Gaddafi loyalist forces won back the Dehiba-Wazin, forcing rebels to retreat into Tunisian territory
Violence escalates in Syria; Palestinians reconcile; Libyans battle on
Syria: Violence against the protesters escalated this week with reports of widespread enforced disappearances on Sunday, followed by the deployment of tanks and heavy armour onto the streets of Deraa and other towns on Monday. By Tuesday rights groups had reported even more deaths and arrests as troops were sent in to put down protests in Deraa, Douma and Baniyas.
International pressure on Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, began to mount on Wednesday, with European governments urging Syria to end the violence. The UN Security Council failed to agree on a statement condemning the deadly crackdown on largely peaceful protesters, with Russia, China and Lebanon opposing the wording of a draft statement distributed by European nations.
Palestinian movements: Fatah, the Palestinian political organisation, reached an agreement with its rival Hamas on forming an interim government and fixing a date for a general election. The deal, which took many officials by surprise, was thrashed out in Egypt and followed a series of secret meetings.
However, Israel did not respond positively, with Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, saying that Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority and a member of Fatah, could not hope to forge a peace deal with Israel if he pursued a reconciliation accord with Hamas. Nabil Abu Rdaineh, a top Abbas aide, said the reconciliation did not concern Israel: "Netanyahu must choose between a just peace with the united Palestinian people ... and settlements".
Libya: As NATO air strikes continued to hit targets in and around Libya's capital Tipoli, pro-democracy forces gained some ground from government troops. On Saturday, some rebel fighters declared Misurata "free" amid reports that troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi were ordered to withdraw from the besieged western port city.
However, fighting continued through the week as heavy shelling prevented ships from docking in Misurata to deliver humanitarian supplies and evacuate the wounded. By Thursday the rebels had managed to push Gaddafi's forces from the sea port, but the battle for control of Misurata's airport continued.
International pressure on Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, began to mount on Wednesday, with European governments urging Syria to end the violence. The UN Security Council failed to agree on a statement condemning the deadly crackdown on largely peaceful protesters, with Russia, China and Lebanon opposing the wording of a draft statement distributed by European nations.
Palestinian movements: Fatah, the Palestinian political organisation, reached an agreement with its rival Hamas on forming an interim government and fixing a date for a general election. The deal, which took many officials by surprise, was thrashed out in Egypt and followed a series of secret meetings.
However, Israel did not respond positively, with Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, saying that Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority and a member of Fatah, could not hope to forge a peace deal with Israel if he pursued a reconciliation accord with Hamas. Nabil Abu Rdaineh, a top Abbas aide, said the reconciliation did not concern Israel: "Netanyahu must choose between a just peace with the united Palestinian people ... and settlements".
Libya: As NATO air strikes continued to hit targets in and around Libya's capital Tipoli, pro-democracy forces gained some ground from government troops. On Saturday, some rebel fighters declared Misurata "free" amid reports that troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi were ordered to withdraw from the besieged western port city.
However, fighting continued through the week as heavy shelling prevented ships from docking in Misurata to deliver humanitarian supplies and evacuate the wounded. By Thursday the rebels had managed to push Gaddafi's forces from the sea port, but the battle for control of Misurata's airport continued.
Asia
· Police claim 26 fighters recaptured after 541 members escaped from Afghan city's main prison via 320-metre-long tunnel.
Harvard scholar chosen to assume political powers currently held by the Dalai Lama in Tibet
Americas
· 'Guantanamo files' reveal details of interrogations of "high-risk" detainees, but suggest many innocents were also rounded up.
US president calls media interest in birthplace debate a "sideshow" issue after White House releases "long-form" birth certificate
Asia-Pacific
· Thai soldier killed in Cambodia clashes as total number of deaths rises on both sides after renewed fighting along disputed border.
Sathya Sai Baba, spiritual leader to millions, dies in hospital after suffering cardio-respiratory failure, reports say.
Europe
· Airline says Kazakh man was overpowered by cabin crew after assaulting a flight attendant and asking to go to Tripoli.
US president ducks using "genocide" for third straight year as he honours 1.5m Armenians killed under Ottoman Empire.
Africa
· Human rights groups are looking into post-election violence that saw mass killings in the West African country of the Ivory Coast.
Governor elections postponed in two northern states in Nigeria following days of riots that have killed at least 200 people
Middle East
· Unconfirmed reports of more deaths as Syrian soldiers backed by heavy armour join crackdown on anti-government protests.
Activists say security forces arrested medical workers in retribution for treating protesters injured during Bahrain uprisings.
_________________________________________
Deadly blast devastates Marrakesh cafe
Authorities suspect explosion which killed 18 at tourist hangout in Moroccan city was the work of a suicide bomber.
Dozens arrested in Syrian town
Residents say security forces raid homes in the mountain town Madaya, amid reports of soldiers switching allegiances.
Regional strife worries Saudi Arabia
The world's top oil exporter sits in the centre of a region undergoing change.
Uganda walk-to-work protests kick up dust
Government crackdown on protesters continues as politicians vow to continue demonstration against spiralling prices.
Egypt-Israel diplomacy
We look at the fate of Middle East peace after the sweeping revolutions in the Arab world.
Those sentenced to death include Saeed Abdul Jalil Saeed (1) and Qassim Hasan Mattar Ahmed (5) [AL WEFAQ PARTY]
Bahrain sentences protesters to death
Military court sentences four men to death over killing of police during unrest, state media says.
A Bahraini military court has sentenced four Shia protesters to death and three to life jail terms for the killing of two policemen during demonstrations last month, state media has reported.
Thursday's verdicts are the first related to the uprising against the Gulf kingdom's ruling family, which begain in February.
Thursday's verdicts are the first related to the uprising against the Gulf kingdom's ruling family, which begain in February.
The seven defendants were tried behind closed doors on charges of premeditated murder of government employees, which their lawyers have denied.
A Shia opposition official named those sentenced to death as Ali Abdullah Hasan, Qasim Hassan Mattar, Saeed Abdul Jalil Saeed, and Abdul Aziz Abdullah Ibrahim.
He told the AFP news agency that Issa Abdullah Kazem, Sadiq Ali Mahdi, and Hussein Jaafar Abdul Karim were sentenced to life in prison.
He told the AFP news agency that Issa Abdullah Kazem, Sadiq Ali Mahdi, and Hussein Jaafar Abdul Karim were sentenced to life in prison.
Sheikh Ali Salman, president of Bahrain's Al Wefaq, the largest Shia political group in the country, told Al Jazeera that the punishments did not fit the crime.
"I believe that these sentences should be revised and the international community must intervene to stop this," he said.
He added that the proceedings were "unprecedented" and that question marks remain over the conditions the detainees are living in.
Government officials have said that a total of four policemen were killed during the unrest that gripped the country in February and March, at least three of whom were run over by cars around March 16.
Hundreds of thousands of Bahrain's Shia-led opposition have called for greater rights and freedoms in the Sunni monarchy.
Authorities have detained hundreds since martial law was declared last month to quell dissent.
He added that the proceedings were "unprecedented" and that question marks remain over the conditions the detainees are living in.
Government officials have said that a total of four policemen were killed during the unrest that gripped the country in February and March, at least three of whom were run over by cars around March 16.
Hundreds of thousands of Bahrain's Shia-led opposition have called for greater rights and freedoms in the Sunni monarchy.
Authorities have detained hundreds since martial law was declared last month to quell dissent.
On Wednesday, a Bahraini official said 405 detainees had been referred to military courts while 312 have been released.
"Sixty-two criminal cases and 343 misdemeanor cases have been referred to the courts of national safety," , Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa, the head of the Information Affairs Authority, said.
"Sixty-two criminal cases and 343 misdemeanor cases have been referred to the courts of national safety," , Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa, the head of the Information Affairs Authority, said.
He said 312 detainees have been released, "some for health reasons," and others after considering the period of their detention enough.
Bahraini authorities have come under strong criticism from international rights organisations over a heavyhanded crackdown on protesters.
Earlier this week the US raised concern over the fate of detainees, noting that some have died in custody. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/201142881322769709.html
Bahraini authorities have come under strong criticism from international rights organisations over a heavyhanded crackdown on protesters.
Earlier this week the US raised concern over the fate of detainees, noting that some have died in custody. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/201142881322769709.html
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