At least five people have been killed in heavy fighting in the Libyan town of Bani Walid. The battle erupted between fighters still loyal to the ex-leader Muammar Gaddafi and forces supporting the country's transitional government. Mohamed Bashir, the town's mayor, told that forces loyal to the National Transitional Council had pulled out of the town at 7pm local time after about four hours of fire until the Gaddafi-era Libyan green flag had been raised ove... Read more »

Yemen's President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, has left the country to fly to the US for medical treatment. In his "farewell speech" broadcast on TV he asked for forgiveness for "any shortcomings" during his 33-year presidency. His departure came a day after the parliament approved a law giving him immunity from prosecution. The president had flown out of the country yesterday bound for neighbouring Oman, from where he is expected to leave for the US. Washington sa... Read more »

Gunmen have kidnapped a Western foreigner in central Somalia's Galmudug region. Local government and military officials believe the assailants might be linked to a pirate gang. Colonel Mohamed Hussein, a local military official, said the hostage had been a memeber of a two-men group wgo had been in the region under the pretext of being journalists, but that their exact mission stays unclear. "He was kidnapped by his own guards. We understand the clan militi... Read more »

Three young unemployed university graduates set themselves on fire during a protest in the Moroccan capital city of Rabat. The incident took place this week on the sidelines of an ongoing demonstration by unemployed university graduates, the latest in a string of self-immolations across the region since the beginning of the Arab Spring more than a year ago. The three were initially rushed to a hospital in Rabat but were later transferred to a unit in Casabl... Read more »

The mandate of the Arab League monitor mission in Syria is due to expire, a month after it arrived to observe the implementation of a peace initiative. The head of the mission prepares a report on the ongoing violence, which will be on the agenda at a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers on Saturday. Syrian's government is said to be keen for the monitors to stay, but the opposition wants the UN to intervene. Meanwhile, four activists are reported to ha... Read more »

The head of Egypt’s ruling military council Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi yesterday held talks with Iraqi Defense Minister Saadun al-Dulaimi. Tha negotiations focused on the ways of boosting military ties between the two nations. “Training Iraqi officers and exchanging military expertise,” as well as regional and international efforts to support stability in Iraq were on the agenda. The meeting was also attended by armed forces chief of staff Lieutenant Gen... Read more »

Radical Islamist cleric Abu Qatada has won his appeal at the European Court of Human Rights. He appealed against deportation from the UK to Jordan. The judges considered the UK's deal with Jordan to protect the cleric from abuse was sound. Bbc.co.uk quotes Home Secretary Theresa May as saying that the European judges' decision was "not the end of the road". The British authorities can make a final appeal before the judgement becomes binding in three months'... Read more »

Egypt will open nominations on April 15 for the first presidential vote since Hosni Mubarak was ousted by a popular uprising last year. The ruling council has pledged to hand power to civilians after a presidential race in June, although protesters have demanded that the army quit power sooner. General Mohsen Fangary made the comments to an Egyptian television that were shown on its website. Fangary underlined that the Egypt’s political system will remain p... Read more »

Syria's leader Bashar al-Assad has given a general amnesty for all crimes committed during the 10-month demonstrations. It would deal with all army deserters who turned themselves in before the end of January, peaceful protesters and the owners if unlicensed weapons. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Mr Assad to end the bloodshed. "Stop the violence. Stop killing your people. The path of repression is a dead end," Bbc.co.uk.quotes Mr Ban’s speech a... Read more »

At least 50 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, 91 wounded. The blast was targeted Shia pilgrims marking the festival of Arbain, one of the main holy days of their calendar. The attack occurred in spite of s tight security amid fears of insurgent acts during the festival. Dozens of people have been killed in attacks on pilgrims in the last few weeks, Bbc.co.uk reported.