our brothers, as i said before, bashar al-assad has two options. to leave the screen through talks and negotiations, or to leave the scene by force, because the syrian people rejected bashar al-assad, and the regime in syria. the syrian people is quite keen to establish its new civil state that will keep the riots of all the brothers, regardless their origins and their sect. this is what we hoped for, to be done regarding syria, god willing. >> now, you are too greedy, you ask two questions without giving room for your colleagues. let me say, regarding the relations between the g.c.c., cancel and the brotherly country of yemen, we respect yemen and before september 2011, the crisis started in 2011, the g.c.c. council was interested in yemen. and the yemeni people has historic relations. they are always supported and rehabilitate and trying to create problems for yemen to be indulged within the economy. this is a decision adopted by the leaders of the g.c.c., starting from 2011 until now, we are keen to reach a political solution in yemen. we are kee

the differences are now on whether bashar al assad should leave at an early stage or maybe at a later stage of this process, but i think everybody should agree that bashar al assad has absolutely no future and no place in the future of syria. >> qatar, it is believed, it is reported wants to use some delicate soft power within that equation. what does qatar want to see happening that might be at variance on the face of it with what the russians want to see happening? >> i think now, this is why i think this visit was important, because it comes ahead of the peace talks which is supposed to be resumed in geneva next month as the united nations has actually made it clear. i think the qataris now are trying to soften the russian position on the issues that are a matter of differences here, i.e., i mean both have been mentioned with the press conference, i.e. that future of bashar al assad and also who's -- i think qatar is trying to make the russian position more pragmatic and in the relation to reality in syria. >> but there's a big distance between pragmatism and reality, because the r

fall of the re i'm then we won't accept it. >> translation: our first goal is the removal of bashar al-assad. not surprisingly, russia rejects the opposition's demand. >> translation: when we hear of such talk as let's first decide the fate of bashar al-assad, it brings into question the priorities that guide our partners. >> reporter: bashar al-assad is going further suggesting the opposition isn't a legitimate representative of the syrian people's will. >> it depends on the definition of opposition. opposition for everyone in this world doesn't mean militant. >> reporter: so what could can compel him to step aside? << people have to believe that they can only get a better deal at the table than they will out on the battle field. they have to be afraid to lose. the only way you make somebody like bashar al-assad afraid to lose is putting him under are military pressure. >> translation: use of the most modern high precision weapon system allowed us to cause serious damage to terrorists' infrastructure and radically change the situation in syria. >> reporter: u.s. and british leaders are sayi

a transitional following with full executive power bashar al-assad has to go, but bashar al-assad has been saying in the past and he has been backed by the iranians and the russians, it is only the syrians who have the right to say whether bashar al-assad should stay or go >>> thank you for that. another group of refugees is set to arrive tomorrow in canada. the family of island - time with team albeit is prepared to welcome her relatives. >> reporter: this lady shows us her new salon where she is going to work side-by-side with her brother. >> he used to own his own shop. >> reporter: he and his wife and five children are scheduled to arrive this week after fled their native syria. they're a few of the 25,000 cleared to immigrate to canada which plans to take in another 25,000 next year. >> they keep telling me that is it true, is it happening? we cannot believe it until we hit the ground in vancouver. that's when we know, yes, we made it. >> reporter: but it should be a happier story than it is. it is hard to celebrate this small personal victory, she says, while the syrian war cont

they saw bashar al-assad as the driving force behind the country's devastating civil war. ladimir putin has said moscow's military support for bashar al-assad will continue. >> translation: we have supported the syrian government. i would like to say that. we have provided and will provide all the necessary military and technical support and we call on other countries to join us. >> reporter: russia's build up in syria comes months after moscow announced its new military doctrine naming nato as a top threat to russia. western officials say russia has been beefing up its presence in eastern ukraine. while still in a stand off with nato after annexing crimea last year. moscow has held military drills on its arctic islands. the new doctrine calls for more cooperation with countries such as independence i can't and china. for u.s. and nato allies, russia's moves are seen aspro woktive and potentially-- as provocative and possibly disabling. -- destabilizing. even with the threat that this build up could stretch russia's budgets thin, the kremlin is making clear it won't cut cor

coalition says it has to end with bashar al-assad out of power. russia doesn't want that. president obama thinks that could change in the coming months, and that could be especially true if the be that as it may of power shifts on the ground in syria >>> mark hemmett is the former assistant secretary for military affairs and he says that ground troops are necessary if the west is series about defeating i.s.i.l. >>> i think the real difference is going to be the frequency of operations and the pace of operations. up to this point in the last couple of years, special forces have been used for single hits on single high value targets as intelligence comes in. what the secretary carter today referred to is the cycle where more raids means more intelligence which leads to more raids and leads to more intelligence. that was something that was done in the 04 to 06 period and characterised by the operations that were run with the joint special operations command. our air forces have run out of targets. with this type of-- what this type of operation does it gets more intelligence

there's no mention of bashar al-assad as disagreements remain over his future. the president of burundi has told al jazeera he doesn't want african union troops sent to keep the peace. burundi is on the primping of civil war and it is proposing to send five thousand peacekeepers without burundi's concept. hundreds of protesters against a labor leader. yoons are be cracked down-- unions. back to our top story. the international push to end the syrian civil war. the conflict has been raging for nearly five years now. over 250 thousand people have been killed around more than a million injured, mostly civilians of the at least six and a half million kern syrians are displaced. four out of every five syrians are living in poverty. two million children are out of school because of the conflict. a middle east analyst says the u.n. resolution is the start of a complicated process. >> for the first time we are witnessing after four years the international community is also together united behind taking a decision in relation to the syrian conflict and trying to push for

bashar al-assad has two options to leave the scene through talks and negotiation, or leave the scene ugh force, because the syrian people reject bashar al-assad and reject his regime in syria. >> let's bring in our correspondent live for us now in istanbul. there are countless different groups involved in these talks in saudi arabia about syrias future, so when we see that this group has pulled out, how much does that upset the balance? how influential has it been up until now? >> reporter: well, it's very upsetting because it is one of the biggest rebel groups fighting the syrian regime inside syria. the other participants are also rebel groups and the rest are political groups. in terms of power they do have several thousand well-armed, well-trained fighters, fighting the assad regime. it also has a number of regional backers. now how it will effect -- has it effected, rather, the conference in riyadh? i'm not quite sure, because -- simply because, david, the -- the reports we're getting of the statement -- the final statement from that meeting coming out of reahhed is that they hav

thanks to what we saw today. >> reporter: but the hardest issue of all, the future of president bashar al-assad, is still in dispute. the russian foreign minister again stressing it was not for the international community to decide his fate. >> translation: as to bashar al-assad's fate, we talked about that. repeatedly just recently, president putin addressed the nation in his annual press conference and he elaborated saying that we cannot agree with any issue which gave a nation from outside what its leadership should look like >> reporter: at one point as he spoke in russian secretary kerry wasn't ge getting the translation on his headset. this on the day the two men, as well as the rest of the security council, finally negotiated the exact language of the resolution, but will those carefully agreed words still mean to both men when put in the coming months >>> russia's growing influence in syria appears to of been key in getting agreement on the security council. the former russian diplomat explains why russia supported the asme n resolution. >>-- u.n. resolution >> i don't consider that rus

of its commandsers have been killed and is coming under mounting pressure to join talks with bashar al-assad. >> reporter: toying talks with anywhere arch enemies-- joining talks is seen as to see bashar al-assad out of power militarily. those are no longer insisting on the immediate departure of the president >>> an iraq government forces say they're making efforts in taking the city of ramadi. the process has been slowed. they're attempting to liberate the last remaining i.s.i.l. held stronghold in ramadi. the offensive began on tuesday in a u.s. led air strike. online audio message claiming to be from i.s.i.l.'s leader admits that the group has lost territory in syria and iraq. a man purporting to the leader says that despite the losses, air strikes by the u.s. led coalition in russia have weakened the group. it said the group is getting closer to fighting israel. america's national security contributor, former director at the security council. joining us from washington dc. thank you for being with us during the holidays. you have more kids than me so i know it's not easy. i want to talk

talking about bashar al-assad. he said nothing has changed there. russia never agrees that anyone from the outside should determine who should rule another country and stressed in his alignment that vladimir putin has been making that only the syrian people can determine their future, and that will be part of the political settlement, the third stage of this, which is going be convened by sergey lavrov, the foreign minister in new york, tomorrow and friday. >> not budging when it comes to turkey, he lashed out at the turks. what is the resolution there. did he put anything forward as far as that is concerned in. >> i think, really, it's an icebox. no one is going near, despite the fact that the turkish president would like to sit and diffuse the issue, and n.a.t.o. is sending advisors and air force personal to ensure that turkey doesn't take any dangerous action against a russian aircraft in the area. and vladimir putin was very, very open, and really threatened turkey. he said basically we have moved the air defense system into syria. and that is t

. >> translation: our first goal is the removal of bashar al-assad. >> reporter: not surprisingly russia rejects the opposition's demand. >> translation: when we hear of such talk as let's first decide the fate of bashar al-assad, it brings into question the priorities that guide our partners. >> reporter: bashar al-assad is going further, suggesting the opposition isn't a legitimate representative of the syrian people's will. >> it depends on the deck in addition of opposition. opposition for everyone in this wrorld doesn't mean militant. >> reporter: so what could compel him to step aside. >> people have to believe that they can get a better deal on the table rather than on the battle field. the only way you make him afraid to lose is putting him under significant military pressure. >> reporter: in moscow the president defended his stance. >> translation: use of the most modern high precision weapon helped us change the situation is syria. >> reporter: leaders said they're expecting moscow to do what is promised >> >> in order to stop propping up the bashar al-assad regime, help us bri

that peace talks and the political process should dpin but there was no agreement on president bashar al-assad's role in that process. that is one of the issues dividing the opposition. >> the majority within the open ignores have maintained that bashar al-assad is part of the problem and there would be no change, no solution unless he gets out. there are some members of the opposition who are based in damascus and they are under - you know, in many way under the influence of the regime. on the ground armed groups don't share similar ideologies and one of the most powerful forces, al-nusra front, won't be attending. it has been designated by the u.s. and the u.n. as a terrorism organization. they have been urged to disassociate itself from al-qaeda. so far it hasn't. its allies on the battle field will be attending the meetings in saudi arabia. >> everything is going to be all right in the meeting. some of the groups are going to try to distance themselves from al-nusra. that will affect al-nusra itself in that there might be a split within al-nusra. >> reporter: even in saudi arabia succeeds to

on a main supply route that connects president bashar al-assad's government to the capital damascus withnear the border with jordan. that's where the first major anti--government protests took place in 2011. live for us in southern turkey now, the neighboring country. it zooms the rebels are fighting back against this offensive. the battle is raging. what is the latest you are hearing? >> reporter: they are, they are trying not to push back government troops. this is exactly what happened over the last 24 hours. government troops backed by russian fighter jets, managed to strike many rebel positions across the area. in fact, the rebels were taken by the surprise that they were suddenly if disarray, no chain of command and they pulled out from those areas. but later they managed to mount a counter offensive. the united different factio faca conservative group. the al-nusra front. al qaeda affiliate and differet brigades jointed and started a counter offensive saying they have destroyed tanks and armored vehicles and they will continue the fight. now, the weather going to be crucial in the

smooth transition to his son the current syrian president, bashar al-assad. for nearly half a century the assad family has dominated the syrian state and then as now, that same family is up against many of those same opposition forces. david ariosto, al jazeera. >> earlier i spoke with ribal al assad, he heads the association for democracy and freedom. as his name suggests he's the first cousin to syrian president bashar al-assad. whom he opposes. he's the son of ribal al-assad . to get a sense of internal family politics i asked ribal if he were to land in syria today. here's when he told me. >> i haven't been back there since 1999. last time i was in syria, 1999, they bombed our house in atacia. that was the last time i was able to go there. >> what would you do? >> to give you background we set it up before the arab spring in 2009, there was nothing we could do about, each of even though it was a british company we were requesting to get shuttle down. we were going to keep campaigning for the ideas, since i was exiled from a country, that's the only way we

genie: it seems to have changed very much for bashar al-assad. started backey then, the airstrikes, assad's air forces were losing territory on the ground in the face of rebel advances on the ground. there is no question, no matter what you think, if you sympathize with the u.s.-led coalition or the russian coalition, there is no question the russian airstrikes have given bashar al-assad more momentum. assad himself -- we keep thinking about what the u.s. is saying about him, what the russians are saying about him. what is interesting is what assad is saying about a side. he has interviewed that he has indicated that he will run again in elections pretty does not see himself out of the equation. he is still very much in defiant mode, and it will be interesting to see -- although we might not see it publicly -- how much pressure russia will or is inclined to bring to bear ultimately at these -- as these , as hisions go on allies say, we are your allies but we will not support you forever. group the islamic state that controls large parts of syria a

bashar al-assad has two options, to leave the scene through talks and negotiations or leave the scenehrough force. because the syrian people rejects bashar al-assad and rejects his regime in syria. >> let's bring in our correspondent who has been following the story, live for us now in istanbul. the group has been building its position as a more and more serious player in the future of syria. so how much of a blow is it to these talks that this group has decided to withdrawal? >> reporter: it is a big blow, because it is one of the biggest groups fighting the government of president bashar al-assad in syria. they have a few thousand fighters, and they are well armed and backed by a number of regional powers. it is a blow, however, the meeting didn't really fail totally. they did agree on a number of issues to form, for instance, a delegation to attend any negotiations with the assad government. they also agreed on the future of syria, should be without president assad, and they called for a transitional period at the part of that period, president assad has to go. now what i think wil

bashar al-assad appears to be better than the other people, as bad as he may be. >> are you suggesting the u.s. stop the opposition to bashar al-assad, and let event take their course? >> i'm saying that the united states is interceding in syria, and we have not the slightest idea what the outcome will be, we don't control the opposition or the government. it's a dangerous policy for the united states to be too involved. >> what do you say about that? there has been under-300,000 killed. i think it is true that most syrians are contend with this. the fear the alternatives. the initial moments, coming to the tail end. a few schoolchildren spray-painting children. and it was a prodemocratic protest movement, not an aind islamist movement. to couch it in ideological terms, really is not capturing the heart and the spirit of the revolution. >> let's move to yemen. the u.s. thoughts it was a stable ally. the leader complimented by obama, and now we have a proxy war in yemen. to what extent did the arab spring trigger that or has any association with what is going on now. >> the removal of t

position, the only future for syria insofar as democracy and peace was concerned would be without bashar al-assad. now, that's important because two countries that weren't at this meeting in paris, iran and russia, clearly 03 about the future involved bashar al-assad. that's important because secretary of state john kerry flies next, to meet with sergey lavrov and vladimir putin. what will be discussing there, is there any wiggle room for the two sides vis-a-vis bashar al-assad? because we know there's another meeting coming up in new york on friday to discuss the way forward, to try to find some consent yul concretial fest pla. we'll wait to see if there is any statement after the talks. there were no sound bites for us to digest. we'll have to see where the french government issues a statementnology meeting. we'll bring that to you. >> dominic thank you. >>> toirnlg has withdraw >>> turkey has withdrawn about 1,000 troops in the area, turk turkey's prime minister said some troops were pulled out because of military necessity. osama ben javad reports from erbil. >> turkey military troops are now

are they able to agree on where bashar al-assad stands. and they have come close to agree on a united political vision, in order to have a need - needing a roadmap from syria. there are a few other details that need to be sorted out in this meeting. and they have come close to agree on the future. most of them leave it must leave, but when is the question. at the beginning or later on. the the devil is in detail. do you think there's the same disparity when it comes to yemen. and how to deal with houthi rebels. >> syria and yemen prove that these are the two biggest challenges facing the g.c.c. countries, it's no less complicated than the conflict in syria. here, we have the g.c.c. countries on board. and qatar in the complex. now we have come to the conclusion. we may need to try the diplomacy in order to solve the problem. in the whole region, it's something that is impossible to obviously problems. the war in syria is going on for about five years. in yemen we are almost a year into the conflict. they are going above that. and i think t

does it involved bashar al-assad? we can surmise that the russian position will be that it does need to be with bashar al-assad. and if he is the answer then you're asking the wrong question. the question will be what sort of wiggle room, as it were, the americans and russians can play out with each other to find any sort of solution. the fact that mr. kerry is going at some point this week, whether it is immediately after this meeting or in the days to come to moscow may be seen by some as progress. but we shall have to wait and see how that works out. it's worth making the point that the e.u. foreign ministers have been meeting today in brussels to discuss the situation. we know that e.u. foreign policy chief has been outspoken about the situation, and we also know, of course, that the e.u. heads of government will be meeting in brussels on thursday and friday to discuss the situation vis-a-vis isil, vis-a-vis syria, and what it means for them in europe, where the situation of terrorism, as it has been described cert

and number two for some of them to get rid of bashar al-assad. the period between those two could be messy some >> exactly. as i think as many analysts have pointed out, this is not an issue that can be resolved solely through military means but also requires sustained political engagement. primarily in terms of reconfiguring the state and the regime in both iraq and syria and here the issue is that if you look at all the parties that claim to have the defeat and destruction of the islamic state movement as a priority, they have very different and more often than not contradictory objectionives-- objectives with the regimes in iraq and syria, making cooperation between them virtually impossible. that means a continued weakened state and zones without effective government authority in eastern syria and western iraq. that is precisely under such circumstances that a movement like the islamic state movement, which is not particularly powerful militarily can nevertheless thrive and continue to expand >>> thank you very much. in lebanon at least three

bashar al assad has two options, to leave the scene of talks and negotiations or by force. if the sir you know people reject bashar al assad and reject his regime in syria. >>> the war in yemen was discussed at the g.c.c. leaders meeting. now the saudi-led coalition said it is taking control of islands off the coast of yemen. according to saudi tate media, houthi fighters have been driven from the islands on the red sea. they are close to a major shipping route between europe, the gulf and asia. an analyst from the doha institute center for research and policy studies says the remaining issue is deciding when the syrian president shoulding. >> these are the two biggest challenges facing the g.c.c. countries, the situation in yemen is no less complicate than syria where you have this on going conflict actually, but here, we have the g.c.c. countries onboard, literally onboard, saudi arabia and qatar in this conflict. not everybody has come to the conclusion that there might not be a solution to this crisis. we may need to try to solve this problem, because in the whole region

they did not specify bashar al-assad. clearly tehran and moscow remains adamant if you will that they want to support bashar al-assad. >> so for the time being as far as moscow is concerned. bashar al-assad stays, this is the thorn any issue. >> right. >> what about when it comes to isil. we have seen air strikes against isil from the russians. the brits are also wanting to join this so-called anti-isil coalition, france and germany. but has this weekended isil in any way? >> it is sort of paradoxal, with the americans starting the cam bane more than a year ago, and then they are joined in by the russias, french, and probably now the british. clearly everyone has a stake, and clearly now the syrian sky is owned by those foreign powers, but the syrian territory is still up for grabs, and it's not clear to me, foley, that whatever they are doing, meaning bombarding from the sky is having an effect on the ground yet. because the opposition groups remain powerful. and if anything we seed isil getting more recruits and expandin

so that we would only have a choice between isis and bashar al assad. so that's quite a different tone from what the secretary of state has been espousing, i might add delusionally, and the president. we've got to understand that vladimir putin wants to keep bashar al assad in power and he will do what's necessary to do so. as far as my trip with the secretary of defense's remarks this morning, i'm encouraged somewhat by an increase in our capabilities and presence there, but it's a reaction rather than an action. it's a reaction to paris. there is no strategy. i find from our visit, lindsey graham and my visit, general mcfarland is a great leader, we have an excellent ambassador, we have a good team on the ground, but there is no strategy. there is no strategy to defeat isis. i think ramadi will fall sometime relatively soon but then you've got raqqah, of course, and mosul and others, and it's going to take a long time. the dominant influence in iraq right now is iran. i'm sorry to say and the shiite militias and the sunnis obviously cannot stand the sh

i don't think we should be stuck on getting rid of bashar al assad and we should work with the russians and i think secretary kerry is moving in the rye direction. >> very quickly on the political campaign trail, there's been discussion about this and the question. if assad were to go, you would see a giant void open in that country. what are your thoughts about that? >> i don't think you'd see a void. i think another general would step forward, take control of the army. he might be worse than bashar al assad. we just don't know. that's an opaque leadership. but it is a military dictatorship that rules in the syrian regime controlled areas. it's unclear who would succeed him. it's a name we might not recogni recognize. it's really going to make no difference at all. it's a civil war between different sects who i don't think live together and there's got to be some sort of federalism there is the way out. >> cnn security and intelligence analyst bob bear live for us. thank you for your insight and perspective on this. >>> now on to spain and live pictures that we have where people are he

because both russia and iran insist that bashar al-assad -- the future of bashar al-assad will not be during these peace talks, that is left actually to the syrian people, in which means in fact that he is to stay as long as he can, actually, on syria. but i think the other two points are no less difficult, because if you are going to ask the russians and iranance to name for example the syrian opposition in the peace talks, for the most part they will be naming those who are very close to them, and that won't actually lead us anywhere in this -- in this process. and -- >> it's going to need compromise from both russia and the u.s.? it has been said that russia is the key to the success of these talks. >> absolutely. especially since the russian military intervention in syria, russia has become the main actor in the syrian process. and also iran, because before russian intervention, the thinking was that iran actually is holding the keys to resolving this crisis, but now we all know that it is president putin, actually who is the major actor in this whole issue. but let me go back to

denying hit bashar al-assad forces. that is it from me for this news hour. i will be back in a moment with the day's news. i will see you then >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> let's take a closer look. >> this is al jazeera america live from new york. >> at 7:00 - "news roundup". tony harris gives you a fast-paced recap of the day's events. >> this is the first line of defense. >> we have an exclusive story tonight. >> then at 8:00 - john seigenthaler brings you the top stories from across america. >> the question is, will these dams hold? >> and at 9:00 - >> i'm ali velshi, on target tonight... >> ali velshi on target. digging deeper into the issues that matter. >> i'm trying to get a sense for what iranians are feeling. syrians in a starving suburb of homs are finally given aid. this is al jazeera live from london. also coming up, venezuela's victory calls for unity but warns it can't solve the country's problem over night. the f.b.i. says the suspects in the san bernardino shooting had been radicalized for some time before they shot dead 14 people last week.

peace talks and the political process should begin, but there was no agreement on president bashar al-assad's role in that process. that is the issue dividing the opposition. >> the majority of the opposition has said as add is part of the-- bashar al-assad is part of the problem and there will be no change or solution unless he gets out. there are some members of the opposition who are based in damascus and they are in many ways under the influence of the regime. >> reporter: on the ground armed groups don't share similar ideologies and one of the most powerful forces, al-nusra front, won't be attending. it has been designated as an a terrorism organization. al-nusra has been asked to disassociated itself with al-qaeda. so far it hasn't. >> everything is going to be all right in the meeting. my understanding is that some of the groups are going to try to distance them selves. that is not going to be easy. that could disrupt al-nusra in that there might be a split. >> reporter: if the opposition can speak in one voice, some in the delegation may not be acceptable to russia, the syrian's gover

president bashar al-assad is in power, supported by russia and islamic state of iraq and levant. islamic state of iraq and levant or i.s.i.l. grew. it has drawn thousands of foreign fighters. multi national collision continued air tricks and countries are embroiled in the conflict. >> tunisia has gone further than any other country. the fledgeling democracy is not secure. this year's nobel peace prize was awarded. the nobel committee credited them for staving off a civil war. two attacks killed gozens and virtually -- dozens and virtually shut down the tourism industry. >> and tunisia is believed to export more fighters than any other country. >> james is a professor of middle eastern history and author of the arab uprisings, what everyone needs to know, and joins us from los angeles. good to have you with us. let's start with basic questions. has the arab springs failed to fulfil its promise, but failed spectacularly. >> we are involved in a process that began 30 years ago. there has been mass demonstrations for democratic rights. human rights. this is a culmination. process. it

. >> reporter: the hardest issue of all, the future of president bashar al-assad, is still in dispute. the russian foreign minister again stressing it was not for the international community to decide his fate. >> bashar al-assad's fate, we talked about that, repeatedly just recently president faith addressed-- putin addressed the nation in his annual speech, no nation should be given vision of what its leadership should look like. >> reporter: at one point as he spoke in russian, secretary kerry wasn't getting the translation on his headset. this on the day the two men, as well as the rest of the security council finally negotiated the exact language of the resolution, but will those carefully agreed words still make sense to both men when they're put to the test in the coming months >>> let's take a look at this. the syrian civil war has been raging for nearly five years now, and over 250,000 people have been killed and over a million injured, most of them civilians. at least 6.5 million syrians are internally displaced and an estimated four out of every five syrians are living in p

i think it's unfair for people to think that the syrian government is just a matter of bashar al-assaduch broader than that. has much broader base of support. and there will be plenty of people that can keep the syrian central syrian government institutions from collapsing suddenly if bashar al-assad were to leave the scene. >> right, but in materials of the negotiations coming up in january, bashar al-assad's regime tends to use the same established figures. given the problems that still exist on the side of the opposition, how fractious they have been, is time going to be an issue here, preparation to his sort of resolve those outstanding problems in terms of who is going to be represent the opposition at the table before these talks begin? >> well, i think time is a problem. and i was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the security council resolution was fairly specific about the need to get these talks under way and then to have elections 18 months later. and as secretary kerry has pointed out, even though there is no specificity about the departure of bashar al-assad, in effect

obama administration has indicated in previous weeks that it is not so dead set against moving bashar al assadut of power immediately. want question is what's the time line for when bashar al assad theoretically would have to leave power in order for there to be some sort of peace accord inside syria. there's no -- no real agreement, i should say, about that within members of the obama administration. what is going to be interesting is how the u.s. in particular deals with the demand coming from what is now being described as a unified syrian opposition that assad and his top aids would have to leave at the beginning of the transition process, and not perhaps later in the process. obviously, that is something which the russians would oppose, so there really has to be this understanding that now that the opposition has tried to basically pull its act together, that they're going to have to be considered and the u.s. is going to have to try to work with them before it tries to reach any sort of agreement with the russians on the future of bashar al assad. >> ross lind in washington, d.c., thank

the president of syria, bashar al-assad will appoint his key officials to go to those talks. highly likely, i think, the man you've seen a couple of times bashar al-assad, who was the chief negotiator back in the last failed geneva talks. highly likely he'll be the chief negotiator again. on the opposition side who will be part of the opposition, and which of those fighting groups on the ground will get a seat on the opposition table? and which of those fighting groups should not be allowed to have a seat at the table, and in fact,, not be allowed to be part of the feature of syria, and some difference there when you listen to the comments from the two key players who brought this process together and started this news process, the u.s. secretary of state john kerry and russian foreign minister sergei lavrov. they said there are organizations that have been designated as terrorist by the united nations security council. we can't have anyone who we designate in the future, but only two organizations he named. the russians have a very different view of who they believe is a terr

their interests is to keep bashar al assad in power. on the other hand, you have turkey and saudi arabia. they're not ready to hear about bashar al assad in the future of syria. and you have the united states and other parties with their own interests. the idea is to postpone the problem for about 18 months. this is actually the idea. in 18 months to have elections. our understanding regarding syria, that syria is going to suffer from chronic instability for a very, very long period of time. we can't see the end of this tragedy of civil war. 300,000 casualties, 10 million refugees, part in your country, part of them outside your country. a tragedy. but there is no way to conclude it. we claim, you know, you can make omelet from an egg. you can't make egg from an omelet. it has become omelet. so, all these ideas. launching a military offensive for three months and then concluding it by political -- syria is going to stay kurdistan in the north, and hopefully the sunnis will be able to get rid of daesh in syria by being a power by the west

. >>> meanwhile, bashar al-assad says he is willing to find a political solution in the war in syria.e u.s. is cautiously optimistic, ben jordan reports from it will. >> the syrian government once gel again holds that city. the u.s. is cautiously welcoming the syrian oppositions division that will not create peace with the regime for at least a year. >> there are kinks to be worked out and i'm sure he will be. before a transitional government takings power, that's what rebel fights fighters in are leap. >> god wilings we will not negotiate with these. our first goal is the removal of assad. >> reporter: not soon after we definite the fate of bashar al-assad. it brings into contend our partners, suggesting the syrian people will choose accompaniment. so what could keep them out on the field. >> they have to be afraid to lose, the only way you make bashar al-assad nervous is defending against him. >> allowed us to cause sears damage to infrastructure and to really. do what is promised. >> in order to stop propping up the assad regime, help us bring this civil war to an end. stop bombing

his headquarters were only a few kilometres away from president bashar al-assad's palace. he was released from prison by bashar al-assad a few months after the start of the syrian uprising. he rose to prominence in 2013 when he convinced many armed groups to form an army of more than 20,000 well-trained, unarmed fighters. a few months ago he attended a military parade. it was the biggest force by the syrian opposition. unlike most rebel factions with units across the country, the army of islam has one base on the outskirts of damascus, with one target, to wait until they battle. this is where he was killed. he was meeting with military commanders. the syrian army says he was killed out by a syrian fighter jet. the syrian opposition says the death of him may undermine the chance for internationally brokered talks between the rebels and the syrian government. he was not only a military commander, he was also a prominent preacher with many followers in the damascus area. with his death, the future of the army of islam is uncertain. in 2013 the syrian government killed, a comma

still major differences between russia and the united states over the future of syrian president bashar al-assad. jaibjames bays reports. >> a unanimous support for transition in syria, face to face talks and possibly a ceasefire in just a matter of weeks. but this resolution was the result of very last minute negotiations. it is the demonstration of the difficulty of the task ahead that ministers were arriving in new york talks were still underway. fighting with their counterparts over many of the words and details of the resolution. when it was finally passed, it was praised by the current president of the security council, the united states. >> after four and a half years of war, this is the first time we have been able to come together at the united nations in the security council, to embrace a road forward. during that time, one syrian in 20 has been killed or wounded. one in five is a refugee. one in two has been displaced. the average life expectancy in syria has dropped by 20 years. >> here in the corridors and offices of the united nations they now face a tough challenge queeninconvenin

analysts suggest that the situation is such that bashar al-assad will have to have something that will compel him to step away from power. >> still coming from al jazeera this half hour, we'll have the latest of who will succeed robert mugabe. >>> and the ethical merits of altering human dna. >> welcome back. you're watching al jazeera. let's take you to the top stories. a spanish policeman has died when a car exploded near the spanish embassy compound in kabul. libya's factions have agreed to an u.n.-backed unity government that is set to sign that next week. >>> and reports are emerging muammar qaddafi's son has been kidnapped in lebanon. now financing the cost of tack tackling climate change remains one of the top sticking points in paris. the summit has been extended for an extra day, but delegates insist they're close to reaching a deal to cut carbon emissions and slow global warming. >> all night and all day they worked. all night and all day again. still there, there is no resolution. we're told they are close. >> after the consultations that i'll have, i'll be in position to pr

the chance of success, the groups want bashar al-assad gone. and with support from iran and particularly russia, that is easier said than done. it is likely something substantial will actually come out of the talks. there is certainly a feeling of optimism in riyadh with 100 figures from opposition groups there, despite the absence of the kurds. s but the saudi -- but the saudis hope to have an agreement by tomorrow evening. we'll see if they can, but iran, a staunch ally of bashar thissad, believes that will harm the proposed peace talks. genie: philip moore reporting for us from dubai. in the meantime, russia has been upping its game in syria by launching strikes from a submarine. that submarine is stationed in the mediterranean. moscow says the strikes have hit 300 targets in the past three days, and that they have helped syrian special forces recover the black box of the russian warplane downed by turkey last month. russia launched its bombing campaign in syria over two months ago, saying it is targeting islamic state militants. but the wes

despite those words, there is a wide divide, and that is the role bashar al-assad will play in the syrian future. in order to effect a cease-fire in syria and potentially any political transition, john kerry needs russia to bring bashar al-assad to the negotiating table. to that end, work is being done on two lists, one on who could be part of a cease-fire process and potentially run a future government. the other is a list of groups both sides agree they will not work with. brent: reporting from moscow. other nations are seeking to step up efforts against terrorism. saudi arabia and other gulf states are considering sending special forces to syria as part of the us-led effort against islamic state. we hot has also sought to build wider alliances -- re-had has also sought to build wider alliances dedicated to fighting muslim is extremism. >> working with allies to combat terrorist organizations. >> the objective is to mobilize the resources of the islamic world to help other countries in the muslim world fight not only terrorism and extremism, but the ideology that leads to violence. x si

he told me this agreement over the role of bashar al-assad is a major stumbling block. >> one of the major subjects they are discuss something how to support the syrians, and find a peaceful solution to their problems, and get them to agree on one voice, and one committee to represent them. at the same time the syrian conference is going on to achieve that goal. they are looking for the same goal. >> let me ask you about this priority for the g.c.c. leaders and the members meeting in riyadh, making sure that bashar al-assad leaves. >> everyone agrees he has to leave. it's when and how. some say they should wait, but are not sure of what rule he should get. others say he should believe before and have no rule at all. >> it's for them top decide. saudi arabia is supporting, is providing the venue, but it's not intervening, in their discussions and decisions >>> venezuela's president reshuffled his cabinet following his defeat in the parliamentary election. losing control of the national assembly for the first time since 1999. president maduro is vowing to veto plans for a law for gaole

he says bashar al-assad is an lacked leader and his future can only be determined by the syrian people. >> translation: we would not leave president bashar al-assad in the battle field or when it comes to the politics. bashar al-assad is considered to be a red line for iran because he was elected by the syrian people and only the syrian people should decide his future. no-one outside syria should be able to make a decision on behalf of the people of syria >>> the u.s. secretary of state has announced more talks aimed at ending the war in syria. the meetings will take place in new york later this month >> our goal is to facilitate a transition that all parties have stated that they support. a unified syria, a non-sectarian syria, that will choose by election that they have all agreed, unde the highest standards of international law and elections with fair, full transparency and accountability in order for even the diaspora to be able to vote for future leadership >>> kerry has been warning israel the dangers of a possible come appears of the palestinian authority. he says it would lead

they did disagree on the legitimacy of bashar al assad government. qatar maintains that bashar al assad i guess one of the main sporters of terrorism in the region. they both did agree that only a political settlement will bring peace to syria and the qatari foreign minister in fact said without that, they would be locked into a vicious circle. rush has now said lavrov is actively engaged in trying to bring credible opposition leaders and parties to the conference table sometime in january, but qatar was a posed to russias plan to weed out what it calls terrorist organizations in the meantime. >> peter shortstop reporting there. >> isil fighters are expected to be given safe passage out of the yarmouk refugee camp in damascus in a deal negotiated with the president. the u.n. is backing the move aimed at making it possible to deliver aid to thousands of people trapped by the fighting. the isil fighters and some members of the syrian rebel groups are expected to be transferred afterwards to the north. the armored camp has been blockaded by syrian govern

this could be bashar al-assad's rare chance to reverse some of the gains made by the rebels on the outskirtsmascus, and stage a comeback and take over some of those areas. i have been talking to members of the syrian opposition, and they say they got some guarantees from the americans and the international community, that the russian and the syrian government was sort of -- start some confidence-building measures, and put an end to their air strikes to pave the way for talks to resume in geneva, next month. but now they have doubts about geneva, and with this death, many now in the opposition say that maybe they may not attend those talks. >> thank you very much, hashem ahelbarra, joining us live from turkey. >>> now more afghan soldiers have been sent to helmand province to help fight the taliban. they have been deployed in sangin district where at least 40 people were killed overnight. the army is being backed up by tribal fighters and u.s. air strikes. our correspondent is in helmand province close to the fighting and says people have been trapped in the area by the conflict. >> we are he