20 people killed in an attack in burkina faso's capital. the security minister says the operation to retake the hotel is now over. -welcome to the show. also coming up, voting ends in taiwan after elections expected to deliver the island's first female president. women in latin america urged to postpone pregnancy because of a virus that causes berth defects. venezuela's economic emergency.

the president takes action action to deal with the worsening financial crisis. the security operation at a hotel in burkina faso's capital is now over according at least to the country's security minister. however, officials also say a security operation is ongoing at a second hotel. at least 20 people have been killed after gunmen launched an attack. the government says many hostages, including a minister, may have been freed. the fighters stormed the splendid hotel in ouagadougou. it is located in the city's central business district and is popular with foreigners. gerald tan has more. >> reporter: the splendid hotel under siege. gunfire rang out through the night as explosions were from inside. masked gunmen stormed the hotel. our country is not for jihadists or terrorists. they are wrong. french troops were called in to help retake the hotel. they rescued dozens of people. many have been seriously wounded by bullets and are receiving treatment at hospital terrorists. they are wrong. french troops were called in to help retake the hotel. they rescued dozens of people. many have been seriously wounded by bullets and are receiving treatment at hospital forces

apparently there is aanother attack in a neighboring hotel. a french hotel. where currently there are some operations going on, apparently any signs at this point of who may be responsible for this? >> it's signed and claimed by al-qaeda in a region that is called a group that operated in november against the radisson hotel that killed many people. i think this is a sign that they have the capacity to operate anywhere in the region in africa if it is, indeed, the group that was mentioned last year also, why do you think burkina faso is being targeted? >> because somehow burkina faso had just completed a democratic

condition which should have ground its efforts with the new president who has been elected after a transparent election and coming out after a popular democratic revolution that occurred in october 2014, that saw the long-standing president, that should have been the moment of celebration of burkina faso but it is also the moment of weakness of the country. maybe it has not yet the security forces in place, the special forces, in order to address the challenges of terrorism. so they have taken advantage of this moment of the education within the country. on the other hand, i don't know if this is a case one can consider, but in the past when mr conpaore, the ousted p.m.,

was in charge, he used to have a very safe and powerful and well connected within the terrorist moveme movement, another video, but with mr compaore gone, no longer helping the new government, maybe the rebel and the terrorist, they wanted to show their displeasure at not having any more this person with the leadership in burkina faso. i think this is the moment do you think that, perhaps, the branches of al-qaeda, al-qaeda is facing some heat from competing organizations, shall we call them, groups like i.s.i.l., in the middle east. do you think that in return they're looking to expand their presence outside of iraq and syria in places like africa and that's why we're seeing more

attacks? >> that's not impossible. they are operating in order to show that they can strike anywhere in africa, especially in west africa, and also they realise that africa is really the spot or may be the future epicenter of terrorism in the world because you don't have a government that has the capacity to reach many regions. coming into africa at this moment will disrupt the attention of the african government to address the economic need of the country not to talk about the security challenges. so, in fact, africa has become the new place for these forces. they know that through conventional war they will not be willing because you have seen in the northern part of mali

when the troop had the military code name, they have been able to defeat the forces there. with an asymmetric forces, you have the - they can strike and show they have the role to play. they consider them as inter allocaturs voting has ended in taiwan after an election that could put pressure on the island's ties with its powerful neighbor china. poll suggests tsai ing-wen will become taiwan's first female president taking on one of the toughest political jobs in asia. beijing sees the island as a

break-away province. a closer look at the candidates. if tsai ing-wen does win the election, it will be the second victory for the democratic progressive partner. she says she wants to maintain the stays us quo with china. there isseric chew, from k.m.t. he has campaigned on the need to build ties with china. james sung represents the smaller people first party. he defected from the k.m.t. he is likely to draw some votes away from his old party. adrian brown joins us live. does it look like the opposition are going to be celebrating tonight? >> reporter: well, certainly here outside the headquarters of the democratic progressive party they are getting ready to party. politics in this part of the

world is feisty, noisy and colorful. that is born out by what is around me now. they do believe their candidate has won their presidency and they're hopeful that the dpp for the first time would have secured a parliamentary majority. of the votes counted so far, about a million, it's quite clear that tsai ing-wen is in the lead with a commanding lead. we expect to get the result of this election probably by about 10 o'clock tonight local time. that's five hours from now. tsai ing-wen herself is holding a media conference in about three hours time and i would imagine by 8 o'clock when she addresses the media, she will have a pretty clear indication of whether history has been made here; namely, that taiwan will now have its first female president, but a loot could happen between now and then. one thing to remember is that the vote - her support could still be threatened by a number of independent candidates and

also some of the faller parties that could take votes away from the dpp certainly at the moment i think that tsai ing-wen will be feeling very confident with the way things have gone so far a lot the stake here. how has that been reflected in turn out. did this election get people excited? >> reporter: yes. i think it did. i think the voter turnout almost certainly was very high. in the last election four years ago, the voter turn out was more than 80%, so if it's more than 80% this time, that would be a clear illustration of what a vibrant democracy this is. i was watching people queueing up to cast their ballots today. there were young people voting for the first time and there were also a number of very old people who remember what taiwan was like before it became a democracy 20 years ago. let's just remember that this woman who could become taiwan's

first female president, she is single, she is 59 years old, a trained economyist who likens herself to the german chancellor angela merkel thank you. top diplomats from tehran and european union are due to meet to discuss the nuclear deal. the watchdog is expected to deliver its report on whether iran is complying with the terms of the agreement. iran's foreign minister told state media he believes sanctions against tehran will be lifted when the report's findings are published. last july iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. this update from washington dc. >> reporter: there seems to be growing expectation that implementation day is going to happen on saturday. it really all comes down to when the i.a.e.a. issues its report

on whether iran has complied with all of the terms under the jcpoa. that includes rendering iraq nuclear reactor ineffective by basically filling the plant with cement so that it can't process uranium or plutonium. that means reconfiguring the reactor so that it can only produce nuclear material that can be used for peaceful purposes. that also means implementing a lot of transparency measures, cameras, recording equipment and making it possible for i.a.e.a. members to come in to take a close look at what is going on at any time under the terms of the deal. when the i.a.e.a. issues its report that iran has complied with all of these terms, that basically means instantly u.s. and e.u. sanctions will be lifted. the united nations security council's prior resolutions sanctioning iran for its

suspected nuclear weapons program will be rendered moot and there will be a new resolution taking effect that basically eases some of the u.n. sanctions that have been imposed on tehran, but the question is can it happen on saturday or might there be a need to wait until tuesday because u.s. banks are closed on sunday and monday. iranian officials apparently want to be able to access the money that had been frozen by the u.s. government for more than three decades as quickly as possible. basically to show their citizens that they're trying to do the right thing in terms of coming back into the international community and more important trying to gain access to badly needed money, but if they can't get the deal done on saturday, a senior administration official here in the u.s. says the deal will be implemented when it's time and not just because there's any domestic political pressure to make things happen that quickly still ahead on the show

frantic efforts to crackdown all the volunteers in a botched frenches drug trial that has left six people critically ill. plus. >> reporter: protests as the church punishes a branch for supporting gay marriage.

when you're on hold, your business is on hold. that's why comcast business doesn't leave you there. when you call, a small business expert will answer you in about 30 seconds. no annoying hold music. just a real person, real fast. whenever you need them. so your business can get back to business. sounds like my ride's ready. don't get stuck on hold. reach an expert fast. comcast business.

built for business. welcome back. the headlines here. the security operation as a hotel in burkina faso's capital is now over according to the country's security minister.

officials say many hostages, including a minister, have been freed. there are reports of a security operation at another hotel. voting has ended in taiwan's crucial presidential polls that could see the island elect its first female president. if opposition leader tsai ing-wen wins, it would be victory. sanctions against the country will be lifted as soon as saturday. top diplomats are due to meet in vienna to decide if iran is holding up its side of the deal with world powers. russia says an emergency u.n. security council meeting to discuss the humanitarian crisis in syria was unnecessary. the meeting was held on friday night. russia's deputy ambassador accused the west of policity sizing the crisis and trying to derail talks between the

government and opposition groups >> regrettably siege and starvation as a weapon of war has become routine in syria, with devastating consequences for civilians. the barbarity of this tactic cannot be overstated. by besieging towns and villages, the parties of the conflict have launched a vicious war on ordinary men, women and children with callous indifference for their lives, health and well-being. a siege that denies people access to the basic necessities of life is unlawful, unacceptable and unconscionable prosecutors in france have launched an investigation into a botched drug trial that has left one man brain dead and five others critical ill. >> reporter: it was a clinical trial that went wrong. with one person declared brain dead and five others in hospital, the french health minister has ordered an investigation >> translation: the families

are devastated. we will make sure they are given all the answers, particularly as right now i'm not aware of any comparable case. what has happened was unprecedented and requires the greatest possible vigilance in the coming investigation. >> reporter: the drug was being trialled at this private clinic in rennes in western france. it was meant to act on the body's system which deals with pain. >> translation: the condition of the other patients got worse every the first few days of this week and today four of the five other patients have neurological problems of varying gravity. one patient did not have symptoms but is, of course, under intense surveillance >> reporter: a lawyer for the victim says there was clearly some kind of error or oversight. >> translation: how come in 2016 with all the means we have such an accident could still happen? at this moment i have unfortunately no idea. has there been a human error? i don't believe in coincidence

in circumstances >> reporter: dozens more people got smaller dozes of the substance they're going to understand go a brain scan to make sure they have not been harmed women in brazil are being urged to postpone pregnancy as a mosquito-born virus spreads through the africa and brazil. >> reporter: the corridors of this public hospital in north-eastern brazil are full of distraught mothers holding babies with one thing in common. they were born with notably smaller than normal heads. it is a condition that severely limits a child's intellectual and physical development and which in less than four months has reached epidemic proportions in brazil. researchers say they believe the cause is a virus new to brazil

called zika spread by the same mosquito that carries dengue fever. >> translation: i was shocked when i found out. she is my first baby and this illness wasn't heard of in brazil until now. >> reporter: doctors here believe the virus is causing severe scarring of the retina in up to 40% of the new born babies. >> in december we had about one thousand cases. now we've just heard last week it has been three thousand reports. >> reporter: that's just in the state where a state of emergency has been declared and where the army has been called out to combat disease-carrying mosquitoes. they thrive in rainy season and breed in even the smallest amount of still clean water. despite all these efforts, the

zika virus is spreading not just through brazil but throughout south and central america. in fact, disease control experts predict that within three months zika will have reached texas. there is no cure for the virus. terrifying pregnant woman like this woman. >> translation: i asked the doctor if what i heard was true. so i've been taking special precaution like using insect repellant. >> reporter: but for three and a half month old david precautions are too late. his sister dotes on him while his mother worries about how she will take care of a child who will be seriously handicapped. >> translation: my main concern now is to go back to work, but the day care center refuses to take him because he is too much responsibility for them. >> reporter: a tragic phenomenon athat has prompted health professionals to warn women to

refrain from getting pregnant while they struggle to deal with an epidemic that appears to be just beginning the governor of the u.s. state of michigan is asking for federal help to tackle led contamination in the water supply. high levels have been found in bringing water at the city of flint. there has also been an outbreak of legionnaires disease, although they say that can't be linked to the contaminated water. venezuela's president has declared a 60-day economic emergency to deal with the worsening financial crisis. he made the announcement just before his state of the union address. the oil dependent nation has been hit hard by the big drop in crude oil prices. >> reporter: friday was a day of unusual announcement in venezuela. while president maduro delivered his state of the union address,

they grappled with the implications of an economy they now know to be collapsing. for the first time in 17 years since his predecessor rose to power, he is faced with great political and economic pressure >> translation: today we are arriving at a parliament whereby virtue of the constitution in the middle of a democracy of pull liberties, the opposition to the revolution has conquered the majority and is here today. >> reporter: hours before the oil dependent country had declared itself to be in crisis. >> translation: i decree article 1, an economic state of emergency in conformity to the constitution of venezuela and its judicial order. >> reporter: with the world's cheapest petrol and currency exchange system, the measures the government takes could see a radical reform of an economic system that many see as having failed. yet it was a disclosure for the first time in a year by the

central bank that venezuela's inflation rate is 141% which to many here drove just how much the economy is hurting. but just exactly what the state of economic emergency means is still unclear. the government has said it will take measures that help and not hundred terror people, but many living in the-- hinder people, but many people are afraid that no measure will be enough to recover the economy. in the living room of this middle-class family, the president's words are met with disbelief who say they have heard it before >> translation: it has become bad and it is only going to get worse. his speech in congress and he doesn't offer anything concrete. >> reporter: because the economy relies almost entirely on crude

oil, the drop to $30 shows a problem. it might be faced with a year of frequent and less-welcomed announcements the anglican church has imposed sanctions on its american branch for allowing cler gee to perform same-sex marriages. it is the latest sign of a growing rift within the church on same-sex relationships. paul brennan reports. >> reporter: saint francis church is a long way from can'ter bury england. these are devout anglican christians. on gay marriage they are not sure what to believe any more. >> this thing of being gay and being lesbian really, i don't understand it because when you are born, you are told that you are a girl we are a boy.

>> in the olden days it was not proper, but now in today's life we've got our kids who are falling into this and we can't cast them aside >> certainly there are voices in favor of same sex union, there are voices that are not in favor of that. so we have to be listening to the voice of god in that mix and in that chaos >> reporter: the global church of 85 million worshippers is split. it's u.s. branch supports gays and has an openly gay bishop. >> this has been a disappointing time for many and there will be heartache and pain for many, but it is important to remember that we are still part of the anglican communion. >> reporter: outside canter bury cathedral compassion was urged. the summit condemns gay people.

gay marriage remains a fundamental departure from the faith and the church must take the consequences. >> the unity shown by the people here is going to be costly because we have deep differences. it is going to be painful as well as often joyful and remarkable. >> reporter: the arch bishop portrayed this slip as a procedural problem. he said the church has acted unilaterally without waiting for a consensus of the greater anglican communion. there is no understating the deep split within the anglican church. he will now lead a task group to try to heal the rift. traditionalists sees little scope for compromise >> it is not to reflect the culture of the day of the prevailing opinions. it is actually to present the message of the gospel >> reporter: the rift looks set to widen when canadian anglicans are said to join the support for

gay marriage you can get up-to-date with all the stories we've been telling you about if you head over to our wednesday site which you can see there, aljazeera.com >> this week on talk to al jazeera--lawyer and executive director of the equal justice initiative, bryan stevenson. >> we have to stop telling the lies that we tell about who we are. we celebrate our history of slavery. we celebrate our era of terrorism. >> stevenson has spent his career fighting racism in the criminal justice system--the legacy of slavery and times of "racial terror" continue to impact the lives of african americans today. >> what we did to african americans between the end of reconstruction and world war ii