world heritage site and is that bull's most iconic landmark into a museum but turkish president rajapaksa one push to restore its status as a mosque he said that international pressure to keep it a museum was a violation of turkey's national sovereignty the russian orthodox church has called the move on acceptable. let's go to istanbul where did jones is standing by for us hi dorian tell us more about what's behind this decision. well president heard one has been flirting with his idea ever since he came to power in the early 20 years ago but why now well the church economy is in deep trouble very very badly hit by the cove in 1000 epidemic and i think this move is seen as very much trying to try to change the conversation given the fact the polls indicate he's ruling a.k.p. is at record lows albeit it still the main party it is hemorrhaging votes out of alarming rate according to one supporters so this is very much seen as consolidating both his religious but his nationalist base as well and that's particularly important because in the last few months 2 new center right parties were merg

was recently converted back into a muslim place of worship a controversial to create by president rajapaksa to one change the building status . more. prayers led by a president on a friday that will become unforgettable in turkey thousands of muslims gathered in worship for the 1st time in 86 years was. oh i see iconic buildings journey through time from orthodox christian cathedral to muslim mosque to museum for many here and historic wrong has been righted. but only young and old i'm not a gun. we have been waiting for higher sophia to open as a mosque for decades for decades we said that the chains will break and hyacinth here will reopen the young women that was my this remains a museum this kind of atmosphere would not have been possible it doesn't mean much for the people abroad and i think the important thing is what the people of turkey want these were happy. but everyone critics in turkey see the conversion as a political ploy to score points with his conservative base. and the move has sparked dismay among christian leaders and some western countries that this one time symbol of c

turkey's president rajapaksa says steps taken by egypt in libya are illegal egypt's president has threatened to arm tribal leaders who back warlord holy for half that. says his country would support tough task forces if tripoli's government and its turkish allies were near their assault on the city of sirte as a foreign minister has been sacked for the president calls and many less negotiations with neighboring alania being 16 soldiers and civilians have been killed in cross border attacks since sunday fighting has resumed after a brief ceasefire from foster walker reports homes damaged daily life disrupted lives lost in azerbaijan's top boots region this is the human cost of the fighting . even before he. goes out of as a last phone call to her father she could hear artillery in the background he went out after breakfast and was hit by a shell no one was with him when he died she said. armenian civilians are also suffering a cease fire brokered by the o.s.c. on wednesday broke down on thursday morning this is the armenian defense ministry says is the village of party. later on thursday azer