as the fight against isil continues in both iraq and syria, president obama holds a military summit in washington. ♪ hello, i'm martine dennis, you are with al jazeera we're live from doha. amnesty international accuses shia militias of war crimes in iraq. strategic gain, houthi rebels seize a key sea port in

yemen. europe takes more precautions against ebola as a u.n. worker in germany dies from the disease. ♪ now just a couple of hours from now, president obama will meet with heads of the military from the 20 or so countries who have joined in a coalition. we'll have more on that in just a moment, but first let's have a look at the spillover from the crisis effecting the region. turkish jets have attacked pkk areas. turkey says it launched the air strikes in retaliation for an attack by the pkk on a border post. we can talk to stephanie decker who is close to the border with

syria. tell us more about this air strike, which could possibly place that peace deal under great strain. that's right. well, that peace deal is already under strain because of what is happening in kobani. these air strikes hour, we heard from the pkk, targeted two of their headquarters. it can be seen as a message by turkey. there has been language coming out of the pkk that says because of what was going on to the kurdish protesters last week, they were unhappy about how turkey was dealing with kobani, at least 31 killed there. and the situation in kobani itself which is angering many kurds. so the language out of him is the peace deal was over.

the leader of the pkk was jailed here in turkey, and his language has been more one of calm. he is expected to give a statement tomorrow, so that will be significant. but many of the kurds we have been speaking to here who have been coming to offer solidarity, they will tell you if kobani falls, that that peace deal will absolutely be over. >> remind us about who the pkk are, the kurdish workers party of turkey, and how they relate to the kurdish commune fee in syria, the ypg fighting to defend kobani. how are they related ? >> the ypg, the people's protection unit. they are seen to be the syrian wing of the pkk, and the ypg did

go into iraq to help save the agency -- zitis, the pkk has fought an almost 30-year war against the government. in 2013 a ceasefire was reached and they agreed to withdraw to northern iraq. >> okay. thank you very much for reminding us of that, stephanie. stephanie decker there live on the border between turkey and syria. well the u.s.-lead coalition has conducted 21 air strikes we now know near the syrian town of kobani over the course of monday and tuesday. [ explosion ] >> now this is the scene in

kobani earlier. the kurdish town is just a stone's throw away from the turkish border from where we were talking to steph decker from. the back and forth of gains and losses by kurdish forces defending the town goes on. meanwhile military a leaders from the 20 or so countries who are forming this coalition now to battle against isil, they are meeting in washington with president obama. they are going to talk about how to cam bat isil. this is the first time that such high rainen k officials are gathering together since the coalition was formed last month. let's go to our correspondent patty culhane. and there is quite a distinct difference isn't there, between those joining the united states in air strike against isil

operations in syria, and those joining the operations against isil in iraq? >> reporter: and we believe that those are going to be part of the discussions, the disparity between all of these different coalition partners, but quite frankly we don't know much about this meeting. this is about as close as the media has been able to get. somewhere in the gigantic base the meeting is being held. the department of defense is trying to down play expectations. that doesn't mean they aren't going to make news. sometimes they have announcements, but they can't be sure going into the meeting that they will come to an agreement. all of this on the backdrop of the pressure being put on president obama to show some signs that his strategy can work. >> reporter: the entire strategy is dependent on iraqi soldiers

fighting and winning the war against islamic state of iraq and the levant. but the obama administration is facing questions, can it work. the top u.s. general just admitted that military helicopters had to be called in to stop isil from taking the bagdad airport. >> they were within -- you know, 20 or 25 kilometers -- >> reporter: of bagdad airport? >> sure. and had they overrun the iraqi unit, it was a straight shot to the airport. so we're not going to allow that to happen. >> reporter: the united states spent more than seven years training the iraqi military. the general who once lead the mission said they need more training. >> the air strikes are buying us time so we can continue and begin to train the iraqi security forces in order to do the things we think they should be capable of doing. >> reporter: but some outside analysts say that might not be

enough. >> i don't know how these things happen without some kind of american advisory role, because the mission heyed -- ahead of them is going to be difficult, and the health andco heran herance -- co herance of the iraqi military is still questionable. >> reporter: but some of those closest two him are critical and say obama hasn't done enough to stop isil. the administration says the president's plan will take time. and they are betting they have enough time to accomplish their mission before isil accomplishes theirs. >> the former u.s. secretary of defense explains why it will be hard for president obama to persuade his coalition partners to get involved on the ground. >> i think the fact that you

couldn't get turkey to come into kobani shows it's going to be almost impossible, and that's why they are going to try to buy enough time to get the free syrian army that they are going to train in saudi arabia to really step up to the plate. given the saudi's place obviously in the muslim world, the fact that they are willing to work against isil and not go after assad who they have been trying to displace for a number of years. so i think it's very, very very significant that they are part of it, regardless of how big of part they play, i think psychologically it sends the right message to the muslim and arab world. the turks main objective is to get rid of assad, and prevent the pkk, the kurdish group that has been branded as terrorists, from getting more fighters which they might if the kurds are able to stay in kobani. let's have a look a little

bit more closely of what is going on in iraq. amnesty international has accused the iraqi government of being complicit in war crimes in the fight against isil. amnesty says government-backed shia militias are using the guise of fighting terrorism in order to carry out revenge attacks on the sunni community. it says they have evidence that shia militias have carried out execution style killings, and there have always been kidnappings with ransoms demanded. it warns these crimes are fuelling a cycle of sectarian violence with shia fighters exempt from punishment. the senior crisis responder for amnesty international says the government has not done enough. >> the go of prime minister has

he himself said that he wants to have a more inclusive go. the government is new. it is not yet complete. the posts of the ministry of the interior and defense are still to be filled, and indeed there is a jostling of position by one of the militia leader who used to be the minister of transport in the previous government and heads one of the militias. so until now the government hasn't done anything. and it should initiate proceedings to disband these militias. the existence of these militias preclude any possibility of a unified iraqi army that can serve all sectors of the population. one of those military groups that she was referring to in fact in the amnesty report it talks about is the league of the righteous. well, it has come out with a statement saying it denies all of those claims.

the spokesman says: the statement goes on: and at least 24 people have died in a suicide attack in bagdad. the iraqi capitol. the bomber rammed his explosive laden car into a check point in the mainly shia neighborhood. over 50 others were injured, and this comes just a day after several similar attacks killed dozens of people also in bagdad. now in saudi arabia, one american citizen has been shot dead and another has been

wounded. their car was fired upon as they stopped at a gas station near the stadium. police say they don't know the motive of the attack yet, and that they have arrested a suspected gunman who is saudi, but born in the united states. we'll bring you more on that story, because is it only about an hour or so old, as soon as we get it. we have a lot more to come on the program. clineding remember the vote for independence for the spanish region of catalonia, well, it will go ahead next month, but it won't be the final say on the issue. find out why. ♪

♪ hello again. these are the top stories here at al jazeera. u.s.-lead coalition air strikes have targeted isil positions near the town of kobani. 21 strikes there have been over monday and tuesday. the u.s. military says it is slowing down isil. at least 24 people have died in a suicide attack in iraq's capitol. this comes as amnesty international accuses the government of condoning war crimes in its fight against isil. well that fight against isil is causing upheaval in both syria and in iraq. many iraqis have had to leave their homes for their own safety, but as zana hoda reports

now from kirkuk in the north many from the sunni community are not finding safety. >> reporter: this man has relied on government handouts for a long time. but in the last four mosh moshth -- months he hasn't received any. his family escaped from their home when it was a battle ground between the iraqi air force and fighters belonging to the islamic state of iraq and the levant. then a few weeks about isil was pushed out only to be replaced by shia militiamen. >> translator: what is the government going to do? >> reporter: many people found refuge further north, but even here they don't feel safe. they are looked on with

suspicion in regions. and they say they are targets of shia armed groups. >> translator: they would not allow us to return to our villages. >> reporter: the iraqi government considers these men volunteers who joined the fight against isil on behalf or as part of the shia dominated iraqi army. government officials insist those same volunteers will continue to support the army and police until they are ready to secure areas on their own, but for many sunnis, their presence is tearing the country apart. this man explained the government should allow the 700 policemen from his town to return to work now that isil has left. >> translator: the people are the victims of all of these groups. we want a force that can protect us. we ask the government to send an official force. >> reporter: in a country with a

history of sectarian conflicts, iraqis are increasingly losing confidence in each other. security is what they all want, but for now, there is no one authority that seems to be rep senttive of all of iraq's factions, one that can hold this country together. now in yemen, houthi rebels have taken over parts of a strategic part city on the red sea, seizing control of one of the world's busiest maritime oil roots. >> reporter: houthi fighters on the offensive again. many areas in the western city are under their control. it is home to yemen's biggest refinery, and it's sea port is crucial for shipping oil exports to international markets. shia rebels deployed hundreds of fighters to the strategic city hours after the appointment of

this man as prime minister. the appointment was a move aimed attending the con try's political crisis. the houthis had initially pledged to disarm once a government is formed. earlier this year, the houthis were only in control of one city in the north. last july, they captured another city and then seized most of the capitol. thousands of fighters are on the move to control two provinces. this is the first sunni city to fall under their control. they are also moving south towards a province. the houthi advance was met with little or no resistance from the army. but in the predominantly sunni south, there's anger. thousands have converged on the sea port city calling for the south to break away from the north. but it's not only the sunnis who

are worried. neighboring saudi arabia has repeatedly accused iran of providing the houthis with cash and weapons to destabilize the region, accusations that raise fears of a proxy war in yemen. now the latest on ebola. it is not only spreading, but it is also becoming more lethal. the w.h.o. is saying the death rate from the current outbreak has now risen to 70%. until now 50% of the people died of the disease. and more health workers are perhaps inevitably getting the disease. doctors without borders are reporting that nine of its stafferers have died after being infected. the u.k. has started taking pressures to preing event sick people from entering the country. the checks are mainly on people who are travelling in from the

infected areas which have seen the maximum number of cases. in germany a u.n. doctor has died from ebola. the 56 year old had been in a speci special isolation unit. nick spicer gave us this up date. >> reporter: the doctor had been flown from liberia to germany last week. he showed symptoms, contacted officials in liberia. he was diagnosed as having it two days later sent to germany where there is a specialized clinic dealing with tropical and infectious diseases. the doctor said he died overnight despite their best efforts, and this was a hospital that hadal of the equipment and personnel you could want to treat the case.

there are two others who have come in the past weeks and months. a uganda doctor and a doctor from senegal who was released after getting treatment in hamburg. 50 hospital beds are on stand by. four airports being designated as airports to which passenger flights can be rerouted if any passenger shows signs of the disease. now vote on independence from spain's catalonia region will go ahead next month according to the president, but it won't be a fully fledged referendum nor will it be the final say on the issue. this is the latest twist on the battle with spain's government and the constitutional court over the legality of the poll. >> reporter: out to mass that originally called a referendum.

now it's a non-binding poll. but with the same name. [ applause ] >> translator: the catalan government maintains the goal of organizing on november '9, 2015. there will be polling stations where people can participate. there will be ballot boxes and ballot papers. >> reporter: it's catalonia's way of getting around the constitutional court and the madrid government which has blocked the referendum on independence despite street protests. for a few hours of high drama, it appeared the vote had been abandoned all together, bringing this response. >> translator: it is excellent news if the -- referendum does not take place. spain is an advanced country, and we all have

responsibilities. >> reporter: but the new style poll will be a preparetory vote. and when a real vote takes place will depend on the government. catalonia feels it contributes more to spanish wealth than it gets back. independence campaigners say the autonomy is being undermined by madrid and they want a complete break away. the u.n. secretary general has been touring parts of gaza that was so badly damaged during israel east 50-day offensive. ban ki-moon said the destruction was way beyond description, and it was worse after the 2009 offensive. he praised the international donors for standing with gaza because of the aid commitments

that were promised at that conference that took place in cairo on sunday. >> the international community has shown strong solidarity and support for the people of palestine, particularly for the reconstruction of gaza by mobilizing $5.4 billion. protesters in mexico have set fire to the local government building in the southern state of guerrero. hundreds of students and teachers allowed workers to leave first and then they charged the government complex in the state capitol. the mexican police tried to push the demonstrators back. there has been a surge of angry protests ever since 43 students disappeared in guerrero state on september 26th. 12 guards and 160 other inmates are being held hostage at a prison. they overpowered the guards with

knives and clubs, demanding better conditions. this is in brazil, of course. military police are negotiating with the prisoners, and of course, brazil's prisons are generally overcrowded and known for their violent uprisings. now to indonesia where you have to be more than in love to become husband and wife. both parties have to be from the same religion. the country bans interfaith marriages, but as steph reports, that law is being challenged at the constitutional court. >> reporter: he is a muslim. she is catholic. two faiths represented around the family dinner table is a rare sight in indonesia. four years ago, these two managed to get married even though interfaith marriages are against the law. usually the religions must convert or go abroad to get

married. and priests have the ability to marry interfaith couples, but they rarely do. >> reporter: and know and love him as a muslim. if he changed his religion, he would not be the same man i fell in love with. >> reporter: a group of students are challenging the law, arguing it is against freedom of religion. say they love concurs all doesn't apply in indonesia. they have to concur the law first if they love a person with a different religion. the students who want the law reviewed consider it a violation of personal rights. >> translator: according to our constitution, we are free to follow religion. but if we look at the marriage law, we have to follow the rules of our religion. >> reporter: religious leaders representing six different

faiths in indonesia don't want the law changed. >> love should follow the religion. because if i love you, then i will get married. and you get married, you are living in different religion with me, we cannot solve the problems together. it is very difficult, and when we die, we are not joined together. >> reporter: but stella and her husband don't agree. the christian woman and muslim man fought six years to have their marriage legalized. it has strengthened their relationship and brought a big change to their families. >> translator: in my christian family there is not much interaction with muslims. now with our marriage we have proven that brotherhood between different fate faiths is possible. having different faiths in one family is reel pluralism. >> reporter: it's now up to the constitutional court to decide

whether indonesia are free to follow their hearts or if no one is above the law. you can find out more on that story and the rest of the day's news as ever on the al jazeera website. i'll have the news headlines in just a little while. ♪ with lethal injectionam. drugs in short supply, plan b can leave firing squads and electric thousands of american's pets become ill and die as a result of what many believe are tainted products. millions of american homes are at ex treenail risk of natural disasters. are we spending billions because sa