at a time when the free syrian army is actively campaigning against al-qaeda. al-qaeda leaders have been killed by the free syrian army. they are liberated multiple headquarters of al-qaeda of which we expect the assad regime has had connections with. it hasment become very clear to the whole word especially in these past two days, as information comes to light of his direct involvement of supporting al-qaeda elements in in syria, it has become very clear to the whole world that the free syrian army is the solution of empowering local governance and supporting the syrian people's revolution against the assad regime and supporting a transition to a democratic syria. it's the only antidote. >> as always it's great to have you on the show, and please keep us up to date on your efforts. thank you. >> thank you. >>> coming up president obama has consistently talked about the need to address income in'allty. and hermela is tracking the stop stories on the within. >> there were details of sexual abuse cover ups of the catholic church. and now those reports have been d

control of major oil reserves while in the lead but the attention of the rebels including the free syrian army and in the form is on the front the islamic state of iraq and about recently to control the strategic waterway which connects this is the affiliate at the capital but the fruit itself is also

campaigning against al-qaeda, since january 3, 5 al-qaeda lieders in syria have been killed by the free syrian army. the free syrian army has liberated mull pell headquarters of al-qaeda in syria, for which we strongly suspect the assad regime has haled direction connection of facilitating. it's become very clear to the whole word especially in these past two days as information corroborated by western intelligence comes to light of assad's direct involvement in supporting al-qaeda elements in syria, it's become very clear to the whole world that the flee syria army's empowering the opposition, empowering local governance and supporting the syrian people's revolution against the assad regime and transition into a democratic syria is the only and the dote to terrorism. it is not the assad regime that with him provide the solution. >> please keep us up to date on your efforts. thank you. >> coming up, president obama has consistently talked about the need to address income inequality, but do his solutions miss the point? our associate media producer hermela is tracking the web. >> we talked about the

sinceian 3rd -- january 3rd, five have been killed by the syrian army. the free syrian army has liberated multiple headquarters of al-qaeda in syria for which we suspect the assad regime has had direct connections with facilitiating the al-qaeda presence in syria. it's clear to the whole world, especially in these past two days as information of -- corroborated by western intelligence comes to light of the direct involvement in supporting al-qaeda elements in syria. it has become very clear to the whole world that the free syrian army is the solution to fighting extremists, empowering the opposition, empowering the local governments and supporting the syrian people's revolution against the assad regime and supporting a transition to a democratic syria as the only ane cd ote. it. >> as always, it's great to have you on the show. please keep us up to date on your efforts. thank you. >> thank you. >>> coming up, president obama has consistently talked about the need to address income ine quiltty, but to hisclusions miss the point? hermella argauay is tracking the to

choices three years ago the free syrian army the syrian national coalition rather that's worked out and what has happened is that the the situation is metastasized and now they're facing groups taking more courage to take more power that they actually don't like so they have to try to stop them and they're going to try to create a fighting force and a political force that they can they can credibly present to the world as somehow represents syrian opinion the u.k. trying to push a resolution condemning assad in. this week what about the reported atrocities carried out by the rebel groups that should we expect any reaction now well the fact is that many of these crosses the border between media and they're taking no comment at all from the western governments and we can refer just a few of them recently crossed these characters around damascus to the drive through many many people were killed really do feel horrible circumstances. the killing of christians at the village of so that two months ago this didn't raise any form of western governments to kidnapping of nuns has just come disapp

geneva with a credible syrian opposition at the most they don't have because the syrian the free syrian army is not credible the syrian national coalition has most support inside syria and is the jihadist group the islamic state of iraq and the vent gains momentum in syria across the border in iraq fighters of the same organization controlling key cities in the country's biggest anbar province the government is still holding off its offensive to retake them and they fear the civilian casualties may lead to local sunni tribal leaders siding with the militants controlling the city meanwhile the suicide bomber hit an army recruitment center in baghdad on thursday twenty two soldiers were killed and dozens were wounded attack is seen as retaliation against the iraqi government which has been calling for new troops to join its fight against al qaida u.s. is weighing in boosting its missile and surveillance drone deliveries to iraq and the move is being greeted with caution by many experts people about and these gas debate washington's role in the conflict and cross talk later today. you know dist

geneva with a credible syrian opposition that the most they don't have because the syrian the free syrian army is not credible the syrian national coalition has most support inside syria is of a sturdy and had taken a toll on the public's confidence in the european union with latest polls showing people serious disappointment in the blocs leadership that doesn't bode well for ruling parties with kinect on the doorstep it's all over. now in a few months europeans will be going to the polls in what could be the most important european parliamentary elections but the latest gallup polls to to sticks well don't make good reading for those that will be standing for the top spots across the european parliament even those countries that have received some of the most help countries like spain that received forty one billion euros to bail out its failing banking sector in two thousand and nine fifty nine percent of the population said they had faith and they supported the european leadership is another country that's traditionally been very pro e.u. is ireland they received sixty seven point five bill

to geneva with a credible syrian opposition at the moment it does have the for the syrian the free syrian army is not credible the syrian national coalition has much more inside syria. and as these you had his group the islamic state of iraq an event gains momentum in syria across the border in iraq they're also controlling key cities in the country's biggest province and the government is still doing holding off its offensive to retake them but reports are coming in of fierce fighting between government troops and militants in the areas between fallujah and ramadi where they fear the civilian casualties made lead to local son and tribal leaders siding with the al qaeda militants controlled in the cities a suicide bomber hit an army recruitment center in baghdad on thursday twenty two soldiers were killed and dozens were wounded attack is seen as retaliation against the iraqi government which is in calling for new troops to join its fight against al qaida the u.s. is weighing in boosting its missile and surveillance drone deliveries to iraq and the move has been greeted with caution by many ex

them and it's not a question we hear clashes nearby but the syrian army is not even involved just about got the confrontation is now between the free syrian army in the jihad as of isis when darkness comes will join the fight but for now we are on standby let her know we don't have any troops there we are fighting between themselves for control . according to the syrian observatory for human rights the london based opposition group relying on activists in the field for their data around fourteen hundred people have been killed in the country since hostilities between the rebels and jihadists broke out these january among the dead hundreds of moderate rebels and nearly two hundred civilians in an audio message posted online on thursday carden leader ayman al-zawahiri called on his militants to immediately hold the fighting between the brothers but clashes exit q sions and torture between those who were once calm rates continue. and with the syrian government and opposition now starting their first dialogue and three years the question is now how this internal rebel fight will affect syria as a home. some say it would most likely wea

interview in the national which i believe is from dubai where there was an interview with the free syrian army representative who said we're working quite closely with. you know that they have all the guns and they're doing all the fighting when they've gone in and one we take the credit for p.r. reasons so they're really trying to put another scam over us as well you know in the. past in the introduction this program of three questions what is al-qaeda and who supports them and we'll talk about who benefits but who is the major supporter of these groups i mean they have to get money and arms and training from somewhere and then the country that's been named so far in this program is saudi arabia what is their role in all of this. there is support that is being given by the by saudi arabia to elements within the islamic community that is fighting in syria whether it is going to the new islamic front or whether it's going directly to a. i don't have any intelligence to back it up but this is the information that is being spread on the in the newspaper but we have to pick into consideration the

to the free syrian army which is known as so-called moderate army and a couple of days later the. terrorist group claimed that they trust god one hundred stinger rockets from the so-called moderate rebels so you see those arms whoever you sell them in that region will end up in the head of the worst people. they snuck in through a sewer during a december snowstorm catching the army off guard both soldiers and civilians were allegedly massacred that early morning in syria's town of address as it fell into the hands of islamist extremists are those claims have been impossible to verify because of the chaotic situation there or it is the first foreign channel to get to the area for national reports. is just a twenty minute drive from damascus but the highway runs through an area firmly under rebel control so instead we take a newly created pass driving through high mounds of sand and piles of old tires the army uses to shoot its convoys from attacks it's maybe longer but it's a safer route. where the first foray into recruit to get this close to address after the siege began a month

more to the east you will see a completely different picture moderate free syrian army factions fighting radical al qaida affiliated groups there for control with the government forces trying to fight them both. but militants still control half of the city and a big part of northern syria remaining the biggest challenge to the cease fire plan pushed forward by syrian and russian foreign ministers we syrians are ready to reconcile with each other and the letter was a good place to start with so we can give an example to other regions but these guys from the news refrain from al qaeda but don't know what they want but it's certainly not peace but while they say force is large enough to threaten a carefully forged peace to this war torn country residents say they're not dreaded to give up their fight for their country to be at peace or if nationality from syria. and i will bring in james corbat the editor of in a padded news and information a website the core of a report thank you so much for joining us here on r.t. so let's not talk about the fate of those in homes in syria what will take

carries over there is syrian opposition factions for example the jihadism the syrian free syrian national army and the free syrian army have already said that they do not recognize the authority of the syrian national council for its part of the syrian government has already said that they for sure will attend the geneva two conference. rated during the meeting between the ministers of the iran syria and russia which moscow was hosting and it's important to say here that iran is all willing to participate in the conference the united states however wants to see it to be just a member observer from the sidelines however moscow believes that iran is should be present at the geneva two conference as a fully fledged member as the russian foreign minister sergei lavrov has retreated and his statement. like the syrian people and the people of iran we want to eliminate the hardships of terrorism on serious territory this is our unified position well it is hoped that this had to with just days literally days left before the syria the geneva two conference which is to take place in switzerland on janua

is it the flee syrian army, so-called the free syrian army, loose group there, and the islamic front together? do we know exactly who they're up against? >> well, i think one ability that the i.s.i.l. has above all others is to unite everybody against it. so i think that all groups are pretty much against it. i know the al nusra front, the other al qaeda group in syria has been slightly more ambiguous, in wanting to be a mediator among the groups but they have recently lost several fighters to i.s.i.l. so they are probably more inclined to side with the freems, wha free syrian army, the muja hadeen. >> where is the syrian national coalition in all of this? who do they represent on the ground? when you are in yshes and go through check -- syria and go through checkpoints you hardly ever see a checkpoint or street or area. >> you're absolutely right, this is one of the big, big problems and certainly a big problem for the geneva conference. if they could pull themselves together and project a sort of unified policy then some of the groups might come behind them. but i think one of the

i got off the phone with a commander from the free syrian army. he said, "we will not stop until we dissolve the islamic state. they are the same as the assad regime in brutality and ruthlessness against the syrian people." >> you said, "we are not going to stop." what exactly would take to end the phytesing -- fighting. >> what we know is the islamic front, the most powerful alliance has not publicly declared its stance on the ongoing confrontation. the islamic front, if they join the fight alongside the f.s.a., al qaeda will not stand much of a chance. the islamic front are strong fighters, powerful. they are syrian people. we do not know the position of elthats ra, the al qaeda -- elthats ra. the group of syrians. the situation on the ground is complicated. an activist i spoke to has been calling this a new resolution. will it be syria's chapter of councils. it's too early to say. undoubtedly this is the most serious clashes yet between the syrian armed opposition and al qaeda-led group in the north of the country. >> thank you so much for joins

. >> we were placed in a cave, and just as we were to be executed the free syrian army came and freeds. >> reporter: territorian gains but the rebels does not signal imminent victory even though the islamic state in iraq has been on the defense on the ground it has been striking back. it's fighters have been targeting opposition forces using suicide-bombers, and it's leadership in an audio recording promised to fight back. >> the syrian national coalition and the free syrian army council declared war on isil, so now all their members are legitimate targets. we have a killed them wherever they are found. >> reporter: fighting in the rebel-held north we can see opposition in its fight against the regime. but in the long term it may be able to benefit from this battle. al-qaeda's presence in syria has been one of the reasons for the international communities reluctance to provide support to the rebels and it's regime has been able to portray the fight against terrorism. the opposition denies that it turned it's guns to appease the west. it said it did so because the people of syria could

are hearing today that in an area west of aleppo called al rash hadin, gone after some of the free syrian army groups there. opposition fighters fighting each other rather than the original objective of the syrian regime. but as the syrian opposition forces felt that al qaeda was targeting them, they felt they had no choice. >> that's something at the moment and of course we'll come back to you as that situation, anita thanks for joining us from istanbul. >> one year suspended sentence to 12 activates, not allowed to pro tend proceedings and his sister seen here. they are convicted of setting fire to the campaign headquarters of the former presidential candidate, last may. a charge they deny. the courtroom was packed with supporters. >> this case is not a new case, but we were very worried, very concerned about the existing atmosphere in which activists who took part, even in the revolution against morsi are now being put on trial because of the current atmosphere of polarization in which they were going through what seems to be the current government's desire to basically suppress any sort of

elements have -- with lots of foreign fighters have alienated many of these groups as well as the free syrian army. there has been a backlash and an alliance of some of these islamist groups and the free syrian army. they are in a hell of a fight. the problem is you have got our guys fighting two fights, bashar al-assad and this isis. they are not fighting against bashar al-assad, they are trying to consolidate their position and bashar al-assad has got as thetic approval. this has all got to do with the fact that we didn't give them the aid they needed and they convinced 5,000 hezbollah to come into the country and tip the scales. the idea that you are going to go into geneva and talk bashar al-assad into peace talks is foolishness. >> what account united states do to help that? >> to help some of these countries, it is regional conflict. lebanon is terribly strained, jordan is overwhelmed with refugees, even turkey and the kurdish sections of iraq, sunni shia iran saudi conflict is a regional conflict. by the way those of us who study history remind there's some parallels in what happened in the

. >> five minutes before being executed the free syrian army arrived and freed us. >> territorial gainse by the rebels does not signal eminent victory. >> even though the islamic states in iraq and the levant may be on the offensive on the ground, it's been fighting back, fighters targetting opposition forces using suicide bombers, and its leadership, in an audio recording promised to fight back. >> translation: the syrian national coalition, and free syrian army declared war. all the members are legitimate target. we have blazed rewards on their heads - kill them where they are found. >> fighting in the rebel-held north weakens the opposition. in the long term it may benefit from the battle. al qaeda's presence in syria has been a reason for the international community's reluctance to provide military support. the regime has been able to portray the fight as one against terrorism. the opposition denied that it turned its guns against al qaeda to apiece the west, saying it did so because the people of syria could no longer tolerate the abuses. there appears to be unity among rebel force

. >> this was a question i put to the head of the free syrian army not too many weeks ago.nd i said when you began the revolution, did you imagine you would be fighting other forces as well, and how much of a drain is that for you? and let me put the same question to you. >> i think the west and the united states in particular is in part responsible for this situation, because from the very beginning we asked -- when we had only the free syrian army, we asked the west for weapons so that we can fight the assad regime with its huge arsenal of air force and all of that, and we did not get that, so extending the fight helped, unfortunately radicalize the revolution, and allowed people from, you know, with other agendas to come in. and part of the problem, i would suggest is that the images we now see almost daily, and if you search from them some even more revolting pictures of foreign fighters inside syria, are turning off people who previous i will sympathized with your cause. >> well, you are right. but will are two points here that have to be taken into consideration. numb

the largest rebel group, the islamic front, has fought alongside free syrian army, against al qaeda-linked fighters. 16 fighters and the levant for i.s.i.l. were killed in fighting in aleppo on friday. people have taken to the streets in protest against the i.s.i.l. they have been accused of human rights abuses - kidnapping, torture and summary killings. >> the council is expected to confirm that it will not attend the geneva ii peace talks due to be held later this month. anita mcnaught is standing by in istanbul. >> first to zana. tell us about the protests on the streets. they are intense and widespread. >> exactly. they are growing, becoming more widespread. people are taking to the streets in a number of areas in the rebel controlled area of syria - in aleppo and id lib. people are chanting telling them to leave, and comparing them to the president bashar al-assad's regime. protests are growing. there's fierce clashes and battles in a number of regions, involving syrian-armed rebel fighters. they'd been trying to push al qaeda fighters out of certain areas. the situation is changing.

but there is no support for moderate opposition, syrian national council, free syrian army that can challenge assad to the point that he feels he needs to negotiate for peace. instead for him geneva is a diplomatic vehicle for him to say that he'll negotiate with anybody. as you said he's not isolated. he walks in the room, and there they see the russians who are providing them arms and diplomatic support. they know the iranians are there and hezbollah is in the country fighting for them. he feels no pressure whatsoever. >> has the opposition been an asset for bashar al-assad. >> before i answer your question i want to clarify one thing for your viewers. i concur with the acement of asf both of your guests. >> al-qaeda affiliated group has used more than 25 car bombs against main treatment opposition or opposition groups. so what is happening, they're fighting against opposition. a few days ago there was a woman, a woman who tried to blow herself up at the border crossing in turkey. the opposition is in a tough position because they're fighting against al-qaeda. they're fighting against irani

we have found around 70 dead, including journalists and soldiers from the free syrian army. their killers claimed to be muslims, but they don't represent islam. >> it is unclear what happened to these fighters. according to the syrian observatory for human rights nearly 300 people had been killed since friday in this rebel feud. rebels have a common goal -- basharthe syrian leader, al-assad, yet they have different ways of achieving that goal. this group is composed largely of foreign fighters who allegedly beheaded and richer there rivals, -- and torture their rivals. they want to implement sharia law across the entire region. in a statement released on tuesday, they warned the opposition. to crush them rebels totally and kill the conspiracy at birth. on in severalges parts of northern syria, namely in the only provincial capital not controlled by the regime. a i'm joined on the line by research fellow at the henry jackson society. thanks for being with us here on "france 24." it would appear the chaos in syria and also iraq has helped al qaeda become stronger than ever. is

they are sending in trucks and medical supplies to the free syrian army. slongs that stalemate continues on the ground, neither side here feels like they have to give concessions. that's why we are seeing these talks being so difficult, stephanie. >> nick shifrin reporting from geneva, thank you nick. >>> easing the government's call for a state of emergency. it comes after demonstrators seized the justice ministry overnight, they have since cleared out. protests continue to spread across the country. jennifer glasse has been following the story for us in the capital, kiev. jennifer, we saw the two sides come together on saturday, not a lot of results. what if anything might we expect at this time? >> well, stephanie your question is a very, very good one. nobody really knows. on saturday, president viktor yanukovych offered the office of minister and deputy minister, the opposition reject they'd flat out. they want the repeal of a law that makes the -- that criminalizes many, many aspects of freedom of speech and criminalizes many human rights there here.

but there is no support for anything substantial of a moderate syrian opposition, free syrian army, thatld challenge assad to the point where he feels he needs to negotiate for peace. instead. geneva is just a diplomatic vehicle. and he talks into that room or the syrian delegation walks into the room and there they see the russians. they know the iranians are there. and hezbollah is in the country fighting for them. so he feels to pressure whatsoever. >> has division among the opposition been an asset for bashar al-assad? >> well, before i answer your question, i would like to clarify one thing for your viewers. agree with both of your guests. he will continue, you know, with the mass slaughtering of civilians in syria. however, i would just like to clarify if you take a close look at what is happening on the ground right now, you would realize an al-qaeda-affiliated group has used more than 25 car bombs against opposition groups. so what is happening now, these -- these groups are fighting against the opposition. a few days ago there was a woman trying to blow herself up at the border

moderate groups allied to the free syrian army have launched attacks on the al qaeda linked groups in the north west of the country. battles have been reported in , with and other provinces heavy losses on both sides. the al qaeda linked group are fighting to establish an islamist state. after a string of delays, the international mission to remove hundreds of tons of chemical weapons from syria is preparing to get underway. the complex operation involves ships from norway, denmark, russia, and china. be destroyed on a specially equipped american vessel. >> the chinese missile frigate arrived in cyprus, only 250 kilometers from here to the city of ataxia -- l;atakia. toarge contingent turned out welcome the vessel. many here say they are proud that their country is part of this high-profile, international mission. >> trying to support the efforts of international community to destroy the syrian chemical weapons. we come to cyprus to participate in this international cooperation. >> the chinese warship will protect the scandinavian convoy responsible for carrying the chemical weapons o

then the free syrian army arrived and freed us before we could be executed. >> even though the islamic state in iraq and the levant may be on the defensive, it has been striking back. the fighters have been targetting opposition forces, using suicide bombers. in this leadership, in an audio recording, promised to fight back. >> the syrian national coalition declared wore on i.s.i.l. so now all the members are legitimate target. we killed them wherever they are found. >> fighting in the rebel-held north undoubtedly weekens the opposition. in the long term it will benefit from the battle. al qaeda's president in syria has been a reason for the international community's reluctance to provide military support to the rebels, and the regime has been able to portray the fight as one in terrorism. >> the opposition denied that it turned its guns against al qaeda to apiece the west, saying it did so because the people of syria could no longer tolerate the abuses. there seemed to be unprecedented unity. the opposition inside and outside syria is as structured as ever as who would represent them

. >> we need to assist the free syrian army.hey are having to fight the radical isis as well as bashar al-assad, but they are still a very viable force, and the reason why they haven't been more viable is because we haven't given them the assistance that they need. the arms and weapons they need. thank god for the saudis and some other gulf states, because they are being of assistance. >>> four explosions hit parts of cairo and giza. six people were killed. this c ctv footage shows a car pulling up and exploding. then protests began in various parts of egypt between muslim brotherhood supporters, residents and egyptian security forces. the health ministry says 13 were killed in that fighting. mohammed has the and it wills. >> reporter: explosions at the heart of cairo on friday morning. this is the aftermath of the largest one. egyptian authorities say a suicide bomber ran the car into cement blocks, killing and wounding a number of people. the nearby buildings were damaged. about two hours later another bomb struck a police car