Sony’s PlayStation network remains down for a third day in a blow that hit eager online gamers as they unwrapped their new consoles on Christmas morning.

Libyan protesters have defied a fierce crackdown by Muammar Gaddafi's regime, returning today to a square in the city of Benghazi to demand his overthrow.

Security forces in Libya and Yemen fired on pro-democracy demonstrators as the two hardline regimes struck back against the wave of protests that has already toppled autocrats in Egypt and Tunisia.

Moammar Gaddafi’s forces fired on mourners leaving a funeral for protesters today, killing at least 15 people and wounding scores more as the regime tried to quell calls for an end to the ruler’s 42-year grip on power.