dozens killed in a suicide bomb attack near pakistan's border with india hello, welcome to al jazeera america i'm live from our headquarters in doha. also coming up, we report on the battle for kobane, as reinforced kurdish fighters drive i.s.i.l. out of the syrian town ukraine's president called separatist elections in the east a farce and demands russia reject the results gunshots ring out in burkina

faso as protests against the army seizure of power turns violent hello, we begin with a developing story out of pakistan, where 55 have been killed by a bomb attack. the pakistan group has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack close to lahore. india stepped up security. kamal hyder has more from islamabad. >> reporter: a deadly attack at a border crossing between india and pakistan at wagga, wagah, 30 minutes from lahore and 30 month drive from an indian city. the attacker waited outside the venue because of the presence of heavy security guard at the border crossing, and the attack

taking place on the pakistani side. when it comes to eyewitnesss, the suicide bomber waited for the ceremony to end when the flags of both countries were lowered and the crowd moved away from the venue. two groups have taken responsibility for the deadly attack. both groups are breakaway factions of the taliban pakistan, and there was confusion as to who worried out the attack. both said it was a result of ongoing pakistani military operation in north waziristan. now, the pakistan taliban did it would strike anywhere in the county in reprisal to military operations. indeed, a deadly attack, and close to the indian border at a time when tensions between india and pakistan were running high

there has been more fighting in the syrian border town of kobane. more than 500 peshawar from iraq joined the battle to defend the town against i.s.i.l. al jazeera spoke to a peshawar commander inside kobane. >> they started military united nations by targetting i.s.i.l. positions with rockets. today we launched a number of attacks as y.p.g. forces on the ground carry out their offensive. we have no business with the front line. we are reinforcement force. our main mission is to assist the y.p.g. by shelling the long range positions while they advance on the ground. as we speak, we killed many

fighters more on this from the turkey-syrian border. >> it appears that i.s.i.l. fighters are coming under attack from several directions and fronts. you have the kurdish-syrian fighters combatting them for weeks. they have been joined by the peshawar forces that came from northern iraq, through turkey, and are fully engaged in this battle, firing mortars throughout the day from the western side behind us on the eastern side. they have been reinforcing their positions with deliveries of more weapons coming in. added to that is the attacks from the air, from the u.s.-led coalition that has been targetting i.s.i.l. positions. until now there has been no news of a shift in territorial control. there has been fierce fighting. this is coming from our colleague in the town, who told

us there has been fierce fighting on the main reed connecting kobane to the north. i.s.i.l. bombed the main hospital, reducing the building to rubble. despite this, and the intensity of the fighting, many are wondering how long it is taking for a town that is so small that has few left in if, that they are combatants, how it's taken so long for a town to be taken away from the control of i.s.i.l. what we understand is that there is an attempt to put a joint mechanism for all these three different sides who are combatting i.s.i.l. to coordinate themselves. there is a joint committee that has been meeting between the peshawar forces and the syrian kurdish forces. how this will yield we are not sure, and whether they will divvy up the responsibility, who

coordinates on the front line or the back. it appears that there are things moving quickly, comparative to how things have been over the past few weeks. >> i.s.i.l. decapitated three men according to activists. it took place and the bodies were crucified in a park. two men were accused of being loyal to the bashar al-assad regime in deir ezzor. several others were beheaded in boukamal. they were charged with belonging to rebel groups. in syria moderate rebels have been pushed out of the north-west. the bashar al-assad government says it's in control as fighterslinged to al qaeda over run strongholds. >> reporter: this is idlib where in fighting is pitting rebel forces against the al nusra

front. >> in the aftermath of battles, al nusra front has tape over several towns. it's driven out the hasa movement and fighters led by a civilian commander. >> translation: we pulled out to pair the blood of civilians. we withdrew and considered their proposals for truth, an offer from the council. a number of agreements were drafted by them. we were among the first to sign the al nusra front victory is credited in part to the arrival of i.s.i.l. fighters in ibb lid and is a -- idlib and is a sign of the war. weeks ago the al nusra front was fighting alongside the rebels against i.s.i.l. the military is stepping up barrel bombings. according to the syrian observatory for human rights. the syrian air force dropped more than 400 containers.

3.5 years of conflict changed battle and territorial lines. the regime insists it's in control. >> the government holds and clings to their unity and territorial integrity of syria. this is a sick red issue -- sacred issue. >> reporter: this is a government stronghold, ones dominated by alawites loyal to bashar al-assad, and the community has undergone an ethnic transformation, home to sunnis seeking refuge from the multiple fronts of war pro-russian separatists held elections in eastern ukraine. polls closed. ukraine's government and the west say the vote is illegitimate. let's turn to hoda abdel-hamid. any indications of results so

far. >> reporter: a short while ago we heard from the electoral commission, and the exit polls indicate that alexander sharazenko the prime minister of the so-called people's public would have won with 81% of the votes. these are exit polls at the moment. basically the vote cements the grip of the pro-russian separatists. all the territory, and these elections are very controversial. the way they happen is controversial. they were not official lifts are. people had to come with their passports and cast their ballots. there were no recognised international observers. there was a group of european so-called independent everybodiers who made their way here through russia, and they were around the polling station,

and they said they didn't see indications that there was vote rigging, but it has to be said that there was a high turn out and most of the people that did go there were basically trying to vote for the end of the conflict, more than anything else. >> reporter: the day has come for this woman and her friends to vote. for months they have been watching events unfold in donetsk. for her, the ballot is about ending the conflict in ukraine. >> translation: it is important to vote and stand up for our city. otherwise all of this would be in vain. the main thing is stability for the people, and faith in the future she will not tell us who she voted for. there are three candidates for the president si. the acting prime minister of the pro-russian separatist was

expected to run. he was the first one to cast his ballot in in polling station, and the first public appearance. >> translation: i did not go out to war. this is app historical day, a day of elections and a peaceful affair. i wore a suit, i know how to wear it as well as a military yun for. form -- uniform. >> reporter: for this electrician, turned fighter, it is about result. only russia said it could recognise the vote. there's large queues at the polling station, this steches down the corridor -- stretches down the corridor. just here, there was a celebration involving children. this is the kind of image that the separatist leaders hoped for, to show that they do enjoy popular support at least among

the people who chose to remain in the east. the vote is dominated by the older time still remembering russia, a time when they say there was little corruption. this is a day of victory for this man. >> translation: i'm very happy. i have tears in my eye. if there are smart people in the world, they'll recognise all of this. there's a silent voice, an estimated half of the population has left the region until the conflict started. anna says many of her family and friends are gone. >> it's clear we will not be part of ukraine, and no one will have contact. there'll be nothing good. it's 100% sure. everyone is leaving. >> pro-russian fighters took the back seat, leading the state. one of the biggest challenges

facing the new elected separatist government is to first gain legitimacy among those and their hopes. a comprehensive look at what is at stake for people in the east. how will kiev be reacting to all of this? >> i think the latest treat by the ukranian president sums it up. he called these elections phoney, and says that it was a phoney vote in an occupied territory. kiev has been saying that it was an illegitimate vote going against the minsk agreement, whereby the separatist enclafs were allowed elections. that's not what the separatists did. they went their own way. there's also a lot of apprehension, whether it's here or in kiev, that the high intensity conflict may resume. there's a lot of movement from russian convoys along the road

carrying military equipment. this is worrying a lot of people here who many believe that just after the vote there could be a resumption of this conflict thank you for that hoda abdel-hamid still ahead on al jazeera - find out why thousands of russian health workers are protesting, and we'll tell you why hundreds of native americans are taking aim at a professional football team.

hello again. the top stories on al jazeera. 55 people have been killed in a blast on the india pakistan border. the bomb exploded in the car park at the wagah crossing near lahore. the pakistan taliban claimed responsibility for the attack kurdish forces from iraq joined a battle against i.s.i.l. in syria and are trying to take control of the town of kobane. i.s.i.l. now appears to be in control of the industrial area and the marketplace. pro-russian separatists held elections in eastern ukraine in a vote the west is denouncing at illegal. the election is aimed at bringing legitimacy to the self declared republic of don esque and luhansk hamad almalic il-atametre

has been shot dead. he was a negotiator. >> people are worried after this assassination, it could lead to further destabilizing of the country in yemen, and could start an era of political assassination. he was considered to be a figure in his 70s. he shifted sides and was accused of backing the houthis from behind the scenes, trying to promote their cause, if you will. on some points he was the leader of the joint leading party. a group of parties that reported, and then he was, after the revolution, he was in support of the revolution. it was a virtual figure, a fear that this will deeply increase tension in the country, mainly in the capital, and could start

the wave of political assassinations. we'll have to wait and see the blame game starting soon, and there'll be precaution, i suggest. >> a bahrain court released the founder of the bahrain center for human rights. he was on rights for remarks critical to the state. his remarks have been adjourned until january. >> i have been attacked physically and gaoled many times. this is a part of a series of attack, and intimidation that i receive from governments due to human rights work and work with peaceful protest and bureaucracy. i have not gone announced innocent, i have been released from gaol.

you don't put people in gaol for things said or written. i have spent two years, and another one month, because of my statement i made or things that i write on twitter. government attacking people, targetting people for expression. this government not have a respect for human rights in burkina faso, there are reports of gunfire at the headquarters of the state television station. the broadcaster is off the air. following protests at the army seizure of power after the resignation of the president. gerald tan has the latest. >> reporter: a demand for constitutional order. protesters of burkina faso are on the streets, reacting to the military appoint the of isaac zida as the interim leader. >> translation: starting today i assumed a responsibilities of this transition as head of the

government. i call on the international community and friends of burkina faso to support our people in this difficult time. >> reporter: the unrest began this week when president blaise compaore tried to extend his 27 year rule. days of protest forced him out of office. under the constitution the head of parliament should have taken over. the army did instead. >> translation: the political opposition and society oppositions insist that the victory and uprisings belongs to the people and transitional government falls to them, and should under no circumstances by confiscated by the military. >> reporter: the opposition fears the country should be facing a coup. the african union and united nations voiced opposition. power should be transferred to the people and elections held

within 90 days. >> the way this which everything will be set up to organise election will beive. if it lasts too long, it can be a real danger. a danger to democracy in burkina faso there has been protests against the government in the eastern democratic republic of congo. people are angry about a machete attack blamed on the rebel group adf. the government said it defeated the group. 95 civilians had been killed in the past month. >> reporter: there's anger in the east of the democratic republic of congo. these are the flags of president joseph kabila's ruling party. crowds gathered after an overnight machete attack in beni. civilians and police are among

the dead. the government has failed to stop the violence in this region. security vorss fired -- forces fired shots to disperse the crowd. people blame the uganda-linked rebels, edf, for the attackment the group that has been around since the 1990s, include d.r.c. dissidents, national fighters and houthi militia men from rwanda. the attacks displaced tens of thousands of people. the u.n. sent thousands of peacekeeping soldiers to help the military fight the adf. despite ceasefire deals and the transitional government, the militias continue to kill people in the east, forcing them from

their homes. their distrust of the army and the government has many blaming them from violence. >> the government failed to protect us. we have to protect ourselves. >> many fear that president joseph kabila wants to stay in office by amending the constitution before the 2016 elections. he is accused of trying to modify the constitution and paving way for a new one. more than 6 million have been killed in recent years because of conflict and a result of disease in malnutrition. thousands are being held hostage to work in the mines. and many in the democratic republic of congo say they are fed up of silently witnessing one massacre after the other several thousands health care workers and patients have been protesting on the streets of moscow, speaking out against

reforms meaning thousands of job losses, and cuts in services. >> reporter: many of the doctors and nurses that come to the rally feel they are taking a personal risk, saying that bosses threatened them with dismissal for turning up. a few thousand came. healthcare workers and patients, who hope moscow is listening to what they are saying. this is what got them angry, a leak from city haul, documenting plans to -- city hall, documenting plans to shut thousands of hospitals and fire staff. i understand how expensive the olympics were, says this doctor. don't pay for the victories with human lives. this is one of the most outspoken critics of the feared reforms. >> they call it optimisation af medical care. in a few months, 28 hospitals in

moscow will be closed. our patients would not be able to get medical care. >> reporter: moscow is at the storp end of re -- sharp end of reforms seeing medical services merge. by the beginning of 2015, all of russia's state medical care will be moved off the budget, picked up by a fund paid for by compulsory insurance contributions. it's having perverse consequences. physician simeon has been offered a new job, but not what he's doing now. >> cleaning. >> so you are a physician at the moment, and you are saying you can become a cleaner. >> yes, a physician. i do rehabilitation.

several chief of departments have the same at a press conference last week moscow adds deputy mayor blames the doctors for not applying themselves to new skills. >> reporter: some of them don't want to learn. i understand all the people about to retire, my age that find it difficult to relearn. i learn new things with great pleasure, some people are lazy, it's easy for them to go to a rally. >> reporter: rally they did. the biggest medical protest in years. >> reporter: as angry as they are, hardly any don't feel that health care needs an overhaul. the issue is that the reforms the government is pushing through will not just lead to job cuts, but a worse service for the people that need it most

now the united nations expert panel on climate science has conclusive evidence that humans alter the climate. in a report scientists are more certain than ever that greenhouse gas pollutants is the cause of global warming. reducing the greenhouse gas emissions it the key to limiting the risk of climate change. a lot of impact has been felt on all continents. the least developed countries are vulnerable. >> thousands of native americans in minnesota are protesting against a popular football team, saying the washington redskins name is derogatory to the colour of their skin. >> reporter: tens of thousands gathered to watch the washington redskins play the minnesota

vikin vikings. earlier hundreds came to protest. cleveland indians, kansas city chiefs, atlanta braves and chicago blackhawks take on native names, but native americans say none are derogatory to the colour of the skin. the owner says he will not change the name and it's a tribute to native americans. that is a claim rejected here. this is minnesota, a place whose name means the land of the clear blue waters in the original dakota language and the game is played on dakota lands. so the protests are against washington redskins and minnesota authorities to allow the game to go on in a place of rich native american history we'll go our separate ways and say goodbye to the viewers in the united states on al jazeera america thanks for your company. there's more on the website as

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