a leading commander is killed in a syrian army attack on idlib. live from doha. also coming up in the next half hour peace talks begin but not with each other. libya's feuding fab shuns refuse to meet face-to-face. after. after the drug lord we look how normal at this is coming to. after the a rest of know or notorious cartel leading.

families demand to know where flight mh370 we want. ♪ ♪ the senior commander of the al-nusra front has been killed in syria. he died in a government air strike in the city of idlib on thursday. initially the nusra front claimed he was killed in a u.s. drone strike last week. now the group is confirming his death in idlib along with several other commanders. zeina happenedder happenedder is live for us there. tell us more about the air strike. >> reporter: yes, al-nusra confirming it lost several commanders including the number two in the organization. considered the military brain behind the office.

we haven't heard from the leader of the movement. there were some reports yesterday he was in the meeting. this is still unconfirmed. >> reporter: what we know is there was a meet of high-level commanders. when the meeting was targeted. this is syria's al qaeda branch. they are powerful players on the ground. this is why analysts say this is a major blow. it's a powerful hit. this group really has been fighting on the frontlines dealing severe blows to the syrian government. just a few days ago they attacked the syrian air force intelligence headquarters in a help oweahelp owe city. at the end of the day this blow benefits the syrian government. because the syrian government face twos main rivals on the ground, plus rah and isil. especially since it managed to wipeout most of the moderate opposition. and nusra really had a role in that as well.

because as of late, nusra declared war on the main moderate operation group in the north. a group which is tied to the west a group which receives arms from the west. >> and as you said, al-nusra front affiliated with al qaeda there were reports that it was seeking to seven ties, so it could get more resources from foreign countries. what are you hearing about that? >> reporter: yes, there have been reports for sometime now that there is disagreements within the organization. some of the senior leadership believes that they should disassociate themselves with al qaeda, with we know that they have pledged allegiance to. [ inaudible ] this would serve their interests, they would be able to get funds weapons and most important of all legitimacy. right now they are considered a terrorist office by the united states. it is also on the u.n. sanctions list. so there were some forces within the nusra movement who were contemplate this is possibility and this is why many analysts

were saying that this strike could have been part of an internal power struggle because at the end of the day this was a major security breach. which means that there was some sort of intelligence information provided for the strike to have been cared out. so nusra really at a critical cross roads at a time when the u.s. and the international community is looking for partners on the ground. but the state department wag asked just a few days ago what is your reaction they said they refuse to speculate for the time being. our position has not changed when, of course, they were asked for nusra had disassociated itself from al al qaeda. >> sync, a thanksqaeda. >> okay, zeina thanks for that. meanwhile a barrel bomb attack in syria kreuld does ins of people and injured more. dozens of helicopters attacked a rebel area on friday. our diplomatic editor james bays

reports. >> reporter: for months the u.n. has been calling for a freeze in aaleppo. but it's clear the opposite has been happening. when special envoy stefan addressed the security council two weeks ago he said he had an agreement from president assad to stop aerial bombardments in the city for six weeks so there can be a trial ceasefire in one neighborhood. he gave the security council a clear time line. but now at a think tank in london with his plan stalled he says violence has been increasing. >> that's the tragic collateral effect of a very good. [ inaudible ] i am afraid you are right, we have seen intensification around aleppo, fringes. >> reporter: he even seemed to hint that his choice of aleppo for the freeze may have been wrong. >> aleppo perhaps was not right. but for the reasons i said, there is a moment when you have to also to stimulate push in a certain direction. and therefore perhaps making it

right. >> reporter: if his plan is failing, what else is there? the prime minister of turkey a country whose boarder is less than 100-kilometers from aleppo has been discussion the situation with the u.n. secretary general ban ki-moon. if his plan is failing, what is the plan "b"? >> unfortunately we didn't have a plan "a" until now. forget plan "b." we had some proposals but. [ inaudible ] didn't have a clear strategy regarding syrian crisis. he didn't have a clear response and reaction to war crimes committed by the regime. the regime has used chemical weapons against civilians. >> reporter: here at u.n. headquarters there is increasing concern about the prospects for the plan. the french ambassador currently the president of the security council says he's skeptical about the chances of success. and, again, there is talk about

a top down rather than his bottom up approach. one very senior u.n. official told me this time it needs to be different, though, all regional players, including iran, need to be invited to the table. james bays, al jazerra, at the united nations. fighters from the islamic state of iraq and the levant have started destroying one of eye ram's most important archeological sites. the ancient severe a city lies on the tigris river and dates back more than 3,000 years the government says bulldozers were used during the assault. this latest destruction of the heritage follows a release of an isil video smashing a museum. libya's u.n. recognized parliament in tobruk says air strikes will end for three days in an attempt to promote peace talks. representatives from libya's rival governments are meeting in morocco to end the political crisis as powerful ma litschs

fight for control of lib a yaps oil field, now here is more. >> reporter: they are walking to the meeting hall. but libya's feuding factions are not yet ready to sit together to talk about a way out of the conflict. this is the go between the from the united nations he's meeting with members of the tripoli-based government recognized as legitimate by the country's confusional court. we came here because there is a crisis. we want this round of talks to succeed. the envoy movers to another room to talk with the internationally recognized government of at that

tracktatabrook. lib has have two governments and two armies they have been fighting each other for control. >> translator: the fact that we are here means we are building trust which hasn't been the case in the past. all the parties wants to solve the problem implement a ceasefire, form a national unity government and appoint a new prime minister. >> reporter: rival factions in the past brushed aside calls for dialogue. each laying its claim as the legitimate authority in libya. >> so far i can tell you that there is a sense of, if not optimism, at least a sense that it is possible to make ideal. and this is something very important because in the last month, this was not the case. >> reporter: for years violence in the country has claimed the lives of thousands of people and forced many others to flee for safety. it has also played in to the

hands of groups claiming allegiance to the isil. raising concerns libya's civil car could destabilize the whole region. the international community has made it clear that it won't opt for a military option in libya. and that it's up to the bitterly divided government in tobruk and tripoli to settle their differencesdifferences and agree on a road map to end the civil war. al jazerra. a second deadline has passed in talks aimed at sending fighting in south sudan. the president and his rival the rebel leader and former vice president have been meeting in ethiopia since tuesday. the original deadline set for thursday was extended to finalize details on power sharing. student leader in myanmar are accusing government leaders of trying again to curb academic freedom. now protests that were largely peaceful for two months have

turned violent. a report now. >> reporter: student protesters say this was a heavy-handed crack down on a peaceful protest. police say they came under attack. after they told demonstrators to disburse. >> translator: security men in plainclothes were doing this to a girl. what are they trying to show? does this brutality bring in this day and age? >> reporter: demonstrators are angry they government for pushing an education bill they feel would civil stifle academic freedom they are calling for changes to the school system and the right form unions, these demonstrations have gone on for months authorities say this is the first time they have taken actions despite the fact that activists did not get the proper permits. the activists wants to march on the largest city. >> translator: we are frosting because we want reform of the education system which has been neglect today something like 60 years guy by the government.

we have written letters and submitted demands but they don't care much. so we have had to have this march. >> reporter: they are calling themselves the 88 generation named after student protests in 1988 that sparked a pro december any movement. the military suppressed it then and cracked down on activists but a lot has changed in what was then known as burma. a semi civilian government? charge after 49 years of government rule. >> the government is still watching us and no did decision has come from them yet. i think they want to cut us off and stop other students from joining us, we think they are trying to separate us from outside communication. >> reporter: even after the arrests and skirmishes campaigners say they will continue their frosts until their agree demembers are net. you are with al jazerra. coming up in the next 15 minutes. >> reporter: this is just one of the examples of the many roads

bridges in this region that have been ripped out by the raining rivers. >> we'll be seeing the damage done in northern argentina. plus. on patrol with the new police force in southern yemen. >> reporter: stay with us.

>> former klansman david duke. >> america has been taken over. >> defending his controversial past. >> i did what i thought was right. >> that was then... what about now? >> i believe the zionists control the country. >> "talk to al jazeera". only on al jazeera america. welcome back: just reminds you of the top stories now. a senior commander of the al qaeda linked rebel group al-nusra front hats been killed

in syria. he died in a government air strike in the city of idlib on thursday. libya's u.n. recognized parliament in tobruk says its forces will end air strikes for three days to help promote talks in morocco. representatives from libya's rifle government are leading to try to prevent full-blown civil war. weeks of heavy rain have destroyed hundreds of homes in argentina and forced thousands of residents to seek safety. daniel has been following the recovery efforts. >> reporter: this is just one of the examples of the many road bridges in this region that have been ripped out by the raging rivers, a product of the very, very heavy rainfall we have been having across the whole north of or general tina in the last few days, many houses, 700 houses in this particular town have been

destroyed or very, very badly damaged. thousands of people have been evacuated. taken to safer ground. in the meantime, a big rescue salvage operation is underway. mattresses fridges food, water being delivered to the people here. while they are involved in a massive cleanup operation. trying to salvage what they can. huge amounts of rain fell in a very very short time causing massive devastation across the north of argentina with as i say many of these bridges down, electricity cut schools have been suspended many roads are impasse i believe. it's the governor of the province has called it the worst natural disaster, the worst flooding in 50 years. the weather has let up a little bit for now. to enable the rescues operation to get underway. but there is more rain forecast in the next few days it's a case

of watching the skies and salvaging what can be salvaged for now. he was one of the most wanted men in mexico, a week ago the drug lord also known as. [ inaudible ] was arrested by security forces. he headed a violent cartel which terrorized the southwestern state with a campaign of kidnapping and extortion. but his arrest has revived hope that his life might now return to normal. john hulman reports from one of the gang's former strong holds. >> reporter: limes are big business in southwest mexico. not just for producers but also the knights templar cartel that sent years offering them and other love businesses, a simple choice, pay up or face death. but no more. >> the ex-tours was system a i the systematic you had to pay the cartel like

it was a tox tax now it's gone. >> reporter: mexico's most walted man's cap taoufr was a culminationcapture was theculmination of a year's long research. >> we are taking back the public spaces and increasing tourism. a place for investment once again. >> reporter: tell that to jeweler ricardo his brother ruben was stabbed to death on the sidewalk three days ago. >> translator: honestly the interior minister is lying because crime hasn't gone down, every day we have assaults, robberies, the police aren't controlling the situation they just ride around, that's all they do. >> reporter: federal forces and citizen vigilante groups has seriously weaked the knights templar hotel but there are now an army of young unemployed criminals.

people say they are no longer being extorted but the criminals still freely run the streets. 400 people were killed between december and january this year, that's hardly the sign of a state under government control. legitimate jobs are needed to offer a way out for those who still earn their living through crime says a local priest. >> translator: they contaminated our society. there are people who the knights templar trained who are now infected and waiting for a moment to rides up again. the government has to invest in the economy so these young people who are now criminals have other opportunities. >> reporter: as the government celebrates the end of gomez's rule. the family of ruben mourns another lost life. it's clear for them, and hundreds of other families, true peace has yet to arrive. john hulman, al jazerra. ukraine has accused pro-russian separatists of

violating the ceasefire after a soldier was killed in the east. the truce agreed last month remains fragile with both sides accusing each other of continued violence. it comes as the government in keif has pass aid law increasing the size of its armed forces by a third. schools are being rebuild in northern nigeria where the government is continuing the fight against the armed group boko haram. schools have come to be seen as a soft target for the fighters. who abducted nearly 300 school girls from a college last year. their fate remains unclear. >> reporter: on a mission to secure schools. a nigerian government delegation traveling has been cleared of boko haram fighters but still trying to come to terms with the object ducks of its school girls -- abduction of its school girls last year. this is how a project support by international donorses bike broughtbritain, the united states

and others. go in to and build new state schools it's a new part of a strategy with a group against the group. student from places where boca ham rah is still in control are being relocated so that they can attend class too. more than 2,400 so far. >> to lay new foundations soon to rebuild this school. the safe school projects is just finding ways to strengthen the school surroundings for our children. particularly in the. [ inaudible ] the national initiative was started. [ inaudible ] what do we mean by that? we are looking at software and hardware. >> reporter: boilstered by the recent successes over boca rah ham the nigerian military is confident schools like this will reopen soon.

>> we have taken the liberty of new equipment, one of which is behind me right there. [ inaudible ] before the arrival of these weapons it was a defensive operation, now we are on the offensive. >> reporter: the government says the safe school projects will guarantee ask security for students in areas affected by violence, almost 11 months after 276 students were taken by boko haram from this school, 219 of them are yet to come home. something this community hasn't forgotten. the kidnapping on april 14 last year still hangs over the town. many people here say the government's priority should be the return of their missing daughters. their daughter is still held by boko haram. her pain is evident today. >> translator: i really don't know what to say. i don't know what is happening to her. she was taken when she was recuperateing from a surgical operation. i just want her back safe. the idea of rebuilding the school is okay, but i just want my baby back.

>> reporter: mohamed i had ritz, al jazerra northeast nigeria. demonstrators have protested in the yemeni capital sanaa over the abduction of two women. the protesters called on the government to do more find them. a french woman and her female driver were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen as they drove to work last week. meanwhile, in southern yemen president hadi has put local militias in charge of all government i want tunes in aden. the groups known as popular committees are also responsible for security at his balance as. our correspond he want has been to meet some of feed commanders. >> reporter: these are the men in. >> what of law and order in southern yep edge. the popular committee's militia has been patrolling the city for months. but now they have replaced all regular security personnel. >> translator: i think the popular committees have become a

key factor of security and stability. they were able to defeat terrorists and have worked more efficiently than entire countries and governments. >> reporter: on president hadi's orders the committees now guard the government compounds airports and all public institutions. >> translator: we welcome the committees among us because they are very useful. we had a lot of weaknesses and they helped us tremendously. ers in mattersespecially in matters of crime and illegal weapons. >> reporter: they were career rated in 2012 by president hadi and their presence was to help fight against al qaeda. they are said to have zone efficiency and made some success that's why president hadi relies on them now for his own protection and to keep security in the city of aden. >> translator: we saw the aggression that took place in sanaa and later on in some northern provinces we can't let the seam thing happen in aden. >> reporter: but regarding security in the north the

popular committees' commanders appear divided. some are open to the idea of an anti houthi offensive. >> we limit ourselves to the south. we welcome president hadi but not ready to go with him to the north to fight the houthis. >> reporter: some say it isn't their fight. >> translator: we will mobilize our forces for war once we have a legal. [ inaudible ] and a military order as well as an agreement between all tribes and provinces. >> reporter: right now there is no plan to make a military move on the houthis in sanaa. and people here say they are concerned the presence of political players from the capital may turn the south in to a playground for instability. al qaeda still operates here. and only the committees are here to protect the south. mohamed, al jazerra aden. an airliner has slid off the runway and hit a fence avalancheding in snowy conditions in new york.

all 132 passengers and crew escaped the delta airlines jet without serious injury. at la guardia airport. sunday is the first anniversary of the world's biggest aviation mystery. what happened to malaysia airlines fly 370 and its 239 passengers and crew. many on board were chinese and their families are refuse to go accept what they have been told of the jet's disappearance our china correspondent adrian brown reports. >> reporter: one year on they still demand answers. families of the missing trying to march on malaysia's beijing embassy. as always, their way is blocked. the police regard them as troublemakers and keep them under surveillance. >> translator: what you are doing is illegal. he shots. >> reporter: in many cases parents lost the only child the law allows them to have.

>> translator: we have been looking for help from the government. but the government hasn't don nug, our demands have still not been answered. >> reporter: such displays of emotion are frowned upon by the authorities. which is why the families are as scorn. of their government as they are malaysia airlines. 12 months ago surrounded by the media, he came to beijing hoping to find news of his brother. he wanted the truth then, he wants it now. >> translator: the government isn't working on seeking the truth but instead is pressuring us to take compensation, his leaves our hard gold. >> reporter: the older brother devote today his family. his home is adorned with happy memories. her son was 21 months old when mh370 vanishs. he had been working as a construction worker in singapore with the money he saved he hope today one day train to be a dentist to serve his community

here. the his family still believe he will pull fill that dream because in their words he's coming back. >> translator: yes, from the bottom of my hearty always feel like nothing ever happened to him. and one day he will come back. every time i talk about this with my son he always says, daddy will come back. >> reporter: the lack of any credible information has led the families to entertain any number of theories about what happened to the plane. for now they think it was highjacked. some have taken their protest to the doorstep of malaysian airlines headquarters in kuala lumpur. they want the search to continue and are refusing the compensation offer. to do so they say would be to acknowledge their loved ones are never coming back. and one year on, that's still something that lee link can't

quite believe. adrian brown, al jazerra in china. and there is more on the investigation in to mh370 in one on one east at 0930 gmt on al jazerra. all the news all the time of course on our website al aljazerra.com. >> day. >> man shot, woman shot, child shot - accidentally shot 16 months in the new york blog, jennifer documented every shooting in america - or at reported. >> people shoot each other over the donest things a -- dumbest things a secret from her past kept her going.