which failed to win an over all winner and bernard smith reports from istanbul. >>> remote kurdish villages like this in southeast kept it in power for 13 years until june and when many of the voters switched to the pro-kurdish democratic party known by the turkish acronym the hdp. >> translator: they voted because of the approach to the kurdish issue was way different to the other parties. >> reporter: and many people here say they are going to vote for hdp again on sunday. the party includes non-kurdish, left wing and minority group voters but it was hundreds of thousands of socially conservative kurds who put the h hdp in parliament for the first time. >> translator: things change when kobani and bombs in ankora and who did it, i.s.i.l., and

bernard smith reports. >> reporter: for the second time in five months, turkish politicians looking for votes. campaigning this time around is subdued. this is second in opposition, the republican people's party. along with the kurdish party. they cancelled rallies because of security fears. the claimant has no right to stage the rallies. even if you no the sad news. can you imagine nursing a rally. earlier this month the worst attack history killed 102 people when two suicide bombers attacked a peace rally. political subdivisions are so deep political parties could not

bernard smith is in instan bowl. >> there are reports that this drone was three kilometers inside the air space. they shot it down. it's not a particularly large aircraft. it's about two meter or so wing span, and it doesn't have identification. there are reports out of washington, d.c. that the americans believe that the drone is russian. now earlier on this month russian jets have twice violated turkish air space if they fly combat missions. the russians have apologized for those two violations instead of a working group trying to make sure that it doesn't happen again. but it highlights the dangers faced by all parties flying over northern syria. this is the first time since world war ii that nato and russian aircraft have been flying combat missions in the same air space all parties keen to make sure that the others know what they're doing, so there isn't a risk of any escalation or confrontation between those different--between nato and russian aircraft. >> bernard smith reporting there. well, the islamic state in iraq and the levant have claimed responsibility for a gun attack a

bernard smith, al jazeera, istanbul. >>> foreign minister has been meeting the syrian president bashar al-assad in the capital damascus. the two discussed recent regional and international ideas put forward to try to end the crisis. assad says a political solution is necessary but other leaders say there's no future role for assad in syria. >>> mosque in najran near the border with yemen. 16 people have been injured, including one suspect. >>> it's been more violence in israel and the occupied territories. in the most recent incident a 19-year-old from the west bank village was injured, earlier palestinian man was injured in hebron, israeli soldiers session he tried to stab a soldier. israel says man seriously injured a 19-year-old soldier. >>> lebanon's prime minister has been discussing the capital's rubbish crisis on monday. some areas of beirut have been completely covered with trash. it's been piling up and now a heavy rain has washed it into the streets. paul tradergian has more. >> it's hard to imagine this place was once the destination of choice for the world's jet set. now re

our correspondent in istanbul bernard. smith. investigation gets under way as to exactly what happened in ankara. >> reporter: yes, it is, martine. the government has always told the prime minister that this suspicion was carried out by two suicide bombers. but no claims of responsibility yet, the government suggesting it could be i.s.i.l, or it could be the pkk. now, the kurdistan workers party, the pkk. now they actually have been trailing a ceasefire in the last two or three days and that was supposed to be announced officially today, in fact they announced it on the saturday straight after that bombing and the pkk normally pretty quick to claim responsibility for any attacks it might have launched. it is certainly never done anything on this scale but no indication yet as to who is responsible for this bombing. certainly no claims of responsibility from i.s.i.l. or even the possibility of a far left wing group here in turkey. they have launched attacks in the last few months but really on a much, much smaller scale than this

we'll go live to bernard smith.o we have confirmation that the air strikes are conducted by the turkish military against p.k.k. targets in the south-east of turkey. >> yes, the turkish military said that it carried out air strikes in the south-east of turkey and northern iraq. it said that it killed 49 p.k.k. fighters in those air strikes. this issing it today because the p.k.k. declared a unilateral ceasefire on saturday. this has trailed a couple of days ago towards the end of last week, they were going to announce it today. they announced it on saturday, in the wake of bombings in ankara. the p.k.k. said it would not target security forces in the run up for the election. this attack by the turkish air forces, the turkish military - they say they have hit a couple of weapons storage facility. the military doesn't say it was targeted by the p.k.k., but they were statics targets that the turkish military decided to strike. >> do we know yet whether the p.k.k. will maintain the unilateral offer of a ceasefire, or whe

bernard smith in istanbul >>> world leaders condemned the bombings in turkey. u.s. president obama offered condolences and they stand in solidarity. russian president vladimir putin called the attacks an act of terrorism. >> i want to expression deep condolences to the turkish people and president. what happened is an act of terrorism, an attempt to destabilize the country. all the more so committed in the course of election campaign. it's an obvious matter >>> a political science professor at koch university in istanbul blames the government for what he calls increased lawlessness across turkey. >> what needs to be expressed here is who has political responsibility, and it is clear that the government has primary political responsibility. for, first, failing to protect the right to live, of all citizenses as it should, in discriminately. second, for failing to - for contributing to an atmosphere of polarization and provision, and lawlessness. in fact, the justice and development party, the government and president recep tayyip erdogan regularly conduct rallies that

. >>> al jazeera's bernard smith joins us live now from istanbul. rst of all, bernard, from what we know, what has chancellor merkel actually offered the turks? >> reporter: well, barbara, these are challenging times for angela merkel. she is under pressure at home in germany to try to do something to reduce the flow of migrants so she has been forced to come out here to istanbul to ask for turkey's help. yet, she has been one of the most vociferousto fortie planning to join the european union. she said she would give support to the offer of 3 and a ha$3 an billion dollars from the european union that turkey is being offered if it helped reduce the flow of migrants, and angela merkel also said she will look synpathetically. she will help to speed up eu's access talks and try to help turkey with the demand by next summer or certainly within the near future, turks are given visa-free access to countries. offers and promises promises coming from angela merkel but nothing particularly concrete, barbara. >> obviously, turkey has borne the brunt, hasn't it

al jazeera's bernard smith reports from istanbul. >> reporter: as turkish security forces raided severalies, sustained gunfire echoed around the neighborhood. .2 police officers were killed by booby trap bombs as they broke down a door at one apartment. 7 suspected members of isil were killed in the shootout that followed according to the police. >> this is a very important operation, planned and conducted successfully. two important isil groups have been neutralized. >> these raids were amongst a series that have taken place across turkey in the wake of the october 10th suicide bombing in ankara that killed 102 people. the government says isil was responsible. this is the first time on turkish soil that there has been a defendant shootout involving isil. it highlights the increasing threat the group poses to this country adding to the security headache a national elections here on sunday. then n mid november, world leaders head to the southern coast for the g20 leaders summit. bernard smith, al jazeera, istanbul. >>> there has been more violence in israel in the occupied territories. th

bernard smith has been meeting some of the refugees planning to leave. >> reporter: a major transit hubjourney to europe for syrian refugees. a chance to rest before one of the hardest parts of the journ journey. somethingalers hang around cafes waiting for customers. we overheard this man offering 25, 800-dollar seats on a seven-meter dinghy to a creek island of syrian refugees don't have the right to work in turkey. so many don't see a future here. >> translator: there are no job opportunities in turkey. if there are any, you have to work more than 12 hours a day for 300 to $400 per month. when people here see a syrian they think they can make him work more but earn less. >> reporter: they plan to swim to greece. they have plotted a four-kilometer route between the turkish coast and a greek island. they say they have already twice made it more than halfway across, but the coast guard caught them. next time they'll swim at night. >> translator: i don't want to make money. i am a goalkeeper i just want to achieve my dreams and live like any humans want to live our lives have been destro

al jazeera's bernard smith has details. >> there were signs that the aircraft was three meters withinhe turkish air space. they gave warnings to move, and it didn't. it's not a particularly large aircraft, has a two meter or so wing span and doesn't have any identification. there are reports out of washington, d.c. that the americans believe the drone is russian. now earlier on this month russian jets have twice violated turkish air spaces. they fly combat missions over syrian air space. they have apologized, trying to make sure it doesn't happen again but it violates the rules for all flying over this air space, russian and americans have been flying missions in this air space, keen to make sure they know what each other is doing so there isn't a risk of confrontation between nato and russian aircraft. >> bernard smith in istanbul. >>> as many as two dozen fighters from hezbollah are backing an offensive, also receiving air support from russia. the kremlin said it has carried out more than 390 flights this week in syria. zeina khodr reports from beirut. >> russia's campaign is in its

bernard smith reports. >> sustained gun fire echoed around the neighborhood. two police officers were killed by booby trapped bombs as they broke down a door at one apartment. seven suspected members of i.s.i.l. were killed in the shootout that followed, according to the police. >> translator: this was a very important operation planned and conducted successfully. the outcome is that two very important i.s.i.l. groups have been neutralized. >> these raids were amongst a series that have taken place across turkey in the wake of october 10 suicide bombing in ankara that killed 110 people. the government said i.s.i.l. was responsible. this is first time on turkish soil that there's been a shootout involving i.s.i.l. it highlights the increasing threat this group poses to the country. adding to the security headache national elections here on sunday. then in mid november world leaders head to antalia on the southern coast for the g-20 leaders summit. bernard smith, al jazeera, istanbul. >>> talks between joko widodo's first trip to the u.s. since being sworn in a

bernard smith reports now. >> in turkey, monuments to the country's founding father are everywhere, but the secular left leaning political party created has never really managed to take full advantage of his popularity. towns across the south are strongholds of the turk people's party, the c.h.p. supporters know the party is often accused of behaving as if it's entitled to power. >> the c.h.p. vote is constant. i don't think they will ever get more than 30%. it needs to become a party of the people. >> in june's election, the c.h.p. failed to cap lies on any dissatisfaction with the ruling party. they secured 25% of the vote. supporters are frustrated that there will be another poll. >> no party, no leaders, including the party i support came to ask if i'm hung are you, whether i have money. we're getting more in debt, our taxes are paying thor these elections. they are a burden or all of us. >> the polls showed the result in november broadly similar to june and party fall short of a majority that parliament. >> a coalition between the a.k.p. and c.h.p. is impossible. manual a communist

bernard smith has more. >> reporter: sustained gunfire echoed around the neighborhood. police officers were killed by booby trap bombs as they broke down a door at one apartment. seven suspected members of isil were killed in the shootout that followed according to the police. >> translator: this was a very important operation planned and conducted successfusuccessfully. two very important isil groups have been neutralized. >> reporter: these were among a series that have taken place across turkey in the wake of the bombing that killed 102 people. the government says isil was responsible. this is the first time on turkish soil that there has been a shootout involving isil. it highlights the increasing threat the group poses to this country, adding to the security headache, national elections here on sunday. then in mid-november, word leaders head to the southern coast for the g-20 leader's summit. bernard smith, al jazeera. >>> canadian officials are investigating a boat accident that killed at least five people this weekend. it hatch -- happened off of the coast of bri

bernard smith, al jazeera, istanbul. >> coming up. as winter closes in on europe, slovenia is struggling with thousands of new arrivals. >> pakistan's spin attack too strong for england, details in a second test coming up in sport. sport. >>> the world health organization agency says that processed meats such as ham and sausage can lead to colon and other cancers and red meat is probably carcinogenic as well. wayne hay has the details from thailand where consumption of processed meat is on the rise. >> reporter: for some people the perception of meat may have changed forever. that's because the international agency for research on cancer, which is part of the world health organization, has classified processed meat as a cancer-causing substance. it says if you eat 50 grams of processed meat a day it will increase the chances of you developing cancer of the colon by 18%. in countries like thailand, where cheap but convenient meat balls and sausages are a large part of many people's diet it's a concerning development. definite carcinoge

and said it targeted our unity and our country's peace. >> bernard smith life in istanbul. thank you >>> now, the taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in the african capital kabul. it targeted a convoy of n.a.t.o. troops in a central part of the city. three people were wounded in the explosion. meanwhile, the u.s. will offer money to the injured and families of those killed in the bombing of an afghan hospital. 22 civilians were killed when within air strike targeted the doctors without borders hospital in kunduz. the u.s. also will help to pay to rebuild the hospital >>> a funeral service has been held for a high-ranking iranian revolutionary guard commander killed in syria. he died on the outskirts of aleppo on thursday. iran repeatedly denied that forces are on the ground helping to prop up bashar al-assad's government. tehran says it offers advice to the syrian army. he was a veteran of the 1980s iran-iraq war >>> people in belarus are voting in an election wide by expected to keep their president in power. the long-time leader ruled the country for 21 ye

enormous challenges. >> bernard smith live in istanbul turkey. breaking news - u.s. president obama is to announce he'll slow down the withdrawal of u.s. troops in afghanistan. let's bring in jennifer glasse joining us on the line from kabul. the afghan troops has been under pressure. that was a surprise by the u.s., coming as a surprise. >> i think it will come as welcome news to the afghan officials here, the u.s. special forces have been working closely with afghan forces, as they battle the taliban. a little over two weeks ago. it meant afghans had to call in u.s. forces, u.s. air strikes and support, it was needed to battle back some of that offensive. and afghan forces in charge of the - of kunduz city. the fact that u.s. forces are expected to stay - 9,800 u.s. forces are expected to stay through 2016 before trimming down - that's what we are hearing from the senior u.s. officials, and then in 2017 the u.s. is planning to draw down to 500 troops at four locations in afghanistan, here in kabul at the air base, jalalabad in the east and kandahar in the south. th

bernard smith is in est alan bull with more. >> for the send time in five months, turkish politiciansre looking for votes. campaigning this time around is more subdued: second in command of the secular opposition republican people's party, along with the pro-kurdish hdp, both parties have cancelled their set peace rally did because of security fears. every day we don't know what sort of sad news will be brought to us. these are not occurred tanks early this month, the worst attack in turkish history killed 102 people when two suicide bombers attacked a peace rally in the capitol, arrangeara. the political divisions are so deep in turkey, the political parties couldn't evenoun ite for a period of mourning. it was one of three attacks in a violent five months. 37 people died at bombings at two occur public gather did. a cease fire has broken down between the government and pkk kurdish separatists. more than 300 civilians and security personnel have been killed swells hundreds of pkk fighters. >> for the first time in 13 years, terror and security moving up to be the main issue before th

bernard smith, al jazeera in northwestern turkey. >> to africa. some somlids say they were not being begin the proper equipment to combat boko haram. army demandsers are denying money meant for food, accomodation and, training and equipment has been stoevenl by some officers. a report from fatos state. >> reporter: these photos of a military training session were taken by nigerian army soldiers from the third armored division without uniforms or equipment, they are being train today file boko haram at the nigeria army training center in niger state. the soldier who took the photos asked us not to show his face. >> how could somebody be training? >> the soldier is one of the hundreds sacked in january for dissertion. this solid things money for fighting boko haram is being stolen. >> i believe the government gets the money but it's unfortunate some people have decided that's the only way of making their millions. soldiers say the army has failed to rehouses their families. these are the living conditions of some of the wives and children of solids

. >> bernard smith joins us now live from istanbul. we heard from bolt the turkish prime minister and angela merkel there. it's clear turkey wants speeded up accession to the e.u. in exchange for its help. >> yes, and it's by no means certain that that ultimately will happen, yet angela merkel, who incidentally has been one of the most vociferous opponents of turkish membership have the european union said she'll help speed up the accession talks in the european union. she also said she would help with turkey's wish for visa-free access to the european union zone countries, so turn key is saying if we get this visa-free access by next summer, we will also agree to take back failed asylum seekers from the european union. at the moment that did not happen, but turkey said it will do that. no promise for angela merkel, no specific on dates at all, just a sort of general agreement or a general offer to help improve turkey's accession talks in the european union. >> ok, but i mean even if a deem is agreed, hundreds of thousands of refugees

bernard smith reports now on whether teaming up with the secular opposition party is a viable option.ntie monument monuments to the founding father are everybody where but the political party has never really managed to take full advantage of his popularity. tongs across the south are strongholds of the other party that goes by "chp." supporters know the party is often accused of behaving as if it is entitled to power. i don't think they will get more than 30%. it needs to become a party of the people. >> in june's election, the chp failed to capitalized on any dissatisfaction with the ruling ack party. the chp secured 25% of the vote, about the same as in 2011. now, some of its supporters are frustrated that there will be another poll. >> no party no, leaders, including the party i support came to ask if i am hungry or not, whether i have money. we are getting more in debt. our taxes are paying for these elections. they are a burden for all of us. >> the latest poll suggest a result in november broadly similar to june, and the ack party falling short of a majority in parliament. >> a

live now to bernard smith. turkey is in a period of national mourning. >> yes. this is the biggest terrorist attack in modern turkey's history. people killed and another 48 in intensive care of the 246 people wounded in yesterday's double suicide bombing. still no claims of responsibility for the attack. turkey's eu affairs minister has been on television this morning, domestic television here in turkey suggesting that initial reports suggest the planning of the attack took place outside turkey. no more detail than that. earlier on saturday, the prime minister suggested there was a couple of possible groups responsible. either the pkk or isil. however, i should say that there have been pkk trail a decision to call a unilateral cease fire that. announcement was due today. they made it on saturday. so perhaps particular focus on isil as the investigation into this attack continues. >> and we are looking at live pictures of people gathering to remember those who died in those bomb attacks, just 24 hours ago. >> yes. there is a gathering taking place at the moment.

bernard smith was at one in istanbul. >> reporter: when the bodies arrived the crowds chanting, martyrso not die, they have also chanting i.s.i.l, erdogan murderer. there is wide belief that the state is somehow explicit i com. all because of the stirring up of national all because of the stirring up of national sentiment in the last few months. the bombings the responsibility or blame somehow on some unnamed fowrunnamedforeign powers who wo destabilize turkey. the names are unknown. although intelligence sources are stated to have believed they are part of i.s.i.l. >>> forces of islamic state of iraq and the levant are joining together with smaller rebel groups to forge a new military alliance. the situation on the ground remains fluid. president assad's regime holds the majority of the west, i.s.i.l. has taken an area centered on their de facto capital raqqa. kurdish ych ypg is now conferrig with the forces called the democratic forces of syria. claiming to have the backing of the united states and russia. the syrian arab forces will lead a renewed push to retake territory from i.s.i.

you get the feeling there is a high level of inenthusiasm, bernard smith, al jazeera. >>> pakistan'sent says thousands more homes were damaged in monday's earthquake than previously thought and 7.5 magnitude quake killed 272 people in pakistan, 800 schools destroyed and we report from the swat valley. >> reporter: the girls remember when their school shook violently, she and her friends are still nervous about the possibility of more aftershocks. >> translator: our school was badly damaged and all the students are afraid to go to their classes and even the teachers have not come back. >> translator: everyone here is frightened and in shock, only a few people came back to college and are sitting on the lawn waiting for direction but no arrangements have been made. >> reporter: and because of the extensive damage to the building, it is no longer safe to be inside. classes are now held outdoors in the open. >> translator: no one is ready to risk their lives, the whole infrastructure is cracked and can be damaged at any time and are worried about studies and the government must do someth

bernard smith, al jazeera, ismar in southern turkey. >>> we have seen diplomates meet over this issue what are the chances of success in this meeting? >> it's going to be a very tough meeting i think, sammy. turkey has been a candidate for membership of the eu for nearly two decades, a great deal of frustration over the slow pace of progress there but recently the president erdiwan has been increasingly shunned by eu leaders because of the perceived authoritarian tendencies including a crack down on media in turkey and now the tables have turned and need his help and need it very badly and hoping they can persuade mr. erdiwan to improve condit n conditions for the two million living in turkey and give work permits so they can see a future and the eu may offer money or offer a lifting of visa restrictions or other enticements but the problem will be mr. erdiwan may want more and criticism of his government to go quiet, he may want european union leaders to essentially look away as he does what it feels to win the majority of elections on the first of november. >> all right, jonah there

bernard smith has more from istanbul. >> as turkish security forces raided several properties, sustained gun fire echoed around the neighbourhood. two police officers were killed by booby trapped bombs as they broke down the door at one apart: seven suspected members of i.s.i.l. were killed in the shoot out that followed. according to the police. >> this was an important operation planned and conducted successfully. the outcome is two groups have been neutralized. >> these raids were among a series that have taken place across turkey in the wake. october 10th suicide bombings in ankara. the government says i.s.i.l. was responsible. >> this is the first time on turkish soil that there has been a shoot-out involving i.s.i.l. highlighting the threat that the group poses. adding to the security headache, a national election on sunday. in mid november world leaders head to the southern coast for the g20 leaders summit >>> a bombing campaign in syria stepped up. russians saying the jets bombed 225 targets. the kremlin claims 59 other sortees hit a record 94 of those targets. >> in sal ma area,

bernard smith joining us live from istanbul to tell us what the mood's been like there today, bernard, a day after those deadly blasts in ankara. >> doreen, really a country in shock, not just here in istanbul, but cruise turkey. this is the largest terrorist attack this country has suffered in the history of modern turkey, 95 people killed and sitting five people in intense i have care. no indication yet, no claims of responsibility, but the reuters news agency is quoting security sources saying that preliminary investigations, which include forensic investigations suggest that the two suicide bombers, they believe there were two, were both members of isil, so they are focused now on that. there have been raids and praises in three turkish cities today, down towards the border with syria there, and 36 suspected members of isil have been detained in those operations, so that appears to be the focus of the investigation at the moment, doreen. >> on those airstrikes, that took place in the southeast, and in northern iraq on behalf of the turkish military, on p.k.k. targets, what is the

bernard smith al jazeera. >> i.s.i.l. has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a shia mosque. one was killed, 16 injured in the attack, and happened in nasreen in the south-west. saudi state tv says the suspect's car was found with a note to his parents, confirming his plan to attack the mosque >>> russia's defence minister says war planes hit 285 targets in syria over the past few days. on monday russian state tv broadca broadcast pictures of fighter jet. moscow has been accused of targetting the government. russia says it's going after i.s.i.l. fighting continues in other parts of syria, this shows i.s.i.l. fighters taking control of a city of aleppo. ayman says it's ready to make any efforts it can to find a solution to end the war. the foreign minister met syrian president bashar al-assad in damascus. a political solution is possible. rebels and many in the international community say there's no future role for bashar al-assad in syria >>> time for a short break when we come back, a report on allegations of

bernard smith reports. >> as turkish security forces raided several properties, sustained gunfire echoed around the neighborhood. two police officers were killed by booby trap bombs as they broc broke down a door in one apartment. seven suspected members of isil were killed in the shoot out that followed, according to the police. >> this was an important operation planned and conducted successfully. two important isil groups have been neutralized. >> these raids were amongst a series that have taken place across turkey in the wake of the suicide-bombings in ankara that killed 102 people. the government said that isil was responsible. this is the first time on turkish soil that there has been a shootout involving isil. it highlights the increasing threat the group poses to this country, adding to the security headache a national elections here on sunday. then in mid-november world leaders head to the southern coast for the g-20 summit. >> the strong evidence of genocide in myanmar against its rohingya minority according to a report by yale university law school. we have the story from wes

bernard smith reports from istanbul. >> reporter: germany's chancellor angela merkel is in istanbul looking for help, asking the turkish government to stem the flow of refugees coming to europe. >> we have used the crisis we are experiencing to a disorderly and uncontrolled movement of refugees, to great closer cooperation between many units. specifically, the e.u. wants turkey to increase coast guard patrols and give syrians work permits. in return, turkey is offered $3 billion and a revival of e.u. talks. talks on e.u. membership. both are hard for turkey to fulfil. it is has 2,000 miles of coastline along the aegean and strong opposition to allowing syrians to work. there's no commitment from turkey. >> unfortunately, turkey was left by the international community in terms of burden community in terms of burden sharing. there's a better approach. the issue of sharing, going forward is important. >> they said that if turks are given visa free access to the e.u., turkey will take back failed asylum seekers from europe. >> leaders agreed that only a resolution to the conflict in syria would

. >>> bernard smith reporting from istanbul.urkey's government has been in a decade's long battle with the ypg which is pushing for autonomy. >>> a wisconsin gun shop is planning an appeal after a jury found it liable in the shooting of two police officers. they have been ordered to pay nearly $6 million for selling guns used to shoot the officers. jurors sited with the officers saying the shop is responsible because it made an illegal gun sale. >> is this the beginning of change in the way that guns are sold in this country? >> i would hope so. but that might be asking too much. this is certainly a good step. is it going to change the way things are done around the country? time will tell. >> reporter: authorities say more than 500 firearms recovered from crimes committed in the milwaukee area have been traced back to that store. >>> the controversial police surveillance of muslims in new york is once again facing legal scrutiny this morning. the muslim americans who are being watched for more than a decade can sue the new york

bernard smith, al jazeera, istanbul. >>> the western balkans, pictures taken in slovenia on monday givers some sense of the scale of the situation in the region. estimated 260,000 people have passed through the western balkans since hungary closed its borders in mid september. slovenia continues to face tens of thousands of new arrivals. as robin forrester-walker reports, aid workers say they are being prevented from offering much-needed help. >> reporter: the promise now of 400 extra police from the european union to manage this unllped scale ounparalleled sca, for refugees i asked how they spent the last night. not enough water said this one man. they had been waiting for hours. finally some were allowed to leave for an austria bound train but members of this family had been left behind. >> one of my brother and my sister's husband, they can't, they didn't let them come out. >> hopefully they made it onto the next train but by the afternoon the camp was ready for more arrivals. this is just the latest batch of hundreds of refugees to arrive at this holding facility. the police seem to b

bernard smith reports from istanbul. >> reporter: for the next time in five months, turkish politicians out looking for votes. but campaigning this time around is more subdued. this man is second in command of the secular opposition republican people's party. along with the prokurdish hdp, both parties have canceled their rallies because of security fears. >> translator: the climate is not right to stage rallies. every day we don't know what sort of sad news will be brought to us. these are not ordinary times. can you imagine massing a big rally when we would have news of martyrs and deaths. >> reporter: earlier this month the worst attack in turkish history killed 102 people. but the political divisions are so deep in turkey that the political parties couldn't even unite for a period of mourning. 37 people died in bombings at two other public gatherings, and a seize fire has broken down between the government and pkk kurdish separatists. >> translator: for the first time in 13 years, we see terror and security moving up to be the main issue before the elections. the economy is still im

bernard smith was at one funeral in istanbul. >> when the bodies arrived, the crowd's been chanting matter at hers do not die, chanting murderer, chanting president erdogan, murderer. there is a widespread belief that the government is somehow complicit in what happened in the bombing, either through an intelligence failure that allowed the attacks to take place in the first place or because of the stirring up of national sentiment in the last few months. the government support either would say that the bombings were the responsibility or blame for the purpose powers for wanting to destagize turkey. so far, the identity of the bombers remain unknown, although intelligence sources are quoted saying they might have been members of isil. >> nato's secretary general said russias support for syrian president bashar al assad is only prolonging the crise. the syrian army says it's gaining new territory with the russian airstrikes. syrian troops say they've taken control of the idlib area. >> we don't want to get involved in religious conflict in syria. we have one goal, to support the legitimate

. >> thank you bernard smith reporting to us from istanbul.n president bashar al-assad believes he can be part of a solution to end the country's four-year civil war but any agreement will depends on eliminating what he called terrorist organizations and mohamed reports. >> reporter: throughout the past week in state room after state room diplomates discussed and debated, a war as bloody as any in recent memory, one that millions are still distally trying to flee no matter the cost. just a day after russia called for new elections in syria president bashar al-assad met with lawmakers in damascus and declared he is willing to take part in new polls if the syrian people supplied the idea. in capitol after capitol talks turned again to transition, even though at times it has sounded as though diplomacys as deadlocked as ever. in cairo after a meeting with his egyptian counterpart saudi foreign minister declared al-assad has no role whatsoever to play in syria's future. >> translator: egypt stand on syria is similar to saudi arabia, we both wish t

bernard smith is in istanbul. >> reporter: there are reports that this drone was three kilometers inside air space when it was engaged by the turkish air force close to the border, as they gave three verbal warnings for the drone to move. it didn't, so they shot it down. it's not a particularly large aircraft. pictures posted online suggest about a two meter or so wingspan, and it does haven't any identification. there are reports out of washington, d.c., that the americans believe the drone is russian. now earlier on, this month, russian jets have twice violated turkish air space that they fly conduct missions over syria. the russians apologized for those two violations and set up a working group to try to make sure it doesn't happen again. but highlights the dangers faced by all parties flying over northern syria. this is the first time since world war ii that nato and russian aircraft have been flying combat polices in the same air space. all parties keen to make sure that the others know what they are doing so there isn't a risk of escalation or confrontation between nato and russian

bernard smith with al jazeera. >>> in nigeria 14 people have been killed after suicide bombers detonatedsives in the northeast and police say the multiple blasts went off on the outskirts of the capitol of borno state and we are joined and what do we know about this latest blast in the northeast? >> well, like you said they targeted a particular area and on the outskirts of my degree last night three of the bombs went off and the other outside a mosque with my degree so the security services are saying 39 people have been injured and many of them critically and now in hospital and coming at a time or just hours after the military announced 80 boko haram fighters surrendered to the army because of the pressure being stepped up on them in the northeast. >> amid thank you very much live for us in abuja. still ahead in the program, i'm catherine in the capitol and telling you about the government's grand plan to organize the city by 2040 and that means all this has to go. ♪ welcome back and you are watching al jazeera live in doha and reminder of the top stories and they say russian air stri

. >> the touris turkish military said that it has shot down an aircraft, the well, al jazeera bernard smith is in istanbul. >> there are reports that this drone was three kilometers inside turkish air space when it was engaged by the air force close to the border as they gave three verbal warnings to the drone to move from its position. it didn't, so they shot it down. it's not a particularly large craft. it doesn't have any identification. there are reports out of washington, d.c. that they believe the drone is russian. now earlier on this month russian jets have twice violated turkish air space as they fly combat missions over syria. the russians have apologied, and said they will make sure that it doesn't happen again, but this is the first time since world war ii that nato and russiaen aircraft have been flying combat missions in the same air space all parties keen to make sure that the others know what they're doing so there isn't a risk of any escalation or confrontation between those--between nato and russian aircraft. >> a gunman has been shot dead at a religious sight in saudi arab

bernard smith, al jazeera, in southern turkey. >>> portugal's center right party has won an election but needs to form a coalition to govern. outgoing minister says he's ready to talk to other parties. the election was seen as a test of the government's tough austerity stance in the wake of the global economic crisis. >> translator: we did not manage to achieve a majority in parliament as we had picked for. i told all the portuguese peopled it would have been a faithful way of facing the neck four years but i respect the decision of the portuguese people. >>> now to all corruption scandal that's reached some of brazil's most powerful people. it came to light when brazilian police uncovered the money laundering operation at a car wash is. >> reporter: these yellow and green rib ups the colors of brazil's flag have been tied around trees in the city to show support to a police force which, for the past year, has put some of brazil's most powerful people behind bars. executives of oil join petro brass. have all been charged in a multi billion dollars corruption case. a car wash is at th

. >> al jazeera's bernard smith sent us this update from istanbul. >> reporter: angela merkel, who incidentallyas been one of the most vociferous opponents of turkish membership of the european union. she said she will help speed up the -- speed up the acsession talks of the european union. she also said she would help with turkey's wish for visa-free access to the european union, shangan zone countries the turkey is saying if we get this visa-flee access by next summer, we will also agree to take back failed asylum seekers from the european union. at the moment, that doesn't happen. turkey says it will do that. no promise from angela merkel. no specifics on dates at all. just sort of a general agreement or a general offer to help improve turkey's accesion talks in the european union. for the past few moments, we have been speaking to lots of syrian refugees who have been sailing on these dingies from turkey to greece. the reason they leave turkey is because they don't see a future for themselves here turkey doesn't give syrian refugees work perrimits and they are difficult to get places school

syria drags on, more and more refugees are seeing life in europe as the only long-term solution, bernard smitheera, in southern turkey. >>> portagul has won and is read did to talk to other parties and it was for the test of the austerity stance in the wake of the global economic crisis. >> translator: we did not manage to achieve a majority in parliament as we wished for and sought the portuguese people and i fully respect the decision of the portuguese people. >>> to a corruption scandal that reached some of brazil's most powerful people and first came to light when brazilian police uncovered a money laundering operation at a car wash as virginia lopez explains. >> reporter: these yellow and green ribbons the colors of brazil's flag have been tied around trees in the city to show support to a police force which for the past year has put some of brazil's most powerful people behind bars and executives of oil giant and owner of construction and high-level politicians have all been charged in a multi-billion corruption case. a car wash is at the center of the police investigation. a money laund

bernard smith reports. >> reporter: for the second time in five months, turkish politicians looking for votes. campaigning this time around is subdued. this is second in opposition, the republican people's party. along with the kurdish party. they cancelled rallies because of security fears. the claimant has no right to stage the rallies. even if you no the sad news. can you imagine nursing a rally. earlier this month the worst attack history killed 102 people when two suicide bombers attacked a peace rally. political subdivisions are so deep political parties could not unit for a period of mourning. it was one of three attacks. 37 died in bombings and two other gatherings. a ceasefire broke down between the government. p.k.k. kurdish separatists. more than 300 security personnel have been killed and hundreds of p.k.k. fighters. >> for the first time in 13 years, terror and security are the main issue in the elections. the economy is important as in the last election. it's not the last any more. >> the latest polls suggest results will be broadly similar. there are less than 5% of the v

bernard smith joins us to tell us first of all, bernard, how the investigation is going after those bombings in ankara. >> the worst bombing in modern turkish history, 95 people killed and 65 people still in intensive care. now, reuters news agency is reporting that security sources are telling it that preliminary investigations suggest that there were two male suicide bombers and they were members of isil. security forces seem to have been able to trace them back. no claims of responsibility yet from any armed group. that seems to where the focus of the investigation is. this is a bombing that has shocked this country. we saw also a large protest today back in ankara, more of a gathering, really to express sympathy for those killed in this attack, but the investigation clearly focusing it seems on isil. doreen. >> after the attacks in the southeast and northern iraq targeting p.k.k., what's been the response by the group? >> the turkish military has targeted p.k.k. locations in northern iraq and in southeastern turkey in attacks today on sunday. they say they've killed 49p.k.k. fighters in

bernard smith was at one funeral in istanbul. >> when the bodies arrived, the crowds chanted martyrs do not died, chanting isil murderer, chanting president erdogan, murderer. there is a widespread belief that the government is somehow complicit in what happened in the bombing, citing an intelligence failure that allowed the attacks to take place in the first place. there are calls for stirring up of national sentiment in the country in the last few months. the government forces would say that the bombings were the responsibility or claim somehow some unnamed foreign powers who want to destabilized turkey. whatever, so far, the identities of the bombers remain unknown, although intelligence sources have been quotes saying they believe they might have been members of isil. >> much more to come, including controversy in south korea as schools change the way they teach the country's past. >> high in the oblivion mount thats, traditional farming methods are being reintroduced to work in harmony with mother earth. >> in sport, we'll show you how the toronto blue jays kept their series wit

bernard smith joins us live from istanbul. 2.5 million refugees already in turkey. what are conditions like for them there? >> well, i think there's a bit of turkish prime minister sang to the europeans, we're not going to do your dirty work for you and keep them locked up effectively in turkey. conditions for syrian refugees who choose to live in refugee camps she good. there's food, health care, there's some education for syrian children, but in that interesting figure, there are 26 refugee camps in syria. they have a capacity of 330,000 with only 274,000 requireian refugee ins them. the rest of the syrian refugees not far off 2 million choose to live amongst the community. the reason that they are frustrated and trying to leave is because they don't have the right to work here. turkey's not likely really to give them work permits. while theacility they wish to live in refugee camps are good, all the syrian refugees we speak to of course want a sense of permanence. they want to put down roots somewhere. they didn't expect to be in turkey for four years and more. t

more from bernard smith, joining us from istanbul. the battle is getting increasingly entangled. tell us why turkey is upset with america and russia. >> well, laura, to getter understand it we need to go back a couple of days, sunday the u.s. said it dropped weapons to what it described as moderate syrian arab fighters in northern syria. then on monday, syrian kurdish fighters said they formed an alliance with some syrian arab groups, perhaps to make the syrian kurds look less like there's fighting with the kurds. it seemed inevitable some of those weapons dropped would be used by the kurds, and remember as far as the americans are concerned, the syrian kurds, they have been the only effective fighting force on the ground against i.s.i.l. and turkey suspects that the russians have been doing something similar. now, why turkey is upset is because turkey says that the syrian kurds, the y.p.g. have been forcibly displacing turkmen and arab communities from lands they seized from i.s.i.l., allegations made by amnesty international. what turkey ultimately fears is effectively the crea

live president obama bernard smith in istanbul. how seriously is the turkish government taking this encroachment of its air space? >> >> they haven't been able to identify where the drop is from. there are reports coming out of the u.s., coming out of washington, d.c. that the americans suspect this is a russian drone. this has always been the danger of all of thieves different aircraft flying so close to turkey's border. it says that its fighter jets engaged, gave three warnings, verbal warnings to the aircraft to move. it didn't stray off its trajectory, carried on flying in the direct was flying in and was shot down. it's only about two meters or so across, but what is really worried the turks is that its air space is getting violated again, as you mentioned, two russian jets did it earlier on this month. >> nato then on that occasion met, didn't it, in session and condemned the russian violations of turkish air space. clearly any infringement of a nato member's territorial sovereignty is an affront to the entire alliance. >> th

bernard smith has been to a market to find out if teaming up with the secular thp party is a viable option? >> in turkey monuments to the country's founding father are everywhere. the secular left-leaning political party has never really managed to take full advantage of his popularity. towns across the south, like milas are strongholds of the republican people's party, which goes back to the turkish acronym, the c.h.p. supporters know that party is accused of behaving as if it is entitled to power >>> the c.h.p. vote is constant. i don't think they'll get more than 30%. it needs to become a party of the people. >> in june's election, the c.h.p. failed to capitalize on dissatisfaction with the ruling a.k. party. they secured 25% of the vote, about the same as in 2011. some supporters are frustrated there'll be another poll. >> no party, no leaders, including the air support came toll ask if i'm hungry or not. whether i have money. our taxes are paying for the elections, they are a burden for all of us. >> reporter: the latest poll suggests a result similar to jin, and the a.k. party fallin

bernard smith. in southern turkey. >> a 13-year-old palestinian has been shot dead in fighting between palestinians and israeli security forces in the occupied west bank. the crashes follow the death overnight of a palestinian man. his funeral has taken place. jerusalem remains under tight security measures following days of tension. >>> let's go to west jerusalem and talk to mike hanna about this. i heard you say use the word unprecedented to be about--the lockdown affect on the old city and this is really quite quite significant, isn't it? >> yes, it is, indeed, even at the height, the whole of the old city was not locked down in the way that it has been over the past two days. essentially the only people allowed in were israeli citizens, of course, tourists, and then on the palestinian side only those who are residents in the old city or who owned businesses there. no one was allowed in, that has never happened before, and an indication of how seriously the netanyahu government sees the situation