More than 20 people have died when a suicide bomber attacked a funeral for a policeman in south-western Pakistan.

The al Qaeda threat that closed US embassies in the Middle East is the most serious in years and the “chatter” among suspected terrorists is reminiscent of what preceded the Sept 11 attacks, a US lawmaker who is briefed on intelligence said.

Iraqi militants unleashed a string of bombings and other attacks primarily targeting the country’s Shiite community, leaving at least 40 dead.

A car bomb killed 13 people in central Damascus yesterday as President Bashar al-Assad told an international mediator seeking a truce in Syria’s civil war that the key to any political solution was to stop arming rebels.

A British charity has suspended plans to deliver aid to Syria because of the worsening violence in Lebanon.

Muammar Gaddafi’s spokesman said today a surrender-by-Saturday ultimatum to the fugitive dictator’s henchmen in his home town would be rejected.

Libyan rebels have pledged to launch an assault within days on Muammar Gaddafi’s home town, the ousted strongman’s last major bastion of support.

Syrian security forces killed seven people as they opened fire to disperse thousands of protesters rallying against the country's regime on the first day of a Muslim holiday that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, activists said.

Ireland's Muslim population will celebrate the festival of Eid today.

DOZENS of decomposing bodies were found piled up yesterday in an abandoned hospital in Tripoli, a grim testament to the chaos roiling the capital as Libyan rebels clash with forces still loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

A ferry packed with people going home for an Islamic festival capsized as they disembarked in southern Bangladesh, leaving at least 30 dead and scores missing, authorities said today.

At least 45 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack on a restaurant in Iraq where Kurdish officials were meeting Arab tribal leaders today.

Civil war broke out today amid a gang of Somali pirates holding a ship full of tanks and other weapons leaving three of them dead.

Pirates holding a Ukrainian ship laden with tanks and weapons today claimed they were celebrating the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr despite being surrounded by American warships and helicopters.

A Muslim version of Live 8 is to be staged to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, it was announced today.

At least 11 people died in Pakistan when they were knocked off the roof of a crowded train or electrocuted after religious flags they were carrying to an Islamic festival became entangled in an overhead power line.

Sunni Muslims, angered by the execution of Saddam Hussein and the hurried and undignified way his hanging was carried out, have taken to the streets of Iraq in mainly peaceful demonstrations.

The sister of Irish aid worker Margaret Hassan, who was taken hostage and killed in Iraq, has called on the Muslim community to demand the return of her body in the wake of Saddam Hussein’s death.

Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzai appeared to criticise the timing of the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein today, but said it was "the work of the Iraqi government'' and would have "no effect'' on Afghanistan.

The government of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi today announced a three-day official mourning period and cancelled all celebrations of Eid.

Iraqi militants today killed 15 homebound police recruits and nine shoppers buying food for the feast to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

Sunni-led insurgents firing mortars and guns attacked an Iraqi police checkpoint in northern Iraq today, killing six policemen and wounding 10, an official said.

Indian authorities stepped up security across the country today as millions of Muslims celebrated the Eid al-Fitr festival nearly a week after triple bombings killed 60 people ahead of a major Hindu celebration.

AL-QAIDA in Iraq claimed yesterday to have shot down a US attack helicopter that crashed near Ramadi, killing two Marines on board.

THE World Food Programme yesterday warned it may be forced to scale back vital aid flights for victims of the South Asia quake within days if it does not receive more donations.

A three-day holiday began for Sunni Arabs in Iraq today, ending a month of fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, and unusual signs of celebration emerged in war-torn cities such as Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s hometown.

KARIMA KHALAF has never voted in her life before. Yesterday, along with millions of other Iraqis, she walked many miles to a polling station as the country entered a new, and hopefully democratic era.

The UN appealed today to the Taliban-linked kidnappers of three of its staff in Afghanistan to release them in time for a Muslim festival starting this weekend.

TWO suicide bombers struck the offices of two US-backed Kurdish parties in near-simultaneous attacks yesterday as hundreds of Iraqis gathered to celebrate a Muslim holiday.

Two suicide bombers struck the offices of two US-backed Kurdish parties in near-simultaneous attacks today as hundreds of Iraqis gathered to celebrate a Muslim holiday.

Two suicide bombers struck at the offices of two rival Kurdish parties in near simultaneous attacks today as hundreds of Iraqis gathered to celebrate a Muslim holiday. At least 57 people were killed and more than 235 were wounded, officials said.

India and Pakistan began a cease-fire along their shared border today – the first such accord in 14 years.

A Ramadan marked by violence in the Middle East drew to a close across most of the region, and Muslims were preparing for the three-day Eid el-Fitr – a holiday associated with family gatherings over lavish meals and gifts for children.

Pakistan’s prime minister today announced a cease-fire by forces on the Line of Control that divides the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, where fire is routinely exchanged with India.

More than 400 soldiers were drafted in to provide extra security at Heathrow Airport and a number of other unspecified sites across London today to combat a new terrorist threat.