>> iraqi troops and their shia militia allies begin to move against isil forces near ramadi. hello, i'm maryam nemazee. request you're watching al jazeera live from london. also coming up. celebrations in dub palestinian as voters in the irish republic say yes to legalizing same-sex marriage. and theand a women's peace march gets the green light to

cross north to south korea. and we look at survivors of the nepal's earthquake. hello, iraqi forces and u.s.-led coalition have started their fight back against the advance of the islamic state in iraq and the levant in anbar province. coalition airstrikes have targeted armor vehicled and isil positions near the provincial capital of ramadi, which the group captured last week in an embarrassing set back for the government. taking control of that town would allow isil to link ramadi and fallujah and put it within striking distance of iraq's capital. we have reports now from baghdad. >> there has been military progress against islamic state in iraq and the levant. shia militiamen realize iraqi government soldiers have recaptured the town. they pushed isil out that have town, which is seven kilometers from ramadi, the provincial

capital of anbar. the iraqi forces were sent to the area to stop isil from advancing further. isil has managed to take towns and cities and--excuse me--towns and villages since it captured ramadi on sunday. the aim is to protect the military base, which was really under threat just earlier today. >> in a show of support for the troops iraq's defense minister and anbar provincial officials discussed the military plans that are put in place there. but even before that, the base is already under threat. >> now at the front line.

our brave soldiers and police are repelling them. >> but before doing that the government needs to maintain its defense line which is just a few kilometers from the base. shia military soldiers and government soldiers have moved into this area to stop isil's advance in the east of ramadi. isil seems to have a strategy. losing the base would be a major military set back for the government which does not have many areas to stage attacks from in the province. isil would also be able to link ramadi to fallujah. which has been under its control since january 2014. all that would move the group closer to the iraqi capital of baghdad. military fighters are in anbar. these men will lead the fight because regular forces are weak and not ready.

and government have failed to bring sunnies in to the forces. they are now rethinking strategy to fight isil. >> the only way to stop them is to give them guarantees. they need to trust the government's promises. mistrust is deep. real reconciliation is needed to stop isil's gains. the sunnies need to know what will happen after isil is defeated. >> sunni leaders opposed to the government have repeatedly demanded a say in running this country. they don't want to join the fight against isil only to give the territory back over to shia militia. they need to come together because so far isil has been able to gain ground by exploiting those differences. al jazeera baghdad. >> meanwhile, at least 14 people have been killed and dozens more injured by government shelling in the eastern syrian town. the regime is said to have used

barrel bombs in the district, which is under the control of isil. it's thought that eight children were among the victims. well there are reports that dozens of syrian government soldiers have been killed in the northern city. activists say that rebel attacked the soldiers as they were withdrawing from a hospital on the outskirts of the city. another 250 soldiers successfully made it out of the area, which is now under opposition control. saudi forces have targeted yemeni houthi fighters after reports of skirmishes along the border. houthi gunmen reportedly fired mortars between the two countries. saudi arabia said it responded with artillery shelling. the u.s. has taken charge of an iranian strip ship loaded with

supplies headed to yemen. it is searching ships to stop arms from reaching houthis. the u.n. is call forgive more help from the international community to prevent a growing humanitarian crisis in yemen. the violence has forced thousands of yemens to flee and they are now in djibouti, and for many the conditions are desperate. we have more from djibouti. >> aid is slowly trickling in to yemen. most of it if not all is coming through djibouti, the arrival of the iranian vessel just the latest from in terms of countries who are sending relief to those stranded inside yemen. for example, they had airlifted 200 tons in the past week alone. however, the situation is extremely dire and the united nations said that much more is needed. not only for those back in yemen where there is a huge shortage of food and fuel and electricity

but for the refugees in djibouti. there is a massive sandstorm expected to hit the north of the country in just over a week's time. and in the areas where the refugees are staying there could an spread of diseases and other epidemics. they're hoping that the international donors conference will take place in the next couple of weeks. the u.n. is calling on the international community to react faster. just as the international community was able to agree large parts of it was able to agree in military action in yemen, they really need to start uniting and acting in terms of alleviating the suffering of the people both inside yemen and refugees outside. >> the republic of ireland has approve same-sex marriage in a popular vote. the public overwhelmingly endorsed gay marriage by 62%. tim friend has the story. [ cheering ] >> the yes vote campaigners are

jubilant. the size of their victory is even bigger than they had anticipated. it's the world's first national vote on the issue. not long ago the result would have been unthinkable in this staunchly catholic country. >> never felt happier than i have this day because we did it. >> i'm so proud. >> i'm so proud of this country. >> i'm so proud to be irish. you don't get times where you're really proud to be irish but this is one of them. >> even before the declaration it became clear who had won. all the political parties backed the yes vote along with big companies and businesses. >> in today's vote we have disclosed who we are, a generous generous compassionate, bold and joyful people. yes to inclusion yes to generosity, yes to love, yes to equal marriage. >> in the time between their

wedding and their reception party, newlyweds found time to vote. >> this is just about equality. nobody told us whether or not we could get married. you should be able to get married to the person you love just like we have today. it's about equality. >> not everyone feels the same way as these campaigners. many cling to conservative attitudes but the catholic church has been robbed by abuse scandals. it's influence is waning and attitudes are changing. but in dublin airport people flocked home to return to vote. >> my flight was for tomorrow but i changed it so i could come home to vote. >> ireland decriminalized homosexuality just two decades ago. there have been concerns over participant hood and surrogacy

rights of gay couples. >> el salvador's catholic archbishop oscar romero has been beatified. he was assassinated by what is believed to be a right wing death squad. the beatification puts him one step towards sainthood. a group of female activists around the world are marching from north to south africa south korea to promote peace. >> north korean women are lining up, something you don't see very often. a group of 30 international peace activists marching through pyongyang on their way to south korea to promote reunification.

they're going through the demilitarized zones that is, in fact one of the heaviest militarized areas in the world. they are technically still at war so koreans normally cannot cross the dmz. >> what a beautiful thing to walk with north korean women towards the dmz. >> one of the women is a nobel peace prize winner. there is gloria steinam, a women's rights campaigner from the united states. the u.s. and e.u. had already imposed sanctions on north korea after it began testing nuclear weapons. steinan said its time for a new tactic. >> isolateing north korea clearly has not worked.

i just think we need to go ahead with this first do no harm, we have done no harm. and it might turn out to be a good thing. >> but some people believe that this kind of march does nothing to include their human rights records or relations. >> i don't think it will help much but i don't think it will hurt much. i am not opposed to korean reconciliation. there are families who are hopeful. these well-meaning activists will be manipulated by north korea for its own purposes. >> but that's not going to stop these women. this will be only the third time in international group has crossed the border in 17 years. they weren't sure they would get approval but both north and south korea have agreed, something that does not happen

very often. caroline malone, al jazeera. >> still to come for you myanmar's president signs a new law aimed at controlling the population of minority groups. plus it was designed as the car of the future. and it's symbolized the confidence and optimism of the years after the second world war. it's called the goddess and it's celebrating it's 60th birthday.

>> welcome back to al jazeera. let's take you to the top stories this hour. iraqi forces and u.s.-led

coalition have started their fight against the advance of the islamic state in iraq and the levant in the western anbar province. fighting has been intensified in yemen over the past five days. fighters loyal to exiled president abd rabbuh mansur hadi have been fighting in the port city of aden. and ireland has been the first country in the world to legalize gay marriage by popular vote. a fragile two-day truce is in place for funerals to take place. we're in the burundi capital to interview those injured in the recent violence. >> when the grenade exploded, this man was in the market buying food. >> i heard the explosion. i ran. >> nearby he said he remembers

exactly what happened. >> i heard the first bang. after the second i started running. >> this child was helping her mother sell vegetables. >> all we can do is pray to god. he is the reason why i survived. >> several people were killed in the grenade attack on friday. >> doctors have told this man that his sister was in critical criticallen. >> i was shocked with what is happening here in burundi. what we need here is change. we owe burundians. we cannot keep going. >> some people are upset and afraid.

the market where the explosions happened is now quiet. this latest crisis happened when the president announced that he was running for a third term, which violates the constitution. opposition have been protesting for weeks. a military coup had failed. now the area is not safe. the area has been cordoned off and the police are investigating. the people who saw what happened said that the grenade was thrown in this part of the market. people started running away, leaving behind what they were selling. >> thesesome are saying that the violence will only grow worse the closer people get to the presidential election in june. al jazeera. >> military has saved more from the boko haram in one of its

remaining strongholds. the military spokesman said that one soldier was killed by a landmine in the operation. ten others were injured. in other developments nigerian airlines has grounded flights because of a fuel shortage. the strike by oil workers is disrupting deliveries. others have been affected and police have been arresting those who sell gas on the bracket market. an unknown number of soldiers have been killed in the somalia. the fighting happened in the awdhegle region and in the lower sh abelle district. u.n. troops have been deployed in mali as fighting intensifyies between separatist and government forces. 15

people have been killed in menaka. soldiers have within accused of killing nine civilians including a boy in the town. there have been cease-fire violations. in ethiopia the prime minister has promised fair elections and is expected to do well. huge government rallies have been taking place. opposition accuse those in power of stifling the event. demonstrations became famous when a protester was shot dead. the activist died on the anniversary of the revolution against former president hosni mubarak. a police officer has been

charged with manslaughter over her death. saudi arabia's interior ministry said it has identified the person responsible for a suicide-bombing. he is affiliated with isil and is alleged to have detonateed a bomb where 21 people were killed. the united nations' children charities is worried about the emotional affect nepal's earthquake has had on young people. many not only lost their homes but also their families. and the country's child welfare system is in crisis. we have reports from kathmandu. >> reporter: in kathmandu 26 children had just been driven in allegedly by relatives. these children have all lost their homes. many have lost family members.

but this seeming mercy mission they say that children are far better off staying with their parents even in emergency crisis. >> we have to be alert that the families' desperation is not pushing them to send children away, to trust unknown people with fake promises. >> we met children at the private school where they were being kept for the time being. >> nobody pulled my mother and my brother out of the debris for three days said 12-year-old esther. i found them.

her sister is in shock. we had no help, said 11-year-old sarah. for three days we ate nothing. then we dug out the debris and eight ate rice and salt. we were afraid to go back because the mountains with a fall on us. >> now, they have been told that they have to go back to a headquarters where children will be placed. after a few calls we found out that the centers were not ready yet. the children would have to wait. >> ask children who were staying in dangerous places we're developing programs to help entire families. >> a week later the government appropriate a transit center. although the parents prefer to keep their children at the school in kathmandu, pressure by

the government meant that the children would have to go back to the district. >> i don't know why we're being sent back. we prayed that we could stay and go to school here. >> these children who already survived a disaster are now being shuffled back and forth between well-wishers, relatives and the government and children agencies but no one asks what they would prefer. >> u.n. general secretary ban ki-moon is calling for an emergency meeting on friday. many from bangladesh are forced to flee because of persecution. the majority of them are rohingya muslims who have been left thirsty and starving at sea. the u.n. chief ban ki-moon has

urged those countries to do more to help them. >> it's important to save human lives. their life is in danger. therefore, i'm urge, i've been urging all the leaders in the region to first first of all search and rescue and provide life-saving assistance, humanitarian assistance, and discuss how they could settle this matter. >> in other developments myanmar state into said that the president has signed off on a new law to control the population of minority groups like the rohingya. some say that it can fan the flames of intolerance. >> reporter: with five children to look after her day can be long and busy, but she wouldn't

change a thing. >> in the muslim faith children are seen as a blessing. so if the government says i can't have as many children as i want i cannot accept that. >> they may not be any choice. a new law forcing some mothers to wait three years before having their next child has been signed off by myanmar's president. the targeted ethnic minorities whose populations are growing because they're having children. the bill was drafted by a group of buddhist monks who insist that minority muslim groups could one day take power. >> controlling the population growth of the bengallys is to protect our country's security. we have the right to protect our country. it doesn't mean that we're not observing human rights. >> national assembly government use the term bengally to describe muslim rohingya.

persecution has forced 140,000 rohingya to flee their homes. they have been living in camps ever since. some say that the new law is another form of persecution in a religion that cherishes big families. >> it is be implemented to other minorityies as well. >> regional authorities will be responsible for implementing the law in having babies. while there is no official punishment for those who break the rules, women here are worried. al jazeera. >> now the bank of england has confirmed it's planning to assess the economic risks of a potential exit from the european union. the bank released a statement after a confidential report was mistakenly september to the

u.k.'s guardian.newspaper. prime minister david cameron has promised a referendum before 2017. now the citroen ds is now 60 years old. it has been considered the most beautiful car ever built. it is now having a birthday celebrations. jackiejacky rowland reports. >> jean pierre is in love. it's a passion that's consumed him for much of his adult life, and the object of his obsession is a car. this is the citro roen ds. the name means godgodd means

godess in french. president charlie de gaulle adapted it as the official vehicle and the presidential palace had a fleet of them for ceremonies. it's distincttive design and sleek lines make it popular. >> when these cars hit the streets 60 years ago it had caused a sensation. it was like a flying saucer had arrived. nobody had not seen anything like it before. it was a futuristic design and a space age design very much a part of the confidence and optimism that characterized the post-war period. headlights that swivel as the car turns a corner, and the suspension system that cushions

the bumpiest of roads. >> it was really new in the car world. if you drive it it's like floating in a boat on the road. >> enthusiasts clearly loved the design and the driving experience. but the car embodies a more confident and optimistic era and in these uncertain times that's very seductive. >> for more on our website. www.aljazeera.com. era.com.