>> as yemen's conflict draws on the country's former leader ali abdullah saleh asks for safe passage out of the country. >> this comes as the saudi-led coalition airstrikes bring very real results. also coming up, colombia's leader orders airstrikes on farc rebels after ten soldiers are killed in an attack. europe is asked to do more after hundreds of migrants are feared drown in the

mediterranean. >> i'm in geneva where hundreds of the world's inventers get together to show off their creations. what have we got here? find out later in the program. >> hello, a warm welcome to the program. as sawed saudi arabia keeps up its offensive former president ali abdullah saleh has asked for safe passage out of the country. his question has been denied by the gcc. rebels are accused of randomly shelling residential areas. the saudi government said that this offensive is destroying the houthi military capability, but it is the people of yemen who are really suffering. these five cargo ships carrying

food aid are stuck off the coast, and hundreds have now fled the fighting. more on the humanitarian situation in just a moment. but first we have more on the former president's offer to leave. >> in the message scenes that the message saleh says that he has no ties with the houthis that he's not part of this war and he's not supporting the houthis. of course, this could tradition addicts what he said earlier when he sent his son just before the beginning of the strikes sent him with the same offer but with conditions at that time. now saleh has no conditions. when he sent his son he said among those conditions that he wanted his son to be the president of yemen and to be able to run for election. and also he is going to abandon the houthi. now in his present message to the gcc leaders he said actually he has not been part of

this. he has not been with the houthies. he has no ties with them, and he just wants to leave yemen safely and apparently the gcc leaders have categorybly reject categoryically rejected that offer. we have more now on how the military operation is unfolding. >> houthi tanks destroyed in saudi-led airstrikes. coalition officials say that the tanks were on their way to aden where fighting continues 37 these warplanes were spotted on the runway of the military base in sanaa. >> the houthies are unorganized. they're try to redi ploy to other areas, but they were

targeted by coalition forces. >> for saudi arabia, the use of force was the only way to prevent the houthis from controlling yemen. >> i would not describe it as as proxy war with iran, but a war of necessity. taking over a radical group allied with iran and hezbollah. the last time i checked iran did not have a border with yemen. there is no reason for iran to be involved with yemen. >> houthi fighters backed by drops loyal to ali abdullah saleh.

forces oiled to yemen's president are gaining some ground in aden and other areas in the south. here on the western entrance into aden vehicles speed away carrying people escaping the fighting. traveling in the opposite direction, ambulances head towards the fighting, but can't get very far. >> there are injured people over there, but the houthis are targeting our vehicle. they shoot at us. we can't reach the injured. >> hospitals have also been badly hit. some like this one have no electricity. airstrikes continue to target houthi positions in saada their strongholds and the capital of sanaa some of the best-trained army units. the saudi-led coalition is ramping up its campaign to force the houthis and their allies to

disarm. pull out from the cities they control and join political talks to solve yemen's crisis. the houthis say that they will not hold talks if the airstrikes continue. al jazeera. >> the united nations says it is preparing for even more people to leave yemen for neighboring djibouti as the humanitarian situation gets worst. it's estimated that 10.6 million people are now unable to meet theired into needs. emran khan has the story. >> on the shores of djibouti they land, tired but relieved after a dangerous journey. they fled airstrikes in yemen but refuse to go called refugees. >> we're not refugees, but we fled the war because aden is closed. we came this way. >> they brought what they could carry, but they don't know what fate awaits them in the whole of

africa. >> i was in the capital and there was some intense fighting. throughout the day there was bombing on the city, and eventually this morning the city was cut off completely before we got here, one day before we got here. >> the u.n. refugee agency said that although the numbers of those landing in djibouti are small, they're expecting many more soon. people are escaping nearly three weeks of saudi airstrikes on iranian-backed houthi rebels and their allies. the country has faced food shortages for decades, and now it's warning that they could face a food crisis. >> if there is no mitigation measures, they are deteriorating at this time. we expect there to be a very serious food security problem. with a lot more people facing emergency situation. >> so far almost 600 people have

died and more than 2,000 have been wounded in the fighting, which shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. emran khan, al jazeera. >> columbia's president santos has ordered the resumption of bombing raids on farc after attacks. the killings are the largest violation of the current cease-fire between the two sides and come as peace talks continue in cuba. >> this incident was a product of the deliberate attack by farc. it was not a coincidence. this implies a clear break in the promise of the unilateral cease-fire. this is dispickable action that will not go unpunished,

consequences for the people who carried out this unspeakable attack. we're going to pursue them until we find them. i've ordered the armed forces to lift the suspension of bombings on four accounts. >> let's get more now in bogota. hi there alessandro. do you think this will derail peace talks? >> well, president santos stopped short from talling calling for a suspension of the peace talks. this is the biggest crisis in the peace talks. it comes at a crucial time for the talks and at a time when there was real momentum with positive announcement. not only the farc unilateral peace fire, the ban on the bombing since march. but a deal between farc and the army to work together to remove

landmines in the country. so the finishing line on those talks seem to be getting closer. now, this attack happens. we're still trying to get all the facts of what exactly happened but santos seems to have no doubt that 24 was a deliberate attack. that's why we'll go back to an intensification of the conflict in coming days, and this will have consequences on the attacks. it will have consequences on public opinion here in columbia and those who live in the conflict areas that could soon see more fighting. >> alessandro, that's the thing. the people who stand to lose the most if these peace talks fail are the ordinary people who have already been suffering. >> yes, of course, that's unfortunately always the case in civil conflict like this one. we had the opportunity to travel to the region where the attack

happened in just maybe a little over a month ago. people were relieved by the lack of government and the rebels for now for four months. a lot of people that we've been able to talk to are afraid that this will change again. i think its important though, that santos understands that the talks have reached a level of maturity the way he put it, that even if, of course, he will use the full force of the army to go after the rebels that committed this attack. he also seems to commit it to continuing the talks. this is definitely a major set back. it is a real crisis. but for the moment, at least the negotiations will continue. >> alessandro from bogota, thank you. >> now italy's coast guard said that the numbers trying to make the deadly sea crossing from north africa to europe has reached an unprecedented level. but so have the number of

fatalities more than 10,000 refugee migrants have been rescued from the mediterranean since last friday. the numbers dying on route are estimated to be 10 times higher than the same period last year. we have the report from the sicilian report catania. >> reporter: 1400 rescued refugees are crammed into an unit intended for 250. ports all along italy's southern coast boats are bringing in hundreds of rescued refugees. more than 10,000 have been plucked from the water since last friday alone. but the risks are high. on monday more than 400 people are believed to have drowned before rescue could arrive.

survivors spoke of panic and then tragedy. >> we spoke to them they departed from libya on the same boat with 550 approximately while only 145 were rescued. the others, unfortunately died in the mediterranean. >> the traffickers are becoming boulder and more ruthless. boats are no longer abandoned. they're too valuable to lose. >> in the framework of tritan there were witnessed warning shots fired by the smuggler who is were attempting to take the boat originally carrying the migrants back to libya. this is a clear sign that the smugglers in libya are running out of boats, and therefore they are determined to do anything

including shooting their guns in order to do that. >> it's estimated that already this year more than 500 migrants have died trying to cross from africa. humanitarian groups say it's a direct result of the scaling back of search and rescue operations. >> do you know the present capacity to rescue in the mediterranean is insufficient, and that there is really a need very soon, very swiftly and urgently to do something will "b"about that. to be able to have legal alternatives to be able to come to europe. >> the police will not tell us where the families, now boarding the bus behind me, are going to be taken. but these are the lucky ones. many more perished trying to make the most dangerous see crossing in the world and many thousands more will try to follow in their footsteps.

paul brennan al jazeera, sicily. >> coming up this news hour. africa migrants targeted in zenophobic attacks. there is concern that violence could spread angers small aircraft flies to the heart of u.s. government near capitol hill. find out what happens next.

>> a reminder of all the top stories here on al jazeera. yemen ace former leader ali abdullah saleh has asked for

safe page from yemen. thinks requests have been denied. colombia's president santos has ordered the resumption of bombing raids on farc rebels after blaming them for an attack that killed ten soldiers. hundreds of migrants have died trying to reach europe, saying not enough has not been been done to save them. now thousands of african migrants living in south africa has been forced from their homes in what some are calling the xenophobia. we spoke with some of those affected by violence between locals and immigrants in the port city of durban. >> these migrant workers say that they will do anything to protect themselves and their families. >> we're tired of xenophobia. they kill us. we didn't kill any one person. >> there has ban wave of

fighting between immigrants and locals in some areas. here in the port city of durban four people have been killed. thousands have fled their homes. gloria is from mozambique. she came to south africa 20 years ago but she said the men who chased her and her nine-year-old daughter out of their home insist that she doesn't belong here. >> they said we know you're not from south africa. will you please get out. we're coming for you. so i ran away. >> they get food and other basic necessities from aid agencies. right now they don't know how long they'll be here. >> they come from countries such asthma louie mozambique and the d other areas.

>> now people are beginning to protest. >> it's going to be dark soon. most teams would rather be in their homes but they say they can't leave just yesterday not until they're sure some of their neighbors won't attack them again. >> the european parliament has called the massacre of armenians by ottoman forces in 1915 as genocide. turkish president said that it will be ignored. iraqi troop numbers have been boosted in anbar province to fight isil. earlier 13 soldiers were killed in battles with the group.

in northern iraq isil has freed hundreds of women and girls from the mao my minority yazidi community. >> the youngest fines youngest find ways to pass the time. but there are some who do not want to play. their innocence has been stolen in the most brutal ways. sherine has asked us not to show her face, and we're not using her real name. isil fighters could come and choose the girls they wanted. eventually her name was called. >> i said to my mother i want to kill myself. i was give permission to go to the toilet, and i wanted to do

it then, but my mother convinced me not to. >> the worst was yet to come. separated from her mother, sherine was taken and for four months was kept as a sex slave. >> i was so afraid all the time. i didn't know when he would rape me again but i believed in myself. i knew that i would escape. >> using a secret cell phone on saturday sherine made it happen. she took a taxi and made it to the friend of a relative. her story is all too common. isil is targeting yazidis. many fear their people will never recover. >> this camp is vast. there are 15,000 people, 2500 families. they are not sure what they will find when they're able to return home. but for now family is the front

of mind. these three women were among hundreds when were remained last week. between them they have nine children whose wear whereabouts are unknown. >> they took my daughter. she's ten years old. it's been ten months since i saw her. >> even with nothing those live hearing say there is just one thing they need, and that is to be reunited with their loved ones. al jazeera northern iraq. >> south korea is marking one year since the ferry capsized killing more than 300 people, most of those on board were high school students. harry fawcett takes a look back at the disaster. >> on april 16th last year south korea was confronted with these painful images. a passenger ferry full of school

children sinking off the southern coast. the mobile phone footage that emerged over the succeeding days authority more. those children caught between laughter and fear obeying repeated instructions to stay put, trapping them beneath the water. they believe their children are still there. >> how can we go back to a normal life. we know where they are. how can we live without finding our kids and husbands? the government has to help us. >> the last few weeks this has been a daily commute for park and her husband getting as close as they can to the presidential of course, demanding that they return all victims to their families by raising the wreck. a year after the disaster which rocked this country many families still find themselves still fighting on. some to recover the remains of their loved ones.

others to find answers. there have been critical criminal convictions for the captain, the crew members and the ferry operators. they have instructed for an investigation to get under way both in what caused the disaster and the response after. >> we report to the public exactly what happened during the incident and after. perhaps it will be a burden for the current government, so i believe the government has a rather negative view on our investigative team reviewing the facts. >> the official government's investigation found that the operator had routinely overloaded its vessels not tied down vehicles, by slid across the cargo deck during a sharp

turn causing the capsize. the president said that they will consider raising it to the surface but at the same time there should an public consultation on a project that would cost $110 million. on wednesday family members were taken to the site of the sinking marked by a yellow bouy. >> i'm so sorry for the things that i could not have done for her and so sorry for not loving her more as a father. >> a year on so much remains unresolved. so much of the family's grief and regret and how is many of their loved ones were allowed to die. >> a man has flown a gyro copter on the hill in washington, d.c. sparking a security alert. police arrested the man after he landed the aircraft close.

the pilot's maneuvered prompted a temporary lock down. a bomb disposal team was called in to check the aircraft and see if it was dangerous. google has been charged under e.u.'s antitrust rules and has ten weeks to respond. if found guilty it could be fined 10% of its annual sales that's a whopping $6 billion. many are in switzerland to show off their latest projects. it's a showcase of everything from the surreal to the potentially revolutionary. >> so much to see. so little time. where to start. how about a duck on wheels. everybody loves a duck on wheels right? especially this guy. his creation houses a secret weapon. >> this is the net.

>> there it is one duck caught. one inventor satisfied. >> it will expand all around so you can take it, and if it's sick or if you want to put a tag on it, and leave leave it. >> if it lights up, it's here. if it flies it's here, too. selfie lovers out there check this out. a 3d body scan that are prints models of yourself to give to your friends. just think how grateful they're going to be. they're welcome. is there a popular market for people having models for themselves? >> it is increasing. >> really, people want models of themselves? >> yes. these figures are selling hot in europe and asia. >> you know, this place is heave heaving with innovations. some of the creations are slightly off, slightly being the operative word, but having said

that there are others that you can really see having a positive impact on people's lives. from using nano technology and lasers to remove brain tumors to this contact lens that monitors the eye 4 hours a day to help patients with glaucoma. >> it would revolutionize treatment. >> for some the excitement is just too much. for others, it's infectious, like the inventories of this wheelchair without wheels that can climb chairs, not the first but a new take on the idea. >> from a mechanical point of view it is really really unique. unique as you never seen this kind of--you never seen so many together. and it can actually climb upstairs so easy. >> from horses to high-tech travel, from cleaning house to cleaning the house. the goal here is to make life's

shores and life's problems a thing of the past. >> and you can find plenty more on our website. the address for that is www.aljazeera.com. . mousse this week on "talk to al jazeera", new york city police commissioner william bratton. >> this is not race unfortunate. despite what the federal court says. it's his second go as head of the police force, and back when race dominates. >> when you have people chanting what do i want, cops. i'm sorry, that's too mar he says police arrogance,