domestic security? >> absolutely. egypt has a vital interest in seeing a degree of stability returning to libya because the al sisi government would like to concentrate on domestic affairs, especially the economy which is basically in tatters. of course, the situation in libya gives the sisi government the trump card towards the muslim brotherhood. but on the other hand there is pair mount significance that there is a degree of instability in libya in particular now the conflict is drifting towards its

western border with libya. >> the ability to disarm issues one of the reasons why the fighting went up in the first place. >> it's very difficult to understand how this government will re-establish some degree of authority. they had decided to move the parliament to which they thought was at a safe distance where the conflicts had been erupting so far. but it seems that they were being chased b, and it doesn't look like it will be a safe haven for much longer. so the urgency and the acuteness of some kind of a deal from the regional security perspective becomes all the more pressing. but whether the islamists will be listening is probably too early to tell, and the development of the next few days or weeks should bring some

clarity there. >> as we see u.n. officials go in there, what are the turns of reconciliation put before the parties? what might reconciliation look like? >> well, i think that is very difficult to ascertain at this point. i suppose that the islamists having the upper hand at present are not willing to make very many concessions, and it is actually the legitimate in quotation marks, government who will have to look at some form of power sharing. whether that is going to be sustainable or create any form of stability for the future what we have seen evolving in libya since the fall of h qaddafi does not bring encouragement there. . >> we expect to hear from the

u.n. secretary general in tripoli. the nurse who became the first person to contract ebola outside of west africa is improving. doctors in the madrid hospital say she's conscious and has been talking again. she is being treated with experimental ebola treatment. the u.s. is set to begin screening passengers for ebola at one of it's becauseyest airports. teams will use thermal sensors to screen travelers from guinea, sierra leone and liberia, they're expected to bruce enhanced screening checks in the coming days. in sierra leone an aid agency says that the international community needs to invest far more money to contain the ebola outbreak. at the moment the country does not have resources to treat

patients. >> this is an ebola treatment center in western free town. it cares for people who have tested positive for the disease. low suspected of incubating the virus are placed in a separate ward. those with full-blown disease are treated in special tense behind steel fences. >> at this moments there is a nurse's staff where they provide care to one patient, and there is always another person outside who are caring for the risk area. >> manmany of those who treat patients have themselves become ill from inned inadvertent

infection. >> you have to take time and take precaution. >> containing the outbreak is hard for sierra leone. it is home to 6 million poem. 57% o75% of them live in poverty. the government spend $205 each ear on each person on health. there are $120. with more people dying every day in some places the bodies can lie in the open for some time. >> we use protective equipment, and then we use gloves, and then we use boots, chlorine. it's very risky. and then it's a voluntary job to save our country. >> but if the people organizing the treatment center are correct, that on its own may not be enough.

dominick kane, al jazeera. >> plenty more to come on al jazeera including reports from inside north korea where celebrations take place but leader kim jong-un remain out of sight. and we'll see if india's new commercial football looking can compete where cricket is king. >> sentenced to 15 years in prison, the same sentence was handed down to who were found guilty of torturing a lawyer during the revolution in 2011. the two are already serving it long-term sentences during the

overthrow of mohamed morsi, who also appeared in court. his trial has been adjourned until sunday. now al jazeera continues to demand the release of its three journalists who are imprisoned in egypt. mohamed fahmy, bader mohammed, and peter greste have been detained for 287 days. they're wrongly accused of aiding the outlawed muslim brotherhood and are appealing their convictions. they were sentenced to seven years in prison. bader mohammed received an additional three years for having a spent bullet with him that he picked up at a protest. after weeks ever delay supporters of mohamed morsi have held demonstrations on campuses, and now the government has taken new measures to curb protests. >> after a three-week delay universities in egypt are now open, but with fight in security and new regulations. the government's aim is to clamp down on the source of anti-coup

protests that were staged at universities over the last year. outside of this campus in cairo new gates have been built, and in unprecedented move a private security firm has been given the job of guarding a number of universities. everyone who enters the campus is searched. but what is alarming activists is the extra powers given to dean's by the ministry of higher he had education. they include the immediate dismissal of students and their professor if any of them participate in any protests. egyptian media also reported on other restrictions. this up in headline says final dismissal for students who consult president al sisi. while another reads universities rely on patriotic students to monitor and report rioters. the government is eagle for end protests. it passed new laws last year

that banned protests without radio prior approval. supporters of the deposed president mohammed morsi held protests demanding his return and to end the military coup. general fatah al sisi who led the coup became president in june. they have continued to hold demonstrations on and off campus. students who attend egypt's universities have a history of activism, and that's why it could be hard to contain them. al jazeera. >> funeral services are being held for haiti's former leader jean-claude duvalier. we're in hate yesterday's capitol port-au-prince, and joins us live, how is the funeral being observed? a lot of arguing about what

shape and form it would take to place? >> well, it was rumored that jean-claude duvalier would have a state funeral which would involve days of mourning and flags at half mast. that didn't happen. we had a quiet but well-attended funeral for family, friends and supporters. hymns from inside the church you could hear across the neighborhood. i met one man in the crowd amongst the mourners who was called john claude who had been named after the president, who, like many younger people in haiti, told me this was a great leader, a man who brought prosperity to haiti. you'll he hear that a lot. there is still some support, of course, his victims have an entirely different story. those who led under his 15-year rule where he used his private militia for torture and repression say that they feel cheated. this was a man who died a free man at the age of 63.

he came back to haiti after 65 years in 2011, and the core case against him basically came to a standstill. for those people who live in that regime and who were trying to get justice today really isn't the end of an era. they're now looking for posthumous prosecution. >> what other people might be brought to the legal spotlight now that he has past away? >> that's a great question. i was talking to a human rights activist in port-au-prince about three days ago. he said this case is far from over. he said as well as going after john claude duvalier posthumously, there are still people around from that regime who could face prosecution. but it's moving slowly and is

highly politicized, so it's wait for justice could be years to come. >> thank you very much. from port-au-prince. a weekend of protest is underway in an u.s. town of ferguson, missouri. >> people are demanding justice for the black teenager who was shot down by police. they want to protest against what they say is police brutality. high leveled talks with the south are all but canceled. soldiers on both sides traded gunfire across the heavy militarized border after the north tried to shut done balloons carrying anti-regime messages from the south. meanwhile al jazeera gained rare access to celebrations for the 69th anniversary of the ruling workers party. we have these reports.

>> celebration from the streets of pyongyang to commemorate the 69th anniversary of the workers party of korea. >> the party is like a mother to us. i am happy. >> even though there have not been big celebrations this year, thousands come on the streets to pay their respects to this leader and to the workers party who were aided by kim jong-il and who continue to run this country ace political life. >> it was 69 years when kim jong-il became leader. and like his father, kim jong-il passed away in 2011. >> we were taken to his bier place. where people til still come after all these years.

>> she's 80 years old and said he remembers his struggles against the japanese occupation. >> i remember and chemical rate kim hug sung in this place. >> kim jong-un has not been seen in over a month, and tv shows him walking with a liverpool. but they say nothing unusual is going on. >> people are sad that he is not here, but he is working hyped the scenes. they're meeting a lot. this is why he's not on the news, the tv. >> kim jong-un might be out of sight but it seems that life continues as usual here. he belongs to a dynasticy that

has ruled this nation for seven decades and on this anniversary his family's presence continues to loom large. >> well, let's get more on that weekend of protests, which is under way in the u.s. town of ferguson in the state of missouri. we're in st. louis and we're live from there. what sort of turnout are we seeing on the streets? >> reporter: well, right now--it's not just ferguson but it's a weekend of resistence that's been organized. right now organizers hope thousands have gathered about ten blocks up that way for a march through of st. louis calling for justice for the unarmed african-american teenager shot dead in august. it's not just marchers in action in ferguson, but also lecturers

and teachings about the inter section of class, race, and gender and trying to decide which side the u.s. is-- >> i apologize for interrupting there, but we'll take you to tripoli where u.n. secretary general is now speaking. let's listen to what he's saying. >> honorable and happy to speak on the house of representatives. >> the great country of libya. >> and in particular thank the participation for the leadership

and recognize the presence of very distinguished special envoys mr. jonathan power of the united kingdom, and mr. the ambassador of italy and special envoy of italy, and special envoy of france, and special envoy. and of course my own special envoy ladies and gentlemen, as you may remember, i came to libya after revolution. i was very much excited and moved by seeing the excitement

of all libyan people because they were expecting the peace and civility and better human rights an and prosperity of the country. we hoped and we supported your efforts to make this country for transparent and stable. unfortunately, some how the peace has not yet been settled. that's why we are here. at that time i came here with much lighter heart. now i'm here. having this distinguished representatives their continued

political move for measuring this country peaceful and peace and harmony among the people. and very much encouraged. and i was encouraged by all your strong support. i was speak slower for translation. we have been receiving support also, the special envoy. we are also thankful to government of spain and the united states for the momentum created by the high level meetings of libya which they

kindly hosted. libyans launched their revolutions because they wanted freedom and democracy. they wanted human dignity. they wanted prosperity. and a better life for their children. they have a reach and blessed country, and like people everywhere around the world, to enjoy their world, and their state to respect them, protect them and include them. but let me be clear, if the violent confrontations do not cease immediately, if sustainable peace is not restored prosperity and a better life will be at this time a

dream. this is what hangs in the balance of today. for the future of libya. honorable members of the parliament, ladies and gentlemen, most libyans agreed that the only way for this country is a political process. as secretary general i have been dealing with so many conflict issues in each and every country issues i have been urging that middle may be useful sometimes, but any solution gained through military means is not sustainable. there must be a political dialogue, a political solution. that is the only durable and sustainable solution. this is why the united nations

and team of my special representatives is helping the libyans to achieve that goal, with the help and support of many special envoys and partners. in that respect i came to libya to convey a message for all. in september the united nations organized a meeting in the house of representatives. this constituted the first courageous step for which we will build on. i'm here to support the process that was initiated