until next time, we will see you online. a top commander of the most powerful syrian rebel has been killed in an air strike. hello i'm darren jordan in doha. also peace talks between south sudan's rebels adjourn without a deal. in turkey a teenager goes on trial charged with insulting the president. arrests are made in india after a mob drags a suspected rapist from prison and beats him to death. ♪

a senior commander of the al-qaedaed link rebel group us in are front has been killed in syria, abu hammam al-shami died in an air strike in the city of idlib on thursday. he held the title of general military commander for the al-nusra front. >> reporter: his death comes at a critical time for the organization. there have been reports that the al-qaeda branch has been asked to cut links with the organization and become a purity syrian force so it can receive funds and weapons. this video was reportedly filmed in apep low in december. it emerged after al-nusra announced his death. he was also fighting for al-qaeda in afghanistan and iraq

and analysts say he was among the so-called hard liners. >> they were the hard liner extremist pro-al-qaeda segment of al-nusra that have been against the offer made to al-nusra in recent times to take a different course than it is now. al-nusra has been asked by many -- via many channels and by many external forces regional and international that it has to decide. >> a cartel. >> the syrian government claimed responsible for what is being described as a painful and powerful hit. abu hammam al-shami and a somebody of other muslim leaders had been killed in an army operation targeting a meeting. a weakened al-nusra benefits the

syrian government. it has been perhaps the most powerful rival on the ground but a weakened al-nusra could work against the government. it's presence has been one of the reasons why the west hasn't provided much-needed opposition to the opposition. al-nusra has already changed the face of the opposition. it has been responsible for weakening the so-called moderate camp. it declared all out war on the u.s.-al lyed movement which forced it to disband, for many that was a message to the u.s. at a time when the u.s. is planning to train a force in syria. >> translator: we have to remember that the coalition says it's against the islamic state of iraq and the levant. but the truth is al-qaeda is the biggest threat to the west.

the group is believed to have more than 10,000 fights or in its ranks. there may be different mind sets among them but there is also an ideology that will be hard to defeat. fighters from isil have started destroying one of iraq's most important archaeological sites on the tigris river. this is what it looked like before bulldozered were used to destroy the antiques. isil released a video last week showing artifacts in mosul's museum being destroyed. libyan rival factions have met for a second day in morocco to find a peaceful solution to the conflict that has killed thus of people. hashem ahelbarra reports from the moroccan capitol, rabat. the united nations envoy to libya is hoping to sale a deal

in the moroccan capitol rabat. it has always reiterated that the factions have no alternative but to talk. >> it makes no sense to go back to fighting and con frontation. this will lead nowhere. they are aware of this. now we're going to start discussing concrete proposals this morning. i am optimistic about the security arrangements which is a key element. the new government need's secure environment to work. >> reporter: they told the feuding factions that it's time to start a road map for power sharing. >> we're talking about a process here of dialogue and negotiation. >> reporter: the internationally recognized government of tobruk

is halting air strikes for three days. >> there is no other way but to pursue a very productive national dialogue that could reach the stage of having total agreement on both parties for the sake of establishing our constituting the government of national unity. >> reporter: if a deal is reached the east and west of libya will form a government, disband militias reform the army and implement a ceasefire across the country. >> translator: the fact that we are not able to sit together and talk face-to-face complicated matters for us. we told the u.n. envoy we want to have direct talks with the other party. >> reporter: libya has been beset by a civil war triggered by a power struggle between the two governments. the infighting and rise of groups affiliated with the

islamic state of iraq and the levant raises concerns of instability. for international key players, a fractioned libya could lead to proxy wars and pave the way for isil fighters to build a strong platform in north africa, a nightmare for europe which is hoping to see a peace deal become a reality. the u.k.-based oil company british petroleum has signed agreements worth $12 billion to develop major gas field in egypt. the project times produce 5 trillion cubic feet of gas. production is expected to begin in 2017. egypt plans to hold a major economic conference next week aimed at boosting foreign investment in the count friday. hundreds of anti-military cue demonstrators have held rallies across egypt. they are calling for the release of all political prisoners and

the end of military rule in egypt. israeli police say a palestinian driver has been shot and injured after his vehicle plowed into pedestrians in occupied east jerusalem. four of the five people that were hurt were israeli police women. peace talks between the two wars parties in south sudan have been suspended indefinitely. the president and his rival, have failed to reach an agreement while meeting in ethiopia. catherine soi reports. >> reporter: 13 months of negotiations have ended in a stalemate. the president and rebel leader held several direct talks this

week, their position on key issues power sharing, the security arrangement of a transitional government and the composition of parliament are still miles apart. the two sides blame each other. in front of cameras, though they chose to be more diplomatic. >> negotiation is a process, not an event, so whenever we come here to come and negotiate, and depart from here it doesn't mean that we have failed but it means we are giving ourselves time to think over some of the disagreed issues so that when we come back we'll come and continue negotiating. >> we want to help our people the south sudanese and the peace lovers let us not lose their hope. it is a difficult task, but admit the peace process has not collapsed. >> reporter: but many here are loosing hope. now there's a genuine fear about

what might happen next. those who are suffering the most are ordinary south sudanese hundreds of thousands of whom are still in displacement camps like this one. they are hoping they would be home by now, but clearly they have to wait much longer for a lasting solution to the crisis here. this person has been struggling to survive in this camp for displaced people. she is among hundreds of thousands stuck in camps in south sudan. >> translator: this place is not my home. i lost all of my things. i have no property. i just get help from aid organizations. if this is peace i will definitely go back home. >> reporter: for now those like her continue to live in confinement, too afraid to leave u.n. protected zones. they say this is not what they expected only four years after they had won independence. an opposition leader from

tazikistan has been shot dead in turkey. the oil businessman lead the banned organization, group 24. he was one of the most outspoken critics of his country's president. a 16-year-old has gone on trial for alleged assaulting turkey's president. he could face up to four years in prison if convicted. the case was adjourned until next month. we spoke to a lecturer of international law, and he said there has been a rise in these kinds of prosecutions. >> it is quite significant to be considered a general framework. this is not a unique case frankly. there has been a dramatic increase in a number of cases brought on similar grounds, that is to say on the grounds of insulting the president.

compare the previous term and the six monks -- the initial six months of erdogan, you can see the thing. over the seven-year term of the previous president there were five or six similar cases. but in the last six months only there are studies that we can determine that there are more than 45 cases, involving more than 80 people brought against people on the grounds that they allegedly insulted the president. no person although they may be tried on such grounds, no person should be detained on these grounds under turkish procedure law. however, the prosecutors nor the judges they do respect the text of the law, and only since the start of february this monk, over the last couple of weeks or

so people spent time in turkish jails because of these alleged allegations. time for a short break here. when we come back -- [ singing ] >> on patrol with the new police force in yemen. stay with us. he's out there. there's a guy out there whose making a name for himself

in a sport where your name and maybe a number are what define you. somewhere in that pack is a driver that can intimidate the intimidator. a guy that can take the king 7 and make it 8. heck. maybe even 9. make no mistake about it. they're out there. i guarantee it. welcome to the nascar xfinity series.

>> 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. the top stories here on al jazeera. peace talks between south sudan's warring parties have

been suspended indefinitely. the president and the rebel leader failed to reach an agreement while meeting in ethiopia. . in syria, a senior commander of the al-qaeda-linked al-nusra group has been killed. and a 16 year old in turkey has gone on trial for allegedly insulting the country's president. he could face up to four years in prison if convicted. the case was adjourned until april 3rdrd. southern yemen the president has put local militias in this charge of all government institutions in aiden. the groups are known as the popular committees and are responsible for security at its palace. our correspondent mohamed vall has been to meet some of those protecting the president's interests. >> reporter: these are the men in charge of law and order in

southern yemen. the popular committees 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 more efficiently than entire countries and governments. >> reporter: on the president's orders the popular committees now guard the presidential come poundings, 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. >> reporter: the popular committees were created in 2012 by president hadi and the purpose was to help fight against al-qaeda in one province. they are said to have shown efficiency and had some success, and that's why the president relies on them now for his own

protection and give security in the city of aden. >> reporter: we saw the looting and aggression that took place in sana'a. we can't let the same thing happen here. >> reporter: but the popular committee's commanders appear divided. some are open to the idea of an anti houthi offensive. >> translator: we limit ourselves to the south. we welcome the president, but we're 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 military order as well as an argument between all tribes and provinces. >> reporter: right now there is no plan to make a military move on the houthis in sana'a, and people here say they are concerned the presence of political players from the capitol may turn the south into a playground for instability. al-qaeda still operates here

and only the committees are here to protect the south. mohamed vall al jazeera, aden. the russia dissident alexi nav valueny has been released from prison. >> i know you will have lots of questions. i have already expressed my opinion on this and won't add more for now. but our activity will not change in any way. in this sense the act of terror that took place will not achieve its aims. i'm sure it will not frighten anyone. it has not frightened me or my comrades. france's former interior minister, during nicklas sarkozy's presidency is in

custody being questioned of possible illegal funds during the campaign. jacky rowland has more. >> reporter: well, the questioning that has been going on since the early hours of friday morning surrounded a sum of approximately $700,000 which appeared in claude gueant's bank account back in march 20th [ technical difficulties ] the explanation given was this was payment for two paintings he said he shareholder a malaysian art collector. but the paintings are believed by experts to be worth only a fraction of what they were allegedly sold for, also because

if you are selling valuable paintings, you have to a export license. so there are some questions, which is why police are digging bit further to see whether this mystery $700,000 could be money that came from the regime of former leader of libya gadhafi to finance the election campaign of nicklas sarkozy. a mob in india has beaten a alleged rapist to death. the prison is in the northeastern state of naggaland near bangladesh. >> reporter: local madia are

suggesting that what started as a peaceful protest took an unexpected turn with the mobber approximately at least one thousand people turning to the prison where the alleged rapist was being held. they stormed the prison. took the prisoner out. beat him and paraded him to the center of town. he died of his injuries at that point. they suggest that while there's no connection between the events that have unfolded in india as a result of the airing of a documentary that relates to a 2012 gang rape of a medical student on a bus in new delhi and what has happened here on thursday. however, it is fair to say that the incidents have unfolded at a very interesting time at a time when there's a resurgent debate about rape and sexual violence in india, and calling for greater action on the part of the authorities to do more and to find permanent solutions to these crimes and these cases

that just don't seem to be going away. fifa president has asked iran to end its ban on women watching football matches. he has described the situation as intolerable. he spoke to the iranian president in november 2013 but nothing has happened. thousands of female iranian fans were able to watch their national team play in the asian cup earlier this year in australia. nepal's only international airport remains closed after an airplane skidded off of the runway. thousands of travelers have been stranded since wednesday. the plane was damaged but no one on board was hurt. airport crews are using special equipment brought in from india to remove the plane. the man accused of attacking the u.s. ambassador to south korea has made his first appearance in court. 55-year-old, kim ki-jong was wheeled into court on friday. he is likely to be charged with attempted murder. police are investing the motive

of the attack and the multiple trips he made to north korea. ambassador mark lippert needed 80 stitches after his face was slashed. chinese and japanese diplomats will hold their first security talks for the first time in four months. both china and japan claim ownership of islands in the south china sea. students in sierra leone will soon be returning to class. schools were closed to fight the ebola epidemic. jalz's natasha ghoneim reports parents are worry, and officials say the -- epidemic is far from over. >> reporter: the schools will be

filled again with students. officials are preparing for the first school year since the ebola epidemic gripped sierra leone and its neighbors. [ applause ] >> translator: we are afraid. if it were up to me i would not the school to reopen until ebola is finished, but since the government has passed its order, we just have to obey. >> reporter: schools in the country have been closed for the last eight months. the spread of the virus appears to be abating. even though, the world health organization says sierra leone has recorded 81 new cases. all schools will be receiving infrared thermometers to check for fever. the government has also pledged to pay fees for students. >> translator: we need to advise our children to be careful when playing with their friends because you can't tell who is infected. only god will save us from this.

>> reporter: international health officials say the government still needs to do more homework before school opens. they are calling for a former risk assessment. >> we still have to be very, very vigilant. but on the other hand as well normal activities have to resume slowly in order to facilitate that the country will -- will be able to cope you know, with the next months to come. >> reporter: but there are signs that the months ahead will be easier. not only for sierra leone, but for all of the west african countries which have already lost about 9800 people during this ebola outbreak. a wave of storms is causing havoc in the bakkens. roads have been closed and village villages have been impacted. massive cleanup operation is

underway in northern argentina after the worst flooding in 50 years. weeks of heavy rain have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to seek safety. the exact number of people evacuated is unknown, and some areas have been cut off by the flooding. now he was one of the most wanted men in mexico and a week ago the drug lord known as la tuta was arrested by security forces. he headed the violent knights template cartel. but his arris has revived hope that life night now return to normal. >> reporter: lines of big business in the state in southwest mexico not just for producers, but also the knights templar cartel who spent years

offer them and other businesses a simple choice pay up for face death, but no more. >> translator: the extortion was systematic, you had to pay the cartel as if it was a tax, but now that's gone. >> reporter: last friday's capture of mexico's most wanted man was the culmination of a year-long operation. >> translator: today we find [ inaudible ] reactivating its economy. taking back its public places and increasing tourism. a place for investment once again. >> reporter: tell that to this man. his brother 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 just ride

around that's thal do. >> reporter: federal forces and individual -- individual land-- individual land tee groups have weakened the cartel. but 400 people were killed between december and january of this year. 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 are waiting for a moment to rise up again. the government has to invest in the economy to these young people have other opportunities. >> reporter: as the government celebrates the end of gomez's rule this family mourns another lost life.

it's clear that for them and hundreds of other families here true peace has yet to arrive. and a reminder you can keep up to date with all of the news on our website, there it is on your screen aljazeera.com. that's aljazeera.com. >> for centuries, some west african communities have branded children born deformed or with disabilities as evil spirits. they are seen as a drain on limited resources and so ...