The al Qaida breakaway group that has seized much of Syria and Iraq has formally declared the establishment of a new Islamic state.

Explosions and heavy gunfire were reported in the Libyan capital Tripoli as rebel forces claimed they had launched an offensive against Muammar Gaddafi's forces in coordination with Nato.

Around 3,000 Muslims have held an anti-US rally in the Indonesian city of Surabaya to protest at the ongoing attacks on Afghanistan.