through it passes the old road to damascus. theath the gate, a man of desert reads fortunes in the sand. >> the streets of jerusalem have changed little with the passing of time and present the same appearance they did 2000 years ago. >> the narrow street is the chief business part of town. it leads from one gate down the hill to the west gate. >> money changers are still found in the marketplaces. small boys with large baskets act as messengers and carry packages for shoppers. a quarrel over candy. it will end with smiles. they notice someone from whom they can beg a gift. >> a new use for old automobile tires, crude but serviceable shoes. >> many of the streets of jerusalem are dark and dirty, the light coming from small openings in the top. only in the middle of the day does any son penetrate, casting a strange light on the passersby. >> jerusalem is one of the holiest of cities. to the christians, the mount of all this, where is the garden of gethsemane. the route of suffering, over which christ is said to have borne the cr

damascus is at the end of the from persia and mesopotamia.uring the day, many camel trains ride through the city and walk over the winding streets. as our streets are covered by high arched mental roofs. the name of this one is familiar to all of us, the biblical street. outdoorat a small strange manner in which bread is baked interests us. the ball of dow list world of. isn it is large enough, it placed over a pillow and thrust into the oven. a gentle pet causes it to cling to the hot wall and the pillar is removed. the handful of straw is for the fire. no, the baker is not wearing gloves. the bread is fresh to when bought over it the counter, but from a merchant it is generally after much handling and after many flies have sampled it. damascus has long been famous for its many oriental coffeehouses where men gather in the evening and smoke a turkish water pipe. tobacco is placed in a mental top and kept burning by a small piece of charcoal. the smoke is called by being drawn through the water in the ball. -- in the bola. -- in the bowl. we

it is a road for opposition forces in the eastern side of damascus.his is a strategic point of view. tactical point of view, taken over the area after one month of fighting by the army is really important because it's very difficult for any army to fight in a populated area, and especially inside the city. for one month the syrian army was fighting, but, of course, we have to remember that the russian air strike support were very decisive and important role in this military success >>> you believe that the russian air strikes were-- >> we saw that-- >>> sorry to interrupt you. it is important to understand that these air strikes have been very decisive. >> of course. before the russian intervention, the syrian army was a very, very difficult position, was in bad shape, and talking about personnel and morale and weapons, russian intervention created a new era. within 100 days we saw dramatically change on the battle field and the syrian army under air support and military support also. beside their support because the russian, they gave new weapons and

more news in a moment. >> a series of attacks hit damascus.ixty die as leaders search for a way to end the war. >>> i'm in geneva, the main syrian opposition block is here but are split on whether to join the negotiations. >>> this is al jazeera live from london. also coming up, at least 65 are i would killed in a bomb attack in nigeria, boko haram is thought to be responsible.

refugee agency helped monitor the deal from damascus.e described the agreement as an important breakthrough. >> we hope that this process will lead to a second and third and finally we all hope for a peaceful solution to the crisis, which will then open the door for human workers on the ground, and we will have access to be able to help and let people go back to their lives. among them, there are 400,000 who leave in besieged leaks, and these mean that they are denied access to pure, clean drinking water, to food and humanitarian aid. >> u.s. command in iraq asked residents in the city of ramadi to leave within the next 48 hours. the announcement comes as coalition forces and the iraqi army prepare to target certain neighborhoods with airstrikes and artillery. fighting has resumed between the iraqi army and isil in the center of rimadi. dozens of iraqi soldiers have been killed in several ice ail attacks. twenty isil fighters have been killed. >>> talks aimed at pro viewing the peace process in afghanistan have been held in pakistan. it

a car bomb outside of damascus has killed dozens of people. this happened just as syrian and opposition leaders are meet ing for peace talks to end the civil war. we're monitoring everything coming on this to bring you new cnn is reporting at least 30 people have been in damascus. government officials say terrorists set the bomb off at a bus terminal. then two suicide bombers blew themselves up as medics tried to help the wounded. it's not clear what group is behind the bombing. it's also not clear yet how this will affect peace talks between syrian pesident bashar al-assad and the opposition. they're in geneva for talks to attempt to end the syrian civil war. syria's main opposition group arrived for peace talks in geneva yesterday. they say they are eager to negotiate and end the war. a 17 member delegation from the opposition group is expected to have a meeting with a u-n mediator today. the group reversed a boycott and agreed to attend the u-n sponsored talks. their absence would have threatened to wreck the first attempt in two years to f

coming up in the next 60 minutes: a series of bomb attacks hits the syrian capital damascus. at least sixty people die. leaders search for a way to e for a way to end the war. >> 60 are killed in nigeria. the group boko haram is thought to be responsible. >> a palestinian police officer is shot dead after

it is a key supply line linking damascus and the city of deraa. chinese shares have plunged more than 6% after oil prices have reduced again. the world health organisation is warning the zika virus could spread to almost every country in the americas. scientists are investigating the virus with babies. more than 30,000 syrian children who are refugees in turkey don't go to school. many work illegally trying to feed their families. a local initiative is trying to ensure some kids get to class. >> reporter: they should be in school, but instead they're turning out whatever the weather to forrage for anything that might make them some money. paper, cardboard or plastic that could be cashed in for recycling is what these boys are looking for. they move on with empty bags. in turkey now the u.n. estimates more than 660,000 rirn refugees are of schoolage but well beyond half of them don't go to school. here in the back streets there's a ray of light for these children. some warmth and some hope in a dismal situation. it may be a small building, but a gr

>> a series of attacks hit damascus. sixty die as leaders search for a way to end the war. >>> i'm in geneva, the main syrian opposition block is here but are split on whether to join the negotiations. >>> this is al jazeera live from london. also coming up, at least 65 are i would killed in a bomb attack in nigeria, boko haram is thought to be responsible. >>> the zika virus spreads further across latin america. the government of el salvador warns women not to get pregnant. >>> we'll tell you why pressure is growing to ban the hijab in senegal. >>> negotiations to end the violence in syria get off to a difficult start in geneva, the violence continues on the ground. at least 60 people have been killed in a triple bombing in the syrian capital. the attack happened near a shrine in a mainly shia neighborhood of damascus. isil claims responsibility for the blast. >>> the u.s. secretary of state john kerry spoke about the situation in syria and those peace talks. here is some of what he had to say. >> in light of what is at

the aid has to come from damascus, the u.n. stores in damascus which is some distance away from idlib, but it is closer to madaya which is close to the lebanese border as well. remember this is a country at war. five years in you've got multiple sides involved in this war and it's a security risk as well for any u.n. people trying to get aid into those areas >>> thank you for that. syrian rebels are warning a u.n. backed peace plan may prolong the war. u.n. special envoy to syria is in damascus after meeting opposition figures in saudi arabia. he is pushing all sides to attend peace talks later this month in gen eve on a. -- geneva. rebels want concessions, the stopping of bombing of civilians and release of prisoners. joaquin guzman is uncertain-- the future of joaquin guzman is uncertain. mexican authorities are not saying if the man nicknamed at el pace space chapo will go extradited to the u.s. he has been on the run after escaping from a tunnel for six months. >> reporter: for the third time joaquin guzman was arrested by

eastern guta around 176,000 people are in urgent need of help, 9,000 trapped in the damascus suburb inown and the u.n. says i.s.i.l. fighters have cutoff 200,000 people in parts of the eastern city. the russian president vladimir putin has been talking about syria saying work must begin on a new constitution as the first step to ending the war and he added finding a peaceful solution will be made more difficult by saudi arabia diplomatic standoff with iran. let's speak to rory our correspondence dents in moscow and tell us more about what the president has been saying. >> well, it's a pretty extensive interview he gave to the german consultation and doesn't often speak to the foreign media in this detail and usually it's to t up a foreign visit and will speak to one of the publications or broadcasters in the country he is about to visit and doesn't look like that is the case at the moment and the talks are in great depth and built about different issues and spreading this interview across two different days and yesterday, monday they published the first part and today tuesday they have

their focuses on the suburbs southwest of the capital damascus.ning the siege after opposition rebels rejected an ultimatum to withdraw from the area. the strategy is to isolate it from the nearby rebel area which is also under a government blockade. >> translator: when the regime can't enter the area their strategy is to blockade and starve the people and the fighters in to submission, he be while geneva is happening they are tightening sieges like these and the air strikes are increasing. >> reporter: many syrians opposed to the government are supporting the saudi-based high negotiating committee's decision not to engage in talks with the government. the committee wants goodwill gestures, including an end to the bombardments and blockades as well as the release of detainees before it agrees to negotiations. >> translator: we are against the meeting in geneva the regime is not serious about the talk. while it is present in geneva it is also bombarding us. people inside opposition-held territories are also concerned about what they see is a shift

aryan, damascus. winchester, this is mostly in the form of rain. temperatures for the most part mostly above freezing. we're in the bhid mid 40s in ma areas. the temperatures will be dropping tonight. this is the area we're really watching. a very thick line and very heavy line. not just snow showers but snow squalls making their way through parts of the region, even lightning soerassociated with t as it moves on to the east and is going to help enhance snow showers in our rege. we're expecting those to come through over the next couple hours. they will be brief. they'll last five to ten minutes. again, they could produce fairly heavy snowfall for that period of time, may reduce visibility. ahead of the system, 49 in d.c., 23 in pittsburgh. see the very cold air make its way in here. that's why we'll switch over from any rain to snow as we move on to the next couple hours. not a huge deal but it's something we're watching. the bigger deal is the cold, veronica johnson out there. v.j., i love that hat. >> reporter: i'm bundled up. big hat, coat, sca

some 9,000 people are trapped in the damascus suburb of daya.madaya has been under siege by allies of president assad's government since july. the u.n. says 42,000 people are stuck there. caroline malone reports now from the syria lebanon border. >> a protest in a town less than ten kilometers under siege, marching in solidarity with people nearby, including areas where people are trapped. >> we came to lebanon because of the regime air strikes. they destroyed our homes, they burned our feels. there is nothing left in zabadani. the people fled with their families to madaya. they put them in a big prison. >> there have been marches here as well, in al wair. there are more than 40,000 people in madaya alone who have been without proper food for months. the last time the u.n. was able to get aid to them was in october. al jazeera managed to speak to a resident of the town. >> we don't understand how the world can do nothing to resolve this crisis. after witnessing such tragedy. civilians including women and children are being killed because of the

dozens of trucks left damascus on monday for the three locations.k up inside, enough food to feed the population for a month, medicine, blankets, and special nutrition products. the eakthrough comes after images of starvation shared across social media sparked international condemnation. doctors without borders say 28 people, including six babies, have died of starvation since the start of december. witnesses say people have survived by eating leaves and their pets. catherine: frances'for a minute -- france's foreign minister has called for an end to attacks on madaya. there is an absolute necessity for syria and russia to stop their military operations against civilians. i'm only mentioning those two, but there are others. endarticular, they need to immediately the madaya ordeal and the sieges of syrian towns by the regime must also stop. now, at least 18 people have died in an attack on a shopping center in baghdad. this, according to iraqi officials. at least 50 more people have been wounded. iraqi forces reportedly killed two attackers and arres

. >> a place of importance on the road between damascus the place where the revolution started almost five years ago. >> the timing just days before is due to convene peace talks is no quince dent. among the first items on his agenda are cease fires in syria, the government in damascus helps by russian air strikes including wants to make as many as possible before the talks start as invitations were being sent is out, the u.n. invited a panel of top officials to brief the press and use conference deliberately trying to show why negotiations are so badly needed. sir is yeah is probably the most dangerous place on earth to be a child. even the very simple act of playing is no longer safe. >> but they admitted there was unease about negotiations or humanitarian access being part of the talks because the u.n. council resolutions have repeatedly demanded all parties lift sieges with no preconditions. >> i have a lot of unease about that, as do all of us and this is what we try every day, in trying to go to these places and reach the people, and try to make even a small difference, as we ha

some 50ff from damascus kilometers away.re was another convoy earlier in the day on a much longer journey. ,p into the north province where two towns are under siege by opposition forces. is to just get food into those affected areas for some 40,000 people. in the next couple of days there will be a second delivery bringing in other much-needed goods including medicine and basics given that it is winter. heating will now be very difficult. warm blankets and other such things that they desperately need. genie: tell us more about this area that has been cut off. it's not just this one town under siege. across the country as a whole , as we speak, a number of towns and suburbs of damascus have been under siege. and perhaps not as seriously affected as this one. it is like the situation in the camp where people were also on the point of starvation, similarly eating leaves and whatever they could get their hands on. majority of instances such as these, agencies simply haven't been able to deliver any relief because they haven't b

a large delegation came from damascus. he was back in damascus before headed here.ll be coming a short while from now. there are a great deal of press gathered here waiting to hear the words from the one side that is here at these negotiations. there are some opposition figures who have been invited in an individual capacity here. but the main opposition block, the one that includes the main political figures, the main armed groups, they are not here in geneva. as you know in the last few days, they have written letters to the u.n. security council, saying they have conditions before they come here, they say they cannot negotiate here in geneva about peace when they will still being bombarded on the ground, when civilians in syria are still being besieged, and they want some of the basic provisions in the u.n. resolution passed last year, they want those actually to be respected before they are going to come here. we have got talk that perhaps they will be on their way to geneva, but the latest information is that that plane has not taken off yet. >>> america's bigg

the government in damascus helped in recent months by russian airstrikes clearly wants to make as many gains as possible before the talks start. as invitations were being sent out, officials would brief the press and show why negotiations were so badly needed. >> syria is probably the most dangerous place on earth now to be a child even the very simple act of play something no longer safe. >> but they as mitt there had was unease about negotiations for humanitarian access becoming part of the talks because the u.n. security council's resolutions have repeatedly demanded all parties lift sieges with no pre-conditions. >> i have a lot of unease about that as do all of us. this is what we do every day to try to make a dent, try to go to these places, reach the people and even make a small difference as we've been able to do in recent weeks. i'm sure you follow that. >> the head of one aid agency deeply involved in the syrian crisis used to be the humanitarian cleave of the u.n. was even more forthright. >> no, we should not negotiate with political parties or access to civilians. it is ou

, pawel, spokesperson for the international committee of the red cross in syria, joining us from damascus in libya, the worst bomb attack since the fall of gadhafi has killed at least 67 people today. the truck bomb exploded outside of the police training center in the city of zliten. for now, there has been no claim of responsibility there is a --ort -- works on civility there has been no claim of responsibility. there is also a report of a bomb at a civilian checkpoint that killed who talk to people, including a child. >> the dead rushed -- laid out in a makeshift morgue after a truck bomb alex -- exploded outside of the police training center. >> more than 40 people have been brought to this hospital with a wide range of injuries, some of them life-threatening. reporter: local media reports the government has declared a state of emergency. so far, there has been no claim of responsibility, but the islamic state group has been trying to expand its influence in the country. >> it could be the islamic state, because that is their modus operandi. that's the way they function. they are the

lines and also reported to be continuing on the out-k t outskirts and it is on the main road linking damascusderaa and they began giving up until the intervention and it's being seen as a game changer. >> things have just changed around 180 degrees for the regime since the russians came in. just last summer the nusra front al-qaeda affiliate was making gains in the providence and now there is a significant reversal which will affect the rebel logistics. >> reporter: russian jets carried out thousands of missions helping the syrian government regain control of territory nationwide. it's just recaptured the town of rabi a key base for rebels in the northern providence of latakia and the bombardment is criticized for being discriminate and say i.s.i.l. and other armed groups are being targeted and some human rights groups say the air strikes have killed more civilians than fighters, gerald tan, al jazeera. >> meanwhile diplomatic efforts are underway ahead of friday's indirect talks on syria and invitations expected to be sent out in hours and sergei fedorov said it's impossible to reach an agre

damascus based opposition members and syrian kurdish pyd groups that have been accused by some opposition factions of being regime allies. meanwhile government troops are battling free syrian army fighters near the border with jordan. they say they're under heavy bombardment by fighter jets there. regime forces are hoping to retake territory in the south which has been out of government control for more than three years. small towns in north-western syria are running out of food and medicine. a recent prisoner swap was meant to end a siege by pro-government forces, but the aid that the towns were expecting hasn't arrived. >> reporter: the people of this area were promised help. it hasn't come. shops are empty or closed. on the streets dejacks and despairs - dejection. >> translation: we only have water. how come there is not food? in the end we were eating starch. everything was gone. >> reporter: humanitarian aid in december. dosss of fighters and their families were headed out to leban lebanon. north-west of damascus and close to the lebanese border has been the focus of intense fightin

at least 50 people were killed in the capital damascus. paul brennan has more on that. >> the triple blast ripped aurt nearby vehicles, shattered adjacent buildings and killed scores of people in the immediate vicinity. the main target appears to have been a bus carrying militiamen. >> the district is home to the holiest sight. militiamen and syrian army soldiers operate roadblocks around the shrine. the lebanese group, hezbollah, and other militias have a strong presence there. many visit the shrine before heading into front line combat. >> i say mercy for the martyrs, and a quick recovering for the injured, and i'd like to say the messages drenched in blood will not stop us, but make us resistant and determined. >> syrian agencies quoting a source said is car bomb had detonated near the garage, and the two suicide bombers blew themselves up nearby as people were rescued. >> the explosions happened as delegates began meeting in geneva, for the first u.n. peace talks in two years. ahead of the government delegation claimed it showed a link

damascus would it is ready for talks but expressed concern about who is invite. they will go on to meet opposition leaders in istanbul on monday. >>> a member of the syrian coalition is demanding an end to attacks on civilians before attacks begin. >> this is what the option is asking, confidence building measures, basic the ending of starvation sieges, and halt of the bombing of civilians and the populated areas, and releasing of political prisoners. these are the confidence building measures which are mentioned also in the greatest security council resolution to fight for. >>> a cross to without borders hospital was attacked in northern yemen. the clinic was hit near the border with saudi arabia. many people could still be trapped under rubble from collapsed buildings nearby. doctors without borders said it's a third attack on a health facility it manages in yemen in the past three months. houthis have detained people in yemen, human rights watches documented the abusive detention of 35 people between august 2014 and october 2015. human rights watch says 27 peo

around 9,000 people are trapped in a damascus suburb and a western town. the south is under siege by allies of president assad's government since july. the u.n. said 42,000 people are stuck there. meanwhile, the u.n. says isil fighters have trapped 200,000 piece in an eastern city and al-nusra front have blocked towns. around 12.5000 residents are trapped there. as we mentioned, it's an incredibly grim and desperate situation in the besieged town of madaya. for a snapshot of just how much basic aid is neat, here's a firsthand look at a child who is stuck inside the town. muhammed says he hasn't eaten in more than a week. this 7-year-old is one of 40 those people here struggling to survive. even the leaves and plants they've been living on are no longer edible because of snowstorms. spokesman for the international committee of the red cross said they are working as fast as they can to deliver aid. >> the icrc yesterday evening alongside with the u.n. goals granted the access to the areas of madaya and for kafrya. we expect the human operation, the joint ope

envoy and syrian foreign minister in damascus. it is understood he wanted a list of groups that will take part as in the government won't negotiate with what it calls terrorist organizations. the opposition wants an end to bombardment and block aids on rebel territories. staying in syria, aid agencies are trying to get food and medicines into besieged towns where tens of thousands of people are starving to death. in is an international outcry. in the former mountain holiday resort of madaya around 42,000 people have been cut off from aid since july. volunteers are handing out the if you supplies they have left. >> translation: are we not arabs as well? i swear to god, we are arabs. these children what wrong have they done. this child, what wrong did he commit? >>> antidepressant agencies have supplies of food and medicine ready to leave damascus and they hope the first trucks will arrive in madaya on monday. the regime has agreed to let aid in as part of a deal which will also see supplies delivered to people in foua and kefraya.

and we're told in the next few days he'll go on to tehran and then damascus. this was a pre-planned trip. he was supposed to be convening syrian peace talks, face-to-face peace talks with members of the option, with rebel fighting groups and with the syrian government. that, of courses is going to be much more difficult now. the focus of his negotiations, which were to make sure that this happens on the 25th of january in geneva is just to keep this on track trying to get everyone still invested in the process because remember what was different this time around in trying to get peace talks going was for the first time they're bringing the whole regional community and regional actors to the table. and you saw all the foreign ministers from the key countries here in new york a couple of weeks ago with iran and saudi sitting around the same table. i think future efforts like that are going to be much, much more difficult. then you turn to yemen. there they had some peace talks in switzerland. they didn't go particularly well. there was a truce in place and they

east of damascus at least three children and four adults were reported killed when a neighborhood waselled in douma. a home have video shows volunteers pulling a wounded child from under the rubble. the united nations says the number of syrians killed during the kril war has now surpassed a quarter million. -- civilian war. talks to end the five-year war are scheduled this month >>> australia has denied a request from the u.s. for a greater military commitment against i.s.i.l. in syria and iraq. the australian defense minister says there are no plans to go beyond what the country is already doing. the prime minister will visit washington next week to visit president obama and there they plan to discuss the conflict as well as other security issues. aljazeera.com is the address for all the news we're covering, including that blast in jakarta. the country last year, finding a final resting place can be difficult and expensive. but the funeral industry is stepping up to the challenge finding innovative ways to send their clients into the afterlife. i'm steve chao. on this episode of 101

the red cross convoy left damascus carrying desperately needed aid in western syria.ut there are demands that more needs to be done to help many others in need. >> what is going on now, giving aid to people is not good enough. the united nations have done this exactly three months ago and look at where we are at now. >> to the north supply trucks aid organization trundle through idlib both convoys have arrived at the same time as part of a deal negotiate with the syrian government a few days ago. pro government forces have blockaded the area for months. they are cut off by armed rebel groups. people say they have been reduced to eating sandfuls of salt, tree leaves, rough, cats and dogs. >> are we not arabs as well? i swear to god we are arabs. these children, what wrong have they done? this child, what wrong did he commit? >> the world food program said that the aid carried will meet the needs of 40,000 people but only for one month. the u.n. said there are 400,000 people trapped by various sieges across syria. activists say it is vie-- >> that's right. so what we're

. >> reporter: the countryside surrounding the capitol damascus, syrian armed forces helicopters have barrel bombs killing at least five people. human rights groups say at least a dozen barrel bombs were dropped on residential areas. and east of damascus, at least three children and four adults were reportedly killed when government forces shelled an area in duma. this home video is said to show volunteers pulling a wounded child from under the rebels. the number of syrians killed has now surpassed a quarter million. talks to try to end the five-year war are scheduled for later this month in geneva. >>> european union has eye announced an investigation whether new media laws in poland break laws on democracy. lawrence lee reports. >> reporter: for 24 years this charity tv show has been a staple of polish life. the tellthon raises millions of dollars every year for children. yet it looks like it may become the most high profile victim of this media war. politicians have started asking whether it wouldn't be better to have the money be spent on a catholic charity instead. suddenly the m

dozens of people were killed in damascus today when a car bomb went off in a predominantly shiite suburb. two suicide bombers then struck rescuers adding to the carnage. is claim to have sent them. >> syria today is an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe. >> reporter: in a video message secretary of state john kerry called on participates in the peace talks to seize the opportunity to bring an end to the conflict. the talks are supposed to begin in some form on monday. >> this conflict could easily engulf the region if left to spiral completely out of control. that is what the negotiations in geneva can prevent. >> reporter: but so far the parties to the talks are refusing to even speak directly to each other in spite of the messages from a damascus suburb and a turkish beach. allen pizzy, cbs news, rome. >> glor: two virginia tech weekend in connection with the death of a 13 year old girl. as jericka duncan reports, police believe she was murdered. >> reporter: police say 13 year old nicole lovell of blacksburg, virginia, was abducted by 18 year old david eisenhauer. they say 19 year old

further north many of the rebel strong holds around damascus are under siege. this has forced fighters on either abandon their position or agree to truces under negotiated deals. >> sometimes free syria army withdrew from the place and the heavy shelling of the fighters, but it's easy to go back to that place. >> reporter: the army and its allies have made strategic and tactical gains but the war is far from over. the battle for aleppo will be the tipping point. syria's commercial capital has been a divide city for many years. the government and its allies are fighting to encircle the opposition held east and to do that they have been trying to cut the lines into the city. >> aleppo has a name that is important, as a city is important, as a location is important. important for the regime, important for the opposition, important for turkey, important for goods. >> reporter: the government says it is winning the war. officials are making clear they are in no mood to compromise. the opposition may be on the retreat but it p hasn't been defeated. no doubt the gover

their focus is on the south-west, damascus. they are attack the siege. the strategy is to isolate it from the area which is also under a government blockade. >> translation: when the regime entered the area, their strategy is to blockade and have the people into submission. even while negotiation is happening, they have air strikes are increasing. >> reporter: many syrians opposed to the government are supporting the high negotiation committee's decision not to engage in talks with the government. the committee wants good well gestures including an end to the bombardments and blockades before it agrees to negotiations. >> translation: we are against the meeting in geneva. they're not serious about the talks. while it is present in geneva it is also bombing us. >> reporter: people are concerned about what they see is a visit in u.s. policy. they believe washington is cooperating with the government's main backer, russia. the two powers are behind a u.n. peace plan that could see bashar al-assad stay in office at least during the transition period. >> tran

envoy is to visit damascus and tehran, we understand, in the next couple of days. what do you think is going to come out of that meeting? >> well, he is, obviously, going to have his work cut out. the opposition will have demands, but there is also another issue, which is the u.n. has been mandated in the last revolution to add to the delegation, and it is something that they reject. they formed a delegation and they are still indicating a willingness to talk. the u.n. envoy won't be able to take a plane from riyadh to tehran any more. he will have to go through another country. that crisis between the saudis and iranians, despite what is being said by the saudis, that it will affect the peace talks >>> how will it affect the peace talks when the saudis have come out and said that despite ending their ties with iran, they remain committed to talks on regional conflict? >> the main regional backers have basically two options in their hands. one is to favor these peace talks, and that's what saudi arabia, katar, saudi arabia and others have been doing, but at the sam

it is a significant victory for damascus, helping it secure fly routes from the capital to the south. russia airstrikes have been key to gains. moscow admits that its intervention helped reverse the situation on the ground. we have a report on the government's recent advances. >> the syrian flag flies again. it's taken the army weeks of intense fight to go retake this town in the southwestern province. state television showed military forces entering the town center after securing supply lines. battles of reported to be continuing on the outskirts. the importance of the ruined town cannot be overstated. it lies on the main road linking the capital with the city where the revolution began nearly five years ago. government forces had given up much of this territory until russian armed forces began their military campaign last september. the intervention is being seen as a game changer. >> things have just turned around 180 degrees for the regime since the russians came in. just last summer, the al-nusra front, the al-qaeda affiliate was making gains in the province and now, there's the

♪ >>> a series of bomb attacks hits the syrian capital, damascus.t least exhibit people die as leaders cinch for a way to end the war. hello there. i am felicity barr. you are watching live from london. at least 65 people are killed in a bomb attack in nigeria. the armed group, boko haram is thought to be responsible. >> a palestinian police officer shot dead after wounding three israelis in an attack on a checkpoint in the occupied west bank. and the zika virus spreads further across latin america. now, the government of el salvador warns women not to get pregnant. while negotiations to i need the violence in syria get off to a difficult start in geneva, the fighting continues on the ground. at least 60 people have been killed in a triple bombing in the syrian capitol. the attack happened near a revered shrine in damascus. is ill is claiming responsibility for the blast. the u.s. secretary of state john kerry has been speaking about the situation in syria and those peace talks. >> in light of what is at stake in these talks, i appeal to both sides

the syrian army let lose with heavy artillery on the outskirts of damascus.er this week, a child was killed and another -- or several others were wounded when russian air strikes hit a kindergarten. >>> iraq's top shiite cleric is urging the government there to do more to stop sectarian violence. an attack happened on monday that was claimed by isil. apparent reprisals have since been delivered. the ayatollah delivered this message. >> translator: a few days ago a town witnessed terrorist attacks, and gretable attacks on several mosques and houses of civilians which will have dangerous consequences. as we strongly condemn these attacks, we place full responsibility on the government security forces for their repetition. >> let's here from mohammed jamjoom in baghdad. >> reporter: after a week in which the flames of sectarian were fanned once more in the province, iraq's top shiite cleric delivered a sermon on friday, in which he condemned the wave of violence these past several days, and also laid blame at the government for not doing more to prevent these at

office in syria and damascus earlier today and told us that yes there is going to be an opportunity toaid into some of the perceived areas particularly madaya ten kilometers away from the area but it will take a few days to get the aid in and predicting sunday or monday or later than that. and it's all part of a four-stage deal actually we started back in september. it was a u.n. brokered deal and turkey and iran helped negotiate on different sides there and basically to help initially a seize fire in the air close to where we are now on the border and idlib with shia villages had agreed to a ceasefire and last week people were released and fighters from different size released from both areas as well and now we hear the part of the deal is aid to go in a few days before that is going to happen. >> carolyn malone with the latest in lebanon. this morning one of histories most controversial books is returning to store shelves in germany, hitler or my struggle outlines the nazi's leader ideology and deep anti-semitism and copyright expired on the first of the year and a curator at the mus

have been wrongfully detained and are being held in custody in syria particularly in prisons in damascus. in some ways that seems to me to be the thing that the syrian government, perhaps, could most easily do if pressure is put on it in order to get this process going. >> reporter: the start of the syria talks, but on day one just one side was present. the syrian government delegation headed by the country's ambassador to the united nations meeting with the u.n. special envoy, staffan de mistura. it was during this meeting that news emerged that the main opposition group said it would now travel to geneva. mr staffan de mistura said he had to wait for confirmation but he was optimistic >>ive good reasons to believe that they are actually considering this very seriously. therefore, to be in a position on probably sunday to actually start the discussions with them and in order to be able to proceed with the syrian talks. >> reporter: one opposition member already in geneva later confirmed with that her colleagues would be here in a matter of hours. >> we just want to let you know that, ye

. >> our first impression of damascus is one of surprise as we notice the appearance of the square in the center of the city. our opinion changes as we step

it lies on the main road linking the capitol damascus with deraa the city where the revolution began nearly five years ago and government forces had given up much of this territory until russian armed forces began their military campaign last september and the intervention is being seen as a game changer. >>urned around 180 degrees for the regime since the russians came in and just last summer the nusra front the al-qaeda affiliate was making gains in the providence and now there is a significant reversal which will affect the rebel logistics. >> reporter: russian jets carried out thousands of missions helping the syrian government regain control of territory nationwide and just recaptured the town of rabia a key base for rebels in the north earn providence of latakia and the russian bottom barrelledment is criticized for being discriminalment and they insist i.s.i.l. and other armed groups are being targeted and some human rights groups say the air strikes have killed more civilians than fighters. gerald tan, al jazeera. >>> world diplomatic efforts are in full force ahead of the ta

amy: and what was happening in damascus? >> in damascus, now it's just the assad regime there. they're taking all the young people, the young boys, to the war. they must go to the army. yes, there is no -- no one there is civilians, yes. amy: and you said everyone is attacking your country. who? >> yes. who? everyone. russia and america and iran -- everyone. amy: and so, what do you want to do? >> i just want to live in peace and be like any human again. yes, to have a family, to be safe. yes, that's just it. amy: is ur family back in syria? >> yes, yes. i have just three -- two sisters and one brother, small brother. amy: they stayed. >> yes, and my father and mother are there. amy: and what did your parents think about you leaving? >> they just want me to be safe, yeah. they sent me out. amy: do you think the russian, syrian, french, british bombing of syria will save it? >> no, no, no, it's not a solution. you can't protect someone by killing someone else. you know? they can't stop the bombs here when they bomb in syria. yes, it's not a solution. amy: what is the solution? >

is winning. >> actually damascus is not winning.a is the one who is winning. they are fighting on behalf of the syrian regime and we know that this happened a few months ago as a start to push us through negotiation with the lowest conditions but the thing that russia and the regime doesn't know that we won't go to the negotiation except with anything they will put it on the table as they want with the government and not a transitional government with the ss in geneva can communicate. >> you say damascus is not winning whose planes are in the air space and who is dropping the bombs and if rabia has fallen that is 13 kilometers from the turkish border, it is crucially important because it's very close to a major supply line, that is an issue that the rebels either have to address militarily or accept diplomatical diplomatically. >> they have controlled for three years and a half and the regime couldn't even come close but what russia air strikes are doing of course we don't have that kind of weapon to stop the air strike and that is

monitoring the civil w inyria says at least0 pele were killed today i bombing attacks in a disict damascus where syria's holiest shi'ite shrine is cated. the rert said doze more were injured in series of plosions, and hi fiters were amonthe dead isis cimed rponsity for e bo a twouici bombers who t off the devastating blasts the syrian oervato for human righ said the casualty toll was expected to rise. the british-based monitoring group said the suici bombers targeted a militbus carryie militias w were changing guard there. ike's mi in copaxi, s reportedly a sucss this weend. volunteers shad thisicture wis on febook, saying mor they also say they raised more 13-thollars for "me own." brown wastabd jay 4th a fo snt. brown reported to sheriff's deputies thas own former student, "courtn plante," and her boyfriend, "sean ovstreet," jumd him afte asking ho help wita broken- doruck -- th dve ofrown's car. heufred lieateni injurin the attack. s cookie that's right, girlcoutookies are officially on sa. these girls didn waste any time getti to work in black forest, despe the snowy nditions. they set

officials say 44 trucks arrived near damascus, another 21 trucks went north. upon arriving into the cities, officials say 400 people needed to be evacuated immediately to receive life threatening treatment. many accused the syrian government of preventing aid from entering the country but the syrian ambassador to the united nations says that is not true. >> the syrian government did not stop any convoys for humanitarian assistance. on the contrary we sent plenty of convoys and asked the u.n. to send more. said these need to be careful that 9 supplies don't end up in the hands of -- the surprise don't end up in the hands of terrorists. >>> traffic is bad enough in l.a. so imagine the frustration when the highway there turned into an emergency landing strip nor a small airplane. the pilot says engine problems forced him to land northwest of los angeles on the road. it backed up traffic for miles during the afternoon rush yesterday. the plane was pushed into the center median until it could be towed away. as bad as it looks though no one was hurt. >>> let's updat