Violence erupted in downtown Beirut yesterday as protesters tried to storm the offices of prime minister Najib Mikati after the funeral of an assassinated intelligence chief whose death they blame on Syria.

Tunisia’s interim government has refused to legalise five political parties, including three Islamic ones – the first such rejections since the country’s longtime autocrat was driven from power.

Iraq’s largest Sunni Muslim party today called for the release of Western hostages in Iraq, saying such kidnappings tarnished the image of Islam and had a negative effect on those who call for ending the United States military presence.

Gunmen seized three members of Iraq’s largest Sunni Muslim party today and shot them dead hours later in front of a mosque in Mosul, an official of the party and witnesses said.