do. daniel lack, al jazeera hamilton. >> i'm thomas drayton. thanks for watching. anks for watching. >> vote delayed - nigeria's presidential election postponed because of security concern welcome to al jazeera, live from our headquarters in doha. also ahead - controversy surrounding an alleged recording of egypt's president planning to demand money from gulf countries. iraq lifts a long-time curfew hours before a series of deadly bombings canadians fight a downhill battle for the right to go

tobogganing. the u.s. says it is deeply disappointed at nigeria's decision to postpone elections due to violence in the north-east of the country. the presidential election and the government races held on the 14th and 28th february will now happen six weeks later. we have more after the announcement was made. >> the head of nigeria's election commission said he was ready and able to conduct the polls. security chiefs said they could not guarantee the safety of voters, in particular in areas affected by boko haram. >> if the security of personnel, voters election observers, and election materials cannot be guaranteed the life of didn't young men and women, as

prospects for free fair, credible and peaceful elections will be affected. consequently the commission decided to delay the elections. the national elections - presidential and national assembly are now to hold on march 28th, 2015. >> reporter: people have been protesting a delay in voting. outside the electoral commission headquarters in abuja for days. president jonathan goodluck is facing a formidable challenge from the opposition's main candidate. >> that man wants to draw a timetable for an election. he should not be allowed to postpone it on the eve of election. >> reporter: at the time nigeria's, and neighbours announced plans to deploy 8,700 to fight boko haram in the north-east. it's part of a plan to bring

security to the region that may allow the elections to go ahead. the security services failed to defeat boko haram in five years. some are asking how will they do it in six weeks, and whether there's another motive behind the delay. >> supporters will lose confidence in the process, because definitely they believe that as a result of pressure that comes, it is squared of defeat and elections, if they have a goalpost then the idea is to manipulate the result. >> elections must take place. there's a chance they could move again. >> some still society are calling or the resignation of the election and the security chief over the postponement of the election.

it is unlikely to happen. >> meanwhile, nigeria's governor has been officially confirmed as the amir. his coronation attracted former nigerian president, but no representatives from the current government. he is an outspoken government critic, and an influential leader in a largely muslim north to other news and a television station in turkey is broadcasting what it says is a leaked conversation involving egyptian president abdul fatah al-sisi. the alleged conversation took place after the coup that removed former president mohamed mursi from power, when abdul fatah al-sisi was defence minister. at one point abdul fatah al-sisi is heard making plans for his office manager to demand money from gulf nations. >> translation: listen, tell them we need 10 to be deposited into the army account. so what did i say? >> 10 in the army's account.

>> when i win the election. we'll invest the money in the state and we'll need another 10 from united arab emirates and another 10 from kuwait the recording was obtained and broadcast by a pro-muslim brotherhood station in turkey. they were elected to power in egypt following the 2011 revolution. popular protests and a military coup forced it out. it's been labelled a terrorist organization. associate professor of middle east studies at the university of oklahoma joins us he says the tape may create problems in egypt's relationship with other countries. >> egypt in the last six months or so saw a series of teams alleging collusion between the ministry of defense, and the interior ministry misconduct trying to direct local television stations to recover abdul fatah al-sisi's bid to be president favourably and that

in itself is surprising. i think that it will make some personal relations a little tense. there has been speculation that with the new king the relations between egypt and saudi arabia might change a bit. that being said i think more important than the personal relations or what president abdul fatah al-sisi says about the gulf states many saudi arabia the united arab emirates and so on have interest in egypt not being democratic, and have an interest in the muslim brotherhood not being in power. it's not about abdul fatah al-sisi, it's the larger geo-strategic interests, and that has not changed al jazeera journalists mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed spend 407 days behind bars in egypt. they along with peter greste were accused of reporting false news and supporting muslim

brotherhood, outlawed. peter greste was released earlier. al jazeera demands the release of mohamed fadel fahmy and baher mohamed, who are still imprisoned dozens have been killed in two suicide bombings in the iraqi capital, hours before a curfew was listed. one attack targeted a restaurant in east of baghdad. 23 were killed. more injured. and 13 people were killed in another attack in a commercial area in the center of the city while the lifting of the curfew means for the first time in years people can go out past midnight. jane arraf has more from baghdad. >> for the first time in 12 years baghdad residents don't need to rush home. >> the curfew first put in place by the u.s. military and kept in force by the iraqi government is history. a few months ago there was fear

that baghdad could fall to i.s.i.l. that threat diminished. there's still regular bombings the new government is focussed on getting life on track. >> we believe that this is the right time to send the right message to our people. iraq is still at war. however, the people of baghdad should live their life. life should go on. >> because of the curfew the biggest in the city the mall has been closing at 11:00pm. early by many iraqi standards. this dress shop is a business planning to open after midnight. >> it's a positive decision for our business and our work. shops will stay open later, and we'll benefit. >> a lot of people say they feel safer at night. most bombings happen in the day time. >> it's not just the curfew the

prime minister ordered a lot of roadblocks be removed. there are crackdowns on armed groups carrying weapons in some neighbourhoods and limits to security vessels used. this is a country at war, and these are aimed at making the city feel more liveable. people are used to danger. but they are fed up spending hours in traffic. >> you have check points in the middle of the street. when there's no threat. leaves are stuck at the checkpoint for two hours. as midnight approached. they tackled the square where officials throw a party. you see the people are happy about the curfew lifted. we sleep in the day and go to work at night. >> reporter: the iraq bikers a motorcycle gang came out in force, joining tribal leaders and politicians.

>> translation: no one thinks lifting the curfew means baghdad is safe. for some it's more fun iraq's kurdish leaders say peshmerga forces defeat what they call the myths of the islamic state of iraq and levant. a security conference in germany was told that the threat from i.s.i.l. remains, as zeina khodr reports, hundreds of sunni muslim fighters from mosul are preparing for an assault to take back the city from i.s.i.l. >> they hide their faces because their families live under the rule of the islamic state of iraq and levant. these men are being trained a few kilometres outside the city they want to recapture. they call themselves the sons of mosul. some of them have never been in battle. christians yazidi kurds, arab

sunnis they have come together to fight an enemy that destroyed the city's history and the lives of its people. >> all the communities live there, and people inside are waiting for us to liberate them. we'll fight together. >> this general served in it's an's army. when it was dissolved in 2003 many found themselves without a job and without a pleas in the new iraq. commanders and fighters are bitter about the way they were treated after the fall of saddam. the grievances were exploited by i.s.i.l. the men say the armed group doesn't represent them. neither does the shia militias who are leading the fight against i.s.i.l. >> the fight to push out i.s.i.l. from the city of mosul may be a while away. it's not a question of being ready militarily. the battle for the

second-largest city requires a political decision. >> the men may represent many communities, the shia are not among them. there is little reconciliation. they want the authorities to speed up plans to create the national guard. the plan involves establishing an armed force in each province made up from people in each area. >> commanders want the national guard to be created. the sons of the city know who is good or who are terrorists. they won't treat the army badly. we are all terrorists or suspects. >> commanders say the national guard is important in sunni areas where the mainly shia army will not be trusted. defeating i.s.i.l. in the strategic and highly symbolic city of mosul may be the beginning of the end. military progress without unity could be the start of another conflict in iraq.

>> coming up after the break - war at the gates of europe. stark warning from france about the situation in ukraine and a spike in hive cases -- h.i.v. cases in a remote part of cambodia is causing concern. concern.

>> sunday night. >> 140 world leaders will take the podium. >> get the full story. >> there is real disunity in the security council. >> about issues that impact your world. >> infectious diseases are a major threat to health. >> "the week ahead". sunday 8:30 eastern. only on al jazeera america. good to have you with us these are the top stories on al jazeera. nigeria postpones presidential elections and legislative elections. there were security concerns in

the north-east. the electoral commission says the vote has been delayed by six weeks. >> a television station in turkey is broadcasting a leaked conversation involving abdul fatah al-sisi. at one point abdul fatah al-sisi was heard making plans with his office manager to demand money from gulf countries. for the first time in more than 10 years residents of the iraqi capital baghdad are allowed to go out past midnight. in four neighbourhoods, no one is allowed have unauthorised heavy weapons, including security forces and militias hours earlier, 40 were killed in a series of bombings. houthi fighters in yemen held rallies a day after taking control. count riff. anti-coup demonstrations have been held and as reported take over is worrying neighbouring countries two. >> an attempted show of force by a minority in charge of yemen.

houthi supporters crowded into a stadium to hear their leader speak. 24 hours earlier, the houthis had staged a coup and announced himself the new leaders. >> in his first appearance since his power grab they attempted to justify the coup. telling followers that they applauded him, that this was a revolution. >> translation: this move comes to address the vacuum through which other forces meant to undermany efforts between people. some collaborators within and outside yemen fail to understand that the yemeni people are adamant they'll achieve laugh demands to establish a dignified way of life. >> the houthis are a minority sect whose only allies are the president and his party, forced out of office following the 2011

arab spring. he spoke as though he was representing all yemenis. >> the yemeni people earnt the right to live a dignified life. they are worthy of obtaining demands. the historic significant moment taken by our people yesterday represented in the constitutional declaration of a significant step forward. >> but as houthi supporters cheered, anti-coup protests took mace in several cities across the country, a student-led demonstration was fired on and dispersed in the capital. thousands took to the streets in the southern city. the u.n. special envoy who failed to get all sides to agree on a deal said that he was disappointed in the houthi decision to go it alone. the u.s. condemned the power grab too, and the gulf corporation council says:

as calls for protests continued, it was announced that tribes would not obey orders coming from sanaa. they have agreed on the formation of an alternative body. the houthis played their hand. but the question is whose turn is it next. will the united nations implement a sanctions threat or will the political parties come up with a proposed solution. there's much anticipation as to what action gulf countries will take. meanwhile thousands of yemenis decided to take to the streets, they say, until they topple the new government. french president francis hollande warned that war at the gate of europe as the crisis gets worse, the main focus of a catholic church in germany where

they have renewed calls for russia to diffuse the situation. >> in the heart of bov airia, they are trying to find a way to end the deadlock over ukraine. the conflict is a 3-hour flight from here and europe feels threatened. ukraine's president took center stage with this display. >> the military idea of russian soldiers officers. this is the best evidence for their aggression and the presence of russian troops. which lost his way. 100 kilometres from the boarder. >> german chancellor angela merkel arrived on the back of a visit.

presenting vladimir putin with a proposal. as much as it's difficult to find a long-term solution it's difficult to find common ground amongst the allies. some talk of a rift between the u.s. and europe over the way forward, coming at a time when the u.s. is mulling over the idea of increasing military support to ukraine. >> obama administration is considering nonlethal aid, but now is thinking about supplying antitank missiles. a position that the chancellor is against. >> i am of the firm conviction that this conflict will not be solved militarily and why we are focussed on a diplomatic solution. at the same time with american partners we have decided to apply sanctions, hitting russia with our strength our economic side. the ukranian conflict can only be solved with direct negotiations with the separatists in the east.

>> translation: russia is committed to peace. we are against combat. we'd like negotiation between kiev and donetsk. petro porashenko says there's hope for a deal. many feel it could be the last chance. >> in the territory of delhi millions turned out to vote. prime minister narendra modi's b.j.p. party faced a tough campaign from the common man party. >> hundreds have taken to the streets. following a report on a taliban school attack killing 168 people. most of the victims were children. the laly was called for by the

parents of the children. >> six have been killed in an attack by bangladesh. after bombs were thrown at a packed bus. following violence across the country. the opposition is demopding that the prime minister step down and hold free and fair elections. protests have taken place against high fuel prices in haiti. anti-government feeling is running high and people are increasingly worried about the economy. protesters demand the resignation of president martelly for months but he is refusing to step down venezuela's president nicolas maduro ordered the takeover of a private supermarket chain. the company that owns the store is accused of facing shortages by hoarding goods. venezuela is in the middle of an economic crisis as revenues have been hit by falling global oil

presses a cluster of h.i.v. cases in a remote part of cambodia has concerns about how safe the medical services are. the country has been at the forefront of a battle against the virus. we have more. >> reporter: in the village of rocca people are scared. >> translation: the deputy village chief was one of the first to test positive for h.i.v. along with his wife and two children. after it was confirmed that we had h.i.v. the rest of the villages were afraid. one after another, more cases were confirmed. the local medical center is treating over 200. >> we were worried when more and

more tested positive. we know the impact on the community. investigations identified dirty needles from an unregistered doctor as a probable cause. >> he has been arrested and awaiting trial. >> this episode is a setback for cambodia. held up as a model in disease prevention. by more than half in the past 15 years, on its way to achieving a goal of stopping a spread of the virus by 2020. >> it prompted demands from the authorities to crack down on poor medical standards. >> no we do not have evidence of such pain in other parts of the country. and in the medium term it's considering conducting other studies. >> back in rocca village, and we are told the names of uncles aunts and cousins.

16 in total out of an extended family of 50. >> we know many other people in the village who are not tested because they fear the discrimination. >> those who have the virus, have prescribed a strict regime for young and old alike. >> for me it's painful. but i cannot accept it. i'm hold. old. my pain is for my children. how can they go through school and have a family and face a life without a cure. >> as cambodia deals with wider implications of what happens. the impact will be felt for a lifetime. environmentalists say an oil spill from a tanker near the galapagos islands is a catastrophe.

an ecuadorian vessel ran aground, and 560,000 litres of oil was spilt. the island is famous for giant tortoises and plants to canada where a ban on tobogganing say it's putting cities on a slippery slope to overregulation. despite how popular the activity is it's too dangerous. we have this report from hamilton, near toronto. >> it's as canadian as - well winter itself. toboggan in a snow-covered hill and you are off. it's probably the most popular cold-weather pastime, and it's a family affair. >> spending time with the kids having a good time. ready? >> yes. >> one, two, three. >> maybe so but here in

hamilton sliding down a hill like this is illegal. several years ago the city lost a lawsuit brought by a man. the local by-law is an attempt to prevent that. >> we have close to 500 partners in the city of hamilton. some of which present an optimum environment for tob ogonning. ie, they have hills. some are more dangerous than others, it's uncontrollable consideration for us. but there's a growing group led by ms cole who wrote a protest song "you can't toboggan in the hamlet any more" [ sings ] >> reporter: on social media and stage, she says it's about more than restricting winter fun. >> i think it's a bigger issue. it's a culture that we have to

stand for, and we have to stand for our rights. we choose to slide downhill as the song says. >> there's no denying tobogganing is risky, two young canadians died in incidents on the hill. head injuries is a problem. >> imagine the skull as the bath tub and the brain sits in. this neurosurgeon says helmets should be mandatory. >> every brain is precious there's no time to waste. if you are a parent and have a kid that wants to toboggan as a parent you should do everything you can. >> reporter: potentially dangerous and illegal, but on a gold day like this there's only one thing you can do. now, painting by artist paul gagon sold for nearly

$300 million. the highest price. it was brought by state museum in qatar. a portrait of two tahitian woman called withwhen will you marry" they maid the previous highest -- paid the previous highest price, $240 million. $240 million. childhood. >> i never felt a connection to anything or anyone. in. >> misty copeland stumbled on to talent. >> as soon as i stepped into the ballet studio i started to realise that this is beautiful, and this is challenging. >> but she had to fight for the right to dance. emancipation. >> being in a public school and having your story postured all over the media, not just in