united nations sets a new date for talks on syria as a conditional ceasefire comes into effect. you're watching al jazeera. live from our headquarters in doha. also coming up. at least 14 people have been killed after an attack in the somali capital. counting votes in iran after millions cast their bat on the for two of the countries governing bodies. the president is due to have a

party during one of the country's worst droughts activists in syria say the fighting has mostly stopped after the start of a conditional truce. russia's military says it has halted air strikes on syrian rebels who have agreed to the ceasefire. the temporary truce was approved in a vote of the u.n. security council. diplomatic james bays reports. >> reporter: just over 40 minutes before the cessation of hostilities was due to come into effect, a vote abouts i u.n. security council to endorse it. it was in answer. ambassadors were addressed by video link by the special envoy for ser i can't who said it was a crucial moment >> no doubt there will be no shortage of attempts to undermine this process. we are ready for it. we should not be impressed. we should not be overly concerned. we should address it. and realise that this is part of

any ceasefire and cessation of hostiliti hostilities. >> reporter: in the hour before it was to commence, there was some bottoming >> many of the towns being hit by syrian and russian bombers are towns like derayaa. a suburb of damascus that is being pummelled up to this very day. a town that is not held by i.s.i.l. or the al-nusra front. it is hard to seem serious and sincere about ceasing hostilities when you ramp-up fighting right up to the minute the cessation of hostilities is to take affect. >> reporter: behind the scenes there was also disagreement between countries that are usually allies. the start of the meeting was delayed after the u.s. changed the text of the draft resolution at the last minute.

the new version removed mention of the main opposition block, the high negotiations committee. >> the hnc represents a broad sweep of the opposition forces fighting in syria against the tyranny of bashar al-assad. they deserve our wholehearted support which regrettably was not reflected in this resolution. >> reporter: everyone knows there are bound to be violations of this cessation of hostilities. diplomats tell me the best they could hope for is a lull in the violence and then, perhaps, they can persuade the warring parties to resume those talks in geneva. a new date has been set, 7 march a suicide attack in kunar in eastern afghanistan has killed 11 people and wounded 40 more. a local police commander is among the dead. >> reporter: it reveals that the taliban, these insurgent groups

are still active in parts of afghanistan and they're going after some significant targets. the suicide attack took place a couple of hours ago in kunar province, a province that sits right next to the border of pakistan. according to police, the target of this attack was a very powerful and influential leader of a local militia by the name of hahn john. so this was a big target for them. they say he was in front of police headquarters this morning along with several bodyguards when a suicide attacker approached on motorbike and detonated his explosives. 11 people killed, 40 people injured. that murm could go up in the coming hours. nobody-- number could go up in the coming hours. nobody has claimed responsibility for this. it is an area where the taliban have fought government forces as well as pro-government forces. it comes as the government continues it push hard for peace talks with the taliban. they insist that that's the only

way to establish some sort of peace and security. they say the first round of peace talks will resume within the first week of march. however, it is these types of attacks that indicate that at least some factions of the insurgency have no plans to stop fighting. some in somalia al-shabab is claiming responsibility for a blast that killed at least 14 people in the capital. it is the second time this week the group carried out an attack in mogadishu. >> reporter: the force of the explosions can be seen more clearly the morcombe after the attack. people gathered around blown-out buildings near the somali youth league hotel. a suicide bomber ran into the hotel entrance on friday night. armed men fought guards at an outer security barrier. 30 minutes later another bomb in a park nearby >> translation: the casualties

include sieve i can't answers on the-- civilians on the street. >> reporter: al-shabab have carried out many attacks on fridays when people are out and about. >> translation: i heard a huge explosion next to our building. a blast shattered the windows causing me to lose consciousness for a while. i saw blood coming from pie back. it was horrible. >> reporter: hotel guests often include government leaders and business executives. it is not far from the presidential palace. there was a mortar attack in a residential area next-door on thursday. al-shabab claim they were behind that attack too. the group wants to overthrow the government. >> they're trying to disrupt for the peace, but you have to know somalia has some problems. the problem first is a lot of corruption is taking place, but then the most goes to the somalia government themselves.

their forces would build a real force, the military, the police, even undercover people. >> reporter: the mayor of mogadishu said after thursday's attack that police would leave no stone unturned in their search for suspects. yet 24 hours later al-shabab was able to carry out another deadly attack. another sign sew malian security-- somalian security ask struggling to hold its own more on our top story, that conditional ceasefire in syria. our correspondent is live from the lebanese capital beirut. what are you hearing? how is it holding together on the front lines there? >> reporter: it does seem to be that there really is a lull in violence today. that's what we're hearing from various groups on the ground in syria, including opposition fighters, rebel groups, and as well we're hearing this from the russian government too. the russian government has said that they do not intend to bomb any areas today, that there will

not be any air strikes. we have heard in the last couple of hours there are some groups are saying that there have been violations, shelling going on in areas such acid lib. there is one-- as idlib. there is one area that is not part of the ceasefire and that is deraya. groups have been outraged that that city wasn't actually part of the ceasefire. the syrian government says that's one of the areas where al-nusra front operates. they said they only comprise a small group of the fighters that are actually in daraya and it should have been included. all in all, haven't though there is still violence going on in parts of the country, the areas that we're talking about where the ceasefire actually aapplies what we've heard from folks on the ground in syria is that so far there has been a lull in violence, that it is going better than expected and just so that we can remember going into

today as well, all the major players had said that it was going to be very hard to try to effect an actual ceasefire, whether there are good intentions or no, it will be very difficult to do on the ground in syria. the fact that there has been a noticeable lull so far, it does so far show some positive momentum that, perhaps, this ceasefire could take a bit more route in the days to come is more aid being delivered? >> reporter: so far that has been one of the chief complaints of the opposition. they have said that there needs to be a lot more aid delivered, particularly in places like that are facing shortages of food and medical care. they have vowed to try to deliver that aid with their groups that are operating on the ground to deliver that aid to the people that need it most if,

in fact, humanitarian corridor can be opened, if, in fact, u.n. groups and aid agencies can actually start getting more aid to those areas. now, one development in the last few hours is that u.n.h.c.r. officers in damascus has said that they intend to start trying to deliver aid to these areas and more by tomorrow. that's a positive development. as of now, things are looking more positive than they had in the last few days and it does seem as though there is a good effort right now to try to get more aid delivered starting tomorrow thanks for that. iran's government says more than 60% of eligible voters turned out for friday's elections. both counting has-- ballot counting has started, one for the parliament and one for the assembly of experts. that's the body that appoints the supreme leader. a political science professor at

tehran university says it will have huge implications for iran's relations with the west >> there was a lot of opposition to the nuclear agreement by the hard line conservative. the nuclear agreement was actually supported by the moderate, including the president. many people were saying that this election was in a sense a referendum amongst the eye rapian, that whether or not they do support the moderate approach adopted by the president, do they want to support the hard liners, the radical who are against the u.s. and with the west, who are against between iran and her arab neighbors, et cetera, et cetera. so i think this provides the

president a better mandate to mend the bridges with the arab country as well as with the west still to come on al jazeera, gunned down late at night in russia's capital, a year after the daring murder of opposition. questions remain unanswered by his death. >> translation: and gianni infantino begins day one as president in f.i.f.a. vowing to restore trust in the footballing authority.

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welcome back. let's recap the headlines. activists in syria say the fighting has mostly stopped after the beginning of a ceasefire. 11 people have been killed in a suicide attack in eastern afghanistan. more than 40 others were wounded in the incident. vote counting is underway in iran following friday's elections. 60% of eligible voters turned out to choose members of parliament and the assembly of experts. that is a body which appoints the supreme leader. back to that war in syria now. the u.n. says it's expecting aid to be delivered to besieged areas hopefully in the next two days now that a truce has begun. many people have arrived in the northern town of azzaz. the soup kitchens trying to feed them are overwhelmed.

>> reporter: food for thousands, prepared by just a handful of exhausted volunteers. they cook r ice, potatos and meat and provide fruit if they get it. they rely on donation including money, food and heating oil but they're struggling to keep up. >> translation: we are preparing between four thousand and five thousand meals every day. the number is rising on a daily basis. yesterday alone we cooked 500 kilograms of r ice, about five thousand meals. >> reporter: it is under siege from allies of the president bashar al-assad. it is on a key supply routes. parts are held by various armed groups, including i.s.i.l. syrian kurdish forces lie to the west. yet tens of thousands have sought safety here as bombings pounded aleppo to the south. >> translation: the russian air bombardment in the northern

countryside forced large numbers of residents to flee towards the border area. people ran for their lives. they could not carry anything with them, even cooking equipment or any other household items. >> reporter: this is one of those who fled to azzaz after his home was bombarded. he, his wife and their two young daughters trekked dozens of clms to get here. much of it across rough terrain. like many others he says they often have just a loaf of bread and a small piece of cheese to last an entire day. that is, if bred is available. the soup kitchens try to provide more, but prices for cooking gas, food and heating oil go up all the time. water is scarce. >> translation: we are suffering sharp shortages of basic raw materials in azzaz as a result of the siege laid to the city. we are forced to bring our necessities from turkey.

prices are high because the dor dollar exchange rate is going up. >> reporter: the stores continue to burn, but if the so-called cessation of hostilities box brokers hold and if is piece in syria, the this co close because they won't be needed any more rirld is facing uncertainy after polls from the election indicate the coalition has failed to win enough votes to secure a second term. it may be forced to seek support from other parties to stay in government. this update from dublin >> reporter: it is a process that could take a long time because of the election system that they have here in the country. it is a system calmed a single transferrable vote which allows

people to rank. from so what will happen now is a process of counting and recounting. we do know from early exit polls is that the outgoing coalition from the party is likely to suffer a loss and support which may mean that they are unable to form a government to get it. they could look towards the smaller parties or independent candidate in order to remain in government. it does look very much like the political landscape in island is about to change-- ireland, despite the fact of the outgoing government has had a major role in turning around the economy. it is eight years since the financial crisis, six years since a multi million p i don't know dollar bail out. ireland is now the fastest growing economy in the european union but not without major public spending.

education health, police and others. many have decided to punish those in power at the polls in the u.s. republican donald trump has received a boost in his bid to win his party's presidential nomination. chris christie is backing the billionaire front runner. he dropped out of the race a few weeks ago. hillary clinton is hoping voters in south carolina will give her a big boost to the race. polls open for the democratic primary in just a few hours. it supported her. the young voters are not so sure. >> god, we thank you for this wonderful gathering of women who are fearfully and wonderfully made. it is a place for prayer an politics. they will decide how they will vote which cannot be taken for granted. >> the black community no longer

needs one person speaking for them or telling them how they should vote. i see it as a positive sign and the evolution of our community. >> reporter: in most polls democratic presidential candidate hillary clinton leads in black support. votes she is counting on but it is generational with mostly older african americans backing clinton >> it is time for a woman to hit the glass ceiling. if anybody is going to do that, secretary clinton can do that. >> reporter: some younger black women appear sceptical concerned about her statements at 2006 calling youthing super criminals. one demanded an apology. that's why some are leng towards her main rival bernie sanders

who says for decades he has battled racial injustice and was arrested in 1963 for civil rights activism. they don't agree with the notion that it is a woman turned in the white house-- turn in the white house >> most of the people are on the side of breaking from the establishment way of doing things and putting and resting the power back in the hands of the people to pick and choose, so no, i'm not so much into the next in line kind of thing. >> obama promised change. >> reporter: this week clinton has been working hard in south carolina reaching out to black voters asking them to back her. in the last presidential election african american women voted at a higher rate than any other group. it's support that hillary clinton knows critical aif she

is to win not just south carolina but also the white house the new interim p.m. of haiti has been announced. he is a well-known economist. the provisional president picked from six candidates, the job will help organise the presidential election due in april and calm political protests. the united nations is concerned by the use of force and arrest in uganda following the presidential election. at least two people were killed during fighting. more than 200 members of the opposition have been detained including opposition candidate besigye. the opposition is continuing to dispute the re-election of president museveni to a fifth term in power. birthday celebrations are being held for the president of zimbabwe who turned 92 earlier this week. the country is in the grip of

one of its worst ever droughts. despite that, his lavish birth plans have been defended. >> reporter: it is the only maize this woman has left. she will add these vegetables when she makes dinner. the only meal her family will eat today. >> translation: the drought is very veer. we are hungry. we haven't been able to grow anything in the field. the rains haven't come. we have nothing. we will die of hunger >> reporter: this is one of the areas worst affected by drought. across the country a quarter of people don't have enough to eat. the president has declared a state of disaster. the government says around three million people need assistance. aid agencies are already handing out food aid, but many families say help hasn't arrived yet. despite the hardship faced by many families, the president's 92nd birth celebrations are

being held in this province on saturday. >> the average income in rural areas in rural zimbabwe for 7.5 million people is 50 cents a day. they cannot afford the very basics of life. to throw a celebration for a 92-year-old who is clearly no longer in full control of the state is just bizarre. it sends completely the wrong signal to the international community. >> reporter: his party officials explain why it is important >> we are celebrating the life of a person that has brought so much good to his country. these problems are not unique to zimbabwe. drought is not unique. the world of southern africa, the drought, are they not celebrating the lives of their hero. >> reporter: this woman lives

not far from where the celebrations are taking place. she says she is not attending. she has more immediate concerns like making sure the children have something to eat. >> reporter: memorial protests are planned on russian on the first anniversary of the assassination of the former deputy president. permission has been denied to protesters planning celebrations in other russian cities. the new president of f.i.f.a. is promising to restore trust in the world governing body of football. gianni infantino described his election as a new era. he fended off a the challenge for the top job to three other

candidates. >> we will be applauded for what we do in naf in future. we have to proud and everyone has to be proud of f.i.f.a. and we will have to be proud of what we do together to the fight for equality in the bright lights of hollywood. patricia arqette. her fight for equal pay and opportunities has been stepped up. >> reporter: the ons core goes to patricia arkette. >> reporter: that was expected, but maybe not the next bit >> to every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation it is our time to have wage equality once and for all. >> reporter: everyone here knows

her. women are all too familiar with her message. they are used to being paid less than men and art is imitating life here. >> we have to make a radical shift. >> reporter: she has spent the last year producing this documentary how that pay extends beyond film to woman across the states. alongside that she has launched a change.org petition which hit 40,000 signatures in the first few hours alone >> because of inequality there's 33 million women and children living in poverty even though the mom is working full-time. if we made sure that women were paid their full dollar, we could really address a lot of child hunger in the u.s. >> reporter: in terms of hollywood robert downy junior is the highest pay actor taking home 80 million dollars. jennifer lawrence may 52 million

dollars. it is about the amount of opportunity available for women versus men in this town. let's take the top 100 films of 2014. in that year how many had female characters? 28%. of that 28% had a co lead 21%. behind the camera 18% of producers being women, 11%, writers, and directors only 2% of directors here are female. >> you see more men than you do women. >> reporter: she moved here to pursue her acting dream. she has been in commercials and movies and she knows sexism exist. she says it's not always to blame. >> hollywood is just tough. it's not fair. i know so many male actors, writers directors that don't give opportunities as well and it's not because of sexism. >> reporter: diversity in general is the talk of this town at the moment. as hollywood prepares for its big night for a place that deals

in stories is having to face some uncomfortable truths as well if you want to get more on that story and all the others we've been telling you about, head over to our website. you can see our front page in the lead story syria there. >> sex violence and disease. it's the seedy underbelly of the united nations effort in haiti. tonight six years after a massive earthquake rocked the haitian capital we'll expose the dark side of international aid work. i'm ali velshi. welcome to part 2 of a special edition of "on target," haiti on shaky ground. the united nations can be a blessing and a curse. but for haiti