raising the flag of liberation, iraqi forces say they've retaken the city of ramadi. you're watching al jazeera live from our headquarters here in doha. also ahead, a rare evacuation is now underway, syrians trapped in three battlegrounds areas are given safer passage out. a painful legacy resolved, south korea and japan reach an agreement over the women used as war time sex slaves. hoping to end burundi's unrest, uganda hopes talks finally stop the violence.

the iraqi military said it's liberated ramadi from isil. the iraqi flag is flying over a government complex there and soldiers celebrating their victory. we have this report from erbil. >> it's a symbolic victory for iraqi forces to take this government com pound after seven days of fierce battles. here's one spokesman of the iraqi army who said they have taken over whole of the city of ramadi. >> yes, ramadi is now a free city. the armed forces, the hero of the armed forces have put the iraqi flag over the government complex in anbar. this is a new chapter in the history of the country. >> we also know from security forces in the area that isil has

not been defeated from all of the areas of ramadi. there is a downtown presence of isil and also in the north where the iraqi forces are trying to cross the euphrates river into isil held areas. some fighters fled from these buildings when the iraqi forces took them over, so we expect there will be more battles to come before iraqi forces can declare victory over the entire city of ramadi. this announcement of victory will come from the prime minister al abadi or the iraqi defense ministry. on the syrian border with lebanon, a group of rebel fighters and their families have been under siege by government forces for months. injured fighters and their families are allowed safe passage out of the town eventually to get to idlib where al-nusra is strongest. there, several hundred shia

families have been trapped in two towns controlled by the rebels, but now under this u.n. backed deal, this will be given a safe route to damascus where the government largely is in control. release and their families will be leaving, heading for lebanon where they'll continue on to turkey before finally arriving in idlib. the shia families will go from idlib to turkey and then to beirut before finally being transferred to damascus. this is not the first evacuation agreement which its kind. in the past year, there was a similar deal in homs. while a deal involving the yarmouk refugee camp is currently on hold. we are live near the turkey-syria border. the choreography of this is quite frankly difficult to get our heads around but we seem to be talks about be a exchange, a swap of personnel.

>> i think we've lost coms with hashem there. as you can imagine, ditch to get people out of syria. at the moment, isil controls much of the countries central corridor. the syrian opposition controls big parts of the north and the southwest. the kurdish popular protection unit, the y.p.g. have also been battling isil. the rest of the country remains under government control. a retired lebanese army general and military analyst in the capitol beirut says that both the syrian government and the rebels do benefit from this deal. i think this is not the first time we've seen this in homs a long time ago. it is cost benefit approach. it's good for everybody is winning. it's a win-win situation. for the regime, he's securing his back yard, for hezbollah, he is economizing his forces for different places. he is really protecting his soft

belly, because this area is in the middle of the area of influence of hezbollah where you have pro hezbollah, where you have pro shia and the at the same time, it is beneficial for the rebels to go in different places. i think it is like a trend going on. we've seen it and almost as i said earlier, now and so it's like a positive for everybody, cost benefit approach. >> let's take you back to my colleague, hashem. you were just about to explain to us how in effect, this is an exchange of personnel on both sides. >> exactly, peter. so what happened basically is the following, government troops launched an attack to recapture areas that were backed by shia militia of hezbollah and then they led a seen on the town, trapping thousands of fighters mainly from the syrian

opposition. in a tilt for at that time, the opposition in idlib launched an attack and besieged shia militias, pro government shia militias. they said if you would like us to offer you a safe pass only, therefore you have to give fighters safe passage. it was not an easy task. you had to have turkey and iran interfere and broker a deal between the different factions, and as far as the border here is concerned, we're expecting the 100 or so pro government militia fighters to across into the border crossing and then from there, they will be flown to lebanon before they get to damascus. >> there are so many potential variables here, not if the rebels in effect regroup and retrain themselves, if you will. if this his the beginning of some sort of embryonic

ceasefire, if there is a weakness in the pots, where might it occur first? >> the weighs remains volatile on the ground. such deals can be conducive to broader political talks about solving syria's political crisis. this is what they hope to achieve in geneva when a delegation from the opposition will sit around the same table with the government about how to move forward, but you know on the ground, it's not politicians who have the ultimate say. it's rebel factions, and i've been listening to statements from top military commanders saying that you know what, we really don't trust the international community, we don't trust assad and we are just going to continue the fight until assad is driven out of power, so there's an international hope but at the same time, reality remains quite

difficult on the ground. >> hashem, thanks very much. syrian state t.v. reports explosions in the western city of homs, saying 19 were killed and 130 others wounded in the explosions. a syrian rights group said at least 32 have died. a suicide bomber in the afghan capital killing at least one person today injuring 13 others close to the airport, the attack happened close to the military entrance used by nato forces. the bomber walked to a car and detonated explosives he was wiring. the taliban claimed responsibility. the japanese foreign minister has apologized for the second world war policy of forcing hundreds of thousands of korean women to be sex slaves for soldiers. the apology, part of a landmark deal with south korea soured releases. they are paying $8 million in compensation. >> the victims waited 70 years for an apology from japan.

it finally came from the japanese prime minister. >> we have been expressing our feelings of remorse and apology on this issue, as the prefers governments have and such position will not be changed. from today, japan and south korea will enter into a new era. i hope this agreement will serve as a momentum for japan and south korea. >> >> it's an issue that strained relations between two countries for years, so there's relief that they can at last move on. >> in order to restore the dignity and regain the impaired reputation of the comfort women, as well as heal their wounded hearts through the agreement, i think it's most important that the japanese government swiftly and fatefully carry out the measures under this deal. >> historians estimate that almost 200,000 asian women mostly from korea were forced to providing sex for brothels for japanese soldiers for world war

ii. the victims welcomed the apology and the $8.3 million in compensation. >> the government has been trying to settle this issue by the end of this year. we will follow the governments decision. >> korea was a japanese colony for 35 years from 1910 to 1945 and that history still affects south korea's relationship with japan. some say this poll. >> i however long in coming offers hope for the future. >> this is a huge deal. as far as we can tell, a long time problem that has divided these two countries has been seemingly resolved at least on a government to government level. >> they have finally admitted that what happened to them was wrongs. plenty more to come here on wig. the next partly of our series

one year, five families, a brief reunion for siblings forced together in myanmar and separated again.

welcome back. you're with al jazeera. recapping the headlines stories, the iraqi military said idlib rated ramadi from isil. the iraqi flag is flying over the government complex and soldiers are celebrating their

victory. more than 100 rebel syrian fighters and their families have arrived at the syrian border, heading to turkey to receive medical treatment. separately, 338 supporters of bashar al assad have arrived there already. they're being taken to damascus via lebanon. it's part of a rare deal negotiated with the help of iran and turkey and backed by the united nations. south korea and japan ended a long standing dispute with a deal on war time korean sex slaves. the japanese prime minister has made an apology and offered compensation. there was a delegation from the president's government in

burundi. they were there, he however did not decide to attend. representatives from burundi's rival opposition groups were also part of the talks, too. other people taking part, well that included the exiled human rights activist as well as religious leaders. the main purpose to prevent a return to civil war. malcolm webb joins us live from the ugandan capital. take us through what's on the table, what's up for discussion. >> today was just an opening session and before discussing any terms of any kind of deal, the first thing on the agenda to be discussed is when they'll actually start discussing and that probably won't be for two weeks from now in neighboring tanner. >>. it doesn't look like there's going to be any quick progress. on top of that, delegates from both the government and

opposition side spoke in today's opening session. it seems relations as expected aren't at all warm between them. one government representative said they are not willing to negotiate with anyone who was involved in any violent attempt to overthrow the government. by that, they mean people involved in the failed attempted coup back in may when an army officer tried to overthrow the president and failed. meanwhile, the opposition delegation is saying that it's imperative that the president doesn't do a third term in power and refute the election boycotted by the opposition and criticized by the international community. they say that's not valid and against the constitution and against the peace accord of 2006 peace deal that ended burundi's 13 year civil war, which also stipulates term limits for the president. they say he shouldn't be in power and there should be fresh

elections held in a safe environment. it is very hard to see how these two sides and positions are going to be reconciled in the weeks ahead. >> malcolm, thanks very much. >> bahrain's government approved a gradual rise in fuel prices in the coming years. it will affect consumers of fuel and kerosene. it is expect to rise in other countries throughout the region. >> expecting a further $87 billion deficit in 2016, it's the first budget after king salomon took over. saudi arabia is the world's largest oil exporter. according to some estimates, the break even price for its budget was $106 a barrel last year. the current oil price just under $40 a barrel. saudi arabia and opec members

refuse to cut output because they want to keep their market share. a government official in southern china killed himself a week after a devastating landslide in the city. the man jumped from a building. the city had a pile of industrial waste that slid on buried several buildings. suspected boko haram fighters were have killed 15 people in the northeast of nigeria, attacking a village. it is feared the death toll may be much higher. local media say at least 10 gunmen were also killed. let's now look at one of this year's most significant stories through the eyes of families affected directly. it's the fourth part of our series, one year, five families. it's about a rohingya family forced out of myanmar. myanmar said the rohingya people are refugees and refuse to

recognize them as citizens. it's estimated 26,000 rohingya fled myanmar and bangladesh the first three months of this year, heading for malaysia, indonesia and thailand. they were offered temporary refuge, but many were stranded on boats for days. two siblings left myanmar earlier this year to escape the violence against their community. they were separated at sea. after a journey, they landed in indonesia. they were briefly reunited before they were parted once again. we revisited the siblings to see how they are coping today. >> it's been a year of narrow escapes, since the 16-year-old rohingya fled persecution, she survived two hazardous both journeys. we found her at an uncle's house

in malaysia, more than 1,000 kilometers from indonesia where we met. >> in indonesia, they took good care of us. we had enough food, but we were sad, because we had nobody. that's why i decided to come here. >> in may, she and her 18-year-old brother landed. they were separated on the journey and both drifted at sea for a month after smugglers abandoned them. many travel, them died on the way. she recognized her brother in a photo we took in a different camp and finally, the siblings were reunited. >> that was the last time they saw each other. we find him living in a tent, spending most of his time praying. >> when i met my sister, i was so happy. i felt like i finally had my

family again. now she has gone. i'm heartbroken. i'm so sad. >> the siblings had tried to leave indonesia together, but he was betrayed hi his smuggler and abandoned. she made it on to a boat but drifted 48 hours after a smuggler abandoned her at sea. >> i could not stop crying and could not eat for two days. i was to afraid we would die. >> the story is a tale of thousands of rohingyas who have risked their life at sea to find a better future. the journey has finally given them some safety but brought new uncertainties. it is a journey that has only just begun. >> she regrets leaving indonesia, although registered as a refugee, she now lives as an undocumented immigrant in malaysia, there she married a childhood friend from a village. the couple struggles to survive financially. >> it's been a very long journey and i have faced much hardship

along the way, but still i am happy i most myanmar. everything was burned and we had no freedom there, even to pray. despite everything, i'm thankful. >> once a month, they talk on the phone and hope one day they might be reunited again for good. al jazeera, in kuala lampur. to the next story in that series, a year since 43 students went missing in mexico. that's tuesday here on al jazeera. the e.u.'s border agency front taxings stepping forward to help with the registers of the large number of refugees. the block is sending 400 officers and interpreters. we have a report now from the greek-macedonian border. >> we are talking about a few days perhaps before they can actually start processing and helping the greek authorities. they could be deployed on the main hot spot, the greek

islands, we don't know that number yet. we expect to know within the next few hours. in terms of what these officers will be doing, they will be helping the greek authorities speed the process of registration. they will be taking debriefs, security debriefs with the refugees, determining their identity, and carry out some security background checks and then they will cross-check it with national and perhaps the european date of birth database but all that procedure will not help the greek authorities or stem the flow of the big number of refugees and annual speed the process to allow them to continue their journey to the rest of europe. al jazeera has gained access to one of the most dangerous that migration routes in the world. we are taking you through the journey. the migrants must trail through honduras, considered the word's most violent city and get to

guatemala. from there, they go into matt matamoros. then into san antonio in texas. we have this report. >> it may look like a one horse town, but don't be fooled. on the guatemala-mexico border, it is a hub for migrants and for the gangs who prey on them. the man i'm talking to is a people smuggler. his job is to keep those traveling with him safe from the local mafia. >> i pay for security here for transport out so that my clients don't have to wait. here, time is safety. >> people here don't let you move. they kidnap you, beat you up and they do what they want to you. >> we followed him on an exhausting journey from

honduras, hopping on crowded buses trying to pick up more clients. now, he needs to get out of he will oranges and into mexico. there's only one way. >> this is where the road ends and the river begins. they arrive in small taxis and buses and then climb into small bolts here which will take them down the river. >> hondurans, guatemalans, salvadorans, everyone we talked to had a story of poverty or violence they're trying to escape. >> a gang got into my house, robbed everything, beat up my dad and cousins and even raped my mother. >> he's only heading into more danger. mexican cartels and authorities are infamous for kidnapping, extorting and killing mike grants. the only sure way through is to

pay them off. >> the federal police take at least $120. migration officials are $30. the other group are los zetas. we pay them $750 per person. >> it's a booming business, focused on squeezing the desperate for all they have. mexico's recent tightening of its southern border that meant the chances of getting through without a guide are slimmer than ever, but even paying the 6,000 to $7,000 the people smugglers demand doesn't guarantee your safety. >> a year ago, i brought a group of young women of about 16 to 17 years old. all of them got rape'd. i paid the money and they raped all those girls anyway. >> from the boat, these migrants are hurried into cattle trucks. that's how they'll enter mexico, merchandise trapped in an industry which sees them as pure

profit. gold mine is creating big profits in kurdistan but many say they are not seeing any of the profits. we have a report from kyrgyzstan. >> harvest time is a reliable if humble income for the people of the region. many worry about the environmental impact of the mine and lack of tangible benefits. two years ago, tpepl mon stations against it turned violent. protestors who were jailed accused police of brutality. now, activists say nothing has

changed, and no one feels safe to speak out. >> the giles who were convicted, their relatives are always being frightened, told that if you talk to someone, your voice won't ever get out. they'll rot in jail. >> we drove to the villages to see for ourselves if things had improved, but discovered we were being followed. >> unfortunately we're not going to stop here because we know that the people we want to speak to have been warned not to talk to foreigners. an international team came here and were surrounded by an angry crowd. later they were held and questioned for three hours by state security and told to go back to the capital. >> this is a delicate time for the government. it's trying to renegotiate its ownership agreement with the canadian company which runs the mine, centara gold.

the prime minister said more than enough is being done for local villages. he warns he won't tolerate interference with the terms of the agreement. >> protecting investors is the job of our state security services. we have a lot of people there who sometimes are motivate by greed. >> these men filmed allegedly trying to extort $3 million from the managers of the gold mine were later jailed. environmentalists say villages demands for decent schools and hospitals are legitimate. >> if you look into what the demand are, they are pretty simple, and you see that it's for the benefit of communities of the villages rather than describing them as people who just black mailing to get the permanent profit. >> in the search for greater national profit, villages aren't yet convinced of its value. robin walker, al jazeera,

kyrgyzstan. always good to hear from you, was, do check out the website, aljazeera.com. drop us an email or talk to everyone on our various program teams via their facebook pages and their twitter veins, as well or you can tweet me, i'll tweet you back. all that via the website. an al jazeera investigation is raisedding new questions about some of baseball and football biggest stars and their possible use of performance enhancing drugs, allegations they deny. denver broncos quarterback peyton manning calls the report complete garbage. we will bring you part of the interview manning gave. extreme weather, dozens dead as the storm system spawning tornadoes, flooding and snow tears across the u.s.