damascus insists the election was constitutional.esults will be posted on thursday. >> we were displaced from aleppo to damascus. we are looking for someone who can represent us in the people's assembly, and carry our voices to the officials in damascus. i am a fighter in the national defense. i cannot get my mother. we think some candidates are trustworthy, and we choose them. we wish them all up. >> voting took place only in government controlled areas, geographically, about a third of the country, shown in green. about 5 million assyrians have fled, and an estimated 70 million assyrians are still in the country. of those of 17 million, about 60% are in areas controlled by assad's troops. the election comes as a surge in violence threatens a partial cease-fire. it also took place on the same day as u.n.-backed peace talks in geneva. syria's opposition says the election undermines these negotiations. >> and some of those key players have spoken publicly, the main syrian opposition group met with stefan. he said he wanted to see a re

i always have this image and some people in damascus at the time, they were telling me the damascus springich radio stations and private newspapers and salons and so forth and prisoner releases, that some of the security apparatus just came around to him and said hey, this is not how we do things, this will cause a lot more problems and, therefore, damascus winter set in. so he finally realized he couldn't do what he wanted to do. >> john negroponte. you have a very difficult task. having overseen leadership profiles are briefed them to the presidenpresident or other futuf our government, it's not an easy thing to do. you can get things really right but you can also get them terribly wrong. but obviously it's worth working at. i've a question about how the israelis see bashar al-assad. because my impression over the years has been their impression of the syrian leadership is more benign. they see it as in their interest that he stay in power. i don't know if that is still the attitude but how do they view him? >> i pursued that very question in israel, and i met with on one occasion, this

damascus? mark: i believe released in damascus. i do not have that level of detail. >> what we see as new factors making this desirable. august,esult that by theren has decided that will be a new aim for a war effort. we even college history professor mckenzie. >> how is it possible to attain such production and build an army? 20% of industrial manpower was when in power. film documents the hidden war effort of women. we visit the daughters of the museum. it was founded in 1890. the apotheosis is an old concept which goes back to ancient times. by lifting him up and celebrating him. bill washington and jefferson those who especially did so while they occupied the white house. jefferson owned over 100 slaves. is responsible for supporting the a on the 12 american presidents who were slave owners, eight of them while in office. for the complete american history tv weekend schedule. next, a discussion about the state

damascus? mark: i believe released in damascus. i do not have that level of detail. our campaign thus makes stops around the country visiting winners from the student camera competition. we visited the art institute in phoenix to present awards to winners. their classmates won second prize for their video on gender wage inequity. for the in los angeles third prize winner. c-span dixons a things to our cable partners. every reading this month, be sure to watch one of the top entries before washington journal. next, a discussion about the state of manufacturing in the united states. from washed injured, this is 40 minutes. -- from washington journal, this is 40 minutes. joining us now is scott paul, the president of the alliance for american manufacturing. he is joining us today to discuss the state of the manufacturing sector in

damascus? i believe released in damascus. i do not have that level of detail. >> a signature feature of book tv on c-span2 is taking you to festivals across the country. this weekend, we traveled to the diversity of southern california for the toy first annual los angeles times festival of books, one of the most celebrated in the u.s. our live coverage features thieves security with of the state author, policing with joe dominic, author of the lapd and the battle to redeem american policing, and women in politics with nancy:, author of "breakthrough." up sunday, more on the festival of books featuring author area on a huffington and talkshow host dennis, author of "the 10 commandments, still the best path to follow." and resides long talks about his book, zealot, the life and times of jesus of nether -- of nazareth. join us next saturday for our live coverage of the annapolis book festival. next, former vice president dick cheney talking about the role of vice president and the selection process. then, the state of manufactur

syrian state tv says isil has captured at least 300 people east of damascus.re from a cement company. >>> the afghan taliban says it will negotiate with the u.s. as well as other western governments and improve its relations with the government in kabul. >>> and one of libya's rival governments appeared to reverse its decision to step down. >>> egyptian property cuters are in the italian capitol to up dpat authorities in rome on the investigation of the italian student who went missing on the 25th of january and was found tortured in a ditch nine days later. the foreign minister has threatened immediate and proportion at it action. sonya is following the case for us in rome and has the latest. >> reporter: behind me the egypt yandle gags has been meeting with italian prosecutors to discuss details surrounding the murder of the italian student who was found murdered in a ditch just outside of cairo. now in that meeting, there has been a dau see yay of 2,000 pages presented that contains testimony from 200 witnesses. it is a case that has aroused a lot of emotio

patrick: i served in damascus. let me congratulate you, this is the most rational discussion group i've heard on syria in the last year. i noticed that the word bosque never appeared in your conversation. is there any larger than sectarian institutions left in evant? >> yes. theoretically, the basque party is still functioning. you have the syria state. what does it mean anymore? theoretically, it is there at the core of the regime. it gives a veneer of some sort of rallying egos or whatever you would call it. -- ethos or whatever you would call it. ,t is now the primary dynamic what josh was talking about, .his shia crescent when i first lived in the middle east, sunni and shia did not come up as much. syria, it was always discouraged. now, people talk about it a lot. --n they come to be rude beirut, they speak in shia terms. amy: in the back? barbara: a great panel. thought assadd we do and turned out to be michael. [laughter] >> what is the purpose of these peace talks that are going to resume in geneva? what is

half of them are secondhand, but we fix and use them in besieged areas like damascus and homs. we put border tanks on pickup trucks or a motorbike as an ambulance. they're all targeted. the systemic targeting from the regime and russians, we don't know who is teaching them the systemic way of bombing of ambulances and civil defense crews. >> reporter: the group has relied on turkey for help with training and equipment. around 1,000 syrian civil defense worikers have received training in turkey and jordan. they also have four training centers inside syria. back in aleppo these men continue to work despite the threats and hardship. 40 of them were killed in 2013. there is no guarantees that this year will be better. the truce has brought relative peace and calm, but it won't be too long before they are hit again. >> let's get more on this. thanks very much for coming to talk to us. i want to talk about the shifts on the ground surrounding aleppo. how significant are they? >> we see quite a bit of fragility in the ceasefire certainly, and there has been a move by the russians to h

and sitting with the butcher of damascus, of syria, in the name of this guy is defending the christians. for me this is something -- besides the counter truth of it, but i'm very bitter that the syrian opposition and us all have missed the construction of the proper narrative that is able today to confront this truth that is leading the entire, let's say, eastern part of europe today to turn to vladimir putin for protection because they're completely appalled and petrified of muslims invading them under the name of refugees, et cetera. we -- and in that sense, mike, this is a defining moment not only for the middle eastern order but for the world order. we are constructing the world order or misconstructing the world order for the 30 years to come out of the syrian cauldron. this is why it's not only a syrian question, international question, partly ethical, partly geopolitical, and it is partly, let's say, a strategic issue. >> i ask joe, you said 30 years? is that what you're -- >> i mean, i'm ready to negotiate on that. >> mike, i know that you -- i'm not going the ask you to write a

the biggest damascus led assault since a ceasefire came into effect in late february. they threaten a take the important area of palmyra in the province of homs from isil. isil still maintains control of large parts of the province where hundreds of civilians are held hostage. it is mostly rebels, including al-nusra and other more moderate groups in charge of idlib province. the halt in fighting allowed some people to come out on the streets again and in some cases protest against the more extreme groups such as nusra. the government retains control of the capital, damascus and most of president bashar al assad's home region, the army and opposition will be looking at their own interest at the forthcoming talks in geneva. >> what we have witnessed in the last one week or so is really equal taillightive elevation of battles particularly in aleppo, and the damascus suburbs. what is happening in aleppo is the most alarming. the government claims the opposition along with the nusra front have taken one of the most strategic hopes in north aleppo. what the government has be

rural damascus, and [ inaudible ].ean close to 20 areas in syria are today considered as besieged or hard to access. we're talking about half a million people living in those areas with an additional 4 million living in difficult to access areas. town as big as deir ez-zor are besieged. and we would like to reach the areas there. the civilian population have greater needs. >> but you have had to accept preconditions surely almost by definition. when the aid started going in seven, eight weeks ago, the reality was that you were only being allowed into very specific areas, because the damascus government had achieved what it wanted to achieve. >> well, first of all, the international red cross does not do cross-border operations -- >> yes, but in general, across the border, i'm just talking about the aid operation. the aid operation kicked off, and it was allowed access to the besieged areas because the damascus government had achieved it goals. that has changed now. >> [ inaudible ] has always asked for access regardles

special envoy to syria is in damascus ahead of a new round of talks in geneva. staffan de mistura is expected to meet syrian officials on monday. a cessation of hostilities began in february, but it is coming under strain with both sides accused of repeated violations. activists say i.s.i.l. is launching a major offensive with turkey. it has captured two villages. russian media is reporting plans with syrian government forces to strengthen efforts to retake the city. as we've been reporting over the past few days, the prime minister has been speaking to a delegation in damascus. charles stratford joins us from the town close to the syria border. the turkish prime minister is there today. what are we expecting his central message to be? >> reporter: he ask here under the pretext of honoring this city, giving it a medal for ridding the city of forces in 1920. this has great symbolic value here. we're in south east turkey, in a predominantly kurdish region. repeated peace efforts [indistinct] the p.k.k. have failed [indistinct] [voice over loud speaker drowning out

. >> reporter: ia restaurant red rooster in damascus. >> we're ready. people can come in here any time and get fried chicken. >> reporter: with record highs and record lows how do your plants and flowers that are sprouting stand a chance? at the arlington home and garden show we set out to find some answers as the snow was falling outside. >> if you have some of your annuals like petunias out, you might want to cover them with even' bed sheet is better than nothing or a newspaper -- even a bed sheet is better than nothing or a newspaper and anchor it down. tonight and the next few nights are critical. the peas and radishes should be okay. lettuce and things like that, it just depends on how long they've been out of. they might already be hardened vert out. they might already be hardened out enough that they'll be -- they might already be hardened out enough that they'll be arlington home and garden show at the thomas jefferson community center. >>> always watching always tracking wusa9's first alert weather, d.c.'s most accurate. >> there are snow showe

local elders in the areas near damascus negotiated the agreement. the group says, in effect, around 170 workers have been freed as others have managed to escape. the workers were taken after an i.s.i.l. offensive on monday. there are reports that saudi arabia is ready to halt its military campaign in yemen. under a u.n. brokered agreement a ceasefire is due to begin there this sunday. an army spokesman said saudi arabia will commit to the truce if houthi fighters lay down their arms and pull out of areas they currently control. a previous ceasefire collapsed in december but talks later this month are aimed at finding a lasting solution to the year-long war. more refugees are being deported from greece to turkey under the controversial e.u. deal with ankara with more than 200 people sent back on friday. two boats carrying mainly pakistani refugees arrived in the turkish port of dikili after leaving lesbos. while another operation, 967 people were returned to turkey across the land border. there has abouts been a significant drop in the number of refu

we fix and use them in damascus and homs. our teams there put tanks on pickup trucks to use as fire engines or a motorbike as an ambulance. all of our martyrs were directly targeted. the systemic targeting from the regime and russians, we don't know who is teaching who the way of bombing ambulances and civil defense crews. >> reporter: the group has relied on turkey for help with training and equipment. around 1,000 syrian civil defense workers have received training in turkey and jordan. the white helmets also have four training centers inside syria. back in aleppo, these men continue to work despite the threats or hardship. 40 of them were killed in 2013. there are no guarantees that this year will be better. the truce has brought relative peace and calm, but it won't be too long before they are hit again. >> belgian police have released new video of a man wanted in connection with last month's brussels airport bombing. he believed to have escaped after his explosive failed to detonate. they hope the new footage helps to tr

has abducted as many as 300 workers and contractors from the cement factory north-east of damascus. >> reporter: technical problems there, apologies. the chair of contemporary middle east studies says opposition aring trying to gain ground ahead of next week agency talks in geneva >> what we have witness episode is qualitative escalation of battles, particularly in aleppo, in damascus suburbs. what is happening in aleppo is the most alarming because the government claims that the opposition along with al-nusra front have taken one of the most strategic hills in north aleppo. what the government has been doing in the last two days is recapture these territories. there is also major fighting between the free syrian army and the kurds in aleppo as well. there is a great deal of eskalation. my takes on is that as the geneva talks get closer, both sides are trying to maximise their interest and have the upper hand in the diplomatic talks in the next few days >>> the chairman of the u.s. says he hopes there will be a shift in the next week. there could be 500 people moved and he is push is

after five years of war, he is better than any of the alternatives. >> pelley: elizabeth palmer in damascus. thank you, liz. we've been telling you about lawmakers in state after state passing bills to protect people who site religious beliefs for refusing to serve or employ gay or transgender people. we wondered why so many of these laws, including some that limit access to public restroom, are surfacing right now. well, dean reynolds found out. >> being transis not a crime! >> reporter: demonstrators against the so-called "bathroom bills" were out in force in south carolina. their chants echoing those in other states claiming legislators have enacted laws allowing bigotry. the conservative group that has legislation, was working on its orlando-area office on new ways to uphold what it says is really at stake. pursue your faith. we have no interest in discriminating against anyone. >> reporter: matthew staver has talked to attorneys in 50 states, drafting bills, advising lawmakers and defending clients in what they believe to be the great cultural clash of our time. >> you are a strong peo

the middle east now fears in syria for 300 workers kidnapped by the islamic state group north of damascus. obviously the call into syrian state tv backed up by the uk opposition group, the observatory for human rights. earlier this week the militants launched a surprise attack on government forces in the same area where the abduction is said to have happened. meanwhile, further north, antigovernment forces have reportedly won back control of the islamic state group's main supply route to turkey. this also according to the syrian observatory for human rights. so we can find out more about these latest developments in syria with our correspondent in the region who joins us live from beirut. adam, firstly, what more can you tell butts this reported mass umar. of civilians from d >> there are reports suggesting several people were kidnapped following this attack about 40 kilometers northeast of damascus. originally the syrian observatory for human rates said the number was in the dozens then we heard from a news agency afp quoting one of the administrators at the factory it seafl saying there

and the center of gravity for assad is western syria, what they call vital syria, damascus, and damascus and aleppo and the connection, the geographic continuity between the assad realm, that's what they are all focused on. so their centers of gravity are different and the other thing that people miss a lot is that when looking at the iranian structure and isis, there's a kind of same strategic structure. isis is a sunni organization that wants to carry out revolution in the islamic world and focused on revolution and taking over sunni territories. that's where they are focused. iran is quite happy to have isis out there foe meanting revolution in sunni areas. there's no possibility that they are going to become active in iran, for example. so there are points where they have friction between them. iran and assad and isis, but basically the vectors move in the same direction. >> mike, thanks. >> i want to thank you all for coming. i want to thank our c-span audience again and hudson and our panelists so thank you very much again. >> thank you. >> thanks. >>> american history tv on c-span

the regime is still in damascus. it has the alawite heartlands in the alawite heartlands and the coast. territorial link to shiite part of lebanon. these are essential, for opposition groups began to penetrate these heartlands. the regime was hard-put to cope with them. i think that prompted russian intervention. put very successfully, arbiter of syria. you have the distinction of the united states make things happen in the region. russia in the game again. there were advantages. intervention was intended to secure the regime. they did well. regime verge of collapse to fresh any oftives. it has probably retaken palmyra from isis. if that continues unabated next couple years, mainlyrussia and others play not a more active role, the regime may win the war. perhaps not re-establish full control over whole of syria but consolidate, more than 30s% of the country -- 30, 40% of the couldn'ttry that it controlled recently. >> the idea that united states is gearing up to fight isis and let's assume for one moment that isis is

we've talked to many christian communities, both in the north and in damascus. assad has targeted 63% of all churches in syria. he has attacked 166 places of worship, both from all sects. he has killed around 50 christians but has detained over 450 christians. this is just what we have documented. there are many others that have been obviously arrested that haven't been documented. i want to just move over quickly to isil because obviously that's captured the attention of the international community. of the 5,800 people that have been killed by isil since 2014, 97% of those were muslims. that isil attacked and killed. that's a very significant number to keep in mind. about 100 individuals were of minority decent. about 50 christians were of that number. this is not to downplay the threat that isil poses to christian communities and others. obviously all churches have been closed down in isil-held territory. christians do not feel comfortable. for example, not wearing the veil in areas where isil controls. but it's really just important to understand that isil is

but how do you do damascus and others. how do you do all of that? >> okay, they're very distinct groups and what you do have in syria is very strong local forces now and actually one of the less advertised but more admirable aspects of the civil war has been the fact that in many areas life is continued because local forces were able to fight and administer and any solid political structure has to take that into account. so it's not something that i tried to do to sit down and prepare an extra structure for federal syria but the notion under a state structure is something that could become realistic several years down the road. >> it would be much easier to do it. not easy but to do it on your own. >> >> so you were at one point the negotiator in the syrian peace talks and had you succeeded you would go being the syrian control. a it would have had an impact in syria and b if it didn't would they have regretted it? >> thank you. i'm smiling because that's a question i'm asked often when i'm interviewed in israel, primarily by right wing interviews b

would have been better to die in damascus. greece begins to move hundreds of refugees to other parts of the country as part of a new e.u. plan. and endangering lives >>> mexico accused of not adhering to their laws when it comes to fleeing their violent country >>> good evening. i'm antonio mora, this is al jazeera america's international newshour, we begin in washington d.c. where world leaders gathered for a fourth security summit. more than 50 are attending, but not russia's vladimir putin. the kremlin skipped the talks saying the summits achieved non-pr liferation purposes. xi jinping is there and discussed the nuclear programme. he discussed implementing resolutions against pyongyang. british prime minister david cameron announced he wants to make medicine instead of missiles. under a plan they'll send weapons grade uranium to the u.s. in exchange for radioactive isotopes used to treat cancer patients. we have this report. >> reporter: pyongyang has been known for its rhetoric. the latest propaganda was the over the top v

able to then launch their attacks when they try and go on the offensive towards the south, towards damascus and other areas. it is a big statement to make by the prime minister, but one would assume looking at how things have developed over the past few days and weeks that that statement wouldn't have been made if there wasn't some sort of military strategy done together with moscow to try to push towards aleppo. >> you've already touched on this idea. if palmyra was the template for aleppo, one would assume we would see syrian ground forces communicating with and working with russian air power. the russian air power, that was helicopter gun ships, correct me if i'm wrong here. >> i mean, obviously in terms of the specific fire power that they use, whether it is going to be their fighter jets or helicopter gun ships or even other equipment, obviously will depend on in terms of the military strategy, the difference between palmyra and aleppo is that palmyra was under the control of isil whereas aleppo, there is a plethora of different armed groups who control different parts of not only the

state media says those are workers close to damascus.new pictures released of a man wanted by belgium police in connection with the airport bombing. believed to have escape the as explosive detonated. >> a truce is into a third day. both side accused each other of veil i suggests. rory challands reports from baku. >> reporter: a flurry of diplomacy. following a meeting foreign ministers discussed the violence. azerbaijan sees a start to a comprehensive settlement process. >> everyone recognises the status quo is unsustainable, unacceptable. the schooner there are ideas, then it will be more outrageous of the clashes and so on. >> what cesar azpilicueta wants is for pressure to be put on armenia. the best position to apply the pressure is moscow. they lobbied hard and they have strong relations. we are more idea. more than any other partners. those that suffer are displaced people. people that live in the region, and the region itself. it's a region under mined. russia's prime minister is in the van on thursday, to meet the ar thennian co

. >> a syrian war plane has crashed east of damascus. the plane came down. it was posted on a social media site. i.s. fighters near the burning wreckage. a syrian flag can be seen painted on the wing. the fate of the pilot remains unknown. a change of pace. bad news today, they have been in the news this week. >> there was a sigh of relief. volkswagen has announced a four-year loss of 1.6 billion euros for 2015. the biggest loss in the company's history due to the carmakers scandal. shares slid on the news. >> the first lost posted in 20 years. the company's balance sheet has never been in worse shape. the main reason is a reserve the carmaker is having to set aside to help deal with the financial fallout from its admissions scandal. it does include all the costs which can be estimated up to this point in time. in particular the provisions made for technical and customer oriented measures, buybacks and legal proceedings. thursday, they reached a settlement with authorities to buy back or fix half a million cars fitted with cheating software. there is no clar

the violence in damascus comes after fighting killed 26 civilians in the city over the weekend.n brussels, the metro station has reopened, a month after the march 22, tax that killed 16 day,e on that very same two suicide bombers killed 16 more victims at the airport. they were the most lethal attacks to target belgium since world war ii. >> a sign of things returning to normal. the station now open to commuters. people made their way through the station located near the european commission headquarters and there were few signs of the devastation that occurred on march 22 save for a heightened security presence and a memorial wall. >> there was not any structural damage. works that hadw to be done, but they have been covered so passengers are not confronted with the damage. >> the physical evidence from the metro attack may have been covered, the psychological toll on building commuters will take longer to heal. many people confessed they still feel afraid. >> my heart is beating fast, i'm not feeling ok. it is very emotional. >> i tell myself it could happen anywhere at anytime

local elders in the areas near damascus negotiated the agreement. some 170 workers have been freed as others had already managed to escape. they were taken after an i.s.i.l. offensive on monday. the syrian opposition says it has taken many in the aleppo countryside. russian air strikes targeted the opposition and al-nusra front positions in southern aleppo country sides. let's bring in an academic writer at the doha institute. nice to have you with us. let's talk about the fight against i.s.i.l. because you've got government forces backed by russian, you're having some success as well from the syrian opposition, fighting back i.s.i.l. they are all fighting for the same cause, not together, but for the same clause. is this starting to make a difference now? just slowly? >> it seems that there is a race on the ground between government forces and allies and opposition forces and allies to get as much area from i.s.i.l. as possible. i think every party is trying to present itself as the force if in defeating d.a.e.s.h. for example, the syrian regime an

. >> elizabeth palmer in damascus.. >>> the "cbs overnight news" will be right back. ♪ ♪

the czech republic is the only eu member state with a still functioning embassy in damascus and contacts there that we maintain and that have prices value for our allies and help organize he military and eight in the war stricken regions. the czech republic with a historic experience as a central geographic position in europe clearly shows that it intends to play a constructive role in the process of integration and security. i suppose that you will agree times, it isin difficult, as we have experienced, to maintain our relationship with allies. we share common goals and values, and therefore, i believe one of our major priorities is for the transatlantic cooperation within the nato. the architecture cannot be imagined without this cooperation. the strategic partnership with evennited states should be an impact on areas of politics, as well, not only security and defense. negotiations with the moreatlantic agreement is proof of it, and i hope to see a -- which willnced be beneficial to both parties. nevertheless, even here, it is to say that we consider and regard the transatlantic partn

member site with is still functioning embassy in damascus and contacts we maintain have priceless values for our allies and help organize humanitarian aid right on spot in the war-stricken regions. i'm proud of the czech republic with historic experience and central geographic position in europe clearly shows that it intends to play a constructive role in the present european integration and security. i suppose that you will agree with me that in at times which are difficult as we experienced that we should maintain our relations with allies we share common goals and value with, and therefore i believe one of the major priorities is the deepening of the transatlantic corporation incorporation within nato. the architecture can not being imagined without this cooperation. strategic partnership between the e.u. and the united states should be deepened and should impact other areas of politics as well, not only just security and defense. also, the negotiations on transatlantic commercial agreement is one more proof of it. and i hope to see a very well-balanced text that will be beneficial fo

the last week or so is a escalation of battles, particularly in aleppo, daraa, homs, and the -- damascusurbs. they have taken the hills in the north, and the government is recapturing these territories. there is also major fighting between the free syrian army and the kurds in aleppo as well. so there is a great deal of escalation, my take on it is as the geneva talks get closer, both sides are trying to maximize their interests. both sides are trying to basically have the upper hand in the diplomatic talks in the next few days. >> meanwhile the syrian network for human rights says six medical staff were killed in the month of march. the civil defense units are making a difference despite the daily danger. our correspondent reports. >> reporter: ahmad works for the syrian civil defense. he is not just a driver. he is also a rescue worker. and when there are no air raids, he helps clean up the city. >> translator: we're trying to help the people in more than one way, not only recovering people from under the rubble, but we also clean the streets, the debris, and open the roads. >> reporte

he lived on the outskirts of damascus and it was too much to bear. he left it all for a better life here in senegal. >> translation: i am not a refugees. i have my job here. the moment i feel my country is fine i will definitely go back. i hope all syrians can return to our country. >> reporter: in this great exodus in which five million syrians are fleeing their homes to wherever necessary, he has found his life in a better place. he is free here not like those who chose to go to europe he says. >> translation: europe to he is a big prison. you can't move freely. every move needs permission from government. they also have a tough life there. >> reporter: you might think west aftrica is an obvious designation, but a lot have entered as refugees. many are hoping to cross the sahara and then the mediterranean and then reach europe. then there are those who have made west africa home, like this man who found work here thanks to friends and family connections. people from the middle east have settled here for generations. there has long been a syrian com

in fact, we have a network of our embassies, including the mentioned embassy in damascus, and mrs. filipi has really done great work, heroic work, truly, and she only doesn't serve the interest of the czech republic, but the european union as well. syria actually lost almost half of its inhabitants because half of the inhabitants are on the run. they left syria for turkey, jordan, lebanon, and even directly in europe today. we are trying to provide help and assistance in refugee camps as well. we see this as a very important way to show solidarity and provide a partial solution to the refugee crisis by really providing aid in refugee camps. and i personally visited some of those ports, and in relation to what is happening even in europe and a great number of places, a great part of syrian refuges actually do not want to stay in europe. they want to come back. they want their children to get their education, free education to live in a free country. , they don't want to join the army on either side. they just want to have a peaceful, prosperous life. of course, peace negotiations in

. >> elizabeth palmer in damascus. thank you, liz. >>> the "cbs overnight news" will be right back. ♪ ♪ >>> we have been telling you about lawmakers in state after state, passing bills to protect people who cite religious beliefs for refusing to serve or employ gay or transgender people. we wondered why so many of these laws including some that limit ak tess to public restrooms are surfacing right now. well dean reynolds found out. >> being transis not a crime. >> reporter: demonstrators against the so-called bathroom bills were out in force in south carolina chants echoing those in other states where they say legislatures have enacted laws allowing bigotry. while they protested, the conservative group that helped author many of those measures prti orientation was working at the orlando area office on new ways to uphold what it says is really at sta. >> it is only about being free to pursue your faith. we have no interest in discriminating against any one. >> reporter: the founder and chairman of liberty council which

the statement said the temporary truce appies to -- damascus and in nearby province. sources suggest the truce does not apply to aleppo. sarah: after a relatively quiet month of march, the war in syria is seeing some of its darkest days. that is according to the head of the u.n. manager in task force for syria. we spoke with him earlier from norway. >> the population is much weaker now than before. they have exhausted all of their reserves, there is nothing left for them now but the hope that things will again be letter. there is a responsibility on the parties that have to be held accountable for following the humanitarian goal and also on their sponsors, the international people who have supported either side in this horrific civil war. sarah: let's go to our correspondent covering the latest in syria she joins us now. tell us what is happening in aleppo. we saw there was a surge in violence. we are hearing no truce for them this weekend. how are the people on the ground coping? >> as you said, heavy fighting has continued. there was shelling on the government side,

the northeast, close to 50 miles an hour, only thing local sly a little shower, -- not far from damascus county. much heavier to the south and west, from areas between gold vain and manassas, and sperryville, warrenton in a couple of mi 6:12, here in dc, 6:38. we will see if it impacts gnash park. we got to watch out for the isolated storm or two, between now and 8, maybe 9:00, settle down for a while overnight. temperatures fall from around 80 now, 70s this evening, in the 60s here by 10:00 p.m. weekend is upon us, we have weather issues this weekend. if you haven't downloaded it yet, do so, the free wusa 9 app. get the weather on that, also news and traffic, watch us live on the app as well. we will have the seven-day forecast in a few minutes. it's going get chillier around here. let's go inside to bruce and leslie. >>> right now, the nuclear security sum sit is wrapping up in dc. president obama told the gathering of world leaders, the prospect of isis or other extremists getting a weapon is one of the greatest threats to global security. >> there is no these madmen ever got their ha

damascus will wind up at 38. 40 in clinton.forecast for tomorrow is pretty much the same as it has been every day this week. we got a front and the cloudiness out of here on monday morning, the high pressure has taken over to give us day after day after sunshine. that is tomorrow. 40 to 60 at midday. 64 tomorrow afternoon. still lagging behind the average by a couple of degrees. over the weekend we make progress. saturday is 66 degrees. weather in the morning is bright sunshine for the cherry blossom parade. with that the temperatures are probably reaching 47, 48, 50 degrees before long. 10 to 11:00 in the horning. -- in the morning. we will turn cooler with the front but no rain in the forecast on sunday. mild temperatures through tuesday, wednesday, thursday. maureen? thank you, doug. the weather should be great for the weekend's cherry blossom parade. we are a proud sponsor of this year's festival. you can watch the par saturday on abc7 from 12:00 till 2:00 and newschannel8 between 2:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon. we will als

in h the damascus suburbs, what is happening in aleppo is the most alarming because the government claimst the opposition have taken one of the most strategic hills. in aleppo, and north aleppo. and now what the government has been doing in the last two days is to recapture these territories. there is also major fighting between the curds as well, so there is a great deal of escalation, might take on it is that as the geneva talks basically those sides are trying to maximize their interests, those sides are trying to basic clay have the upper hand in the diplomatic talks in the next few days. the new tactics are revealed in the a member by the groups former military leader, jennifer glass has the latest. this should represent a significant shift for the taliban that said it would mott negotiate, would not come to the table unless all western forces have left afghanistan. they also have said it would not negotiate with what they call a puppet government, this letter contradicts that, it says that it represents a new shift, a new strategy by the taliban, it says that any divide in leadershi

they gave their lives in order for it not to fall into ruin like damascus, like aleppo. >> last month, a suicide attack, carried out by an isil suicide bomber killed several tourists in istanbul. both averageara and is tall bull have had attacks in the last year. several consulates have closed their doors, and they have warned people from visiting the country, especially southeastern turkey. >> still to come, indian police, a flyover collapses, plus, at a nigerian school, giving orphans the chance to make a fresh start. >> the top stories on aljazeera, the u.n. is calling for legal safeguards before refugees are returned to turkey, and ankora with the european union. amnesty international has accused turkey of forcibly returning syrian refugees back to the war-torn country. >>> barack obama has announced that 102 nation have ratified a treaty on the protection of nuclear material. he was speaking at a summit in washington. >>> an israeli military court has ruled that a soldier, accused of killing an injured palestinian man can be moved. al-sharif was shot in the head and killed in reb

they gave their lives in order for it not to fall into ruin like damascus, like aleppo. >> turkey isncreasingly being targeted. last month a suicide attack carried out by isil suicide-bomber killed several tourists in istanbul. both ankara and istanbul have seen spike attacks since last year. the security and the economy are the targets. several consolidates have closed their missions, and many western states have warned their citizens from visiting the country, especially southeastern turkey. thursday's car bomb attack will only increase fears of more attacks. al jazeera. >> syrian state media said state officials have uncovered a mass grave in palmyra. the remains of 40 people were found, 23 of them were women and children. the syrian troops continue to comb the city for landmines left by isil fighters. drops recaptured the city from isil last month. >>> a military court has ruled that an israeli soldier accused of killing a palestinian man can be moved to open security until charges against the soldier has been reduced from murder to manslaughter. stephanie dekker has more from we

we don't know who is going to end up in damascus. we're keeping all we got. >> in their own self-interest if they want to be a jewish, democratic state, they've got to come to terms with the population in that area. >> how are they going to divide that up now? i think those who say they've reached the point of one-state solution are about right. >> better than that. multiple choice exit question. is the two-state solution, a, in suspended animation? b, comatose? c, moribund? or, d, dead? >> i think defacto it's dead. >> i go with a, suspended animation. things change. netanyahu is not forever. >> a. suspended animation. >> you've come back to where i began. suspended animation. >> two for suspended animation. >> three. >> three. >> three. >> one for d.o.a. how about you? >> i'm reflecting. >> i think too close to call. predictions. >> predictions, pat? >> trump will win all five primaries on tuesday. frpblts hillary clinton will win all five primaries on tuesday. >> they will both win all five. >> they'll each win four out of the fiv

. >> translation: they gave their lives for the area not to fal into ruin like damascus and aleppo. >reporter: turkey is increasingly being targeted. last month a suicide attack carried out by an i.s.i.l. suicide bomber killed several tourists in istanbul. both ankara and istanbul have seen a spike in attacks since last year. the government says the country's security and economy are the targets. several consulates have closed their offices and have warned their citizens on not visiting the country, especially south-eastern turkey. they're fearful of more attacks >>> syrian state media say a mass grave in palmyra grave was found. 23 are the remains of women and children. the city was recaptured from i.s.i.l. last month. indian police have opened a case of culpale homicide of a fly over which collapsed. three of the firms officials have been arrested. at least 23 people were killed and 90 injured when a bridge fell onto midday traffic. the construction company denies responsibilities. >> reporter: a street once under the shadow of a fly over now being cleared of concrete slabs and man

he lived on the outskirts of damascus, the fighting, the senseless violence and the smell of death wasearly three years ago, with no end in sight, he left it all for a better life here in senegal. >> translator: i am not a refugee. i have my job here. the moment i feel my country is fine, i will definitely go back. i hope all citizens can return to their country. >> reporter: and this great exodus in which 5 million syrians are fleeing their homes to whenever they can find sanctuary, he considers himself one of the lucky ones. he's made it out alive. and found a decent enough place to work and live. here he says he's free, not like those who chose to go europe. >> translator: europe to me is a big prison. you can't move freely. every move needs permission from government. they also have restrictions in europe. life is tough there. >> reporter: you might think west africa isn't an obvious destination but hundreds of people fleeing the war in syria have registered as refugees in neighboring mauritania which citizens can enter without a vehicles a many are hoping to cross the sahara and t

that will get the attention of moscow and damascus. jane: the u.s. is telling russia to rein in the assad government and stop these attacks. but how much influence realistically does russia actually have at this point? james: russia is in the lead here. russia turned around the whole conflict when it went in in september with a relatively small force but very effectively deployed by putin. therefore, do the attack -- to the extent that assad hanging onto power, it has russia to thank. we see russia using that role not to further the u.n. resolution, but rather, to drive what looks like a total victory by the assad forces. jane: you were the former ambassador to iraq. joe biden made a surprise visit to baghdad today. what impact is the turmoil there having on efforts to fight islamic state and bring to an end the conflict in syria? james: it is all of a piece. as even larger than the struggle against the isis terrorist movement, there is this undercurrent of sunni-shia conflict in the region. we want to take more action in iraq against isis. who's blo