shia militia join the fight to win bam ramadi after the sunni city falls to isil. hello. this is al jazeera live from london. also coming up. the eu ministers approve a mission to deal with people smugglers in libya. at least 49 dead after a landslide strikes a town in northwest colombia.

and thousands rally in support of macedonia's prime minister after mass protests urging him to go. hello. shia mailitias are gathering nera maddy preparing for a counterattack after the islamic state of iraq and levant captured it on sunday reportedly killing as many as 500 iraqi civilians and soldiers. the shia groups are mobilizing as an army base 30 kilometers east of ramadi the capital of the mainly sunni anbar province. the iraqi government called them after the soldiers fled the city. in the last 22 hours they stepped aur raids in the area carrying out 19 strikes near the city. iran, which backs the shia militia, will help the iraqi government to confront isil if it's asked.

isil fighters advance east from ramadi towards the base where the shia militias are gathering. we have more details from baghdad. >> reporter: the deployment of shia militias is a controversial decision. a shia force entering the sunni heartland. there are many who are warning that this could cause tensions the possibility of clashes between the sunni tribes and the shia militias. at the end of the day, what it means is that the government has to rely on this force because its regular forces are too weak which shows how the militias are stronger than the states in iraq. sunni influential leaders are warnings against this and asking to be armed and they want to take this fight up by themselves. in the interim amid all this fighting, more than 8,000 people have been displaced and the human suffering is worsening in the country. they were caught in the

crossfire, and now they have no place to go. according to the international organization for migration 8,000 people were forced to leave ramadi when fighters belonging to the islamic state of iraq and the levant advanced into their city. people who headed towards baghdad are questioned before being allowed to enter the capital. authorities want to make sure that no fighters from isil make it into the city. >> translator: why aren't we allowed to go to baghdad? aren't we in the same country? we can't cope. it's better to die than live this life. >> reporter: anger towards the shia-led government runs deep in anbar. there's a feeling among people that they've been betrayed. >> translator: we spent two days on the road. we were humiliated at government checkpoints along the way. what we can't understand is how the security forces just retreated and withdrew from

ramadi. why did they do that? >> reporter: ramadi belongs to isil at least for now. this video was released by the radical group. the provincial cap tarle anbar seems to have been abandoned after a three-day offensive that pushed government forces out. according to officials up to 500 security personnel were killed either in the fightings while others that worked for the government were murdered by isil. now the shia militias are ready to launch a counteroffensive in ramadi. they operate under the government-sanctioned popular mobilized sanctioned forces. they were responsible from pushing them from the provinces, but they've been aused of human rights abuses and many people have still not returned to their homes. in ramadi the regular army and the local police were no match for isil. many were seen escaping from the city. many sunni leaders blame the government for the fall of the

city. >> translator: right now we have very few options on the ground but the best is to train and arm the local tribes because the only group is the shia militia coalition. unfortunately, the reluctance to bring the local sunni tribes on board played a factor in the fall of ramadi and the retreat of the iraqi security forces. >> reporter: that decision will alienate many sunni tribes. some leaders said they would consider their involvement in iranian occupation of their province. there is concern. >> it's a sunni area. there is an ethnic dispute definitely before about ten years. there will be a clash definitely between the tribes and the shia militia. secondly it's more weakening the central government.

why? because it's not the army who is getting in. >> reporter: ramadi was isil's first major gain after a series of defeats in recent months. the united states, which leads the coalition against isil insists it is confident that ramadi will be recaptured. that may happen but winning the political battle could be even harder. in recaptured territories there is little or no reconciliation between the shia-led government and the sunnis. video posted online shows the center of ramadi a day after isil took control of the strategic city. a black flag is erected by an isil fighter. the distinctive grand mosque is pictures against a backdrop of smoke. it was released by an activist group sympathetic to isil. another online video appears to show isil supporters in mosul celebrating the success in ramadi.

crowds could be seen cheering and waving flags in the isil-held city. the video is said to be filmed on sunday. al jazeera cannot independently verify the authenticity of the footage. now, the european union is due to launch a naval force next month to stop people smugglers sending thousands of migrants across the mediterranean into europe. the ai meeting in brussels they approved the plan to use european warships and surveillance watercraft in libya. more than 10,000 people have been rescued in recent weeks as they try to get to europe in libya. >> we adopted the crisis management concept and the decision to establish the operation with headquarters in rome. this will allow us to continue -- well, actually to start the operational planning with the commander and in the

headquarters, and to prepare for the launch of the operation itself. hopefully already at the next foreign affairs council in june we might be ready to adopt the launch of the operation. that will help us to follow the recommendations of the proprietary work that the commander will have the in the coming weeks. let's go to al jazeera's jackie rodin in brussels. tell us about the europe plan and how it's expected to work. >> reporter: first of all, individual countries will need to offer contributions to the naval vessels, personnel or money. the idea would be for operations surveillance and intelligence operations to begin pretty promptly. certainly, by the end of the june when the next big eu ministers meeting is they would hope that the actual mechanics of the operation would be taking

place by then. now, obviously beyond surveillance and intelligence there are plans to seize vessels and destroy them as a way of really breaking up the smugglers' operations. to do that the eu needs a u.n. security council resolution. they're working on that track with the u.k. and france and other states that belong to the security council and hope to have a resolution by the end of june as well. working for a very urgent timetable bearing in mind all the folks setting to sail to sea every day. there is a need for at least some kind of cooperation from security forces inside libya as well. that's an important route, a key place on the route for the smugglers. without libyan cooperation, if the smuggler is able to operate freely, it's very difficult for the eu to achieve its objective of breaking down and deterring

those smuggling operations which have put so many lives at risk on the scene. >> jackie in brussels. thank you. u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon called on southeast asia's government to help rescue thousands of migrants abandoned at sea. those who have made it to shore in indonesia are be housed in shelters that lack basic shower facilities. malaysia indonesia and thailand are turning away boat loads of migrants from myanmar. the thailand prime minister has denied his government towed a migrant boat back out to sea. >> translator: thailand is not pushing anyone aware. it has to be their own desire. don't ask. we're not pushing anyone back. human rights might be the key issue, and it's important to take care of it. >> burundi's president sacked three members of the cabinet including the foreign minister after a failed coup there. last week police fired gunshots

in parts of the capital to protecting the president running for a third term in office. there are calls to postpone the elections because of the unrest. we have the latest from burundi. >> reporter: it's interesting watching people hear the news on the local radio station about the new appointments. they knew the president would make changes if he survived an attempted coup you shake it up a little bit. the new defense minister is a civilian not someone who knows about military matters. they're asking what is the president up to? what is the game? what is the long-term plan? most seem to understand or know that the president will likely appoint people he thinks he can work with more importantly people he thinks he can trust. so that is indeed another attempt at a coup, they won't stab him in the back in terms of the protest. opposition members will carry on trying to protest, but they don't want to run for a third

term should the june elections actually happen but there are concerns. the prime minister has announced that anyone who goes onto the streets against the president will be considered to be someone who is working with the coup party. now they're concerned and fearing the worst as the process on monday has been fairly small in different parts of the capital. they say they will grow into bigger numbers later, but the big fear is that the protesters will stay away for now waiting to see what happens testing the waters. they fear that they anticipate a clamp down on anyone who goes on the streets. they say the president seems defiant to stay in power. police in colombia say a landslide has killed at least 49 people. heavy rains caused a river in the northwest province to burst its banks in the middle of the night triggering the disaster. many homes have been destroyed and a search is underway for residents who are still missing. alexandria can join us on the

phone with bogota. this happened in the middle of the night. i guess people were unprepared for this. >> reporter: absolutely. the people especially in the village surrounding the central town in that province were asleep at 3:00 a.m. in the night when the river overcame and broke the banks and flooded the village that was built right out banks of the river. president santos is flying over the area to kind of learn the details of the damage and will then land there with his helicopter and meet with the el torre. also, help is coming in from the international red cross. the situation is evolving every minute. they think there are still at least 100 people that they haven't been able to find

although they said they will start searches in the area to understand exactly how many people are missing. >> reporting live there from bogota for us. thanks. still to come on the program, ends of the ceasefire in yemen. the sawedudisaudi-led coalition starts more gunfight. it's about ways to sheriff the city station which once served as winston churchill's bunker.

hello. welcome back. here are the top stories on al jazeera. video posted online is said to show the center of ramadi a day after isil took control of the strategic city. the iraqi government has called in shia militia backed by iran to retake the city from isil after its own forces fled. european union ministers have approved plans to launch a military operation next month to disrupt the people smuggleing organizations and trafficking networks across the mediterranean. and there's been gunfire in parts of burundi capital amid more protests against the president. he's sacked three members of the cabinet after last week's failed coup attempt. saudi-led coalition air strikes have resumed on rebel positions in southern yemen. they began begin shortly after a five-day humanitarian ceasefire expired. there's also been renewed fighting across the country.

we have the report. >> reporter: fighters opposed to the houthis are on the offensive. the center province was southeasted by houthi fighters a few months ago. it's recently become a houthi base in their push to capture the southern cities. fighting resumed after the humanitarian ceasefire expired sunday night. houthis are shelling government troops in aden. as the war goes on millions of yemenese are facing hard times. this province isn't the only area grappling with fuel food and water shortages. the united nations and the international community are pushing for another truce so that aid can reach the war-wounded. the iranian navy is escorting the ship destined for the port of aden.

it's said to contain tons of humanitarian aid, but saudi arabia accuses iran of helping the houthis. >> all in all, we need a very serious, concerted, international deal for yemen and to deal with this humanitarian crisis. of course, the political solution is the only solution and that is why we believe that inter-yemeni dialogue should take place as soon as possible under the international auspices. >> reporter: talks are under way in riyadh. key factions are expected to reach agreement on how to end the conflict. the houthis are not taking part. they dismiss the riyadh government as irrelevant. the united states which is fighting al qaeda in yemen, fears more instability with the power vacuum that persists. >> without a political settlement and a government that can continue to move the parties towards conclusion of the

transition, then that would be very difficult. however, i'm optimistic that the yemeni people when given the chance, all parties will be able to sit down and come toen a common agreement. >> reporter: the united nations has invited all political parties to meet in geneva to negotiate a peace deal. yemen's warring factions have so far failed to agree on how to move forward. government loyalists say all decisions made by the houthis after they took over power should be scrapped. calls rejected by the houthi rebels who insist they have the backing of the people. al jazeera, riyadh. a french court has cleared two police officers of charges relating to the deaths of two teenage boys electricity could you telled electrocuted two years ago. they were accused of not helping the boys despite knowing they were in danger. their death sparked weeks of riot in the paris suburbs. barnaby phillips reports.

>> reporter: suspense in the courtroom before the verdict. the families of the two men hoping their long ordeal would end with the conviction of two police officers. the father had traveled from tunisia to be here. ziad was 17 when he died and buna was 15. chased by police they jumped into an electricity substation where they were electrocuted. their deaths led to weeks of rioting across france. thousands of cars were set alight. the government declared a state of emergency. we were not allowed to film the verdict. the judge ruled there was no clear evidence the police knew that the two boys were in danger, and therefore, they could not have been expected to help them. the two police officers were acquitted. there was anguish and despair

from the friends and family. this woman shouts we've waited ten years, but the police are above the law. this trial has highlighted some of france's deepest social wounds. it's examined the sense of alienation that many young people feel on the edge of paris in the poorer suburbs. these problems are as relevant in 2015 as they were in 2005. the lawyer for the police officers were adamant. the case against his clients was always weak and unconvincing, he said. >> translator: from the first day, i've always said this trial should have never come to court. it was like something out of russia. no new evidence came up whatsoever whatsoever. >> reporter: so the police will feel vindicated but there is a danger that this verdict maypole larize french society rather than heal it. barnaby phillips, al jazeera. a huge rally supporting

macedonia's prime minister is underway in the capital, a day after a mass protest against him. thousands of people attending the countermarch appear similar in size to sunday's opposition rally. the opponents demand z his resignation after he was accused of involvement in corruption and the 20,000 allies and opponents. we're live in the capital. robin, tell us what's going on there. >> reporter: well you may be hear the speech going on behind me by nikolai himself. he's the prime minister of macedonia macedonia. he's come out this evening to show to supporters he's still here, and he intends to stay in marked contrast to the opposition yesterday. today, we've got plenty of his supporters who believe in him and do not believe the allegations the opposition is

making. they say these are all lies. the corruption allegations, that is. and that he's the man to lead macedonia forward. it's a very different vibe that we're getting tonight. lots of nationalist music and patriot sings and appeals to baseline emotions really. you may see behind me some serbian flags. a sign of the pan-slavism in this crowd. you won't see any armenian flags. we have seen none this evening. the albania populations up 25% in macedonia, but they don't seem to be represented here. >> a huge demonstration against the president yesterday. now a huge rally in support of him. how big are the fears, the concerns that perhaps these sides might meet and there will be trouble on the streets? >> reporter: well, there is

tightened security presence about a kilometer away from where i'm standing where the government's building is where the prime minister's office is. that's where a camp a tent village, not quite a city has been established. quite a fuf tents there, and earlier colleagues estimated a couple of thousand people playing music and having a party. they intend to stay until the prime minister leaves office. yes, there is the potential for trouble, of course because neither side at the moment is willing to back down. there is a strong sense of anger here and frustration at the opposition. these people do not believe those allegations as i was saying earlier. but i wouldn't want to call it at this stage, but the hope is there wouldn't be any trouble in it. when this speech is over everybody will go home peacefully. >> robin with the latest.

thank you. around 1,000 members of israel's black minority has been protesting in tel aviv against racism and police brutality. the demonstration comes two weeks after violent clashes erupted. we're in tel aviv. >> reporter: this is an issue going on for some time but it sort of boiled to a head a few weeks ago when a video of a black israeli soldier was seen being beaten by a group of police officers. now, that sparked street protests, which ultimately turned violent. since then we've had a serious of small protests but this evening we had one of the largest protests to date. in fact, around 1,000 people came out to the streets, marched through the streets of tel aviv for several kilometers calling for what they described as an end to institutional racism in israeli society. they also discussed how they want to see the government take more action against what they

see as discrimination that's systemic within the police force and indeed with government agencies as well. you can probably see over my shoulder people sort of streams away including a lot of security forces. there's a lot of security that were deployed to this protest. this protest i should say, which was largely peaceful. we don't have any indications that it turned violent, like the one we saw the other weekend. in saying that the government appears to be taking this issue very seriously. prime minister benjamin netanyahu has said he's forming a government ministerial committee that will look at ending racism in israel. the people we've been speaking to are saying they're simply not convinced. u.s. president barack obama announced a limit on equipping local police forces with military-style hardware. it comes after tensions in ferguson and philadelphia that were exacerbated by the military style policing.

they will stop sending weaponized aircraft and grenade launchers and heavy caliber ammunition to police departments. it is the oldest underground network in the world and now part of london's diffused metro system is offered for commuter use. it's hoped that the ghost stations could be turned into restaurants, art galleries and a theater. from subterranean london here's emma haywood. >> reporter: more than 20 meters below the surface tunnels snake their way below london. there are new routes leaving the past behind. down street station closed more than 80 years ago, too close to other stations passengers numbers dwindled. during the second world war these walls were the corridor of power. prime minister winston churchill used the station to meet his war cabinet. he even slept here sometimes safe from german air force bombing.

the site was top secret where decisioning could be made and messages sent. >> i would have been 25. it would have been protected by soldiers that are military escort as well to protect people. it will be very much a working place and very busy place. >> you get a real sense of history coming down into these now empty tunnels. at one time, though they would have been packed with people. but even now you can still hear the piccadilly line trains rumbling along. part of this site is still used by the transport network. some of it along with several other former stations are put out to tender for commercial use. >> this is a unique space within london. it's a station that's not been used by passengers since may 1932. it's where churchill's war cabinet met. it's in the heart of mayfair. it's a unique location had history and space. >> reporter: decades after down

street's demise this part of london's history could once again be revived. the echoes of the past though will never be far away. emma haywood, al jazeera, london. much more over on our website. click on aljazeera.com. hello, i'm giz richard gizbert, and you are at "listening post". here are some stories. britain elects a new government. job done another american goes to gaol for leaking an intelligence