SYRIAN president Bashar al-Assad has denied ordering the killing of thousands of protesters and said “only a crazy person” would target his own people, as global pressure mounted on his regime.

Thousands of mourners have joined the funeral procession for the Libyan rebels' military chief a day after he was gunned down under mysterious circumstances.

Britain today revoked a series of licences for the export of arms to Bahrain amid concern over the violent suppression of protests in the Gulf state.

Egypt's new military rulers have told the nation they are committed to civilian rule.

British peace activists today threatened legal action to force an international inquiry into Israel’s storming of an aid flotilla headed for the Gaza Strip.

A head count was today being carried out at an immigration removal centre hit by a major fire to determine the number of asylum seekers who escaped.