tanzanians go to the polls as the ruling party tries to hold on to more than half a century of power. you're watching al jazeera live from our headquarters in doha. also ahead - thousands... [ explosion ] thousands of demonstrators clash with police during anti-government rallies in montenegro, plus, the clean-up after hurricane patricia, mexico and the u.s. deal with flash flooding

and... >> i'm andrew thomas at uluru. a fame out site in australia, and an famous aboriginal site. so why are tourists still tracking up voting under way in what is expected to be the tightest election in tanzania since independence. africa's longest reining political apart, the ccm is under pressure from on opposition alliance trying to capitalize on public discontent. catherine wambua-soi joins us to tell us what is going on, and what the electoral process is. after people actually cast their ballots? >> we are just hearing of some scuffles at a polling takes not far from here. some people, about 50 of them, are saying they cannot find

their names in the voting list. having said that this election, this process has been, by and large, a smooth and well-organized. at least where i am. people have been awaiting since the polls started, patiently, to vote. they just want to finish quickly and go home and wait for the results. about your question about the process - polls close at 4. after that founding starts in the polling stations and then this polling and counting will send the result to the national tallying center here, so that this result can be tallied now. the national election - the electoral commission has up to five days to make the final announcement, but we have spoken to officials, saying that they want this to finish quickly, they want to make the announcement as quickly as they can - they are talking 3 to

4 days before we have a result. >> what has been at stake for the election? what are the main issues for the people? what have the candidates been putting forward? >> people want change. that is all that we have been hearing, and we have been here for about a week now, everyone says they want change, transformation, their lives to be improved. that is what the presidential candidates - the eight of them - that's what they are pledging. they have been going around in campaigns saying that they are the one, individual ones saying they are the ones to provide the change. they are talking about free primary and secondary school education; they are talking about alleviating poverty by creating jobs, improving the infrastructure, the health service and very costly billing with corruption that is endemic in tanzania. people hope they'll stick by their word. people are used to political

rhetoric, empty words to win an election. they hope the person they choose is going to stick to his promises and fulfil whether or not he's pledge the. and they are hoping that their vote, whichever way it goes, their choice will be respected in a free and fair election. thank you very much. catherine wambua-soi with that update from dar es salam people in ivory coast voting in elections, voting got under way, the current president alassane ouattara is likely to win a second term in office, he's been credited about helping to revive the economy with a growth of 9%. tania page reports from abby jan. >> alassane ouattara is a hero to his supporters, squeezing into and on to every available space. performers entertain everyone until he arrives. it's expected alassane ouattara

will win a second term, he hopes without the bloodshed that stained his rise to power. >> i can assure you it will go well, because people want to forget and forget what happened in 2010. they don't want to go into killing each other any more. >> reporter: 3,000 people were killed when there was a refusal of the results in the 2010 election. alassane ouattara's forces overpowered the previous president, apart from crimes committed by both sides only bagbo has been held to account. there has been some violence in the lead up to the election. all the candidates are calling for calm. out is expected to win, he is not leaving anything to chance, campaigning to the last moment. he's accused of using his position to influence the

commission, sending security forces and sending security to intimidate critics. >> reporter: this is a candidate that says he will bring reconciliation, and leads the party now, hardliners joined a boycott. the incumbent says it's irrelevant. >> they want to boycott because they know they will not win. they can boycott. it's okay. >> reporter: some think the election is a result and the results will not be accepted. >> translation: we here that there may not be a good result. we are waiting for the right person now that bagbo is in prison. >> reporter: without someone to leave. b bagbo supporters say they will not vote russia is willing to provide air sport for the syrians

fighting islamic state of iraq and levant. until now they have been referring to all groups. the russian foreign minister sergey lavrov says america's unwillingness to cooperate is preventing moscow from supporting the free syrian army. >> translation: the americans refusal to coordinate their anti-terrorist campaign with us is a big mistake. we are seriously prepared for such a coordination, and are ready to give air support to the patriotic opposition including the free syrian army. we need to get in contact with the people that have the authority to representatives certain armed groups. heavy fighting between pro-government forces and houthi rebels in tiaz left 17 dead. hundreds of civilians have been killed there. a houthi blockade of the city left residents with a shortage of food and no access to medical care. >> israel and jordan agreed on now measures to calm tensions

over the al-aqsa mosque compound in east jerusalem. a key commitment is that rules allowing muslim to pray in the compound will be maintained. 56 palestinians and 8 israelis died in violence since the beginning of october. new measures were outlined by secretary of state john kerry after a meeting with the palestinian authority president mahmoud abbas. stephanie dekker joining us with the latest from ramallah. we'll talk about the new measures that have - are doing to be implemented at al-aqsa in a moment. first, a report hate crime that was committed in occupied east jerusalem - i believe you have spoken to the family. what have they told you happened? >> that's right. this happened in an area of occupied east jerusalem. it is an area surrounded by settlements. we spoke to the son of the family, they woke up around 1 o'clock in the morning with noise outside. the car was set on fire. they didn't see anyone, they

believed it was carried out by settlers, because price tag attacks, as they are called, usually are carried out by settlers. they had the word administrative revenge ent revenge sprayed on the house. the last time we had a deadly settler price tag attack here in the occupied west bank, the result of that - a home was torched overnight killing an 18 month old baby. subsequently his parents died because of wounds, and israel announced that it would place israeli suspects in administrative detention. this is usually the way for palestinians, meaning held without charge. there are some in administrative detention at the moment to do with that. there is no justice. palestinians will tell you that there's word from the government saying we do have some people, for security reasons they are not giving the details. price tag attacks are common when we talk about cars being

torched, but the narrative from the palestinians is that it happened so often and justice is never done. >> when it comes top al-aqsa mosque compounds, what are the measures that have been outlined by the secretary of state, and how will they be implemented in an attempt to calm tensions there? >> well the implementation is a question, and that is questioned by palestinians saying nothing has been written on paper, and we are not sure. but that cameras will be mounted, in an effort to maintain calm, and the secretary of state had assurances that the status quo will be held, which is that only muslims will be allowed to pray at the site. however, i mean, if we are talking about diplomacy, how does it translate on the ground. it's been an intense month triggered because palestinians, their narrative. what they tell you is that they

believe they are changing the status quo because they are allowing more and more extreme right wing settler groups access to the area, and limiting muslim access. it will be interesting to see how the measures - the moment in theory will be translated. some will tell you that it's a fact that the israeli government is right wing. the movement is strong. they'll call for access. key here is the israeli prime minister calming the message coming out fro the cabinet. and how it translates on the ground. >> stephanie dekker reporting from ramallah, thank you three balkan states threatened to shut their borders to refugees ahead of talks with e.u. countries in brussels.

bulgar bulgaria, romania and serbia will close borders should germany and austria do the same, insisting the three countries will not be a buffer zone for arrives. that coming as thousands of refugees enter. >> police in montenegro fire tear gas to disperse protesters. opposition supporters were marching to parliament demanding the resignation of the prime minister in power for 25 years. the demonstration began peacefully, turning violent when molotov cocktails and stones were thrown at the police. sir john is an advisor to the prime minister and says montenegro's challenges don't justify demand for the government to resign. >> if you are talking about the economy, we are not the leader in european integrations in

europe but also if we are talking about foreign investment. if you are going to compare us with the neighbours, the leaders, we can talk about bad economies. if we are talking about corruption and organized crime, the problem in all transitional countries, it's no problem in montenegro less or more than other countries. we are trying to solve the problems, but it could be a reason to ask for the resigning of one government. all the elections was held in a democratic way. the european union, the western service, everyone doesn't see anything abnormal there here is what is coming up on the programme ... >> i'm david mercer in guatemala where two presidential candidates are going head to head promising to bring the country out of the worst political crisis in decades. decades.

>> "inside story" takes you beyond the headlines, beyond the quick cuts, beyond the soundbites. we're giving you a deeper dive into the stories that are making our world what it is. the headlines on al jazeera. voting is under way in what is expected to be the tightest election in tanzania since independence africa adds longest reining political party is under pressure trying to capitalize on public discontent police in montenegro fired tear gas on demonstrators, they are in the cap calling on the long-term prime minister to quit government plans to join n.a.t.o. angered opponents israeli police say a suspected attack by jewish

extremists has been carried out out in occupied jerusalem. a car was set on fire and had racist slogans written on it. >> people in guatemala will vote in the second and final round of elections, the former first lady is committed against former comeid jimmy morales. corruption has been a big issue in the campaign. >> reporter: it's election time in guatemala. and voters are measuring up the presidential candidates. mario gomez says the country needs an economic boost. the 57-year-old father believes sandra torres has the experience that is needed. >> i'm going to choose sandra so she can clean up guatemala and we have corruption, so we have health care, education and job

opportunities. >> reporter: this 25-year-old says guatemala needs a fresh space and directive, and believes jimmie morales is the best person for the job. >> translation: i'm going to vote for jimmy morales, i think he's a good candidate for the presidency. this is the first time he ran. it is good to try people with new ideas. we hope he gets guatemala again > >> reporter: first lady torres divorced her husband to run. she is focussing on the poor. many cannot forget her past. >> reporter: this week we have to advance more, we have our own polls, they make us winners, and they'll be on election day. >> neither corrupt nor a thief. that is newcomer jimmy morales

slogan. the former tv comedian's background helping him surge ahead in the polls. >> there are three fundamental things. the most apparent is education, the most urgent is health. what will give stainability and help us obtain better security. >> reporter: demonstrators took to the streets angry over a corruption scandal bringing down the forker president. the frustrations are likely to mean the winning candidate will have months to implement reforms. >> it's a country that wants to fight corruption, it's a country that wants results in terms of the economy and security. but it's a country that does not want to pay taxes. >> reporter: guatemalans will cast votes early in the on

election day with the hopes that they'll be able to repair a broken political system opposition parties in the republic of congo call for voters to boycott a referendum. the president cannot run for a third term under present rules, nor be over the age of 70. the incumbent is 71, and has served 27-year terms. we are joined from the capital to tell us what effect the opposition is having on the referendum votes so far. >> voting started a few hours ago, it's earlier i, a sunday. officials hope more people come out. where i am is where most of the military will be voting. the president will come up to vote in an hour's time at the polling station. there are people that support

the referendum who are willing to vote yet, and some opposition will say they aren't. some are boycotting. driving around found in the opposition strongholds, there are many young men hanging around the streets. the police are trying to get them to come in to protest. the areas where the president has a lot of support, people that plan to vote yes, it's business as usual. people are trickling in to vote. because it's early we are not seeing the numbers. >> when are results expected. >> they spect them to be quick. especially if the opposition boycott. you assume others will vote yes. the key thing to watch with this thing, of course, is how many people, opposition supporters show up to the polls and vote know, if that is what they do. and what will the reaction be for the african union, for

regional leaders. people watching how this goes. it is contentious in many parts of africa, how this plays out will perhaps set a trend for the continent. officials hope as many as possible turn up to vote and they are waiting. >> thank you for that update a massive clean-up is under way across several mexican states hit by tropical depression patricia. most areas suffered minor damage, smaller communities are struggling to recover. many say the government needs to do more to help. john holeman reports. >> reporter: this is a result of the strongest hurricane near the western hemisphere. roads strewn with trees, crops ruined and buildings ripped apart. authorities fear it will be worse. it doesn't mean those in the path of hurricane patricia

escaped unscathed. we found this woman in a shelter, she had nowhere else to go. >> translation: our house went in the wind. it collapsed and destroyed everything. >> reporter: she showed us the ruined home shared with fathers and daughters. she is now homeless. >> translation: this was my house. it was the only refuge that i had. >> reporter: it's the same story in village after village. it's the rural poor rather than the wealthy tourist towns bearing the brunt of the storm. this is the coastal area where hurricane patricia crushed into villages like this one. the high winds at the center missed the port, and the holiday resort town with the high urban

populations. as the storm subsided the armed forces and government agencies started work on communication and clearing roads. mexican authorities generally react quickly to natural disasters. and they have been less willing to provide long-term solutions once the danger is passed. >> jose had finished paying for the damage from the last big storm. what he needed that time and this time was a concrete roof to stand up to high winds. >> translation: we are going to have to start from zero, there's no help. you have to do it yourself. >> reporter: he couldn't afford the roof or get government funds for it. now he's sorting through remaining possessions again. it's a common story. >> the federal funds arrive late. people have forgotten, or if they have not documented everything they lost, they don't receive help.

the challenge for authorities this time around is to make sure that the many people like this woman and jose-luis are not so vulnerable when the next storm comes patricia is adding to severe flooding across the u.s. state of texas. half a meter of rain has fallen in navarro county, south of dallas. rain triggered flash floods and evacuations in at leastiun country a debate whether a famous landmark in australia should be climbed by tourists. the british named ayres rock, the aboriginal name uluru, and it's 30 years since control of the site was handed backs to the indigenous community. dom domes -- andrew thomas has the story. >> reporter: it's in every tourist vulture, to aboriginal

people uluru is sacred. equivalent to a grand cathedral or mosque. >> translation: this place has huge ancestral significance to us, holding the story of many ancestors. >> reporter: to climb uluru is to disrespect it and those to whom it is special. until the 1980s, it was known by the name ayres rock, and not much thought was given to that. signs and tour guides make it clear. >> this is a sacred site. they ask us not to climb. >> reporter: filming people on the rock is considered offensive. we are not showing people climbing. a minority of visitors are. >> it's one of those things in life, isn't it. you do it once, maybe, if you can do it. >> looking at it from the bottom is not the same as from the top. >> i see it as a supportive element not a cultural thing. >> reporter: it's understandable

why some climb. next to the sign asking people not to is another saying whether the climb is open or closed. only certain weather conditions mean it and the gate leading to it are shut. >> if they really don't want to climb. maybe they should close it. but they open - means it's okay to climb. >> it's true. there's a handrail to help people up. >> the management team want people to choose not to climb, not force them not to. if people insist on going up. they want them to be safe. >> reporter: people died falling from the rock. a taiwanese tourist spent time in hospital after slipping and fall. it's feared if they can't climb, it will mean less tourists and news. -- revenues.

>> thinks take time. there is a board and they have taken steps to close the climb. >> reporter: there have been alternative walks encouraged and the walks decreased. the days of people on top of the rock are numbered new zealand booked their place to try to make rugby world cup history. the all blacks beating south africa to make it into the world cup final. lee wellings reports. >> reporter: with or without tickets, hours before kick-off for the rugby world cup semifinal, travel to this corner of london can be awkward. as for beating the all blacks it can look impossible. south africa won three of two, including the famous final of '95. >> we are south africans, we can beat anyone. >> i'm looking for a 10 point

victory from new zealand. >> all blacks coach said they will try to rip off their heads. kano kept his head to score the first try in the first five minutes. but south africa were far from being outplayed. they were the better team in the first half. and the boot of palard took them to a 12-7 lead. new zealand were pressing relentlessly to get in front. the genius break a resistant setting up bowden barrett for a crucial try. it had turned into another tense world cup classic. the all blacks managed to keep the ball in south african territory, they won it 20-18. >> the game could have gone either way, we are thankful and humbled that we have been given the opportunity to go through to the final next week. >> the second semifinal between australia and argentina takes

place here at twickenham, and the winners of that one know they have an almighty task to defeat the all black side in the final yesterday just a reminder you can copy -- keep up to date on the website aljazeera.com. >> i'm nidhi dutt, in indonesia, where orangutan conservationists are climbing to new heights. >> and i'm russell beard in flanders in belgium, to meet to meet the urban miners turning rubbish into