>> as leaders gather in geneva to try to find an end to syria's war, a series of bombs tear through damascus, killing at least 50 people. you're watching al jazeera i'm david foster, also coming up in this programme, europe's security agency says thousands of refugee children are missing after having arrived in europe, and they may have been targeted by criminal gangs. an attack in nigeria. the armed group boko haram is being blamed and increasing violence in

the west bank, a palestinian police officer shot dead after wounding three israelis. well, it's been more than a year in the making, but even now as leaders gather in geneva for talks to end the war in syria there are still deep divisions over the country's future. syria's opposition is threatening to lead the discussions unless demands are met. and this includes the aid to towns such as maiduguri where people are starving. syria's u.n. ambassador says he and his team are considering humanitarian steps, but accuses the opposition of not being serious about the situation. diplomatic editor james bays reports from geneva arriving for his first meeting with the syrian

opposition, trying to persuade them to join negotiations, the u.n. special envoy. >> reporter: what are you hoping to hear from the opposition. >> i will see them and then i will tell you. >> reporter: thank you, sir. >> while he was meeting a delegation of opposition representatives, their spokesman asked reporters why it was important all the provisions of the security council resolution that set up the talks process be now implemented. >> it's important for us to see that food goes to our children who are starved to death. to see syrian families, syrian women are safe sitting in there homes and their houses, away from the sights of the russians. >> when mr de mistura emerged at the end of his meeting with the opposition, he gave few details, other than saying he remained

optimistic. >> are you optimistic? >> yes, and determined. >> a good miting. -- meeting. >> yes. >> do you think you can deal with the concerns. >> we must deal with the concerns of the syrian people. >> reporter: can you deliver? >> we must first address that, thank you. >> reporter: the syrian government delegation that arrived on friday made its first statements to the media. chief negotiator claimed the opposition were amateurs, not professionals, and he said he had not been given a list of their delegation members. >> we have not yet started. we don't know yet who would be sitting with us on the other side. neither of us, nor the special envoy are aware of the names of the composition of the other delegations with whom we have this dialogue. >> reporter: one of the reasons he does not have a final list is because names are still added to

the opposition team. two of the most prominent figures in the opposition. mohammed, a chief negotiator, on his way to geneva from saudi arabia, and i'm told on monday, to expect the arrival of riyadh, the head of the high negotiating committee, an indication that thing opposition is getting close to making a final decision. with those talks in geneva starting in the country in syria, there has been a series of explosions. at least 50 people were killed in the capital damascus. paul brennan has more on that. >> the triple blast ripped aurt nearby vehicles, shattered adjacent buildings and killed scores of people in the immediate vicinity. the main target appears to have been a bus carrying militiamen. >> the district is home to the

holiest sight. militiamen and syrian army soldiers operate roadblocks around the shrine. the lebanese group, hezbollah, and other militias have a strong presence there. many visit the shrine before heading into front line combat. >> i say mercy for the martyrs, and a quick recovering for the injured, and i'd like to say the messages drenched in blood will not stop us, but make us resistant and determined. >> syrian agencies quoting a source said is car bomb had detonated near the garage, and the two suicide bombers blew themselves up nearby as people were rescued. >> the explosions happened as delegates began meeting in geneva, for the first u.n. peace talks in two years. ahead of the government delegation claimed it showed a

link between the opposition and terrorism. i.s.i.l. claimed responsibility for the bombing the number of syrian refugees who are stranded at jordan's border and waiting to enter the country has risen to 20,000. in recent months, jordan allowed several dozen refugees to enter every day. syria's u.n. ambassador said most refugees who fled have done so for economic reasons, and not because of his government. europe's law enforcement agency. euro poll estimates that thousands of unaccompanied refugee children have gone missing after arriving on the continent. the figures are for children that disappeared, after having registered on the arrival. 10,000 children have gone

missing in two years. last year, 26,000 children arrived in europe without family. criminal gangs are targetting refugees, trafficking into sex work and slavery. some of the children may have been reunited with families. it's been estimated 5,000 children disappeared in italy, in sweden maybe 1,000 children are now unaccounted for. international organization for migration says the numbers are not surprising, but it is a relief that authorities are paying attention. >> the fact that euro poll puts it behind this report, suggestion, is important. i think there are terrible things happening to migrants as they cross into europe. and at least a third are young children. some are accompanied, some are not. so it's about time, frankly, that we are getting more attention to the issue.

at least 86 people have been killed in an attack in north-east nigeria, it was on saturday night in delore, 5km from maiduguri. boko haram has been blamed. witnesses say suicide bombers targeted a crowd and fighters shot at residents and set houses on fire. we were sent this from nigeria. >> reporter: security sources tell al jazeera that security passed through a village while the attack took place. reaching there they opened fire, and burnt a lot of women and children in the process, burning houses. three female suicide bombers were deploiffed as people ran to safety. that caused most of the damage.

the military confirms yes, it happened and they came in two cars and motorcycle. the military say they have boko haram on the back foot. yes, they have recaptured a lot of territory from boko haram. what they say is cleaning up provisions in areas where they are suspected of hiding. what the region is dealing with is a group that is so, so deep into the iceo metrical warfare in targetting victims, we haven't seen large scale matters, but we see how boko haram resulted to the use of suicide bombers to target soft targets like the market and other places of worship. that is one of the most difficult things authorities in the region will have to deal with a palestinian policeman has been killed after opening fire on an israeli checkpoint, wounding three israelis, near the illegal settlement of batal.

the man worked as a body guard for a prosecutor in ramallah. here is stephanie dekker in west jerusalem. >> reporter: this is the second time that a palestinian authority security officer opens fire on israeli soldiers when it comes to the latest wave in violence. let me read what was pasted on the facebook page before he carried out the attack. he said - unfortunately i don't see anything worth looking for as long as the occupation remains, muzzling our breath, killing brothers and sisters. this is of huge support. there's close security coordination when it comes to israel and the palestinian and a security services. this is something difficult to deal with and understand, even at the time of the last one, december the third, there's a lot of reports in israel how concerned the government was that this could happen again. we have seen it happen again.

it's an individual action, it highlights extreme frustration. if you look at the words that were posted on the facebook page, that the impact israel's occupation is having, not just on ordinary palestinians, but those there to help israel buy and contain situations and keep the security at peace in the west bank, it is a cause of a lot of frustration for ordinary palestinians. a complicated nuance situation, but one that is a concern to israel and the palestinian authority coming up, the zika virus is spreading across latin america, and the government of el salvador is warning women there not to get pregnant now. people say people in the u.s. are getting ready to vote in the first caucus year, and why they think that is an unusual way to choose a person they want in the white house.

the u.n. special envoy on syria says he is optimistic that talks in geneva, aimed at ending the war will succeed. that is despite the opposition delegation saying they'll leave if demands are not met i.s.i.l., which is not represented at the talks says it carried out a triple bomb attack in the syrian capital that killed at least 50 people in northern nigeria, at least 86 died in an attack. the country's military blames boko haram. >> almost 6,000 people in el

salvador are now thought to have the zika virus. the disease could be linked to a rise in microcephali, a condition in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and brains. this led the government to take the measure of advising women not to become pregnant. >> reporter: soon to be mothers in a hospital in el salvador, worrying about the same thing - the zika virus. it's spreading fast here, transmitted by mosquitos. scientists think if the mother is infected, it could cause brain damage to the un born child. the palestining is yet to be -- the link is yet to be proved and the el salvador government took the step to warn women not to get pregnant for at least of the next year. that is too late for this woman, who is suffering from fever and rash coming with zika.

eight months into the pregnancy the risk is lower. she is still sick with worry. >> i wouldn't have got pregnant, i would have waited for the outbreak to have finished. >> reporter: the vis minister of health says -- vice minister of health says it's the tip of the iceberg. they are getting ready for the brain damaged children that could be born in around 7 months time. >> we started to discuss this to look at the special resources the system needs to look after the children, looking at other countries that have the problem, to strengthen our institutions. >> reporter: the emphasis is on contraception, but one option the women don't have is terminating pregnancy, even if the foetus is brain damaged. this congressman believes el salvador's no tolerance abortion laws need to be discussed in

light of the zika threat. >> translation: it's a debate we should a take more seriously without the subjectivity of the myths that can be generated in our country. to open up the defensive life. to families, and mothers, and damage that can be generated in society. the government is concentrating on the root cause, the mosquitos carrying the virus. >> authorities have fume gated houses in the capital. there's 6,000 cases in el salvador. the biggest worry is not now, but what the future may bring just an update for you. the woman that john spoke to in his report has had her baby, and the baby is healthy african leaders have decided against sending 5,000 peacekeeping soldiers to burundi, unless they get the go

ahead from the country's government. burundi's president briefly warned he'd consider such deployment an invasion. catherine wambua-soi has the latest from ouagadougou where the summit is being held. >> reporter: a plan to deploy troops to burundi was the biggest matter to come out. leaders decided to push for a political solution. >> the heads of state expressed satisfaction mediation by the president in uganda, who will continue with the dialogue, which we want to be an inclusive dialogue. >> this follows days of discussion on what to do with the violence in burundi, which killed more than 400 people. it was triggered by a decision to seek and win a third term. previous attempts at such political dialogue have not been

successful. the foreign first minister said the government is committed, but will not negotiate with coup plotters. >> how do you ask a member state, which agreed to those instruments, to move away and. >> a high level delegation will be sent to burundi, and too to have authorities accept the deployment of troops. some are critical of the failure to deploy peacekeepers. a lot hinges on leaders. 54, a lot have issues. they would not want to see a decision putting them in a bind as well. >> reporter: water from burundi, african state compelled leaders to form a deadline as soon as

possible. new estimation has been in conflict for three years, over a dispute between the president and his former vice president. and made a resolution to increase support for troops in somali, and deal with increasing threat of attacks with better strategy. >> the end of another african union summit. a focus on women's rights. some have been accused of violating the people's rights. the question is whether there'll be enough political will to advance that and start making changes united nations says it needs 861 million to help iraq respond to a growing humanitarian crisis. 3.3 million iraqis have been displace the by fighting between the iraqi armed forces and

i.s.i.l. imran khan reports. >> reporter: with the fall in oil price, the u.n. is facing a shortfall in funding. they want to raise $861 million. the iraqi government says they need $1.256. they have a percentage, and want the u.n. to raise the rest. the u.n. says they don't have the money, they need to ask international donors to give them money, there has been concern from the u.n. and the iraqi government that the international community does not have the money. look at what is going on in europe, with the refugee crisis, a lot of europeans needing the money back home. there's a funding short fall in iraq and syria. a lot of programs are being funded. the u.n. said we need 9 million toll help iraq, it's - that money is not there yet, it needs to be raised, and we have not

seen the gaul of fall huge -- fall of fallujah, sparking another crisis, and iraq's second-largest city of mosul is under occupation by i.s.i.l., we'll be seeing a liberation of that city, or an operation against that city, some point this year, according to iraqi forces, sparking another humanitarian crisis, and the u.n. will have to re-assess figures, as will the government. >> the saudi-led coalition says it will investigate the deaths of civilians killed in air strikes in yemen, and regreats the civilian -- regrets the civilian death, and adds that the military experts would give advice on how to avoid casualties, more than 100 bombing raids violating humanitarian law was identified. destroying refugee champs,

marriage centers, schools, mosques - it was claimed three have been arrested in central india after app thousand kilos of explosives were discovered. 132 detonators were found. the explosives were transported without the proper documentation. on monday, in the u.s. state of iowa, the people there will become the first in the country to hold a contest where each party, democratic and republican nominate the presidential camp. it's called a caucus. presidential hopefuls spend millions trying to get the iowa voters on their side. we have this from demoyne. >> reporter: it's in homes like this that the united states will hold its first official vote in the presidential nominating contest. so where is this caucus going to be held, where will the people be. >> out here in the living room.

>> reporter: this is where the caucus is? >> yes. >> reporter: to caucus is to gather. in iowa you don't see polling booths and machines, instead people meet in homes and churches. the state of 3 million was prominent through historical accident. >> in 1972 there were a series of changes in how the political parties selected nominees to be president. united states. and iowa happens to go first that year. so iowa has been first ever since. >> we'll pass out slips of paper to vote on. the republican caucus is simple. supporters vote by a ballot tossed in a hat or basket. nominees for both parties are elected. the democratic caucus is a little more complicated. supporters gather in the center of the room and break off into

groups, behind the candidate they support. that's where things get a little intense. >> one section visits a representative from a faction, come and visit another faction, and trying to swing people to their side. the debate between caucus goes... ..can be heated. still the result serve an important purpose. >> iowa caucus is special because it's the first litmus test of what americans are feeling about the people that want to be their commander in chief. >> reporter: the process has a challenge. >> because everyone has to be in one place at one time. if the weather is bad, it makes it hard for people to get to their elections. it's iowa, it's cold, a good chance of snop. >> reporter: despite months of candidates courting voters, it could come down to the weather,

and whether supporters show up on a cold winter night latino voters are voicing their political concerns in iowa. they form a small influential minority in that state. earlier they spoke with the arizona congressman. >> reporter: one of the fastest growing demographics in the u.s. state of iowa is the latino vote, currently making up 3% of the population. it is the fastest growing demographic. to talk about the influence in the iowa congress, i'm joined by a congressman from arizona. much has been made about the latino vote, because of ethnicity, all latinos must thing about it the same way. is that true. >> the latino community, latino

political target is not a mono lift. it's diverse as the community itself. there's some themes that resonate well in the latino community. there's the future. >> let's talk about some of the scenes. what are some of the key issues that latinos are interested in elevating into the discussion and putting into the minds of the candidate. >> rational thought around immigration reform, as opposed to what we are hearing. doing something about that in the present domestic issue is immigration reform, we have not dealt with it. and the other issue is the issue of economic fairness and opportunity. >> currently there are more than 10 million living in shadows, what kind of boldness are we looking at. >> we are looking at an

executive, a president of the united states using the influence of the power of that office to make it better. it pews the palpit to rally around logical immigration reform, and quit the deportation policy that separates families, instead of keeping them together. >> what about the issue of fairness. >> the issue is huge. the issue of deployment is huge. the issue of affordably of health and college and training for the latino community is huge. it's a young community, average age is 24 years old. everything in front of that community. the doors are blocked. i'm here for a particular candidate. his methods of fairness resonated strongly with the latino community. what about the republican side. how are immigrants responding to the anti-immigrant rhetoric?

>> i think they'll respond by turning out to vote, through the huge numbers in the polls. the republicans, cruz and marco rubio, happen to be hispanic. they are whistling past the graveyard. they use the issue of immigration. they thought through the rhetoric, and are effectively ilyenating the vote. >> thank you for talking to the house. and this is a fast-growing demographic in iowa, 200,000 will come out, and the projection and the hope is 10,000 of the caucus goers will be hispanic. making them 5%. that is the projection, if so, it would have an impact on the u.s. political landscape and the changing demographic turkish police say they have

recovered a ston picasso paining. the woman dressing her hair - as it's called - has been recovered after n undercover operation in istanbul. two suspected thieves wanted $8 million for it. >> all the news at aljazeera.com. tonight - bernie sanders surging in polls. ben cardon who supported the hillary clinton campaign if her pragmatism can overcome the ideaism of bernie sanders. the group behind planned parenthood facing prison time. will their indictment discourage other activists. and thoughts on press freedom after a smear campaign against one of er