as jacky rowland reports, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis. >> the vice president arrives in the region when peace efforts are faltering. tries to deal with a rebellion in the east by pro-russian activists. the deal reached in geneva last week calls on these activists to come out from behind their barricades in the exchange for a promise of greater autonomy. a little bit more violence on sunday have heightened tensions and mistrust between the two sides. pro-russian activists have called on moscow for help and russia is hinting it could do nothing but help to intervene. >> we are being put in a very difficult position. but those who are deliberately leading towards the start of a civil war are engaged in criminal policies. we are not just going to condemn them, we're also going to curb these policies. >> reporter: there are still many in the east that want to become part of a united campai campaign. heckled local officials. about 200 meters, down the road, there is a rival demonstration by pro-russian activists. this shows the reaction

. >> jackie rowland is live for us. we can join her there now. they say that russian officials is saying kiev misunderstood this international agreement. is this all falling apart now? >> reporter: well, i think what the russians are referring to is the feeling that many people here have, that this agreement appears to be one-sided and it seems that the authorities in kiev are telling protesters here in the east to lay down their weapons and vacate the occupied buildings such as the regional administration headquarters behind me. as far as their concerned, they can't see that anyone in kiev or the west is making concessions. this is the point that the russians are making. we have to remember there are still protesters encamped in the central independence square in kiev. there are barricades there. so you can understand why people here in the east are saying why should we vacate our buildings and take down barricades while our rivals in kiev in the west still have their barricades. clearly the russians are trying to put more pressure on the author

jacky rowland has more. >> reporter: pro russian none straighters are deeply skeptical about the agreement reached in geneva. some feel they've been sold out by russia. since they were not part of the talks, they are not bound to comply with the agreement. they say that they're going to stay in these public buildings that they're occupying until their demands are met. they want to referendum on greater awe ton my for the east of ukraine. part of the agreement was there should be an amnesty for people occupying buildings, and the government in kiev has started drawing up such an amnesty whereby people can leave buildings and lay down their weapons and not face prosecution. the people here are saying they're not going to leave these buildings until they see similar actions in the capital of kiev. they want to see the pro-europe demonstrators vacate central independence square. those people are committed to remain in the square until presidential elections at the end of may. so there seems to be a stalemate at the moment in terms of actually implementing this agreement reached in geneva. >> j

jacky rowland are reports. >> they have heard the acting president has relaunched the so-called antique terrorist operations but they say they are not worried. >> this is not the first ultimatum. secondly, we don't consider any of his words to be action. he doesn't do anything. he's just a false governor and this whole government is illegitimate. >> this is going to focus on breaking up what the government in kyiv says is gangs. but the pro-russian activates say they are ready to attack. they know the last time kyiv sent the army in many soldiers felt unwilling to confront. the local politician, seen arguing with pro-russian instigators, all of this comes a day after the u.s. vice president visited kyiv and promised support for interim government. as the standoff against russia intensifies they will need all the help they can get. >> if there is congregation from the they will not leave us alone with the aggressor. >> maybe tested sooner rather than later. moscow says if its interests are attacked in ukraine it will respond. jacky rowland, al jazeera, slovyansk. >> retired general mark

jacky rowland, al jazeera, eastern ukraine. >>> russian descral ban -- centl bank, could cost russia about $30 billion in lost economic output. >>> president putin signed a law today making it easier nor those who speak russian to become citizens. many living in transnistria, credit are interested in that. as david chater reports the region could become as crimea. >> ethnic background my be complex but the opinions and the language are very much shared. in 111 catofsky street we immediate lydia, an 86-year-old grandmother and the moldovan care taker. pensioners here gets a special supplement from the kremlin. they call thepotenka. >> translator: of course i miss the soviet times. it was great. we worked, we earned enough money. today it's a mess. >> reporter: the kremlin also provides cut price gas to transnitsria. >> we hope the kremlin will recognize our independence. causing trouble for us. >> in the nearby village of tomolka, made up in equal portions of ethnic russians ukrainians and moll doa moldova. lessons are held in both russian and moll doe vann. moldovan. >> i joined one

jacky rowland, al jazeera in eastern ukraine. >>> we hear more about reported u.s. drone attacks in yemen. dozens of fighters were killed in a major al qaeda camp. according to yemeni officials, three al qaeda leaders are said to be among the 55 people killed. question about the use of drones have been a hot but on item for years. just today the obama administration has to publicly disclose its justification for sending unmanned weapons for killing u.s. citizens suspected of overseas action. richelle carey has the story, richelle. >>> government documents about a yemen drone strike that killed a high ranking al qaeda liter in 2011. he was also a ben american. >>> went into hiding in yemen once the allegation he surfaced. that is where he was killed in a u.s. drone attack on september 30th, 2011. at least one other american, an associate of his, was also killed. the u.s. government admit to the attack but refused to hand over documents about the highly controversial program. the u.s. appeals court says there is a right to know of u.s. citizens suspected of terrorism

jacky rowland reports. >> local people are calling it an easter massacre. what took place at this check point on sunday remains unclear. they say unknown attackers drove up. opened fire on activists who were manning barricades. >> they started shooting. my nabbour got a bullet between his eyes. people came to help us. the attacker would have slaughtered everyone. >> three pro-russian activists were billed. local people suffered. the attackers took dead and wounded with them. there are a lot of unanswered questions here. for a start, where did the car come from. if there was a shoot-out between the men at the checkpoint and the vehicles, how come there were shots in the back of a second car, and how did two vehicles end burnt out. forensic experts are trying to answer some of those questions. with the cars torched. the the evidence gathered is limited. they found shell cases, bullets and dried blood. whatever is depend it. it plays into the hands of those that don't want to negotiate a solution to the crisis in ukraine. rebel leaders declared a curfew and ar

we have this report from jacky rowland. >> local people call it the easter mass anger. what took place at the makeshift checkpoint on sunday is unclear. villages say unknown attackers drove up and opened fire on activists manning the barricade. >> translation: they came in four jeeps, lit up the barricades with their head lights and shot. my neighbour got a bullet between his eyes. others from slovyansk came to help us. if they hadn't come the attackers would have slaughtered everyone like chickens. >> the interior ministry said three pro-russian activists were killed. local people say the other side suffered losses, but the attackers together the dead and wounded with them. there are a lot of unanswered questions here. for a start - where did the two cars come from. if there was a shoot-out between the men at the checkpoint and the vehicles, how come there are bullet holes in the back of the second car, and how did it happen that the two vehicles ended up burnt out. >> forensic experts are trying to answer the questions, but with the cars torched, the evidence they can

thanks so much, jackie rowland there. >>> rescue teams in south korea are still looking for people missingrom a capsized ferry. >> reporter: the early stages of this disaster were filled with terror for the passengers. but also with some hope, the rescue operation was underway swiftly. as they came ashore, the government's response center said 368 had been saved 107 still missing. >> i held a handrail and moved towards the right of the ferry to try to get to the helicopter. rubbish bins were floating around me. and the water came up to my neck. >> reporter: and then a terrible revision. officials had miscalculated fewer than 80 children were found safe. >> announcer: the announcer told us we should stay still, but the ship was already sinking. there were a lot of students who did not get out of the ship. >> reporter: on the dock side fear was giving way to despair. >> translator: do you think they are alive now? they are all dead? then we should at least recover them. the authorities just keep saying that search operations are underway. >> reporter: gathered here at this port, not just the

jacky rowland al jazeera in eastern ukraine. >> barnaby phillips sent this update a bit earlier from kyiv. >> joe biden's visit to kyiv is a very welcome show of support for a very beleaguered ukrainian government that has already lost crimea and seems in danger of losing the eastern part of the country as well. if you talk to people here in kyiv about what they would like from this american visit well, it is american military hardware, even a commitment for america to send troops here but there's not the slightest sign that the americans are inclined to do that. they are talking about more economic assistance. they're talking about energy assistance, ways in which ukraine can be weaned off its dependence on russian natural gas which of course is one of the underlying causes of tension in eastern europe. but obviously that is a long term measure. in the short term the americans are talking about non-lethal military assistance and they are talking about a further escalation of sanctions against russia if last week's geneva accord is not implemented. but that geneva accord it has to be

jacky rowland, al jazeera in eastern ukraine. >>> huge toll on the russian economy. nearly $51 billion in capital left the country in 2013. the world bank prear predicts p, from moldova after the collapse of the soviet union in 1991. >>> the majority of transnistria the opinions and the large very much shared. in 111 takofsky street we met lydia, the 96-year-old and the >> the kremlin also provides curt prize gas and pet role to transnitsria,. >> we hope russia will recognize transnitsria's independence. causing trouble for us. >> in the nearby village, the congregation celebrating an easter monday service was made up in equal portion he of ethnic russian he, ukrainians and moldovans. we met a bulgarian who teaches art in the local school where lessons are held in both russian and mol moldovan. >> the banks of the river were filled with people enjoying a holiday barbecue. i joined one family to sound out their opinions. >> ukrainians say wherever russia enters things get worse. it's quite the opposite. people are living much better than here than moldova. >> approvin

jacky rowland has this reported from slovyansk.mpingts pro-russian activists reinforced barr sads around buildings -- barricades around buildings. they have heard been anti-terror operations being relaunchted. they say they are not worried. >> this is not an ultimatum. we don't consider his words to be action. he doesn't do anything. he's a false governor. >> the operation is apparently going to focus on breaking up what the government in kiev describes as gangs. the people behind the sandbags are ready to resist attacks. besides, they know the last time kiev sent the army in many soldiers were unwilling to confront pro-russian demonstrators. it emboldened the rebels. >> it was the abduction and murder of a politician, arguing with demonstrators that triggered the provision. kiev has proof that russia was involved in his interrns. >> it comes a day after the u.s. vice president visited kiev and promised support for the government. as the standoff with russia intensified. they need all the help they can get. >> we hope if there is a

first jacky rowland reports. >> local people call it the easter massacre. what took place at this makeshift checkpoint in the early hours of sunday is unclear. villages say unknown attackers drove up and opened fire an activists manning the barricade. >> they came in jeeps, lit up the barricade and started shooting. my neighbour got a bullet between the eyes. others came to help us. if they hadn't come, the attackers would have slaughtered everyone like chickens. the interior ministry said three pro-rush job activists were -- pro-russian activists were killed. the attackers took the dead and wounded with them. there are a lot of unanswered questions here. for a start, where did the two cars come from. if there was a shoot-out between the men at the checkpoint and the vehicles, how come there are bullet holes in the back of the second car, and how did the two vehicles end up burnt out. forensic experts are trying to answer some questions, but with the cars torched the evidence is limited. they found shell cases, bullets and dried blood. whatever the truth, i

jacky rowland, al jazeera, paris. >>> news is reaching us from nigeria.ed men have attacked a school and kidnapped 100 female students. the girls were taken away in a large truck. the attack has also burned down houses and other buildings, killing one security guard, we're told. police have been sent to the area. >>> chilean firefighters are still fighting to battle the wildfires. at least 14 people have died and thousands have been forced from their homes. daniel has the latest. >> reporter: dousing the flames, a massive rescue operation to control the fire that raged over more than 24 hours, destroying hundreds of homes. many lost everything. william and his family have lived here for 19 years. >> translator: nothing. we could don't anything. it all happened so quickly. less than 3 minutes for the flames to reach us. >> reporter: he is try to find his father's work tools. already thinking about his future. the cause of the blaze is being investigated while the operations of feeding and clothing people goes on. the president in her first month in office

. >> arfrancois hollande has spokn to siemens, jacky rowland reports. >> french government owns less than 1% of alston stock, which begs the question why is it getting involved? it's a matter of frer french pr. this major company working in high speed trains is french. advantage of having chrome and independence over the production of energy again one of alston's major fields. for all of those reasons there is a lot of resistance of the idea of g.e. an american company taking over alston. on the other hand, the proposal of siemens is more attractive. high speed training expertise that would combine alston and siemens, and under the siemens banner we would see an energy conglomerate that would dominate these two spheres. that is something the german government and the french government have expressed a lot of interest in. >> in macedonia, lucky to fall short of an outright majority after winning its fourth straight election. but almost all of the votes now counted after the weekend poll, party looks to have secured 61 seats in the 123-member parliament. the center left opposition refu

jacky rowland is in the east of donetsk. >> ukrainian fighter jets fly over donetsk. it's a clear message from the authorities in kiev that they control the skies. on the ground, armed pro-russian demonstrators don't seem to be listening. the regional parliament in their hands, they add the city council building to the list of conquests. they have seen crimea breakaway from ukraine, and they want their region to follow. >> we have come into this building so kiev accepts the demands, the demands of the ordinarily people, to adopt a law on a local referendum. the seizure of the building may be dramatic, but council members insist it's business as usual. despite gun many stalking the stores, still servants get on with searching the city. >> it's not clear how many support there is for those occupying the buildings. here people are divided whether the future lies with europe or stronger ties to russia. >> 100km north of here in kramatorsk. the army appears to have suffered a setback. after retaking control of an airstrip on tuesday, the army lost vehicles to pro-russia mi

jackie rowland reports. >> across easternvan, the stand-off continues, pro-russian demonstrators are ignoring calls for them to take down the barricades. in the city ofsl slova is nsky, the mood is defiant and they say they will not back down until they are given a vote on the future of their region. >> everything is calm. for all of this to be sorted, a referendum has to take place so that people can express their opinions? >> i think there is never fog to be a united ukraine. some will go to the european uni union; some to russia. it's the same scene here in donetsk leaders of the rebellion say they won't leave the administration building until the interim government in kiev steps down. we didn't come here to bow in front of this government. not at all. people don't have weapons here as you see. we came to hold a referendum >> reporter: a new opinion poll carried out across eastern ukraine reflects this widespread mistrust of the authorities in kiev but the poll also suggests that those who want to break away from ukraine and join russia are in the minority. they control the televi

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