reports of a deadly gas attack in syria, claims that sarin may have been used. ♪ hello there, i'm felicity barr, and you are watching al jazeera live from london. moscow says an amnesty report is fake off it claimed russia may be guilty of war crimes in syria. russia requests an international arrest warrant for the kremlin critic. and a remarkable tail of survival from china. the 19 year old found after more than 60 hours trapped under

landslide rubble. ♪ hello, a gas attack is reported to have taken place in syria. five people are said to have been killed southwest of damascus. witnesses say government helicopters fired missiles containing this nerve agent sarin. this despite an international weapons watchdog saying the last of syria's chemical weapons had been shipped out of the country for destruction last year. zana hoda reports. >> reporter: this is not the first time there have been reports of gas used as a weapon in syria. opposition sources say these people were exposed to gas when government helicopters fired missiles in the residential area. the rebel held neighborhood has been a battle ground for

sometime now. >> translator: these rockets were carrying sarin gas, and five people were killed, and more than 30 injured. mostly civilians. the sarin gas was used in the western neighborhood of the city. the victims showed symptoms such as running nose, saliva, and later developed into bleeding, shortness of breath and diluted pupils. >> reporter: chemical agents were deployed against this same population in 2013. a investigation team later confirmed that sarin had been used. many western governments said the forces loyal to the syrian government were responsible. a deal was later reached to destroy syria's chemical weapons arsenal. the organization then confirmed

that syria's equipment for producing, mixing, and filling chemical weapons had been destroyed. since then there have been reports of chemical attacks. in october this year, the opcw concluded that muster gas had been used in a town in aleppo province, the fact-finding mission was not mandated to assign any blame, but the area had seen fighting between isil and an opposition group. the findings added to evidence that isil had obtained and is using chemical weapons in iraq and syria. in that wasn't the only attack investigated in idlib there were several incidents between march and may which the fact-finding mission said likely involved the use of one or more toxic chemicals including chlorine. the u.s. envoy to the chemical weapons watch dog has warned that the use of toxic weapons is becoming increasingly common in the syrian war.

voicing are growing louder accusing the syrian government of refusing to declare its own stockpile. russia has denied using cluster bombs in syria as amnesty international suggested its air strikes there could constitute war crimes. at least 200 civilians have been killed in the last three months. it also alleges that russian authorities lied to cover up damage in at least two strikes. and accused russian and syrian forces of using banned cluster bombs. >> to say there is not enough evidence when we have provided photographs of impact sites, recommend innocence of their weaponry. we have spoken to many witnesses, survivors of attacks there. dozens and dozens of very credible video clips and other images of dead civilians, of bodies in parts, and so on,

statements from the ministry of defense itself in russia where they say they have carried out attacks at particular sights or in the vicinity of them. it would be interesting to find out what more evidence they would like. peter sharp is in moscow, and says the russian military has rejected the report saying it is full of lies and trite cliches. >> reporter: so far the defense ministry is moscow have been reluctant to comment on these very serious claims by amnesty international that more than 200 civilians were killed in the russian air strikes. but today they categorically denied the report. they said once again there is nothing new in it. it's nothing but a flood of lies, empty and without any proof. >> translator: we familiarized ourselves with the contents of this report and as usual there

is nothing concrete and nothing new published in it. in regards to the suggestion about the use of cluster bombs in syria, the russian air force does not use them. >> the russian defense ministry said that they were unprecedentedly open about their operations in syria, and they stated categorically that there were no munitions such as cluster bombs on their air base in the country. the purpose of all of these manipulations, they said, by amnesty is to smear others. ♪ georgia's prime minister has resigned. he made the announcement in a televised address, but didn't explain the reasons. only saying he will remain a loyal soldier of his motherland. he has been prime minister since 2013. only three days ago he gave a

press conference outd lining his plans for next year. an international arrest warrant has been issued by russia for the kremlin critic. authorities accuse him of ordering the killing of a mayor of a siberian town back in 1998. >> reporter: this man may be in self-imposed exile, but seldom misses an opportunity to criticize president putin. >> translator: no matter what the kremlin propaganda and pshsr wanted to show just. putin is no superman, and he will surely not go down in history as a hero. >> reporter: on tuesday russian police raided the offices of a prodemocracy movementing funded by the man. >> translator: when we made the decision to work with this organization, we did understand our risks, and that is why it has not become an unexpected event for us, especially taking into consideration the fact that

activists of russia were jailed and searched before. >> reporter: on wednesday came the international arrest warrant accusing him of organizing a contract killing in the '90s. >> translator: the presence of evidence of his involvement in homicide and attempted homicide, the investigation has decided to request his arrest in absentia, and the court granted the petition. >> reporter: the kremlin's most outspoken critic and once russia's richens man has already spent ten years in jail, on charges that were widely seen as punishment for challenging presidential power. he was pardoned and released in 2013, and left russia to live in switzerland, where he renewed his condemnation of putin's russia. in the last week he has been increasingly outspoken in his attacks on the government. president putin, he says has

driven russia into a position where revolution is inevitable and necessary. and he adds, i'll help bring it about. on wednesday he reacted to being charged in absentia. they have gone mad, he said. emma haywood, al jazeera. france's prime minister has outlined proposals to change the constitution in response to last month's attacks in paris. special policing powers put in place could become part of the country's constitution. the bill also includes a proposal to strip duel citizenship of people convicted of terrorism charges. >> translator: it's a heavy sang shown which our nation can impose on someone who has betrayed it in the worst possible way. blind killing of fellow citizens in the name of ideology, is a deny of any will to live together. it amounts to denying the soul

of our nation. starting next year, there will be more health warnings on cigarette packets sold across the e.u. al jazeera's neave barker has this report. >> reporter: the european court's decision is another blow for the tobacco industry has more and more countries try to force cigarette grants to cover up their logos. australia lead the way three years ago. the australian government says moves cut smoking rates by 15%. and from next year under new european union regulation, 65% of each cigarette packet will be covered in warnings. >> there is good evidence that health warnings do work in terms of deterring young people from taking up smoking, and helping adult smokers to quit. text warnings are fine up to a point, but picture warnings are

much more powerful. >> reporter: but the u.k., ireland, and france are also introducing plain logo-less packaging next year, something that tobacco giants are determined to fight. several leading companies all filed lawsuits here at the high court in london, a verdict is expected in january. they also appealed to the european court of justice in luxemburg, claiming the labeling of cigarette packages even violated freedom of expression. but now luxemburg has ruled against the tobacco companies, they are also now more likely to be defeated in the u.k. and other european courts. >> this is a man who smokes marl burrow cigarettes. >> reporter: in the past people were encouraged to smoke at

breakfast, after sport, even in the shower. today most countries have banned television tobacco ads, replacing them with hard-hitting health warnings. >> every 15 cigarettes you smoke will cause a mu tigs. >> reporter: smoking is believed to have cost the british economy around $20 billion a year. much more than the $14 billion the u.k. government makes from taxing the industry. the decision is expected to be made final in a few month's time, and with turkey and canada also likely to introduce plain packaging, tobacco companies continue to feel the squeeze. still to come on the program, praying for peace. why christmas for some in the west bank, will be marred by the recent violence. to be in this business and really believe in it, you have to be a pest mist by nature. >> the u.s. investors flocking

to put their money into trailer parks. ♪

♪ hello, again, and a reminder of the top stories. syria opposition activists say five people have been killed and dozens of others injured in a chemical weapon attack southwest of damascus. russia has rejected an amnesty international that suggested its air strikes in syria could constitute war crimes and an international arrest war rent has been entered in russia for the kremlin critic over a murder in the late '90s. iraqi soldiers are battling

to recapture the key city of ramadi from isil. gerald tan has the latest. >> reporter: progress is slow, but it's progress nonetheless. iraqi security forces close in on isil fighters in the center of ramadi city. the government is portraying the battle as a final push to recapture the capitol of anbar province. spirits are high. >> even it's very slow, but it's very well organized and very well coordinated between the local iraqi police, iraqi army, and the air strike from the international coalition. >> reporter: according to iraqi intelligence, there are just a few hundred rebels left in ramadi, a sharp drop from when isil stormed the city in may.

iraqi forces have been trying to reenter the city since early november. they say they have weeded out fighters from two residential neighborhoods and are moving through booby trapped cities towards the town center. >> lots of forces has been trained and ready to hold the ground after liberation of the city. this is going to be great boost for the iraqi forces morale, and great advance and progress in the fight against isis. >> reporter: the -- shia led government has cut off supplies to the city for months. turkey's government says it is too early to say what caused the deadly explosion at

istanbul's second largest airport. a female cleaner was killed in the blast. five aircraft were damaged. turkey's transport minister says weakness in the airport security is out of the question. israeli police have shot dead two palestinians who stabbed three people in east jerusalem. three israelis were seriously injured in the attack. since october 1, '30 palestinians and 20 israelis have been killed in violence across the palestinians territories and israel. christmas celebrations across the occupied west bank will be subdued this year. political leaders have decided to tone down holiday festivities amid this wave of violence. >> reporter: it's an annual tradition that this 19 year old normally looks forward to, but

decorating the family christmas tree is different this year. he suffers from severe pain and can barely stand after he was shot in the neck last month at a protest. he was injured after israeli commandos dressed in civilian clothing infiltrated the crowd of palestinian protesters he was with, and allegedly opened fire with live rounds. while recovering in hospital he was sent an online video shot by an international news outlet that shows the moment the undercover forces began shooting, but also when he was taken into an ambulance by first recorders clearly in shock. >> translator: when i look at the person in the video, it feels as if i'm looking at someone else. it was a life-changing experience. all i ask is that people pray for peace, for us in the city of nativity. and i pray for god to have mercy and give patience to the families to endure their losses. i ask people to pray for peace

in palestinian. >> reporter: it's not just families like this who are struggling to celebrate this christmas. municipalities across the occupied west bank including here in bethlehem have decided to scale backfest tiffties. in bethlehem's major square the christmas tree is decorated and a nativity scene is on display. political leaders say it was the right thing to do. >> this is the mosaic of all life in bethlehem. we live all of the different conditions. the joy, the sadness, the faith, we live the challenges and the encounters with faiths on ground. >> reporter: at the opposite end of the square, palestinian activists decorate an olive tree with pictures of those killed in the recent violence. they are calling it a resistance tree. it is meant to symbolize the bitterness in the city with

jesus christ was born and that was promised peace in the bible, something it has seen very little of for many years. the sultan of brunei has banned people from celebrating christmas in public this year. muslims seen celebrating and non-muslims seen organizing events could face up to five years in jail. christians are allowed to mark the occasion discretely in their own communities. the government says open celebrations could damage the muslim faith. a 19 year old has been pulled alive from the rubble of sunday's landslide in china. more than 70 people are still missing after a huge pile of construction waste smashed into buildings in an industrial park. >> reporter: alive against all of the odds. trapped under debris for almost three days. he is a migrant worker, age 19.

his voice and pulse were feeble when rescuers finally reached him. raising their morale and those of local people. >> translator: it's a miracle. a man was rescued alive. we were so happy when he heard about it. very happy. >> reporter: he has been in the office of a factory when the mud slide happened on sunday morning. but a man found close to him was dead. doctors are hopeful he will recover, but his injuries are serious. >> translator: he is severely debilitated and dehydrated, he sustained multiple injuries, including an extremely severe crush injury on his right lower limb. >> reporter: at the rescue site frantic efforts to find more survivors have intensified. the operation has also begun to

affect local businesses. >> translator: we cannot go out now. we cannot transfer goods in and out. there is no guarantee for our lives. many workers have to eat and there is no power supply now. >> reporter: the deluge of mud and construction waste engulfed more than 30 buildings in an industrial zone after heavy rains dislodged the man made pile that had been there for years. now a senior official of the firm that managed the dump has been arrested. state media says a local government report identified storage problems at the site months ago, warning of a catastrophe. a catastrophe that has now happened. adrian brown, al jazeera, beijing. indian police have charged 15 people over the murder of a muslim man who was suspected of eating beef. he was dragged from his house in september and beaten to death by around 100 people.

the cow is a sacred animal in hinduism, and there is a state-wide man on its slaughter. a rebel leader in central african republic has withdrawn his opposition to a crucial election due this weekend. he was deputy commander of the rebel group known as the seleka that seized power in this 2013 which triggered violence between the muslim and christian communities. it heaped the election on sunday will help end the conflict. tania page reports from the capitol. >> reporter: he posed a very real threat to the possibility of a peaceful election here in central african republic. he has declared an autonomous state. but now in a surprise move he says he supports a positive and sincere contribution to the election, and says that he regrets calling for the

partition of the country, this follows several days of talks in chad he held. this is very significant because he was one of the seleka commanders who lead a mostly muslim group of fighters here into the capitol, and overthrew the president in 2013. they committed atrocities against civilians on the way. when the french forces moved in, the seleka withdrew, and mostly christian vigilantly groups rose up and took revenge on the muslim population. in that prompted months of violence here in the capitol and across the whole rest of the country. people here tell us they are sick and tired of the violence, of the bloodshed. they want the country to move forward, and this election to happen peacefully. now that he says he is on board, and people have the choice of 30 candidates, all promising to bring unity between christians,

muslims and the rest of the minorities, people have a chance at hope. but there is still many armed groups out there, the disarmament program really hasn't been effective, so the threat of violence is still very real. guinea's president says the prime minister and his cabinet have resigned. he says they stepped down to allow his soon to be appointed cabinet to take over. he con reelection in october in a controversial vote the opposition says was rigged. tunisia has extended his nationwide state of emergency for another two months. it was put in place last month after a suicide attack on a bus in tunis, which killed 12 presidential guards. isil said it carried out the attack, which left dozens of others injured. 2008's global financial crisis is still being felt by millions of people in the u.s. many families were forced to give up their homes when they couldn't afford to pay their mortgages, and move into mobile homes in trailer parks.

around 20 million people in the u.s. live in mobile homes. that's about 6% of the population. almost a quarter of those living in mobile homes are retired and household income is only half the national average. in the first part of our special series on trailer parks, rob reynolds travelled to washington state where investors are making handsome profits from these humble homes. >> reporter: on the road to potential profits. investors are flocking to take a crash course on buying up trailer parks, about 20 million people in the u.s. live in low-cost mobile home communities, demand is high, and as more parks are bulldozed for other developments, supply is dwindling. >> what is happening is the .a apartment rents are going up, people are being squeezed out. >> reporter: frank rolfe leads a three day seminar. he owns 140 trailer parks and is

an expect as squeezing money out of some of america's poorest people. >> to be in this business and really believe in it, you have to be a pest mist by nature. you have to put all of your eggs in the basket that the economy is going to continue to go down. >> reporter: he tells buyers to tear out amenities like play grounds which cost money to maintain, and to raise rent as high as possible without forcing residents to leave. >> there are no regulations at all. so basically the park owner is free to raise as much as he wants. >> reporter: investors are eager to get in. >> from a management standpoint, they are awesome, they have a very good return on the money, better often than an apartment building with a lot less management. >> reporter: a used trailer can cost a few thousand dollars, and

the ground rent in a mobile home park like this one averages around $250 a month. many trailer park residents earn minimum wage are disabled or elderly living on fixed incomes. this 72 year old says he can't afford to live anywhere else. >> it's easy to move from one town to another when you have a trailer. >> reporter: as the bus tour continued it was shadowed by protesters denouncing the hard-edged business practices mobile home university preaches. >> these companies are coming in raising the rents rapidly, far greater than we have ever seen before. and they are making massive profits on these communities, but they are also displacing a lot of people. >> reporter: some billionaires including warren buffet, and sam zell are making large investments in trailer parks.

rob reynolds, al jazeera, washington. and you'll find much more on many of our stories over on our website. the address to click on to, as of ever, is aljazeera.com. aljazeera.com for all of your latest news and sport. ♪ shopping center showdown, mass protests planned at the mall of america, just days before christmas. >> seal the truth, huh? kill the baby's that's what planned parenthood does. >> reporter: attorneys ask whether the accused colorado planned parenthood shooter is mentally fit to stand trial. a deadly storm system sweeping across the country as millions head out for the holidays. and the nfl on defense, reports that they are