moving with urgency, a task force on syria set to meet after world powers agreed on a pause for the fighting within a week. welcome to al jazeera life from doha. i'm jane dutton with the world news. also on the program hillary clinton takes on bernie sanders in the first one-on-one debate since she lost the new hampshire primary. >> reporter: i'm in south africa where four white farmers are being accused of killing two

black farm workers. find out why the trial is causing so much tension ahead of the russian orthodox church is said to meet the pope for the first time in a thousand years a u.n. task force is syria will meet in the next few hours after world powers agreed to end the fighting in late night talks in munich. the leaders hope to have the hostilities halted within a group. i.s.i.l. and al-nusra group are not included in the deal. it is agreed to push for the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid which will be dropped by air to besieged towns and villages early next week. this will be monitored by the

task force. >> reporter: 19 delegations, the sponsors of international peace efforts in syria gathering in an effort to get things back on track. but the most important meeting happened several hours earlier on 915th floor of the same munich hotel. this is where russian foreign minister lavrov and kerry came face-to-face. you can tell from the faces from the start this is a difficult meeting. the russians proposed a ceasefire from march 1, but the u.s. said that would mean three weeks more aerial bombardment and called for it to begin as early as this weekend. when they finally addressed the media it was in the early hours of the munich morning and it was clear neither man got exactly what they wanted. they announced an ambitious target of one week in which to stop the violence >> we have agreed to implement a

nation-wide cessation of hostilities to begin in the target of one week's time. that's ambitious, but everybody is determined to move as rapidly as possible to try to achieve this. this will apply to any and all parties in syria with the exception of the terrorist organizations d.a.e.s.h. and al-nusra. >> translation: when we have written down the need of an integrated approach to all these problems, i hope the opposition and those that control various groups will have no more reasons to avoid their obligations >> reporter: they said a joint task force will be set up to arrange the cessation of has till its and another one-- hostilities and another one on getting humanitarian aid to those in need. >> this is the list of the areas and the people who are in need and the numbers of them.

the i.s.s. g has told us told the u.n. you are in charge in launching this initiative, with our support. >> reporter: this was a very long and often difficult series of meetings. what they have achieved reads well on paper, but the big test now will be turning it into reality on the ground. james bays our correspondent is in moscow. we will cross to him in a moment, but first our correspondent in gaziantep. what have you been hearing about response to this deal? >> reporter: members in the opposition have told us that they would welcome any deal that will relieve the suffering on the ground. we know that more than 50,000 people have been made homeless as a result of the ongoing offensive in the aleppo province. that is according to the united nations but there are many front lines in syria.

we understand that there is air strikes targeting rebel positions in the northern countryside of homs. that's in central syria. while the offensive is underway in aleppo, the government trying to weaken the rebels on other fronts, homs is one of them. 120,000 people are at risk of starvation, at risk of disease because the rebel supply lines have been cut cut. homs has been isolated. the government wants to isolate it from territories further north. really it is not just the 120,000 in homs. we know half a million people live in besieged and hard to reach areas. they're well coming any deal that will bring a respite. there's little faith in the government, in russia really, saying that they're trying to buyed time. the ceasefire was to be

implemented in three weeks, but it means it wanted three weeks to receive efforts on the ground. now they have a week. people are expecting a stepped-up military campaign. we understand that the government is trying to reach an agreement are rebels in the southern province of deraa to surrender. the government is trying to isolate areas, force a surrender in order to isolate these rebel territories, seal the borders with jordan and turkey and weak enthe opposition on the ground but on the negotiating table as well is that what is going on in the russian minds? what is the plan there? >> reporter: the russian diplomatic language at the moment is talking about this task group and what exactly it exactly is going to be doing, how it will be comprised. lavrov has specifically stated that the russian air campaign

will carry on even after this ceasefire comes into action. it will carry on against i.s.i.l. and against al-nusra and its affiliated organizations because those, of course, are considered terrorist groups and not part of this ceasefire agreement. there was also a warning yesterday from one who was in germany. he was speaking to a german newspaper and he told the united states and its regional allies, particularly saudi arabia, not to get involved in the ground war in syria. basically telling them to pack off, not send any troops because as he put it, if they did this might result in some sort of interminable or world war russia's deputy prime minister has met iraq's foreign

minister in baghdad. he said russia is prepared to send help to the iraqi government to fight i.s.i.l. >> translation: in response to iraq's request of more military aid, we will responsibled with the exchange of information. our surveillance forces have troops in syria as required by the syrian government are able to provide adequate information to us saudi arabia has warned the u.n. to remove its staff from control controlled areas. pro-government forces received control of a city. they're fighting against the houthi movement and loyalists of the country's former president. the democratic presidential hopefuls hillary clinton and bernie sanders have faced off in their latest debate. both were trying to court the

minority vote. our correspondent reports. >> i've seen young black men >> reporter: hours before the democratic debate bernie sanders released this television ad. it features the daughter of eric garner, killed by police during an arrest for selling cigarettes. now an activist, she says she is endorsing bernie sanders for president. >> i'm behind anyone who will listen and speak us for us >> reporter: hours earlier the political action committee of the prominent congressional black caucus endorsed sandsers main rival hillary clinton. the battle for the support of african-american and latino was the focus for them in their latest debate. at issue who was more supportive of immigrants allowed to stay after entering the u.s. illegally >> i voted for comprehensive

immigration issues and he voted against it. >> these horrendously violent areas of mondu are as, people fleeing violence. i thought it was a good idea to allow those children to stay in this country. that was not as i understand it the secretary's position. >> reporter: they argued over the causes of systemingic racism in the u.s. sanders says a system that favors weldsy ee leetss and hillary clinton saying the powers are constitutional. clinton went on the attack >> he said that president obama failed the presidential leadership test. this is not the first time that he has criticized president obama. in the past he has called him weak and a disappointment. >> madam secretary that is a low blow. i have worked for his re-election, his first leaks and his re-election.

i think it is really unfair to suggest that i have not been supportive of the president. >> reporter: clinton is counting on the backing of minority voters who have in the past supported her. the next major contests are in nevada nevada and south carolina. he has been getting support in demographics that hillary clinton once counted on. young voters, making the minority vote that hillary clinton can no longer count on greek farmers are holding an albeit austerity demonstration in athens. our correspondent is with them. he says the farmers believe the disruption to travellers is necessary in order to send a strong message to the government. >> reporter: we're on the main highway. for the last 20 days or so farmers have blockaded this route proeventing people from

travelling here. this is one of at least 70 blockades in the country particularly in the north of greece the blockades prevented people travelling from north and south. these measures are necessary they say to send a clear message to the government for the economic reforms that have been kwloefd upon greece, reforms that these people are not prepared to accept. according to these farmers, the reforms for the pension system can see them paying somewhere between 70 and 75% of their earnings on tax. that these people lead them into poverty and destitution. according to these farmers, the plan now is to take this demonstration to the capital athens. they're intending to drive a convoy of tractors into the city but the police are out in force still to come on the program >> it is a trial that has been achieved by the sweat and the determination of people who came out of jail 30 years ago and

never gave up former italian president shows defiance as witnesses describe rape and torture at his trial. the 66th film festival.

welcome back to al jazeera. a recap of the top stories. a u.n. task force is said to meet on how to deliver humanitarian aid to besieged areas in syria. this follows an agreement by

world powers to end hostilities within one week. activists say russian air strikes are continuing. u.s. presidential hopefuls hillary clinton and bernie sanders have taken part in their second one-on-one debate. the democrats clashed over election campaign contributions immigration, and health care. farmers in greece are holding a mass anti austerity demonstration in athens. they plan to park their tractors in the city center. they're angry at the government's plans to implement new austerity measures. four white farmers accused of killing two black farm workers are appearing in court. the families of those kill killed say the men went to ask for wages owed to them. the farmers were saying they were being robbed and acted in self-defence. i believe the court has been adjourned. what have we seen so far this

morning? >> reporter: the court has been adjourned until 15 april. the state says it needs time to prepare its case. it wants the farmers to be found guilty and they want time to prepare their case. the protesters are still outside the court from different parties. we have one party behind me. they have been there for a few hours. the police are trying to contain the situation so they have put up these barbed wire barriers. they've also been protesting behind them there is another barbed wire. that is where the white farmers and some white citizens are there and they're carrying the old flag. there is tension here, but people are being kept apart by the police because last time they met there were clashes talk us through what we know of this case, what we are hearing happen, what it says about what's going on in south

africa at the moment. >> reporter: what we know is that we have spoken to all the parties involved. the white farmers said what they heard was an elderly farmer was out on his farm at night. he said two men approached him and tried to rob him. he fought them off, ran into his house and pressed the panic button. that mobilized the farmers in the area who tracked down the men and these men ended up dead. one monday of the deceased said he called her to say he was going to get his wages because he wanted to visit the mother. she is saying that something must have happened. the story is not right. what it has done is raised tensions in an already tense part of the country. it is a small town. it is very divided. you can feel it and see it. the whites and the blacks of the towns are in separate areas.

the how that they deal with this trial is very important because it could ease tensions or make things worse the lawyers for former dictator have finished their final statements. he is charged with war crimes, torture and crimes against humanitarian. in hay court that was especially established to hear his case. our correspondent reports from the capital. >> reporter: a final act of defiance. leaving court waving the victim resign to a handful of supporters. prosecutors have called for the maximum penalty. life imprisonment for the crimes against humanitarian he is accused of vpg commitmented during time in office in the 1980s. outside the courtroom victims of torture say the trial itself already represents a victory. for two decades victims like him and the human rights lawyers who supported them have braced threats and intimidation while

fighting to get him taken to court. then in 2013 he was charged and ordered to stand trial in the extraordinary african chambers. the court had opinion set up by senegal and the african union to hear his case. >> translation: >> translation: he was uncomfortable and accounted like a child. the proceedings ended like they started. high in drama. here he was removed from court calling the trial a massacre aid. from this start the former president refused to cooperate. eventually the court ordered him to be restrained, forced to listen to the hundreds of victim of torture testifying at the stand. people such as this woman who calmly described being raped repeatedly by him himself. or this woman, she too was raped and tortured. she was just 13 years old.

many who saw his friends starve to death in detention. this is a trial whose architects are the victims. this isn't a trial that comes down from the ha dpshgs ue or from the security council. this is a trial that has been achieved by the sweat and the determination of people who came out of jail 30 years ago and never gave up. he was living in quite this area before being arrested by the court. this is the first time that an individual accused of crimes against humanitarian. it he has prosecuted by another. for international human rights organizations, this is a victory for the concept of international justice. the idea that anyone can be prosecuted for on war crimes no matter where they are. he and others will have to wait until march to hear the court's verdict. they say it will be the end of their long march to justice

south sudan's president has reappointed his arch rival as the country's vice president. he named him as his deputy. the appointment is part of a peace deal brokered last year following two years of civil war. he was socked as vice president in 2013 after he was accused of planning a coup. the u.s. city of ferguson is facing action from the government to force it to adopt peace reforms. both sides agreed on a deal after the killing of a black teen than ager by a white officer. the city is trying to revise the original agreement. >> reporter: city - the city of fer gus son says it wants a better deal. >> the city is willing to stay at the negotiating table because our goal is to get this agreement done.

>> reporter: the justice department is saying no deal >> the residents have suffered the depractice invitation of their rights, the rights guaranteed to all americans for decades. they have waited decades for justice. they should not be forced to wait any longer. >> reporter: the 2014 shooting of an unarmed teenager by a white police officer filled the streets here with protesters and police for months, adding to a national movement against police violence. it is a lesson federal prosecutor will say ferguson hasn't learned. the city warned that it will face court action after violating the agreement. it will cost up to 3.7 million dollars to retrain police and change their tactics. city officials changed the consent agreement they had negotiated with justice.

>> this agreement is something we can meet financially. it is something that also still achieves the constitutional policing which is obviously the reason for having the consent agreed. so we felt that these changes were really immaterial to making - meeting the goals. >> reporter: those changes limited pay raises to police to attract better candidates. they also allowed the city to dissolve the police community and have a new one. stopping them without cause, targeting black people, using excessive force and using the criminal justice system to raise money and just ask anybody here paying a ticket at the court and they will tell you it's true >> they take us for just about anything. it doesn't matter what it is, but they're going to pull you over. it is just depending on where you're going. more than a year after the ditdz

of michael brown the city is considering its options as the people of ferguson and the nation wait pope francis has left italy. he is hoping to bring peace and solidarity to victims. it is estimated 81% of the mexican population are catholic, the second largest community in the world after brazil. he is also visiting cuba wherefor the first time in almost a thousand years. they're holding talks to friday. gentleman the sights and sounds of a russian orthodox service. in the great schism of 1024 theological differences split christianity into what is the eastern orthodox and roman

catholic words. although other patriachs have met the pope, they haven't. >> translation: the main topic is defending christians in the middle east who are being destroyed. there have been loud voices from the world calling for people to pay attention. these voices haven't been heard. >> reporter: for some of russia's faithful the meeting is a welcome if rather abstract event. >> translation: i think any negotiations are good. maybe they're going to discuss some issues or solve some problems. >> translation: we hope this meeting will be useful for people, for the world, for everything. peace is the most important thing. >> reporter: president putin wasn't amongst the priests. the kremlin has given this diplomatic trip its approval. after several hours of talks with the pope, the two men will

sign a joint declaration as well as the fate of christians in the war torn middle east. political tensions between russia and the west might well be discussed too. after two recent meetings it seems putin views the francis as less critical of russia's policies than many western leaders. moscow's main catholic church serves as a varied congregation. services are held in many dialects. the father has high hopes. >> translation: when leaders come together and they show their willingness to speak, to talk to each other, to overcome hostility, but suspicion towards each other, something is changing. >> reporter: as historic as this meeting is, it's not really about history. in the end it will be judged on whether the meeting can in any way help with the problems of today

the 66 annual berlin film festival is underway. this year tickets to some screenings are being given to refugees and the migration crisis is the major theme there. more from the german capital. >> reporter: she is many people's choice for the world's best actress. she is here to watch movies not to star them as the head of the berlin jury. the opening night was actually a showcase for a film that isn't being judged. hail caesar latest from the cohen brothers. it is a good feeling film. >> they have been good to you. >> reporter: >> i love the time and era. i can only romance it because i wasn't around then. i talk to my dad about it.

about a different hollywood. i really enjoy this. >> reporter: right now it is about the glamour and the glitz of the opening night. there are up over 100 scenings and over 30,000 tickets have been sold to the public. there is something for everyone here. >> reporter: apart from the celebrities, is how many films here deal with the refugees in europe. a document based on the local population and the refusery can migrants co-exist without really meeting >> it is really from all the big festivals, the one that has really focus on the political issues and this very special and

something that makes this festival unique. >> reporter: 18 films from around the world are in the running for the top prize, but it is the variety on offer here that sets this festival apart developments from all around the world can be found onto our website aljazeera.com this week on talk to al jazeera musician and activist, moby. >> glamorous dating, going to the right parties, et cetera, these can be fun, but they're not. they won't sustain you. it's like junk food or cocaine. >> he went from being a relative unknown to one of the most important electronic dance music pioneers. moby has made more than a dozen albums. the singer-songwriter has another set to come out in 2016.