came to india by the twenty fourth of march nine hundred seventy one which rules out the mass exodus of refugees who fled to india and bangladesh declared independence two days later eritrea and somalia have signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations off to ethiopia and eritrea ended their state of war during a banquet with the visiting somali president eritrea's leaders said an epoch of crisis conflict and instability was coming to an end and the lead investigator into the missing malaysia airlines flight m h three seventy says he can't exclude the possibility of foul play the plane disappeared on its way from kuala lumpur to beijing in two thousand and fourteen with two hundred thirty nine people on board. was the top stories all have more news for you know about twenty five minutes time a full bulletin so do join me then coming up next it's talk to al-jazeera.

you. will. see. the landmark conviction of. crimes and crimes against humanity by the international criminal court in the hague has now been overturned and mr bevan back cannot feel criminally responsible. for the crimes committed by. operation. the former rebel leader and vice president of the democratic republic of congo has spent nearly a decade behind bars. he was sentenced to eighteen years in prison up to sending

his militia to the central african republic to help put down a coup attempt. they conducted a reign of terror a rampage of looting and killing of civilians followed including the mass rape of hundreds of with. but a majority of the judges ruled on his appeal he could not be held responsible for the actions of his fighters his lawyers argued successfully the fighters were no longer under his command after they crossed the international border his militia known as the movement for the liberation of congo has now been transformed into a political party opposing the rule of president joseph kabila he has called an election which is due to take place in december i'm david chaytor in belgium the country that was the former colonial ruler of the democratic republic of congo ever since again his independence in one nine hundred sixty there's never been

a peaceful transfer of power in that country the senator is returning from belgium to his homeland to register as a candidate in the presidential elections. john pierre bemba talks to al-jazeera. thank you very much for talking to al-jazeera thank you i'd like to start with perhaps the hardest question for you during those ten years inside you. didn't have criminal responsibility for the atrocities committed by your militia. you were convinced always you were going to come out an innocent man but during those ten years that you have any feelings about you or more responsibility for what happened i think that of course i have a lot of sympathy for all the people in the in the central africa in general bengie and the my brothers sisters and of course any victim i am.

supporting i mean. the pain but as you say you have been acquitted by a professional judge but experience judge on this the judge. does what i can say that all the disease has been said and when when you head back are you going to have a special message are you going to actually say that you feel sorry for what happened that you have sympathy for the victims and you want to start on a clean slate of course have a lot of sympathy for victim whatever written it isn't. to say that i'm going back to congo or going to central africa and as a congress as you know i'm a senator in congo and the former vice president saw the chairman of my political party in the next going to differ my political party i'm going to take part of the . political before you were arrested you spoke to one of my colleagues in al jazeera and you were in portugal you feared for the safety of yourself and your

family surely you must fear for that your own safety on your return what you feel about that no i think that i remember one of your colleague or ten years ago it was in portugal i talked to him and. he says that. i have nothing to to to to to fear because my conscience was clean the true as been stated and of the deed to just it has been said. do you think that president jets of computer will hold the elections in december really i never heard. from him said that he will hold the election but i've never heard also that he will not hold election i just heard that who will respect the constitution so is the government of the constitution are we to hope that he will make respect the constitution looking at your time in prison. were you devastated by what continue to happen in the congo diversity. i'm very sad because it's

a disaster human therea disaster it's an economic disaster the final disaster i mean. look at the problem are we had in. the. us i am talking with concertos so. back in the binnie. temple new massacre in need to remember in the two thousand and one in the marsh restored the peace and security in the tory so i know very well this problem we need to start to get in a few months ago the promise of the idea if we fought for to the a.d.f. in the two thousand and one when i was in the binnie saw really i feel sorry that all these all the insecurities but now in congo the latest unicef report that i saw at beginning of this year said there's something like eight hundred thousand children who don't have homes anymore they don't have education about health what are you going to do to give them a future i think as you live we have it on the children we ever saw more than six

million refugees or around the country surrounded the sea so we should find the best way to bring them back. and that's what they see the problem is the security that's why one of my priority my program is to restore peace and security with peace and security do not come back and i saw the same problem with the children to be have assistance in a different way to go in school and not to be in the. industry to so very very very concerned about of this project yes how are you going to do that they have been so many promises to try and solve the situation in the democratic republic of congo but there's still a huge amount of interethnic violence but is one of the reason one of them are. can you do it for a second time remember that i was a community two thousand and six so after being a vice president in congo i know more than anybody that kind of problem that we are

in the opposition i see kind of problem that we face in congo so all these crazy. humanitarian problem we have to create that when it is a problem of political will if we focus if a government tomorrow say we're going to take care and solve this problem and put the the means to solve the problem and to fix this problem we'll be able to do it but today i don't i never hear any action from the government today to try to find a solution just to bring the refugee back to congo i never heard about it just to to to to face this problem of the children the unicef focus on it under the thousand children you know without family that is a problem of a political will so i have to put it on the table for government but that's what i say i'm fighting to for a new government to be helpful to morrow to have a new government through the election since. independence in one nine hundred sixty

there has never be a peaceful transfer of power do you think it will be this time i hope so i still hope so even if i know that the major problem that we have to serve is the electoral commission the problem of the machine of returning vote machine that that something is never been used anywhere in the word we don't understand why it should be test in congo even though the test the made to machine in the assembly national assembly and in the electoral commission was a disaster the settlement problem we have is this ten million elector we have seen with. no fingerprint so. this problem have to be silva because you go to the election otherwise what is the sense of an election where the day after devoid will be contest for what i think

congo need the stability and stability to restart always a peaceful electoral process do you think that president kabila will be worried that you will focus the opposition forces and change the corruption change everything about the d r c do you think he really opposing determined to make sure that you don't succeed. not very survey i mean in the politic i think that the most important for me is what the people of congo want and if i'm doing politic is to force solve a problem for the people of congo that is what are the most interesting so of course i'm understanding that some people maybe worry about but this shouldn't mean just someone trying to find solution for his country and for the people of the country were my brother and sister but you're going to register as a candidate by the deadline and already the government is saying that you're not.

you're not going to be able to be registered that it's illegitimate you to be registered counted that's surely the first problem you've gotten better are you surprised that the government in place say that i'm not able to be surprise i think that. those people in the. measure lity of the government not the right people are able to talk about it after ten years in a criminal limbo as it were. did you feel that you made a mistake that you should have been there during those ten years what did you feel about those ten years where they wasted years or did you like nelson mandela concentrate your thoughts on what you were going to do when you got out or tell you frankly that these ten years help me and so to sing deeply about not just myself

but then so my country. of course you're not the same person after ten years you can go it's change africa and change of the world this chain so you have to adapt yourself and sinker for differently of course ten years more make you be another man or so but it's true that a user or that opportunity time a to think about congo and how to solve a lot of problem congo i wrote a program for a vision for congo that will very soon give it to the public. so yes ten years can make you be another man give me some idea of what that vision is what sort of measures i think that. the court edition we have in common that it's a very wealthy country very wealthy country that we have but look at the poverty of the people so it is a big contradiction. so why do we have all these wells in the ground and the people

living in this country are so paul the main target is to say look let's make this well is that we have be use for the good of the people. to improve the life of the people to give hope to the people to make them smile again is there any way the international community can help of course. you are in the section in the in the congo it is huge and help a lot of people in security but today manu the un were not dale. probably the national army would have certain program to stop this question of. and all these militias more than eighty militia exist in congo so i think the international community to help in congo and i hope that they will continue helping congo why is it like it is to us so that congo a no one day o'connell is government must be able to solve this problem and so why

is it that country is so often the case that has bountiful natural resources they turn out to be a curse you can see that a lot of the production is there but the result of the revenue is not coming back to the the treasury of the country and that is where is the problem where is it going forward. and one of the action to put is to take back all this revenue back to the treasury of the country and you see it from this treasury that we can develop the country and by restoring the security people will be able investor from foreign investor national investor will be able to come back to congo in a given problem and invest get their profit and then i think how can we be developed to model join your ten years inside the political scene has changed so dramatically apps most of all with president trump. what's what's your opinion of

the president of the united states of america i think that is the decision the made by the primary can people. i cannot give my view to do well and it's ok what would like to see because i have not yet see what the view of the present right for the r.c. how far and how fast will you start reforming the systems within the country are you going to just rely on your own party or are you going to reach across and try to get a unified government this country so huge it is meeting people we have more than four hundred political party i don't see that who are the four on that are really the main but we have a less than ten in the main political party and i think that we have to work to everybody and my target is to work for united government do you intend to be the main opposition candidate or will you step aside for somebody else bose solution i represent my program my plan with the others and if i'm not the best one i will

back someone else and i'm sure i will make him win what message would you have for president kabila just to respect the constitution make sure that we keep the stability of the country the peace in the country and make everything be possible to have a smooth transition in these the r.c. for the next election will you reform the security forces how are you going to pull it together what is your plan for that how do we stop the terror that so many children and so many people in your country are feeling right now most of the the people are pointed to because of tribal tribal reason. i think is wrong for a country i think i would have pointed people because of their professionalism. and the capacity and it will be another mentality. completely

change in the vision of what should be an army of police i tested during five years during the rebellion i told all the soldiers you will be a friend of the people you are and to secure them you most feel the people are not the people to feel you so what would you say to the children. of the cong. who haven't got a good health and good education what's your message to them right now that they should have still. all that something may change before the end of this year and the new governments in u.k. should be free for me from the primary school and to the secondary school and the government must be able to give and to provide to the children free education absolutely that is one of the purity to put more than ten percent of the. the good in the education is not a luxury what are going to do about the judiciary and do you think that there should be any charges brought against your predecessors just as should be

independent and the term of independence is very important because it is an institution and it can it cannot be lead by the government it should be complete in a body completely independent must have the means to see the law independently that is really for me what is the most important why because you cannot even invest so common in congo or investor inside congo if you don't provide a trust but i just this and it just is for everybody. does not the case today. for the princess we see that the. immunity is a. former president and it is pretty easy protected by the constitution but you're a successful businessman yourself do you think you can get the inward investment into the country that's needed with such an unstable security situation that's what

i've been telling you that one of my first target is to restore security and peace in congo because no where in any country not you seriously investor will come if there are no peace and security in the country what do you love most about your country what have you missed most about the country i was in a contact with the people. the fact that i was in like an i.c.c. couldn't a lot me to go and meet and be with the people so in that case when you get back are you going to go on a tour of the whole country not just moment we're not yet in the electoral process but of course keep contact with the people be with them been touch with them yes been contact with them talk with them face to face what's your first priority then when you land you know that i lost my father many years ago i couldn't bury him so my first duty is to see his grave the second thing is to go to the electoral commission and i give my my paper to be able to be counted it for the electoral

process what actually would you take if they refused to accept your can't sing. i mean all my best dressed in the ever happen because it will be arbitrary and it will be another arbitrary decision what can we do if they reject your application there's a danger of violence once again isn't there i hope not i hope not because it will be arbitrary and the people we see the arbitrary so i don't know the react and the reaction of the people i don't know and if you do make it through as the president do you think that you can withstand the pressures that every other president has had in the congo it's such a powerful position there's so much to do do you think you will be overwhelmed how do you think that you'll be able to cope with the pressures of that position i know that will be easy but the experience that i have really. tried to put through.

dialogue and i hope. determination will make us succeed i hope so how much will you draw on other african leaders to help you in that task if you do make it through the elections africa is a one body. one body in this says that we share a border which is a different country in the in the central africa and i think that is very important that we keep a good relationship with all these border first of all all our neighbor because. we have the same kind of problem cannot leave my house and. i think the future of congo is to be open to first the neighbor above the neighbor. notes and so the south where in the center of africa i'm looking looking over at the european union as you must have read during your time in prison there are a lot of pressures on the european union but you think the european union can help

you as well help the democratic with the help they help or the republic of congo they continue helping i know it is difficult for them today because of the government we're stopping doing to help but i think they're really willing to help and they will not stop helping or to go but to get to england and america and so really big support they're giving big support in different. humanitarian and so on through the energy you i know there are a lot about this one and probably they can do more he for more openness or to the european union and to or the organization what about the united nations they have a huge peacekeeping contingent in when you cheer. when they finally because you have solved the situation surely it's a mark of dishonor to have so many members of the peacekeeping caller yeah there are so many why there are so many because i think that the governor not taking

seriously. the consideration of the problems that we are facing of the people of color that's why they are there they are there to help the congo and of course if the. are doing a lot of job and work and duty that should be made by the the committees government and. we have to work with them closely and see now how does a government new government i hope tomorrow we have a two under order situation during your time as vice president what do you think the most important political lessons were. the congo as a big potential. and really we. a strong government. on the way that we should help the people i'm a program to help the people discovery in the five years can be another picture completely another picture infortunately. the government.

are the one responsible of insecurity and the violence could really make things much easier for everybody the security system security system is it is the maid just the to oppress the people and that is wrong and it emitted the people so yes that is really wrong. and finally looking back looking back. on the in satchel criminal court in the hague do you have any sense of bitterness about what happened to. i.c.c. so good idea. that no impunity i mean in the world and therefore the most crime. and so probably since can be improved in turmoil for the management but i wouldn't like to enter at the moment at the moment on this aspect preferred to keep it like this jumpy about but thank you very much for talking to al-jazeera

thank. you. cut down. august on al-jazeera european muslims today are facing the consequences of having their faith linked to on the attacks even though they too of victims of the bonds the

largest multi-sport event on the continent asian games in jakarta i will host athletes competing in a mix of traditional and the limp explodes a vibrant new series of character led documentaries from immigrant neighborhoods across europe as a rainy and brace for u.s. sanctions due to get back in place on the sixth of bogost al-jazeera will cover the developments from town wrong in a free hot series al-jazeera uncovers the motivations and impact of the brutal feelin exploitation system the laid the foundation of today's global powers ogust on al-jazeera young rich and famous in china one of the news goes behind the great chinese fire wall to meet the cyber celebs of a booming multibillion dollar business. on al-jazeera. the coca plant has long been a pillar of bolivia's traditions but its use in illegal drugs today is threatening the nation's culture not my idea most adora jews are involved because they received

it back so while some have made fortunes many others have suffered at the hands of this multi-billion dollar industry me malady my mother was trying over the cable and brought them in come with a pole it was a huge crime who are the winners. losers of this illicit trade snow will be andy's zero we here to jerusalem bureau covered israeli palestinian affairs we cover the story with a lot of intimate knowledge we covered it with that we don't dip in and out of this story we have a presence here all the time apart from being a cameraman it's also very important to be a journalist to know the story very well before going into the fields covering the united nations and global diplomacy for al-jazeera english is pretty incredible this is where talks happen and what happens there matters. stand the differences. and the similarities of cultures across the world.

al-jazeera. voting closes in zimbabwe's paul without former leader robert mugabe on the ballot but the opposition is already crying foul. allow i maryam namazie in london you know with al jazeera also coming up india publishes a list that effectively strips four million people of citizenship in the northern state of assam another round of diplomacy in saudi to try to find a solution to syria's war as government forces push into the southwest and

firefighters battle against massive wildfires that have killed six people and destroyed hundreds of homes in the u.s. states.