>> one person killed as the freedom of speech meeting organized by cartoonists is attacked by gunmen in copenhagen. >> one person killed as the freedom of speech meeting organized by cartoonists is attacked by gunmen in copenhagen.

>> one person was killed and three police were wounded before the attackers escaped in a car. the cartoonists lars vilks was not hurt. he had been under police protection since publishing cartoons of the prophet mohammed in 2010. >> bullet holes in the glass after an afternoon of free speech turn violent. >> this has been a tragic event. at 3:33 p.m. two heavily armed

men attacked the center. >> guests and sweets saying they were under fire. they would spray the cafe with shots when they couldn't get in. cartoonists lars vilks, who stirred controversy with his caricatures of the prophet prophet muhammad, survived the attack. some call the shooting an attempt on his life. he already lives under constant police protection. others at the event said that they through themselves on the floor as bullets came through the windows. >> the gunmen are known to be gainish danish speaking and

drove off in a danish car. many wonder if they'll strike again. >> the place where the attack took place is in northern copenhagen. it's a venue known for live music, in particular jazz concerts. this also hold high profile talks and debates. we're at the scene at copenhagen. we know that the police have been at the scene what more has been said. >> they're giving journalists a little bit more information as we speak. the latest we're hearing is that the police released the description of one of the gunmen. they said he's about 180 centimeters tall with straight black hair. they said he had light skinned and an arabic appearance.

they said that he was dressed in a black sea jacket and matching trousers and the lower half of his face was covered by an arabic scarf. they're investigating the attack. >> any loyal reaction as of yet christina? >> politicians have been coming out and condemming the attack. there is real shock here. in many ways some kind of attack was expected. denmark is the birthplace of the controversy of cartoons of muhammad and it has caused controversy around thed. >> what is happening there? >> the witnesses to the attack

are gathered in a cafe near the venue. it's cordoned off. the police are here and we are getting regular updates from them. but i understand that the witnesses are going to be taken down to a police station in copenhagen for questioning. >> live at the scene at the shooting in copenhagen. thank you very much. >> a day of intense fighting has cast doubts on hopes of peace. separatist fighters are still targeting the found of debaltseve, a strategic railway hub. we're in the city of donetsk

with another day of escalating violence. >> we were waiting for a news conference to start when the first sound of the shelling was heard. as we left the building there was another bang. [ explosion ] and much closer this time. one of the shells hit a residential area near a children's playground. >> we heard several explosions. all the glass broke. we ran into the basement. >> we were sitting at home celebrateing my daughter's birthday, and this happens. there are old people who live here too. how can they live like this? >> shortly after the separatist leader announced a cease-fire would not apply to the town of debaltseve. >> we will stop fire in all the

donetsk people republic territory except the debaltseve region. any those who try to break out will be considered aviolation of the pink agreement. obviously any attempt will be stopped. >> debaltseve has seen some of the most intense fighting in recent weeks. it's believed that thousands of ukrainian soldiers are surrounded there by separatests. debaltseve is strategically important. if separatests take it, they'll have a direct railway link to russia. the u.s. ambassador to ukraine published these pictures which washington says show iran troops building up around the town of debaltseve. this does not bode well for the cease-fire deal. they say debaltseve was never

mentioned into the minsk deal, and this could prove to be a major stumbleing block. >> they may now determine whether the fighting starts. charles stratford al jazeera, eastern ukraine. >> bring us up-to-date what the situation is like where you are now. >> just to give you context of how the day has banned panned out. as we've been reporting we saw a lot of troop movement in that area, a lot of heavy shelling in and around that town. we came across the front lineback into the separatist-controlled area here. and a lot of tension at check points. it seems that the ukrainian military was a lot more rigorous than they have been previous

days. a lot of more traffic coming through this area. we passed through a separatest checkpoint and the separate estelleing us that he expected things to get louder, if you like, as night nightfall fell. we came into donetsk and it was quite quiet. then we saw the attack around mid afternoon it went quiet again and it's literally in the last hour or so, and as i'm speaking now what sounds like in coming and outgoing shelling has begun. so things seemingly if you like, heating up the closer we get to this supposed truce agreement started. >> what would happen if this cease-fire fails. there is not a great deal of optimism about it, is there? >> well, there isn't no. we hear from a press statement coming out from the german chancellor's office a few hours

ago. the french president in a french going into quite a lot of detail about his anxiety of what was happening in debaltseve. and it's in the last couple of hours he said that if the truce agreement is not stood by, and the separatests go back on their word then he'll declare marshal law against all of ukraine. so obviously a statement like that has massive implications. not only for life for ukraines right away, but for the future of any long-term peace deal. >> charles stratford for the latest from donetsk. thank you. >> criticizing a blatant cool and called on the u.s. security council to take action over yemen. they criticized houthi fighters

for take over of government institutions. the they said that the work has been undermined as a result and they express concern that al-qaeda and the arabian peninsula could benefit from the weakened political and security situation. well talks are being held in yemen between houthi rebels and former president ali abdullah saleh. it's been a week since houthies took over the capitol triggering protest across the country. angry protesters set fire to vehicles in yemen's third largest city. they say that it was used to prevent them from holding a demonstration.

anti-houthi sentiments are on the rise. this is the city south of the capitol of sanaa. the shia houthies are in control of part of the city, but people are worried. protesters are out on the streets to denounce what they say is a houthi crackdown. >> they kept beating me, torturing for hours. they wanted false confessions things i was never involved in. they wanted me to lie and say that they were paying us to protest against them. and they're paying us money to protest against houthies. all lies. >> anti-outyanti-houthi protests are gathering across the

country. many gather to express their solidarity with the president who was recently forced to resign. last week shia houthies dissolved parliament and said they would run the country on their own for a period of two years until elections are held. the coup was denounced by the international community. the u.n. is renewing efforts to bring the factions together, many countries have evacuated their embassies in the capitol of sanaa including the u.s. which has been actively engaged in drone attacks against al-qaeda in yemen. but there is growing concern there is a power vacuum to lead to more violence and instability. al jazeera. >> still ahead on the program italy says it's prepared to intervene in libya as isil

supporters claim to have captured the city of sirte. and valentine's day heartbreak, while strikes are hurting the sale of red roses in bangladesh.

>> start with one issue. add guests from all sides of the debate and a host willing to ask the tough questions and you'll get the inside story. >> ray suarez hosts "inside story". weeknights at 11:30 eastern. only on al jazeera america. 6. >> a reminder of the top stories here on al jazeera. two gunmen have attacked a meeting of freedom of speech in copenhagen killing one person and injuring three more. french ambassador was there along with lars vilks who has

received death threats since his image caricaturized images of prophet muhammad. and many rally against last week's houthi coup. we'll stay with our top first story. the shootings at that cafe in the stainish city of copen copenhagen. tell us what is happening at the scene of the attack. what are the police doing right now? >> that's right. there is a large large police presence here. what we're expecting in the next couple of minutes is for the danish prime minister to arrive. she's expected to make a statement to the media that is gathered there. >> tell us more about the meeting, who was talking?

>> this is a meeting that was organized by lars vilks the swedish cartoonists one of the original cartoonists who depict depicted the prophet muhammad. he was there to talk about blast meblasphemy and the freedom of speech. >> vilks, of course, had police with him isn't we as i understood. he always has security with him because he has been threatened before. >> that's correct. he has a bodyguard and, in fact his bodyguard did actually shoot at the attackers when they started to fire their automatic weapons. he knew that he was a target. and the danish security services confirmed that lars vilks was the target of this attack.

but the security situation in denmark tense to be low key. but since 2006-2007 there has been a fear that some kind of terror attack would happen at some point because of the denmark's role in the cartoon. >> what more do we know about the police investigation itself? >> so. >> there is still a manhunt going on. we understand following the attack the two attackers fled the scene and stole a car which was later found about a couple of hours later abandoned two kilometers away from the scene of the attack. the police are there investigating things. the car trying to get more information. no weapons have been found so they presume the gunmen, who are on the loose are armed. >> christine for us in copenhagen and the pictures you're seeing on the screen at

the moment are of the danish prime minister. she's speaking danish, but as soon as we get a translation of what she's saying we'll bring it to you. >> thank you. >> playing down the attack as a minor set back. isil fighters within striking distance of the air base where more than 300 american troops are training iraqi forces. eyesel fighters stage an unsuccessful attack on that air base on friday. well the u.n. envoy to iraq has strongly condemned the killing of a tribal leader. he was among the group of 1 people killed kidnapped and killed. the killings were described as a heinous and unacceptable cries. two sons of an iraqi mp are

among the dead. >> you have to realize that the check points these made were "r" a routine checkpoint for vips, they usually sail right through. for them to be stopped and taken to an undisclose the location, and then bodies-- >> back to the danish prime minister. >> that is, of course, unfortunate. that's what happens with live television. she was speak forgive a few minutes before in danish. at the moment she was posed a request to by an english reporter. she gave a response, we'll bring it to you as soon as we get it. >> the police have fired tear gas against demonstrators who were mainly shia muslims calling for political reforms from the ruling royal family.

demonstrators have tried to block roads but authorities tried to clear the streets. the opposition want an elected prime minister, but the king has refused. two al jazeera journalists are out on bail after 411 days in jail in egypt. but their fight for justice is not over yet. mohamed fahmy, baher mohammed are still charged with colluding with the banned muslim brotherhood. the previous conviction was thrown out. their retrial is set for february 23rd. al jazeera is calling on the court to dismiss the absurd case and release them unconditionally. the italian government says it's prepared to intervene in libya as part of an international force to combat the islamic state in iraq and the levant. on friday isil supporters had captured the coastal city of sirte. until now that city has been controlled by forces. >> the convoy of trucks parades

through the town near sirte. these are fighters affiliated with the islamic state in iraq and the levant. for weeks forces who say they support isil have become increasingly more active in libya. now they've that he say they've taken sirte. the deteriorating situation has prompted leaders of the general national congress to hold an emergency meeting on saturday. >> the city is now under the control of a group that does not recognize the libyan state. we're trying to identity their true identities, where they came from in decision to the state institution that they fought over. >> the presence of isil on the mediterranean coast has alarmed some european countries. on friday the eye tall i don't

know foreign minister said that his country is ready to fight but only as part of an international mission. he said we can't accept the idea that there is an active terrorist threat only a few hours from italy by boat. in the eastern city of bengahzi, former general haftar and his forces have been fighting supporters was libyan dawn. haftar supports another parliament based in the city of tibruk. one of his field commanders said that they would soon retake substantial parts of bengahzi. >> we're currently in the special forces barracks. that's the traffic light here. we hope in the next few hours to liberate it as we hope and pray. >> but haftar's men have made such statements before, and for now the fighting among the many armed groups in libya continues. dominick kane, al jazeera. >> hundreds more migrants have

been rescued from over crowded boats headed to italy from north africa. two commercial ships arrived after an early morning distress call. some have been taken to the italian island of lampedusa. others to sicily. an estimated 300 migrants were drowned in stormy seas earlier this week trying to reach italy from north africa. red roses symbolizing love are the traditional way to celebrate valentine's day. that means big business around the world. but bangladesh blockades strikes, and fear of attacks are hurting sales. >> it's been a difficult couple of months for most businesses in bangladesh. but for flower growers it could end up being a bad year. february is when they make almost all their money. they bearly break even the rest

of the year. but as the opposition here tries to get the prime minister to step down through national strikes and violent blockades transportation has stopped. this means that although they continue to gather the roses on their farm, there are no trucks to take them to the city in time for valentine's day. >> it's just a couple of weeks that really matter. these two weeks are worth $7,000 to $9,000 for us. that's basically all our profit. >> for theinterest is not just a problem with supply. the demand is also drying up. >> the love anniversary has a special meaning for people. but business has been bad the past few days. >> this is one of the largest markets in the capitol and it's right at the square, a popular venue for political rallies. this makes it especially sensitive location during general strikes.

there is always a fear that there might be an attack here. and the vendors worry that this might be keeping customers away. >> february is flower day not just for valentine's day but it's the first day of bengally spring. it's common for women to take to the streets wearing yellow and orange flowers, but many no longer take part. >> this is a day that everyone should enjoy not by staying cooped up in their homes. that could be a sad thing. >> he hopes that this is not the case. a bad february already means a bad year. if this continues he's not sure that his business can survive. >> brazil's biggest party of the year has officially kicked off with people taking to the streets with five days of nonstop festivities.

up a million visitors are expected to head to the city. with this year's event lucia newman has been catching up with the king of the carnival. >> the king is about to make his entrance. the moment that millions of brazilians have been waiting for when the legendary king momo receives the keys to the city of rio de janeiro. >> i declare the festiveities of karenal of rio de janeiro open: >> even the mayor is at his feet. >> from this moment on you will have to deal with the city's complaints and traffic and other problems of rio. >> but these are not king momo's priorities. he's animating what is known as the biggest party on earth with

his queen and two princesses by his side, an 82-year-old tradition. but who is the man with so much responsibility? earlier this week we visit wilson nettele. as he went in for his costume fitting. he had to compete for the highly coveted honor of wearing this crown a contest he has won for two consecutive years. >> i took stage lessons which helped loosen me up and learn how to control my facial expressions while dancing and i learned more about the history of carnival. >> he began parading in the local samba school when he was eight. samba and karen have carnival are obviously in his blood. from now until next wednesday wilson nettel will reign supreme, after that he'll return

to his normal, less fairytale life as an events promoteer opening and praying that next year he'll get back the keys to the throne. >> much more on our website. www.aljazeera.com. >> gang rape, among the most shocking of violent crime is stirring a global outrage. throughout asia, it is believed to be far more common than most people think. >> rape is a major problem in all countries across this region. >> women's experiences of violence are well documented but the