this is not geneva three. this is leading to what we hope will be a geneva success story if we are able to push it forward. there are political risks, and you will hear them as soon as you will hear the fact that i'm announcing that we intend to do them on the 29th and that i will be issuing invitations tomorrow, but those political risks, intentions, and positions and prepositions should be also taking into account that our line is and the security council has been clear, no preconditions, at least to start the talks and while the talks start. the rest is open, is going to be uphill. they are not in an agreement yet but we are all feeling that has has been happening in the past and what are the region and main stake holder feel, the time has come to at least try hard to produce an outcome. imagine if we did have a ceasefire discussion, siriusly starting and then following the rest, all political risk of starting a conference in fact of intra syrian talks without having a total clarity what direction they will

resolution 2254, it says we are on geneva one, so geneva three will be based among others on geneva one. in geneva one, under american pressure, it was clear that syria will move under a transitional ruling body with executive authority sidelining assad. while today, geneva three talks no more about assad, talks no more about a transitional ruling body with executive powers. now the americans and russians are talking because russia insist on a national unity government under assad. that's far from the original understanding of geneva one. basically, we are seeing more washing to be acquiescing to russian pressures in geneva. >>> up to 400,000 syrian people are trapped and need emergency assistance. many have died trying to get to a better life in europe. on the turkey-syria border, our correspondent talked to syrians about their hopes for talks in geneva. >> this is the reality in syria. the government is on the offensive. they are focused on damascus. opposition rebels reject and ultimatum to withdraw from the area. the strategy is to isolate it from an area under a government blockade

everyone is in geneva, but they've not actually started any substantial negotiation. we've heard from both sides. we've heard for the first time from the government side, even though they arrived here first, it's the opposition, he spoke to the media first, the delegation i guess headed by syria's am boss deer. he said his negotiation was here on time and ready for talks monday. he said the opposition are delaying, not in the spirit of the invitation or the u.n. resolution that set up this process. in effect, he said they are not serious. >> we are not aware of the other party, including the special envoy and his team. they do not have a final lift of the other names of the parties. they have delayed six days and do not have a final list as we speak. there is more than one delegation representing the opposition. we refer to them as the opposition parties, not party. >> it sounds like they haven't agreed yet how to proceed. >> they've had their meeting with the u.n. special envoy. he said he remained optimistic. that's the word he's been using throughout this process,

forward once there are two delegations in place here in geneva. for a process, if does finally get underway, that is supposed to be a very long process, potentially six months of negotiations if they go ahead and keep going >>> thank you for that. at least 39 refugees have drowned trying to make the crossing from turkey to greece. that's accord to turkish state media. a boat carrying more than 100 refugees sank when it hit rocks on saturday. some people may find these images distressing. >> reporter: they are casualties of war and poverty. among them a small child, other children and adults too. washed up on a beach in turkey. their boat had sunk not far from the rocks. in all about a third of the 120 people on board didn't make it, drowning as they tried to reach greece, a gateway to europe used by so many before them. some of the victims are thought to have been from syria. all this as politicians in geneva gather for talks to try to end the nearly five-year long war. >> we will save you don't worry >> reporter: overnight another group of refuge

he was taken in the area of geneva avenue, 201 geneva avenue, we believe. still piecing this together, a waiting to hear from the boston police and boston police details on what the situation was that led up to the shooting, what was happening in that particular area. and the chase that ensued that led them to the suspect who they now have in custody in boston police -- boston police now have that suspect in custody. so details still working on exactly what happened and how that officer is doing right now. i think it's a relief to know, based on the previous boston officer who was shot, and, again, that was in april of 2015, when officer john moynahan was shot in the face. it's a bit of a relief to know that this officer was shot in so that is a wound that apparently would be something that would not be major in nature, however, we still don't know the circumstances of that. but certainly, you would think that would be something that they could treat a lot easier than the situation officer moynahan was facing back in april of last year of 2015. if there's a

headquarters which is on the edge of geneva, by lake geneva, to the center of geneva. just outside a hotel. because that's where we're expecting the opposition delegation in the next hour or so. we're expecting them to land in geneva at some point pretty soon. there may be a slightly delay when they land because we're told the 17-member delegation has some members in it who haven't yet received their sways visas. so delay, and-- swiss visas. so delay. we expect them to advise the press what they're doing here. this is the main opposition group coming from saudi arabia. they said they were not going to come here until their conditions were met. now they've decided to travel here but it's pretty clear they're not coming yet for negotiation. they've been given assurances by a number of international figures by the u.n., by the russians but most importantly by the u.s. secretary of state john kerry in a phone call, verbal assurances. i think they're trying to see when they arrive here, before anything happens, that some of those measures that they promised will be put in p

has sent out invitations to this week's planned talks in geneva on the war in syria. it follows weeks of dispute about which opposition groups should be asked to take part. let's take you straight away to geneva, and speak to james bayes. james tell us who is on the

headquarters in geneva by late here. in fact already the syrian ambassador in geneva and his staff are waiting for them in this building. the delegation will be headed by the ambassador of syria to the u.n. in new york. he was the chief negotiator two years ago when there were talks and he was very much blamed by the opposition for not being constructive and for the collapse of those talks two years ago >>> it was always going to be a very difficult task wasn't it to get these various groups sitting around various tables. as we understand it's not to be direct negotiation yet, is it. is it right to maintain some optimism that at least the process is underway? >> reporter: yes. i think so because the latest reports that i'm getting, and that is not properly confirmed yet from riyadh but diplomats are telling me that an idea that was floating around a couple of days ago have been revived, and that's the possibility that by the end of the day a very small delegation from riyadh from the high negotiating commission will come

this is why all the syrians, they ask what will achieve in geneva, if geneva just taking pictures or giving the bashar al-assad to speak against the syrian people, against the opposition >>> france says it will recognise a palestinian state if talks for a two-state solution false. talks between the israelis and palestinians will be brokered again. in france recognise plain state that it would be the third permanent member of the u.n. security council to do so after china and russia. a substantial majority of 9193 member states of the u.n. have done the same. the vatican formally accepted palestinian as a state after an historic agreement earlier this month. in 2014 sweden became the first e.u. in member to recognise palestinian state. palestinian also has a nonmember observer state us at the u.n. its flag was raised for the first time last year as a symbolic gesture >>> a fellow at the institute of policy studies and says the recognition of a palestinian state is symbolic but there is more to be done >> it is a very good thing if we're talking about negotiations that are raised on in

3 talks. >> his assessment of those talks in geneva. thanks so. >> it was once a nazi show pi e piece. now it has been drafted in action to house some of the thousands of refugees pouring in to germany. dominic kane reports. >> this was once a point of departure for germans looking to travel to foreign parts. now, it is a point of arrival for a growing number of refugees. the hangars that housed aircraft now house people. most have come to germany from syria with their families. >> abu hassan says the conditions here are cramped. >> first of all, i want to thank the german government and the german population for the helpfulness. in reality, the situation that's a refugee camp here is bad and miss realissipp miserable. we care about our personal space. this is not to be found. the food is very bad. we and the other families take the food and throw it away. >> many of these people have been here since last september. the company that is providing the facilities to look after them says the system needs to change. >> what has to happen her

sarah: let's bring our correspondent who joins us from geneva. peace talks over syria do not have a good track record, though the last time they made an effort, it collapsed after two frowns. what is the move this time around? andreas: the mood is very pessimistic. one, not all the players are here, and two, nobody is fighting right now -- nobody who is fighting right now in syria seems to be willing to stop this bloody war and come to some kind of political solution. sarah: there's a lot of confusion about if the main opposition group is going to attend. first, they said they will not. now it seems they might attend on sunday. what has been the hold up on that front? andreas: you have to read very carefully their announcement. it would appear there's a small delegation tomorrow night, saturday night, to test the waters, to test the willingness, the seriousness of the other players and of the united nations. they explicitly state that as long as there are preconditions, they will not actually into negotiations. these preconditions are an end to t

from what we understand, this is the bowdoin geneva section. >> we thought there were woods, clearing in the neighborhood. just to reiterate if you're just joining us, breaking news that we have been following, this boston police officer was shot in dorchester. he does not have life-threatening injuries, and this is the good news in all of this, he was shot in the leg, and taken to boston medical center, and those at the medical center said that they weren't urgently working on him as they took him out of the ambulance. >> we know that there's one person in police custody, a witness, and a suspect as being reported by nbc news, it's unclear at this point. through official sources as we have heard, you would think that given how thickly settled this area is, there would be many witnesses that have seen something or provided something to the police, and a lot of homes these days are if i wanted we see it all the time. and we see here, the front door of that left open, the evidence tape, the crime tape around t. >> it looks like a few cars are involved in this. let's send it back out to

the syrian government delegation, as you say, are now in geneva. i told you an hour ago that they were meeting in two hours time. that meeting's been pushed back for one hour, the meeting between the syrian ambassador to the u.n. and the special envoy. no timing for a meeting between opposition physician. as you say, the opposition were pretty animate in the last few days that they weren't going to come to geneva until their demands were met. that's changed a little. they now saying they're not going to negotiate until their demands are merit and right now are mid wait in a flight from riyadh to geneva. we understand 30 people on the flight representing the high negotiating commission, that's the main opposition bloch, some of the main political players and armed groups fighting on the ground in syria, but they're still making it clear although they are coming to discuss with the special envoy their concerns, they are not at this stage going to take part in negotiations until they are happy that their concerns have been properly addressed. >>> when

>>> >>> the main opposition arrives in geneva. there is no sign of let up on the ground >>> coming up in the next half hour, a far right mob threat ens to attack refugees in the center of sweden's capital city city. myanmar's leaders are serenadeked by their formers military masters. the main syrian opposition group is in geneva for talks ending the civil war, but only hours after arriving they are now threatening to walk out. they're calling for u.n. says solutions to be acted on and demand humanitarian access for besieged areas. our correspondent has more from geneva. >> reporter: a very large group of press here, quite chaotic scenes when they arrived here because we all want to know the exact position of this, the main opposition grouping. the spokesman when he came here said that they still believe that that u.n. resolution at the end of december means there are things which should be put in place now before talks take place. he said they weren't his group's conditions, they were conditions of the u.n. secretary council. i th

i mean are we going to go from where we left thing during geneva 1 and geneva 2? or what is going to happen regarding this issue, please? >> let me not prejudge. i'm the mediator, not the negotiator here. i am not the negotiator, so we should not prejudge what the sides will be discussing. what i can tell you is that the agenda is very clear. the agenda is extremely clear in what the security council is instructing me to facilitate and all sides have accepted. one is governance. we are talking about an governance which is all inclusive, a governance which is obviously of a special type of nature, oerwise we would not need to talk about it. secondly, a new constitution, not just what it is already, and three, new elections and the u.n. -- and the u.n. supervision. that is the agenda. now let's allow the sides when they sit together or through us by proxy talks to be able to negotiate that. i will not prejudge it. i have got -- i have -- i don't have hundred [ inaudible ] i see a gentlemen down there, and then i have to be a little bit flexible here. over to you. [

headquarters in geneva. the syrian ambassador to the united nations in new york, is heading his country's delegation, and came here to set out his case to the u.n. special envoy. it was during their meeting that word came through from saudi arabia, that the main opposition block, which for days said it will not come to geneva, unless its demands are met, said that they would finally make the journey here to switzerland. when he spoke to reporters, stefan de mistura said he couldn't confirm the news until he got a written confirmation, from the high negotiating committee, but he had heard good signs. >> they raised important points of their concerns. they'd would like to see addressed from the government authorities regarding some type of improvement for the people in syria during the talks. for instance, really, the lifting of some matters. >> reporter: members of the high negotiating committee have told al jazeera that they have been in touch with the u.n., u.s. and russia, who have given them reassurances

. >> james bayes keeping us up to date on those talks in geneva. thanks, james. ♪ >>> at least four people have been killed in an attack on a shiite mosque in saudi arabia. it .. -- happened during friday prayers. 18 others were hurt. witnesses said one suicide bombbom bomber blew himself up outside of the mosque, a second exchanged gunfire with security personal and was latest arrested. no one has claimed responsible for the attack. a senior columnist for the saudi gazette, and says security forces are questioning one of the shooters. >> there was two shooters. one of them was trying to get into the mosque, but was stopped by the security officers, and when they found he had something wrong about him, they tried to capture him, so he ran away, and they cut him. they -- wounded him and cut him alive. the other one managed to get in and shoot at the -- at the -- at the people inside the mosque. between the last sermon and [ inaudible ] and they managed to also to warn him with the help of the people in the mosque, and they -- they killed him at th

headquarters by lake geneva in this grand building where he will meet staffan de mistura the u.n. envoy. we have some other opposition figures who are in geneva, been here for some days and are not part though of the main opposition block, that main block of political groups and armed groups who were convened in saudi arabia, the so called riyadh list and they have written a letter making their position very clear to the united nations and security council we are not coming to geneva until our conditions are met and having said they they are coming to geneva, a small group of the negotiating committee we understand to begin with and maybe three or four people are actually going to now make their way to geneva to have discussions with staffan de mistura we believe probably to make it clear what the rest of their negotiating team are not coming here and it's not really clear whether this is to prepare the way perhaps to back down a little and for the rest of their team to come here all simply to explain and make their case very publically because the government will be here why they

were are syrians worried about geneva and the possible outcome? >> reporter: those who support the opposition feel that the united states and the west have changed their positions. they're no longer concerned about regime change but regime stability because for them the priority is to fight i.s.i.l., its counter terrorism. people feel that and they feel that the u.s. has softened its stance. there's a number of reasons. they point out to the issue of the syrian president bashar al-assad, his future role in syria. at the beginning the u.s. was calling for him to step down, his immediate departure. we're no longer hearing that. the u.s. backed the u.n. resolution which makes no mention of as add. so people with word worried wo that he could play a role in that. they're saying the u.s. secretary of state john kerry exerted a lot of pressure on the opposition to attend in geneva and they made it very clear that there can be no preconditions. we know that the opposition delegation is asking for certain - the lifting of blockades, the sieges, the haltin

headquarters in geneva and certainly there will be discussions but i don't think there are going to be what we were thinking was going to happen which are the start of proper negotiations and that is because all the parties at this stage are not here. the syrian government delegation we understand and have not yet seen any pictures of them and we understand they have landed at geneva airport, delegation headed by the ambassador to new york bashar bringing a big delegation we understand to geneva and i understand in the coming hours he is going to be meeting the u.n. envoy staffan de mistura and some opposition figures are here but the main delegation that was drawn up on the list in saudi arabia they in resent days have written letters to the u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon and copies to the u.n. security council saying we are not coming to geneva because we have certain conditions to be met and we cannot possibly come and talk around our table when our colleagues are being bombed on the ground in syria and want sieges lifted and they are conditions put before they come to geneva an

our diplomatic editor james bays is in geneva and joins me now. look, we have heard that they have arrived in switzerland, they are expected at the hotel where you are, but we still don't know exactly what their position is, do we? >> reporter: no. i think we need some clarification of their position. i think from what i have -- the sources that we have been speaking to, including some who have arrived here early and also some of their advisers, and they have a lot of different groups advising them. is that they are coming here to make their case, and to see if some of the things that they have been told while they are in riyadh, will actually come true. they were told i think by a number of different countries, by saudi arabia, where they were based, they were told by the u.s., even spoke to the russians and the u.n. if you come to geneva, we can sort out and address your concerns. and then hopefully you'll be able to join this process. it's interesting that when they get here, everyone wants to meet them. in fact, we have seen here in the thole

it comes at direct talks on the syrian conflict are due to get underway in geneva friday. activists say government forces recaptured one of the most important towns in southern syria. it is on the key supply line linking damascus to the city. >>> it's been a miserable day for markets across arab after mainland chinese shares slumped, leaving stock markets falling more than 6% following a further fall in the price of oil. >>> the russian foreign minister sergey lavrov has said it's impossible to reach an agreement in syria without inviting kurds to take part in the negotiations. >> the fighters which the u.s. supports and who are fighting isil, they're trying to prevent them from participating in the syrian talks. this is our common problem. it's not simply unfair and counterproductive, it's a problem with the u.s. the u.s. believes the kurds are one of its closest allies in the fight against terrorism. i hope the u.s. will not leave this problem unsolved. >> talking about who will be invited and who not, the invitations have been sent out. james bays joins us live. what ar

in the solution and the geneva agenda. to engage in syrian dialogue without any foreign influence. this particular issue was violated grossly by the other party. here i would like to share a very significant piece of information with you. as we speak, the other party, including the special envoy, they do not, nor do we, have a final list of the names of the other parties. we have six days, we do not have a final list. there are more than one delegation representing the opposition. that's why we were referring to the opposition parties rather than the opposition party. we are met with a number of delegations. the final agenda is not clear. what is clear is that certain international neighboring layers are repeating the same mistake-- players are repeating the same mistake where the coalition was forced to come into the negotiations with the syrian government. this has proven to be a failure and today the same mistake is made by certain capital cities, arab cities, who are willing to create a status quo where a delegation he

the main opposition group says it will now go to geneva. live from doha also ahead on the program, france says it will recognise a palestinian state if a final push for talks for a two state solution fails fails. rescued after 36 days trapped underground. but will more chinese miners surface. plus >> >> no strength or energy, not to even sit down. >> reporter: the symptoms of the zika virus. we talk to one woman who was infected >>> talks aimed at ending the war in syria are off to a shaky start in geneva. delegates from the largest opposition group have agreed to come to geneva. >> reporter: the start of the syria talks, but on day one just one side was present. the syrian government delegation headed by the country's ambassador to the united nations, meeting with the u.n. special envoy staffan de mistura. it was during this meeting that news emerged that the main opposition group said it would now travel to geneva. mr staffan de mistura told are reporters he had to wait for official confirmation, but he said he was optimistic. >> i have g

>> i'm from the newspaper in geneva. the riyadh opposition, if we are determined that, has been repeating for the past few days that it will not come as long as bombing continues and there's no ceasefire. has this group changed its views, have you invited it a second time or are you waiting for it to change its mind and now on the ceasefire, are you expecting a general ceasefire or a local regional one, region by region? >> well, every party has a right to decide when it wishes to come, but our main principle is no preconditions, so just come and talk about everything that i guess of concern to you. in this specific case, it's already clear that we will be pushing and i think from the america and russian side, there's also an interest in this. at the beginning, we will discuss a ceasefire, so the choice is to start talking about it before or during. now, we do have away priority, so if we instead of talking about something for six months relating to the future of syria, we start talking about it right away. and i think t

are being sent out today, tuesday, from geneva by the envoy. he says he wants the broadest spectrum possible of the opposition at the talks. that is angering those that gathered in saudi arabia, the opposition groups, because under the so-called vienna process of international countries and regional countries who gather together to get these talks going, it was going to be saudi arabia that was coming up with a list of opposition. moscow didn't like the saudi list and mr mistura has listened and brought in a wider list. it's not clear that they were on the saudi group, and an important decision we need to hear in the coming hours >>> thank you for that. in other world news the w.h.o. is warning the zika virus could spread to almost every country in the americas. scientists are investigating a suspected link between the mosquito born illness and birth defects in thousands of babies in brazil. the u.s. government is warning pregnant women against visiting zika hot spots. >> reporter: it all started last may with brz brazil's first case of the vir

james bays in geneva. away from switzerland in sear i can't ya itself, there have been a number of explosions, at least 50 people were killed in the capital damascus, paul brennan has more on that. >> reporter: the triple blast ripped apart nearby vehicles, shattered adjacent buildings and killed scores of people not immediate vicinity. the attackers' main target appears to be a bus which was carrying shia militia man. the district in southern damascus is a site of pilgrimage and home to syria's holiest site, a shrine. militia men and syrian army joels operate roadblocks around the shrine. lebanese brooks and other iraqi and a iranian militias have a strong present there and many visit the shrine before heading to the frontline. >> translator: i say mercy for the martyrs and a quick recovery for the injured. i would like to say that these messages that are drenched in blood will not stop us but make us more resistent and determined. >> reporter: syrian state news agency quoting an interior ministry source

. >> thank you for that, diplomatic editor in geneva. let's now take a closer look at who controls different regions of syria and reporting restrictions make it hard to be precise on this and rebels hold areas near the border with turkey and idlib previously held by rebels is in army hands but rebels control the countryside and capitol damascus is largely under state control and provinces held by the government except for a few pockets of resistance and activists estimate that two thirds is in rebel hands. military and rebels both control hearts of homs the epicenter of the up rising and home to syria's minority is under state control and on monday the syrian army recaptured a strategic town in the southern providence of deraa although fighting is continuing on the outskirts and let bring in a senior fellow at the american university of beirut and live us with from the lebanese capitol and i think we all agree that the over all picture right now is that the russian air support has shored up the assad regime in the last few months and war

in geneva on monday. i think that would be the best hope of the u.n. team who are trying to mediate these talks >>> up to 400,000 people in syria are trapped and need emergency treatment. our correspondent is in gaziantep has spoken to syrians about their hopes for the talks in geneva. >> reporter: this is the reality in syria. the government backed by russian air power is on the offensive. their focus now is on the suburbs south-west of the capital damascus. they are tightening the siege after opposition rebels rejected an ultimate mate um to withdraw from the area area. >> translation: when the regime can enter the enter, their strategy is to blockade and push the people and fighters in submission. while geneva is happening, they are tightening control over areas and the air strikes are increasing. >> reporter: many are supporting the saudi based high councils decision not to involve in the situation. they want the release of detain detainees before it agrees to negotiations >> translation: we are against the meeting. geneva is not serious about the

geneva communication and i think that in the press conference will talk about geneva communication without mentioning anything else outside that otherwise he knows that a lot of coalition and armed groups won't go according to what the regime wants but according to what is written in the united nations paper and all those countries signed which is geneva 2012. >> in istanbul thank you very much. >> south sudan's former president and rebel leader says a deal to form a unity government has collapsed. and he says it has fallen through because the president wants to nearly trouble the number of states in sudan and appoint governors and says the increase undermines their power-sharing deal. >> peace agreements and even the transitional constitution of south sudan and ten states but now the government is insisting that it should be to the united states. >> the conflict in south sudan began in december 2013 after the president accused of having him over thrown and thousands were killed in the violence and forced to leave, a ceasefire was signed last month and failed within hours. in the same year

>> >>> as leaders gather in geneva to try to find an end to syria's war, a series of bombs tear through damascus, killing at least 50 people. >>> you're watching al jazeera i'm david foster, also coming up in this programme, europe's security agency says thousands of refugee children are missing after having arrived in europe, and they may have been targeted by criminal gangs. an attack in nigeria. the armed group boko haram is being blamed >>> and increasing violence in the west bank, a palestinian police officer shot dead after wounding three israelis. >>> well, it's been more than a year in the making, but even now as leaders gather in geneva for talks to end the war in syria there are still deep divisions over the country's future. syria's opposition is threatening to lead the discussions unless demands are met. and this includes the aid to towns such as maiduguri where people are starving. syria's u.n. ambassador says he and his team are considering humanitarian steps, but accuses the opposition of not being serious about the situation. diplomatic editor james bays reports from gen

a syrian government delegation has now arrived in geneva. the u.n. envoy says he will meet them in the coming hours. de mistura has confirmed he will meet other participates in an aim to end the war. but some say they will not negotiate unless certain conditions are met. our diplomatic editor, james bayes joining us live from geneva to tell us what your sources, james are telling you about the participation of the opposition delegation, whether they will be talking. >>> well, the opposition delegation or some of them seem to be definitely coming to geneva from riyadh. that's the word we are getting. it has been a pretty con flewsed picture of who will be coming here. and what is for certain is if they do some on the ground here another geneva they are not at this stage coming to negotiate anything. they are coming to make their position clear which is they are unhappy for the backdrop for any negotiations here. they say they have conditions that need to be met, and they are conditioned that are outlined in the u. u.n. -- resolution passed at the end

i think we're more closer to geneva sounding more and more like geneva >>> you for analysis. with talks in geneva off to a shaky start, people inside syria saying the horrors faced by civilians have only worsened and they doubt anything significant will be achieved. >> reporter: it has continued suffering like this that syrian activists hopes will make an impact in geneva. they are deploring diplomats to remember the plight of those people, from those having too little food to too many taking cover from bombs. >> many people are killed by these cluster bombs. it is forbidden internationally. just to remember this, okay. >> reporter: a war zone as the talks in switzerland, and people say they're not faithful. >> translation: they can't deliver milk to people in madaya. >> reporter: those besieged in madaya that despite delivery of aid people continue to die of starvation. >> translation: the aid is about to run out. it was delivered more than 10 days ago and the u.n. and the red cross now it can't last more than 15 days. even now we still have lots of hunger here >> reporter:

thank you for that update from geneva. with these talks off to a shaky start as james is telling us, activists inside syria saying the suffering of the civilians has worsened and they doubt anything substantial will be achieved. a warning: you may find items in this report cities turning -- disturbing. >> many hope this meeting will make an impact. >> as demonstrators are imploring diplomats to remember the plight of their people, from those who have too little food to those taking cover from too many bombs. >> daily killed, many civilians are killed. constant bombs. just to remember this. okay? >> reporter: a war zone as they hear of talks starting and stalling in switzerland. many syrians say they aren't hopeful. >> the u.n. can't even ensure is the delivery of carton of milk. >> those in the besieged town tell al jazeera despite the delivery of aid people continue to die of starvation. >> the aid is about to run out. it was delivered more than 10 days ago, and the u.n. and the red cross know they can't last more than 15

talks aimed add earning the war in sya begin in geneva. the main opposition group thousand says ito yousays it wi. group says it now will be going. i'm fawazy ibrahim. >> people working for the united nations and the causes of peace and security feel. >> allegations of child sex abuse by european peace keepers in the central african republic, the youngest victim is a seven-year-old girl. after 36 days trapped underground four chinese miners are rescued, more are missing. >>> an ancient form of art is making a come back. talks aimed at ending the war in syria have finally started in switzerland. the main opposition group is on their way to geneva. jaibs lasjames bays has more. >> the start of the talks on day 1, just one side was rent. the syrian government delegation, headed by bashar al jaffray, greeted by staffan de mistura. news emerged that the main opposition group said it would travel to geneva. mr. dee mistura said he was optimistic. >> i have good reasons to believe that they are actually considering this very seriously. and ther t

going to james bays who is live in geneva. i suppose the fact that they are happening now is some sort of progress. >> reporter: i think it also justifies the u.n.'s decision, which i think was a difficult decision, to go ahead with a start to this process as planned on friday. talks on syria with only one of the sides here, the syrian government. the meeting lasted for over two hours with the head of syrian delegation. i think the u.n. felt we have to keep the momentum of this process. we don't want to do anything that will make the main opposition block come here by maybe by starting things it will encourage them to come here. clearly that has worked. they are on their way, but let's be clear what that group of opposition members, some of the key political groups, some of the key armed factions, what they're coming here for. they say at this stage they are not coming to take part in negotiations. they are coming to see whether some of the concessions they say have been offered to them are actually going to be realized. yes,

we saw it two years ago when last time there were talks here in geneva and i think the reason you're seeing military initiatives right now just days before talks are about to start is because staffan de mistura the u.n. envoy who is going to deal with these talks, convene these talks said one of the first things on the agenda is get ceasefires in places in syria as well as humanitarian access and now i think when the various parties and in this case the syrian government here that possibly a ceasefire is coming soon they clearly try and make some military gains before that ceasefire because they know that once there is a ceasefire the military situation will be frozen so i think what you're seeing on the ground right now in syria and in particular in the last few hours in deraa is linked to the fact that there is prospect of these talks at the end of the week starting here in geneva. >> and while u.n. humanitarian agencies have been speaking about the dire situation on the ground in syria saying civilians are the ones suffering we have the u.n. residence humanitarian coordinator and

the main syrian opposition group will join the peace talks in geneva. they end their boycott after receiving u.n. and u.s. guarantees. peace talks began earlier in geneva. fresh troops faced allegations of child sex abuse in africa. brazil is losing the battle against the zika virus. the president has called for a national effort to eradicate the mosquito that carries it. you very much for being with us. the latest on the syrian peace taalks. the rebels say they will attend. it has emerged the main rebel group has had assurances from the u.s. and the u.n. over humanitarian aids in terms of the cease-fire. these images -- taken before the decision was made. the meeting as face-to-face between al-assad and the u.n. envoy. the opposition declared they are coming to geneva for the, to participate. so, i'm just telling you that. [laughter] >> she is giving me an information, as you can imagine. i have been hearing rumors and information already. we heard them many times. havei will react to -- i reasons to believe. i will only reacts when i get a formal indi

. ♪ >> syrian's main opposition representatives are in geneva. they have yet to commit to direct negotiations with the assad government. our diplomatic editor, james bays has the latest from geneva. >> reporter: a large group of press here, quite chaotic scenes when they arrived here because we all want to know the position, the exact position, of this the main opposition grouping. when the spokesman came here, they said that they still believe the u.n. resolution at the end of december means there are things that should be put in place now before talks take place. he said they weren't -- -- /* hiz group's conditions. conditions of the u.n. security council, and i pressed him as to whether these conditions would have to be met before they sat down. >> if those conditions are not met, will you engage in talks? >> we will -- we are ready we are ready to start negotiation, but at least we should see something, you know, on ground there in syria. we should stop these massacres. save our children, the remaining children of syria and we are willing to

has sent out invitations to this week's planned talks in geneva on the war in syria. it follows weeks of dispute about which opposition groups should be asked to take part. james bayes is in geneva and has more on the diplomatic movements behind the talks. >> we knew 24 hours ago when stephane de mistura said he was going to go for the widest possible representation of the opposition. one country, saudi arabia, would go and find who the opposition were, who should be part of the opposition delegation. saudi arabia did that. they pulled together lots of opposition groups and pulled together what they called the riyadh list. saudi arabia and those on that list, believe they should be the opposition that comes here. but russia objected to that reed a list, saying that there were too many fighting groups, too many jihadists, there weren't enough kurds and secular people on the list. and in the end under a u.n. resolution passed at the end of last year, the representations are going to be decided by the u.n., and he has clearly decided to include people not on the riyadh l

peace talks aimed at ending the civil war in syria got underway in geneva. opposition groups they would join by this weekend. unlessefusing to do so the bombing of civilian areas was halted. they said they will not negotiate with the syrian government. reporter: syria has been ripped apart i almost five years of increasing horror. flee.ors will continue to the migrant crisis will grow. only islamist extremists will flourish. the u.n. diplomat made the director video appeal to the syrian people. >> you women, men, and children of syria are saying enough. enough killing, murdering, torturing, prisons. toneed to hear your voice everyone who is coming to this conference saying this conference must be an opportunity. reporter: it is an opportunity only one side pickup. the assad government sent representatives. they said they could not talk as long as they were being bombed. cannot do this. humanitarian obligation toward the syrian people. reporter: the u.n. mediator was left discussing it with the assad group. on the critical question of president assad standing

let's take you straight away to geneva, and speak to james bayes. james tell us who is on the guest list then? >>> well, we knew 24 hours ago when stephane dee mature are when he said he was go for the widest possible representation. the u.n. saying they are going to wait and see who accepts the invitations and then they will issue a list of participants. but he has done what he said he was going to do which was invite a wide representation, which is not what many of the key opposition groups want. this is the so-called vienna process that built these talks that was supposed to take place on friday. part of the early meetings had a decision that one country, saudi arabia would go and find who the opposition were, who should be part of the opposition delegation. saudi arabia did that. they had meetings, conferences in riyadh, they pulled together what they called the riyadh list. saudi arabia, and those on that riyadh list believe they should be, the opposition that comes here. but russia objected to that reed a list, saying that there were too many

james bayes is in geneva for those talks and joins us live. do we know if any of the syrian opposition representatives are actually on their way to switzerland? >> reporter: we are hearing that come will be making their way, but we have been getting very confusing and conflicting reports out of riyadh for some hours, and it seems the plane has not taken off at this stage. so what we have right now in geneva is just one of the main delegations here and that's the syrian government delegation in the country, not quite in the u.n., but take a look around us where we are. you can see the microphones set up, you can see the u.n. officials by the door. they are here to welcome the syrian government delegation in just the next fewing minutes. the press are here, hundreds of journalists from all over the world to watch the arrival of one side in this peace talks process. what we're expecting felicity in the next few minutes is syria's ambassador to the united nations in new york who is leading their delegation to come through those doors and come to s

our correspondent joining us from geneva where those talks are taking place. i suppose it is a progress of sorts that these talks are even taking place right now. >> reporter: yes. we've seen the talks start but only with one side, with the syrian government delegation led by the syrian ambassador. he was uncharacterise particularally quiet when he arrived at the u.n. and when he left. he had a meeting with staffan de mistura. i know well from covering his events in yorke and he gives news conferences that are up to 45 minutes to an hour long. on this occasion he said nothing. i think he has come understand pressure to say nothing because what they really are trying to avoid is a collapse of this process before it has even started. it has been a very shaky start because, as i say, only one side here on day one, friday. now the news on saturday that the opposition are on their way. tricky to get concrete information from the opposition camp. they are based in riyadh. we're told that the plane is on its way. one source telling me 31 people on it and another high

syrian activists hope will make a meaningful impact in geneva. as demonstrators in various parts of syria imploring sthem o remember the plight of their people, from those who have too little food to those taking cover from too many bombs. >> many civilians are killed. just to remember this. okay? a war zone as they hear of talks stopping appear starting. many say they aren't hopeful. the u.n. can't even ensure the delivery of cartons of mic to the children of maidia. those in the besieged town tell al jazeera that despite the delivery of aid people continue to die of starvation. >> the aid is about to run out. it was delivered more than 10 years ago. the u.n. and the red cross know the aid can't last more than 15 days. en now, we have lots of hunger here others are as angry with the divided opinion zils as they are with the syrian government. >> this is a message urging you to unify. it's not just assad's barely bombs killing us, not just russia's missiles. the differences and divisions are killing us. we need to unite. >> unity and disagreement

even those on the opposition list are not yet committed to attend geneva. they want reassurances that what happened last time there were syrian negotiations two years ago won't be repeated. they claim the syrian government was deliberately obstructiontive and derailed those talks. they want to guarantee if that happens again, the u.s. and its allies has a plan b. it is thought this time around the format will begin with days of what are known as proximity talks in the u.n.'s headquarters in geneva the two sides will be kept in separate rooms with demestora shuttling between them. he said the parties taking place will not be allowed to be part of the transitional government that the talks are supposed to create. so there are rules in place, but for talks that for now look far from certain >>> a final raid of aid has been delivered to besieged towns across syria. aid agencies have been given access to the towns near the border with lebanon. they have delivered fuel and medical supplies. iraq's oil rubbish kurdish province is starting to feel the impact of the

now it's civilian elite that is coming to geneva. but there's a civil society and women's group put together, and there's another group that represents more leftist opposition members, softer opposition members, that are going to meet as well. there could be as many as four rooms full of people. including the syrian government, and three opposition groups. it's not clear right now how the structure of the meetings is going to take place. >> very early days, as you say. thank you. joshua landers talking to us there. >> it's a pleasure >>> at least 10,000 unaccompanied child refugees, many fleeing the war in syria are said to have disappeared. it's feared some may have fallen into sex trafficking rings. the law enforcement agency said thousands of minors vanished after registering with local government. 5,000 have gone missing alone. it's a relief that the process of tracking children down is starting. >> the fact that they are paying attention to minors, it's up to 10,000, and some could have fall in cm hands. we don't know what the r

talks aimed at ending the war in syria are off to a shaky start in geneva. the opposition have agreed to come to switzerland, but they're yet to come to agreements with bashar al-assad. france says it will recognise the palestinian state if the final push for talks of a two-state solution will fail. the country will look at holding an international conference soon to revive talks between israelis and palestinians. the ongoing violence in burundi is top of the agenda at the annual meeting of the african in the ethiopian capital. leaders will discuss burundi's refusal to accept an african peace keeping force along with the widers issues of security there. one of the priorities of the talks on syria will be getting aid to besieged civilians. in the town of madaya thousands of people there are still at risk of starvation. you may find images in this report disturbing. >> reporter: the residents of the besieged syrian town of madaya are still starving to death. three weeks after receiving supplies. it has been cut off since last summer. government forces control