in neighboring iraq thousands of people who fled conflict are facing a harsh winter. many are living in camps and are struggling to keep warm. human rights is condemning force to using deadly forces against protesters. 140 demonstrator have been killed in the last two amos. they were campaigning against an extension of the capital addis into land. the protests have been mainly peaceful. it details the arrest of permanent opposition figures. the deputy director of the africa division at human rights watch. she says the protests are part of a series of grievances which they have against the government. >> the government has presented what is known as a master plan for the area which doesn't expand the municipal boundaries. the problem is it's not clear what kind of discussions they've had with people who will be affected. clearly the protesters claim that there has been insufficient consultation. they're very concerned the protesters, that is, that there won't be compensation for farmser and others displaced from their lands by this plan. this is one of the main reasons

in neighboring iraq thousands of people in conflict are struggling to keep warm. in other news, two palestinians have been shot dead in the occupied west bank this saturday. it happened at the check point just east of nablus. they were shot after allegedly being involved in a stabbing incident. electoral reform and harmony between different religious and ethnic groups are the aim of sri lanka. our correspondent has more. >> reporter: some of the key changes are expected will be changes to the electoral system which some analysts say are deeply flawed. against, the abolition of the office that gives power to the legislature and the government in a broad based fashion. lots of work to be done by this assembly. there is formal process of consultation which seeks to include all parties, all opinions with regards to the constitution and what we're seeing is that house will debate and discuss the potential changes at which time it will come up with a cohesive set of proposals for the constitution change and then seek to take it through and bring it to fruition >>> in ge

program in iraq and in neighboring syria as well is facing a shortfall. a lot of u.n. people are telling me is they're not sure they can get the money needed. there is donor fatigue as well. donors are looking to iraq saying, look, they need to step up and help. we're also facing a lot of shortfalls in europe as well when it comes to dealing with the refugee crisis >>> thank you for that. we've got much more ahead on the program when we come back myanmar's future leaders are ser mad-- serenaded. >>> welcome back. you're watching al jazeera. the top stories. the main opposition group is meeting with western and u.n. diplomats in talks to end the war in syria. they're threatening to walk away unless prisoners are released and bombing stops. this is the latest pictures. the leaders attending the african union summit have decided not to send peace-keeping troops to burundi without the government's consent. they will push for political dialogue instead. the president said he would use force against any troops entering his country. the u.n. says iraq needs nearly 900 million

but things are no better for refugees and the internally displaced in neighboring iraq. nearly 4,000 people are living in a camp. we have spoken to unicef here at the chief field officer there who say that children are the most affected. >> it is a very unique situation that we're facing. we're surrounded by other countries with higher profiles, but we have million displaced, and 250,000 refugees that are also in iraq. and of the million in iraq, much of them are children. and those children are going through difficult situations getting them to school and 150,000 of them missed one year of their schooling. there is no proper hygiene. there is no water. no healthcare system and their future is crashing on their head. we're watching the situation where we'll see quite a large number of children who have lost their future. we're dealing with a situation that is so dire that to get resources for children. put them in a center, give them a life with dignity with proper hygiene and proper water is getting difficult. >> police in the german city of cologne has dispersed an ant

>> a situation in lebanon and things are no better for refugees and the internally displaced neighboring iraq. more than 4,000 people are living in a camp northwest of erbil. we have spoken to unicef's chief field officer there who said that children are most affected by displacement. >> this is an unique situation. we're calling it a forgotten crisis. let me say few facts. we have 32 million displaced population. on top of that we have nearly 250,000 refugees that are also in iraq. and out of th those refugees, many are children. those children are going through difficult situation. getting them through school is hard, and the majority, at least 700,000 of them miss at least one year of schooling. there is no proper hygiene. there is no water. there is no skepticism the entire life of the children. and their future is crashing on their head, and we're watching a situation we will see quite a number of children who have lost their future we're dealing with a situation that is so dire. put them in school. put them in protection centers. put them in life with dignity where they get proper water

. >> in the meantime neighboring iraq, security forces have been searching the baghdad neighborhood wherehree americans were kidnapped over the weekend. the troops have closed streets and conducted house-to-house searches, u.s. officials have not said what they were doing in that country at the time. >>> back here on the home front and to politics the race for the white house, donald trump and ted cruz really beginning to mix it up doing some schoolyard name calling. trump says cruz is nasty and unlikable and then prove cruz -- cruz took off the gloves and called trump a liberal. >> hours after taking aim at senator ted cruz, he quoted scripture at the liberty university. >> two corinthians, right, 3:17, where the spirit of the lord -- right -- where the spirit of the lord is -- there is liberty. >> reporter: on this week leveling this attack on cruz. >> he's a nast dwri guy, nobody likes him, nobody in congress likes him. nobody likes him anywhere once they get to know him. >> trump blasting crews for slamming wall street while failing to disclose he took out a million dollars in big ban

>> in neighboring iraq, several thousands of protesters took to the streets in the capital baghdad, where shias are the dominant population. an attack on a sunni mosque was reported in hila, about 100 kilometers south of baghdad. no one has claimed responsibility, but authorities indicate a possible link with the cleric's execution. sunni-led saudi arabia severed diplomatic ties with iran after demonstrators attacked the saudi embassy in tehran. the latest move. the saudi foreign minister said his country would end air traffic and trade links with iran. and leave the country within 48 hours, and the united arab emirates announced it will downgrade diplomatic relations with iran. a white house spokesperson with the u.s. said the u.s. government is urging the government to show restraint. >> a spokesperson said the talks are aimed at condemning the actions against the saudi arabian embassy in tehran. now more from tehran. >> reporter: the attack on the saudi embassy might have the tensions have long simmered between the two countries, each led by a different muslim sect. saudi arabia by sun

years can only hope things will get better, especially during these long winter days >>> in neighboring iraq people who have fled conflict are facing a harsh winter. more than four thousand people are living in a camp for displaced in the north-west offer bill. our correspondent spoke to union self unicef who said it is a dire situation. >> we are calling it a forgotten crisis crisis because we are surrounded by other countries with much higher profile. we have 3.2 million displaced population. on top of that, we have nearly 250,000 refugees that are also in iraq. out of the 3.2 million in iraq, majority of them are children. those children are going through difficult situation, getting them to school is hard and the majority of them, at least 700,000 of them miss at least one year of their schooling. there is no problem hygiene, there is no water, there is no proper health care system. the entire life of the children is affected and their future is crashing on their head and we are actually watching a situation that we will see quite large number of children that lost their future. so we ar

three years can only hope things will get better, especially during these long winter days >>> neighboring iraq, there are thousands of people facing a hard time in camps. our correspondent is in north-west offer bill where more than 4,000 people are living >> reporter: the winter conditions have made life here much harder than they already are. now, i want to bring in a guest we have here, somebody who can talk about this more. we're going to speak now to the head of the unicef office inner bill, mr barfa. i want to ask you, with all the various concurrent cry-- kri cease going on-- crisis going on. >> i would like to start with how many concerned unicef is of the situation of children in iraq and across the region affected by the multiple crisis that we're facing. iraq is particularly very unique situation that we are facing in. we are calling it a forgotten crisis because we are surrounded by other countries which much higher profile. let me state a few facts. we have 3.2 million displaced population. on top of that we have nearly 250,000 refugees that are also in iraq. out of the 3.2 millio

in neighboring iraq 17 soldiers have been killed during a suicide attack in anbar province. i.s.i.l. fighters drove a bug dozer into their base detonating a bomb. it happened in the area east of ramadi where heavy fighting is continuing between the army and i.s.i.l. fighters. there has been a fatal shooting at an israeli check point. it happened in the occupied pest bank near the illegal settlement of beit el. what happened here? >> reporter: it is significant two-fold as to where it happened and how it happened. this is the d krochlt check point which is used by vips, pa officials, foreigners, diplomats, press going in and out of the occupied west bank. we're told a man approached in a car from the occupied west bank. he got out of his car close to the check point and opened fire injuring three israeli soldiers, two in critical condition. one has been shot in the neck. before the shooter was shot and killed. it is significant because of where this was and also the fact that he used a gun, this is something that doesn't happen very often here. we have seen a few occasions of

but the idea that they're going to fold up and have no interest in what happens in syria and neighboring iraq i think it would be a miss take -- mistake to assume that. >> you have had time there and you are aware of their capabilities. philip: where do they put those resources? with yemen, this is not some way with the ethics gains -- this is not simply within the f-15s. with al qaeda, they have actually killed a bunch of them, but they are a good quite of course -- fighting force. what happened in syria? in have syrian al qaeda there. and a number of gulf states are facilitating that. needse need a vacuum, it filled. they are looking for actors that are strong, project and know how to kill enemies. it will not be the u.s. with happy moderation, you know what, they might as well turn to them. the second order that comes from it, al qaeda does not like the united dates -- states. if they feel like they have been abandoned, going back to your question on the regime, is it brittle? i do not think so. they are scared. we have a very good security relationship with them. is now what is happening,

fold up and look out for saudi arabia alone and have no interest in what happens in syria or neighboring iraq and so it would be ank mistake to assume that. you philip, you spent time, look pretty clear sense of some of their capabilities. phillip: what worries me is the longer term. i think as much as touching on this a little bit, where do they put those resources? we are looking at yemen, it's not simply with the f-15s that are bombing. what happens if they say a qad, al qaeda in the arabian pencil a -- we've executed a bunch of them. but they are an effective fighting force. the same thing happens in syria. what happens with that? nusra, syrian al qaeda in there. the saudi's and a number of other gulf states were facilitating that trade when we leave a vacuum, the vacuum needs to get filled. they're going to look for actors who are strong, no matter project and get things done, and also kill their enemies. if it's not going to be the united states with our happy moderation, we might as well turn to them, because they know how to kill iranians. comes? second order that al qaeda does not li

allies have sufficient resources in place to monitor foreign fighters' activities in syria and neighboring iraq and to track their travel back to their home countries." close quote. those are documented facts which make perfectly clear what common sense should suggest: this refugee resettlement program is a vulnerability, and we need far better security to protect our homeland. to do this, i'll introduce a very strong bill to require a suspension of admissions of syrian refugees until the obama administration properly evaluates the protocols and procedures it has in place to relocate them here and certifies not just in the department of homeland security and the department of state but also with intelligence and law enforcement agencies that these procedures are adequate. my bill has seven cosponsors. i plan on continuing to move it hopefully through an amendment process related to this bill so that we can make sure that we have proper, adequate reforms in place. so that puts today's vote in simple, straightforward terms, in terms of the real danger. we can't properly vet all of these refugees

isil still hold significant parts of north and west as well as significant areas of neighboring syria. in iraqdiers have been killed in a suicide attack in anbar province. security forces say isil fighters drove on bulldozer in to their base before detonating a bomb. it was in the neighborhood east of ramadi where there has been heavy fighting between the army and isil. >>> the united nations has appealed for emergency funding to help iraq respond to a growing humanitarian crisis. the united nations humanitarian coordinator says $8,161,000,000 are needed to plug a shortfall in iraq's finances caused by the collapse in the price of oil. an estimated 3.3 million iraqis have been displaced by fighting between the iraqi armed forces and isil in the last two years. they are amongst 7.3 million people the u.n. says are in urgent need of helpful and it's warning that depends on this intensity of fighting in cities such as mosul, that number could rise to between 12 and 13 million by the end of the year. imran kahn has more from the iraqi capital baghdad. >> reporter: with the fall in oil prices iraq

. >> and let us now move to iran's neighbor iraq. scrambling to find a group of americans who disappeared over the weekend in baghdad. iraqi officials say the u.s. nationals were kidnapped from their interpreter's home, that press. the americans were apparently taken to sadr city where all communications and contacts stopped. the u.s. embassy confirms that several americans have gone missing in iraq and the say they are working to locate them. >>> here at home. brutal cold is blanketing a large section of the east with more than 52 million americans under warnings and advisories. dylan is here with the details. we still have a big crowd because it's a holiday, but they are all bundled up obviously. >> objectionly, and i think they were happy to see a little bit of snow. new york for snow. >> it's win thor. >> it's winter and finally feels like it. do have the windchill advisories in effect through the midwest and northern plains stretching all the way through great lakes and even into parts of virginia and southwestern pennsylvania.

fold up and look at her saudi arabia oman and have no interest in what happens in the area for neighboring iraq would be a mistake to assume that. >> philip, you spent time and some of their capabilities. >> what worries me is the longer-term. i think mike touched on this a little bit. where did i put those resources? gehman is not simply the f-16 amin on florida law. what happens if they say a few ap, al qaeda in the arabian peninsula. they have executed a bunch of them but they are in effect give citing source. the same things happens. what happens with this. al qaeda in there. the saudi synonym for us dates were facilitating not. when we leave a vacuum, the vacuuming to get filled here because of this, they are going to look for actors that are strong that no matter project to get stoned and kill enemies. if it's not the united states with their happy moderation in everything else can we might as well turn to them because they know how to kill iranians. the site in order comes from their, again, al qaeda does not like the united states. if they feel they've been completely abandoned and go b

fold up and look out for saudi arabia alone and have no interest in what happens in syria and neighboring iraq and so on i think is -- is -- i think it would be a mistake to assume that. >> phillip, do you want to -- you spent time and you have a pretty clear sense of their -- some of their capabilities anyway. >> what worries me is the longer term. and i think -- mike was touching on this a little bit. where do they put those resources? if we're looking at yemen, it's not simply with the f-15s that are bombing. what happens if they say, well, aqap, al qaeda in the arabian peninsula, they've executed a bunch of them, but they are an effective fighting force. the same thing happens in syria. what happens with that? you had fatah which had nusra which is syrian al qaeda in there. and the saudis and the other gulf states were facilitating that. when we leave a vacuum, the vacuum needs to get filled. and because of they are going to look for actors that are strong and know how to project and get things done and also kill their enemies and if it's not the united states with our happy moderation and

iran. >> reporter: iraq's foreign minister is now offering to mediate between iran and saudi arabia. >> translation: we have solid relations with the islamic republic of iran as neighbors. we have mutual interests, history and relations. iraq cannot stay silent in this crisis. >> reporter: protests over the death of nimr al-nimr have spread beyond the immediate region to greece, but in turkey president erdogan says it is a domestic issue foresaw des. >> translation: 46 of those who were executed were sunni and because they're affiliated with al-qaeda. one was a shia cleric. this decision was taken in saudi arabia complemented it. this is their their decision. you may approve it or not. that say different matter of dispute. >> reporter: his remarks are unlikely to change the opinions of these protesters. the united nations and western governments remain concerned. their fear is that the ongoing dispute will setback efforts to end the far bloodier conflicts of syria and yemen >>> the u.s. has transferred two yemeni men who were imprisoned at guantanamo bay to ghana. they were captured in afghanistan and held without charge for nearly 14 years. they were accused of traini

. >> and let us now move to iran's neighbor, iraq. iraqi forces are scrambling to find a group of americans who disappeared over the weekend in baghdad. iraqi o iraqi iraqi officials say the u.s. officials were kidnapped from their home. the americans were taken to sauter city where all communications and contact stopped stopped. the u.s. embassy has confirmed several americans gone missing in iraq and they're working to locate them. >> here at home, brutal call blanketing a large section of the east with more than 52 million americans under warnings and advisories. dylan is here with the details. we have a big crowd because it's a holiday but they're all bundled up. see some snow. it's winter now and finally feels like it. we have the windshield advisories in effect. this section all the way through the great lakes and in parts of virginia and south western pennsylvania. we have 51 million people under these advisories with windshield warnings in this area. we will see windshields about 25-40 degrees below zero. it feels like 26 belo

. >>> and let us now move to iran's neighbor iraq. right now iraqi forces are scrambling to find a group of americans who disappeared over the weekend in baghdad. iraqi officials say the u.s. nationals were kidnapped from their interpreters home, that according to the american press. the americans were apparently taken to sadir city where all communications stopped. several americans working in iraq say they are working to locate them. >>> brutal cold has blanketed a large segment of the country with 52 million americans. >> i think they were happy to see a little bit of snow. it hasn't been cold enough for snow in new york. it's winter now and it finally feels like it. we do have these windchill this stretches all the way through the great lakes and even into parts of virginia and southwestern pennsylvania. we have 51 until people under these advisories with windchill warnings in this area. windchills will be about 25 to 40 degrees below zero. it feels like 26 below in minneapolis. this extends all the way down to charleston, west vi

in september 1980 saddam hussein's iraq invaded their much larger neighbor to the east. iraq launched a full-scale conventional warfare invasion of iran and thus started the unbelievably bloody iran-iraq war which would go on for eight solid years without a break and that would kill more than a million people including lots and lots and lots of kids. so that started the terrible iran-iraq war started. it started five weeks before the u.s. presidential election in 1980. and even though iran by that point had been holding all these americans hostage for more than a year, iran decided that they would do a deal to let the american hostages out. and one of the reasons why is that they knew the deal would involve a lot of money. one of the things they would be trading the hostages for was the freeing up of iranian assets. and they desperately needed that because of the giant conventional land war they had just entered into with one of their neighboring countries. they needed the money. and so as president carter campaigned for his re-election in the 1980 campaign, carter admini