the enemy was khartoum, seat of the sudanese government. >> what did you want people to know about khartoum? >> i wanted people to know that this regime was evil. i've thought a lot about the meaning of the word "evil." i wanted to get people to understand that if there is evil in this world, it resides in khartoum. >> they used their aircraft to bomb, to terrorize people. they used their army, basically, to destroy whatever is in their way. >> if khartoum was the enemy the council's hero was rebel leader john garang. garang had been graduate student in iowa, but he returned home in the 1980s to found the sudan people's liberation army, or spla - to fight the government of sudan. >> this is a calculated cold blooded genocide that is going on. and this government claims to be the government of the sudan - it isn't! it's a government of killers it should be condemned. sanctions should be made against this government, it should be isolated. >> he was not only militarily brilliant. he was also politically astute he understood the international community. and he was charismatic, if that word has

catherine soi reports from khartoum. >> reporter: some of these young men have lived for as long as omarbashir has been president. he had in the past said that he would not seek reelection. but now it's almost certain that he will likely win this election election. he is a 25-year-old university student from darfur, most of his family has been displaced by the conflict there. he blames the president for failing to keep the peace. >> translator: he always makes promises in campaigns but after he wins he doesn't keep them. his government continues to kill people. he's a lie layer. >> reporter: president bashier was indicted by the international criminal court for war crimes? dar fewer. also under his watch rebel took up arms against the government. many people have been killed and millions displaced from those regions. sudan's economy as suffered for years because of sanctions and international isolation. it's one of the most corrupt countries in the world. according to transparency international. but ruling party officials say bashier's achievements are many and at the top of the list the

let's go to our correspondence agent catherine soi now she is live for us in the capital khartoum. many people are expected to boycott the bow what is the atmosphere like there as polls are open. >>> i am at a polling station where president omar bashier is expected to vote in a couple of hours. it's now exactly 8:00, polls open now. but let me just move away from the shot so that john can show you the background behind me. there is actually no one -- we are told this is the situation in several other polling stations at least here in khartoum but it's still early days being elizabeth this is an exercise that will take three days and we can't really tell whether the boycott that has been called for by the opposition is going to impact on the voter turn out until the end of voting on wednesday. but we have talked to a lot of people in the streets since we came here they are -- many of those we talk to are frustrated, elizabeth. they are frustrate about this leadership talking about the need for change. they are saying that they deserve a better life. they don't see what president ba

. >> this is what the first day of voting in khartoum looked like. through most of the day electoral clerks had little to do other than just wait. this polling station and the arrival of president omar bashir. some who showed up to vote say it's an important thing to do. >> i believe it's very important to vote. it unifies the country and is important to do. >> three days of voting, 11,000 polling stations and they say khartoum does not represent the country. most of those who are voting are the elderly. we have not seen many people, some who have stopped to say the reason they're not voting is because they feel their vote will not make a difference. the plain opposition parties have just like in 2010 are boycotting the election. marian's party is not participating. >> it is not fair elections. >> mohamed is a journalist, he has been arrested and detained several times. he did not vote in 2010 and is not voting now. he says a national dialogue needs to be held but the national democratic party improved democracy and allowed freedom of speech. >> ther

this is what the first day of voting in khartoum look like. for most of the day electoral clocks had little to do other than just wait. the highlight of this polling station was arrival of president omar al-bashir. some of those who turned out to vote said that it's the patriotic thing to do. >> i believe it's very important to vote. it unionfies people and helps to stabilize the country. >> other people would argue that it's still to early to gauge the voter turn out. there are three days of voting, and 11,000 polling stations and they say that khartoum does not represent the country. most who are voting are the elderly. they have not seen many young people many who stopped to say the reason they're not vote something because they feel that their vote will not make a difference. the main opposition parties have just like in 2010 boycott the election and are telling people not to vote. it's not an election at all. if you insist on calling an election. it is a fake election. >> this journalist did not vote in 2010. he's not voting now. he said

. >> this is what the first day of voting in khartoum looked like. for most of the day electoral clerks had little to do other than just wait. the highlight at this polling station was the arrive of president omar al bashir. some of those who showed up to vote says it is a thing to do. >> i believe it's very important to do. it unifies and helps support the vote. >> 11,000 polling stations and they say khartoum does not represent the country. >> most of those who are voting are the elderly. we have not seen many young people. the reason they are not voting is because they feel that their vote will not make a difference. the main opposition parties have, just like in 2010, boycotted the election and are telling people not to vote. marian's sadiq party is not participating. >> it is not an election at all. if you insist to call it elections, it is forced elections. >> arrested and detained several times, did not vote in 2010 and not voting now. he says a national dialogue needs to be held but the government led by the national congress party also impro

and spearhead the process of rewriting the institution. >> when you walk around khartoum. you seat campaign of. omar al-bashir. he is the only one who is campaigning. and his government has silenced dissenting voices with arrests. but for many it doesn't matter who is at the top. her concern is how her life will improve. >> there will be no difference between the old and new government. i just want my business to be good for my children and. >> i they tell me that even they if they were registered voters they would not vote. there is simply none to vote for. catherine soi al jazeera. khartoum. >> anti-government protesters in the capital opposition politicians had called for protests because the elections have been postponed. five people were injured and have been taken to hospital. >>> in turkey 45 people are standing trial over the biggest mine disaster in the country's history. 301 miners died last year. bernard smith reports from istanbul. >> for the relatives of the 301 miners killed in the disaster, this was an emotional day. they had come to see the start of the tri

we've made phone calls in two other polling stations in khartoum. they're staying very low key as well. and it's important to note that a couple of weeks ago voting was canceled in eight electoral districts because of security reasons. but that said, it's still the times this voting experience is going to take three days. we're told that sudanese have a waiting to the last minute to cast their ballot. but we have. ben speaking to many people in khartoum who are frustrated by the leadership. they say they want change. they don't see what presidential omar al-bashir will do different in the years he has been president. that's why the major opposition political parties are calling for a boycott of the elections. they're telling people not to show up and vote. they're saying that the environment is not conducive for multi party elections. they're talking about omar bashir and his government's crackdown on the opposition. >> catherine soi reporting. >>> a nigerian woman is dead after being staken for a boko haram bomber. tab thattabitha was beaten and se

natasha guinane spoke from khartoum. >> it's the last weekend before the sudanese head to vote. politics doesn't seem to be on anyone's mind. we spoke to more than 30 people and it was hard to find someone planning to vote. >> translator: i want the elections to be fair. and we want our ruler to be somebody new. because frankly we are fed up with basheer. >> reporter: basheer seized power in a military coup in 1989. critics say he has squashed civil liberties. but as we saw at this presidential rally he is a charismatic man backed by many especially women, who are said to be his best supporters. >> we don't want anyone to be hungry. >> there are ten men and one woman running against basheer. but you wouldn't know it by these. many here say the economy is the most pressing issue facing facing sudan. the official unemployment rate is 18% and inflation is 37%. >> translator: if the government is serious about dealing with the miserable economic reality, there are two things the government should do. one, cut government spending and two, combat rampant corruption. >> sudanese expect

we go to khartoum. >> reporter: it's a breezery afternoon along the blue nile in khartoum, and the last weekend before the sudanese head to the polls to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections. but politics does not seem to be on anyone's mind. we spoke to more than 30 people. it was hard to find someone planning to vote. i want the elections to be fair and the ruler new. we are fed up with basheer. >> bash ear seized power in a coup in 1989 and is the only sitting president wanted by the international criminal court for war crimes in darfur. critics say he scratched civil liberties. as we saw at this presidential rally, he is a charismatic man backed by many especially women. they are said to be his biggest supporters. >> translation: we are here to provide a better way of living for citizens, and help the weak and the poor. we don't want anyone to be hungry. >> there are 10 me, one woman running against bashir. you wouldn't know it by watching television. >> i don't see it anything in tv. i see one person. i would like to see more options so we can no. many say the economy is

driver around the capital khartoum and the only campaign sign you see are of basheer. we asked a group of men if they could name a candidate other than president bashir. no one did. one was registered and none of them said they were planning to vote. >> most of the major opposition parties are boycotting the elections saying with the government in control, the voting process and the media - the elections will be a sham. bashir appeared before supporters at this stadium. now in his 22nd year after taking pour in a coup. he showed no signs of giving up office. bash ire told the crowd we'll draft a new islamic constitution society will be better with sharia law. as for mohammed on voting day he said he has not registered to vote and will not be voting >>> greece made a repayment of over $500 million to the international monetary fund. it owes 24.5 billion to the i.m.f. in total greece must repay under $350 billion to creditors. the largest amount $140 billion is owed to the european financial stability facility set up by the eurozone to help countries hit by the financial

natasha ghoneim reports now from the capital khartoum. >> reporter: an activist says he expected hitspation in peaceful protests would eventually get him arrested. he describes what happened when security forces picked him up last year. >> very poor -- >> translator: they mit me continuously, they used hands steal batons and wires for hours. >> reporter: human rights attorney says everybody the elderly aren't spared. he's defends two activists in their 70s and 80s. they are sick, impressed and facing terrorism charges. >> most of the people do not feel anything other than despair. they just see the government doing whatever it looks like. >> reporter: human rights activists say since security forces killed an estimated 200 people during protests in 2013, there has been a chill on the streets. they say the government is also targeting the media. last month, 14 different newspapers were confiscated before they were distributed. in order to promote freedom of expression among activists human rights groups and journal assists the u.s. eased some of its sanctions two years ago now people c

when you walk around khartoum. most of their campaign posters you find are of omar al bashir.s he is the only one campaigning. it's because they say he has the resources and his government has silences dissenting voices with regular crack downs and arbitrary arrests. but for them it doesn't matter who is is he top. her concern is how her life will improve. >> translator: there will be no difference between the old and new government. i just want my business to be good for my children and i. >> reporter: do you have a vote? >> no. kwr06789 he >> reporter: he said even if they were register they wouldn't vote. they say there is simply no one to vote for. >>> in other news, hill run clinton as formerly launched her 2016 u.s. presidential campaign. the former secretary of state is the overwhelming favorite to capture the democratic party nomination. and she's also hoped in a van and started driving to the u.s. state of iowa, the traditional first stop for presidential hopefuls. tom ackerman reports from des moines. >> i am running for president. >> reporter: hillary clinton made t

catherine soy, al jazeera khartoum. >> a group opposed to the government ever omar al bashir. can you tell us why your organization decided not to take place in the elections? >> this is an election of the president which is clearly built on ethnic cleansing and the election means that security of the people for example in darfur people are killed and raped and driven from their land and put in concentration camp with media repressions and no food nor assistance, no medical assistance, no care, no water they are just like stones, those people killed and driven from their home. now, the land does not balooning to the indigenous and the indigenous are not in their land. the pleks mean election means people in the a ground that to vote for parliament or for presidential. >> okay. sorry so interrupt you but -- could i interrupt you sir i just wanted to ask what do the people who live there if they disagree with the current government what options do they have other than to vote in the system that's there and don't you just hand victory to omar bashir by boycotting the whole system

. >> this is what the first day of voting in khartoum looked like. for most of the day electorals had nothing to do but wait. i highlightithe highlight of this polling station was the arrival of president al bashir. >> i believe it's very important to vote. it unifies people and helped to stabilize the country. >> other people would argue that it's too early to gauge the turn out. they say khartoum does not represent the country. >> most of those voting are the elderly. they have not even many young people. many say the reason why they're not vote something because they feel their vote will not make a difference. >> the main opposition parties just like in 2010 boycott the election and are telling people not to vote. >> it is not given the elections. it's not the election at all or if you insist to call it elections fair elections. >> a journalist, he has been arrested and detained several times. he did not vote in 2010 and he's not voting now. he said a national dialogue needs to be held, but the government led by the national congress party also im

when you walk around khartoum most of the campaign posters you find are of omar al bashir. it seems he is the only one campaigning. the opposition will tell you, it is because he has the resource he and the power. regular crack downs and arbitrary arrests. but for sally there's no difference. >> i just want the business to be good for my children and i. >> reporter: tam and his friends tell me even if they were registered voters, they would not vote. there's simply no one to vote for. catherine soy. al jazeera khartoum. >>> arrest warrants in 2009 and 2010 the warrants include ten counts three for genocide. it's estimated 480,000 darfuri men women and children have died at the hands of government backed militia known as the janjawid. final two charges are for war crimes, one for directing attacks against the civilian population and the other for allowing the pillaging of towns. >> for more of what's going on in sudan we spoke to shaya kumar. she joined us earlier from washington. i asked her how and if the opposition will affect the elections. >> i think the opposition's cl

catherine soy, al jazeera khartoum. >> police have opened fire in the capital conocre in guinea. unhappy about government electoral timetable. many blame on president alfa conde. >>> people's democratic party has won the river state. goodluck jonathan is due to stand down after losing the election. some ballot boxes were stolen and voting material wasn't delivered. well on tuesday, it will be a year since more than 200 school girls were abducted in northern nigeria by boko haram. despite the global campaign to fee them most are still missing. but many hope nigeria's new government will finally be able to bring them home. haru mutasa reports from abuja. >> this boy is three years old. all he seems to understand is that school girls were kidnapped by boko haram a long time ago. his parents aren't far. they have been meeting every day along with other concerned nigerians. >> it's not okay, something terrible happened in nigeria and we should yeunt and unite and demand for the return of those girls. >> reporter: in april of last year force he attacked chibok and abducted more than 20

. >>> natasha guinane is in the capital khartoum. >> there is a sudanese proverb that says, whatever you want to abolish, ignore it. this applies to the elections in sudan. they have called a boycott saying it is a one man race. a significant number of people haven't even bothered registering. >> portraying himself as a clown. >> a block of candidates including liberals, secularists and communists. >> we want a peaceful united sovereign sudan. with equal citizenship and transitional justice. so and the top of the the regime is completely opposite. >> last august liberals and secularists formed an historic alliance. worrying the major opposition block which includes former government officials and islamist groups. they feel sidelines. >> it is so defeating for opposition parties to demand the seclusion of certain political elements. it runs against the grain of democracy itself. and reconciliation. >> having deemed the opposition irrelevant trying to end the conflicts in the south and west of the country and enlisting the support of the international community. what remains unsolved i

many are syrians fleeing civil war who make their way to istanbul turkey, and then khartoum. the start of a perilous journey to libya. before they made their way to khartoum and up to libya there is a western route as well, migrants who would have traditionally found work in libya now find themselves in the middle of the civil war with little option but to travel further on and into europe. let's bring in al jazeera al jazeera in the libyan city. tell us about where you are and what the situation is in libya as far as these migrants go. >> well, this has been turned into a holding center for the migrants. i'm just going to move out of the camera for a minute. this is the first floor. the corridor is completely packed and every single classroom is also completely packed. we have the same thing on the second floor. the people come here--this group comes from egypt. behind here you have some people from somalia. then behind them you have people from nigeria and from senegal and sierra leone. and all of them made that trip that you were just describing through the desert, through

natasha guinane, al jazeera khartoum. >>> opposition handing as dacca central jail. backlash from his supporters. parents in australia who refuse to vaccinate their children, could be denied up to $2,000 in payments under a government policy. andrew thomas, from sydney. >> no jab no pain, if they refuse to have therapy children vaccinated. australia actually has a high level of vaccination 97% but there are pockets where the is vaccination is much much lower and things like whooping cough are making a come back. 40,000 conscientious objectors 40,000 children whose parents have said they have either a religious or a medical or a conscientious reason not to allow their child to be vaccinated. they continue to get benefits even though their children haven't been vaccinated. the only way you'll be able to receive these benefits as an australian parent and not have your child vaccinated is if you have a strong religious or medical reason not to. just being a conscientious objector is no longer enough. >> for many greeks, this weekend is the highlight of the year as orthod

. >> it's a breezy afternoon in khartoum.t's the last weekend before the sudan east head to the polls to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections. but politics does not seem to be on anyone's mind. we spoke to more than 30 people. and it was hard to find someone planning to vote. >> i want the elections to be fair and we want our ruler to be somebody new because frankly we're head up with bashir. >> bashir's seized power in a military coup in 1989. he is the only sitting president wanted by the international criminal court for war crimes. they say they have squashed. he is a charismatic man backed by many, especially women. they are his biggest supporters. >> we're here to heaven the weak and the par. >> i don't see anything on tv. i just see one person. it's omar bashir. i would like to see more options so we know what to vote as. >> the economy is the most pressing issue facing sudan. the official unemployment rate is 18%. and inflation is 37%. >> if the government is series about dealing with the miserable economic

natasha guinane, al jazeera khartoum. >> encouraging news about the west african ebola outbreak, the risk of the virus spreading to other countries is declining. the outbreak has killed more than 10,000 people since it began in december 2014, lowist number of cases in nearly a year. >>> authorities have given green light to official shut down chernobyl power plants. >> nowhere near a total price tack for a complete cleanup. >> we focus on lingering health effects primarily on children born decades after the nuclear melt down. andrew simmons has the story from chernobyl. >> only three and a half months old, this baby is clinging on to life. his heart has been stopped. a machine takes over. >> without this surgery baby could not survived. >> this doctor leads the chernobyl heart team. most of these cases were late to the 1988 nuclear accidents. >> this baby was so big and so strange, not usual very high probability can be related to chernobyl disaster. >> after all this intense intricate surgery the tiny heart is beating again and there's now every chance this baby will survive. half a

we two to the capital city of khartoum on what motivated the no vote movement. >> there's a sudanese proverb that says whatever you want to abolish, ignore it. that explains the opposition group's approach to presidential and parliamentary elections in sudan. they've called for a boycott, saying it's a one-man race, and president omar bashir is guaranteed victory. this opposition leader says a significant number of people haven't bothered registering. >> he's portraying himself as a clown. >> miriam is an opposition leader in a bloc of parties, including liberals, secularists and communists. >> we want a peaceful, united sovereign sudan, with equal citizenship, and transitional justice. so - and the toppling of the regime. it is a prerequisite. >> sudan's opposition is splintered. last august liberals and secularists formed an historic alliance with the party representing rebels fighting in darfur and the south, worrying other opposition block including government officials and islamist groups - they feel sidelined. >> it's defeating for opposition parties to demand the exclusion of

we spoke to people in khartoum. >> reporter: it's a breezy afternoon along the blue nile and the last weekend before the sudanese head to the poll to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections. >>> politics does in the seem to be on anyone's mind. we spoke to 30 people. >> i want the elections to be fair and our ruler to be someone new. we are fed up with bashir. >> reporter: bashir seized power in 1989. a sitting president wanted by the international court - critics saying he squashed civil liberties. as we saw, he is a charismatic man, backed by many especially women. they are said to be big supporters. >> we are here to proist -- to provide a better way of living and help the weak and the poor. >> reporter: there are 10 people running, but you wouldn't know it watching tv. >> i would like to see more options. >> reporter: many say the economy is the most pressing issue facing sudan. the official unemployment rate is 18%. and inflation is 37%. >> if the government is serious about dealing with the miserable reality, there are two things the government should do. >> reporter: w

the migrants arrived, crossing the border to sudan, and stop off in khartoum. they make a journey from sudan to benghazi and libya, and it's from here that most try to cross the sea to reach the italian island of lampedusa. often, it's the migrants relatives that raised thousands to pay the people smugglers. catherine soi spoke to a family whose son is trying to make it to germany. >> reporter: this family last spoke to their son 2.5 weeks ago. he was about to start his journey. they are worried sick and want him home. >> translation: if he is alive i just want him to get in touch. if someone sees him, tell him to come back to us. >> reporter: his elder brother and girlfriend helped him raise the $4,500 smuggler fee. his plan is to go to germany where he has a friend. no one at home could stop him. >> i cried a bit. he can't listen to me. >> reporter: just like him another man is desperate to leave. he does not want us to reveal his identity. his family does not know that he's been planning the journey for a year and saved $1,000. >> there are better job opport

we have this report from the capital khartoum. >> reporter: an activist says he expected his participation in peaceful protests would eventually get him arrested. he describes happened when security forces picked him up last year. >> translation: they hit me continuously. they used their hands, batons and wires. >> reporter: human rights attorney nabeel says the elderly are not spared. they are defending two activists, they are sick imprisoned and facing terrorism charges. >> most of the people do not feel anything other than despair. they see the government doing whatever they like. human right activists say since 200 people were killed during protests there has been a chill on the streets, and the government is targetting the media. last month 14 newspapers were confiscated before they were transcripted. >> in order to promote freedom of expression among activists, human rights groups and journalists, some of the sanctions were eased. people can buy american-made products like smart phones laptops and encryption software. the national commission for human rights says getting permits for

and then lastly with regard to the south, it's not unanalogous to south sudan and khartoum. it demanded 50% of the current's oil revenues leaving out darfur in the west, leaving out the north in nibia, leaving out the east. and one wonders why you had a reaction of violence in the other regions. with the unity in 1990, south yemen played a hard hand and ended up with 50% of the power. 50% of the cabinet posts. and the other 50% the deputy ministers. when the percentage of the population was only one-seventh hnone/7, or 1/15. you can see why the south wanted to regain their powers but many in the north thought the south took too much, didn't deserve as much. jeremy sharp on the questions of the united states' relationship with yemen what are all the implications of this. is this likely to result in an increase, depth and breadth of anti-americanism? hatred towards the united states? the longer that this conflict >> sorry. i feel like i should give my opening remarks all over again because i was sitting down and not at the podium. look, one side of me is -- thinks that on any

. -- khartoum. leaving out dafur in the west, leaving out the north in nimby a and leaving out the east. one wonders why you had the reaction of violence of these extreme other regions. with unity in 1990, south yemen played a hard hand and ended up with 50% of the power, 50% of the cabinet post and the other 50% the deputy ministers. when the population was only 1/7, 1/5 the you can see while the south wanted to regain or retain its powers, but you can also see the animus of the north, many of whom off the south took too much, got too much didn't deserve asthma. jeremy shaw, on the questions of the united states relationship with yemen, what are the implications of this? is this likely to result in an increased depth of an americanism, hatred toward the united states the longer that this conflict continues? jeremy: i feel like i should give my room -- my opening remarks all over again. one side of me is -- things that on any given day, even when there is not a major international operation in yemen

lastly with regard to the south it is not an analogous to south sudan and khartoum. south sudan is but one part of sudan that demanded 50% of the country's oil revenues leaving a dark for and the west, leaving out the west end newbie and the east and one wonders why you have a reaction of violent by these three other regions. in the case of north yemen and south yemen, south yemen played a hard hand and ended up with 50% of the power 50% of the cabinet post and the other 50% deputy ministers. when the percentage of the population was only one seventh, one 15th. so you can see why the south wanted to retain its powers or regained its powers, but you can also see the animus of the north, and many of whom felt the south took too much got too much, didn't deserve as much. now, jeremy sharp on the questions that the united states relationship with yemen, what are the implications of this? is this likely to result in increased depth and breadth of anti-americanism, hatred towards the united states? the longer that this conflict continues? >> sorry i feel like i should give