The Syrian military vowed today to “cut every evil hand that targets Syrian blood”, as it missed an Arab League deadline to allow observers in or face economic sanctions.

A Norwegian and 10 Nigerians were among the United Nations workers killed in a suicide car bomb attack claimed by a radical Muslim group at the world body’s headquarters in Nigeria’s capital last week, the UN said.

A car laden with explosives rammed through two gates and blew up at the United Nations’ offices in Nigeria’s capital Abuja today, killing at least 16 people and shattering part of the concrete structure.

Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe shrugged off calls for his resignation today as his chief spokesman told Western critics to “go hang”.

Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe joined an African summit today looking for some political legitimacy after his presidential re-election was condemned around the world.

NATO appealed to Saudi Arabia yesterday to consider entering a cooperation agreement with the Western alliance, citing shared interest in stopping weapons proliferation in an apparent reference to Iran.

A senior United Nations official today said the Sudanese government had been able to reject the proposed deployment of a UN peacekeeping force in Darfur because the US and Britain had not done enough to sell the idea to countries around the world.

Hezbollah fighters battled Israeli commandos who launched a raid near the militants’ stronghold inside Lebanon early today, killing one soldier, in the first large-scale violation of the ceasefire.

The United Nations appealed to European countries today to contribute troops to an expanded UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon to balance the commitments from Muslim countries, so that both Israel and Lebanon will view it as legitimate.

The United Nations has received pledges of 3,500 troops for an expanded peacekeeping force in Lebanon, but it is unclear whether the soldiers represent the right mix of countries and units that could deploy quickly.

The United Nations’ second highest-ranking official yesterday accused the US government of leaving Americans in the dark about the world body’s good works, a rare direct criticism that drew an angry response yesterday from US Ambassador John Bolton.

The United States today demanded UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan renounce a speech in which his No 2 official broke with tradition and accused the United States of undermining the United Nations.

Five years after a landmark UN resolution committed governments to protect women from the abuses of war, the Security Council has condemned the continuing sexual exploitation and violence against women.

Countries and other donors told the United Nations today they were pledging an additional £300m (€440m) for Pakistani earthquake victims, but UN officials said it was unclear how much was going to combined emergency relief efforts.

In a devastating assessment of the UN oil-for-food programme in Iraq, investigators today strongly criticised Secretary General Kofi Annan, his deputy and the Security Council for allowing Saddam Hussein to gain €8.1bn as a result of the giant humanitarian operation.

China took control of Hong Kong’s political process today, saying the territory cannot change the way it picks its leaders without approval from Beijing.

LEBANON yesterday protested to the UN Security Council over Israeli violations of its sovereignty and the “aggression and threats” of its southern neighbour, the foreign ministry said.

Hezbollah guerrillas fired shells over northern Israel, killing one person and injuring four, officials said today.

A lack of security and the absence of a functioning government are hampering efforts to rebuild Iraq, the UN warned, as it appealed for an additional $259m (€360m) to meet humanitarian needs through the end of 2003.

Nigerian warships ships were sailing today towards offshore platforms where 97 foreign oil workers – including 35 Britons – were being held hostage by disgruntled local workers.