egypt's former president hosni mubarak sentenced to three years in prison on corruption charges. i'm mikhail gorbachev in doha. also coming up. fighting continues in yemen. rebels still haven't responded to a saudi offer to a ceasefire painful memories russia

marks the end of the second world war. this time western leaders stay away relief for liberia, as they are finally declared free of ebola former egyptian president hosni mubarak and his two sons have been sentenced to three years in prison. they were also fined in a retrial on corruption charges. hosni mubarak and his seconds were in a caged dock wearing suits and sunglasses when the verdict was handed down. they were already sentenced on the charges but an appeal court overturned the verdict saudi jets bombed the international airport in sanaa, a day after the houthis were offered a 5-day ceasefire. no official word from the rebels heavy fighting

continues. hashem ahelbarra reports. >> reporter: air strikes targetting houthis in sadr province in northern yemen. >> the saudi-led kurdish announced that sadr is a military target and civilians are being urged to leave the area. saudi arabian officers say a 5-day humanitarian ceasefire will be implemented starting from tuesday, but warns it holds it houthis stop targetting saudi villages. >> translation: these militias escalated the situation, targeting saudi cities that's why we need to protect the city and guarantee the safety of saudi and yemeni citizens.

fighting is escalating across yemen. tribesmen loyal to president abd-rabbu mansour hadi say they have repelled a houthi offensive in a province. it's a crucial battle for both sides. the province has most of the oil and gas reserves. >> translation: this is the front line, this area was under the control of the houthis, now we have captured it. the rebels are regrouping and planning a counter offensive. >> reporter: in the city of tiaz, pro-government troops captured the mountain. the high ground overlooking the city. these are some of the weapons and military equipment seized from soldiers supporting deposed president ali abdullah saleh. if the houthis lose tiaz, they lose a vital supply line for their fighters in aden.

hakim al-masmari editor of the "yemen post" says there's rising anger. >> >> rising public anger against the houthis because they show willingness to offer a ceasefire to end the clashes, and to give dialogue and negotiation a chance. the houthis have had that responded to the calls. have not given reaction, so that is why that is hatred why they are hated now. and why are they not allowing. this ceasefire to take place and allow aid to enter the country and give negotiators a chance. instead destruction in the country 55 in mates and 12 police men have been killed during a prison break in diyala.

more than 350 are missing after a fight broke out the retrial of two al jazeera journalists in egypt has been postponed to june the first. mohamed fadel fahmy and mohammed badr are accused of supporting the outlawed muslim brotherhood. charges they denied. they were released on bail in february, after spending more than 400 days in prison. a judge dismissed charges against them, but ordered them to stand trial again in syria international inspectorors found surprises of sarin gas in research sites used by the regime after activists reported chlorine attacks in idlib. fighting near damascus continued between hezbollah and opposition fighters for control of the strategic area. we have more.

>> reporter: it's thought to be a battle of survival for the syrians. if the area falls into opposition hands, damascus would be next. it could cut off bashar al-assad at hits strong hold from the north-west of the capital. they say they are gaining the upper hand with few losses on the battlefield. 40 hezbollah fighters were killed before announcing a strategic withdrawal from the area. the army of groups leading the fighting is one of many part of a new group. hezbollah deployed 85% to fight in syria, leaving 15 rz on the border with israel. and damascus inspectors found traces of sarin gas and a nerve agent on the sites. samples taken from experts in december and january tested positive. it comes with increased regime attacks, the latest of which was an attack in idlib province, more than 70% were affected.

>> we believe the factual record was straightforward and devastating in terms of regime use. as a factual matter, it is true that no one is mandated to establish attribution for the attacks, and we need to fix that. >> away from the fighting, in the southern city, the opposition is restoring historical signs that have been damaged during the war. the project is aimed at clearing and restoring the town that has a castle and a roman theatre. a hope in a province that a new life without war may be possible. russia held the annual victory day parade to commemorate 70 years since the end of world war ii. victory day in russia marks nasser al-attiyah germany's

surrender to the soviet union. many western leaders didn't attend because of their involvement in neighbouring ukraine. here is some of what vladimir putin had to say. >> in the past decade the basic international principles have been ignored. those invented after the sufferings after the war. we saw attempts at a neopolan world and forces gaining momentum. all undermining global stability, our joint goal should be equal stability for all countries, a system responding to growing threats rory challands has more than the parade in moscow. >> helicopters, nuclear missile launchers, tanks, soldiers in uniform. russia is in the middle of an ambitious military upgrade,

trying to make its armed forces better equipped and more professional. other departments are suffering budget cuts, defense spending here has increased significantly, and this is a chance for russia to show off all that kit. another thing that is useful is rallying russians around the flag. it's difficult to overestimate the importance of victory day for russians. while other historical anniversaries like the baltic revolution, wwi, defeating the nazis is universally assumed to be a heroic achievement. add to that the number of people that russia lost, or the soviet union lost in that conflict, and you combine sacrifice with victory. it's a tool for russia to be able to unify people, domestically, at a time when it's felt here in the country that russia is being bullied and victimized by the west. still to come on al jazeera - with the formation of israel's new right wing

government we ask palestinian students what it means for their future. plus people from myanmar used as slaves. we hear from a mother who hasn't seen her son in years.

>> the new al jazeera america primetime. get the real news you've been looking for. at 7:00, a thorough wrap-up 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. welcome back, i'm mikhail gorbachev, you are with al jazeera, a reminder of the top stories. an egyptian court sentenced deposed leader hosni mubarak and two sons to three years in prison. it's not clear whether it will include time already served since the 2011 uprising

there has been more saudi-led air strikes in yemen near the international air strike sanaa. saudi arabia offered the houthis a 5-day truce, it could come in effect on tuesday if the rebels agree to end the fighting russia is marking 70 years sense the defeat of the nazis in world war ii. several world leaders watched the military parade through moscow. most leaders were absent in protest of the ongoing crisis in ukraine back to the top story, the sentencing of hosni mubarak. omar is a senior lecturer at the institute of arab and islamic studies in the juste of exeter and joins me from -- university of exeter and joins me from the line. three years preeften for nicole hosp and his sons on corruption charges. what is your reaction to that and the likely reaction in

egypt? >> i think the reaction is pretty much a mixed one in egypt. you have many of the activists having to do with a specific corruption case of embezzling around nine or 10 million pounds british pounds ear-marked for renovation on premises. this was used for upgrading by the president, including jacuzzis and other things done by the jamal and this is compared to killing 800 protesters in less than 18 days and more or less the abuses that happened 30 years. and it will be seen as nothing. especially if you look at the trial happening for the former

president mohamed mursi, it tells you that justice is not in that case, and there's high politicization of the judicial. for the supporters of hosni mubarak, the reaction was negative. they want hosni mubarak out. they were cheering for him. they were loyal - too loyal for him, that he did not do anything wrong. so you have this mixed reaction and the country is pretty much divided. >> indeed you mentioned former charges against mubarak for the killing of protesters which was dropped. there'll be a progress appeal to see whether the charges should be re-instated. what do you expect to happen do you think it will happen? >> i think it's less likely to happen. it could happen but is less

likely because the case is week. from the beginning the prosecution was not collaborating. the services that was supposed to collect the evidence it was operating, and the intelligence services wiped out some important videos. from the beginning it was a weak case. in that case it could be dismissed i want to ask you quickly, there's some confusion about whether hosni mubarak will spend much time in prison. he has been in custody for all this time. do you think he'll end up behind bars at all? >> his lawyer is saying that the time he was forgiven and he is applying for an appeal to release him. politically speaking and this is all political, there's nothing legal. the ultimate - politically if he was released it would galvanise

the anti-mub -- anti-hosni mubarak forces and they come from an innocent background. for the current regime it will be more and more cautious of releasing him so he is not the opposition on the street again. >> thank you for bringing us up to date liberia has officially been declared ebola free. but there are still other new cases in other parts of west africa and as caroline malone reports, heath officials warn people not to be too patient. >> reporter: these students are the picture of health as liberia is declared ebola free. the virus has not been seen in this country for 42 days, twice the incubation period. >> i lost my father to the deadly ebola virus. now i see my country getting back to normal. i'm happy i'll see my friends

play, joke, shake hands. things i have not been able to do for six months. >> the people in neighbouring guinea and sierra leone are dealing with ebola. the world health organisation says both countries reported nine new cases in the last week. that's the lowest weekly total, this year, but it means ebola is spreading. new cases in sierra leone and guinea puts liberians at risk. >> we know that ebola, on the borders, especially with sierra leone, the entry points in liberia and sierra leone, and guinea. >> reporter: the disease killed nearly 11,000 people since it was first detected more than a year ago. people with ebola get fevers, diarrhoea and often bleed internally. the virus spreads through bodily fluids and kills half that it infects. there's no known cure for ebola, but a vaccine has been

quickly developed over the past year. trials show it's safe and has been used to protect workers in guinea. >> like with many fatal diseases that are fatal we rely on a vaccine, trying to avoid capturing the disease is what will help the most. >> the who has been criticized for being slow to respond to the outbreak, despite warnings from groups like doctors without borders, who dealt with the early cases. there are lessons to be learnt in the health communities. doctors in liberia are feeling confident. >> if it happens that we have an upsurge of cases coming back, it means that would be a new outbreak, which we don't wish for. but if it should come, from the case management point of view, we are very well prepared. >> reporter: 4,700 people died from ebola in liberia, more than any other country.

it has now got rid of the disease, and although there's a threat of a new outbreak, people are hopeful they have seen the end of the ebola in liberia the u.n. security council made an urge appeal for calm in burundi. at least 13 died in demonstrations beginning two weeks ago. protesters say president pierre nkurunziza's decision to run for a third term violates the constitution. the u.s. threatened to place sanctions on anyone involved in violence against protesters. australian police say they prevented a bomb attack planned for sunday arresting a teenager in melbourne on friday, diffusing three home-made devices. the suspect is due in court on monday and there are no links with five teenagers arrested last month for plotting an attack on veterans' day indonesia's president joko widodo ordered the release of five political prisoners,

xriftened in pap u -- imprisoned in papua for five years. they were convicted of a military aid. president joko widodo granted them clemency several weeks after the execution of drug smugglers, including seven foreign nationals. meanwhile, in australia a funeral was held tore one of those convicts. hundreds gathered to remember myuran sukamaran, one of two australians killed last month, after several failed appeals. australia's prime minister called the executions cruel and unnecessary and recalled the ambassador to jakarta. indonesia defended the executions saying it was necessary this their war against drugs. 15 fishermen arrived in myanmar after being rescued from indonesia last month. a leading indonesian fishing company is accused of treating more than 300 as slaves forcing them to work many hours without

pay, beating them and holding them in cells. we met two of the families. >> it was poverty that drove her son away, first to thailand and then to indonesia. >> translation: we are a farming family, it is no longer profitable to work on the farm. on the other hand we don't have money to start another business. the farmers were losing money and he needed to find a job somewhere else. >> this man told his mother he was working on a boat and he would be back in three years. those years have come and gone, without a word from him, until a few days ago. kt found out her son is safe, after being rescued by indonesian authorities, and will soon return home to myanmar. her son could be one of hundreds of irregular migrant workers, forced to work in slave-like conditions on fishing trawlers, in indonesia. one company used a prison cell

to lock up workers. these men, many from myanmar, were paid a pittance and abused, until they were rescued by indonesian officials. her son is among them. al jazeera met him in indonesia, last month where he's awaiting repatriation. it's small comfort. she didn't know if he was dead or alive for years. >> i have relied on my two sons. i can't rely on them now. the more i think about it the sadder i become. i wish my younger son comes back soon. >> reporter: all she has to do now is wait. myanmar police and officials are in the midst of confirming identities and checking fishing documents. they are hoping to bring them home later this month. there'll be more men and women hoping to leave home, eager for better playing jobs abroad. despite stories of ill-treatment

that compatriots come back with pal stipian authorities ruled out talks with the new israel party. it wants to expand jewish settlement to the west back and east jerusalem. mike hanna reports. >> reporter: a political science class under way at this university. 61 seats out of 120 formed the israeli government, students are told. if any party left, the government would collapse. under discussion, how the palestinian authority will deal with a new right-wing israeli government. >> the most likely option is we'll continue as is. >> among the students opinions are divided about whether they can have a say in their own destiny. >> there's no chance for peace. it's a right wing government aimed at expanding settlements. there's nothing we can do.

>> palestinians should make use of their new status, going to the criminal court, and expressing objection by popular resistance to their occupied state. >> we have no option but to unite ourselves. divided we can't stand up for them. >> reporter: at student council elections demonstrated the extent to which the palestinians were divided. representatives supporting hamas achieved a clear majority over followers of the p.l.o.'s movement. >> it's not clear to the extent that opinions of students are reflected. the vote sends a message to the p.l.o. and the palestinian authority that supports, and that a vital demographic is waning. in weeks hamas supporters say there has been a large pa security crackdown in the wake of the vote. speakers have been detained in sweeps throughout the west bank. putting in jeopardy attempts between reconciliation between

fatah and hamas. >> if you want to solve the internal problems you need the strategy, basically. we don't have strategy. we don't have an outlook. what are we looking for, forward for - negotiations? we are not going to have negotiations under the circumstances. and the question on campus and further afield, whether the palestinian authority has a role to play at all the british prime minister has been returned to downing street by voters with a clear mandate. david cameron's conservative party won a majority in the election on thursday. it forced the resignations of the leaders of labour the liberal democrats and the u.k. independence party more protests expected in guatemala, calling for the president to quit.

the vice president already resigned after one of her top aides was listened to a multi-million corruption scandal. >> reporter: thousand of guatemalans celebrated the vice president's resignation in the capital guatemala city. it was the culmination of weeks of protests. anger and frustration that had been directed to the ruling party was replaced by chants and cheers. it was called a victory for the people. it was announced and said to be a brave decision. the vice president, after talks, i reiterate courageously made the decision. what i think is everything had its time. their are processes that i insist should be struggled.

there are processes established by law and which all guatemalans should respect. the secretary is said to be a leader of a scam in which officials took bribes to lower customs taughties. investigators issued a warned for his arrest when he was on a strip. when she flew home she held a media conference. the supreme court called on congress to remove immunity for prosecution. paving the way for possible legal action against her. other senior officials were implicated including the head of the tax authority. when the president was elected. he promised to combat crime with an iron fist.

and this corruption scandal suggested limited success. melina is not standing for office, but with four months before the election, some fear the damage to the ruling party has been done. the presidential candidate withdrew from the race and protesters called for her to resign too. chile's president is choosing a new cabinet after asking all members to resign on wednesday. michelle bachelet's approval rating is at a low after a string of corruption scandals. her son resigned as head of a government charity in february over allegations of influence pedalling f.a.r.c. rebels and government negotiators announced plans to clear columbia of land mines. the roadmap announced during peace talks starting in cuba three years ago. 11,000 columbians were killed ormaimed by landmarks in the past 25 years. two people were vasted after an 8-year-old boy from the ivory coast was smuggled in a suitcase into a north spanish enclave.

a woman was arrested after an x-ray scanner detected the by curled up in her back. according to a newspaper the boy's father was detained. the woman was married to the father. they both have residency right in spain but the boy does not. big picture, precision. >> billions of people around the world have seen him perform. at the beijing olympics... the world cup in rio... even jaming at the grammys. >> as a musician we will collaborate with great musicians.