al-mahdi ordered the destruction of sites in timbuktu as affronts to islamic values.secutors will seek nine to 11 years. this caseists hope will send a warning that pillaging of ancient sites will not go unpunished. kathy clifford has been checking in on how malians are reacting. reporter: as timbuktu watches mayorial from afar, its celebrate having gotten this far. >> we thank god and all our partners, all who have helped with his arrest so today, justice can be done. everyone should know that nobody is beyond justice. reporter: as people here rebuild their city, seeing al-mahdi tried is of great importance. >> the people of timbuktu have been waiting for this trial. these people have caused harm to the population. this trial must go ahead so the perpetrators know the harm they have done. reporter: at the hague, the head malian human rights association says there is a long road to redemption. >> these mazza liam's are our aretitutional -- mausoleums our soul. only parts of the crimes have been accounted for. we would like prosecutors to continue the investigation int

a man from mali is on trial for attacking timbuktu. he is the first islamic extremists charged by the criminal court. he is the first to plead guilty to war crimes. speaking earlier today, he begged forgiveness for the attack. archaeologists are hoping the case will serve as a warning that the site will not -- that the -- of the site will not go unpunished. >> he pleaded guilty to ordering attacks from world heritage site --10 back to back in 2012 heritage site i may timbuktu back in 2012. >> all charges against me are accurate and correct. i am sorry and remorseful. i regret all damage i have caused the community, my family and my country. >> he called on others not to commit similar acts, he is the first suspect to face a charge of attacking religious or historical monuments. it's the first time this court has been able to defend its heritage, to recognize its importance, and to contribute to the fight against those who attack it. start of too often the the worst of atrocities against civilians. the first person to plead guilty since

. >> woodruff: and, an islamic militant apologizes fornt destroying religious monuments in timbuktu in the first ever war crimes trial for cultural destruction. all that and more on tonight's a pbs newshour. >> major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: ♪ ♪ moving our economy for 160 years. bnsf, the engine that connects us. . lincoln financial is committedfi to helping you take charge of your future. >> and the william and flora hewlett foundation, helpingam people build immeasurably better lives.et >> supported by the rockefeller foundation.fo promoting the well-being of humanity around the world by building resilience and inclusive economies. more at rockefellerfoundation.org >> and with the ongoing support of these institutions: w and individuals. >> this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting.co and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> woodruff: republican presidential hopeful donald trump insisted today he's not flip-flopping on his plan to deport some 11 million people living in the u.s. illegally.

i'm really sorry and really remorseful and i regret all damage i've caused the community in timbuktu, my family, and my country, mali. reporter: it has been a remarkable day here at the icc. the prosecutor told the court attacks on cultural heritage had become a weapon of war. she said the sentence should act as a deterrent and a warning to others. al-mahdi himself comes from the timbuktu region and as a result was fully aware of the importance of the mausoleum and their significance to the city inhabitants. reporter: such is the importance of these recently reconstructed monuments. the prosecutor says stonemasons in the region are considered human treasures. katty: the promise that the next generation will be better off than the one before has been powerful part of the american dream. but progress has stalled. according to a new survey, a majority of americans think the future will be worse. it is a pessimistic view that donald trump has been tapping into on the campaign trail. this week we hear from a number of families and we start with scott wilson and his son, who live in souther

a landmark legal moment at a -- pleadslian extremist guilty to order and destruction in timbuktu.his stop more destruction in future? rio

man linked to al qaeda pleads guilty to attacking the asian -- the ancient world heritage site of timbuktu

i was looking in the dhs of these various countries over years, and in places like -- in chad or timbuktu, first of all, the lack of education, no education at all rates are so much higher than in the rest of the country, 85. but also the lack of any access to any news whatsoever, whether radio, newspaper, or television. or cell phones as well. kind of how do you begin to connect communities in a way that makes independent of one another. they don't have to love each other but if their interdependent and invest on each other success, that's a big thing for me as well. one of the projects we saw was really a local community, several of whom were extremely reformists, lots of tension between the very conservatives and the less conservative. oti at the time started a soccer match between them which eventually evolved into weekly banquets, eventually women were involved and i ran into some at the airport and he said i was just a tour guide. i was just with my family at this plan. i know where you were. it was actually, very kind of uplifting intercommunal event. you don't think of that kind o

i was looking into dhs of these various countries over years, and in places like chad or timbuktu, firstf all the lack of education, no education at all rates are so much higher than in the rest of the country. 85. but also the lack of any access to any news whatsoever, whether radio, newspaper or television, or cell phones as well. so kind of how do you begin to connect communities in a way that makes them depend on what another? it would have to each other but if they're independent and invested in each other success, that's been a big thing for me as well. one of the projects that we saw was really a local community, several of whom were extremely reform us, lots of tension between the very conservatives and the less conservatives. oti at the time started a soccer match between them which eventually evolved into weekly banquets, eventually women were involved. i ran into some at the airport and he said i was just a tour guide. i was with my gun at this point. i know where you were. it was actually kind of, very kind of uplifting intercommunal event. you don't think about kind of thing