Syrian forces renewed their assault on the rebel city of Homs today as Russia’s foreign minister talked of the need for reform with President Bashar Assad over the country’s escalating violence.

Gulf states are pulling out of the Arab League observer group in Syria.

PRESIDENT Bashar al-Assad extended a tank onslaught in Syria’s Sunni Muslim tribal heartland, residents said, in an escalating crackdown on protesters that prompted an extraordinary rebuke from the Saudi king warning the Syrian leader to adopt reforms or risk defeat.

More than 50 people were reported killed as Syrian forces intensified their crackdown on an eastern city today.

Forces loyal to Yemen’s embattled president opened fire at protesters demanding his ouster across the country today, killing two demonstrators at two separate rallies and wounding at least 10 people at a third protest, activists said.

Yemen’s embattled president agreed tonight to a proposal by Gulf Arab mediators to step down within 30 days and hand power to his deputy in exchange for immunity from prosecution, a major about-face for the autocratic leader who has ruled for 32 years.

The head of a grouping of Gulf Arab nations has presented a new proposal to Yemen's embattled president to resolve the country's crisis, calling on him to hand over power to a successor of his choice and leave within a month, according to a senior government official.

Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis have converged in the capital for rival demonstrations, with some demanding the president's removal and others showing their support.

BAHRAIN has foiled a “foreign plot” to target Gulf countries, King Hamad said in a possible reference to Iran, after security forces crushed Shi’ite-led unrest, the state news agency reported.

The head of the Gulf’s main political group said today that Qatar and the United Arab Emirates remain part of the coalition striking Libya, but stressed the mission seeks only to protect civilians.

A Saudi-led military force crossed into Bahrain to prop up the monarchy in the tiny island nation against widening demonstrations, launching the first cross-border military operation to quell unrest since the Arab world’s rebellions began in December.

SAUDI ARABIA has sent troops into Bahrain to help put down weeks of protests by the Shi’ite Muslim majority, a move opponents of the Sunni ruling family called a declaration of war.

A combined military force from Gulf states has entered Bahrain to help deal with a month of political unrest.

THE families of four sixth class pupils refused entry to a second-level school – just over the fence from their primary school – have appealed to have the decisions overturned.

The destruction of Iran’s nuclear capabilities would be in the interest of the Arab nations in the Gulf, and it would be “less embarrassing” if it was done by Israel rather than the US, a top Kuwaiti strategist said in remarks published today.

NEW garda disciplinary regulations are to be brought to the Government in the next few weeks, it has emerged.

Fiji’s military regime today took the unprecedented step of halting all meetings of the nation’s powerful council of indigenous chiefs – accusing it of failing to accept that the military now controls the affairs of the South Pacific nation.

Fiji’s ousted prime minister today said the South Pacific country was sliding toward “the worst kind of dictatorship”, and offered to hold talks with the military regime to find a way to restore democracy as quickly as possible.

MUNSTER has produced two of the world’s top three new accountants.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will meet Egypt’s president and eight Arab foreign ministers in Cairo on Tuesday in an effort to revive stalled Mideast peace talks, Egypt’s state news agency reported today.

JUSTICE MINISTER Michael McDowell yesterday claimed victory in the first battle over the implementation of the Garda Reserve.

Arab Gulf nations plan to send an envoy to Iran to press it to find a negotiated solution to its nuclear stand-off with the United Nations in a new diplomatic effort after months of staying on the sidelines, officials said today.

THE two garda associations engaged in a bitter row over the garda reserve are to hold meetings with Justice Minister Michael McDowell over the coming days.

ENVIRONMENT Minister Dick Roche said yesterday he was keen to build bridges between developers and conservationists.

IRAN yesterday said the US transfer of power to Iraq was a “positive step” toward the holding of free elections and withdrawal of foreign troops.

A 10-MONTH-OLD orphan from Kazakhstan who was rescued from a “living hell on earth” arrived in Ireland yesterday for a life-saving operation.

THE General Council of County Councils (GCC) yesterday defended the €25 million bill for county councillors’ expenses and allowances last year.

SYRIAN Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara has said his government is willing to sign a treaty making the entire Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction.

IRAQ poured scorn on the United Arab Emirates yesterday for urging Saddam Hussein to go into exile, but the small Persian Gulf state pressed on seeking support for the proposal, calling it the only way to avert war.

Gulf leaders are urging Western countries not to hold Islam responsible for actions and practices such as the September 11 terror attacks in the United States.