shaky start to the geneva talks. syrian government and opposition dell allegations accuse each other of not being serious. you're watching al jazeera live from doha. also ahead, african union leaders decide against sending peacekeeping troops to burundi unless invited. >> the u.n. appeals for

$900 million for aid in iraq. the united plans for talks for end the syrian war have resulted in charges against each other. the main opposition group has been meeting and threatening to walk away unless press nurse are released and the bombing of civilians stop. >> we wish to see food reaching the starving to death women and children. we wish to see the women released from the regime's prisons. we wish to see the criminal murderous aerial bombardment coming to an end.

let's cross over to james bays joining us from geneva. they had been threaten to go walk out, james. do we nope the status of the opposition now after they've met with the u.n. envoy? >> well, they had that meeting and we haven't got a lot of details exactly what he said to them. he said to me as he left the meeting that he listened to their concerns. i said to him, are you going to react to those concerns, are you able to deliver on those concerns and he didn't answer the question. he said first i have to listen to them. the opposition then went into their own meeting to discuss what he said to them. there seems to have been some agreement in that meeting. at one point, they were in teleconference with saudi arabia where the leader of the shy negotiating commission is based. at the end of the meeting certainly in the hotel, there

was some angry discussion between some of the opposition members. where they've left it for now is that they're going to discuss things among themselves and then come back for another meeting. what is worth pointing out here, when you've got the government saying as the syrian ambassador to the u.n. said, they are amateurs, we are professionals, we came here six days ago and they're still in the willing to talk is the point the opposition will make, telling you they are supposed to be creating a new syria, doing it in a very democratic way, they've got armed groups, they've got political groups. they've got a whole range of civilian society and say because they are trying to do it in a democratic way, clearly there is some agreement and things are not quite as smooth as for the other side, who are an authoritarian regime and when the order comes down, everyone follows it.

they are speaking to saudi arabia but if you listen to leaders, they are also listening to people on the ground in syria. >> the truth is what can i tell the people who are starving to death? what can i tell the people that daughters and kids are in prison? they need a solution and we need to give them something. if we don't get anything from this process, we are going to be all of us finished. we need to give the people something. those people in syria are suffering and we are here to serve them and help them. we are not the leaders. we are the servant of those people in syria who are suffering a lot. >> that was a member of the opposition speaking to you a little earlier on. let's listen to what syrian's ambassador said when he gave that press conference. we are not aware of the other party including the special envoy and his team. they do not nor do we have a

final list of the parties. they have delayed six days. there is more than one delegation representing the opposition. we refer to them as the opposition parties, rather than opposition party. >> he himself had strong worst for the opposition parties. >> yeah, absolutely. he is saying they are not ready and his side is ready and they are following the resolution, following the invitation, they turned up on time and the invitation obviously is part of the u.n. security council resolution. they are saying the same resolution that set up the talks has key conditions in it about the end of sieges, the end of bombardment and the release of detainees and they say well, it's all very well saying these talks should go ahead on them but those bits are being completely ignored not only by

the syrian government but also the russian and russian government is one of the international sponsors of all this. it is the u.s. and russia who are the key players who started this process and they say it's absolutely wrong that russia is a sponsor of peace talks at the same time that it is bombing on the ground one of the participate a.m.s to those talks. >> ok, james, for the time being, thank you for that update from geneva. syrian state media said 45 people have been killed in damascus. the attack happened in a mainly shia district and it's unclear who is behind the bombings. african leaders decided not to send 5,000 soldiers to burundi without the burundi government consent. the political crisis there has dominated proceedings at the african summit in ethiopia.

burundi's penalty warned his country would fight any foreign forces entering his country. we have the latest from addis ababa. >> the head of state decided to suspend deployment of troops to burundi without the consent of the government and instead decides to push more aggressively for a solution to jump start an all inclusive political dialogue. they are alleges sending a high level delegation to burundi to talk to government officials, talk to the president to try to convince hims to yes to a deployment of teams to that country basically to help the local authorities in the disarmment efforts and also in the protection of civilians. the head of state also noted a complaint by burundi against its neighbor. burundi has always criticized rwanda of arming and training

rebel groups in refugee camps there, but officials there have always denied this. palestinian police officer has been killed after he opened fire on a well known israeli checkpoint, wounding three israelis there the attack in the occupied west bank near an illegal settlement. in iraq, 17 soldiers killed after a suicide talk in anbar province. isil fighters drove a bulldozer into their base, detonating a bomb. it happened east of rimadi where heavy fighting continues between the army and isil fighters. the u.n. said iraq needs $900 million to deem with the humanitarian crisis caused in the war against isil. the government can only raise half the amount needed. we have more from baghdad. >> with the fall in oil prices, iraq faces a real shortfall in the funding for the humanitarian crisis. what the u.n. have said is they

can raise -- they want to raise $861 million. now the iraqi government needs 1.56 and they have about 43% of that and they are relying on the u.n. to be able to raise the rest of it. however, what the u.n. has said, they don't have that money and need to ask international donors to give them that money. there is real concern from the u.n. and international community. take a look at europe, you have the refugee crisis there, european countries saying we need to money to help people back home. also we have a funding shortfall not just in iraq, but syria as well, although the none have said we need this nearly $900 million to help iraq out of this humanitarian crisis, it's, that money isn't there yet, it needs to be raised. we haven't seen the fall of fallujah yet which would spark another humanitarian crisis.

also mosul is still under occupation by isil. we will be seeing perhaps a liberation of that city or at least an operation against that city at some point this year. that will spark another humanitarian crisis and the u.n. will have to reassess their physician as will the iraqi government. russia rejected causation that is one of its jet violated turkish air space, deepening the wrist between the two countries that began after turkey shot down a russia fighter jet. president erdogan sent a warning to moscow. >> if russia continues to vital turkey's sovereignty, they will bear the consist senses. such irresponsible behavior will not improve to the relationship between nato and the russia. on the con vary, it will do harm. the commander of part of a

group fighting against houthi rebels was killed in aden. authorities in el salvador say more than 6,000 people could have the zika virus. the disease is suspected of causing children born with underdeveloped heads and brains. the government is advising women not to get pregnant. we have this report from san sal volunteer door. >> marries in hospital worrying about the zika virus. it's spreading fast here, transmitted pi mosquitoes. it could cause brain dodge to an on joan child. the link that yet to be proved but the government has taken the extraordinary step of warning women not to get pregnant for at least the next year.

that's too lately for cristobal, who is suffering from the fever and rash. eight months into the pregnant, the risk to her bean is lower, but she's still sick with worry. >> i wouldn't have got pregnant. i really would have waited for the outbreak to have finished. >> the vice minister of health says this is just the tip of the iceberg. authorities only recently detected the virus here, but already are getting ready for the brain damaged children they think could be born in around seven months' time. >> we started to look at special resources to give support to these children, looking at other countries who have the problem to strengths then our institution. >> the emphasis is on prevention. while conception is one way, another is terminating their

pregnancy. congressman for the capitol city beliefs the no tolerance abortion laws need to be discussed in light of the zika threat. >> it's a debate we should take more seriously without the subjectivity that relike thous myths and the church have in our country. for now, the governments concentrating on the root cause, the mosquitoes carrying the virus. >> authorities are fumigating houses and public spaces all over the capital. there's already more than 6,000 cases of the zika virus in el salvador. >> the biggest worry is for the what the future may bring. coming up on the prom, myanmar's future leaders are serenaded by their former military rulers. the battle for iowa, why a

state of just 3 million people is playing a big role in the u.s. presidential race.

>> "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. hello again, you're watching al jazeera, the top stories, the u.n. special envoy to syria criticized opposition parties for delaying talks in geneva and says he's unclear of the makeup of the delegation. his comments come as the high negotiations committee have threatened to walk away from the talks. leaders attending the african union summit decided not

to send peacekeeping troops to burundi without the not's consent, pushing for a dialogue said. the president warrant of action against any troops entering his country. three israelis were wounded at a checkpoint in the occupied west bank near an illegal settlement. a former spokesman for the palestinian government is speaking to us live. what do you think the reaction of the palestinian authority will be? >> i don't think there will be reaction. i think we will wait and see what is going to be the reaction from israel. the palestinian authority most probably would likes to that this is an individualistic event and it does not reflect a trend

or it does not reflect a general phenomenon, because it's very, very rare that people in the palestinian authority or in the palestinian security in particular are involved in violent activities against israelis. >> will the palestinian authority be under pressure from israel now to crackdown even more on their people? >> exactly. that's the point. i think that israel will take advantage of this incident in order to increase the pressure on the palestinian authority and to try to i am perish on the international level by trying to say there is no need to have confidence on the palestinian authority. >> can israel prove that when

security coordination continues between the palestinian authority. the security scoreddation -- in september, there was a threat to suspend the palestinian implementation of the oslo agreement, which includes ending security coordination with israel. that still has not happened. can you tell us why? >> i think that israel was clear in saying that there is no security coordination and civilian scored nation. there is coordination and if palestinians will want to stop certain aspects of cooperation, it means all kinds of cooperation will be stopped and this is like suffocation for the palestinian occupation and palestinian people because of the interrelations between the two sides, especially that israeli is in control of almost every aspect of the lives of the palestinian people. stopping all kinds of coordination between the two

sides is not realistic, is not practical. >> but if that is what the people want -- >> and -- >> if that is what the palestinian people want and this is according to a recent poll conducted, it's found that the majority of palestinians polled, two thirds doubt abbas seriousness about abandoning that agreement. do you agree with what they have to say about he's simply not serious? >> i agree that most of the palestinian public do want to see an end to the security coordination. the problem and the irony is that the same public asked to buy the same pollsters, whether asked to stop the civilian coordination with israel, the vast majority is saying no, which means that there is a very complicated situation that

cannot be taken at face value. >> let me ask you this then. that same poll saying support for the two-state solution continues to decline, two thirds believe that it's no longer viable due to settlement expansion. having said that, as you are aware, france earlier this week saying it will recognize a palestinian state if a renew's push for that two-state solution fails. do you believe, that france can play a balance and impartial role here? >> well, this is a very important initiative, and it gives a role to europe that we have been waiting for for long. it will put an end to the american monopoly to the peace pros and this is very good. france that put teeth to its initiative, when it said that if israel do not cooperate, then they will recognize the palestinian state. we are hopeful that this might be a beginning of more

pluralistic international efforts to try to move this peace process towards and end that could hopefully include ending this occupation of the palestinian state. >> thank you very much. people in my an more are gathering for the historic power of the elected civilian government. the government was swept away, which replaced decades of army rule. rob mcbride reports from myanmar's capital. >> the measured routine doesn't betray it, but there is history in the making. >> she is one of those making it. she and one of other hundreds of newly elected parliament for the national league for democracy are about to take their seats. >> myanmar has been waiting for

this day for so long. so many ordinary people and members of the n.l.d. have sacrificed their lives to get here. >> the military still retains great power. it has control over important ministries and automatically gets a quarter of all parliament seats allowing it to block any changes to the constitution. >> despite their overwhelming majority, they know they have to cooperate with the military to rule effectively. they also know the ultimate prize could be a change in the constitution, allowing their leader finally to become president. >> historic days, man. >> she is stopped from becoming penalty by a clause in the constitution that disqualifies the parent of a foreign national. her two sons hold british passports, but there's speculation the military might withdraw its objection in the new spirit of reconciliation.

>> whether you are in parliament or outside of it, we can all work together for the benefit of the people and the country. >> at this event for the outgoing m.p.'s of the military backed government and their civilian successes, there was reconciliation in abundance. >> now our time is up, we dutifully leave for the new people to come in. >> from one of the former generals, a serenade. ♪ crooning for the most powerful politician in myanmar right now and possibly its president in waiting, whose dreams may yet come through. rob mcbride, al jazeera, myanmar. protests in sweden, a group

of masked men threatened anyone in stoke home speak suspected of being a foreigner. >> police moved in when protestors from two rival groups began to fight. an anti refugee group was calling fortress i go nation of their prime minister. their angry their country of 10 money allowed in 1r.1000 asylum seekers last year. facing them were more than 200 antifascists. >> i was pulled to the ground and one of them tried to kick me in the head. i grabbed his foot. the police put a stop to the whole incident. >> swedish police are on heightened alert, deploying anti riot officers and surveillance. they made several arrests on friday after a gang of some 100 masked men ran through the streets threatening refugees, attacking others. >> the target were younger children, refugees or child refugees, youth refugees located

in the central station. of course a lot of these attacks resolve around a lot of these discussions going on in the last few weeks. >> neonazi messages say it's the duty of squeezed to take action. an asylum center for children locked themselves in a room while the men went on a rampage. concerned on how many asylum seekers reaching sweden is not restricted to the far right. >> they meet on facebook or other social media forums and talk about do what they feel is necessary to create an environment where refugees are not welcome. >> half of those who applied for asylum are to have their claims rejected. as many as half of those will be forced to leave. on monday, iowa in the

united states will hold its presidential nominating contest known as a caucus. for months, hopefuls have spent millions of dollars wooing voters. we have this report from des moines. >> it's in homes like this that the united states will hold its first official votes in its presidential nominating contest. >> where is this caucus going to be held? >> right here in the living room. >> this is where the caulk us is. >> right here, yep. >> to caucus means to gather. you won't see polling booths or machines. people meet at homes, political centers and church, a state where just 3 million people became prominent through historical accident. >> in 1972, there were a series of changes in how each of our political parties would select their nominee to be penalty of

the united states and iowa happened to go first that year. so iowa has been first ever since. >> the republican caucus in iowa is simple, supporters vote by secret ballot tossed in a hat for basket. the candidate with the most votes bins delegates to go on to national conventions where nominees for both parties are officially elected. >> the democratic caucus is a little more complicated. supporters gather in the center of the room and then break off into groups behind the candidate they support. that's where things get a little intense. >> we'll have on one faction coming in and visiting a representative coming and visiting with another faction and trying to swing people to their side jam the debates between caucus goers can be heated. still the results serve an

important purpose. >> it is the first litmus test of what americans are feeling about the people that want to be their commander in chief. >> the process has one big challenge. >> because everybody has to be in one place at one time, it means if the weather is bad, it makes it harder for people to get to their caucus locations. of course, it's iowa. it's cold, there's a good chance of snow. >> despite months of candidates courting iowa voters, the results of the iowa caucus could come down to the weather and whether supporters show up on a cold winter night. al jazeera, des moines, iowa. tennis world north carolina one djokovic beat andy murray to win the australian title. murray showed some resistance in the second, but djokovic came on top in that 17-5. djokovic steals the win on a tie

breaker. he has won four of the past five major tournaments, including three in a row. you can read much more about thes australian cup on aljazeera.com. you'll also find the day's top stories there all at aljazeera.com. ironically this piece of coral, delicate as fine china, is also a sign of trouble. >> today, we are facing the potential loss or massive degradation of all of our reefs. >> down here, climate change is