today. freeed by isil, hundreds of yazidis are released by the armed group in northern iraq. ♪ ♪ hello, welcome to al jazerra, i am martin dennis, coming up on the program. at least five people die in rioting in niger during protests against the charlie hebdo newspaper. one of the nominees for a cabinet position in the afghan government is on interpol's most wanted list. and this is the scene in

manila where around 3 million people have gathered to celebrate the pope's final mass on his tour of the philippines. ♪ ♪ isil has released more than 200 captives from the minority yazidi community in noun iraq, they were transported from anyone have province to kurdish held territories not yet clear why they were leased the captain captives many think who are are elderly were taken for check ups. mohamed adow is in iraq's kurdish capital irrelevant erbil. >> reporter: most of the yazidis released are said to be elderly examine people with mel problems and also infants a commander for the peshmerga forces were on

the frontline away from kirkuk, told us they people were brought from the city of mosul which is an isil strong hold driven through the town not far away from the frontline before they were released near the frontline as if isil fighters wanted them to take them out of their territory and bring them in to the hands of the peshmerga. he say they have now taken them to a medical facility on the road between erbil and kirkuk where they are receiving medical treatment. a campaigner for yazidi rights says that he believes these people were released because of their medical condition and isil did not want to continue keeping them. however, we know that they are thousands of yazidis particularly young girls who continue in captivity in the hands of ice and i'll who many people say have been used as sex slaves. we have met some of their

parents recently and they told us that all they need is for their children to be returned to em this. so for the families of these people who have been released, it will be a huge relief for them. the police in greece have arrested four people they believe that links to a terrorist cell in belgium. but belgium police say there is nothing to link the suspects with a plot that was foiled two days ago. on thursday, several anti-terror rides wereraids were carried out across belgium a shootout left two people dead. five charged with terrorist actives. belgium is deploying up to 300 armed soldiers at key sites in several cities, acting as backup to his police in areas considered potential terrorist targets, europe is on high alert after two weeks, two attacks rather in paris last week. now, one of those attacks was against the satirical magazine charlie hebdo the most

recently published edition has provoked more outrage over the cover featuring the prophet mohamed. in niner churches were set on fire and five people quilled. yep en has also seen violent protest. >> reporter: crowds of men gant earth outside the church in niner's capital. they were angry about the depiction of the prophet mohamed on the cover of the french satirical newspaper charlie hebdo. they attacked the church, ripped pages from the bible then set fire to the building. christians say they feel scared and dread more attacks. >> translator: i follow the love of god. i am a true christian, i know what religion is, religion is not about stopping other religions doing their work. >> reporter: niger is a former french colony. in other parts of the capital

protesters set fire to the french flag. >> translator: they offended our prophet mohamed that's why we didn't like this. this is why we muslims are trying to frost. but the state isn't letting us, that's why we are angry today. >> reporter: churches across the area were attacked. protesters also targeted french-owned businesses, a police station and burned cars near the city's main mosque. the french embassy warned its citizens to stay in doors. there were frosts against charlie hebdo in other parts of the world. in pakistan major cities frosts broke out after friday prayer and conditioned on saturday. lowers across the country boycotted the courts, causing the postponement 15,000 trials. >> the law needs to be passed on an international level under which these terrible people cannot hurt the feelings of muslims. we don't med until other people's religions in the same way they should not have the right to say anything about our

religion. >> reporter: similar protest is took place in yemen. the country's al qaeda branch claims to have carried out the paris attacks demonstrators in the capital sanaa had a warning for the western media. >> translator: this is a message from the yemeni people. enough insults against our prophet mohamed. if you don't stop mocking our prophet, you will regret it in the future. >> reporter: there was a wave of protests in syria a country that's been crushed by almost four years of war. the french satirical newspaper has cause aid stir in a number of muslim countries but the angriest reaction so far appears to niger a former french dolling any. now to afghanistan where the government is investigating after it transpired that the nominee for agriculture minister is on interpol's most wanted list. he is being sought in connection with tax evasion and fraud

dating back to 2003. he's denying the allegations. let's get more by talking to our correspondent in the afghan capital. kabul, jennifer glasse, jennifer tell us more about this. martin as you said he is on interpol's most wanted list for large scale tax evasion connected to a company that he owned. he says that he doesn't owe those taxes that it's the man who cut pwa*ut the company from him. but, of course, this is an embarrassment for the new government of the president the unity government. it took them more than three months to get those cabinet ministers nominated. they say it took so long because they wanted to make sure that they had the right people. he is now being investigated by the president's office. they say it will go very quickly. they plan to get to the bottom of it in the next day or so. that's because he's these nominees are supposed to go to parliament this week, we think it might happen on tuesday, they have to be ratified by the parliament really afghans want

to see a new government in place as quickly as possible. there have been no cabinet ministers for three months and before that, of course, the political deadlock over the presidential elections went on for several months, and so basically a lot of things have been at a standstill here and the president's office would like to see this issue resolved with their nominated minister of agriculture cleared up as soon as possible. >> indeed, jennifer he's one of the 25 nominees and it's absolutely paramount isn't it, that they get a government in place because every aspect of afghan society is suffering as a consequence of this vacuum. >> reporter: that's right martin. you know, if you drive around kabul in the early morning lines outside of almost every ministry it's very, very difficult to get anything done because there have been acting ministers in place for the last few months, but a lot of the administration has really ground to a halt. it's a very, very difficult to get that kind of bureaucracy

happening to get anything accomplish the here. and not only that, the uncertainty has stalled will be or delicate economy mirk anybody who might invest in the country is waiting to see who is going to be in charge of the ministries and whether there is someone they can trust so obviously the allegations that one of the -- one of the nominated ministers is wanted for tax evasion by interpol doesn't help matters at all as they try get a government in place as quickly as possible. >> okay. thank you very much, jennifer glasse our correspondent reporting live from the afghan capital kabul. now, brazil and the netherlands have recalled their ambassadors to i want neesha to protest against the execution of two drum are drug offenders they were among six foreigners condemned to death despite requests for clemency. >> reporter: most of them have been on death row for at least 10 years they include a dutch national filmed here in 2004, shortly after being sentence today death for producing the

drug ecstasy. after the president rejected their requests for pardon, the prosecutor general made his announcement. in total, 135 prisoners are awaiting execution about half of them convicted of drug-related crimes. according to the national narcotics agency, up to 50 indonesian ans die every day as a result of illegal drug use. >> translator: the impact of drugs on our society is unmanageable. it's not only ordinary indonesians that use them, but also government officials. so we consider this an extraordinary crime. for this kind of crime we need a maximum punishment. >> reporter: human rights organizations have condemned the decision by the president to carry out the executions. they accuse a man of using a double standard arguing against the execution of indonesian

internationals convicted a broad but supporting the same punishment at home. >> he does not show his commitment to uphold and be an example in asia on upholding respecting human rights law. >> reporter: these are the first executions since the president took office three months ago. but a government says many will follow later this year. despite pressure from foreign governments to spare their lives. step far vaessen, al jazerra. jakarta. stay with us, we have a lot more coming including. >> reporter: fighters from the rwandan rebel group called the fdlr were meant to come to this camp and vender and give up their ams by the second of january, only a minority came, they say it's because they are not being treated fairly.

>> we'll take an in-depth look at our nation's financial future. >> then john seigenthaler breaks down the issues. >> we need to know what's going on in our backyard. >> plus, objective analysis and live reports from across the nation and reaction from around the world. the state of the union address. special coverage begins tuesday, 7:00 eastern. right here on al jazeera america.

hello again, these are the top stories here at al jazerra. isil fighters in northern iraq have released about 250 i can't edie kurds many are elderly and have been taken to the hospital in erbil for check ups. isil is believed to have killed thousands of yazidis in its advance across northern iraq last year. more frosts in niger against the charlie hebdo cartoons have been called for later on sunday. at least five people were killed examine churches set on fire on the second day of rioting. now as many as 3 million roman catholic have his braved the rain to see pope francis hold mass on the final day of his tour of the philippines. this is a scene in manila.

there you can see pope francis has just got in to his pope mobile and is driving away. it was only within the last couple of minutes or so that the mass ended. it was a mass that he's dedicated pretty much to those who lost their lives in the typhoon of 2013. and indeed to those who survived, so scenes like this not really seen in the philippines capital for 20 years or so, that was when pope john paul ii visit tell the philippines. this also concludes the pope's 6-day tour of asia. ♪ ♪ now, let's go to some other news. the united states has freed a prisoner held as an enemy combatant for 13 years he has flown back to qatar he admitted one count of conspiracy to provide material support to al

qaeda. his lawyer says he only needed guilty to be able to return home home. libya's triply had of based self declared government is meet to go decide whether or whether to send representatives the u.n. backed peace talks in geneva libyan factions including the elected government in have agreed to attended talks next week aimed at forming a unity government and at putting an end to violence between rival militias. government forces in northeastern syria have launched a new assault occur dish-held territory fighting broke out where government forces are trying to set up new checkpoints. kurdish forces have controlled mush of the region since the syrian army withdraw three years ago. five civilians were reportedly killed in the fighting. kurdish fighters say they ceased vehicles ammunition and weapons from the army in a count air salt.

syria's state news agency says the army has evacuated more than 1,000 people from dual a some of the hungry and exhausted evacueeses say they were shot out. they have been taken to a refugees shelter. al jazerra is continuing to demand the release of our three colleagues now been in prison in egypt for 386 days, mohamed fahmy, peter getter and bahar mohamed were falsely accused of helping the outlawed muslim brotherhood, charge they deny. an appeals court in cairo has ordered a trial. lawyers have filed a i don't for them to be deported from egypt. the president of chad has called on other african countries to join in the fight against the nigerian armed group boko haram. he deployed his troops in to neighboring cameroon on saturday. there his men will join their counterparts to proceed in to northern nigeria to hunt down

mechanics of the armed group. cameroon has faced repeated cross-board air stacks from boko haram in recent months. the u.n. says it's planning an offensive against rebels in the east of the democratic republic of congo. the fdlr fighters were given until january 2nd to surrender or face military action. as malcolm webb reports from a u.n. camp some rebels have laid down their weapons that many more remain at large. >> reporter: these fighters from the rwandan fdlr have been on the run since the genocide in 1994. now they have surrendered they hold a parade in the u.n. camp where they now stay. they are among the mind or at this of fighters who came out with their families before a second of january deadline. congo and the u.n. now say tell attack those still in the bush. we are allowed to meet one fighter and physician hammily you were the supervision of fdlr officers the group is accused atrocities in congo and the

rwandan government said are says their leaders committed atrocities before that. but he says he came as a refugees and joined later because he had little choice. >> translator: we were eight children in me my family the others all killed in the camps and the forest when the rwandan army attacked. later they sent militias after us i thought when will it stop. that's when i joined. what would you do? >> reporter: after so many years living at at ought laws people are not in good health. these medics treat the sick, it seems people here have do what their what happenedders says but most would be better off back home in rwanda. the fdlr's leaders say they want to go home but first insist on a dialogue with rwanda to address the injustices of the conflict. >> translator: in other countries the u.n. is handling conflict with negotiations but in this region they are not. they decide at that launch attacks against innocent people. it's an injustice and unacceptable. >> reporter: the rwandan government refuses to hold talks and say the people are in limbo.

each tent is a meant to accommodate two families but the commands ders here inthecommanders say they are full and they want to surrender and go home but that's just one of the problems. the u.n. says that the fdlr are not cooperating. it says the older and weaker fight verse been sent here and all of the stronger fighters and the best weapons still in the bush. the u.n.'s chief of demobilizing armed groups told us the camp is full only because the fdlr leaders aren't allowing anyone to go home. >> the the whole idea was it was to be followed by repatriation. the fdlr has made that con it tincontingent on certain political condition that his so far don't like like they are going to be realized. >> reporter: these boys play football with a homemade ball. all of the younger people were born in congress go, growing up in the mid of a conflicts of an older generation, their

counterparts in the bush may soon be attacked. here in the camp they are safer but rate waiting for leader and diplomats to determine their future think mall k078 webb in congo. now u.s. police have face ahead barrage of criticism over the recent killings of unarmed black men but police supporters have also been making their voices heard as well. from washington, d.c. we we have a report. >> reporter: organizers fell short of their goal of creating a sea of blue to show support for the police in washington d.c. on saturday. but the exasperation of those that did gather was deep. >> we were just tired of no support for our law enforcement officers if you look around whether it's the media whether just walking down the street. there is lack of support everywhere. >> reporter: since the police killing of unarmed black teenager mike think brown last august there have been regular demonstrations around the country, calling for police reform. but the organizers of this march

feel the public is forgetting that this it is the police putting their lives on the line every day. should people be worried that a young black man is 21 more times likely to be killed by police officers than a young white person for? >> no, i don't think so. i think that we really need to look at our statistics. and i think that -- that honestly if you are not outdoing the crime then you will be okay. >> reporter: when a 12-year-old kid is killed within two seconds after i police officer arriving at the scene, isn't that something weird? >> i don't know the details. >> reporter: we have video and -- >> i don't know all the details there are two sides to every story. >> reporter: that 12-year-old was tamir rice who was playing with a toy gun in cleveland ohio in november. last week further video was released showing he was not given immediate medical attention after being shot. and that his 13-year-old sister was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed as her brother lay dieing nearby. investigations in to the

incidents continue. and on friday, it emerged that north miami police were using mugshots of young black teens for target practice. a member of the national guard noticed her brother's photograph at a shooting range. >> and i was like why is my brother being used to target practice. >> reporter: the local police chief denied it demonstrated any policy of racial profiling and insist nod disciplinary action would be taken. >> we utilize an array of pictures. >> reporter: it's yet another incidents that has resonated with those calling for reform. but at this events in washington the demonstrators seemed unable to understand why those who have pledged to risk their lives to protect and serve the community are being questioned. al jazerra washington. members of congress have flown to havana for talks in the latest sign of a that you in the diplomatic relations between the u.s. and cuba. relations were restored last month. and political prisoners freed as cuban hopes rise that the u.s.

trade embargo will be lifted soon. the political deadlock in haiti has provoked more pro testifiedsprotestsand more calls for the president to resign. arrested were made in port-au-prince haiti is being ruled by presidential decree after parliament was dissolved. new lexes have not been held because of the dispute between the president and the opposition. the egyptian actress has died age 83. renowned for her beauty and melodic voice she was called the lady of the arab screen, a star during the golden era of egyptian cinema she appeared in almost 100 films offense with her exhusband omar huh receive. thailand's military government is tapping in to popular culture in an effort to battle corruption, a soap opera based on real life case is his being produced in the country but as scott heidler reports not everyone believes a tv show will

get the message across. >> reporter: soap operas in thailand are wildly popular tracing their roots back to the 13th century when the kingdom first put storytelling on stage the miles an hour tail i government recognizes this, the prime minister changed the time of his weekly address is he are so it wouldn't interrupt prime time for soap operas to tap in to mamas i have audience the government is produce it's a own soap opera. the anti-corruption unit is filling the series. >> i believe in the project even though it's propaganda. when we do good things herb not worry what others might say or think, for those involved in corruption they didn't see to care what they did or how auld affect our country. >> reporter: the first episode is about a property developer

who used substandard materials. lead to go a building collapse that killed 14 people. star power has been brought to the series, thai action film star plays a heroin in the episode now in mo production. >> i am proud to be in this series most of my work was entertainment but i was not hesitant to accept the role in this series at all. i am proud to be part of a force to develop our country. >> reporter: so while they are filming on the other side of bangkok here in parliament house at the same time a real life corruption story is playing out former prime minister is facing a hearing on corruption in her rice subsidy program. wasting no time the producers have already scripted a program based on this case. they'll change her name in the episode but there will be little doubt to the thai viewers who the story is about. >> translator: this series might help increase the awareness of corruption but to change the

attitude or behavior on the issue we need more than this. the level of viewer understanding of corruption will depend on how they connect with the characters. >> reporter: but for most thais there might be a disconnect. since most of view soap operas as escapism and entertainment. to prompt action from them and change the national perception of corruption it might take more than a well choreographed fight scene, scott heidler, al jazerra, bangkok. land slides near peru's capital lima have killed at least five people. rescue workers used shovels and pick axes to try to dig out the vick vims' body. the authorities say 30 people have died this month because of landslides. now, after two weeks and some 9,000-kilometers of world's toughest off road motor race the dakar rally has finished in ba enes our is.

andrew simmons has more. >> reporter: three countries the mountain range and the driest desert in the world. two weeks charging through it all now the taste of victory. his second rally win and he's proud of the trophy. >> oh, every day it was really tough. the second day and day nine was really really tough. it was difficult navigation side. >> reporter: i heard you had altitude sickness as well. >> sabbath lately which we crossed bolivia we had problem with attitude i tried to imagine to be strong i am happy to finish and to get this guy. >> reporter: victory is sweet for this man too. marco her the spanish motorcyclist with his fifth dakar wins it's the pikers who take some of the biggest risks and solo without navigators sitting alongside sometimes it's excruciating to stay focused and on track.

>> translator: see how we look. this is what the dakar is about says argentine rider pablo pascal. for those get this is far there is a feeling of utter exhaustion often overcome by elation. the joy and relief of just getting to the end of this rally. not necessarily winning it, or getting a good placing just surviving it. nearly half of the competitors in this year's rally didn't make it to the end. every year seems tougher than the last. whether that's a reality or just the way it feels isn't entirely clear. andrew simmons, al jazerra,. now let's go out this half hour with live pictures coming from manila the philippines capital. there you can see pope francis as he's preparing to leave the country ending his six-day tour of air actual he's not long finished an outdoor mass, you can see he's wearing the

appropriate kind of garb. he's wearing a rain coat because the weather has really played havoc with his schedule whilst he's has been if the fill peep sews pope francis justing leaving the philippines, you are with al jazerra. >> after all this time the keystone xl pipeline does not run to the gulf of mexico, but the bill authorizing the project will run as far as the white house, where the president promises a veto. that's inside story. >> hello, i'm ray suarez. the keystone xl pipeline has