hundreds of armed pro russian activists are stormed the ukrainian navy base in sevastopol. there are reports that the head of the ukrainian navy has been detained by russian security services. >>> let me now bring you more on madeleine mccann who disappeared seven years ago at the age of 3 from a portuguese resort. that was nearly seven years ago while her parents were having dinner. there's been an important development from scotland yard. bbc's rob brumbe is here. what has emerged as this being part of pattern? >> we hear they're looking for a serial sex attacker who seems to have broken into 12 apartments in the region between 2004, 2012. on six of the cases the man is believed to have got into and sat on the beds of young children, children of holiday makers in that area, and on some of those occasions, four of them, there were sexual assaults. the chief inspector of the metropolitan police is saying this is an offender who has got a very, very unhealthy interest in young white female children. they also add that there's been some considerable frustration at the lack of

russia giving the ukrainian navy an ultimatum. calling on troops to lay down their arms. nick schifrin join us live by phone from the capitol of crimea. what are you seeing on the ground? >> well, del, what we are seeing is not so much ultimatum to all forces. we believe this is just for the ukrainian navy located, and ultimatum said they need to surrender right off the coast and surrender all of their weapons. certainly in the next 12 or so hours the foreign ministry just releasing a statement saying we're not enterin interinterfere yawn-russian affairs. they're stepping up their invasion of crimea by forcing the navy to give up all of its weapons, that is not something that it has forced the ukrainian army in crimea to do yet. >> has there been any response concerning this ultimatum to the navy? >> no, this is just coming in the last half hour. what they've been responding over the last few days the same way. they are aggressive rhetoric. they will use the army, use their military forces and power to respond to the russian aggression, but frankly they have not done that

the ukrainian navy has also changed hands. a flag raising ceremony where russian soldiers took it over by decree of the russian president. thereto not much glory for departing ukrainian navy. the united states has described what's happening to crimea right now as a land grab. what's happening to the ukrainian navy could be the credit credit sea grab. the slivutich still flying the ukrainian flag. a passing citizen says it's not good that's the last ukrainian ship in the bay. the takeover is complete. once, ships of both fleets sat side by side, now only the russian flag flies here. many in the ukrainian military are unhappy about how it's all handed. kora can is one of the officers thrown out on wednesday. he says there's no military honor in russia's actions. >> we have clearly seen in the past two weeks you can't believe russia. putin says his troots aren't trt here. i'm a military man. i see these are military men. >> the every deal the russians have broken including a promise not to take the base. >> in my opinion our bloc

>> well, we spoke to the headquarters of the ukrainian navy. they have confirmed the ultimatum and that it confirms two navy bases and two navy ships, but they could not tell us about the rest of the armed forces. the commander of the base just behind me has come out and spoken to reporters, and he said he would not surrender to the russians. he said he will continue taking his orders from kiev, and he also said that other commanders in crimea have refused to fall under the leadership of the man who actually defected or was sacked, depending on whose story to listen to, and pledged allegiance to the crimea regional government. he said the commanders here are still going to come under the command of kiev. it seems that it's not going to be an easy situation. now there was a guest earlier who was saying that maybe the russians had hoped there would be a series of defection following the defection of the admiral yet. that so far has not happened. as we've seen here and at another base not far from here that the soldiers inside the holder ground ha

it is a frigate in the ukrainian navy, a flagship of the ukrainian black sea fleet. as you can see here, there are a number of demonstrators right off the coast who were there to meet that vessel, that warship, which the ukrainian diplomats stationed here say is an important symbol of the unity of the ukrainian armed forces, despite the russian military occupation of crimea. these people gathering here to cheer and to show that their military is continuing to be united, despite the defection of the commander of the ukrainian navy, within the course of the last week. ivan watson, cnn, reporting from istanbul's bosphorus strait. >> fascinating. happening right before our live cameras. a lot else going on, as well. the money that started to rain in on ukraine, as well. the americans coming over and suggesting a billion dollars in loan guarantees. that right after president putin suggested he would be financially helping ukraine in the future. and all of that as other nations try to put economic pressures on president putin, suggesting he will be isolated by sanctions if

the flagship of the ukrainian navy black sea fleet is on its way there. according to reuters, two russian warships are steaming in that direction. before the ukrainian brigade reaches the black sea, it crosses istanbul's bosporus strait. that's where we find ivan watson. what are you witnessing there? >> reporter: well, following a flagship of the ukrainian black sea fleet, of its navy. the headman has moved a little bit ahead of our ship. we are trying to show you. it is coming through istanbul. jake, this is the only way that any ship or warship can use to get to the black sea and to crimea, the contested part of the ukrainian territory. the you're craukrainians are ma show of their flagships coming in. there had been some reports that the ship had reaffected and joined the russians. the white, yellow and blue flag of the ukrainian government is flying from this vessel as well as the turkish, red and white flag. they want to make a big show, a point, that their military is still intact, though the commander of the ukrainian navy did defect to the russia

. >> the ukrainian navy ships fly the russian flag. the sailors forced to choose between the russians and ukrainians, renouncing ukraine the only way to remain. the ben of belbek say changing sides will be dishonourable. they'll rejoin their commander. >> translation: i'm confident we'll rebuild. we'll stand until the end to fight for what is ours. moscow was not built in a day. >> mikhail says it's been a difficult time. he mashed alongside russian forces in parades, and many were friends, but he is not bitter. >> i'm not angry at anyone. they are military men, we are military, and we have to obey our own orders. >> like others, mikhail and his family face an uncertain future. >> more than 4,000 servicemen in crimea face the russian ultimatum. three weeks since a jumbo jet vanished without a trace - now a new search area or promise from australia. fears of a pandemic as one of the world's deadliest viruses spreads. where the latest case of ebola has been found. a report says you can already see the effects of climate change are everyw

after the naval hours were stormed on wednesday, the ukrainian navy is wondering what might happen next. something is going on aboard the ship "donblass." there is movement for the first time. sailors are unloading their belongings. they say it doesn't mean they are leaving their ship. the russian blockade is continuing. it's an aggressive stance, an armed warship at the mouth of the harbour. russia believes the end is in sight. olga's husband is on board the "donblass." he and others refused to attend a russian flag raising and they won't surrender or leave. "there are only two choices - resign from the military and have ukraine consider you are a deserter or join - it's not clear what army. this is not an option. to change your allegiance you can't do it. to stay here is to lie and live with that. i can't do that. her husband calls, she tells him not to leave anything for the russians. she says the basis is off. i can't tell you what that means. it's nothing good." >> since the break-up of the soviet union ukrainian and russian ships work side by side. >> the sailor overlooking the ma

if the russians object, it would be easy for them to destroy the ukrainian navy. i don't think the russians would want to do that. if i was the ukrainian navy. i would say where i am. >> where do you think this is heading? we have the russian ships in the port, pro-russian troops said to have full control of the crimea peninsula, and you have the crimean parliament voting in favour of becoming part of the russia. is there a danger that ukraine could lose the crimean peninsula permanently? >> that is certainly one possibility. i mean, crimea only became part of ukraine in 1954 because the person that had taken over as stalin, as the ruler of the soviet union built his power base in ukraine, so he gave crimea, which had been dominated by russia since the 1770s, which had the majority classification, he gave crimea to ukraine, so it hasn't been part of ukraine for that long and 50% of the population are russians, 24% are ukrainians. 12% are crimian tar tars, the people that stalin deported in 1944 to siberia, and the descendants came back, but they don't like the rus

what is happening to the ukrainian navy a sea grab. there is one ship left behind me still flying the ukrainian flag. >> reporter: it's not good that the last ukrainian flag is flying in the bay. not everyone is happy the russians are here. in near by city the take over is near complete. ships of both fleets that sat side by side but now only the russian flag flies here. many in the ukrainian military are unhappy with the way it all happened. there is no military honor in russia's actions. >> we have clearly seen in the past two weeks you can't believe russia. putin said his troops ant here. i'm a military man. i see perfectly that these are military men. >> reporter: he said every deal ukrainians have made with russians have been broken. >> our ship should be sunk or blown up. it's a war now. no one is shooting at each other now, but god for bid anybody should start shooting. >> reporter: at the naval school handover the last show of independence. ukraines sing their national anthem trying to drown out the sound of the russians. >> th

. >> we begin with new developments out of ukraine, russia ordering ukrainian navy to surrender. the united nations security council holding a meeting on ukraine this afternoon and vice president biden urging to pull back all russian forces that in country, russia ordering two navy bases to surrender. russian troops also in the capitol of crimea. nick shiver joins us live. you are in the capital, what you are seeing there on the ground? >> on the ground right now, we're seeing right outside the capitol is a very strange scene, you've got ukrainian base or what used to be ukrainian bases for now full of russian soldiers. we just visited one you where the russian flag is flying, russian soldiers flying between two sides of the base on opposite sides of the street. i talked to a mother carrying hear daughter that said that she welcomed them. down the road, there is an armory in which also russian soldiers are digging trenches. people are coming up to them, trying to deliver food, trying to thank them for coming in, many, many people across the crimean peninsula suggesting that they

want to stay in the ukrainian navy. they'll have to be resigned somewhere else. to add insult to injury, throwing the ukrainian sailors off the ships today, the russian prime minister issued on his facebook page saying something that now that crimea is part of russia they'll try to get back the money they paid to ukraine to lease those bases in 2012, $11 billion. >> well, the u.s. is slamming turkey's decision to ban twitter saying it undermines freedom of expression. the prime minister threatened to rip out the roots of the website. this comes as his critics have been using the network to public corruption allegations against him. we have more from istanbul. >> reporter: many twitter users in turkey logging on to the social media website got this message. the protection measure has been taken from this website. the state's communication regulator says it's its decisios based on twitter. the governor said that twitter has refused previous court orders, it cops hours after prime minister erdogan warns to wipe out the web

navy here. >> reporter: ukrainian sailors leaving their base. go home, say the people, this is russia. headquarters that was ukrainian this morning now belongs to moscow. civilians started the change tearing down the gate and the flag and inside anything associated with ukraine. >> we had to go in, i'm told, we were afraid they were going to give out guns and god for bid someone was going to start shooting. but they haven't done anything, i say to him. thank god they didn't, he said, they could have. they were given the order to shoot. >> reporter: ukrainian forces were given permission to fire in self defense after ukrainian officer was killed on tuesday. but most of these men were unarmed when the base was stormed. pavlo said the russians ran out of patience. >> it's over, putin declared this russian territory. go away. i said we shouldn't do it like this. the commander should decide. the way military were withdrawn from afghanistan, for example. >> reporter: russian soldiers wasted no time consolidating their positions and bringing in reinfor

this overlooks the ukrainian navy base. the ukrainian chief of staff says they are talking with the russians outside the gate. >> we talk the same language, we understand each other, but the situation on the outside on the top of the abandoned building, you can see the position, the fire position in its - it pointed to our direction. the camp refuses to change its flags and loyalties to ukraine. >> nobody wants to be betrar in the eyes of our country men. >> back in stryletska bay is ukraine's only submarine, also blocked by the russians. theships of both navies sit side by side. only the russian boats can move in the stand off by the sea. >> well, the ukrainian officers told me they would be cursed by their country men if they stepped down. they know they are outnumbered. when the fleet was divided in 1997, russia got 80%, ukraine 20%. they know they can't stand militarily. there are warships at the entrance. those are ferries behind me, nothing else allowed in or out. >> jennifer glasse reporting from sevastopol. >> the w

jennifer glass is live with more on the stand off between the russian and ukrainian navies. jennifer? >> that's right, tony, now the russian rad fied that treaty tomorrow. the upper house is supposed to ratify the treaty making them officially part of russia. they say it all started on tuesday, and left in limbo, the ukrainian navy. >> there's something going on aboard the ukrainian ship. for the first time since the military tanned out began in the beginning of the month, there's movement. sailors are unloading their belongings, they say that doesn't mean they are leaving their ship. the russian blockade continues and on this day, it is an aggressive stance, an armed warship sits at the mouth of the harbor, and it seems russia believes the end is in sight. gall's husband is onboard. he and other sailors refuse to attend a flag raising ceremony thursday. and they won't surrender or leave. >> there are only two choices now she says. resign from the military and have ukraine consider you a deserter, or join, not clear what army. this isn't an option. to change your allegiance,

it's a massive hole is cut into russia's black sea fleet and the ukrainian navy is placed here soon. local tour guide says the ukrainian chips once tried to leave the football by russian minesweeper is on monday the russian defense ministry denied that an ultimatum had been issued same day russian troops said to be sixteen thousand strong tightened their grip on crimea. they now control board a post there as well as the mother of three facilities and the ferry terminal. today president anemia person ordered troops to tow cars in the three exercises in central and western russia to return the bikes up to completing their training. for more on this developing a crisis would join via our correspondent roy iraq and that is standing by for us being here. i welcome again riley of the u s secretary of state to joan kerry has left the us to visit you crying has he arrived of course and a can you tell us the latest on the standoff there. and it is supposed to arrive some time at midday it's just past eleven am here so we do expect them here in the coming hours we know that we'll be speaking b

today the headquarters of the ukrainian navy here. ukrainian sailors leaving their base. go home, say the people, this is now russia. this base now belongs to moscow. prorussian soldiers tearing down everything associated with ukraine. we had to go in, we were afraid they were going to give out guns and god fosht someon forbid ande would start shooting. they were given an order to shoot. ukrainian forces were given permission to fire in self-defense after a a ukrainian officer, be told him they just ran out of patience. >> they came and said it's over, putin has declared this russian territory and that's it. go away. i say we shouldn't do it like this, like civilized people, the way the military were be withdrawn from afghanistan, for example. >> reporter: russian soldiers weafsed no time -- wasted no time consolidating their positions. the commander of the black sea fleet, tried but failed to find his counterpart for some kind of talk. we don't know where they're going, haven't wanted to talk to us. where are you headed, i just asked them, we're headed to freedom. >> tak

what was until today headquarters of ukrainian navy here. >> reporter: ukrainian sailors leaving their base. go home, say the people. this is now russia. this naval headquarters that was ukrainian this morning belongs to moscow. pro russian arms started the charge tearing down the gate and taking down the ukrainian flag and taking down anything associated with the ukraine. >> we had to go in. we were afraid they were going to give out guns and god for bid someone start shooting. but they haven't done anything, i said to him. but thank god, they could have, they were given an order to shoot. ukrainian forces were give order to fire in self defense after an ukrainian officer was killed on tuesday. but most of these men were unarmed when the base was stormed 37 the russians told them that they just ran ou out f patience. >> they came in and said it's over. go away. i said we shouldn't do it like this, we should do it like civilized people. the commanders should decide the way the military with dra withdm afghanistan. the commander of the russian black sea fleet tried and failed to find hi

crimea self defense forces attack the ukrainian navy headquarters and raise the russian flag. we have the breaking details and what it could mean as they impose new sanctions on russia. >> ukraine is not giving up its fight for crimea even though russian troops are there and vladmir putin is annex crimea and even though they raised the russian flag over the ukrainian navy building. the acting defense minister says ukrainian forces will not withdraw from crimea. he says quote, no, we will stay. viesz president biden is saying they will defend them. he warn pd putin the west is ready to put more pressure on russia. >> the political economic isolation will only increase if it continues down its kurr p rent path and it will in fact see additional sanctions by the united states and the eu. >>> ob monday they imposed sanctions on russia and crimea including freezing assets and banning international travel. one top putin aide is not impressed. he said quote the only things that interest me in the u.s. are two pack shakur, allen ginsburg. i don't need a visa to access their work. >> o

there was no such threat made to the ukrainian navy. they are being adamant about that, this is the usual slander that the russian forces are having to put up with, in the ukraine at the moment in crimea. and it's essentially they won't be provoked into butting heads. it's a rather strange way of putting it, but that's what was coming out from the defense ministry. there were some words earlier from the foreign ministry too, i'll read those out because they pertain to this as well. the black sea fleet units are not interfering in ukrainian internal events, preventing possible attacks on our compatriots, from extremists and radicals are the sole purpose of all troop movement. it's often said that truth is the first casualty of war. but it seems like truth dies in this situation, and there's a number of different scenarios about what's going on here. maybe the ukraine yants decided making up -- ukrainians decided that making threats up by the russians, maybe there was a threat by the russians and they are now denying it, if nothing happen

is a peaceful resolution possible though after the takeover of the ukrainian navy headquarters. why jennifer glasse was there. >> we understand it's been stormed, they've been in a standoff there for more than two weeks. and it had been very aggressive during the last couple of days we tried to film there and the russian troops hid and the self defense forces actually turned our camera around. it won't be like that today. when we get to the headquarters the gates are open, the ukrainian insignia torn off and we just walk in. there are unarmed ukrainian officers standing outside their offices. among them pavlo shevchenko. he doesn't think it should have happened this way, that it should have been done like civilized leaders. like in afghanistan. the first ones that came in were pro-russian self defense officers. consume who are you, i ask him, we are aliens, i don't know that word in russian so i ask, who are you? >> i'm we had to go in ar be ary told me. thank god they didn't, he said, but they could have, they were given an order to shoot. ukrainian forces were given permission

russia now denying reports that its forces ordered this ukrainian navy to surrender. the state department now says it's preparing sanctions against russia and about an hour the united nations security council is set to mate, the topic the crisis in ukraine. nick schifrin joins us from crimea. what are you seeing where you are? >> where we are we are seeing complete occupation by russian forces, not only here but in the capitol. there are outside skirts of the city that we -- outskirts that we saw today, russian forces casually relaxing and surrounding it. down the block there's a huge armory. russian soldiers are digging trenches right outside that armory. what's interesting if you spend enough time you see supporters of crimeans trying to deliver food and water thanking these russian soldiers for coming, the majority or all of russia does not support this intervention but there were a lot of people who we ran into that definitely felt the presence of russian trops was a good thing. >> and nick was there anything from the ukrainian government about this ultimatum that

>> this is basically a siege by the russian navy against the ukrainian navy. the ukrainian government knows it can't really face the russian military. the russian military has about eight times the number of troops the ukrainians do. it spends about ten times the amount of money that the ukrainian military does on its military. there is no sense from this government or from the military itself. you talk to the soldiers and they see eight rows of highly trained troops. they have absolutely no capacity to actually confront what is coming into the peninsula. so that's why you have seen perhaps the government here using a lot of rhetoric. parliament has passed a lot of resolutions but there's been no action against this invasion as the u.s. is calling it and despite that russian seems to be again stepping it up taking that next step trying to distarm ukrainian navy. >> thank you nick. jonathan betz is here to break it all down for us. >> there is a lot at stake. russia is largely in control of crimea. now concerned it may try to push out ukraine's military from th

. >> more on the russian forces storming the ukrainian navy base in crimea, raising the russian flag over the strategic destination. >> files from deleted from the flight simulator in the apartment of the pilot of malaysia airlines. >> a pornography ring busted, one of the biggest in history. some of the children three years old. >> and slipping through the cracks - what a judge says is the solution to a deadly program. >> a long-overdue honour for a group it of overlooked veterans. >> snow is melting and rivers rising. i'll explain why this is the deadliest type of weather. >> al jazeera america continues. dell and i are back with you in 2.5 minutes. >> a confrontation in crimea, heavily armed forces storm a ukrainian naval base and raise the russian flag. >> a new revelation in the missing airlines flight, authorities saying files connected to the captain's flight simulator were deleted. >> are these just throw away children and throw away families that nobody cares about? >> the failures of one state's child welfare system being blamed for the deaths of hundreds of children. >> so

there is not much glory for the departing ukrainian navy. the united states described what's happened to crimea is a land grab. but a sea grab, the one ship behind us still flying the ukrainian flag. >> the passing pedestrian says it's not good that's the last ukrainian flag flying in the bay. not everyone is happy the russian he are here. in nearby strelotzka bay the takeover is complete. once, they flew side by side, now only the russian flags fly here. he was one of the dozens of naval officers thrown out on wednesday. he says there's no military honor in russia's action he. >> we have clearly seen in the last two weeks you can't believe russia. putin says his troops aren't here. i'm a military man. i see perfectly these are military men. >> he says all deals they have made the russians have broken including the promise not to take the base. >> in my opinion, the blockaded ships should be shot at or sunk. god forbid they start shooting. >> at the naval school handover a last show of independence. ukrainians sing their national anthem tryi

navy. their loyalty is no longer, now that the newly appointed navy chief has defected. swear allegiance to the people of the autonomous republic of crimea. >> the ukrainian military has about 140,000 men, including 60,000 conscripts. in theory the ukraine could mobilize one million, but they say that their equipment is getting old in that the army is sorely lacking in resources. troops, vladimir putin called for authorization to use the armed forces in ukraine until the normalization of the political situation in the country. the russian army has taken control of the entire region, they could also be sending soldiers into other parts of the ukraine. 100 50,000 troops have amassed on the border. situation that could change or medically at any moment. the first shot fired at signal the beginning of the civil war or war between russia and ukraine, or both. in other words, it is an extremely serious situation. >> ukraine shares its border with four european union countries, meaning all 28 memb

earlier today, russian troops reportedly released the commander of the ukrainian navy who had been seized in his own headquarters. at a united nations airing today in geneva, the ukrainian diplomat warned russia is full-blown military intervention in ukraine's east and south," a claim russia denies. president obama rolled out yes military intervention while condemning russia's annexation of crimea. >> we're not going to be getting excursion inry ukraine. what we are going to do is mobilize all of our diplomatic resources to make sure we have a strong international coalition that sends a clear message which is ukraine should decide their own destiny. hashe crimea standoff sparked the worst east-west crisis since the end of the cold war. speaking during a visit to europe, vice president biden said the u.s. is considering sending ground troops to its baltic allies for military exercises. on wednesday, a u.s. navy warship conducted a one-day military exercise in the black sea of the bulgarian and romanian navies. meanwhile in moscow, the russian government said it is considering changing its

crimea is home to the ukrainian and russian navy. last tuesday we spoke from this very same point in this bosphorus strait about russian war ships, two of them that had sailed up to the black sea and also ukrainian naval vefssels. a lot of the crisis stems from naval power russia's claim to the crimea peninsula for more than a century as a vital and strategic warm water port for a country with much of its coastline is frozen in by ice, especially during the winter months. part of why it is so valuable to russia to that have crimean peninsula a place where its navy can move in and out of. on top of that this, is a u.s. navy stroir truck opportune that sails normally out of norfolk, virginia. on top of that the russian military at this point is blockading a number of ukrainian naval vessels in the crimea at their home port. there's actually scuttle that at least two ships to keep ukrainian navy ships to move out from there. so the naval component is a very important part of the crisis, the geopolitical tug-of-war we're seeing around cr

what happens to the ukrainian navy vessels and standing by the black feet there? >> del, that is a concern. what is going to happen to those men. we have heard words from the deputy prime minister and the ukrainian have to make a choice, they have to join the new crimeaa military or leave. that could be a flash point, a sticking point for ukraine, who objects to this all together, objects to the referendum and objects to the annexation and one of the base i know of, they have taken sides, they were made to take sides and the russians are standing outside and the ukrainians are trapped inside and what is going to happen to the ship, soldiers and the bases. >> jennifer in the crimea region and thank you. phil is live in kiev, a lot of questions to be answered and how are the leaders in ukraine responding to the speech by putin and crimea is now part of russia? >> well, first and foremost, the decision to annex the crimea area is met with protest. here there are statements saying they are refusing to recognize it. there are a lot of words coming from the capitol here

. >> the pride of the ukrainian navy ripped from the wall of the staff headquarters by a pro russian crowd fast losing patience the the base is surrounded by russian soldiers. and yesterday this man, admiral, head of the ukrainian navy switched sides swearing his allegiance to crimea and moscow. today he returned urging others to follow him. but he underestimates the resolve of his successor standing next to him and the men and women he once commanded. together in defiance they sung the ukrainian anthem. ukraine has not yet died, nor has her glory. outside the crowd grew ever more restless. they shouted insults. but they told me they were staying put. >> ukraine. you want ukraine together? >> yes, of course. >> and you'll stay? >> yes. >> you're not coming out? >> no. >> you have to approximate pity the ukrainian rank and file. isolated, under siege. their loyalties tested to the limit. do they go with those officers who swore allegiance to the new pro-russian crimea or do they resist as many seem willing to do in the face of insurmountable odds. a tap on the hand from a russian sold

when word spread that the ukrainian navy ship was passing through istanbul and might have changed its flag to a russian one, the turk association came to make sure that it had not and to show support for ukrainian independent. this connect area is connected e black sea. europe that way and russia that way. they warn russia to be careful. >> there are muslim soldiers in the russian army, and we know that some put down their guns and refuse to fight other muslims. russia needs to keep this fact in mind. >> without turkey support many believe the tatars would have been wiped out. they said they learned from their history. al jazeera, istanbul. >> coming up on al jazeera america international women's day marking the progress made and challenges left for women all across the globe. >> twenty five years ago, pan am flight 103 exploded in the skys above lockerbie. only one man was convicted of the attack >> the major difficulty for the prosecution, that there was no evidence... >> now a three year al jazeera investigation, reveals a very different story about who was responsible >> they refu

hundreds stormed a ukrainian navy base. defense officials say the base commander was detained. ukrainian officials are worried about minority groups. they've announced plans to help move them out of the region. they also announced the country will leave an association made up of former soviet republics. crimeans are seeing other changes in black and white. a russian government newspaper is being distributed for the first time. >> translator: i'm very happy. president putin is the best. there are no other leaders like him anywhere else in the world. >> reporter: the headline on the paper read "reunification". >> russian and western envoys exchanged harsh words at an emergency meeting of the u.n. security council. >> yesterday, a historic event took place, the reunification of russian crimea, something our people have waited for for six decades. it was in compliance with international law, democratic procedures and went ahead without interference. >> ambassadors from western nations don't accept russia's arguments. >> russia has decided, it seems, to rewrite its borders. but it c

. >> reporter: pro-russian militias storm the ukrainian navy headquarters. breaking down the gate, moving in armored vehicles. ukrainian troops didn't fight, they picked up their bags and left. across crimea, russian forces are sounding and clearing out the remaining ukrainian troops. the russian commander in sebastopol warned them not to resist. god forbid you make a single shot even from a sling shot, he said. don't play with fire. and russia's influence and power are spreading beyond crimea to the ukrainian mainland. this is a ukrainian military facility but there are no supply convoys coming in and out right now because they're being blocked by the pro-russian militia men, they put this place under siege and it looks like they will be here for a while. we did not see weapons, just determination to prevent the ukrainian forces from deploying. we don't want these fascists to kill people, one man says, they're like the nazis, ukrainian troops moved past us quickly to get behind the gates, virtual hostages inside the gates. ukraine is in a bind, its forces b

we have seen them over the past 24 hours really basically take the number ofships of the ukrainian navy. this evening, we understand the command ship that had been defiantly flying the ukrainian flag the past couple of days is also now under russian control. we got some idea of what the russians are doing with a ship they took yesterday. this morning, al jazeera captured pictures of them unloading weapons off that street, shipping the ships of weaponry of missiles. the military question is a very interesting one, jonathan. russia argues that the crimeans voted last sunday. that's why they declared independence and became part of russia. the ukrainian military did not vote. they have not been happy about this. those ships flying the ukrainian flag are considered so farrin ukrai ukrainean territory. it could invite problems going forward in the future. but certainly a very, very difficult time for the ukrainians here as they watch the russians push them out of their bases and off their ships as russia con solid it's a its very firm hold on power here. >> two questions, jennifer. now that

we were at the base for all of the senior officers of the ukrainian navy. no one allowed in or out of there as well. they are wanted to hold a press conference, the russians wouldn't let them in or out. ukrainian forces are stuck in their bases, refusing to give up. russians right outside, in some cases with guns positioned, overlooking the bases themselves. but the ukrainians say they keep their allegiance to ukraine. they are hoping they are not forced to defending themselves, but one ukrainian officer i spoke to said look if the russians try to come in, of course we'll be forced to fight. >> is there any indication that the russian presence there is going to get smaller, decrease? >> reporter: not at all, matter of fact we have seen increases in not just military forces, they are backed up by civilian defense forces, and i think that's a real danger, because those people are unpredicted. the forces we have seen have been very disciplined. they have only a few strategically placed bullets in their weapons, and have been very calm, but the civilian forces

not much of a ukrainian navy left to serve here their immediate future uncertain. jennifer glasse, al jazeera, sevastopol, crimea. >> still ahead, the new clue and focus for crews searching for the missing flight 370. the clock is ticking for americans to get health insurance, but for some, the promise of afshingd care may be out of reachfordable care may be out of reach. >> the mud slide is tarting to change the track of the river back to how it was when the lstd landslide went through in 2006. i will show you pictures coming up next. >>> another satellite photo emerged today showing possible debris from the missing malaysian flight. the crews searching the indian ocean have yet to find anything. still, that photo along with other similar photos are giving families some hope. australia's deputy prime minister told a local radio station the new satellite image from france could yield some clues. >> now, the french siding is, i will, a piece of new material because that's in a completely different location. >> that's about 850 kill meters north of their current sear

when word spread that a ukrainian navy ship was passing through istanbul, the crimean turks association came to make sure it had not changed its flag. this connects the mediterranean with the black sea. europe is that way, and ukraine, crimea, and russia are that way. and people's memories around here span centuries. these people warn russia to be careful. >> translator: there are muslim soldiers in the russia army. and during the invasion in afghanistan some put down their guns and refused to fight other muslims. >> reporter: without the turkish support, the crimean tatars believed they would have been wiped out. >>> for the latest of what is co coming out of ukraine, you can follow us on twitter. >>> red meat speeches as they were called weren't the only things on cpac's speeches. >> reporter: some are calling for unity and a direction that republicans can all get together around, including them is former arkansas governor, mike huckabee, he spoke this morning about how he thinks the party needs to bridge divides. >> i know that this -- we need to focus on how we will lead america. no

what is happening to the ukrainian navy might be a sea grab. this ship is one holding out, still flying the ukrainian flag. a passing pedestrian said that there's a last ukrainian flag flying. not everyone is happy the russians are here. the take over here is complete. once ships sat side by side. now only the russian flag flies here. many in the ukrainian military are unhappy about how it's been handled. kiril was one of a dozen officers thrown out of military headquarters on wednesday. he says there's no honour to russia's actions. >> translation: putin says his troops are not here. i'm a military man, i see that these are military men. >> kiril says every deal made with ukrainian forces have been false, including not taking the base. >> it's a war now, and god forbid anyone start shooting. >> at the naval school ukrainians sing their national anthem, trying to drown out the sound of the russians. >> crimea's residents are not the only europeans eyeing ses session. kata lona plans to vote and venice, completing an unofficial one where 89% of

russia forces have the ukrainian navy and ukrainian forces blockaded in the ports and across the crimean peninsula. there are already posters up, saying choose fascism or choose russia, and the majority of the population is ethnic russian here. a lot of people are flying the russian flag already over official buildings including the intel defense headquarters here. a lot of people feel that it is already done. that they think this vote on sunday is going to correct a mistake made six years ago, but many here have always felt closer to moscow than anywhere else. >> and jennifer the international community already refusing to accept crimea if it decides to join russia, but non-russian supporters are already leaving. >> that's right. the crimea tatars are ethnic ukrainians. one man said he believes this vote is a farce. the decision has already been made. he is looking to leave. but he has to sell his apartment and car, and he didn't do that right now, because the databases that have the land registry and all of that are frozen by kiev right now. it's very hard to sell an apartment or sell

the ukrainian navy can't go anywhere. this is where the blockade is up close and personal. that's a russian mined sweeper bought in a few days ago because the previous crew got too friendly with the ukrainians. >> the commander came on board, demanding the sailors sever their relationship with the ukraine and become part of the pro-crimean forces. they refused. the deputy captain said there has been other pressure from moscow. representatives from putin offered them food and supplies. they refused. "we thanked them for the offer of cooperation. we don't need their help." wives and girlfriend come to the ship to talk to the sailors. she's worried her boyfriend could end up in oddesa, 200 miles by sea, where some of the ships have gone. >> translation: the government of ukraine can't do anything. it's in the hands of crimean authorities. ukraine can't do anything about it. >> in the crimean capital simferepol, a pro-russian demonstration attracted thousands. a week before deciding whether crimea should join russia or city ukraine. some have already been to moscow. >> if you k

the russian, the head of the ukrainian navy wanted to hold a press conference. the russians wouldn't let the journalists in. after a couple of hours, he had to cancel that press conference, a sense of how difficult it is, how tension it is here in russia's and ukraine's naval port. >> that's jennifer glasse for us. president obama also calling out russian president vladimir puttip over a strategy in ukraine. as lease a stark reports from washington, the white housesponding to the crisis in ukraine on several fronts. >> reporter: president obama continues to put on the pressure in his bid to isolate russia over what he calls its aggression in crimea. even as he s economic sanctions action he is homing another option gains some traction. >> we are calling for a deescalation of the situation and international monitors that can go into the country right away >> reporter: this is what the president is calling the off-ramp solution, a way out of the crisis for russian president putin who says he reserves the right to use his forces in crimea. >> translator: if we make

. >> the flagship of the ukrainian navy is among those now trapped in the harbor by that russian blockade. >> your morning cup of joe might cost more because of a dry spell in brazil. farmers are afraid production could shrink to lowest levels in 30 years. >> a drought, the worst in living memory has struck brazil's coffee belt. >> how much rainfall have you had this year? >> 10% that used to be in this period, december, january, and february, we had just 10%. >> fifth generation coffee planter yugo is worried. >> these beans are not well formed. when you cut it in the middle, you see this part should be bigger. >> to the untrained eye, the coffee bushes on the plantation look green and glossy. a closer look shows the beans shriveling. others are black, dried up. a lake that was full is now nearly empty. brazilian farmers will probably harvest 30% less coffee this year than expected. that means higher prices for coffee drinking consumers all over the world. >> at the coffee warehouse in the nearby town, workers are dwarfed by tours of coffee bags. brazil provides nearly 40% of the annual

. >> all this happening as the ukrainian navy and forces called for them to surrender. not an ideal environment for a referendum. michael works to bring investors to sevastopol. he says the crimean people are not in control. >> this is the game between russia and the united states. they have are the major players of this game. if they come to good agreement, then differently -- definitely everyone will be happy. >> here there's no agreement in sight. and the longer the military standoff turnings the harder the diplomatic solution becomes. >> reports of excessive force against anti-government protesters and journalists in venezuela is raising concern at the u.n., the international agency is demanding them provide information on alleged cases of torr tur. two were killed this week in violence, raising the death toll to 21. high inflation and violent crime fuelled anti-government protests which began last month. >> a man locked up for 18 years, 12 on death row is taking on the texas prosecutor who tried his case. anthony graves has been convicted for the murder of a grandm

>> meanwhile, in crimea, russian troops have seized a ukrainian navy base, one of several bases they've taken control of in recent days. that as a top nato commander warns moscow could have its sights on a new territory, a breakaway pro-russian region between ukraine and moldova. russian troops continue to mass on the ukraine border as thousands rallied in eastern ukraine sunday, urging referendum to also rejoin russia. >>> well, "early start" continues right now. >> breaking news overnight, 17 days after flight 370 went missing, a chinese plane spots suspicious objects off the coast of australia. we're learning more details of what happened on board that jet. we are live with the latest developments on the search, the investigation, and this morning, what the families are saying. >>> and the death toll is rising this morning after a landslide buries homes near seattle. rescuers hold out hope as they try to get through a square mile of mud to find anyone surviving. >> yeah, that is a really dangerous situation there in washington state. good morning. welcome to "early start." i'm christ

russia denies that its forces ordered the ukrainian navy to surrender. the u.n. security council is scheduled to meet in the next 30 minutes to discuss the situation in ukraine. >>> president obama just wrapped up a meeting with israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu in the white house. russia's as actions are a violation of international law. >> i spent the weekend talking to leaders across europe and i think the world is largely united in recognizing the steps that russia has taken are a violation of ukraine's sovereignty, ukraine's territorial integrity, that they're a violation of international law. they're a violation of previous agreements that russia has made, with respect to how it treats and respects its neighbors. and as a consequence, we got strong statements from nato, from the g-7, condemning the actions that russia's taken. and we are going to continue these diplomatic efforts touring the course of this week. ftc -- during the course of this week. my interests are seeing the ukrainian people being able to determine their own destiny. russia has s

navy ships in the harbor around the peninsula. they are waiting for orders from kiev, kiev said they will not withdraw their forces. for them it's going to be a long night. >> as they wait and watch what can and what are they doing? >> reporter: well, the sailors have basically hunkered down on their ships. they pulled the ships off of the docks so they can't be boarded by russian forces. they've been blockaded in for three weeks. when those russian sailors and ukrainian sailors got too friendly ten days ago the russians changed the sailors around. they don't want them too terribly friendly. i spoke to crimean civilian who is say those ships now belong to crimea and they should stay he here. kiev thinks differently. many sailors are torn. they signed up for the navy, and now they don't know what is happening. they have been waiting for orders for a long time and it's an uncertain situation here. as the base was taken over this morning, something could happen. the motivation this morning, the ukrainians had been authorized to use f

pro-russian forces took over two ukrainian navy bases. >> ukraine is to immediately appeal to the u.n. to call the autonomous republic of crimea a military zone and withdrawal troops and prepare re-election of ukrainian troops, bases from the occupied territory of crimea to the main area of ukraine. >> well, an emergency session of parliament has just started in the capital kiev. these are live pictures from the session. let's get more from the correspondent who is standing by for us in the ukrainian capital. the emergency meeting - is seems the parliament is continuing, like crimea is still part of ukraine:. >> yes, i mean, although event on the ground suggest it's a done deal as far as the fate goes, we've had president vladimir putin signing the treaty with the crimean authorities, people that kiev would call the so-called crimean government, the fact is that the government here insists that crimea wants to remain part of ukrainian trert tri. the declaration, which was voted through in this morning's emergency parliamentary session was a declaration for the fight for the freedom of

the red of the ukrainian navy has been fired for treason, not long ago the commander publicly swore allegiance to the russian-backed leader of crimea. russian troops have surrounded a ukrainian military base there. the prime minister call it declaration of war and he's calling up every single army reservist. nato is meet to go discuss a response. ♪ ♪ >> meteorologist: well, the red carpet certainly is out in southern california and the rain has stopped just in time for the oscars, take a look here at the satellite imagery. we have clearing skies for the most part it's goal t going to a nice night across southern california temperatures right around where they should be at this time of the year with the winds pushing in out of sought. another system is making its way in to the west but it will bring snow across the cascades, the washington and oregon cascades where we could see anywhere from 10 to 24-inches of snow. speaking of the snow, the storm that caused all the rain across southern california sought move you can see the spin in the atmosphere as it continues to push towards texas and

navy to attack enemy targets. >> stephen: yes, these dolphins were trained to defend ukraine. if only their soldiers had been. (laughter) nation, we in the united states are defenseless against this dolphin army because due to bad planning our ocean defense system is merely a series of colourful hoops. (laughter) and i think i speak for everyone when i say japanese mass dolphin slaughterers, we owe you an apology. they tried to warn us. they tried to warn us. (laughter) i'm sure i will never live to regret that statement. and make no mistake, folks, these dolphins are ready for war. they have been trained to attack enemy combat swimmers using special knives or pistols fixed to their heads. that's right, dolphins with pistols on their heads. we will be in serious trouble if they ever develop head fingers to pull those triggers. vigilance. folks, you know, i love the big morning news shows. there is a perfect combination of information, entertainment, infotainment and whatever matt lauer is doing-- doing here. other than haunting my dreams. and competition among these shows is f