The trip was supposed to be purely religious for the pope but a surprise stop at the wall that separate in bethlehem is a step into politics. He stood there for several minutes under an israel watch tower staying a prayer. A scored message free palestine. Earlier, he referred directly to the state of palestine and reinforced that point by traveling straight to the occupied west bank from jordan rather than going by israel. Now, pope francis is inviting the israeli and the palestinian president s to the vatican. The time has come for everyone to find the courage to be generous, the courage to forge a peace which rests on the right of two states to exist and to live in peace and security with an internationally recognized borders. This is currently the scene then. Pope francis as you can see with a gathering of officials around him. Hes just a couple of minutes ago left a refugee camp where he waspeting palestinian children. He is expected to go to the ben gur airport. You see him flanked by the palestinian president and shaking hands with other dignity terris. We are going to talk to our correspond he want who has been following Pope Franciss trip throughout the middle east so far, this is being the second day and lets talk to atu abawi. We talked to Nick Schifrin a little bit later who is in israel. First of all, atia, what are palestinians making of this surprise stop at this wall, hugely symbolic wall that separates the two communities . Well, when he spoke to many before the popes trip, many wanted Something Like this to happen. They hoped for it. But they didnt necessarily expect it. But pope francis did make that unexpected stop at the separation barrier and not only did he make that stop. He took made that stop and prayed at an area of the wall where it read, pope, we need someone to speak about justice and, in fact, he stayed there for around five minutes praying. In fact, we have the palestinian spokesperson here for the state of palestine who is there with the pope when he stepped out of his vehicle. Can you tell us what happened . I think no one expected the pope was. We expected him to stop a little bit to look at the wall. The wall at that stage is where its dividing bethlehem from jerusalem. The churching of the nativity is divided. Not only for palestinians but for christians all over the world. We were never expecting he would come out of his car and go actually and pray at this place. Did the pope say anything to you . Did he make any comments to anyone when he stepped out of his vehicle . He said that he knows whats happening here and then he just kept going to the wall. I think it was a message not only for the people that were there, not only for the Palestinian People. Its a message for the Palestinian Christians that we are here in thousandses of bethlehem. We have been encouraging people from all over palestine and from israel to come here given the fact that the state of israel has been closing the streets and would prevent Palestinian Christians from getting to see the pope in occupied jerusalem. We have been asking everyone here, the pope could see that in the streets. He saw thousands of people in the streets, chris and muslims greeting the pope in the treats of bethlehem. As a palestinian, what went through your mind when you saw the pope walking to the wall in front of your eyes, in fact, and praying and staying there and praying for several minutes, in fact . It was one of the most beautiful examples of solidarity we have ever had from a great leader like the pope. They have the weight of the church which is very important. It was for conservatives, who are poor, not only poor moneywise but poor of justice as a church, talks about. I think this was a very good m symbol. Not only at the wall which is Something Like 8 kilometers inside occupied palestinian territory at that moment. He was surrounded by refugees from either camp and were commemorating a few days ago, the their ex im. It was a show of solidarity not only pour people of bethelehem but for all of the Palestinian People. Tomorrow, he is spending the majority of his day inside of israel, meeting with israeli leaders. What do you hope the pope will do at those meetings what you hope he will talk about. I would like him to spend his time. Jerusalem. He has some meetings with refer officials in west jerusalem. He is going to race what he was able to hear here in bess will he him not om from officials, but the lurk he had with five malstenian christian families that represents a variety of cases that we have from people that are going to lose their land to families of brainsers, martyrs and others. I think its very important that the pope knows there is a fact here that christians in the holyland are palestinians. They have suffered. As he said, the same as the rest of the Palestinian People. Thats a very clear message now that the Israeli Government claims its protecting christians in this region. If they want to protect christians, the rights of the Palestinian People have to be honored starting by a free and sovereign estate. Thank you so much. Thats spokesperson for the state of palestine, javier abuid. Thank you very much, indeed, atia with us there. Now lets go over to the other side of the fence and talk to nick sheeve rip in jerusalem. Nick, as the pope makes his way to you, is there any reaction first of all, from these israelis as to that remarkable stop over, that hugely symbolic gesture that the pope made stopping at this separation wall between the palestinians and israelis . . There isnt any official response at all but the vatican ambassador, israeli ambassador said that is real rejected on the popes agenda and the reference by the pope to meeting the head of the state of palestineian head of state. Israel objected to that and said the pope is our guest. We will not tell him what to or what not to do. What they point out is that they feel like they are getting their own kind of sense of solidarity from the pope. The pope will go to Mount Hertzel tomorrow. Thats something neither of his predecessors have done, the tomb of the forefather of israel. Israeli officials are pleased about that visit because they feel like the pope going to that, given the hist between the church and hehtzel and the symbolic nature of that tomb is he is endorsing their right. What israeli officials feel is that the pope is trying to balance both sides. Can i request you about this earn vitation that has come as something of a surprise as well, an invitation to Mahmoud Abbas and to the president of israel . Abbas. Has always distinguished between his ability to talk to netanyahu, abbass aids talk about having more constructive dialogue. Husband aides are saying they look forward to this meeting much more than they look to any meeting with Prime Minister netanyahu. We are watching the life shot of the pope, pope francis in his military helicopter. Tell us a little bit about the next stop on this trip because its so important for him. Isnt it . To retain a sense of balance so that both communities feel that they are not being snubbed. Its absolutely about a sense of balance, and not only will the pope visit Mount Hertzel. He will go to the western wall. He will go to the Holocaust Museum that marks the millions of jews killed in the holocaust. He will have the event that actually he is here to do. We are always talking about politics, especially because of what the pope has done. But he said and his aides say he is here for an event tonight about inter faith harmony not between palestinians but between Orthodox Christians and catholics. What he will do is meet the head of the Orthodox Church of the holy suplecre about 500 feet or so to my right. What happened there is that jesus is believed to have been crucified and resurrected. He will meet with the spiritual head of the Orthodox Church, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first meeting between the catholic and the Orthodox Churches in 900 years. Ended the schism. The pope will deliver a message of interfaith harmony, of ent enterfaith discussion and that is what he has said is the name reason for this trip and what he has been looking most forward to. Nick, we are just looking at the live picture now of pope francis as he is taking off now, heading in your direction, and we will leave events in the middle east for now and move on to other news. There are important developments in crain because people are voting for a new president. Its an election they hope will allow the country to turn a corner after so many months of turmoil. So far, turnout has been strong in the capitol. In the countrys volatile east, prorussia separatists have barricaded some polling stations and are intimidating election officials. We will have the latest from the east with hamid and with kiev with nick spicee in just a moment. But first, lets have nicks report from the capitol. Reporter a record turnout is expected for a vote deciding not just the fate of ukraine but, also, perhaps, the state of relations between russia and the west. 17 candidates are in the running, and the ones in the lead all want closer ties to the European Union, not something moscow wants. But these early elections called after president Victor Yanukovych fled the country and was deposed by parliament are about what ukrainians want. This election means amount. The face of the country is being decided today. We have never had a more important election. We kicked out yanukovych. We now hope to have justice and peace now. A billionaire formerphon and economy minister was shown to be far ahead in the opinion polls last week and could win uteright with over 50 of ballots cast on sunday. The challenges the next president faces are enormous, fixing an economy in bail out mode, fighting corruption and establishing closer ties to europe. Russia meanwhile annexed the region of crimea and its two million inhabitants in march. The interim government accuses it of supporting probe russian separatists in the east. In the city of donetsk, militia men from the peoples republic boxes smashed ballot boxes they had to stop voting. One explained theirtions byebye saying the president ial election was ill legitimate even though twothirds of the people say they want to vote. According to the government, around 1 in 5 polling stations was opt open like this one. Violence has kept many observers away. Ahead of the biggest said their work could be decisive. We are not by. We are not on any side. We are on the side of the international standards. We are on the side of the rights of the voters and citizens of ukraine. Thats what we will be checking. Thats what we will be watching, to what extent these right are being respected in this process. Whatever the Voters Decide and whatever the observers say the most crucial voice may be the one in the criminallin. Many have their doubts. Live to kiev. If we assume then that the chocolate baron of ukraine, mr. Poreschenko wins more than 50 in the first round of voting, is he somebody who can do business with both the east and the west, with moscow and europe . I think he is, martin, for one thing with regards to the European Union as a member of parliament he headed the committee that was. He saw that as a way of overhauling the political life of ukraine having outside european eyes assist lawmakers in this country to reform the judiciary, to open up markets, to fight corruption, to continue to have elections that are free and fair and to integrate this lynchpin country between Eastern Europe and western europe into the european single market, which would be a great boon for factories here, with some challenges. He also said, however, that he was ready to work with Vladimir Putin, keen to not say anything inflammatory as regards russia and what we hear from moscow is that Vladimir Putin is willing to work with poreschenko and the likelihood or probability of his election may possibly have tipped his hand and caused him to say that he was now willing to respect the will of the ukrainian voters and ready to work with whatever new president there was. Nick speicer with the view from kiev. Thank you very much indeed now lets go to hoda hamid and hoda, we have seen brisk voting in the west en part of ukraine. Whats been the situation where you are . You are at a polling station, i can see. Interior some people there are some people voting. The ballot boxes are pretty empty. About 20 of the registered voters for example in this polling station have actually made their way tubprobably for several reasons, the first being security, the lead up to this day has been quite bloody. There has not only been confrontation between the separatists and the Ukrainian Forces but there has also been confrontations between militias basically, proukrainian or prorussia militias. There has been intimidation and the leaders said that it was illegal to vote here because this was an independent state and you could not cast your ballot here in the donetsk peoples republic or by thel lunask so all of this made people stay at home in a lot of places, there are no polling stations that are open. Specially in the big hubs like donetsk, the capitol region and lunask. Their separatists made sure not one polling station opened. Today, one of them tried to open in donetsk and they were quickly done after 10 minutes, everybody was kicked out and the ballot boxes smashed. There is another reason, those who want to vote are still feeling a bit alienated from those candidates presenting themselves in these elections. They feel none has actually braved the risk and came to talk to them they feel these candidates are more of the same that were there before. None really address the issues of the east. It has to be said there are no ukrainian channels here any more in the east. People are not seeing cam papering and not listening to the canal dates and know very little about their progress. Thank you very much indeed. Hoda ab dull hamid who is reporting there from the east he were part of ukrainedul hamid w reporting there from the east he were part of ukraine. Lets go to thailand where there is fighting in the capitol. The demonstrators remain defiant, despite the military banning gatherings of more than 5 people. More from bank cock. In bangkok, an anticoup started small. I want you, the thai public to avoid joining the protests because right now, the usual democratic system cannot operate normally. Is the numbers grew and became more aggressive. One of the larmest demonstratio demonstrations, Something Interesting happened. It started with a heavy military presence and transitioned to more police. As you can see on this crowd, chanting for democracy, for elections, for the army to get out. I dont want it. Thats all. Get out. We want government. Thats all. The military government responded to the united statess latest reaction to the coup, cancelling military exercises with thailand. Understanding the situation in our country, one cannot be applied to every situation. The list of people coming in for talks including newspaper corporations. There is concern how they will handy the anticoup movement as it gains momentum. Scott hideler, bangkok. The columbians are choosing a new president as well in an election that could have a big effect on talks with the farc rebels. There are five candidates. The two main contenders are Manuel Santos and his rightwing rival, zaliwaga. Supporters of santos say he brought steady growth. Opponents have criticized the vo pace and he has been accused of offering too many con sessions. His strongest intelligent is backed by the former president. He promises to sustain those talks if he wins. Lucia newman joins us from bogota. Are these elections a referendum on the Peace Process and how they have been handled so far by juan Manuel Santos . And what is at stake is the future of the negotiated talks or a negotiated way to get out of this 50yearold conflict in this country which cost more than 200,000 lives and internally displaced more than 6 million people. Thats a lot. You would think all columbian s would be in favor of it. When Manuel Santos is asking for another mandate in order to finalize talks which some say have been going too slowly, you think everybody would be applauding him for that some say they must go to prison for people who may be described as terrorists that is what has been the core issue here the rest of the candidates, four of the 5 seem to agree on the policies of the current government. Has not been the main issue, although 60 says they are upset that there is not enoughtension on crime, bad education and Health Services and krupingsz. Is it a help or a hindrance for his campaign . Its absolutely al help, in fact, was many people say that he is a bpuppet. He represents the point of view of the former president , the staunchest opponent of the Peace Process. All right for now. Thank you very much, lucia newman, reporting on the elections taking place in colombia. Libyas National Congress is due to convene in a short while from now. The interim Prime Minister. The libyan capital and speak to stefanie dekker. A lot is at stake there. The conference has got a presenter, a government that can actually function and rescue libya from this vacuum, the power vacuum that exists at the moment . Reporter thats right. There is a caretaker one in the moment. This is part of what split this country at the moment. The lawmakers have gathered in the general National Congress they need 93 to be able to start and vote. They havent quite reached that. Its around 90. It could happen soon. Some are staying away because th