in iraq many of those shia groups of course. to iran within a few hours the u.s. central command had immediately brought out another statement saying that that was completely contrary to what the situation they believed to be which was that there was a credible threat from shia on the groups and as a result the members of the or as the troops serving in the oil asked about 5200 u.s. troops there were not on a state of heightened alert but it's worth pointing out that u.s. secretary of state my point was here just a couple of weeks ago speaking to the iraqi prime minister the lucky who was talking about the end he was suggesting that there was a potential for of threat from these groups because they had been moving rockets around but the prime minister said that that was not regarded as a credible threat here is what the major general had to say in his 1st statement there's been no increased threat from iranian backed forces in iraq concerned.

we're aware of their presence clearly. and we monitor them along with a whole range of others because that's the environment we're in. now that has made given rise to several questions about whether or not we're now seeing a split at the top of the or i guess with a different interpretation of the intelligence that's being gathered which is of course the intelligence on which at least in part the white house is basing its military maneuvers in the gulf but at the moment a far as iraq is concerned the tension is very very high here now not least because of this latest announcement by the u.s. state to remove members of the stuff out of the country iraqis are very concerned about which way this is going for their country are right that the center in baghdad there rob thank you. so as military council has agreed with opposition groups to a 3 year transitional period the opposition will have

a majority in parliament and the 2 sides have yet to decide who will become part of the council that will guide the transition from khartoum i after 2 days of talks that started on monday and violence that resulted in the deaths of protesters and injury of at least $200.00 the 2 sides in sudan's quest to form a transitional government announced more progress. was agreed on all the powers given to the servant council the council of ministers and the legislative council and we have agreed that the transitional period will last for 3 years the transitional military council which has been governing sudan since the overthrow of the country's 30 year president and the opposition coalition which has been demanding the council hand power to a civilian rule and say a final agreement will be signed before the end of wednesday make this. a sovereign council which will be formed in consultation between the military council and the forces of the declaration of freedom and change in the cabinet of ministers and

a consultative council 66 percent of which will be allocated to forces of freedom in china which. was minutes after the announcement was made thousands celebrated in front of the army headquarters they've been camped there for nearly 6 months initially to demand the military take action against the country's president then to demand that they hand over power to a civilian government after they ousted the president since sunday they have been increasing pressure on both sides to reach a deal by calling for strikes and setting up what barricades on main streets in the capital sort of to the to this announcement didn't cover all points of contention the final point that the military council and the opposition coalition have to agree on is the structure of the so frank council which will be guiding the transitional period people here say if the military doesn't agree to having a civilian head that's council then protests will continue. they also have other questions they want answered and other demands they want to response to. one who

like to know who is responsible for guaranteeing the results of this agreement between the military council and the coalition of freedom and change the coalition of freedom and change represents the interests of the people in the streets. when they announce tomorrow that the deal is done in our revolution will be complete we need to get justice for all. that's where now revolution will be complete with all the demands and new concerns one thing people agree on is that this announcement brings them closer to the civilian government that they've started the revolution for more than ever before. and it seems that the country is a bit closer to having civilian rule how is all of this news received. well. to his him all all the people here.

a little could be on the horizon offset all the people who've been caught the protesters have been comping in the square behind me for the last 6 weeks putting pressure on the military to power to some sort of civilian led to all 40 it seems cruel is on now. before but they are cautious to meet the issues the 2 sides have to decide who the e.u. and up in the whole solve the deadlock in that talks be a full on that is the possibility of these taking longer thinking but right now the 2 sides have given themselves that line off and wednesday to sign the deal and that is why more people have been floor king into the square these. from the same morning hoping to join the foetal protest this is still a promotional someone's son and that mohamed you're right there are still major

sticking points in this deadlock over the sovereign council might that really be a hendren to making any type of progress. yes it could be because both sides want a majority stake in the console it is going to be that council is going to have a whole. transitional period and it is from the. console of the head of state that next head of state albeit in trim will come from the console and ball for the military on the opposition movement want to. the biggest share of say it's 11 seats up for grabs the protesters are saying that any deal that does not include a soon to a civilian head of the soldier in council would piece them and the generals who

make up the transitional military council have always maintained them all power hungry but all they care about a small transition today will be the test on whether they will because they will compromise and hum finally to some civilian authority. with the latest from khartoum thank you wallow is a lecturer at the university of kill in the united kingdom he says formation of the sovereign council will not be difficult. it's too early to celebrate so i think political transitions are very complex processes it's not just about overthrowing one particular out or italian government it's about building a new institutions building a new culture shaping people's perceptions and attitudes imbedding a new principle these are not going to be easy especially in countries like like sudan for example where you have deep in activities where you have an authoritarian system that divided societies and tribe on the base or divide and rule for more

than 30 years so it is going to be very difficult and i think you know if the military has come this far i don't think at this stage agreeing on the composition of the sobering council is going to be very difficult i think some of the most complex questions are whether the military would agree 200 power over civilian rule so if they are of money to concede on that point i think they will find a way to agree on the composition of the soaring council i think it is going to be very complex going to be very difficult. the opposition at the moment seems to have the momentum it seems to have public support it is think the voice that represents the larger secular sunni society and given i think international pressure on also regional issues it would be very difficult to make

a comeback for those who have been part of the former game and the members of the quality not already making it clear that former members of the regime should not have any part in the transition going forward. play more on the news hour including there is hope of progress and yemen but heavy fighting on the ground continues rallies in palestine to mark a day they call the catastrophe. and sport the world's best golfers have a tiger in their sights ahead of the 2nd major tournament of the year. there's been heavy fighting near the southern new mini city of ties forces loyal to the saudi coalition have been battling hooty rebels meanwhile u.n. broker talks between the 2 sides are taking place in jordan the u.n. says who the rebels are withdrawing from 3 major ports partly as agreed under

a cease fire signed last year and won once it's big to happen shocked and frightened united kingdom she's a researcher at the center for strategic studies studies we appreciate your time very much so you say that the who these back is really up against the wall in what way. well the international community is really pushing for is a lucian when it comes to peace in yemen and i think that the sheer difference you have. to lose ground politically speaking when it comes to what happens next after the war is over for them it's about political and if it's you know i think that they're trying to. and defund their position in yemen politically speaking they want to amend relevance and that would make sense if you look at things you know from their perspective so and i think that what you see play out right now is an expression of that desire to remain relevant and ensure through violence if need be that the will so almost almost a sense of desperation is that fair to say. no i wouldn't put it down where can i

bring this feel i mean the resistance movement in yemen is so very strong when it comes to public support that being said there is an understanding now that it cannot continue much longer when it comes to the military conflict and that's something we have to give the problem that we have is that on the saudi side nothing no guarantees have been given or even put forward to guarantee that the problem movements would actually have a say in voice in the political future of yemen and i think that's the main worry and you know these grandstanding will be ideology of the military. in the nation i would say in response but it's going to get worse for the yemenis it's not helping at all the situation so i think that we need to go back to understanding what both quality kids fathom in terms of peace what they willing to stomach and so far who are afraid. you have not helped the conversation and that they are on willing to bend just even just a little bit and that makes things difficult for him solid to accept any real cease

fire a sideshow any potential for peace right now so what what could happen to to help saudi been for a way for them to say that maybe it's in their best interest to. right to be quite honest with you i think that we would need to guarantee some kind of a victory as far as they're concerned and to decide what bob victory would look like and then within i would say this framework we could determine how we could go about determining a peace with yemen we have to understand that there. would you dislike them and despise them they all still call it of the fabric of yemen and they're not going to go anywhere because it is their country and as such this should have a say in what happens next in the political creature of yemen of course you know that being said i don't think that the the steve himself is running the show as such from yemen we understand that other people other qualities we need to have a say and have a say just due to put produce accords so we would need to find some way in between

the fleeting streams invention where with this i would be on sort of law and of course all the other qualities existing in yemen right now would be able to fire them we forward away from the military intervention away from the fighting away from the 5 best the billions right now are suffering you know a greater price than anyone else i mean they're the ones suffering and i think that this is being forgotten a lot of the time when you do you really have to determine what victory would look like to them because right now everybody is losing to be quite frank when you talk about everybody losing in particular the civilians when we hear about. the rebels that are being killed give us your understanding of what that might really mean who is really suffering here. westie billions to of course you to go to the humanitarian look agency the fact that you know yemen is hungry there's a farm in an ongoing problem in yemen colorado breaks they all many different ways that the yemeni also contributed to the way beyond what the media is reporting now

when it comes to the casualties on the ground again when we talking about fighters we need to be very clear about who is dying a lot of the time you know these these certain who have seized the use of the kind of illegal to kind of speak about whatever casualties on the ground you have to understand again a lot of the times those people of resistance fighters that they're not necessarily who are saying they don't belong to the movement they're just there to defend the country in some other instances as well because people have been forced to fight and it's either the slow death. and on both sides of the referred by the way so it's not just on satellite movements and we have now a situation where we have an increase in child soldiers so we need to be very careful how we move forward in the understanding of that military conflict in yemen because things are getting worse and getting worse really quickly and people who should not be suffering are suffering right now and international law are being violated on a daily basis and we don't seem to pay attention to much catherine check them thank

you so much for your insight we appreciate it. it has been 71 years since hundreds of thousands of palestinians were a victim from their homes to make way for the creation of israel today is known to palestinians or at the catastrophe these protests have been happening in the occupied west bank areas also staging a strike against the israeli occupation i'll be speaking to need to abraham in ramallah 1st let's talk to natasha good name who is in gaza so natasha joins us live as i say from gaza the latest cease fire between hamas and israel it's been holding for about a week what is the mood and gaza what are the preparations that the israeli army is making for this. well michel this is day 9 of the latest cease fire between hamas and israel and at least gazans are hoping that for now the peace will remain bear in mind this is the islamic holy month of ramadan today is a day off from work and school hamas has urged gazans to come out to the border to

protest in large numbers as part of a global commemoration of the 771st anniversary of nakba or the catastrophe hamas is a message to the people is that we will continue to resist while living under this occupation it will do whatever it takes and indeed when you speak to gazans there is definitely a feeling that despite this latest ceasefire it's not a matter of if there will be violence again with israel it is a matter of when on the israeli side the israeli media is reporting that the security forces are on high alert that the country's iron dome anti-missile system has is at the ready throughout the country and that allegedly the soldiers are being urged to exercise restraint unless they are in imminent danger they supposedly need to get approval from a senior official in order to fire bear in mind. this week thousands of tourists

have descended upon tell of these the international spotlight is on israel as it hosts the euro vision song contest that has brought protests and a lot of controversy among those who say including hamas that israel is trying to quote conceal the fact that it is occupying palestinians and quote. in acting ongoing military aggression against them but on both sides for the moment it does seem that they would like to have peace and barring a long term political solution where shell again there is definitely a feeling that it's not about or of if there will be another cycle of violence but when all right natasha game with the latest for us in gaza natasha thank you. for him joins us now from ramallah so what is what is happening there where you are needed how are palestinians commemorating. their spending the squidward

palestinians have marched here about an hour ago sirens have there for 71 seconds to remember 71 years of catastrophe when it's really old started for the palestinians and was refugees he had fear of american attempts to do. to talk about not returning the palestinian refugees to the lands they would effected from in 48 we have palestinians here who fear that the situation in the west bank and the increase of settlement building can also jeopardize their future he added in the west bank under the prime minister benjamin netanyahu stand near you you're going to. 20000 new settlement units have been built he enjoys the support of the u.s. president. who said that he is going to be rolling this so-called deal of the century and palestinian. right of return is not going to be included. in that deal

and also the u.s. has cut its aid to the united nations organization because refugees the only watch so all those over these are signs are seen by palestinians officials that they are trying to deter mine and to undermine the right of return for palestinian refugees our neighbor him live for us in ramallah thank you. more than 60 people have been arrested after a wave of attacks against muslims in sri lanka and the police chief has warned that officers will respond with maximum force to what he called rioting mob said it killed one person tensions have been high since the bombing which killed at least 250 people. spent his life for us and sherlock of the northwest of the country so what is it what's happening where you are bernard. well really this is one of the main mosque really in minimum good and you can see all these windows shot through smashed through not just the mosque but businesses next to it just just

a little bit further up the street here you can see. of the shops and businesses that were burnt and attacked by what the witnesses say were mainly sinhalese young men it's created a very tense situation in this part of sri lanka northwestern sri lanka at least 30 towns and villages just like this were attacked on monday night since then there have been curfews imposed on those curfews have managed to keep the peace but they really are only a temporary solution a much greater challenge in sri lanka is trying to repair the sort of ruptured into community relations relations ruptured after the easter sunday bomb attacks here in sri lanka or churches and hotels that claim $250.00 lives the great fear was that there would be excuses to attack

a muslim community because of those attacks and that's what's. actually we were filming in here earlier today on the local catholic parish priests came around they said they called. parishioners for christians to be calm and also in the mosque where we were today also people who worship at this mosque also calling for people to be the level waiting to see today it will be another curfew of a moment here in this part of it remains tense all right live for us thank you. and a few moments we will have weather with everton but also still ahead on al-jazeera we'll tell you why people in mexico city have been warned to stay indoors. they will not down venezuela's opposition leader remains defiant after being shut out of parliament. for this man is tipped as a future n.b.a. star find out which team now has a chance of signing on. the

web sponsored by the ways. however we got the stormy weather still continue across central parts of your lots of clouds showing up here just around the balkans over towards the black sea and a little further north areas of low pressure so very much in charge here so we've seen some big downpours in places in boston for example there has been widespread flooding some of water sitting around about a meter high in places for you some very very heavy downpours state of emergency not surprisingly has been declared across a good part of the country so go on through the coming days things will gradually improve still a few showers there just around italy on the other side of the adriatic some showers still very much in place will be surprised to say the further north look at the temperatures just 8 celsius and the other thing cold enough for some snow

albeit over the alps as we go on through the next couple of days is that things will slowly but surely start to improve but there is of low pressure still circulating away more showers the most southern parts of the balkans pushing over towards greece to looking a little on the lifestyle further west that's where the best weather has been getting up to 31 in madrid to go on through the coming days but a little cold across western parts of europe still a few showers rumbling away to the east. the weather sponsored by qatar airways. i was born in the sea. i feel as though the state is my mind. because of celebration for some a catastrophe for the knockback. they put my sons in jail so every day i feel this catastrophe twice over al jazeera world tells the stories of palestinian and israeli women born in the same year but on opposite sides of this divide born in 48

on al-jazeera world. examining their headline a collapsed economy believes that many people are struggling to survive setting the discussions people have the. 2 ways i don't think you can look that way anymore sharing personal stories with a global audience explore an abundance of programming designed to inform with you motivate and inspire. the world is watching on al-jazeera. you're watching al-jazeera let's recap the top stories right now the u.s.

state department has ordered all non-emergency government employees to leave iraq and mediately order follows a warning by the u.s. military of a threat from iranian linked groups stance military council has agreed with opposition groups to a 3 year transitional period civilians will now have a 2 thirds majority and parliament the 2 sides get to decide who will guide the transition and palestinians are gathering to mark 71 years or the catastrophe that's when the state of israel was created marches are taking place across the occupied west bank and gaza strip. and. let's go back to our top story now on the increased tensions between iran and the u.s. when troops are here he joins us now on set he is the director of the gulf studies center at qatar university we appreciate your time very much so 1st let's begin with sit with what seems to be mixed messages coming from the coalition the u.s. is saying that there is an encrease threats iranian influence in iraq and that's

why they want people to get out british though british commander saying that's not quite the case we haven't sensed any of that type of activity what is going on here i think the united states trying to. think ahead of the expected threats from the iranian hold ministry to linked in and state actors those who are basically affiliated to iran as the americans believe so the reason why we have this kind of mixed messages specially from the u.k. i think always the british intelligence they have different assessment of the activity of the state actors they always believe that those in the state actors. iran has great control and them the united states does not believe that so they believe that they may actually act without fairing or won't back to the iranians and that is that is what explain the mixed messages there is another interesting point about all of this with basically. after what happened in

a. few days ago and with and so the idea i think the americans became more. prepared for a 3rd wave of attacks on the interest of so d.s. or other interests related to the americans but the americas made it very clear that if they are not attacked they would not actually act so basically any kind of action against the sodas or other countries but the americans are not targeted so the americans will basically watch but they will not act again and this will basically take us to the point that there is no escalation as we expect so sometimes that's what the plans are and that's not always what happens as a right and since the u.s. has pulled out of the nuclear deal iran is now saying why should we stick to this deal is that what the us was was nudging for at that very way should have expected look. after the withdraw of the united states actually was watching what would

happen when you add on they decided to actually give you some of their commitments what's been announced today is actually you would have voted be announced by the president 2 days ago. it's sort of the the president made the cleanest speech to do the national security. national security of knowing and basically they made it clear so that it is not new under the new is that iran is a possibility goes. so to other wave of actually must respect the deal because saying you with it do we have the right to commit ourselves commitments and that is what this kid the united states actually because this means basically more. this means basically more activities behind the door this means basically more collaboration with north korea that i'm going to deal with to stop all of this and i think that he will do to try to see the americans don't push them

to that court ok harry thank you so much for your insight we appreciate it. and we see international is putting pressure on saudi arabia to free many prominent women detained a year ago the rights group described the saudi crackdown is a year of shame dozens of writers academics and journalists were arbitrarily arrested many of them have not been able to communicate with their families and have no legal representation or in court appearances women reported being tortured and sexually abused and detention 7 detainee's were released in the past 2 months but many more face prison terms for making statements seen as critical of the saudi government let's speak to rot in a bag and london she's a women's rights researcher for the middle east and north africa at human rights watch we appreciate your time so much amnesty actually says that there's plenty of shame to go around that it's not just saudi that these things are happening because there are countries in the west that they could do a lot more and do you think that that this happened this year because it's been

allowed to happen. it's been one year mocking the persecution by the saudi authorities of women's rights activists something we haven't seen in the past the fact that the saudi authorities have spent a whole year terrorizing in persecuting this women from smearing them as traitors to torturing them and then finally put them on a sham trial that continues to this day is as a result of the impunity decide your sources feel that they have now we have seen some small steps taken by countries that are allies aside revia who have now called for the release of these women's rights activists but it's come far too little too late and those calls have been done jointly they have really been done in public loud and clear and done in a pressurized environment of the saudi authorities know that they cannot continue with this repression campaign that they have right now and the loud voice has not come from the u.s. i mean there was a push just to get the u.s.

to. to put pressure on saturday because of the murder of a journalist jamal khashoggi and that was something that donald trump seemed reluctant to do so do you think that the fact that the u.s. was so reluctant to do something about that is also what contributed to saudi stepping up to in this awful way that they have. we've known that in the past the u.s. has been very reluctant to say much on saudi arabia but in the past couple of years what we've seen with the killing of jamal with the crackdown women's rights activists the record on human rights has worsened in decades and despite this worsening we're seeing it administration that is refusing to really come out strongly to say anything about these violations and to really stand up for the activists in human rights defenders who are now being prosecuted and persecuted now the fact that the congress and senate has come out with statements which is unusual in terms of the u.s. but doing so inside arabia is important but the administration is still failing to

stand as strongly. as other institutions in the u.s. and that is sending a signal to the authorities inside arabia that they can continue to do as they have done and what they're really hoping for is that this will die down that the media pressure will go away that other countries will continue their trade talks with them and never will forget about the women's rights activists who are currently still facing trial 5 of whom remain detained and then languishing potentially for years to come and all this is happening within a year of the crown prince muhammad and solomon going on basically a p.r. campaign saying that he was opening things up that women could drive etc etc this sure things don't go together they're not going to ruin. absolutely it's hypocrisy of what's happening at the metal level of the crown prince mohammed bin so madhu has launched a new film agenda but in a p.r. form and at the same time one of the most repressive campaigns to date now we know

for instance that while they were about to lift the driving campaign the driving ban last year in june 24th just weeks before that in may they began the arrests all of the most prominent ones rights activists that have been defined the driving ban that had been protesting to have the driving ban lifted now that made no sense to anyone in the world because it would seem. in that they should be honoring these women who have been actively actively trying to seek this reforms and not arresting them when the storage is themselves are actually saying that they're going to come through with this reforms and the reason for why they're doing that is because conference $100.00 some months the only ones to do a few minor reforms but he wants the full credit and at the same time he wants to send a message to saudi society and to the activists that they cannot demand reforms they can only be granted them by him and so what he's telling the world is that he is the reform of the only reform in the world have to take him as it is no one else can be given the freedom to express or to ask or to demand any of their rights

within their own country now the international community needs to stand up strongly now we've spent a whole year fighting for these for the release of these women and they should be really standing strongly that this has to end the women's rights activists and countless others who have been since arrested yet must be released without condition and at the same time have all of the charges this sham trial dropped from them again with human rights watch thank you very much. and so i will supreme court house call for 4 more opposition m.p.'s to be stripped immunity so they can be tried for treason police lock down the opposition control national assembly in the capital minutes before opposition leader one quarter was due to lead a session with c.n.n. has more from caracas. it was his last chance to speak in public before going underground minutes earlier opposition deputy kindness but only had been stripped of his legislative immunity so that he can be tried for subversion. all the regime

knows how to persecute the national assembly but we want surrender it won't fall to its knees and give up the struggle for freedom that we have begun. with with that he left joining 13 other opposition deputies who by their gone into hiding asked for political asylum in embassies or been imprisoned since losing their immunity just in the last week.