borderland only on al jazeera america >> ukraine's president meets with leaders from germany russia and france, fighting intensified on attacks of a donetsk bus station and 19 soldiers killed. this is al jazeera live from london. also coming up. 300 migrants feared dead after trying to reach italy in rough seas. barack obama said he's not ruling out deploying ground troops as he receives authorization from congress to

use military force from isil. and 100 minutes after it launched europe's space plane splashed down on schedule in the pacific. >> ukraine's president has warned if a cease-fire deal isn't reached with talks with leaders from france, germany and russia they'll go out of control. the meeting in the belarus capitol of minsk discussed ending the fighting between pro russian separatests and ukrainian military. the separatests have been advancing on government-held territory. ukrainian forces said that force. five people have been killed and

several injured in a bomb explosion in a bomb bus station in donetsk. >> the burned out wreckage in the city of donetsk just hours before we get another attempt in negotiating, an end to this conflict. when i ran here i saw two people being pulled out. one was in very grave condition. he had his legs broken. there wasthousands of civilians have been killed in seemingly indiscriminate shelling. the attack came a day after soldiers were killed when a missiles hit a residential area. ukrainian president visited the hospital and spoke to some of the wounded.

>> civilian people living in their houses where there is no military. this is almost 50 kilometers from the front. and the russian attacking. this is unacceptable. these crimes will be punished. we demand it immediately unconditional cease-fire. >> the separatists denied the attack. they prompted ukrainian troops to bolster their positions close to the front line. the attack on the shopping center behind me happened yesterday, but the violence has dramatically increased in recent weeks. and the shelling went right up to the beginning of the peace talks. we went to a village close to the front line where countless homes have been destroyed. >> i want to live in peace. i don't want them to keep shooting to kill.

>> nearly five and a half thousand people have been killed and almost 13,000 wounded since this conflict began. the political divisions run deep and have huge international implications. evidence so far shows just how difficult it is to get both sides to lay down their arms. charles stratford al jazeera, donetsk, eastern ukraine. >> any now agreement in minsk may be based on the failed peace deal signed in minsk. it also involved a degree of autonomy for luhansk region including self rule for some areas. and amnesty for those involved

in the unrest, and the withdrawal with what was referred to as illegal militant groups from ukraine. of course, rory has more on what they hope to achieve. >> we're talking about things like cease-fire lines where are the front lines that separate the ukrainian army and separatists themselves. we're talking about things like the border between russia and ukraine. whose going to make sure that border is not the conduit for weapons and men as the ukrainian governments have been accusing russia of useing that border for the last year or so. we're talking about self determination independence, autonomy self declared rubles how much that have is given. it's not just all these things. it's the sequence of themselves. how do thee things get put in place. the order in which they happen that will allow a cease-fire to

take place hold, and deliver some sort of meaningful situation by which a proper political settlement can occur. if they don't agree if there is no deal, then we're going to be in a very sticky situation. what has triggered this flurry of activity, this diplomatic burst of action that we've seen over the last week is a real worry in europe and america of the united states as well. that this situation is getting out of control and that it might possibly run into a wider conflict a wider proper proxy war, we used to see them in the 20th century. where the west would back one side and russia would back the other, and there would be a fury unleashed in a country that is in the center of europe. if nothing is agreed here, we

might see a situation where america, the united states, coming in and properly arming the ukrainian military. we might see russia unveiling and basically openly supporting the separatists and troops coming across the border in a proper sense. that's what everyone is worried about. that's what these talks are trying to avert. >> we have breaking news from italy where the captain of the costa concordia has been found guilty of manslaughter. he has been sentenced to 16 years in prison. if you remember he was the captain of the costa concordia as it went aground killing 32 people and it capsized. it was dramatically off the coast in italy. so captain francisco schettino

has been found guilty of capsize capsizing. we'll have more on that later in the program. now, the u.n. fierce as many as 300 migrants have died while trying to cross rough and freezing waters in rubber boats. it comes after a small group of migrants was plucked from the sea and taken to the island of lampedusa. >> reporter: in high seas and plummeting temperatures, two migrants are spotted clinging to a dingy. many more people are missing. the agency says 300 more people are feared dead. >> it's quite surprising to us that the e.u. cannot respond with a stronger solidarity with a stronger humanity, and with a

stronger strategy to that. >> at least four vessels are thought to have left the coast of libya over the weekend. 29 migrants died of hyperthermia after being rescued in wintery conditions. they were among 105 people picked up by the italian coast guard trying to reach italy. in the last year more than 3,000 people have lost their lives attempting to reach europe by sea. the latest deaths are likely to bring debate over the decision to end the rescue program. they have scaled back the program after others refused to

help. >> more migrants have died because of their long journey across the mediterranean. i want to assure you and i again encourage solidarity so that those in need are rescued. >> the italian coast guard is continuing it's hunt for survivors but hue man tar cocaine groups say that italy's program that only put more lives at risk risk. >> the words of u.s. barack obama as he asked congress to authorize military force against isil. in a letter to congress, president obama said he wants limited ground combat operations and a timetable for congress to act on the president's request. we'll go live to allen fisher in washington, d.c. what does this letter and this ask really mean in practice? >> well, on the ground it won't

change a thing. the united states has been bombing isil for the last six months. that will continue. what barack obama is now looking for is essentially a legal framework to do it. he's operate under laws that passed in 2001 after 9/11. there are some people saying that's really stretching the legal point to the limit. now he's trying to put together a legal framework to allow him to carry out operations against isil. what will it mean? it will mean an operation that will last for three years once congress approves it, it will mean that there is the possibility that there is no enduring offense of ground forces, which is an interesting woolly phrase is how the white house press secretary described it and will they have the opportunity to use offensive ground forces. but they won't be there for more than three years. will it go through? but both parts of congress want investigations. they want hearings.

they want senior members of the administration to give evidence so what will happen in the next few weekser we're talking about sometime before the summer, but barack obama said its important that this is passed on a bipartisan basis so that it shows that the united states is united in the battle against isil. >> is there much likely bipartisanship likely on this issue? >> well, i suspect that most of the opposition will come from democrats. they have said that they need to step up what they're doing against isil. barack obama did not feel the need to do much more than what he's doing at the moment, but now he's going ahead in this legal framework. there is some language that will give them comfort. given the fact that it will only go for three years. it will not be an enduring offensive ground force. many democrats were concerned if

they approved this on any other basis, then it was essentially saying yes we'll commit ourselves to an open-ended war and we'll continue to write the checks. it didn't want to do that and get in the same position it was in in the war in iraq. if there is opposition, it's more likely to come from democrats than republicans. but in the end this will pass on a bipartisan basis and give barack obama the resolution he requires. although the wording from what we see today and what is finally passed may change. >> thank you very much. a live update from washington, d.c. on to syria where the al-qaeda-linked group took new ground in a major offensive. state media said that troops gained control on wednesday morning as well as nearby areas

the attack was spearheaded by the hezbollah fighters. meanwhile, they'll discuss a solution to the conflict. bashar al-assad met in damascus to talk about a cease-fire. syria's second city is at the heart of clashes between government forces and a range of insurgents. still ahead at this hour, yemen yemen's houthies acaused of using again men in the crowds. and live from italy the captain of the costa concordia has been found guilty of manslaughter and will spend 16 years in prison.

>> the new al jazeera america primetime. get the real news you've been looking for. at 7:00, a thorough wrapup of the day's events. then at 8:00, john seigenthaler digs deeper into the stories of the day.

and at 9:00, get a global perspective on the news. weeknights, on al jazeera america . >> now we go to the top stories in al jazeera. ukraine's president is meeting meeting with european leaders in minsk to see if a cease-fire can be reached. president obama asked congress to authorize military force against the islamic state in iraq and the levant. the president has made clear he does not want a full-scale ground invasion. and costa concordia captain francsco has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.

32 people died after the cruise liner hit rocks in 2012. the captain said he has been made a scapegoat for the accident. we're live where the trial is being held. claudio, it has been quite the dramatic day there. >> well, indeed, the verdict is still being read out. now, the captain was found guilty of multiple counts of manslaughter for a total of ten years plus for causing a shipwreck. that's five years. and in total with other counts it makes it 16 years prison sentence for the former captain of the costa concordia.

as i said, the verdict is still being read out. but we do know that also the jury condemned both captain schettino and costa cruises for the payment of 30,000 euros who did not accept the compensation package offered following the shipwreck, and condemned the company and the captain for 30,000 euros to be paid we'll give you the break down once we have the break down from that verdict. but captain was not there to hear the verdict but he was there this morning when he made a last plea of evidence, giving a last ditch spontaneous declaration in which he said

avenues victim of the media who portrayed him as a monster who did not have remorse. they condemned captain schettino in the role of the death of the 32 passengers and causing a shipwreck. we'll still hear about the other charges, including the charge of abandoning the ship before all the passengers were brought to safety. >> thank you very much indeed. now less return to our story about ukraine. let's go to rory challands on the update of the peace talks in

minsk. any progress there? >> well, the leaders arrived several hours ago. they'll go into discussions of a very difficult round of talks. they've been talking for two hours. recently in the last two minutes they came out for break and they came out of those discussions for another opportunity. we've also heard through various sources that they're preparing some sort of joint declaration. it seems that there is a lot more talking about that happens and this could go on well into the lane. there are many things they have to talk about. there are the lines of demarcations of the separatests and the ukrainian army. they have to talk about federalization and president

poroshenko said that he'll not count federalization. he said that would be some sort of break up of the ukrainian nation and he wants ukraine to remain sovereign and remain whole. and they also have to talk about the border. what happens there. they're talking russia and ukraine. how, according to the ukrainians how could they stop the flow of return weaponry and men across that border. is it going to be monitored. these are all difficult issues. >> a day after the building was closed because of deteriorateing security situation. thousands have rallied. the demonstrations came on the fourth anniversary of the start of yemen's 2011 up rising.

from the southern city, we have this report. >> they came by the thousands. chanting freedom. freedom as they a marched and marked the birthplace of yemen's revolution. these protests were meant to mark the fourth anniversary of that up rising. but since the houthi coupe the course changed and they've become protests primarily against what has happened in the capitol of sanaa. >> we, the yemeni people, cannot be ruled by this houthi coup. >> there were several houthi protests crass the country. there is widespread opposition to them. but protests may not be enough to stop the power grab by the houthis. on tuesday the fighters took

control of the government. there was high alert in the remaining cities that have not yet fallen into their hands. meanwhile, there is an increased fear among people here. they believe that now that the houthies and the militia have taken control of the main cities in the north they could very well attempt to capture more. there are several of these check points that have been set up across the city. >> the united nations have told al jazeera that the situation was, indeed, deteriorating. adding that unless a solution is found quickly the country could very well find itself in a civil war. the collapse the state and the threat of violence and militias and militant groups in the situation in the south which are all negative signs and indicationed. we stress the need for all parties concerned to leave off to the responsibilityies. >> the situation is so bad that

the united nations announced that it was closing its embassy until further notice. the u.k. and france has followed suit. all citing deteriorating security situation. a sign men say that things are about to get even worse. four years on, instead of celebrating the achievements, many yemenis watch as their the country false into more division. all they can do is hope that their calls for unity are heard. al jazeera yemen. >> two al jazeera journalists in prison face a retrial on thursday. mohamed fahmy, baher mohammed have now spent 410 days behind bars. accused of supporting the outlawed muslim brotherhood charge they and al jazeera deny. correspondent peter greste was deported ten days ago under a presidential decree, and is now back home in australia. chad said it has killed 13

fighters from the boko haram group in the northern nigerian sound of gombaru. meanwhile, after attacks by boko haram that left dozens dead and many more injured. two female suicide bombers struck in the latest attack. nigeria's presidential election has been delayed by six weeks over security concerns. president goodluck jonathan's government has come under fire by that decision, which has made by the independent election commission. he spoke to a media panel and faced tough questions about the country's future and how they plant to defeat boko haram. >> we're not too committed. i have spoke with the government

of chad, who were also willing to send troops. but in the african union the united nations must key in whatever is being done is some kind of acceptable. now it becomes--that's why chad has moved in now. cameroon has moved in. so there is no place for boko haram. >> we're live from abuja. do you think he would have answered some of his critics with this long chat with the media? >> please repeat the question for me, please. >> i was asking whether you thought that goodluck jonathan would have answered any of his critics during any of this media conference? >> i think yes, he would have. the two fundamental issues on

the minds of many nigerians is, one, why was the election postponed on saturday for another six weeks. there has been a lot of suspicion and allegations mainly from the opposition for the reasons of that. it's believed by them that the president wants to buy more time and colluded with security teams to say that they can provide security during the election, and that's why it was pushed back. they did address that issue and he said he had nothing to do with it. he wants the election to go ahead. and then the second issue is boko haram another issue on the minds of those of people of people is security during the elections. they say they need to fight against boko haram in northeast niger nigeria. what he clarified is that they're not saying that boko haram will be completely

extinguished or completely beaten but there would be serious gains against the group and that he was keen and ready and willing for the election to go ahead despite the accusation that he's trying to buy time. >> okay, thank you very much, indeed. european space agency has conducted a test flight for a new craft, which could pave the way for its first reusable space plane. the operation on a suborbital flight to test re-entry technologies. it marks the first step in an effort to follow the footsteps of the united states, russia, and china they did manage to land safely. more details of that also on our

website. the address for that is www.aljazeera.com. you can catch up with all the stories that they're covering, and the news. and you can watch us by clicking on our website www.aljazeera.com. >> this week, diplomat and author. >> i always say they have a big responsibility to address this issue and to promote tolerance, to promote respect, to promote that religion lead to peace, not to blood. >> the u.s. alliance for civillations office cl