Polls opened today in Egypt's presidential election with the outcome, a second term for President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, a foregone conclusion.

Syrian President Bashar Assad questioned how long Arab nations can keep offering Israel a land-for-peace proposal, as the Arab League chief today called for Arabs to meet later this year to evaluate negotiations with Israel.

Iraq’s prime minister appealed today for international help to cut off networks aiding extremists and warned envoys from neighbours and world powers that Iraq’s growing sectarian bloodshed could spill across the Middle East.

United Nations staff in Baghdad were told to stay at home today after a massive truck bomb levelled their headquarters and killed at least 20 people, including the top UN envoy in Iraq.

Five “groups of kamikazes” – 14 attackers in all – carried out the deadly series of suicide bombings in Casablanca, Morocco’s commercial capital, killing 28 people, the interior minister said.