under pressure and under resourced, syrian rebels call for help in aleppo while civilians try to escape to turkey. hello. welcome, you're watching al jazeera live from doha. new allegations of sexual abuse from peacekeepers in the car. a u.n. panel says the wikileaks founder is being detained arbitrarily but u.k. and sweden say the ruling in not legally

binding. the u.s. democratic rivals tangle in their first one-on-one debate our top story, tens of thousands of syrians are trying to reach safety in turkey as government forces press on with their offensive backed with russian bombardments in aleppo province. as the situation der tear yators. >> reporter: out in the open they spend the night under the sky with the border of turkey hoping to get in. over the past few days syrians in their tens of thousands have escaped aleppo since the syrian government and the russian

allies begin a new offensive. under pressure like never before syrian rebels issue a call for general mobilization to defend their positions in aleppo. the countryside here is the last remaining base in the north for groups allied with the syrian free army. for the past three and a half years aleppo city has been divide. the opposition controls the east, government forces the west. the regime is trying to be siege rebel held districts and cut the rebel supply line from turkey's border to the north. the development is raising new concerns. >> we're trying to end the siege of a number of besieged areas across syria and yet what is being done now by russian and syrian forces could create a new siege. so this is incredibly hurtful in terms of real lives. it is a major obstacle to the

pursuit of the political solution and it needs to stop >> reporter: another siege could mean another madaya, starvation, malnutrition, mass suffering. once a holiday resort, this town outside damascus has become the most dire example of what happens when cut off from food and humanitarian aid by besieging forces. it is a path nobody wants to aleppo. gerald tan our correspondent is live for us on the turkish side of the syrian border. the speculation is that tens of thousands of people are now on the move. are they expecting them near where you are? >> reporter: well, right behind us, really, thousands of syrians are waiting to enter turkey, but as you can see behind me, the border is closed. they are appealing to turkish authority to open the border so

they can cross. turkey does have an open door policy, but over the past year stricter restrictions have been in place because turkey has security concerns and turkey really carries a heavy burden, 2.5 billion refugees in this country. so hundreds of families are now camped out just less than a kilometer from where we are standing. but not all of those who escape the fighting headed towards the turkish border. thousands of people are fleeing shelter in the area while others headed towards the western countryside of aleppo. they reached here on foot. they came with nothing. the suffering is only growing as the government offensive continues. it is not just that, they're not just escaping the bombardment, the fact that the government cut through rebel territory. ethey've isolated villages and towns so supply lines have been cut and the food of basic needs are not reaching people so

they're forced to leave. as of this moment, according to the authorities 40,000 people are on the move but it doesn't include anyone from inside the city. 200 to 300,000 people are estimated to live inside opposition controlled cities. there hasn't been a mass exodus as of yet, but prices are on the raise and that bakerys lack fuel and so there's a shortage in bred thank you very much. all eyes on the london embassy today. a u.n. panel ruled in favor of the wikileaks founder. he has been holed up in that building for more than three years. our correspondent is outside the embassy for us. when can we expect a sight of mr assange or an official

movement on this? >> reporter: he is due to address a press conference by video link at midday here in london, that's midday in g.m. t, in some three hours. we will appear on the balcony of the building behind me to hail what he will see, no doubt, as a moral victory. we will have to wait and see. we do have the form al words of the u.n. panel's findings. the depravation of him is arbitrary and - they request the government to ensure he is safety and his freedom of movement in annex peed yent manner and to give nipple compensation for the arbitrary detention which the panel says he has suffered over the past

three years. in the last hour we have also had fourth right rejections of this finding from the united kingdom government in the last few moments. they say they will contest these findings at the u.n. - of the u.n. working group. they completely reject it. they are deeply frustrated at this continuing unacceptable situation. the swedish foreign ministry likewise says that it rejects the findings. flish to his stated bihar-- in relation to his fears that he would be extradited to the u.s. were he to go to sweden, the government says it has never received annex tradition request in relation to him in theory even if he is free to leave the embassy today or tomorrow, he could find himself being arrested by london police because prosecutors in sweden saying what has happened over the past three to five years doesn't matter, those

allegations must be answered >> reporter: the semantic truth from the point of view of the british government is that he has always been free to leave the embassy behind me. he has not been detained in terms of their logic. he has voluntarily sought to escape arrest by remaining in the embassy. were me to leave, if we take the british police at their word, he would be arrested as quickly as possible within their capacity. this is a truly farcical situation that has dragged on for so many years and if there weren't some very, very serious issues at its core, the alleged rape of a woman in sweden, the detention or not of mr assange for all these years, and the waste of millions of pounds of british taxpayers' money in

policing the vicinity of the embassy, it would be written off as something of comic proportions that could never have possibly have happened. how much changes today? certainly this is embarrassing for the british and swedish governments, those who see themselves of champions of international human rates. their position directly contradicted by a credible u.n. panel, but they forthrightly reject that panel's findings just staying with that idea, as far as the home secretary is concerned say, he has been a little bit of an embarrassment for a long time now. we were looking at some library pictures in london. he has been able to command a big crowd. he has always been able to get his message out there. in that sense, might the home secretary, might the ministers in downing street really rather that he just went away? >> reporter: i think everyone

would like this problem to be solved somehow. there has been some diplomatic movement in recent months. we know that the swedish authorities have been talking to the ecuadorian authorities about ways of solving this. the swedish prosecutors have said they could come to london and they could come to the embassy and question mr assange there. they said no, we would rather that the ecuadorian investigators carry out the questioning on see deny's behalf at the embassy. we were seeing that before today's finding. is there a possible resolution there? perhaps. has today's findings given a new incentive to every-- we've lost that line.

>> reporter: the foreseeable solution we lost the line, then we got you back, but we do have to move on. thank you for talking to us from london the u.n. peace-keeping mission in the central african rebuck lick says it has identified-- republic says it has identified seven new sexual allegations. the claims come on top of more than 20 allegations last year of sexual abuse by the u.n. peacekeepers. >> reporter: due to the gravity of these allegations and given the information collected through the initial fact-finding, the u.n. has decided to take immediate measures, including the repatriation of 9120 soldiers from the republic of congo. this will occur after the investigation is carried out.

in the meantime the soldiers will be confined to barracks going to the u.s. where the democratic white house hopefuls, hillary clinton and bernie sanders have had a face off in their most contentious debate yet. they went head to head one-to-one exchanging heated questions about health care, wall street and each other's progressive credentials. >> reporter: outside the democratic debate hall not a hillary clinton sign in sight. new hampshire is bernie sanders's territory. among young voters here he enjoys 85% support, especially when it comes to issues of income and equality >> the rich are getting richer. >> translation: i do not trust hilary.

she has been waivering on different issues. >> reporter: the issue of reforming the economic's structure is where the two hopefuls argued most. sanders criticized hillary clinton of receiving 675,000 for making paid speechses to at least one investment bank on wall street. >> one of the things bee should do is-- we should do is not only talk the talk but walk the walk. i am the only candidate here who does not have a super pack and raising lots of money from wall street. >> there is this attack that he is putting forth, which really comes down to anybody who has ever took donations or speaking fees from any interest group which has to be braulgt and i reject that senator.

>> reporter: when pushed for transparency to reveal whether promises had been made to corporate america, she dodged the issue >> reporter: are you willing to release the transcripts of all your paid speeches? >> i will look into it. i don't know the status, but i will look into it >> reporter: andrew smith said her defiance may not be enough to convince voters. >> she has to prove she is as progressive as bernie sanders is and he has lots of arguments to say she is not. one of those is her taking money from major corporations and banks and financial institutions at a time when people, especially the progressive left wing, is really angry about that >> reporter: clinton has little time to change the minds of new hampshire voters. she trails hero opponent in some polls by as much as 30 points still to come the virus

spread by rats that has already claimed the lives of dozens of nigerians. plus. the bangladeshi film that has been praised abroad but you can't see it at home. we will tell you why. ll you why.

welcome back. you're with al jazeera. the top stories. tens of thousands of syrians are trying to flee to turkey to the border for safety. the fighting has intensified in aleppo following a government offensive backed up by russian

bombardments. the u.k. and swedish government have rejected a ruling in relation to wikileaks leader. he has been free to leave at any time. in the u.s. democratic white house hopefuls hillary clinton and bernie sanders face off in new hampshire. they went one-on-one exchanging heated questions about health care, wall street and each others credentials. yemen's army spokesman has spoken to al jazeera saying houthi rebels have been taken by supplies by the beginning of an offensive on the capital. the houthis have controlled the area for more than a year. >> translation: this is one of the last scenes before the big battle. the fighters there have to surrender or flee. we're entering the last phase before we launch the battle to deliver our beloved sunar.

it will be under our fire our correspondent has been watching this. >> reporter: you can see the ar till reshelling. they hope to take the base in the coming hours. they worried about the iuds and land mines there. they're under tight lock down. the national army is hoping to capture this space so they can control the road to the capita . the governor of a province after being charged with not boob loyal. it is in relation to president xi jinping anti corruption clean

up. >> reporter: the governor of a province, one of the most important province in china. it is a province where the former leader hailed from. he is being accused of violating party discipline. that is an accusation you here over and over again in today's china. he has been accused of failing to rectify his wrong doings. this, of course, follows events on thursday when the man who was the deputy governor of another province was also removed from his post accused of violating party discipline. in the case of wei hong i think it is in relation to president xi jinping's croc down on political descent because he was a closely tie to a former person jailed for corruption last year chinese police have admitted

they've detained three hong kong book sellers who have been missing since october. five book sellers in total disappeared late last year and all have reemerged in china proper. they work for a publishing house that is known for their criticism of china's communist party. the chinese authorities say the men are under investigation for illegal activity. there are questions over china's commitment to hong kong's autonomy. south korea's foreign minister has been meeting ambassadors in seoul on plans on a rocket launch from korea. this comes after widespread international condemnation of the fourth nuclear test that took place in january. more than 80 people in nigeria have died from a new outbreak of lassa fever. it is transmitted through food

and drink which has been contaminated by rats. it can be treated, but that is simply not an option for many people. >> reporter: this is the infectious diseases unit of a hospital. one died here days ago. there are still patients suspected of carrying the disease which is spread through ingesting rat waste. they include this man. he does not want his identity revealed because of the stigma aattached. his fiance died from this disease ten days ago. >> i have experienced what i have never experienced in my whole life. it is a disaster. i was told it was this lassa fever.

>> reporter: he is not sure how rat waste contaminated the food that led to his fiancee's death. he thinks he will be cleared of the disease, but those who are suffering experience vomiting, backache, swelling and severe rashes. it has led to an increase in demand for rat product. the government partly blames it on a popular food called garee. it is stored out doors in markets in unhygienic and important conditions where rats roam freely. rats get into sacks here where they leave waste. it spreads through inhaling tiny parcels infected with rat droppings and urine. traders here say they are not here to blame >> it hasn't been trade to us. >> reporter: the government says

it is doing all it can to stop the virus, but it is having trouble getting the drug that stops it. >> we have all our response teams contacting. i did not think we have enough public laboratories. we might need assistance. >> reporter: those suspected of carrying the disease are hoping the outbreak will be over asoon, but good sanitation, hygiene and fumigating rat infested locations should see it come to an end there are reports of an attack in mali. residents and military sources say it happened on the outskurts of timbucktoo. it is used as an army check point. thousands of people have been celebrating carnival across germany. colonel cologne more than-- in cologne more than a million party goers will visit there

over the next few days. it is taking place under a cloud of anxiety following allegations of mass sexual assaults on new year's eve. >> reporter: with warmth and color these rev elers lighten up the february weather. it is a chance to forget the mid-went. an opportunity to celebrate. this year the festivity is tampered by the events of new year's eve. some people have altered their out look but others have not. >> translation: no. my friend's drink was spiked. she had to go to the first aid tent and we're on the way home. we don't feel safe at all. we are happy when we are home. >> reporter: to some degree i would say there has been a lot of stress, a lot of police around, so that is okay.

>> translation: i would say it's never been so empty on carnival but we will have fun and hope nothing will happen. >> reporter: following the events of new year's eve, the authorities here drew heavy criticism which cost the local police chief his job. so this carnival is an opportunity, the police believe, to demonstrate that they can safeguard their city and all the people here for corn value. to that tend-- carnival. they have drafted in 2.5 thousand officers deployed in and around the city center. an extensive cctv network allows them to monitor many different sites, but they are very much aware that the eyes of the world have been drawn to their city. >> translation: we're doing everything to reestablish cologne as a wonderful city with openness, tolerance and multiculturalism. many people of different be

nationalities and religions are celebrating together. people can come here. we are doing all in our power to reestablish cologne's reputation as a safe city. >> reporter: officials estimate that carnival week will bring way more than a million people to the streets of cologne. whether the police can, indeed, reestablish this city's safe reputation will soon be clear. dominic cane film sensors are not allowing people to see a home grown film. indigenous people's lives and languages are rarely portrayed in films. >> reporter: festivals here are a rare owe indication to promote

bangladeshi movies. the local sin that is in decline with theater crowds dwindling since the 1990s. >> translation: the old cinema halls are dying and the new ones have not a place where you can show to the larger audience. >> reporter: at the same time local movies have been receiving more recognition abroad. but the bangladeshi film with most attention this year won't be screened at home any time soon. my bicycle, about the indigenous communities, is having trouble getting clearance from the censors. the director is from the community, another first for the country's film industry. >> translation: my wife and my friends gave money and the crew worked for free. it was a crowd funding model.

>> reporter: we were shown a letter from the censors showing the movie isn't getting consensus because it portrays the military in a negative way. the army presence was heavy and communal rights are common. it is difficult for any independent film maker in bangladesh to get their movies screened in theatres like this one, but the stakes are particularly high with my bicycle. it is a rare glimpse in the country's indigenous minorities who are never portrayed. their culture is in danger of disappearing. >> translation: a language survives through its use. we can't afford to print books in our language. >> reporter: it is a state of affairs this man hopes his film

will change, but for that to happen, he needs a board of censors who are a little less sensitive do checkout the website. it's always there for. aljazeera.com. you can get lots of interesting background articles, you can also talk to us on facebook and twitter as well. 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 america's finest reporters.