. >> tensions mound in jerusalem around al-aqsa compound as israeli activists try to storm the site. palestinians have been at the site and clashed with police, we will be live in jerusalem with the latest. from the headquarters in doha - also coming up... >> tonight they said we can have real change in washington. real change. >> republicans sweep to victory in the u.s. midterm elections taking control of both houses in congress. >> chilling details emerge about

the mexican mayor and his wife in relation to the disappearance of 43 students. >> burkina faso on the brink. locals loot the politician's home. will new leadership bring an end to their struggles there's heightened tension in jerusalem, where right wing israeli activists attempted to storm al-aqsa compounds. israelis turned up but were denied entry to pray at the mosque. we'll go life to tide. we know this is a -- imtiaz tyab. we know that has been a flashpoint. what has brought this about. >> we have seen weekly confrontations between palestinians and israeli

security forces as far right groups tried to access the compound. this came to a head a week ago today, when a leader of the far right group, a group, a rabbi was shot by a man. his supporters went to the al aqsa mosque compound earlier this morning to try to access this site. that is when we seen the confrontations between palestinians and israeli security forces. as you rightly point out, the situation is tense. a few moments ago israeli police confirmed that the situation there has calmed, and they have reopened the gates to the general public, the compound, whatever the case, between

palestinians and israeli security forces. it is tense, and the provocations, as the palestinians see it are not helping things. imtiaz tyab, these tensions over the al aqsa compound have been rising over the last few months or so. what has been the israeli government and prime minister binyamin netanyahu's rehabilitation to this? >> to put it bluntly, it's been a crackdown. that is what we have seen in occupied east jerusalem. security across the area. densely populated palestinian area and neighbourhoods. we have seen a dramatic increase in police presence. in fact, police from all over israel have been brought in to reinforce the police that are already there. it underscores how tense the situation is. now, if you look at what the israeli prime minister binyamin

netanyahu is doing. at least from the palestinians perspective. he is effectively - rather inflaming things there very much by using very strong language, by directing security forces to arrest palestinians. in the last 11 days alone, there has been well over 100 arrests of palestinians. the situation there is not very good. palestinians would argue that the israeli prime minister is making the situation worse. >> imtiaz tyab talking to us about the ongoing tensions to yemen, two leaders in al qaeda has reportedly been killed. they were killed in a u.s. drone strike. he was named as a global terrorist by the united states. we'll go to omar al saleh, joining us from the capital.

how significant are these two al qaeda leaders. >> they are very significant. the leader, the local name for al qaeda in the arabian peninsula, is considered very important in the wider province. also killed another, the same u.s. drone attacks on a vehicle on monday. badani is designated as a global terrorist. and they say he had links to two blocks to attack the u.s. embassy in the capital, and he is in charge of a suicide bombing in 2012. so the two are important figures

in the al qaeda network. >> with the absence of the two men, is al qaeda significantly weaker? >> i'm not quite sure because the structure of al qaeda is not depending on - dependent on individuals, to put it into context, the local fran guise answers to global al qaeda. it tells you how spread this group is in many parts of the world. it is certainly a blow, but they have replacements for any of their leaders that are targeted by the u.s., or even by the yemeni government. it is not knew. al qaeda affiliated fighters, or their leaders - it's been going

on for years. omar al saleh on the death of two al qaeda leaders in yemen now to the u.s. where president obama's party lost the senate. the republicans have taken control of the houses of congress. this will limit what al qaeda can do. mike hanna reports from washington. >> a man likely to be the new senate majority leader. mitch mcconnell has celebrated a win. one easier to be predicted, and one that sweeps the tone. >> tomorrow the papers will say "i won this race." but the truth is - the truth is tonight we begin another one.

one that is far more important than mine. and that is a race to turn this country around a run-off was predicted in the georgia senate race amid speculation that neither candidate could achieve a win. >> georgia made it clear. what was supposed to be a close race became another comfortable republican victory. there'll be a run-off this louisiana, and one democratic senator who will live to fight another day. >> louisiana is worth fighting for. join me, let's get rest tonight and hit the campaign trial in the morning. god bless you all. thank you. >> the republicans increased their majority in the house of representatives, and took a number of governships away from the democrats, including president obama's home state of illinois. and the president could struggle to implement domestic and

foreign policy in the face of the both houses controlled by the opposition. >> we'll see a more aggressive foreign policy, less foreign aid. the president will have a lot less room to negotiate with the iran nuclear deal, less room to negotiate when it comes to ukraine, and the u.s. peace process, any negotiations with palestine and israel will be more hawkish. obama will be constrained. he wants to make promises to the world and get approval from a congress that doesn't want to work with him. >> president obama invited leaders from both parties to the white house on friday. to discuss the way forward in the light of the new political reality. emboldened by victory, the new lords on the hill are more likely to demand presidential compromise than seek it let's go to kimberley from washington d.c.

an exciting race. the next senate majority leader mitch mcconnell is promising a change in washington. how much of a change are we about to see. >> i think we are about to see a dramatic shift. obviously polls were predicting that this would happen, that there would be a senate takeover by the republicans. no one expected that it would be by these margins, that will make it difficult for president obama as he tries to work there legislative priorities in the final two years of the term. it's not going to be just foreign policy issues, but things important to the president on the domestic agenda. raising the minimum wage. republicans, you have to remember, many of these republicans elected in the house of representatives, where there's a greater majority and in the senate were elected in direct opposition to president obama's policies. so any of these efforts by

president obama may come down to executive order. something he promised on the issue of immigration, to allow a pathway to citizenship to 11 million illegal immigrants, as well as on the issue of climate change. expect there'll be a lot of fighting in capitol hill. that has been the case. expect that to get worse as many republicans say they'll push back on efforts by president obama. >> on the surface, it looks like a major victory for the republican party. they are a divided party. they are known to be obstructionist, particularly in the last six years of office. this is a test for them to see if they cap govern, especially in light of the 2016 presidential election. >> indeed. there'll have to be a choice by the republican party. they know it's one that they'll have to make quickly. here is the reality. in two years there'll be another election. this one will be critical for

republicans who hope to capture the white house. they have to try and send a message to the american people that they can govern, and not be obstructionist, or they'll lose the opportunity. this is the challenge, one that they'll have to make. at the same time they'll have to show voters that they feel this is something that is important. they do have their eye on the prize. that is the white house. >> kimberley halkett there on the challenges that lie ahead for the republican party still ahead on al jazeera - no limits on justice in romania, as a former prison boss summoned to face charges of torturing prisoners in the 1950s.

welcome back. let's look at the top stories on al jazeera. there's heightsened tension in jerusalem where right wing israeli activists attempted to storm the compound. palestinians turned up at the site and were denied entrance two have been killed in yemen. shaw ki albad arny was killed with four others in a suspected drone strike. >> president obama's democrat party lost control of the senate. republicans will take control of both houses of congress after winning season states in midterms, and what president obama can achieve in the final

term of office. >> thousands of people are expected to demonstrate in mexico over the disappearance of 43 students. the families are organising a protest. it follows the rest of the former mayor, and his wife, linked to the disappearance of two students. >> captured, mexico's most wanted couple, a former mayor and his wife. both are suspected of having links to a drug game and masterminding an attack. killing six people and leaving 43 university students missing. >> federal police arrested a couple in a small apartment in mexico city during a predawn raid on tuesday. it was a much-needed event. police are looking for the students still more than a month after they disappeared. >> the investigations continue to advance, and i hope that in the next few days we can give

you more substantial information. >> reporter: the mayor and his wife ruled the town of iguala with an iron fist. the government claims the couple was working hand in hand with the drug gang, turning the police into their own private army. this resident who is afraid to show her face, says that people were scared to go outside, and many left the towns because gangs came. the news of the arrest gives hope. this man's grandson is one of 43 missing students. >> we know the cops took our kids. the arrest makes us confident that he will find the truth. >> dozens of grades have been uncovered. so far the remains of 38 people have been discovered. but not yet identified as the missing students.

>> on wednesday, tens of thousands of people all throughout the country - perhaps of protest and justice and answers to where those 43 missing students are. al jazeera - mexico city. >> in western syria, a camp for displaced syrians have been bombed. forces are on the attack. u.s. backed rebels lost ground with the al qaeda-linked al nusra front gaining territory. suspected boko haram fighters are gaining ground after launching a series of attacks. at least five government soldiers have been killed in gombe state. fighters are said to have robbed a bank. security forces in the democratic republic of congo arrested several men in connection with the killing of more than 100 people. they have been held in the town of beni in north kib u.

as many as 120 people have been killed in night time raids in recent weeks. west african leaders are due to arrive in burkina faso for talks with the military obvious a new transitional government. the presidents of ghana, nigeria and senegal are expected to pressure the army into handing over control. many hope that new leadership will bring new opportunity. >> this man took part in protests resulting in the ousting of blaise compaore. >> i broke my arm and leg. it was worth it. we got rid of a dictator. i'm in pain, but proud of what we did. >> reporter: this public hospital does not have everything it needs to treat the injured. patients are asked to bring drips, bandages and drugs. many families can't afford to do that. they have to rely on donations. the country and the majority of

people are struggling. many taking out frustrations on the homes of those close to the former president. nothing is too small to take. many are here because they are curious to see how the rich live. the more private documents were copied and are planned to be sold for $1 each. they were divided whether isaac zida should step down. >> since 1966 all we know is this country has been held by military powers. we'd like, if possible, somebody who has never never taken a weapon one day. >> i think he should stay. he should stay because it's just for the transition period. i think he should stay. >> whatever is decided, this country has a long road ahead.

forming a transitional government and holding elections. picking up the pieces is not going to be easy. >> staying with burkina faso, and dramatic amateur footage emerged of violent protests in the capital over the past two weeks. you can see police firing tear gas at protesters who threw stones and set fire to tires over several days of unrest. protest forced the president blaise compaore to quit and flee to the ivory coast ukraine's president ordered the creation of new military units to blockade possible invasion by russia. rory challands reports from moscow, coming days after pro-russian separatists held an election which ukraine calls illegal. >> reporter: ukraine's rebel

leader alexander zakharchenko is sworn in as head of the donetsk people's republic, elections recognised by the two break away regions of ukraine, and russia. they are not recognised in kiev, and president petro porashenko calls an emergency meeting of his security council in response. >> translation: as the commander in chief, i have given certain orders to the head of the general staff and defence minister to form several new units, to stop possible offensives in the directive of mariupol, kharkiv, and others. petro porashenko asked parliament to scrap the special station of the donetsk region, granted to the rebels in the wake of the ceasefire, one that existed in name only. the firing diminished, but never

actually stopped. hours after the polls, more heavy bombardments were heard outside donetsk. reports of hardware on the move increased considerably this recent days. n.a.t.o. says it has seen russian troops moving up to the border. kiev is watching moscow for the next move. >> russia, unity day, a sign of patriotism and nationalism. this year the spirit of noilty with the people -- loyalty with the people of donetsk. >> translation: we are happy that we are free of petro porashenko. he is a murderer of women, children and old people. >> translation: petro porashenko is a murderer bringing war to donetsk. he brought war to the russia's

peace. this was a carefully orchestrated really yea. designed to find that vladimir putin's geopolitical strategy has the support of the people. although they are paid lip service by the president of russia and ukraine, the cracks are widening, possibly to breaking points. >> al jazeera continues to demand the release of its journalists who have been detained in egypt for 312 days peter greste, mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed are falsely accused of helping the outlawed muslim brotherhood. they are appealing against prison sentences. many political crimes committed during romania's communist era have gone unpunished. the pace of justice has been slow. this week a former prison boss was summoned to face charges for offenses in the 1950s.

paul brennan reports from bucharest. >> he's almost 90 years old, but this man is angry and unrepentant. he is accused of causing the death and torture of 12 political prisoners from a gaol he was in charge of. this is the first time a prison governor has been charged for prison crimes. this was a victim of the secret police. he was beaten so badly in prison that he died of a ruptured intestine. in a gloomy campaign office, this man is into the third week of app hunger strike, demanding that justice be served. >> you can't torture and kill people. no, that's not acceptable for society. the society cannot accept that ever. that's why there's no statute of

limitations, human rights declarations, all the international legislation and laws. >> the extraordinary slow process saw romania fall foul of the court of human rights. this week they ruled in favour of demonstrators, whose allegations of ill-treatment have not been dealt with in the courts. >> translation: the decision is not about the amount of money, but the impulse it will give the romanian prosecutors to reopen the files wrongly kept secret. and the guilty people should then be brought to justice. >> there is a group set up to look at the darkest eras. political interference hampered investigation, and only recently was it given backing. access to files was crucial to

making progress. >> for many years we didn't have the files. and they explained why the cases are so slowly. >> reporter: the decision to force him to come to court indicates, perhaps, a willingness by present day leaders to confront the crimes of predecessors. it's a deep frustration to the victim's families. it will take more than one high-profile prosecution to prove a genuine desire for justice. now, on tuesday, we showed you images from the north korean embassy in london - well, it just opened its doors to the public to showcase artwork from four north korean artists. it's a rare occasion for the north koreans to open their doors, and we wanted to find out a little more about the exhibition. we sent simon mcgregor-wood to take a look.

>> reporter: north korea's london embassy is far from the exclusive diplomatic quarter. unusually on tuesday the doors were open. for four days, members of the public and journalists can see an exhibition of north korean art, handpicked by the state-run art studio and under close supervision. the artist spent weeks painting london scenes to show alongside the screens from home. >> the artists have paintings that are their own from pyongyang. you'll see similarities in the brush strokes and the way they are painted. it's a different screen. >> back home, these are the artists that paint portraits of the supreme leaders and create the art for the parades. there's not much room here for freedom of expression. embassy officials hope that the unique cultural event will build

better understanding between the british and north koreans. the sad reality is not many members of the public turned up, and north korea's embassy is a long way from the traditional locations for london's art lovers. some of the artists travelled abroad. none speak english and all interviews conducted through translators. this is the senior artist here. >> if there was ever a day when you as an artist decided that something the government did was wrong, would you think it appropriate to reflect that view in your art? >> translation: all the policies of the supreme leader and government reflect what the people want, what the people agree and support. >> reporter: the exhibition is a tightly controlled production. but opening the doors of an embassy in this way is unusual. even if it takes place under the watchful gaze of two former

supreme leaders. >> fascinating. a quick reminder - you can keep up to date with news and analysis on the website. just go to the aljazeera.com. america votes 2014, the results are in with republicans winning big. taking control of the senate, washington. direction. >> our election night coverage continues. >> welcome back, everyone, to our special coverage. i am john seigenthaler in new york. the democrats seeing red and plenty of it. the republicans won in a landslide picking up key races taking control the senate for the first time eight years. it is a stinging though not surprising defeat for pres