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Theres been a car bomb in a parking lot in the lebanese capitol and as many as 37 people have been wounded. It was in a southern suburb of beirut in an area which is the ronghold of the group hes hezbollah. One of the busiest times of the day. The area is a stronghold of the armed group hezbollah. Its been actively involved in the Syrian Civil War as fighters help the forces of the regime of the president. This blast could be a consequence of that conflict. This is a terrorist act, which we all condemned, the damages as you see are huge, but we would work day and night to remedy these damages. It is a message to our area that cannot be brought to your knees. This will be met with determination, and awareness. We are working two the Lebanese Army to assess the damages. There have been skirmishes in lebanon, syrias civil war have become increasing sectarian and those divisions are also being felt in lebanon. Hezbollahs leader had previously promised that his group would continue fighting for president assad, whos part of an offshoot of sheer islam. And also that the group is aware of the military cost of engagement in syria but that wont deflect hezbollah from its goal. In syria the battle for control of the strategic city is intensifying. Activists say the pictures show the shelling of a historic mosque. Government says its now in control of large parts of the city, 11 days after a renewed offensive began. Its rejected a call for a truce ram dan. E month of fighters say they forced out an armed group linked to the Free Syrian Army but they maintain relations with the f. S. A. Good and have brought weapons from them. Re now in message of al qaeda links group came from arab countries to support the fight of the Syrian Regime and once that is over, these fighters from the Islamic State hope to achieve one goal they want to create an Islamic State. But not all in the Syrian Opposition share that goal. And this has caused tensions. This village close to the Turkish Border is now under the control of the islamic face of iraq. Armed opposition groups linked to these three syrian armies are no longer here. They were forced to leave. It wasnt the first incident where by local syrian armed groups and islamists engaged in clashes. But we came to the village to hear their side of the story. There was a dwun battle during a demonstration against these foreign fighters. We cannot independently confirm who fired the first shot. But one man says his man came under attack. He has a title given to commanders in al qaeda organizations. He showed us arrest warrants issued by the islamic courts against those he said were responsible for arming the protesters. We destroyed the sleeper cells, there were thugs working for the regime. We say to those who want to harm or destroy the Islamic State it will become stronger. And to become stronger, you need the support of the people. We watched as they reached out to the villagers. Those who protested the regime fell, we have their names. They werent opposing us, but islam. They carried arms to kill muslims. The protesters said they against you, since you were executing orders. These men at are no longer just on the front lines. They took us to a school they run. The group has been criticizing for its strict interpretations of islamic law and punishments. And we asked the governor of the province why some accuse them of trying to weaken Syrian Opposition groups by taking control over border villages. He didnt want to be filmed but he told us if he wanted to cut the supply lines it is easier for us to take the wearhouses of the Free Syrian Army. We bought 200 antiaircraft missiles and antitank weapons. We had good weapons with our brothers in the f. S. A. For those, the infidels are those who cooperate with the west to fight islam. The Islamic State of power says its cleansing the area from regime supporters and those fighting islam. But it is men like these, the west doesnt want to arm. And it has urged them to retake areas under their control. It could be a recipe for yet another war within a war that will decide the new face of syria. Well given those events, the car bombing in beirut and whats going on in syria, lets talk to general. Hes returned from beirut. General, good to have you with us here on al jazeera. Do you think the events are absolutely linked . Of course. We cannot separate what happened this morning in beirut from the syrian, the syrian conflict. As you know the involvement of hezbollah in the syrian war first of all and right now after we heard many statements from the opposition in syria, whether om the Free Syrian Army or from someone else, they thought hezbollah to give up and with draw to lebanon, otherwise they will attack hezbollah inside their home. Thats what happened today in the southern suburb of beirut. But here we have to clarify a that region of the southern suburb of beirut is not that close. Many people move every day and personally i go many times a week in that area, and i see no checkpoints. And anyone can go, can drive a car, can park a car, and there is no guards there to say that its really a very important penetration of the security system. So, what can be done this is in my opinion general, what can be done now in the short term . Obviously any time of process will take a very long time. But in the short term, what should authorities in lebanon do to prevent the country fracturing further along these lines . Given that theres no real government at the moment . As we yes, of course, said the only solution is that have to call for a National Assembly in lebanon, a national conference, whatever you call it and all politicians in lebanon they have to answer for one single question. They want lebanon to be involved, all lebanon, yes or no . I think most of the lebanese majority does not want this. In this case, i think the government must call the army to call for emergency case and let the army take charge of security forces. Its time, you know, necessary its a must and they have to do it today before tomorrow. Because lebanon is in very dangerous situation. If we apply an emergency case we can, i think, minimize, minimize i said, the damage we are expected. Otherwise we have to expect many places in lebanon and even a conflict, sectarian conflict between shiite and other parts, other groups in lebanon. Thank you, thank you very much indeed. Thats a retired lebanese general talking to us from beirut. Now to egypt, the muslim brother hood has rejected the interims president s time table for elections early next year. The president announced the plan less than a day after more than 50 supporters of the deposed president mouhammad morsi died in a gun attack. A committee is going to draft a new constitution. They will be announced in two weeks. A popular referendum on the constitution will be held four months from now. The government says parliamentary elections will take place two weeks after that referendum and six weeks after that egyptians will vote for a president. An egyptian judge and constitutional lawyer told us about the possible implications of all of this. The most important points in about the president having the legislative and executive power at the same time. And having these two authorities in the hands of the interim president is something that is dangerous, as we all know, but i think there is no other option in the meantime. Talking about an amendment which which means that we will not have a new constitution, just a new constitution amendment. The new amendments is being appointed and solicitted by the interim president. There is no election, unlike the case in 2012. Regarding the i think the good point about it is having the constitution simply being appointed because egypt is a city divided and i do not think its a wise decision to have the elections, or to have another election for the Constitution Assembly in the country. Well, the deaths of the 50 plus protesters marked the worst violence since the fall of mouhammad morsi on july 3. Thousands of people loyal to morsis Muslim Brotherhood have been camped out in a city, calling for the nationwide protest today, the last day before the muslim moth of ramadan. Osama bin laden was able to hide in pakistan for nearly a decade due to incompetence and negligence by the pack steiny security forces. That is according to an official report. The u. S. Raid which killed the al qaeda leader was a National Humiliation. More from phil reese. No state institution in pakistan was spared. The military and Political Leadership displayed a degree of incompetence and irresponsibility that was truly breathtaking and indeed cullable. Politicians appeared uninformed and lazy. The head of military intelligence told the commission ur whole system had become dysfunctional. It was the result of absence of institution, were talking about a country where theres hardly any vibrant institutional structures. The National Malaise begins at the level of local officials. They failed to apply building regulations to the bin laden compound and hadnt pursued the owners for property tax. The police who are ineffective and incompetent, according to the commander, the elite criminal Investigation Department was working as a post office, it just received and passed on information. The Pakistan Military was also the subject of a volume of damming indictments. The air force relied on outdated policy documents and directives. There was no National Security policy. The defense minister learned about the raid the next morning through the media after his daughter had telephoned him from new york. The report makes it clear that the civilian government has little knowledge or oversight of the military. Testimony by the defense minister revealed that he did not mind being treated by his sub nates in the military as an irrelevance. So whats the point of it . Of being a defense minister . Well, you know, in a parliamentary system it probably looks nice to have a defense system. Even if hes not told of anything . Yes, and pretend that we are in charge when were not. The states chief minister explained that civilian government was weak because of the nations numerous coups. Frequent military interventions had created a vacuum in the political situations that have yet been filled. The intelligence director at the i. S. I. Emerged as the most powerful and feared institution in pakistan the head of the spying agency justified his seemingly unchallenged role by stating that no one in the civilian government, including the defense minister had read the basic documents concerning defense policy. The commission was kaus i think about the i. S. I. Which performed a number of functions, for which it had no legal authority. It reported that the reluctance of the i. S. I. To accept civilian control is unacceptable. But the Commission Also accused politicians of being indifferent to a country run by spies. The i. S. I. Chief was dismissive of the countrys politicians. He quotes a u. S. Intelligence officer who apparently told him, you are so cheap we can buy you with a visa or even with a dinner. We can buy anyone. I think americans if not a visa but definitely they have been doing it. There was apathy at every level at every sector of national life. Concluding that we are failing state, if not a failed one. Still ahead in this hour, japan sets out its security concerns at a time of increased tensions in asia. And starving for a cause, we find out how california prisoners are trying to end years of socalled solitaire torture. And these are the top stories on al jazeera from me david foster. Car bomb has gone off in the lebanese capitol area, which is a stronghold of the shiite group hezbollah. 53 people were hurt. Egypts muslim brother hood has rejected the interim president s time table for elections early next year. Supporters of the deposed president mouhammad morsi are still camped out in the area of cairo. The central park stan report into the u. S. Raid which killed Osama Bin Laden concludes it was an american act of war. Al jazeera has managed to get exclusive copies of the commissions study. Its a report which calls the operation a National Humiliation for pakistan. Japan claims it is facing increasingly serious threats to its security. In its first report on defense since Prime Minister took office, japan says chinas repeatedly intruded into japanese waters, with the reports viewed by some for reports by japan to beef up forces. According to japans annual defense wide paper this is the new normal for its military. Japans fighters scrambled against chinese planes against air space more than 300 times in the year to march. Reports say chinese vessels enterered disputed waters more than 40 times between september and april. As for relations with china, they have attempted to change the stay us the quo by force in ways incompatible with the order of International Laws and in ways that could be seen as provocative. Document characterizes it as increasingly tangible, accute and serious. But strategic concerns rise, politics arent far away either. Japans nationalist Prime Minister in power since december is gearing up for upper house elections this month, elections which could help his bid to change the pacifist constitution, allowing the military to fight in defensive allies as well as itself. Japans dispute with china is far from all thats in this paper. It also reasserts tokyos claims to what they call docto, an important symbol of this countrys emergence from japanese rule. If japan does not with draw, there will be no hope of cooperation. Thats something that will dismay both countries chief ally the united states, which wants to cement a functioning threeway partnership. One reason for that, calling advance in north koreas capabilities. You can tell the soldiers are thinking hard about this. We do surveys of the brigade, they say they want the drills to be even more tailored to those specific threats. Tuesdays defense essentially sends the same message, with these exercises falling on the same day, its a point japan is making every more forcefully. Radiation in the fukushima plant have soared in the last three days. Theyve found two toxic ubstances in ground water. Level it doesnt know why the figures are so high. Police in turkey have fired tear cannon tryingater to enter the park. The park entered briefly on monday but was closed a few hours later because of worries about anaerobicity government rally there. The Police Response was swift. Main rs swarmed the pedestrian shopping street, and with tear gas and water cannon, scattered protesters trying to find order, stopping them from entering the park. Just hours earlier the governor of istanbul opened the park, heralding a new start for the neighborhood plagued bye weeks of often violent antigovernment protests. As of now the park is reopened and we hope residents will love and enjoy it even more. The park is a rare bit of green space in istanbul. Its where demonstrations against plans to build a Shopping Mall there began. And that voice has not been silenced. Court ruling against the Development Project was a victory for protesters, but its open to appeal and stayed still strong antigovernment sentiment. Word of protesters marching towards the park before the cite closed again. Police combed the streets of the neighborhood, demonstrators and bystanders alike were choked by he tear gas. The governor opened the park at 3 00 then closed it three hours later, and together with hundreds of police at the square, invites the park. Late into the night, Police Detained at least 80 people. And shortly before midnight, people were allowed back in. A protest rally at the park averted, but the confrontation will leave some people asking at what cost . The Philippine Supreme Court is hearing arguments for and gainst the countrys Reproductive Health bill. It became a bill last year. The Catholic Church opposes the law, various womens rights Group Support it. While the law provides for Sex Education in public schools, state funded contraception for the poor, and postabortion care in hospitals. In march the bill was suspended for 120 days, so that the Philippine Supreme Court could hear arguments for and against it. Heres this report from outside the Supreme Court in manila. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments of one of the most contentious laws in recent hilippine history. Teach Sex Education and make available products in the poorest communities across the country. But the biggest opposition comes from the roman Catholic Church. They say this law will, in the end, hurt the religious fiber of this country. But proponents of the law say that at least 11 mothers die from complications every day. They have the highest rate of teenage pregnancy and is one of the fasters growing rates of h. I. V. aids cases in the world. Now we will wait whether this law will be fully imhemented or again just another piece of paper. Flash flooding cut the powers of hundreds of thousands of homes and shutdown public transport in canadas biggest city, toronto. Police and firefighters had to use boats to rescue commuters from a train which ground to a halt in flood waters on monday. About a thousand passengers were left stranded. Have vere thunderstorms record rainfall, in some areas at least 10 sent meters fell. The trial of the captain of the liner which ground to a halt off the italian coast has begun, 32 people died. Facing a charge of manslaughter, and abandonning ship. He denies wrong doing. It was in tuscany of last year and salvage teams are still trying to recover the wreckage. Prisoners who are in solitary confinement in california are calling for a Hunger Strike to protest about state failures. They say urgent reforms are needed in what they call torture and long periods of isolation. At a rally near los angeles, families lined up pictures of sons, brothers and husbands. Theyre all inmates of california prisons, and every one of them has spent years in whats called the shoe, a segregated housing unit, commonly known as solitary confinement. He was released after 18 years in prison, 1606 them in solitary. I was alone with myself 23 hours a day. And in the yard you were alone too . Yes, with the camera on top. California houses 4,500 prisoners in these units. Her son has been in solitary for 13 years. There was a letter he wrote me and he said he has no doubt that it was designed specifically to drive men insane or to suicide. And he said, and i know, because im living it. The prison spokeswoman said theres no such thing as solitary confinement, it doesnt exist. They also get out to shower, they go out to visiting, they go to the law library, they have other activities. Theyre not just sitting there doing nothing. Prisoners claim they have not been given the concessions demanded in previous Hunger Strikes, so theyre doing it again. 30,000 inmates skipped breakfast on the first day. The state does not consider them to be on a Hunger Strike until theyve missed nine consecutive meals. The inmates want the state to end what they call the torture of longterm solitary confinement. Stop making prisoners inform on each other, end group punishment, and give prisoners something constructive to do. The state says they need these Security Units for gang members and potential killers. The security housing unit is intended to house inmates who threaten the safety of people or institution. Some are placed there because they have committed a specific offense, like murder, attempted murder, arson. Once they go into solitary, it is almost impossible to get out. 500 prisoners have been in solitary 10 years or more. He says its torture. Its nothing but torture because they leave you there for nothing. Youre sitting in there cell for all that time, all youre doing is sitting there. Previous hung strikes have failed to bring dramatic change. They are prisoners, but they said they should be treated like humans

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